What's new

SDS Woes - Port Rigustad

Northern Cooperative Unions

Establishing Nation
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
438
Capital
Rigustad
Nick
Bospy
You must be registered for see medias

RIGUSTAD - 20:45

After the normal operating hours of the Aurarian Embassy ended, a black limousine with tinted windows pulls up right in front of the embassy's front doors. Two suited men with thick pencil mustaches step out and enter the lobby, telling the receptionist they're there for the Ambassador and whoever he wishes to bring as guards or guidance in broken Spanish.
 

Oneida

Established Nation
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Messages
1,414
Location
Pennsylvania
Capital
Solis
Nick
Jurzidentia
The receptionist, slightly unsettled at what was happening, immediately ran back to her superior. In a matter of minutes, Ambassador Maria de Zayas y Nuñez came out to the lobby. She was joined by Pablo Martín y Soler. Additionally, two black-suited men came and flanked the team. Their five o'clock shadow paled in comparison to the pencil mustaches of the men in front of them.

"Gentlemen," Ambassador de Zayas said "Shall we?"
 

Northern Cooperative Unions

Establishing Nation
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
438
Capital
Rigustad
Nick
Bospy
You must be registered for see medias

The leading mustached man nodded and waved the group to the limousine. On the street, there were no spectators aside from three trench-coated men set up in a suspicious pattern along the opposing sidewalk. A well-versed spy would immediately recognize these men as plainclothes lookouts hiding heavy weapons under their jackets. Strange pop music played from the front.

The two suited men guided the ambassador and her staff to the limousine and hunched down, packing in. Set up in a rectangular shape were booths facing eachother. The two men sat across from the ambassador and her staff, completely quiet. An exchange of words between the driver and the two men was quick and terse. The leading man shuffled quickly into his suit pocket and peered carelessly at the ambassador and her staff. The smell of cheap vodka and cigarettes lingered in the back of the limousine. He unfolded an ID card and a badge from his suit pocket and showed them. He flashed his SDS badge, the badge of the North's external intelligence services. He put on a fake smile with yellow teeth. The badge represented an agency responsible for many high-profile assassinations and kidnappings in the 60s and 70s, although aside from some notable exceptions, this was no longer the case.

"You safe, yes? SDS. Intel, yeah? OK, we go quick. Meet with Premier, okay?"

The limousine shuttled the group away from the embassy and into Downtown Rigustad, passing by the historical district which was magnificent. Old brick and mortar housing lined the streets, individual houses rather than the typical eastern mass-produced apartment block. The latter were not strangers to the skyline.

Although the Teutonian Cooperatives had passed laws permitting unions to build housing in a semi-privatized manner, the skyline of Rigustad's outskirts was filled with the 90s-style dilapidated communist structures littering most of the Eastern Bloc. The city as of recent had taken steps to demolish these and replace them with "cultural" buildings, or at the very minimum, decent looking housing.

The main highway through Downtown Rigustad was the route to the port. Signs in three languages dotted the freeways. A southern route lead towards the industrial heartland of the North, and the site of the first landings by crusaders many centuries ago. The coast was frigid this time of year. The temperature was well below zero degrees celsius.

The journey would take twenty or so minutes. Back roads, switched routes, some chattering among the men, and a brief argument between the driver and lead agent. Two cars somehow formed a convoy at one point along the highway, with a monstrous commercial truck as the caboose, albeit the windows were tinted and the driver could not be identified. There were no plates on the front. The route was still the same, though.
 

Oneida

Established Nation
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Messages
1,414
Location
Pennsylvania
Capital
Solis
Nick
Jurzidentia
"Interesting," the Aurarian Ambassador thought to herself "The Northern Realms do have a certain charm, I suppose."

de Zayas had usually kept to her office, in a part of Rigustad built for its utility, not its art. It was a start contrast to the ancient cities of Auraria where it seemed no expense was spared in building the most intricate, beautiful buildings that they could - even if such things went way over budget and took decades. In Auraria, it was a common joke that budgets were more of a guideline than an actual set of restraints. As such, the city's historical district made her feel a little more at home. When the cars arrived at their destination, the Ambassador looked to the mustached men.

"Shall we?" she said, stepping out of the car.

The freezing air of the North immediately took its toll and she bundled her coat and began hurrying toward the entrance.
 

Northern Cooperative Unions

Establishing Nation
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
438
Capital
Rigustad
Nick
Bospy
Soon the convoy broke up and the two other cars sped around a corner, presumably to set up a perimeter. They were now in the Rigustad Port, although strangely there was zero activity.

The limousine pulled into a warehouse among warehouses in the Port of Rigustad. A small shutter opened and the limousine entered. Inside, a massive rectangular space was clear - there was nothing packed in the warehouse, it was completely empty and somewhat cold. The two suited men stepped out and opened the doors for the ambassador and her staff. The room was a wide open space with a small cubby for an office, albeit the windows were tinted and doors were closed. Several shutters leading out into the cold environment of the North lined the walls, although all of them shut, even the one allowed open for a brief moment to welcome the limousine. It had already pulled out.

Waiting in the center of the warehouse was an entourage of four men present at a mahogany table. It was set up so one side of the table had enough chairs to seat the Ambassador's group and one side had enough to seat five men total, the central seat was empty for the time being. Several cameras lined the ceiling. The two suited men walked the ambassador and her staff into the room.

As the ambassador and her staff were escorted into the open area, they could hear the carousing of the group. Bowls of hard bread and two handles of vodka were on the table. A traditional Northern negotiation. Soon, one of them shouted in perfect Spanish. All of them save one had thick mustaches shaved to regulation. The man spoke up - he was bald and had a leather jacket over his suit.

"Take a seat, Ambassador! Come speak! The boss will be here soon."

The man motioned to the seats on the opposite side of the table. Several plates were laid out in the event the group wanted to eat or drink.
 

Oneida

Established Nation
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Messages
1,414
Location
Pennsylvania
Capital
Solis
Nick
Jurzidentia
De Zayas immediately noticed the cameras lining the room. She wasn’t sure what the intention of the cameras was, she was further concerned over whether or not the cameras were simply recording video or audio. At any rate, she pulled off her cream colored leather gloves before removing her jacket of the same color.

“A leather jacket over a suit seems…uncomfortable, doesn’t it?” she asked.

The Ambassador walked to her side of the table and sat down. Pablo Martín sat beside her and the two security detail stood behind.

“The cameras,” Pablo Martín said “Our Government knows we’re here. What are they recording?”

“I must say,” de Zayas interrupted Pablo’s question and gesturing toward the vodka “I do enjoy how the Notherners do business.”
 

Northern Cooperative Unions

Establishing Nation
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
438
Capital
Rigustad
Nick
Bospy
The cleanly shaven leather-jacking wearing man clicked his tongue and motioned widely around the room in response to Pablo Martin. He spoke in smooth Spanish.

"They're just security for the both of us. It's mutual material, as both of us don't want this meeting going anywhere, right? So it won't - we don't blackmail people unless a deal goes sour. If it's lucrative, that just sullies our deals around the world. If any of you brought some sort of recording device, it's simply the same principle - we could even give the footage to you. It's also just to ensure the business is done just between us. If a third party catches wind, it wouldn't look good for either of us. So we can use it as ammo to disprove allegations and what-not. Not that we would. Is that an issue? The sound quality is shit anyways, you can't hear things said in a hushed tone."

Some shuffling could be heard from the security room. Soon enough the door slid open and a bearded, old man wearing casual attire stepped out. He was in a shouting match with somebody as he came out, but the door shut quickly behind him. He walked towards the table with a portfolio in his hand and sat in the central seat.

The leather-jacketed man spoke up.

"I'm Artjoms and this is the boss. I'll be his translator for you and relay any information. I'm sure you'll be able to understand him yourselves if your men know the language just for verification purposes, but he doesn't understand you."

The boss coughed into his balled up fist and shifted around in the chair. He muttered under his breath and collected a shot glass from the table, pouring a shot of potato vodka. He held the bread up and said something in his own language - if they understood it, it was a common tradition to praise the food before initiating a deal for good grace.
 

Oneida

Established Nation
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Messages
1,414
Location
Pennsylvania
Capital
Solis
Nick
Jurzidentia
Understanding the customs, de Zayas reiterated the phrase before pouring herself a shot. The vodka was certainly strong and bitter, not typically the fancy of the Aurarians. For de Zayas, who was born in the tough and cold terrain of Gallaecia, it reminded her of home. She was never one for the sweet fruit wines with some type of rose petal bullshit that was so common at gatherings in Solis or Tauritania.

She leaned back in her chair and pulled the left side of her blazer out, revealing a listening device. "The cameras are fine," she said "We'll share the recordings afterwards. Between the two of us, we'll have an accurate retelling of this meeting. Thank you for being forthcoming."

She turned her gaze to the man sitting before her. "Thank you for having us. I understand fully that the political disagreements and the tensions on this continent prevent meaningful dialogue. Whatever comes from this meeting, the Aurarian Government appreciates the ability of the NCU to look beyond such things."

"I will speak plainly and honestly. Auraria's days of Empire ended a long time ago. We maintain a large, prominent military force but our ability to project that power is questionable at best. Any intelligence agency half its worth could determine that. There are many stereotypes of the Aurarians, but none of them speak to our fighting capability. Despite this, we find ourselves with a mutual enemy and the origin of the antagonism is uncertain. Neither the NCU nor Auraria pose any significant threat to the Justosian mainland, yet they act as though every day they survive is a blessing from 'Yahweh.'"

She paused to take another shot.

"The unintelligible screaming of a colonial are hardly the concerns of Marisela Palace. However, the Justosians have found an ability to encroach into territory they don't belong. Making friends with the Council of the North, deploying that carrier," she paused "fleet, if you can really call it that...all signs that the Justosians are preparing for an advanced level of antagonism. My Government is committed to defeating the threat before it arrives and I imagine the NCU is of a similar thought - otherwise I wouldn't be here. So, if you could, what is it that concerns you about the Justosians?"
 

Northern Cooperative Unions

Establishing Nation
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
438
Capital
Rigustad
Nick
Bospy
The bossman spoke quickly. The interpreter spoke on his behalf with brief pauses in between. He spoke word-for-word in translation. The boss was a plenipotentiary and clearly not the Premier.

"They're gearing up for war and have made their intentions quite clear. If they join the Council of the North, it thoroughly endangers both our independence and territorial integrity due to our close proximity with the Caledonians. It's within our state's interest to ensure they do not find allies on the continent, but they have made many overtures with intentions of doing so."

He paused to drink and eat bread again, then continued.

"If we were to let this problem fester, realistically we may see a war which would be of a scale unseen for a very, very long time. And we fear the effect of such a war on our society at large."

The boss spoke with activity, using his hands to make sweeping motions and pointing as he spoke.

"The big question is what we can do mutually to ensure this does not happen. We would rather be aligned with liberals and centrists than with monarchists and religious extremists."
 

Oneida

Established Nation
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Messages
1,414
Location
Pennsylvania
Capital
Solis
Nick
Jurzidentia
De Zayas tore a piece of bread off of the loaf she had grabbed. She nodded at the Bossman’s words as he spoke.

“There are a number of concerns we have from the Justosians’ foreign engagements,” she spoke “The Council of the North, ECONAMS, there are even rumors of an initiation of dialogue with the Serenien.”

She leaned back in her chair and looked to Martín, who still hadn’t drank. She raised an eyebrow at his self-imposed sobriety.

“We’re already surrounded by the Serenien,” she took a break to chew the bread “And this ECONAMs business seems to be moving ever so slightly from a trade agreement to a cultural, even military alliance. So you’re right, as things are getting worse the Aurarians need to decide where we stand.”

“The Aurarian Republic finds it to be an unacceptable outcome that Monarchists and religious zealots. So let’s discuss options. As I am sure you know, the Justosians attempted to invade the Hamar Sea under the guise of defense exercises. Their ‘fleet’ was questionable and perhaps a grave mistake on the part of the Aurarians to not sink that carrier when we had the chance.”

She leaned into the table.

“It’s a hard line that the Justosians will never come north of the equator. The Aurarians and Pelasgians can ensure that. However, we need to discuss ways to diplomatic isolate them. Their antics seem to be charming the Northern Kings. Any ideas?”
 
Top