New Silk Road

[Keida]

Zhang Bowen International Airport - Tarmac​

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Republic of Jizhou - Yiyuan​

May 16, 2010, 9:32 Local Time​

Froggish Foreign Minister Dan Yimou waited on the tarmac, watching the skies for the Barazi plane. The Rehber was due to arrive any moment, but Dan felt like a single second longer was an eternity too long. The wind was brutal that day, and the Foreign Minister struggled to keep his jacket from blowing away. He was silently concerned the plane might have trouble landing in such weather.

Dan wasn't even supposed to be here. The Premier or even the President should be meeting a foreign head of state, and with much more pomp and circumstance than the one squad of Republican Guardsmen and pitiful flute band the Office of the President had supplied. And none of them were dealing with the wind particularly well either.

Dan sighed and looked back up into the sky, blocking the morning sun with his right hand. Hopefully the Rehber wouldn't be insulted and he could get him to the Republican Palace within the hour.

 

[Barazi]

It was a long and quiet flight since leaving Tetri Tsquaro and above all hearing of Zviad Saakashvili's heart attack. The Rehber, though tired, still sat in the same upright position with his tinted shades on and the same get-up as before. Osman Polati and Sinasi Denktash, two of his most trusted ministers and close friends, sat facing him on the opposite side.

It seemed that the more northeast the plane went, the worse the weather progressed. It was gusty, but the jet could take it. "Benim Rehber, would you like something to drink before we land? Water perhaps?" Polati was always quick to suck-up.
"Yok, I'm fine." The Rehber answered. "Is Li already in Yuyan?" He demanded.
"We haven't heard from Yuyan yet, but we're sure someone of importance will be there, benim Rehber". Denktash answered with an unusually wide smile.

The plane began to pull in and proceeded by descending towards the Zhang Bowen International Airport.

 

[Keida]

Finally the colors of Barazi showed in the sky, a welcome relief for Dan as he continued to struggle against the wind. It wasn't a cold wind, as Yiyuan slipped toward summer, but that much blowing is unpleasant for anyone. The froggish minister couldn't even keep a paper schedule in his hand for fear of it blowing away.

When the plane taxied mercifully to the carpet and stage prepared for it, Dan quickly summoned his Turkish interpreter and noted that the band should prepare their welcome song. As the door opened, they sounded a series of four ruffles and flourishes before picking up a traditional Chinese rendition of the March of the Rehber.

At least that seemed to go right, even if it was a little quiet compared to the jet engines and wind. The small contingent of Republican Guard raiseed their rifles as Dan approached the Rehber with a wide diplomatic smile, making sure the news cameras could see. "Welcome to the Republic, Your Excellency!" He waited for Rehber's interpreter to work his magic, "You'll have to forgive Premier Li. He wanted so much to be here, but found himself detained at the War Department. I'm Dan Yimou, Foreign Minister, I'll be escorting you to the Grand Republican Palace."

 

[Barazi]

When the band played and the sound the people roaring across the aisle, the Rehber could only look around for Premier Li. Polati and Denktash, both behind the Rehber with the Koruma Ajansi, whispered to one another with no sign of positivity. As they approached minister Dan, the Rehber always gracious, smiled and shook his hand. The situation was very understandable.
"Ben Barazi adına hoş sıcak için teşekkür ederim"
"I thank you in the name of Barazi for the warm welcoming"

The foreign minister walked further down with the Rehber towards slick black armored vehicles that the Rehber was informed would bring him to the Grand Republican Palace. Going towards the cars, the Rehber concluded that the foreign minister was trusthworthy, but he still hoped to meet someone of a higher rank during his vist.

 

[Keida]

Smiling nervously, Dan let the Rehber, his interpreter and bodyguard climb into the tinted sport utility vehicle first before sliding in awkwardly to join him. The contingent of Republican Guardsmen turned to face the vehicle as it pulled away, while the disappointingly small civilian crowd struggled to hold their Barazi and Jizhou banners against the oppressive winds of the day. Even in the large armored vehicle, Dan could feel the wind's fury.

"It really is unfortunate how the weather turned out," Dan chuckled, sweating just a little bit, "But I think you'll rather enjoy the trip to the Grand Republican Palace. We've planned a just magnificent route to take us past some of Yiyuan's greatest landmarks."

With the roads properly cleared, the quite formidable motorcade departed the airport swiftly. Some helicopters chopped through the sky above, themselves battling the forces of nature.

"Oh here we are coming up on a fine example of a typical Jizhou temple," Dan pointed out the window, past the Rehber's head, to a

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sitting just off the road, "It isn't the finest temple, by any means, but a great example of one you might see out here in the countryside. We're still some distance from the urban center, you see."

Dan's interpreter whispered something to him, prompting a realization in the Foreign Minister, "Oh yes, of course! We call that one 'zhen qing dao yuan' meaning something like 'the most celebrated sanctuary of the Way.' It really is a proud, if modest, representation of our culture." The froggish man covered his mouth with some mild embarrassment, "But I think I've just contradicted myself!"

 

[Barazi]

As far as the Rehber's life goes, he has never been to the east. The most east he's ever gone was to the border of the final Turkic land under the Oikawan Empire. Jizhou was not what he at all expected. It was a completely different world with different customes that he believed was strongly held together.
He turned to foreign minister Dan, "It's funny how two completely different people live so close to one another and yet have completely different ways of doing things. Even the architecture is brilliant. I'm anxious to see the palace."

The vehicle continued at an easy pace and passing by temples such as the one Dan had shown the Rehber earlier. He admired it, but from the point of view of a devout athiest, it meant nothing to him really. He didn't blame the minister, he was really thrown into this unexpectedly. Still, he thought, Li probably would've known that. The driver made another turn where they informed the group that they were approaching the palace.

 

[Keida]

The drive through the center city of Yiyuan was indicative of the country's culture. Despite being the country's capital, Yiyuan itself was Jizhou's second city, with the coastal, cosmopolitan commercial center of Chengyuan being the largest and proudest jewel in its crown. Still, the Yiyuan skyline boasted some skyscrapers, especially the headquarters of major government ministries like Propaganda and Commerce dominating the city with their new oriental architecture. Grand monuments to nationalist victory and anti-communist solidarity were particularly prominent too.

But the Grand Republican Palace, the center of the Republic's executive branch and the home of the President, was meant to dwarf them all. The world's tallest piece of traditional Chinese architecture, the Palace was constructed on the site of an ancient Jizhou imperial household as a monument to a newly risen Jizhou, a symbol of national, ethnic and political pride. It is no coincidence that the lawn in front of the palace is cut in the shape of a twelve-pointed star, an icon of the ruling Jizhou Nationalist Party.

"I hope you enjoyed that little taste of our country," Dan said with a smile, still sweating, but his voice revealing some calm at last, "I've been informed that the Premier is on his way from the war ministry. He won't be long now I'm sure. In the meantime, though, let me introduce you to the Grand Republican Palace."

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The motorcade came to a stop under the awning of the palace, with the door of the armored SUV opening to another line of Republican Guardsmen, standing at attention. The executive staff of the palace also formed a small brigade behind their military peers, applauding the Rehber's arrival. Banners of Jizhou and Barazi flanked the doors as the executive staff called out in canned, well-rehearsed Turkish: "Honored Rehber, Jizhou welcomes you!" Followed by a traditional Chinese bow, fist-in-palm.

The palace's foyer was ornately adorned in traditional Chinese fashion: red, lanterns, lacquer, the works. Relics from ancient Jizhou lined a central red carpet, carefully preserved behind glass. At the very end of that carpet was a painting of President Zhang Bowen proclaiming the Republic in 1949.

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The executive staff and the guardsmen fell in behind the Rehber, Dan and their respective retinues.

 

[Barazi]

Walking into the Grand Republican Palace, Oscelik had a look of astonishment on his face - something he was never publically inclined to let be seen. And he thought the Birlikmeclisi or the Kraliyet Pass was big, but this monument which stands as a nationalist symbol moved him. He removed his sun shades and placed them in his left-breast pocket. Now walking shoulder to shoulder with Dan, the Rehber found all the officials to be behind him. He could still see and very well hear the public cheering, and before entering, weaved to them all.

"It would certainly be an honour to have diplomatic relations which a nation as cultural as this one. How you have not yet gained your full independence is nothing short of nausiating..." The Rehber stopped himself before starting a nationalist rant. "But of course, things find a way of rectifying themselves." He smiled friendily.
Now walking down a long red hall, the group admired the art and sculptures passing by. The Rehber frequently stopped to admire certain pieces, and then kept with his conversation with Dan.

 

[Keida]

Very satisfied with the effect the palace was having on his guests, Dan gradually guided the Rehber up the stairs toward a cozier receiving room in the west wing of the building. "These are very historic places," he announced, walking through the halls, "Everything that is the Republic today was decided in these halls," A pair of Oikawan advisers walked past the party, laughing about something in their native language, "The layout of the palace was based on the ancient Jizhou imperial compounds, but with a modern interpretation. It symbolizes our pride in the past, with a simultaneous awareness of the glorious present and future of our country."

Dan's tour came to an end at the receiving room. A long, warm sitting room with a circle of chairs. At one end sat a jade sculpture of a Chinese dragon flanked by the national flags of Jizhou and Barazi, at the other end a famous painting of President Zhang Bowen hung over a fireplace next to the flag of the Jizhou Nationalist Party.

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"Please, have a seat," Dan offered the chair next to him, "The Premier will be here to relieve me shortly. Until then, let's you and I discuss the matters at hand."

The respective retinues of the two countries filed in to take their seats as some press agents began snapping photos of the Foreign Minister and the Rehber.

 

[Barazi]

The Rehber sat and nodded politely. "Of course." He answered. "It's nice to be sitting in the chambers where things get accomplished in Jizhou. The nationalist spirit has truly hit the east for quite some time as I can tell."
The Rehber sat straight - looking at Dan. "We mainly have economic ties in the works for our two nations. Due to certain eastern..er..griveances, we don't have many trading partners here, as you may imagine. But alas, I will only get into serious detils with Premier Li or the President." He coughed a little.
"It really is unfortunate that our countries were not able to have such a substancial meeting in the past. Given Jizhou's technical status as a part of the Oikawan Empire, and the fact that Oikawa currently occupies Turkic lands, Barazians are concerned that maybe Jizhou feels the same way as the Oikawans do. But after experiencing such a welcoming coming from you and your people, it's clear that you are nor the types to place themselves in the way of culture. I commend you for it."

Osman Polati and the other Milliyetci officials nodded in agreement with the Rehber after nearly each structured sentence. The words nationlist and pride came up alot from the Rehber during the press conference. The photographers did their jobs as the Rehber and Dan continued to smile and discuss differences intertwined with some similarities between Braazi and Jizhou. Though the Rehber seemed to enjoy the spotlight, Foreign Minister Polati whispered Where the hell is Li? in Turkish to the Koruma director.

 

[Keida]

Dan's froggish face twisted up into a cringe at the Rehber's statement, it was the kind of foreign policy nightmare he hated to deal with, but was constantly forced to. The political status of Jizhou, "The Republic is under no circumstances a part of the Oikawan Empire," he said as politely as he'd ever rehearsed the statement, "We achieved our independence in 1949, following the end of the Great War. We owe a lot of that independence to Oikawan support, and certain areas, like Nanhua province, that are historically and culturally part of Jizhou, remain administered by Oikawa. But the Republic of Jizhou that you see here today is as free and independent a nation as there has ever been."

Dan cleared his throat nervously. He had not anticipated having to make that speech, "So you can reassure the Barazians that Jizhou firmly believes in the right of all countries and peoples to self-determinate."

 

[Barazi]

"I'm glad to hear it." The Rehber stated before being tapped on the shoulder by his foreign minister Osman Polati. Polati had quietly answered his cellular phone line which was to be used in the cases of emergencies pertaining to Barazi only. The conversation started out very quiet - Polati did everything he could think of to block the fact that he was on the phone during an international press conference.
He stood up and immediatly got the Rehber's attention. The Rehber was preparing to say something else to the Jizhou foreign minister until Polati's whisper came as a pure shock to the leader. There was a brief pause as Oscelick turned his head slowly to face Poalti. "Ne? Dalga mı geçiyorsun?" [What? Are you serious?]. For a few seconds the Milliyetci officials began to scramble together and circle the Rehber. Dan looked lost and devilishly tired, the poor feller. "Kabul edilemez!" [Unacceptable!] The Rehber stood up frantically and buttoned his attire. He walked over to Dan still circled by Milliyetci, "Mr. Foreign Minister, I am afraid our meeting will have to end here. The Zivs have attacked Barazi."

The Hakkuvvetler had already made plans to transport the Rehber back home safely in a heavily equiped and guarded aircraft. He felt sick at the fact that he had to leave such an important meeting, but his goal was Barazi, and he would not let anything happen to it while he was still alive and well. "You will have to send my appologies to Mr. Li, but I am confident he will understand."

 

[Keida]

A bad situation had turned worse for Dan. The entire meeting had been one disaster after another, and now the home country of the envoy itself was under attack. The Foreign Minister sat frozen, unsure of what to do or say. He felt as helpless as the Barazians at that moment.

Then came a deus ex machina of sorts, "I heard my name," said Premier Li, entering the room, flanked by aides. He could see the room was clearly in disarray, not the orderly meeting for the press he had intended. The tall, thin Premier, dressed in his generalissimo outfit, looked surprised, but not as surprised as one might expect.

"Clear the room," he announced to his aides, who began pushing out the press, "Even you, Foreign Minister." Ordinarily, Dan might be concerned about being blocked out of a top-level meeting like that, but after this long day, he was just relieved.

"I understand you might be eager to get back to your country immediately," Li said directly to the Rehber, having cleared the room of all Jizhou personnel save his Turkish interpreter, "But I have something you will want to hear first," he took a seat and removed his cap, "You can have them refuel your plane in the meantime. I'll have a helicopter fly you back to the airport when you're ready. But for now, won't you have your non-essential staff wait outside? I've just come from some rather sensitive discussions at the War Department."

 

[Barazi]

The Rehber stood frozen with an angered temperment and a galre that could kill a bull. At first he could not believe that he was being pressured into actually staying while his homeland was under attack. But then he remembered who he had left in charge of Barazi, Ulvi Yilmaz, the third conspirator in the Milliyetci coup of the former leftist regime. He would have things just as controlled as the Rehber did, only not so much in detail.

The Rehber looked around and told Osman Polati and Muhammed Bozbeyli, the Koruma director, to stay. As for the remaining officials, he yelped "Mart dışarı" which ignited their eerily simultanious exit. The Rehber approached Li and shook his hand, grasping his wrist instead of the palm itself. This is something the Rehber did to all newly-met leaders. "It's very nice to meet you, but pardon my hastiness. Tell me what you have to tell me, and then I must be on my way."

 

[Keida]

Li nodded, understanding the Rehber's haste, "As you know, I was unable to meet you at the airport because an extremely important matter surfaced at the War Department today," The Premier's eyes fluttered around the room, avoiding focus on those of the Rehber's, "We received a communique from Životinje. By now, you clearly know what it was regarding. They have attacked your country. What they asked of me was that I ensure you do not return to Barazi."

The Premier watched as the Rehber's interpreter translated the message, the impact would be strong, "The Živs want me to imprison or kill you. They think that would end the war without much bloodshed." Li stood back up, "Naturally, since I'm telling you this, you can safely assume that I have chosen not to take them up on the offer. But I'm going to do you and the people of Barazi one more favor. I'm going to warn you that the comminque was also sent to Nokanawa. The Eastern Devils are old friends of the Živs, and they might not be as inclined to help you as I am."

He took a deep breath, "That's why you're going to leave here in one of my helicopters. And your plane is going to be escorted out of our airspace. That should send a signal to the Devils that we aren't going to turn a blind eye to them shooting you down. Both the Republic and myself are making great sacrifices to protect you and Barazi today, Honored Rehber. Let's make sure we don't regret them."

 

[Barazi]

The Rehber could not believe what he'd just heard. In the midst of this disturbing and unsettling news, the Rehber began to look more at peace, and then, laughter. All he could do was laugh and this made some in the room uncomfortable. Polati and Bozbeyli looked at each other nervously. The Rehber rubbed his head in laughter and placed his shades back on. "Well I guess that's another attempt to top the list." He joked, somewhat inappropriately, as he patted Li on the shoulder. "I can honestly say that this does not surprise me coming from imperialists like the Zivs. This only fuels my wanting to go home and rectify this problem." The Rehber backed away to clear his head while peering out the window.
Osman Polati approached Premier Li - more calm than the Rehber was. Polati was a shorter, balding man with big glasses. He was more of a diplomat than a fighter, but he was one of the main hatchers of the Milliyetci idea, and this is why Polati followed the Rehber frequently. Whatever Oscelik knew, Polati knew the same thing, and maybe even more in depth.
"On the behalf of the Rehber, we would like to thank you for organizing our safe retreat back home. This brief visit certainly will not be forgotten and I hope to some day return with the Rehber to finish what we started. Barazi is your friend today Premier Li." Polati saluted Li in the Milliyetci fashion and backed away once more.
The Rehber, now in a stable state of mind, walked back from the window and thanked Li for everything he'd done so far. It wasn't easy for a world leader to turn down an offer from the Zivs. Oscelik knew how articulate the blue union officials were, and he was overjoyed that they'd not persuaded Jizhou into taking unecessary measures to end a conflict simply based on expansion.
"I understand we are to be escorted to the helicopter?" The Rehber asked.

 

[Keida]

Premier Li mimiced the Rehber's wrist-grabbing greeting from before, "My aide, Mr. Wu, waiting outside the door there, will escort you to the helipad out back. They'll fly you back to your plane, where the Republic of Jizhou Air Force will see you safely over the Bashiri border. From there, you only have to worry about the Živs."

Li put his cap back on and nodded at the Barazi retinue, "Good luck. I hope to see you again soon."

 

[Barazi]

As it was told by Premier Li to go through with, the Rehber - surrounded by all his officials and guards from the protective services of the Koruma Ajansi - made his way to the helipad escorted by a Mr. Wu. The plane took off as the Rehber returned home to deal with a surprise crisis.