The Honey Badger And The Bee

[Beatrice]

"There's much you need to learn," Beatrice said with a sigh, sat behind her desk, "it's never easy, nor is it as simple as you seem to think it is. But, if you think you can get King David to speak with you I'll allow it, it'll be a good learning experience perhaps. I'll even grant you the powers of a Liaison if you can find someone we both trust to look over your conduct. If this is really what you want I won't stand in the way, although I am sure your father won't be happy with me. You've still a few years to enjoy youth, and given I never really had that opportunity I've fought to ensure you could."

Adriana was surprised to see her mother acquiesce in such a way, "Yes I'm young but that doesn't mean I shouldn't do anything, you're the one who always said 'leadership is service' so in a way, it's your fault. Anyway," she paused to enjoy her first victory, "you know there's other things I wanted to talk to you about too. Detention gave me a lot of time to think, so I came up with this," she continued, putting a notebook on Beatrice's desk.

After reading a few pages a smile came to Beatrice's face, "To think, something good to come of your bad behaviour at school. Perhaps you take after me more than your father after all."

Your Royal Majesty King David III,

This is the first time I've written someone of your stature, so I'm sorry if it's not exactly by protocol but I'm still learning so I hope you can excuse it. Anyway, after a lot of persuasion I brought my mother, Empress Beatrice, to an agreement that I hope you will be able to work with me on. I, like a lot of Rokkenjmans and especially my generation, don't really want the Tripartite to end. Sure there are issues that need worked out but nothing that brought us to where cancelling it was necessary, and I told her this and showed her the YourGov polls that show people aren't happy about it. This is where I come in and why I'm writing to you.

Basically what we agreed to is this: if I can convince you to sit down with me she's appointing me Junior Liaison for Morelander Affairs and giving me the power to suspend the withdrawal process. From there we can talk about what needs to be done separating the issue from my mother. I told her she has things she needs to work on herself and I'll be helping her with that too, so that will become my problem and not one for both of us at this point. Then I'll also require a person to oversee all of this, so I've selected Aunt Eva. She's someone we can both count on.

At the heart of international deals are trust and respect gained through building relationships, that hasn't happened between us in a long time and is something that needs fixed. I know I want East Moreland on my side when I am Empress, I feel sad that I caused you so much trouble but I also love you all, between Princess Freya and Aunt Eva I have two women who I want to be more like.  That sounds mean too, I still look up to my mom but who she was, it's like she's scared of something you know? I know it's a sore topic for you which is why I said you let me worry about her, maybe I can teach her a thing or two I learned?

Back to my point though you don't turn your back on friends, and that's why I gave mom such a hard time today. I told her I'm not walking away because things are tough, I told her she can if she wants to but I want to be proud of her so she shouldn't.

I learned in school about the Illumic and our relationships and, one day, I'm going to sit on the Throne so this is a decision I told her I should have a voice in. I also learned a lot when I was in East Moreland and I was scared at first, and if mother is letting me do something and if I have a voice I'm not going to sit back and not do anything, I'm taking action. I also told her that the Diet should have a review period on foreign decisions before they're even announced because everyone doesn't always make the right choice and it's only responsible to have another opinion and listen to that when you're wrong. She was surprised I thought of all this but being in Dartfordia and seeing things from 'outside' you can get some good ideas from others and take them home to make things better, don't you think?

Also, almost forgot, but we've got a new program coming up that I really hope you could give me some advice on too. So if you accept once we're done with all the other discussions I'm hoping you can guide me in the right direction and help me make this a success. I also want to come back to East Moreland, but also do something good while I'm there. I hope you accept, and if you don't I'll still hold things up on my end and make something work.

Sincerely,

Adriana Anselmo
Crown Princess of Rokkenjima

[DaveIronside]

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION FROM PRINCESS FREYA

On behalf of my brother I have been asked to thank you for your correspondence. With the ongoing Ostlake Games, Tsunami disaster and various other issues he is unable to deal with this request. However with the two of us having undertaken a pilgrimage last year he has asked me to meet with you.

My brother greatly appreciates the news of the general public of Rokkenjima supporting closer relations with East Moreland. If I am being honest and to prepare you for your visit I must make you aware the general public here are losing faith in the East Moreland and Rokkenjiman relationship, and I am afraid to say sending what people here will view as a child to meet with our representatives will do little to stop this decline. One thing you do however in your favour is that you are known as someone who has undertaken a traditional pilgrimage and thus in the eyes of the faithful, which is the majority of East Moreland, your own standing is less of a concern to Morelanders. Likewise while we have strong trust in Evanthe Rhodes we are unsure why a representative of the government of Somerset would be involved in bilateral talks between our nation. While we have excellent relations with Somerset and in turn Seaforth we believe these should not be used to influence talks between our two nations. Therefore should you choose to have her accompany you there may be times in talks she would be asked to leave or certain topics may not be addressed.

Should you still deceide to attend I shall meet you in Silverhills at your convenience.

May The Gods Watch Over You and Your Nation Know Peace

Princess Freya.

[Beatrice]

Your Royal Majesty Princess Freya,

I wasn't expecting to hear from you in reply but it's a nice surprise. I understand that the King's attentions are divided and there are many important things taking his time. I think this will be fine and should work with what I agreed to with my mother, Empress Beatrice.

Now while I have been named a Liaison I will be joined by someone who has earned a reputation in the Imperial Diplomatic Corps and will provide assistance and understanding greater than my own. Princess Evanthe will be on hand not for discussions, but to accompany me as a 'guardian' and will have no problem sitting out on certain matters. So joining us will be Jason Cole (former CIS Liaison, Ambassador to Lakhzovia among other appointments, and contender for Imperial Councillor for Foreign Affairs). He's dealt with meetings involving several nations and has an understanding of the East Moreland-Rokkenjima relationship which will help us out on my visit.

If this is acceptable to you I'll inform the Empress of these changes and be on my way. I also think you'll be able to give me some guidance on my ideas that I wanted to ask the King about, so I'm still excited about that. I also have a gift that I hope you would be willing to give King David, which I'll be bringing with me.

Sincerely,

Adriana Anselmo
Crown Princess of Rokkenjima

[DaveIronside]

Silverhills was a city that didn't feature all too regularly in the diplomatic tours of East Moreland. That wasn't because of any negative reason but rather because it featured no real property that belonged directly to the royal family. Northfort had the beautiful palace, Rockhampton the majesty royal retreat, Portworth even had a small Penthouse the King had brought when he'd been courting Matilda Osman but the less said about that the better. Meanwhile Silverhills was the hang out of the rich and famous, it was home to some of the most exclusive bars, restaurants and celebrity hangouts as well as the centre of the East Moreland casino and gambling industry.

Freya was missing out on an inspection parade with the 2nd Light Scouts, that was in her mind the only positive thing about this diplomatic task. She hated it when her brother handed some of his duties down to her and while she bore no ill will against Adriana she couldn't think of anything worse than trying to iron out matters between their two nations. She'd meet Adriana before of course when the teenager had done a pilgrimage through East Moreland and they'd got on along decently enough and she suspected that was why David had instructed her to meet the young Rokkenjiman royal. Two people stood waiting on the tarmac of Silverhills with her, to her right was Rebecca Jarrett, the Princesses Head of Household and NCO in the 2nd Light Scouts whose uniform she was wearing. On her left was the flame haired Amelia Merriman, the nations Minister for Youth dressed in a formal black suit with a HoneyBadger pin badge stuck to her lapel. The three waited patiently for the Rokkenjimans to arrive, a small handful of media had been permitted to attend and other than a small contingent of Royal Logistics Corps soldiers providing a small honour guard the only others on the tarmac where a squad of rather dishevelled looking Red Legionnaires who lingered behind their armoured civilian SUV trying to look inconspicuous. Upon hearing the approaching aircraft one of the Reds stubbed out his cigarette on the bonnet of the vehicle before watching the plane touch down and Freya approach the group. "Welcome back to East Moreland" the Kings sister addressed Adriana, "A pleasure" she extended a hand to Evanthe, "Mr. Cole" she shook his hand too. "Let me introduce you to Corporal Jarrett, she's my head of household so any arrangements or needs you have while here please address to her, she's amazing and can usually lay her hands on most things." As she was in uniform Rebecca saluted their royal guests, meanwhile Amelia approached. "We figured seeing as this is giving you an oppurtunity to see international diplomacy you wouldn't mind us doing the same so this is Youth Minister Merriman, a post given traditionally to our youngest Representative Councillor. You may remember her from her organising Pride 2.0 and the CNN creation campaign" Freya had no idea if they did but she was trying to build Amelia's confidence up not that it was needed as the tall ginger haired girl extended her own hand.

"Welcome to Silverhills" She smiled as she completed the round of handshakes.

[Beatrice]

"I'm happy to be back," Adriana said, "thank you for meeting with us." Adriana offered a bow in return to those welcoming her and her entourage. Turning to Amelia Adriana nodded, "I follow international news more closely than most my age so I'm aware. The future is ours, so we all have to do our part yes?" she asked as she shook her hand. "I've brought something I've been working on for a while, wasn't sure when I'd have the chance to give it to you, so this is good timing. I do hope you, and David, will like it."

With a measure of pride Adriana presented Freya with a home-made snow globe, within it a scene of the Palace complete with a miniature flag of East Moreland flying over the Palace. "It was hard to make it so small, but I have a love of flags so I eventually got it just right. I had some help with the other parts of the globe but if you look just right, you can see I got the colours perfect."

"Now I went over things many times on the way here and before leaving so I'm ready to get to business as soon as we arrive. The ideas are all mine with more technical matters overseen by Mr. Cole and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Cole will also be handling anything you don't feel comfortable in my hands only. I hope we can do some good together by the time I leave."

[DaveIronside]

"Its certainly a fantastic representation" Freya said as she examined the small gift. "I'm sure my brother will appreciate the sentiment" she carefully handed the object off to Rebecca. Freya lead the way towards the waiting cars and opened the door for Adrianna and Cole before joining them in the back. "The city may looks rather old fashioned but its a hub of the modern high profile Morelanders, all the music stars, film stars, and the like live here. It's the fastest growing city in East Moreland" Freya watched the old stone buildings fly by as a Police escort allowed the Red Legionnaire accompanied convoy through all the traffic lights making sure they had no need to stop. Even the old medeival bridge that was a major tourist attraction had been kept free for their transit, the padlocks left by lovers decorating the mesh fencing that was the only modern addition. Once across the bridge they wound around the hill as though going to the castle but with what would be one lap left of the climb they stopped outside a large public building "This way if you will" Freya instructed more than asked as they made their way up the steps.

There was a bit of a cue at the entrance to the Museum of History but Freya lead them to a door off to one side marked staff and without ceremony made her way inside. She'd been here many times herself, usually dragged by her brother who always seemed to get the choice for family outings. She hadn't actually minded as the knights and weapons on display fascinated her. "We've this gallery to ourselves" Freya announced as she entered a long thin hall. Glass walls hung from beautifully painted roof to polished wooden floor, behind them hung hundreds of swords each bearing a number next to them. "The hall of steel" Freya said the words almost reverently gazing up at the walls. A series of comfy looking brown leather arm chairs made a circle in the middle of the room. Freya waited for her guests to be sat, "I thought here has less formal a setting than some stuffy palace, and it is a childhood favourite place of the Ironside's.....well I think the world knows big brother is a history nerd and well.....I had a thing for Number 27" Freya went and looked at the sword hanging on the wall at eye level, or at least from when she was 10 year of age. "The sword of Rhiannon the Fierce, she was my hero growing up. I loved Dad telling me the stories, and now I listen to David telling them his own little Rhiannon" She turned and took her seat, surrounded by so much steel she felt oddly comfortable with over 300 swords of show. " One day you and her will be the ones running the Kingdoms, and so I guess I should ask what kind of arrangement will she find when she inherits the throne?" and with that they were down to business. 

[Beatrice]

"Well I have to say I don't know Princess Rhiannon as well as I would like to, but my vision is one of friendship," Adriana answered. "If you look back we've got a large chunk of time where we've gotten along which is much larger than our disagreements. I made clear to my mother, the Empress, that the future is ours, and that is something she needs to respect and not act to harm, and I think I have her on the same page. I think what she did, with the Tripartite and all, is like what one would see on the school yard; you're playing a game, you're on the same team, but you trip them up because of something they said to you at lunch. Maybe not exactly the right comparison, but it's the best I got to work with, and at the end of the day each situation is childish."

"Now do understand this is an initiative of the Crown Princess," Cole spoke up, "while I've provided guidance and worked on the relevant documents and work within the Imperial Diplomatic Corps she's been the driving force. I'll also be ready to address any concerns you may have from a policy perspective, as well as implementation of anything we see agreed to." Following his interjection Adriana continued.

"What we have here is a chain of disappointments," Adriana resumed, "I mean, just look back to the Illumic and what you see is people taking actions without even a word beforehand; that's wrong. I have a three point plan which I hope clears the way to the table, gets us understanding each other again, and reassures everyone in the value of the Tripartite. We also have the matter of levels of support, which I think I've figured out as well."

"Looking at that I figure I will use the authority given to me to suspend the withdrawal, that will then lead to a period of time which sees us working on the issues facing the Tripartite, and after that happens we could see a referendum which sees the decision given to the East Moreland People since they understandably aren't so sure about things anymore. If the referendum is a no, and we haven't fixed thing, we allow the withdrawal to continue and it gets left to the next generation to fix."

"We also have the fact that Dartfordia, I mean I love Dartfordia and all, but the inclusion of them into a treaty pretty much centred around the Illumic was always weird. I think the Tripartite, if it is somehow saved, should be so in its original membership, since that's what it was about right? I'm not saying it was a bad choice and all, but it sort of changed things that made the Tripartite not what it was, like it was a forced effort to preserve it. So there's all of that to consider."

"There's a lot to cover but I think we can do it."

[DaveIronside]

Freya sat listening to what the Rokkenjiman's had to say, she had to admit the young Princess spoke well enough but the content of her words was paper thin. "I don't wish to sound rude" Freya leaned forward, " We've heard all this before, several times we saw announcements made to the press before our own government and after each one commitments that it shouldn't happen again, yet here we are, we find out about the termination of the Tripartite through the media too. What has changed that makes us think this won't happen again? We have the same Empress and thus the same helmsman at the ship of Rokkenjima." Freya poured a glass of water. "The lack of communication is however the least of our concerns and that at present isn't addressed. Let me explain. The impression given by your mother puts us ideologically at odds, her suspending the tripartite, cancelling it or whatever you wish to call it just because my brother mistrusts her to  gives out a message to the world that the Empress IS Rokkenjima, meanwhile my brother pursue solid relations between our two lands because he realises he works FOR East Moreland. Think about what you see around you." She gestured to the walls of swords, "Each of these represents an individual who used their power for the good of our nation, many died using that sword to defend others despite the fact they may not have known them. That is what we strive for, our own ego removed. Now this brings us to the crux of the issue, despite what we agree here today.....and I am yet to here any concrete proposals or offers....your mother will still be Empress and we have yet to see anything of note from her other than complaints that we don't like her."

Freya paused for a moment or two before sitting well back in her chair. "So as you haven't put forward anything other than East Moreland having a referendum.....which frankly is a decision for us....I'll kick start things." She took a scrap of paper from her notepad. "This is what we propose as a start. First there is no tripartite. Relationships between our nations don't formally exist and never have other than through that organisation. The first attempt failed because you didn't follow it when you consistently used the media as your form of communication with us, and the second failed because frankly it was doomed to as it served no real purpose other than to continue East Moreland and Rokkenjiman relations. Any agreement shall be on a individual basis. We have a solid foundation of friendship and co-operation with Seaforth through our own treaty and we have a foundation for dealing with the Illumic as the Illumic Council exists as does the Mhorish and Illumic Co-operative Agency. East Moreland and Seaforth are the primary powers in the Illumic and therefore what we say between the two of us will determine the majority of policy there. That bring me to point two, You have a base in the Illumic, any agreement between us will see a commitment from East Moreland to support a defence of that base, I suspect Seaforth will give similar assurances, therefore the number of ships stationed there can be reduced, I see no need for more than two Destroyers, two Frigates or their equivalent, two subs and no carrier. Clearly your vessels may pass through, the FSC gives you that right and we will uphold that international law. The only reason a fleet is needed in the Illumic is for your base defence and a carrier is an offensive asset not a defensive one, air operations can be launched from that base. You clearly have bases in the Great North Sea and the Kyne from where you can deploy air assets for operations. Thirdly we want your written support publically given for Charles Olfdensen to be extradited to East Moreland to face trial for conspiring with the Borlanders, we'll be pushing for the death penalty on charges relating to terrorism. Fourthly any treaty will put in place an assurance that you will not circumvent the conditions agreed regarding military forces in the Illumic by establishing a naval presence elsewhere in the Illumic. Frankly the East Moreland Navy hardly leaves the Illumic and Mhorish and while we have more of a reputation and a land and air force we are more than capable of keeping homewaters and those of our neighbours free from trouble. Now that is the opening, where we go from here is now up to you." Freya put her scrap of paper back into her notepad and waited.

[Beatrice]

"Which is why I said in my letter that my mothe...the Empress, is my concern. She's not the same in some ways, I pick up on them when we're together, you can always tell when something is not right with your parents, you know? It's like she's always scared there's something behind her, something around the corner, doesn't know who to trust outside of the Castle. I think it's why she's the way she is to King David, and I know it's not right, but if you'll put your faith in me I will help her to see the things she doesn't see anymore. I already have that in her accepting my proposal that the Imperial Diet have the right to review of all foreign policy decisions by the Crown before they're announced. One person can't always be right and it's good to know you have like, thousands of eyes literally saying whether something is good or not."

Adriana listened to Freya's starting point and, by the conclusion, nodded with a smile. "I don't see where any of that isn't common sense, though I would add a condition that Rokkenjima and East Moreland must come together from time to time to rebuild what brought us together in the first place. If you're agreeable to that I give my approval. I also think you should look at Ichinose too, Mr. Cole told me he was found guilty of actions at QAMB and should face the same fate as Ofdensen if you ask me." It was at this point that Cole spoke up.

"Decimating the Illumic Fleet was not on the agenda, and likely won't be a position the Crown Princess can give a definitive agreement on," he sighed, almost in a manner to indicate it was a matter of his superiors rather than a personal objection. "It's not decimating the Illumic Fleet," Adriana said before he could get another word in, "the Empress was clear that I have the same authority she does, you are to handle the technical aspects of making it happen. Anyway hasn't it been years since anyone reviewed the Illumic posture, at least from what I see in the notes you brought with you? We don't have enemies in the Illumic or any north for that matter, unless we're there to fight Stalin's ghost navy..."

Cole, visibly defeated at first, roused a chuckle by the mention of Stalin's ghost navy. "Your argument is sound enough, I was merely giving the position back home, as I understand it, regarding the Illumic Fleet. I do feel we can sell the idea more strongly, however, if we were at least capable of stationing the Megitsune at QAMB, along with a support vessel or two for the purposes of resupply if need be. This would be to supplement humanitarian operations further afield from QAMB. It would also do us well to station one of our hospital ships there as the main purpose of our continued presence has been to support more operations of a humanitarian nature."

Adriana looked to Freya, "Would that be something that could be worked with?" she asked.

[DaveIronside]

Freya watched the faces of Amelia and Rebecca as Adriana spoke, there was still little reassurance on some matters and that raised a few eyebrows. Then came the matter of "decimating the Illumic fleet" and this was ground on which Freya felt very solid, after all she'd joined the military at 18 and seen service in several of her nations frontlines, she knew her way around amphibious warfare ships rather well. "ah the Megitsune" Freya smiled, "Nice ship.....helicopter destroyer or aircraft carrier in disguise?" she asked the question. "You see our armed forces insist that to gain promotion past Major you spend some time outside your unit, you know where I spent mine? The air force, I got my pilots licence when I wasn't much older than you and I've always kept it up. I wanted to get my hands on our Dragonbreath fighter, our newest toy but I got stuck with the Dragonheart but that was still a lot of fun and we did operate alongside our Dragonbreaths, you see they could operate off of something like the Megitsunes, make it a funky little aircraft carrier. The treaty we sign needs to be future proof and who is to say in years to come you won't be putting some VSTOL aircraft of sorts onto it. So here is what I suggest, some defence sources call it a helicopter destroyer, you can label it as one of those and it can count as part of your destroyer quota, the second option I suggest is that in addition to us setting limits of types of ship we stipulate that no fixed wing aircraft either manned or unmanned may be kept aboard a ship based in the Illumic. As for things such as tankers, hospital ships I have no issue with them its combat vessels I wish to see a hard limit on."

"You speak of coming together to rebuild what brought our nations together" Amelia spoke for the first time in the meeting, "Sounds very flowery and diplomatic but what do you think brought our nations together that needs rebuilding? I have my own view but I'm interested to hear yours and you've not said how that would be done?"

[Beatrice]

"I see no reason these conditions would not be acceptable," Adriana said, "I'll see that Mr. Cole makes sure they're well understood." Turning for a moment to Jason Adriana spoke just loudly enough for Freya to still hear her, "This is my word on the line too, do you understand? I trust you to make sure no one goes behind my back. What we agree here is final." Returning her attention to the room at large she resumed her smile and cheerful tone.

"Well to answer we look way back to the Regency, where Rokkenjima stood against James and was there beside the King and yourself in the times after that. In the times after that we understood each other mostly because our positions and actions were well aligned and well established. I mean you look at what Rokkenjima did in the time between the Ecclesiarreich Conference and the Covenant of Nations and Rokkenjima helped a lot of nations without hesitating or expecting much of anything in return. It was understood by both of us that you help those who need it most, speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. I don't know exactly the moment things went wrong, but that's one thing we can work on."

"And the Illumic, you look back on what my Aunt said so long ago:"

"Meanwhile, in the Illumic, Princess Freya has assumed the duties, powers and responsibilities of her brother, King David III. I would like to state that the many works and achievements of King David cannot be questioned, nor his contributions to Mundus as a whole. I, and the Imperial Government, are fully confident that Princess Freya will prove to be a wise steward of East Moreland and wish her calm seas during her Regency. Naturally we also wish King David III all the best in what is a most difficult time for him.

I would only remind the Princess that Rokkenjima has long ago shifted its policy in regards to the Illumic, recognizing that the future of the Illumic must be determined fully by the Illumic nations themselves. The very purpose behind the establishment of QAMB came at a time where the region faced the full wrath of Warsaw's navies, imposing a blockade which threatened international shipping and commerce. Let it not be forgotten that it was an Illumic nation, the Elpidian Federation, which invited and requested a Rokkenjiman presence in the Illumic; not imperialistic designs nor a desire to project power which brought Rokkenjima to the Illumic. No, it was a desire to stand by and defend our friends and allies in the region, which remains the reason why the First Empire remains an Illumic power."

"So, with the Illumic, what I am aiming to do is pivot the Illumic Fleet to a humanitarian footing and I think that upholds Rokkenjima's position with actions. Back to the Regency, you saw true friendship form after that, from there we aligned on the same principles, and it's when people at home dropped the ball we started to drift. Then Mother takes things so personally and just adds to the trouble instead of putting in the effort to fix it. What I see is the King is disappointed, my mother hasn't done anything to support the values based foreign policy she talked of so much, then forgets that yesterday doesn't mean anything when tomorrow is what actually matters."

"Sorry if I'm rambling but what it comes down to is people need to talk less about what happened years ago, remember what they're fighting for, and put all that effort from talking about the past and instead do something good for today and tomorrow. I mean you go through a majority of the CTO and what is it, "I got snubbed on the Imperial Council, people are dying in Uppsala or Nueva Ardia or elsewhere and what am I going to do, waste time talking about senseless things instead of putting people in a place they can do some good. That's one place we grew apart too, and one of the things that has to be a focus in getting things back on track."

"That's my understanding at least, if there's anywhere I'm wrong someone please let me know because I want to make this right. I'm not even going to get into what's up between King David and mother because that's her responsibility to take care of, unless she remembers who she is I don't see where that can even happen. We can make a new path here, all of us put some faith in, and I will see that all that can be done from our end can happen. Mr. Cole, you need to make sure that happens too and people don't go searching for enemies in friends, that too brought us to where we are."

Turning to Freya Adriana continued, "There's a lot I don't understand, I need your point of view and I need you to correct anything I might understand incorrectly. I know that my mother is a concern and I think I've made some progress with her, I think you'll see that in the idea I am asking your advice on that she helped me with. I won't say that I see hope, I see potential and if she lives up to her word I think we have a chance."

[DaveIronside]

The speech from the young Princess was not far from what Amelia and Freya had expected, it was clear to them both just how far away from each other things were in East Moreland and Rokkenjima. Freya glanced over and motioned that Amelia should begin, it was after all her question that had brought about the history lesson.

"Only remembered for what we have done" Amelia began with a line from a famous Cult of Helus song. "Only remembered for what we have done.
 Thus would we pass from this earth and its toiling,
 Only remembered for what we have done."

"Its something you'll hear of spoken a lot in the corridors of Northfort, Gesture Politics. Words matter...of course they matter....but at the end of the day they are like smoke, once spoken they float on the air and disappear gone forever. What matters is what we do once we have said something. Look at Tim Carpenter, he wishes to show the world that the CTO care about Uppsala not by talking about it and sending weak platitudes but by physically sitting the organisation there. What happens following it? The Refugee Council Chair Melissa Lusk gets on a plane and spends the next three weeks living in a tent to support the people of Uppsala, and that wasn't even her promise. So far what gesture we have in moving our relationship forward is one thing, a reduction in force size at QAMB. Something that should have happened in my view a good three years ago. Look at the three piracy increases that have hit the Illumic, East Moreland slapped them down hard within weeks despite our shipping not really being effected, USR start sniffing around for real estate.....to counter your own presence, East Moreland and Seaforth slap it down again. Ask anyone of my age and we see your presence in the Illumic as essentially a pain in the backside. Now that pain is being reduced and for that we thank you. But the issues between our nations go further than that base and that presence. So the question isn't what was in the past but what are YOU, and by that I mean Rokkenjima going to do in the future."

Freya leaned forward as though to stop Adriana answering immediately. "Things go both ways. Gesture Politics is like that, now if I was you I'd be asking what East Moreland was doing to repair the situation" she reached into her bag and picked out a number of files. " She handed them carefully to Cole, "My husband Major Redfern says these files are no longer of any use.....to anyone....and so Lelouch Lamperouge can have them back" She handed over the files of the Rokkenjiman agents that he had wanted eliminating and the Morelanders had, all but the one they'd pinned on the Truthsayers. "These" she produced a wedge of files and placed them on the desk. "Are the ones we've not had time to process......odd to think we were dealing with this "paperwork" while your Mother was" she looked for a newspaper cutting," claimed to have "terminate relations"."

[Beatrice]

"It actually goes a long way toward what I was going to ask you about," Adriana said as Cole accepted the files on her behalf. "There's been a lot of doing nothing so what I've looked to establish is a branch of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps to be called the Social Interest Service, or SIS for short. The SIS will pair recent college and trade school graduates with communities around Mundus to address issues like a shortage of teachers, engineers, construction personnel, doctors, basically people who will play a role in helping these communities build their own capacities to address shortcomings in infrastructure and manpower. These people will be able to serve for three years which can be renewed and, hopefully, by the end of our engagement with these communities conditions will be improved and we'll build friendships along the way. If you build up communities and give them chances to succeed you have a chance to prevent war over things like resources and fortune, reduce desperation and you take another leg from the table of war."

"In addition to what I agreed is overdue, I plan to see that all support to see Ofdensen is made available to you is, as well as Ichinose as was mentioned previously. We'll also see that the Empress introduces, in clear and unequivocal language, into Rokkenjiman foreign policy that it will not act in a military capacity in the Illumic unless in a situation of self-defense or that of an ally. In all diplomatic concerns and efforts in the Illumic deferment to the Illumic Council and AKO will be official policy, likewise stated in clear and unequivocal language.  Full access to Rokkenjiman intelligence networks and the information contained there will also be made available without reservation, as well as open access to all convicted in recent terrorist investigations into the failures at QAMB and the Imperial Guard."

"On another matter I have talked with my mother about undertaking a pilgrimage of her own, an idea she's warming up to. If we are to be friends it is important that everyone shows how committed they are to that and it's beyond time that my mother begin to address her personal shortcomings and wrongs toward East Moreland as a whole. Following this I insisted that she revive the tradition of hearing the People from the Throne, I mean yes today it's served by a section of YourVoice.rk but I want to see her personally interacting and engaging people to reconnect her with what she always called 'the greatest service', that being leadership, and what that truly means."

Mr. Cole accepted the files, he'd been briefed on the effort by Lelouch and understood the significance presented. As he did so Adriana continued, "I also understand that the situation prevented East Moreland from killing Kyle Barren, this is something Rokkenjima can likely never make up for. He represents an evil that has taken so many lives and can take so many more, and touch so many more in the worst of ways. We have a long way to go and there's more to this than is at first obvious, but we'll work through it as we go. We didn't get to this point quickly, and we won't build up from it any quicker, but we're willing to put the effort and action in over the long term."

[DaveIronside]

Freya sighed and sat for a moment before sliding her chair slightly closer to Adriana. "Look, the SIS sounds a good initiative, but I have a concern. Its nothing new. Nations across Mundus have been doing this kind of thing for a while and Rokkenjima is now joining the party. East Moreland have national service that does what your describing. The Hringhurni project of the Alanders had a floating community of people doing these things. Now there can never be too many but this is my fear. We've seen in the past Rokkenjima make statements about their work as though nobody else does things. Take your mother's comments about contributions to the CTO, I'm happy to go get receipts if need be but while your mother was sorting her personal situation out all the heavy lifting Achakerin and ourselves did well you certainly weren't the main contributor. Making statements that disparage others just because your project comes about or because it didn't involve you is the surest way to upset people. This SIS should be looking to partner up with people and if I'm honest their ain't a lot of people viewing Rokkenjima as they once did. I'll give you Melissa Lusks number, she's running the Refugee University programme and got people in all manner of circumstances earning degrees."

"Next as for the Illumic and you not taking action there without involving the nations there your essentially saying the Tri-partitie again. That failed, you were supposed to inform us before taking actions, you didn't. Why would a new piece of paper change that expectation? So you can make all the verbal or written promises in the world. Some are not going to carry weight."

"We then have the pilgrimage, your mother wouldn't really get benefit from doing it. Everyone would see it as a PR stunt. You got to do one and it was billed as being for educational purposes, for helping you get to know the people you'll one day be an allied monarch of, or would have been. Your mother was supposedly so aware of our people that she was a part of our family, she was so trusted that David made her a Shield or sword mother of his child. A pilgrimage isn't a wise move on security grounds and they'll be no benefit. Now I'm going to be blunt, Amelia asked what you were going to do, actually physically do something to repair relations between us. You've given us your SIS and a pilgrimage. One has no impact on us the other is pointless. The rest is just words."

Amelia produced a piece of paper before speaking, "Here are some ideas we had." She placed the paper down before the Rokkenjimans

The Following agreement will come into force between East Moreland and Rokkenjima upon the signing of this agreement.

1. The Empress Beatrice of Rokkenjima will publically apologise for statements made diminishing the role of Achkaerin and East Moreland within the CTO.

2. Rokkenjima to agree to the permanent stationing of 1 Wing Commander, 1 EMAC Spotter and its associated crew at QAMB. The Wing Commander to be kept informed of all Rokkenjiman movements by land, sea or air in the Illumic region.

3. Wing Commander at QAMB to brief Rokkenjiman forces of any East Moreland activity likely to impact QAMB prior to it taking place.

4. An annual review of force levels at QAMB to be undertaken by East Moreland and Seaforth with recommendations made to Rokkenjima

5. Rokkenjima to provide 45 teachers to the Refugee University programme and fully fund their work for the next three years. This will match the commitment to the project already made by East Moreland.

6. Rokkenjima to join East Moreland, Lodja, The Ecclesiastical State, New Zion and Achkaerin in becoming a Global Childbirth Initiative member, furthermore they shall establish a centre of excellence as have the other nations.

7. Medically trained members of the SIS to be placed at the disposal of the Joint Emergency Team at their request and current situations allowing.

8. Rokkenjima and East Moreland to remove all tariffs and quotas between each other in so far as local health, safety and taxation laws are applied to goods and services being traded.

9. Rokkenjima and East Moreland agree to visa free travel so long as the traveller has.

a) A valid return ticket
b) I staying less than 60 days or is holding the offer of a place at an institute of learning.
c) Has no criminal record.
d) Has sufficient funds to cover their stay
e) Is not considered a risk to national security

10. East Moreland and Rokkenjima agree to share military and criminal intelligence so long as it does not impact their own on-going operations. Each nation shall appoint a nominated individual to act as first point of contact.

11. East Moreland and Rokkenjima agree to the construction of two floating refugee/crisis vessels to be crewed by a joint Rokkenjiman and East Moreland crew. One of these ships to be based at Portworth, East Moreland the other at ____________, Rokkenjima. The vessel to not be manned by serving military personnel.

Amelia left the paper and then waited for the Rokkenjiman response.

[Beatrice]

"I would propose striking the first item," Adriana said after reading it. "An apology will be made, however being called for in such a manner would not be in line with Rokkenjiman culture or norms. An apology which is not organic and not of the sole volition of the party apologizing isn't one which carries great weight. As for the remainder I would propse a recess so it may be discussed between Mr. Cole and myself, while also allowing for some propositions I would be interested in making. If that is acceptable, of course?"

[DaveIronside]

Freya spoke, "On paper we would leave out article one so long as it is made publicly within one week of this agreement. As for a recess so you and Mr.Cole can speak that's acceptable however I'd ask you to present your own propositions before you do, it saves us the time of having to then take our own in order to respond."

[Beatrice]

"I don't really have anything right now," Adriana replied. "I think if Rokkenjima can't work with what we have now then it'd be hopeless. I guess the only thing I would ask for is a commitment by both East Moreland and Rokkenjima to meet in a year's time, see where things stand and if things have improved that can be taken into account and both can act accordingly. There's more to be done yeah, but that responsibility has to be taken up by the adults back home."

[DaveIronside]

Freya shook her head in disappointment. "I don't wish to sound rude but I'm disappointed. These negotiations could have been handled by one of our Ministers, Amelia here even. We agreed to this meeting largely out of respect for your position as Princess of Dartfordia. In your letter you made it sound like you had ideas of your own you wished to present here. That hasn't happened. As for meeting in a years time that is my brothers decision and not mine, he may not see any point in it if the talks have no actual authority like these have." Freya stood and left a copy of Amelia's document with Adriana. "Your Highness feel free to stay enjoy the museum for as long as you wish. There are rooms available for you and Mr.Cole at the Palace back in Northfort should you wish to extend your stay in our country. The Red Legionnaires outside will escort you to a helicopter if you require. Otherwise I shall see you next time." With that she turned and followed by Amelia left.

"Well what do you think happens next?" Amelia asked Freya as they headed out.

"I go to the gift shop and buy Rhiannon a toy sword, maybe get a coffee." Freya said casually as they strolled out of the room.

"I meant with the Rokkenjimans"

"No idea. They've a list of what we expect but we've seen split personality from them and frankly sending a child to negotiate smacks of them lacking respect so we shall see what happens, but I'm not holding my breath." Freya concluded as they began browsing the gift shop.

[Beatrice]

OOC: Alex responses are from C, so a bit of collaboration. ^_^
With the departure of Freya and Amelia Adriana turned to Mr. Cole, "Look I got to make a call, can you step out for a minute? We'll probably be staying for a few, so you can let those nice Legionnaires know I'll be ready soon." Once Cole was out of the room Adriana checked the time in Dartfordia, and though it was a bit early she placed the call anyway. The grumbling on the other end made her giggle a little bit, a smile was just what she needed at the moment.

"Yeah sorry for the early call but mum isn't who I need now, and I miss you so...anyway, this whole EM thing. I feel like I shouldn't have even come like, I know I had ideas and wanted to change things but it's not my job and I don't even have the answers for these things. I saw you and mum and things came so naturally to you I don't know, maybe I thought it would come that easy for me too?" She sighed, "Plus all of my friends back home left me like a thousand messages wondering why I'm here and not putting them first. Why did I do this again?"

"So anyway now I have this proposal from Freya, I sent you a pic of it, and the best I could say is 'I have ideas, lemme go over them and get back to you'. I bombed it, I mean she said we have rooms at Northfort so maybe I can bring this back around but I don't know where I would begin. I know you've been out of things for a while but you know how these things work better than me. Can you be my 'cheat sheet' for a few, cause I don't know what to do from here and it's a bit of pressure..."

"And before you get mad at mum this was my idea, I know how to get what I want out of her and may have been a bit unfair, so it's equal blame here. I just need to know if there's anything you might propose that I'm just not seeing, then you can get back to bed and I can get to Rokkenjima. Mum is taking me on a couple of festivals, and I mean you could probably come too you know. Would be nice to have the family back together..."

Alex listened to his daughter's ramblings, biting his lip to suppress the grin at his daughter's mildly amusing - though diplomatically tragic - conundrum. "Well...I'm not gonna disagree with you, I am handsomely charming in the art of diplomatic affairs," he spoke in a heavily posh accent.

"Daaaaad," Adriana whined, "I'm serious!"

"Hi Seri-"

"-Dad!" Adriana interrupted, heaving a sigh of frustration at her father's humour.

"Alright, keep your tits on," Alex chuckled, "alright so. Forget your friends from home for a second, you can make it up to them later. As for the talks...I'm gonna be honest, you're lucky Freya is talking to you. You have one chance at this. Now whatever you propose will likely be seriously amended in future, whatever, that's diplomacy. But don't you dare walk out of that museum without even trying."

Adriana sighed again. "I don't feel like I can, I...how do I even approach her?"

"Of course you can," Alex replied softly, "if your Mum can become Empress again within a couple of years of a war crimes conviction, you can give Freya a proposal document. Hell, if she's waiting around in the gift shop, she's probably waiting for the old Anselmo U-turn."

"Mum would kill you if she heard that," Adriana stated dryly.

Another chuckle. "Don't worry kiddo, she's sitting across from me, I'm already dead. Anyway, hurry up before Freya ends up buying an overpriced keyring."

"Wait," she said quickly, "what do I do if she doesn't like what I say?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, before Alex wryly replied, "Blame your mother."

"Thanks," Adriana replied, "I'll try to catch up before she leaves."

As she finished their call Adriana was pointed in the direction of the gift shop and, after arriving a bit out of breath, was relieved to see she had made it in time. "I'm not going home without trying. Student exchanges, cultural workshops, hell taking one of the liners for a Rokkenjima-Morelander meet and greet, we start from the ground up ya know? Mum has to face what she's done to make things this bad too, not only the Commonwealth stuff but each time she said one thing and did another in the Illumic. Research initiatives with joint funding for things like diseases and prosthetics, ending poverty, I know I'm getting broad but I'm just saying there's things we can do together that can actually mean something again. We start from the document you handed me and build from there with actions and see where we end up and if it fails, we can blame Mum I'm sure."

As she caught her breath she wasn't sure what she had sputtered out in quick succession, but she was catching up. "Maybe get something to drink and go from there," she continued, though she was happy to have caught up before their departure. She didn't have all the answers obviously, but she couldn't walk away without trying her best.

[DaveIronside]

Freya stood and listened as she held the fridge magnet she'd get her brother. "That's a stream of consciousness" the Morelander Princess replied. " Some there is already the opportunity there without the need for specific treaties all rokkenjima need do is utilise them. Tim Carpenter set up the More and Mundus project that arranges exchange visits for high school students. We even packed Sophie off to Dartfordia and looked after her friend Lucy for a few weeks when she returned. The cultural stuff is there through CETO and every feast day our embassies do things sharing our culture with the local community.  Last feast of Marissa we planted over 1000 trees in Lodja through our Embassy there. The Mundus Health Organisation looks into illness, Global Childbirth Initiative looks to help improve health care. There are many projects tackling disease and poverty. I guess what I'm asking is this, if these oppurtunities already exist why not utilise them , we do. Why should there be a need for a specific arrangement to make them happen? Now if you want that drink you need to start coming up with some specifics that make these grand statements more relevant to our nations because we already fund most of the Mundus Health Organisations work, why would we split our funding between it and a Moreland Rokkenjima approach." She paid for the magnet and motioned for Adriana to follow her.

"Gesture Politics" Freya said as they reached the street where already the security detail was making a bubble. Freya walked with the confidence of someone who was used to this and exchanged passing pleasantries with well wishers as they walked randomly stopping her flow of conversation to engage. "Something for your political education regarding our nation. Every action in talks is symbolic, it means something. " Without warning she broke into a few lines of a song.


"Only the truth that in life we have spoken,
Only the seed that in life we have sown.
These shall pass onwards when we are forgotten,
Only remembered for what we have done."

"Our faith tells us Helus himself said those words and they now form part of a song in praise of him. Think of the location, a museum not a royal building, sends a message of the fact we've not forgotten the past. The collection of swords, a reminder of the codes morelanders hold dear. Amelia being there, a point towsrds the fact that we see these talks as a move to the future. Everything having a meaning. Look at the proposals we put forward, all clear actions, doing not talking. Ask anyone who had dealt with my brother him and his notebook always have draft ideas already put down, the meaning.....that he wants talk to be about action not about what to talk about. Every Morelander knows this. Look at Carpenter even when batshit crazy he knew this. Want to make the people of krokom see the CTO is genuinely sorry for screwing up the aid efforts and offering no support most would have just written a sorry note. He wants to take the leadership there and put them in the centre of it. Why?" She waited only a heartbeat before opening the door of a place selling milkshakes making the staff go crazy fussing over what to do now two Princesses had walked in. " The reason was it sends the very real message we're in this with you and we're going nowhere. It'd have been the best gesture the CTO could have sent in its existence but people preferred to talk about helping krokom and nothing was done by those who discussed it. Prime example of why we prefer gesture than flowery words." Freya looked at the menu as a nervous waitress came over. " Jaffa Cake milkshake please" she handed the menu back to the waitress. "So thoughts?"

[Beatrice]

"It's a cultural thing," Adriana said, "and a lot of that has been....how do you say, strayed from recently? East Moreland sees actions and words, while Rosari see words and actions should be part of the same motion, both have been failed and they look at things from a different point of view than you do. So we have these things we both basically value, and we don't want to distract from them or dilute things by creating competing initiatives, I understand that too."

"If I may," she said somewhat nervously, "why don't you allow me to buy your shake? From there we can get into the details, we have the water initiative coming up and I know East Moreland is a leader in technology and we can do a lot of good in bringing clean water to people in a lot of places that don't have it. We also have Abstergo that basically open sourced its Daraprim alternative when those jerks raised the price so much; why not make a joint effort to open source more medicines and treatments, produce them jointly and make sure there's something affordable for everyone? Could even have a database of formulas for pharmacies to make them in house for the people that don't have access to the usual market?"

"This is a handful of things sure, but I want to start with a few ideas first and see where they grow from there. If that's alright with you?" she continued, wallet in hand.

[DaveIronside]

"Feel free to pay the lady" Freya replied as she then listened to Adrianna's points. " The issue is Abstergo is essentially owned by your family, meanwhile us poor Ironsides have to rely on others even buying our milkshakes" she joked as the thick orangy chocolate drink arrived and she thanked the waitress. "We can however put the relevant companies here in touch with the projects. We've Watly which we've distributed on every refugee mission that we've been on. Then for the drugs thing you'd need to speak to the Osman's, they've already done a lot in terms of releasing patents, lowering prices and then like. We're not in a situation to force them into doing anything."

[Beatrice]

Adriana presented her card after placing an order of her own with a smile. "I don't expect you to force anything, so we get the right people talking and let them work things out. Combine a compound encyclopedia, like Wikipedia but for drug companies and pharmacies, with a supply of the things that can't be made by everyone, and that's a lot of life saving drugs you can get into people's hands. Then if you partner with initiatives like JET, GCI, etc, the possibilities are endless don't you think?"

[DaveIronside]

"Its a noble idea yes" Freya sipped her shake having thanked both Adriana and the waitress for it. "The issue though is while OsmanTech have done a great deal to support programmes around the world remember they are not a charity. They rely on their income to support new research and new products. Take for example OsmanTech and their recent cancer tattoo. A patch that can be used to effectively diagnose several forms of cancer much earlier than normally the case, ideas like that will save millions of lives and lead onto Helus know what, but if OsmanTech are giving away all their patents and the like then new solutions like that won't be made. I can of course encourage my brother to make things like what you suggest worth OsmanTech's while but there is only so much that can be done and perhaps we should focus on what our nations can do without having to rely on corporations. "

[Beatrice]

"Then we can start with something a little different," Adriana said, changing gears slightly. "Why don't we, Anselmos and Ironsides, create a scholarship that places medical students in some of the toughest places in Mundus on their graduation? You start local and build from there, build a hospital or two, what do you think there?"

Adriana then displayed her tablet screen to Freya, "I've sent some things to Pyrena for signature, we should know in a few hours whether or not they're adopted. I added some notes and I don't think there should be anything preventing adoption of the measures. There's still a lot to be done but I think I've done my part, I think mum should be able to work from what we've given her."

[DaveIronside]

"Adriana I like the concept but it won't work. The head of the Anselmo family is your mother, and the head of the Ironsides is David, there is not a snowflakes chance in hell that my brother would willingly see the Anselmo and Ironside name jointly on something. Remember at one point your mother was a guardian to my nephew Caspian and David went so far as having the High Priestess of our faith wipe that from the record and allow him to replace them. The scholarship could work, but it would be better leaving out the family names, we're still nowhere near that. Now when you become Empress then there is potential there but I suspect that will not be for many long years." Freya added. "I'm also not sure about sticking recent graduates in tough places, at the start of any career that's when things go wrong and do you really want a junior doctor straight out of medical school messing something up while stuck in the middle of Zimalia where the nearest support is a few hours away? I think we'd be better doing two things, first we offer scholarships to students with promise from Zimalia and places like that, we fund their studies and accomodation but on the understanding they have to spend a minimum of five years back home after graduation. That way we have nations taking responsibility for themselves like we would see in an ideal world. Second step is we fund people like this Olivia Robertsson . Get young doctors still in training to use their holidays to go and do preventative public health education, equip them to deliver training and advice to people in areas like Zimalia and we get a two for one deal. First the Zimalians would learn about how to protect themselves from diseases like AIDS/HIV thus helping take pressure off their health care system, second we get a young doctor more experience. Prevention is better than a cure." Freya suggested.

"Now as for this being signed off on our end that comes down to my brother. Generally speaking though he'll sign what I suggest so the East Moreland side of the issue should be simple. Selling it to our people may take more time though."