A Trip to the Illumic

[Achkaerin]

Peter always liked travelling around, it was a great chance to see other nations and as a historian it was a great opportunity to learn about other nations as well, it was the biggest upside to his responsibilities as Emperor. There was something of a running joke around the international community that Achkaerin 'turned up with half their country' well perhaps this was a surprise because Peter had decided that for this trip to Heyra his companions would number only one and that was his new foreign affairs advisor Nettie Taylor, the former Rokkenjiman Imperial Councilor of Foreign Affairs. Peter had his reasons for this choice, firstly it provided him with the chance to get to know Nettie a little better but also it allowed her to start her job with something quite simple and hopefully successful, this was simply a meeting between two nations, nothing really too complicated in relative terms.

As for Heyra itself Peter had to admit it was what he'd imagined, plenty of pomp and circumstance the cavalry escort they were being given was proof of that, though as a Mundus Games equestrian gold medalist Peter was resisting the urge to comment on the riding style, something which was amusing Nettie endlessly.
"What?" Peter asked, when he saw the grin on Nettie's face
"It's just been a while since anyone took me on a trip abroad." Nettie said
"First of many I hope." Peter said, it was still a little weird to have Nettie working for him considering all the history between her and certain members of the Achkaerinese royal household, but this was yet another reason he'd brought her along the more they worked together the less weird the situation became "Any advice?"
"It's Heyra so formality, be prepared, be respectful, be diplomatic and watch out for the odd curve ball." Nettie said, Peter nodded he remembered the Heyran Grand Prix of the previous year and the slight chaos that had nearly resulted in mayhem.
"Noted." Peter said

When they arrived at the Palace, Peter stepped out first and helped Nettie out, one of the Palace staff indicated for the pair to follow him inside. Peter and Nettie glanced at each other as they did so, they didn't have a set in stone agenda, this was something of an exploratory visit to establish formal relations. Nevertheless it was time to put their game faces on.

[Achkaerin]

"Well I drink whiskey" Peter said checking his watch to make sure it was what some would call an 'appropriate' hour "Nettie?"
"I prefer vodka." Nettie said, Peter half smiled he knew why she preferred Vodka "And with all due respect sir I'm Rokkenjiman not Achkaerinese." she hoped she hadn't offended Louis by pointing this out. Louis served the drinks and the three sat.

"Well Your Majesty." Peter said "I guess I should lay out the groundwork so to speak. Achkaerin has always sought peaceful relations across Mundus formed on friendship and mutual trust. Heyra is a nation that we have yet to formally establish relations with, so that's what I'm hoping we can discuss - what I believe we could call the basics, diplomatic relations, potentially trade concerns and maybe other areas if both of us are comfortable. This is about building something that will last into the future from where I'm sitting, what that is is a world better than the one I know. Such a goal may be called noble it may be called lofty it may be called ambitious but I believe it's achievable. Shall we begin with diplomacy? As I understand it you don't permit that many embassies in Heyra is that correct?"

[Achkaerin]

Peter paused thinking for a moment, he had to tread carefully now.

"Let's begin with diplomatic protocols, for the moment Achkaerin has no embassy with Heyra so my logical position is to leave you with the contact information of Tommy Walker, he's our senior diplomat on Alba Karinya and is based over in East Moreland, he'll be more than capable of assigning one of his staff to maintain contact with Heyra and represent as essentially an ambassador just they're a little further away geographically than one would expect, thus establishing a consistent line of communication between our respective nations. As the relationship between our nations develops it could be that one day there is the opportunity for an embassy in Heyra itself which would normalize communication and allow for it to become more effective.

Meetings like this do usually come with an attached question 'what can the nations offer each other that the other party would like?' I suggest that before we go any further we answer this question as doing so will also us to concentrate our attention rather than just throwing ideas around."

[Achkaerin]

Peter and Nettie glanced at each other, in truth cue sports weren't anything strange to either of them these days, Peter had taught both his children first Snooker and then the various incarnations of pool, he'd even taught them billiards same as he'd learned from his uncle in fact during her time as Secretary General of the CTO Serenity had had a snooker table in her office and Peter suspected that Sakura, his  niece and current Secretary General, did likewise. Over the years the Household staff had picked the games up so as to be able to compete, the Household even had its own league.

"I'd be delighted." Nettie said she glanced at Peter "That's ok right?"
"Of course it is." Peter said as Nettie handed him her jacket "Enjoy yourself."

Nettie took one of the cues, she was very much the learner of this sort of game, so it was a good chance to learn a little more. Peter rose to watch. He was still trying to figure precisely what Louis was offering, he knew what it sounded like but he didn't know for certain, this was something he'd have to work out.

"So tell me." Peter said "Given that what you appear to be offering is something quite significant it implies that there's a cost, precisely what do you have in mind for that?"

[Achkaerin]

As Nettie lined up her shot Peter paused to think, talking in riddles wasn't really his strong suit but he always liked a good challenge. And it was a worthwhile opportunity but he did have an idea.
"Nettie which pocket did I put my phone in?" he asked
"Right jeans pocket." Nettie said, Peter reached into the pocket and took out his phone, there was no doubt they were looking at probably a road map type treaty but that was to be expected.
"You'll excuse me while I make a phone call?" Peter asked looking at Louis "Because I'd like to get an expert opinion on a thought before I propose it to you."

[Achkaerin]

"If you'd asked me that question a few months ago I'd have given you a rather colorful answer." Nettie said as she tried to recall how put a certain type of spin on the cue ball, she was good at seeing the angles and calculating the path of the balls but hadn't got the hang of the spin stuff yet but then again she was after all still a beginner when it came to cue sports, though she did have a good teacher, she eventually bit the bullet and took aim at the bottom half of the cue ball, she took her shot sending the balls scattering across the table.

"But if there's one thing I've learned since taking the job in Achkaerin." she continued standing up "It's that you don't go rushing to judgments about another nation without knowing them first." she glanced towards the door knowing Peter would probably be back any moment, the difference in ethos between Pyrena and Valtheim was in her experience so far at least the difference between night and day, she'd needed a change of pace and it was proving highly successful so far.

[Achkaerin]

"Well I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud of what we managed in my term as Premier." Nettie said "But like most things in politics it's a double edged sword, you have the potential to make things better, to make a difference to the people who believe in you and voted for you. But ultimately everything you do is checked and double checked and you actually find there's very little you can do alone, yet the job does nothing but isolate you. And having later gone on to be an Imperial Councillor in Rokkenjima this becomes more apparent because you see things from the side of the Crown and you see how little power and ability to effect change the Premier and Diet have or at least had in my time."

As she finished speaking the door opened and Peter returned pocketing his phone as he did so, he'd been making a few calls, taking a few soundings, double checking all his facts.

"Good game?" Peter asked
"I think I'm getting the hang of it." Nettie said, Peter half smiled

"So tell me something." Peter said looking at Louis while thinking about the main phone call he'd just made "Do you feel like taking a leap of faith? Do you feel like putting this eighteen kilometre square piece of land on the map?"

[Achkaerin]

"Once a week I have a routine meeting with the elected representatives of the Achkaerinese Government, obviously if circumstances dictate there are others, but in this one meeting I tend to go round the table listening to what each government department has to report and then discuss what needs to be done. One of the moments I always look forward to is the Science and Technology Minister's report because what she does is fill me in on any potential scientific ventures that are in the works and what the ideal requirements are. About three weeks ago she handed me information and a proposal from Futurist Industries, an Achkaerinese company that focus's on energy developments one of their big things at the moment is nuclear fusion research, in fact there are plenty of people on Mundus fiddling around with this which is why Futurist's proposal includes an international effort but that is not the part of this that concerns Nemeria, the thing is that Nemeria's size being what it is is actually beneficial to the venture - to construct an experimental nuclear fusion reactor.

So why's the size beneficial? Because if the experiment is a success Futurist intends to follow up with a prototype station, this station though it be many years off could make Nemeria at least in energy terms self sustaining and you wouldn't have to rely on Vaguzia or East Moreland for your energy which potentially gets a knife away from your throat. If you agree details can be worked out with Futurist Industries and I believe that the intention would be to then approach other interested nations to help in the funding of it and no Nemeria is not expected to fund it, Nemeria's contribution is in being prepared to host something like this and events associated with it, after all pomp and ceremony are very much Nemeria's forte."

[Achkaerin]

"There's an old saying associated with the greatest explorer's of history." Nettie said "'Something is only legendary until it's proven real'. They said that about many things including the continent of Albion, a scientific comparison would be 'it's only theory until proven fact' everything scientific therefore is always experimental until there's fact to back it up. Projects don't get to the stage we're talking about without the theory standing up, it's simply experimental by virtue of no one having done it before but all the experts consulted at home and abroad concur that the theory stands up. That's what experimental means. As for safety it would be very bad business for the Emperor to suggest this and for Futurist to agree to it if they had any doubt as to the safety of the reactor, because ultimately it's on them if something does go wrong. Futurist is confident in their theory and that confidence is according to independent consultation well founded, the Emperor has had the Chief Science Officer review it and she's said it stands up, the project has also been certified by the relevant government department. This is as far as all present theory states safe, Futurist are interested in doing it in Nemeria for reasons due to your territories size the Emperor's therefore made you the offer on their behalf. But if you have doubts perhaps you would like to meet the woman behind Futurist?"

[Achkaerin]

"We can't speak for Futurist beyond outlining the general idea, if you want to discuss specifics then I would suggest you talk with the CEO of the company." Nettie said, there was little doubt that this part of the conversation had run its course given that Peter and Nettie weren't privy to the specific details of what Futurist would want to do in terms of location and such, plus that was something that Nemerie and Futurist would have to work out between them it wasn't Peter's place to stand between them.

"With that said I think we should leave that metaphorical ball in your court as it were and allow you to contact Futurist if you wish." Peter said "At the end of the day they're far better placed to answer your questions than we are. So if we may move on to other matters? I believe we could discuss things such as trade, travel between our nations, maybe some cultural stuff."

[Achkaerin]

Now there was something interesting. It seemed obvious enough why Nemerie would mention an airport, as it would save travel through either the East Moreland or Vaguzia border. It wasn't like it was something beyond Achkaerinese engineering either so the question was what to do? Peter watched as Nettie returned to playing opposite Louis taking a shot and sending the balls around the table, she was getting better at the game that was for sure.

"That's a major undertaking." Peter said "The airport I mean. What do you have in mind?"

[Achkaerin]

"I see." Peter said after a few moments thinking "East Moreland's famous thorough border checks is it?" he half smiled those checks were somewhat legendary, they were also why Peter when visiting East Moreland now chose to arrive by sea, not because the idea of border checks or even thorough border checks bothered him but because his artificial arm had a habit of setting off airport metal detectors and there were only so many times Peter was prepared to risk being jumped by airport security, it was funny the first three times but anything after that wasn't, he glanced at Nettie who looked like she had an idea and was just waiting for his approval. He nodded.

"Given the geographical constraints of your territory we're talking about having to be creative in terms of location. Fortunately this is something some Achkaerinese companies have experience with having had to face such circumstances in regards to building Gowu's new airport which sits within the Gowu EEZ on the Rokkenjiman Sea. What I think can be offered and what we would probably be willing to offer is to ask those companies to construct a similar airport for you within your EEZ off your coast, on the understanding that a certain amount of the profits from the airport be paid back to the companies in question until the cost is fully paid back." Nettie said

[Achkaerin]

"I will contact the companies and put you in touch with them." Peter said "If they accept the terms then you'll have your airport."