All that was left was a representative from Cantabria, Finley knew Kaitaine wasn't likely to arrive what with Finley being one of the leading supporters of the Bene Gesserit cause and frankly the opposing ideologies of the two nations. He was more disheartened by the lack of a representative from the FIR and knew that was something he would need to work on. The King sat enjoying the company of his various guests while watching the games down on the lawn, he saw his son chatting with the son of King O'Brien, that boded well as an omen. Suddenly Finley stood up roaring as a fight broke out on the pitch, "Cheating swine" he yelled as seemingly one of the attacking players had used his stick to trip his opponent, a full on brawl lasted a good minute before the ref separated the teams and chastised the various players, there was a loud chorus of laughs as the two who started the fight trudged for the sidelines arms around each others shoulders laughing about the incident as they shook hands. It was this that Finley loved about the sport, on the pitch it was like being the worst of enemies but as soon as you stepped off the pitch the bond of the sport brought you together.
"Calm down big brother" a woman's voice came from behind them as Finley finished his yelling. "You'll do yourself a mischief" It was Queen Cait of Cantabria, Finley's youngest sibling. She had married King Comegan when she turned 18, a man she had no love for even ten years later, but it had seen her become a Queen and now he was ill it meant she was effectively regent. She hugged her brother before introducing herself to the others assembled.
Finley thanked the Governor of Somerset for the whiskey, "Tell you what we get this thing off the ground today and we'll crack that open, have an evening round the fire, nice spot of stew and some songs yeah?" Finley was already looking forward to it. Grudgingly he lead them all inside to a room he'd prepared for the day, he could still hear the occasional sound from outside but now he was fully focused on the task at hand. He showed each to their seat before taking his own beside his sister.
"Now as I see it we have a few issues, the first is that for a long time now we've had little if any co-operation between ourselves as an ethnic group, and even less as nations. For Gods sake just over a year ago we even saw one of our kin, Scordisci befallen by an outbreak of Jacobsen disease and none of us reacted until it was too late, we instead relied on the Morelanders to play nursemaid." In truth Finley had allowed that situation to deteriorate before acting, all part of his ploy to get what he considered a state sponsered terrorist backer off his doorstep, now the Scordisci region was a special province of his own Kingdom much to his relief. "We should have all been in there doing whatever we could, next we have Somerset trying to rebuild itself and stand on its own two feet away from Rokkenjima, it breaks my heart that they relied on a non-Celtic nation to prop them up when around this table we could have easily done it. That's just two examples, I'd hate for their to be a third, so we need to start acting like kin, but its a slow process. Forgive me when I say this but with the exception of Cait here you're all strangers to me and my people." He though for a moment, reached into a black folder and produced a copy of a document for each of them.
It is agreed today that the Celtic nations of Mundus desire to embrace their kinship and support each other in the following goals.
1) Economic Prosperity
2) Educational Excellence
3) Cultural Kinship
4) Mutual Security
In order to achieve these aims the nations agree to the following
1. Economic Prosperity
1. Nations agree to gradually reduce tariffs on all goods over the next five years.
2. By the end of the five year period no TCF nation shall ensure any tariffs existing are on par with the lowest tariffs paid by non TCF nations.
3. Nations agree to enforce intellectual property rights recognised in any other TCF nation
4. Nations agree to not charge additional taxes on transfers of funds between TCF nations.
2.Educational Excellence
1. Nations agree to open their higher education establishments to citizens of all member nations on equal terms with their own.
2. Nations agree that students will not require a visa so long as they meet the following criteria
a) They have meet the requirements of an educational institute for which they hold the offer of a place.
b) They have sufficient funds to cover their course.
c) They pose no risk to national security
d) They have no criminal record
3. Students may work up to 15 hours a week to supplement their studies.
4. Students graduating may remain visa free in their nation of study for two years after graduation.
5. A TCF University shall be established, either as a department within an existing institute or as a independent entity. It shall share best practice and students may move freely between it's campuses so long as they meet the criteria in 2.2
6. An annual Summer school for 100 students from each nation shall be held. This shall be hosted in a different nation each year with nations taking it in turns alphabetically. This shall feature competitions, adventurous activities, creative arts and socialisation opportunities.
3. Cultural Kinship
1. There shall be an annual Highland Games tournament held between member nations. This shall rotate around members.
2. A TCF register of Recognised Clans shall be made, this will be open to any clan with more than 1,000 members. Every four years a sporting tournament similar to the Mundus Games shall be held. Competitors will represent their clan rather than their nation. Any citizen not part of a Recognised Clan may compete as part of a Celtic Citizens team.
3. There shall be the establishment of a Gold Barrel Medal. This will award a series of awards to manufacturers of Whiskey every year. This shall promote excellence in distilling as well as promote a traditional art.
4.Mutual Security
1. Nations agree to share information regarding potential terrorist activity, so long as
a) It does not breech existing treaties
b) the act of sharing information does not endanger their own nations assets.
2. Nations agree to extradite suspected criminals so long as;
a) Reasonable suspicion is shown
b) A trial under the Mundus Convention of Universal Rights is guarenteed.
c) The nation to which extradition will occur will not impose a death penalty.
3. Nations agree to solve problems peacefully between themselves. They agree should no agreement be reached between themselves that a neutral nation be asked to arbitrate.
4. Nations agree to a series of bi-annual military games.
5. Nations agree to offer support during times of natural disaster if requested or if another nations government is incapable of operating.
6. Nations in the same geographical regions agree to joint naval and air patrols when practical.
5. General Provisions
1. Each nation shall maintain an active embassy in all other members.
2. New nations joining must be proposed by an existing member. Should no nation oppose that proposal within 48 hours the potential member is admitted. Should a nation oppose the admission a vote of all members is held and a majority decision taken.
3. Any member may propose an addition or amendment to this treaty at any time. A majority vote will be sufficient to carry the change.
4. The organisation will meet every six months for talks. These meetings shall rotate around each nation in turn with the host acting as Chairperson. The Chair may set the agenda for the talks.
"So tell me what you think, I'll have missed something, or some of you will have better ideas than mine, after all a life spent jumping out of planes does have an impact" Finley smiled referring to his former military days.
