The Ginto Dispute

[Mercantilist States]

"Now please," Jackson said trying to stay calm. "Just because you have an army stationed along that line, an army I might add who has attacked Mercantilian settlers and West O Company employees, does not make it rightfully yours. We have an army of our own-"

"And what are you implying by that Mr. Jackson?" Beaupre asked quickly cutting Jackson off.

"I am only stating a fact."

"That territory was earned by Varkourian blood, innocent civilians attacked by your terrorists. Who, for all we know, were sanctioned and armed by the Mercantilist States. Our offer, in my opinion, is quite generous," Beaupre said.

"With all do respect," Jackson said raising his voice. "Mercantilian blood was spilt too, and I won't stand for-"

Jackson was cut off by Tay.

"Gentlemen, please. Let's take a break to let tempers calm," Tay said looking towards Tourant.

"Agreed," Tourant quickly said. "Let's put this on hold until after dinner, which you are all invited to join us for."

[Varkour]

Tourant showed the group into the next room where they found a huge buffet. Waitrons dressed in black and white welcomed them and served them drinks.

Beaupre and Antoine kept to themselves and refused to speak to the Mercantilians. They had a lengthy conversation in french and and disappeared from the dining hall.

[Mercantilist States]

"I think we should just continue this tomorrow. I don't think everyone has quite recovered from today's events," Tay said, referring to Beaupre and Antoine, as he and Tourant shared a desert brandy. "I'll talk to Bill, you talk to Emmanuel and Jamari and let's give this a shot again tomorrow with fresh minds. What do you think Jacques?"

"Agreed. Let's take tonight to discuss some counter proposals amongst ourselves. We know where the other stands, there is a fair compromise somewhere here."

Tay nodded.

"How's your wife, Nouvelle was it?"

"She's grand Peter, thanks for asking."

[Varkour]

Tourant and Jacquemin caught up with Beaupre and Antoine on the stairs. They could easily see that Beaupre and Antoine were furious.

"Jackson est une salope!" Beaupre said. Antoine was nodding her head.

"No need for name calling. Have some respect." Tourant said pointing his finger at them.
"We are going to continue tomorrow when everyone has calmed down AND grown up."

"You are too soft Tourant. They threatened Varkour!" Antoine replied.

"They did no such thing. I will see you all tomorrow morning." Tourant said as he walked away with Jacquemin.

[Mercantilist States]

Tay caught up with the Merchant delegation who were in Jackson's quarters having an informal meeting and smoking cigars. Jackson was walking around carrying on while Alan Clive of the West O Company and Col. James Madison were seated, slouched in the chairs.

"...I hope those Vark's smell these damn cigars down the hall, and it causes damage to-" Jackson stopped when he saw Tay.

"Bill-"

"I know, I know," Jackson said as he cut off Tay. "I let my temper get away from me."

He tossed him a Mercantilism Ginto cigar.

"I thought these were right for the occasion."

"You know they're grown in North Jazzville," Tay said as he put the cigar in his pocket, showing respect for the castle which they were staying. "The city you wanted to give away today."

"I know," Jackson said as he sat down, not making eye contact with anyone.

"There's another approach we can take, we can propose latitudinal lines as a border," Tay said.

"What? Come on, that doesn't take into account any natural barriers," Alan Clive, CEO of the Mercantilist West O Company said. "That's just asking for more conflict."

Col. Madison nodded, agreeing with Clive.

"Just be prepared for it to come to that ya'll," Tay said with emphasis. "At least with that scenario we can divide the total land area evenly, and it will be a perfectly fair compromise."

"Will that count the area east of Ft. Dupont," Clive asked.

"That's not in play right now," Tay said.

"Why not?" Clive asked.

"You want the West Ginties in play too?"

Jackson looked at Clive and nodded.

"Right..." Clive said, the gears working in his head as looked at the map on the wall of the greater West O peninsula, Varkour, and Île Azur, the southern island of Varkour.

"Anyway," Tay said as he poured himself a glass of Old Mercantilism. "We'll pick this up tomorrow, let's go with our second proposal next."

[Varkour]

It was 10 o clock and the Varkourian delegation sat down at the huge table in the middle of the room.
Emmanuel Beaupre and Jamari Antoine had cooled down and were ready to continue the negotiations.

They waited patiently for the Mercantilian delegation...

[Mercantilist States]

Col. James Madison's head was killing him. They had been up late drinking and shooting the breeze. Luckily he didn't have to do anything today.

As they entered the room, led by Peter Tay, they shook hands with the Varkourians and exchanged pleasantries.

"Please excuse our tardiness," Jackson said as he took his seat.

"Not at all," Tourant said. "If we could begin."

"Yes," Jackson said as he pulled a map out of his briefcase. "After long discussions last night; we have come up with another proposed border."

Jackson slid a map across the table:


"It gives you the fertile valleys between the mountain ranges, including our outpost Tenasi, and allows us to maintain the road between West O and Ginto."

[Varkour]

"Well it is getting better..." Emmanuel Beaupre said staring at the map. "But it is still not good enough." 
Jamari Antoine nodded and cleared her throat.

"Last night we talked about it and have come to an agreement. Here is our proposal."

She opened her briefcase on the table and slid a map over to the Mercantilian delegation.

[Mercantilist States]

Jackson looked at the proposal and passed it to Madison and Clive.

Clive whispered something into Jackson's ear.

"Can we break for a couple hours to discuss this amongst ourselves?"

"By all means," Tourant said.

The Merchant delegation excused themselves to their designated conference room.

[Mercantilist States]

"What do you got Clive?" Jackson said as they entered the conference room and took a seat around the table.

"Our geologists have been studying that mountain and have discovered large concentrations of zinc in those mountain ranges," Clive began.

Damn, how much have these guys surveyed? Madison thought to himself as he listened to Clive speak.

"It was out of the scope of our charter which is why we held off initially on mining, and then when tensions started with the Varkourians, we didn't think political climate was stable enough to start; and we didn't want to tip them off. We don't know how much is there, but I think it's worth keeping."

"Given you get the monopoly, right?" Jackson said smartly.

Clive shrugged.

"You think they know it's there?" Jackson asked to Tay.

"I'm not sure. I would doubt it, I feel like their motives are elsewhere," Tay said. "Especially from Beaupre and Antoine."

"I'm sure you've surveyed the other mountain range," Jackson said to Clive.

"There's zinc there too, but it's a smaller concentration."

Jackson thought quietly for a few minutes.

"Ok. We'll do it like this..."

[Mercantilist States]

The Merchant delegation reentered the conference room.

"After careful consideration," Jackson began. "We would like to make a counter offer."

Jackson slid another map across the table:



"Our logic is that since the West O Trading Post is under the administration and corporate property of the Mercantilist West O Company," Jackson said, making a subtle reference towards CEO Alan Clive, "It's only fair that we maintain control of it. Plus, the base of the mountain ranges and the Cumberland Gap provides a natural barrier."

[Varkour]

"Hmmm..." Beaupre said.

He asked Antoine for a pen and slid the map infront of him. He drew a thick red line on it and slid it back over to the Mercantilian delegation.



"As you see, the only difference is we want the mountain range in the west." He said smiling.

Tourant sat back in his chair and thought about smacking Beaupre around the face, but that would be unprofessional. He got the impression these negotiations would not end anytime soon.

[Mercantilist States]

That son of a bitch, Madison thought to himself.

"Let's say we entertain the idea of giving you North Jazzville, Tenasi, AND the West O Trading Post," Jackson said. "We would need a guarantee that our citizens would be extended the same rights and protections as Varkourian citizens, and that they would be able to continue local control through their various elected posts."

"Of course," Tourant said.

"And any violation of those rights would allow for lawful intervention by the Merchant Defense Force to stop it."

"Any intervention would be an act of war," Beaupre shot back, drawing a look from Tourant.

"Is that the case?"

Clive looked at the map, a bit disturbed.

"So you're telling us that you want to take the West O Trading Post from us, with all the profits that entails; but you want us to continue to maintain the road?" he said, changing the subject. "A road which Varkourian and Mercantilian merchants alike use between Ginto and Sparti?"

It's all about money to that guy, Madison thought to himself. The Mercantilist West O Company had been maintaining all the pikes along the coast, and who could blame them. They were making a killing off the sugar trade.

"First off, that post is nothing but a base point for terrorism," Beaupre said.

"That post is a base point for trade," Clive said.

"Can we please try to keep this civil," Peter Tay said.

"Yes, let's keep this civil," Beaupre said.

...After a few hours of this, with little substantive progress made, the delegations adjourned for the day...

[Mercantilist States]

"That guy is a character," Peter Tay said with a laugh referring to Beaupre as he took a sip of some Varkourian wine their hosts had provided for them.

"You give far too much credit to these Varkourians," Jackson said seriously as he smoked a Diamond Tobacco cigar.

Tay felt his Blackberry buzz and looked at it.

"Who is it?" Jackson asked.

"It's Tourant," Tay said. "he wants to meet. I'll catch ya'll later."

[Mercantilist States]

Tay and Tourant sat in the kitchen, sharing a midnight snack the late night chef had prepared them.

I love this food. Tay thought to himself as he ate a piece of quiche.

"I've talked to our delegation," Tourant said. "And they are willing to agree on a parallel line granting equal sovereignty. They insist it's the only fair way."

"I had had similar thoughts before," Tay said as he pulled up a quick map on his Blackberry.

"This would put Tenasi, West O, and North Jazzville all in your territory. Despite the dancing in negotiations today, the treatment of our citizens who choose to remain in Varkourian territory is a real concern to us."

"Peter, you've seen our society. You know us."

"I know, but I also know Jackson. The only way Jackson, and probably Madison for that matter, would agree to it  is if we are getting a Varkourian city in exchange. I know it's cold, but it's the reality. Why not the 186 parallel? The territory difference is negligible, it really begins on where you start from."

Tourant checked his hand held communications device.

"I will bring it to my people."

Tay nodded.

"I'll take it to Jackson. We'll raise it tomorrow."