Taijitu
Forum Meta => Role Play => Archived Role Play Boards => Archive => General Roleplay => Topic started by: Mercantilist States on March 29, 2007, 06:26:30 PM
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Eddie Lind and his wife Jenny entered a rustic Newsouthern bar in Ginto. They had just arrived on the latest ship from the Mercantilist States. Taking a seat at the bar, Eddie got the bartender's attention.
"Can I get an Old Merc on the rocks and a Merc and Coke for my wife."
"Newsoutherners?" the bartender asked them as he made their drinks.
"How'd you know?"
"Could tell by the accent, I'm originally from Kansas myself. What brings ya'll out this way?"
"Homestead Act."
The Department of Commerce was offering free land and protection to Mercantilians if they emigrated to Ginto and settled on the peninsula.
"Well watch where you go. There are Varkourian troops stationed on the peninsula."
"Well we didn't know that..." Jenny said, it a little distressed.
"They're not hostile; well not yet," the bartender responded. "At least no one's come back to Ginto crying the Varkourians are coming yet. Or haven't made it back at least..."
"Come on now man, you're upsetting my wife."
"Sorry, sorry. It should be ok though, there are already Merchant settlements on both sides of their troop line. Though most of the settlements north are Brewing and West O company farms."
"Well thanks for the tip," Eddie said as he left a $20 tallent note on the bar. He turned to his wife, who was clearly having second thoughts. "We're here already, we may as well give it a chance."
-
Corporal Grenouille had just come back from a patrol and was aching to get back to the warmth of his tent. It was 02:00 and it was pouring down with rain. He had his chin nuzzled into his chest to escape the chilling wind coming in from the west.
"Theres nothing out there. Just like yesterday and the night before." He muttered to his friend.
"Yeah, but you never know. There might be some crazy mercs hiding behind some bushes waiting to ambush you." His friend laughed.
Grenouille smiled and knocked his friend's helmet off. As he walked to his tent he overheard a conversation between his superiors.
"So when are the new settlers coming? The area is secure." One of them said.
"Yes, good job. They will be here in about 6-7 hours." The other man said as he looked at his watch. "They are coming down from Spartí, so..."
"Right. Yeah, I suppose they're running out of space up there. Its a lovely city, my wife is staying there this week with the children."
"Sounds nice. How are your family? i remember you told me...."
Grenouille had heard enough. He shook his waterproof cloak and headed for his tent.
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(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/shane5792/DUPONTFASE2copy.jpg)
The Varkourian settlers finally came down from Spartí the following morning. Thousands were flocking to the peninsula after the Government in Varkour offered free land. They were escorted by troops because there had been a few fights between Mercantilist farmers and Varkourians passing through.
Towns were springing up in the so called Yellow area. (the area between Fort Dupont and the troop line)
- - - - -
Fabian Marteau and his family were driving along the main road flanked by troops. His wife was smiling and his two children were annoying each other in the backseat.
"I can't wait!" his wife said as she turned down the radio.
"Me too" He smiled back. He had always wanted to travel and live abroad, as this was his first time in another country.
He noticed the troops on his left looking down into the valley beneath them. Fabian rolled down his car window and had a look. They could see a massive farm down at the bottom with people working in the fields and tractors circling the area. The air smelt vile, so Fabian rolled down his window again.
"Those flipping Mercs!" Fabian said angrily. "They're not welcome here! Why won't the soldiers shoot them?!".
"Calm down darling, they're doing nothing wrong." His wife replied. "Now just keep an eye on the road, I want to get there in one piece..."
"Yeah yeah, I'm sorry, but I thought the yellow area was for Varkourians only."
"Well it doesn't look like it, so be quiet now." She said as she turned up the radio again.
-
Charles Gore and his raiding party sat perched on a hill overlooking a main trade route. They had completed numerous successful raids on Varkourian settlers thus far; though they had generally kept the casulties down. But since then pickings were hard; and any settlers who did pass had troop escorts with them.
Since the West O company and the Mercantilist States had left them out to fend for themselves this far north; they were lacking the basic neccessities. You could get them in North Jazzville, but thus far, that was the extent merchants were willing to go. The Varkourians, however, seemed to bringing their fair share.
"The road less traveled," Gore said he smoked some Ginto Green out of his pipe laid back against a tree, his rifle rested against it.
"You guys think Junior will like this?" Ronnie Demo said as he played with a Varkourian toy he picked up days earlier.
"Quiet down! here comes another one." Donald Waxman said as they turned and watched an approaching Varkourian transport pass. "That's the fifth armed one today."
"There must be a settlement north in addition to Dupont, there have been too many civilians coming through lately." Gore said.
"God damn that Merchant Defense Force; they should be doing something about this. This is ridiculous," Demo said. "We're going to have to get some heavier weaponry."
"I agree. Ok, back to the trading post," Gore said as he got up and threw his rifle over his shoulder.
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Corporal Grenouille and his squad were on another patrol near the west coast. They followed a narrow road down to the beach and decided to take a short break. They all sat down on the sand and took a swig from their water bottles.
"So when are those flippin' helicopters coming down from Fort Dupont?" One of his friends asked.
"Not sure... but I can't wait. Then we don't have to patrol and waste our time" He replied.
"I'm going for a piss, back in 2 sec" His friend said as he stood up. He walked further down the beach and disappeared behind some bushes.
"COME HERE! QUICK!" He shouted.
The rest of them jumped on their feet and ran towards him. Behind the bushes was a burnt-out car with a man hanging out the right-hand door.
"Shiiit."
The men checked the body for ID. Marcel Faux was his name. A Varkourian.
Then they searched the car. All the car doors and the boot were open and the windows were smashed in. There was blood in the backseat, but no more bodies.
Grenouille contacted his base about their grusome finding.
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Peter Tay, the Mercantilian Ambassador to Varkour, sat in his office in Vusun looking over the message he had received from the Varkourian Ambassador. Apparently there had been reports of Mercantilian citizens attacking Varkourian citizens, and some had even been brazen enough to attack Varkourian troops.
He was unsure if this was true, or if it was just a ploy by the Varkourians to get the Merchant settlements out of the North Supremo territories. He had already sent a copy of the report to Decartes; and would await further instructions from them.
“Get Madison on the phone,” Tay said as he pressed a button to intercom his secretary.
For the moment he had to assume it was true. The Varkourians had previously said they would not attack the Merchant settlements in the territories; but if Mercantilians were indeed attacking them, there was no telling how they would respond.
“Col. Madison, sir,” his secretary buzzed back.
Tay picked up the phone to hear Col. James Madison VI, the commander of the base at Ginto.
“Colonel, how is Ginto on this fine day?”
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/merccities.jpg?t=1176007586)
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Posted in Ginto:
NOTICE TO ALL SETTLERS:
Any Mercantilian citizens who attack Varkourian citizens will not be entitled to the protection as established by the Homestead Act.
-MDF
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The next day Fort Dupont was equipped with an additional 25 Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters. They were to fly ahead of the convoys and eliminate threats and warn the others.
President Gribeauval was disappointed to hear about the Varkourian casualties and the Government in The Mercantilist States. He would not tolerate more deaths, so gave the go ahead for soldiers to search Mercantilist farms and houses in the yellow area.
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(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/shane5792/GINTODISPUTEcopy-1.jpg)
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Ronnie Demo was sitting at the bar in the Merchant Saloon at the West O Trading Post taking shots of Mercantilism Apple Whiskey
This shit is disgusting, what were they thinking putting this 3-year aged garbage on the market? he thought to himself as he took the shot and signaled the bartender for another one.
He heard a loud clamor outside and then saw his friend, Russell Hamm, rush into the bar with blood on his shirt.
"Demo, we need you quick."
He hurriedly took a shot and rushed outside to see Charles Gore barely conscious in the back of a pickup with a gunshot wound in his shoulder. He rushed to his friend's side to try and treat the wound. He was trained in first aid when he did his compulsory stint in the MDF. That made him the closest thing there was to a doctor in the town.
"What the fuck happened?" he yelled as he reached for a medical kit. "Stay with me Charlie, stay with me."
"The fuckin' Varkourians," Hamm said. "They are attacking farms on the other side of the river. Charles was buying the farmers some time. They’re right behind us. Fuck we lost a lot of good people."
"Varkourian Settlers? or the Army?"
"The Army."
"Well crying the hell out loud, did someone send word to Ginto?” Demo asked as he pulled a bullet out of Gore’s shoulder. “If this doesn’t move the damn MDF to action I don’t know what will.”
“I was on the phone with people there when I saw the shootout on the farms. I called Lind’s Town and they are going to get some people together and come up river.”
“Someone bandage this wound, and wrap it tight. You got any of that dynamite left?”
Hamm nodded.
“Let’s blow up that bridge over the river; that should buy us some time.”
-
A squadron of Varkourian soldiers left their base between Lind's Town and West O Trading Post.
Their commander had told them that a group of soldiers had been attacked while searching a Mercantilist farm for weapons and that they had fought back and killed several terrorists. Their mission was to catch up with the culprits and capture them.
The Squadron was split into 2 groups, A Group and B Group.
A Group consisted of 50 soldiers and 2 FV510 Warriors.
B Group consisted of 50 soldiers and 2 FV101 Scorpions.
A Group was ordered to continue down to the Mercantilist town of Ginto, while B Group would head towards the West O Trading Post.
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Captain Groeux was sitting up in a tree looking down at the bridge to West O Trading Post through his binoculars. His men were hiding in the bushes below him waiting for his order.
He saw a vehicle parked behind some bushes, but could not see any people. He looked again and something caught his eye. He saw a man emerging from under the bridge. shit
He jumped down from the tree and signaled to the rest to follow him. They silently ran towards the bridge...
-
Russell Hamm ran back towards the truck, signaling to Ronnie Demo to start up the engine. The sun was setting so they were about to have the cover of darkness on their side.
"Let's get a move on," he yelled.
"Watch your back Russ!"
He heard a gunshot behind him and felt a sharp pain in his back. He fell to the ground as he saw Demo and the others firing back across the bridge.
So this is what dying feels like, he thought as they rushed to his aid and dragged him the rest of the way to the truck.
As the bridge exploded it rocked the entire area. Demo slammed on the gas and they sped back towards the West O Trading Post, using the cover of the explosion.
Mission accomplished, he thought as he slipped into unconsciousness.
-
Col. James Madison VI, commander of the base at Ginto, sat looking out the window at the city. It had come a long way since he had first arrived.
Major John Chain came through the door and saluted.
"Yes?"
"Sir, we have reports of Varkourian troop movements. They are headed this way."
"They are headed here?"
"Yes sir, we also have gotten a number of reports from Lind's Town and West O of civilian casualties and Varkourian troops attacking Merchant farms."
"Have they gone mad? Have they dispatched any air?"
"None that we know of."
"Reinforce our defense perimeter on the city limits. Order the 1st Air Division to buzz those troops, hopefully that will stop their advance. And start air patrols over the peninsula. But tell them to stay clear of Fort Dupont, we don't want to start a God damned war. Thank you."
"Yes sir."
Chain saluted and left the office. Madison picked up the phone and buzzed his secretary.
"Get me Ambassador Tay."
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"This is Tay," Peter Tay, the Mercantilian Ambassador to Varkour, said as he picked up the phone.
He listed to Col. Madison give him a report of the situation.
"Ok, thank you Colonel."
Tay hung up the phone, and then slammed his fist on the desk.
"Grace!" he yelled, calling for his secretary.
Grace entered his office.
"Yes sir?"
"Tell Tourant, we need to meet."
-
Captain Groeux and his men dived on the ground.
"STAY DOWN!"
The air was filled with dust and dirt, and small parts of stone were raining down on them. They could not hear or see anything.
"MEDIC! MEDIC!"
The cloud of dust slowly passed and people were starting to get up.
"MEDIC!"
Some Soldiers had gathered around a man lying on the ground. They all dropped their equipment and started helping him. The man had been hit by a large brick in the chest and had problems breathing and could hardly move.
"I'm calling base, a helicopter will be here in no time." A man said.
Groeux sat up and wiped his face. He looked down and noticed his hand was red. He had a nasty cut on his right cheek. He wiped his hand on the grass and stood up.
"Tell Dupont to send out its helicopters. We will follow them and encircle them. They can't go anywhere.
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A-Group were still marching towards the Mercantilist town of Ginto and had not met any Mercantilist Terrorists on the way.
"Cpt. Royale, I can see Ginto." A soldier said.
"Okay. Stop here. I'm not sure if we should continue or not." Royale said. He waved his hands above his head to the two tanks coming down the road behind them. They hauled to a grinding stop.
He waited for all his men to listen. "Okay men, this is what we.... Whats that noise?"
BANG!
"MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!" Royale screamed. The Soldiers all split up and ran back up the road.
"The Mercs are shooting at us!" A soldier yelled.
"Men, FALL BACK! FALL BACK!" Royale shouted. He picked up his weapon and followed his men.
"Contact Dupont. We need help!"
-
General Barque sat in his office at Fort Dupont. He was looking at his awards on the wall as a woman entered the room.
"General, there has been multiple attacks on Varkourian soldiers inside and outside the yellow area." She said.
"Okay. Thank you. You may leave now." He said coldly. He did not like his new secretary, he missed his old one, Amelie.
He walked over to the planning table and looked down at the massive map. He had stood there for nearly 15 minutes and was interrupted by the woman.
"Your tea, Sir" She put the cup on the table.
"NOT THERE!" He yelled. She turned and quickly left the room. Barque took a sip, made a face and chucked the cup out of the window.
"Can't even make a decent tea for christ sake..." he muttered.
There was a knock at the door and a man in uniform entered the room.
"I have been told about the situation. What do we do?" He asked.
"We move the yellow line. We send out more helicopters to patrol. We'll get the bastards."
The new Map:
(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/shane5792/GINTODISPUTE-Varkouriancopy.jpg)
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Tourant was out shopping with his wife in Nouvelle when he was told he was needed in Vusun. He was relieved because it meant he would not have to walk around for another 2 hours looking at hats. He said goodbye to his wife and was escorted to the Mercantilist Embassy in the capital.
-
Avery Johnston's ship had just docked in North Jazzville from some fishing and trading on the islands off the coast of Jutensa. He ran a small operation, generally just him and his brother Marcus. He wasn't sure if fishing there was legal, but the waters off the coast of the Ginto peninsula had borne few fish and no one had stopped him yet.
He had heard rumors the Jutensan government had their hands full with other things. He could have sworn he saw a ship flying what looked like a Saletsian flag on its way to the mainland, but he couldn't be sure.
"How's business?" the porter on the dock asked as he helped him unload some supplies onto a transport truck.
"It's great actually," Johnston said as he tossed a bag of rice onto the truck. "We got tons of rice for dirt cheap, should be able to feed this entire peninsula. Those Jutensans either don't know how to price things, or they have it coming out the wazoo. If prices continue that low Jutensa may just have found itself a killer export. What's the latest here?"
"Those dumb fuck Newsoutherners in West O are starting a war with the Varkourian Army," the porter said. "If they bring it here, I swear..."
"Thanks," Johnston said as they finished unloading the last shipment of supplies and rice and handed him a $20 tallent note. "Now to get this shit to market."
-
"Jacques, good to see you again," Ambassador Peter Tay said as he rose to greet Jacques Tourant as he entered his office. "Ca va?"
"Ca va. And yourself Peter?" he asked as the two men took a seat at the couches in the office.
"Good, good. This situation unfolding in Ginto concerns me, Jacques. I have heard that the Varkourian Army is razing Mercantilian farms and killing woman and children. Such acts against our citizens will not be tolerated. We understand there are conflicting claims by our citizens in these territories, but that does not call for attacks against innocent civilians," Tay said, stressing the last part.
"I understand your concerns Peter, and I share them. The last thing we want is a war with the Mercantilist States. However, I would not call these civilians innocent. They have been committing terrorist against Varkourian settlers and troops. In addition, I have not heard anything of women and children being killed; our troops are under strict order to ignore civilians."
-
"I hope so. Well we need to do something quickly before the situation gets out of control. Anything." Tay said.
Tourant nodded. The two friends always agreed.
"General Barque wants more soldiers, but our new President refuses to send anymore. She thinks sending more will put more of our troops at risk. But our ally, Dysanii, has kindly offered to send some troops if we need help." Tourant smiled.
"Really?"
Tay paused for a long second.
"I think the best thing to do right now is to hammer out some borders. Maybe our Governments can come to an agreement and part as friends."
Tourant nodded.
-
Undersecretary of Commerce for Agriculture Patrick Nebraska was reading the latest briefing report about the situation developing in Jutensa. He had no idea so many governments in Taijitu were that compassionate…
Secretary Wallis and Deputy Secretary Scooter Evans were concerned about the virus and had limited all imports from Jutensa. An overreaction he thought, they didn't have any rice paddies in the Mercantilist States.
"Sir, there seems to be trouble in Ginto," Marilyn Manning, his assistant said as she entered his office and took a seat across the desk from him.
"What else is new?" Nebraska said half jokingly.
"No, I mean agriculture trouble."
"What do you have?" Nebraska asked, a bit more concerned.
"We have seperate reports from the Mercantilist Brewing Company, the Mercantilist Fruit Company and the Mercantilist West O Company of losing entire crop yields in North Jazzville. They withered, in what sounded like a fashion very similar to the rice paddies in Jutensa."
Nebraska sat silent thinking. He knew a Merchant diplomatic delegation led by Ambassador William Jackson was on its way to Vusun, Varkour to negotiate borders for the Ginto territories. If this was made public, it could seriously undermine those talks and add an unneeded concern to the negotiation.
"Ok, Send word to the Brewing Company and West O not to talk to the press about this. Contact whoever the hell is in charge in North Jazzville and make sure their local paper keeps it a Jazzan matter," Nebraska said. "I will notify Scooter and see where we go from there."
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Ronnie Demo, Keith Middleton, Jason Campbell, and Charles Gore, almost fully recovered from his bullet wound, sat at the Merchant Saloon at the West O Trading Post, taking shots of Old Mercantilism, discussing their next move.
"...For now, it looks like the Army is contained to the other side of the river." Middleton said. "I've seen some Varkourian helicopters in the skies during my patrols, but I think for now the MDF fly overs are keeping them at bay."
"Have you heard from your contact at the West O Company about the weapons?" Demo asked Campbell.
"He can't get us anymore. He says they could be pulling out of this area and says their exports are down across the board."
"Just like those cowards," Gore said as he took a shot. "Cut and run at the first sign of trouble."
"He also said something about Alan Clive attending a conference in Vusun," Campbell continued.
"What kind of conference?" Demo asked.
"Didn't know. He thinks its government, not economic."
"What about Lind's Town?"
"They're a few days out. They're having a hell of a time avoiding Varkourian patrols. The route between here and there is crawling with 'em."
Middleton finished packing some fresh Ginto Green into a pipe and passed it to Campbell.
"For Russ," Middleton said as he held up his shot glass.
"For Russ," they all said. And they took a shot.
-
Undersecretary of Commerce Patrick Nebraska, Deputy Secretary Scooter Evans, and two agriculture scientists were in Evan's office, discussing the agriculture situation in Ginto.
"We have studied the tobacco crops that the Mercantilist Brewing Company shipped in overnight from Ginto," the first scientist said. "Based on what we're hearing out of Jutensa, we think it's the same virus, but mutated. The initial effects are nearly identical, but we won't know until we can study a sample of the rice virus."
"We will have the orange and sugar samples by tomorrow to study," the second scientist added.
"Ok, thank you gentlemen," Evans said, and the scientists excused themselves from the office.
"What do you think?" Evans asked to Nebraska.
"We're going to have restrict imports from North Jazzville, and maybe the Ginto territories altogether."
"Yeah, the Secretary isn't going to like that, he was already irritated about having to do it for Jutensan imports."
"Well we can keep it quiet, we don't need to issue a statement, just check the ships at the Mercantilian docks. Turn them around or quarantine them if their point of origin is North Jazzville. And then just notify the Mercantilist West O, Brewing, and Fruit Company's to hold off on their exports until we can contain it. But we'll need to step up the inspections from this lax crap that is going on now."
"Do it. I will notify Ambassador Jackson."
"What about getting rice samples or going to Jutensa?"
"I think it's best we stay out of that whole situation, but I'll bring it to Wallis."
-
"Mr. Ambassador, good to see you again," Peter Tay said as he greeted, William Jackson, Ambassador from the Mercantilist States, at the entrance to the Mercantliist States Embassy in Vusun. "How was your trip?"
"Good to see you Peter. It was fine, thanks for asking." Jackson said. He had just arrived from the trade conference in Llanydern.
"This is Alan Clive," Tay said as he introduced Alan Clive, CEO of the Mercantilist West O Company, to Jackson.
"Ahh, of course. Alan good to meet you."
"Mr. Ambassador, an honor to meet you sir," Madison said.
"Where do we stand?" Jackson said as they headed towards Tay's office.
He felt his blackberry buzz and looked at it:
To: William Jackson
CC: Alexander Wallis
From: Scooter Evans
Mr. Ambassador,
We need to inform you that we have determined that the Jutensan agriculture virus has mutated and is affecting crops in North Jazzville. We have restricted imports from North Jazzville to the Mercantilist States, and for now it remains an internal matter.
Scooter Evans
Jackson read the message as he listened to the update on the situation with Varkour and Ginto from Tay.
"..we are just waiting for Colonel James Madison, commander of the base at Ginto, to arrive and we can meet Tourant and the Varkourian delegation."
"Sounds good," Jackson said. He was thinking about the message from Evans.
Well that puts North Jazzville in play, he thought to himself.
-
Jacques Tourant had just got off the phone and was standing at his desk stuffing papers into his briefcase.
There was a loud knock at the door and a man stuck his head around the door.
"Your car is here."
"Thank you Pierre. Look after the place while I'm gone. No parties!" Tourant said as he rushed out of the door.
Tourant was on the way to Château de Vincennes, a 17th century palace 25 km west of Vusun to meet with the rest of the Varkourian delegation (Emmanuel Beaupre, Linus Jacquemin and Jamari Antoine).
-
Peter Tay stood in awe of Château de Vincennes as the Merchant delegation entered the main entrance hall.
"So this is what a palace looks like," Ambassador William Jackson said.
The Merchant delegation consisted of Jackson, Colonel James Madison VI, commander of Ft. Ginto; Tay, the Mercantilian Ambassador to Varkour; and Alan Clive, the CEO of the Mercantilist West O Company.
Jacques Tourant approached from the other end of the hall, in what seemed like a full minute to get to them, and greeted them, shaking hands with each and exchanging pleasantries.
"Gentlemen, if you'd follow me. We can get this started and be home by dinner."
They smiled, they knew this was most likely going to be more than a one day affair, and quarters had been arranged for all the delegates and their staffs at the Château. But if Tay knew Tourant, he figured he'd be sneaking home to see his family when he could. If only they were so lucky.
-
Col. James Madison studied Ambassador William Jackson as he led the negotiations for the Mercatilist States. He knew he was watching a master at work. Jackson, the main negotiator for the Merchant delegation, had a commanding presence that dominated the room; yet a soft spoken calmness that seemed to put everyone, his opponents and allies alike, at ease. Madison knew there was a lot he could learn from him.
He wasn't quite sure why he was here; he had been told to basically keep his mouth shut. He suspected Jackson and Tay just wanted his presence to emphasize the power of the MDF and the fact of the base at Ginto.
"Here is a border that, after careful consideration we thought is fair to everyone involved," Ambassador Jackson said as he took a map of the Ginto territories out of his briefcase and slid it across the table to the Varkourian delegation.
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/gintoneg1.jpg)
"It takes into account where both Mercantilian and Varkourian citizens have settled, and it follows the natural boundary created by the Frenchie River."
Madison smiled, holding back laughter, when he heard that. Frenchie was the nickname he and his commanders had given the river when they first arrived at Ginto because it was the river the Varkourians had settled along, and seemed to be the source of the unending influx of "Frenchies". Mercantilians were fond of giving pejoratives to their nemesis', and this one just happened to have been made official.
He looked at Peter Tay, the Mercantilian Ambassador to Varkour, who cringed. He thought the man had grown soft towards the Varkourains in his time in Vusun.
"Under this border, we would cede you the Mercantilian city, North Jazzville," Jackson continued. "And it gives you the rest of the former Islas Filipinas territories east of Ft. Dupont."
-
The Varkourian delegation stared at eachother in disbelief.
"Are you serious?!" Emmanuel Beaupre said as he tossed the map back at the Merchant delegation. "This is an insult!"
"It's alright Emmanuel. Jackson, you can do better than that. Varkour was here a while before The Mercantilist States came." Tourant said. "We expect better than that." He avoided eye contact with Tay.
Jamari Antoine opened the folder in front of her and slid a map over the table to Jackson.
"This is where we want the border. You still get to keep Cape Town, Sibuyan and Canton Station."
(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/shane5792/GINTODISPUTE-Varkouriancopy.jpg)
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"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."
-
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.
-
"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."
-
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.
-
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."
-
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...
-
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:
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/gintoneg2MS.jpg)
"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."
-
"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.
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/gintoneg2V.jpg)
-
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.
-
"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..."
-
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:
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/gintoneg3MS.jpg)
"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."
-
"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.
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/gintoneg3V.jpg)
"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.
-
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...
-
"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."
-
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."
-
Tourant gathered the rest of the Varkourian delegation and told them the idea of dividing the peninsula at the 186 parallel. Not everyone was satisfied.
"No way Tourant. The Mercs haven't been here as long as we have." Beaupre said angrily.
The others dropped their heads in despair. Before Tourant could answer back Jacquemin stood up.
"Are you deliberately trying to sabotage these negotiations Beaupre?!" He spat.
Tourant smiled. He had never seen this side of Jacquemin before. Beaupre was stunned. He just stood there and looked stupid.
"Well Antoine is with me. Right?" He replied quietly looking over to her.
"It's a good deal. We get West O. Thats what you have always wanted..." She replied looking down at the floor.
"Traitor!" Beaupre said. "This is outrageous! I am leaving. Good bye!". Beaupre picked up his things and stormed out of the room.
-
"Where is the champagne!" Tourant joked. He was glad Beaupre had left. He was sick of listening to all the rubbish that came out of his mouth.
Antoine cleared her throat.
"Tell Ambassador Tay we agree on the parallel line. Varkour will gain West O, Tenasi and North Jazzville. The Mercantilist States will gain Hermanville-Sur-Mer."
"I don't think Tay has to worry about the safety of Mercantilians in Varkourian Ginto, things will calm down now." Jacquemin said.
"I agree Jac. I will tell him as soon as possible." Tourant replied.
-
The Merchant delegation headed towards the negotiation room.
"So we've reached an agreement?" Clive asked Tay.
"Where did you hear that?" Tay asked.
"One of the legal people said you had asked him to begin drafting language for borders and a treaty."
"Yes, we think we have."
"And it's what we had agreed upon."
"Yes Alan, and you'll get your zinc monopoly."
"Excellent." Clive said as they approached the negotiation room.
-
Madison followed Clive, Jackson, and Tay into the room, and he noticed Emmanuel Beaupre missing. He noticed in the corner bottles of champagne on ice.
The Mercantilians exchanged pleasantries with the Varkourians and took their seats.
"So," Jackson began. "1-8-6, North. That's what we've come to?"
"Yes," Tourant responded. "Hermanville-sur-Mer will go to the Mercantilist States. Tenasi, North Jazzville, and the West O Trading Post will go to Varkour."
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/GINTOnegfinal.png)
"And the authority of the local elected governments for all cities involved will be maintained?" Jackson asked.
"Yes, subject to Varkourian, and Mercantilist States law, respectively. Our legal people have begun drafting the details. We've also decided it would be best to leave the issue of militarization of the border absent from the treaty. We have no plans to militarize the border, we are all civilized people here. But we also don't want to prohibit any possible future course of action."
They've also decided, Madison thought to himself.
"Of course." Jackson said.
"Additionally," Tourant continued. "We will allow for free movement of any Mercantilians who wish to return to Mercantilist Ginto, and would expect the same for any Varkourian citizens."
"Of course." Jackson said.
There was a brief moment of silence.
"Shall we pop the cork?" Tay asked.
"If I may," Clive said, "Just very briefly suggest an idea."
Jackson and Tay shot him a puzzled look. The Varkourians didn't notice.
"Of course, Mr. Clive," Tourant said.
"Well our company has done some surveying of the unclaimed lands further north," Clive opened his briefcase and unrolled a larger map of the entire western portion of the O continent. "There is a mountain range towards the northern coast, that sources a river that runs all the way down to the southern coast, dumping out just north of Sparti."
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/teembtallent/disputeexpanse.jpg)
"What I would like to propose is that we use that river as a border. Everything to the west will go to Varkour; everything to the east to the Mercantilist States. That way we can ensure that any future expansions by our people won't come into conflict, and we can avoid the unfortunate situation that unfolded on the Ginto peninsula."
Tourant was caught off gaurd.
"Can we recess for an hour or so to discuss this?"
"Of course," Jackson said calmly.
-
"What the fuck was that?" Jackson asked, clearly pissed, as they entered their conference room.
"Relax, relax," Clive said as he took a seat.
"Clive, you don't pull that shit again without running it by us," Tay said, equally pissed.
Madison was getting a kick out of it. He liked this Clive guy, though that new territory may be a little tough to defend. But he was up to the challenge.
"Look, sit down ya'll," Clive said. "They are probably going to agree to it. So there's no harm, no foul."
"We haven't run any of this by Decartes, we don't even know if we have the capability to defend it."
"It's not as tough as it looks," Madison said, contributing his first two cents of the conference. "We can deploy the fleets, or at least one of the ones station at Ginto. And request another one forward deployed from the States. We establish a base at the mouth of the river which doubles as an entrance point, like Ginto was for the peninsula. Thus it shouldn't be that hard to defend; or colonize, since all of our people are coming by boat from home anyway."
Tay and Jackson took a seat and calmed down, letting what they had just heard digest.
"I'll bring it to Washington, let's hope you're right Clive," Jackson said as he pulled out his Blackberry.
-
The Varkourian delegation walked back to their conference room and sat down at the round table.
"We can't turn this down Tourant!" Antoine said excitedly.
"I agree." Jacquemin said. "This way we can link up Varkour and Ginto..."
"Okay. Lets go back down and tell them." Tourant replied.
-
"Wait there Tourant." Antoine said as Tourant was leaving the room.
"Yes?" He asked.
"There is an island just east of Varkour. If we gain it in the treaty, it could play an important part in the defence of Varkour."
(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/shane5792/island.jpg)
The others nodded and waited for a responce from Tourant.
"Very well. Lets go."
-
The Merchant delegation was in the negotiation room waiting talking amongst themselves. Madison and Jackson had already poured themselves a glass of Old Mercantilism in anticipation of the end of the conference.
Just like those two good ole boys, Tay thought to himself.
Members of the Varkourian News Network and The Mercantilist Free Press were in the room now, awaiting this momentous signing.
The Varkourian delegation entered the room and took their seats.
"We like your offer, there is only one thing we wish to add," Tourant showed them the new map with the island east of Varkour included on it. "We would also like this island to be included in our portion of the territory."
Jackson showed the map to Clive and Tay. Tay nodded.
"That looks good to us," Jackson said.
"Well then Mr. Jackson, shall we break out the champagne?" Tourant said as all the members rose and begin shaking hands.
Antione popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and began pouring glasses for everyone.
"May I offer ya'll a glass of Old Mercantilism?" Madison said.
They had a piece of paper that looked like a mock treaty and they all took turns putting their signature on it and letting the members of the news media get their pictures. The full legalese of the treaty would not be finished for a few days, but they had come to an agreement.
-
“Those mother fuckers in Decartes betrayed us!” Charles Gore said as stood on top of a chair in the bar in the West O Trading Post speaking to a large crowd that had assembled.
Gore had called a town meeting upon hearing the news from Vusun of the signing of the treaty ceding them to Varkourian Ginto. Almost everyone in the town had turned out.
He held up a letter signed by Ambassador William Jackson and Col. James Madison VI, using it as a prop.
“We have been given to the fuckin’ Varkourians,” he shouted. “The Mercantilist States government, instead of recognizing our sovereign claim to this land, has decided to give us to Varkour. Land that we have fought for; land that we have bled for. Land that we have put our hearts and souls into and worked for to call our own, what we have come to call home. They tell us the MDF is no longer going to protect us, what kind of a government abandons their own citizens?”
There was a sense of anxiety and uneasiness that hung over the crowd. A sense that Gore was trying to calm and turn into a resolve to fight as his speech became angrier and more rhythmic.
“I, for one, will not stand for it. I am going to fight for my home. Who is with me?”
As he continued his tirade, there were periodic shouts of “hell yeah” and cheers from the crowd.
“We have been blessed with certain inalienable rights…”
-
Jude Ocampo, the mayor of North Jazzville, sat at his desk rubbing his temples, a bit distressed. His head was pounding.
He had gotten the news that North Jazzville was going to become part of Varkourian Ginto. The letter he had received from Ambassador Jackson and Col. Madison had informed him that all of their individual and property rights would be recognized, and all businesses and the elected town government would continue to operate unimpeded; albeit under Varkourian laws, which Jackson assured were not that much different from their own.
It wasn’t this news necessarily that stressed him out; he had suspected it was coming. It was the worsening food crisis combined with embargo the Department of Commerce had placed on North Jazzville the basically cut them off from the Dominion. This news was just icing on the cake.
He had sent samples of the withering crops to the Department of Commerce and had requested food aid, but hadn’t heard anything back yet. Entire fields were dying every week and if they didn’t receive any food shipments soon, the town wasn’t going to be able to sustain itself.
They really are abandoning us, he thought to himself.
Now he was faced with the decision of checking his pride and turning to Varkour for help, who for all intents and purposes up to this point had been their nemesis, or letting the town basically starve to death. It seemed like an easy decision, yet he was having a hard time making it.
He stared at a blank computer screen, and tried again to draft a letter.