Kings and Queens of the South Pacific

[Margrave]

A letter would be posted to the rulers of France and the Union of the Southern Cross. Written on heavy vellum parchment, and sealed in an archaic red wax, it was delivered on behalf of the Keeper of Camberlain, the autocratic ruler of New Zealand, Shield of the Marchar Diaspora, Brother of the Maori Nation, Guardian of the Free, and a half dozen other titles besides. After many well wishes to his "Cousins" of France and the Union, the meat of the message was surprisingly short:

 

 

 

 

In light of our mutual economic benefit, in light of the positions on the map which nature and fate have found us, I would recommend a meeting, in person, between our three personages in order to bring together a stable, mutually beneficial relationship between the three dominant powers of the South Pacific.

 

 

 

By My Hand, Margrave Khendon, Keeper of Camberlain,

Ruler of the sacred isle Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu,

Guardian of the Free.

 

A diplomatic internet message exchange system protocol would be enclosed, highly secured, so that the three nations could confer quickly upon receipt of the message.
 

[Shave N Haircut]

 

To Monsieur Margrave Khendon,

I shall attend on the understanding that this meeting will be very rewarding, there is much that I wish to discuss with your nation and, presumably, the Union of the Southern Cross, who I understand is the third member who will be attending. I hope you will not react poorly if I am well guarded when I arrive, being the head-of-state of such a nation as mine earns a person very subtle enemies.

Signed,
Her Majesty, L'Imperatrice de France

Jeanne de LaQueu

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Secure Dispatch[/b]

 

[i]Honorable Margrave Khendon, and Her Majesty, the Empress of France,[/i]

 

The Union of the Southern Cross will gladly attend a meeting between our assembled powers, to discuss matters of mutual understanding and collusion, in the hopes of building a productive relationship between our three countries.

 

We gladly be willing to host this summit in Brisbane, our honorable capital on the Coral Sea, and we will make security arrangements to ensure the safety of all delegates at the meeting. Independent security teams from each representing nation will be welcome, and the SCDF will welcome them as such. I look forward to making acquaintance with both of you.

 

[i]Solomon Winder[/i]

[b]Lord Protector of the Southern Cross

Highest Arbitrator of the Constellation Council[/b]

[Margrave]

*Later*

 

 

Margrave Khendon, IVth of that name, would arrive with little pomp or ceremony, having only brought a small entourage that included two bodyguards, an aide-de-camp in the simple green uniform of a Marchar Guard, and a secretary. Opting out of the traditional fanfare, he arrived in secret to the public, eschewing the typical long black limo and opting for a black Sedan.

 

After a few hours of settling in, catching a nap, and changing out of his worn travel clothes, the monarch would don a charcoal grey suit, and a simple golden circlet, and allow the various secretaries and aides of the Union escort him to where he would sit at the conference. He noted that the building they were in was the ancient seat of the house of the Hanseatic Diet; his ancestor, Luis De Luit, had stood here. Truly, it was heady being in the seat of the old empire, and he noted with quiet approval that its current ruler had established his seat here. He'd sit, completely relaxed, idly stroking his short beard, waiting for the conference to begin.

[Shave N Haircut]

The Empress of France arrived, having slept on the plane on her overnight flight to Australia, her first time having visited the Pacific region. She arrived publicly, though the publicity from it was rather tiresome to her. She was wearing her usual Military Uniform, trimmed in Gold and Silver with little to denote her position aside from a rather ornate tiara, mostly bedecked in Rubies.

 

She arrived at the meeting and took a seat, "Gentlemen." she says quietly, nodding.

[TheShammySocialist]

Both delegations would be afforded plainclothes security escorts from various irregular units of the SCDF when they arrived, with the option to land at military installations, and out of the public limelight an options. Either route which was taken, the Union would afford several mid-level officials and aides that would be at the beck and call of the visiting dignitaries before the meeting. With the time of meeting set, the Lord Protector of the Southern Cross, the relatively elusive Solomon Winder donned a simple black suit with a Southern Cross flag as a sash across his chest, a platinum medallion with an armored gauntlet, the symbol of his seal, holding the sash together right over his heart.

 

The Lord Protector would enter the room, now populated by both Khendon and the Empress, adjusting the flaps on his suit jacket, with a hearty smile and a nod. "Welcome Your Majesty, Lord Khendon, to Brisbane, an honor to be hosting you, I trust your travel and accommodations before our meeting here were to your liking?"

 

He took a seat at the rounded table, as aides poured glasses of water for all of them, leaving a pitcher off to the side, whilst a cart with more heavier beverages was wheeled in so that the delegates could get such refreshments as needed. The room selected had its windows open and the chairs all seemed to be quite comfy, and the entire venue screamed of a relaxed affair, despite the gravity of the meeting itself. The songs of various birds could be heard from the gardens outside the old Diet building, whilst the air that wafted in from outside was refreshing and cleaning, every so often the sounds of a car honking could be barely heard in the distance. The streets around the Diet building had been cleared for obvious security reasons, with elements of the police, as well as the SCDF providing security for the entire meeting.

[Margrave]

Both delegations would be afforded plainclothes security escorts from various irregular units of the SCDF when they arrived, with the option to land at military installations, and out of the public limelight an options. Either route which was taken, the Union would afford several mid-level officials and aides that would be at the beck and call of the visiting dignitaries before the meeting. With the time of meeting set, the Lord Protector of the Southern Cross, the relatively elusive Solomon Winder donned a simple black suit with a Southern Cross flag as a sash across his chest, a platinum medallion with an armored gauntlet, the symbol of his seal, holding the sash together right over his heart.

 

The Lord Protector would enter the room, now populated by both Khendon and the Empress, adjusting the flaps on his suit jacket, with a hearty smile and a nod. "Welcome Your Majesty, Lord Khendon, to Brisbane, an honor to be hosting you, I trust your travel and accommodations before our meeting here were to your liking?"

 

He took a seat at the rounded table, as aides poured glasses of water for all of them, leaving a pitcher off to the side, whilst a cart with more heavier beverages was wheeled in so that the delegates could get such refreshments as needed. The room selected had its windows open and the chairs all seemed to be quite comfy, and the entire venue screamed of a relaxed affair, despite the gravity of the meeting itself. The songs of various birds could be heard from the gardens outside the old Diet building, whilst the air that wafted in from outside was refreshing and cleaning, every so often the sounds of a car honking could be barely heard in the distance. The streets around the Diet building had been cleared for obvious security reasons, with elements of the police, as well as the SCDF providing security for the entire meeting.

 

 

"The conduct and professionalism of your diplomatic corps, as well as your security elements, were beyond reproach", Khendon noted, staying seated but giving the Lord Protector a respectful nod. "I also must compliment you on the obvious care with which you seem to have restored the Diet; it has been generations and several long, forgotten conflicts since a leader of my folk, the Marchar, walked these halls.It does your name honor that you give respect to the glorious past; it forshadows, I think, a glorious future."

He'd lean back in his chair and take a sip from a glass of water. Clearing his throat, he continued. "Cousins, I am most grateful that you, Lord Protector, and you, Your Majesty, were able and willing to meet with me here, to listen to my wild proposal."

 

Khendon gestured to a world map, with its focus rightfully centered on the south Pacific, that had been hung for reference. "See here; the vicissitudes of Fate, the strength of your arms, and  whatever gods may be have shaped the map in such a way that we are natural allies or deadly, deadly enemies. All three of us have ogilarchic, monarchal to pseudo-monarchal governments. And history, the dimly remembered creature that it is, binds the nations of France, Australia, and New Zealand together in many interesting ways. What I propose is less founding a new order, but instead renewing ancient bonds between our far flung 'family' of rulers, and building a strong, independent, free bloc in the South Pacific which can resist effectively both empire builders and the random follies of fate." He paused. "The potential benefits are endless."

[Shave N Haircut]

"My trip was most agreeable. The escort was very nice as well." she takes a drink from her glass and regards Lord Khendon neutrally as he speaks, considering his words with all the gravity that they deserved. After a minute, she replies in an even tone, "My nation is always looking for new alliances, our holdings are all rather vulnerable, should they come under concentrated attack. What you propose though, sounds like it's a bit larger than a simple alliance."

[TheShammySocialist]

Solomon Winder would bow his head at both responses from both Khendon and the Empress, and making a slightly audible voicing of thanks for Khendon's assessment of the Union's respect for its past. The Lord Protector would take a relaxed posture in his seat, clearly showing that he considered that, despite the talks holding a certain heavy weight of gravity, he was very relaxed in the presence of the other two leaders. As Khendon spoke, he picked up his glass of water and swirled it in his fingers, getting the water swirling in a perfect cyclone in the glass, before taking a sip of the roiling liquid, he kept a neutral expression on his face, much like the Empress, and would finally add his own remarks after the two had spoken.

 

"As much as the South Pacific can be considered a backwater by many, the Oceanic Region is immensely important in the overall strategy and worldwide trade. Although Asia has been the source of several origins of unrest in recent times, I believe that these times are slowly coming to an end, partially due to the fact that are nations represent stalwart defenses against movements in the region. The Union of the Southern Cross has sworn itself a duty to guard its share of the Southern Hemisphere, the eastern Indian, the Southwest Pacific, these are duties we do not take lightly. I believe that adding to this equation, your own nations, would add an important bulwark that backs up our efforts in the region to ensure the aforementioned regions remain free and true," he stated, in a relatively energetic tone.

 

"This agreement seems to be built not just on mutual strategic interest, but something else," he finished with.

[Margrave]

Solomon Winder would bow his head at both responses from both Khendon and the Empress, and making a slightly audible voicing of thanks for Khendon's assessment of the Union's respect for its past. The Lord Protector would take a relaxed posture in his seat, clearly showing that he considered that, despite the talks holding a certain heavy weight of gravity, he was very relaxed in the presence of the other two leaders. As Khendon spoke, he picked up his glass of water and swirled it in his fingers, getting the water swirling in a perfect cyclone in the glass, before taking a sip of the roiling liquid, he kept a neutral expression on his face, much like the Empress, and would finally add his own remarks after the two had spoken.

 

"As much as the South Pacific can be considered a backwater by many, the Oceanic Region is immensely important in the overall strategy and worldwide trade. Although Asia has been the source of several origins of unrest in recent times, I believe that these times are slowly coming to an end, partially due to the fact that are nations represent stalwart defenses against movements in the region. The Union of the Southern Cross has sworn itself a duty to guard its share of the Southern Hemisphere, the eastern Indian, the Southwest Pacific, these are duties we do not take lightly. I believe that adding to this equation, your own nations, would add an important bulwark that backs up our efforts in the region to ensure the aforementioned regions remain free and true," he stated, in a relatively energetic tone.

 

"This agreement seems to be built not just on mutual strategic interest, but something else," he finished with.

 

 

Khendon would acknowledge the Protector with an excited nod. "Upon the trade routes of Asia and Oceania was the empire of the Hansa built; and other great powers besides. Here, in these South Pacific waters, we represent both a viable market for foreign goods, a potential industrial supplier to other nations, and a ready for trade maritime power. I have been about my business in the collection of contracts to supply shipping to the various Pacific Rim powers, yourselves included of course; I feel we are standing in a golden moment of opportunity, waiting for us to press onward, to glory for our allied houses."

 

Khendon took a breath, calming himself; tranquility filling his features. "You both are correct to say that this agreement is more than a cold coalition of natural allies. In my mind, it represents the rebirth of an old idea; that the South Pacific powers, working together, could bring the best of West and East into one house. All of us hail from a European tradition; all of us have intense interests here in the South Pacific. In the vision I have of our future, I see Brisbane shining brightly again as the Paris of the South Pacific; Auckland a new Milan or Berlin, and your holdings, your Majesty, diamonds scattered across the face of the seas. I believe the very best of the future...if we but embark on this journey together."

 

 

Gestured magnanimously towards them both. "No mere alliance, but an organization, a bloc, to be a shield to our nations and to represent our mutual interests. What say you both?"

Edited June 17, 2014 by Margrave

[Shave N Haircut]

"Your words are beautiful Lord Khendon," she leans back in her chair with"France is willing to assist this new block." The Empress says, "Assistance in defending our holdings and, more importantly, peace in the region, is always welcome. New Zealand commands the trade lanes these days through the Pacific, the Southern Cross has one of the mightiest navies of the region but us," she gestures by way of punctuation, "What is it that you wish of France? We are neither so economically powerful in the region nor so militarily powerful."

 

"And while we can see that perhaps it is just the extra little amount of muscle or political influence that comes with allying with us that brings us to this table, we find that the danger of becoming entangled in European affairs that also joins us at the table is great. Would you, in truth come to the defense of France itself if it came under attack?"

[Margrave]

"Your words are beautiful Lord Khendon," she leans back in her chair with"France is willing to assist this new block." The Empress says, "Assistance in defending our holdings and, more importantly, peace in the region, is always welcome. New Zealand commands the trade lanes these days through the Pacific, the Southern Cross has one of the mightiest navies of the region but us," she gestures by way of punctuation, "What is it that you wish of France? We are neither so economically powerful in the region nor so militarily powerful."

 

"And while we can see that perhaps it is just the extra little amount of muscle or political influence that comes with allying with us that brings us to this table, we find that the danger of becoming entangled in European affairs that also joins us at the table is great. Would you, in truth come to the defense of France itself if it came under attack?"

 

Khendon cleared his throat, his face still for the barest of moments; he knew that the next words he spoke would save or doom, heal or destroy, based on the unknowable future. He spoke, his voice deeper, more ritualistic, a strange, archaic accent coloring his words with a brogue from somewhere long ago, and far, far away. "The Marchar stand with France." He nodded once to the Lord Protector, sharply. "The Marchar stand with the Union." Though they afforded him the title of Lord, Khendon was rightfully titled Keeper. It implied a bond between him and the people deeper than mere royalty; it was his sacred duty to be the living representative of all Marchar, of all bloodlines new and old, and to embody their culture and values. When he spoke, he spoke on behalf of all of his people.

 

"I would be a poor proposer of bloodsworn alliances indeed if I said that the shield of the Marchar extended thus, and no farther. Understand, Cousins, that in my land I am the vessel by which my people find their voice. In my title, Keeper, is the promise that I will Keep the Way, and do justice and honor to the name of my fathers and mothers before me, and to those yet born. Though we are a small and fractured folk, spread to the four winds by war and desolation, all who keep the Way have sworn to obey my command. Wherever the Marchar find you, you will have a friend, be he the lowliest worker or the greatest Knight."

 

He cleared his throat, the ancient accent slipping away like the last darkness of the morning. "Like in Borneo, Lord Protector. Say the word and our soldiers shall join you in the prosecution of your campaign against the miserable, light-blinded militants, and what aid we can send will be directed to the people suffering under the deviltry of civil war there."

[Shave N Haircut]

 

Khendon cleared his throat, his face still for the barest of moments; he knew that the next words he spoke would save or doom, heal or destroy, based on the unknowable future. He spoke, his voice deeper, more ritualistic, a strange, archaic accent coloring his words with a brogue from somewhere long ago, and far, far away. "The Marchar stand with France." He nodded once to the Lord Protector, sharply. "The Marchar stand with the Union." Though they afforded him the title of Lord, Khendon was rightfully titled Keeper. It implied a bond between him and the people deeper than mere royalty; it was his sacred duty to be the living representative of all Marchar, of all bloodlines new and old, and to embody their culture and values. When he spoke, he spoke on behalf of all of his people.

 

"I would be a poor proposer of bloodsworn alliances indeed if I said that the shield of the Marchar extended thus, and no farther. Understand, Cousins, that in my land I am the vessel by which my people find their voice. In my title, Keeper, is the promise that I will Keep the Way, and do justice and honor to the name of my fathers and mothers before me, and to those yet born. Though we are a small and fractured folk, spread to the four winds by war and desolation, all who keep the Way have sworn to obey my command. Wherever the Marchar find you, you will have a friend, be he the lowliest worker or the greatest Knight."

 

He cleared his throat, the ancient accent slipping away like the last darkness of the morning. "Like in Borneo, Lord Protector. Say the word and our soldiers shall join you in the prosecution of your campaign against the miserable, light-blinded militants, and what aid we can send will be directed to the people suffering under the deviltry of civil war there."

The Empress nods, impressed, "I'm satisfied by that answer. And you, Lord Protector? Would you assist in France's defense if we came under attack?"

[TheShammySocialist]

"It is my belief that alliances of convenience are the worst agreements of the sort, they are bonds that are taken lightly, they're made at one's convenience, and dropped by the same token. It is our belief that what we can build here, is a bloc that will represent the entirety of interests in this region, and the signing of any agreement will be like a ripple effect, a beacon of light, a signal that burns bright that the South Pacific stands united. We don't enter agreements lightly, and a bloc such as this would need ample time to consider any expansion, should one occur, by that token, we are a gathering of Guardians for this region. We move to protect its interests, forward defense of interests, but with stratagems that ensure we avoid unwanted entanglements with other nations; this is not a hegemony, but it is a grouping of nations who have set their priorities and minds to the tasks of ensuring our interests in this region and beyond are protected," responded Solomon, after listening to a few lines from both representatives, whilst sipping on a glass of water.

 

"The people of Australasia have always come to the defense of their friends, and if history is any indicator, I think that you may rest assured, Your Highness, that we provide the support that is needed when the storm clouds roll in. The Southern Cross Defense Force has a wonderful informal motto, 'We charge into the storm, whilst others walk away'. I think our efforts in maritime safety and security in the Southern Oceans, where our ships and aircraft battle the Roaring Forties to protect civilian mariners, is testament enough to that motto. Our people embody that motto when we throw ourselves into the fire of civil conflict, raise our shields in front of the innocent and strike down those who would bring suffering onto them. Borneo may be one of our first engagements as a nation, but I can assure you it won't ever be the last," he continued, looking between the two.

 

"The interests we have in mind here, are not just are own, I won't enter a bloc for profit, nor defense reasons, this is a bloc that needs fundamental purposes beyond that. They say that values, integrity, ideas, these form the strongest of agreements, and that is what any bloc that guards the Southern Pacific and Oceania will be built on. Profit and security are secondary to the values, ideas, and integrity that any agreement that we formulate here, are based upon. The Union stands for anti-extremism, it stands for humanitarianism and philanthropy, it stands for stability, a watch that is never done."

[Shave N Haircut]

"I think I can be satisfied with that answer." The Empress leans forward, "And with these assurances I think I should give one of my own. France has always been very serious about out alliances. It has been a rare moment when France can be said to have abandoned a friend. Today, France keeps that stance. We will not allow either of your nations to fall to foreign aggression under any circumstances except when all resources available to us are made unavailable, all our strength lost, and all of our political power undone."

 

"Gentlemen, in short, France will stand with you to the bitterest end if you so wish, so long as you've made it clear that you would do the same. Now, what are we calling this alliance of ours?"