Francophone Africans

[Shave N Haircut]

To (OOC: Gosh there would be so much research to do to actually find out who is in charge right now, I'm just going to let you fill this one in for now, sorry),

 

France extends hearty greetings to its colleagues in Africa, the GLR.  Being the largest Francophone nation by land area and the second largest by French speaking population, France would have much to gain from a relationship with the GLR. To this end, France wishes to send a diplomatic envoy consisting of the myself and a few clerks to negotiate a wide spanning treaty to facilitate good will between our two nations.

 

~Signed,

Empress Jeanne de LaQueu

 

[Yerushalayim]

A return letter was sent to the French, indicating that a meeting was agreeable, and providing a time and a place for the French leadership to arrive. When the time came, and the Empress and her retinue arrived at the military airstrip maintained at Mount Kenya, a cadre of Praetorians in dress uniform was on hand to greet her. The men and women of the guard, at once relaxed and exuding an aura of readiness for violence, led the French delegation under the mountain, into the fortress complex of the Queen.

 

The French were taken to the Palace Wing of the fortress, where luxury abounded, and shown to quarters that had been set aside for them. The suite provide a mixture of African and European French culture, a bit of home away from home within the exotic. There was some time to spare before the meeting, and the delegation was given time to refresh themselves from the flight, and to prepare their materials, before at last being taken to a meeting room.

 

There the Queen sat in a comfortably padded armchair, across a small table set out with both coffee and tea. She was already sipping a cup when the Empress arrived, and rose to smile and offer her greeting, “Welcome to the Republic. It has been quite a long time coming, this meeting, yes?”

[Shave N Haircut]

The Empress had brought a small band, two clerks and two of the ironically named Republican Guard, drawn directly from the finest Corps the French had to offer. They were both over six feet tall and stood in stark contrast to the Empress' own five-foot-four stature, and they wore the full Dress Uniform of the Old Guard, from whence they were drawn. The Empress wore her own dress uniform, which was, naturally, far more ornate than those of her guard but was still rather modest in comparison to some of the dress uniforms from the period which had inspired the style, the Napoleonic Era.

 

They walked into the room, and the Empress bowed in deference to her host, "It is indeed a long time in the making, and I regret that it is somewhat more motivated by necessity than cordiality, though I would surely prefer it to be viewed as the latter. Just thought I should be perfectly honest from the start. It's a very nice complex you have here by the way, if I still controlled the Alps I might like to have one like it."

 

At this she makes a sour face, "Europe has become a much less sure place since last I was active within it, and France's place within it is being questioned." She takes a seat, "Which brings me to the reason for my visit. I wish to secure an alliance between our two states in order to ensure the future of my nation. I admit that I'm coming here in something of a position of weakness." she shifts uncomfortably, not used to the concept of not being in near-total control of a situation.

[Yerushalayim]

Catharine nodded slowly along with the Empress' words. She kept a faint smile on her face through it all, and at the end the smile spread a bit further, “A position of weakness? Unfortunate, but something that all nations experience throughout history. Nothing to be ashamed of certainly. An alliance with the Republic could certainly be of benefit to France. What did you have in mind?”

[Shave N Haircut]

"Mutual Defense and Optional Aggression. I assure you, France will do all they can to assure that your nation be secure, no matter the cost to us, so long as we receive the same." Jeanne said, relaxing somewhat, though she was still obviously uncomfortable with the situation, "Any sort of trade agreement would also work so long as it is mutually beneficial. I wish only the security of my people and of my place on the throne, the rule of France being in the hands of an outsider would be a disgrace that we can no longer afford to suffer."

[Yerushalayim]

"I am quite sure that France would do its utmost to defend the Republic," Catharine nodded slowly, "However, what would you defend us from? We are well protected where we are, with no real enemies. It's true, we could develop enemies in the future, and French assistance could be invaluable. At the moment, however, it is your nation that is in need of defending, not mine. What you do have, that is of interest to us, is access to more advanced technology and French ports. The Republic is willing to enter into an alliance with France, however given that it is far more likely that it will be African soldiers defending French lands, our price is access to French military technology, the better to defend our new friends with, and French ports for our fleets."

[Shave N Haircut]

"Done." The Empress said immediately, "Our military manufacturers will be thrilled that we've gained a new export contract." she continued, sighing and leaning back, closing her eyes, "I imagine that the extent of the technology that you want is quite wide. I'm willing to provide anything we have in exchange for what we need."