Elections in Transvaal, Voting ends November 30th 2009 Options

[Vedran]

Prime Minister Annetjie van Matteus has stated that she would like to make a brief visit to Arctica to meet with Sovereign Vedran:

"Despite the chronic ideological rift between our governments, the Republic of Transvaal values Arctica as our closest regional partner. In the past, Arctican media has spoken out in support of the DBP - but now as head of my government and current National Party leader, I wish to hear what can be done if possible to eliminate differences between our two nations..."

"I am willing to meet with Prime Minister Van Matteus in the hopes of smoothing relations between our two nations."

A message was soon sent to her office: "The Sovereign can certainly make time in his schedule for a visiting foreign head of government. Please have the Prime Minister land at Oceana International Airport at her earliest convenience, and she will be escorted to the Central Government Building."

[Botha]

Please have the Prime Minister land at Oceana International Airport at her earliest convenience

Due to the sudden nature of the visit, Prime Minister Annetjie van Matteus decided to use military transportation to travel to Arctica. It would also prove to be a subtle means to delicately flex Transvaal’s muscles and remind its closest neighbour who was boss in Southern Africa.

As the lone B-1 Lansier bomber cruised over the Mozambique Channel, the prime minister took stock of the upcoming impromptu meeting. Van Matteus knew that the Arcticans did not like her. However she also knew that for an assortment of reasons, the Staatspresident valued peaceful and close diplomatic relations with the island nation located off the Republic’s coast. As the Staatspresident once told her, besides the obvious strategic reasons of defense, maintaining the goodwill of Arctica was a means to gauge international opinion on Transvaler domestic and foreign policies. “If the Arcticans are silent, then all is well for us” he once told her.

The aircraft now began its long decent over the water into Oceana International Airport.

[Vedran]

Given the quick nature of the meeting, the Arcticans did not prepare a full welcome with all the ceremony that came with it. Instead, Van Matteus was greeted by only a black sedan at the airport, with one man holding a back passenger door open for her and one in the driver's seat.

"Welcome to Arctica, Prime Minister," he said as she got in, closed her door and got in the front passenger seat. The car immediately pulled away and began its drive from the airport. The view had barely changed since Malan last visited, except that it was spring now.

They stopped briefly at a heavily-guarded checkpoint on the mainland side of the bridge from the mainland to Vecanti Island, where the Central Government Building was located. They soon continued, covering the uncrowded span of the bridge quickly. After another checkpoint, Van Matteus became the second Transvaler to see the island itself personally. Soon, the car pulled in front of the 88-storey-high CGB.

Covering the same route Malan had months ago, Van Matteus was led up to the 60th floor and to Vedran's office. The decorations had been moved around a little, but otherwise everything was unchanged. The men who had driven Van Matteus left her in the office with Vedran and the two men at either side of the door. Vedran stood from his desk and shook Annetjie's hand.

"Prime Minister, it is good to finally meet you. Welcome to Arctica. Please, have a seat."

Vedran sat down again. "You wish to speak with me?"

[Botha]

Vedran sat down again. "You wish to speak with me?"

“Thank you Soveriegn for meeting with me on such short notice.” Vedran could notice a tinge of anxiety in her voice.

“I understand that your government, your people, and your media have never warmed up to me. This is understandable due to some events which happened long ago. I come to you now to find out where my government would be able to find some common ground so that there can be better understanding between our nations.”

The meeting was strange, surreal almost. Vedran could not quite make out whether Van Matteus was trying to browbeat him through diplomatic means or if she was pleading with him.

“Sir, I suppose what I want to know is what exactly are yours and the Arcticans' issues with me?”

[Botha]

After the officer corps had departed, Lieutenant-Colonel Dietrichs Gerhard walked over to the lone tent set apart from the main group deployed for manoeuvres.

“Did they buy it?” asked the voice from the shadows.

“Yes, I think they did. But we won’t know for sure until we actually go live with the plan. The army and air force are behind us, only the navy I have doubts about…” replied Gerhard.

“Bah! The Seemag is of no concern to us! There is very little they can do in response to events carried out on land.”

The voice asked hesitantly, almost in anticipation:

“And… the code phrase… what of that?”

“Yes, that has been distributed to all Afrikaner officers in command positions.

“Excellent. You have done well, now return to your duties and await the signal when events transpire to move our plan forward.

“Of course sir!” saluted the Lieutenant-Colonel.

Once Gerhard had departed, Uys de Ruijters emerged from his tent. He looked skywards at the Lugmag planes flying overhead in formation. ‘I have the Krygsmagte and Lugmag were I need them… in my grass... now to just wait for dear Annetjie’s government to inevitably unravel itself…”

De Ruijters clasped his hands in front of him as a sign of personal triumph before he made his way to his waiting jeep and departed from the base camp.

[Botha]

RADIO-TRANSVAAL: The Staatsregeringministrie van Nasionaalverkiesing (Department of National Elections) confirmed today that the current Republic election has reached the all-important 40 district votes threshold to validate the election and prevent a run-off.

At last count, the National Party looked to be in a comfortable lead with 25 districts to be sent to Volksraad while the opposition controls a total of 15 districts - with a third of the overall national vote backing Prime Minister van Matteus in what has been the culmination of an incredible political come-back for her. Six months ago no one in Transvaal nor overseas could envisage Van Matteus as being even remotely electable.