The Heart of Africa

[Sarah Tintagyl]

[quote]
[b]To: Thérèse Sitrase, President of the West African Republic
From: Karolina Žigo, Viceroy of Austrian Morocco[/b]

[i]Excellency,

Recently, I have received a message from the Frontino Regime in the Commonwealth of Africa requesting my help in their civil war. While I fully understand how this regime stands against the philosophy of your nation, he also stands against certain forces in Africa who would rather see Austria pushed off the continent. In this manner, Her Majesty's Government must do all within their power to keep Frontino alive and well. How does this involve you and your government, President Sitrase? The West African Republic is, without a doubt, one of the most stable forces in the region and I believe you to be a worthy ruler of a diverse people and I believe if we would be able to display our national objectives in Africa to each other, we could come to a mutual agreement.

Thus I would like to invite you to Rabat where we can discuss an intricate plan that the Empress and myself have talked about to bring stability, true stability to the African Continent and we would like your aid.

I await your arrival, Madame President, in haste.

Sincerely,

Karolina Žigo
Viceroy of Morocco[/i]
[/quote]

[VigilantWatcher]

[quote]
[b]To: Karolina Žigo, Viceroy of Austrian Morocco
From: Thérèse Sitrase, President of the West African Republic[/b]


Excellency,

I am honoured that you have contacted me as i never thought that Austria would consider the West African Republic as a potential partner. I am willing to compromise in the interests of Africa and i accept your offer to come to Rabat. I hope that we can discuss the issues and work together. As this message reaches you i will be on my way.

Sincerely,

Thérèse Sitrase,
President of the West African Republic

[/quote]

Edited September 19, 2011 by Curristan

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Upon Thérèse's arrival in Rabat, she was received by a small contingent of Imperial Marines who would then escort her from the airport on the outskirts of the city to the Viceroyal Palace. The capital of Austria's Morocco Viceroyalty had slowly started to piece itself back together from the previous regimes who had influenced the region's history. Days of unregulated capitalism that Mogatopia and the Greek Influences of the Empire of the Twelve Gods, slowly began to fade back to Arabic influences. Though Austria was not without her vices and the colonialists from Europe had begun to build their own Viennese style villas throughout the city, with a strange new architecture developing reminiscent of Medieval Spain. The streets were filled as a motorcade escorted Thérèse to Karolina's residence, men with their heads wrapped to avoid the sandy breeze while Austrian ladies took promenade on the dusty sidewalks, their large dresses swirling the sand into the sky with the brushes of their parasols.

Finally the motorcade arrived at a sand brick wall with iron gates that opened to reveal a beautiful plaza of cool gardens and fountains. This was the outer courtyard of the Viceroyal Palace and surrounded by Austrian and Moroccan Flags, Karolina Žigo walked from the entrance way with a smile on her face. She was no older than thirty five, golden curls fell down from behind the white veil that covered her face, with the golden crown of the Viceroy sitting gracefully on top of her head. The Viceroy wore a long red dress that covered her entire being with a red shawl that fell from her shoulders like a cloak. The centerpiece of her outfit was a necklace with a shimmering cross, bejeweled with rubies and emeralds.

"President Sitarse, welcome to Morocco." The Viceroy held out her hand and kissed Therese's own. "Please, I'm in no mood to suffer the closed indoors today. Shall we go to the gardens? You'll find them delightfully relaxing from the Moroccan sun." Together the two leaders began to walk slowly towards a side gate and the burbling fountains and pools that awaited them on the other side.

"However, while we walk, if we could talk business. I have asked for your audience to proposal a very direct path that Africa can take for it's future. However, I am curious. How do you see the continent in the present. It's stability, the nations that supposedly govern it. What is Africa to you, President Sitarse?"

[VigilantWatcher]

Thérèse began with "At the moment i see Africa as a lost unstable continent, divided by misguided loyalties and leaders eager to pursue their own goals. I want Africa to be a united continent, able to work together in times of crisis, not fighting each other cause one leader hates the other."

Thérèse paused for a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. "I want to be able to say that Africa is protected from outside threats, able to compete with the Asia, European and Americas in the way of being strong and united. I just feel that one day there will be a new grab for land in Africa by nations who have no legitimate ties to Africa. Thats why i am here, to get the help Africa needs."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Karolina nodded and clasped her hands behind her back as they neared one of the central pools surrounded by cool desert trees. "Every continent is like that I'm afraid, Therese. Nations look out for themselves and not for anyone else. The recent wars that have pushed through Africa are shameful and all the while the People's Republic becomes more and more bloated. Personally I feel like the destruction of Mogatopia was a move in the right direction but there is still more to be done." The Viceroy laid a hand on the President's shoulder and smiled softly, like a mother to a child.

"Therese, there is a plan in the works to save Africa in a way. To bring back some form of its strength and stability. But to do that, there has to be a united leadership and the removal of these decadent powers, Wagadou, the People's Republic and others. Africa hasn't had any real guiding force for years, decades even and every continental encompassing regime who comes to power, seems to fade into decadence and obscurity within a matter of years. The number of nations that comprised of West Africa should be able to attest to my words. To fill this vacuum, however, Austria would like to work very closely with your regime, with the nation of the Commonwealth of Africa and others to restore stability to the continent."

She sighed and began to walk around the pool with Therese still in her hand. "People may look and say we are a colonial power, but our treatment of civilians throughout the Empire is above the way that other nations treat civilians within their own capitals. Inequality, corruption, and graft cover the earth but in Rabat, in Vienna, in Ehestadt we do our best to hold ourselves to a shining beacon of multiculturalism and individual strength. It makes Berlin have nightmares I believe," the Viceroy said with a chuckle. "What I would like to offer you, Therese, is a program dedicated to the survival of the West African Republic. Your defeat in the last war is shameful but can be corrected with some new attention paid to your military and foreign affairs. With your permission I would humbly ask for the West African Republic to allow me to appoint a War Duke or Duchess to manage your military affairs as well as possible economic and foreign affairs. If you can help Austria stabilize the continent then we will both enjoy an age of lasting peace."

Karolina smiled and took the President's arms in her own. "Prosperity and eternity, Therese, but I need your thoughts."

[VigilantWatcher]

"I would be open to Austria working closely with the West African Republic. I am grateful that Austria is willing to restore stability to the continent. With your help i feel that we can leave the past behind and work to a prosperous future. The West African people deserve that after what they have been through. Our economy is not what it once was. The defeat in that war effectively meant that we are unable to export as much as we hoped to, plus the fact that the economic recovery is slow and painful. The military is annoyed that a DMZ is present inside our borders, although that will soon disappear. The plan is to adopt a defensive posture on land, sea and air to avoid any further potential wars. This is so we can have some breathing space to improve the civilian infrastructure and advance our technology.

Thérèse smiled at Karolina. "I am honoured that you have put forward such great proposals. I must ask though, what does the program entail?"

Edited September 21, 2011 by Curristan

[VigilantWatcher]

Suddenly a brunette haired woman, one of Thérèse's aides comes over. "Madame President we need you back home. Some incident has occurred that needs your attention." Thérèse looked around startled before replying "Very well. Prepare the Presidential Aircraft, lets go home." She turned to Karolina. "I am so sorry about this. I hope we can resume this another time. I am grateful that you took the time to speak to me, its unfortunate we have to part so suddenly."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Karolina frowned for a moment but held a genuine look of calmness as dictated by her position. "I understand completely, Therese. Do take care. We will chat again when the time is right."