Re: SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Third
Posted: 2009-02-15 04:55pm
Midgar, Shinra Republic
Rufus Shinra was sitting in his office, contemplating the CATO announcement. On the one hand, it was basically the SNC with a new name, and they just added Shroomania to the mix. On the other, it was a bit out of the blue for something like this. There had been a few signs, but nothing to really indicate something as relatively 'big' as this.
One such sign had been the Warden Incident. He had received unofficial rumors that the Shroomanians had invited SNC members to inspect the sub that they most definately were not ripping out the guts of. Interestingly, he had not had any information concerning Sirnoth participation in that endeavor. That could have been a significant sign that they were leaning towards a move like CATO. But then, maybe it was simply due to the fact he didn't have a convenient source of 'unofficial rumors' concerning Sirnoth.
Many people commented and speculated on Byzantium, mostly concerning their rather odd dual-alliance. Why were they part of both the MESS and SNC, now CATO? Why did either party allow this in the first place? The Byzantines obviously benefited quite handsomely from the arrangement, often getting some of the best equipment, military and otherwise, from both alliances. But what did the alliances get in return? The Shinra Republic diplomatic mission to Byzantium had come up with an answer of their own.
Information. The Shinra diplomats had posed the question to their Byzantine counterparts and come up with an arrangement for backchannel information gathering. This was used mostly as a means to get a heads up on various foreign policy matters. They could also find a way to, during normal conversation, 'suggest' some ideas to Byzantine foreign ministry officials. Those officials, in turn, could pass it up the line to make some feelings known to the SNC at large, except they would be framed as coming from Byzantium as opposed to the Shinra Republic or MESS. Of course, he knew the same was true going the other way in return. Such an arrangement, Rufus expected, would doubtless continue under the SNC's new name.
Nothing majorly sensitive was disclosed, of course. SPY-3 and STAR remained strictly MESS only, as did the latest CSR technological toys. Those sorts of things did not flow back and forth, at least not as part of any accepted 'wink-wink, nudge-nudge' deal. And so while the Shinra Republic had gotten an unofficial 'heads up' on the SNC being invited to inspect the Warden, Rufus Shinra's plan to gather photographic evidence - had that been necessary, which as events turned out it didn't - would not have been provided by some Byzantine source; Shinra intelligence would have had to do that on their own. And of course they could never have gone public with those unofficial rumors, on that or any other subject.
It was a sometimes useful arrangement, though by no means perfect. Sometimes, Byzantium didn't know what their partners were doing; the initial massed bombardment of Astaria by the Crimsons was such an example. Other times, those who were amongst the 'gossipers' were simply unaware of specific events. And of course, there were the incidents that they simply chose to not pass along at all, for any number of reasons.
And so it was that Rufus was curious about why something like CATO and Shroomania's induction had not come through the foreign service grapevine. Did the Byzantines consider it so sensitive that it was exempted from the rumor mill? Were the decisions made at such a level, and restricted such that it never reached those who would, or could, pass it along? Was it simply something they'd decided to come up with only at their meeting and thus there was no real opportunity at forewarning?
The answer to those questions would have to wait, for now. He had other business to take care of. Pushing a button on his desk, Rufus Shinra requested a telephone call with King Arik of Canissia.
*****************
"Hello Arik, been awhile."
"Yep. What's up Ice?"
Rufus smiled to himself at the use of his old internet nickname. Anybody who somehow heard it probably wouldn't think much of it. And it served as a useful reminder of days gone by, when things were comparatively simpler.
"Got an offer to my government concerning some stratellites that Shroomania would like to send my way. Evidently they had a customer who cancelled an order. Did some checking, and it appears I have you to thank for that. So thanks."
"No problem." He could tell by the tone that Arik was not happy over it. Not at all.
"Let me guess. The Nationalists a little upset over CATO?"
"You could say that," Arik allowed. "Speaking of which, that just came out of nowhere, didn't it?"
"It did, a little." Rufus glanced to make sure this call was secure. It was. "I suppose there were some signs, but nothing to indicate what is, basically, a reformation of the SNC. Not to mention Shroomania becoming a member. At least not so suddenly."
"Signs?"
"Yeah. Well, rumor had it that, if the Shroomanians had been dismantling the Warden, they would have invited SNC observers along. Granted those rumors turned out to be untrue, but I suppose it was telling that the SNC was included at all."
"I see..." Arik replied. The monarch of Canissia knew about these 'rumors' the Shinra State Department sometimes heard.
"Indeed. Well anyway, just thought I'd call and say thank you for granting me this opportunity to enter into a deal with the Shrooms."
"Don't mention it. Please."
After a few more pleasntries, the call was concluded. However, Rufus wasn't done yet. He placed a request to speak with Emperor Heraclius. "No hurry. If he's in a meeting or something he can call me when he gets a free moment. Just want to have a chat and see how things are going." He knew, of course, that Heraclius wasn't dumb. The Byzantine Emperor would definately suspect this call would focus on CATO. Still, Rufus didn't want to seem like he was too terribly upset over it, hence the 'call back at his convenience' message that would be left.
Still, he would use the chance to see if he could find out anything about just how far back the planning for this CATO development went. It might answer a few questions, at any rate.
Rufus Shinra was sitting in his office, contemplating the CATO announcement. On the one hand, it was basically the SNC with a new name, and they just added Shroomania to the mix. On the other, it was a bit out of the blue for something like this. There had been a few signs, but nothing to really indicate something as relatively 'big' as this.
One such sign had been the Warden Incident. He had received unofficial rumors that the Shroomanians had invited SNC members to inspect the sub that they most definately were not ripping out the guts of. Interestingly, he had not had any information concerning Sirnoth participation in that endeavor. That could have been a significant sign that they were leaning towards a move like CATO. But then, maybe it was simply due to the fact he didn't have a convenient source of 'unofficial rumors' concerning Sirnoth.
Many people commented and speculated on Byzantium, mostly concerning their rather odd dual-alliance. Why were they part of both the MESS and SNC, now CATO? Why did either party allow this in the first place? The Byzantines obviously benefited quite handsomely from the arrangement, often getting some of the best equipment, military and otherwise, from both alliances. But what did the alliances get in return? The Shinra Republic diplomatic mission to Byzantium had come up with an answer of their own.
Information. The Shinra diplomats had posed the question to their Byzantine counterparts and come up with an arrangement for backchannel information gathering. This was used mostly as a means to get a heads up on various foreign policy matters. They could also find a way to, during normal conversation, 'suggest' some ideas to Byzantine foreign ministry officials. Those officials, in turn, could pass it up the line to make some feelings known to the SNC at large, except they would be framed as coming from Byzantium as opposed to the Shinra Republic or MESS. Of course, he knew the same was true going the other way in return. Such an arrangement, Rufus expected, would doubtless continue under the SNC's new name.
Nothing majorly sensitive was disclosed, of course. SPY-3 and STAR remained strictly MESS only, as did the latest CSR technological toys. Those sorts of things did not flow back and forth, at least not as part of any accepted 'wink-wink, nudge-nudge' deal. And so while the Shinra Republic had gotten an unofficial 'heads up' on the SNC being invited to inspect the Warden, Rufus Shinra's plan to gather photographic evidence - had that been necessary, which as events turned out it didn't - would not have been provided by some Byzantine source; Shinra intelligence would have had to do that on their own. And of course they could never have gone public with those unofficial rumors, on that or any other subject.
It was a sometimes useful arrangement, though by no means perfect. Sometimes, Byzantium didn't know what their partners were doing; the initial massed bombardment of Astaria by the Crimsons was such an example. Other times, those who were amongst the 'gossipers' were simply unaware of specific events. And of course, there were the incidents that they simply chose to not pass along at all, for any number of reasons.
And so it was that Rufus was curious about why something like CATO and Shroomania's induction had not come through the foreign service grapevine. Did the Byzantines consider it so sensitive that it was exempted from the rumor mill? Were the decisions made at such a level, and restricted such that it never reached those who would, or could, pass it along? Was it simply something they'd decided to come up with only at their meeting and thus there was no real opportunity at forewarning?
The answer to those questions would have to wait, for now. He had other business to take care of. Pushing a button on his desk, Rufus Shinra requested a telephone call with King Arik of Canissia.
*****************
"Hello Arik, been awhile."
"Yep. What's up Ice?"
Rufus smiled to himself at the use of his old internet nickname. Anybody who somehow heard it probably wouldn't think much of it. And it served as a useful reminder of days gone by, when things were comparatively simpler.
"Got an offer to my government concerning some stratellites that Shroomania would like to send my way. Evidently they had a customer who cancelled an order. Did some checking, and it appears I have you to thank for that. So thanks."
"No problem." He could tell by the tone that Arik was not happy over it. Not at all.
"Let me guess. The Nationalists a little upset over CATO?"
"You could say that," Arik allowed. "Speaking of which, that just came out of nowhere, didn't it?"
"It did, a little." Rufus glanced to make sure this call was secure. It was. "I suppose there were some signs, but nothing to indicate what is, basically, a reformation of the SNC. Not to mention Shroomania becoming a member. At least not so suddenly."
"Signs?"
"Yeah. Well, rumor had it that, if the Shroomanians had been dismantling the Warden, they would have invited SNC observers along. Granted those rumors turned out to be untrue, but I suppose it was telling that the SNC was included at all."
"I see..." Arik replied. The monarch of Canissia knew about these 'rumors' the Shinra State Department sometimes heard.
"Indeed. Well anyway, just thought I'd call and say thank you for granting me this opportunity to enter into a deal with the Shrooms."
"Don't mention it. Please."
After a few more pleasntries, the call was concluded. However, Rufus wasn't done yet. He placed a request to speak with Emperor Heraclius. "No hurry. If he's in a meeting or something he can call me when he gets a free moment. Just want to have a chat and see how things are going." He knew, of course, that Heraclius wasn't dumb. The Byzantine Emperor would definately suspect this call would focus on CATO. Still, Rufus didn't want to seem like he was too terribly upset over it, hence the 'call back at his convenience' message that would be left.
Still, he would use the chance to see if he could find out anything about just how far back the planning for this CATO development went. It might answer a few questions, at any rate.