[OOC] Written by Pezook and myself[/ooc]
Royal Visit
"Why yes, yes there are...Matt", Paul answered cordially, still getting used to calling the Lord Fairfrax by name, "Several issues need clearing up. First, I'd like to pick your mind somewhat on the issue of recent MESS-CATO tensions, and how you view the issue - also, more importantly even, what worries you the most about CATO as a power bloc. Second is the obvious issue of Sirnoth and your plans for that country - I'm sure you expected that to come up, so it's no use dancing around the issue."
"The MESS and CATO?" Lonestar said aloud. "Honestly?"
"Honestly."
"I think the CATO is aggressive and hypocritical not," Lonestar hasten to add "Pezookia, of course, but San Dorado, the UCSR, and the willingness of the organization on the whole to stand by while other members intrigue on the Effing-continent. Yes, I know, a bit...disingenuous of me to say so, but I'm paranoid of any organization that has the UCSR as it's heavyweight."
"Why? Stanislav and Shady have been relatively quiet, more so than Tian Xia and yourself, I might add."
Lonestar opened his mouth, closed it, and worked his jaw. "Fair enough." He said, although it sounded like he wanted to dispute that comment.
There was an awkward pause as Paul considered the response. He was glad for honesty, for once, and part of the reason why he came here was to gather an opinion of a major non-CATO state leader.
"Thanks for the honest response. We really appreciate it."
Paul took a sip of his soda - some local drink, odd tasting but refreshingly different because of it.
"Now...some of us see the MESS as an intimidating, monolithic bloc. That's the opinion, especially of new CATO members. Personally, I think that picking fights with you guys is counterproductive to...well, pretty much everything we are trying to achieve, and I'd really like to see some sort of a mutually reasurring agreement. I believe my foreign ministry people sent some low level feelers about a strategic weapon reduction treaty, which you rejected..."
"Signing any such treaty would compromise our security."
"Yeah. Well, this was just one initiative, and I guess it fell through. How about something different, then? What would you like to see CATO do, or not do, in the future? I'm not asking formally, of course, but your opinions matter to us more than you would think."
"The impression I have received, as well as a few other members of the MESS, is that some of your junior members are using it as a umbrella to make land grabs. If Tian Xia wasn't there the continent would have been gobbled up by San Dorado, etc."
"Pardon me for sounding flippant," Paul said dryly, "But I think this is a bit of a case of the pot complaining about the complexion of the kettle."
"Well, if we had not brought the Shepistans under protection the vultures would have circled in our backyard." Lonestar said. Almost 200 Million dead on the continent of Shepland alone, I think you could pardon us for trying to re-establish order."
"And OICAS?"
"Merely a regional organization, much like the FTO before it dissolved." Lonestar deadpanned.
Paul pondered this statement for a while. All things considered, the OICAS wasn't exactly a collection of superpowers - besides, CATO had little capability to challenge the Old Dominion's claim over the Crater, and even less interest.
"I see...this actually brings us to the...delicate matter of Sirnoth. What are the Old Dominion's objectives in the country? I won't hide the fact that former FUN countries would see with great relief a free and fair election after the current military junta is deposed."
Lonestar idly swished his glass of Liquid Banjo. The ice cubes knocked togather.
"Our primary mission is to bring about the end of the killing with a minimal loss of noncombatant life." Lonestar said. "As you know, Sirnoth has been in an economic deathspiral for several years, and Cortes used the Capital Flight of several Dominion corporations, as well as the use of PMCs by those companies to secure the safe removal of their property, as an excuse to kill Sirnoth's ethnic minorities." Lonestar paused, then began again.
"Postwar political conditions will largely depend upon how tough the fight is and how widespread the damage to the country is. OICAS, with some advisors from some of our MESS friends, will be establishing a Provisional Coalition Authority to re-establish services. The scope of the PCA will depend upon how weakened public services are, and how deep the rot of the Cortes Junta has gone into Sirnothi society. Unfortunately, it may be impossible to restore the Sirnothi economy to the Halcyon days of the pre-biological war."
"The goal for the Old Dominion is going to be to move it's troops out of the country as soon as possible. We still have major security operations ongoing in the Shepistani Quarantine Zone, and we don't need another extended commitment. At most we may add a site to Continental Defense Command's STAR IADS in Sirnoth, as far as permanent stationing of troops goes."
"I see. You know, this is reassuring: some elements in CATO military circles were outright paranoid over the entire situation. If I may suggest something, though...if you invited humanitarian aid from the entire world to Sirnoth, it would probably be a major help in normalizing relations between MESS and CATO, while relieving some of the strain put on you. I'm not suggesting military force, merely help with construction, medicine, the works. What do you think about that? The Old Dominion loses nothing, and both sides re-establish some of the trust which has been in short supply lately."
"I'll go you one better." Lonestar said. "I officially invite Pezookia to send some personnel as observers, so you can see that the war is being conducted in as just a manner as possible. As for humanitarian aid, the International Red Cross is more than welcome to arrive and help with the refugee operations. Right now the Shepland Red Cross/Red Noodle is the only major humanitarian organization in the country. As for reconstruction..." Lonestar paused.
"...If I shut out Dominion firms from the reconstruction effort the House of Burgesses would lynch me. But. But. This is a nice lead in to something else of interest to Pezookian/Dominion relations: Your competition for the Royal Transport. The Dominion M3A team thinks it's product would be a fine match for the 2 longrange transports. The both my government and the Tian Xia government have adopted the VC-30 version for our new transports. The M3A team is pitching a 1.3Bil ROB package with two VC-30s, equiped with a Pezookian comms suite, and 10 years parts and support that starts upon completion of the second airplane. I might add that the M3A is in service with DPS 'Same Day delivery' service and uses the same zip-fuel that the B-3 Sleipner does, driving down operating costs.
"If you don't want to spend the cash for for the VC-30, Dominion Boeing offers the VC-31, a VIP transport version of it's Sonic Cruiser. It has a bit more passenger room than the M3A, as it's a widebody like the 777, but it's also much slower. The package offers 1.05bil ROBS, with the same support plan as the M3A team.
"For your medium transport, Chesapeake Arms would like to offer it's
C-37B. It would provide 6 such jets for 900mil ROBs total, this time with a 8 year support and parts agreement beginning upon delivery of the final plane.
"Because of the small numbers of aircraft, none of the companies are willing to open assembly plants in Pezookia. However, all of the teams agree that PeZookian Subcontractors should install some of the components...such as the comms suite.
"If I may add something myself, Sirnoth faces significant obstacles in economic recovery. For example, it's power transmission backbone was laid down in the '30s and hasn't been upgraded since. It's telecommunications network is in disarray. If Dominion products are purchased for your Royal Transport, Pezookian companies will be given the same order of precedence as MESS or OICAS companies when bidding for reconstruction projects begins."
"Well...I don't know what to say!", Paul exclaimed after hearing out the proposal, "I never expected you to go as far as letting in observers, to be honest. I'm sure the rest of CATO will appreciate the gesture, too. As for the airplane deal...I've never been bribed with reconstruction contracts before."
Lonestar simply smiled in response.
"I must say the offer is most exciting. I will have analysts back home run some cost/benefit simulations, but my gut says it's good. Very good...", Paul lost himself in thought for a minute, "But I won't make a hasty promise here.", he leaned back in his chair, "You know, that's a pretty bitchin' billiards table. Care to shoot some pool?"
