Will it be completed in less than a year? Duxburian-Gallorum Summit
-
"All the travel arrangements have been made!" proudly proclaimed Jenn Lammer, Erik's Drammen's new Secretary for the Office of State. "The Gallic delegation will be flying into Blackstone International Airport and then be escorted to the Metro Underground. A special reserved G1 train with no other riders will then take them directly to Federal Citadel Station, we're choosing to skip all the traffic.
A maintenance team is in the rail tunnel now taking down the flipbook style advertising that is usually displayed in there and changing it to scenes of various beautiful places in Gallorum."
The Master-General certainly appreciated her energy and drive at a time when the Office of State was overwhelmed and badly needed people who could handle logistics quickly. She also had great attention to little details like the tunnel scenes that could make an experience more immersive for their guests.
"Thanks Jenn, you're awesome!" he replied.
With the Steward spending most of his time gambling down at the casino or doing who-knows-what drugs in celebrity mansions, there was effectively no one at the helm of the country much of the time...as the first Master-General in the constitutional chain of succession after the Stewardship, Erik found the federal government increasingly looking to him for de facto day-to-day leadership. The military didn't even hesitate when he basically directed them to do things that an Aelir or Steward really should be doing instead. What a mad world...he had to handle that whole URR statement himself, too - Steward Maximillian signed it from inside a casino...like come on, man...probably didn't even read it.
Erik hid his frustration with the Steward from his staff, calmly directing them in how to setup the room they'd be using for the summit. He had multiple meeting rooms on hand for different flavors of guest, this time they'd be using the southwest bastion. It was a modern space in an ancient building, a place where 2 month old furnishings and the internet co-existed seamlessly with 2,000 year old walls.
The bastion included large windows on 3 sides, letting in plentiful natural light, which he figured the Gallic representatives would like. Refreshments on the table featured hand-grown fruits from his own garden, cheese and crackers from an upscale Kaumbrennian farm, ice water from a famous Varian spring, and wine of varieties that would be very familiar to someone from Gallorum.
There were still a few preparations left that only he could do. Erik dialed into the power department to make sure they would switch the color of the entrance lights on schedule. The Citadel, the seat of the executive branch and a real former fortress, had a very unique main entrance - visitors walked across a drawbridge below two massive turrets to enter. Instead of a moat, there was simply a bottomless void of a dropoff. Both the void and the Citadel walls were jet-black, having been made with Duxburian blackstone, so illuminating that space gave it quite a look that visitors wouldn't forget any time soon. The void glowed menacing red during times of war, orange during high alert, and eerie green most other times. It needed to be white, the color of diplomacy, for this summit. Erik also had to make sure the flags of both countries would be flying on the turrets, Gallorum's on the right in the position of honor. The parade grounds outside the Citadel also had to be blocked off to the general public and the secret diplomatic exit from the train station, unblocked.
As Erik finished up with these tasks, there was an eccentric knock on the office door, a pattern he knew very well.
"Come in, Andres!"
"Erik! Look, I'm early for once!"
Erik sniggered...Andres Marian, Master of Sleep and Laziness, was never early to things...
"Jenn, you have competition! Andres is early...which means he's eager to take your job!"
Being new and having no idea who Andres was, Jenn was terrified.
Of course, he wasn't secretary material...he was the lead IT admin of the City of Niko beneath their feet. Erik needed Andres' tech expertise for these negotiations. Wild rumors had it that Andres was an OG engineer of the internet and built the world wide web with Brandeus Devoy. Other rumors had him developing the modern personal computer, but never claiming the riches or the credit. Whatever was actually in his knowledge base was...formidable...so yes they needed him.
Everything seemed to be ready now, so all there was left to do was wait for the Gallic delegation to arrive...and to practice translating for Andres, as he spoke nothing but High Aelirian.
-
Prime Minister Ayrault had no expectations when he arrived in the Union of Duxburian Dominions. He had only heard about Les Duxburiens, and the idea that he would be the first Gaulois prime minister to make it to the capital of such an influential nation...he was proud of that. His plane touched down at Blackstone International Airport. He was taken with how efficient everything looked. The architecture was not utilitarian, but it was the pinnacle of efficiency, function and aesthetic all at once.
"Mon Dieu," exclaimed Ayrault. He had been studying his notes in the notorious Blue Notebooks, the files that all government ministers carry with them. "This makes an amazing impression."
He was immediately greeted by aides who scurried him and his trusted aide Alize towards the transportation to the famed Federal Citadel. Alize looked at the walls. She found idyllic scenery and art that made her feel less austere. The Duxburians had really taken time to make a good first impression.
"They know our country well, even from afar..." Alize said to the Prime Minister. Ayrault turned to her and smiled.
"They know our country well because they know every country well. It takes a lot to catch a Duxburian off guard," Ayrault said to Alize. "Have you ever noticed the Duxburian tourists to Aurelis? They laugh at how relatively simple our metro is by comparison to the almost three-dimensional chess that is their metro systems. Never mind that they have created innovations that we still use to this day. You see that 5G in the corner?"
Alize nodded, then gasped at the suggestion that the Duxburians made the 5G network.
"Do you see the phone itself, my dear? Apple? They made it," Ayrault replied. "The Government had quite a time ordering phones and computers from the Union but I think they were at least happy to do it considering the Kingdom of Gallorum is at least sane."
Ayrault took a moment to reflect on what had happened in the European Union in the last two weeks. Communist uprisings, bombings of the URR, the resignation of Elisabeth Baschet, the air superiority campaign in La Manche, the peace deal in Vayinaod, the meeting with Fremet. So much had happened. It has taken a toll on the machinations of the civil service, but they got back around in front of the action. They always do...praetorian in how they pursue information and policy.
Upon arrival at the Federal Citadel, Alize gasped again. She noticed the turrets and draw bridge. Ayrault seemed...unshaken. Alize looked at the Prime Minister as the Duxburian aides ushered them towards the entrance.
"Well, aside from breakfast with Alexandria, I'm quite glad I've lost a few kilos over the last couple of years," Ayrault joked. The draw bridge itself was sturdier than it looked, but it made for a hell of an entrance. Alize looked over the bridge towards the abyss and let out a yelp. Ayrault offered his arm. "No worries, ma'moiselle. You will be fine. This is a prime example of Duxburian architecture and ingenuity. What does it project to you, Alize?"
"Intimidation....anxiety..." Alize began. Ayrault laughed,.
"Intimidation, yes. But with good reason. As the old saying goes...the only animal whose bark is backed up by its bite is the Duxburian Armed Forces. Their display in the skies of Dromund Kaas, my god..."
They arrived at the room and stopped at the door. They were surprised at how modest the room was within the bastion. Ayrault looked around and found the Duxburian. Ayrault cleared his throat and then spoke in English rather slowly, as if thinking about every word.
"Hello! Thank you for your wonderful welcome to your beautiful country! As the daughter of Rome, we appreciate such quality architecture. It shows the true strength of the aura that is...eh...how do you say in English...L'Union Duxburien."
