A Rare Meeting
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Marxssauks, Miens Marx, 50km away from the Rare Earth Metals Mines
The Council for the Protection of the Revolution realised that Icholasen needed cold hard cash, and it needed it now. The Nicoleizian currency was basically worthless, so literally any other currency would help the UNSR buy things on the international stage. But, the most intriguing offer so far was from the Suez Canal Cartel. Icholasen is one of two states to possess Rare Earth metals within its borders, and so since the revolution and the embargo it had been harder to come across it. But the Nicoleizians were prepared to give it away for a very good price - better than pre-revolution, but also better than the Czechs.
Laulw Forin, President of the Kicrlaunk Socialist Republic (the Republic where the RE Metals were) had been charged with the task of getting this deal, with a strict set of guidelines. Forin was part of an aging set of communists who had been in power in the neighbouring Republic for years - even before the revolution. She was older and set in her ways, and so knew that you had to break a few eggs to make a hammer and sickle shaped omelette. Sometimes you have to deal with some... scummy people in order to get things for your people.
The Hisul if shu Rusilusion (Hotel of the Revolution) was a massive brutalist building, it was rectangular and highly functional. The décor was minimal, with a plastic plant here and there and a painting of nothing in particular. It was built in 1974 with efficiency in mind. Laulw sat at the bar and sipped her martini, she needed some courage before the negotiations.
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After a long voyage, the SCS Vandel arrived in Nicoleizian waters. This was the personal yacht of Lucian Vandel, boss of bosses, High Lord of the Suez Cartel. The blockbuster deal he sought with President Forin was important enough that he needed to travel all the way to the UNSR and see to it personally. His big tech company clients needed inexpensive rare earth metals for their products, the UNSR needed hard currency to sustain its revolution, there was huge potential here. No politics, no bullshit, just good business.
Lucian loved business! He'd taken the Suez Cartel from a joke laughed about on Duxburian patrol vessels to a global economic powerhouse. Yes, they still trafficked the usual boring lineup of drugs, guns, and people, but he had diversified the cartel, expanding into endangered species, commodities, artwork, antiques, collectibles, avd even racehorse semen (Why were 3 vials of this worth as much as a house!?) The cartel also now operated casinos with online gambling, nightclubs, auction houses, beach resorts, private universities (student bookstores were especially lucrative!), and government contracting businesses. The Suez Cartel stood almost completely unopposed domestically, now that Lucian had taken out all of his major rivals. Of course, no crime could be traced back to him.
As Lucian got ready to board the ship's helicopter to fly over to the meetup location, his phone rang with an annoying call about some stupid branch boss shorting some stupid director 10% on narcotics dues. Lucian instructed that the offending boss be made to swim with the fishes. Angry at the distraction from this far more important event at hand in the UNSR, Lucian also quietly put out a hit on the director. These damn people were like whiny children. Now, on to business!
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Laulw Forin, President of the Kicrlaunk Socialist Republic
Forin stretched out her hand and shook Lucian's hand. 'Good afternoon Lucian. It is great to have you here in the UNSR. Now, I'd like to start by briefing you on the legality - or lack-thereof - of this endeavour. The European Council recently rejected an amendment to the Condemnation of the Coup in Icholasen which means that only military goods are embargoed. However, a case, I suppose, could be made that these are military goods. No matter the legality, we are prepared to offer you a competitive rate and one that we do not offer to other decadent capitalists. We want your help if Icholasen is totally embargoed legally by the EU. A promise to smuggle food, medicine and other products to the UNSR should the EU Council launch a total legal blockade of us would be all we need to reduce the price of our Rare Earth Metals significantly -- we would of course reimburse you for the goods, the fuel and the manhours. Of course a blockade mandated by the EU Council means nothing. What will they do? Take you to the ECoJ? It is this blockade, however, that could destroy the UNSR. We have a mutually beneficial opportunity here. The price of Rare Earth Metals has increased since the revolution, and we are worried about a blockade. I'm sure that a reduced price for the metals in return for your promise to smuggle necessary goods to Icholasen should a blockade come about is all we need for a deal to be made.
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"President Forin, I am happy to hear that the UNSR is prepared to make a deal despite the legal risks. Luckily, the Suez Cartel is not a government, so the European Union would have a very difficult time making us do or not do anything. Even the Duxburian government has a lot of limits in that regard. Neither entity could realistically enforce trade enjoinment against our institution."
Lucian handed the president a list of desired minerals.
"So, the Suez Cartel wishes to purchase Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Samarium, and Gadolinium by the metric ton and Europium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Ytterbium, Lutetium, Yttrium, and Scandium by the kilogram. The rates and length of contract before a rate change are negotiable. We can arrange payment in the currency(ies) of your choosing. If your country's financial system has crypto-to-fiat banking capabilities, we can provide you with 100% completely untraceable funds, delivered in seconds with no physical transit risk.
We would also be happy to oblige your requests for food, medicine, and other staple products. These can probably be shipped openly at first, under the fronts of "humanitarian" organizations/NPOs. In the event of a total blockade with actual enforcement, we have deep pockets and can afford to run smuggling missions via submarine. Our submarine fleet is operated by a "legitimate" company that conducts global underwater scientific research. Several of our surface vessels are equipped to transport, launch, and recover such subs under the guise of fishing and research. Alternatively, divers can load/unload the subs via lockout chamber without surfacing. Even the most advanced navies in the world would struggle against this method.
Due to the risks of a paper trail, I can't commit to a normal written agreement that governments would ratify. However, if you want to draw up something that has all the final details written in a way that couldn't be construed by a court of law, especially the ECoJ, to implicate either party, I could sign that."
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"I am glad to hear you are above the law. And, yes, it is a simple enough deal that we can organise via word of mouth." Said Forin. "We will provide all the metals you have listed, and we will accept any strong currency. And as for the food, medicine and other products, we will ask for them when / if a blockade comes. Shipments can begin starting today if you send us an initial deposit."
Forin outstretched her hand to signify that a deal had been reached.
