Feel the Bern
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((OOC: For all intents and purposes, the events in this thread happen AFTER Lekornmeiluz (The Ruthenish Candle Festival), which ends 22 April 2021.))
Forsetahús
Trondheim, TG
23 April 2021Whoopi had just gotten back into her office from a delightful trip to Ruthund. She put on her regular Spotify playlist and sat down to get some work done. It felt odd thinking that this desk belonged to Fremet's ousted monarch mere days before. On the plane back, she had signed the papers officially renaming Trondheimslott to Forsetahús— the monarchy slowly but surely being rooted out of Fremetian politics and society.
Her music was interrupted by a message from her Chief of Staff: Bernie Sanders had accepted her invitation for a summit.
It was time. Even if Whoopi lost the election in August, she would not allow this "interim" period be one of stagnation. There was far too much to do to waste any time. She sent a message to the AA Secretariat to activate Operation Sofa, the plans for a hypothetical meeting between the Head of State and the leader of the UNSR.
Tronderlag-Merkel Air Force Base
Ski, TG
23 April 2021Whoopi waited at Tronderlag-Merkel Air Force Base for the arrival of the Korojaunu. An honour guard lined the tarmac, and a large crowd had gathered to see the man behind the Red Beast across the sea.
So much rode upon this meeting, and the tension and silence in the air was so immense that the sounds of birds singing in nearby trees pierced through those that had gathered.
All was ready. Whoopi stood near the car awaiting the arrival of her counterpart.
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Bernie Sanders left Cesae Vauvra in a small aeroplane and, after a short flight landed at Tronderlag-Merkel Air Force Base. He knew that this mission (as Korojaunu and Foreign Secretary) would be one of the most important missions he had ever completed. If this meeting went well, it would signal the start of the (probably long) process of Icholasen's re-entry into the European Union. His party was often critical of the European Union, but Korojaunu Sanders was a avid internationalist, and, as long as it remained a social union, rather than an economic neoliberal union, he was happy with its development. Sanders was sometimes at odds with his party, but he was fortunate that in the upper house, the Assembly of Nationalities, (responsible for foreign policy decisions) he held a cross-party majority.
Domestically, Sanders was untouchable in terms of popularity. Though for how long that will last remains up to the sands of time. However, right now, he is Icholasen, what he says goes.
He landed at the airbase and the two made small talk in front of a large selection of cameras. Sanders took to the podium with the logos of the Fremetian President.
"I come in peace." Sanders said, pausing for laughter that (out of politeness, and a charming smile), came. "Today marks an important day in these islands. We are opting for peace over war, love over hate, and cooperation over competition. Fremet and the UNSR have more in common that divides us, many of our policies are similar. Social ownership of corporations, social housing models, and many more. It makes much more sense to unite together against the evils of the world than to affront each other. We need to divest from spending money on war, and INvest in our people. Thank you."
Sanders stood back, and let Whoopi have a turn on the podium. He was waiting with baited breath as to what she would say.
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Whoopi smiled at the Korojaunu's speech and was warmed by the positive reception of his remarks by those that had gathered to witness this historic event.
She took the podium and began to speak:
"Thank you Korojaunu Sanders. I thank you for coming here. Your visit to Fremet in peace is, in itself, proof that that Empire of Old is not that which has risen across the Emerald Sea.
Regardless of what has happened in the past, we must not let sins of the father to be laid upon the children. We have an excellent opportunity here to seek real, fundamental progress towards a more peaceful and stable Europe.
The Korojaunu has come not only to see the camps, the poisoned fields still unable to bear crops, the survivors and descendants of the tragedy that was brought upon us, but to speak to us, as a people.
The Kingdom replaced by the UNSR made no efforts to reconcile with us, instead choosing to distance themselves from the past and bury it. Comrade Sanders has proven that he is willing to listen, that he is willing to take steps that must be taken to reconcile with the Fremetian people for the horrors wrought by the empire of old— we should be just as willing to move past them.
This is not some game of differing economics or social policies— this is real life that affects real people each and every day. Both of our islands have suffered enough, and at some point this cycle of mistrust, deceit, and senseless posturing must end.
Together, we can start the process of healing wounds a century old."
She took the Korojaunu's hand in hers and raised it into the air.
She turned to the cameras and mouthed one word: "Hope."
With that, they both got in the Staatsoberhaupt's vehicle and left for Upper Midtenmark, the site of one of the largest battles during the invasion. In the car, Whoopi turned to Sanders, and, in a very Fremetian way, opened with a blunt question:
"I must admit, I'm somewhat surprised that you are here. The AA has been trying to get a Korojaunu to visit Fremet since the late 1980s. It's tragic in a way— that it took such a sea change to finally make this meeting happen. I'm going to ask you something seriously— there are no recording devices in the vehicle and the driver can't hear us unless I open the divider. Your answer will change nothing about this trip, but I need to know: Why are you actually here? Is this some effort to legitimize your regime and stick it to the man? Or is this talk of reconciliation and détente genuine?"
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Bernie thought for a moment and said "Look, Whoopi, Icholasen is in a big mess." He gestured with his hands to exaggerate his point. "We could be destroyed at any minute. As much as it pains me to say this, but we need to be in the EU or we will die. We can't afford our military expenditure and we need some device to keep us safe. However, I have always seen the conflict between our islands as a problem that needed to be resolved and accounted for. So that's why I'm here, to do what no Korojaunu has done so fahr. Also, your economic system isn't so different to our own. Cooperative businesses and housing and all the works. Of any country to work with, your system is the most similar to ours - Czech Slavia has been on the path for much longer, and evidently there will be differences because of that."
Sanders was a diplomat, but even he thought that was pushing it with grovelling. But, grovel he needed to do. So many crimes had been committed the least he could do was be nice.
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"I'm pleased to hear that. Our stalemate is no longer economically sustainable for you, and both of our peoples are exhausted of living in fear and turmoil. We have an opportunity here to end this senseless cycle of aggression, and I must admit that I am surprised that your government even agreed to this meeting. Our foreign office has been working for years for the leader of the previous regime to cross the channel and meet with us— your being here on its own demonstrates that the UNSR is something new."
The convoy slowed as they neared their destination: Camp 13. Established in 1923 after the surrender of the Home Guard, Camp 13 housed hundreds of thousands of Fremetian civilians and noncombatants that had been deemed a "risk to the revolution" by the Fremetian Socialist Republic— the puppet state that had been established under the auspices of the Supreme Commander of Fremet at the time. In addition to over 254,000 members of the Home Guard, 300,000 civilians were executed at camp from 1923 to 1929.
Whoopi sighed as she stepped out of the car and took Bernie’s hand. The Nicoleizians had razed the camp as the Republican Army approached the area, and the ensuing battle in upper Midtenmark ensured that little was left of Camp 13. The National Parks Commission had preserved the ruins of the site and the surrounding battlefields. One could just make out the countless craters dotting the landscape from artillery fire, and the old concrete walls of the camp laid out the sheer scale of the site. A solemn silence was maintained as the two made their way through the camp, with Whoopi and the Director of the National Parks Commission pointing out the design of the camp, and the workflows that the occupying forces used to systematically eliminate Fremetian citizens. They made their way back to where they began and then walked through the battlefield to the high ground. From there one could see the old camp along with the scarred ground. Nicoleizian forces poisoned countless hectares of farmland in their retreat. Though the National Restoration Administration had managed to recover most of the land, the tracts around Camp 13 were expected to remain dead for at least another century. Only short grasses and bushes, specially bred by FremAg to prevent erosion of the already tattered soil, remained.
At the top of the hill stood a 6 foot tall granite marker, detailing the atrocities that had occurred in the eerily quiet surrounds. Whoopi placed her hand on the marker and turned to Korojaunu Sanders, signaling him to speak to the small assortment of aides, cameras, and conservationists that had joined them on their tour.
