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unmerged(33865)

Eutopian Chess Champ
Sep 2, 2004
64
0
A message arrives from the acting chairman of the merchant's advisory board of CAFTA, Loic de Fourgéres:
Your Excellency L'Ambassadeur of Republique Latine de St. Esprit,
M. Armand Guy Louis Montmorency Passe-Campe Hamer III,

Greetings and felicitations on your accession to your most important position.

As I am also a member of the cabinet of President Josephus Sergei Locke, I happen to be aware that he wishes to have the United Provinces of Eutopia join the Central Atlantic Free Trade Association. Under the terms of the treaty, your fine nation is the only 'founding member state', as my country dithered, and Tilapia opted not to go for full membership. As more than a year has passed, your country therefore must approve any prospective member. I am interested in seeing this come about, as what is the use of a free trade association with only one member? Therefore, in order to facilitate this occuring, I wondered if St. Esprit would prefer that the UPE ratify the treaty first and await your country's approval, or if St. Esprit would like to invite the UPE to join, which they could do by ratifying the treaty? The ratification is, I believe, a power of the executive branch in the UPE, so my President could do by signing the treaty. I would be most interested in hearing your thoughts on the best way to proceed.

Dans cette attente, veuillez agréer, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes sentiments distingués.

Respectfully,
 

Josephus I

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A note arrives bearing the seal of the President of the UPE

To the Ambassador of St. Esprit

Sir,

The president and foreign affairs minister of Eutopia, Per Josephus L. Sergei, requests your presence at a luncheon at the Diamond Office. During dinner, Per Sergei would like to discuss some issues of concern to both our fine nations, such as the CAFTA filibuster, the "day workers" and our joint military excercise.

Please RSVP.

Thank you
The office of the president of the UPE
 

Voshkod

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A letter arrives for the Ambassador:

Your Excellency:

Republique Latine de St. Esprit is invited to send a small cadre of observers to upcoming military exercises to be conducted by the Eutopian Armed Forces. Please send the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Eutopian Armed Forces a list of observers, including their ranks and titles.

I would also appreciate a contact point with your operations and watch center, so they may be informed when our exercises will begin. This will allow our nations to avoid any misunderstandings.

With regards,

/s/Lt. Gen. Marcus Levarge, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
 

unmerged(33865)

Eutopian Chess Champ
Sep 2, 2004
64
0
A note arrives for the ambassador:
Your Excellency:

CAFTA is organizing a Labour Advisory Board, to which representation from union leadership in St. Esprit would be most welcome to participate. In addition, it is sponsoring a multilateral conference, to which the same individuals are invited. If you could arrange to forward the attached invitation to the proper individuals, I would be again indebted to you.

I think this might be a good way to defuse some of the tensions regarding the 'day citizens' protest, which was started by some errant local union members in Hurteau, apparently contrary to wishes of their new union leadership.

Please be assured, sir, of my most distinguished sentiments.
 
Last edited:

Voshkod

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A letter arrives for General James Levitsky.

General: Your observers are welcome at the Quadragon. When the exercise speeds up, we'll move out into the field. Troops from St. Espirit are not necessary until our respective governments decide to conduct joint exercises.

/s/Levarge, CinC Eutopia
 

unmerged(11366)

Khan of the Crimea
Oct 21, 2002
2.038
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bgreinhart.wordpress.com
Parliament, Fort-aux-Francais

"...our heroic workers struggling against the mighty tyrant, must persevere. The fearmongers of Eutopia will reign fight on, but..."

Another day in the long filibuster was slowly moving on to another night in the long filibuster. MP Jean Thurmonne continued droning on, oblivious to the outside world and plain old common sense.

He was, however, gaunt and leaning against his desk. "I am beginning to see the pointlessness of this exercise," he murmured. "Although this effort of human endurance will come to an end, the endurance of the trampled-on workers of Saint Esprit will remain true to the day of Judgment."

"Sir, a glass of water," said a page boy, an elementary-school child paging as a field trip. He did not know the tremendous import of his offering.

"Thank you," whispered Thurmonne, who took a sip - admitting defeat. He sat down wearily, waved his fingers back and forth in the air, and stretched his legs. He downed the glass and signaled for another, but while the page boy was heading for the water fountain, he fell asleep.

When the meeting was finally adjourned, it was noticed that he was remarkably hard to wake up.
 

unmerged(11366)

Khan of the Crimea
Oct 21, 2002
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Smoke filled the heavy, dark air of the club. Dim lights along the main stage were all the lights necessary; the dark place gave off an aura of low-class trashiness. A gentleman entered now, his hat tipped down so the bill covered his eyes. Under the hat he cast a furtive glance around the place, and regretted coming. But you have to, he told himself. The head waiter walked up.

"Mr. ... Mr. Ribs is here to see me."

The waiter smiled. "Ah, yes, follow me."

Mr. Ribs, also in dark with a hat on, was in the darkest corner in the darkest private booth. He was picking with his fork at a heap of mashed potatoes. "Good evening," he said, sounding as if he was smiling.

"What is it?" asked the gentleman. "What is it you want?"

"That's very perceptive of you," said Mr. Ribs, eating a scoop of potatoes. "I know what you did. I know how you did it. And I have proof. Now, as you know, life has its little...um...difficulties, and I am in need of a small sum of cash to keep me quiet. Otherwise the proof may...um...fall into the wrong hands - the hands of right. If you know what I mean."

"Yes." The gentleman was deeply disturbed and lost in thought. "How much is it?"

"Nothing much. A man of your stature can offer me...say..." looking at his fork, concentrating, "fifty thousand dollars."

"That much?" Under his hat bill, the gentleman's eyebrow raised.

"A penny less and you'll be in the slammer for the rest of your life, and your friends with you."

A long pause. "Yes." Another pause. "All right. I'll write you a ch-"

"Cash. Small bills. Same place, same time. Tomorrow. Deal?"

"Deal."

Mr. Ribs had a bite of rare steak. "Good. I will see you tomorrow. And don't you forget, or I'll have you, won't I?" A sinister smile came across his face, and he looked up at his victim, triumphant in a very oily way. His gentleman victim rose a defeated and humbled man, and left the booth. He walked back in the shadows, pulling his hat farther down. Nobody must see him. Nobody must know.

Out in the car, he opened the glove compartment, and said hello to his old friend. He had never used it before, but now he would have to. Poison only works the first time, but a man who murders once will find it much easier to kill again.
 

Josephus I

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A phonecall for the Ambassador.

It's President Josephus here. Listen, two things: One...Has St. Esprit ever passed the CAFTA? And Two: Would it be possible for you to arrange a State Visit for me? I'd like to drop by St. Esprit and meet your leaders.

Josephus
 

unmerged(11366)

Khan of the Crimea
Oct 21, 2002
2.038
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bgreinhart.wordpress.com
Armand Hamer picks it up personally. "Hello, Monsieur le President. It is a pleasure to speak with you again. Yes, St. Esprit was the first nation to sign CAFTA and is still the only one - as you know we have formally invited Eutopia into the league, and now the, ehm, onus is on your government, I believe. And of course we would be glad to arrange for a visit to to St. Esprit. My President Thibaud and his Cabinet would be delighted to meet you!"
 

unmerged(11366)

Khan of the Crimea
Oct 21, 2002
2.038
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bgreinhart.wordpress.com
High up on the 12th Floor of the ACME Building, Fort-aux-Francais

I have come a long way, thought the detective as he gazed at the walls. I have gone to extreme measures, more so than perhaps even my old high school friend Jerry Salinger, to escape the limelight...and here I am again. What was it that had driven him out in the first place? He was the greatest man of all, the king of the world, the most powerful man in his nation. And yet, at the peak of his power, he realized what lay ahead. He had to get out.

He was smart to get out when he did, he thought. It was so easy to fool them. All he had to do was arrange for a few friends to do some PR...write a statement...and then he could live in peace, in the country. He only wanted to retire...

And here he was in the middle of it all again. Investigating a murder. How come nobody had ever investigated his own murder? Investigating a murder. A double murder? Yes, there had to be a connection. Jean Thurmonne and Georges Dumont. The first one was impulsive, stupid. Thurmonne had already caved in. True, he would still trumpet the "day workers". But he was done. His career shattered.

Dumont. Now that had been clever. Berlioz, the march of the scaffold. The wistful dying phrase, memories of his lover...and then the fall of the guillotine. The death of the hero...the death of Dumont. Beautiful. But what did Dumont know? What could he have known?

Who could have killed these men?

The detective pulled his feet off his desk. The answer lies inside. He started thinking in an inside way, although it didn't work too well, because Poirot and nuts like that can use their little grey cells but most people cannot, cannot understand the powers of reason and concentration - the present detective included. Why had the Vice President hired him? How could he trust - and then the detective noted the startling, appalling irony of names -

And then he knew the answer.

The irony of the whole thing was killing him. He was glad, though, that the murderer had not got him first.
 
Last edited:

unmerged(11366)

Khan of the Crimea
Oct 21, 2002
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bgreinhart.wordpress.com
High up on the 12th Floor of the ACME Building, Fort-aux-Francais

He knew who had done it. Or so he thought. He knew how; but why? Means - motive - opportunity. We have two. What is the motive? Everyone has a motive. I have a motive, he thought. I know it all; I know why I am delaying. I could end the case right now, but no...

The murderer. He surely must have some other reason. Not just for political reasons could he have killed two people. Simply because he is President and they are Opposition... what is Jacques Thibaud doing now? Is he going to kill Camille Rochevot? The phone rang. It was replying.

"Monsieur! This is Jacques! You won't believe what has happened!"

"Yes, I will, Mister President."

"Camille Roche- he - Rochevot - he has been poisoned too! First Thurmonne, now Dumont, and now my own Cabinet minister! Surely you know who is doing this by now? You are a famous detective are you not?"

"I - uh - well to be frank I am not too certain - Camille de Rochevot?"

"Yes. Exactly forty-eight hours after our, um, disagreement, he was admitted into the hospital. He died there just a few minutes ago."

"I know who did it. I will let you know soon - but only when we can have you, me, and the murderer in the room at the same time."

"But - "

"Mister President. A word of advice. DO NOT disagree with anyone. DO NOT say anything nasty - do not make enemies - be as nice to everyone as you can be. If you do not follow this advice another body will come as surely as the river flows."

"I do not understand."

"You aren't supposed to. Follow my word. I will talk to you soon. Goodbye." Wow. That changes everything.

- - -​

Meanwhile, at the Presidential manor, staff prepared for a state dinner honoring President Josephus Sergei of Eutopia. They mailed out invitations to several prominent Socialist Party leaders and union heads, as well as sounding out the usual Cabinet members and MPs. And somebody slipped in an invitation without a name, addressed to the 12th Floor of the ACME Building, Fort-aux-Francais...
 

Josephus I

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Josephus arrives at the presidential manor in a convoy of cars. He sits in an open limousine that bears the flags of both nations. The carcade pulls up in front of the building and Josephus steps out and faces an honour guard. He does a quick inspection and is then led up the stairs where he expects to find President Thibaudt waiting for him.
 
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unmerged(11366)

Khan of the Crimea
Oct 21, 2002
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In the lobby the President finds St. Espritian President Jacques Thibaud, along with his complete Cabinet, and some other men of assorted stature and quality of suits.

"M. le President," says Thibaud, "it is such a great pleasure to welcome you here to St. Esprit. Allow me to introduce you to my Cabinet. M. le Reverend Jack Teano, whom I believe you remember, is in charge of our foreign affairs; M. Fritze Boudreau runs our home affairs; General James Levitsky is our Chief of the Military; and M. Morgan Saint-Charles is our Vice President and new head of economical matters. The old one was sadly murdered shortly before you landed at the airport - say thirty minutes." Thibaud is not particularly emotional about this, and everyone realizes it. "I am rather used to people being murdered around here now.

"Also here are the leader of the Socialist Party - loyal in opposition - Walter Steligne - my staff, and my father, M. Charles Thibaud." The last of these seemed familiar to Josephus ... but it was mere coincidence. It cannot be who he appeared to be, for that man was dead. His thoughts are interrupted.

"Would you like to come into the parlour here? We can discuss some of the matters at hand, of course... perhaps afterwards you can sign CAFTA in the press room and then we can have a grand state dinner. My chefs have been just dying to serve you sir..." at a grim look from General Levitsky, Thibaud adds, "not literally, I hope."
 

Josephus I

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Josephus warmly shakes the president's hand, as camera flashes pop all around. Josephus is momentarily exhilerhated. He realizes that for all intents and purposes, he is a hero here. After all it was his refusal to back FREE that started this whole thing. He turns to Rev. Teano.

Aaaah, Mr. Teano. It has been a long while. You've changed. He hugs Rev. Teano. He then glances at the man introduced as the president's father. He did a double take. Could it be? Josephus shook his head. One of his secretaries would be fired for this.

He shakes hands with the socialist leader and then gives him the two cheeked kiss as the flashes set off once more. He turns to the press.


Citizens of St. Esprit. It is with pleasure that I come to your new and sovereign nation. I have always stood for your right to self determination, and have risked my life for it. Vive le St. Esprit. Vive le Republique.

It has taken many years. Such is the nature of our politics, but I am here to formalize trade agreements between our two nations. Free trade is the first step towards trust, brotherhood and friendship.

With that. He turns to the president. So. This CAFTA agreement. Let's sign it.

Josephus
 

unmerged(11366)

Khan of the Crimea
Oct 21, 2002
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President Thibaud, who has been greatly relieved by the flattering speech, pulls a folded sheet out of his jacket - it is the CAFTA agreement on some sort of fancy parchment.

"J'ai toujours détesté l'idée du libre échange," mumbles Thibaud's father.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my father doesn't speak English," Thibaud explains quietly to Josephus. "He says he is so proud of us."

Thibaud smiles. An attendant brings a chair and small desk and a bottle of ink and gives the feather quill to Josephus as the treaty is laid down on the table...
 

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Josephus looks once more at the president's old man and shook his head.

He takes a nice and shiny ceremonial pen and puts his signature on the form. When done he shakes the president's hands and offers the pen as a gift. /I]


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The President thanks Josephus and takes both the shiny pen and the neglected feather quill.

"Would any members of the press like to ask any questions at this time?"
 

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After brushing off a few questions about Camille Rochevot...

"Well, that's all for now, I'm sorry, President Sergei and I have some very important matters to discuss. Thank you." President Thibaud escorts Josephus into the study along with his father, the Cabinet, and Walter Steligne.
 

Josephus I

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When they are left alone; Josephus turns to them.

As you know, one of the things discussed in the CAFTA agreements was a harmonized tax system. As you also know, we, in Eutopia, are in the process of debating, for years now, a VAT. We were wondering if we pass VAT, whether you have any interest in going that route.

What are your thoughts?


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"I personally," says Thibaud, "would be rather, well, quite frankly unsupportive of the idea, although I would allow such a tax for the benefit of our relationship and free trade area given it is quite small. Our citizens are not wealthy enough to support a heavy tax burden. However, I imagine Mr. Steligne believes otherwise..."

"Yes." Steligne smiles. "As a matter of fact, our party strongly supports the VAT to bolster our plans for other sectors. We support, Mr. Sergei, full universal health care and pensions. We would accomplish this by installation of the VAT and gradual...um...phasing out of the military."

"It's fortunate you are in the opposition," Thibaud says, smiling. At this his father's eyes blaze with alarm for a fraction of a second.