DIPLOMATIC EFFECTS / CH. 15:DIPLOMACY
SWITZERLAND, 5PM, SUNDAY 3RD MARCH 2278
“Rudolph, please do thank the organisers from me for letting Krista and me come,” Svetlana said at the maglev station. The Christian Union weekend away had just finished. “It's been a lovely time.”
“You can do it yourself, Claire, they're just there.”
“My maglev is coming soon,” she said.
“You're not travelling back to the Berne with the rest of us?” he asked surprised.
“It's faster if I head straight back to Basse-Monaco from here, isn't it?”
“Well, it's a shorter distance, I guess. But I thought we'd have the extra time together...”
“You just don't like goodbyes.”
“When you're going to be gone for more than a month? Of course I don't,” Rudolph said.
“Silly,” Svetlana said warmly, “It's only supposed to be thirty three days,”
“But that's thirty-three days I can't contact you.”
“Not safely, no.” Svetlana was going, and there had been a number of press reports linking Rudolph and Claire. It wasn't going to be safe for them to be overheard talking to each other.
The arrival of the maglev was announced. “Come back safely, Claire.”
“I fully intend to, you stay safe too, Rudolph.” She said, getting into the maglev. “Oh, and remember to offer the youth hostel for next year.”
“You're sure about that?”
“Of course!” Svetlana agreed over her shoulder.
“Youth hostel?” Krista asked.
“I had a brilliant idea while we were walking here,” Svetlana said, as they moved along the corridor, looking for their seats. “Two night's accommodation here, without food, cost as much as the return trip to Basse-Monaco and Mme Dubois is a better cook than whoever it was that catering here, too. So as a bit of a thank-you and a bit of advertising, I told Rudolph that the C.U. could hold next year's meeting in my nice new hostel.”
“I didn't think there was space. Fifteen rooms with five occupants doesn't reach eighty five plus the speaker.”
“There'll be extra space in the roof. Cold in winter, hot in summer, but they should be OK at this time of year.”
“I thought Zara had said don't do it, it's too dusty?”
“Oh sorry, you missed that discussion!” Svetlana replied “She's worked out that adding lime to the mix makes it not just harder but far less tasty for rodents. And for good measure they're going to put some sheets of board on top, too.”
“Here we are! But what about the extra cost?” Krista said, as they sat down in their compartment.
“Much cheaper to do it now than later. And it gives an extra income stream.”
“Not if you don't charge people anything,” Krista said with a smile.
“I'll charge a bit don't worry, and I'm not subsidising the food.”
“Oh, I'm not worried. As far as I know my course fees don't come from your budget.”
“Nor does this. Arianne pointed out to René and her father that if they got the full fifty percent parking bonus for their half an hour's work, they'd possibly find themselves in the tax system as people with a high earning capacity, which would be a long-term disaster — the system assumes that people with high capacity who are declaring a low income are hiding stuff, so taxes them at a fixed rate after that. So they asked me not to pay them enough to trigger that, and they rightly pointed out that the building work was in their benefit too.”
“So you've got double the building fund you thought?”
“Not quite, but it means I don't need to bail out the hostel from my personal funds.”
“That's nice. It's odd to think of people asking to be paid less, though.” Krista said, with a wry smile.
“They're right though. I seriously doubt there'll ever be that many cars parked like that again, and they certainly don't want to get taxed as though it happens once a week.”
“Can't you just declare they're not subject to the tax?”
“I could try. But I think Arianne's solution's better. They don't need the extra stress of some bureaucrat deciding to persecute them over it.
Plus, of course, I did say that if they started living better than their neighbours then I'd put put up the rent. They don't want that to suddenly land on them either. They still got what they normally live on for a year, and a René sees he's got a permanent job and a house to move into, so I don't think they're complaining.”
“Until they find themselves hard up again and think 'if only...'”
“OK, well, what I did, Krista, is wrote down what the generous bankers etcetera ended up giving us, minus how much they wanted from it. I then showed how much the building project is expected to be, and how much extra they'd be getting over the next ten years because of the reduction in the loan, assuming the thing isn't a total flop, and they left that discussion quite happy.”
“Oh, OK, so you're treating it as though they've invested it?”
“Yes.”
“Madam,” said the passenger opposite them, who looked about twenty five, “I'm afraid I couldn't ignore your conversation; I'm an officer of the financial services police. I'm going to need to ask you to accompany to the station, or I'll have to arrest you here and now on suspicion of colluding with tax evasion and operating an unlicensed investment scheme.”
“Krista? While I pretend not to have heard that, would you like to educate the young man?”
“I think, officer,” Krista said, “you probably don't want to cause that kind of diplomatic incident. And I think you'll also find you have no jurisdiction in Monaco, particularly in Basse-Monaco.”
“Basse-Monaco?” the police officer asked, surprised. He'd heard of that famous trial.
“I don't think you want to argue that Princess Claire du Basse-Monaco has no right to allow her royal bailiffs to benefit from their work in collecting fines from illegal parking in any way she sees fit, do you?”
“I would not wish to argue or imply such a thing,” he said.
Unfortunately for him, there'd been a memo warning of fraudsters claiming that name for themselves. Visibly sweating, he politely told them this and asked “Might I ask for some proof of identification?”
“I will offer you my identification, sir,” Krista said, handing over her I.D. “but I suggest you ask your superiors advice before demanding her highness's.”
“Err,” the officer said, confused by the Cyrillic writing he saw, and the fact that only her first name was filled in, and the address fields were totally blank except for the postcode. His I.D. device confirmed that it had been issued in Russia.
“A word of advice, officer,” Svetlana said, “you get in far less trouble for causing a diplomatic incident if you do it under direct orders. Oh, and we're due to transfer to the hypersonic in the station after this one.”
“Might I ask the destination, your highness?”
“Basse-Monaco,”
“And might I see the tickets, your highness?”
“Of course,” Svetlana smiled. The ticket had her name on it. He looked at it and said “Sorry for doubting you, your highness.”
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NEWS REPORT FOR SOLAR SYSTEM DISTRIBUTION, FRISOL 8TH MARCH, 2278
Trade deal to be signed
In a surprise move, China and India have today decided to give way on their until-now non-negotiable demands in the trade negotiation — restoration of the MarsCorp dividend and the right to buy land on Mars. It thus seems likely that a formal agreement might be signed within a week.
This has somewhat wrong-footed the council who only last month agreed that trade negotiations could be separated from the issue of compensation for India and China's supporting roles in the campaign to deny Martian self-determination, where negotiations had seemed to be moving ahead far more rapidly.
Despite earlier progress reported by India and China, it seems that their attempts (and those by other nations) to bring Russia into these negotiations have been met by that nation's traditional stony silence on all things related to Mars.
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EMBASSY OF ATLANTIS, MARS, 9AM, MONSOL 11TH MARCH, 2278
[Ruth!], Karella called, [You need to get to the spaceport, picking up as many Council members as you can on the way.]
[I do?]
[Incoming peace-submarine, surprise visit.]
[A surprise visit?]
[You'll see why. ]
[What about flight plans?]
[I expect that such minor trivialities have been ignored.]
[Someone's going to be furious.]
[Get a move on, I'd guess the Guillemot will show up someone's radar soon enough.]
[There's a storm forecast for half an hour.]
[I know. Very clever of whoever advised the pilot. We did get some questions which make a lot of sense now, but it wasn't our idea. Oh, I know this because a certain ambassador here asked for your intervention after you were asleep last night.]
[You've still not told me who it is.]
[I know. Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?] Karella said, and left Ruth alone in her own mind.
“Mack,” Ruth said, five minutes later, “My beloved and infuriatingly secretive queen has just told me to expect a peace submarine to land immediately after this morning's storm, I presume with the heir to the throne of somewhere or other on board.”
“Whatever happened to seeking landing permission?”
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
“The same thing as happened to flight plans, I guess. Karella said they probably viewed it as a triviality and ignored it.”
“Huh! That's going to sour diplomatic ties. And we're expected to drop everything and lay out the red carpet?”
“Can I pick up you or at least Eloise on the way?”
“Oh, I guess we can both come. No clues at all?”
“It's a surprise visit, apparently. Karella hinted the pilot was hiding from radar in the storm, I think.”
“And this is a peace mission?”
“Apparently so.”
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MARS SPACEPORT, 10AM, MONSOL 11TH MARCH
“Mars Approach, is there anyone there, yet?” Svetlana asked, with her transmitter power as low as it would go.
“Mars approach receiving,” the flight controller said, running to the microphone after returning from the storm-shelter.
“This is peace guillemot one, happy I don't need to get too close without asking, requesting permission for atmospheric entry and final approach vector.”
“What, where are you?”
“Two hundred kilometres above the spaceport, Mars approach, current speed five kilometres per second, slowing at 2 gee.”
Mack, Eloise and Ruth arrived in the tower in time to hear the radar operator squawk “How did that get there.”
“Hid behind a dense spot in the storm, apparently,” Ruth said helpfully. “I suggest you let her land then you can decide if you want to shout at her about flight plans, Mack.”
“Yes, OK, let's find out who thinks they don't need prior landing clearance.”
“Permission granted for atmospheric entry, peace guillemot one,” the flight controller said.
“Peace Guillemot One?” Ruth asked.
“That's what she called herself.”
“Mack?” Ruth asked “Do you know which young heir to a throne got Peace-Guillemot one?”
“No idea, Ruth. You gave away twenty or so that first day, didn't you?”
“Yes. But I do know.”
“Come on, Ruth, out with it!”
“I now understand Karella's silence,” Ruth said, grinning.
“Ruth, who is it?” Mack asked.
“Ignorance is bliss, Mack, but if you wanted to get some more Council members up here it might be a good idea.”
“If you're not telling, then let's see who our visitor is and what he or she wants first.” Mack said.
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10:10AM
After flaring off the radiation towards the end of its spiralling descent, the Guillemot's wings switched to mirror as Svetlana carefully followed the final flight path. Once it reached the runway, she switched them to showing the imperial crest of Russia, bringing a mixture of shocked exclamations and queries about whose crest that was from those able to see. As she glided to a stop above the taxiway she said into the radio, “I, crown princess Svetlana of Imperial Russia, acting with the knowledge and permission of my Imperial father, his majesty the Tsar of Russia, personally recognise the full independence of Mars and request permission, for myself, and my entourage to touch down and step foot on its sovereign soil.”
Mack grabbed the microphone from the stunned flight controller and said “As chair of the Mars Council, I thank you for this recognition. Permission is granted, your imperial highness.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Sorry for the secrecy surrounding my visit, hopefully by the next time I come we'll have an ambassador in place to help arrange things.”
“That sounds like full diplomatic relations, your imperial highness.”
“It does, doesn't it? I hope you don't object to that idea.”
“Full diplomatic relations with Russia?” the flight controller exclaimed. “That murderous regime? Never! They killed my dad!”
“We don't know it was Russia, Ernest.” Mack said. “India and China have dropped hints and spoken of generaltities, but there weren't any records kept, so who knows? It might have been one of them.”
“Most likely it was Russia, though, statistically speaking. Fifty five percent, were, they say.”
“I don't know where they get that number if there weren't records, but be that as it may, Ernest. Maybe with diplomatic ties we'll get some answers.”
“Or we could just give her a dud breather, and see how her family likes it.”
“Ernest!” Mack reprimanded the man, “That's murder you're advocating there. You're going to be in court if you say that to anyone again.”
“Ernest,” Ruth said, “Princess Svetlana's sworn her self to peace. That's why she's got a peace submarine. And she's younger than your daughter.”
A voice called over the radio, Ernest didn't move to answer it.
Ten seconds later, it registered. He shook himself and said “I'm removing myself from duty,” Ernest announced. “My mind's so full of her I didn't hear what he said.” With that, he walked out.
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DISEMBARKATION AREA, MARS SPACEPORT. 10:20
Mack. Ruth and Eloise reached the airlock just a few seconds before it opened and Svetlana exited in her state robe; there was no question who was the imperial princess here, Mack was relieved to note. “I'm Mack Fischer, Council Chairman, your highness. Thank you once again for your acknowledgement of our soverignty. Let me present the Ambassador from Atlantis who alerted us to an arrival, and to Eloise Maugh, Council Secretary, which means that we make the decisions and she does all the hard work of running the civil service. Weclome to Mars.”
“Mr Chairman, your excellency, madam Secretary, thank you for meeting me. I imagine there are some with negative feelings towards me.”
“Not personally your highness,” Mack said, “but Russia does not have the best reputation here.”
“One reason I came in such an unannounced manner was that I hoped to address the Mars Council before there are too many angry people gathered and screaming their hatred. I hope and pray that might be possible. I've no objection to a press presence, either.”
“Or ambassadors?” Ruth asked.
“None at all, your excellency.”
“I'll see what I can organise, your highness,” Mack said, “Eloise, can I ask you to conduct our arrivals through immigration and orientation?”
“Of course, Mack.” Eloise said.
“Shall I contact other ambassadors?” Ruth asked.
“And the press, please, Ruth.” Mack said. “I don't think the press need to know who's just arrived.”
“No, I don't think so.”
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“Hi Simon,” Ruth said, “Can I speak to Alice?”
“Hi Ruth! Is it urgent?”
“I can call back in five minutes. Much later will be getting late from my perspective.”
“OK if I pre-warn her? What's the subject?”
“Meeting at the Council offices, probably in an hour, or an hour and a half. She'll want to be there.”
“Topic?” Simon asked.
“The royal personage piloting the peace submarine that's just landed would like to address the council, members of the press and any ambassadors who can make it.”
“Nothing was announced!”
“Karella told me to get to the space port just before this morning's storm, picking up Mack or Eloise if I could. I managed both, so Mack is rounding up the Council and I'm rounding up Ambassadors. I was sort of hoping she could round up the press.
“Oh, I'll do that. She's just dozing after a bad night. Anything else thepress should know?”
“Hmm, I haven't been sworn to secrecy, but it's probably better if no one in the press knows who it is until Mack announces it at the meeting. Definitely a newsworthy event. Crown princess comes to Mars in secret, established writers of good repute are welcome to come and hear her explain what's on her mind, as space allows, etc.”
“OK.” Simon said, “I'll pass the word on.”
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“Her excellency is in Hellas, your excelency,” Ai Chen said, when Ruth asked to speak to the Chinese ambassador.
“Oh, of course! Inspecting the rice field,” Ruth said.
“Yes. Can I take a message?”
“Her Imperial Highness crown princess Svetlana has just landed and will be addressing an open meeting of the Council as soon as she has gone through immigration. Her majesty Karella notified me of the imminent landing, and I alerted the chairman.”
“She has a peace submarine?”
“Yes.”
“I expect I saw that at the time. Thank you. I will discuss this surprisingnews with her excellency. Could there be angry protests, do you think?”
“I have seen one person react badly already,” Ruth acknowledged.
“It would be better if an announcement had been made months in advance.”
“I think she preferred the safety that comes from total surprise.”
“A rash ploy,” Ai Chen said, “People will react with initial anger and without time to think.”
“I must alert the other ambassadors,” Ruth said.
“Yes. His excellency of India is also in Hellas.” Ai Chen said.
“I expected so. Perhaps there is someone at the embassy, still.”
“My opposite number is with him, but I do not know otherwise.”
“Oh, journalists do not know and should not know, by will of the Council chair.”
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MARS COUNCIL CHAMBER. 11.45AM, MONSOL 11TH MARCH 2278
“Council members, Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen of the press.” Mack said to the assembled throng. “We don't know what the princess wants to say, and we don't know if her intent is only that you be present or if she is happy for her address to be broadcast immediately. What I do know is that she's willing to have cameras here, so record and no broadcast, OK? Also, Eloise has just informed me that MarsCorp's machines are doing their normal trick of playing up just at the most inconvenient time. So we'll need to wait a bit longer. Sorry.”
“Who is it we're waiting for?” One of the journalists asked.
“In the interests of security, that question will not be answered until her highness arrives.”
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BLOG ENTRY, 12:05PM, 11TH MARCH 2278
Well, here we sit, assembled Council members, ambassadors, and journalists. Waiting for... we don't know who actually, a crown princess from Earth arrived on a peace submarine, wants to talk to the Council, and is stuck by MarsCorp computer systems being their normal unhelpful selves. We guess that means she doesn't want to register. So, she's a jit, but not that much of one. Security is tight, we've just been told we're not going to be told who it is until she gets here.”
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COMMENTS ON BLOG ENTRY
I think I saw that space-sub arrive. Funny crest on its wings. Double headed dragon?
Tim543
>Double headed dragon?
Can't be. That'd be Russia. The Mer wouldn't give Russia a peace submarine, they tried to kill their ambassador!
Tina124
Tina124, They did, one of the first ones. Something complicated I seem to remember.
Wombat001
I heard 'peace submarine one' on the approach frequency. Does that tell us anything?
Scooby98589
Stop pulling my leg, Scoob, Wombat. There's no way the crown princess of Russia would come here. She'd be afraid of being lynched.
Tina124
If it is her, she ought to be.
Anon54321
> If it is her, she ought to be.
Afraid? Or lynched? I hope you mean the first. You're not that anonymous.
Scooby98589
No Russian princess is setting foot on my planet without her friends and family regretting it.
Cantcatchme54321
If it is her, she's barely twenty, I think.
Wombat001
Looked it up:
“Having sworn the same oath as other recipients, to not look into the submarine's secrets and to work for peace, Tsarevna Svetlana of Russia flew home by Mer peace submarine 1, and got promoted to crown princess by the Tsar in response, deposing her big brother. Big brother permanently removed from succession and inheritance for attack on Mer ambassador. On her promotion to crown princess, the peace submarine was handed over to her.”
Wombat001
I'll chip in a kg for a reward fund. Anyone else?
Let's send her home in a bag.
Anon98752
I'm in for 3kg.
Cantcatchme54321
Cantcatchme54321, Anon98752, you are permanently barred from this forum. Your registration details will be passed to the authorities. Incitement to murder is a serious crime.
Moderator
Moderator, can't you take down their posts?
Wombat001
Not until they've been witnessed in context etc.
Sorry.
Moderator.
Moderator, I suggest you hide this whole discussion thread.
Tim543