Cloaks And Daggers

Squealing of aircraft tires ring out across the Leningrad International Aerodrome as Red Star One touches down, having returned from one of the nation's major airbases. The aircraft arrives on stand and the engines are shut down. Things quieten down for the first time in the long flight between locations, only the auxiliary power unit in the aircraft's tail assembly whirring away. Zarnesti appeared at the doorway of the aircraft, his boots clunking against the metal stairs as he descends them to a waiting sedan-type car.


Deputy Leader Ryba met Alekzander. "Welcome back, Comrade." Predrag chimed out, as he shuffled and rummaged a handful of rather fat looking folders. Alekzander met his deputy with a wide smile, offering a friendly handshake towards his free hand. The car got moving, various people passing waves and cheers towards the vehicle as it slips through the afternoon traffic. "Thank you, Predrag." Zarnesti begins, "The foreign delegation will be arriving later this evening, tomorrow we begin the visit." Ryba nodded, opening the first folder and flicking through the arrangements for the evening.

Time seems to fly by and soon they arrive at the State Building, in which the Party Congress, Central Committee and Supreme Council convene and do business. They are met at the bottom of the steps by two Internal Security Commission (ISC) Officers, escorting them through the building rather informally.


They arrived and settled into their shared office space, opening their desks and preparing themselves. "So what are our aims, Alek?" Ryba called over. Zarnesti returned his question with a grin and a look. "Oh, I think you know Predrag..." He chuckles a little, joined by Ryba's laughs, "I think you know."

(( Fixed a minor plot hole in the space-time continuum! ))

"Just think of it as me not being in your way."

Aside from the fact she wasn't technically invited, It wasn't that Claidie didn't want to go, but she felt it would be best if she didn't, terrified of causing a repeat of the past visit's disaster. However, her decision to stay home would allow the elected to witness the internal workings of such a foreign government concept without being reduced to royal stooges. This was the peoples' show now.

Isaac Castellan, the Speaker of the Commons at the time of Zarnesti's visit, suffered a defeat in April to the Princess's pro-aristocracy sister, Alice, and her Restoration Party. Though Alice only picked up eight of the twenty-four seats, frustration amongst the Populist and Laborer parties with the Royalist party lead to Castellan's downfall. He needed the inspiration to mount a campaign to take the speakership back and put Parliament back on course to implement Claidie's plan without her having to resort to royal decrees.

Castellan and fifteen of the other MPs were on a charter flight making the long ten hour trip to Leningrad. Alice and her restorationists refused to go, dismissing the whole visit as nothing more than anti-aristocracy propaganda. It was the opening Isaac needed. The voters put the restorationists in because they trusted the royal family more than career politicians, but if he could show the populace how little the restorationists cared for the everyday citizen, the political climate would turn around. He needed Zarnesti to teach him how to do it.

As the plane approached Leningrad airspace, Isaac could only hope Zarnesti would be accommodating to the politicians, given the disastrous display by the Princess and the Prime Minster four months ago. Isaac needed his plan to work.

The Dorsettian aircraft is escorted onto it's stand after vacating the active runway, parking right beside the governmental aircraft. Airstairs are brought up to the aircraft and the small motorcade of black sedans, similar to that of Zarnesti and Ryba's, but modified to take an extra row of seats (2x 3 seat rows). The doors are opened and the dusk sun beams onto the faces of the foreign delegation. The air was somewhat humid and warm, similar to that of the mediterranean, perhaps a bit warm for some of the delegation members. Predrag Ryba, Deputy Leader, stands at the bottom of the staircase, wearing a slate, Italian cut suit with a bright red tie. His lapel featured a small enamel pin with Vladimir Lenin appearing in profile.

"Welcome!" He called up the stairs, gesturing down towards the tunnel of soldiers towards the motorcade. The guards raised their heads in the direction of the aircraft door and held them there for the duration of the procession. Each car sat six delegation members and so when each member approached the car, they were met by a handshake from Predrag and allocated a seat by a master of ceremony. Once each car had been filled, it left to join a queue and the next pulled up. As Castellan approached the vehicle, he was asked to stand aside by Ryba, the two entering the vehicle of Zarnesti and Ryba. It was a little more comfortable and worn in, the kind of car you'd expect to belong to your average person.

The final car, the car for Castellan and Ryba, arrived at the end of the precession. In military precision, two police cars at each end of the motorcade filed into position and a handful of motorcycles prepared to clear intersections. The vehicles sat for a moment to ensure everything was set and ready before beginning to move on. In all the cars, the air was hot. Predrag rolled his window down fully, exposing the two to the outside world, which seemed relatively cooler. He sat back in his seat, relaxing some. "Welcome to Vladmir Lenin!" He spoke with a smile, gesturing around the airfield as the car made its way towards the main gate.

As Ryba gestured around the airfield, Isaac looked around and took it all in. Vladmir Lenin was the furthest away from the Principality he had ever been, given that he had never left it before. With his head held high and grin on his face, he felt proud to be in a position to have a different look at society and government.

"Thanks for having us, Deputy. It's an honor to be here. I was briefed on what happened back in January. Given the inexperience of both Claidie and Miss Ellison, I'm not surprised things didn't go quite as planned. Minister Bowers should have handled things himself. But, I'm glad we have another opportunity to work things out together."

Isaac was careful not use a pretentious title for the Princess, even though he was still not used to her protocol change. Everything Isaac said had to be calculated to try and win Ryba and Zarnesti's approval, but he couldn't help saying a few off the cuff things that were on his mind. Being beaten by the barons and their minions back in April only angered the now-opposition leader, so strikes against the nobility and their supporters were fair game.

"It's a real shame though that the eight... pro-aristocratic... members of the chamber, including the Speaker herself, didn't want to come. I would have thought they enjoyed the opportunity to step out of their fancy penthouses and be educated in reality. But, I guess that might be asking a bit too much, wouldn't it?"

Isaac wanted to say "bourgeoisie" but felt that might have been seen as trying too hard. But with the stab at the restorationists out of the way, Isaac turned his attention to the agenda. "So, what do you have planned for us?"

Ryba was clearly paying attention to Isaac, taking his time and treating him with respect. He chuckled a little towards the end, adding his own little quip, "It would be a little frightening for them to see anything other than what keeps them in power." The cars begin to move, filing onto the streets of inner city Leningrad, headed towards the city centre, down Zarnesti Boulevard, named by the people after the great leader.


The inner city area, which would be presumed as an area of squalor, was lush with human activity. Small cafes, book stores, convenience shops, gyms and such lined the streets. No big brands or companies stuck out, all the businesses seemed to be quaint and independent. The Deputy breaks the silence, speaking with a friendly tone, "I am Predrag, not Deputy, Mister, Sir, or any other variety." He smiles. "Just Predrag!" Various people at the sides of the road waved to the passing motorcade, to which Predrag did his best to meet as many as possible. There seemed to be some disruption in an alleyway between one of the police cruisers and two bystanders. The officers appear to be attempting an arrest. As the car passes by Ryba attempts to distract you a little. "So, are there any special requests we can put in for you and your people?"