19th December 2016.
1200 Hours, Xenliada, Redrugus, Staynes.
Conference Room A, 14 attendees.
Nickolas Frost presented a stack of documents in order of importance to the attendees, who were the 14 most important people in the Staynish Armed Forces besides the High-King, who was busy in Aura. He looked around, with confidence.
“Men we must come to a conclusion. It is today that we decide whether we want to go forward with Project Longstorm. You all have read the specifications, you have all read the requirements and you all have knowledge on what our obstacle is. The only thing preventing us from completion is the collection of Barbaric Pirates that live on the border of Spoontuis and along the some of the coast. For many years they have terrorised shipping lanes, for many years they’ve been untouched. In the last four years, they’ve illegally stolen eight of our shipping vessels and from my own knowledge, from many other nations. To achieve Project Longstorm we need to eliminate the threat. This project can land Staynes, and for that matter the ACA a very wealthy annual income, providing this project goes through. Now please, I encourage the conference to debate this matter.”
With that, Nickolas Frost took his seat. An old gentlemen who was known internationally as Sir Zac Hockstone, stood up. He was frail and has a croaky but deep voice.
“I agree with the Chief Overseer. I urge this plan forward.” He sat down.
“Thank you, Sir.” Nick injected.
A younger gentlemen stood up, a keen enthusiast, whom wasn’t known as well as the rest of the council.
“Hello all. Lets suppose, this plan goes ahead. Where will we get our funding from?” He questioned.
Nickolas was quick to talk. “Thank you Gerry. If this plan succeeds, and we have completed all of the necessary requirements to fulfil Project Longstorm, we will ask a reasonable sum from ACA and SEPC members and based on who gives what, will receive a fair share of the income, respectively. These documents are still labelled classified until the obstacles are eliminated and the territory is won. Up until this point, the documents remain classified and no one outside this room will know. Of course, the more funding we receive, the faster the project will be completed and the faster everyone wins. If we don’t receive any exterior funding the project will take as long as sixteen years. If we receive healthy funds, the project could take as little as two. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Gerry replied.
A middle aged gentlemen stood up in outrage.
“With all due respect, this is outrageous! Do you really suppose we can get away with the violation of these peoples rights? We cannot find money over humanity here gents. It is simply unacceptable. They own those lands, officially or not.”
Another gentlemen stood up to counter the argument. “Heed the facts that these people are simply Jingoistic terrorists, and have not paid the international community any respect whatsoever, and may I remind you that these people have terrorised Spoontuis for decades, and have even pillaged their northernmost villages. We do not favour these people to live this way any longer. I suggest that we try and reintegrate these people into society. Which would do them a good deed for once!”
Ten minutes passed.
“Enough! I will finalise with a vote. Raise your hands for those in favour.” Nickolas shouted, somehow collectively. The men looked at each other with one writing in his notepad. Several seconds passed and the first hand went up, followed by the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth, finally with a ninth.
“Nine!” Nick noted. “Gentlemen I thank you. Quorum 1/2 has been met. With nine out of fourteen voting FOR. Begin the rally tomorrow. Tomorrow, we begin talks, and Friday we set the sails.” Some of the audience jeered, liking his reference. [edit_reason]Wrong date![/edit_reason]
