Austerain Welcomes the Irish and Welsh President

[Austerain]

There is scattered laughter when the President mentions oil pipelines as all the eyeballs in the room momentarily turn to Governor Perry, who sinks in his seat in embarrassment.

When Edwards concludes, the room stands in loud applause. After four minutes of applause, the Speaker, Governor Clara England of Romana, slams her gavel three times.

"Order! I want order!" The room settles.
"Every member of Congress has been given a copy of the agreement. Pursuant to the procedures we will take a vote. All in favor?"

The room explodes with "AYE!"

"All opposed?" She asks.

A couple nays come from the Conservative Royalist corner, who get booed by people around them.

"The ayes have it, the ayes have it!" the Speaker exclaims. She slams her gavel once again. "Resolution 205.B-1, the Bilateral Omnibus Agreement between Austerain and New Ireland and Wales passes and awaits signing. Mr. Chancellor..."

Secretary Sinclair opens the thin leather book containing the agreement to the signature page and places it on the podium. The Chancellor and the President are given gold and silver pens with the flags of both nations engraved.

The Chancellor signs his signature in blue ink

Giorgio R. Asher
____________________________________

Grand Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Austerain

[New Ireland and Wales]

The President takes his pen and signs his name 

---

Theodore Edwards
President of the Federal Republic of New Ireland and Wales

[Austerain]

When they finish signing, Asher shakes hands with the President as there is applause once again. Camera shutters go off in the back of the room from the press as they shake hands and wave to audience and cameras.

[New Ireland and Wales]

The President shakes the Chancellors hand "It's good to see progress being made so fast. I hope I didn't step over the line with my comments." the President smiles at the crowd of people still in the room "What's next on the agenda?"

[Austerain]

Chancellor Asher smiles and gives a small laugh, "It needed to be said, well done, Mr. President. Governor Perry is officially humiliated. You made an excellent speech." He shakes Secretary Cox's hand. "We're just about to depart for the airport for Sardinia as soon as Hyacinth's Governor Owen McCord is ready to join us. He's over there with reporters now, so we can go to the refreshments table until then."

Asher walks over to the refreshments table in the antechamber of the hall and pours four glasses of sparkling grape juice, and hands one to the President and the Secretaries. "A little early to be drinking, I thought. To prosperity for our people." He raises for a toast as nearby cameras click.

[New Ireland and Wales]

"Well thank you Mr. Chancellor." says Edwards smiling

"It's never too early to drink, Mr. Chancellor." says Secretary Cox as he takes the offered drink

[Austerain]

"It is here," chuckles Asher, "I'll have to be careful if I am ever able to visit New Ireland and Wales, if you all tend to drink this early Mr. Secretary. Ah here comes he now."

A blond haired tall suited guy wearing a sash of his province's colors walks over and pours himself a glass of sparkling grape juice. He looks over at the four gentlemen and offers his hand to the President and Secretary Cox.

Asher says, "Gentlemen, this is Governor Owen McCord of Hyacinth, the province we will be flying to shortly. Governor, how nice of you to join us. We will be departing in a few minutes."

"I apologize, Mr. Chancellor, Christine Amanpour was asking about the agreement. Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, an honor to finally meet you," Governor McCord says in a soothing deep voice as he shakes their hands, "What a fantastic speech you made, sir."

[New Ireland and Wales]

"You're always welcome in our country Mr.Chancellor" the President says before he takes a quick phone call and comes back to meet the Governor. "Well I have some good news. The agreement passed Congress officially, Secretary Polacco resigned, and the House of Representatives has a new Speaker. However, Polacco is running for Governor of one of our provinces."

The President shakes the Governor's hand "Well thank you for listening to it. I have a feeling Gov. Perry didn't really listen to it."

[Austerain]

"I'd love to visit your beautiful country soon enough" says Asher.

Asher and Sinclair raise their eyebrows concerned. "You're kidding," Secretary Sinclair grumbles, "Do you know wha- agh. Excuse me, I'll meet you all at the airport later." Sinclair walks away hurriedly to Delegate Edward Hall, Majority Leader of the House of Delegates and whispers in his ear, who also looks concerned and walks with Secretary Sinclair to his office.

Chancellor Asher says, "I'm happy to hear that the agreement passed, and send my congratulations to their new Speaker. Is she really running for Govern-?" His phone pings twice and he reads it. "That was my notification from the Irish-Welsh times and my Director of National Intelligence, I don't like her chances. Is she a threat?"

When Governor McCord comes over, Asher is a little visibly concerned.

McCord laughs heartily, "My colleague listened all right. Before he left, he cursed at the rest of us governors for laughing and started to sweat like the pig he is. I heard from a source of mine that a provincial representative in Auradon's assembly is planning to begin proceedings for a recall referendum, and that he is facing backlash from his own party."

[New Ireland and Wales]

"I don't know if she's a threat. I'm keeping tabs on her though. With someone with her attitude you never know. It's still scary though."

Edwards laughs upon hearing what the Governor did "He sounds like a "great" Governor. I hope the recall referendum goes through."

[Austerain]

"Very scary," he says, "She's absolutely crazy. Too crazy to run a department much less a province."

McCord nods, "The provincial assembly is 70% likely to allow the referendum. I'm not sure about what the results of it will be, but it's likely that he will be recalled from office. Thank God."

Asher smiles and nods, "Certainly makes things easier for us, and the lives of his constituents easier." An aide comes over and whispers in his ear.

"Alright, gentlemen, they're ready for us to go. Sinclair will be at the airport already when we arrive."

Asher leads them to the motorcade outside. Asher, Edwards, Cox, and McCord get in a longer limousine with the flags of both countries on the hoods. As they drive through the capital city toward the airport, crowds are cheering and waving at the passing motorcade. Asher rolls down a window to wave.

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards smiles and waves as he gets into the limousine. When the Chancellor rolls down the window President Edwards smiles and waves as well. "How long is the flight?" asks Edwards

[Austerain]

"Usually about 45 minutes," he yells slightly above the noise from outside, "On my Concorde, about 36 minutes. Sardinia is just southeast if here on the eastern coast of Austerain." Asher takes out a brochure from the inside pocket of his blazer and opens it.
www.nationstates.net/nation=austerain/detail=factbook/id=709932

"This has a map and a description of each province. There's Sardinia." He points to it on the map and the picture of the city.

The motorcade turns onto the highway and heads down the lane marked "AUSTRATON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- DOMESTIC TERMINAL 2 MILES"

[New Ireland and Wales]

"Ah a quick flight then. Good good." Edwards says "So what's the schedule when we land?"

[Austerain]

Asher takes a small notebook out and reads, "The first thing on the itinerary is lunch with Governor McCord and the Mayor of Sardinia at the province's capitol building. After that, we'll tour the Old City which is the most beautiful historical part of the city. Once the tour is over, we will visit a local college and have a Q&A session with some agricultural majors and farmers, and have a ribbon cutting for a new building they have. Hyacinth specializes in farming, so that will be a focal point while we're there. Once we're done, we'll stay at Governor McCord's place overnight and leave for Pinth in the morning."

The motorcade finally enters the exit marked "AIA DOMESTIC" and goes through a RESTRICTED AREA gate to the runway. They pull up to a red carpet leading to the side door of a white Concorde with the seal of the Grand Chancellor painted on the side.

[New Ireland and Wales]

"That sounds like a nice schedule. I've always loved historical places." says Edwards

When the motorcade arrives at the airport Edwards prepares to get out of the car "Well, let's do this."

[Austerain]

The gentlemen step out of the limousine once it stops at the end of the carpet. They walk up the steps of the Concorde and enter the aircraft, with 3 aides following them.

The cockpit door opens and the pilot steps out, wearing a blur pilot's uniform with a gold trimmed pilot's hat, his uniform donned with military commemoration medals. He shakes hands with the gentlemen and says "Welcome to the official state aircraft of the Chancellery. I'm Colonel Andrew Davison, your pilot. Good to see you again, Mr. Chancellor. It's an honor to meet all of you, especially you, Mr. President. I'm aware of your fight for freedom from the speech this morning." He shakes Edwards' hand.

"Anyway, we'll be flying from Austraton International to Sardinia Municipal Airport, estimated flight time is 34 to 38 minutes. Flight attendants will provide refreshments once we're at route height. Buckle up as we depart and enjoy the ride."

Col. Davison walks back into the cockpit and shuts the door behind him, the seat buckle sign turns on when the engines begin.

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards gets out of the limousine and looks around. When Col. Davison walks up Edwards shakes his hand "Well it is an honor to meet you too, Colonel. Thank you for watching my speech." The President then boards the plane and waits for take off.  

[Austerain]

The aircraft smoothly shoots across the runway and takes off to the skies toward the southeast direction. Down below, the vast capital city of Austraton can be seen, from the Palace of Auster and the historic center Austermere, to the business district dense in skyscrapers, to the neighborhoods, suburbs, and outdoor malls in the outer sections of the city, and to the beaches and harbor Port of Austraton in the Bay of Romana with cruise ships and cargo ships docked next to newly built shopping cranes. Outside of the city there are rolling hills and valleys, a distant wide river snaking a valley into the hills, which makes the geographic border between the Province of Romana and the Province of Austra.

Once they reach the right height, the seatbelt light turns off and a pretty flight attendant comes out of the attendants' cabin in the back and asks, "Would anyone like anything to eat or drink?" The Chancellor says, "Earl Grey and a blueberry-strawberry scone please, Aileen." The Governor asks for a glass of lemon water and Secretary Sinclair orders a glass of Chardonnay and manchego cheese cubes.

While making mental notes of the other requests, she turns to the President and Secretary Cox and asks what they would like to have.

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards looks at the lady and says "May I have a coffee with Irish cream and a blueberry scone?" Secretary Cox speaks up "I would like a small glass of whiskey, please. Need to get my day doing somehow."

[Austerain]

"Of course sir. I'll be right back." The attendant goes back to the plane kitchen and returns with everybody's orders to hand them out.

"Enjoy!" she smiles, "If y'all need anything else, just press '071 on the keypad on that phone next to the Chancellor. Enjoy the flight." She returns to the attendants' kitchen.

Down below 20 minutes later, the plane is passing over the Bay of Hyacinth between the shores of Hyacinth and Romana. The Chancellor is wearing his reading glasses and reading his intelligence briefings from a black leather notebook, Secretary Sinclair is deep in conversation with Secretary Cox, and Governor McCord is writing his speech for later on while talking to President Edwards about his time as Governor.

Suddenly the intercom turns on, "Good morning everyone, this is Colonel Davies speaking. We have now crossed the borders into the Province of Hyacinth and we are now descending. ETA to Sardinia Municipal 12 minutes."

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards takes his coffee and scone and thanks the lady for bringing as he eats and drinks he chats with Gov. McCord. Secretary Cox drinks his drink and looks put the window at the beautiful scenery.

[Austerain]

11 minutes later, the plane is about to land at the airport. As they descend, they catch glimpses of parts of Sardinia. People can see be seen below walking around the cobblestone and brick streets. Many buildings are carved with masonry on their white facades with red terracotta roofs. In one part of the city, a tall white cathedral's two towers glint in the sunlight along with the stone white dome of the Hyacinthian Provincial Capitol Building. The city is on a hill leading all the way down to the shore, with beaches of white and pink sand, where people are going about their fun in the blue waters and building sandcastles on the beach. Outside of this Mediterranean style city are rolling hills of pastures and farmland.

The plane finally skids on the runway at Sardinia Municipal Airport just south of the city. The plane is taxied to where the doors line up with a red carpet, lined with the flags of Austerain, NIW, and the Province of Hyacinth. Further back along the sides are photographers and members of the public with small flags and bouquets in their hands. When the plane stops and the doors of the plane open, the crowd cheers and cameras point at ready awaiting them to step out.

Chancellor Asher looks back of Edwards and Cox, "Ready?"

[New Ireland and Wales]

When the plane lands Edwards looks out the window at all the people waiting outside. When the Chancellor asks if he is ready he looks at the Chancellor and says "Yes, lets go look at this beautiful city and meet these wonderful people."

[Austerain]

Asher smiles and nods as he steps out of the plane with Edwards next to him. As they set their first steps onto Hyacinthian ground, cheers rise from the crowd and little flags are waving. Two young girls approach the two gentlemen with bouquets of hyacinth flowers and roses. One is given to the Chancellor and another to the President. Asher lifts one of the girls up to his hip as if she was his own child and poses for a picture for the girl's mother. The five men wave to the crowd and shake hands on each side while slowly walking to the limousine that will take them to the Provincial Capitol Building for lunch

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards walks out of the plane and starts waving at the crowds with a big smile on his face. When the young girl gives him the flowers he kisses her forehead and crouches down for a photo. Edwards continues to wave and shake hands as he proceeds towards the limousine.

[Austerain]

After shaking hands and interacting with the crowd, they file into the limousine at the end of the carpet. The limousine along with 10 police and emergency vehicles drives off to the highway towards the main city of Sardinia. Once they take the exit marked "HYACINTH CAPITOL BUILDING", they drive on the red brick road towards the Provincial Capitol Building on a hill, its white dome dominating the skyline from their view. When the limousine finally pulls up to the front, there is a green carpet (official color of Hyacinth) leading from the limousine to the front entrance over the smooth marble tiles. More people are on either side waiting to shake hands.

[New Ireland and Wales]

The President stares out the window at the beautiful building as the limousine pulls up. "Very beautiful buildings in this city, Mr. Chancellor." When the car comes to a stop he gets out the limousine when the door is opened and starts waving at the many people that have gathered.

[Austerain]

The Chancellor smiles, "Thank you. Sardinia is one of the most beautiful cities in Austerain, we had very skilled masons and architects long ago. The beauty of the buildings and the beaches are why Sardinia is ranked No. 2 under Austraton by the Bureau of Tourism for potential top tourist destinations once more travelers come. Very proud."

Asher, Sinclair, and McCord wave to the crowd as well and shake hands. McCord laughs when he sees a couple teenage girls in the crowd with his face decaled on their shirts with the caption "MCCORD FOREVER <3", who are screaming his name. Asher rolls his eyes and Sinclair raises his eyebrow and sighs.

Sinclair whispers in Edwards' ear, "For some reason, Governor McCord is.. popular among the younger generation, the largest demographic group here that got him into office in the first place. He was voted sexist politician by Austerain's Cosmo twice, and it's gotten to his head".

Finally they walk into the building to a lobby with high stone arches leading to the main rotunda foyer under the dome, where sunlight shines through to the marble floors. Governor McCord leads them to a room to their left behind a set of carved wooden doors into an events dining room. They sit down near the windows, where they have a view of the city all the way to the ocean.

[New Ireland and Wales]

"I can certainly believe it. In Dublin the oldest building was built in 1038 by a former King of Dublin but even some of our buildings don't mount up to this." Edwards says. He laughs when Sinclair tells him McCord was voted sexiest politician twice "Now that's an election I couldn't win."

Edwards sits down at the table and begins to have small chat with everyone as he looks out the window at the beautiful city,