A Fox and Pony Show (IC, Open, ATTN CoPS and RoUS)

[Knootoss]

((Sorry for the delay.))

"Of course, there's plenty of reason to believe that" Viljoen replied. "The members of the Coalition are very different, from socialist republics to absolute monarchies to capitalist oligarchies. They've gone to war with each other in the past and have shown no tendency to respond to any crisis as a truly united force.

Of course, honoured members, I cannot look into the future. But the Coalition that exists right now isn't one you should join, and the chances that you'll be able to make a difference are very slim indeed."

[Frenequesta]

"May I go back to the Shrill default for a moment," Mr. Berger asked, shrugging off his distrust of the Knootian, "The letter I believe you are referring to says that 'I [which is Muffinvania] and the rest of CoPS are not responsible for the financial transactions of our member nations'. You don't believe it is possible for the Coalition to help nations like Shrill without feeling they are actually morally responsible for the transactions?"

[Knootoss]

"It might be possible, your honour, but the fact remains that most of them - including the nation that wrote the letter - didn't."

[Frenequesta]

"Alright, that's easy, I thought as much," replied Mr. Berger. "But the more important problem I have is that if your logic is a good reason to not join the Coalition, should Frenequesta pull out of the World Assembly? It's got a wide variety of nations, policies we don't like and policies that have not yet been implemented and an organization where it has been difficult for us to make an impact. If not, what's the difference?"

[Knootoss]

The tall human woman who was clad in a pin stripe suit tapped against the button activating her mike again, her voice sounding a little tired: "Your Honour, relevancy. My client was asked to testify against the entry of Frenequesta in to the Coalition of Ponyist States. His.."

Viljoen's hand tapped against her arm, as if to say 'I got it': "The World Assembly is altogether a different beast. It is less an alliance of nations than a supra-national lawmaking body. And if it does indeed pass resolutions that are completely unacceptable to Frenequesta, you should leave. Personally, I have advocated resigning if the 'Habeas Corpus Act' repeal effort fails."

[Frenequesta]

"So the lack of a defensive pact and a straight-out free trade policy is the only thing that makes the WA different? It would seem to me that WA could pass such stuff tomorrow, and if that's the reason, why does the fact that it is merely a lawmaking body have a bearing on the logic of not being a part of it?"

[Knootoss]

"Defence pacts and free trade agreements are illegal under the rules of the World Assembly, Your Honour" Viljoen pointed out. "But I have to say, I do not understand the question. Are we still talking about the Coalition?"

[Frenequesta]

"I find it necessary to talk about similar organizations in order to get a better understanding about the nature of this one," said Mr. Berger.

"Mr. Viljoen, in your written statement submitted to the Committee you mention that Frenequesta risks 'alienating itself from mainstream nations'. Have there been any other multinational organizations that have fully condemned the Coalition and have suspended diplomatic and economic relations with all its member states, or should I read that strictly to the more abstract sense?" asked Mr. Autry.

[Knootoss]

Viljoen once again conferred with his lawyer, selecting talking points before he replied:

"Your Honours, between August of 2011 and today my government has recorded 137 separate international incidents that can be qualified as 'anti-pony'. These incidents include protests, riots, wars and attempts to establish alliances in opposition to the Coalition that you wish to join. When you join the Coalition, their enemies will also become your enemies. And their enemies do tend to be a fairly unpleasant bunch. Also, and I say this reminding you that I do not speak for my government yet, my own country might itself a lot less cooperative when Frenequesta joins the coalition. Simply because the Coalition has generally been very... hostile to Knootians."

[Frenequesta]

Mr. Berger nudged Mr. Heillmann, whispering to him for what he thought would be a really silly question to Mr. Viljoen. "137 incidents in 209 years?"

"More like just one. Remember Knootoss is on a different calendar."

"Oh that's right, keep on forgetting."

Mr. Heilmann noticed the clock on his screen and the schedule beside it, and realized that far more time had passed than what had seemed.

"Thank you Mr. Viljoen, your time is expired. We will hear Minister Rubber Stamp of the Greater Pony Herd at 1:00."

As Mr. Heillmann said that the crowd gave way to a series of murmurs, escalating to an inevitable polyphony of voices in the development of the fugue that was being played. In multiple directions, the press focused in on Mr. Viljoen, and Mr. Berger, accosting them with various trivial questions, easily brushing them off as they made their way out of the room.

Vishton Smalls sighed. The Knootian had quite succinctly expressed the main concern to the opposition, and believed that more found Viljoen credible than what appeared. Throughout this time, Mr. Slater, who had commented on the Coalition's "slap-shod" defense pacts, was nodding constantly to Viljoen, not saying a word, and rolling his eyes whenever Mr. Berger spoke-- indeed, Slater had been on the record before opposing the proposal well before this time, and part of the eye movements were not only directed at Berger, but Smalls himself as well. But he at least could count on Mr. Berger to carry the day. From his questions Smalls sensed a genuine openness to the Coalition, and not taking faith in Socialist Republican talking points. He could swing much of the Committee his way if he could find just the right appeal, which Smalls hoped to develop soon.

---

An hour later the Committee was satiated-- well, some had brought in HumpBars and ramen bowls that weren't finished-- and gradually filled in the seats. Mr. Berger was talking to Mrs. Daughtcombe about some other matter the Committee was to consider, while Mr. Heillmann was carefully reading over Rubber Stamp's written statement and jotting down possible questions to ask. The clop on the dewelm floors by some of the Ponies in the audience provided a bass line to their light voices, apparently excited to see another Pony speak, while the rest of the audience provided its counter-melody, some sharing the excitement and others simply oblivious to the next development. All this was brought to a slow fade as Mr. Heillmann pressed his buzzer.

"Order in the Committee Room, the Committee has returned to session. We will now hear the statement of Minister of Foreign Affairs Rubber Stamp of the Greater Pony Herd."

As the Minister trotted up the aisles of the room to stand at the front witness table, Cedar Dance couldn't help but smile to him, as she obviously took a great deal of pride in seeing one of her fellow countryponies of her native land coming to testify.

[New Amerik]

Dao V'kar took a seat, this time in the audience - he tried to sit near the back, as even hunched over his large frame was more than tall enough to block shorter members of the group from sight. Retaining his mask and cloak, he would be a distinctly unnerving sight to those unfamiliar with the kruzk - his open resemblance to a certain carrier eater species wouldn't help matters either.