Just One Big Happy Family [Earth II]

[Freistaat-Ostafrika]

31 March 2021, 08:00hrs [UTC+0]
Nanfaren Embassy
Republic of Guinea-Bissau

"So when do you think I'll be allowed back into the Palácio Presidencial?"

Ambassador Zhang looked up from his breakfast of congee flavoured with pickled vegetables and offered his best diplomatic smile to President Kibiya. The sixty-five-year-old ambassador was always the height of politeness and cheer around the Bissau-Guinean leader, but privately he was quickly growing rather tired of the President's presence within the Nanfaren embassy.

"It shouldn't be too much longer, Senhor Presidente. Our military personnel are going through the Palácio Presidencial with a fine-tooth comb to ensure that there aren't any booby traps left by your would-be usurpers. You don't want to walk in there in triumphant fashion and then be blown to pieces by a bomb under the Presidential desk, do you?" Of course, Ambassador Zhang neglected to mention that Nanfaren personnel were also obtaining copies of any interesting official files and documents that they came across, not just in the Palácio Presidencial but also in every government building that they had liberated from the PAIG/FARP coup attempt. After all, one never knows when that sort of thing can come in useful. "Besides, you'll be more secure in there once the Shenzhen Pact peacekeeping deployment starts properly flooding in. The first batch of Nigerian army personnel arrived last night I've been informed that in addition to Nanfaren troops and Nigerian forces, Guinea-Bissau is going to be assisted by forces from the Republic of Zaire and the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, and of course Grupo Dourado is going to be employing Gorkhali Security International. I think we're estimating about eighteen thousand military personnel between the intended official Pact deployment and the contracted Gurkhas."

"Christ, that's three times the size of the pre-coup FARP..." President Kibiya paused as he considered that revelation. Ambassador Zhang took the President's silence as an opportunity to enjoy another mouthful of his breakfast before continuing.

"Admittedly we might not need all of them, but it is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them. Bissau has to be properly secured against potential future enemy actions, the coup participants who fled justice must be found and brought to trial, and the country as a whole needs to be stabilised once and for all. The Shenzhen Pact can achieve those objectives for you, Senhor Presidente, provided that you let us get on with it. The rest of the world seems to be willing to let us get on with it, I can tell you that much, although they are looking for reassurances regarding any of their citizens in Guinea-Bissau. So in light of yesterday's Cottish request to allow them to reinforce their consulate here in Bissau, we've made it clear to the other governments of the world that if they wish to do the same as the Realm of Cotland, then all they have to do is provide us with notice of what they're going to be doing. We have absolutely no issue with other nations reinforcing their embassies or consulates in Guinea-Bissau, provided that they liaise with us in the process because this nation is, after all, an active deployment zone.

"Just think about Guinea-Bissau's future, Senhor Presidente. No more potential threats from the PAIG. A brand new and modern military, loyal to the elected Bissau-Guinean government, trained and armed by the Nanfang Republic. This nation will be free to do business with multinational conglomerates and other nations without having to listen to whining from the proponents of an antiquated ideology. Imagine all the foreign investment that will pour in once Guinea-Bissau is stabilised. You'll be able to hold your head high and stride onto the world stage in the company of your friends in the Shenzhen Pact."

Kibiya sighed and nodded. "You make some very good points, Ambassador. I suppose there's nothing for me to do aside from being patient."

"Well, you could always work on your 'triumphant return speech'. Decry the instability caused by the PAIG's lies and propaganda, as well as the treasonous actions of the FARP. Talk about how you requested the assistance of the Nanfang Republic and the Shenzhen Pact because you knew that we wouldn't hesitate to do what needed to be done in support of your rightfully elected government. Explain to the people of Guinea-Bissau that they have nothing to fear from us being here and that cooperation with Shenzhen Pact forces will see peace and stability return to Guinea-Bissau in rapid order." Zhang grinned. "Something like that, at any rate."

[Freistaat-Ostafrika]

2 April 2021, 18:00hrs [UTC+0]
Palácio Presidencial
Republic of Guinea-Bissau

With the Palácio Presidencial finally declared 'safe' by the Nanfaren military after a thorough sweep of the residence for explosives and the like, President Kibiya and his wife had finally been permitted to return to their home. Unfortunately, the Presidential residence was not quite as grand as when he had abandoned it. In the aftermath of the Nanfaren capture of the Palácio Presidencial, windows were still being repaired and the grounds of the residence had certainly seen better days, but there could be no doubt about the Palácio Presidencial's security. The coup attempt naturally meant that Kibiya no longer trusted the Bissau-Guinean military, such as it was now, and so the Palácio Presidencial was instead being guarded by elements of the Nanfaren Navy Marine Corps. The primary duty of patrolling the capital had been handed over to the ever-growing Shenzhen Pact peacekeeping presence, presently consisting primarily of Nigerian army personnel but soon to be joined by Zairian and Ayutthayan forces, in addition to the intended deployment of additional Nanfaren military personnel to the small African nation. The Shenzhen Pact peacekeepers had also established a liaison department to coordinate with Grupo Dourado and their newly-hired Gurkha security personnel; although the Gurkhas had not arrived in Guinea-Bissau as yet, their reputation was already being widely discussed. Meanwhile, the PAIG and the FARP had effectively abandoned the capital of Bissau and fled into the countryside, scattering throughout the nation and doing their best to organise into guerilla cells. They believed that by returning to the tactics and practises that they had utilised during the independence struggle in the 1960s then they stood a better chance against the new arrivals. The players in the newest 'independence' conflict in the history of Guinea-Bissau were moving into place.

At six o'clock on this particular Friday evening, the media broadcasts throughout Guinea-Bissau announced that they were cutting to a speech by President Kibiya, being delivered from within the Palácio Presidencial. Admittedly there were not that many broadcasts to be cut into as media infrastructure in the capital was either under Shenzhen Pact control or being repaired, and so the only operational broadcast media were the state radio station and the state television network. The vast majority of Bissau-Guineans were listening on their radios as the broadcast of the speech began, while the television broadcast was only really viewed by residents of the capital and Grupo Dourado employees, as the conglomerate provided large public screens for its 'company settlements'. Kibiya was sat at his desk, dressed in a smart grey business suit and a large Bissau-Guinean flag hanging behind him.

"People of Guinea-Bissau, this is President Ulisses Kibiya speaking to you from the Palácio Presidencial. One week ago, our nation had cause to celebrate. We were finalising the results of free and fair democratic elections for both the Presidency and the National People's Assembly, and the results demonstrated your clear desire to continue our nation's progress. I had received fifty-four percent of the vote in the Presidential elections, meaning that I had been granted your permission to serve as President for a second term. The Partido da Unidade Nacional was on course to enjoy a larger majority in the National People's Assembly, meaning that my administration would have been able to implement our forward-thinking policy agenda without too much opposition. That was the will of the Bissau-Guinean people in action. Our nation has enjoyed very few peaceful electoral events, and unfortunately, our recent elections proved to be anything but peaceful.

"The Partido Africano para a Independência da Guiné, in collusion with elements of the Forças Armadas Revolucionárias do Povo, opposed the electoral results. They made baseless and false accusations about electoral fraud, presenting absolutely no evidence to support their claims because no such evidence existed. The PAIG viewed the PUN's victory as a threat to their legacy as Guinea-Bissau's most historically significant political party, and they found support within the FARP, the military force that they founded. Perhaps it was naive of the rest of us to believe that the FARP would truly be loyal to the nation rather than the PAIG. The FARP assisted in the unlawful attempt to depose our nation's democratically elected government, thus demonstrating that the FARP and the PAIG believe that they know better than the Bissau-Guinean people.

"Thankfully, the international community did not abandon us in our hour of need. The Nanfang Republic and the Shenzhen Pact went above and beyond simple rhetoric and actively opposed the coup attempt. Nanfaren military forces engaged the FARP traitors here in Bissau and carried out precise strikes upon those who would dismantle our democracy, and Bissau is now back under the control of the forces of law and order. The Shenzhen Pact has promised to continue to support the democratically elected government of Guinea-Bissau and the Bissau-Guinean people, and their promise is translating into genuine action. The Shenzhen Pact is deploying a comprehensive peacekeeping mission to Guinea-Bissau, comprised of forces from across the organisation, including personnel from our brother African nations as well as nations in Asia. It is thanks to this ever-growing peacekeeping presence that I can now make the following declarations."

Kibiya paused before issuing the statements that would undoubtedly define his administration in the history books.

"The PAIG is now a banned political organisation. Their willingness to overthrow a democratically elected government demonstrates that they cannot be trusted to participate in the democratic process and that they are a threat to the stability of our nation. In addition, the FARP is now officially dissolved. The FARP are no longer the national armed forces of Guinea-Bissau. Their willingness to assist the PAIG coup attempt has demonstrated that they have no interest in defending the nation as they should. We cannot trust either organisation due to their mutual participation in the recent coup attempt as well as their apparent loyalty to an antiquated ideology that would see our nation retreat from the world. As a result of the instability brought about by these two banned organisations, I am declaring a state of national emergency. The electoral results will be upheld, but those PAIG representatives elected to the National People's Assembly will not be permitted to take their seats. My administration will now work with the Shenzhen Pact to restore law and order to the whole of Guinea-Bissau, and the people of Guinea-Bissau can assist us in this endeavour.

"If you become aware of any PAIG or FARP operations in your local area, provide the information to either government representatives or peacekeeping personnel. Do not assist these traitors in any way. Their coup has failed. What they will likely attempt to do now is conduct a campaign of terror against the government that you elected, and that campaign of terror will likely target innocent civilians. If you work with your elected government and our Shenzhen Pact friends, then we can end any such plans by these traitors before they can inflict even greater damage upon our nation and our people. The Republic of Guinea-Bissau has a great opportunity before us, an opportunity for us to step proudly onto the world stage and engage the world on our terms. The PAIG and the FARP do not wish you to have that opportunity. They wish you to remain in poverty and to be deprived of education, they wish you to be denied an opportunity to better your standard of living, all because they are nostalgic for the days when they were in power. Remember what happened when they were in power. Coup, after coup, after coup, against themselves. Our nation deserves better than that. Our nation and our people deserve to be able to live freely and elect a government that will work to better them.

"I will not pretend that this will be easy. However, cooperation between our government, our people, and the Shenzhen Pact will undoubtedly make it easier. The Shenzhen Pact has helped to bring stability, security, and prosperity to many of our brother African nations. They now wish to help us. In addition to the peacekeeping forces, they will also be providing us with medical and economic assistance to help us survive and transition through this difficult period.

"I will ensure that you are provided with all of the information that you require about your government's actions and the actions of our friends, so keep listening and watching the official government media networks. Look after your friends and family, stay safe, and report any traitorous operations that you come across.

"Thank you."

[Freistaat-Ostafrika]

2 April 2021, 19:00hrs [UTC+0]
Villa Dourado
Lisbon, Republic of Portugal

"So it looks like we saved our investment, then."

Joaquim Dourado nodded with a smile at his son Florêncio's assessment of President Kibiya's speech, which they were watching via the state-of-the-art satellite television system installed in the family's Lisbon residence. The pair were sat in the well-appointed ground floor lounge of the modern three-floor villa, Joaquim relaxing in his favourite black armchair while Florêncio was stretched out on his back, occupying the entirety of one of the lounge's plush sofas. As the wealthiest family in Portugal, the Dourado family could easily afford amenities that were dream luxuries for many regular Portuguese citizens, such as the satellite television system that allowed them to watch the national television channel of Guinea-Bissau, Televisão da Guiné-Bissau. Of course, there was a multitude of other channels available for their entertainment from around the world, but President Kibiya's speech rightfully deserved their attention.

"Indeed we have, meu filho (my son). Our discussions with the Nanfaren government certainly paid off handsomely, I believe that they will be excellent partners in any future ventures where we might require their cooperation. This proves definitively that we were right to support Prime Minister Cordeiro in his desire to have Portugal join the Shenzhen Pact."

"So the Pact are providing peacekeepers as well as 'medical and economic assistance'? I take it that Grupo Dourado isn't going to just let them do everything."

"Heh, insightful as ever. The Nanfang Republic will be paying off three-quarters of the Bissau-Guinean national debt, Grupo Dourado will pay off the remaining quarter. The Pact will be providing an official peacekeeping mission while Grupo Dourado will have Gurkhas from Gorkhali Security International providing additional security at all of our sites in Guinea-Bissau. We secured quite a good deal with the Tibetan government because we are GSI's first major client, our contract with GSI states that we can expand our relationship with them as and when we expand our holdings. Gurkhas will also be supplementing security on our convoys in Guinea-Bissau in the form of armoured vehicle escorts. The GSI contract is going to be a significant game-changer for us."

Florêncio raised an inquisitive eyebrow and smirked. "There's way more to it than that though, isn't there? What haven't you told Prime Minister Cordeiro?"

"The plan is for Nanfaren corporate interests to move into the Bissau-Guinean mining and telecoms sectors, while Grupo Dourado will retain the agricultural, fishing, food processing, and tourism sectors. The major Nanfaren corporations are independent entities but they always listen if the government in Nanjing has 'unofficial advice' or 'voluntary guidelines' that they wish to provide. So Nanjing will ensure that we get to dominate our chosen sectors of the Bissau-Guinean economy while we steer clear of those sectors that the Nanfang Republic has an interest in. Of course, it won't be as easy as that, as there is the matter of the PAIG to take care of as well."

The younger Dourado chuckled, his amusement with the situation quite clear. "How depressing must it be for them? The PAIG are not completely wrong about what's going to happen to Guinea-Bissau, but it's going to be happening on a larger scale now because they attempted their coup and were beaten back. If they'd just accepted the election results and remained as an opposition party, then the Pact probably wouldn't have gotten involved on a scale anywhere near the current situation. So, what's going to happen with the Bissau-Guinean government? Will Kibiya and the PUN be in the Pact sphere of influence or within our sphere of influence within the nation?"

"I wouldn't say that he'd be in either 'sphere', to be honest. As long as he follows through with joining the Shenzhen Pact, Nanjing will leave him to run the nation as he wishes. As long as he follows through on our fishing industry deal and continues our good working relationship, we'll leave him alone too. Again, this is all dependent on the PAIG and the FARP being defeated. If Guinea-Bissau ends up with rampant guerilla warfare or even an all-out civil war then things could get very messy, but we would continue with our operations as best we could under such conditions. We'll continue to offer better wages than the Bissau-Guinean national average and we'll continue to provide all of the amenities that Grupo Dourado provides to lesser developed areas."

"Hearts and minds, hearts and minds."

"Precisely, meu filho. A happy worker is a productive worker, and a productive worker is good for business. A happy worker is also far less likely to support leftist guerillas who want to drive out the employer who is making them happy." Joaquim leaned forward in his chair and wagged his index finger towards his son. "Changing the subject slightly, we need to send a thank you gift to Yang Zhihao. If it hadn't been for him contacting you through Guanxi, it might not have been so easy for us to get all of this in place. Any ideas?"

Florêncio pursed his lips as he considered some possibilities. "A couple of ideas spring to mind, but I'll go through his Guanxi to see if anything in particular jumps out. I take it that this wouldn't just be a 'thank you' but also a 'keep our generosity in mind'?"

"Well, it couldn't hurt, could it?"