Chairwoman Oomiya's Birthday Gala [Closed RP]

[Sanghyeok]

May happiness blossom for all of us "To my dearest friends and friends-to-be, I wish to thank you sincerely for your upcoming attendance at my birthday gala this year. I have had many hundreds of birthdays- this will be the 861st, to be exact- but I am confident this time will certainly be one of the most memorable. For what is celebration without the presence of those you care for, and those who care for you? Just thinking of the day when all of your smiling faces will be by my side, I am overwhelmed with happiness and filled with expectation. May happiness bloom during all of our time together, like the cherry blossoms of April." -Chairwoman of the Federation, Secretary General of the United Front, Supreme Leader of the People's Armed Forces Oomiya Sakura -社会主義連邦政府主席、統一戦線総書記、人民軍隊最高指導者 大宮 咲来

[Sanghyeok]

Office of the Chairwoman Oomiya Sakura
大宮咲来主席府

The Office of the Chairwoman Oomiya Sakura is prepared to welcome you to the Chairwoman's Residence this 8th of October. We know that all guests are looking forward to the Birthday Gala of Chairwoman Oomiya, and so have included some advice and helpful information to those traveling. There are also some images of the Chairwoman's Residence as well, for a preview of the delightful landscape and architecture.


The Bridge of Thousand Leaves (千葉橋, Chibabashi) crossing the river that surrounds the Chairwoman's Residence, leading to the Gate of Daybreak (晨明門, Shinmeimon). This is the bridge that foreign leaders and dignitaries invited inside walk on in their way to the eastern entrance of the residence.

For those attending who wish to bring gifts, please view this for possible ideas.


Pond with Small Current (小瀬の池, Kose no Ike) is a pond that was named after the flow of water from an artificial stream into it.

We advise that all participants understand the layout of the Chairwoman's Residence through this information file.


Cherry blossoms just outside the Gate of Benevolent Ruling (仁政門, Jinseimon). People from all over enter line up to view their blooming on 1st of April each year, in one of the few times the Chairwoman's Residence is open to visitors

As we understand, there are many worlds in which magic and magical abilities is not as common as in ours. For safety reasons, we request all participants read about magical abilities in our nation here.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself or any other member of the Office of the Chairwoman if you need additional advice or have inquiries.

On behalf of the Chairwoman Oomiya Sakura, thank you again for your attendance. We look forward to your attendance and wish you safe travels.

Yours truly,
Otsuka Aika 大塚 和華
Office of the Chairwoman

[Sanghyeok]

OOC

Notice to Participants
参加者へのお知らせ

Ground Rules for RP

Although some people do not like there being rules for RP, I think it is helpful to place some expectations.

1. One Diva, One Mic. Don't go more than once in a row if you can, and let other people have a turn.
2. The Story Flows. Don't undo another participant's actions. Exception: If it violates rule 3.
3. Everyone Lives. Chairwoman Oomiya may the only immortal person here, but that doesn't mean national leaders, dignitaries, or other people should be harmed, injured, or worse. Hitting a certain drunk monarch is fine, however. (Do not kill him!)
4. Adjust Your Volume. If you are participating more than usual, please let those who are participating less have a turn. If you are participating less, participate more as you want.
5. Write with Effort. Try to write with effort, since if everyone tries hard, we will have a better RP.
6. Love Pudding! This is meant to be a fun RP. So, please have fun!


Thank you for your cooperation in advance. Let's make a delightful and great RP with beautiful memories together.

[Sanghyeok]

The gentle rays of the rising morning sun enter the window of Oomiya's bedroom, flowing through the bed-curtains and painting the room in a faint shade of light pink.

Oomiya, awakened by the flood of light within her room, slowly opens her still sleepy eyes, rubbing them as the world comes into view. Morning, she realizes. She lets go of the small plushie in her embrace, placing it on her pillow, leaving her bed for a moment to light a small candle before sitting upright and starting the morning meditation. The smell of candle- aromatic strawberry today, for a change- fills the room, and Oomiya enjoys the feeling of tranquility for a few brief minutes. When the sweet fruit scented aroma grew faint in half an hour, meditation time was over. Next on the routine she had followed for centuries on end was the hot bath. She was about to walk downstairs to begin the hot bath when there was a knock on the sliding door to her bedroom.

"Come in," Oomiya announced, already knowing who it would be. Sure enough, her most trusted assistant, Suzuki Chisaki came in.

"Good morning, Chairwoman" said Suzuki. "You've arisen early today."

"I was dreaming of this morning's parfait in my sleep, and so in my expectation I awoke without your wake-up call," Oomiya said. "It's the fault of parfait, for being so delicious that it disrupts my sleep."

Oomiya laughed a little at her suggestion, Suzuki couldn't help but join in. In times like this, who could expect the one before her to be the most powerful human in this world, and perhaps even universe?

"It seems I will have to tell the chef to make your parfait less tasty in the future then," Suzuki said.

"I would prefer the parfait only become more delicious," Oomiya replied, before heading down to her bath.

---

Her mind cleared from the hot bath, Oomiya dressed herself before heading towards where she would receive the morning briefing and start her morning legislation time. She entered the Hall of Benevolent Governance to see the ministers stand up at her presence. Oomiya motioned for them to sit down, and when she did so she saw the usual faces before her: the ministers from each ministry, ranging from foreign affairs to research and welfare. There was also a face that did not usually show itself here though: Otsuka Aika, the lead official from the Office of the Chairwoman.

Oomiya knew Otsuka's reason for attendance, though. It must be about the Birthday Gala, she realized. As the lead official from the office responsible, she was certainly greatly involved in the schedule for that day. Sure enough, when the other ministers had given their briefings- on an upgrade to the AI planning system, expansion of stem-cell organ growing programmes, and increasing efficiency of heavy industry- Otsuka informed Oomiya about the plans for the Birthday Gala on the 8th of October. There were lanterns built by schoolchildren to be gathered, speeches to be made, an appearance to be scheduled in front of well-wishers, and for this year an event with foreign leaders and dignitaries. A plan had to be drawn up for the participation of foreign leaders, in particular.

"If I am not mistaken, there are not nearly enough staff in your office," Oomiya noted. "It would be better to draw on some resources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive these foreign dignitaries as they arrive."

"I understand" Otsuka replied.

"The meals, transportation, and living situations have all been arranged, I believe?" Oomiya asked.

"That is correct" Otsuka said.

"Excellent, it has been planned well. Then, I will leave your office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle their reception until the day of the event."

"I understand, we will work closely with them" Otsuka said, before bowing and turning to leave.

As Otsuka left, Oomiya found herself smiling happily. It has been many years since I have last received guests for my birthday she thought. I am looking forward to meeting all of them- friends I know already, and friends I am sure that will be made. Oomiya was filled with great expectation for the 8th of October.

[Sanghyeok]

2 October.


The various officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Office of the Chairwoman, under the instruction of Otsuka, were heading towards the various airports, spaceports, and other places where foreign guests were expected to arrive from. Accompanying them at each location were a small group of Magical Girls, responsible for opening the inter-realm portals to allow guests from other universes to travel to the universe of the federation.

Receiving orders to begin, they started to cast the spell that would create the link between the worlds. Soon enough, the portal was opened- since it was for transport, just a small one large enough to fit a small spacecraft or airplane. And the window between the universes was opened, ready for guests.

[Wuchu]

We were on the Republic's Own, the sole ship owned by the Government of Shtet. I had managed to convince Madam President to let me come with her, and after pointing out that it'd be more environmentally sustainable - "It's like a water carpool!" I said - she reluctantly agreed.

Although she thought of me as her own grandson, and even legally adopted after she was elected for her 2nd term - seems like cheating, no? - Hannah Weil was not my biological grandmother; that woman was born around the time Weil herself died. I never told Weil that, though. I don't have the heart to tell her I know how she dies, or even acknowledging to her that she does die. She's always had a love for life, her own as much as everybody else's, because deep down, I think, she doesn't think she ever will die. That's not to say she's delusional, of course - she's well aware that she will cease to be alive, but ceasing to breathe is not the same as death. Weil will die, one day, and then 21 years later, she will die once again.

She's a lot like Jesus, in that sense.

She was observing the horizon along with her wife, as the captain had told us we should be able to see the skyscrapers of Shinkai City relatively soon. The two of them rarely see such skylines, as they mostly spend time somewhere in their own nation, perhaps understandably so, being their two most important women.

Meanwhile, I was sitting at the 2nd floor balcony, reading Heidegger, stuck on the first page, as usual, because he had used another term I didn’t recognise, and forgot to bring my Aristotle book. A mistake I usually make because I think: I’m going to read Heidegger. But it never occurs to me that if I’m going to read Heidegger, then I’m also going to read Aristotle, always. And other philosophers, too, I guess, but Aristotle mainly, because of Being, and the Categories, and stuff like that; reasons I don’t really understand, and would probably only understand had I read Heidegger; which is probably why most people don’t understand Heidegger, because to properly understand him, you would first need to have read him first, and so people forever misunderstand him.

"Oh, oh!" Esther joyfully exclaimed, gently jumping up and down in her step. "Look, there it is!"

I looked up, despite the words not being directed at me. Indeed, there it was: the civilised peaks of Shinkai City were slowly rising from the waters, like some sort of grotesquely postmodern reinterpretation of John's revelation.
The City, or as I like to call it, much to Hannah's condemnation, Dah Citay, is the largest in all of this magical Federation. In a perverted sense, it was a sight to behold. The economic policy of Dah Citay had resulted in plenty of economic growth, and for many, the standard of living rose significantly. Its ports enjoyed plenty of trade delegations and many were filled with containers of State-produced, State-managed, State-owned goods.

Hannah turned around, and with a great big smile on her face, she shouted, "Land sighted!" She laughed loudly with Esther.

Much of the crew of the ship had ran up to the bow of the ship right then, quickly looking over to the horizon. The previous silence of the waves was now overshadowed by the Yiddish chit-chatting around me.

"Woah, they're even bigger than I thought!"

"Do you think they have trouble cleaning all those windows?"

"Are they actually magical, or was that a metaphor? I didn't quite understand what he meant when he said, 'She's literally a magical anime girl.' He's always so cryptic."

I darted my eyes around, and thought about other things. I looked at people’s mouths as they spoke, and tried to imagine what they would be saying if they were saying something different from what they were saying. I looked at Hannah and Esther, and thought about how I probably wouldn’t be here, with them, doing what we were doing, if they were, say, 50% less gay. I don’t know if I would do what I was doing for 25% less gay, either.

Sometimes, whenever I found myself alone with those two, which isn’t as often as I would like to, I would ask them if it bothered them that I, or someone like me, was in their family. Last it happened was 3 years ago for them, after a parliamentary hearing from the President, when it adjourned after five hours. We were walking around the gardens surrounding the National Council, enjoying the deep orange skies and the warm and clean summer air.

“What are you talking about?” Esther said. She was carrying a bag with their cat, Sylvester, in it on her shoulder, and with the opposite hand she held Hannah's own hand.

“I mean, look at us,” I said, stretching my arms wide, like Jesus on the cross. “Doesn’t this bother you?”

The two looked into each other's eyes, and together, said, "No."

“Why should it bother us?" Hannah asked. "Should it?”

I sighed. “Good question.”

The ship's horn blew in my ears. We had reached Dah Citay's main port, where a group of uniformed girls was already awaiting our arrival. They looked freakishly alike to each other.

Wait, is that racist?

[New Goldman]

Well, it is truly my first time coming into a world full of magic, as Emperor even. I don't how what Father (OOC: Michael II, his late dad and ex ruler) would have reacted. I'm not a person who is a fanatic of magic nor its benefits and de-benefits to the person, but as a man of peace, I like to extend my, and New Goldman's hand, to any organization and government willing to stand with us for the better good.

It is quite unfortunate that the Prime Minister, the Goldman Union of Capitalists and the PM's loyalists decided to oppose our newly formed peace with the other worldly nation of Sanghyeok. I had tried calming him down by handing him the reply made by Paul Williams and the DOFP explaining that the socialism they practice is not the same model as the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China, but until now he is still not convinced. Up to a few hours ago before we left for the Gala, Boris Johnson had been approaching me, pleading that I cancel my trip, but personal orders from me is the highest law in the Empire of New Goldman, and even he must know that. I don't know why Boris was such a delusional man and hated Socialism that much. Even I oppose Socialism, but I think Chairman Oomiya is not a Joseph Stalin nor a Mao Zedong. As I can see it, she serves with an even hand and is respectful to the people.

Its truly marvelous to see the wonders and the cities of this other worldly nation. I'm simply amazed on how the Chairman had transformed this. I had been reading a bit into Sanghyeok's history, and found out that while they ban private enterprises (which I despise slightly), they served the people well and with all due respect. Up until now at this moment, I had been stuck to Page 65 of my father's own "Stoic Concordance", his popular book about his views on Stoicism. I never knew until shortly after I was coronated that my dad even wrote a book. As I saw when I was a child, he just likes to write so much in the Library. But the reason I'm stuck here in this page is because of this line, quoted by Father from the founder of Stoicism, Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius;

"Conceal a Flaw, and the World will imagine worst."

This line helped me so much later on in my rule as the 5th Emperor. It basically means that if you hide something bad, something corrupt, something disturbing, or even something personal from your relatives and even your nation, everyone else will wonder what is wrong with you, and they may even conceive something in their hearts a possible cause that would be even worst that what you are actually hiding. From this line, I learned to be open and honest to my people. I learned that the people around me, from the Cabinet to the common man, is ready to help me with his/her fullest potential, and that hiding secrets will only make conceivable reasons worst.

The Imperial Convoy, specially selected by myself from elements of the Space Force and the Space Marines, came to a stop over the designated landing pad, marked colloquially as 35D, at the Shinkai Spaceport in the Sanghyeokese capital of "中央都会", which literally means "Central City" in Japanese, or what looks to be Japanese. I stared out the window of the armored transport as it lowered onto the pad.

"So how are you feeling, Dear Emperor?" My aide de campe asked me as we prepared to get off the ship. "What's the feeling to be in a magical dimension?"

"It feels quite unique actually. A universe that defies the physics of ours." I replied as I took another look outside the window. "It's exciting as well to learn about whatever they do here, and their culture. I hope to also build relations with this country."

"Agreed, Sir. Agreed."

My Secretary of State, Ernest Xavier, and his own aide de campe motioned me to stand up from the other side of the aisle in his seat as the Space Marines prepared to go down the steps first. It was standard diplomatic protocol for security to go out first to make sure the coast was clear from any unwanted individuals.

I walked first out of my seat, with my aide following closely behind me, and proceeded down the walkway towards the opened door on the left side of the Royal Armored Transport, or RAT in abbreviation. The Secretary followed behind my aid. Before long, I reached the walkway. The light outside was beaming through into my black clothing and onto the wall behind. I took my step outside.

My body suddenly felt a cold wind blowing in the morning. Well, it WAS morning anyway. A few cameras and press were lined up on the side, although I do not wish to answer any questions at this time. The Imperial Bodyguard had been gathering at the bottom of the steps and was waiting for me. In front of me, down there, were a few officials of what I assume to be reps from Sanghyeok's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I began my way down the steps.

I reached the bottom, and what looks to be the leader of the group approached me. A man whom was shorter than me. Alongside him were various officials and the Magic Girls, the gals that created the gateway for us to enter this universe.

"The Emperor of New Goldman, an honor it is sir to meet you." The man said while extending his arm out, and was smiling a face I could see over and over again. I took his hand and shook it.

"You too sir." I replied. "I'm honored to be invited to your Chairman's birthday."

"Thank you sir. We hope you enjoy your stay here. I believe the vehicle specially assigned to you is waiting to take you on a tour around the city." The man said as he let go of my hand.

"Ahh, I see. Thank you so much." I stated as I went for the car.

The Bodyguards bunched up around me as we walked to the car. The cameras and their flashes were following our group now, and I didn't hesitated to not make eye contact with any of the press that was there. I don't want an interview.

I immediately went into my car as soon as the door was opened for me. I'm tired, and I need some rest.

I wonder what the Gala has to offer for me when it arrives, but I hope its peaceful.

[Sanghyeok]

"Foreign vessel 013 detected on quantum radar has been identified as Republic's Own from the Republic of Shtet," the voice of the Port of Shinkai lead director sounds in my earpiece. "They've successfully entered our world without any issue."

"First phase successful" I say to the people gathered near me: a few members of the Magical Girl group, and some officials wearing ties and dark suits. Upon my announcement, I hear cheering from the group of Magical Girls responsible for opening the dimensional rift. Their bright red gloves and stockings tell me they're 7th generation- the most powerful yet in the history of our Federation- and even then a few of them have exhausted looks on their faces. As a middling water magic user myself, the amount of energy needed to create a portal between worlds is unthinkable. Fortunately for me, I'm an officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and opening portals, ending droughts, or cooling the ice caps isn't my work. Meeting people from whatever worlds there are in this universe or other universes exist - that's what I make a living from. Well, that and the UBI checks that come in once a month.

I clear my throat, before making a request to the port director. "Let them approach to number 16A- that's the closest to where we are."

"Understood", he replies, and relays my request to the captain of the Republic's Own. There is an acknowledgement, and a while later the ship came into sight- a medium sized vessel with a clean white-and-blue aesthetic. There were a line of small dots lining the deck of the ship towards the bow, and as the ship drew closer I could see those dots were people- crew and guests, apparently. Some of them waved to me cheerfully, and I waved back- the first visual contact between two civilizations, I thought. Then the ship came closer still, and the voices speaking in a foreign language could be heard. At this point I realized I should probably have brought my in-ear translator chip, for what good would it do if I couldn't speak to them? Well, by any means it was too late, for now the ship had docked and the bridge lowered.

The first person to come off the boat- well, two people actually- were two old ladies. The President of Shtet and her wife will be attending, the file had said. Personality traits: kind, warm, wise, educated. Makes good parfait in long-lost recipe. While I didn't quite understand the necessity of the last point, it appeared that this president was a genuinely nice person.

I walked forward to meet the president and extended my hand to her in greeting. "I'm an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Ueda" I introduced myself, before bowing my head slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, President Weil."

The hand that gripped mine was surprisingly strong for someone her age- it felt of an enduring spirit, someone who had seen much and someone been through many experiences. That was what I felt before our handshake ended, and I moved on to the woman beside her, repeating the same introduction. Having given both of them the introduction and having been greeted in kind, it was time to guide them to their living space in Chu'o Tokai.

Wait, both of them? There was one more on the file, although there were more unknowns than knowns- Kotera. Male in Gender. Age early 20s. Humorous. Fond of drugs, reading philosophy, debating ideology, and ill-advised pranks.. As soon as I thought this, I realized that there was someone else hiding in the shadows on the other side of the bridge towards the ship.

"Why don't you introduce yourself?" Weil said, and the figure begrudgingly came out. Was this the Kotera that the file had mentioned? He definitely appeared that way- a rather tall and lean individual, dressed in almost all black with his face somewhat obscured. Well, there would be no harm in greeting him. I stuck out my hand again, and he shook it. The moment our hands separated, his line of sight was back towards something else.

Now having given all three of them the proper introduction, I said "Chairwoman Oomiya thanks you for coming to her Birthday Gala. Since it will be a few days until the event begins, I have been assigned to take you to your living areas at the Resort Akahata. Shinkai City, where we are now, is just under one hour by maglev to Chu'o Tokai. It appears that there are also maglevs in your nation, so I don't think there is much to say, but do stay behind the platform gates until they open. I laughed a little at my own joke, and we set off in the car to the maglev station- the President and her wife, myself, the driver, and the one named Kotera- five people from two worlds.

[Sanghyeok]

The car smoothly accelerated with a soft electric hum, before carrying New Goldman's Emperor, his bodyguards, and two members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards the Shinkai city maglev station.

Emperor Norton II had a somewhat shocked expression as he saw the speed the car was making, unimpeded by traffic.

"Traffic regulations are very strict in our Federation", one of the officials explained at seeing his face. "There are less than a billion vehicles in the entire country, which I imagine is a bit surprising to someone coming from a car-heavy country as yours." That's why even during the busy hours there is hardly any delay on the main roads."

Norton II nodded, before mentioning "But then, isn't it difficult for citizens to get around?"

"Not at all. Most citizens actually prefer public transit, which is well developed in our country. From bicycles to maglevs, there is an emphasis on mass travel that is free of cars. In fact, the maglev we will be taking today is one example."

The car moved into the maglev station, a sleek glass-and-steel structure with the words Shinkai City Station written on it. "It is much faster by maglev than car to Chu'o Tokai- the central capital- from here- the officials explained, before gesturing to the station. Norton II and his bodygaurds followed the officials who swiped their passes on the ticket gates, and descended the stairs to a platform where the regularly scheduled maglev was coming in to the station.

Soon enough, they sat down on the first class carriage towards the front of the train.

"This is the Chyukai line rapid-express maglev, bound for Ner Chu'o Tokai" the voice said. "The next stop is New Chu'o Tokai."

And with it, the train exited the station on its way towards Chu'o Tokai. As the skyline of Shinkai City vanished in the distance, the staff and Emperor began their conversations on their respective nations.

---

"Now arriving at New Chu'o Tokai. New Chu'o Tokai station."

In just above an hour, they had arrived in New Chu'o Tokai station, the main transportation centre of Chu'o Tokai.

"This way, sir" one of the officials mentioned, and they entered a car heading towards the Sunshine Hotel, where the Emperor Norton II would be staying.

[Libertalonia]

as the Vorkesky AH-60 "blackdawn" helicopter fly towards the New Chu'o Tokai Aiport, I stared towards the world below and wondered simply, "how did these manage such a society under a system that is to my knowledge, flawed?". I wondered that, maybe ask locals or officals the secrets of such prosperity.

After a while, I looked back to my translator (wallace), he was busy practicing some of the words spoken in the area. It was a good sight as I decided to check on the body guards.
Both of them were young teens (Bonnie, jovie) who had military backgrounds, wearing a somewhat weird mix between suits and helmets and security vests with Stunguns, Stun guns are non lethal but they do stop a man in his tracks, perfect because some informants told me a specific drunken king and possibly someone crazy.

the doctor (lisa) was an older woman with glasses and black hair, she was assigned here after saving my uncle from a car crash, I personally trusted her and honestly, I still stand with that descision. I was reluctant to bring along a senator (chuck) and congressmen (burt and karen) but after how well they performed when they visited Eisteria and various south paxana countries, they'd be the best choice.

The pilot (cooper) was the same one that saved a few soldiers who nearly died on a hill in Kaluga while fighting anti United world terrorists, He's one of the best after he managed to beat other contenders in a test I personally watched.

As for me, It's time I got a fun break, Last year was horrible with the five day march on wall street, The war between sayyid and Yamu, constant PTSD attacks and the death of my best cousin. It was time I got away from that and take a breather.

I looked down upon the city and I was amazed at it, To call it a culture shock is selling it lightly, I was drawn to it like moth to a light.
The major wonders and cities, the futuristic utopian feel and the honestly wonderful atmosphere. I heard about the fact they banned private enterprise but their government served well. I guess this world is more friendly than Alterna, that's a certainty.

As we landed, my bodyguards had worry on their faces, They've also seen alot of combat a few months ago in the uncontrolled reigons.

"calm down, There will be no blood for these days, We are safe with these people" I spoke towards the bodyguards

"yeah, No worries" replied bonnie, jovie relaxed and slung the rather simple stunner onto his back. I smiled and got out of the helicopter, standing next to the presidential seal on it's side.

The team got out as I greeted a man. "it's an honor to be in such a wonderful nation" I said to the man who was quite kind.

the man smiled "The president of Libertalonia, it is also an honor to meet you here" he replied shaking my hand.
we headed for the car, my two bodyguards looked a bit menacing towards the crowd of reporters and paparazzi, Bonnie however was breaking the tensions by cracking jokes while jovi just smiled and waved.

We got into the car and drove off, I fell asleep as wallace continued to read the maps.

[Rhim Flavezztowland]

October 2 - 00:30 Flavezztowland City time
Bags packed. Suit and tie worn. Beard shaved. Snacks eaten. And ready to go to Sanghyeok to attend Oomiya Sakura's birthday gala. I, Jonathan Skyes, the Flavezztowlander Cultural Minister, had just left my 45th-floor penthouse and taken the elevator down to the lobby of my residential building. I waited patiently, and patiently, and patiently, until a limousine came to pick me up.

"My dear sir," greeted the limousine driver to me. He then asked me this question: "Where do you want to go this time?"

"Take me to the airport, please," I replied.

"Okay," the limousine driver told me. He then drove me to the Flavezztowland City Airport's General Aviation Terminal, where I had to board the BBJ 787-8 bizjet that was codenamed "Flavezztowlander Government Airplane #001 - The Avant" (hereafter the Avant) at 01:25. Since I'm supposed to be riding government-owned airplanes whenever I travel overseas for the sake of me being a government official (considering my position as the Cultural Minister of my own country, Rhim Flavezztowland), this occasion was no different. When the security guards asked me for the reason why I was leaving on a jet plane that was the property of the government, I told them that I was the Flavezztowlander delegate that was traveling to Sanghyeok to attend the 860th birthday gala of the nation's leader, Chairwoman Oomiya Sakura.

After boarding the Avant at 01:25, I was sitting in the bizjet's workspace with my seatbelt attached when I was told that it was approaching runway 18R and, a couple of minutes later, taking off from there. Some time after that, a rainbow-colored circle appeared before my eyes could see it. It had to be a magic portal that'd been opened by some magical beings!

"Ladies and gentlemen," announced a pilot through the Avant's intercom system upon spotting the magic portal with their eyes. "We are currently approaching a mysterious spatial object that appears to be a portal to another world. Please stay seated with your seatbelts on. Thank you."

Why was that portal there? Where was it leading me to? After the bizjet I was riding - the Avant - entered that portal, I soon realized that it was a portal to an alternate world that was ruled by a single nation (apparently, Sanghyeok's United Front, led by Chairwoman Oomiya, is a literal representation of the phrase "we run the world"). I was amazed by the Sanghyeokian province I saw immediately upon entering Sanghyeokian territory, which was the Chu'o Tokai Central Capital Region.

Finally, at 02:30 Chu'o Tokai time (yes, Chu'o Tokai sets its clocks an hour ahead of my homeland!), the Avant landed at New Chu'o Tokai Airport, and I was ready to show off my best looks to the other delegates that were attending Chairwoman Oomiya's birthday gala (even though I had to wait until the evening of that gala for the Chairwoman to judge my submission of orange caramel pudding - a Flavezztowlander creation commonly sold at my homeland's patisseries - to the pudding contest)...

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross took a peek out the window. "Beautiful view, is it not?"

Nate smiled. "It is indeed."

The VALV taxied to a stop.

"Alright Ross, hand over the weapons."

Ross took his pistol out, put it down. Derringer out of shoe holster. Push knife, combat knife, balisong, brass knuckles, other pistol, throwing knife, extra ammo, ballistic knife.

"Hand it over."

"I'm not giving you my multitool."

"Yes, you are."

"Nate, if I really wanted to kill someone, I could just use my hands. Besides, what if something needs repairing?"

Nate grumbled. "Okay, Ross, but I've got my eye on you."

"Nate, I already told you, I'm not here to kill anyone today. Just here to have a good time. Now, drop my stuff of at the hotel, I got a birthday to attend."

[Sanghyeok]

October 2 - 00:30 Flavezztowland City time
Bags packed. Suit and tie worn. Beard shaved. Snacks eaten. And ready to go to Sanghyeok to attend Oomiya Sakura's birthday gala. I, Jonathan Skyes, the Flavezztowlander Cultural Minister, had just left my 45th-floor penthouse and taken the elevator down to the lobby of my residential building. I waited patiently, and patiently, and patiently, until a limousine came to pick me up.

"My dear sir," greeted the limousine driver to me. He then asked me this question: "Where do you want to go this time?"

"Take me to the airport, please," I replied.

"Okay," the limousine driver told me. He then drove me to the Flavezztowland City Airport's General Aviation Terminal, where I had to board the BBJ 787-8 bizjet that was codenamed "Flavezztowlander Government Airplane #001 - The Avant" (hereafter the Avant) at 01:25. Since I'm supposed to be riding government-owned airplanes whenever I travel overseas for the sake of me being a government official (considering my position as the Cultural Minister of my own country, Rhim Flavezztowland), this occasion was no different. When the security guards asked me for the reason why I was leaving on a jet plane that was the property of the government, I told them that I was the Flavezztowlander delegate that was traveling to Sanghyeok to attend the 860th birthday gala of the nation's leader, Chairwoman Oomiya Sakura.

After boarding the Avant at 01:25, I was sitting in the bizjet's workspace with my seatbelt attached when I was told that it was approaching runway 18R and, a couple of minutes later, taking off from there. Some time after that, a rainbow-colored circle appeared before my eyes could see it. It had to be a magic portal that'd been opened by some magical beings!

"Ladies and gentlemen," announced a pilot through the Avant's intercom system upon spotting the magic portal with their eyes. "We are currently approaching a mysterious spatial object that appears to be a portal to another world. Please stay seated with your seatbelts on. Thank you."

Why was that portal there? Where was it leading me to? After the bizjet I was riding - the Avant - entered that portal, I soon realized that it was a portal to an alternate world that was ruled by a single nation (apparently, Sanghyeok's United Front, led by Chairwoman Oomiya, is a literal representation of the phrase "we run the world"). I was amazed by the Sanghyeokian province I saw immediately upon entering Sanghyeokian territory, which was the Chu'o Tokai Central Capital Region.

Finally, at 02:30 Chu'o Tokai time (yes, Chu'o Tokai sets its clocks an hour ahead of my homeland!), the Avant landed at New Chu'o Tokai Airport, and I was ready to show off my best looks to the other delegates that were attending Chairwoman Oomiya's birthday gala (even though I had to wait until the evening of that gala for the Chairwoman to judge my submission of orange caramel pudding - a Flavezztowlander creation commonly sold at my homeland's patisseries - to the pudding contest)...

I looked at my watch again. The time read 2:29- just one minute before the expected time for the arrival for the delegation from Flavezztowland.

There was still no sign of any aircraft matching the designation of their jet in the sky. Was there something wrong? Was there a problem, perhaps, with the portal? A feeling of unease welled up in my chest.

Then a small white flash in the sky appeared, from the middle of the invisible portal. This was the private jet that had the Cultural Minister of Flavezztowland inside of it, travelling towards our world.

"You looked worried" exclaimed Shinagawa Yoshiko, one of the magical girls responsible for the maintenance of this window. "Were you ever concerned about our skills?"

"I never doubted you" I replied, and we laughed at that.

---

"They have landed" was the message in my ear.

Hearing this, I stepped briskly towards the gate where the aircraft had arrived. It was a medium sized jet-painted in a rather pleasing yellow, blue, and red livery, and it pulled up to the gate. Then, the door to the cabin opened, and a medium sized, sharply dressed man came out first. This, I assumed, was the Culture Minister that was attending Chairwoman Oomiya's Birthday Gala.

"Official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alice Nakayama", I said, offering my hand. "It's a pleasure to welcome you to the the United Socialist Federation of Sanghyeok, minister from Flavezztowland."

[Sanghyeok]

as the Vorkesky AH-60 "blackdawn" helicopter fly towards the New Chu'o Tokai Aiport, I stared towards the world below and wondered simply, "how did these manage such a society under a system that is to my knowledge, flawed?". I wondered that, maybe ask locals or officals the secrets of such prosperity.

After a while, I looked back to my translator (wallace), he was busy practicing some of the words spoken in the area. It was a good sight as I decided to check on the body guards.
Both of them were young teens (Bonnie, jovie) who had military backgrounds, wearing a somewhat weird mix between suits and helmets and security vests with Stunguns, Stun guns are non lethal but they do stop a man in his tracks, perfect because some informants told me a specific drunken king and possibly someone crazy.

the doctor (lisa) was an older woman with glasses and black hair, she was assigned here after saving my uncle from a car crash, I personally trusted her and honestly, I still stand with that descision. I was reluctant to bring along a senator (chuck) and congressmen (burt and karen) but after how well they performed when they visited Eisteria and various south paxana countries, they'd be the best choice.

The pilot (cooper) was the same one that saved a few soldiers who nearly died on a hill in Kaluga while fighting anti United world terrorists, He's one of the best after he managed to beat other contenders in a test I personally watched.

As for me, It's time I got a fun break, Last year was horrible with the five day march on wall street, The war between sayyid and Yamu, constant PTSD attacks and the death of my best cousin. It was time I got away from that and take a breather.

I looked down upon the city and I was amazed at it, To call it a culture shock is selling it lightly, I was drawn to it like moth to a light.
The major wonders and cities, the futuristic utopian feel and the honestly wonderful atmosphere. I heard about the fact they banned private enterprise but their government served well. I guess this world is more friendly than Alterna, that's a certainty.

As we landed, my bodyguards had worry on their faces, They've also seen alot of combat a few months ago in the uncontrolled reigons.

"calm down, There will be no blood for these days, We are safe with these people" I spoke towards the bodyguards

"yeah, No worries" replied bonnie, jovie relaxed and slung the rather simple stunner onto his back. I smiled and got out of the helicopter, standing next to the presidential seal on it's side.

The team got out as I greeted a man. "it's an honor to be in such a wonderful nation" I said to the man who was quite kind.

the man smiled "The president of Libertalonia, it is also an honor to meet you here" he replied shaking my hand.
we headed for the car, my two bodyguards looked a bit menacing towards the crowd of reporters and paparazzi, Bonnie however was breaking the tensions by cracking jokes while jovi just smiled and waved.

We got into the car and drove off, I fell asleep as wallace continued to read the maps.

Although Taichiro would have preferred that the maglev line, he understood the importance of familiarity and customs to foreign leaders, especially those that came from a war-torn planet as Libertalonia. And so, now here they were en route to Chu'o Tokai by car, as he knew the President of Libertalonia preferred. The car entered the S-1 Expressway, the major trunk road that connected New Chu'o Tokai Airport to its namesake city about an hour away, and soon the inside of the car became silent. There was nothing but the faint hum of the electric engine and the occasional gust of wind outside, and the Libertalonian president had fallen asleep somewhere between the airport and the expressway.

"It's such a large city" one of the bodyguards in the car finally said.

"Nothing like this on your planet? I read that your nation was one of four large empires, so I thought there would be something similar."

The guard shook his head in refutation. "No, not like this. In Libertalonia we have large cities of course, but the cities have boundaries. After the boundaries there are suburbs, and then rural areas, and then nothing. But this is different- it seems as if there is city everywhere we look. We've been driving for 30 minutes at a decent pace, and still there is nothing but buildings one after another. So many buildings and people- it's all really new to me."

Taichiro smiled. "It's become usual for me, actually, but that's perhaps because I was born here. I couldn't think of anywhere else I would rather live."

Their conversation continued for some time, and all the buildings grew taller and the expressway more crowded, before they finally passed a sign saying "Welcome to Chu'o Toki Capital District. Population: 1.5 billion"

The guards- and President Lilith, who was awake now- were wide eyed staring at the landscape about them. Here they were, in the centre of city with population density 80,000 per square kilometre, the largest populated city in the history of humanity. Bridges carrying maglevs, trains, bicycles, cars and people- oh, so many people- were in all directions, above and below them. Large electronic signs with an array of different messages. Tall buildings, that seemed to pierce the heavens and give pride to the name 'skyscraper.'

They were still looking on in amazement when the car arrived at Resort Akahata.

"Your living space is here" announced Taichiro, as he guided the Libertalonian president off of the car and into the hotel.

[Sanghyeok]

An odd vehicle- VALV, for vertical ascent and landing vehicle- appeared from the heavens where the portal to the strange world known as Socialist Macronesia had been created, and make its way downwards to a clear landing pad at the edge of New Chu'o Tokai airport. The aircraft itself- painted in a rather drab light green typical of SoMac armed forces- was incredibly angular, warlike, and aggressive.

A stark contrast to the peaceful shapes of the spacecraft and terminal around it, it looks like an ugly olive-coloured crab, thought Kobayashi Chiharu. So this is the design of a nation that is always at war- it reminds me of those holo-videos of the world before unification under our United Front government. Chiharu then immediately admonished herself for this kind of thought. Foreign affairs are not just about appearance, she told herself. We must not judge countries and those from other realms entirely by our standards. And in any case, I will be meeting their president- Ross, I think- rather soon. Best to put on a diplomatic face on for now.

"Flight attendants, cross check for doors disarm" said one of the attendants in the VALV, and the cabin opened itself. There was a small hiss as the fresh air of Chu'o Tokai rushed in, and then a man stepped out. Chiharu recognized him from the briefing earlier- Socialist Macronesia's leader, President Ross. Though he didn't look trustworthy at all (and the file on him had said something similar), Chiharu tried her best to look neutral, and extended her hand.

"Official from the Office of the Chairwoman, Chiharu Kobayashi" she explained, as the two of them shook. "It's a pleasure to see you here, President Ross."

[Greatdux]

10/2/2020

Even as Katár fell into a coma, he quickly recovered. He realized that it was days before Oomiya’s Birthday Gala.
"KÚRFERMANN! PACK UP OUR STUFF!"
"Ugh, okay."
They packed up their personal computer, their pillows, their shoes, almost everything they wanted to pack. They boarded a spaceship made by a American Helicopter company. At first, it was good, but then some problems came on. There isn’t food on the spaceship. Határ would starve for hours before reaching their final destination. They reached the portal. The spaceship crash landed. Fortunately, the crew and the passengers were okay. "Kúrfermann?"
"Jaaaaaa?”
"I think we are late."
"I dunno."

[Wuchu]

"Oh, don't worry, sweetheart," Hannah said in an even thicker accent than usual. Was she trying to emphasise it, or was this an unfortunate side-effect of transdimensional travel? Or maybe the ocean air had some strange effect on her?

"We are more than happy to get out of the house, isn't that right, Esther?" she continued.

"Oh, yes, it's very beautiful here," Esther replied, nodding along. "I can tell you so much already."

The three comrades laughed politely, although not so strongly that it wasn't apparent that it was a polite laugh.

I remember when she was visiting the Queen of England, she did a similar thing. I never mentioned it to her, but perhaps she's a lot more sneaky than I thought she was - perhaps this was a secret diplomatic ploy, as part of her duty to the International Jewish Cabal, sponsored, of course, by Soros himself.

I wasn't paying much attention to what the three spoke about as we made our way towards a station across nearest to port - I was far too busy taking in the postindustrial scenery. Surrounding us were a dozen or so "Magical Girls," all wearing very neat uniforms, with little pink bows tied to their collars, coupled with brightly red stockings and gloves. They reminded me of stewardesses, particularly with the way they handled and presented themselves - incredibly polite and proud, to the point where it falls right into the Uncanny Valley.

The uniforms didn't exactly look very comfortable, either, but perhaps that's my personal problem. Doubly worse was the fact that, although it was only the late hours of the morning, it was already some 20+ degrees Celsius. Thankfully, the breeze coming from the shore helped a bit.

A bit.

Before I left for Shtet, Yaniv had rambled to me about these girls; he researched everything he could find about them back in the Other Place as soon as I mentioned I was invited by Oomiya. Apparently, the way they do 'magic' is through manipulating quarks on the quantum level. Or something like that. To be quite honest, speaking with Yaniv is a lot like listening to a podcast - you tend to do it when doing some monotonous task, occasionally consciously tuning back in whenever there's a joke or sudden innuendo on the waves. Unfortuntately, Yaniv's podcast doesn't have many jokes, so the innuendos have to make up the slack.

Seems the magic might've worked a bit like the washing machine, though. I towered over almost everyone here, and even with their rather average heights, both Hannah and Esther were still taller than our guide, although if only by a few centimetres.

The drive to the station was very brief, and before I even processed it, we were on a train, moving at what seemed like supernatural speeds.

"I hear you have a similar maglev system in your own nation," Takashi said as she held onto the rail grip. Hannah and Esther were both seated in front of her, although they leaned into each other, so that they could divert their attention to both the exterior sightings and Takashi herself.

"Yes, indeed," Hannah said, looking out of the window, observing the passing skyscrapers in a mesmerised stare. "Although, I must say, our system is nowhere near as efficient as yours. We don't tend to get so fast unless you're on a cross-national line!"

"There's value in taking your time," I spoke. The three turned to me. Takashi looked into my eyes for a moment, as if taking in my presence, processing my words.

She opened her mouth, about to comment a response, but Hannah had interrupted before she could utter any words.

"To be fair, darling, Shtet is a lot smaller than Sang-, Sanghyouk-, Sangey-"

"Sanghyeok," Esther corrected her, and gave a smile to Takashi, who nodded in acknowledgement.

As the three returned to their discussion, I walked to the opposite wall of the cart. We were on a raised maglev platform, although the structure was nothing alike to that in Shtet. It was far more open about its technological mastery, with long metal poles and bars holding everything up. Likewise, many of the buildings surrounding it were mostly alike to any other modern city's - big totems of steel, concrete, and glass.
Despite this, the street level was incredibly green, to the point where in some places, the treetops obscured the roads beneath them entirely.

The roads themselves were very clean. There aren't many cars, it seems, in the Federation, a fact which I will not complain about, although I am somewhat surprised about. One would imagine "actually existing socialism" to be an industrial basket, always seeking to increase the living standard and prove that State socialists could offer a life better than the decadent capitalists.

Then again, we were on a maglev train.

With that notable exception, the urban environment wasn't unexpected of my experience with Marxist-Leninist programmes. Decorating the walls, street corners, lightpoles, and factory windows were various Socialist propaganda pieces. To instill a sense of patriotism, perhaps, the government had decided to put its flag - the red and gold banner of the hammer and sickle - pretty much everywhere in Da Citay.

Though, on a closer inspection, I noticed plenty of the flags were pinkish in tone. With that realisation, I began to notice that, really, pink was everywhere. The residents of Da Citay had apparently turned their neighbourhoods into sugary bazaars, with baskets of pastries, strawberries, circular artisanal breads, and packets of darkly-coloured teas.

Through the cherry branches, I could see the labouring classes mingling with each other, biking and walking to work, some taking the time to enjoy what I presumed to the national favourite Darjeeling tea (Thank you, Yaniv, for that little trivia). Plenty were hanging up silk noren banners in their windows, doors, and walls, with poetic verses woven into them. I recognised a few of them as Oomiya's own.

I can already hear the Westies screaming, 'Cult! Cult of Personality!' like they hadn't even met Stalin. Weak.

"Do you reckon we could get a little tour of a park?" I addressed the cart's other occupants, while still looking out of the train's wide sidewindow.

[Sanghyeok]

10/2/2020

Even as Katár fell into a coma, he quickly recovered. He realized that it was days before Oomiya’s Birthday Gala.
"KÚRFERMANN! PACK UP OUR STUFF!"
"Ugh, okay."
They packed up their personal computer, their pillows, their shoes, almost everything they wanted to pack. They boarded a spaceship made by a American Helicopter company. At first, it was good, but then some problems came on. There isn’t food on the spaceship. Határ would starve for hours before reaching their final destination. They reached the portal. The spaceship crash landed. Fortunately, the crew and the passengers were okay. "Kúrfermann?"
"Jaaaaaa?”
"I think we are late."
"I dunno."

2020, 3 October.

"Say it again?"

"And therefore, we need to get a rescue team to their location." repeated the man sitting next to me. His name was Shin, and he was responsible for the safe landing of the official delegation from Greatdux.

"Not that part, the one before it. Why do we need to send a rescue team to the location of our friends from Greatdux?"

"Oh, the reason. Well you see, there's been a minor accident. The spacecraft carrying their President Katár has crashed a few kilometres short of the spaceport."

"Minor accident?" I raised an eyebrow at the rather odd way of describing an inter-universal journey that terminated with a crash landing. Or as a certain person not too far from me might call it, lithospheric braking.

"Well, as in no injury to the crew or the President at all. Fortunately it landed just sort of the populated areas, although it damaged my favourite viewpoint in the Shinkai mountains. Their ship is done for though- we'll have to find another way to send them home," he replied to my inquiry.

"I see. Then, have the rescue helicopters arrive at their location and pick them up."

"Understood. And you, Mr. Ichonose?"

"I will meet them as they arrive at our spaceport."

I stood by the windows just long enough to see the helicopters fly off to retrieve Mr. Katár and his entourage from the middle of the Shinkai range, before preparing my own materials and making a short briefing to the head of the Office.

Then, I walked towards the reception area of Terminal C, waiting for their arrival. An unusual first meeting, to say the least, but one doesn't stay for so long in the Office of the Chairwoman without having some degree of flexibility.

[Sanghyeok]

"Oh, don't worry, sweetheart," Hannah said in an even thicker accent than usual. Was she trying to emphasise it, or was this an unfortunate side-effect of transdimensional travel? Or maybe the ocean air had some strange effect on her?

"We are more than happy to get out of the house, isn't that right, Esther?" she continued.

"Oh, yes, it's very beautiful here," Esther replied, nodding along. "I can tell you so much already."

The three comrades laughed politely, although not so strongly that it wasn't apparent that it was a polite laugh.

I remember when she was visiting the Queen of England, she did a similar thing. I never mentioned it to her, but perhaps she's a lot more sneaky than I thought she was - perhaps this was a secret diplomatic ploy, as part of her duty to the International Jewish Cabal, sponsored, of course, by Soros himself.

I wasn't paying much attention to what the three spoke about as we made our way towards a station across nearest to port - I was far too busy taking in the postindustrial scenery. Surrounding us were a dozen or so "Magical Girls," all wearing very neat uniforms, with little pink bows tied to their collars, coupled with brightly red stockings and gloves. They reminded me of stewardesses, particularly with the way they handled and presented themselves - incredibly polite and proud, to the point where it falls right into the Uncanny Valley.

The uniforms didn't exactly look very comfortable, either, but perhaps that's my personal problem. Doubly worse was the fact that, although it was only the late hours of the morning, it was already some 20+ degrees Celsius. Thankfully, the breeze coming from the shore helped a bit.

A bit.

Before I left for Shtet, Yaniv had rambled to me about these girls; he researched everything he could find about them back in the Other Place as soon as I mentioned I was invited by Oomiya. Apparently, the way they do 'magic' is through manipulating quarks on the quantum level. Or something like that. To be quite honest, speaking with Yaniv is a lot like listening to a podcast - you tend to do it when doing some monotonous task, occasionally consciously tuning back in whenever there's a joke or sudden innuendo on the waves. Unfortuntately, Yaniv's podcast doesn't have many jokes, so the innuendos have to make up the slack.

Seems the magic might've worked a bit like the washing machine, though. I towered over almost everyone here, and even with their rather average heights, both Hannah and Esther were still taller than our guide, although if only by a few centimetres.

The drive to the station was very brief, and before I even processed it, we were on a train, moving at what seemed like supernatural speeds.

"I hear you have a similar maglev system in your own nation," Takashi said as she held onto the rail grip. Hannah and Esther were both seated in front of her, although they leaned into each other, so that they could divert their attention to both the exterior sightings and Takashi herself.

"Yes, indeed," Hannah said, looking out of the window, observing the passing skyscrapers in a mesmerised stare. "Although, I must say, our system is nowhere near as efficient as yours. We don't tend to get so fast unless you're on a cross-national line!"

"There's value in taking your time," I spoke. The three turned to me. Takashi looked into my eyes for a moment, as if taking in my presence, processing my words.

She opened her mouth, about to comment a response, but Hannah had interrupted before she could utter any words.

"To be fair, darling, Shtet is a lot smaller than Sang-, Sanghyouk-, Sangey-"

"Sanghyeok," Esther corrected her, and gave a smile to Takashi, who nodded in acknowledgement.

As the three returned to their discussion, I walked to the opposite wall of the cart. We were on a raised maglev platform, although the structure was nothing alike to that in Shtet. It was far more open about its technological mastery, with long metal poles and bars holding everything up. Likewise, many of the buildings surrounding it were mostly alike to any other modern city's - big totems of steel, concrete, and glass.
Despite this, the street level was incredibly green, to the point where in some places, the treetops obscured the roads beneath them entirely.

The roads themselves were very clean. There aren't many cars, it seems, in the Federation, a fact which I will not complain about, although I am somewhat surprised about. One would imagine "actually existing socialism" to be an industrial basket, always seeking to increase the living standard and prove that State socialists could offer a life better than the decadent capitalists.

Then again, we were on a maglev train.

With that notable exception, the urban environment wasn't unexpected of my experience with Marxist-Leninist programmes. Decorating the walls, street corners, lightpoles, and factory windows were various Socialist propaganda pieces. To instill a sense of patriotism, perhaps, the government had decided to put its flag - the red and gold banner of the hammer and sickle - pretty much everywhere in Da Citay.

Though, on a closer inspection, I noticed plenty of the flags were pinkish in tone. With that realisation, I began to notice that, really, pink was everywhere. The residents of Da Citay had apparently turned their neighbourhoods into sugary bazaars, with baskets of pastries, strawberries, circular artisanal breads, and packets of darkly-coloured teas.

Through the cherry branches, I could see the labouring classes mingling with each other, biking and walking to work, some taking the time to enjoy what I presumed to the national favourite Darjeeling tea (Thank you, Yaniv, for that little trivia). Plenty were hanging up silk noren banners in their windows, doors, and walls, with poetic verses woven into them. I recognised a few of them as Oomiya's own.

I can already hear the Westies screaming, 'Cult! Cult of Personality!' like they hadn't even met Stalin. Weak.

"Do you reckon we could get a little tour of a park?" I addressed the cart's other occupants, while still looking out of the train's wide sidewindow.

Takashi didn't say much after they boarded the maglev, although she did answer a few of their questions that they had posed: explaining the maglev system, or telling them about the cultural differences between the provinces: Hatzuki Province was incredibly proud of their yuzu harvest, but Chu'o Tokai preferred the same fruits as the Chairwoman: strawberries and cherries. Mostly she just listened, for there was much that was different between their countries.

A country that only takes an hour or so to cross? Takashi wondered. That's the amount of time from one edge of Chu'o Tokai to the next!. She knew there were countries from pre-liberation that were that size of course: South Korea, perhaps, or Hungary. And yet, it was odd hearing about a country- with it's own government, army, and legal system!- that had the population of only a subdistrict of a major city. Cultural shock goes both ways, it seems. There is much that I will have to learn before becoming a senior in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs- some of which files could not teach me, but interactions will.

With this in mind, Takashi was ready to answer when Kotera asked his first question since boarding.

"Do you reckon we can get a little tour of a park?" he asked.

A bit of an unexpected question given my first impression and the files, Takashi thought. But it was not an unreasonable request.

"Parks?" she asked. "Well, cities in general are designed to be greenspaces and community parks are common in each subdistrict, but if you are referring to a larger garden or natural area then there are also a few in our destination city. Chu'o Tokai has Central Park, Riverside Park, and Sky-viewing Park as the most famous public ones. They are famous for their landscape and wide variety of plants, tranquility and cherry blossoms, and overlook of the city respectively. Personally, I grew up near Riverside Park, and I have great memories of the area, so it's my favourite."

"There is also another park- perhaps garden would be a better way to describe it -in Chu'o Tokai. That's Tokai Gyoen- Capital Gardens, the name of the garden that surrounds all of the Chairwoman's Residence, and which you will be visiting in a few days."

Weil and her wife nodded in appreciation, but Kotera's facial expression remained blank, still mysterious as ever, and Takashi wasn't sure if he had even heard her answer. Philosophers Takashi thought, before turning back to look at the scenery.

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Alastair pressed the heel of his hand into his forehead and moaned softly. This morning's hangover was exceptionally unpleasant; his headache was terrible, and he felt very nauseous, though that did not fade after ibuprofen. He was not in the mood to get out of bed or socialize with the other leaders, yet he knew he had to climb out of the airplane and paint a smile onto his face like everything was fine. It was only when diplomacy was not required that he could truly enjoy himself, but everything he did had to be diplomatic. He could not let his personal failures overtake his actions.

"Your Majesty, we are beginning our descent."

"Oh. Lovely. Do I have time to...get ready?" The vestiges of alcohol clung to his mouth and left an unpleasant taste on his tongue. In truth, he wanted to vomit.

"Yes, though I would advise you to be expedient."

Alastair cast aside the blanket and dragged himself out of his bed, wincing as stabbing pain lanced through his skull. He begrudgingly removed today's suit from the chair where he'd cast it and trudged to his private bathroom.

The lights, when he turned them on, blinded him. His eyes watered and burned in response and forced him to squint. For several seconds, he stood in place, swaying back and forth slightly as he gained his composure. He then shut the bathroom door behind him and hung the suit on a hook so he could freshen up before changing.

A few minutes later, as he was shaving, he noticed that his skin had a yellow tint beneath the neon lights. His complexion, however, was rosaceous, and his hair had become rather shaggy. Deep circles embedded under his eyes betrayed how little sleep he was getting.

It's the lighting, he decided after studying the bulbs' buttery glow for as long as his retinas would permit. Just the lighting.
Nothing to fret over. Yet a small corner of his mind sensed there was something to fret over, there was something wrong. He paid it no heed and instead moved on to brushing his teeth.

He was reasonably presentable by the time the plane made its final approach, though his suit was tighter than he would have liked. He'd been able to procure a bagel and some coffee with whiskey, his usual on-the-go breakfast, and was feeling considerably more relaxed than he had when he'd first awakened. His veins buzzed with the mixture of alcohol and caffeine, and the sensation gave him comfort, almost. It was like getting a squeeze on the shoulder or a reassuring nod. He could do this, he could be presentable, he would not look like a fool for being capitalist or otherwise. No one would see a reason to judge him negatively.

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross left the jet. A woman in front of him extended her hand. Ross was able to make out a little of what she said over the engines.

"Official from the Office of the Chairwoman, Chiharu Kobayashi."

Ross immediately shook her hand.

"It's a pleasure to see you here, President Ross."

"The pleasure is all mine."

He took a long, drawn out whiff of fresh air. It was nice to smell something not gunpowder, alcohol, or wet paint for once.

"So, Kobayashi, how'd you get to working here?"

"I--"

A slightly shorter, stockier man came out of the plane.

"Nate Barton, Administrator of the Operations division, MIS." He gave a much warmer handshake. Even then, Kobayashi probably knew from their files that the two men she was now greeting had killed hundreds before, which no doubt sent chills up her spine.

"So what's on tap for today?"

[Kiu Ghesik]

There was a fly in Ari's tent. She could hear its little wings buzzing, the sound of it coming and going as it swooped and darted around her head, looking for a chance to land and get at the beads of sweat on her neck. It was uncharacteristically warm today, as if fall had been beaten back by summer in its inexorable approach, its armies routed and crushed by heat and humidity. She wished that in this battle the invaders had won, for once. If they had, she would have been greeted this morning not by a crushing heat but by crisp air and an excuse to wear her good robes on her way to meet the single most important person in the world. Well, another world, but still. It would have been better for her day to start under the stern gaze of the West Wind than the fickle caresses of the East.

Maybe that was what that fly was- a curse, sent by the Sea Wind to irritate her specifically. Well, she would show the Wind she was stronger than it. Curses were meant to be overcome, and this bloody fly was no different. She stilled herself and waited for it to make its move. Sure enough, she felt its little legs land on the nape of her neck not three seconds after she'd sat. For another second, just enough to assure it of its safety, she kept still. And then in a single fluid motion she scraped it off her neck and cupped it in a clenched fist. It was not dead- yet- and it would not be until she chose for it to be. That was the beauty of power, to hold another's fate in one's hands. She felt a little satisfaction at that thought. Well, quite a bit, actually. Holding power over this annoyance was... satisfying. Even if it was not her role to play in life, it was sweet to hold that modicum of control.

Or at least it was until she realized what she was kneeling in front of. The gift. For her. The elder. Oomiya. Ari felt herself blush in shame. This was not what Oomiya would've done. Gloating over the life of another was... unseemly. Undignified. Unrefined. Uncontrolled. Everything Ari was, and everything Oomiya was not. And that was the point, wasn't it? She was too young for this. Too young to hold the power she held over men, too unrefined, especially if a fly meant so much to her her heart would leap at its death. Ari sighed and rocked back on her knees, then stood and walked to the entrance of her tent. She stuck her clenched hand out the flap and let it go, feeling the fly leap from her grasp and into the sky. Now that was what Oomiya would have done. That was the act of an elder, to be gracious and kind and forgiving of transgresses. That was why Oomiya was... well, Oomiya, master of all, and not Akhens-Ari, petty warlord, disappointment, reactionary, idiot. And that was why the latter had sought the counsel of the former. And it was why Ari was here, in this tent, looking over what little she had done as way of a thank-you. As silly of a sentiment that was. She buried her head in her hands and sighed a sigh that broke into laughter. This was meant to be a day of celebration, and it was time to celebrate, not worry about the ills of life. The winds were out of the east, and the priest had said the clouds were leaping in joy. The Sea smiled on her. And it was well past time to make certain her people were ready.

One breath, then another, and she was ready to step out of the tent. And directly into a stern, concerned face looming right outside the flap.

"Ah, Patyu!" She jumped back within the tent and almost fell on the gift, knocking herself away from it with one arm at the last moment. Picking it and its case up gently under one arm, she stepped out of the tent, knocking Patyughin aside with a laugh, and turned to him with a smile on her face. "You scared me, ateghn."

"Well, I expected you were coming out, so I was waiting at the tent, and-" It was only when Ari's hand was physically covering his face that Patyu stopped. At least for a moment. "Ari, please remove your hand from my face."

"Alright, I will, if you quit being such a bloody nag. Standing outside my tent like that, what were you trying to do, rob me?"

Patyughin sighed, the pudding- the fourth attempt, this one- in his hand dropping lower to the ground. "No, you stuck your hand out your tent. That's a sign you're ready. That, or I'm critically ill-informed."

Hefting the gift in its sleeve closer to her chest, Ari walked out onto the still-dewy grass, squinting as the full strength of the morning sun beat down on her brow. In the distance, she could see the grass of the prairie waving imperceptibly at the slightest touch of the breeze, like a sea calm and near-stilled, and nearer still the peaks of dozens of colorful tents, each one a by-now familiar pattern. It was a world quite unlike the one she was going to, but then again, it would be a new experience. Such things were always... interesting, to say the least. And she was going with friends.

"I suppose you could say that, Patyu. Are the others ready?"

Counting off one for each head he could see gathered in the encampment's center, he nodded. "All seven of them, yes. Why are we taking so many, anyways?"

"To worry you, of course. And to make a good impression on the Chairwoman."

"I don't think you'll be impressing her one way or the other, Ari. And you don't need to worry me. The notion of... whatever this "portal" thing is is genuinely making me sick." Patyughin poked at his stomach. "Or maybe that's just my not having eaten for a while."

"That'd do it," Ari said.

"Yep."

After a short walk, the pair arrived in the encampment's center, where the selected attendants- all people she'd grown up around, chosen for their skills and general refinedness as compared to the average Ghesite, and all people who she thought would likely react better than her to whatever it was the Chairwoman was planning to do to get them there- were waiting. They seemed to all wear the same look of skepticism on their faces that Ari was admittedly feeling in her core about this whole thing. She trusted in the Chairwoman, but it all seemed so fanciful. She would do something, that Ari knew, but whatever it was was a mystery.

Whatever it was, indeed.

There passed a moment of anticipation, the thought that Ari's arrival would prompt something, anything, that with a little jig and a dance they'd be in another world. The moment came and went. Then another.

"Just wait a minute. It's up to the people on the other side, now. We won't even have to do a thing. Like jumping off a rock."

Still nothing happened. One of the attendants- Vhiari, the weaver, Ari thought- coughed into her hand and spoke. "What if nothing happens?"

"Trust me, it will." Ari took a deep breath, then another, and waited. "She won't let us down. I promise you that." None of the attendants, nor Patyu, dear Patyu, were close enough to hear what she said next.

"I hope."

[New Goldman]

"Please! I need to talk to him!" The Goldmanian woman said as she stood on the doorway to Norton's room, being blocked by 2 fierce looking Space Marines acting as members of the Imperial Bodyguard, dressed in their ballistic black armor, made to withstand any kind of small arms bullet. It looks as is she is in a hurry to talk to his leader who came to visit the nation of Sanghyeok.

"Mam, orders are orders." One of the guards said as he easily blocked the woman from reaching the door handle. "You are not allowed to meet the Emperor at this time. You are not even a registered messenger. Its best to talk to him at the Birthday Gala."

"But sir, I have a message that needs to be delivered to him. Please let me-"

"Mam, if you do not leave this instant, we will have to forcefully "deport" you from this area. How did you even get in here?" The second guard said as he pulled out his expandable baton. "We would excuse you if you reside on this floor."

"I DO reside on this floor. My room is near the elevator down the hall." The woman replied. "Now please let me in."

"Mam, please. We are only doing our job." The first guard said again to the woman in distress.

"What's goin on here?" A voice from behind them said.

Norton was standing on the doorway, with the door itself half opened. The woman could see a glimpse of his room. Directly behind the Emperor was his table, with an open briefcase full of his personal belongings and some governmental stuff. He was still wearing his travel clothing: a black coat and white undershirt, with a black bowtie, practically black everything. Secret Service looking attire. His eyes bore through the woman that inquires him. The 2 guards stopped their shuffling and stood at attention, putting their batons away.

"Sir, this woman requests your presence." One of the guards replied. "But we expect that you were changing clothes and resting by this time. We are sorry for any-"

"Let her in. Come on, miss." Norton ordered to the woman. The woman followed the Emperor into the room. As she passed one of the guards, he returned an angry eyeroll.

Norton closed the door behind him and proceeded to attention.

"What do you need?" He asked, in a surprisingly calm but serious demeanor. The woman almost winced in her place.

"I come with a message from the Prime Minister." The woman said, going to the point. She pulled out a white envelope with the Prime Minister's signature on the bottom part of the paper. He opened it and grabbed the message inside.

Oh great. What does the bastard want? Norton thought as soon as the woman spoke.

"A moment please miss. For now, make yourself comfortable." Norton said, nodding at the woman. She sat down at a nearby chair and observed her environment. The room was extremely clean, specially prepared for the Emperor and his escorts. There was not a messy part unlike any other hotel room.

Norton meanwhile read the paper's message on a counter near the kitchen.

---

Sunshine Hotel
Chu'o Tokai, Central District, Peace Subdistrict,
105 Greater Harmony Street (Postal Code: 京-中-へ-116)

His Excellency Harry Norton II,

Sir, I'm sorry I disturbed you this time, if ever this letter gets to you via the messenger that is the woman that you have met. I have to inform you for hopefully the last time, please come back. You are better off here than over there. Any state that bans private enterprises is considered a state full of corruption and self serving workers. Please take time to reconsider, and please come back as soon as you can before you can get corrupted by these socialists.

Regards,
Boris Johnson

---

"Miss" Norton called out to the woman sitting on the chair. "Please go back to New Goldman and tell the Prime Minister that I will deny his request, for the last time. If he dares to ask me about this again, he will removed from his position for unprofessionalism. Thank you for delivering this message."

"Thank you, your highness." The woman replied as she stood up and went out the door.

What the hell does that man think? How can he be this delusional? I'm attending, whether he likes it or not. Norton said as soon as the woman left.

[Greatdux]

10/2/2020

Even as Katár fell into a coma, he quickly recovered. He realized that it was days before Oomiya’s Birthday Gala.
"KÚRFERMANN! PACK UP OUR STUFF!"
"Ugh, okay."
They packed up their personal computer, their pillows, their shoes, almost everything they wanted to pack. They boarded a spaceship made by a American Helicopter company. At first, it was good, but then some problems came on. There isn’t food on the spaceship. Határ would starve for hours before reaching their final destination. They reached the portal. The spaceship crash landed. Fortunately, the crew and the passengers were okay. "Kúrfermann?"
"Jaaaaaa?”
"I think we are late."
"I dunno."

2020, 3 October.

"Say it again?"

"And therefore, we need to get a rescue team to their location." repeated the man sitting next to me. His name was Shin, and he was responsible for the safe landing of the official delegation from Greatdux.

"Not that part, the one before it. Why do we need to send a rescue team to the location of our friends from Greatdux?"

"Oh, the reason. Well you see, there's been a minor accident. The spacecraft carrying their President Katár has crashed a few kilometres short of the spaceport."

"Minor accident?" I raised an eyebrow at the rather odd way of describing an inter-universal journey that terminated with a crash landing. Or as a certain person not too far from me might call it, lithospheric braking.

"Well, as in no injury to the crew or the President at all. Fortunately it landed just sort of the populated areas, although it damaged my favourite viewpoint in the Shinkai mountains. Their ship is done for though- we'll have to find another way to send them home," he replied to my inquiry.

"I see. Then, have the rescue helicopters arrive at their location and pick them up."

"Understood. And you, Mr. Ichonose?"

"I will meet them as they arrive at our spaceport."

I stood by the windows just long enough to see the helicopters fly off to retrieve Mr. Katár and his entourage from the middle of the Shinkai range, before preparing my own materials and making a short briefing to the head of the Office.

Then, I walked towards the reception area of Terminal C, waiting for their arrival. An unusual first meeting, to say the least, but one doesn't stay for so long in the Office of the Chairwoman without having some degree of flexibility.

10/3/20
Katár and Kúrfermann had just got out of the spacecraft (and their long slumber) and suddenly, they hear rescue helicopters.
“Kúrfermann?”
“Ja?”
“These helicopters are gonna transport us to the spaceport. It is our first visit to this.. magical country.”
“Yeh.”

[Libertalonia]

"So, this is my favorite book" Lilith said, sitting on the couch talking to a curious reporter, "The winners and losers of the cold war by terry seinfield, it covers the cold war between Eisteria, Libertalonia and Shinjou"

As Lilith told the reporters the history of their cold war, Wallace is having a hard time trying to relay it all.

Meanwhile Chuck and Karen took pictures of themselves at the hotel with paintings and pictures behind them. the two bodyguards are being friendly to the paparazzi yet always on guard with their stunguns.

As Lilith finishes, She gets up and goes to the elevator and heads for her room with Bonnie and jovie the body guards.