Diplomatic Invitation to The United Kingdom

[Odinson]

KINGDOM OF NORWAY
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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SUBJECT: Diplomatic Proceedings
RECIPIENT: Jericho Bourne, The Prime Minister of The United Kingdom
SECURITY: ENCRYPTED

Prime Minister,

I am extending an invitation to you on behalf of His Majesty King Enoch and Her Majesty Queen Sophia. On Friday, October 5 (OOC: September 30, 2018) they will be going home for the weekend to Trondheim. The Norwegian Railway Club has decided to honor the King and Queen and give them an exclusive ride home. His Majesty thought it would be a nice way to get to know you and discuss the future state of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom. The Minister of Defense may also be in attendance, however I cannot confirm this yet.

Dress for the train ride will be casual, however I encourage you to bring warm clothes if you do decide to come. The weather is expected to approach freezing. Arrangements have been made so that you may spend the night in Trondheim. The train leaves at 2:00PM sharp. I encourage you to fly into Oslo before noon so that we can meet each other and you may have some time to relax before making the six-hour train ride. No press will be onboard the train - the event will be more for casual relaxation than stiff diplomatic proceedings, though dinner will be served onboard. I promise it will be an enjoyable experience.

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your day, and I look forward to reading your response.

Kind Regards,

Jakob Vinter
Minister of Foreign Affairs

@Jamie

 

[Jamie]

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​

Office of the Prime Minister​

​

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To:	Jakob Vinter, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Cc:
Subject:	Diplomatic Proceedings
Security Level:	Private & Encrypted

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Greetings,

It is a pleasure to have received such a kind invitation, the relationship between Norway and the United Kingdom, whilst not bad, has been somewhat forgotten and I would love the opportunity to explore it and open not only opportunities for both our countries, but friendships for both. With that in mind, I am honoured to accept the invitation and will ensure to arrive into Oslo Friday, October 5th, before noon. With your approval, I would like to maintain my own security detail although minimized at four protection officers, each armed with concealed MP5s which of course, would be registered upon landing; if this is something you would be happy to accomodate for.

Kind Regards,
Office of the Prime Minister,
Prime Minister,
Jericho Bourne

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? officepm@gov.co.uk​

☎️ 020 7219 5206​

✉️ Rt Hon Jericho Bourne MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA​

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[Odinson]

KINGDOM OF NORWAY
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
​

SUBJECT: Diplomatic Proceedings
RECIPIENT: Jericho Bourne, The Prime Minister of The United Kingdom
SECURITY: ENCRYPTED

Prime Minister,

We would be happy to accommodate your security forces. There will be a total of six passenger cars behind locomotive, including a dining car and a caboose. The King's Guard will be in all cars except for the private one where your meeting will be taking place. Your security forces are more than welcome to be among them, and keep their firearms. We would be happy to accommodate up to seven, if necessary. I look forward to meeting you.

Kind Regards,

Jakob Vinter
Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Jamie]

---

The British Prime Ministers Aides had organised the travel from the United Kingdom with support of assets of the British Army. A Britten-Norman Defender Al.2, piloted by an aircrew from 2nd Regiment Army Air Corp, 443 Squadron, was been boarded by the Prime Minister himself and four Covert Soldiers from the 1st Regiment RMP, 110 Provost Company, each armed with concealed MP5s which were to be identified to Norwegian Authorities upon their arrival.

The Defender, setting off immediately following the boarding and pre-start procedures had been done for Oslo. Ahead of this, delegates in the Prime Ministers Office forwarded an email onto the Norwegian Government, informing them of the departure and they were to be arriving in the early afternoon. The flight was relatively straight forward, although if any complications arose such as Fuel or technical problems, they'd be sure to request emergency landing at the nearest Defender-capable airstrip. Until then.. the flight was due to arrive in Norway shortly.

---

 

[Odinson]

The weather was worse than had been expected. The fifth of October was turning out to be an unusually cold day, and it was going to get worse. The pilot of Mister Bourne's aircraft was probably able to determine that the landing outside of Oslo would be tricky and not the smoothest. Assuming he was an experienced pilot, though, the landing should have been uneventful. The groundcrews at the airport were deicing the runways specifically for the Prime Minister. After he landed, Oslo's international airport along with every other airport in southern Norway would be closed for the unusually early blizzard hitting Norway. Of course, the Norwegians had no problem going about their lives in conditions like this - they had been for the past 14,000 years.

Instead of meeting the Prime Minister outside with an honor guard, a few black SUVs pulled up beside the aircraft. Jakob Vinter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was inside the middle vehicle. He opened his door and a gust of frozen wind blistered his face. Over his suit was a thick coat, and a scarf around his neck. Even this was not enough for the cold weather, which was now dipping below freezing, but Jakob didn't want to look like an idiot if the press were hiding around the airport and managed to get a picture of he and the Prime Minister. When the Prime Minister and his security forces descended from the aircraft, he shook his hand and quickly offered for him to get inside the SUV. Jericho's security forces were also welcome to join them inside the other two SUVs. Mister Bourne's luggage, and the luggage of others who were coming along, was unloaded from the aircraft into the SUVs.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Norway, Prime Minister. I'm Jakob Vinter." The cars began to move. "We would have had a more formal greeting outside but... well... I figured you wouldn't consider it much of an honor to freeze to death on the tarmac." Even though it was 11AM, the sky was dark and gray, it looked more like it was the evening. Snow was falling at a rapid rate. Even though it wasn't too far below freezing, the wind gusts made things feel much more miserable.

"I hope that your trip was alright? I was a bit worried that they wouldn't have been able to keep the runway clear enough for you to land, but it looks like they knew what they were doing." Jacob was younger than most of the other ministers in the government. He was 28 years old, tall, and blonde. Some actually said he resembled King Enoch - at a distance - but in reality Jakob wasn't as tall as the supposedly towering king. Nevertheless, Jakob was a budding star in the Conservative Party and had just recently been promoted from Ambassador to Canada to the Foreign Minister. In fact, writing to the Prime Minister had been his official act in his new post. He was pretty excited.

"We're heading to the Palace right now. I got to the airport about twenty minutes ago and they told me the highway going back to Oslo was already starting to get snowed-packed. Luckily, the Army have a few snowplows in the area, so they're clearing the road ahead as we speak. His and Her Majesties are still packing, but you are all still on schedule to depart Oslo at two. In the meantime, we'll get you a warm drink or whatever you'd like at the palace. Barring any delays, the train ride to Trondheim should be about six or seven hours. I thought you might want to relax a bit at the palace before we set off for that journey."

The Prime Minister quickly found out that Jakob really liked to talk, and was almost dangerously optimistic. In many ways, this made him the opposite of the Prime Minister, which is perhaps part of the reason that the King appointed him to the position.

What Jakob said was correct. The roads were quickly becoming impassable. Had it not been for the Army, they may very well have been stranded at the airport until that evening. Jakob did his best to entertain the Prime Minister for the drive.

::::::::::

Over the journey from the airport, ice and snow had built up on the edges of the SUV's windows, but Jakob and the Prime Minister were still able to see outside. Conditions in downtown Oslo were not any better than at the airport. It was getting so dark that automatic streetlights were starting to turn on. There weren't many people on the streets, and it looked like those who were, were on their way home or just trying to get out of the blizzard. The police cars that were escorting the motorcade had chains on their tires. Visibility was also starting to drop, but they were now driving down Karl Johan's Gate, which was the "Main Street" of Oslo. It connected the Palace to the Storting Building, and ended at Oslo Central Station where they would be departing in a couple of hours.

Although there had been no honor guard at the airport, there was one in Oslo. As the motorcade drove down King Johan's Gate, HM The King's Guard soldiers dressed in their formal winter uniforms saluted the vehicles passed by. Gusts of wind shot snowflakes past the soldiers, but their stance remained stoic and still. Near the palace, some brave members of the press were waiting with cameras to report on the arrival of the British Prime Minister to the kingdom's capitol. Despite their presence at the edge of the Palace grounds, the King did promise the Prime Minister that the press would be kept at bay and this would be a more casual diplomatic meeting - this was a promise he intended to keep.

Once on Palace grounds, the Prime Minister and Jakob first saw the green statue of King Karol Johan seated upon his horse. Behind it was Det kongelige slot, the Royal Palace. Flying proudly above it was the royal standard of the King and Queen, a red banner with a crowned gold lion wielding a white axe in the center. It was flying quite vigorously, indicating that the wind was picking up outside. The sky was turning darker, and it looked to almost be night now. It was quite clear that a snowstorm was beginning, and southern Norway would soon be blasted. Throughout the falling frozen precipitation, the Prime Minister would be able to observe the King's Guard marching on the expansive brick area outside of the Palace, which they were now driving on. The snow appeared to already be ankle deep, or maybe more, but this didn't seem to deter the soldiers. The snow had been higher before they had entered Palace grounds, indicating that the snow had maybe been removed from the grounds less than an hour ago.

The SUVs stopped directly in front of the Palace. Jakob stepped out first, and held the door open for his guest. Normally, security protocols called for foreign armed guards to remain outside of the Palace when visits like this took place, but Jakob offered to allow them to stay in the running SUVs, or wait inside the first floor of the Palace where it was warm. Regardless, Palace staff quickly began removing the Prime Minister's luggage and taking it inside, where it would be paired with the King and Queen's luggage to be taken to the train station in advance of their departure. Two King's Guard opened the doors of the Palace for the Prime Minister and Jakob. The interior was splendid like the other palaces of Europe and Scandinavia. Jakob gave a short spurt of history about the Palace as they walked up to the second story. Once there, Jakob brought Jericho to a guest bedroom.

"If you wish to change into something else, I can have your bags up here, and I will give you some privacy. Otherwise, I can have some tea or hot chocolate or food brought up here." Jakob checked his watch and noted the time out loud - it was 12:45. "I imagine we'll depart from the Palace in about an hour. The King and Queen are still preparing for the journey, but they will come greet us before we leave for the train station." Jakob was happy to give the Prime Minister privacy and a short period of time to relax, or keep him company until it was time to leave.

::::::::::

Sophia was only wearing her underwear and a thick, cotton white shirt. The slipped on her Setesdalsgenser, a traditional Norwegian sweater. It fit loosely enough around her bust and otherwise slender body to be comfortable, but was ever so slightly fitted enough to remind everyone that she was one of the most perfectly proportioned women in the kingdom. "Enoch, what do you think?" The King, who was trying hard to shove warm clothes into his suitcase turned his head briefly to satisfy her request, but was quickly captivated by the site of his young wife wearing a sweater and no pants. He turned around, he himself already dressed. She put her hands on her hips and posed for him. Her natural, golden blonde hair gently flowed down onto the white and black sweater.

"Wow," he said. She knew that, for whatever reason, her husband had an affection for winter clothes. The tall monarch stepped toward his wife, forcing her to tilt her head back and look at him. "You are stunning. Do you think we could get away with bringing you to Trondheim like this?" Sophia was tall herself, but was dwarfed by Enoch who stood at a mighty 6'6". She was six or so inches shorter than him.

"I don't think the Prime Minister would appreciate that... You know," she said as she gently locked her arms around his neck, "you promised me that we would spare Trondheim of politics..." Enoch was almost willing to do anything she wanted at the moment, but lately he was trying to avoid being hypnotized by her.

"I did promise that.. But this is only the journey. Once we are home, it'll just be you and me." Before she could respond, Enoch caressed the back of her head with one of his hands and embraced her lips with his. She felt dizzy all of a sudden and watched him pull away from her. He casually stepped back to his suitcase, leaving her barely able to stand on her own legs. Ha he thought to himself, I won this one.

"I'm about ready. I think your jeans are... Ah yes, here you go." He underhanded her jeans to her, which she caught. In two swift motions, she pulled the jeans up to her hips and buttoned them. Enoch made sure she was decent, and then opened their chamber door. Twenty or so feet from the door, down the hall, was a King's Guard. "Good afternoon Lieutenant. If you could let them know that we're packed up and ready to go, I would appreciate it. The Queen and I are going to go greet our guest."

"Yes sir," the soldier said.

::::::::::

The Prime Minister and Jakob heard three knocks on the chamber door. Jakob quickly shot up to his feet from the side table they had been sitting at and opened the door. Standing on the other side was the towering King and his wife who was still holding his hand. Enoch slightly lowered his head as he stepped through the doorway, and then walked towards Jericho. He extended his hand and had a sincere smile on his face. Enoch was dressed rather casually like the Queen. He was wearing pants that appeared to be khaki, but were thicker and darker. He too was wearing a Setesdalsgenser, and was wearing a white dress shirt under it. In his left hand was a flat hat.

"Prime Minister Bourne, welcome to Norway - I'm Enoch," he said humbly. "I hope that Minister Vinter has kept you company?" Sophia walked in behind Enoch and stood next to him. "This is Sophia, Queen of Norway," he then said in a more affectionate voice. Sophia smiled at Jericho, and said it was a pleasure to meet him.

"Your Majesty," said Jakob Vinter as he checked his watch. "It's almost 1:40. I was told that the train is ready."

Enoch nodded, "Well then, I suppose it's time for us to head off. Please, follow us Prime Minister."

They all walked out into the hallway, with Enoch leading the way. They headed towards the grand staircase, but a King's Guard who still had fresh snow on him stopped the small caravan of leaders.

"Your Majesty..." the Lieutenant said. He thought about speaking Norwegian instead of English, but figured it would come off as rude or suspicious to the Prime Minister. "There is a problem... The blizzard is moving in earlier than expected. We don't think we'd be able to get the motorcade off of Palace grounds. We may be stranded here for four or five more hours." A frown corrupted Enoch's face.

"Call the Mayor and have the Army or the Guard commandeer a few snow plows," Enoch said.

"We already contacted the Mayor's office, sir. The snow plows are in the south of the city right now. One of the critical thoroughfares needs to remain clear, according to the Mayor, otherwise a few schools may not be able to send students home," the soldier replied.

"What about the truck that's bringing our luggage? The tires on that thing are almost as tall as me."

"Yes sir..." the Lieutenant responded, "It already departed and made it to the train station but um..." he stuttered, and spoke the second part of the sentence in Norwegian, "it ran out of fuel at Central Station."

Sophia could see Enoch was getting frustrated, so she stepped in and leaned against Enoch. "Lieutenant, please go ask if it would be possible for us to get there by helicopter, will you?"

The soldier seemed to be happy that the Queen gave him a chance to escape the growing frustration of his commander-in-chief. "Yes ma'am, right away." He double-timed it down the staircase.

Enoch, who now seemed embarrassed, turned to his guest. "We'll get this sorted out, Mister Bourne. I control quite a few things around here, but I still haven't gotten constitutional authority over the weather yet."

Jakob chimed in, "Yes sir, maybe that was a power of the kings of yore." Instead of laughing along, it looked like that triggered an idea in Enoch. A lone rotary phone was stationed in the hallway, sitting atop a lonely side table with a vase of wildflowers next to it. Enoch picked it up and began to dial a few numbers.

"The Royal Guard is going to love this one..." he said sarcastically as it rang. On the other end, a ranking officer in the King's Guard answered. "Yes, this is the King. Mobilize the mounted unit in front of Palace. We're going to Central Station on horseback." Enoch waited for his order to be confirmed, which it was. He turned around to the group of people behind him, quite impressed with himself, but then noticed he hadn't asked.

"Um... Mister Bourne, do you know how to ride a horse? Uh... I promise, it isn't hard. We have the best trained horses in Scandinavia here," he replied assumingly.

::::::::::

In front of the Palace, the mounted unit of the King's Guard were readying for what they were told was going to technically be considered a deployment. Several of them, already on horseback, had assault rifles slung over their chests. Other horses were brought to also bring the Prime Minister's security. One of the King's Guard came riding up to the unit, holding a tall rod with a banner at the top. The soldier rode up to the rest of them with a big smile on his face, "I couldn't find a record of the last time the mounted unit escorted the King outside of ceremonial occasions."

"So?" one of them asked.

The bannerman's horse neighed, probably annoyed that it was out in the cold, despite the wool that was wrapped around it. "So," he responded, "we are providing an armed escort of the King and Queen and have been authorized to use deadly force. We are technically escorting Their Majesties in a combat scenario, something that hasn't happened since World War Two, or maybe even earlier than that. It wouldn't be a proper escort without the Royal Standard!" He waved the flag back and forth in an excited motion, but vey few others shared his enthusiasm.

The rest of the soldiers were more concerned about the lack of visibility and the winds which were picking up as snow pelted them. Several of the armed guards also had powerful flashlights on hand. Enough of them rode out in advance to block off the other roads that merged with King Johan's Gate. Two tactical sniper assault teams were also deployed on rooves further down the street. Meanwhile, Enoch, Sophia, and Jericho were provided with the appropriate outerwear for the journey to the trains station, as well were the Royal Guard and the Prime Minister's security detail. Thick jackets, scarves, and face protection were all given to ensure that none of them faced frostbite or anything of the sort.

When they stepped outside, a blast of freezing air, snow, and ice hit them. The King's Guard saluted the royalty and the Prime Minister as they stepped outside and remained at attention until Enoch saluted them back. Enoch himself helped Sophia onto her horse, named Applesauce, and made sure she was straddled in. If Jericho needed any help, he gave him some guidance and helped him as well, with the assistance of some of the King's Guard. Luckily Jericho's horse, named Black Jack, seemed to be very cooperative. While the wind was strong, and they were all bundled up, they could still hear each other's voices if they spoke a bit louder than normal. "It shouldn't take long, Prime Minister! Sorry for the inconvenience!" Enoch said to Jericho. Sophia had Applesauce ride up next to Black Jack. She gave Jericho Horse-101 and explained how to get him to move in different directions.

The King's Guard made a formation, with the bannerman leading the way. Two other King's Guards on either side of him held powerful flashlights, and more behind them were heavily armed. They kept the same pace with the King and Queen, who made sure that Jericho was riding between them. The sky was nearly black now. It looked as if they were in the Arctic. Actually... They were only about 500 miles from the edge of the Arctic Circle itself, which did in fact cut Norway in half. It was a few degrees below zero Celsius, and the snow seemed to have no end in sight.

When the unit left Palace Grounds, downtown Oslo looked to be totally abandoned. The only reassuring thing was that some shops and stores still had their lights on, but a malfunction had caused the streetlights to all turn off on Karl Johan's Gate. Enoch turned to Jericho and Sophia and said, "This isn't so bad, I've been through far worse!" Just after the King said that, there was a flash of lightning and a powerful rumble coming from the sky. "Thundersnow!" said one of the King's Guard.

Although he couldn't see it, Enoch could feel his wife glaring as she stared at him. "Stop challenging him - Thor's going to kill us," she said in only a half-joking manner. Another rumble of thunder could be heard coming from the distance. At this point, they were all starting to see why travel by car would have been impossible. Any truck or SUV, even with snowtires, would certainly be immobile in the thick white blanket before them. One of the King's Guard raised his fist, indicating for the unit to strike. The powerful flashlights of the Guards in the front pointed towards two figures.

A woman was carrying her 2 or 3 year-old child across the street, towards what looked to be some kind of clothing store. They probably wanted to ride out the storm. Enoch could faintly see the little boy stare up at the horses, the King's bright red flag, and the towering man upon his horse who couldn't be mistaken for anyone else. Once they got to the other side of the street, the woman knocked on the door which appeared to be locked. A store owner came to the front to unlock it and let them in. The little boy, who was now standing safely on the more shallow snow-filled sidewalk, saluted the unit. Amused, Enoch returned the salute. The captain of the unit called the calvarymen to attention, and they returned the salute as well. They all waited the thirty seconds or so for the woman and boy to get inside before they started moving forward again.

Not far from them, but barley visible, they could see the façade of Oslo Central Station, with a King's Guard standing out in front of it with a flashlight. They were only about five minutes away. They finally crossed a few municipal streetcar tracks and were at the station. The King's Guard quickly dismounted and helped Jericho and the others get down from their horses. Enoch patted Jericho on the shoulder, and grabbed Sophia's hand. He flung open one of the doors of the station, and they all came inside just as another roar of thunder erupted from behind them. The inside was empty. A dozen or so soldiers followed in, fully armed, and escorted them to their platform which was unfortunately only covered by a pavilion. Still, it was better than no cover at all. Most of the wind and pelting snow was blocked from hitting them.

::::::::::

After five minutes of waiting, they could all faintly hear the sound of a ringing bell, and what sounded to be very loud marching. As it got closer, a bright beam of light shined from the left side of the station. A loud, unforgettable whistle blew twice before the saw it. Preceding the magnificent contraption were billows of white steam, followed by a metal machine with thousands of moving parts. It was a beautiful DRB Class 52 steam locomotive. Black and white smoke quickly billowed from the smoke stack as white steam shot out from where the wheels were. Distinguishing it from many other locomotives was its bright red wheels which metallically screeched as the locomotive slowly came to a halt. Snow immediately melted as it touched the boiler, and melt ran down over some of the fresh paint. By every indication, the train had just been built. Out of one of the passenger cars sprung a man with a golden pocket watch. He hung precariously from the car, with one foot on the train, and one foot hovering over the moving platform below him. He looked over the entire train platform, even though only Sophia, Jericho, Enoch, and some security personnel were there, and yelled, "ALLLLL ABOARD!"

Sophia couldn't help but giggle as she took off her scarf and face protection, because Enoch looked like he was about to faint from pleasure. It was taking every ounce of cordial and regal professionalism Enoch had to not shake Sophia and the Prime Minister and say, "Isn't this fucking awesome!?"

Enoch led the way to their private car, which the three of them would be staying in for the 6 or 7 hour journey to Trondheim. He helped Sophia in first, and then Mister Bourne, who he warned to watch his step as he got onto the train. The interior of their car was simply amazing. Gone were the plastic seats and bright neon lighting expected with modern trains. What they saw were carpeted floors, incredibly comfortable chairs and even a few sofas, and a dining table at the end. Lamps lit the car with a warm, off-white glow that resembled the light from a roaring fireplace rather than a 21st century lightbulb. The walls and roof were also made out of dark wood, and were finely crafted. There was also a small book shelf, a radio, and two telephones in the car as well.

They were all allowed to get accustomed to their new environment as the King's Guard and Prime Minister's security forces were allowed to board the preceding and following cart. Enoch and Sophia took off the thick clothing they had worn to battle the freezing weather. The man with the golden pocket watch, who turned out to be the conductor, knocked and then entered their cabin. He gave a short bow. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Prime Minister. Does everything seem to be in order? Another train plowed ahead of us starting about 30 minutes ago, so we are free to leave whenever you see fit."

Enoch checked his watch, "Tell the engineer 'Let's roll'". The conductor smiled and nodded, "Yes sir. The dining cart is prepping for this evening's dinner. Three menus have been placed on the dining table in the back for you all to take a look at. Enjoy your ride on the Trondheim Express."

Within minutes, a waiter brought in three cups and three metal pitchers - one filled with hot chocolate, one filled with coffee, and one filled with tea, all of which were clearly labeled. Enoch sat down in one of the comfortable chairs and checked his watch. He invited the Prime Minister to join him. They all heard the distinct sound of the train's whistle blow twice, and then their car jerked as they began to move. Sophia brought the two gentlemen their menus, and took one for herself. By now, it was ten or fifteen minutes after 2PM. They were running only a little late.

On the menu was everything from steak and veil, to a huge variety of fresh Atlantic seafood. Enoch chose the cod, while Sophia chose veil. They waited until Jericho was ready, and Enoch called in their orders to the dining car. Sophia, who was even younger than her 25 year-old husband, demonstrated her youthful flexibility by curling up in her comfortable chair and cracking open a book while the men talked. She was already halfway done with her spiked eggnog, which Enoch had poured for her only a few minutes ago.

"Well then," Enoch said as he poured the Prime Minister and himself each a glass of Glenfiddich, "does your government support more than a relationship, but a strong partnership between the United Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Norway? I can speak on behalf of my government in saying that we understand we must prove ourselves, but we want a very real and meaningful alliance between Britain and Norway." It was still snowing hard outside, but finally, the afternoon light was beginning to break through some of the less dense clouds now. Visibility increased to a few hundred feet instead of a few feet as it was before, and they come see some truly magnificent sites as they passed through the city, and started to head towards the mountains.

 

[Jamie]

The trip over the North Sea was relatively straight forward, weather pushing further east; clear skies and barely a word spoken. Jericho Bourne occupied catching up with work on his laptop and an occasional sneaky game of Pacman to give him a break throughout. Weather begun to turn, and not in the favour of the small air frame, but it still held it's ground, designed to fly in all environmental factors. The pilot, Captain Jordan Mills has been in the Army Air Corp for seven years with history all over the world, experienced with the Lynx and Apache Helicopter and only recently transferred to the very Defender he flies now. Following a change in the weather and news, Jericho embarked on a pre-landing meeting with his managing security officer. Highlighting factors to consider for his stay including attire, security and travel arrangements. The Approach into Oslo International Airport begun following the full procedure with Air Traffic Control to make the flight legal in accordance with Norwegian Authorities.

Flaring as the aircraft lowered to the airstrip, the two rear wheels touching down as the pilot fought to keep in control before settling the nose. A drastic slowdown as the aircraft safely navigated onto the first available taxi-way as instructed by the Air Traffic Controllers. Inside, Jericho Bourne was changing into more suitable clothing -- exiting in nothing but his 'I love Norway' and getting hypothermia wasn't worth the beginning of relations between the countries. Instead? He opted for his winter coat, scarf and thermals as if he was climbing Everest. He was used to British Weather, not Norwegian. The Door of the aircraft opened and two of the Security Officers departed first, followed by the Prime Minister and the outstanding security officers. Jericho extended his hand towards Jakob "Lovely weather you're having" were the first words that escaped his mouth, shouting over the noisy winds that surrounded them before the British Complement boarded the provided SUV's. The aircrew closed up the Defender and boarded one of the rear SUV's for their trip to their own accommodation for the trip.

Inside the vehicle, Jericho lowered his hood, cupping his hands together "It's a pleasure to be here, and in your presence Prime Minister!" he optimistically spoke, although his voice slightly murmuring due to the cold he had evidently not adjusted too yet. "Oh yes, it'd be tragic to hear that in our meeting, we both died on the tarmac due to the weather." the British Prime Minister chuckled, hoping his sense of humour, however dry, was enough to keep his Norwegian Hosts interested. "The flight in was without a problem. It was relatively clear skies until we got closer.. then.." his eyes turned to the window "This happened. I've heard of the infamous Norwegian weather but I admit, I've never actually been here before." Jericho paused with the mention of a warm drink "Oh I'm dying for a cup of tea." For the rest of the journey, he simply conversed with some small talk and raised questions about Norway, and the Norwegian Government itself.

Jericho was always happy to converse, but everything he said seemed quite thought out. Given his position, not just as a leader of a country, but the responsibility of Britain on the world stage; anything he said could be used against him as experience has shown. Therefore he was more cautious than his Norwegian Counterpart appeared.

Mr Bourne became increasingly interested by outside, his eyes obsessed with the snow that surrounded them whilst the vehicle worked its way through downtown Oslo. Taking note of what buildings he could see, or environmental factors unique to Norway. Their arrival to the palace was a welcome one, it felt like they had been travelling for some time with nothing but the sight of the blizzard reducing visibility. The lack of visibility was a somewhat contender for the Security Team too, it offered opportunities for anyone aiming to cause harm to the British Prime Minister and made it harder for them to see what could be heading there way. Overall the four man Military Protection Team were on edge for the entirety of the trip to the palace; and even then, they weren't in the clear. With the Norwegian SUV coming to a halt and the Prime Ministers door opened for him, he stepped out with a gentle nod "Thank you" whilst the leader of the Security Staff agreed to stay in the SUV's. It gave apt opportunity to pull out quickly if there was a threat to the British Delegate. "Mmm, a tea would be much appreciated" smile Jericho following his entrance to the palace, making himself comfortable and waited for the next part of the trip. He felt comfortable in his current attire, enjoyed the tea and was all ready to go. No doubt his security detail uncomfortably bored in the vehicles whilst he warmed up. Something he'd joke about later no doubt.

Jericho's eyes turned to the knock on the door, rested back in the chair holding his warm but almost empty cup of tea. His eyes glanced between the King and his wife. Retaining his seat awkwardly to finish of his tea. He thought nothing of it, but have you ever tried separating a British Prime Minister from his tea? Perhaps that's how wars start one may wonder. Eventually, after a few seconds delay, he'd place his cup down after downing the remainder of the knock-off Norwegian Tea and approached Enoch "It's a pleasure to meet you" he smiled, gently bowing in respect before raising, repeating the same gesture to the Queen. "Oh yes, Minister Vinter has helped me forget the temperature drop." he spoke in jest before setting out and following the Norwegian Royalty to the staircase. Allowing them to converse and sort out their problem, his eyes turned to the King following the unexpected question of riding a horse. "I'm sorry?" he rhetorically queried, almost as if he was having to re-check what was just asked of him. A flashback of some kind seemed to pierce his train of thought, recalling times when he was younger where he infact had horse riding lessons. From what he remembered, it did not go well. Perhaps he was going to surprise himself, his shoulders shrugged "I had lessons a... long time ago. It'll be a fun learning curve". Jericho was someone who'd try anything, regardless of his experience but in this case, he wouldn't be surprised if he had made a fool out of himself.

The next few moments seemed to last a lifetime, just getting to the point he was actually on his designated horse. He was a lover for wildlife, so that helped with his comfort levels but he was appreciative of the rundown offered by Sophia. Taking note of everything said, "Let it be know, I won't be stopped by a horse." he responded to her following her useful 1-0-1 on Horse riding. His thoughts were somewhat clouded by the fact that, in this day of age, resorting to horse riding in Norway due to weather was an unexpected cultural difference. If this was the UK, they'd either be gritters covering every road or residents using it as an excuse to avoid work. Nonetheless, the difference was duly noted. The horse trip itself went better than expected, Jericho seemed to have been able to hold his own and not make himself look incapable, taking note of any surroundings he could get his eyes on. He remained with the group at all times and his security detail kept side by side with him as much as possible. He was classed as a high-case target given the UK's involvement globally so they ought not to take risks or give opportunities to anyone to cause harm.

The group of British delegates waited patiently, his eyes flinching in blindness to the line shining, sharply turning away briefly for his eyes to adjust before turning back and watching on in awe. To his admittance, it was beautiful and something he had never seen before in such scale. "That's amazing.." he murmured beneath his breath, enough for others to hear before trudging on behind his Norwegian Hosts, up into the private car and into the main area. He stopped in the doorway and taken aback by the comforts it offered. All the way down it looked homely and welcoming. Removing his warmer clothing and making himself comfortable besides the King. Browsing over the menu, he was quick to make his request that echoed the King, a cod of his own. Not exactly something new but something he could enjoy nonetheless. With his order requested, he leaned into his seat and begun to spoke. His voice was considerably more defined when it came to political talk, he knew what he was discussing.

"The Relationship between Britain and Norway is something that has been explored with past governments over the last decade. I think it was about six years ago now when Norway was in the Independent States Allied Force, and often embarked on political, economical and military ventures together. That friendship is something I'd love the ability to re-visit. The world, but Europe specifically is constantly changing. New threats daily, conflict happening as we speak and the amount of government collapses? New Political characters enter the field routinely. This means that an alliance is more valuable than ever, on the condition that the government you're cooperating with is around for some time. Australia, for example, we had set our intention of a great friendship to the point of exporting F-35A's to them. The first time that was ever done, but then internal affairs happen and their government collapsed. This presents a problem because it shows that as many meetings as we can have, as many areas of cooperation, there is always that possibility. That is my biggest worry. I would very much, undoubtedly, love to see a grand alliance between our countries. That is welcome across my entire government, but I'd like to know what procedures you have in place to maintain stability for your government if you don't mind my asking?".

 

[Odinson]

"When German battleships were sailing down Oslofjord towards our capitol in 1940, King Haakon the seventh and the government fled Oslo via train for the west. The Royal Navy made a last stand against the most powerful military force in history to give them time to escape - thousands of men died. In western Norway, King Haakon said that if the government entered negotiations with the Germans to accept the occupation, or work with the Nazis, he would abdicate the throne. The government decided to continue to defy the Nazis, and gave emergency powers to the King until there could be a safe place for them to reconvene." As Enoch was talking, Sophia had peered down from her book and watched him. She didn't have the same love for history as her King, but she had admired his passion for it since they had first met.

"The military showed no signs of falter and continued to fight, in some cases until their divisions were totally destroyed," Enoch continued. "The King, the cabinet, and the national treasury escaped Norway aboard the British cruiser, HMS Devonshire. They safely made it to London and set up a government in exile. Five years exactly after he stepped aboard the Devonshire, King Haakon returned to Oslo as the allies and the Norwegian resistance retook the kingdom."

"The national epoch of modern Norwegian history was permanently altered by that event. To this day, every Norwegian knows this story, and knows the sacrifices the British made to save our government and the Crown. When I was a boy, my grandfather told me this story around a campfire outside of my family's hometown of Trondheim. Learning about the brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen that gave their lives for something much bigger than themselves is what made me want to join the Royal Navy. That story and incredible respect Britain has given Norway since then makes it very difficult for any Norwegian to mistrust or look down on Britain. I wont hide from you the fact that the restoration of an alliance between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Norway is the top priority of my foreign affairs initiatives.

"I understand the stability of Norway, or any other country for that matter, is an area of concern for a nation as prominent as yours. Alliances are not haphazard decisions. It's true that Norway has faced periods of instability. How my line got to the throne," which had involved the deaths of many members of the royal family after World War 2, "is the most painful series of events in Norwegian history. The recent avoidance of a coup, when I had to temporarily dissolve the Storting, was another instance of near-tragedy. But I tell you this, what could have happened is not more important than what did happen. The Norwegian people and the Crown made it through both of those events despite all odds.

"To make sure something like the recent voting hacking ever happens again, all future elections will be done on paper and millions will be spent to ensure that our voting system is secure and cannot be tampered with. The new Norwegian constitution makes it unequivocally clear that disputes in elections must be decided by the Supreme Court, and that the Crown and the armed forces are duty-bound to uphold the constitution at all costs. Norway has a democratically elected government with approval by its population that is the envy of the Western World. While I play a part in having charge of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, I would not hesitate for a moment if the government wished to properly amend the constitution and restore those ministries to their control. The only question of stability at the moment is that their is no Crown Prince of Princess of Norway. If something were to happen to me, I would be quickly forgotten as Norway's new golden age under Queen Sophia began," he said, looking at his blushing wife.

"We have contingencies to ensure that there will always be someone to take the Crown if needed, or maintain civilian control of the government if necessary. My biggest concern at the moment is building the Norwegian armed forces. I feel that our biggest threat now is outside interference, and I have every intention of remedying that problem. Assistance from Britain, and the ISAF, would be a great aid. I can tell you personally that I and the government both have a high amount of respect for of course Britain, but also The Netherlands and the United States, and it would an honor to work with you all in the future. Short of Acts of God, I can assure you that Norway will has stability for the foreseeable future, and I take it as my duty from God to ensure that it remains that way. We are still developing more complicated military and political assurance to protect Norway, but those are the procedures we have in place at the moment, and I hope you find those as sufficient."

Sophia cleared her throat and sat up, putting her book on her lap. She looked at the Prime Minister and Enoch. "I know that the King and I are young," she said - she in her early twenties and Enoch only in his mid-twenties, "but he is the most intelligent, patriotic, and dedicated man I have ever met. On my family's honor, I can tell you that you can place your trust in him. He was wise enough to support Prime Minister Holt, a much older and more educated academic gentleman, to lead the government, and his uncle Ingvar who is a retired general and a fountain of experience and wisdom."

She added one more thing, "Also... I spoke with the Norwegian Railway Club." She looked at Enoch as well, since he didn't know this either. "The car we're riding in right now is the same that King Haakon used to flee Oslo in 1940."

 

[Jamie]

Jericho remained silent, allowing the Norwegian Leader to speak of the history he evidently knew well. The British Prime Minister had only read of mistakes made in history, and aimed to prevent them occurring again, but he was far from a historian. He sat patiently, listening intently to the story, it allowed him to feel some connection with Enoch, and no doubt would allow the pair to become much more acquainted for future relations between the two countries. Following his conclusion to their priority of Foreign relations, Jericho cleared his throat and spoke.

"Any alliance between Norway and Britain is something I would heavily open my arms for, we have had solid foundations of friendship with previous Norwegian Governments, and I would love the opportunity for those relations to be renewed under your own govern. The world is an ever-changing situation with new potential conflicts and governments daily, the only stability anyone really has is the stability in their own country which even then, needs constant work. But, alliances? Alliances ensure there is a stability between countries, keeps people close and safe. Europe has become a particular hot spot in recent times, my predecessor, Jamie Price, saw Britain through the most critical conflicts since World War 2, and under myself, Britain has embarked on a course of consistent readiness. This is something I foresee to be shared between our governments, a friendship under Political, Economic and even Military Cooperation. It's not something I intend to shy from or beat about the bush.

I will not judge you on the past of instability, for every country has those moments, and of course, your actions and your time will allow stability to remain in Norway and perhaps become a player on the International Level. It's great to hear you have your own contingencies in place to prevent problems.. as for assistance? That is something I can help with. ISAF is a very close group, and we all help where we can, but not even just as a group, but as individual nations. Is there any specific assistance you are needing? I'm aware that tensions across the globe can impact how safe one feels, especially when having to build up your armed forces. So if there's anything we can offer, we will." he paused, allowing Sophia to speak.

"M'lady" he responded, "It's not him, or you, I mistrust. To be honest, I'm a Politician, in a couple of years time, they'll be an election, and I could very much be out of the job, someone else replacing me; but that's the same for all Politicians. The problem in a democracy is the amount of time that leaders change, they'll be bound to be someone that'd cause.. complications. I have no doubt in trusting yourselves, but of course, caution must be taken for those around you. Everyone has motives." Jericho spoke as if it was through experience, but truth be told, it was just what he knew as a career Politician. People would say or do anything for their own benefit.

 

[Odinson]

"Specifically," Enoch said, "there are a number of items that I was hoping the armed forces could procure for a lowered price since we would be buying a large number of items at once. Historically, most of the Royal Air Force has consisted of American aircraft. I would like the military to acquire a number of aircraft, ranging from Blackhawk and Sea King helicopters, to F-22 jets, to C-130s. I know that you can't speak for the Americans, but do you think they would be open to producing and selling such products to us, let alone giving us a slight discount? Part of the reason that this discount is needed is because while we do have numerous military facilities and ports around the country, many of them haven't been used in years and are going to need refitting.

"I understand that in this situation I'm essentially asking for discounts with nothing in return but a promise of friendship. I don't doubt that Britain, America, and The Netherlands have outstanding military capabilities - but if there is any Norwegian-based equipment that any of you have your eyes on, I'm sure we could open the doors to trade." Enoch knew that he didn't have much to offer, but he hoped he was reading the Prime Minister right and that he was interested in helping Norway. It just made him feel odd to report that the greatest assistance Norway needed was effectively coupons for weapons of war.

"On another note, I met with King Willem and the President of the ETO, who gave a rousing speech at the Storting. If we are ever given consideration, I believe there is a large chance that Norway will join the European Treaty Organization. I thought that is some news you may like to hear personally - I know that the Dutch seemed rather excited."

Sophia had gone back to reading her book. However, her eyes perked up. The weather outside was still harsh, but not the whiteout conditions that were likely still blinding Oslo. She turned around and looked out of the window behind her. In the distance, they could faintly see what looked to be an ancient hinge. The train was moving fast, so it was only in view for twenty or thirty seconds, but part of the reason it was able to be seen so late in the evening was because there appeared to be multiple fires within and around it, and figures standing at or moving around the hinge. Sophia looked out the window until they passed it.

Moments after Enoch had finished speaking again, there was a brief knock on one of the doors to their car. The conductor stepped inside. "Your Majesties, Prime Minister, dinner will be brought to you in about ten minutes. We'll give you a ring once everything is dished." Enoch nodded to him, and the conductor slipped back and away to the car behind them.

 

[Jamie]

There was a small pause from the British Prime Minister, "As you said, speaking for American defence sales is something far out of my reach. However, from experience? C-130's and Blackhawks are already sold on the international market by First Choice International, so if the American Government was relucant, First Choice does have a big share in the sale of those products so they're definitely available. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the F-22 Raptors. They're the American Pride and Joy, equivalent of the British Typhoons and F35 series. The sale of F-22's, if any, is likely restricted to very close counterparts. I am not aware of a single export of the F-22 to this date. As for discounts? Again, First Choice may be your best bet, but you could get a price check from both America and First Choice to see what could work best for yourself.

As for UK sales themselves, Britain could offer you a 10% discount on all Ziron Products. This 10% is what the UK would cover for the sale, and this would undoubtedly help in large defence sales. As you know, Ziron is a separate entity so that is likely the best I can do personally in that situation. However, I do have something I'd like to propose that could benefit us both; of course, if you'd prefer not to, it's honestly not a problem and won't be held against you in anyway but Norway offers a great environment for Cold Weather Survival Training, this is something we lack in the UK and would be something we would love for our Armed Forces to be able to participate in. I would like to know of the possibility of you allowing British Forces to train in the Bardufoss area of Troms in Northern Norway? This would be a regular exercise compiling our Air, Army and Naval Assets; possibly on a yearly basis. In return, we would of course pay a 'training rent' for the time spent in country.

I have heard a little of possible ETO membership, but was unaware of at what scale. It would be a great opportunity for Norway, I feel, to become a member. It'd enhance Political and Economic ties with the UK and Netherlands which by extension includes ISAF and other European countries. ETO is something we will be aiming to work on more routinely then we have. I look forward to hearing whether it is something you're going ahead with." There was a time the Prime Minister went quiet, allowing the Norwegian Royalty to respond. Jericho smiled and nodding to the conductor, ready and happy to receive food.

 

[Odinson]

"I like your idea of getting competing bids from First Choice and the Americans. That may very well be what we do," Enoch replied. "That significant discount from Ziron would also be much appreciated. I can see us doing business in the future."

Enoch listened to the Prime Minister's proposal and raised his eyebrows. "That's an interesting proposition. As part of the aforementioned military build-up, the armed forces are conducting some intense training throughout the country at the moment. Many of these units are almost complete with their initial training - part of which involves intense wilderness survival. However, specific Cold Weather Survival and Warfare would be something that I think almost all of our forces should have. Assuming that the Storting would have no problem with it, I think it would be great to host British troops for their training in this field. I do have a counter to your proposal: if we instead made it a joint-training exercise between British and Norwegian troops, I would be happy for us to wave the fee. I think our troops could be very helpful in passing some Norse-wilderness knowledge, and it could serve as a way for our troops to bond. Could you give an estimate of the number of troops that you would like to be involved in the exercise?"

 

[Jamie]

"We would be happy to work in a joint effort with the Norwegian Armed Forces, and I can foresee it proving a great benefit in terms of military cooperation which really works hand in hand with my visit here. I would like, ideally, to see multiple exercises occurring throughout the years with a continuous British Forces training branch in Norway; as opposed to a one-off exercise. An estimation of those involved would be varied, however, likely a battle group level which is around 600 men. This would likely be the height of a training exercise, but more than likely less. Vehicles involved would also include air assets from the Royal Air Force and other air branches within the UK Armed Forces. Whilst we'd be happy to do it as joint, I'd love the opportunity for British Forces to be able to use the site at different times throughout the term of an agreement."

 

[Odinson]

Enoch sat back, smiled, and nodded. "Six-hundred? That isn't a problem at all. I assumed that you wanted to conduct mass-exercises. I would be more than happy to have Norway host British troops for this training. Maybe there would be an annual joint-exercise, and beyond that your armed forces may conduct exercises throughout the years. I'll have to speak with the Minister of Defense, because I think there are rules about training - namely that things like mustard gas or biological weapons cannot be used in the training without special dispensation from his office - but I don't think that's the kind of training you're going for. But yes, you have the full approval of the Crown to go forward and have your Defense Ministry contact ours to work out the finer details."

The phone in the car began to ring. Enoch picked it up, "Yes, that'll be fine. I believe we're ready." Enoch hung it up and looked to his guest and wife, "Dinner is prepared."

He stood up and walked over to the table. He waited for the other two to sit and then took his place. The staff from the dining car brought out their meals in full, along with some wine and more tea. Enoch said grace aloud once they were all served, and then everyone was free to dig in.

"If you don't mind me asking, Prime Minister, are women allowed to serve in the British Army?" Sophia asked, sparking casual conversation as they enjoyed their meals. "Enoch and the Defense Ministry have created a new special forces unit, which is entirely comprised of women. They're called the Valkyries."

Enoch took a sip of his wine and looked over to his wife, "Someone in the Defense Ministry thought it would a good idea to have 300 of the most beautiful, physically fit women in the country under our command... I couldn't object," he said, jokingly.

 

[Jamie]

"We tend to focus training on smaller groups. Of course, large exercises has it's benefits, but in smaller groups, it allows training to be more... umm.. focused. Allows us to go a little more into detail rather than trying to manage thousands of men and women." he softly chuckled. "But yes, an annual joint exercise? That'd be ideal. It'd give British and Norwegian Forces a chance to really cooperate. Something that the British Armed Forces have lacked in recent years; cooperation with others on a ground-level. I will ensure to have our Ministry of Defence contact your own to discuss further, thank you.". Following the confirmation of dinner, "Finally" Jericho thought to himself, he was hungry and ready to eat. Eagerly making his way to the table ad sitting down, addressing Sophia's question first. "Oh yes, of course. As of this moment, the only restriction is combat roles. But, they're able to join any other position within the army, navy or air force. There are attempts to give women the option to join every role, including combat and special forces, but it's a widely debated across the UK." he paused, beginning to take his first bite of the food. To much pleasure, it was enjoyable and something his taste buds welcomed. "This is really nice." he confirmed, chuckling at Enoch's reference to the Valkyries.

 

[Odinson]

Unless the Prime Minister had anything further he wanted to discuss with Enoch, the rest of the Trip to Trondheim was filled with casual conversation and relaxation. The kitchen would bring everyone onboard whatever they desired, from drinks to desert or even more food. After arriving in Trondheim, Enoch personally escorted Prime Minister Bourne to his hotel which had been paid for by the Norwegian government. The snow was already dying down up there, but travel would be at its safest the next day. The police and military in Trondheim were at a heightened state of alert and remained vigilant over Enoch and Sophia, and the Prime Minister while he stayed at his hotel. The next day, if he chose to go home back to the United Kingdom, he police and the King's Guard would coordinate with his military force to make sure he was able to leave as comfortably and easily as possible.

 

[Jamie]

Jericho was satisisfied with the food, and the rest of the conversation was pleasant. Offering the leaders a chance to converse, get to know one another and generally give the opportunity for a closer relationship between Norway and the United Kingdom. Jericho, upon his arrival at the hotel got accustomed to it very quickly, happy at the hospitality that the Norwegian Royalty had offered him for the duration of his trip. Prior to his departure, he'd ensure to express his gratitude to the Norwegian Royal Family for their trip and marked it as a "promising step forward for UK-Norwegian relations.", before beginning his return journey home in the Defender.