United States | Message To The Vatican/Rhodesia

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Private
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Secretary of State Jackson Fitzgerald was seated in his office in the Truman Building. It was later in the evening, about 7PM. His secretary, 24 year-old Amelia Addison, was still dutifully sitting at her desk. She had no other work to complete that day, but some wise advice another secretary had given her was, "You go home when he goes home." She was reading a book on Ethiopian History, when the phone at her desk rang. She set the book down, and answered the call which was secure on both ends.
"Secretary of State's office, this is Amelia speaking. How can I help you?" she asked.

"Good evening Amelia, this is Mrs. Thompson calling from the White House. The President needs to speak to Secretary Fitzgerald, can you please forward the call to him?" asked the President's personal secretary.
"Oh," Amelia said, "of course Mrs. Thompson. Please give me one moment," she said. Amelia put the White House on hold and tapped the button for her intercom to Fitzgerald.

"Mister Secretary, President Gore is on line for you," she said.
"Thanks Amelia, I'll take it now," he replied through the intercom.

She tried to start reading her book again, but couldn't focus. She was curious what her boss and the President were discussing. From her desk, she could just faintly hear Fitzgerald talking about "Africa". Maybe it was Ethiopia? She briefly fantasized that Secretary Fitzgerald would come out of the office, with some problem about Ethiopia, and that she would have the special knowledge needed. She imagined that he would be so impressed and overwhelmed with her simple fix to his problem, that he'd walk over to her desk and hug her with his big, strong, arms and then-

"AMELIA!" Fitzgerald shouted from his office. Amelia broke out of her fantasy and quickly got up from her desk. She opened the door to Fitzgerald's office and said, "Yes, Mr. Secretary?"
Fitzgerald had a leather-bound book, published exclusively for the Department of State, which noted who was the ambassador from what country and their diplomatic relations to other countries. To say it was a book was an understatement - it was more of a tome. He put his finger on a line and briefly looked up at his young Secretary.

"Amelia, please call the Vatican's embassy. I don't want a phone call - inform them that I am summoning Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan here to the Truman Building. If they press you on a subject, tell them it has to do with Africa, can you do that?"
"Of course, Mister Secretary. I'll let you know what his status is after the call," she said.
"Thanks," he said. She started to close the door, but stopped when the Secretary spoke again.
"Hey Amelia?" he said.
"Yes?" she responded.
"Thanks for staying late... I know that you've been working here for a month and I've only now just gotten your name down but... you're a good secretary," he said.
She blushed and nodded, "Thank you... you too," she said, before closing the door. After closing the door she put her hands in her face and said to herself, "You too? What the fuck?"
Fitzgerald thought it was a clever play on words because technically he too was a secretary.

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About half an hour later, Archbishop Cacciavillan - the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States, which was just a fancy title for the Holy See's ambassador - arrived at the Truman Building. He was greeted by Amelia, and escorted to Secretary Fitzgerald's office. Jackson stood up when the Archbishop entered and smiled.
"Your Grace," Fitzgerald said. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please, take a seat," he said as he poured them both a glass of water.

"It's no issue, Mister Secretary," the Archbishop said as he quickly took a sip from his glass of water. "How can I help you?"

Well," Jackson said as Amelia closed the door to his office. "The situation in Rhodesia has seriously deteriorated, as I'm sure you know. Their government has entirely collapsed, and from what I understand they are in some kind of quasi-state of anarchy with only an executive council at the moment. From what the State Department can tell, the British haven't done much if anything, and the Global Assembly is trying to make some international effort to help. I'd rather us help directly, and to communicate with the Rhodesian government. President Gore has made it a top priority for us to send a message to their Executive Council, so that we can help them restore their government, keep the peace, and maybe even provide some humanitarian aid... However, the utter-breakdown in telecommunications in Rhodesia, combined with the anarchy now reigning in most of the country, makes our ability to securely contact them... questionable, at best. There are two bishops on their Executive Council, one of which is Catholic. Do you think the Church could get a secure message from me to the Bishop?" he asked.

"Oh..." The Archbishop said, "of course, what's his name?" he asked.
"He is... Bishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu," the Secretary responded.
"I'll make a request to the Cardinal Secretary of State as soon as possible. He may need to wait a few more hours until the Holy Father wakes up - we consider special matters such as this sensitive. I will let you know as soon as we can send the message, in the meantime, please forward the message to my office."


The two men shook hands and then the Archbishop returned to his office.

As promised, the Archbishop sent a secure message to the Cardinal Secretary of State - this is essentially the Prime Minister of the Holy See. The Cardinal Secretary of State spoke with Pope John Paul II, who formally gave the go-ahead for sending the message. At 2AM, EST, the following secure message was sent to the Rhodesian Bishop:

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OFFICE OF THE CARDINAL SECRETARY OF STATE​

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

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TO: The Most Reverend, Robert Christopher Ndlovu, Bishop of The Diocese of Hwange ( J.Hyde )

FROM: His Eminence, Angelo Sodano, Cardinal Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope

Your Grace,

The United States Secretary of State, Mister Jackson Fitzgerald, has asked me to forward this message to you. The Americans have been trying to get in contact with you, but were worried that they would not be able to find a secure way of communicating with you, and the Executive Council of Rhodesia. If you and the Executive Council do have a way of securely communicating with the Americans, please respond to them directly instead of sending a message back through The Vatican. Also, the Holy Father wanted me to inform you that he is praying for you, and Rhodesia as a whole. The following message, after my signature, is from the Americans.

In His Name,

Angelo Sodano
Cardinal Secretary of State

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE​

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

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TO: Bishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu, Member of The Executive Council of Rhodesia​

FROM: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America

Your Grace,

I am sending this message to you on behalf of the President of The United States. Please share this message with the entire Executive Council which you are a part of.

Members of The Executive Council of Rhodesia, President Gore has made it clear to me that the United States would like to help stabilize the situation in Rhodesia. There are a number of steps we can take to help you, including direct financial aid, humanitarian aid, the deployment of American troops for peacekeeping, and also helping your council create a new constitutional form of government. We are also more than capable of helping restore your basic utilities including power and water, and we could especially be competent in restoring and keeping order in wherever areas you would wish to have us. All of this, is of course, up to you. The United States is aware of the resolution that is likely to pass in The Global Assembly. While we will work with the GA, we would like to contribute even more by being in direct talks with your transitional government.

Before we can discuss these things further, however, I need to know the following:
1. Does the Executive Council plan to restore a constitutional government in Rhodesia - one either being a republic or parliamentary democracy where the people may elect representatives?
2. Would it be possible for you to send a new ambassador to the United States in Washington D.C.?
3. Are you interested in having the United States directly help in Rhodesia?

One of the major contributions we could provide is constructing a fortified facility to house American, and friendly, medics/aid-workers/troops so that we have a concentrated base of operations. Our presence would be only with the blessing of your council, and we will abandon the facility and go home at any time if that is what you wish to happen.

If you can send a secure response to this message, please have it sent directly to me. Either I, or one of my Deputy Secretaries, will respond to it. I look forward to hearing back from the council.

Best Regards,

Jackson Fitzgerald
Secretary of State
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[J.Hyde]

Provisional Executive Council The Republic of Zimbabwe (SECURE/ENCRYPTED/PRIVATE)​

To: His Eminence, Angelo Sodano, Cardinal Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope Odinson From: The Most Reverend Robert Christopher Ndlovu, Bishop of The Diocese of Hwange Subject: American Support Your Eminence, Please extend to His Holiness my most utmost gratitude for the thoughts and prayers he has made. I am truly humbled to hear that The Vicar of Jesus Christ himself wishes me, and my country, the best of fortunes and God's love. In this time of strife and hardship, it is necessary now, than ever before, to continue to have faith in God and the charity and care humanity is capable of due to them being in his image. As for the message you have forwarded from The Americans. I would like to enclose the following reply to them: Dear sir, The Council has, thus far, been working on the premise that Zimbabwe is to continue to be a republic, however the constitution will be radically different. The previous constitution was open to exploitation, and was exploited frequently, by Mugabe. At the present time, The Provisional Executive Council, and its recently appointed chiefs of affairs, make a total of seven people in the provisional Zimbabwean government. As such, we are not in a position to dispatch a formal emissary to The United States at this time. Finally, it has been agreed unanimously that The Council will accept any and all offers of assistance. We are not in a position to be selective in who we gain help from to rebuild the country. Anything, and everything, you are able to send to help us will be accepted with open arms. I have enclosed in this message the email address of The Council's Chairman, Trevor Hawkins, the phone number of the satellite phone he is using to speak directly to various leaders across the globe, and a copy of the current draft constitution we intend to put to the people in a referendum, once the country has been stabilised and secured, for your perusal. I am certain Mr. Hawkins will be able to elaborate further on what are the most pressing needs at the present time. Yours faithfully, Robert Christopher Ndlovu, Bishop of The Diocese of Hwange Thank you for your assistance, Your Eminence, and may God smile upon you. Yours faithfully, Robert Christopher Ndlovu, Bishop of The Diocese of Hwange

 

[Odinson]

The message was securely sent from the Vatican to the U.S. Secretary of State.

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE​

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

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TO: Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Executive Council of Rhodesia ( J.Hyde )​

FROM: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America

Mister Chairman,

I imagine that Bishop Ndlovu has shared the information which we have sent him with you and the rest of the council. The United States is prepared to provide assistance to Rhodesia. However, we need more information on exactly where you need the most help and how we can assist. Do you want assistance from the United States? Is the Executive Council safe? Is there an armed force protecting you from domestic or foreign interference as you set up your new government? What is it that you most need right now, and how would you like us to provide it?

Best Regards,

Jackson Fitzgerald
Secretary of State
​

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[J.Hyde]

Provisional Executive Council The Republic of Zimbabwe (SECURE/ENCRYPTED/PRIVATE)​

To: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America Odinson From: Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Provisional Executive Council of Zimbabwe Subject: RE: American Support Dear sir, Thank you for your offer of support. I humbly accept it, because there are problems which Zimbabwe cannot overcome alone. To answer your questions; we do want assistance from The United States, The Council is currently safe, and we are currently being protected by the joint forces of UZACOM, Unified Zimbabwe Aid Committee. At the present time, French, Argentinian, Irish, and Canadian, troops are in the country working to both protect The Council, and assist in the humanitarian crisis that is engulfing the nation. As for what it most needed right now, what we need is aircraft. During the first conference of UZACOM, some calculations were made regarding how much logistical capacity is needed to feed the capital. We used a standard MRE ration pack, which is able to compact a full meal into just over half a pound, or 750 grams, as a standard measure, and extrapolated it to three packs per person, so that they have three meals a deal. To feed the population of Harare Province, which includes the city itself and its metropolitan area, would require a daily intake of 7,875 metric tonnes to feed all 3.5 million people with three square meals. If we ration it to two or one meal a day, it reduces the daily total to 5,250 tonnes and 2,655 tonnes respectively. The current capacity of the aircraft being used to transport equipment, aid, and personnel, to Zimbabwe can only reach just below 310 tonnes, if each aircraft were to make one flight to Zimbabwe with a full load. That is not enough by a huge margin to feed the population starvation level rations. As such, the first priority is aircraft, big ones, and lots of them. The equivalent of 62 C-5 Galaxy air-lifters arriving per day to provide the capital with three meals a day. Mugabe International is the only secure link Zimbabwe has with the outside world. I fear that it's an impossible task. On average, Heathrow Airport in England handles, on average, around 4,100 tonnes of cargo a day. The requirement here is for almost double that to arrive daily, just to break even. I don't know how it can feasibly be done, but it must be done, or else innocent lives will be lost due to starvation. People are already becoming restless due to the lack of food. The Argentinians have begun distributing what they, and the others have brought, but it will soon run out. Any transport aircraft you can spare, we desperately need. Yours faithfully, Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Provisional Executive Council of Zimbabwe

 

[Odinson]

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE​

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

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TO: Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Executive Council of Rhodesia ( J.Hyde )​

FROM: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America

Mister Chairman,

The Department of State is currently coordinating with the Pentagon to bring MRE packs to Rhodesia in large quantities. This, however, will be extremely expensive. While we are happy to help in this way, in the short term, I believe that the lack of food is a symptom of a larger problem. Have Rhodesia's supply lines broken down? Is this due to any particular problem, or because of the loss of utilities including power and water? I assume that the highest priority in Rhodesia is to restore supply-lines so that your country is able to feed itself again. The United States is prepared to help do that in any way possible - however I need whatever information you can provide so that we can begin to fix it.

Are your train lines active?
Are your (land-based, of course) ports of entry to neighboring nations open? If not, how can we help open them?
Is food being transported internally by train or truck?
Please give me any more information that you have so we can help fix the root of these problems.

Best Regards,

Jackson Fitzgerald
Secretary of State
​

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[J.Hyde]

Provisional Executive Council The Republic of Zimbabwe (SECURE/ENCRYPTED/PRIVATE)​

To: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America Odinson From: Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Provisional Executive Council of Zimbabwe Subject: RE: American Support Dear sir, You are correct in assuming that Zimbabwe's supply lines have broken down. At the moment, Harare is the only location that is somewhat secure, and the only secure transport link with the outside world is via air to Mugabe International. As to why the road and rail links to neighbouring nations, such as Mozambique and Zambia, are not secure, it is due to the fact that we do not have an established force able to protect the roads and railways from potential damage. It is possible for the rail link connecting Harare to Mozambique to be secured with little effort, however that cannot happen until sizeable forces have been deployed to Harare, and that can't be done until enough food can be brought in via air to feed the foreign aid detachments currently posted to Harare, and the people living there. Electricity and water were never available in plentiful supply via the common western method of it being pumped directly into a person's residence, and even when it was available, it was contaminated with sewage. As such, the people usually drink from equally contaminated wells and boreholes, which means water-borne disease has always been an issue. As for electricity, Zimbabwe's powerplants were ancient and never truly looked after, meaning rolling blackouts were a part of life. In terms of the train lines, they have ground to a halt due to them being owned and operated by the state, which has collapsed. I have enclosed a map of Zimbabwe with the rail links highlighted in green for your perusal. Securing the Harare-Mutare line to the east should, in theory, completely solve the logistics crisis, since it was the most commonly used route for imports and exports through the Mozambican port of Beira before the Mugabe Government collapsed. However, we'll need the agreement of Mozambique before we can begin shipping humanitarian aid to Beira, and then dispatch trains to Harare. At the present moment, food is arriving by plane in Mugabe International, and then being transported to distribution points around Harare Province to hand out to the population by the vehicles that have been requisitioned by the Argentinians, and the vehicles flown in via aircraft. Yours faithfully, Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Provisional Executive Council of Zimbabwe

 

[J.Hyde]

Odinson

 

[J.Hyde]

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE​

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

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TO: Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Executive Council of Rhodesia ( J.Hyde )​

FROM: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America

Mister Chairman,

The United States will be coordinating with the International Community to help Rhodesia's situation. We will be monitoring this situation closely, and helping in any way we reasonably can. We will keep in touch.

Best Regards,

Jackson Fitzgerald
Secretary of State
​

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