New Caledonian Mission to Australia

[Jay]

The hum of the airplane engines gradually diminished as the aircraft descended towards Canberra. Some several hours before the events in New Caledonia, Éloi pondered on the events likely to follow his arrival. The vast, sunlit landscape of Australia stretched out below, a stark contrast to the emerald islands of New Caledonia. Éloi Declerc, leader of the Kanak independence movement, peered out of the window, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what to tell the Australians. Worse...he began to wonder if the Australians would just turn him over to the French. Who he knew would torture him and then execute for the fun of it. The assassination of his father was ever-present in his mind as he weighed the mission he had undertaken. As the plane touched down and taxied to a stop, Declerc could feel his heart thudding with the rhythm of anticipation.

Disembarking among a throng of weary travelers, Declerc collected his carry-on and made his way through the terminal, as he walked towards immigration he began to feel the pressure of what happened next. He was an intellect, not a spy or a diplomat. The bustling airport was a sea of faces, a myriad of languages echoing off the walls that disoriented him. He approached the immigration counter and cautiously presented his French passport to the officer with a steady hand. As the office would take it, his hand would begin to shake as he hid it behind the counter.

Declerc would respond to the immigration officer asking for the purpose of your visit by saying he was here as a representative of New Caledonia and would present his incoming passenger card. Given he had applied for an ETA as a French national he would wait to see if it was cleared. If any issues were raised for the subclass 601 visa he would request a subclass 785 or 786 visa and would say "I am Éloi Declerc," he began, his voice steady but hinted a sense of urgency. "I am here to request political asylum from France. I need to speak with officials from the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade immediately. Given the situation on my home island, I would like to be granted asylum and an opportunity to speak with these officials on behalf of my people. I fear that if I am deported to France I will be tortured and executed."

Owen

 

[Owen]

As there was no direct commercial flights between Noumea and Canberra it would be assumed that this was a private aircraft of an unknown type heading into Australian airspace. A straight line between La Tantouta and Canberra would end up with the aircraft flying directly over the Sydney Region. This would first be noticed by ATC operators at Brisbane Centre who would be monitoring Class A airspace (above 18,000ft) as the aircraft got within range of both Newcastle/Williamtown and Sydney's radars. As the aircraft was still at cruising altitude it would be assumed it wasn't coming to Sydney and therefore classed as being in Class A airspace, nevertheless no flight plan was lodged prior and the aircraft was coming up as unidentified for Brisbane Centre.

"Brisbane Centre, unidentified aircraft tracking 80 nautical miles at 050 to Sydney, please identify yourself." The RAAF would be quietly notified of this as well and the aircraft would be monitored through the Vigilare Air Battlespace Management System at RAAF Base Williamtown through No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit.

​

Jay

 

[Jay]

With no direct commercial flights between Noumea and Canberra the island nation of Australia would likely have had a radar malfunction. Its ATC was mistaken either through delusion or from hallucination, perhaps a combination of both, to see an aircraft.

The alarm at the Australian Air Force centers and other infrastructure if confirming the aircraft as well would likely highlight faulty equipment. Perhaps best for Australia to replace or to simply turn off and back on again. Nonetheless, there was simply no plane that could fly this route given there are no direct commercial flights.

Éloi was awoken from his dream of flying to a foreign country by the loud explosions of the resistance taking on their occupiers. He chaotically put on his clothes and stepped out to take in the sounds around him. Smiling as he saw the fight he had long yearned for taking place. With that he would follow his orders to make contact with the Thai Forces on the Island and see their good riddance after all.