The Gathering

[Alucard Tobor]

Prime Minister Ji-ho Rho stared out the window of his office, watching rain impact the glass. Without turning, he spoke.

"You're certain, then?"

A sigh. "Direct action is inadvisable at best and flat-out suicidal at worst." James Mills-Seong, Federal Party leader and frequent critic of Ji-ho's own policies, responded. "Getting them to enter voluntarily to such an organization is, realistically, the only chance we have of reining them in at all."

"And it's voluntary and so will probably be ineffective, but we have to try." Rho muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. I assume, as per your irritating degree of preparedness, you have everything ready to go. Get things moving; I'll sell it to Parliament tomorrow and do any of the necessary browbeating."

The other man hmmed a confirmation, quietly making his way out the door.

- - - - - - - -

A message was sent out to all the nations of the world who had lifted their quarantines; while differing slightly in phrasing and tone, the intent was the same;

The Federation of Korea invites your nation to send a group of no more than five representatives to Seoul, on December 30th of the year 1960 CE, to discuss with the nations of the world the formation of a global forum to facilitate international communication and the resolving of disputes. We await your reply.

[Niobium2]

During the period Tristan Tzara has remained in Korea as ambassador, he and his small team have managed to become fluent in Korean (As well singularly enamored with the country). It is with considerable satisfaction that he receives the Romanian order to attend the gathering representing Romania, with instruction to attempt to join the global forum and improve Korean-Romanian relations in any other ways possible.

[Sabriel]

A Victorian Colonel with a small diplomatic staff was sent to Korea in response to the invitation. There was general amusement among the Victorian leadership at the invitation, with Korea's nighttime retreat from Victoria still fresh in the minds of many of the diplomatic corps.

[Markus Wilding]

A token American team was sent, consisting mostly of diplomats already on-call at the American embassy in Korea.

[Cataphrak]

Mortimer Liao-Berenson, ambassador to the Federation of Korea, was already there. With the Chinese embassy just a few blocks away, he couldn't have been late if he tried. With him, he'd brought only his own briefcase and a single aide.

[Markus Wilding]

Delegates from a host of other nations slowly began to show up as well, with varying degrees of enthusiams for the proceedings - in particular, the French diplomats whispered to themselves that they didn't believe anything could come of this gathering.

[Alucard Tobor]

Prime Minister Ji-ho Rho strolled into the expansive meeting room, expression neutral as he half-listened to the low murmur of conversation amongst the gathered delegations. A brief mental sigh; he had little confidence of this venture actually succeeding, given the rampant aggression and unilateral action ongoing in the world. Still; the effort must be made.

Taking the podium at the focal point of the amphitheater-like seating arrangements, he laid a folder down on the polished wood and nodded to the attendees. "Representatives. Welcome."

Giving the room a brief moment to quiet down - and, hopefully, pay attention - he continued. "You have my thanks, and that of the Korean people, for your willingness to attend this gathering and hear out this proposal. Even if nothing of substance results of this meeting, my government believes it important that all parties at least give this concept serious consideration.

"As to the proposal itself... representatives, I believe none of us here can deny that our world has been badly scarred by conflict. No nation among us remained untouched by the horrors of the Second World War and its aftermath. Brush wars, civil conflict, and wars of reunification," he was minutely proud of saying that without even a trace of sarcasm, "flare up around the world even now. While acknowledging that, sometimes, violence is simply the only reasonable option to resolve a conflict, my people see no reason that it should not be a last resort."

Pausing a moment, he swept his gaze over the assembled attendees. "Much of the shape of our world today is decided by unilateral action. Nations acting alone, out of necessity, desire, or whatever other reason are already redrawing borders, deciding the fates of million... and more. Yet, we have seen that international cooperation can indeed work; the World Health International Parliament," he nodded to the Victorian representatives, "has proven that international cooperation can effectively reduce the spread of disease - effectively combating the German Flu, and working to ensure a peaceful, more prosperous future for all our nations.

"To that end, the Federation of Korea proposes the following; the establishment of an intergovernmental entity, concerned primarily with enabling communication, international cooperation, and safety for the citizens of all nations on this Earth; the creation or inclusion of sub-entities tasked with the elimination of poverty, disease, and warfare; and a means to mediate intergovernmental disagreements and, lofty and - to be blunt - seemingly impossible as the goal may be, perhaps usher in an era of peace - true world peace.

"A copy of the initial drafts of the charter of this proposed organization - I believe the staff have dubbed it the United Nations," a half-smile flitted over Rho's face, "have been provided for your perusal. While this is to be an open forum of discussion, I do hope we can all be civil for the moment." A full smile blossomed across the tall man's face. "Representatives." he concluded briefly, stepping back from the podium and taking a seat at a desk to his left.

And now, he reflected, the shouting begins.

[Sabriel]

The Victorian Colonel and his staff reviewed the document given to them with mild distaste. Once they'd completed, the Colonel rose to speak, "Victoria cannot agree to these terms. They represent a reduction in sovereignty, dressed up to appear as a reduction in conflict. It leaves the world too open to those who would balk at making the hard choices necessary for keeping us all safe from another German Flu.

"Some of the goals you've written in here are laudable. But the present format for global decision making is unacceptable."

[Alucard Tobor]

"If I may, Colonel, might you elaborate on what in particular you find objectionable?" Rho returned politely, standing. "This charter was drafted to ensure member-states would retain their sovereignty, whilst also enabling the organization to function in a somewhat effective capacity."

[Sabriel]

The Colonel chuckled softly, "I think you know where Victoria stands in regards to democracy. It's a mob mentality, and especially with our world as violently fragmented as it is, it cannot be relied on to come to conclusions that benefit the world. If it must be implemented, it requires a guiding hand, and a strong set of limits."