Equestrian Airship “Sol 15”, 10:30AM, +16 days after event
“Sooo the new leader of this Changeling hive is Queen Hivemind correct?” Julien thomas asked Celestia. The trip itself has been a smooth ride through the mountains of the griffon realm and they finally managed to find one of the magical beacons littered in Saddle Arabia, and have been following beacon after beacon to reach the capital city: Al Qafr
“Yes Julien, now regarding the Saddle Arabians, they're usually just a bunch of nice ponies/horses whatever you wanna call them, and they are, but keep your operatives on alert. The first time we opened diplomatic relationships with the Saddle Arabians was after our victory over Discord and I was spied on for the entirety of the meeting until I called on their act. They finally relented but I learned a lesson to always monitor their spies everytime I visit them…..and I suggest for you to do the same Mr Julien.” says Celestia
“I’ll be sure to inform Capitaine Caron regarding the issue.” Julien says neutrally
“And enjoy some Saddle Arabian food while you’re at it. They’re vegetarian and they are very delicious.” Celestia responded as she saw Mr Julien leaving to inform the Capitaine about possible spying and surveillance
“I will princess, I will.”
Changeling Airship “Pride of the Badlands”, 11:00AM, +16 days after event
Queen Hivemind was having a wonderful day seeing the endless expanse that is the infamous Saddle Arabian Desert. “It really is a wonder how these Saddle Arabians can get any water at all! Where did they find their groundwater?” Hivemind wondered as she has seen enough of the Saddle Arabian desert and walks around the ship, inspecting every inch of it to make sure her Airship, the Pride of the Badlands is in tip top shape.
“Captain Athropod” Queen Hivemind welcomes the Captain as she saw the Captain inspecting a guard.
“Good morning milady” yeah milady my PLOT! as Lieutenant Arachnid greets the now queen of the new Changeling hive. It’s been a 2 day long journey ever since they departed from the badlands under the disguise of the night. Now they are just moving along in the middle of the desert, trying to find the magical beacons long forged by the Saddle Arabian mages in order to aid airship navigation in what is practically a desert.
“We’ve found the beacon milady, we’re about to reach the capital city now” One of the navigational mages said.
“Good, take us in helmsdrone”
“Yes milady” the helmsdrone replied as the airship swerves into the direction shown by the magical beacon.
After a couple of minutes of flight, Hivemind can saw the city of Al Qafr rolling in gently in the middle between sand dunes and the ocean. Being a city relatively isolated from the trade hubs of Manehattan and Griffonstone. Al Qafr grew in size because of the enormous amount of wealth Saddle Arabian traders brought in from the Kirin empires just east of the enourmous sea separating the Griffin-Horse continent and the Kirin continent.
As the ship was about to enter the airship mooring station. She saw that the Equestrian airship was already moored in position and she can also saw Princess Celestia greeting the Sultan. Not to be undone, the Queen immediately took off with her wings not bothering to wait for the airship to be safely moored.
“Ah greetings Sultan Rabin ur Rashid. I trust that I was not late?” Queen Hivemind greeted the Sultan
“Ah yes, the newly crowned Queen Hivemind. Welcome to Saddle Arabia, I trust that all of you will have a wonderful stay in this little side of paradise” the Sultan responded with a soft tone the Queen did not expect.
“Thank you Sultan Rabin. Now let’s get towards the negotiations” the Queen replied
“Wait, first: we cannot start negotiations without eating lunch first now” Amira interjected “and we cannot even start our diplomatic hearing without enjoying ourselves to a tour of this wonderful city of Al Qafr, gateway to Saddle Arabia”
“Oh, if that’s the case. Then lead away Amira” Julien exclaimed
Al Qafr, capital city of Saddle Arabia, 12:00PM, +16 days after event
“So welcome to Saddle Arabia, a land of deserts and beauty. My name is Amira ur Rashid and I will be your host for this tour. Please see the magnificense of the Mustadiqqat kabira to your left” as she pointed her hoof to a very tall spire towering the entirety of the city “This is the spire where the first Saddle Arabians found groundwater after a very tenuous journey through the desert. A spire is erected in memory of those brave explorers who estalished this city and this civilization, and it remains one of our main sources of drinking water ever since.” said Amira as the delegates from France, Equestria and the Changelings see the towering spire
“Red team, establish connection” as Capitaine Emma is preparing herself and her team to spot out for any possible spies while the main delegation are busy seeing the sights
“Toulouse standing by”
“Berber standing by”
“Red leader standing by”
“Mayotte standing by”
“All right team, today’s mission will be a simple game of hide and seek. You see anyone suspicious, inform me and Mr Julien right there will have a nice long talk with the Sultan. Prepare your Félin systems because we’re taking screenshots as evidence”
“Roger that”
“Roger that”
“Roger that”
“Red team...move out” said the Capitaine as operation hide and seek commences.
Unicorn Range, Equestrian Columbia, 1:00PM, +16 days after event
“Bertrand, move the optical reflector right there” the leader of the survey team exclaimed as they are dead set to find an Iron vein in these mountains. Once the trade barriers between Equestria and France were lifted in conjuction with the trade deal. Imerys Mining bought a patch of land from the Equestrian authority to develop, as a tradeoff the company are to split the profits between them and the Equestrian authority 50/50. Bertrand and his team were one of the first teams sent to map out the patch of land bought by Imerys to develop and he is already seeing promise. A large copper field was detected by one of the aeromagnetic surveyors, and it is an incredibly huge field. His team had just finished surveying that grid when the operations supervisor called him to map out this patch of land.
“The drones are ready sir” another man exclaimed to the operations supervisor currently working on Bertrand’s geological survey and exploration team to map out and find possible Iron, copper and rare earth minerals in this grid.
“Good, send them up” the operations supervisor ordered as his teammate launched the drone into the sky to map out the veins. Immediately when the results come out both his team and his supervisor was in a state of shock as the data received indicates that this will be a very large Iron ore deposit.
“Oh mon dieu” the supervisor said as he immediately walks back to his chair. If his observations are right, then this might be the biggest Iron vein ever found outside the Great lakes Iron ores found in the US in the 19th century! “Well, this might be it boys. Put a mark on this grid saying very important right now.”
“Yeah you don’t need to tell us anymore sir” Bertrand replied as he ordered his team to put a flag on top of this grid saying ‘rich iron ore found’ as they continue mapping the area again, eagerly awaiting for the next motherlode.
Off the coast of the French EEZ, 2:00PM, +16 days after event
“Move the platform a little bit to the left” as the engineer orders the Captain of the ship to move the oil platform in the right position to begin drilling. With the discoveries of immensely huge oil reseves. Total with support of the French government has been pulling off all the stops to muster up whatever they can and send multiple oil platforms into the ocean to get the oil France desperately needs. Already 10 platforms are laid in the southern lunar ocean and 3 have been laid off the bay of biscay. This will be the first oil platform to be placed on the northern lunar ocean and head manager of the project Jean Petit Dubois is very happy with the laying out of the platform. It will just take a few minutes until the platform is lowered, all checks have been finished and drillings are to begin tomorrow.
As soon as the engineer gives him the thumbs up. Jean ordered the platform to be immediately moored and secured. “Prepare the moors, we’re going to anchor this bastard to the ground” the project manager said which is met with a flurry of yes sirs from the tug boats.
Eventually after a couple of minutes of tense waiting. He gets a call from his radio saying that the platform is moored and ‘can begin preoperations checks immediately’
“You’re cleared to do preoperations check over”
“Copy that, entering the platform right now” an operator responded as a small boat was dispatched from the small tug boat and the men climbed up the stairs to see that the platform is at full operational capacity and safety. This is going to take a couple of hours the project manager sighs as he is going to wait it out until this platform is safe and ready for operations.
Al Qafr, capital city of Saddle Arabia, 3:00PM, +16 days after event
“Spotted possible spy, taking picture” said Berber as he saw a ominous looking Saddle Arabian on the rooftop seeing them. Once the Commando Marine saw the supposed spy he quickly realized he’s spotted and ran as fast as he could
“Good job Berber, Toulouse, spotted anything yet?” Red leader commanded
“Yes Red leader, spotted another spy walking immediately. Taking picture and saying hellos now ma’am” as Toulouse took a picture and waved his hand happily. The spy, obviously realizing his cover is blown immediately walks away from the tour group as fast as he can.
“Good job red team, I think we took pictures of some 20 spies right now. Good job, keep up the good work. I’m informing our delegate here of our operations” said Red Leader as the Captain walks to Julien and taps his shoulder
“Yes Capitaine? what is it?” said Julien without looking at the captain
“We’ve found and took pictures of some 20 spies sir. You can call out the Sultan or his daughter sir. We have definite evidence that the Saddle Arabians are spying on us…..rather badly I might add”
“Thank you capitaine, I’ll bring up the issue to Amira right now.” Julien responded as they reached the gardens of Saddle Arabia
“Now in here we can see the majesty of the Saddle Arabian gardens. This place is very important to us because this highlights that growing plants in the dessert is very possible. It is built by Sultana Makesh ur Rashid during her reign in 940 AB” Amira said as they entered the gardens. But after she said that they are allowed to see and admire the view of the gardens for themselves. The French delegation approached her and the Sultan, and it looks like she knew what the delegate is going to talk about.
“Hey there” Mr Julien said as he approached the Sultan and Amira
“Greetings Mr Julien, we can talk about the formation of diplomatic relationships on a later date. Talk to me after you’ve finished the peace talks between your side and the Changelings”
“Oh that is a given Ms Amira, but what I’m wanting to discuss here is something more important.”
Amira tensed up, could they found our spies already? How could the French be so perceptive?
“You see…...I’ve been informed by my security team over there” as he waved his hand on the Commando Marines enjoying the view which is responded by a wave as well “That you have been spying on us. I have evidence of this act so instead of exposing the evidence for all the world to see, why don’t you come talk with us for the moment and resolve this issue.” Julien said with a very smug grin on his face
Amira never thought it would’ve come down to this. The only time where they were being called out for their spying was when Princess Celestia visited their kingdom all those years ago.
“Very well then, come with me. We have a lot to talk about” the Sultan interjected as he ordered Amira to continue with the tour.
Sultan Rabin ur Rashid’s throne room, 3:30PM, +16 days after event
“Oh dear….it appears our spies are not as well trained as your operatives” the sultan said as he sees a bunch of photos taken by Mr Julien’s escorts clearly showing Amira’s and Haakim’s spies. But how could they detect it so easily? Our spies are some of the best on the planet!? the Sultan thought.
“It appears so really. Captain Caron said that even simple caution and good observation (at least for the marines) will make these spies of yours stand out in the crowds rather easily” Replied Julien
The Sultan was utterly taken aback by the delegate’s words simple observation and caution? But our spies are trained to give their target a false sense a security for them to easily spy on them. Is there something different in the human psychology that makes it harder for our spies to lure them into it? the Sultan thought. In the end, Sultan Rabin decided that these French would be a net benefit for Saddle Arabia if they were close friends instead of being has beens and acquintances. We can learn from French operatives about their spying techniques and in return, the French can give us military and economic assistance reasoned the Sultan as he saw his guards wearing peculiar gear that must’ve been mechanical in nature.
“Okay then Mr Julien, regarding this issue. Saddle Arabia would issue a formal apology regarding our spying and would like to establish formal diplomatic relationships between Saddle Arabia and the French republic.” the Sultan said
“Okay then, I will inform the President regarding the issue. Do you want to establish embassies on French soil as well? Amaterasu and Equestria are building their embassies in Paris right now.”
The French have contacted Amaterasu? So they must be located somewhere in the lunar Ocean. The journey to trade with Amaterasu are only done by the finest Saddle Arabian sailors the Sultan thought as he replied with a ‘yes’ and concluded the meeting.
Kirin Trade ship ‘Amatsukaze’, 4:00PM, +16 days after event
“Are the porcelain ready Sanako? I hear that some of the representatives from this ‘Sotheby’s’ are very interested in auctioning them” Daimyo Sukejiro Saji asked the noblemare as she was preparing her ship for her travel not to Equestria, but to France.
“Oh yes of course, alongside that. I also bought in silverware, tea sets and even some preserved kirin foods like rice and edamame. As per Kirin tax laws I will give you 25% of the proceeds once I return. Just you wait Sukejiro, we’re going to make a killing here in France!” Sanako replied as she yells at one crewmember louging around to get back to work and asks the captain whether the ship is ready.
“Well good luck Sanako. France is much closer than Equestria but it’s still a very perilous journey ahead, I pray for your safety” The Daimyo says as he steps out from the Amatsukaze and waves goodbye at one of the many ships bound for France. All of them are bringing tea sets, silverware and porcelain items to France. Ever since the empress’s tour of the Provence, France and Amaterasu rapidly sign in a trade deal allowing French companies to buy and invest in Amaterasu if Amaterasan bussinesskirins are allowed to do the same. The empress presented the deal in the assembly of Daimyos and as usual, the Daimyos agreed to the terms laid out and opened the Kirin Empire of Amaterasu to French shipping and investment.
Of course French investors must agree to Kirin labour laws and Kirin bussinesses must do the same. But the potential to make money is so great French and Kirin companies are willing to brush it off and invest in both countries anyway. Already he's hearing rumours that the French super company CMA CGM are sending their ships from La Rochelle and Brest in order to conduct commerce in his city. Just when my realm couldn’t be rich enough the Daimyo thought as he sees the trade convoy move onto the horizon, eager to make their pay in this brave new nation called France.
The Daimyo and The Noble probably wouldn't know about this, but both nations are going to benefit from this trade deal heavily and this deal will lay down the foundation for the industrialisation of Amaterasu and eventual dominance of Amaterasu in the western continent for years to come.
TF1 headquarters, 8:00PM, +16 days after event
“Hello and welcome to 20 heures, I am your host Claire Chazal and let’s see the headlines for tonight”
CMA CGM announces shipping is about to resume to normal as trade barriers between Amaterasu and France are broken down
“In a stunning first move made by the French shipping giant. CMA CGM announces that they will be conducting trade operations between Equestria and Amaterasu. Ships based in Strasbourg as well as La Rochelle and Brest have departed to foreign ports to buy supplies. CEO of CMA CGM Jacques R Saade commented that ‘although layoffs are very possible. The chances that we are going to rehire them come 2016 are very high’”
French delegation have arrived in Al Qafr for peace talks
“French foreign minister Laurent Fabius has announced that Mr Julien Thomas, the French ambassador to Equestria has arrived in the Saddle Arabian capital of Al Qafr. Peace talks are about to start between the French, Equestrian and Changeling delegations tomorrow.
The first prototypes of the new ESRC armoured vehicles have been produced
With the increase of the defense budget. The first prototypes of the fast tracked ESRC program have been delivered to the French Army. The French Army are about to conduct field tests with the vehicle to ensure that said vehicle have met quality standards”
CNRS labs announces about the existence of magic in this world, claims that they can tap it to a device to perform basic telekinesis
“Although it has been observed multiple times by the sentient species of this world. CNRS, the French National Center of Scientific Research has just confirmed the existence of magic. They also further claimed that they have made a small rudimentary device attached to the hand that performs basic telekinesis. CNRS president Alain Fuchs has said that ‘The potential cost savings done by magic is near limitless and we are integrating this newfound knowledge into our list of known natural properties’”
*Intro for le 20h rolls in again*
“Hello and welcome to 20 heures. CMA CGM, the French shipping giant has given a statement regarding trade between France, Equestria and Amaterasu. Jacques R Saade have commented that trade missions between the company and Amaterasu as well as Equestria will benefit all sides and bring the French economy back into shape”
*Skips into a video about Jacques R Saade giving a Press statement*
“And it is in our great interest to see France back in shape in this brave new world. As I am speaking, our remaining fleet have been moving out of Brest as well as La Rochelle to buy Kirin goods and other items demanded from the French market. This trade mission as well as the blossoming of French-Equestrian-Amaterasan relationship will benefit all sides and will bring the French Economy back in shape next year. Thank you very much” as the CEO ended his announcement and points his hand to a reporter
“Hello there, what are your comments regarding France’s economic future now that this country is not on earth anymore”
“I will say that the loss of Earth’s trade network has been a very damaging event for the French economy, but just like any good Frenchmen. We survive and we will thrive in this brave new world. I predict that there will be hard times looming for France in the near future but I am confident that we will resolve it amicably” he points his hand to another reporter
“Are you planning to initiate mass layoffs in the near future?”
“Maybe, most of the staff that are employed by CMA CGM are based overseas and the staffing of CMA CGM is reduced drastically as a result. I am not heavily considering layoffs as we are starting to make profit again but it remains to be seen whether or not layoffs are necessary in the near future.”
*Video then cuts back into the newsroom*
“The French diplomatic delegation has arrived in Al Qafr, capital city of Saddle Arabia and will begin diplomatic negotiations with the Changeling swarm tomorrow. French foreign minister Laurent Fabius has commented that the situation is ‘acceptable’ and he hopes that the negotiations ‘will benefit both sides.’”
*Skips into a video showing Laurent Fabius stepping out of a car*
“Just now at 3PM,. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has made an official announcement regarding the state of the French delegation that entered Saddle Arabia”
*Video skips to minister Laurent Fabius speaking*
“The situation happening right now in Saddle Arabia has been acceptable and I have ordered Mr Julien Thomas to enter in negotiations with an open mind and a sound judgement. Hopefully these negotiations will benefit both sides of this conflict.”
*Video then skips back to the newsroom*
“Now moving on the defense news. The new French Army combat vehicle have been rolled out of the assembly line for the first time. This new French Army combat vehicle called the ESRC will be the replacement for the aging ERC-90 sagaie’s and the AMX-10’s. The first vehicles have been moved to Camp de Chalons proving grounds for live testing.”
*skips to a video of a vehicle moving around in the proving grounds*
“The new ESRC vehicle will be the newest addition to the French armoured force. This vehicle has allowed the Armee de Terre to replace the aging ERC-90s and AMX-10s. This new vehicle will form the basis as the general combat vehicle of France and alongside the VBMR will serve as the chief armoured vehicle of the Armee de Terre, relegating the role of the AMX Leclerc as a spearhead once more.”
*Video then skips into a 3d model of the vehicle*
“The vehicle will be divided into 2 main armoured variants, the light and the heavy variant. The light variant will carry a 40mm cannon alongside reactive armour while the heavy variant will be provided with a larger 110mm cannon and active defense systems to protect the vehicle. Both these vehicles have been said to be more effective than their previous counterparts and will provide the French Army with a more versatile and modern armoured force”
*Video then skips to the newsroom*
“And on our final headline, magic. The force that has long been rumoured to be a myth has come back in force as CNRS labs have confirmed the existence of magic in their announcement. Further reports also suggests that magic can be channeled into productive activities immediately through the usage of ‘magic gauntlets’ which are gloves that allow the channeling of magical energy at the user’s disposal”
*Video then skips to a bunch of scientists experimenting with the gauntlet*
“Magic is real and magic has come back to present itself in the French national psyche. Researches at CNRS labs have confirmed the existence of magic through their experiments with dark energy. It has been confirmed that under this new world, dark energy is more present and allows the scientists at CNRS to transform this raw dark energy into seemingly useful means like telekinesis.”
*Video skips into a scientist lifting a glass cup of water with Alain Fuchs commenting on the occasion*
“This telekinesis ability is still new and needs time to be perfected, but I’m confident that with the right amount of time and resources we can unlock the mystery of this dark energy and propel the sciences to new heights.”
*Video then skips to the newsroom*
Thank you very much for watching 20 heures, this is Claire Chazal signing off
*Roll outro*