Office of His Majesty the Emperor, Quattroregni Palace, Romula.
1 September 5225 - anniversary of the ascension of the House of Appiano De Borromei to the Throne of Istalia (OOC: happened on 1st September 4571),
10.00 a.m.A small yellow light switched on on the desk, attracting the gaze of the Grand Prince of the Crown, who had been reading papers on some recent legislative decrees up to that moment, and then, after about ten seconds, someone knocked at the door which then opened, letting in the Colonel Rosati leading the way for Prime Minister Spada.
The woman entered, took four steps before presenting the bow, and then covered the distance between her and the desk with wide strides, her most dazzling smile on the face.
The Prince got up when the woman was a couple of meters away and went around her desk to shake her hand.
"Good Morning Madam Prime Minister"
"Good morning and best wishes, onother thousand years at the Imperial House, Your Imperial Highness" exclaimed the Prime Minister with a certain theatricality.
"thank you Madam Prime Minister"
"I won't deny you, Your Highness, I look forward to tonight's reception, you really gave an irresistible touch to the evenings at the Palace if I may say so"
"too kind Madam Prime Minister, really" replied the Prince not hiding that pinch of embarrassment that always arose in him when they spoke of him as a sort of "influencer" or as in any case how him and his wife were portrayed for some time now in the tabloids.
"ehm... did you see what beautiful sun we have today? Next summer promises to be hot! Do you already have any plans for the holidays? Where will you spend Hallownight?" he asked quickly as he pointed Miss Spada to one of the two chairs in front of the desk as he returned to his place.
"actually I haven't really decided yet... you, Highness? I heard the Princess would like to stay here"
"oh yes, the twins just recovered from a bad chickenpox and we prefer not to move, we will be with the whole family at the Hunting Lodge of Terracche Lakes for Hallownight"
"And His Majesty, how's he doing? I saw him in great shape at the swearing-in ceremony"
"he recovered very well indeed, thank you"
He fell silent for a moment, the Prince moved and rearranged some cards, then while smoothing his right mustache he raised his head and turned again to the woman:
"therefore... I see you presented in parliament all the traeties related to the TRA and those with the associated partners"
"I did, Highness"
"I wanted to discuss this specifically with you actually. You know... I heard there some puzzled rumors raised in recent weeks regarding the TRA" he paused, as if waiting for the Prime Minister to nod "and I can't deny that that the fake news affair about Kafuristan has... well... affected the reputation and image of the TRA and its leaders in Beiteynu"
"undeniable, absolutely"
"specifically there is discontent with the Beiteynese leadership"
"I am aware of this, Your Highness, and therefore I am convinced that our enthusiastic participation in this partnership will make a great contribution to the TRA"
The Prince looked at her for a few seconds without saying anything, with his hands he moved some cards without really too much attention, and the Prime Minister continued to show off his proven reassuring smile.
"I hope that our participation will allow Istalia to "contribute" also in the leadership of this international cooperation, I think it is a crucial point Madam Prime Minister"
"I realize all the concerns the TRA is raising"
"and in fact I don't think it's a coincidence that just now a party like the National Front has appeared and attracted so much support. National security is an issue that is very dear to our citizens"
"we have also reassured our allies of the National Front on the TRA whose intentions do not pose a threat to the country but rather it can be an opportunity that we should exploit. And I want to reassure His Highness that I have clear my intentions: Istalia will not simply be an observer in this organization"
"in any case, you will agree with me that we will have to pay particular attention to always knowing what our partners and the TRA in general are doing in Istalia, and beyond, and for Istalia"
"since my previous administrations, my party and I have never hidden that this has always been our priority. Nothing can come before the country for us, Your Highness"
"that's why... well... I also wanted to talk to you about an... idea... developed between the Palace and... the DISIS"
"the Palace and... the DISIS?" he asked repeating those words with the same rhythm as the Prince but with a questioning tone and maybe even a little perplexed "but... what idea is it about?"
"guarantee the maximum access permits to a small, restricted, well-prepared but above all very loyal group of Istalian agents with the sole purpose of monitoring everything that happens in the TRA to report exclusively to you, the Crown and the Director of DISIS and... whose existence shall not be mentioned anywhere"
"to monitor you say?" the Prime Minister frowned but she looked interested and leaned forward with an arched eyebrow.
"exclusively monitoring who is monitoring and what , untied from the circuits of the TRA and our own Intelligence"
"Your Highness... we're talking about something that even the Ministry of Defence... even the COPASIN won't know about... right?"
"no Madam Prime Minister, I don't think it will be possible to use... how to say... the usual procedures, for this reason the idea was to employ men of the Imperial Guard"
The Prime Minister slowly straightened up in her chair, observed the Prince with a curious eye, then began to nod. The Prince anticipated her by speaking again:
"no one is more faithful than the Imperial Guard and through the Colonel Commander of the Guard we will be able to easily coordinate this small group of "observers", the Director of DISIS is already organizing for their specific training"
"Your Highness... are you proposing something to me or are you revealing the fait accompli?"
"I may have been presumptuous and in that case I apologize, but... I assumed that our dear Prime Minister Spada would have given her warmest assent"
The Prime Minister smiled graciously hiding the fact that she wasn't exactly amused and could not resist replying to the Prince with a hint of irony:
"Your Highness...the Crown appears, to me... to be doing much more than being consulted, encouraging and advising"
"my sin of pride as I said, but... was I wrong?" the Prince kept an amiable and relaxed expression but his eyes were fixed intently on those of the Prime Minister.
"actually... no" the Prime Minister replied after a few seconds, softening his expression.
"so, do you authorize me to give the green light to General Giuffré? In case I will call Colonel Marcuzzi immediately"
"okay Your Highness, but... if we're at this point, acting purely by voice from what I understand... I wonder if and how much the Crown is... too worried"
"the Crown is always and only concerned about one thing and only about that: Istalia. You will realize that this cooperation is a really huge step for our country which has always favored a policy of unilateral defense since the restoration of the Empire. Not only the Crown but also other interests want to be reassured"
"I am perfectly aware of it, Your Highness... but in detail, Your Father and You, what do you think?" the Prime Minister pierced him with a look as penetrating as those the Prince had given her.
"in me" the Prince smiled, understanding "you may have a more available ally than my father as far as the TRA is concerned, but in spite of this I still take my father's opinions into due consideration, which are shared by General Giuffré, among other things... he will be the real watchdog!"
"thank you for warning me earlier, I'll remember to prepare to face him... however... joking aside, Your Highness, how and with what detail will I be informed?"
"we thought about having a liaison agent join you, he could act as your Private Secretary"
"my..." the Prime Minister jumped on her seat "Your Highness... you realize that the Prime Minister's Private Secretary is quite a political figure..."
"we will offer you a person who will be appreciated by your party and your allies, don't worry"
"and my current Private Secretary? I assure you he won't be happy at all! I know him, I trust him but I also know that he would be extremely vindictive if he were so wronged, he could raise a lot of questions"
"first of all each person has their price Madam Prime Minister and then I'm sure you will understand why we need your liaison in such a position, your Private Secretary has access to you 24/7 and he is the only one who can get close to you at any time and occasion, ceremony or public or media appearance without arousing any suspicion"
The woman kept silent, did not answer, remaining to reflect, crossing the Prince's gaze from time to time, which instead remained firmly and heavily fixed on her.
"Okay, it will cost you a lot knowing him and he will never have to know that I know, he will have to come to me and resign"
"clear"
"and, Your Highness... should anything leak out, I, my office and my government will not take any responsibility, I will not put my Ministry and my career at risk to cover an operation that has nothing legal about it and about which, despite my assent, despite understanding the motivations behind all this, I continue to have certain reservations"
"we will all have to work hard to ensure that nothing transpires Madam Prime Minister" he replied with a relaxed smile on a face that however could not be more resolute.
"So, I'd say that at this point we can move on to what's on the agenda for today's meeting" the Prince changed the subject, bringing some papers closer and this time paying attention to what he was taking "do you want something, Madam Prime Minister? A coffee perhaps?"
"I would gladly accept it, Your Highness"
The Prince pressed a key on the telephone/intercom asking for the coffee for the Prime Minister with whom he began to talk about the topics of the day.
OOC:
Colonel Rosati: Private Secretary of the Grand Prince of the Crown
General Giuffré: Director-General of the
DISIS, head of the Istalian Intelligence
Colonel Marcuzzi: Colonel Commander of the Imperial Guard