Gran Colombia, H1/08

[The Rock Doctor]

Thanks.  It gets across a few different points, the nature of my future construction being only one of them.

[Ithekro]

You're going to start to get the neighbors worried here at some point.  :D

[The Rock Doctor]

Perish the thought.  I'm trying to catch up with the neighbours!

[The Rock Doctor]

4 May 1908:  Esmeraldas

The last of the coal was being shovelled into the bunkers, and food, water, and ammunition were all topped up.  The Bucaramanga was nearly ready to set out on her cruise - for Capitan de Corbeta Alfonso Cardones, all that was left to do was to call upon Vice-Admiral Santander as he'd been ordered to do.

After a few minutes' wait, he was admitted into the office of the Commanding Officer, Pacific Fleet.  "Have a seat, Capitan", the Vice-Admiral grunted. 

"Thank you, sir."

"How're your preparations?"

"The bunkers will be full in the next two hours, Sir.  I gave the order to raise steam just before I left."

"Looking forward to it?"

"It'll be...interesting...to be cruising through a war zone to and from the Cooks.  Otherwise, I look forward to everything but paying off when we return home.  It'll be a shame to see the girl sent to the breakers."

"Mmm hmm", Santander replied.  "I agree - however, you'll be interested to know that you won't, in fact, be paying off after all."  Seeing Cardones' startled expression brought a narrow smile to the older man's face.  "I know the feeling.  The fact of the matter is that the purchase of some old UKN hulks has apparently created the tiniest bit of flexibility in the system."

"That's...good news, Sir", Cardones remarked.

"Indeed, for it turns out that Bucaramanga happens to be particularly well-suited for a specific task that has recently arisen.  She has long legs, heavy - for her size - armament, and command facilities.  So it's been decided that you'll be deploying to Coquimbo as station flagship after your visit to the Cooks."

"I was under the impression that only patrol sloops and cutters were deploying there, Admiral", Cardones commented.

Santander nodded.  "That was the original plan, but apparently it became politically unacceptable.  It was suggested that an armored cruiser be deployed, but ours are too large for their drydocks, and the Jamaican ACs aren't designed for long deployments."

"I'd heard that.  Puerta Espana wasn't selected on account of her newness, Sir?"

"She hasn't got the legs or the facilities for the job", Santander said.  "The new ships don't, either - the mission requirement didn't exist when their design was finalized.  No, Bucaramanga will work just fine.  She's a sturdy old workhorse, and she's got enough guns and protection to make any raider think twice."

"Hopefully that will remain a theoretical consideration, Sir", Cardones noted.

[The Rock Doctor]

16 May 1908:  Cartagena

The birthday celebration for Senora Alizandro was far from winding down as President Rey Alizandro stepped out for some fresh air.  He loved his mother, truly did, but her social circle left something to be desired; the women were so...shallow, and the men were generally of the opinion that having bounced Rey on their knees thirty years earlier qualified them for tax breaks in the present.

"Sorry", he said, noticing another figure with its back to him, leaning on the cast iron railing of the balcony.

"There's room for two", Sebastien de Soto replied.  "Cigar?"

"I'm getting enough second-hand, thank you", Rey answered, stepping up beside his uncle and minister of industry.  The lights of Cartagena formed a brilliant vista before them both, reflecting off the clouds above in an orange glow.

"Escaping the old biddies?", Sebastien asked after a bit.

Rey chuckled.  "Yes.  You too?"

"Absolutely.  A loathsome crowd my sister associates with.  The worst of our class.  Your father could never stand them either."

"He concealed it well", Rey noted.

"Enrico was a consumate politician.  He could make anybody feel like the centre of his universe if he were so inclined", Sebastien commented.

"I believe it", Rey agreed.  "There were many days in my youth where I'd only see him for a few minutes between sun-up and sun-down - yet I always felt I had his undivided attention for that short time."

Sebastien grunted in affirmation.

"I miss the old man", Rey continued.  "Coming up on four years now.  It doesn't hurt to think about him, much."

"The old cliches about time and wounds does apply", Sebastien replied.  "Still, he was taken from us before his time."

It was Rey's turn to grunt in response.

"Can I ask a question?", his uncle ventured.

"Of course, Uncle."

"Where have you gotten with your succession planning?"

"Uh...well, Jose will succeed me."

Sebastien's grunt was not of the positive kind this time around.  "Your son is eight years old, Rey.  A decade away from the seat of power at the absolute minimum - closer to two, if he is to be properly prepared.  You only have to look at your father to know that God doesn't necessarily intend for you to be on this mortal coil until you're eighty."

"He's my oldest, uncle.  I can't help that it works out that way."

"Perhaps you need to make some contingency planning", Sebastien replied.  "Bring your brother into the cabinet."

Rey shook his head.  "Jaime's too busy with the family business.  And his sons aren't much older."

"A cousin, then.  There are several", Sebastien responded.  "Carla is sharp as a whip; you could always have her legally declared a man", he said teasingly.

"I'm having enough difficulty with the more conservative elements of society without going there", Rey snorted.

Sebastien nodded.  "What about Tomas?  Or Aquileo?"

"Tomas...isn't presidential material", the President observed.  "Too care-free.  He'd fit into that bunch", he said, gesturing towards the parlour behind them.  "Aquileo..."

"A decorated veteran of the Amazon campaign", Sebastien noted.  "That's an excellent start.  He'll be disciplined."

"Yes", Rey agreed.  "Bright, too."  He thought about his few recent meetings with Captain Alizandro, and eventually said, "Yes - I think Aquileo might work out if I can just get him to leave the Army."

"He sounds like a career man, from what I've heard, but if you convince him that this would be a greater duty, you'd have him", Sebastien said.

"You think?"

"Definitely."

"Alright.  Laureano's due to retire shortly - I'll give him Finance."

"Gah...", Sebastien said in alarm.  "A central agency, right away?  Wouldn't you prefer not to scare him away?  Give him a line department before you throw him into the machinery of government."

"Nothing's available.  Nobody's due to retire for years."

"Shuffle somebody senior into Finance, and move in Aquileo as the replacement", Sebastien suggested.  "Or create a new ministry."

"We have a Ministry of Coquimbo Affairs in the works, but I had a local picked for that one", Rey noted.

"Keep him there.  Actually...why not create a Ministry of Natural Resources?"

"That's part of your own portfolio", Rey said.  "Don't you want it?"

"It's interesting, no question - but I've also got the manufacturing and transportation sectors, including the Canal.   I don't think you realize just how much work that is", Sebastien mused.  "I'd be delighted to give some of it to another man."

"Is the resource sector large enough to warrant its own ministry?"

"There's the coal mines, the metal mines, and the emeralds.  There's Coquimbo's copper production that we're rejuvenating.  Also a few people out sniffing around for petroleum in Cuba, around Lake Maracaibo, and in the Amazon; any one of those could end up in a useful discovery. So, yes - it's large enough, though I'd view it as a junior portfolio:  a good one for a newcomer who needs to learn the basics about governance."

"Then I'd better have a chat with my cousin", Rey noted.

"Yes - first, though, we need to be good guests and return to the fracas", Sebastien suggested as a muffled gale of laughter erupted from inside.

[swamphen]

*bows before the master*

[The Rock Doctor]

*Preens...*

[Carthaginian]

Excellent... though the Uncle getting a cousin picked for succession does raise a few eyebrows amongst the voices in my head.

Perhaps the nations of the Caribbean should prepare for a storm to strike... a very dangerous one, more fearful than the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

[The Rock Doctor]

What I guess I didn't make clear is that it's not Sebastien de Soto's son that is being brought into cabinet.  It's supposed to be the son of Rey's father's sister.  Still an Alizandro, then, and not a de Soto.

That sounds like a ominous suggestion there...you don't care for nepotism?

[Borys]

Ahoj!
The relationship betwen the President for Life and Aquileo is vague enough as to make the latter a De Soto. I did not have such an impression, however.

"We have a Ministry of Coquimbo Affairs in the works, but I had a local picked for that one", Rey noted.

Why create a ministry? A governor with broader than usual powers would be enough.

The dude should simply crown himself and declare a Law of Succession ...

Borys the Monarchist

[The Rock Doctor]

The Governor will be too busy running the state to allow more than one or two trips to Cartagena each year.

The Ministry for Coquimbo Affairs - like the one for Jamaican Affairs - is largely a political creation.  It does serve to provide advice on the area to the President and Cabinet, but more importantly, it's there to give the Coquimbese (?) a sense of inclusion in the Republic and its decision-making, and a voice at the centre of power.  It would be a fairly small organization - some researchers, some policy wonks, some administrative people so even calling it a Ministry is a political move.

Methinks the Alizandros enjoy the delusion that they are not royalty.

[Borys]

Methinks the Alizandros enjoy the delusion that they are not royalty.

LOL!
Most people enjoy delusions that they ARE royalty!
Borys

[Carthaginian]

Well, I didn't know that it wasn't his kid, but it didn't seem like it from the story, either.
I was just thinking that it sure seemed suspicious that they were planning for a 'contingency' of death, and getting someone from outside el Jefe's direct line as a candidate.It seemed to me more like a couple of relatives might be cooperating to get themselves ahead rather than one guy masterminding a change of power.

[The Rock Doctor]

Ah ha...I gotcha.  Well, that's a possibility, I suppose.

[The Rock Doctor]

20 May 1908:  El Vigia (near Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela)

The Man in White had long been accustomed to the feeling of having eyes upon him as he performed his work.  They had been upon his carriage as it approached the villa, had been upon him directly as he dis-embarked, placed the straw hat upon his head, and strode to the door.  They were on him now as one of the Men in Tan rapped on the door and stepped back beside him; no doubt the minds behind those eyes were relieved that it was not their door he stood before, but some would undoubtedly also fear for the occupants behind this door.  Though aware of all this, the Man in White cared not one iota.  He was focussed on the task at hand.

The door opened about eight inches before the middle-aged man behind it froze.  "Senor Sylvestre Gomez", the Man in White began.

"Ah...no...he's...", the homeowner stammered.

The Man in White continued, "That was an address, not a question, Senor Gomez.  It is possible that you did intend to finish that sentence in a factual manner, but I think it unlikely.  It would be unfortunate to find yourself charged with obstruction of justice before you even know why I am here, would it not?"

Gomez' entire body seemed to sag.  "Yes."  Though the door was only somewhat ajar, the Man in White could see sufficiently into the house to observe a middle-aged woman peer at him and then recoil out of sight.

"Senor Gomez, you are the land administration manager for the South Maracaibo district.  The district has, in the past several weeks, been rather abnormally busy with acquisition of sub-surface rights:  rumors circulate of a possible petroleum discovery."

"That's what they say", Gomez replied reluctantly.

"As the land administration manager, you have been responsible for issuing those sub-surface rights."

"Yes", Gomez agreed.

"I have information to the effect that, once the rumors of the petroleum discovery arose, several individuals' applications to obtain sub-surface rights were rejected for reasons that are not covered in the Sub-Surface Regulations of 1878.  More importantly, you were observed receiving an envelope from a landsman working for a corporation which did not experience any issues with their applications and, in fact, subsequently gained title to the areas applied for by these other individuals.  Would this be correct?"

The look on Gomez' face told the Man in White that he was poised to tell a half-truth.  "I rejected an application from a Jew, that's all."

"Do the Sub-Surface Regulations authorize you to reject an application because the applicant is a Jew?", the Man in White inquired.

"No...", Gomez conceded.  "It's just that he's a Jew, and a foreigner.  Why should he get ownership of something that belongs to people like you and me?"

"Senor Rosenblumentalovich", the Man in White said - without betraying his sense of accomplishment at pronouncing the name correctly - "Is a citizen of Gran Colombia.  The fact that he is a newly arrived citizen is irrelevant.  The fact that he is a Jew is irrelevant.  The Government of Gran Colombia welcomes such newcomers when they are entrepenurial and law-abiding, as Senor Rosenblumentalovich appears to be.  On the other hand, the fact that you acted outside your authority as a result of your prejudice is relevant.  The fact that you have accepted money from the Merida Grubstaking Collective in return for favors is certainly relevant.  The Government of Gran Colombia does not tolerate-"

Gomez abruptly turned and bolted. 

"-corruption and free-lancing by its employees", The Man in White finished wearily, as the Tan on his left barked out a warning.  If Gomez thought he was the first person to ever think about running out the back door of his house, he was going to be sadly disappointed when he got there.  There was a commotion from inside the house, stuff being knocked over and the woman screaming.  When a full minute passed without a signal from the two Tans outside the back door of the house, he quietly said, "Enter and report."

The Tan on his right drew a revolver, pushed the door open, and went inside.  "Suspect is down and bleeding in the kitchen", the Tan called out a few seconds later.  The Man in White could barely hear him over the shrieking, but he went inside and followed the sound until he entered the kitchen.  Gomez was down on his side, bleeding from a clumsy but effective wound to the throat, a butcher knife just beyond his outstretched right hand.  A woman, who he assumed to be the wife, was standing beside her husband as the life flowed from him, wailing.  Two teenaged boys were sitting at the kitchen table, eyes wide, bodies motionless.

"The wound appears to be mortal", the Tan commented.

"If Senor Gomez wishes to metaphorically fall upon his sword, that is acceptable", the Man in White replied. 

The wailing crashed to a stop and the woman flung herself at him, hands going for his throat.  He managed to intercept them just centimetres short of their target.  "You made him do this!", Senora Gomez shouted.  "You murderous bastard!"

He shook his head slightly as the Tan moved to grab her.  "Senora Gomez", he said, his voice now betraying the physical effort of holding her at bay, "Senora Gomez!  Assaulting a peace officer is a felony, and in five seconds I will be charging you with that offence.  You need to stop now."

Senora Gomez' fingers edged closer to his throat, then dropped as one of the two boys shouted, "Mama, stop!"  She stumbled backwards as if the Man in White had shoved her, and fell to her knees beside her husband, who now appeared to be dead.

To nobody in particular, the Man in White remarked, "The machinery of government must be oiled from time to time with the blood of bureaucrats and politicians."  Looking over to the teenaged boy, he added, "I am relieved that at least one member of this family has some common sense."

"Fuck you", the lad snapped.

"I retract my statement", the Man in White said.