TERRA EMPIRE: ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR
Episode 12: AMBASSADOR AUSTRALIA DINNER INVITATION
Mr. Janus looks at the hologram screen to receive a call from Clementine Cointa. The woman had just reported on her meeting with the Iraqi leader as she had requested after Iran sent a counter-missile that destroyed an American stronghold on its territory in Mainland,
“I've asked him not to support anything Tramp plans about the attack,” Prefect Cointa ends his report. “And I can put more pressure on it than when I was dealing with Tramp.”
“Hopefully the talk can be held. I believe the Tramp will send another attack in response to the Iranian Shah's retaliatory attack. And this time he definitely doesn't want to do it alone.”
“He should look for another ally,” Prefect Cointa responded. “I am sure President Hafidz will not be provoked incitement Tramp.”
“Then have his men control the talk. Top Iraqi officials have made conferences in all media demanding that Iran apologise if it does not want the problem to be long-tail,” said Mr. Janus.
“Will be done soon, Sir!” sahut Prefect Cointa nodded.
“Thank you, Prefect! Excuse me first because I have a dinner appointment,” said Mr. Janus. “Heil Terra!”
“Heil Terra,” Prefect Cointa salutes, attaches index and middle fingers to the forehead and raises all five fingers in the air.
The Auris hologram screen recedes to coincide with the arrival of Mr's car. Janus in front of the terrace of Amuz Gourmet. The lobby officer opened the door before the man exited and walked into the restaurant in authoritative strides, while his car continued to drive into the parking lot.
“Goodnight, Mr...” greet the welcome restaurant attendant. “.... already registered?”
“I think so, on behalf of Theodor Janus or James Howell, perhaps.”.
The restaurant attendant wearing the tuxedo nodded and smiled at Mr. Janus, “Ah, Mr. Howell's been waiting for you inside. Please..”
This restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Jakarta. The organizers of the place not only decorated the room with ornaments that displayed a European feel in the Barochi era when European nobles enjoyed their luxury period, but also brought their Chief Chef directly from France. No wonder this place is known for its special menu, cheese-grilled lamb cooked with the best beer and wine sauce.
Mr. Janus had no idea where the person who invited him knew that this place had a menu that was one of his favorites, but he was not surprised because sycophants like them usually have a lot of time and a way to figure out these little things, but a fool with it because he was starving at the moment. This is the menu you want to enjoy tonight…
“We are in the arrival of new wine from Mainz, if you want to taste something lighter as a dinner companion,” the waitress tuxedo give information.
“Has it been a favorite the past few months?”
“We just got the shipment two weeks ago, so it's a pity that the wine hasn't reached our favorite standard until now. But you don't have to worry because there are some guests who start asking...”.
Mr. Janus frowned, “I am a conservative man. I choose the usual, Chardonay..”.
“Good, sir!” the waiter nodded. “Your table..”
The table reserved for him is located in the mezzanine of the restaurant, a special place overlooking the Ancol beach so that guests who enjoy the dish can enjoy the waves and the beautiful lights of the harbor and ships that sail back and forth on the beach. At table number 26 it was already waiting for the intelligent-looking middle-aged man with a thin mustache adorning his lips. He stood up and greeted Janus as soon as the man came to him.
“Good night, Mr. Janus! Glad you could accept my dinner invitation.”
“Goodnight, Mr Dubes!” sahut Mr's. Janus cheered the man. “I'm not happy because I'm back and forth and hold our meeting.”
“Call me Howell..James Howell..” the man smiled. “Please sit.”
“Thank you Mr. Howell,” said Janus before then sitting in front of the man.
“I think because of the world's security concerns should come first rather than dinner with friends, don't you think?” Howell.
“All important! Including this invitation, especially I think this is not just dinner, is not it?” Janus responded with a calm. “There must be a special agenda that you want to talk to me about?”
“Many things I want to talk about, especially about the possibility of adding a form of cooperation between Australia and all countries in the northern Archipelago region. Just before that, how about we have dinner first? You will definitely love the flagship menu of this place, cheese grilled lamb.”
“Is it good?” Janus raised an eyebrow, pretending to be curious.
“None of them. And the sauce..cooked with beer..” said the Ambassador.
“Alright! I order that only,” Janus smiles happily. Then add after the waiter leaves to bring the order. “How's your wife, Nancy?”
“He's not feeling well.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.”.
The two talked about various things ranging from extreme weather that makes many people in almost every country fall ill, to about food at the latest restaurants in Australia that must be visited if Mr. Janus went to Melbourne. The ambassador shunned political talks because he realized it was sensitive amid the heat of America's relations with Middle Eastern countries. While everyone knows Australia's position as one of America's strong allies.
Mr. Janus himself had a guess about the purpose of this meeting, but because he did not want to start it then left James Howell chatting bouncing around. There is nothing more delicious than a cheese-baked sheep even though it must be accompanied by a man who keeps talking about things that are not important. The man gave James Howell a glance as if he were listening to what he was saying, while at the same time he was being lulled by the tenderness of the flesh on the tongue.
“I believe it can all be obtained thanks to the planning of Prime Minister Hampbull who improved the economy in Australia since taking office for the last four years. And for that we do not hesitate to increase the progress, regardless of the elections that will soon be held and Prime Minister certainly trying to be re-elected.”
“Betul, it's just that he has not managed to do one of his campaign promises, and it will be a shooting target for oposan.”
“What is it?”
“Australia energy independent..”
“Your country will not be able to be energy independent when following the lifestyle of Americans, let alone their government need a country like Australia as a consumer of one of the largest users for their oil commodities.”
“We're ready for that, Mr. Janus! If we are given opportunities like Iran and Japan,” James Howell said in a reassuring tone.
“What we're talking about here, Mr. Howell?” Mr. Janus asked back. “What kind of trust do you mean?”
“Nuclear, Mr. Janus! We want to have the technology.”
“Make what nuclear? Don't you have a solar system and so on?”
“Whatever is there now cannot replace our need for oil. Nuclear technology is the answer we are looking for, because it is safe from pollution.”
“And what makes you think your country should have it?”
“We have prepared a planning proposal to inform how serious we are about having this technology. Also a considerable amount of money to fund this project.”.
“How big?”
James Howell fiddled with his phone and showed it to Mr. Janus, “This fund has been deposited to the Sydney Commonwealth Bank as a guarantee to be withdrawn at any time while the project is running. Of course this value is quite large compared to what Indonesia prepared for this project.”
“Yeah, it is indeed a fairly large amount.” Mr. Janus clucking.
“About ten percent we have prepared as a fee to be deposited into Terra Empire,” Howell gives a passionate smile.
Mr. Janus was astonished to hear James Howell mention Terra Empire but the man was so ordinary as to flip through the proposal Howell gave while nodding lightly, “Yaa, I think this is something interesting… it's just that you may not understand the reason we give the technology to the country you mentioned earlier.it is not solely because they have attractive proposals or large amounts of money.”
The smile on Howell's face suddenly disappeared, he said softly after his surprise was gone “Does this mean you reject our request, Mr. Janus?”
“With a heavy heart.it looks like so, Mr. Howell.”
“You will still provide that technology to Indonesia? Wh why? They suck people..and their carelessness can make this world doomsday if not careful handle nuclear.”.
“Not those who will build it there, but our people,” said Mr. Janus. “With our human resources and money. For that we do not need help from any government, including the Indonesian government itself.”
“Why did you choose them? Why not us?”
“As I said before, all of our actions have been taken into account. Just like building a nuclear reactor in Iran to meet energy needs throughout the Middle East or America to meet needs throughout America, Canada and Mexico…that is also what we hope by building nuclear reactors in Indonesia to meet the needs of a country that is notoriously wasteful with its energy.”
“Means it wasn't the Iranian government that built its nuclear reactor there like the Americans alleged?”
“Maybe Howard Tramp is new to the government, so he doesn't know about it, or there may be a whisperer who gives him the wrong information… all you need to know is that technology like this is impossible for us to loose haphazardly because we all understand what careless governments are doing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
“Yes, we don't want that.”
“Of course not. Therefore any development based on such technology we do ourselves with our people.”
James Howell clucked in disbelief, “How big is Terra Empire really? Why don't a lot of people know about you?”
“Our number is quite large, because we are among you. And our whereabouts need not be known because we have representatives in government in many countries as a representation of what must be done to maintain world peace, Mr.”. Janus answered after sipping his wine glass. “We were there before you guys, Mr Ambassador!”
The man was stunned, “We exist? Who are we you mean?”
“Countries, Mr. Howell,” replied Mr. Janus. “I think we've had enough meetings tonight. I need a break
because tomorrow morning I have another appointment. And the clock is.. really morning..”.
The Australian Ambassador realized this meeting did not produce good results as he expected so he could only nod lethargicly, “It seems so. Thank you for your willingness to meet my dinner invitation.”
“Deliver my warm regards to Prime Minister Hampbull..”
***
