[War] Canada/Australia: Kangaroos And Maple Leafs

[Daniel Sanderson]

"Kangaroos and Maple Leafs"
July.7/2014
Prime Minister Jack Decker
Prime Minister James McColl
Australia/Canada



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McColl's staff had been preparing the accommodations of the Australian PM for some time.  The visit was largely a last minute affair, but he wasn't peeved.  McColl was glad that Decker had decided to come, and was looking forward to the visit.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s modified Boeing 737 began it’s final decent into Canadian Forces Base Upland, the closest military airfield to Ottawa. The modified 737s were the Australian equivalent, to a degree, of Air Force One, flown by Number 34 Squadron. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are now descending into Canadian Forces Base Upland, where the local time is 1134. Please fasten your seatbelts, as we begin our landing…”

“Just hold them off, James,” Decker said, speaking to the Attorney General back in Australia. “I’ll get the Legal Attaché here to give me a brief, wiring all the information to him. We’re landing now…ok…bye.” Decker hung up the phone and pinched the bridge of his nose. Another Australian had been busted trying to get into Indonesia with drugs. Just what they needed.

Lisa hung up the phone she was using too. She’d taken the week off, and her mother had flown up from Melbourne to look after the kids. “It’s sunny out.”

“Twenty degrees.” Decker said, holding his wife’s hand.

“I always had this old image of America, Canada, Europe, just being cold, all the time.”

“Too many children’s movies.”

The 737 touched down, and taxied over to the arrival area. Decker rose, and grabbed his jacket, pulling it on and straightening up his tie. Decker was travelling with a detachment of ten Federal Police officers, five people from the Department of Foreign Affairs, four from the Defence Department, and six of his personal staff. Small for a foreign leader, but all he really needed. The stairs were rolled into position, and the hatch was opened. Three of the Feds went first, and then Decker and Lisa stepped out, giving a wave to the small media contingent, and then heading down the stairs, smiling, spotting McColl nearby.

McColl caught Decker's eye as he edged his way through the media and then proceeded to walk over.  

"I'm glad we can finally meet Prime Minister Decker!  Welcome to Canada."  McColl greeted.  "I hope you don't find it too chilly, we're having a very mild summer so far." He joked with friendly smile and a handshake.  "We'll have you holed up in No.7, Rideau Gate; I hope you don't mind, it is a lovely residence.  And coincidentally is right next door to my place."  He grinned.

Decker shook the man’s hand. “Are you kidding? My wife wants to buy a house here so she can escape Canberra winters for a Canadian summer.” He stepped back and gestured. “This is my wife, Lisa.”

“Hello Mr. Prime Minister.” Lisa said with a warm smile of her own, and extended her hand. “Thank you so much for having us here.”

McColl smiled and shook her proffered hand.  "My pleasure.  My wife and children are at home, they made me come all by myself, the meanies.  The limos are just this way, if you'll follow me." 

They climbed in for the ride into Ottawa. Decker sat next to his wife, across from McColl. “We would have bought the kids along, but the twins are in their last year of high school, they’re studying hard, or at least we hope they are.”

"Mine haven't reached that age yet, thankfully.  My little girl is a not so little 12, and my son is 8.  So I have a couple years of grace yet I think.  Once your kids are done school, you must bring them to see one our winters, I'm sure they would enjoy it.  I still do when I have free time."

“Sounds great.” Lisa replied. “Beats a Canberra winter, where it’s just wet and windy. We get some snow, but not a whole lot. We might have to keep that in mind as a gift idea.”

“I’m sorry it’s taken so long for me to get around to meeting you, James.” Decker said. “It’s all been a little hectic, hasn’t it?”

"Yep.  I know exactly what you mean.  Sometimes it seems like the world can't function without a crisis to keep it busy.  Actually, I heard your old PM, Kevin Rudd, was looking into creating some sort of Disaster Response thing.  We'd be happy to provide any help or advice you need.  Just ask."  By this point, they were getting into the city centre, driving alongside the Rideau Canal.

“Yeah, I would really like to talk to you about DART. Kevin never really got the chance to get it off the ground, but I would like to give it a shot. The Asia Pacific rim is yet another of the world’s favourite disaster zones.” Decker said with a nod. “Beautiful.” He said, looking at the Canal. “When I see the other world’s capitals, makes me think we should demolish Canberra and start new.”

"We can definitely discuss it tomorrow at the conference.  As I remember, BC does have some old, extinct, and dormant volcanoes, heh, wouldn't be surprised if one of them blows and levels Vancouver one of these days..." he trailed off.  "You know Jack, I should come see Oz, I've always wanted to go there, but the need to get a visa always peeved me.  Perhaps we could fix that too?"

“Well, you wouldn’t need a visa if you came to visit now.” Decker pointed out. “Our immigration system is something I do want to work on, especially as far as refugees and asylum seekers go. Holiday makers, well, maybe later on.” He said with a smile.

They were driving past the National Defence HQ now.  McColl looked melancholy as he stared out at it.  "That's where it all happens... I wish it were otherwise, but a nation's influence on the international stage still depends on it's ability to project power via it's military primarily.  We're actually expanding the facility too as you see there, its too small for our current needs."

“You’d think after the Cold War that would have changed, right? But instead we just had to modify how we fight.” Decker said with a sigh. “Oh well, I’ve always said, I just hope one day the whole world realises that we need to work together and stop knocking each other off.”

"Agreed, but until then, I'm afraid I have little choice but to continue the military expansion policy my government has in place."  McColl sighed.  Soon after that, they had pulled up to No.7, Rideau Gate.

Decker nodded. “Most issues are too far gone for us to do a complete one-eighty on them.” He looked outside. “Nice place.” He said with a smile. “Thanks James, I imagine we’ll see you in a few hours.” Decker had a meeting with some Embassy people, including the Ambassador, followed by a reception. Tomorrow would be a work day.


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Actions:
1] The PM's get to meet.
2] Aussie PM Decker arrives for a visit in Ottawa.




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