Chapter 8.
The first day of the conference went pretty much as Amon expected. Each group of the Triumvirate branches consisted of a president (or premier, in China’s case) and three staff members, all of whom sat at a three-cornered table at the head of the room.
President Grismon was the sole representative for the North American Conglomerate. He brought only one guest: Arthur Walenberg; U.S. Military Attache. Both men were given a place in the audience along with representatives from each country within the Triumvirate.
“Why are these two here?” Amon wondered to himself. “Did the Hague conference not go well for the West? Or are they here just shopping for a better deal? Ah, well. We will find out more when ‘the four’ meet tonight.”
The opening ceremonies had been brief, with little fanfare. Brief mention was made of the ‘tragic’ death of the King of Syria. All expressed their regrets and condolences to the family and to Prince Mujah, who was seated in the place reserved for his father.
A few select members of the press were allowed to take pictures of the dignitaries, and conduct brief interviews a few minutes before the conference got under way. After the interviews were finished, all present then stood as President Georgy Abramov of the Russia delegation read the Declaration of Resolve which had been adopted at the previous meeting a year earlier:
We, the members of the Middle-Eastern Alliance do hereby affirm our unity with and fealty to, The Triumvirate, that we may, through unwavering diligence, attain that for which we strive: Universal Equality among all men and all nations.
The meeting agenda was then read by Mr. Ju Jinping, Chairman of the People’s Congress of the Peoples Republic of China.
Each item on the agenda was discussed at length. Dissenters were given time to state their cases. Minor changes were included or excluded, and then the participants signified approval by show of hands.
Prince Mujah then asked for the floor.
“Fellow delegates. As you know, I am not accustomed to participating in such proceedings. It was always my father who did such things. Never the less, now that he is gone, I must do my duty, to honor his memory, and to fulfill my obligation to my country.
“As you all know, my father had numerous issues with the Middle-Eastern Alliance which were never fully resolved. That being said, it is my belief that progress was being made, and eventually a compromise would have been reached were it not for his untimely death.
“My country has stood alone these many years, striving to maintain sovereignty in the face of concerted opposition.”
“It was my father’s belief that a united Syria is a strong Syria. He was right. And, if it is true for my country, it must also be true for this new Alliance. Soon I will be honored to take my father’s place as supreme ruler. It is my intention to continue his good work, and to take it to it’s logical conclusion. Syria is proud and honored to be counted among the sovereign states which form this Alliance.”
It sounded to Amon that the Prince was speaking out of both sides of his mouth, trying at once to sound statesman-like for his people, while at the same time trying to placate the members of the Triumvirate.
Amon watched closely when the Prince concluded his speech. Every member of the Triumvirate stood in applause. Amon could detect no adverse reaction from any of the delegates.
Prince Mujah had been careful not to mention the circumstances of his father’s death. That fact, coupled with a lack of response from the other delegates was a source of consternation for Amon.
Syria had been leaning ever closer toward democracy, and was realistically the only remaining friend of Israel in the region, if not the entire world. The death of this sympathetic monarch did not bode well.
Who could have been behind this assassination? And what motive would they have? Perhaps it was a dissident within the Syrian monarchy. Maybe one of Abdullah’s operatives. The Chinese? The Russians? Every one he thought of could have had some motivation. Perhaps the Prince himself. After all, his speech before the assembly did not rule out such a possibility. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time a ruler had been ‘removed’ from power by one of his offspring.