The Treaty of Berlin

It is May 1989, in a 1989 slightly different from the 1989 we experienced. Relations between the United States and the Soviet Union have improved since the end of the Reagan Presidency. Once negotiations began, they quickly spread to a number of areas and topics, including the Berlin Wall. On Sunday, the 14th of May of this 1989, officials of the United States, the Soviet Union, East and West Germany will meet to sign a treaty based on these negotiations. This treaty, while not changing much of import, is an important first step toward a safer and saner situation in Europe. The Cold War is still very much the status quo; perhaps this will ease the tensions.

All of the participants have been invited to a small formal party at the Embassy to celebrate on the day before the signing. In addition to the ambassadors, several other well-known and famous people have been invited. Of course, not all of these 'beautiful people' get along very well, and the evening is expected to be a lively one...

This is a black-tie diplomatic party. Formal dress is called for.

• Elinor Armstrong: Wife of the American ambassador, Elinor used to be a model before she fell in love with Harrison. She designs well-received fashions in a small office in the Consulate.

• Harrison Armstrong: The American ambassador to West Germany, Harrison is a popular member of the diplomatic staff; his name is often mentioned as a candidate for the next Secretary of State.

• Edward Baker: A gentleman's gentleman, Edward has recently taken on the position of head of the House Staff at the Embassy. He has worked for several very prestigious people during his career.

• Senator Shannon Carver: Freshman member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Shannon is a woman who has made it in the tough world of politics. She has ambition and drive, with the goal of controlling the Oval Office someday.

• Sir Adam Cavanaugh, KBE: A famous British writer of spy thrillers, Sir Adam is known world-wide. His fictional hero Edward Creighton is a rough and tumble spy with panache and brains, often compared to James Bond and the real-life Jean-Paul St. Martin.

• Henrí Gaspar: A famous French movie star, Henri is a tempestuous lover who travels all across the world to star in films of all types. Henri recently dumped Lisa Matorozzi into a fountain in Rome to end their affair.

• Aleksandr Gorov: Soviet dissident author and exile, Aleksandr is in Germany researching a book about Nazi Germany and Russia under Stalin.

• Grigori Kazarov: Soviet Ambassador to East Germany, Grigori has been one of the surprisingly liberal forces that led to the Treaty. He is one of the new faces in the Soviet government, a protege of the Chairman.

• Magda Kazarov: Grigori's wife. She is known to be having a "fashion feud" with Elinor Armstrong, each trying to outdress the other at public affairs.

• Lisa Matorozzi: Rising young Italian starlet, she has been romantically linked with Henri Gaspar in the past. She has been seen in the company of Avrum Meyer and, more recently, Steven Melnick.

• Steven Melnick: American shuttle astronaut. Everyone wants to hear the details of the near-crash of the shuttle Atlantis in orbit and the resulting fiery but safe landing at Rota, Spain that Melnick handled. Rumors are flying about what it was that wounded the shuttle - from UFO, to Soviet killer satellite, to secret American "Star Wars" test.

• Avrum Meyer: An Israeli-born jet-setting playboy, Avrum has been linked to a lot of things, mostly beautiful women. They say he made his money dabbling in stolen art and in dealing weapons to the Third World.

• Nicole Peterson: The beautiful and intelligent Assistant Head of House Staff that runs the day-to-day details of keeping the Embassy in top shape for these parties. Nicole occasionally models the designs of Elinor Armstrong.

• Jean-Paul St. Martin: The world-famous French spy. Despite the fact that his name and his face is known to the world at large, he still manages to perform incredible world-saving acts on a regular basis. His recovery of the cruise missile that had fallen into the hands of Bolivian drug-smugglers was the basis of a book by Sir Adam and two movies.

• Wilhelm Steinkirsch: An East German newsman, Wilhelm has been a newsmaker as well as a reporter. His negotiations with the Mannheim Mayhem Squad resulted in the release of American and Soviet arms negotiators held hostage for three days.

• Elsa Marie von Bruckner: The wife of the West German ambassador, Elsa Marie is also a well-known pianist.

• Rudolf von Bruckner: The West German ambassador. Rudolf has been the driving force (along with Kazarov) in getting the Treaty worked out.

• Horst Wagner: Once a Colonel in the East German Army, he has retired to a life of leisure, letting his wife do the work. An avid sportsman and collector of guns, his hunting safaris are always fancy affairs attracting the 'beautiful people'.

• Natasha Wagner: Tough as nails and cold as ice, Natasha ruthlessly worked her way to the Ambassadorship. A demanding boss who likes to control all of the strings, she has humiliated the West on two occasions - enjoying every minute of making Harrison Armstrong squirm.

• T.R. Williams: A well-to-do wallflower for many years, T.R. has blossomed into a new life with a series of whodunit mystery books and stories. Her stories have been adapted into a hit TV show called "Death She Discovered".