Artists of Progress (COMPLETE) - Printable Version

+- IDU Regional Forum (https://idugov.com/forum)
+-- Forum: Roleplay City (https://idugov.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=99)
+--- Forum: International Affairs (https://idugov.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=11)
+--- Thread: Artists of Progress (COMPLETE) (/showthread.php?tid=2045)

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Democratic Republic Of Eiria - 11-05-2020

(Joint Post with [nation]Xiomera[/nation])

Chancellor's Manor, Geminus
November 4th, 11:17 AM

Chancellor William Lancaster sat at his desk, deep in thought, as he stared at his laptop. A small plant sat to his right, an ironic reminder of a classified secret. Who knew that the Vireksa shrub, which generates dangerous and paralysing sap, also gives beautiful flowers? The innocent looking blue flower, as ironic and amusing as it was, haunted Will as much as his decision to poison Calhualyana did.

It was never meant to be permanent, and given how Vireksa sap works, it likely wouldn't have, even if her reaction had been particularly severe. All he needed was Calhualyana to reveal who she really was to her people and to the world. Still, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy, especially for the innocent people caught in the blast radius.

He puzzled it over for a few minutes, before sighing and picking up his office phone. He did not necessarily like having to make this call, and it was extremely dangerous, given the classification of this information. However, it was inevitable.

Hall of Chuaztlapoc

The great hall of the Shorn Ones was serving as the meeting place of the reconstituted Huenyan Assembly. Its original meeting place, thousands of miles away in Tlālacuetztla, was not exactly available at the moment.

The members of the Assembly were in the midst of discussing what would happen to the now-disbanded Imperial Police garrisons in Huenya, and what would replace them, when the call came in. Yauhmi had it placed through to the speakerphone so that everyone could participate. “Good morning, Chancellor Lancaster,” Yauhmi said pleasantly. “You’re on the phone with myself and the rest of our Assembly. What can we do for you?”

"Good Morning, Madame Empress. And to the honorable members of the assembly. Unfortunately, this is not a social call. Before I go into detail, I need your assurances that what I am about to say is not spoken about to anyone who doesn't need to know this information. This is very important."

The members of the Assembly looked at each other, slightly apprehensive at Lancaster’s words. Finally, Huacue looked at Yauhmi and shrugged. Texōccoatl raised his eyebrows and also shrugged. Yauhmi pursed her lips, turning back to the phone. “Of course, Chancellor. If it is that urgent, you can be assured we will keep this discussion confidential,” Yauhmi said, waving for everyone except the Assembly members themselves to leave. Once the hall was cleared, Yauhmi asked Lancaster to continue.

"Thank you for your discretion. I take it you all have heard about Calhualyana's recent.... Health concerns. And how she claims it was an assassination attempt executed by her enemies."

Yauhmi was the one to raise her eyebrows now. She had a feeling where this conversation was going, but wanted to hear the Chancellor say it. “Go on,” she urged in the voice she used when trying to coax a statement from someone.

The Chancellor sighed, but continued. "It was an Eirian plan. No one outside of a small number of people knew about it. And it was never meant to be lethal. It was specially planned to scare her, not to harm her."

The Assembly members were stunned into silence. Finally, one of them cleared his throat. “Chancellor, this is Huacue, tlatoani of the Necatli. I appreciate what you have done, and the skill and effort required. But....if you had the chance, why didn’t you just kill her?”

Next to Huacue, the Itotemoc leader Sirua giggled softly, shaking her head at Necatli directness. “That would have made things easier,” Texōccoatl muttered under his breath. Yauhmi bit her tongue, before continuing. “It would not have made things easier. Who knows who would replace Calhualyana at this point, if she were assassinated,” she said. “Chancellor....may I ask, if eliminating Calhualyana was not the goal, what your plan was?”

"Calhualyana has been claiming to be the ruler of the people, Loyal to the Xiomeran Populace and their values. Now, we know that her claims are lies, a grand but fragile façade. However, there is only one person who can effectively destroy her image and how the people perceive her. Herself." He paused. "We need her mask to shatter so the people and the world see for themselves who and what she is."

Yauhmi nodded. “That’s a good idea. However, it will take more than this to make Calhualyana slip up. She is exceptionally well-trained and adept at manipulating situations and people. Even I wasn’t able to see past her mask until it was too late, and ended up in a prison cell because of it.” Yauhmi paused, searching for words. “Chancellor, I am very much on board with you as far as the need to make Calhualyana drop her facade. But I respectfully suggest that you consult with us in the future on any such plans. She is already turning this incident to her advantage, using it to gain sympathy among the people. She is simply too adept at manipulating situations. We know her better than anyone and can help you figure out her intentions and possible responses to a situation.”

"Of course. A combined effort will certainly help with countering her moves as soon as we learn of them. Unfortunately, our role in any future efforts will have to remain hidden. I have yet to brief the Senate on the situation, and until I can, I am in a dangerous position if this information gets out."

” I completely understand. We will certainly keep this incident a secret, and will work with you to keep any future efforts confidential,” Yauhmi replied.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Is there anything you need of Eiria, Intelligence-wise or otherwise?"

”We should probably discuss this offer of peace talks that Calhualyana has made. Where does your government stand on her offer?” Yauhmi asked.

"Well, most of the people in government find it at least a little suspect. I personally find it highly suspect. However, we are stuck in the interesting moral situation where we have an obligation to attend the peace talks, regardless of how suspicious we find the offer. What's your perspective on the offer?"

”I personally believe the offer is garbage. It’s an attempt by Calhualyana to stall until the situation is more favorable to her. I believe that the rest of this Assembly agrees as well,” Yauhmi added, to vocal agreement from the others. “However, I agree with you that we are obliged to make an effort and attend any talks that take place. Even if I were inclined to refuse, there are many here that would insist we take part. I suggest everyone attend, but be extremely cautious.”

"I agree. However, what do you think Calhualyana will do with this time that she's so desperately stalling for? What's her next move?".

”As much as she clearly enjoys masquerading as an Empress, I don’t think power for herself is her goal, unlike Xochiuhue. She wants to preserve the Xiomeran Empire, and will do whatever she can to do so. As a former security officer, she undoubtedly believes that is her duty. But it goes beyond just duty. Calhualyana is....a true believer. She truly believes in what the Empire stands for and that it should continue. That’s her goal.”

Lancaster thought for a few moments, pondering the Empress's words. "Well, that makes things a bit more difficult. Calhualyana may be a true believer in the Empire, but do you think the Empire is a true believer in her? How much do you know of the support she is receiving?".

”It’s hard to gauge,” Yauhmi said after a moment. “Among more religious and traditional Xiomerans, and those in the upper class, she definitely has sympathetic followers. We had made significant inroads into winning over the military while Xochiuhue was in power, but Calhualyana says the sort of things they like to hear, so that is a concern also. The poorer people in Xiomera are no more likely to back her than they did Xochiuhue, as their lot will not change under Calhualyana. In fact, it may even get worse.”

Texōccoatl spoke up at this point. “The real wild card will be the Xiomeran middle class. They’re the largest segment of the population. They were mildly supportive at best of reforms, and were only protesting recently because Xochiuhue screwed up the economy. If Calhualyana gets the economy going again.....”

"Hmm, Interesting. Is there a particular way we can attract middle class support, with Propoganda or direct action?"

”Propaganda would probably be more effective,” Texōccoatl said. “You had the right idea in trying to puncture this fantasy world image Calhualyana is trying to conjure up around herself. We just need to do a lot more of that.”

"Ah. Well, We can get on that. Eirians are masters of Propoganda and Image projection. It's kept us alive and thriving for a very long time." The Chancellor's smile was audible through the phone. "Our resources are at your disposal, with the caveat that you will be discreet with them."

”Of course, we shall exercise utmost discretion. We will also be in touch to coordinate our mutual position during whatever talks Calhualyana has planned. Our stance is actually relatively simple - Calhualyana must allow the Xiomeran people to decide, in some form or fashion, what future they want to take. Whether that’s through negotiations, or a referendum of some kind, it must happen. She simply cannot decide their future with a wave of her hand,” Yauhmi said.

"I wholeheartedly agree, your majesty. Unfortunately, I must go brief the Senate on our current situation, which will undoubtedly be a fun discussion. We'll be in touch soon to discuss further details. Have a good day, Your Majesties and Excellencies."

Yauhmi chuckled slightly at Lancaster’s last remark; she was learning how to navigate having to negotiate with others instead of just issuing orders herself, in the Assembly, and it was proving to be quite an adjustment. “Have a good day as well, Chancellor. We look forward to speaking with you again.”

After the call had ended, Huacue looked at the ceiling. “I still say they should have taken her out. Eirians,” he sighed, shaking his head.

“Of course you do,” Sirua said, still smiling. “Necatli always think that way.”

“Perhaps, but in the case of Calhualyana, I am not wrong,” Huacue said calmly. “She will be a thorn in our side for a very long time now. Wait and see.”

Yauhmi and Texōccoatl exchanged a look. They knew that Huacue could well be right. “She may be, but for now, to hell with Calhualyana. Let’s get back to discussing the replacement of the Imperial Police,” she said, determined to keep moving forward no matter what Calhualyana did.

---

Lancaster sat back in his chair, contemplating the discussion he had just had. So the new Huenyan Assembly is already in session, eh? It'll be interesting to see where that leads. Yauhmi and Texoccoatl are in for a bit of culture shock as they transition to democracy, no matter how slowly they take it. It's how they handle it that will matter.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Xiomera - 11-06-2020

November 6th
30 miles east of Zapotlán

The Xiomeran Imperial Army was on a mission.

Having been beaten back at Zapotlán, and embarrassed in western Huenya, the Army's morale had plummeted. But after Xochiuhue's removal, and Calhualyana's ascension to power, the Imperial Army had regained its composure. It had also discovered a new motivator - wounded pride. The reputation of the Imperial military, previously seen as a dangerous foe, had taken a serious hit. They were determined to prove themselves again.

They also had allies. Iskirami soldiers would be joining them on the front lines, in support of Calhualyana and her bid to preserve the Empire.

Even as Calhualyana talked peace, she had prepared for war. She had summed it up very simply to her frontline commanders, in a speech she gave them on the evening of November 5th. "If the people to the west of us want no part of the Empire anymore, so be it. We want no part of them either. But this army camped east of Zapotlán occupies Xiomeran land. They occupy one of our cities. They control our canal. This is not Necatli land, or Itotemoc land, or Tepiltzin land, that they occupy. It is Xiomeran land and it always has been. And we will take it back," she had declared.

Accordingly, during the lull in fighting that had occurred after the fall of Zapotlán and the retreat from what was now Huenya, the Imperial Army had quietly prepared and planned. Now, it was the time for the eagles of Xiomera to strike again.

In the early morning hours of November 6th, the previously silent front line east of Zapotlán erupted. Missiles, accompanied by a full-scale artillery bombardment, blasted Huenyan positions along the entire front line. In their wake, the Imperial Army began its assault. Several mechanized divisions of the Imperial Army, previously based in Tlālacuetztla and among the Empire's best, slammed into the Huenyan lines like a sledgehammer. Completely unprepared for the Imperial assault, the Huenyan lines began to break, and Imperial units were soon on a headlong march towards the Intra-Xiomera Canal and Zapotlán. Their orders were simple: push the Huenyan and allied forces back out of Zapotlán and past the Intra-Xiomera Canal into Huenyan territory, and re-establish the front line at a point 20 miles west of Zapotlán, where the historic border between Xiomera and the Tepiltzin lands lay.

In Tlālacuetztla, the General Staff, led by General Zinahue, watched the advance unfolding in real-time on a bevy of digital screens and satellite links. Calhualyana, watching with them, was pleased. Going into any potential peace talks, she intended to negotiate from a position of strength. Showing Xiomera's enemies that the Empire was anything but defeated would convey that message quite well.

---

As the Imperial advance began, in Chuaztlapoc, the Huenyan leadership was thrown into a panic. Having been confident that Imperial forces were broken after their retreat, the sudden surge in Xiomeran strength came as an utter shock. The new commander of the Huenyan military, the recently promoted General Tlanexchel, rapidly ordered Huenyan forces to retreat to their original positions in Zapotlán.

As Huenyan forces tried to avoid disaster and fall back on Zapotlán, Imperial forces continued their implacable advance westwards.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Xiomera - 11-09-2020

November 6th
Xohuayán, Manauia Island

Governor Mapilzin was angry. And, though he refused to admit it, frightened.

The reversals the Xiomeran Empire had suffered in western Huenya, coupled with Empress Calhualyana recalling forces meant to relieve him on Manauia Island for her offensive at Zapotlán, had left him in the same position that he had been in while Xochiuhue had been in power. Under siege, with rapidly diminishing troop numbers and resources, surrounded by angry Teyatia and Lauchenoirians staging constant raids on his positions.

The Governor had lost control of most of the island long ago, when the Shuellian mercenaries that Xochiuhue had sent to help had decided they had enough of fighting the shadows in the jungle and went home. He now found himself in possession of Xohuayán, the island's capital, and two or three cities outside of that, along with a smattering of Imperial outposts that were becoming increasingly harder to resupply or retain. When he asked the new Empress for help, he found Calhualyana to be entirely unsympathetic. Instead of sending reinforcements on what she had deemed a fool's errand, the Empress had declared that she would speak with the Teyatia leader herself and end the issue once and for all. Once that was done, she had declared, Mapilzin would be able to go home.

The Governor desperately hoped that Calhualyana could pull that off. Because if she couldn't, Mapilzin had the very real feeling that he would die in Xohuayán.

---

When Tanqui received the message that the new Empress of what he jokingly described as "half-Xiomera" wanted to speak to him to give him terms for an Imperial withdrawal, he was both elated and angry. He was elated, because in his mind, that meant the Teyatia and their foreign allies had won. But he was also angry that a new Xiomeran leader still felt that they were in a position to dictate the terms of the conflict's end. The Xiomerans had lost. Losers didn't get to write the terms. That was the message Tanqui had planned to deliver to Calhualyana.

His intent went off the rails as soon as the video call started.

"I know you don't want to talk to me any more than I want to talk to you, so I will be brief," the Empress told him in a tone that was not offering something open to discussion. "You will cease hostilities against all Imperial forces on Manauia Island, agree to a cease-fire, and allow all Imperial forces to withdraw to the mainland uncontested. In addition, you will allow all those of Xiomeran ethnicity to either remain on the island, and ensure they come to no harm or reprisals, or allow them to leave the island and return to the mainland with all of their possessions and wealth intact."

Tanqui was flabbergasted. "Why should I agree to any of that? We control the island now, Empress," he said mockingly. "It is such typical Xiomeran gall that you think you still have the power to assert terms here - "

"I was not done speaking," Calhualyana said coldly, cutting the Teyatia leader off firmly. "In return for what I have declared, I will agree to place the subject of potentially granting independence to Manauia Island on the agenda for the upcoming peace talks in Laeral to end this conflict."

Tanqui laughed in utter scorn. "We have already achieved our independence, you Xiomeran cow! Your much-vaunted Imperial Army is hiding in Xohuayán and hoping we don't come finish them off once and for all. Your Governor hides in his palace and cries in fear. You are in no position to make demands on us."

Calhualyana eyed Tanqui with the cold eyes of an ASI agent at her finest work. "Do you truly think you have seen even a fraction of what the Imperial military can do to Manauia Island, if I will it? I have the power at my hands to completely obliterate your island and everyone on it. I will not tolerate insults when I am making you a genuine offer that gives you what you want, if you will pull your head out of your ass long enough to realize it. I am simply demanding that you allow Imperial forces and Xiomeran civilians to withdraw unharmed, and protect any Xiomeran civilians who decide to stay - and offering you a chance at your dream of independence, unhindered further by the Xiomeran Empire, in exchange. Even you should be able to see that is an exceptionally generous trade."

"It is generous - and you are not a generous woman. Why should I trust you?" Tanqui said.

"I don't care if you trust me or not. I am simply trying to make this whole mess that Xochiuhue got us into as easy to clean up as possible - both for myself and for Xiomera. Your island, and the people on it, are frankly more trouble than you are worth to the Xiomeran Empire, and I will be glad to be rid of you. But it will be on our terms - not yours." The Empress calmly tapped a jeweled pen on her desk as she looked at Tanqui.

"48 hours. You have 48 hours to withdraw peacefully from Manauia Island - and you will take all Xiomerans with you. I don't care if any of them want to stay here or not. They are not welcome on Manauia Island," Tanqui said, which drew a chuckle and a shake of the head from Calhualyana. "That is not the deal. Any Xiomerans who wish to stay on Manauia Island will be allowed to stay, and you will make sure they are not subject to reprisals by your people. That is not even remotely negotiable."

"I will not be dictated to by you! I can have the Eirians, or the Legionites, or some other power, ally with us and protect us from you," Tanqui shouted. Calhualyana chuckled again. "You certainly could. But if I am forced into a fight over this, no matter who you ally with, I will fight. Trust me on that," the Empress said in a tone utterly devoid of mercy. "And that fight will take place on your homeland. Your lands will be devastated, and your people will suffer. Is that what you really want?"

"You would reduce Manauia Island to ashes just to get your way?" Tanqui said in shock.

"Yes," the Empress replied. "But, more importantly, to ensure that the Empire exits your insufferable little island in a way that preserves Xiomeran honor, unlike the debacle on the Netlcoātl Islands. And, also, to ensure that any Xiomerans who remain on Manauia Island after we withdraw are protected and not harmed. If you and the Teyatia fail to protect my kin on your island, Tanqui, I will be forced to protect them for you. You do not want that, I can promise you."

Tanqui glared at the image of Calhualyana, mocking smile on her face. He desperately wanted to tell her to do something anatomically impossible to herself. But he knew if he did that, his home would pay the price. "Fine. I will accept your terms."

"I know you will," Calhualyana said, disconnecting the call before Tanqui could respond.

---

November 8th
Xohuayán

The last of the Imperial troops in Manauia Island were finally leaving. Governor Mapilzin was at their head. He had just lowered the Imperial flag for the last time. He felt a small bit of sadness that the Xiomeran Empire was, daily, being diminished. But the new Empress had promised that though Xiomera was growing smaller in size, at the end of it all, the Empire would be stronger than ever. Once it was rid of the baggage caused by its sprawling territory inhabited by ungrateful people and able to focus on its own homeland, the Empire would truly flourish. After spending several harrowing months on Manauia Island, Mapilzin could definitely appreciate that idea.

As he turned from the flagpole, Tanqui was there to acknowledge him. "I would wish you well, but you are a horrible person. But I am glad, at least, that you are leaving," he said.

"As am I. In fact, if I never have to spend another second in this festering jungle swamp inhabited by ungovernable people such as yourself, I shall consider it the highlight of my life," Mapilzin replied haughtily.

Tanqui clenched his fists, then unclenched them with an effort. "Your plane is waiting, Governor. I suggest that you leave Manauia Island while you can."

Mapilzin laughed. "You won't do anything. You have to protect Xiomerans who are here, now. That was what you agreed to with our Empress. And I suggest, on her behalf, that you make very sure you keep that promise." With a final snort of disdain, Mapilzin turned his back on the Teyatia leader, and on Manauia Island, to walk to his plane.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Lauchenoiria - 11-15-2020

Sandra Pavía rushed into the room that already contained Josephine Alvarez and a number of national security officials and advisers. There was an air of distress and worry in the room, with Alvarez pinning up her untidy hair as personnel in military uniforms dashed around, squeezing past Pavía as she stood in the doorway taking in the scene in front of her. It was just after midnight, fortunately she hadn’t been ready for bed yet, but she was exhausted and afraid of what the emergency may be. She caught Alvarez’s eye.

“Xiomera again?” Pavía asked.

“Tangentially,” replied Alvarez, only serving to confuse the tired Foreign Minister more. Alvarez gestured for her to take a seat and she did so, as people gathered around the table to listen to the General whose name escaped Pavía for the moment.

“At 23:37 yesterday,” the General began, referencing a time less than an hour ago, “the group calling themselves Watchdogs of Our Earth seized control of the offices of the Governor of Butterfly Island and issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government. No shots were fired in this takeover and it appears there has been no injuries or violence – yet. The members of WOE appear to have been granted entry to the building by an insider and have locked all entrances after ejecting those not part of their group from the building. I will now play the video sent by WOE.”

The General gestured to the side, where a relatively young man sat with a laptop. The man pressed play on the video that was displayed on a large screen on the wall.

“Hello Prime Minister, we are the Watchdogs of Our Earth, and we are watching you. The planet is under threat and the powerful stand by and do nothing. A war was being fought to secure our future on Manauia Island and you sat by and did nothing. You arrested our volunteers who were willing to risk their lives for the future of humanity. And now you will sit aside while Kerlians and Xiomerans decide the future of Manauia. We will not.

You have two options. You will appoint one of our members as a diplomatic official to attend the conference to end the war in Huenya as part of a Lauchenoirian delegation. You did not intend to go to this conference; it’s not like we’re asking you to replace someone. Or, if you fail to meet our demand, Butterfly Island will declare independence. We know how much your claim to power rests upon your ability to keep Lauchenoiria peaceful and whole. Well, there are two options to end this conflict: the peaceful way, or the violent way. You choose.”

The video ended, the image of the woman who was no older than 25 with streaks of purple in her hair freezing. Pavía groaned and looked up at the ceiling. This was, everyone in the room knew, the last thing they needed. Keeping Lauchenoiria at peace was the number one goal of the Lauchenoirian government, and would be for years to come. If war broke out once more, it would be a threat to Lauchenoirian independence itself.

“We need to end this peacefully, and quickly,” Pavía said. “Ideally… forgive me for saying this, but ideally before anyone notices anything is amiss.”

“We won’t be able to keep this under wraps, WOE will publish it on their social media, I’m surprised they haven’t already,” Alvarez groaned. “We should get ahead of the storm and contact the Sanctarian ambassador.”

“This is not evidence that the Haven Accords aren’t working,” Pavía stated sharply. “It is an isolated incident, without any violence. Every country has terrorists – even Sanctaria, if you recall the death of Jasmine Eddington. WOE has crossed the line, here… is it not time to consider proscribing them as a terrorist organisation?”

“Okay, Sandra, that’s a little too far,” Alvarez replied, alarmed, holding her hands out in the universal gesture for ‘please calm down’. “The vast majority of WOE is non-violent and we’ll have riots on our hands if we start outlawing activist groups.”

“The vast majority are not the ones going to fight abroad, blowing up Xiomeran helicopters, and seizing government buildings at home. WOE is seen as the radical wing of Climate Alliance but they’re not a homogenous whole themselves. They have an internal group that approves of violence while the rest just want to blockade things. Surely we know what that internal group is called?”

“Warriors of Our Earth,” one of the national security advisers informed Pavía and the others. “They are a subgroup of the main Watchdogs of Our Earth. WOE has no official leaders, they operate a decentralised system, but there are primary organisers we have identified. The Warriors do not check in with these people, the organisation is in internal turmoil about the use of deadly force.”

“Are the Warriors responsible for this specific act?” Pavía asked.

“We have as yet been unable to ascertain which subgroup of WOE is responsible for the occupation of the Butterfly Island offices,” the adviser replied.

“Find out,” Alvarez instructed. “I know what you’re thinking, Sandra. If the Warriors are responsible for this, we can classify their subgroup as a terrorist organisation. But that would still open a can of worms.”

“I assume the Warriors are those behind the Manauia involvement?” Pavía asked, and received a nod in response. “Well then there is at least one other state who would agree with us on the terrorist classification – Calhualyana’s Xiomera. Likely Iskiram as well, potentially Shuell as they had mercenaries on the island.”

“Authoritarian regimes,” Alvarez noted sceptically.

“If enough of them call them terrorists, it’ll spread throughout the international community. The media will have to refer to them at least as being classified as such in multiple nations and from there the association will spread. And we can shut down any social media accounts that support the Warriors, and call the office occupation an isolated terrorist incident – hell, even an isolated attempted incident since nobody was hurt.”

“Can of worms,” Alvarez muttered under her breath. “We can consider our options, if it is confirmed that the Warriors are behind this. For the time being, we need to consider how we are going to get them out of that building. The moment anyone standing in that building utters the words ‘declaration of independence’ to the media we’ve lost control. Options, General Ortega?”

“We could storm the building by force, but reports indicate they are armed and we would be unable to guarantee zero casualties. We can attempt to block their outgoing signals so they are unable to broadcast, but they have demonstrated the ability to circumvent blocks in the past. We could try to gain access to the building covertly and disable them from inside.”

“Or the option of acceding to their demands,” Alvarez added, half-joking. “Set up the jamming equipment, if they circumvent it then we can reassess. I’d like a full description of the covert-access proposal as soon as you get it. And I’d like to be informed the moment we find out if it is indeed the Warriors.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Excellent, I’ll be in my bed, fully dressed and not managing to achieve a wink of sleep,” Alvarez smiled grimly.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Lauchenoiria - 11-15-2020

Zichitla sat cross-legged on the hard mattress of the bed in her cell. She had her hands clasped in front of her and her eyes closed, focusing on keeping her breathing deep and even. Her face was emotionless but inside she was in turmoil. They had transferred her twice already and as of yet, no rescue attempt had been forthcoming. Had she miscalculated the risks when she initially formulated this plan?

She ran one finger along the tender bruise on her wrist. On that, her assessment had been correct at least – in spite of the new legal bans on torture, it was still being carried out. Not nearly to the same extent as before, which was a pleasant surprise. In comparison to what she’d been trained to resist (and carry out) in the Aurora Centre, it barely hurt her, and was well within her tolerance levels. They weren’t trying to get information; they were trying to prove a point and she knew it.

“Kerlian Citizen 13919374,” came a voice from the entrance to her cell. Curious, she hadn’t heard anyone enter and she always listened.

“What torment do you have in store for me today?” Zichitla asked coolly, without moving from her position or opening her eyes. She did, however, brace herself for the blow she imagined would be forthcoming. It didn’t arrive, and no response was given. Slowly, she opened her eyes slightly and peered at the door. There was nobody there.

Opening her eyes fully, Zichitla glanced around her cell. Small, uncomfortable bed. Toilet. Literally nothing else. Kerlian cells were not pleasant places to be. She could touch both of the walls to her sides at once, it was so small. If she had miscalculated and no rescue was forthcoming, this would likely be her home for the rest of her life. She had, after all, threatened a Councillor. There was a chance she would be executed.

“You’re trying to play mind games with me?” she laughed aloud. “Surely you’ve been briefed on what I am? A pathetic attempt, really. If you give me a pen and some paper, I can provide you with some interrogation tips.”

There was no response, Zichitla hadn’t expected one. She stretched her arms above her head and exercised all her limbs as best she could in the tiny space. They did not permit her access to anything that would help her tell the time, but her internal clock was flawless. She sat back down on her bed, back against the cold wall and crossed her legs, whistling as she counted down. 5… 4… 3… 2…

The lock to the cell door clicked and was heaved open. Zichitla held her arms out as two women wearing masks stepped inside and moved to grab her. The former Aurora allowed it, calmly staring straight ahead as she was dragged off the bed, thrown against the wall and had her wrists zip-tied behind her back. She felt the ties catch on her skin as they were pulled too tight, but didn’t make a sound.

They threw a bag over her head and led her down the maze-like corridors, taking turns and doubling back to prevent her creating a mental map. Then they arrived at the interrogation room and she was pushed to the ground and the door slammed behind her, bag remaining and wrists tied so tight she could feel them bleeding.

Zichitla got to her feet in spite of her position, and braced to be knocked down once more. It was a matter of pride that she never allowed them to see if their treatment affected her at all. Nobody hit her, so she began to move around the room she couldn’t see. She managed to ascertain that she was in a seemingly cylindrical room with only one entrance, and that she was almost certainly alone. She frowned, she knew of no Kerlian interrogation technique that used this setup.

“I know what you are,” came a voice. It was the same one she’d heard earlier in her cell. So, this was some kind of psychological technique.

“Then you’ll know these games won’t work on me,” Zichitla replied.

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about your training as an Aurora, but you may be interested to know that the Council have stripped you of any privileges associated with that status,” the voice chuckled. “No, I know what you plan to do, little traitor.”

Zichitla suddenly felt cold all over, and initially thought they’d blasted her with cold air, but realised it was her emotions. They couldn’t possibly know what she’d been planning, she hadn’t written anything down nor had she spoken a single word to another soul. This was clearly just part of the interrogation. She remained silent.

“Oh, my Aurora, nothing to say to me? Fear not, I have no intention of revealing your plans to the Council. In fact, I want to help you.”

“People who want to help someone generally do not leave them bound with a bag over their head when they offer said help,” Zichitla replied, keeping her tone even.

“I am your only hope at freedom, Aurora. If I grant you your freedom, I want to know you will pay your debt to me.”

“No,” Zichitla said simply. Mysterious voices offering salvation were always a trap, not for a moment did she consider any other option.

“If you do not take my deal, you will spend the rest of your short life in pain, before your inevitable execution, so I would advise you to reconsider…”

“No,” interrupted Zichitla, just as calmly.

“Then you’ll regret it you piece of Xiomeran scum.”

She was left there for about an hour, no other voices spoke to her, and she sat slowly losing feeling in her hands, wondering if she had been left to die, if she should have attacked the guards today in a futile escape attempt because this would be an unpleasant and distinctly anticlimactic end for an Aurora of her calibre. But they came, led her back to her cell, and cut her bonds so she could hold her sore wrists and glare at them as they locked her in once more.

*

“The alliance with the Auroras is a non-starter,” a figure slipped into a car with darkened windows parked outside the prison which held Zichitla.

“That is unfortunate,” a voice came out of the darkness. Male. The smell of cigarette smoke in a confined space caused the figure to cough. “Your mother hoped we wouldn’t have to kill them. Still, they will be helpful. Their little conflict will give us the opening we need. Lauchenoiria was a failure, but we can still salvage this.”

“Auroras will be hard to kill,” she scoffed. “If they do choose to rescue Zichitla, it’s more likely they’ll win this thing and murder the whole Council – and us.”

“Oh, their rescue plan is already in motion. We need to prepare, we have little time left before the plans will be put into motion.”

“How do you know that?”

“Ah, my daughter, there are many things you do not yet know. Come, our time fast approaches, it is time you learned all the family secrets.”

The man tapped on the glass dividing them from the driver and the vehicle set off along the long, winding road between the prison and civilisation. Outside, the rays of the setting sun vanished one by one from the Matriarchy of Kerlile, bringing the inevitable darkness.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Xiomera - 11-15-2020

November 4th
Empress Camaxtica Military Headquarters Complex, Tlālacuetztla

Empress Calhualyana stood on the dais at the end of the parade ground of the Tlaxcanayuc, a slight wind ruffling her long hair gently. The smile on her face was genuine, and not the smile she flashed for the media. It was a smile of triumph, and of promises.

The Tlaxcanayuc had, before the unprecedented events of 2020, been the headquarters and main training academy of the Jaguar and Eagle Warriors. But after the storming of the Palace of Flowers at the beginning of the coup, and the decimation of the Shorn Ones, the Jaguar and Eagle Warriors had refused to follow the coup plotters. They had revolted, fought the coup armies, and then decamped to Yauhmi's side of the border when western Huenya had exploded in revolt. The coup armies had tried to stop them - tried being the operative word.

The Jaguar and Eagle Warriors had tossed aside the Imperial Army as if their opponents were kids playing army. And now, they sat on the other side of the dividing line at Zapotlán, flying the flag of the separatists. This image, in her head, taunted the Empress. Calhualyana, however, always had a plan for everything. Even before she had deposed Xochiuhue, she had worked with General Zinahue on a suitable response to the treason of Xiomera's former special forces.

Standing in front of the Empress, on the parade ground at the Tlaxcanayuc, were thousands of the best soldiers Xiomera still had. Some of them were former Jaguar and Eagle Warriors who had decided to stay in Xiomera. Others had been recruited from the ranks of the best soldiers in the Army, the International Legion and the Patriot Legion. Some had come from the ranks of the top members of ASI and the Imperial Police. Still others had been recruited from among the toughest members of the Xiomeran civilian militias that backed the Imperial government. Calhualyana had taken that core of the best of Xiomera's martial capabilities, and adapted the training programs used by the Jaguar and Eagle Warriors to the needs of her Empire.

The forces standing in front of Calhualyana were arrayed in two separate halves on either side of the parade ground. Half of them, to the left, were wearing new dress uniforms created especially for them - shimmering white with gold trim and capes. The other half, to the right, were wearing their own bespoke dress uniforms - black as an obsidian blade, with the same gold trim and capes as their counterparts. The men and women wearing those uniforms stood at attention with supreme precision as the Empress addressed them.

"You represent a new tradition in Xiomera," she told them. "We are a nation that reveres tradition. But when our traditions fail, or when they betray us," she said, in a pointed reference to the former occupants of the Tlaxcanayuc, "we are not afraid to follow a new path. No one innovates in the face of adversity better than Xiomerans. So you stand before me, the best of Xiomeran warriors, ready to forge your own entries in our legends. Your story will start at Zapotlán. But it will resound through the centuries."

Calhualyana turned to the rows of soldiers to her left. "You, the Warriors of Huītzilōpōchtli, bear his symbol and shine like the sun. You will be the ones at the forefront of battle, always ready to fight, never wavering. You will be the beacon that encourages your comrades as you lead the way into battle. You will be the embodiment of Imperial might and Xiomeran bravery. You will carry the mandate of our patron forward and stand as the visible and unstoppable manifestation of his will and our power."

The Empress then turned to the rows of soldiers to her right. "And you, the Warriors of Tezcatlipōca, carry the mandate of the Smoking Mirror. You will embody his power - the power of the night winds and the fury of hurricanes. Striking in secrecy and with stealth when our enemies least expect it, you will carry his power of the night sky. In unison with your fellow elite warriors, you will undermine and undo everything our foes seek to accomplish from the shadows."

Calhualyana raised her arms, hands upright as if in prayer. "Together, you will be the unbreakable shield and unstoppable sword that vanquishes our enemies and drives us forward. Long live the Empire!"

As one, the thousands of soldiers in the room unsheathed their ceremonial swords, raising them over their heads. "LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" they shouted, their cries echoing. As the echoes died down, the Empress smiled again.

---

November 5th, late evening
Listening Post, Camp Green, east of Zapotlán

A group of Huenyan and allied soldiers were gathered at a command post near the front line, joking and bantering as they killed time. They were assigned to watch Xiomeran troop movements across the front line, but the general consensus was that the Xiomerans were finished. Their new fake Empress had asked for peace talks and was making conciliatory gestures, and their supposedly scary Imperial Army had gotten itself kicked out of half of their Empire. So the soldiers gathered at the observation post weren't at all concerned.

Their conversation was interrupted when a battered figure stumbled into view, shambling towards them. "Stop!" one of the guards shouted in Xiomeran Huenyan, raising his rifle as the other soldiers scrambled to take up defensive positions. The man stopped as ordered. The soldiers at the listening post were confused; he was wearing what appeared to be a Xiomeran special forces uniform with a general's rank tabs. What the hell? the Huenyan soldier who had shouted out the challenge thought as he moved forward. "Don't make any sudden moves or you'll get shot. Who are you?" the soldier demanded.

The man raised his head, and the soldier stopped in shock. Even under the bruises and the torn uniform, it was very clear who the man was. "I am - was - General Cuauh'ez. I commanded the Special Forces of the Xiomeran Empire. But I was betrayed. We were all betrayed."

The man swayed on his feet, looking around. "I came to warn you.....Calhualyana....something is coming here," Cuauh'ez said faintly. "Something you cannot stop," he breathed, before his eyes closed and he fell to the ground.

---

November 15
Zapotlán

"Fall back! FALL BACK!" Sgt. Nyaotlehue shouted, her voice echoing.

Her unit, which had recently been redesignated as the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 18th Battalion of the Huenyan Army, had been enjoying a relatively quiet deployment to Zapotlán. Arriving after the city had fallen, they had been deployed to a point just east of the Intra-Xiomera Canal, watching the front line and occasionally engaging in minor skirmishes with the Imperial forces that had remained loyal to Calhualyana.

That had all changed on November 6th. The massive assault that Xiomeran forces had launched that day had rapidly overwhelmed the opposing forces, sending them fleeing back into Zapotlán. Nyaotlehue's platoon had already lost a third of its troops. Reinforcements had arrived, and had been decimated just as quickly as they had arrived. Word had come down from command that some kind of new elite force had been created by the Imperial military, and that it was taking the lead in the attack on Zapotlán. Nyaotlehue believed it - she had never faced such a powerful enemy before.

Nine days later, the allied force that had occupied Zapotlán had lost almost all the ground it had gained in its initial invasion. Enemy forces had pushed them across the Intra-Xiomera Canal, and were slowly but surely advancing towards the city center. Nyaotlehue and her platoon were scrambling in retreat, not so much trying to mount any counter-offensive as trying to stay alive and hold on until something, anything, happened to save them.

An explosion from a tank round sent Nyaotlehue sprawling to the ground. As she tried to find her command headset and issue new orders, she saw the Imperial forces, in black fatigues she did not recognize, advancing. Nyaotlehue finally found her headset, and grabbed it just as gunshots peppered the ground around her. Dodging behind some rubble, she began issuing new orders to take up flanking positions on either side of the road. As her platoon desperately tried to hold their position, Nyaotlehue shouted into her headset for air support, artillery support, something to help her fend off the inevitable.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Xiomera - 11-16-2020

(Joint post with [nation]Shuell[/nation])

November 15th
Zapotlán

On the northern end of the rapidly shrinking perimeter, a mix of Huenyan, Kerlian and Milintican forces had been tasked with defending Huaxtihe Air Base and Shoreside Park, the center of allied air defenses. Colonel Moteudil, previously of the Imperial Army and now with the Huenyan Army, was in command of the forces defending the northeast quadrant of Zapotlán.

When the attack began, Moteudil found himself in a far different position from his counterparts in the rest of the city. The bulk of the enemy action had been to the south, as enemy forces had surged through the large park at the southeast end of the city to the Intra-Xiomera Canal. His forces had only faced token resistance, which had puzzled the allied commanders.

But now, the plan that the Imperial forces had was becoming clear. Imperial forces had already cut off the southern end of the canal, preventing any reinforcements from that route. Now, in the large swath of parkland to the south and east of the air base, a new surge of enemy attackers was coming. His scouts had reported that a combined force of the unknown "elite forces" added to Xiomera's military, along with a very large Iskirami contingent, were advancing rapidly towards the air base. If the base was taken, it would become extremely difficult for allied forces to reinforce themselves.

Moteudil ordered his units to advance southward to relieve the positions under attack, and halt the attacking force before it reached the base. He also urgently radioed for reinforcements, only to be told by the allied command that none were available. The entire front was under a sustained attack, and Moteudil would need to do the best he could with what he had.

As Moteudil's forces moved southward, the defensive positions they were meant to relieve were already under attack.

The forces of the Grand Xiomeran Expeditionary Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Omar Ibn-Basam Sadak, rapidly advanced towards the air base in armored vehicles, supported by friendly rocket artillery and elite Xiomeran soldiers. As much as he would have preferred to lead his men from the front, the Brigadier General knew that to do so was needlessly risky, even by the standards of the Iskirami. As such, he had taken a position away from the fighting, instead commanding his soldiers via radio.

Observing the base from binoculars, Sadak allowed himself to grin as he witnessed a salvo of rockets strike both Huaxtihe Air Base and Shoreside Park, serving to destroy both their air defenses and any planes still on the runways. Short bursts of machine-gun fire from the mechanized infantry meant that even the bravest soldier would hesitate to try and return fire, allowing the Iskirami inside to dismount as they approached the air base.

Alongside the Iskirami, the attacking Xiomeran soldiers dismounted as well from their APCs under the covering fire of their guns. Moving quickly, they began approaching the perimeter of the base.

Inside the base, Col. Moteudil ordered any planes that hadn't already taken off to get in the air as quickly as possible. The booming explosions as the rocket fire began hitting positions on the base underscored the urgency of that command.

Even as they took flight, however, the planes from Huaxtihe found themselves under attack from the Xiomeran air cover that was supporting the assault on Zapotlán. Dogfights began taking place between allied and Xiomeran fighters. Under cover from the fighters, a group of Imperial Apacan multi-role fighters swooped over the air base, utilizing their tactical bombing capabilities along with some well-placed missiles to further weaken the base's defenses prior to the ground assault.

Under pressure from both on the ground and above, the allied forces began pulling back to the interior of the base, doing their best to return fire while in retreat.

Sitting a safe distance away from the fighting, Iskirami mortar teams expertly bombarded enemy soldiers using the coordinates provided by Xiomeran radio operators. Although far less devastating than rocket artillery, the mortars were successful in suppressing and disorganizing the retreating soldiers. Accurate rifle fire from afar served to pick off exposed combatants - the Iskirami being particularly adept at the role due to the landscapes of their homeland.

With the enemy forces having been routed, the soldiers of the Brigade and the special forces they were partnered with advanced further into the air base, using whatever they could for cover.

As the attackers advanced, Col. Moteudil ordered a general retreat from the base. His forces began to fall back westwards, seeking to cross the canal and using it as a natural barrier. With a contingent of his own men, the Colonel did his best to provide cover for the retreating forces. Using the various buildings of the air base as cover, they began laying down delaying fire, trying to slow the enemy advance enough to allow a somewhat orderly retreat rather than an all-out rout.

As the Imperial forces began to face slightly more organized resistance, air support was requested by General Sadak - both to ensure the Huenyans were unable to cross the canal, and to provide precision air support alongside the mortar crews in order to destroy enemy cover. The soldiers of the Grand Brigade split off into fireteams and began to sweep and clear the airbase, focusing on the buildings they had detected enemy infantry entering, while relaying coordinates over radio to friendly mortar teams.

General Sadak didn’t have to wait long to get his wish. The Imperial Air Force was already in position, and soon began targeting both the buildings on the base and the retreating allied forces. While sporadic anti-air fire from the ground was still occurring, much of the defenders’ ability to fend off the aerial assault had already been destroyed.

The remaining allied forces were already either crossing the canal, or retreating to the nearby fleet embarked offshore. With his remaining contingent now sitting ducks, Col. Moteudil had little choice. From the base headquarters, he wearily sent a message requesting terms of surrender.

As the combat in the airbase slowed to a halt, with little resistance to the Imperial advance, Brigadier General Sadak returned a message, informing Moteudil to order his remaining men to surrender to allied forces in the area - presumably to be taken into custody as POWs.

The Colonel issued the order to surrender, and soon, resistance at the base ground to a complete halt. Moteudil had managed to at least accomplish getting most of the defending allied forces out of the trap. But for himself and his men, a humiliating surrender to the Xiomeran and Iskirami force, followed by a trip to Xiomeran POW camps, was all they had in their immediate future.

With northeastern Zapotlán secured and the air base now taken out of allied hands, the Xiomerans and Iskirami could rest before being called on for their next mission - the final push into the center of Zapotlán.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Xiomera - 11-20-2020

(Joint post with [nation]Lauchenoiria[/nation])

November 19th
Palace of Flowers, Office of the Golden Chamber

Empress Calhualyana calmly sipped her morning coffee as she prepared for her phone call. Unlike Yauhmi, she preferred her coffee black and unsweetened, to match her heart. The bitter, strong taste of the Xiomeran coffee and its warmth were quite pleasing to her. The golden seal on the Imperial china caught the rays of the early morning sun as she laid the cup down. She sighed contentedly, with the air of someone ready to start her day, before instructing her Attendant to place a phone call to Councillor Pauline Pierre of Kerlile.

Early morning in Xiomera was late evening in Kerlile, and Councillor Pierre hadn't yet gone to bed. She preferred to stay up late as she worked on what she planned to say and argue for at the peace talks. After last time, and the terror she'd felt when she thought she might end up in a Sanctarian prison, the Council wouldn't leave anything to chance. That meant preparing, both what they planned to say, and their military just in case.

"Councillor?" her newest political aide poked her head around the corner. Pauline sighed.

"What now?" she asked irritably.

"There's a phone call for you, from... from..."

"From who? Spit it out, girl!"

"Empress Calhualyana of Xiomera."

"Calhualyana?" Pierre sat up straight, tilting her head in interest. "Well, that is unexpected. Do put me through, this could be enlightening." The aide scurried off as Pauline picked up a phone on her desk, tapping her fingers on the table and frowning slightly.

When the call was passed through, Calhualyana smiled in order for her voice to sound pleasant on the phone. “Good evening, Councillor Pierre. I hope that I am not disturbing you too late.”

"Not at all, Empress," Pierre replied, eyes flicking back and forth over the screen on which she'd brought up the Council's file on Calhualyana, searching for why the new Xiomeran Empress would call her. "What can I do for you?"

”I actually wish to do something for you, Councillor,” Calhualyana replied. “A kindness, coupled with an explanation, which I am sure you’ll expect.” The Empress handed the phone to the other person sitting in the room. “Hello, mother....it’s Olivia,” Olivia Pierre said, her voice slightly uncertain.

"Olivia!?" Pauline shot up, standing and inadvertently knocking papers off her desk. "Is that you? Is this a trick? You can be damn sure I'll require an explanation."

"It's me, I'm really here..." Olivia glanced nervously at Calhualyana as she awaited her mother's response.

"Why are you in Xiomera? Last we heard of you, the Maximusians had kidnapped you as part of some revenge quest!"

"The Maximusians?" Olivia frowned. "They never had me, I was in Lauchenoiria and then... mother, the Lauchenoirians were going to execute me!"

"The Lauchenoirians!? No, none of this makes the least bit of sense. Are the Xiomerans threatening you?"

"No..." Olivia replied, but glanced at Calhualyana once more as if worried that the answer would change.

"Let me speak to Empress Calhualyana. I want explanations," Pauline ordered. Olivia, handed the phone back over, still exceptionally nervous.

Calhualyana kept a polite tone to her voice as she took back the call. “I imagine that this is the part of the call where the explanation is in order. Xiomeran agents freed Olivia from a prison where she was being held in Lauchenoiria. We don’t think the Lauchenoirian government was behind it, but we aren’t sure exactly who was.”

Calhualyana allowed an apologetic tone to enter her voice as she continued. “The rescue was part of a scheme by the former Emperor, Xochiuhue. He wanted to cause unrest within the world community to distract other nations from our civil war. To that end, he faked the video that placed blame on the Maximusians, and had it delivered to you. This scheme of his....was not my idea. At the time, Xochiuhue was executing anyone who dared question him. I should not have allowed the scheme to happen, and I deeply apologize.”

Pierre remained silent for quite some time. Then she spoke in a low, quiet but intimidating tone. "If you wish to apologise, you can explain to the Sanctarians why we accused the Maximusians of breaching the Haven Accords. The Lauchenoirians... from what we've heard they're having their own internal disputes. But that video has put the Matriarchy at risk."

Pauline stood, and began to pace around her office. "Thank you for removing Olivia from Lauchenoiria. There are some in that nation who wish to harm Kerlians for no other reason than that they are Kerlian. What do you plan to do with Olivia?"

”I plan to send her home. Xochiuhue may have wanted to keep her prisoner, but I see no reason to continue his bad ideas now that I have removed him from power. Nor do I wish any harm to come to her, so I will make sure she is able to return to Kerlile safely at your earliest convenience. This is what I offer to make up for the insult that Xochiuhue committed to your family,” Calhualyana replied. “As for the video....I will announce publicly Xochiuhue’s plot and take full responsibility. That should hopefully appease both the Sanctarians and the Maximusians on your behalf. I will do whatever I can to make this right,” the Empress said. “Xochiuhue will also stand trial for this plot, along with the many other crimes he committed during his reign. Justice will be done, I assure you.”

"Be careful with that," Pierre muttered under her breath before thinking. "Uh, I mean, thank you for arranging the safe return of Olivia. The sooner she is home in Kerlile, the better for everyone."

Calhualyana smiled in response to Pierre’s muttered comment. “Of course. I am pleased to reunite her with you. And.....being upfront about what Xochiuhue did does pose considerable risk to us. But so does trying to hide it. This is a case where being transparent and offering justice will, hopefully, be the right course for Xiomera.” The Empress paused. “I hope this gesture of goodwill will help repair the relationship between our two nations as well. Right now, Xiomerans and Kerlians are fighting each other, and that is genuinely not my wish.”

"It is not my wish either," Pauline said, then stopped and sighed. "If I can give you some advice? Peace often comes at a price, and there are nations out there who want to make sure it is a high one for people like you and me. Consequences... they do not always limit their application of consequences solely to those who deserve them. I urge you, please, please be careful in these talks."

Allies. Councillor Pierre was not used to having allies, and in terms of nations, Kerlile and Xiomera were at war. But Pierre was not a general, she was a politician, and she suddenly saw Calhualyana as someone who could be her ally in one very important way: helping prevent a repeat of the Accords which had forever changed Kerlian society.

Calhualyana nodded. “I fully expect that certain parties to these talks - especially certain neighbors of ours - will seek to make sure that Xiomera is left as weak as possible in order to gain advantage for themselves. Others will seek to force Xiomera into changes that our people do not want, and that our nation does not desire. We have already given up half of our Empire because of those ideas by others. I will not cede any more of Xiomera to them. Not in land, nor in our social and cultural order. Not one inch,” the Empress said firmly, before softening her tone. “I do appreciate the advice, though, especially since you’ve already gone through what Xiomera is about to face. I hope that we can rely on each other to deal with such challenges.”

"Kerlile's official aim in these talks is to establish peace, that is agreed by all those who are attending as part of our delegation. I can assure you, though, that the Kerlian troops stationed in Huenya will be withdrawn regardless of the outcome. To put it bluntly, Xochiuhue presented a clear threat to the Matriarchy; you do not," Pierre said. Calhualyana's gender had, naturally, played a large part in Kerlile's decision making process on this matter.

"We will oppose any attempts by other parties, regardless of if they are officially allied with Kerlile or not, to interfere with the sovereign jurisdiction of any country involved in the talks," added Pauline, choosing her phrasing carefully - after all, Kerlile couldn't outright oppose any and all TRCs now and forever. It did occur to Pierre that she was telling Calhualyana far, far more than the rest of the Council would approve of. But what they don't know can't hurt them.

”I am very glad to hear that.” Calhualyana was pleased that the discussion was going better than she had anticipated. “It does sound like we are much in agreement on what the goals for the peace talks should be. I should contact the Council more formally at some point to discuss all this, but I am glad that I was able to speak with you first. And to help your daughter return home, of course.”

"The rest of the Council may not share my priorities," Pierre warned. "Georgiou is a staunch Yauhmi supporter because of their shared love of reform; and Greenwood wants an individual named Mariya Adema extradited to Kerlile - I, incidentally, would prefer that did not happen. Our own internal politics are... complex."

”Politics are always complex, especially internal ones. We Xiomerans have been living that fact firsthand this year,” Calhualyana said with a slight laugh. “But I will do my best to navigate the differing opinions on the Council. I appreciate the heads-up. As for Mariya......I can promise you she will not be extradited. She is actually working for me now, and I promise to keep her safe from those seeking to punish her. In fact, if you would like to speak to Mariya, privately, I can always arrange that.”

"Mariya has my number; she is welcome to call. Beware of Councillor Greenwood, Empress. She is no reformist, but she seems to have a personal grudge against you. Let me reassure you, however, that Kerlile has no desire to remove you," Pierre placed great emphasis on the word, "from the Obsidian Throne. Also, I would like Olivia returned to Kerlile as soon as possible."

”I will arrange for her to return tomorrow then, as I believe it is rather late where you are,” Calhualyana replied, while making careful notes of everything Pierre was telling her about the Council for her future study. “She will arrive back in Kerlile tomorrow morning your time.”

"Yes, it's late here. Thank you for returning her, and be careful in these talks," Pierre cautioned. She was smiling secretly to herself. It suited her, and the Matriarchy, if the partition of Xiomera became permanent. Having connections with both Yauhmi and Calhualyana would benefit Kerlile long-term, so Pierre decided to consider this call an opportunity.

”I shall be careful, but I always am. Thank you for the advice and the information, and hopefully we will speak again soon. Have a good night, Councillor Pierre.”

When the call ended, Calhualyana turned to Olivia. “I will see to it that your things are prepared for your return home. You’ll be taken to the airport in a few hours to be flown back to Kerlile. For what it’s worth, I am sorry for all this.”

Olivia, who was sitting twirling her fingers and trying to breathe deeply, attempted to awkwardly smile. "At least I'm not dead somewhere in Lauchenoiria," she cringed at her bad joke. "Sorry."

Calhualyana smiled at the bad attempt at humor. “That is true, actually. We’re still trying to figure out who in Lauchenoiria was detaining you and why. Their motives seemed obvious on the surface, but I have learned not to trust obvious motives,” Calhualyana said while tapping her pen as if in thought. “Well. We can help your government try to figure out that mystery. In the meantime, you are welcome to either return to your room or enjoy the Palace and the city before you return home.”

Olivia nodded in thanks. She wondered what ulterior motives her own mother had during that conversation, Pauline rarely revealed information without some. Olivia considered warning Calhualyana; but decided the Empress could figure that out for herself. Olivia had her own problems to deal with, namely: what exactly would her mother's reaction to all this be once they were in the same room?

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Lauchenoiria - 11-23-2020

“We have confirmation that the group occupying the Butterfly Island government offices are part of the subgroup Warriors of Our Earth. How would you like to proceed, Prime Minister?”

The question was asked so calmly, but Josephine Alvarez knew that much depended on her answer. If she ordered the assault, and classified the Warriors as a terrorist organisation (one could not do one without the other, under existing Lauchenoirian law) then there would be accusations of attacks on free speech; of suppressing dissent. If she allowed them to broadcast their messages to the world, it would threaten the peace and stability of Lauchenoiria that they’d tried so, so hard to ensure.

“Prime Minister?”

“I…” Alvarez didn’t know what to do. It was one of these moments when a decision must be made, where two roads diverge completely and there is no turning back.

“Ma’am? I found the images you were looking for,” a woman poked her head around the door, waving a red folder. The Prime Minister hurried over to the woman, taking the folder and flicking through the photographs inside. It had taken much work to get these from Xiomera; images of what had happened on Manauia Island. Sandra Pavia, who was seated next to Alvarez, took some of the pictures and flicked through them.

“These are bad, Josephine,” she said, holding up an image of the aftermath of an explosion to the Prime Minister. “We have to go through with it; they’re terrorists, and there’s only so long our people can keep blocking the transmissions from the building and claiming they found asbestos and evacuated it.”

“I don’t know, Sandra,” Alvarez groaned, turning away from the images. “If we do this now, it will act like we’re just copying Shuell and Xiomera - autocratic regimes.”

“They attacked us; we’re acting in response to evidence.”

“It’ll come out that we’ve been covering this up for a week.”

“For reasons of national security. We couldn’t act against them as we feared for the safety of possible minors involved. I mean, have you seen the images? One of those kids looks about fourteen. If it had been broadcast, it could have led to vigilante actions and endangered the local population.”

Alvarez closed her eyes, groaning and thinking over her options. It was true; they were being classified as terrorists by authoritarian governments but she wasn’t going to go as far as them, if she did this. It was a risk; but a bigger risk was allowing the group holed up inside the building to continue as they were and risk peace. She turned to the General.

“I’m going to make the announcement. Begin preparing for an assault on the building.”

*

Seahaven, Butterfly Island
One hour later

Anca had just turned eighteen. She’d joined WOE after meeting one of their members at a school climate protest. It had irritated Anca immensely that she’d had to sit through the war in the heartlands of Chaher territory doing nothing. But every time she’d gone to people involved in the war she’d been told she was too young. Now, she was extremely grateful to all those who had told her that: Anca knew she wouldn’t have coped in a war.

She played the video again on her phone. Alvarez didn’t look happy to be delivering the news, there was a grimness to her expression, yet the words were clear. In light of these events, we have no choice but to classify the Warriors of Our Earth as a terrorist organisation. In the eyes of the law, Anca was now a terrorist.

This hadn’t been the plan. She had only recently got involved with the Warriors, when they were planning this occupation. Now she was locked inside a building surrounded on all sides by Lauchenoirian special forces and she knew that when they left or were dragged out, she’d be arrested and sent to prison. Arrest she’d been prepared for, but they’d all anticipated fines; now they were looking at potentially years of imprisonment.

Anca abruptly stood up from the staircase on which she was seated and glanced around her, then hurried down a corridor until she came to a supply cupboard, opened the door and went inside, barricading the door behind her so none of the others would come inside. Then, she sat down in the corner and began to weep, sobbing in fear of what would happen and regretting the life choices which brought her to where she was.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Xiomera - 11-27-2020

Jointly written with [nation]Lauchenoiria[/nation]

November 27th

The cell in the Cauhloc was not, as one might have expected, some creepy dungeon. ASI was far too modern for that. Instead, the cell was almost hospital-like in its appearance: bland gray walls and floors, textured to be easily cleaned. A small cot, a basic bathroom facility, and a light in the ceiling that could not be shut off from inside. Xochiuhue, the former Emperor of Xiomera, did not like the room. He had spent his time there pacing, raging, and plotting revenge.

The lead Xiomeran interrogator had smugly informed him that he would be going on trial soon. Xochiuhue was finding his options for physical revenge growing very limited. But he could still blow up Calhualyana’s world, with the revenge of revealing everything he knew. Knowledge that, if the world heard it, would destroy her.

The former Emperor was amusing himself with these thoughts when the door opened.

"Good evening, Xochiuhue," smirked Mariya Adema. "Empress Calhualyana asked me to pay you a visit. We have some things to... discuss."

Xochiuhue raised an eyebrow. “What could I possibly discuss with a mere servant of that witch? Go away.”

"You will regret addressing me in that manner," Mariya said, her face shifting into a stone cold expression as she examined the former Emperor. "I am no mere servant, and I am here to make sure your final days are as miserable as possible, male."

Her last remark referencing his gender had been automatic, a slip of the tongue from someone used to working in Kerlile. But she figured it couldn't hurt; let him know she is a Kerlian. Kerlile did have a certain reputation.

“Even Calhualyana was my servant. Don’t expect me to be impressed with you, whoever you are,” Xochiuhue replied tartly. “I am of an Imperial lineage, and once ruled this country. You’re the sort of person who dances to the beat people like me play, nothing more. Especially since you’re just a foreigner here.”

"You're not the first former ruler of this country I have worked on," Mariya snorted. "Yauhmi fears me, and by the time we're finished, you will fear me too. But you're correct. I am not nearly as much of a threat to you as Empress Calhualyana. You are about to discover the meaning of pain, and of fear. Things to which nobody is immune in the end."

“I do not fear anything. I am an Emperor, do you get that, girl?” Xochiuhue laughed, his laughter tinged with slight madness. “As for pain, I have caused enough of it in my life to be intimately familiar with it. I doubt there is anything more you can teach me on the subject.”

"You were an Emperor," Mariya corrected. "Now you're a prisoner. And only fools think they have no weaknesses."

“The greater fool is the one who follows a betrayer with no loyalty to anything but themselves,” Xochiuhue retorted. “You’re the bigger fool than I am, child. Continue to follow Calhualyana if you wish - she will betray you, too, in the end. Or, you could release me, and be rewarded once I regain the throne. You’re either naive or gullible if you trust Calhualyana.”

Mariya snorted with laughter. "Even if I wanted to release you, you would kill me immediately. You have a reputation for killing. And not much else, it seems. Xochiuhue, the mad deposed Emperor who can do nothing but murder, murder, murder..."

Xochiuhue snarled. “It is fortunate for you, then, that I am in these chains.”

"I can watch my own back, Xochiuhue, but thank you for your concern. I trust nobody," Mariya smirked again, then knocked the cell door in a distinct pattern and called through the door: "Bring me the bucket and the... hmm... whip? No, the pointy stick. Oh, and the blindfold. And maybe a snack, this is going to be hard work."

“It’s going to be harder than you think. You boast about how you ‘worked on’ Yauhmi prior to me - but you didn’t break her, did you?” Xochiuhue laughed. “No, Yauhmi is off in Chuaztlapoc now, laughing at you. And she was a feeble old woman compared to me. I am of a long and proud Imperial line. I do not intend to make this easy for you. So if you couldn’t even break one old woman with one foot in the grave....good luck with me.”

Mariya suddenly drew a knife and leapt forward, pressing it to Xochiuhue's throat in a rage. "I was instructed to make Yauhmi's torture slow and painful, she escaped before I'd got to the good bits. You will not escape."

“I’m sure you told Yauhmi the same thing. It would be rather amusing if you had two former rulers escape on you,” Xochiuhue said, seemingly undisturbed by the knife at his throat. “At any rate, it’s not like I’m going anywhere right this second, so I’ll play along. Is there a point to this exercise, or are you just amusing yourself? You said the witch wanted to discuss something.”

"If she was a witch I'm sure she'd have turned you into something ugly by now. A toad, or a male spider," Mariya mused, but put away her knife and stepped back towards the door. "Hurry up with that bucket!"

"Now, where were we? Ah yes, I'm here to tell you that you are going to take responsibility for everything bad that happened during your reign at your trial and you will not mention Calhualyana's role in any of these things. I am also here to demonstrate what will happen to you in your final days if you do not do this."

Xochiuhue looked at Mariya with disdain. “Telling the world what Calhualyana did is the only revenge I have left. You may as well kill me if you think I’ll give that chance up.”

"Death will come as a mercy when it finally comes to you," Mariya said casually, as her assistants arrived with the requested equipment. She took the stick and checked its point was sufficiently sharp, and that the bucket of water was sufficiently freezing. Then she turned back to Xochiuhue. "Now we begin for real."

Xochiuhue looked at the bucket of water. His eyes widened.

His mind snapped back decades into the past. He was instantly transported to when he was four years old. Lake Ehehuani, just outside the capital. The water rushing over his head, as he tried futilely to move his arms and legs. One of his bodyguards finally pulling him out of the water. Floundering and gasping for breath on the beach, as his father Xolōtl shouted at the bodyguards and promised dire retribution for nearly letting the son of an Emperor drown. Ever since that day, Xochiuhue had feared and avoided the water.

Xochiuhue was immediately carried back to that moment on the shoreline by the sight of the bucket full of cold water. He knew, now, what Mariya had planned.

And he was scared.

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Democratic Republic Of Eiria - 12-08-2020

Western Zapotlán, Huenyan-controlled Territory
December 7th, 7:24 PM

The uniformed man stood stock-still, watching battalions of soldiers unload from transport after transport. The dark green Eirian Army uniforms blended together in the fading evening light, making medals and insignias glow silver. The soldiers all stood taller when they passed the man, moderating their appearances under his gaze.

The soldiers not only feared the uniformed man's insignia, which bore five silver stars, but they feared the deep purple hue of his uniform, showing that the man is a member of the famed Lunar Guard. Those two factors are enough to have any Eirian soldier looking over their shoulder, terrified of being called out by the formidable Lunar Guard General.

The General found it incredibly amusing, the way they were so terrified of him. It reminded him of the days he was a trainee, when he himself answered and feared his commanders. He couldn't exactly blame the soldiers for being so jumpy. Being overseen by a Guard General for the first time after getting used to your average squad commander is a bit of a shock, especially when being deployed.

Major Drew Casten, the General's right hand, stood beside him, watching a squad carry in supplies. "Well, we certainly pulled this off abnormally quickly. I'm surprised the cowards in the Senate had the audacity to deploy us this close to Angelí. Don't want to lose the canal for the Old Huenyan hag?".

The General chuckled lightly. "True, though it probably isn't proper to say such things about our allies as we stand in their country, among their soldiers. Though I do regret being deployed this close to the holidays." He nodded at an army lieutenant who saluted him as he passed. "I can see why they did though. We can't lose the Canal, and Zapotlán does pose an extreme strategic advantage."

"Regardless, it is a bit of a pain. At least, for the soldiers. It's a logistical nightmare as well. I sure as hell hope it's worth it."

"Oh, Drew, how long have you known me? My entire job is pulling off logistical miracles. That's the whole job, you know. The role of General Hermes isn't given to someone who can't handle the job."

A soldier approached the pair and stood in a salute. "Basic preparations are ready, sir. Supplies are unloaded and being distributed as we speak."

"Excellent." He clasped his hands together, startling a couple soldiers nearby. "Keep making preparations. We advance at dawn. Let's show those Xiomerans a good neighborly hello, shall we?".

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Lauchenoiria - 12-08-2020

It had been two and a half weeks since Olivia Pierre returned to Kerlile, and it had been two and a half weeks since Councillor Pauline Pierre had last visited the Council chamber. She had failed to appear at every session held in the interim, sending her second daughter Eva as a proxy where law allowed. There was speculation that the Councillor was ill, or even that she was dead and her death being covered up. Kerlile wanted answers, and they were about to get them. They just weren’t the answers anyone expected.

*

Council Chamber, Grapevale, Kerlile
8th December 2020

The door opened halfway through Councillor Hart’s speech about the merits of religious involvement in government and an attempt to establish a Secadualist Committee to advise the Council. Pauline Pierre slipped inside and took her seat. The assembled Councillors froze, shocked by her presence. Pierre gestured for them to continue.

“… and the Committee would be able to advise on spiritual matters primarily, however…” Hart stopped, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Councillors, I think we should pause this discussion to hear from Pierre. She looks…”

They all knew what Hart meant. Pierre looked thin, and she wore no make-up; her eyes appeared puffy from crying. Instead of her normal fashion style, described once by Jennifer Hale as ‘faux feminist feudalism’, she wore an outfit which leaned more towards the casual side of ‘smart-casual’. Nobody said anything, they just looked at Pierre, the permission to take the floor implicit in their shocked expressions.

Councillor Pierre stood up, looking around at her gathered peers. “Councillors, I… this is not easy for me to say. But I have been… I have been wrong about so many things in my life, and looking back I am horrified at myself. My daughter spent months as a prisoner, first in Lauchenoiria and then Xiomera. In Lauchenoiria she was mistreated and tortured because of what I did to her. I chased her out of this country because she could see what I could not.”

“We must change, Councillors,” Pierre continued, sniffing slightly and wiping away a tear. “We cannot continue upholding a system in which our own daughters, our own families, are chased from this country by our policies. I have pushed against the reform that so many of you have begun to support, but I’ve been wrong. I thought we had to protect our ideology but we aren’t protecting women, we’re destroying them.”

“History has shown – our own foundation was the result of men who refused to change. Nations that refuse to change, to progress, become stagnant, and stagnancy leads to destruction. Look at what’s left of Xiomera! They needed change, and those that refused to change have lost half their territory. We cannot become stagnant. We need to adapt to modern times and we need to acknowledge that we have made mistakes in our quest for women’s liberation.”

“Our families end up divided. We have splits, people sometimes flee the country, and there are plots and whatnot against our own blood. But we are the Council of Kerlile! Our ancestors did something remarkable. They gave their time, their money and all their efforts to creating a land where women were free from the discrimination of those times. In our founding documents, we were created to be a body that safeguards that mission. Not one that controls it. And have we been safeguarding that? I don’t think we have.”

“What is necessary, changes with the times. In order to ensure we fight for women’s liberation we should have been considering how things are changing and consistently striving to be better, rather than falling into the patterns of preserving what we have at all costs. I have been guilty of this my whole life – I thought defending the Kerlian status quo was defending the women’s revolution, but I was wrong.”

“That is why I have brought this legislation before you today,” Pierre took ten copies of a document out of her bag and handed them around to the Councillors. “The Education and Upbringing of Daughters of the Council (Amendment) Bill. This proposed legislation will permit Councillors and our direct relatives to keep and care for sons. It will also permit fathers to play a part in the raising of our daughters, and for us to marry.

“I know that I, of all people, bringing this forward will come as a massive surprise to, frankly, all of you. But that’s why I’m doing this. We can’t keep up a situation where we need to give up our own family members. I know the majority of you support this, and I want you to know that I am with you now. I know we need to change. We can’t keep up this constant infighting, plotting, this hatred of each other. Carmen, Councillor Robinson, I am so sorry for all my family has done to yours.”

“We are the Council of Kerlile, and we shouldn’t be fighting. We should be united. We should be working together to determine what is best for the people of Kerlile. We should be safeguarding the cause of women’s liberation and working with those who share our goals rather than being hostile to anyone who isn’t Kerlian.”

“I hate that it took me so long to work this out. And to Olivia, I am so, so deeply sorry for all I have done to you. You did not deserve any of this. I can’t ever make it right, but I will never let such things happen to any of our own again. We have become corrupt. Our quest for power has turned us from our own cause. We are not what our ancestors set out to be, we are not what we are meant to be and we need to change. We need to change.”

“This should be a space to discuss what we need to do to make sure women are supported in this world. We shouldn’t be undermining and fighting people. We should have discussions and then go to the world united. We shouldn’t be seeking ultimate power. We should be seeking information, to give advice, to make sure that the gender roles of the 1920s are gone for good. That is our purpose.

So, I will work with all of you. I will never hurt any of you again, I will never condone torture or abuse, and we need to work out some system of reparations for the people we have wronged. We must change now. And – you’re going to think I’ve gone mad – that’s why I also support Councillor Hale’s Democracy Bill, though I’ve a few amendment proposals. But in principle… we can’t concentrate power in our own hands, for that is how we become cruel and corrupt. That is how we stray from our given purpose.”

“We change today. And we send a message to the world that we have changed. Maybe this time, with us united behind it, and giving up our power, they will believe us.”

---

Re: Artists of Progress (Xiomera/Milintica RP open to all) - Xiomera - 12-13-2020

December 8th
6:00 am
Zapotlán

The sudden surge into Zapotlán by the Imperial military, spearheaded by the Iskirami and the new elite Xiomeran forces, had successfully rocked the Huenyans and their allies. Within a few short days, they had been pushed back hard, losing almost all the territory they had gained. They had not only lost control over the Intra-Xiomera Canal, but had also lost all but the outskirts of western Zapotlán as well. Empress Calhualyana's goal was a simple one: push the Huenyans and their allies back into the Tepiltzin region, or into the sea. The Empress wasn't particularly concerned which one the enemy ended up in, as long as they were out of what the Xiomerans considered their historic and rightful land.

And the Xiomeran surge had almost accomplished that.

Almost.

The Xiomeran Empire had challenged the fledgling Huenyan Federation, and its allies. On the 8th of December, the Huenyans and their allies answered the challenge.

---

In an attempt to halt the Xiomeran surge, the allies of Huenya had sent in reinforcements. 7500 Eirian troops and 2500 Legionite troops had come ashore, in the small pocket of shoreline that was still controlled by the allies. The additional 10,000 troops would help to bolster allied lines, break the shock that the Xiomeran surge had caused, and begin the road to a counter-attack.

But that wouldn't be enough to stop Calhualyana's attack alone. When General Cuauh'ez had warned the allies that the Empress had sent a force that was nearly-unstoppable, it was not hyperbole. The Warriors of Huītzilōpōchtli and the Warriors of Tezcatlipōca, the new elite armies of the Xiomeran Empire, had indeed been unstoppable in their assault. In Chuaztlapoc, Yauhmi and the Huenyan Assembly made a fateful decision. Their allies had sent more, and given more, to stop Calhualyana and save their fledgling state. It was time for the Huenyans to do the same - to throw everything they had left at the Imperial armies and end their dance at Zapotlán with Calhualyana once and for all. If their allies were willing to sacrifice for the dream of a free and democratic Huenya, the Huenyans themselves were not about to be found wanting.

General Tlanexchel, promoted and made Defense Secretary on the Huenyan side, gathered every single Jaguar Warrior, Eagle Warrior, and Shorn One that was available. All of the best equipment and supplies available on the Huenyan side were given to that army of the 25,000 best soldiers Huenya had. And then, Tlanexchel deployed his elite army with a single command: kick Calhualyana's wannabe elites, their intended replacements, back across the Canal with so much force that their grandchildren would feel the bruises.

---

On the streets of Zapotlán, alongside the Eirians, the Legionites, the Kerlians and the Huenyan forces that were already in the city, the Jaguar Warriors, Eagle Warriors and Shorn Ones brought the enemy to battle. Calling it a "battle" was not enough to do it justice. In all of Huenya, throughout its six-plus centuries of history, this would be the battle.

The shattered buildings and rubble-filled streets of Zapotlán bore witness to the clash of the ancient, and the new. The ancient and the new, in the form of armies, as the Jaguar and Eagle Warriors and the Shorn Ones met the Warriors of Huītzilōpōchtli and the Warriors of Tezcatlipōca head-on in a merciless and no-holds-barred clash for land and for victory. One set of warriors was out to prove themselves, as the equals to, and replacement of, those that they considered traitors to the Xiomeran Empire. The other set was out for revenge - for the loss of their comrades at the Palace of Flowers when the coup began, for the betrayal they had suffered at the hands of Xochiuhue, General Xōchhuitl and Calhualyana. They also fully intended to prove to their supposed replacements that no one could replace a Jaguar Warrior, an Eagle Warrior or a Shorn One.

But these causes and grievances, deep as they ran, were not the only thing being fought for on the streets of Zapotlán. This city was the dividing line between the western and eastern halves of Huenya - and between their peoples, who had grown further and further apart even before the coup began. It was the line between the past and the future, and between a vision of Empire that had spanned 600 years and another vision that wanted nothing to do with it.

At Zapotlán, one side was seeking to reinforce the order they had always understood and believed in - and the other side was determined to show them that order was dead to them.

---

In his command center in western Zapotlán, General Tlanexchel grimly issued commands and watched his viewscreens as the battle progressed. The fighting was easily proving to be the bloodiest and harshest that had been seen in the entire civil war. The medical wards on the Huenyan side were already filling up with casualties, stretching them to the limits.

"This is bad, sir. I'm not sure how much longer our forces can hold up to this," Quiauhxochitli, his second in command, said as she brought him the latest reports. Tlanexchel took a quick drink of his coffee before taking the reports. "As long as we hold up just longer than the bastards on the other side, that's all we need to do," he replied.

---

On the other side of the lines, in his own command center, General Zinahue shook his head and looked at Yaopochatl, the commander of the new Xiomeran special forces at Zapotlán. "We need to break their line somehow. How in the hell are they mustering up such a strong assault?"

"They are elite forces, just as we are," Yaopochatl said, doing his best not to look at Zinahue as if he was an idiot.

"But their side should be broken! We pulled out all of the equipment from the west, we pulled out all their money, even their allies can't be giving them enough supplies to fight!" General Zinahue looked at his screens with exasperation. Despite the overwhelming advantage in resources and equipment the Xiomerans had over the Huenyan side, the evidence was clear that the Xiomeran forces were slowly beginning to lose ground again.

Yaopochatl couldn't keep the disdainful look entirely off of his face at this point. A former Jaguar Warrior who had switched sides after the coup, he understood the mentality of an elite warrior well. "Money doesn't fight wars, nor do inanimate objects, General. Not by themselves. Belief fights wars. Passion, ideals, a cause to fight for. They believe in what they are fighting for just as much as we do, it appears. You can take away all the technology and the equipment and the money, and in the end, if you haven't broken a warrior's cause...you will still lose."

Before Zinahue could say anything else, Yaopochatl shook his head. "With all due respect, General, you can't help me win this fight. Let me do my job, and go out there and see if there's some way to turn this around." Yaopochatl walked out of the command center, leaving a furious General Zinahue behind.

---

Noon

After six hours of fighting, the counter-attack by the Huenyans and their allies had managed to force its way back into the center of Zapotlán. The casualty counts on both sides were continuing to skyrocket, but Tlanexchel was undeterred. "We've got them back on their heels. Keep attacking!" he ordered, looking at the many screens in front of him with an almost predatory expression.

At his own command center, General Zinahue had a much grimmer expression as he glared at his own screens. "If they're able to advance much farther, they'll have us pinned back against the Canal," he said. "What the hell is Yaopochatl doing?"

Yaopochatl, despite the General's belief, wasn't being idle. In a different part of the Xiomeran command center, he was conferring with his field commanders via video. "Begin falling back, slowly, towards the Canal. Make it look convincing. The Empress has a surprise prepared for the enemy," he said calmly.

---

4 pm

After an additional four hours of fighting, the allied counter-attack had managed to push the Xiomeran forces back to the Canal and eastern Zapotlán. Tlanexchel was beginning to see victory in his grasp. "Keep pushing. I want our forces to cross the Canal and regain control of eastern Zapotlán by the end of the day."

Having slowly but persistently succeeded in pushing the Imperial forces back, the allied forces were confident that they could execute that order. But Calhualyana did indeed have a surprise waiting.

As the allied forces reached the Canal, and saw the Imperial forces retreating, they surged forward in a bid to keep them retreating and gain control of the other side of the Canal as well. But as the allied forces began their advance, they found themselves suddenly facing a reinvigorated Xiomeran assault. Calhualyana had ordered General Zinahue to keep a substantial force in reserve, to strike back at the allied forces when they were exhausted from their assault.

In conjunction with the surge in reserve Xiomeran forces, Calhualyana had ordered the Imperial Air Force to be ready to strike en masse. A wave of tactical bombers and fighter-bombers, escorted by fighters, began blasting the allied advance. Faced with yet another Xiomeran surge, the allied advance began to struggle and falter.

Back at his headquarters, Tlanexchel sent an urgent message to the Huenyan command in Chuaztlapoc. Texōccoatl received the message, and calmly issued orders of his own. Calhualyana wasn't the only one who had a surprise planned in the event of an emergency.

When western Huenya had slipped out of the control of the Xiomeran Empire, the retreating Imperial forces did their best to take their weapons and equipment with them, to deprive the enemy of their use. But not everything had escaped the grasp of the Huenyans.

Among other things, since its defacto independence, Huenya had gained control of a significant portion of the Xiomeran military's missile capabilities. This ranged from mobile units capable of being used on the battlefield all the way to silo-based missiles. Tlanexchel ordered the allied forces back out of harm's way, and then Texōccoatl began letting those missiles fly. The would-be counterattack by the Imperial military found itself facing a line drawn in the sand at the Canal - a line drawn by missiles perfectly capable of decimating entire battalions.

---

6 pm

With night dawning, making combat more challenging, and with both sides exhausted and having laid down their respective lines, both sides had a decision to make.

Back in Tlālacuetztla, Empress Calhualyana received the message about the wall of missiles that was decimating her attack with a grimace. Staring at the walls of the Throne Room, her voice finally echoed in a grating hiss of displeasure. "Cease fire and halt the advance," she finally said via video to General Zinahue, who was quite glad to be on a battlefield rather than facing the Empress at that particular moment. "Make no further movements unless they try to cross the Canal to the side we control."

In Zapotlán, Tlanexchel was also not content - the Huenyan Assembly had decided to halt their attack as well, much to his displeasure. "We can push them back for good if we keep advancing!" he argued, but Yauhmi, on the other end of the video call, was unmoved. "The casualties are already very high, and will grow even worse if we keep pushing. I don't know if we can keep this up, and I also doubt that our allies are willing to just keep pitching people into a meat grinder. If Calhualyana has stopped her attack, and we retain control of Zapotlán and at least part of the Canal Zone, we can negotiate at Jinyu for a final resolution. This is the best we can do right now, and we're frankly damned lucky to have emerged with even this much of a victory. You have your orders, General. Cease fire - for now."

With a nod, Tlanexchel ended the call and issued the order to cease fire. If you think this is going to be a temporary cease-fire, you're wrong, he thought. The only thing that those talks in Jinyu will decide is how long this stalemate drags on for, and I doubt it's going to end any time soon.

As night dawned on Zapotlán, the land of Huenya ended the day as it began the day - divided, and facing a split and uncertain future.

---