[Lauchenoiria]

Laura Moore tried to quieten her breathing as she hid. She pressed her ear to the floor, but she couldn't hear what the federal police officers were saying. After a tense few minutes, they left and Katya shut the door. Moore waited. Eventually, Katya opened the door to the closet where she hid.

"It's okay, they were looking for one of the fugitives from Sancti Imperii Catholico. Seemed to have an idea one of them is in the area," Katya said as Moore stood up and exited into the bedroom.

"We need to get out of the country," Moore responded.

"We're working on it. Peter is away right now trying to make that happen."

"Any news from Josephine?" asked Moore, as she climbed down the stairs. She fanned herself with a piece of junk mail as she walked, the hot climate near the border with Malabra irritating her.

"She's vanished, just as much as you have to any onlookers. Whether that means she's on the run, or... something else, we have no way of contacting her. As soon as it's dark, we need to head to Summersea. From there, we'll get on a ship out of the country."

"To where?"

"Once we are in international waters, we will contact world leaders who we expect to support you, and ask one of them for asylum."

"And if this doesn't work? If Peter doesn't find a ship, or if Chaher finds us, what then?"

"I am sworn to protect you, ma'am."

"That's not an answer."

Moore sat down on a chair in the kitchen. They were in Peter's uncle's summer house, a secluded small structure in the northeastern corner of Costeno province. After the shooting in the Parliament building, they had fled here, without contacting anyone. They didn't know who to trust.

Moore blinked away some tears as she thought of her family, who didn't know if she was alive or dead. Her husband, Felipe, would be worried. Their two children, Kelli and Jamey, were only 6 and 4. If something went wrong, she might never see them again. She had never truly considered such things before. Lauchenoiria was not the kind of place where these things happen.

"Or so I thought," murmured Moore aloud.

--------------

"Jonas, get me another cup of coffee," ordered Chaher, as he tapped his pen against a pile of paperwork he had shuffled around to make it look like he'd done something with it.

"Yes, sir," replied the boy, Jonas, as he left the room. Chaher leaned back in his chair.

Noguera's declaration had complicated things. True enough, he had promised the Aelurian leader the island would have their independence if they supported his vote in parliament. But not right now!

He sighed, considering his options. He could recognise their independence, fulfilling his promise, and losing an important piece of territory. He could call their declaration illegal, risking retribution and fighting a war on two fronts if President Walker moved against him. Or he could ignore the situation entirely, seeming unprofessional and not in control.

Never any good options. He picked up the phone again, dialling President Walker's staff. Perhaps this time she'd actually pick up.

"Good afternoon, Mr Chaher," said President Walker.

Suleman Chaher almost fell off the seat at his shock. He hadn't expected her to take the call at all, never mind answer the phone herself.

"Good afternoon, Madam President," he replied, hoping he sounded less caught off guard than he felt. "I am calling to ask you to appoint me as the new Prime Minister and allowing me to form a government, following the troublesome allegations against Laura Moore."

"I'm sorry, Mr Chaher, I cannot do that."

Chaher mentally swore. So it would be like this, then.

"Respectfully, Madam President, that would be a mistake. I have the support of parliament and the people." And the military, he did not say. He knew she already had that information.

"Regardless, your power grab was illegitimate and I cannot recognise your government. Please, stop this before it goes too far. There's still time to back down from this, I ask you as someone who cares deeply about the Lauchenoirian people."

"You know I can't do that. Goodbye, Madam President." He hung up the phone.

"Well, it seems like we're going to need a new President," Chaher said to nobody.

-------------

"He hung up on me," sighed President Leanna Walker. "Seems this is going to get worse before it gets better. Call General Sanchez."

"Yes, ma'am," responded Daniel.

Walker pulled the clasp holding her hair back out, then quickly changed her mind and tied it up again. She walked into the ensuite, and stared at her reflection.

She looked like she hadn't slept in a month. She had bags under her eyes, her hair was a mess, and her clothes were crumpled. She was going to have to take a good long time getting ready before the press conference.

She was about to declare Suleman Chaher's vote of no confidence in Laura Moore an illegal and illegitimate coup. And while, constitutionally, the military answered to her, practically he had the support of a much greater fraction. He would fight, she knew. And it was anybody's guess who would win.

She splashed water on her face, then exited back into the main part of her hotel suite, as Daniel put down the phone.

"The General is unavailable, ma'am."

So this was how Sanchez was going to play it. She hoped against hope that he really was just busy, but she couldn't count on it.

"The majority of the people of Aeluria do not wish the island to be independent. This declaration of independence is a move by the AIP's Keitha Noguera to capitalise on the situation in Buttercity..." muttered Walker, preparing her speech for the conference in an hour.

"There will be a teleprompter, I'm sure."

"I am well aware. Now, get me the wardrobe people. And find out where Moore and Alvarez are."

"Yes, ma'am."