06-12-2018, 09:38 PM
Anael Noguera sat in the back garden of Julena House, the First Minister of Aeluria's residence. His wife was in the parliament chamber, debating the austerity measures proposed to compensate for Chaher's increased military funding. He had cut funding to all provinces to pay for it.
A man appeared, standing under the trees, his face hidden. Anael checked behind him then walked over to join the man.
"Anael, how are you? I'm so sorry about Walker's plot, we never thought she'd pull something like this!" the man patted Anael on his back. Anael moved away.
"You reek of smoke," Anael wrinkled his nose.
"You Lauchenoirians, all the same. Obsessed with not smoking."
"Chaher tells me you were smoking the first time you met, on a beach on this island. When he handed you the money and information needed to set off this whole thing."
The man chuckled. "Ah yes, our first meeting. I believe we discussed the riots in Melissa City and the smoking laws of Lauchenoiria. But you are mistaken, he gave me no money."
"He gave you a USB, the contents of which directed you to the drop off. You all think I have no idea what's going on here. That I'm just a pawn. But I'm the one who told you where to find Keitha. I'm the one who gave you the votes you needed to make Chaher's government legitimate. And all I ask is that you give me one thing in return."
"And what is that, Mr Noguera?"
"I want out of this country. Before she comes."
------------------------
Leanna Walker stared at the ceiling in her hospital room. She was aware of all the people coming and going, and talking to her but she wouldn't - or couldn't - respond. Daniel was there now, sitting in silence. Eventually he spoke.
"I need to know, Leanna. I don't know what I believe any more, but I need to know. Whatever happens, I will be by your side and we will fight. We will take down Chaher's government and we will protect Lauchenoiria."
Yes, it was me. I'm so sorry. I have done something terrible, that can't be fixed. And I don't want forgiveness, Daniel. I don't deserve it.
She did not say the words aloud.
------------------------
Josephine Alvarez sat opposite Rayna, the woman who had provided her with the note the previous week. They sat in silence, eating and did not speak or acknowledge each other's presence.
To someone who did not know the finer nuances of Kerlian sign language, the two women did not communicate at all. Yet Josephine had learned Kerlian sign language to communicate with a close friend of Sonja's, who had passed away some years ago. And Rayna's gang used it as communication.
KSL was much subtler and unnoticeable than most sign languages, as the Kerlian government had outlawed it during their eugenicist phase, and it had adapted in manners that made it an excellent choice for covert communication.
Josephine noticed Olivia Quirós out of the corner of her eye, and signing goodbye to Rayna, got up to approach her. Olivia was still shaking, and wouldn't say much to the others apart from Kathy and herself.
"A week, and then we're out of here, okay?" Josephine whispered to Olivia as she passed.
She hoped Rayna's information was correct.
--------------------------
Yasin Zaunq sat in the window of the building opposite the Ecanta Province Parliament in stillness and silence. He was waiting for the change in shift of the security. The parliament building was dark and near empty, half the Members were in hiding and the other half too afraid to rebel against the party line. It made for quick and pointless debate.
Yasin knew that all across Annatown, others like him and his team lay in wait but that didn't make what came next any easier. He steadied his hands and looked at his watch. Two minutes to go.
Annatown was neither the most valuable nor the best tactical location for such actions, yet he knew the Lauchenoirian military were stronger on sea than land. And he damn well hoped that Chaher would be unwilling to rely on foreign support.
"Now," said Sonja's voice over his comm.
Yasin signalled his team and they burst from the building towards the parliament, as all across Annatown, various other groups did the same to their targets. In the noise of gunfire and the chaos of battle, he forgot all about where he was and why he was doing this - he remembered only his target.
He couldn't be sure how long the battle lasted, but at the end he stood at the top of the parliament, looking out over Annatown. A fire was burning in the direction of the army barracks. Emergency alarms were being silenced as their control over the city was solidified. And once the dust settled, Sonja's voice broadcasted to the world.
"People of Lauchenoiria, my name is Sonja Viratnen-Alvarez. Today, forces loyal to the true and democratically elected government of Lauchenoiria have taken control of the city of Annatown. Suleman Chaher's so-called government are in violation of the Constitution of Lauchenoiria, and the actions taken today are a step towards reclaiming our democracy and preventing this would-be dictator from taking over our country. I urge the international community to reject Chaher's government and support Laura Moore."
-------------------------
Chaher sat in his office as Charissa Clarke hovered over him. Unusually calm, he cleared his throat and turned to Charissa.
"Call Gonhog. Call Kerlile. Tell them it's time."
-------------------------
Kerlile
"He's going to call," stated Lucia Casci, Kerlian Minister of Defence.
The phone rang. Joanna Greenwood, President of Kerlile, laughed.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you had psychic powers, Casci." Greenwood said, gesturing for her nameless aide to pick up the phone. The boy did so, then handed it to Greenwood. She took the phone then swatted the boy away like a fly.
"This is President Greenwood, Supreme Leader of Kerlile. To whom am I speaking?"
"This is Charissa Clarke, Lauchenoirian Defence Secretary. I am calling on behalf of Prime Minister Chaher. He has requested military assistance in retaking Annatown from rebels."
"Happy to." Greenwood ended the call before Clarke could give her specifics. She didn't need them. "Casci, the moment we have been waiting for has arrived. Chaher is so predictable, like all men. And Viratnen is predictable, like all traitors. But their foolishness will be our victory. Get ready. And if Gonhog gets in our way, well, I doubt anyone will care what we do to them."
A man appeared, standing under the trees, his face hidden. Anael checked behind him then walked over to join the man.
"Anael, how are you? I'm so sorry about Walker's plot, we never thought she'd pull something like this!" the man patted Anael on his back. Anael moved away.
"You reek of smoke," Anael wrinkled his nose.
"You Lauchenoirians, all the same. Obsessed with not smoking."
"Chaher tells me you were smoking the first time you met, on a beach on this island. When he handed you the money and information needed to set off this whole thing."
The man chuckled. "Ah yes, our first meeting. I believe we discussed the riots in Melissa City and the smoking laws of Lauchenoiria. But you are mistaken, he gave me no money."
"He gave you a USB, the contents of which directed you to the drop off. You all think I have no idea what's going on here. That I'm just a pawn. But I'm the one who told you where to find Keitha. I'm the one who gave you the votes you needed to make Chaher's government legitimate. And all I ask is that you give me one thing in return."
"And what is that, Mr Noguera?"
"I want out of this country. Before she comes."
------------------------
Leanna Walker stared at the ceiling in her hospital room. She was aware of all the people coming and going, and talking to her but she wouldn't - or couldn't - respond. Daniel was there now, sitting in silence. Eventually he spoke.
"I need to know, Leanna. I don't know what I believe any more, but I need to know. Whatever happens, I will be by your side and we will fight. We will take down Chaher's government and we will protect Lauchenoiria."
Yes, it was me. I'm so sorry. I have done something terrible, that can't be fixed. And I don't want forgiveness, Daniel. I don't deserve it.
She did not say the words aloud.
------------------------
Josephine Alvarez sat opposite Rayna, the woman who had provided her with the note the previous week. They sat in silence, eating and did not speak or acknowledge each other's presence.
To someone who did not know the finer nuances of Kerlian sign language, the two women did not communicate at all. Yet Josephine had learned Kerlian sign language to communicate with a close friend of Sonja's, who had passed away some years ago. And Rayna's gang used it as communication.
KSL was much subtler and unnoticeable than most sign languages, as the Kerlian government had outlawed it during their eugenicist phase, and it had adapted in manners that made it an excellent choice for covert communication.
Josephine noticed Olivia Quirós out of the corner of her eye, and signing goodbye to Rayna, got up to approach her. Olivia was still shaking, and wouldn't say much to the others apart from Kathy and herself.
"A week, and then we're out of here, okay?" Josephine whispered to Olivia as she passed.
She hoped Rayna's information was correct.
--------------------------
Yasin Zaunq sat in the window of the building opposite the Ecanta Province Parliament in stillness and silence. He was waiting for the change in shift of the security. The parliament building was dark and near empty, half the Members were in hiding and the other half too afraid to rebel against the party line. It made for quick and pointless debate.
Yasin knew that all across Annatown, others like him and his team lay in wait but that didn't make what came next any easier. He steadied his hands and looked at his watch. Two minutes to go.
Annatown was neither the most valuable nor the best tactical location for such actions, yet he knew the Lauchenoirian military were stronger on sea than land. And he damn well hoped that Chaher would be unwilling to rely on foreign support.
"Now," said Sonja's voice over his comm.
Yasin signalled his team and they burst from the building towards the parliament, as all across Annatown, various other groups did the same to their targets. In the noise of gunfire and the chaos of battle, he forgot all about where he was and why he was doing this - he remembered only his target.
He couldn't be sure how long the battle lasted, but at the end he stood at the top of the parliament, looking out over Annatown. A fire was burning in the direction of the army barracks. Emergency alarms were being silenced as their control over the city was solidified. And once the dust settled, Sonja's voice broadcasted to the world.
"People of Lauchenoiria, my name is Sonja Viratnen-Alvarez. Today, forces loyal to the true and democratically elected government of Lauchenoiria have taken control of the city of Annatown. Suleman Chaher's so-called government are in violation of the Constitution of Lauchenoiria, and the actions taken today are a step towards reclaiming our democracy and preventing this would-be dictator from taking over our country. I urge the international community to reject Chaher's government and support Laura Moore."
-------------------------
Chaher sat in his office as Charissa Clarke hovered over him. Unusually calm, he cleared his throat and turned to Charissa.
"Call Gonhog. Call Kerlile. Tell them it's time."
-------------------------
Kerlile
"He's going to call," stated Lucia Casci, Kerlian Minister of Defence.
The phone rang. Joanna Greenwood, President of Kerlile, laughed.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you had psychic powers, Casci." Greenwood said, gesturing for her nameless aide to pick up the phone. The boy did so, then handed it to Greenwood. She took the phone then swatted the boy away like a fly.
"This is President Greenwood, Supreme Leader of Kerlile. To whom am I speaking?"
"This is Charissa Clarke, Lauchenoirian Defence Secretary. I am calling on behalf of Prime Minister Chaher. He has requested military assistance in retaking Annatown from rebels."
"Happy to." Greenwood ended the call before Clarke could give her specifics. She didn't need them. "Casci, the moment we have been waiting for has arrived. Chaher is so predictable, like all men. And Viratnen is predictable, like all traitors. But their foolishness will be our victory. Get ready. And if Gonhog gets in our way, well, I doubt anyone will care what we do to them."
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax