03-03-2020, 09:16 PM
Large Meeting Room, Kerlian Intelligence Service Building
3rd March 2020
Councillor Jennifer Hale stood with Councillor Pauline Pierre at the front of the room, flicking through sheets of paper containing lists of identities and assignments. Across the room, which hummed with the noise of various conversations, just over 20 former Auroras sat in groups of 3 or 4, going through paperwork with various employees of both the Aurora Programme and general records offices in Kerlile.
“Okay, so we have one confirmed dead and one missing from Zamastan, and three returned… not bad,” mused Hale. “A majority safe.”
“Unlikely, I agree. The statistics from LOM seem stranger. Four dead in a variety of ‘accidents’, three returned – one with a daughter, I might add,” sighed Pierre.
“Well, that will cause issues. But we can deal with the fallout from that later. I highly doubt those four died in accidents. I’d suspect they were either assassinated, or they aren’t even dead. They could still be in Maximusian prisons,” Hale suggested.
“Yes,” nodded Pierre. “We should attempt to ascertain if that is the case, and if so come up with a plan to get them out.”
“We can always offer a prisoner exchange with some of their people we have here,” Hale said. “We’ve been looking for a way to handle that issue.”
“Ugh, you lot. Fine, fine. Whatever works. Two back from Lauchenoiria,” Pierre returned to the initial topic at hand, “and one still free confirmed. Four in prison, it seems, from what we’ve been able to gather.”
“Alvarez is willing to negotiate, I’ve had contact with her.”
“Well, your wife would be.”
“I remember when you didn’t acknowledge my marriage.”
“Times have changed,” smiled Pierre wryly. “It would be foolish of me to continue denying that fact.”
“Nevertheless, I can’t believe you fully accept it.”
“Moving on,” Pierre said swiftly, “no contact with any in Shuell, or one in Iustos though two from the latter have returned. We have three back from Kvask, one still missing and one refusing contact, though I can imagine why.”
“I don’t know what it is with your family and Kvask…” Hale shook her head. “Anyway, we’ve had two back from Xiomera and four deciding to stay there, two back from Eiria and four missing. One back from Gardavasque, almost missing the deadline. The one in UNE is missing, and there are numerous requests from those in Laeral to remain.”
“The numbers are sufficient,” nodded Pierre. “We’ve had more return than we expected, and if we can negotiate with some of the less overtly hostile nations, we can do this without endangering too many. If the Programme has to end, I’d say this has been as successful as it can be.”
Hale nodded, and glanced around the room at the assembled Auroras, sitting in groups according to their age, laughing and joking. It seemed to her almost miraculous that so many of them had made it out so easily, that so many of them were safe and happy. It was a better outcome than she’d predicted, and it made her pleased, in a way, that the leaks had happened in spite of everything. At least now, reform would be able to move ahead as planned without any complications.
On the other side of the room, three 50-year-olds sat clustered together, discussing in subdued terms what had happened to their old classmate, Charissa Clarke. The one who’d been in Laeral, Yawen, was resting her head on the shoulder of the Kvaskm Aurora, the one who’d arrived back early and had already been processed. Rhona, her birth name was, the one she’d never known until a few weeks ago. She went by it now, tentatively, no longer going by either Daniela or Slavjena. The third, Dawn, the late arrival from Gardavasque, was silent, as someone from the Kerlian Database Agency, which managed the KCID database, explained how they were going to be allowed to choose their names.
Anaïs Lasserre, who wanted to return to Laeral, was talking to Stephany Keller, the one who’d brought back a daughter. They’d trained together, and seemed to be sharing stories about their lives and laughing. Both were pretty happy, even though there was a chance they would both be in serious trouble for violating protocol. It seemed that reform had made Kerlians much more comfortable with, well, existing. The thought gave Hale pleasure, before her eyes fell on the unfortunate Hiranur, who sat alone, depressed upon receiving confirmation that Amaya Morse was indeed in prison.
Irena Wilson, Li Fengchao and Eva Dreeni also sat in a circle, looking up three-bedroomed flats in Grapevale. The friends from training had decided to share together during the day’s events of filling out paperwork, more paperwork, and more paperwork. All three of them had managed to come out of their ordeal relatively unscathed, and seemed to accept their sudden forced career change without too much pushback. They’d been surprised to hear that one from their class, Comilō, had chosen to remain in Xiomera, but they were pleased to hear of the deal, and that she was safe.
As Jennifer Hale looked around the room, she felt an odd sense of peace. It seemed like a conclusion to the old order, and a sign that Kerlile truly was changing. Perhaps this particular change had been forced upon them, but it was no less significant. These were Kerlians whose lives had been entirely controlled by the government. Now, they were free to make their own choices, and to speak freely. It was proof, undeniable proof, that things in the Matriarchy were changing, and Jennifer couldn’t help but feel joy.
3rd March 2020
Councillor Jennifer Hale stood with Councillor Pauline Pierre at the front of the room, flicking through sheets of paper containing lists of identities and assignments. Across the room, which hummed with the noise of various conversations, just over 20 former Auroras sat in groups of 3 or 4, going through paperwork with various employees of both the Aurora Programme and general records offices in Kerlile.
“Okay, so we have one confirmed dead and one missing from Zamastan, and three returned… not bad,” mused Hale. “A majority safe.”
“Unlikely, I agree. The statistics from LOM seem stranger. Four dead in a variety of ‘accidents’, three returned – one with a daughter, I might add,” sighed Pierre.
“Well, that will cause issues. But we can deal with the fallout from that later. I highly doubt those four died in accidents. I’d suspect they were either assassinated, or they aren’t even dead. They could still be in Maximusian prisons,” Hale suggested.
“Yes,” nodded Pierre. “We should attempt to ascertain if that is the case, and if so come up with a plan to get them out.”
“We can always offer a prisoner exchange with some of their people we have here,” Hale said. “We’ve been looking for a way to handle that issue.”
“Ugh, you lot. Fine, fine. Whatever works. Two back from Lauchenoiria,” Pierre returned to the initial topic at hand, “and one still free confirmed. Four in prison, it seems, from what we’ve been able to gather.”
“Alvarez is willing to negotiate, I’ve had contact with her.”
“Well, your wife would be.”
“I remember when you didn’t acknowledge my marriage.”
“Times have changed,” smiled Pierre wryly. “It would be foolish of me to continue denying that fact.”
“Nevertheless, I can’t believe you fully accept it.”
“Moving on,” Pierre said swiftly, “no contact with any in Shuell, or one in Iustos though two from the latter have returned. We have three back from Kvask, one still missing and one refusing contact, though I can imagine why.”
“I don’t know what it is with your family and Kvask…” Hale shook her head. “Anyway, we’ve had two back from Xiomera and four deciding to stay there, two back from Eiria and four missing. One back from Gardavasque, almost missing the deadline. The one in UNE is missing, and there are numerous requests from those in Laeral to remain.”
“The numbers are sufficient,” nodded Pierre. “We’ve had more return than we expected, and if we can negotiate with some of the less overtly hostile nations, we can do this without endangering too many. If the Programme has to end, I’d say this has been as successful as it can be.”
Hale nodded, and glanced around the room at the assembled Auroras, sitting in groups according to their age, laughing and joking. It seemed to her almost miraculous that so many of them had made it out so easily, that so many of them were safe and happy. It was a better outcome than she’d predicted, and it made her pleased, in a way, that the leaks had happened in spite of everything. At least now, reform would be able to move ahead as planned without any complications.
On the other side of the room, three 50-year-olds sat clustered together, discussing in subdued terms what had happened to their old classmate, Charissa Clarke. The one who’d been in Laeral, Yawen, was resting her head on the shoulder of the Kvaskm Aurora, the one who’d arrived back early and had already been processed. Rhona, her birth name was, the one she’d never known until a few weeks ago. She went by it now, tentatively, no longer going by either Daniela or Slavjena. The third, Dawn, the late arrival from Gardavasque, was silent, as someone from the Kerlian Database Agency, which managed the KCID database, explained how they were going to be allowed to choose their names.
Anaïs Lasserre, who wanted to return to Laeral, was talking to Stephany Keller, the one who’d brought back a daughter. They’d trained together, and seemed to be sharing stories about their lives and laughing. Both were pretty happy, even though there was a chance they would both be in serious trouble for violating protocol. It seemed that reform had made Kerlians much more comfortable with, well, existing. The thought gave Hale pleasure, before her eyes fell on the unfortunate Hiranur, who sat alone, depressed upon receiving confirmation that Amaya Morse was indeed in prison.
Irena Wilson, Li Fengchao and Eva Dreeni also sat in a circle, looking up three-bedroomed flats in Grapevale. The friends from training had decided to share together during the day’s events of filling out paperwork, more paperwork, and more paperwork. All three of them had managed to come out of their ordeal relatively unscathed, and seemed to accept their sudden forced career change without too much pushback. They’d been surprised to hear that one from their class, Comilō, had chosen to remain in Xiomera, but they were pleased to hear of the deal, and that she was safe.
As Jennifer Hale looked around the room, she felt an odd sense of peace. It seemed like a conclusion to the old order, and a sign that Kerlile truly was changing. Perhaps this particular change had been forced upon them, but it was no less significant. These were Kerlians whose lives had been entirely controlled by the government. Now, they were free to make their own choices, and to speak freely. It was proof, undeniable proof, that things in the Matriarchy were changing, and Jennifer couldn’t help but feel joy.
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