05-01-2020, 09:19 AM
April 30th
Tlālacuetztla
After Ambassador Chemā's speech in Buttercity, General Xōchhuitl was quite displeased. It was time, he reasoned, to figure out where the Lauchenoirians stood once and for all. The junta needed to know whether or not the Lauchenoirians would accept a demand for Chemā to be expelled in favor of a new ambassador selected by the junta. It would also be a good way to test the incoming leadership after their elections, he reasoned. The following notice was thus hand-delivered to the Lauchenoirian Embassy by an honor guard in full dress uniform:
---
Xohuayán, Manauia Island
"They have abolished our independence. They have erased us from the map completely. Now we are just part of a military district. Will we tolerate this outrage?"
Tanqui, the son of the Teyatia sapa, Tlihuātemā, paced angrily in front of the panaqa, the council of Teyatia nobles. "They have imprisoned my mother. They have said we have no right to make decisions for our own land, that we are merely subjects of Tlālacuetztla. And now, they plan to take our land and destroy it for the enrichment of Xiomeran corporations and elites, and to line the pockets of this so-called Provisional Government." Tanqui spit on the ground in disgust. "Will we simply accept this? Will we let our home be destroyed?"
The answering angry shouts of the Teyatia nobles were music to Tanqui's ears. "Then gather your warriors and your weapons. The Provisional Government has said this council no longer has authority, and are sending a new governor, Mapilzin, to replace us. I say we welcome this Mapilzin when he arrives - with gifts of lead and fire for himself and for every soldier that he brings with him!"
The Teyatia nobles roared back their assent, standing up and raising their fists into the air. Manauia Island may have been paradise, but if they had anything to say about it, the Teyatia would teach the new Imperial Governor that even paradise can really suck for you if you're not welcome there.
As the new Governor, along with a fresh contingent of Imperial soldiers to reinforce the garrison on Manauia Island, prepared to depart from Tlālacuetztla, the Teyatia were making their own preparations. Disappearing into the jungles of the island, they gathered their resources. And waited.
---
Citlamina
Itzamatul shook his head in concern. "They are sending a new Governor. They have declared that I am no longer the leader of these islands," he said, laying down a message he had received.
Chuacay, his wife and closest advisor, sighed. "So what do we do now?"
"We disappear, and prepare for the arrival of this new Governor of theirs. We have to do so before the garrison sends someone to detain us. I must speak with the Legionite agent, EF-15, once we get to a safe hiding place."
Itzamatul summoned two of his personal guards and ordered them to create a distraction on the edge of Citlamina to distract the Imperial garrison. While that was taking place, Itzamatul and Chuacay, along with a few more islanders, made a hasty retreat. They went to a cove on the far northern side of the largest island in their chain, a place that was well hidden - at least, as far as they knew. Itzamatul then sent a message to his LIA contact, and waited.
---
Xiomeran Embassy, Laeralsford
Nōlinyauh whistled when the video that they had been watching, showing Ambassador Chemā's speech to the crowd in Buttercity, finished. "I thought that message I sent Chemā would light a fire under her. I did not expect a bonfire."
"Good for her," Texōccoatl said, a broad smile on his face. "I half expected her to side with the junta, to be honest. She was always more of a conservative, I thought."
"She is. But she's not a nationalist militarist who is okay with the government using freaking attack helicopters against its own people. I'm glad she's decided to be on our side," Nōlinyauh said with a measure of contentedness.
"Yes, but this situation cannot continue. Getting a few ambassadors to side with us, and a few nations to drop relations with the junta, is a good step. But while this is all going on, and I sit here in safety, people back home are dying. We need to begin acting, not reacting." Texōccoatl stood up, pacing restlessly around the room. "Nōlinyauh, I want you to send messages to all the nations whose governments just terminated diplomatic relations with the junta - Kerlile, Eiria, Legionas. Please ask them if they would be willing to send diplomatic representatives to meet with me here in Laeralsford. Make sure to keep the Laeralites in the loop as well. While you're at it, contact all of the other nations in the IDU who are active diplomatic players - Lauchenoiria, Libertas Omnium Maximus, anyone else you can think of. Even the Milinticans - they said they would support us, let's see how far that goes. Also, if we're going to be a government in exile, we need to start acting like one. Put together for me a short list of people who may be able to travel here, and willing to serve on a temporary Cabinet until we can free my mother and restore her to the throne."
The unspoken if we can free her was deliberately ignored by everyone in the room; no one wanted to even consider the possibility that they might not defeat the junta in time to save the Empress.
"And now, we have the beginnings of an armed force, thanks to the timely arrival of the First Fleet. However, we will need a lot more than that. We need to begin rounding up people who can begin spreading our message to both the military and the civilian population back home. Hackers, propagandists, activists - Xiomerans, foreigners - I don't care who they are, as long as they can turn people away from the junta and back to us. We need to get the military to abandon the junta, and we need to get the civilian population back home to resist, so that we can make the necessary conditions for us to return home and drag the junta out by their damned necks." Texōccoatl slapped his fist with his other hand. "Also....there are a lot of funds belonging to the Imperial Government, in bank accounts and investments all over the IDU. I want those funds. Begin contacting other governments to ask them to freeze the junta's accounts, and turn them over to us."
Nōlinyauh nodded eagerly, already making notes and plans. Soon, messages would be dispatched throughout the IDU, asking nations large and small alike to recognize the government of Crown Prince Texōccoatl, and to send diplomatic representatives. And, if possible, to take control of Xiomeran government funds they may have had in their banks and divert them from the junta's control.
Tlālacuetztla
After Ambassador Chemā's speech in Buttercity, General Xōchhuitl was quite displeased. It was time, he reasoned, to figure out where the Lauchenoirians stood once and for all. The junta needed to know whether or not the Lauchenoirians would accept a demand for Chemā to be expelled in favor of a new ambassador selected by the junta. It would also be a good way to test the incoming leadership after their elections, he reasoned. The following notice was thus hand-delivered to the Lauchenoirian Embassy by an honor guard in full dress uniform:
Quote:To the Honorable Ramón Banderas, Lauchenoirian Ambassador to Xiomera:
On behalf of the Provisional Imperial Government, please accept these greetings. It is our hope that you are doing well. It is come to our attention that your Embassy has not yet responded to our request to present your credentials for formal recognition by this government. We trust that this is merely an oversight.
We do not wish to impose, especially since you are undoubtedly busy after your recent elections. However, in order to ensure continued harmonious relations, we must insist that you appear at the Ximac Fortress, the temporary seat of government, to present your credentials for recognition no later than May 4th, 2020.
If such presentment is not done, we must regretfully ask that yourself, and your diplomatic staff, depart the Xiomeran Empire by the following Tuesday, May 5th, 2020. Failing to perform either of those options by the dates listed will be regarded as an unfriendly act by the Xiomeran Empire, and will result in the automatic termination of all diplomatic relations between the Federation of Lauchenoiria and the Xiomeran Empire, as well as potential sanctions and other responses as deemed appropriate or necessary by the Provisional Government to ensure Xiomeran dignity and sovereignty are protected.
It is our hope that our two governments can continue to work together in a diplomatic fashion. We await your response to our request.
Signed, General Xōchhuitl, Chief of Staff of the Xiomeran Armed Forces, on behalf of the Provisional Imperial Government of Xiomera
---
Xohuayán, Manauia Island
"They have abolished our independence. They have erased us from the map completely. Now we are just part of a military district. Will we tolerate this outrage?"
Tanqui, the son of the Teyatia sapa, Tlihuātemā, paced angrily in front of the panaqa, the council of Teyatia nobles. "They have imprisoned my mother. They have said we have no right to make decisions for our own land, that we are merely subjects of Tlālacuetztla. And now, they plan to take our land and destroy it for the enrichment of Xiomeran corporations and elites, and to line the pockets of this so-called Provisional Government." Tanqui spit on the ground in disgust. "Will we simply accept this? Will we let our home be destroyed?"
The answering angry shouts of the Teyatia nobles were music to Tanqui's ears. "Then gather your warriors and your weapons. The Provisional Government has said this council no longer has authority, and are sending a new governor, Mapilzin, to replace us. I say we welcome this Mapilzin when he arrives - with gifts of lead and fire for himself and for every soldier that he brings with him!"
The Teyatia nobles roared back their assent, standing up and raising their fists into the air. Manauia Island may have been paradise, but if they had anything to say about it, the Teyatia would teach the new Imperial Governor that even paradise can really suck for you if you're not welcome there.
As the new Governor, along with a fresh contingent of Imperial soldiers to reinforce the garrison on Manauia Island, prepared to depart from Tlālacuetztla, the Teyatia were making their own preparations. Disappearing into the jungles of the island, they gathered their resources. And waited.
---
Citlamina
Itzamatul shook his head in concern. "They are sending a new Governor. They have declared that I am no longer the leader of these islands," he said, laying down a message he had received.
Chuacay, his wife and closest advisor, sighed. "So what do we do now?"
"We disappear, and prepare for the arrival of this new Governor of theirs. We have to do so before the garrison sends someone to detain us. I must speak with the Legionite agent, EF-15, once we get to a safe hiding place."
Itzamatul summoned two of his personal guards and ordered them to create a distraction on the edge of Citlamina to distract the Imperial garrison. While that was taking place, Itzamatul and Chuacay, along with a few more islanders, made a hasty retreat. They went to a cove on the far northern side of the largest island in their chain, a place that was well hidden - at least, as far as they knew. Itzamatul then sent a message to his LIA contact, and waited.
---
Xiomeran Embassy, Laeralsford
Nōlinyauh whistled when the video that they had been watching, showing Ambassador Chemā's speech to the crowd in Buttercity, finished. "I thought that message I sent Chemā would light a fire under her. I did not expect a bonfire."
"Good for her," Texōccoatl said, a broad smile on his face. "I half expected her to side with the junta, to be honest. She was always more of a conservative, I thought."
"She is. But she's not a nationalist militarist who is okay with the government using freaking attack helicopters against its own people. I'm glad she's decided to be on our side," Nōlinyauh said with a measure of contentedness.
"Yes, but this situation cannot continue. Getting a few ambassadors to side with us, and a few nations to drop relations with the junta, is a good step. But while this is all going on, and I sit here in safety, people back home are dying. We need to begin acting, not reacting." Texōccoatl stood up, pacing restlessly around the room. "Nōlinyauh, I want you to send messages to all the nations whose governments just terminated diplomatic relations with the junta - Kerlile, Eiria, Legionas. Please ask them if they would be willing to send diplomatic representatives to meet with me here in Laeralsford. Make sure to keep the Laeralites in the loop as well. While you're at it, contact all of the other nations in the IDU who are active diplomatic players - Lauchenoiria, Libertas Omnium Maximus, anyone else you can think of. Even the Milinticans - they said they would support us, let's see how far that goes. Also, if we're going to be a government in exile, we need to start acting like one. Put together for me a short list of people who may be able to travel here, and willing to serve on a temporary Cabinet until we can free my mother and restore her to the throne."
The unspoken if we can free her was deliberately ignored by everyone in the room; no one wanted to even consider the possibility that they might not defeat the junta in time to save the Empress.
"And now, we have the beginnings of an armed force, thanks to the timely arrival of the First Fleet. However, we will need a lot more than that. We need to begin rounding up people who can begin spreading our message to both the military and the civilian population back home. Hackers, propagandists, activists - Xiomerans, foreigners - I don't care who they are, as long as they can turn people away from the junta and back to us. We need to get the military to abandon the junta, and we need to get the civilian population back home to resist, so that we can make the necessary conditions for us to return home and drag the junta out by their damned necks." Texōccoatl slapped his fist with his other hand. "Also....there are a lot of funds belonging to the Imperial Government, in bank accounts and investments all over the IDU. I want those funds. Begin contacting other governments to ask them to freeze the junta's accounts, and turn them over to us."
Nōlinyauh nodded eagerly, already making notes and plans. Soon, messages would be dispatched throughout the IDU, asking nations large and small alike to recognize the government of Crown Prince Texōccoatl, and to send diplomatic representatives. And, if possible, to take control of Xiomeran government funds they may have had in their banks and divert them from the junta's control.
<t></t>