06-13-2020, 05:19 AM
July 12th
Laeralsford
"I don't like it," Tlanexchel said sourly.
"There's not much to like about our current situation, General," Texōccoatl replied soberly. "But you can work with them - and by can, I mean have to."
The Jaguar Warrior nodded in response. "We can, and will, your Majesty. But...." Tlanexchel's planned remark instead dropped into a vaguely disgruntled cough as the gates of the CNRR compound opened and a series of vans entered. When the vans stopped at the building that had been designated as a spare barracks, a group of Shuellians emerged, briskly beginning the task of unpacking and moving in. Advent Private Services had just been contracted by the CNRR to provide additional security for the Crown Prince and other CNRR officials. The possibility of threats from ASI and XMI, along with whatever hired guns Xochiuhue might decide to send after them, had been bad enough. But a few days earlier, Texōccoatl had reviewed the dossier provided by the Eirians concerning Midgard, and the possibility that they might begin aiding the junta. It was decided at that point that any - and every - possible means of protecting the loyalist government was now not just on the table, but on the menu.
"As long as they do what they're told and paid to do, we won't have a problem," Tlanexchel said grimly. The Crown Prince laughed slightly in response. "I'm sure they will - but have fun with that," he said, causing Tlanexchel to sigh in response before marching towards the barracks where the Shuellians were moving in.
---
Huānoch
Fort Amacatl - Democratic People's Army of Milintica headquarters
General Tlehuaque, supreme commander of the Democratic People's Army, was happier than he had been in years.
The sprawling, ramshackle compound that served as the home of Milintica's threadbare army was rarely a hotspot of activity. The Milintican military was minimally funded, minimally staffed, and minimally capable. Whenever Milintica's volatile political and social order required intervention to keep the country from spiraling into chaos, everyone loved the Army then, Tlehuaque mused in a not-at-all-bitter sort of way. But when things were functioning in what passed for a normal fashion in Milintica, it was deemed much wiser to fund protected areas for turtles or grants for vegan cat cafes or whatever other madness emerged from the Representative Assembly. It was enough to make a soldier rip his hair out, if Tlehuaque hadn't gone bald ages ago.
But today, the situation was different. Xiomera, Milintica's ancient enemy and nemesis, needed help. That fact alone was enough to amuse Tlehuaque fit to bursting. The great Xiomeran Empire, whose ancestors had sent his ancestors fleeing for their lives, and who had shown nothing but contempt and dismissal to the homeland that diaspora had created as a sanctuary, was now coming to Milintica for help to save themselves from their own tyrannical nature. Tlehuaque had to bite his tongue - sometimes rather hard - to keep from laughing in the face of the representatives from the Xiomeran loyalist government, the CNRR, whenever he spoke to them. It was just too delicious an irony.
"You're imagining telling off the Xiomerans again, aren't you," a voice said over his shoulder. Tlehuaque turned, a broad smile on his face. "Is it that obvious?"
"It's always obvious, with a smile like that." Aperira Raharuhi, the Milintican defense secretary, shook her head in bemusement. "Can you at least try to pretend that you're not enjoying this?"
Tlehuaque made a pfft noise. "If the Xiomeran loyalists don't like it, they can go home. Oh wait, they can't, as long as Xochiuhue is in power, can they?" The General snickered at his own joke. "They are our guests, and they can live with my amusement at their self-inflicted plight."
Raharuhi sighed, but she smiled as well. "If nothing else, hopefully this experience will take the Xiomerans down a peg or two. They have always been too arrogant for their own good. That arrogance has finally caught up to them."
"Indeed. But I suppose I should be thankful. After all, were it not for events in Xiomera, I wouldn't get to see this base the way it should be - full of soldiers, training, ready for the fight ahead." Tlehuaque looked around the grounds of the base, where various groups of people were training. Milinticans, Xiomerans, other Huenyans, even a few people from Manauia Island and Cenotillo Island. There were some people from other countries mixed in the group as well - and their numbers grew every day. "Think about what's to come, Aperira. Now, we're providing sanctuary for those Xiomerans and their allies who want to defeat that Empire that has been the bane of our existence for so many centuries. The army we're giving a safe haven to train and arm themselves here will grow. And someday - maybe soon - we'll go over there, we'll kick the ass of Xochiuhue and his little minions, and on that day, Milintica will be the one that defeats Xiomera."
"With a lot of help, from a lot of others," Raharuhi reminded him with another laugh.
"Yes, yes, but don't spoil my dream. One day, I will stand in Tlālacuetztla, on the steps of the Palace of Flowers, as we drag the tyrants out. And on that day, centuries of injustice will be reversed. The wrongs done to our ancestors will be finally healed. And the best part is, for the rest of my life afterwards, I'll be able to tell the Xiomerans that they couldn't have done it without Milintica's help - and they'll have to shut up and admit it!" Tlehuaque laughed gleefully at the thought, waving for Raharuhi to follow him as he walked to inspect the beginnings of the loyalist army. Raharuhi grinned, and began walking with him.
Laeralsford
"I don't like it," Tlanexchel said sourly.
"There's not much to like about our current situation, General," Texōccoatl replied soberly. "But you can work with them - and by can, I mean have to."
The Jaguar Warrior nodded in response. "We can, and will, your Majesty. But...." Tlanexchel's planned remark instead dropped into a vaguely disgruntled cough as the gates of the CNRR compound opened and a series of vans entered. When the vans stopped at the building that had been designated as a spare barracks, a group of Shuellians emerged, briskly beginning the task of unpacking and moving in. Advent Private Services had just been contracted by the CNRR to provide additional security for the Crown Prince and other CNRR officials. The possibility of threats from ASI and XMI, along with whatever hired guns Xochiuhue might decide to send after them, had been bad enough. But a few days earlier, Texōccoatl had reviewed the dossier provided by the Eirians concerning Midgard, and the possibility that they might begin aiding the junta. It was decided at that point that any - and every - possible means of protecting the loyalist government was now not just on the table, but on the menu.
"As long as they do what they're told and paid to do, we won't have a problem," Tlanexchel said grimly. The Crown Prince laughed slightly in response. "I'm sure they will - but have fun with that," he said, causing Tlanexchel to sigh in response before marching towards the barracks where the Shuellians were moving in.
---
Huānoch
Fort Amacatl - Democratic People's Army of Milintica headquarters
General Tlehuaque, supreme commander of the Democratic People's Army, was happier than he had been in years.
The sprawling, ramshackle compound that served as the home of Milintica's threadbare army was rarely a hotspot of activity. The Milintican military was minimally funded, minimally staffed, and minimally capable. Whenever Milintica's volatile political and social order required intervention to keep the country from spiraling into chaos, everyone loved the Army then, Tlehuaque mused in a not-at-all-bitter sort of way. But when things were functioning in what passed for a normal fashion in Milintica, it was deemed much wiser to fund protected areas for turtles or grants for vegan cat cafes or whatever other madness emerged from the Representative Assembly. It was enough to make a soldier rip his hair out, if Tlehuaque hadn't gone bald ages ago.
But today, the situation was different. Xiomera, Milintica's ancient enemy and nemesis, needed help. That fact alone was enough to amuse Tlehuaque fit to bursting. The great Xiomeran Empire, whose ancestors had sent his ancestors fleeing for their lives, and who had shown nothing but contempt and dismissal to the homeland that diaspora had created as a sanctuary, was now coming to Milintica for help to save themselves from their own tyrannical nature. Tlehuaque had to bite his tongue - sometimes rather hard - to keep from laughing in the face of the representatives from the Xiomeran loyalist government, the CNRR, whenever he spoke to them. It was just too delicious an irony.
"You're imagining telling off the Xiomerans again, aren't you," a voice said over his shoulder. Tlehuaque turned, a broad smile on his face. "Is it that obvious?"
"It's always obvious, with a smile like that." Aperira Raharuhi, the Milintican defense secretary, shook her head in bemusement. "Can you at least try to pretend that you're not enjoying this?"
Tlehuaque made a pfft noise. "If the Xiomeran loyalists don't like it, they can go home. Oh wait, they can't, as long as Xochiuhue is in power, can they?" The General snickered at his own joke. "They are our guests, and they can live with my amusement at their self-inflicted plight."
Raharuhi sighed, but she smiled as well. "If nothing else, hopefully this experience will take the Xiomerans down a peg or two. They have always been too arrogant for their own good. That arrogance has finally caught up to them."
"Indeed. But I suppose I should be thankful. After all, were it not for events in Xiomera, I wouldn't get to see this base the way it should be - full of soldiers, training, ready for the fight ahead." Tlehuaque looked around the grounds of the base, where various groups of people were training. Milinticans, Xiomerans, other Huenyans, even a few people from Manauia Island and Cenotillo Island. There were some people from other countries mixed in the group as well - and their numbers grew every day. "Think about what's to come, Aperira. Now, we're providing sanctuary for those Xiomerans and their allies who want to defeat that Empire that has been the bane of our existence for so many centuries. The army we're giving a safe haven to train and arm themselves here will grow. And someday - maybe soon - we'll go over there, we'll kick the ass of Xochiuhue and his little minions, and on that day, Milintica will be the one that defeats Xiomera."
"With a lot of help, from a lot of others," Raharuhi reminded him with another laugh.
"Yes, yes, but don't spoil my dream. One day, I will stand in Tlālacuetztla, on the steps of the Palace of Flowers, as we drag the tyrants out. And on that day, centuries of injustice will be reversed. The wrongs done to our ancestors will be finally healed. And the best part is, for the rest of my life afterwards, I'll be able to tell the Xiomerans that they couldn't have done it without Milintica's help - and they'll have to shut up and admit it!" Tlehuaque laughed gleefully at the thought, waving for Raharuhi to follow him as he walked to inspect the beginnings of the loyalist army. Raharuhi grinned, and began walking with him.
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