08-13-2020, 02:36 PM
Phone call between Alvarez and unknown agent
1st August 2020
“Ma’am, the Aurora has escaped.”
“Given that she wasn’t a prisoner, how exactly did she ‘escape’!?”
“The Aurora knocked two Lauchenoirian agents unconscious and then fled.”
“Shit. Very well, activate the anti-Aurora measures we set in place. I hoped we would never have to do this, but Penners has betrayed us. Let’s make sure she cannot leave this country. And when you find her, bring her to me.”
*
Kerlian-Lauchenoirian Border - walled section between North-West Fleura Province (L) and Caralina Region (K)
11th August 2020 - ten days later
Veronica Penners dropped down from the top of the wall onto the Kerlian side of the border, landing on her feet crouched down, and breathed a sigh of relief. Ten days, it had taken her to escape Lauchenoiria. Ten days. She took her passport and her crossing permit out, crossing her legs and leaning back against the wall to wait for the next border patrol. It was a safer option for a Kerlian agent than wandering off: the border agency had a tendency to shoot moving targets first, and ask questions later.
She’d been foolish to think she could balance multiple loyalties. Sooner or later, they would conflict with each other. Her primary loyalty was to Robinson and the pro-DKS faction of Auroras that the Robinson family had recruited. She had worked for the Aurora Programme proper on the understanding that as soon as those two loyalties conflicted that she would choose the Robinsons’ side over that of the Pierres.
It was the same with her work for Alvarez - the moment that had conflicted with her Kerlian loyalties, she’d refused. Leading to her having to flee Lauchenoiria once again. Alvarez had sent people to her address to fetch her, and she’d gone along with it thinking it would be something to do with the Olivia Pierre kidnapping, which (both sets of) her Kerlian handlers had given her permission to work with the Lauchenoirians on.
Fortunately for Veronica, while in the car, one of them had let slip that this was about her connections with climate groups and the Xiomeran affair. Veronica was well aware that Alvarez’s goals in Xiomera were directly contradictory to those of Kerlile. So, when they stopped for petrol - always an ordeal in Lauchenoiria, for there was usually either a shortage or a protest outside the station - she’d knocked the pair unconscious, and ran for it.
This was the point where Veronica realised that her proposal that she accept offers of work from Alvarez to give them an “in” in Lauchenoiria was ill-considered. She’d pitched the idea to her handlers on the grounds that it would allow them to keep an eye on Alvarez and her priorities; permit both nations to cooperate secretly on common goals; and hopefully ease some of Alvarez’s (well-founded) fears around Auroras.
Yet it was now clear to her that Alvarez had learned more about her and her kind than she had about the workings of Lauchenoiria. She had never expected fleeing Lauchenoiria to be as difficult as it had been this time. Clearly, Alvarez had been monitoring her more than she was aware of. She kind of hated herself for how foolish she had been. Her official pro-Pierre handlers would punish her for it, probably quite harshly. Nothing she couldn’t take, of course, but that hardly narrowed the options.
“You there! Freeze!” a border guard yelled. In response, Veronica lifted up her travel permit in an almost bored manner, waiting for her and her partner to run over.
The pair ran up and one snatched the permit and the passport, while the other produced handcuffs and gestured for Veronica to stand. Sighing, the young Aurora complied, knowing that in a few seconds they would freak out, and…
“Shit! Let her go!” the one who was looking at the permit said, jumping forward and snatching the handcuffs out of her colleague’s hands. She whispered something in her colleague’s ear and then the second woman jumped away.
“S… sorry, my most profuse apologies,” the second one said to Veronica, “I did not mean to…”
“It’s fine,” Veronica sighed. “If you hadn’t behaved in that manner you wouldn’t be doing your job. I did jump the wall, after all. Now, do you two have a vehicle?”
“Uh, yes, we have a jeep back at the post on the old road…”
“Great, take me to it. I need to speak with the Council rather urgently.”
*
Robinson Residence
13th August 2020 - two days later
The Aurora who sat in front of her had very clearly been beaten. She had a black eye, bruises along her right arm and her left arm was in a sling. The sight of Veronica was, to Councillor Robinson, a terrifying reminder of the cruelty of her government that still existed despite the new laws they passed trying to stop it. Robinson knew that Penners had reported back to the intelligence service the day before, but she hadn’t been expecting them to hurt Penners quite so obviously.
“Veronica…” Carmen said, tears swelling in her eyes. “I’m so, so sorry. This is my fault.”
“No, Councillor,” the Aurora shook her head. “I knew what I was doing. I can take a beating, what matters is where we go from here. They’ve revoked my travel permit, Alvarez is rounding up people who are planning to travel to Xiomera, and Empress Yauhmi is alive. I worry that Alvarez is allowing her hatred of Yauhmi to rule her head, and if so, what that means for the conflict. If Lauchenoiria chooses to recognise Xochiuhue’s government, it would cause an uproar across the IDU.”
“Do you think that’s likely?” Robinson asked, then added. “But really, are you sure you can do this? You should rest.”
“Councillor, I have suffered worse than this. I will rest when I’m dead. For now, we have a crisis to work on. I’m unsure what Alvarez’s next move will be, but I am genuinely concerned that they’re going to move to recognise Xochiuhue.”
“If that happens, it will cause uproar. In the middle of the climate conference, do you really think they would do that?”
“No, if she’s going to do it, she will wait until after. But, I remind you, she did invite Xochiuhue’s government to the conference. That is a de facto recognition even if they haven’t made an official statement endorsing either side yet.”
“She really hates Yauhmi,” Carmen shook her head. “It seems personal. She was on the fence until Yauhmi was revealed to be alive and now she seems to be leaning towards supporting the junta despite their views.”
“It’s possible Alvarez is waiting to see what happens in Chuatzlapoc. If Yauhmi is killed in the battle, then I doubt she will recognise Xochiuhue as legitimate. If Yauhmi wins, however…”
“Then Alvarez’s hatred could push her over the edge,” nodded the Councillor. She tapped her fingers on her leg for a little, thinking. “If Yauhmi dies, it will be a disaster for the Matriarchy, and a disaster for reform both there and here. We have to make sure that she lives. Which means that Alvarez is going to become our enemy.”
“That seems rather strong,” Veronica said, surprised. “Councillor Hale is still legally married to Alvarez, “enemy” seems a provocative term.”
“I’d never use it publicly. But that’s the fact of the matter. We cannot trust Lauchenoiria, and we need to take steps to make sure that Yauhmi survives, and that the rightful government of Xiomera wins this war.”
“Steps?” Veronica asked, though she already had an idea of what Carmen meant, and the thought frightened her.
“DKS. We agreed not to use the army we have formed and hidden to start another war against the Council, on the grounds that reform is proceeding without a war,” Robinson said, stating what Veronica already knew. “But Xiomera is not achieving what we are. They are having a war for the cause of reform. The cause these people have dedicated their lives to.”
“You’re going to send your hidden army to Xiomera,” Veronica said. It was not a question. It was clear from the Councillor’s tone that her mind was made up.
Ignoring Veronica, who lay back in her chair and groaned then winced in pain as she stretched her sprained arm by mistake, Councillor Robinson stood up and picked up a phone connected to her internal line, dialling the number of one of her political aides.
“I need to speak with both Crown Prince Texōccoatl and the King of Zongongia as soon as possible. Yes, in that order. And do not let the other Councillors find out about the calls - take all security precautions. And I do mean all.”
1st August 2020
“Ma’am, the Aurora has escaped.”
“Given that she wasn’t a prisoner, how exactly did she ‘escape’!?”
“The Aurora knocked two Lauchenoirian agents unconscious and then fled.”
“Shit. Very well, activate the anti-Aurora measures we set in place. I hoped we would never have to do this, but Penners has betrayed us. Let’s make sure she cannot leave this country. And when you find her, bring her to me.”
*
Kerlian-Lauchenoirian Border - walled section between North-West Fleura Province (L) and Caralina Region (K)
11th August 2020 - ten days later
Veronica Penners dropped down from the top of the wall onto the Kerlian side of the border, landing on her feet crouched down, and breathed a sigh of relief. Ten days, it had taken her to escape Lauchenoiria. Ten days. She took her passport and her crossing permit out, crossing her legs and leaning back against the wall to wait for the next border patrol. It was a safer option for a Kerlian agent than wandering off: the border agency had a tendency to shoot moving targets first, and ask questions later.
She’d been foolish to think she could balance multiple loyalties. Sooner or later, they would conflict with each other. Her primary loyalty was to Robinson and the pro-DKS faction of Auroras that the Robinson family had recruited. She had worked for the Aurora Programme proper on the understanding that as soon as those two loyalties conflicted that she would choose the Robinsons’ side over that of the Pierres.
It was the same with her work for Alvarez - the moment that had conflicted with her Kerlian loyalties, she’d refused. Leading to her having to flee Lauchenoiria once again. Alvarez had sent people to her address to fetch her, and she’d gone along with it thinking it would be something to do with the Olivia Pierre kidnapping, which (both sets of) her Kerlian handlers had given her permission to work with the Lauchenoirians on.
Fortunately for Veronica, while in the car, one of them had let slip that this was about her connections with climate groups and the Xiomeran affair. Veronica was well aware that Alvarez’s goals in Xiomera were directly contradictory to those of Kerlile. So, when they stopped for petrol - always an ordeal in Lauchenoiria, for there was usually either a shortage or a protest outside the station - she’d knocked the pair unconscious, and ran for it.
This was the point where Veronica realised that her proposal that she accept offers of work from Alvarez to give them an “in” in Lauchenoiria was ill-considered. She’d pitched the idea to her handlers on the grounds that it would allow them to keep an eye on Alvarez and her priorities; permit both nations to cooperate secretly on common goals; and hopefully ease some of Alvarez’s (well-founded) fears around Auroras.
Yet it was now clear to her that Alvarez had learned more about her and her kind than she had about the workings of Lauchenoiria. She had never expected fleeing Lauchenoiria to be as difficult as it had been this time. Clearly, Alvarez had been monitoring her more than she was aware of. She kind of hated herself for how foolish she had been. Her official pro-Pierre handlers would punish her for it, probably quite harshly. Nothing she couldn’t take, of course, but that hardly narrowed the options.
“You there! Freeze!” a border guard yelled. In response, Veronica lifted up her travel permit in an almost bored manner, waiting for her and her partner to run over.
The pair ran up and one snatched the permit and the passport, while the other produced handcuffs and gestured for Veronica to stand. Sighing, the young Aurora complied, knowing that in a few seconds they would freak out, and…
“Shit! Let her go!” the one who was looking at the permit said, jumping forward and snatching the handcuffs out of her colleague’s hands. She whispered something in her colleague’s ear and then the second woman jumped away.
“S… sorry, my most profuse apologies,” the second one said to Veronica, “I did not mean to…”
“It’s fine,” Veronica sighed. “If you hadn’t behaved in that manner you wouldn’t be doing your job. I did jump the wall, after all. Now, do you two have a vehicle?”
“Uh, yes, we have a jeep back at the post on the old road…”
“Great, take me to it. I need to speak with the Council rather urgently.”
*
Robinson Residence
13th August 2020 - two days later
The Aurora who sat in front of her had very clearly been beaten. She had a black eye, bruises along her right arm and her left arm was in a sling. The sight of Veronica was, to Councillor Robinson, a terrifying reminder of the cruelty of her government that still existed despite the new laws they passed trying to stop it. Robinson knew that Penners had reported back to the intelligence service the day before, but she hadn’t been expecting them to hurt Penners quite so obviously.
“Veronica…” Carmen said, tears swelling in her eyes. “I’m so, so sorry. This is my fault.”
“No, Councillor,” the Aurora shook her head. “I knew what I was doing. I can take a beating, what matters is where we go from here. They’ve revoked my travel permit, Alvarez is rounding up people who are planning to travel to Xiomera, and Empress Yauhmi is alive. I worry that Alvarez is allowing her hatred of Yauhmi to rule her head, and if so, what that means for the conflict. If Lauchenoiria chooses to recognise Xochiuhue’s government, it would cause an uproar across the IDU.”
“Do you think that’s likely?” Robinson asked, then added. “But really, are you sure you can do this? You should rest.”
“Councillor, I have suffered worse than this. I will rest when I’m dead. For now, we have a crisis to work on. I’m unsure what Alvarez’s next move will be, but I am genuinely concerned that they’re going to move to recognise Xochiuhue.”
“If that happens, it will cause uproar. In the middle of the climate conference, do you really think they would do that?”
“No, if she’s going to do it, she will wait until after. But, I remind you, she did invite Xochiuhue’s government to the conference. That is a de facto recognition even if they haven’t made an official statement endorsing either side yet.”
“She really hates Yauhmi,” Carmen shook her head. “It seems personal. She was on the fence until Yauhmi was revealed to be alive and now she seems to be leaning towards supporting the junta despite their views.”
“It’s possible Alvarez is waiting to see what happens in Chuatzlapoc. If Yauhmi is killed in the battle, then I doubt she will recognise Xochiuhue as legitimate. If Yauhmi wins, however…”
“Then Alvarez’s hatred could push her over the edge,” nodded the Councillor. She tapped her fingers on her leg for a little, thinking. “If Yauhmi dies, it will be a disaster for the Matriarchy, and a disaster for reform both there and here. We have to make sure that she lives. Which means that Alvarez is going to become our enemy.”
“That seems rather strong,” Veronica said, surprised. “Councillor Hale is still legally married to Alvarez, “enemy” seems a provocative term.”
“I’d never use it publicly. But that’s the fact of the matter. We cannot trust Lauchenoiria, and we need to take steps to make sure that Yauhmi survives, and that the rightful government of Xiomera wins this war.”
“Steps?” Veronica asked, though she already had an idea of what Carmen meant, and the thought frightened her.
“DKS. We agreed not to use the army we have formed and hidden to start another war against the Council, on the grounds that reform is proceeding without a war,” Robinson said, stating what Veronica already knew. “But Xiomera is not achieving what we are. They are having a war for the cause of reform. The cause these people have dedicated their lives to.”
“You’re going to send your hidden army to Xiomera,” Veronica said. It was not a question. It was clear from the Councillor’s tone that her mind was made up.
Ignoring Veronica, who lay back in her chair and groaned then winced in pain as she stretched her sprained arm by mistake, Councillor Robinson stood up and picked up a phone connected to her internal line, dialling the number of one of her political aides.
“I need to speak with both Crown Prince Texōccoatl and the King of Zongongia as soon as possible. Yes, in that order. And do not let the other Councillors find out about the calls - take all security precautions. And I do mean all.”
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax