09-30-2020, 04:22 AM
Citlamina, Netlcoātl Islands
Ahuac stared bitterly at the ocean between the Netlcoātl Islands and the Xiomeran mainland.
Between him and the ocean stood the grave of his father, Itzamatul. After the Islanders under his command had seized control of the Imperial garrison in Citlamina, they had found Itzamatul's body in the detention cells in the basement of the main garrison building. Ahuac had stared at the body, not speaking, or even moving, for a very long time. When he finally did move, it was to grab a rifle from a nearby Islander and walk to where the few Imperial soldiers who hadn't escaped from Citlamina were being held.
The fate of Itzamatul was just as good a fate for those Imperial soldiers, Ahuac had felt in that moment of shock. When the clicking sounds of a rifle with an empty magazine finally penetrated his thoughts, he dropped the rifle and walked away, his stunned followers watching him.
At this moment days later, instead of shock, or even triumph, Ahuac wasn't sure what he felt. Shame? He knew his father wouldn't have done what he did, in a moment of revenge. But somehow, he couldn't feel anything about what he had done. Not even shame.
I know what you would have done then, father, and what you would do now. You would try to urge peace, compassion, cooperation with the Xiomerans. But I'm sorry, father. I'm not you. I can only do what I think is right.
After a moment, Ahuac stood up and began walking back to Citlamina.
---
An hour later, he stood in front of the government palace in Citlamina, facing a bank of reporters, microphones and cameras. Reporters from multiple different countries, along with the DTNS, had been summoned to hear what the new leader of the Netlcoātl Islands had to say.
"Good morning. I am Ahuac, son of Itzamatul, who was the leader of these islands before Xiomeran soldiers under the command of Xochiuhue murdered him. Following longstanding tradition and precedent, I have assumed the role of leader for the Islands, and their people, in my father's stead." Ahuac looked down at his prepared speech, tapped it for a moment, then shook his head. He knew what he wanted to say, and it wasn't the carefully prepared words of a speechwriter.
"I am sure you are all wondering what will happen, now that we have expelled Imperial forces from these islands. This is what will happen. The Netlcoātl Islands, as of the moment we expelled the Xiomeran soldiers, were - and are - no longer part of the Xiomeran Empire. We have no intention of returning to being under the control of any Xiomeran - Xochiuhue, Yauhmi, or anyone else. We have seen what Xiomerans do, firsthand, as our ancestors did. We are tired of it. We will tolerate it no longer."
As the reporters watched in shock, Ahuac continued implacably. "As of this moment, the Netlcoātl Islanders declare their independence from the Xiomeran Empire. We stake our claim to being the newest nation of the IDU. And we declare further that we will resist, to the very last drop of our sweat and blood, any attempt by Xiomerans or their allies to force us back under the control of Tlālacuetztla. My vow, which I will give my life to uphold if need be, is that the people of these islands shall be free from this day forward. Free of control, free of fear, free of domination - a free people living in a free land."
With those words, Ahuac walked inside the government palace, as the assembled reporters shouted questions.
Ahuac stared bitterly at the ocean between the Netlcoātl Islands and the Xiomeran mainland.
Between him and the ocean stood the grave of his father, Itzamatul. After the Islanders under his command had seized control of the Imperial garrison in Citlamina, they had found Itzamatul's body in the detention cells in the basement of the main garrison building. Ahuac had stared at the body, not speaking, or even moving, for a very long time. When he finally did move, it was to grab a rifle from a nearby Islander and walk to where the few Imperial soldiers who hadn't escaped from Citlamina were being held.
The fate of Itzamatul was just as good a fate for those Imperial soldiers, Ahuac had felt in that moment of shock. When the clicking sounds of a rifle with an empty magazine finally penetrated his thoughts, he dropped the rifle and walked away, his stunned followers watching him.
At this moment days later, instead of shock, or even triumph, Ahuac wasn't sure what he felt. Shame? He knew his father wouldn't have done what he did, in a moment of revenge. But somehow, he couldn't feel anything about what he had done. Not even shame.
I know what you would have done then, father, and what you would do now. You would try to urge peace, compassion, cooperation with the Xiomerans. But I'm sorry, father. I'm not you. I can only do what I think is right.
After a moment, Ahuac stood up and began walking back to Citlamina.
---
An hour later, he stood in front of the government palace in Citlamina, facing a bank of reporters, microphones and cameras. Reporters from multiple different countries, along with the DTNS, had been summoned to hear what the new leader of the Netlcoātl Islands had to say.
"Good morning. I am Ahuac, son of Itzamatul, who was the leader of these islands before Xiomeran soldiers under the command of Xochiuhue murdered him. Following longstanding tradition and precedent, I have assumed the role of leader for the Islands, and their people, in my father's stead." Ahuac looked down at his prepared speech, tapped it for a moment, then shook his head. He knew what he wanted to say, and it wasn't the carefully prepared words of a speechwriter.
"I am sure you are all wondering what will happen, now that we have expelled Imperial forces from these islands. This is what will happen. The Netlcoātl Islands, as of the moment we expelled the Xiomeran soldiers, were - and are - no longer part of the Xiomeran Empire. We have no intention of returning to being under the control of any Xiomeran - Xochiuhue, Yauhmi, or anyone else. We have seen what Xiomerans do, firsthand, as our ancestors did. We are tired of it. We will tolerate it no longer."
As the reporters watched in shock, Ahuac continued implacably. "As of this moment, the Netlcoātl Islanders declare their independence from the Xiomeran Empire. We stake our claim to being the newest nation of the IDU. And we declare further that we will resist, to the very last drop of our sweat and blood, any attempt by Xiomerans or their allies to force us back under the control of Tlālacuetztla. My vow, which I will give my life to uphold if need be, is that the people of these islands shall be free from this day forward. Free of control, free of fear, free of domination - a free people living in a free land."
With those words, Ahuac walked inside the government palace, as the assembled reporters shouted questions.
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