10-17-2020, 10:09 PM
October 17th
Palace of Flowers
Two hours after the deposing of Emperor Xochiuhue
Calhualyana had found an even more comfortable chair than the Obsidian Throne.
The Golden Chamber, the longstanding seat of Imperial power and the office of Xiomeran Emperors, was the usual setting for Imperial addresses to the nation. Xochiuhue had taken to using the Throne Room for his televised speeches because he liked the grandeur of the room, and the ominous nature of the Obsidian Throne. Calhualyana had always thought it was stupid to give speeches there. The Throne Room was too imposing; the office of the Golden Chamber presented a much more personable and human setting.
Besides, given that the Throne Room still had bullet holes all over it, it would have been a less than reassuring venue for people watching the broadcast.
The XIN camerman gestured to the producer, who silently began counting down. When he reached zero, Calhualyana began.
"To the people of Xiomera, and the world, I bid you good afternoon. I am Calhualyana, formerly the Secretary of Security of the Xiomeran Empire. As we all know, events in the Empire have been proceeding from bad to worse over the past few months. The leadership of Emperor Xochiuhue has been a disaster for the Empire and its people. We are at war, both with ourselves and the world. Our economy is in shambles, and our people are suffering. We stand on a crucial precipice, but still have a chance to avoid the brink. Accordingly, after consultation with the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Emperor has been removed from power due to mental incapacity under Article 14 of the Xiomeran laws of succession and enthronement, as proscribed in the Xiuhtonal and its amending documents."
Calhualyana's face took on a serious expression. "This is not a decision that we undertook lightly. The severe situation facing Xiomera at this time required immediate and decisive action to save our Empire and its people from certain disaster. It is therefore necessary for a new Provisional Government, as allowed for under our laws, to appoint a new ruler until such time as a more formal selection process can be undertaken. I have therefore been chosen to lead Xiomera out of this disaster as your new Empress."
Calhualyana smiled at the camera. "I know that this change in leadership, coming so soon after the last one, will be an unsettling and frightening development for all of you. I promise that I will do everything I can to restore peace and harmony to Xiomera, and to end the current problems and struggles that we face. To that end, I am lifting many of the restrictions placed by the former Emperor. In addition, in the best interests of our people, I am proposing to open discussions with the followers of the former Empress Yauhmi, and those nations backing her, to find a mutually acceptable and suitable path forward for peace. It is my sincere hope that they will accept this offer, and that soon all of these problems will be behind us."
"Take heart, my fellow Xiomerans. A better day is dawning, and I will do everything I can to bring it about for you. May the gods and goddesses continue to bless the Xiomeran Empire and its people."
As the camera switched off, the new Empress smiled.
---
Xiomerans in the midst of their Saturday, watching the speech of the new Empress, didn't know what to think. Many of them were glad to be rid of Xochiuhue, but had no idea what to expect from the new Empress - or how the old one would react to the change of power in Tlālacuetztla. It would take a lot more than a pleasant speech for Calhualyana to reassure them.
---
Chuaztlapoc
Yauhmi turned off the XIN broadcast. Everyone in the room watched nervously. The news of Gabriel Fleming's escape had already infuriated the Empress. Following that with the sight of the person responsible for her torture, in the Golden Chamber, declaring herself Empress and calling Yauhmi the former ruler, had Yauhmi's doctor highly concerned about her blood pressure.
For the first time since the coup, the leadership in Chuaztlapoc had finally been able to establish communications with Texōccoatl and his own advisors. Yauhmi and Texōccoatl had exchanged lengthy and only slightly tearful expressions of joy at being able to speak with each other finally, before getting back to the business of trying to run a government in exile. And then the special news bulletin had broken on XIN. Texōccoatl watched the screen nervously as well; his mother's face had assumed a quite alarming shade of red. The silence lengthened, until Texōccoatl finally said, "Mother? Are you....allright?"
The Empress waited until she had calmed down enough to where her face was no longer glowing red. When she finally spoke, her voice had a finality to it. "This changes nothing. There will be no negotiations with that woman. We continue as planned."
Cozamalotl made a tsk sound. "But if there is a path to resolving this crisis that doesn't involve bloodshed, don't we have a responsibility to pursue that?"
Yauhmi didn't even look at Cozamalotl. "Calhualyana doesn't want peace. She wants breathing room. She wants time to rebuild, to try to salvage her position. She wants our allies to grow weary of this situation and press for peace at any cost. If she is allowed to remain in power for any significant period of time, she will just rebuild her forces and attack us. She is hardly someone to trust or negotiate with."
Cozamalotl moved to where Yauhmi was forced to look at him, fixing her with a keen eye. "Are you saying that as an impartial ruler, or as someone who was tortured on Calhualyana's orders? Do you make that assessment out of the facts, or out of anger at the person alone? Your judgement here, frankly, may be clouded."
Texōccoatl's face, on the other end of the video call, turned frosty. He was about to verbally rip the opposition leader to shreds, when Yauhmi raised her hand. "Why can it not be both? Of course, I hate Calhualyana for what she did to me. But I also hate her for what she did to our country, and to all of our people - Xiomerans and others alike." Yauhmi tapped the desk pensively. "My judgement may be clouded here, true. But do any of you truly trust Calhualyana?"
No one said yes. Even Cozamalotl sighed. "Of course I don't trust her. But up until this coup, I didn't trust you either, Yauhmi. Things can change. And again, if there is any chance that we can find a peaceful way out of this, I think we all it to all of our people - Xiomerans and others alike - to try."
"We will see what our allies have to say about this. And by that, I don't just mean the Eirians, the Legionites, the Kerlians or the Milinticans. I mean the Necatli, the Tepiltzin, the Itotemoc, the Teyatia - everyone. Only then, will I decide," Yauhmi said firmly.
Palace of Flowers
Two hours after the deposing of Emperor Xochiuhue
Calhualyana had found an even more comfortable chair than the Obsidian Throne.
The Golden Chamber, the longstanding seat of Imperial power and the office of Xiomeran Emperors, was the usual setting for Imperial addresses to the nation. Xochiuhue had taken to using the Throne Room for his televised speeches because he liked the grandeur of the room, and the ominous nature of the Obsidian Throne. Calhualyana had always thought it was stupid to give speeches there. The Throne Room was too imposing; the office of the Golden Chamber presented a much more personable and human setting.
Besides, given that the Throne Room still had bullet holes all over it, it would have been a less than reassuring venue for people watching the broadcast.
The XIN camerman gestured to the producer, who silently began counting down. When he reached zero, Calhualyana began.
"To the people of Xiomera, and the world, I bid you good afternoon. I am Calhualyana, formerly the Secretary of Security of the Xiomeran Empire. As we all know, events in the Empire have been proceeding from bad to worse over the past few months. The leadership of Emperor Xochiuhue has been a disaster for the Empire and its people. We are at war, both with ourselves and the world. Our economy is in shambles, and our people are suffering. We stand on a crucial precipice, but still have a chance to avoid the brink. Accordingly, after consultation with the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Emperor has been removed from power due to mental incapacity under Article 14 of the Xiomeran laws of succession and enthronement, as proscribed in the Xiuhtonal and its amending documents."
Calhualyana's face took on a serious expression. "This is not a decision that we undertook lightly. The severe situation facing Xiomera at this time required immediate and decisive action to save our Empire and its people from certain disaster. It is therefore necessary for a new Provisional Government, as allowed for under our laws, to appoint a new ruler until such time as a more formal selection process can be undertaken. I have therefore been chosen to lead Xiomera out of this disaster as your new Empress."
Calhualyana smiled at the camera. "I know that this change in leadership, coming so soon after the last one, will be an unsettling and frightening development for all of you. I promise that I will do everything I can to restore peace and harmony to Xiomera, and to end the current problems and struggles that we face. To that end, I am lifting many of the restrictions placed by the former Emperor. In addition, in the best interests of our people, I am proposing to open discussions with the followers of the former Empress Yauhmi, and those nations backing her, to find a mutually acceptable and suitable path forward for peace. It is my sincere hope that they will accept this offer, and that soon all of these problems will be behind us."
"Take heart, my fellow Xiomerans. A better day is dawning, and I will do everything I can to bring it about for you. May the gods and goddesses continue to bless the Xiomeran Empire and its people."
As the camera switched off, the new Empress smiled.
---
Xiomerans in the midst of their Saturday, watching the speech of the new Empress, didn't know what to think. Many of them were glad to be rid of Xochiuhue, but had no idea what to expect from the new Empress - or how the old one would react to the change of power in Tlālacuetztla. It would take a lot more than a pleasant speech for Calhualyana to reassure them.
---
Chuaztlapoc
Yauhmi turned off the XIN broadcast. Everyone in the room watched nervously. The news of Gabriel Fleming's escape had already infuriated the Empress. Following that with the sight of the person responsible for her torture, in the Golden Chamber, declaring herself Empress and calling Yauhmi the former ruler, had Yauhmi's doctor highly concerned about her blood pressure.
For the first time since the coup, the leadership in Chuaztlapoc had finally been able to establish communications with Texōccoatl and his own advisors. Yauhmi and Texōccoatl had exchanged lengthy and only slightly tearful expressions of joy at being able to speak with each other finally, before getting back to the business of trying to run a government in exile. And then the special news bulletin had broken on XIN. Texōccoatl watched the screen nervously as well; his mother's face had assumed a quite alarming shade of red. The silence lengthened, until Texōccoatl finally said, "Mother? Are you....allright?"
The Empress waited until she had calmed down enough to where her face was no longer glowing red. When she finally spoke, her voice had a finality to it. "This changes nothing. There will be no negotiations with that woman. We continue as planned."
Cozamalotl made a tsk sound. "But if there is a path to resolving this crisis that doesn't involve bloodshed, don't we have a responsibility to pursue that?"
Yauhmi didn't even look at Cozamalotl. "Calhualyana doesn't want peace. She wants breathing room. She wants time to rebuild, to try to salvage her position. She wants our allies to grow weary of this situation and press for peace at any cost. If she is allowed to remain in power for any significant period of time, she will just rebuild her forces and attack us. She is hardly someone to trust or negotiate with."
Cozamalotl moved to where Yauhmi was forced to look at him, fixing her with a keen eye. "Are you saying that as an impartial ruler, or as someone who was tortured on Calhualyana's orders? Do you make that assessment out of the facts, or out of anger at the person alone? Your judgement here, frankly, may be clouded."
Texōccoatl's face, on the other end of the video call, turned frosty. He was about to verbally rip the opposition leader to shreds, when Yauhmi raised her hand. "Why can it not be both? Of course, I hate Calhualyana for what she did to me. But I also hate her for what she did to our country, and to all of our people - Xiomerans and others alike." Yauhmi tapped the desk pensively. "My judgement may be clouded here, true. But do any of you truly trust Calhualyana?"
No one said yes. Even Cozamalotl sighed. "Of course I don't trust her. But up until this coup, I didn't trust you either, Yauhmi. Things can change. And again, if there is any chance that we can find a peaceful way out of this, I think we all it to all of our people - Xiomerans and others alike - to try."
"We will see what our allies have to say about this. And by that, I don't just mean the Eirians, the Legionites, the Kerlians or the Milinticans. I mean the Necatli, the Tepiltzin, the Itotemoc, the Teyatia - everyone. Only then, will I decide," Yauhmi said firmly.
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