10-27-2020, 10:19 PM
(Jointly written with [nation]Lauchenoiria[/nation])
October 27th
Calhualyana was in her office in the Golden Chamber, working on some new orders she planned to implement, when the intercom built into her desk let out a softly elegant chime. The Empress leaned over to tap the “answer” button on the screen. “Yes, Ixochtzin?”
“Your Majesty, your appointment for 10:00 has arrived,” the Attendant said. Calhualyana smiled slightly - hearing the phrase your Majesty directed at her was definitely beginning to grow on her. “Show her in, please.”
The Attendant gestured to the visitor, leading her to the golden double doors into the office and escorting her inside. Calhualyana stood up from behind her desk. “Mariya, please have a seat,” the Empress said, gesturing to one of the leather chairs in front of her desk.
Mariya Adema, former professional torturer for the Matriarchy of Kerlile, stepped inside the office of the Empress of Xiomera, and had to work hard not to let out a gasp at the sheer wealth of the decorations. The art was beautiful and she was certain that the walls and doors were decorated with real gold. She had visited Councillor Pierre's home in the past; this was proof that Xiomera was vastly wealthier than Kerlile.
"Thank you, your Majesty," Mariya said smoothly, sliding into the chair.
Calhualyana smiled as Mariya sat down, returning to her own chair behind the desk. “I am glad - and impressed - that you managed to escape from the treasonous attack on the ASI site and make your way back here. What happened there was unfortunate. But not all is lost,” the Empress said. “There is much to do - especially with my new role as Empress. I know you’ve only recently returned to Tlālacuetztla, and that it was an ordeal for you to get back here. But if you feel up to it, I have a new job for you if you’re interested.”
"Of course, your Majesty," Mariya replied. She was very relieved that the new Empress was willing to keep her employed; after all, she'd burned her bridges with Kerlile and Adelina Sasaki had unfortunately lived to tell the tale. "What would you like me to do?"
Calhualyana smiled at Mariya’s readiness to take on a new task. “I will need someone who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty - which I know fits your mindset. You see, I am convinced more than ever that what has befallen Xiomera since Yauhmi took power, and then the coup and its aftermath, can all be explained by one fact - Xiomera has grown soft. And Xiomerans have grown weak.” Calhualyana looked at the new golden Xiomeran flag that decorated the wall of her office. “Once, Xiomerans were strong enough to do as they pleased, and didn’t answer to anyone. With this new ‘state’ she has created, Yauhmi has brought the weakness that infected us to its pinnacle. Xiomera must answer this by returning to its ancient values, and regaining its old strength.”
Calhualyana looked back at Mariya. “This is where you come in. I need someone, more than ever, who I can trust to do whatever it takes to root out any dissent or sedition within Xiomera. I must solidify my reign here, and make sure all Xiomerans are acting with a single purpose to support the Empire, before I can undo what Yauhmi has done. I need someone who will work with ASI to hunt down anyone within Xiomera who would oppose my mission to rebuild this Empire, or weaken us from within. Is that something you think you can do?”
"It is," Mariya nodded determinedly, a smile creeping onto her face. "I abhor weakness and those who would seek to spread it. I have witnessed in Kerlile the dangerous path that softness can lead to; I will do what it takes to prevent the same fate from happening to Xiomera."
Calhualyana smiled, genuinely pleased. “Good. In that case, we shall get started right away. ASI has leads on multiple individuals here in Tlālacuetztla who are harboring or spreading anti-Imperial sentiments. I am giving you the rank of Special Investigative Agent within ASI, reporting directly to me. You will be able to use and deploy ASI agents and resources to bring in these people who represent a threat to the Empire. And then....you will question them,” Calhualyana said. “I may occasionally drop in to observe your sessions.”
"I would be honoured, your Majesty," Mariya smiled wider at the thought of getting to interrogate dissidents again. "I assure you, I will work hard to rid Tlālacuetztla of any individual spreading treasonous lies. The city will be secure, and all those who think to oppose you will regret their foolish decision."
”Excellent,” the Empress replied. “If you do well here in Tlālacuetztla, I will send you to other cities as well to make sure we prevent the spread of seditious rot there also. Your housing and financial needs will be taken care of, naturally. We take care of our own. Also, you will be issued a standard kit of weapons and equipment for ASI agents. If there are any.....special tools.....that you may need to perform your tasks, we can supply anything required as well.”
"I'll make a list," Mariya said, half-joking but half-serious. She did not need special tools to perform interrogations... but they came in handy. "I assume I'll be handed a list of names of those already uncovered as spreading sedition? Having a baseline to work for will be handy in establishing contacts with any other anti-Imperial scumbags not already on our radar."
”That’s right. We have a list already from our current investigations; our hope is that you will be able to find out from those suspects who they’re plotting with, what their plans are, and who else hasn’t come to our attention yet. I am confident you’ll be able to obtain the information that lets us connect the dots,” Calhualyana replied.
"Everyone talks eventually. And civilians usually much more quickly than most," Mariya said. "I don't anticipate any problems, unless any of those Auroras Yauhmi allowed to remain are involved. They would be much more difficult to extract information from."
Calhualyana grinned. “It’s funny you mention that. We do actually have one in custody. She used to be Yauhmi’s spokeswoman. If you’re really up for a challenge, you’re welcome to see what information you can obtain from her.”
Mariya blinked, surprised. Suddenly, she was a lot less confident. Auroras would have been trained in resisting every method of torture she was trained in inflicting. "Well, um, due to her training it would be much more efficient to gather information from easier subjects, but I can... I can give it a go. Her training, though..." Mariya faltered, not used to a lack of confidence.
Calhualyana noted Mariya’s concern and simply nodded. “I don’t expect miracles, don’t worry. None of the other ASI interrogators have been able to get anything out of her either. Consider the Aurora....an ongoing project. An experiment to see if such extreme conditioning can be broken by utilizing an array of Xiomeran and Kerlian techniques. I may even take a shot at it myself, just to stay in practice,” Calhualyana added with a slight smile. While she was now an Empress, she would always have the heart of a security agent.
"I will do my best," Mariya replied. "On the subject of Kerlile, it is likely that they have accused me of treason. I trust Councillor Pierre to talk them out of sending assassins, but... well, I imagine there is some anger there."
”They will have to deal with it,” Calhualyana said calmly. “I am not the type of person to take orders from another country as far as who I allow in my service. You will remain protected here.”
"Thank you, your Majesty," Mariya relaxed a little now she'd been reassured. Kerlile had become weak, she did not regret betraying it. Yet a part of her did fear any consequences of that decision.
Calhualyana nodded. “Like I said, we take care of our own, and you’re one of us now. Do you have any further questions or needs to begin your work?”
"No, your Majesty," smiled Mariya. "I'm ready to start immediately."
”Excellent. I do like someone who is a hard worker,” Calhualyana said pleasantly. “The driver will take you back to the Cauhloc to set you up with your new role. I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish for us.”
"Thank you, your Majesty," Mariya replied, already thinking about how she would conduct her first interrogation.
October 27th
Calhualyana was in her office in the Golden Chamber, working on some new orders she planned to implement, when the intercom built into her desk let out a softly elegant chime. The Empress leaned over to tap the “answer” button on the screen. “Yes, Ixochtzin?”
“Your Majesty, your appointment for 10:00 has arrived,” the Attendant said. Calhualyana smiled slightly - hearing the phrase your Majesty directed at her was definitely beginning to grow on her. “Show her in, please.”
The Attendant gestured to the visitor, leading her to the golden double doors into the office and escorting her inside. Calhualyana stood up from behind her desk. “Mariya, please have a seat,” the Empress said, gesturing to one of the leather chairs in front of her desk.
Mariya Adema, former professional torturer for the Matriarchy of Kerlile, stepped inside the office of the Empress of Xiomera, and had to work hard not to let out a gasp at the sheer wealth of the decorations. The art was beautiful and she was certain that the walls and doors were decorated with real gold. She had visited Councillor Pierre's home in the past; this was proof that Xiomera was vastly wealthier than Kerlile.
"Thank you, your Majesty," Mariya said smoothly, sliding into the chair.
Calhualyana smiled as Mariya sat down, returning to her own chair behind the desk. “I am glad - and impressed - that you managed to escape from the treasonous attack on the ASI site and make your way back here. What happened there was unfortunate. But not all is lost,” the Empress said. “There is much to do - especially with my new role as Empress. I know you’ve only recently returned to Tlālacuetztla, and that it was an ordeal for you to get back here. But if you feel up to it, I have a new job for you if you’re interested.”
"Of course, your Majesty," Mariya replied. She was very relieved that the new Empress was willing to keep her employed; after all, she'd burned her bridges with Kerlile and Adelina Sasaki had unfortunately lived to tell the tale. "What would you like me to do?"
Calhualyana smiled at Mariya’s readiness to take on a new task. “I will need someone who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty - which I know fits your mindset. You see, I am convinced more than ever that what has befallen Xiomera since Yauhmi took power, and then the coup and its aftermath, can all be explained by one fact - Xiomera has grown soft. And Xiomerans have grown weak.” Calhualyana looked at the new golden Xiomeran flag that decorated the wall of her office. “Once, Xiomerans were strong enough to do as they pleased, and didn’t answer to anyone. With this new ‘state’ she has created, Yauhmi has brought the weakness that infected us to its pinnacle. Xiomera must answer this by returning to its ancient values, and regaining its old strength.”
Calhualyana looked back at Mariya. “This is where you come in. I need someone, more than ever, who I can trust to do whatever it takes to root out any dissent or sedition within Xiomera. I must solidify my reign here, and make sure all Xiomerans are acting with a single purpose to support the Empire, before I can undo what Yauhmi has done. I need someone who will work with ASI to hunt down anyone within Xiomera who would oppose my mission to rebuild this Empire, or weaken us from within. Is that something you think you can do?”
"It is," Mariya nodded determinedly, a smile creeping onto her face. "I abhor weakness and those who would seek to spread it. I have witnessed in Kerlile the dangerous path that softness can lead to; I will do what it takes to prevent the same fate from happening to Xiomera."
Calhualyana smiled, genuinely pleased. “Good. In that case, we shall get started right away. ASI has leads on multiple individuals here in Tlālacuetztla who are harboring or spreading anti-Imperial sentiments. I am giving you the rank of Special Investigative Agent within ASI, reporting directly to me. You will be able to use and deploy ASI agents and resources to bring in these people who represent a threat to the Empire. And then....you will question them,” Calhualyana said. “I may occasionally drop in to observe your sessions.”
"I would be honoured, your Majesty," Mariya smiled wider at the thought of getting to interrogate dissidents again. "I assure you, I will work hard to rid Tlālacuetztla of any individual spreading treasonous lies. The city will be secure, and all those who think to oppose you will regret their foolish decision."
”Excellent,” the Empress replied. “If you do well here in Tlālacuetztla, I will send you to other cities as well to make sure we prevent the spread of seditious rot there also. Your housing and financial needs will be taken care of, naturally. We take care of our own. Also, you will be issued a standard kit of weapons and equipment for ASI agents. If there are any.....special tools.....that you may need to perform your tasks, we can supply anything required as well.”
"I'll make a list," Mariya said, half-joking but half-serious. She did not need special tools to perform interrogations... but they came in handy. "I assume I'll be handed a list of names of those already uncovered as spreading sedition? Having a baseline to work for will be handy in establishing contacts with any other anti-Imperial scumbags not already on our radar."
”That’s right. We have a list already from our current investigations; our hope is that you will be able to find out from those suspects who they’re plotting with, what their plans are, and who else hasn’t come to our attention yet. I am confident you’ll be able to obtain the information that lets us connect the dots,” Calhualyana replied.
"Everyone talks eventually. And civilians usually much more quickly than most," Mariya said. "I don't anticipate any problems, unless any of those Auroras Yauhmi allowed to remain are involved. They would be much more difficult to extract information from."
Calhualyana grinned. “It’s funny you mention that. We do actually have one in custody. She used to be Yauhmi’s spokeswoman. If you’re really up for a challenge, you’re welcome to see what information you can obtain from her.”
Mariya blinked, surprised. Suddenly, she was a lot less confident. Auroras would have been trained in resisting every method of torture she was trained in inflicting. "Well, um, due to her training it would be much more efficient to gather information from easier subjects, but I can... I can give it a go. Her training, though..." Mariya faltered, not used to a lack of confidence.
Calhualyana noted Mariya’s concern and simply nodded. “I don’t expect miracles, don’t worry. None of the other ASI interrogators have been able to get anything out of her either. Consider the Aurora....an ongoing project. An experiment to see if such extreme conditioning can be broken by utilizing an array of Xiomeran and Kerlian techniques. I may even take a shot at it myself, just to stay in practice,” Calhualyana added with a slight smile. While she was now an Empress, she would always have the heart of a security agent.
"I will do my best," Mariya replied. "On the subject of Kerlile, it is likely that they have accused me of treason. I trust Councillor Pierre to talk them out of sending assassins, but... well, I imagine there is some anger there."
”They will have to deal with it,” Calhualyana said calmly. “I am not the type of person to take orders from another country as far as who I allow in my service. You will remain protected here.”
"Thank you, your Majesty," Mariya relaxed a little now she'd been reassured. Kerlile had become weak, she did not regret betraying it. Yet a part of her did fear any consequences of that decision.
Calhualyana nodded. “Like I said, we take care of our own, and you’re one of us now. Do you have any further questions or needs to begin your work?”
"No, your Majesty," smiled Mariya. "I'm ready to start immediately."
”Excellent. I do like someone who is a hard worker,” Calhualyana said pleasantly. “The driver will take you back to the Cauhloc to set you up with your new role. I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish for us.”
"Thank you, your Majesty," Mariya replied, already thinking about how she would conduct her first interrogation.
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