11-09-2020, 03:47 AM
November 6th
Xohuayán, Manauia Island
Governor Mapilzin was angry. And, though he refused to admit it, frightened.
The reversals the Xiomeran Empire had suffered in western Huenya, coupled with Empress Calhualyana recalling forces meant to relieve him on Manauia Island for her offensive at Zapotlán, had left him in the same position that he had been in while Xochiuhue had been in power. Under siege, with rapidly diminishing troop numbers and resources, surrounded by angry Teyatia and Lauchenoirians staging constant raids on his positions.
The Governor had lost control of most of the island long ago, when the Shuellian mercenaries that Xochiuhue had sent to help had decided they had enough of fighting the shadows in the jungle and went home. He now found himself in possession of Xohuayán, the island's capital, and two or three cities outside of that, along with a smattering of Imperial outposts that were becoming increasingly harder to resupply or retain. When he asked the new Empress for help, he found Calhualyana to be entirely unsympathetic. Instead of sending reinforcements on what she had deemed a fool's errand, the Empress had declared that she would speak with the Teyatia leader herself and end the issue once and for all. Once that was done, she had declared, Mapilzin would be able to go home.
The Governor desperately hoped that Calhualyana could pull that off. Because if she couldn't, Mapilzin had the very real feeling that he would die in Xohuayán.
---
When Tanqui received the message that the new Empress of what he jokingly described as "half-Xiomera" wanted to speak to him to give him terms for an Imperial withdrawal, he was both elated and angry. He was elated, because in his mind, that meant the Teyatia and their foreign allies had won. But he was also angry that a new Xiomeran leader still felt that they were in a position to dictate the terms of the conflict's end. The Xiomerans had lost. Losers didn't get to write the terms. That was the message Tanqui had planned to deliver to Calhualyana.
His intent went off the rails as soon as the video call started.
"I know you don't want to talk to me any more than I want to talk to you, so I will be brief," the Empress told him in a tone that was not offering something open to discussion. "You will cease hostilities against all Imperial forces on Manauia Island, agree to a cease-fire, and allow all Imperial forces to withdraw to the mainland uncontested. In addition, you will allow all those of Xiomeran ethnicity to either remain on the island, and ensure they come to no harm or reprisals, or allow them to leave the island and return to the mainland with all of their possessions and wealth intact."
Tanqui was flabbergasted. "Why should I agree to any of that? We control the island now, Empress," he said mockingly. "It is such typical Xiomeran gall that you think you still have the power to assert terms here - "
"I was not done speaking," Calhualyana said coldly, cutting the Teyatia leader off firmly. "In return for what I have declared, I will agree to place the subject of potentially granting independence to Manauia Island on the agenda for the upcoming peace talks in Laeral to end this conflict."
Tanqui laughed in utter scorn. "We have already achieved our independence, you Xiomeran cow! Your much-vaunted Imperial Army is hiding in Xohuayán and hoping we don't come finish them off once and for all. Your Governor hides in his palace and cries in fear. You are in no position to make demands on us."
Calhualyana eyed Tanqui with the cold eyes of an ASI agent at her finest work. "Do you truly think you have seen even a fraction of what the Imperial military can do to Manauia Island, if I will it? I have the power at my hands to completely obliterate your island and everyone on it. I will not tolerate insults when I am making you a genuine offer that gives you what you want, if you will pull your head out of your ass long enough to realize it. I am simply demanding that you allow Imperial forces and Xiomeran civilians to withdraw unharmed, and protect any Xiomeran civilians who decide to stay - and offering you a chance at your dream of independence, unhindered further by the Xiomeran Empire, in exchange. Even you should be able to see that is an exceptionally generous trade."
"It is generous - and you are not a generous woman. Why should I trust you?" Tanqui said.
"I don't care if you trust me or not. I am simply trying to make this whole mess that Xochiuhue got us into as easy to clean up as possible - both for myself and for Xiomera. Your island, and the people on it, are frankly more trouble than you are worth to the Xiomeran Empire, and I will be glad to be rid of you. But it will be on our terms - not yours." The Empress calmly tapped a jeweled pen on her desk as she looked at Tanqui.
"48 hours. You have 48 hours to withdraw peacefully from Manauia Island - and you will take all Xiomerans with you. I don't care if any of them want to stay here or not. They are not welcome on Manauia Island," Tanqui said, which drew a chuckle and a shake of the head from Calhualyana. "That is not the deal. Any Xiomerans who wish to stay on Manauia Island will be allowed to stay, and you will make sure they are not subject to reprisals by your people. That is not even remotely negotiable."
"I will not be dictated to by you! I can have the Eirians, or the Legionites, or some other power, ally with us and protect us from you," Tanqui shouted. Calhualyana chuckled again. "You certainly could. But if I am forced into a fight over this, no matter who you ally with, I will fight. Trust me on that," the Empress said in a tone utterly devoid of mercy. "And that fight will take place on your homeland. Your lands will be devastated, and your people will suffer. Is that what you really want?"
"You would reduce Manauia Island to ashes just to get your way?" Tanqui said in shock.
"Yes," the Empress replied. "But, more importantly, to ensure that the Empire exits your insufferable little island in a way that preserves Xiomeran honor, unlike the debacle on the Netlcoātl Islands. And, also, to ensure that any Xiomerans who remain on Manauia Island after we withdraw are protected and not harmed. If you and the Teyatia fail to protect my kin on your island, Tanqui, I will be forced to protect them for you. You do not want that, I can promise you."
Tanqui glared at the image of Calhualyana, mocking smile on her face. He desperately wanted to tell her to do something anatomically impossible to herself. But he knew if he did that, his home would pay the price. "Fine. I will accept your terms."
"I know you will," Calhualyana said, disconnecting the call before Tanqui could respond.
---
November 8th
Xohuayán
The last of the Imperial troops in Manauia Island were finally leaving. Governor Mapilzin was at their head. He had just lowered the Imperial flag for the last time. He felt a small bit of sadness that the Xiomeran Empire was, daily, being diminished. But the new Empress had promised that though Xiomera was growing smaller in size, at the end of it all, the Empire would be stronger than ever. Once it was rid of the baggage caused by its sprawling territory inhabited by ungrateful people and able to focus on its own homeland, the Empire would truly flourish. After spending several harrowing months on Manauia Island, Mapilzin could definitely appreciate that idea.
As he turned from the flagpole, Tanqui was there to acknowledge him. "I would wish you well, but you are a horrible person. But I am glad, at least, that you are leaving," he said.
"As am I. In fact, if I never have to spend another second in this festering jungle swamp inhabited by ungovernable people such as yourself, I shall consider it the highlight of my life," Mapilzin replied haughtily.
Tanqui clenched his fists, then unclenched them with an effort. "Your plane is waiting, Governor. I suggest that you leave Manauia Island while you can."
Mapilzin laughed. "You won't do anything. You have to protect Xiomerans who are here, now. That was what you agreed to with our Empress. And I suggest, on her behalf, that you make very sure you keep that promise." With a final snort of disdain, Mapilzin turned his back on the Teyatia leader, and on Manauia Island, to walk to his plane.
Xohuayán, Manauia Island
Governor Mapilzin was angry. And, though he refused to admit it, frightened.
The reversals the Xiomeran Empire had suffered in western Huenya, coupled with Empress Calhualyana recalling forces meant to relieve him on Manauia Island for her offensive at Zapotlán, had left him in the same position that he had been in while Xochiuhue had been in power. Under siege, with rapidly diminishing troop numbers and resources, surrounded by angry Teyatia and Lauchenoirians staging constant raids on his positions.
The Governor had lost control of most of the island long ago, when the Shuellian mercenaries that Xochiuhue had sent to help had decided they had enough of fighting the shadows in the jungle and went home. He now found himself in possession of Xohuayán, the island's capital, and two or three cities outside of that, along with a smattering of Imperial outposts that were becoming increasingly harder to resupply or retain. When he asked the new Empress for help, he found Calhualyana to be entirely unsympathetic. Instead of sending reinforcements on what she had deemed a fool's errand, the Empress had declared that she would speak with the Teyatia leader herself and end the issue once and for all. Once that was done, she had declared, Mapilzin would be able to go home.
The Governor desperately hoped that Calhualyana could pull that off. Because if she couldn't, Mapilzin had the very real feeling that he would die in Xohuayán.
---
When Tanqui received the message that the new Empress of what he jokingly described as "half-Xiomera" wanted to speak to him to give him terms for an Imperial withdrawal, he was both elated and angry. He was elated, because in his mind, that meant the Teyatia and their foreign allies had won. But he was also angry that a new Xiomeran leader still felt that they were in a position to dictate the terms of the conflict's end. The Xiomerans had lost. Losers didn't get to write the terms. That was the message Tanqui had planned to deliver to Calhualyana.
His intent went off the rails as soon as the video call started.
"I know you don't want to talk to me any more than I want to talk to you, so I will be brief," the Empress told him in a tone that was not offering something open to discussion. "You will cease hostilities against all Imperial forces on Manauia Island, agree to a cease-fire, and allow all Imperial forces to withdraw to the mainland uncontested. In addition, you will allow all those of Xiomeran ethnicity to either remain on the island, and ensure they come to no harm or reprisals, or allow them to leave the island and return to the mainland with all of their possessions and wealth intact."
Tanqui was flabbergasted. "Why should I agree to any of that? We control the island now, Empress," he said mockingly. "It is such typical Xiomeran gall that you think you still have the power to assert terms here - "
"I was not done speaking," Calhualyana said coldly, cutting the Teyatia leader off firmly. "In return for what I have declared, I will agree to place the subject of potentially granting independence to Manauia Island on the agenda for the upcoming peace talks in Laeral to end this conflict."
Tanqui laughed in utter scorn. "We have already achieved our independence, you Xiomeran cow! Your much-vaunted Imperial Army is hiding in Xohuayán and hoping we don't come finish them off once and for all. Your Governor hides in his palace and cries in fear. You are in no position to make demands on us."
Calhualyana eyed Tanqui with the cold eyes of an ASI agent at her finest work. "Do you truly think you have seen even a fraction of what the Imperial military can do to Manauia Island, if I will it? I have the power at my hands to completely obliterate your island and everyone on it. I will not tolerate insults when I am making you a genuine offer that gives you what you want, if you will pull your head out of your ass long enough to realize it. I am simply demanding that you allow Imperial forces and Xiomeran civilians to withdraw unharmed, and protect any Xiomeran civilians who decide to stay - and offering you a chance at your dream of independence, unhindered further by the Xiomeran Empire, in exchange. Even you should be able to see that is an exceptionally generous trade."
"It is generous - and you are not a generous woman. Why should I trust you?" Tanqui said.
"I don't care if you trust me or not. I am simply trying to make this whole mess that Xochiuhue got us into as easy to clean up as possible - both for myself and for Xiomera. Your island, and the people on it, are frankly more trouble than you are worth to the Xiomeran Empire, and I will be glad to be rid of you. But it will be on our terms - not yours." The Empress calmly tapped a jeweled pen on her desk as she looked at Tanqui.
"48 hours. You have 48 hours to withdraw peacefully from Manauia Island - and you will take all Xiomerans with you. I don't care if any of them want to stay here or not. They are not welcome on Manauia Island," Tanqui said, which drew a chuckle and a shake of the head from Calhualyana. "That is not the deal. Any Xiomerans who wish to stay on Manauia Island will be allowed to stay, and you will make sure they are not subject to reprisals by your people. That is not even remotely negotiable."
"I will not be dictated to by you! I can have the Eirians, or the Legionites, or some other power, ally with us and protect us from you," Tanqui shouted. Calhualyana chuckled again. "You certainly could. But if I am forced into a fight over this, no matter who you ally with, I will fight. Trust me on that," the Empress said in a tone utterly devoid of mercy. "And that fight will take place on your homeland. Your lands will be devastated, and your people will suffer. Is that what you really want?"
"You would reduce Manauia Island to ashes just to get your way?" Tanqui said in shock.
"Yes," the Empress replied. "But, more importantly, to ensure that the Empire exits your insufferable little island in a way that preserves Xiomeran honor, unlike the debacle on the Netlcoātl Islands. And, also, to ensure that any Xiomerans who remain on Manauia Island after we withdraw are protected and not harmed. If you and the Teyatia fail to protect my kin on your island, Tanqui, I will be forced to protect them for you. You do not want that, I can promise you."
Tanqui glared at the image of Calhualyana, mocking smile on her face. He desperately wanted to tell her to do something anatomically impossible to herself. But he knew if he did that, his home would pay the price. "Fine. I will accept your terms."
"I know you will," Calhualyana said, disconnecting the call before Tanqui could respond.
---
November 8th
Xohuayán
The last of the Imperial troops in Manauia Island were finally leaving. Governor Mapilzin was at their head. He had just lowered the Imperial flag for the last time. He felt a small bit of sadness that the Xiomeran Empire was, daily, being diminished. But the new Empress had promised that though Xiomera was growing smaller in size, at the end of it all, the Empire would be stronger than ever. Once it was rid of the baggage caused by its sprawling territory inhabited by ungrateful people and able to focus on its own homeland, the Empire would truly flourish. After spending several harrowing months on Manauia Island, Mapilzin could definitely appreciate that idea.
As he turned from the flagpole, Tanqui was there to acknowledge him. "I would wish you well, but you are a horrible person. But I am glad, at least, that you are leaving," he said.
"As am I. In fact, if I never have to spend another second in this festering jungle swamp inhabited by ungovernable people such as yourself, I shall consider it the highlight of my life," Mapilzin replied haughtily.
Tanqui clenched his fists, then unclenched them with an effort. "Your plane is waiting, Governor. I suggest that you leave Manauia Island while you can."
Mapilzin laughed. "You won't do anything. You have to protect Xiomerans who are here, now. That was what you agreed to with our Empress. And I suggest, on her behalf, that you make very sure you keep that promise." With a final snort of disdain, Mapilzin turned his back on the Teyatia leader, and on Manauia Island, to walk to his plane.
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