03-08-2021, 08:39 PM
(Joint post with Eiria)
March 5th
EICA Headquarters, Downtown Geminus
Minister David Park sat at his desk, drumming his fingers on the smooth surface. An open personnel file sat on the table, next to static-marred pictures and a mugshot. An assistant poked his head into the office and handed a piece of paper to the Intelligence Minister. "Here's that number you wanted."
"Thanks." He took it, and stared at it for a moment. Hopefully the Huenyan FIS take warning calls. He dialed the number into his office phone and waited, humming as the dial sound played several times.
FIS HQ, Ixtenco
Unlike their Xiomeran counterpart ASI, the newly formed Federal Intelligence Service of Huenya did not have an impressive and ominous headquarters. The FIS had, in fact, few facilities of its own. Most of the former ASI facilities in Huenya had either been burned down by angry mobs, trashed by the withdrawing Xiomerans, or so thoroughly compromised by ASI bugs and surveillance equipment left behind as to be completely untrustworthy. That was how the FIS found itself operating out of a former bank headquarters in Ixtenco, the most secure building it could find.
Director Cuetlancaona was in his office pondering how to handle the dozens of threats, both internal and external, facing the new state when the phone rang. “Director, Minister David Park of Eiria is on the line,” his secretary said.
This could be good, or it could be bad, Cuetlancaona thought warily. The last thing Huenya needed was more trouble. “Minister Park, this is Director Cuetlancaona. How are you this evening?”
"I'm well, thank you for asking." Park sighed. "Unfortunately, I rarely get the luxury to make social calls, without some kind of business involved. Yesterday, we released an Aurora from our custody. She goes by Riley Nelson, we have a description and pictures here, should you need them. She seems to be heading for Huenya, along with an associate."
"I see,” Cuetlancaona said after a moment. “Do you happen to have any idea where in Huenya they may be heading?”
"Regrettably, no. I don't have enough intel to wager a guess. Plus we don't exactly want to send agents into Huenya to track people who seem to be leaving Eiria. We don't want to step on your metaphorical toes."
Cuetlancaona nodded. “That’s fair, we do appreciate the professional courtesy. If you could send us whatever information you do have on this Riley Nelson or her companion, we would be grateful.”
Park made a small sound of assent. "Of course. We'll get right on that. I'm also concerned about her associate. She entered Eiria with a Kerlian Passport, and she has a Huenyan or Xiomeran name. Given that she knows Nelson, I'd reckon she's an Aurora, which is disconcerting. One Aurora is enough trouble for us as it is."
"And double trouble is more than any of us need, right,” Cuetlancaona said in a more thoughtful tone. “We will get right on this as well, and if we discover anything that would pose a danger to Eiria we will certainly let you know right away.”
Park sighed, content. "Thank you, Director. We'll send over what we have on both of them as soon as possible. Have a good evening, and stay safe! If you ever need anything of Eiria intelligence-wise, don't be afraid to give me a call."
"You stay safe as well, and if you need anything from us also, please don’t hesitate to call. Thank you again for the information,” Cuetlancaona replied, before hanging up. He sighed, before calling and requesting a meeting with the Assembly....the Chamber of Executives, he reminded himself. Everything keeps changing so quickly, he thought.
March 6th
Xochuaxte Palace, Chuaztlapoc
"So you decided to have this meeting with these individuals without telling us," Huacue said flatly.
The Chamber of Executives was meeting, after Cuetlancaona had informed them about the message from the Eirians. After Yauhmi had explained why they were coming to Huenya, they were not pleased. "Was this not something you felt important to inform us? We are supposed to be sharing power, after all."
"I am meeting with them in my capacity as a citizen of Huenya, not in my capacity as cihuātlahtoāni," Yauhmi replied calmly. "I presume I am still allowed to have people visit?"
Her cool tone did not impress or appease Huacue. "These aren't friends coming over to see your garden. These are Auroras. That is something both this Chamber and the FIS should have been told about," he said. "Yauhmi, with respect, you must adjust to the reality that you cannot make decisions on your own anymore without consulting us. Or at least the Vice-Speaker should have been informed."
Tiacihitli nodded at that, his expression concerned. "Yauhmi, you and your son really must stop keeping us out of the loop when you make decisions or extend invitations. For the smooth governance of Huenya, as well as our mutual cooperation, we cannot be kept in the dark."
Texōccoatl's expression grew annoyed, and he was about to speak, but Yauhmi raised her hand. "I understand, and I apologize for not informing you," she said, as Texōccoatl sighed. "But I don't honestly know what you're all concerned about. These people mean us no harm."
"After what we have been through during the war, and since, we cannot afford to blindly trust anyone," Huacue said grimly. "All we ask is that you not do things behind our back, so we can properly assess risk."
Yauhmi nodded. "I will do my best to do so from now on."
That was clearly not an absolute commitment to transparency, but the other members of the Chamber realized that was the best they would likely ever get from Yauhmi. Reduced in power or not, tortured and banished or not, Yauhmi was clearly still not one to be obedient or a pushover. "Very well....you will keep the FIS informed about this visit and anything discussed, then?" Huacue asked.
"Of course," Yauhmi said blandly.
Taking what they could get, the Chamber moved on with its day.
March 5th
EICA Headquarters, Downtown Geminus
Minister David Park sat at his desk, drumming his fingers on the smooth surface. An open personnel file sat on the table, next to static-marred pictures and a mugshot. An assistant poked his head into the office and handed a piece of paper to the Intelligence Minister. "Here's that number you wanted."
"Thanks." He took it, and stared at it for a moment. Hopefully the Huenyan FIS take warning calls. He dialed the number into his office phone and waited, humming as the dial sound played several times.
FIS HQ, Ixtenco
Unlike their Xiomeran counterpart ASI, the newly formed Federal Intelligence Service of Huenya did not have an impressive and ominous headquarters. The FIS had, in fact, few facilities of its own. Most of the former ASI facilities in Huenya had either been burned down by angry mobs, trashed by the withdrawing Xiomerans, or so thoroughly compromised by ASI bugs and surveillance equipment left behind as to be completely untrustworthy. That was how the FIS found itself operating out of a former bank headquarters in Ixtenco, the most secure building it could find.
Director Cuetlancaona was in his office pondering how to handle the dozens of threats, both internal and external, facing the new state when the phone rang. “Director, Minister David Park of Eiria is on the line,” his secretary said.
This could be good, or it could be bad, Cuetlancaona thought warily. The last thing Huenya needed was more trouble. “Minister Park, this is Director Cuetlancaona. How are you this evening?”
"I'm well, thank you for asking." Park sighed. "Unfortunately, I rarely get the luxury to make social calls, without some kind of business involved. Yesterday, we released an Aurora from our custody. She goes by Riley Nelson, we have a description and pictures here, should you need them. She seems to be heading for Huenya, along with an associate."
"I see,” Cuetlancaona said after a moment. “Do you happen to have any idea where in Huenya they may be heading?”
"Regrettably, no. I don't have enough intel to wager a guess. Plus we don't exactly want to send agents into Huenya to track people who seem to be leaving Eiria. We don't want to step on your metaphorical toes."
Cuetlancaona nodded. “That’s fair, we do appreciate the professional courtesy. If you could send us whatever information you do have on this Riley Nelson or her companion, we would be grateful.”
Park made a small sound of assent. "Of course. We'll get right on that. I'm also concerned about her associate. She entered Eiria with a Kerlian Passport, and she has a Huenyan or Xiomeran name. Given that she knows Nelson, I'd reckon she's an Aurora, which is disconcerting. One Aurora is enough trouble for us as it is."
"And double trouble is more than any of us need, right,” Cuetlancaona said in a more thoughtful tone. “We will get right on this as well, and if we discover anything that would pose a danger to Eiria we will certainly let you know right away.”
Park sighed, content. "Thank you, Director. We'll send over what we have on both of them as soon as possible. Have a good evening, and stay safe! If you ever need anything of Eiria intelligence-wise, don't be afraid to give me a call."
"You stay safe as well, and if you need anything from us also, please don’t hesitate to call. Thank you again for the information,” Cuetlancaona replied, before hanging up. He sighed, before calling and requesting a meeting with the Assembly....the Chamber of Executives, he reminded himself. Everything keeps changing so quickly, he thought.
March 6th
Xochuaxte Palace, Chuaztlapoc
"So you decided to have this meeting with these individuals without telling us," Huacue said flatly.
The Chamber of Executives was meeting, after Cuetlancaona had informed them about the message from the Eirians. After Yauhmi had explained why they were coming to Huenya, they were not pleased. "Was this not something you felt important to inform us? We are supposed to be sharing power, after all."
"I am meeting with them in my capacity as a citizen of Huenya, not in my capacity as cihuātlahtoāni," Yauhmi replied calmly. "I presume I am still allowed to have people visit?"
Her cool tone did not impress or appease Huacue. "These aren't friends coming over to see your garden. These are Auroras. That is something both this Chamber and the FIS should have been told about," he said. "Yauhmi, with respect, you must adjust to the reality that you cannot make decisions on your own anymore without consulting us. Or at least the Vice-Speaker should have been informed."
Tiacihitli nodded at that, his expression concerned. "Yauhmi, you and your son really must stop keeping us out of the loop when you make decisions or extend invitations. For the smooth governance of Huenya, as well as our mutual cooperation, we cannot be kept in the dark."
Texōccoatl's expression grew annoyed, and he was about to speak, but Yauhmi raised her hand. "I understand, and I apologize for not informing you," she said, as Texōccoatl sighed. "But I don't honestly know what you're all concerned about. These people mean us no harm."
"After what we have been through during the war, and since, we cannot afford to blindly trust anyone," Huacue said grimly. "All we ask is that you not do things behind our back, so we can properly assess risk."
Yauhmi nodded. "I will do my best to do so from now on."
That was clearly not an absolute commitment to transparency, but the other members of the Chamber realized that was the best they would likely ever get from Yauhmi. Reduced in power or not, tortured and banished or not, Yauhmi was clearly still not one to be obedient or a pushover. "Very well....you will keep the FIS informed about this visit and anything discussed, then?" Huacue asked.
"Of course," Yauhmi said blandly.
Taking what they could get, the Chamber moved on with its day.
<t></t>