[Lauchenoiria]

Jointly written with Eiria

Moore Residence, Lauchenoiria
Early morning, 7th July Lauchenoirian Time

Laura Moore woke up at 5:30am, sweat streaming down her body as she tried to catch her breath and calm her beating heart. She reached to her side and found comfort in the presence of her husband as she took deep breaths. For his part, Felipe hadn’t woken; he’d become accustomed to his wife’s nightmares, and she disliked having witnesses. She preferred to calm herself and move on without feeling like she was embarrassing herself or appearing weak.

This time, though, she wasn’t going to just forget it happened again. This had been the same recurring nightmare as the previous days, the one about Chaher’s coup. Yet this time she knew it would keep happening until she did something. Inaction never solved any problems. Laura had tried to quit politics, but it simply wasn’t in her nature to give up and retire quietly. On the other side of the world, in Auria, people were going through the same thing Lauchenoiria went through in 2018. And she would be remiss if she just ignored it.

Sliding out of the covers after she’d regained her composure, Laura took a quick shower and then dressed, calling a taxi to take her to the Prime Minister’s offices, texting Alvarez as she did so that she needed to see her as soon as possible. Laura Moore intended to help Auria if she could; but she wouldn’t go behind Alvarez’s back. This wasn’t about undermining Josephine, even if Josephine had tossed her aside back then. Pointless grudges helped nobody.

Josephine Alvarez was already awake by the time Moore texted, preparing for a day full of meetings and staring at the piece of paper where she’d written down names of cabinet ministers in pencil, rubbing them out and rewriting as she decided how she was going to do this. She’d decided already: she needed Pavía out of Foreign Affairs. Yet how to do it was far harder, and she didn’t want a digital copy until she was ready to make an announcement. She’d learned from Laura’s mistakes: don’t let them know you’re gonna get rid of them until they’re gone.

Her first meeting wasn’t until 8am, so she was happy enough to meet Moore in half an hour before her day started properly. Since their heart-to-heart about Jennifer and her decision to go to Kerlile and see her – the real motivation behind her attendance at the IWC – she felt far more comfortable around Moore again. Laura seemed to hold no grudge about the unfortunate affairs of 2018 and often offered good advice to the overwhelmed current Prime Minister.

Moore was shown into Alvarez’s office upon arrival; she had further to travel than Josephine who’d been there in mere minutes. They greeted each other, exchanging pleasantries as they waited for their morning coffee, a stimulant they both would rather consume before beginning the morning’s business. Once sufficient caffeine had been drunk, Alvarez leaned back and asked Laura what brought her at such an early hour.

“You know about the nightmares, of course,” Moore began, sighing. “The matter in Auria is making them worse. And I can’t help but feel strongly that we should do something to aid them. We know how bad these things can get; if we can spare the Aurian people what our own suffered in 2018 we have a duty to do so.”

Upon hearing what Moore’s problem was, Alvarez was greatly relieved. Truthfully, she’d been concerned about the Aurian issue herself, but with Pavía counselling restraint and non-intervention, she had begun to doubt whether she was right to want to take some kind of action. Hearing Laura Moore who, for all her faults, had been a good leader able to see where the tide was turning (except inside the mind of her own Home Secretary) call for action gave her more confidence in her own instincts.

“You’re right,” nodded Alvarez in response. “This is the fourth coup in a short span of years: our own, Xiomera, Mallacaland and now Auria. There’s a veritable plague of the things spreading, and every time one is partly successful it lends strength to others who would plot the same thing. This will quickly grow out of control, we can’t remain complacent or ignore these things any longer.”

“So, what can we do?” Moore asked.

Noting the ‘we’ in her statement, Alvarez formed a determined expression. “Firstly, I’m going to call Queen Sophie right now. Please stay,” she gestured for Moore to stay seated. “I think that the Queen would like to speak with you. You do, after all, have much experience in this matter. We can talk once we hear from her what she is looking to do.”

Alvarez called through to her aide, asking her to place a call to Queen Sophie of Auria, presently in exile in Eiria, before putting her own phone on speakerphone so that Laura Moore, seated opposite, could join in on the call. The pair waited for the call to be connected, a far more comfortable silence than others between them since their country's own coup.

Queen Sophie sat at the desk in the small hotel room she had been given in Atlantis, taking some notes on a small pad of hotel stationary. She was set to speak in front of Eiria's Senate the next day, and she wanted to get a jump on her speech.

Her hotel phone rang, causing her to jump a bit. She quickly grabbed it and answered, donning her kindest protocol voice. "Yes?"

A stammering hotel receptionist answered, seemingly surprised at his situation. "Ma'am- Your Majesty, we have a call from... Prime Minister Alvarez, of Lauchenoiria."

Sophie's heart soared with elation and a small amount of hope. Thank God, someone outside Eiria. International supporters will be perfect! She thought for a second more, becoming reserved and resolute. Hopefully it's not just a condolence call. She spoke up, clearing her throat. "Would you put her through, please?"

When the call was connected, Alvarez spoke first, greeting the Aurian Queen. "Your Majesty, thank you for taking my call. All of us in Lauchenoiria's thoughts are with you and the Aurian people at this time. In the room with me just now is one of my predecessors, Laura Moore, whom I thought you'd like to speak to, given your similar experiences."

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," Moore spoke up, though she was actually uncertain of the time of day in Eiria. "Watching the situation in Auria play out grieved me, and I wanted to offer my support and offer you someone to talk to who may understand part of your experience."

Sophie sat back in her chair, reservedly interested. "Thank you, Prime Minister and Former Prime Minister. I'm glad to hear of your support. And I need every bit of advice I can get right now. This situation wasn't exactly something I've prepared for." She sighed. "What would you advise me to do now? I'm speaking to the Senate tomorrow, trying to get Eiria's support. What else can I do?"

"Learn the lessons of - recent - history," Moore replied darkly. "Mine and Yauhmi's. You've made the correct decision in leaving the country; if you had remained and been captured they could have used you as leverage. Now, my first piece of advice would be don't do as Leanna Walker did - don't return unless you have an army at your back."

"Laura is correct, Your Majesty," Alvarez added. "You are safer remaining in Eiria, while the situation can be analysed and tackled. My own personal recommendation at this point would be to make some kind of public statement to your people, denouncing those behind this coup. It needs to be clear they have no legitimacy; and there are plenty of people who can sneak such a broadcast into Auria even if it is blocked by official channels."

Sophie listened intently, continuing to write her speech as she did. "A good plan. And I hate to be pessimistic, but they do currently hold the whole country of Auria. With Nations like Xiomera as neighbors, they have a pretty secure line of support and legitimacy. Is there a way we can undermine that? I'm sorry if that's a bad question, my degree is in Computer Technology, after all. I'm not a General." She laughed a bit, trying to make herself seem human.

Moore stared pointedly at Alvarez, who broke eye contact on the mention of Xiomera. She was fully aware that she'd been too lenient towards that particular nation recently, and that she ought to do something about Pavía's affinity for it. On the matter at hand, however, Alvarez had one important question: "Do you believe Xiomera is backing the coup?"

"I have no reason to yet, but I also have absolutely no information to go on. I'd assume the Eirians would have more information than I do right now, so I'll likely know much more tomorrow. They are currently keeping us in Atlantis, one of their western port cities, so I don't have much access to their intelligence yet." She spoke very solidly, as if Eirian help was guaranteed. "But, even if they aren't backing the coup, they'll jump on the opportunity. It doesn't take an intelligence specialist to see that."

"Of course," Alvarez replied. "Plenty of opportunists jumped in during our own coup and civil war in 2018, on both sides. I would like to offer Lauchenoirian assistance, but I can't yet guarantee that we'll be able to. I need to consult with my cabinet; though it's likely there will be a few changes there soon."

Moore quirked an eyebrow at this; it was the first she was hearing of a potential reshuffle. "The important thing now is trying to de-ligitimise those behind the coup. They need to be seen as traitors, power-hungry anti-democratic opportunists who do not deserve to be listened to."

"Ah, okay. I can fight a battle of public opinion - It's practically a cornerstone of Royal life. And I'm sure the whole violent mob coup image isn't going to work in their favor. They'll likely be entrenching their own legitimacy soon. Introducing their new leaders, revealing the new power hierarchy. That's pretty much the only way they could gain legitimacy and favor at this point. I also doubt that it will gain them much public opinion, though I don't think they care much. They're in the honeymoon period. As long as they can keep the violent mob group happy, they can stay in power temporarily."

"That's not a long-term solution, though," Alvarez warned. "They will be attempting something else if they want to keep power. It's important to be wary and keep an eye on what they're doing. And at some point, you will need to consider whether or not a military option is warranted."

Sophie was silent for a few seconds. "That's what I was afraid of." She grew quieter, her voice slightly fainter. "I just don't see how that can be a possibility. The Aurian Army, no matter how small, isn't loyal to our government anymore. We have the Navy, and the Coast Guard, but that's all we really have. We don't have any ground soldiers left."

"Respectfully," Moore interrupted, "I disagree with the Prime Minister here. Given our own experiences, I'd recommend avoiding military conflict where possible; especially if you have to get foreign help. There is still a chance that this new regime of theirs will fall through incompetence and public outcry. I'd recommend trying to drain away their support, make them look bad, and galvanise the people of Auria against them. Only when all else fails would I seek military action. This is what I have learned since 2018."

"Moore makes a point," Alvarez conceded. "It should be a last resort. Your army has betrayed you, so you will need to look elsewhere if it comes to that. In 2018, many of our own army sided with Chaher, but there were always outliers and we just needed to find and make contact with them. Alongside resistance groups and - trusted - foreign allies, it may well be possible, but it will take work, perseverance, and risk."

"Work and Perseverance we can provide. Unfortunately, some of the other members of our exile government will be hesitant to take more risks, even now. But we will use whatever we can to discredit this regime, however it takes form. And I'm glad that we have support from international sources. Your help and advice is worth more to me than gold." The Queen said, attempting to convey her thanks.

"Please do feel free to call me any time," Moore added. "I know how scary it can be right after this sort of thing and if you need emotional support I can give it. I'm sure Alvarez here will speak with her cabinet about more concrete support soon."

"Yes, indeed I will," Josephine agreed. "I will make the case for aiding you, Your Majesty - we cannot allow people and groups like this to go around carrying out coups throughout the IDU without facing consequences, or it will only embolden others who would do the same. A firm response is needed to halt this epidemic of coups we have been having in recent years."

"I agree. I'm glad to have your support in this, Prime Minister, Former Prime Minister. We need all the support we can get. I do hope your cabinet, and the Eirian Senate, agree to aid us. With your help, we may actually have a chance to go home." The Queen chose every word carefully, trying to earn every shred of sympathy she could. "Thank you both so much."

"Thank you for taking our call, Your Majesty," Alvarez replied. "We will expedite our discussions and hopefully have a concrete plan of action to run by you within the week. Naturally this is an unfolding situation, but we want you to know that the Lauchenoirian government backs you, and we will not recognise this false regime."

"Thank you. That's very reassuring. And I'll hopefully have some more Intel for you by then as well, if the Eirians decide to support us. Thank you so much for your call, Prime Minister, Madame Moore. If you need anything from me, feel free to call."

"You're very welcome, we'll be in touch," Alvarez replied, ending the call.

She turned back to Moore, waiting for her feedback on what had occurred on the phone.

“She’s wary of a military option, of course,” Moore mused. “She seems sensible; cautious but willing to do the work needed to thwart this coup. I think we can work with her easily on this; though I’d still be wary of committing any military resources unless victory is assured, given the state of our own armed forces.”

“I’m noting your use of the first-person plural there, Laura,” Alvarez said, bemused. “Does this mean you intend to return to politics full-time?”

“Well, I…” Laura hesitated.

“If so, there’s a by-election in Yervia after the death of that 90-year-old Conservative and it’s common knowledge that your popularity remained high in that province even through the incident.”

“He was eighty-seven,” Moore corrected. “And I haven’t decided yet.”

“Decide soon,” Alvarez replied. “We need you; Pavía has to go. I haven’t been able to find anything that ties her to Xiomeran intelligence but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I’ll shuffle her into a position where she can’t do damage, but I need more people with experience that I can trust.”

Moore remained silent, contemplating the offer. Alvarez continued while she mused. “We’re not going to take any military action unless Eiria is also on board, and not until other possible solutions have been tackled. I’m going to get in touch with Marwick; he was a terrible President, but he was excellent at getting broadcasts past Chaher’s censors, so he’ll be a valuable resource if our aim is to spread anti-coup propaganda in Auria.”

“I agree, his talents in clandestine broadcasting were unmatched; they just weren’t transferable to the presidency. I’d also recommend getting in touch with Jessica Cassidy, she’ll also be helpful in that sphere. If enough of the Aurian people rise up before the plotters have a chance to consolidate power the problem may resolve itself. Also, and this is a very out-of-the-box suggestion, but… I’d actually try speaking to Kerlile. The coup-plotters were spreading lies about them too in order to gain legitimacy; if the Kerlians come out publicly against the coup then it could put some of the other autocracies off taking sides, since there’s no chance of a united front.”

“I’ll consider that,” Alvarez said after a beat. “I dislike involving the Matriarchy in anything, but if even Kerlile recognises the coup as illegitimate it would be damning for any semi-legitimate nation thinking of supporting them. But it also might backfire, being on the same side… I’ll write up the pros and cons. Anyway, my next meeting should be starting soon but think on what I’ve said about the by-election. I could use you, especially with this Auria affair.”

Laura Moore stood up, the pair shook hands and she exited, already creating a to-do list in her mind if she planned to run in the by-election and how best she could help Auria from her current position. Retirement just didn’t suit some people.