03-12-2022, 12:45 AM
Palace of Flowers
Empress Calhualyana and Prime Minister Toquihu were enjoying a light breakfast, discussing the most recent results of their labors. "So the Lauchenoirians are withdrawing from the blockade," the Prime Minister said approvingly. "Imperial Intelligence has also informed me that the Huenyans and Milinticans are withdrawing some of their own ships and planes, to try to interdict the shipments we are sending to the Golden Blade. This should make our efforts to keep our Aurian 'friends' supplied much easier."
"Indeed. I am going to enjoy running the Eirians ragged as they try to maintain their little blockade. I believe we can shift to small supply runs with fast ships, and push at multiple points of attack. Let's see how well the much-vaunted Eirian Navy does at plugging up the holes their erstwhile allies have left behind in the blockade line," the Empress replied with a soft laugh. "We shall do the same with our supply runs across the Gulf of Epeloc to the Golden Blade. The Huenyans and Milinticans are thankfully too inept to intercept most of those resupply runs."
"Do you trust Alvarez to keep her word and stay out of the Aurian matter, now that Ramirez is safe?" Toquihu asked, earning another laugh from the Empress. "Of course I don't trust her. But for now, she is being compliant. I fully intend to gain as much leverage from the situation as I can, while our good fortune lasts. And if she does break her word, I have my response planned already. Speaking of responses..what has Imperial Intelligence reported about Operation Teixcuipani?"
"The operation is proceeding as planned," the Prime Minister replied, hand in chin as he pondered which of a selection of pastries to have with his coffee. "We are inserting negative commentary, media coverage and social media content into the Lauchenoirian, Milintican, Huenyan and Eirian media spaces. Our intelligence analysts believe that the operation will help sow more doubt between the so-called allies against us, as the Huenyans and Milinticans are already questioning what happened concerning Ramirez. Some Lauchenoirians already are too, considering the protest Alvarez just dealt with. Widening the cracks forming between their alliance can only help us."
"Confusion and dissension. I love it. Let them have their fill of it," the Empress purred. "In the meantime, we will continue to cement our presence in Auria and in Huenya."
---
Xomaxtli Hill
"Heads up! We got an incoming delivery," Mecuitli barked as he stuck his head in the door. The volunteers and members of Yauhmi's personal guard quickly sprang to work as several trucks came rolling through the front gates of the estate. It was the latest work of the Deliverers, the lifeline for people needing to escape Xiomera. The trucks sighed to a halt, and people began disembarking from the back of the vehicles. Volunteers began offering them water and food, and directing them to where they could find spare clothing, necessities and shelter.
Among the crowd of political refugees, a quartet of people was especially bemused to be here. Maloxili, Eyatzin, Margaxi and Quetia hopped out of the back of one of the trucks. It had been a long ride from the shore of eastern Huenya. Their trip had been further complicated by the fact that the Golden Blade now controlled much of the eastern coastline that the Deliverers had once used as escape routes. But they were now in Huenya, alive and in one piece, something none of them had been especially confident of achieving on their harrowing and rushed escape from the Imperial authorities. "So.....food?" Margaxi asked, looking around.
Before the four of them could begin searching, however, Mecuitli walked up to them. "Greetings. I am Mecuitli, Shorn One in command of security here today. You are the Mocentlalia Four, correct?"
Maloxili winced at the nickname which had been given to their group after their disruption of Calhualyana's wedding had become known. "I suppose," she replied.
"Excellent. Your exploits have been greatly enjoyed here in Huenya. I was asked to make sure that your immediate needs were all met, and once you are taken of, the nantzintli would like to personally welcome you to Huenya." Mecuitli gestured to them to follow him, only for Maloxili to stop the group. "We're not any more deserving of a special welcome than anyone else here. These are all refugees."
"The nantzintli will be greeting the other arrivals as well and making sure their needs are met," Mecuitli replied, seemingly confused by her resistance. Margaxi placed a single large hand on her shoulder. "It's allright," Margaxi reassured her. Maloxili snorted slightly, but began following Mecuitli and the others.
After the four were given food, new clothing and supplies, they were shown to a set of portable shelters set up on the grounds to leave their things. They were then led into the estate house itself, into a large sunroom at the back. Yauhmi was sitting in a well-padded chair, reading. She put the book aside and stood up as the group entered. "Welcome to my home. Please, have a seat and make yourselves comfortable." The four of them sat down, somewhat unsure how to conduct themselves in the presence of royalty. After a bit of small talk, however, the four were able to relax as Yauhmi was hardly insistent on ceremony. "Your actions in protest of Calhualyana were most impressive," Yauhmi said, offering them tea or coffee as they relaxed. "I wanted to meet you in person, to express my personal admiration at your inventiveness. Whose idea was it to do the drones, by the way?"
"Um...it was mine, your majesty," Eyatzin squeaked, before coughing his way into a more normal tone of voice. Yauhmi smiled. "That was an especially brilliant maneuver. And please, we can skip the fancy titles. At this point, I am only the nantzintli. My son gets the joy of the fancy titles now. And the burdens of them," she added with a small laugh. "Well. I am sorry that your protests have led to you being forced out of Xiomera. But Huenya has pledged to be refuge to anyone fleeing Xiomera, and given your bravery, I would say you've well earned a place of safety. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, while the government processes your asylum applications and helps you get settled in and started on a new life here in Huenya."
During the meeting, the four had presented decidedly different reactions. Eyatzin had been both slightly nervous and awed. Quetia had been polite and conversationally friendly. Margaxi had been even more awed than Eyatzin to be in the presence of the former Empress. Maloxili, by contrast, had been quiet and withdrawn. When Yauhmi mentioned the four of them starting a new life in Huenya, Maloxili set her cup down with a sharp click. "With respect, Yauhmi, you misunderstand our intentions. Or, at least, mine. As soon as possible, I am going back to Xiomera."
The other three of her group stared at her as if she had just caught fire. Yauhmi set her own cup down, far more softly. "I truly do admire your bravery, my dear," she said. "But if you go back to Xiomera, it is likely a death sentence. We all saw what happened to Cozamalotl. I cannot allow you in good conscience to risk a similar fate."
Maloxili sprang up from her chair. "I am not yet a Huenyan citizen, so I am not yours to command. And whether or not I am free to do as I choose will determine whether or not I ever even want to become one."
"Calm down," Margaxi grumbled, trying to pull Maloxili back into her chair only to be shrugged off. "While we sit here and chat in this lovely sunroom of yours, Yauhmi, people are rotting in prison cells in Xiomera. People are dying in Xiomera. I know you lost a lot from the war, but you and your family are here, safe and comfortable. You all left us behind to face Calhualyana alone. You escaped from Xiomera and maintained your privileged positions. The people close to me are not so lucky. I will not leave them behind. I am sorry, but you cannot possibly understand."
"The woman you are talking to was tortured for months by the very people you are fighting now. Even now, she and her kin are having to fend off assassination attempts from the very same people. I think she can understand more than you think," Mecuitli said in a firm voice from behind them. Yauhmi raised her hand to cut him off. "It's not a contest of suffering, Mecuitli," she said gently.
Maloxili turned red with embarrassment at that, but remained standing. "I get that you want us to be safe. But I can't just stay here and do nothing. I can't enjoy safety until everyone else can." A slight shuffling to her right made her turn and look. Quetia had stood up as well. "If you're going back, I am too. Can't let you do it all alone," he said with a crooked grin.
Eyatzin coughed slightly. He remained seated, but had a similar expression on his face. "You'll need my help too, then. Gods know you're all hopeless with tech, what would you do without me?" Maloxili gave him a pleased smile, which caused Eyatzin to blush slightly.
Margaxi finally stood up. "Empress - and I call you that because as far as I am concerned, you're still the Empress and screw Calhualyana - we appreciate your concern for us. More than you know. But Cozamalotl died because he didn't understand our enemy. Words and beliefs are great and all. But Cozamalotl showed us all how much people like Calhualyana care about words and thoughts. Only resistance will stop her. Both outside Xiomera, and inside it. Xiomera needs people on both sides of the border who are willing to fight the regime. And, yeah, I'm going back too. These three won't last long without my muscles to protect them," he finished with a laugh.
Yauhmi eyed the four of them for a moment. "If you are all truly determined to go back, I cannot stop you any more than I could stop Cozamalotl. But I can at least prepare you better than he was prepared to return. You're right, Maloxili, I am a privileged person. But the thing some Xiomerans, like Calhualyana, always forget is that privilege can be used for good things as well as bad ones. So. I have money, and access to more supplies and weapons than you could ever possibly use. I'm sure you can figure out the best way to take advantage of that." As the four stared at her, a bit stunned, Yauhmi continued. "I will, however, make one suggestion to help you shore up your skills. There are, as you probably noticed on your way into Huenya, some terrorists being supported by Calhualyana's regime. We need to clear them out to make sure the escape routes from Xiomera that we use for the Deliverers can run safely. My men will train you, I will equip you, and then you can practice on the Golden Blade. A trial run before you take on the real bad guys back in Xiomera. Does that sound like a plan?"
Maloxili nodded wordlessly. "Excellent. I suggest you all get some rest before you begin. We will talk again soon." Yauhmi stood up, and the four were ushered out. Once they had left, Mecuitli sighed. "Their leader is quite disrespectful of your position, nantzintli."
"Perhaps. But her spirit is exactly what we will need to win, both in Huenya and in Xiomera. I used to think that I deserved a certain level of respect....the past few years have taught me that everyone does. So, if a few rude words aimed at me are the price for gaining people willing to fight for our future, I'll pay it." Yauhmi nodded firmly, sitting back down and taking another sip of her coffee.
Another Shorn One walked into the sunroom, carrying a small box with holes in the side. "Nantzintli, we have another rescue from the latest Deliverer convoy. I rather think you will enjoy this one. He set the box down, opening the wooden door. "Apologies, but we couldn't secure a proper carrier in time." When the door popped open, a black cat sauntered out, sniffing the air. "Necuametl?" Yauhmi said, hastily putting her cup down. The cat turned to her, head cocked in an expression that clearly said And where have you been? before popping into her lap. Yauhmi petted the black cat, a rush of emotion greeting her at the sudden arrival of a piece of her lost home. Black cats were supposed to be bad luck, but Yauhmi was choosing to take this as a good omen.
----
Anaxtec, Huenya
Anaxtec was a small farming town in what was normally a placid, bucolic corner of southern Huenya. Today, it was a town on the front lines. The Golden Blade and their State of Apozanolotl had just pushed into town. Their advance, however, had met with sudden resistance. A force of Milinticans had arrived, bolstering Huenyan government forces in the area. The rather grandly named "Ihualco Vanguard Cadre of the Popular Militias of the People's Democratic Republic of Milintica" had significantly stiffened resistance on the battlefield. Commander Axotetl, leading the 1st Battalion of the State Army of Apozanolotl (a rebadged Golden Blade wing), was not amused by this. Nor was he amused at how the Milinticans were whittling down his numbers. Contrary to popular belief, when given weapons and equipment that weren't either obsolete or broken, the Milinticans could actually fight well. And the Huenyan government had plenty of weapons and equipment, left over from the Imperial Army's retreat a year earlier.
Axotetl needed reinforcements. And he knew just how to get them.
Around Anaxtec, and its neighboring villages and farms, posters and signs began to appear. They depicted the Milinticans as violent hordes of thugs waving red banners and menacing innocent Xiomeran civilians. "The Communists Have Come To Take Your Country! Don't Let Them - Join The State Army Today!" was one slogan. "Beat Back The Red Menace And Its Huenyan Lackeys!" was another. There were many more in the same vein. All of them were guaranteed to light a fire under any right-wing ethnic Xiomerans who hadn't already decided to rebel against the Huenyan government. Communism was one of their great fears, and the arrival of the Milinticans was sending that fear into overdrive.
Soon, the Golden Blade would have many more eager recruits.
Empress Calhualyana and Prime Minister Toquihu were enjoying a light breakfast, discussing the most recent results of their labors. "So the Lauchenoirians are withdrawing from the blockade," the Prime Minister said approvingly. "Imperial Intelligence has also informed me that the Huenyans and Milinticans are withdrawing some of their own ships and planes, to try to interdict the shipments we are sending to the Golden Blade. This should make our efforts to keep our Aurian 'friends' supplied much easier."
"Indeed. I am going to enjoy running the Eirians ragged as they try to maintain their little blockade. I believe we can shift to small supply runs with fast ships, and push at multiple points of attack. Let's see how well the much-vaunted Eirian Navy does at plugging up the holes their erstwhile allies have left behind in the blockade line," the Empress replied with a soft laugh. "We shall do the same with our supply runs across the Gulf of Epeloc to the Golden Blade. The Huenyans and Milinticans are thankfully too inept to intercept most of those resupply runs."
"Do you trust Alvarez to keep her word and stay out of the Aurian matter, now that Ramirez is safe?" Toquihu asked, earning another laugh from the Empress. "Of course I don't trust her. But for now, she is being compliant. I fully intend to gain as much leverage from the situation as I can, while our good fortune lasts. And if she does break her word, I have my response planned already. Speaking of responses..what has Imperial Intelligence reported about Operation Teixcuipani?"
"The operation is proceeding as planned," the Prime Minister replied, hand in chin as he pondered which of a selection of pastries to have with his coffee. "We are inserting negative commentary, media coverage and social media content into the Lauchenoirian, Milintican, Huenyan and Eirian media spaces. Our intelligence analysts believe that the operation will help sow more doubt between the so-called allies against us, as the Huenyans and Milinticans are already questioning what happened concerning Ramirez. Some Lauchenoirians already are too, considering the protest Alvarez just dealt with. Widening the cracks forming between their alliance can only help us."
"Confusion and dissension. I love it. Let them have their fill of it," the Empress purred. "In the meantime, we will continue to cement our presence in Auria and in Huenya."
---
Xomaxtli Hill
"Heads up! We got an incoming delivery," Mecuitli barked as he stuck his head in the door. The volunteers and members of Yauhmi's personal guard quickly sprang to work as several trucks came rolling through the front gates of the estate. It was the latest work of the Deliverers, the lifeline for people needing to escape Xiomera. The trucks sighed to a halt, and people began disembarking from the back of the vehicles. Volunteers began offering them water and food, and directing them to where they could find spare clothing, necessities and shelter.
Among the crowd of political refugees, a quartet of people was especially bemused to be here. Maloxili, Eyatzin, Margaxi and Quetia hopped out of the back of one of the trucks. It had been a long ride from the shore of eastern Huenya. Their trip had been further complicated by the fact that the Golden Blade now controlled much of the eastern coastline that the Deliverers had once used as escape routes. But they were now in Huenya, alive and in one piece, something none of them had been especially confident of achieving on their harrowing and rushed escape from the Imperial authorities. "So.....food?" Margaxi asked, looking around.
Before the four of them could begin searching, however, Mecuitli walked up to them. "Greetings. I am Mecuitli, Shorn One in command of security here today. You are the Mocentlalia Four, correct?"
Maloxili winced at the nickname which had been given to their group after their disruption of Calhualyana's wedding had become known. "I suppose," she replied.
"Excellent. Your exploits have been greatly enjoyed here in Huenya. I was asked to make sure that your immediate needs were all met, and once you are taken of, the nantzintli would like to personally welcome you to Huenya." Mecuitli gestured to them to follow him, only for Maloxili to stop the group. "We're not any more deserving of a special welcome than anyone else here. These are all refugees."
"The nantzintli will be greeting the other arrivals as well and making sure their needs are met," Mecuitli replied, seemingly confused by her resistance. Margaxi placed a single large hand on her shoulder. "It's allright," Margaxi reassured her. Maloxili snorted slightly, but began following Mecuitli and the others.
After the four were given food, new clothing and supplies, they were shown to a set of portable shelters set up on the grounds to leave their things. They were then led into the estate house itself, into a large sunroom at the back. Yauhmi was sitting in a well-padded chair, reading. She put the book aside and stood up as the group entered. "Welcome to my home. Please, have a seat and make yourselves comfortable." The four of them sat down, somewhat unsure how to conduct themselves in the presence of royalty. After a bit of small talk, however, the four were able to relax as Yauhmi was hardly insistent on ceremony. "Your actions in protest of Calhualyana were most impressive," Yauhmi said, offering them tea or coffee as they relaxed. "I wanted to meet you in person, to express my personal admiration at your inventiveness. Whose idea was it to do the drones, by the way?"
"Um...it was mine, your majesty," Eyatzin squeaked, before coughing his way into a more normal tone of voice. Yauhmi smiled. "That was an especially brilliant maneuver. And please, we can skip the fancy titles. At this point, I am only the nantzintli. My son gets the joy of the fancy titles now. And the burdens of them," she added with a small laugh. "Well. I am sorry that your protests have led to you being forced out of Xiomera. But Huenya has pledged to be refuge to anyone fleeing Xiomera, and given your bravery, I would say you've well earned a place of safety. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, while the government processes your asylum applications and helps you get settled in and started on a new life here in Huenya."
During the meeting, the four had presented decidedly different reactions. Eyatzin had been both slightly nervous and awed. Quetia had been polite and conversationally friendly. Margaxi had been even more awed than Eyatzin to be in the presence of the former Empress. Maloxili, by contrast, had been quiet and withdrawn. When Yauhmi mentioned the four of them starting a new life in Huenya, Maloxili set her cup down with a sharp click. "With respect, Yauhmi, you misunderstand our intentions. Or, at least, mine. As soon as possible, I am going back to Xiomera."
The other three of her group stared at her as if she had just caught fire. Yauhmi set her own cup down, far more softly. "I truly do admire your bravery, my dear," she said. "But if you go back to Xiomera, it is likely a death sentence. We all saw what happened to Cozamalotl. I cannot allow you in good conscience to risk a similar fate."
Maloxili sprang up from her chair. "I am not yet a Huenyan citizen, so I am not yours to command. And whether or not I am free to do as I choose will determine whether or not I ever even want to become one."
"Calm down," Margaxi grumbled, trying to pull Maloxili back into her chair only to be shrugged off. "While we sit here and chat in this lovely sunroom of yours, Yauhmi, people are rotting in prison cells in Xiomera. People are dying in Xiomera. I know you lost a lot from the war, but you and your family are here, safe and comfortable. You all left us behind to face Calhualyana alone. You escaped from Xiomera and maintained your privileged positions. The people close to me are not so lucky. I will not leave them behind. I am sorry, but you cannot possibly understand."
"The woman you are talking to was tortured for months by the very people you are fighting now. Even now, she and her kin are having to fend off assassination attempts from the very same people. I think she can understand more than you think," Mecuitli said in a firm voice from behind them. Yauhmi raised her hand to cut him off. "It's not a contest of suffering, Mecuitli," she said gently.
Maloxili turned red with embarrassment at that, but remained standing. "I get that you want us to be safe. But I can't just stay here and do nothing. I can't enjoy safety until everyone else can." A slight shuffling to her right made her turn and look. Quetia had stood up as well. "If you're going back, I am too. Can't let you do it all alone," he said with a crooked grin.
Eyatzin coughed slightly. He remained seated, but had a similar expression on his face. "You'll need my help too, then. Gods know you're all hopeless with tech, what would you do without me?" Maloxili gave him a pleased smile, which caused Eyatzin to blush slightly.
Margaxi finally stood up. "Empress - and I call you that because as far as I am concerned, you're still the Empress and screw Calhualyana - we appreciate your concern for us. More than you know. But Cozamalotl died because he didn't understand our enemy. Words and beliefs are great and all. But Cozamalotl showed us all how much people like Calhualyana care about words and thoughts. Only resistance will stop her. Both outside Xiomera, and inside it. Xiomera needs people on both sides of the border who are willing to fight the regime. And, yeah, I'm going back too. These three won't last long without my muscles to protect them," he finished with a laugh.
Yauhmi eyed the four of them for a moment. "If you are all truly determined to go back, I cannot stop you any more than I could stop Cozamalotl. But I can at least prepare you better than he was prepared to return. You're right, Maloxili, I am a privileged person. But the thing some Xiomerans, like Calhualyana, always forget is that privilege can be used for good things as well as bad ones. So. I have money, and access to more supplies and weapons than you could ever possibly use. I'm sure you can figure out the best way to take advantage of that." As the four stared at her, a bit stunned, Yauhmi continued. "I will, however, make one suggestion to help you shore up your skills. There are, as you probably noticed on your way into Huenya, some terrorists being supported by Calhualyana's regime. We need to clear them out to make sure the escape routes from Xiomera that we use for the Deliverers can run safely. My men will train you, I will equip you, and then you can practice on the Golden Blade. A trial run before you take on the real bad guys back in Xiomera. Does that sound like a plan?"
Maloxili nodded wordlessly. "Excellent. I suggest you all get some rest before you begin. We will talk again soon." Yauhmi stood up, and the four were ushered out. Once they had left, Mecuitli sighed. "Their leader is quite disrespectful of your position, nantzintli."
"Perhaps. But her spirit is exactly what we will need to win, both in Huenya and in Xiomera. I used to think that I deserved a certain level of respect....the past few years have taught me that everyone does. So, if a few rude words aimed at me are the price for gaining people willing to fight for our future, I'll pay it." Yauhmi nodded firmly, sitting back down and taking another sip of her coffee.
Another Shorn One walked into the sunroom, carrying a small box with holes in the side. "Nantzintli, we have another rescue from the latest Deliverer convoy. I rather think you will enjoy this one. He set the box down, opening the wooden door. "Apologies, but we couldn't secure a proper carrier in time." When the door popped open, a black cat sauntered out, sniffing the air. "Necuametl?" Yauhmi said, hastily putting her cup down. The cat turned to her, head cocked in an expression that clearly said And where have you been? before popping into her lap. Yauhmi petted the black cat, a rush of emotion greeting her at the sudden arrival of a piece of her lost home. Black cats were supposed to be bad luck, but Yauhmi was choosing to take this as a good omen.
----
Anaxtec, Huenya
Anaxtec was a small farming town in what was normally a placid, bucolic corner of southern Huenya. Today, it was a town on the front lines. The Golden Blade and their State of Apozanolotl had just pushed into town. Their advance, however, had met with sudden resistance. A force of Milinticans had arrived, bolstering Huenyan government forces in the area. The rather grandly named "Ihualco Vanguard Cadre of the Popular Militias of the People's Democratic Republic of Milintica" had significantly stiffened resistance on the battlefield. Commander Axotetl, leading the 1st Battalion of the State Army of Apozanolotl (a rebadged Golden Blade wing), was not amused by this. Nor was he amused at how the Milinticans were whittling down his numbers. Contrary to popular belief, when given weapons and equipment that weren't either obsolete or broken, the Milinticans could actually fight well. And the Huenyan government had plenty of weapons and equipment, left over from the Imperial Army's retreat a year earlier.
Axotetl needed reinforcements. And he knew just how to get them.
Around Anaxtec, and its neighboring villages and farms, posters and signs began to appear. They depicted the Milinticans as violent hordes of thugs waving red banners and menacing innocent Xiomeran civilians. "The Communists Have Come To Take Your Country! Don't Let Them - Join The State Army Today!" was one slogan. "Beat Back The Red Menace And Its Huenyan Lackeys!" was another. There were many more in the same vein. All of them were guaranteed to light a fire under any right-wing ethnic Xiomerans who hadn't already decided to rebel against the Huenyan government. Communism was one of their great fears, and the arrival of the Milinticans was sending that fear into overdrive.
Soon, the Golden Blade would have many more eager recruits.
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