03-27-2022, 02:17 AM
Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
March 26th, 2022
"I did tell you that I wouldn't be surprised if Alvarez broke our agreement. I do admire how she is trying to spin things, though." Empress Calhualyana calmly reviewed her planned speech to the Imperial Parliament. Her state limousine, with its police and military escorts, rolled down the Avenue Huatlcoapahua from the Palace of Flowers to the Imperial Parliament building. She took a brief moment to enjoy the beauty of the early spring in Montelin outside her windows.
Prime Minister Toquihu nodded in agreement. "I guess you do have to learn such remarkably deceptive tactics in order to survive in a democracy as a politician. She isn't as far off from the machinations of the XCP, in her own way, as she likes to consider herself," the PM said as he browsed the latest news stories.
"Indeed. I am almost impressed with how cleverly she has turned this to her advantage. Not so impressed that I won't punish her for it, of course. That is an inevitability now. That is why we will be going to IIA HQ after this speech. But for now, we will respond only with words." Calhualyana made a few more notes as they traveled into downtown Tlālacuetztla. A slight smile crossed her lips as she said "for now".
The convoy soon arrived at Avenue of the Citizens, the main avenue leading to the Parliament. Even in the pleasant, sunny early springlike weather of northern Xiomera, the stark stone walls of the Imperial Parliament seemed to absorb all sunlight and warmth, remaining cold and gray. The only sign of warmth or color were the golden XCP and Imperial seals on the walls, and the golden flagpoles upon which the Imperial Sun banner waved. The Empress admired the sight as her party exited their vehicles and walked inside.
Once they had arrived at the podium of the Imperial Parliament Chamber, the Empress stood behind the lectern. She took another moment to admire the inside of the chamber. It was a cavernous room, of the same stone and obsidian as the outside, with golden flags and symbols of the Empire and the XCP. The members of the Parliament sat at dark wooden desks; the audience sat arranged around them in black leather chairs with golden trim. It was a darkly glorious chamber, and the perfect setting for the Empress to speak.
Arranged next to her were every single minister of her cabinet, the Prime Minister, the Empress' husband Xiyāōtl, the commanders of the General Staff. Even Atlhuitzcoatl, the High Priest of the Imperial-recognized branch of the Teotzin, the Huenyan indigenous faith, was on the podium. It was meant to show the world that no matter what, Xiomera was united behind the Empress. It made for exactly the show of strength that the Empress wanted, as she began to speech.
"Good afternoon. This session of the Imperial Parliament was called to discuss recent remarks by Prime Minister Alvarez of Lauchenoiria concerning our supposed involvement in the civil unrest in Huenya. I am here to answer any questions that the Parliament may have on this matter. But first, I would like to give my response to the accusations that the Lauchenoirian leader has made against me." As the assembled XCP members murmured, Calhualyana continued. "It is indeed true that a deal was made concerning our intervention to free the Lauchenoirian citizen, Paul Ramirez, from his detention by officials of the State of Apozanolotl. While Alvarez is honest about that fact, she chose to leave out some matters which were inconvenient to her anti-Xiomeran narrative. It was Prime Minister Alvarez who initiated the discussion in question, not myself or any other official in Xiomera. Due to the incompetence of both her leadership and that of the Huenyan government, it was Alvarez who contacted us in desperation after all other attempts to free their citizen had failed. Rather than being grateful for our intervention, which accomplished something neither her administration or the Huenyans could, she is now using our intervention against us. To promote her own agenda for Caxcana, a region Lauchenoiria isn't even part of, and to save her own political career, this opportunistic and deceitful liar is now claiming that this is 'evidence' that we supported the uprising by aggrieved ethnic Xiomerans in Huenya."
As the murmuring from the Chamber grew angrier, the Empress continued. "We do have contacts within the separatists in Huenya. I will not deny that. I also will not apologize for it. They are our kin, and our blood. We have a right to maintain ties with them, especially given the way the Huenyan government has treated them. The Huenyan government, from its beginnings, has mistreated these people. The people in Apozanolotl have resorted to arms only because they were forced into a new country they did not want to be part of. They have then had their concerns systematically ignored and suppressed by the Huenyan government, and been told either to comply or be dealt with by force. The evidence of the real wrongdoing is plain for all to see - is Huenya not at this moment engaging in all out war against these people it supposedly regards as citizens with the same rights as other Huenyans? Isn't the Huenyan government the one now imposing travel restrictions against our borders, themselves in violation of the provisions of the Jinyu Agreement regarding freedom of movement? Yet Alvarez wants to complain about our actions - actions which saved one of her own people?"
The voices in the Chamber began to rise in fury, as Calhualyana continued. "This is 'evidence' of only one thing - that Alvarez hates Xiomera, with the same irrational hatred she has shown for years. And that she will stop at nothing to pursue that agenda, as well as to save her own political skin. Let us be clear - the only reason she chose to come forth with the deal that was made now is that she saw how her people reacted when rumors about it began to spread, and she decided to turn the spotlight against Xiomera in order to distract Lauchenoirians from her own scheming and wrongdoing."
The MPs began shouting in fury, and the Empress continued to stoke the flames. "The only 'evidence' Alvarez has of our supposed connection to the rebellion in eastern Huenya is the fact that we were able to intervene to save her own citizen. I am sure Alvarez and her pawns will fabricate more 'evidence' to try to continue to turn people against Xiomera. I also, to be frank, do not care what she does anymore. She has shown that she is unworthy of our attention. We will defend ourselves against her lies at LIDUN, and indeed, to the world. But that is all the time we will bother to spend on such a snake. The fact that we do have contacts within the State of Apozanolotl does not mean that we are responsible for their rebellion. Huenya, and Huenya alone, is responsible for it. And until Huenya does the right thing and enters talks with the State of Apozanolotl, the unrest will not end, regardless of what we do or don't do. Our government is not supporting their rebellion. But even if it was, to be clear, we would have every right to help defend those who are our kin. That right, I also will not apologize for. Ever."
There were loud cheers from the assembled MPs at this point, for which Calhualyana waited patiently to subside before continuing. "If people want the rebellion in Huenya to end, there is only one path forward for that outcome which we all desire - get Tiacihitli to the negotiating table with the rebels rather than dropping bombs on them. If peace is supposedly what you want, that would make sense, wouldn't it?"
As more applause echoed, the Empress went on. "As for the situation in Auria, we see yet more vitriol aimed at us from Alvarez. We are accused of trying to control Auria, or occupying them. The last time I checked, there was not a single Imperial soldier in Auria. Again, for the sake of her political career and her own agenda, the Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria has chosen to blatantly lie and distort the facts on the ground. Here is the truth. The new Aurian government, under King Andrew, chose to hire CSSC to help maintain the peace in Auria after the change of power there due to threats from the former Queen Sophie and her supporters, most notably Eiria and Lauchenoiria. The Eirian and Lauchenoirian governments have chosen to use the involvement of a private Xiomeran corporation as their justification for blaming us for the events in Auria. They are using their favorite scare tactic, Xiomera, as the veil covering their goal of forcing Queen Sophie back on the throne despite the fact that it was Aurians, not CSSC, who overthrew her in the first place." Calhualyana shook her head in disgust. "So much for the ideas of sovereignty and self-determination that the democracies spout, if the people in other countries make choices they don't like. It isn't Xiomera, after all, that is threatening military action to invade a sovereign nation thousands of miles away to force a change in government. The events in Auria are absolutely no threat to Lauchenoiria, or frankly, any of their concern. They're not even happening on the same continent. Yet Alvarez, in her self-righteous and self-serving speeches, thinks she has the right to lecture Xiomerans about what we do?"
As the Chamber erupted into a fresh surge of angry shouting, the Empress looked at the representatives with eyes as cold and stone-like as the walls themselves. "Alvarez went out of her way, in her speech, to say that Lauchenoiria does not answer to Xiomera. Well and good. But I have a very simple response - Xiomera does not answer to you, either. Nor to anyone else. We are a sovereign nation. We have been a united, strong and prosperous state for centuries, dating back to a time when most of the countries opposed to us were merely squabbling principalities or rabble living in straw huts and stone castles. We have a culture, faith, heritage and nation that have over six hundred years of our hard work, pride and effort behind them. Xiomerans have built a nation and a legacy that need not apologize to anyone else - and will not take orders from, or bend knee to, anyone else either."
Calhualyana looked up defiantly. "CSSC will continue its peacekeeping mission in Auria for as long as the corporation sees fit to, and as long as the Aurian government wants it to. We will not tell Xiomerans where they can do business, or how, just to please political hacks on other shores with misbegotten agendas and misplaced self-righteousness. If Lauchenoiria, or anyone else, choose to bring war to shores where there is currently peace and order, I am confident that CSSC will be able to fulfill its mission. As for Huenya and the State of Apozanolotl, we have only this to say: if the Huenyan government and its supporters do not do the right thing by the ethnic Xiomerans there, someday, the Empire will. If you want to prevent that, for once, resort to talking to Xiomerans rather than telling them how horrible they are and expecting obedience from them. As you have seen, we do not take to such conduct very well."
The Empress rose to her full height, her face raised to the sky. "Whenever, and wherever we must, Xiomera and Xiomerans will continue to endure and triumph. And we will do whatever we must for our people, and for our Empire!"
As everyone in the Chamber began shouting "for the Empire" in response, Calhualyana raised both of her hands, as if imploring the gods herself. Or, perhaps, becoming one.
March 26th, 2022
"I did tell you that I wouldn't be surprised if Alvarez broke our agreement. I do admire how she is trying to spin things, though." Empress Calhualyana calmly reviewed her planned speech to the Imperial Parliament. Her state limousine, with its police and military escorts, rolled down the Avenue Huatlcoapahua from the Palace of Flowers to the Imperial Parliament building. She took a brief moment to enjoy the beauty of the early spring in Montelin outside her windows.
Prime Minister Toquihu nodded in agreement. "I guess you do have to learn such remarkably deceptive tactics in order to survive in a democracy as a politician. She isn't as far off from the machinations of the XCP, in her own way, as she likes to consider herself," the PM said as he browsed the latest news stories.
"Indeed. I am almost impressed with how cleverly she has turned this to her advantage. Not so impressed that I won't punish her for it, of course. That is an inevitability now. That is why we will be going to IIA HQ after this speech. But for now, we will respond only with words." Calhualyana made a few more notes as they traveled into downtown Tlālacuetztla. A slight smile crossed her lips as she said "for now".
The convoy soon arrived at Avenue of the Citizens, the main avenue leading to the Parliament. Even in the pleasant, sunny early springlike weather of northern Xiomera, the stark stone walls of the Imperial Parliament seemed to absorb all sunlight and warmth, remaining cold and gray. The only sign of warmth or color were the golden XCP and Imperial seals on the walls, and the golden flagpoles upon which the Imperial Sun banner waved. The Empress admired the sight as her party exited their vehicles and walked inside.
Once they had arrived at the podium of the Imperial Parliament Chamber, the Empress stood behind the lectern. She took another moment to admire the inside of the chamber. It was a cavernous room, of the same stone and obsidian as the outside, with golden flags and symbols of the Empire and the XCP. The members of the Parliament sat at dark wooden desks; the audience sat arranged around them in black leather chairs with golden trim. It was a darkly glorious chamber, and the perfect setting for the Empress to speak.
Arranged next to her were every single minister of her cabinet, the Prime Minister, the Empress' husband Xiyāōtl, the commanders of the General Staff. Even Atlhuitzcoatl, the High Priest of the Imperial-recognized branch of the Teotzin, the Huenyan indigenous faith, was on the podium. It was meant to show the world that no matter what, Xiomera was united behind the Empress. It made for exactly the show of strength that the Empress wanted, as she began to speech.
"Good afternoon. This session of the Imperial Parliament was called to discuss recent remarks by Prime Minister Alvarez of Lauchenoiria concerning our supposed involvement in the civil unrest in Huenya. I am here to answer any questions that the Parliament may have on this matter. But first, I would like to give my response to the accusations that the Lauchenoirian leader has made against me." As the assembled XCP members murmured, Calhualyana continued. "It is indeed true that a deal was made concerning our intervention to free the Lauchenoirian citizen, Paul Ramirez, from his detention by officials of the State of Apozanolotl. While Alvarez is honest about that fact, she chose to leave out some matters which were inconvenient to her anti-Xiomeran narrative. It was Prime Minister Alvarez who initiated the discussion in question, not myself or any other official in Xiomera. Due to the incompetence of both her leadership and that of the Huenyan government, it was Alvarez who contacted us in desperation after all other attempts to free their citizen had failed. Rather than being grateful for our intervention, which accomplished something neither her administration or the Huenyans could, she is now using our intervention against us. To promote her own agenda for Caxcana, a region Lauchenoiria isn't even part of, and to save her own political career, this opportunistic and deceitful liar is now claiming that this is 'evidence' that we supported the uprising by aggrieved ethnic Xiomerans in Huenya."
As the murmuring from the Chamber grew angrier, the Empress continued. "We do have contacts within the separatists in Huenya. I will not deny that. I also will not apologize for it. They are our kin, and our blood. We have a right to maintain ties with them, especially given the way the Huenyan government has treated them. The Huenyan government, from its beginnings, has mistreated these people. The people in Apozanolotl have resorted to arms only because they were forced into a new country they did not want to be part of. They have then had their concerns systematically ignored and suppressed by the Huenyan government, and been told either to comply or be dealt with by force. The evidence of the real wrongdoing is plain for all to see - is Huenya not at this moment engaging in all out war against these people it supposedly regards as citizens with the same rights as other Huenyans? Isn't the Huenyan government the one now imposing travel restrictions against our borders, themselves in violation of the provisions of the Jinyu Agreement regarding freedom of movement? Yet Alvarez wants to complain about our actions - actions which saved one of her own people?"
The voices in the Chamber began to rise in fury, as Calhualyana continued. "This is 'evidence' of only one thing - that Alvarez hates Xiomera, with the same irrational hatred she has shown for years. And that she will stop at nothing to pursue that agenda, as well as to save her own political skin. Let us be clear - the only reason she chose to come forth with the deal that was made now is that she saw how her people reacted when rumors about it began to spread, and she decided to turn the spotlight against Xiomera in order to distract Lauchenoirians from her own scheming and wrongdoing."
The MPs began shouting in fury, and the Empress continued to stoke the flames. "The only 'evidence' Alvarez has of our supposed connection to the rebellion in eastern Huenya is the fact that we were able to intervene to save her own citizen. I am sure Alvarez and her pawns will fabricate more 'evidence' to try to continue to turn people against Xiomera. I also, to be frank, do not care what she does anymore. She has shown that she is unworthy of our attention. We will defend ourselves against her lies at LIDUN, and indeed, to the world. But that is all the time we will bother to spend on such a snake. The fact that we do have contacts within the State of Apozanolotl does not mean that we are responsible for their rebellion. Huenya, and Huenya alone, is responsible for it. And until Huenya does the right thing and enters talks with the State of Apozanolotl, the unrest will not end, regardless of what we do or don't do. Our government is not supporting their rebellion. But even if it was, to be clear, we would have every right to help defend those who are our kin. That right, I also will not apologize for. Ever."
There were loud cheers from the assembled MPs at this point, for which Calhualyana waited patiently to subside before continuing. "If people want the rebellion in Huenya to end, there is only one path forward for that outcome which we all desire - get Tiacihitli to the negotiating table with the rebels rather than dropping bombs on them. If peace is supposedly what you want, that would make sense, wouldn't it?"
As more applause echoed, the Empress went on. "As for the situation in Auria, we see yet more vitriol aimed at us from Alvarez. We are accused of trying to control Auria, or occupying them. The last time I checked, there was not a single Imperial soldier in Auria. Again, for the sake of her political career and her own agenda, the Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria has chosen to blatantly lie and distort the facts on the ground. Here is the truth. The new Aurian government, under King Andrew, chose to hire CSSC to help maintain the peace in Auria after the change of power there due to threats from the former Queen Sophie and her supporters, most notably Eiria and Lauchenoiria. The Eirian and Lauchenoirian governments have chosen to use the involvement of a private Xiomeran corporation as their justification for blaming us for the events in Auria. They are using their favorite scare tactic, Xiomera, as the veil covering their goal of forcing Queen Sophie back on the throne despite the fact that it was Aurians, not CSSC, who overthrew her in the first place." Calhualyana shook her head in disgust. "So much for the ideas of sovereignty and self-determination that the democracies spout, if the people in other countries make choices they don't like. It isn't Xiomera, after all, that is threatening military action to invade a sovereign nation thousands of miles away to force a change in government. The events in Auria are absolutely no threat to Lauchenoiria, or frankly, any of their concern. They're not even happening on the same continent. Yet Alvarez, in her self-righteous and self-serving speeches, thinks she has the right to lecture Xiomerans about what we do?"
As the Chamber erupted into a fresh surge of angry shouting, the Empress looked at the representatives with eyes as cold and stone-like as the walls themselves. "Alvarez went out of her way, in her speech, to say that Lauchenoiria does not answer to Xiomera. Well and good. But I have a very simple response - Xiomera does not answer to you, either. Nor to anyone else. We are a sovereign nation. We have been a united, strong and prosperous state for centuries, dating back to a time when most of the countries opposed to us were merely squabbling principalities or rabble living in straw huts and stone castles. We have a culture, faith, heritage and nation that have over six hundred years of our hard work, pride and effort behind them. Xiomerans have built a nation and a legacy that need not apologize to anyone else - and will not take orders from, or bend knee to, anyone else either."
Calhualyana looked up defiantly. "CSSC will continue its peacekeeping mission in Auria for as long as the corporation sees fit to, and as long as the Aurian government wants it to. We will not tell Xiomerans where they can do business, or how, just to please political hacks on other shores with misbegotten agendas and misplaced self-righteousness. If Lauchenoiria, or anyone else, choose to bring war to shores where there is currently peace and order, I am confident that CSSC will be able to fulfill its mission. As for Huenya and the State of Apozanolotl, we have only this to say: if the Huenyan government and its supporters do not do the right thing by the ethnic Xiomerans there, someday, the Empire will. If you want to prevent that, for once, resort to talking to Xiomerans rather than telling them how horrible they are and expecting obedience from them. As you have seen, we do not take to such conduct very well."
The Empress rose to her full height, her face raised to the sky. "Whenever, and wherever we must, Xiomera and Xiomerans will continue to endure and triumph. And we will do whatever we must for our people, and for our Empire!"
As everyone in the Chamber began shouting "for the Empire" in response, Calhualyana raised both of her hands, as if imploring the gods herself. Or, perhaps, becoming one.
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