07-28-2022, 05:12 PM
If the announcement by Sanctarian officials that they intended to place more forces in Huenya was intended to deter Empress Calhualyana, it was a misread of the person that it was aimed at. Calhualyana hadn't gotten where she was by being easily frightened out of the things she wanted. The very fact that she was sitting on the Obsidian Throne, instead of the now long-dead and unlamented Xochiuhue, was proof of that. She had forced the man off his throne and taken it for herself; that had taken too much work for her to simply give up on her goals for Xiomera now that she had the throne. The rest of the world be damned.
So it was that on the morning on July 28th that said world woke up to an earnest-faced DTNS reporter breaking the news:
"Good morning. Today, in an emergency session, the Xiomeran Imperial Parliament unanimously approved a motion by Empress Calhualyana to grant formal diplomatic recognition to the separatist state calling itself Western Xiomera. Prime Minister Toquihu told reporters today that Western Xiomera 'is a sovereign and independent state and we recognize it as such.' He went on to state that Xiomera does not accept the charge that it has violated the Jinyu Agreement. 'Western Xiomera, by virtue of its independent status, is no longer part of the Huenyan Federation. Therefore, any presence of Xiomeran forces there does not violate any portion of the Agreement forbidding us from having a presence within the Huenyan Federation.' That was another statement from the Prime Minister, tacitly confirming that there is already a Xiomeran presence in Western Xiomera - one that is expected to grow in the coming weeks. Reports indicate that an entire division of Xiomeran troops have been mobilized on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Epeloc in preparation to deploy to Western Xiomera. Officials within the international community are concerned that a Xiomeran vassal state on the western side of the Gulf could give Xiomera control of the entire Gulf, as well as the shipping leaving the southern terminus of the Intra-Xiomeran Canal."
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"Officials within the international community" weren't the only ones concerned. In Chuaztlapoc, anger and panic were the order of the day after the news broke. An emergency session of the Huenyan Federal Legislature devolved into a shouting match between supporters of the Vice-Speaker and his opponents. His opponents criticized his leadership and demanded the immediate liquidation of the separatist state, even if it meant resuming war with Xiomera. Tiacihitli's supporters angrily countered by pointing out Huenya was in no position to win such a war, and that they could lose a lot more territory if they tried. Tiacihitli's supporters also asked the opposition What do you think we've been doing these past few months with our war efforts against the separatists? That led to the rather pointed response from one opposition legislator: Yeah, what have you been doing, since you haven't accomplished a thing? A few minor brawls broke out, a fairly normal occurrence within the halls of the Legislature.
In his office, Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli wrestled with the question of how to get his fractious government and nation behind him, and how in the world to counter the Imperials' latest move. Huenya was indeed in no position to force Xiomera out of the separatist state, and the international community seemed content for the moment with gestures rather than boots on the ground.
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And in the Palace of Flowers, Calhualyana smiled. Things were still proceeding according to her plans. The world be damned.
So it was that on the morning on July 28th that said world woke up to an earnest-faced DTNS reporter breaking the news:
"Good morning. Today, in an emergency session, the Xiomeran Imperial Parliament unanimously approved a motion by Empress Calhualyana to grant formal diplomatic recognition to the separatist state calling itself Western Xiomera. Prime Minister Toquihu told reporters today that Western Xiomera 'is a sovereign and independent state and we recognize it as such.' He went on to state that Xiomera does not accept the charge that it has violated the Jinyu Agreement. 'Western Xiomera, by virtue of its independent status, is no longer part of the Huenyan Federation. Therefore, any presence of Xiomeran forces there does not violate any portion of the Agreement forbidding us from having a presence within the Huenyan Federation.' That was another statement from the Prime Minister, tacitly confirming that there is already a Xiomeran presence in Western Xiomera - one that is expected to grow in the coming weeks. Reports indicate that an entire division of Xiomeran troops have been mobilized on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Epeloc in preparation to deploy to Western Xiomera. Officials within the international community are concerned that a Xiomeran vassal state on the western side of the Gulf could give Xiomera control of the entire Gulf, as well as the shipping leaving the southern terminus of the Intra-Xiomeran Canal."
---
"Officials within the international community" weren't the only ones concerned. In Chuaztlapoc, anger and panic were the order of the day after the news broke. An emergency session of the Huenyan Federal Legislature devolved into a shouting match between supporters of the Vice-Speaker and his opponents. His opponents criticized his leadership and demanded the immediate liquidation of the separatist state, even if it meant resuming war with Xiomera. Tiacihitli's supporters angrily countered by pointing out Huenya was in no position to win such a war, and that they could lose a lot more territory if they tried. Tiacihitli's supporters also asked the opposition What do you think we've been doing these past few months with our war efforts against the separatists? That led to the rather pointed response from one opposition legislator: Yeah, what have you been doing, since you haven't accomplished a thing? A few minor brawls broke out, a fairly normal occurrence within the halls of the Legislature.
In his office, Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli wrestled with the question of how to get his fractious government and nation behind him, and how in the world to counter the Imperials' latest move. Huenya was indeed in no position to force Xiomera out of the separatist state, and the international community seemed content for the moment with gestures rather than boots on the ground.
---
And in the Palace of Flowers, Calhualyana smiled. Things were still proceeding according to her plans. The world be damned.
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