08-10-2022, 07:05 PM
“We have no choice,” Tiacihitli said quietly for the third time.
The man seated across from him snorted. “We have a choice - either to slink away with our tails between our legs like whipped dogs, or fight for what is ours. You’re about to make the wrong choice.” Acxopotl, the Secretary of Defense, tapped the Vice-Speaker’s desk. “I have ten thousand new troops ready to go today. We can surge the enemy front lines and hit them hard, push them back.”
“There are now Imperial soldiers in the separatist territory, supplementing the CSSC troops already helping the separatists. If we attack now, we would have to engage Imperial forces directly - which means the war starts again. And while I share your admiration for the bravery of our soldiers, I am also a realist. Troops need supplies, ammunition, weapons, artillery, armor. Things we still do not have in sufficient quantities to challenge the Empire.” Tiacihitli sighed. “For now, we need to negotiate a cease-fire. Words, rather than weapons, are what I should have resorted to in the first place.”
“That is surrender!” Acxopotl exploded. “We have allies, don’t we? The CU can come to our aid. Milintica already has soldiers in the area, and can send more. Eiria can send soldiers. For the gods’ sake, Tiacihitli, we can’t just surrender our land! What message does it send to Calhualyana if we won’t even fight when she steals from us?”
“If you’re worried about emboldening Calhualyana, here’s some news for you. She is already emboldened. As for attacking Imperial forces directly, don’t you see that is exactly what she wants us to do? If we attack Xiomeran forces, she can argue that we broke the peace treaty, not her. She could then unleash the entire Imperial military against us. Huenya cannot withstand that, not yet.” Before Acxopotl could object, Tiacihitli continued in the same even tone. “As for our allies, Milintica is too small to help us defeat the Empire in the long term. Both Eiria and Milintica are engaged in Auria, as well. Do you think they will be so eager to send yet more soldiers off to die, especially if it means going to war with Xiomera…..and especially if we are the ones to start the fight?”
Acxopotl stood up, face red. “You’re a coward. I should have never agreed to form a coalition with you. If you do not implement our plan of attack, I will resign my position as Defense Secretary.”
Tiacihitli stood up as well, eyeing Acxopotl coldly. “Since you won’t fall in line with me, and with the goals of my administration, you needn’t bother. You are fired.”
Acxopotl turned even redder, fists clenching. For a moment, it looked like he might punch the Vice-Speaker. Tiacihitli’s two guards coolly stepped forward to escort Acxopotl out. With a snarl, he left the room.
Tiacihitli sighed again, sitting back down. I hope this is going to work out.
—-
The announcement that Huenya would halt offensive operations against the separatists of “Western Xiomera” and seek a cease-fire went out an hour later. It sparked an immediate backlash.
Protests outside the Federal Legislature and the Vice-Speaker’s home, both for and against the decision, intensified.
But even more troubling for the Vice-Speaker was the announcement soon after that Acxopotl, having been fired, was withdrawing the Party of Huitzilopochtli from its coalition with the Unification Party and seeking a vote of no-confidence in Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli. Acxopotl had lost his job. Now, he intended to take Tiacihitli’s from him.
The man seated across from him snorted. “We have a choice - either to slink away with our tails between our legs like whipped dogs, or fight for what is ours. You’re about to make the wrong choice.” Acxopotl, the Secretary of Defense, tapped the Vice-Speaker’s desk. “I have ten thousand new troops ready to go today. We can surge the enemy front lines and hit them hard, push them back.”
“There are now Imperial soldiers in the separatist territory, supplementing the CSSC troops already helping the separatists. If we attack now, we would have to engage Imperial forces directly - which means the war starts again. And while I share your admiration for the bravery of our soldiers, I am also a realist. Troops need supplies, ammunition, weapons, artillery, armor. Things we still do not have in sufficient quantities to challenge the Empire.” Tiacihitli sighed. “For now, we need to negotiate a cease-fire. Words, rather than weapons, are what I should have resorted to in the first place.”
“That is surrender!” Acxopotl exploded. “We have allies, don’t we? The CU can come to our aid. Milintica already has soldiers in the area, and can send more. Eiria can send soldiers. For the gods’ sake, Tiacihitli, we can’t just surrender our land! What message does it send to Calhualyana if we won’t even fight when she steals from us?”
“If you’re worried about emboldening Calhualyana, here’s some news for you. She is already emboldened. As for attacking Imperial forces directly, don’t you see that is exactly what she wants us to do? If we attack Xiomeran forces, she can argue that we broke the peace treaty, not her. She could then unleash the entire Imperial military against us. Huenya cannot withstand that, not yet.” Before Acxopotl could object, Tiacihitli continued in the same even tone. “As for our allies, Milintica is too small to help us defeat the Empire in the long term. Both Eiria and Milintica are engaged in Auria, as well. Do you think they will be so eager to send yet more soldiers off to die, especially if it means going to war with Xiomera…..and especially if we are the ones to start the fight?”
Acxopotl stood up, face red. “You’re a coward. I should have never agreed to form a coalition with you. If you do not implement our plan of attack, I will resign my position as Defense Secretary.”
Tiacihitli stood up as well, eyeing Acxopotl coldly. “Since you won’t fall in line with me, and with the goals of my administration, you needn’t bother. You are fired.”
Acxopotl turned even redder, fists clenching. For a moment, it looked like he might punch the Vice-Speaker. Tiacihitli’s two guards coolly stepped forward to escort Acxopotl out. With a snarl, he left the room.
Tiacihitli sighed again, sitting back down. I hope this is going to work out.
—-
The announcement that Huenya would halt offensive operations against the separatists of “Western Xiomera” and seek a cease-fire went out an hour later. It sparked an immediate backlash.
Protests outside the Federal Legislature and the Vice-Speaker’s home, both for and against the decision, intensified.
But even more troubling for the Vice-Speaker was the announcement soon after that Acxopotl, having been fired, was withdrawing the Party of Huitzilopochtli from its coalition with the Unification Party and seeking a vote of no-confidence in Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli. Acxopotl had lost his job. Now, he intended to take Tiacihitli’s from him.
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