[Slokais]

Azim Shahid had set up his campaign headquarters in Mallacaland City in the National Museum, which had formerly been the Palace where the Kingdom of Mallacaland had been ruled. The location was intentional, a respect for the history but also symbolizing the rebuilding of the country. The politically powerful of Mallacland had been invited, former royalty, natural gas tycoons, and resort owners. Guests feasted on lamb meat on a bed of pomegranates and rice. Every so often, the room would cheer as another seat would be announced for Our Force or a emirate gave favorable results for Azim Shahid. So far 5 seats had been won by coalition candidates a close victory in suburban Kondar.
Backstage, however, Shahid was in coalition negations. Currently, he was trying to convince Jediah Ben-Nevin of the Jewish minority party, the Blessed People's Party to join the right-wing coalition.
"Jediah, you and I both know your people have only survived for all the years of the generosity of the Abdin family"
"My people shall remain as long as the sun shines over our homeland"
"There are people within my party who have talked of radical actions to remove you from Kersa. If you remain with Kamza, not only are you working with communists and Kerillans but you will become the target of those who hate your people"
"First, I shall not accept the name Kersa, it shall always remain Mohlehdet. Second I know your friends in Shining Light would never accept our alliance"
"I know of a plot to destroy your people, you are forfeiting the knowledge"
"Our people have fought for hundreds of wars against those who wish to destroy our way of life, we shall stand"

Across town, Ibrahim Kamza watched on edge. Almost all the seats had been decided, the two remaining seats in Kersa and Terouba. Kamza who grew up in a rural mining community in Terouba was busy calling friends back home in the local dialect. The margin between Oasim Karimi of the NDF and Jahwar Mansori of Our Force was less than 150. Kamza had known Karimi from playing baseball and was trying to understand where the remaining ballots would come from.
"Remember, that town that had their fields by the coal mine?" Karimi asked
"Yes"
"That's where I think the remaining ballots will be coming from"
"That town seemed pretty socially conservative"
"Yeah, although organized labor is always a factor"
"Keep me updated"

At a ballot box in the village of Steroah on the southern coast of Jariza Island, an island situated off the coast of Mallacland. A long line of people stood outside a local school. Noya Baraq stood in line, she was hoping to vote for once in a free and fair election. Noya who in her 60s had voted every election since 2000, back then only one name was on the ballot, the government-approved candidate. Yet, still in Jariza Island the same political family who now preached for Jariza's Independence still was in control. A younger woman asked her "Who shall you vote for"
The woman was uncovered a clear sign of a political liberal.
"I shall vote for whoever the best candidate is"
"That being.."
At that moment a police officer walked over
"Please do not talk while voting"
"Well excuse me, sir"
"Where is your husband?"
"If that is your tone, then I am voting for whoever Open Mallacland endorses"
He paused, before talking louder "What are your doing here without your husband after sunset, especially without regard for modesty"
"I am attempting to vote"
Noya already knew what was going to happen, a Jariza Island Party thug beating up another dissenter
"You are under arrest for being un-modest in public," He said as he handcuffed her.

When Noya got inside, she looked at the ballot. She knew JIP would win again, what was the point?
She marked the box next to the non-JIP candidate.