10-02-2023, 09:21 PM
Chuaztlapoc
October 2nd
At the Golden Blade's operations center in Chuaztlapoc, Masina was being kept waiting, and he was not happy.
Along with his colleague Cihuaxoche, Masina was the other Imperial Intelligence operative assigned to provide "assistance" to the Golden Blade in their assault on Chuaztlapoc. He was, in actuality, an Imperial minder to keep the Blade on as tight a leash as possible.
Masina had failed in that task, and had heard about it in no uncertain terms from the Empress herself. Calhualyana was not happy. So Masina was made unhappy. And in return, he was about to make some terrorists very unhappy.
The doors at the back of the room finally opened, and three men walked through them. "Yes, Masina, what is it?" the man in the lead demanded.
"Altecal. Who told you to attack embassies and foreign properties like schools?"
Altecal shrugged as he removed the golden bandana from his forehead to wipe some sweat from his brow. "We don't need to be told who our enemies are. Or who to attack." Masina shook his head. "Actually, you do, as evidenced by your blatant stupidity. Your actions are almost guaranteed to invite foreign intervention now. Which is exactly what we told you to avoid. You were ordered to leave the foreigners alone."
Altecal glared at the intelligence agent, his face twisting in anger. "Maybe we're getting a little tired of taking orders from you. Your kind are the ones who lost the civil war for us in the first place. Here's my advice, Masina. Take your soft self back to Tlalacuetztla and hide while we do the real work of retaking this land for the Empire." Altecal placed his hand on the butt of his revolver, to emphasize his point. Masina saw this, and sighed slightly. Altecal smirked at his apparent victory, turning to walk out of the room.
The second his back was turned, Masina whipped out his own pistol and shot the terrorist leader in the back of the head. Altecal dropped like a sack of potatoes. The other terrorists in the room pointed their weapons at Masina. "Do it. I dare you," the Xiomeran snapped.
The fate of their leader fresh in their minds, the terrorists slowly lowered their guns. "Good. Cacuautoa, you're in charge now," Masina said as he pointed to another man in the room. "From now on, remember who you lot really take your orders from though. And no more attacks on foreigners. Or else. That's coming from the Empress herself."
Masina turned to walk out of the room himself, deliberately mimicking the actions of Altecal in another pointed dare to the Blade fighters. No one pulled out a weapon. As Masina walked outside, he sighed again. He really hoped that his use of Altecal as an object lesson to the other terrorists would stick. Because if there were any more attacks on foreigners, he would answer for it to the one person in Xiomera no one wanted to answer to.
---
In another part of Chuaztlapoc, Cihuaxoche smiled at Mindy and the other Filament Steel agents. "Chuzatlapoc could do with a little more chaos. I'm Cihuaxoche, Imperial Intelligence, but I am sure you already know that. So who might you be, and what did you have in mind?"
---
In yet another part of Chuaztlapoc, the leaders of Huenya were meeting to decide their next steps. "We've begun receiving the shipments from Haesan and Sanctaria, and they're already being put into use. We should soon be able to regain air superiority over the capital thanks to them. Soon, we can add air support to our operations against the Blade," Defense Secretary Tlanexchel said.
"How soon?" Xiadani asked.
"Within the next few days, ideally. Our pilots need to be brought up to speed on the new technology, but they're quick learners and know their way around a plane."
"Good. The next step will be to boost our forces on the ground. I want us to open up our armories to civilian volunteers. We need to put rifles in the hands of every man and woman old enough to point one at an enemy and shoot them. If Calhualyana is going to send 'volunteers' after us, we're going to return the favor," Xiadani said firmly.
Texōccoatl grimaced. "Arming untrained civilians and throwing them onto the streets is going to lead to massive casualties. We can't risk that."
"We can, and we will. And I'll tell you why." Xiadani stood up and walked over to a digital screen showing the current status of the battles around the capital, and Huenya as a whole. "Everyone keeps calling this an insurgency. It's not that at all. We've stumbled into a new civil war, ladies and gentlemen. It's the extremists or us. And if this is a civil war, I intend to win it. By any means necessary." Xiadani jabbed a finger at the map, pointing at Chuaztlapoc. "If Chuaztlapoc falls, Huenya falls. This nation will not survive the loss of confidence that would come with the loss of our capital. It just won't. Every Huenyan has to come to the defense of this city now. All of us. I'll pick up a rifle myself if I have to. But the time for half measures passed long ago. This is Calhualyana's big gamble, throwing the entire Golden Blade against us nationwide in one go. To match her, we have to throw everything we have right back at her. We all have to be prepared to sacrifice now. Whatever it takes."
General Huatli sighed. "She's right, we've got to give this everything we've got. Nothing else will save us now."
Texōccoatl shook his head. "I know. I am just dreading the losses we will take."
"No more so than I am," Xiadani said grimly. She thought about the next task she had after this meeting: signing condolence letters to families. Huenyans, Eirians, Acadians, Lauchenoirians, Aredoans and more. Xiadani insisted on signing every single one by hand, even when her advisors told her using an autopen would make the process easier. She wanted to remember the names, even if she had never gotten to meet the people behind those names.
Later that day, around the parts of the capital that the government controlled, Huenyan Army officers would begin opening up their armories and screening people who wanted to volunteer for the fight. The screening was thorough, to limit the impact of Golden Blade infiltrators causing havoc behind the lines. The numbers of vetted volunteers added up, slowly but surely. It was the beginning of the Huenyan Volunteer Self-Defense Force. Xiadani had gotten the idea from Milintica's Popular Freedom Militias, and created a Huenyan version without the ideology. Instead of the virtues of socialism, the Huenyan Volunteers would have only one ideology: defending their homeland against anyone and everyone trying to tear it apart.
---
As the meeting in Chuaztlapoc broke up, Xiadani was informed that Christine Belle was calling. She put the growing stack of condolence letters aside for later and picked up the phone. "Good morning, madam Prime Minister. This is Vice-Speaker Xiadani. How can I help you?"
---
Chamber of Whispers, Palace of Flowers
Tlālacuetztla
Later that day
"I have been informed that our agents in Chuaztlapoc have taken appropriate measures to ensure that there are no more Golden Blade attacks on foreigners in the country," Director of Imperial Intelligence Telchiuhtli said. "The rogue leader Altecal has been...retired and new leadership put in place."
"Good. I want the Blade kept under tighter control from now on." Calhualyana sipped her coffee, making a noise of appreciation at its quality. "But, I assume, we can now expect to see said foreigners interfering with our efforts in Huenya."
"That is my assessment," Telchiuhtli said soberly. "The Acadians and Lauchenoirians, in particular, are likely to be highly angered by the attacks on their embassies. This incident may finally motivate some kind of foreign response. Possibly even direct intervention."
"It already has," Prime Minister Toquihu snapped. "Haesan is sending arms to the Huenyans, and now Sanctaria is talking about doing the same and is helping Haesan do so. That could be a disaster."
"A signal needs to be sent. We should slap sanctions on both Haesan and Sanctaria for their presumptuous interference in our affairs." Cuicanan, the Minister of Justice, shook his head. "We can't let them get away with it."
"Oh, that's brilliant. Let's sanction two of the most important trading nations in the entire world, that won't end badly for us at all. That kind of advice is why you should stay in your lane and administer 'justice'," Toquauhtli snorted. The Minister of State slapped the table with his hand. "We should not respond at all."
"I would second that," Director Telchiuhtli replied. "If we respond at all, it will only prove that we are connected to the Golden Blade."
"I think you let that cat out of the bag ages ago, Telchiuhtli. Does anyone really believe we aren't connected to them anymore? Anywhere?" Cuicanan laughed. Telchiuhtli's face turned slightly red at the remark, and he muttered something about agreeing that someone should stay in their own lane.
Quihichua, the Minister of Loyalty, spoke up next. "Might I make a suggestion that doesn't make us appear impotent and weak by not responding, but that also doesn't connect us explicitly to the Blade? Just expel one diplomat each from Haesan and Sanctaria. Say that while we don't condone violence, we are doing so out of solidarity with the brave ethnic Xiomerans who are fighting to free themselves from the racist repression of the Huenyan state. That checks off enough boxes, I would think."
"That is a bad idea," the Minister of State replied. Calhualyana thought for a moment, taking another sip of coffee. "I disagree. Do as Quihichua has suggested, Toquauhtli. One from each. For the exact reasons she cited. It's not even a lie. The Haesanites and Sanctarians are helping Huenya fight against our kin, who it is solely our responsibility to protect."
Toquauhtli sighed slightly, but nodded. He knew better than to argue too much with Calhualyana.
"There is another matter, Empress," Telchiuhtli said. "We have received reports that the Huenyans are creating some kind of local self-defense force in Chuaztlapoc. Arming citizens to fight against our proxies. While they will be little more than unskilled peasants with guns, their numbers could pose a threat to our operation if allowed to grow."
Calhualyana nodded. "Instruct our Blade friends to take a special interest in these so-called volunteers and wherever they may be mustering. I want the Huenyans so scared of us that they don't even dream of picking up a weapon or raising a hand against us. Terror will be our friend now." Calhualyana finished the last of her coffee.
October 2nd
At the Golden Blade's operations center in Chuaztlapoc, Masina was being kept waiting, and he was not happy.
Along with his colleague Cihuaxoche, Masina was the other Imperial Intelligence operative assigned to provide "assistance" to the Golden Blade in their assault on Chuaztlapoc. He was, in actuality, an Imperial minder to keep the Blade on as tight a leash as possible.
Masina had failed in that task, and had heard about it in no uncertain terms from the Empress herself. Calhualyana was not happy. So Masina was made unhappy. And in return, he was about to make some terrorists very unhappy.
The doors at the back of the room finally opened, and three men walked through them. "Yes, Masina, what is it?" the man in the lead demanded.
"Altecal. Who told you to attack embassies and foreign properties like schools?"
Altecal shrugged as he removed the golden bandana from his forehead to wipe some sweat from his brow. "We don't need to be told who our enemies are. Or who to attack." Masina shook his head. "Actually, you do, as evidenced by your blatant stupidity. Your actions are almost guaranteed to invite foreign intervention now. Which is exactly what we told you to avoid. You were ordered to leave the foreigners alone."
Altecal glared at the intelligence agent, his face twisting in anger. "Maybe we're getting a little tired of taking orders from you. Your kind are the ones who lost the civil war for us in the first place. Here's my advice, Masina. Take your soft self back to Tlalacuetztla and hide while we do the real work of retaking this land for the Empire." Altecal placed his hand on the butt of his revolver, to emphasize his point. Masina saw this, and sighed slightly. Altecal smirked at his apparent victory, turning to walk out of the room.
The second his back was turned, Masina whipped out his own pistol and shot the terrorist leader in the back of the head. Altecal dropped like a sack of potatoes. The other terrorists in the room pointed their weapons at Masina. "Do it. I dare you," the Xiomeran snapped.
The fate of their leader fresh in their minds, the terrorists slowly lowered their guns. "Good. Cacuautoa, you're in charge now," Masina said as he pointed to another man in the room. "From now on, remember who you lot really take your orders from though. And no more attacks on foreigners. Or else. That's coming from the Empress herself."
Masina turned to walk out of the room himself, deliberately mimicking the actions of Altecal in another pointed dare to the Blade fighters. No one pulled out a weapon. As Masina walked outside, he sighed again. He really hoped that his use of Altecal as an object lesson to the other terrorists would stick. Because if there were any more attacks on foreigners, he would answer for it to the one person in Xiomera no one wanted to answer to.
---
In another part of Chuaztlapoc, Cihuaxoche smiled at Mindy and the other Filament Steel agents. "Chuzatlapoc could do with a little more chaos. I'm Cihuaxoche, Imperial Intelligence, but I am sure you already know that. So who might you be, and what did you have in mind?"
---
In yet another part of Chuaztlapoc, the leaders of Huenya were meeting to decide their next steps. "We've begun receiving the shipments from Haesan and Sanctaria, and they're already being put into use. We should soon be able to regain air superiority over the capital thanks to them. Soon, we can add air support to our operations against the Blade," Defense Secretary Tlanexchel said.
"How soon?" Xiadani asked.
"Within the next few days, ideally. Our pilots need to be brought up to speed on the new technology, but they're quick learners and know their way around a plane."
"Good. The next step will be to boost our forces on the ground. I want us to open up our armories to civilian volunteers. We need to put rifles in the hands of every man and woman old enough to point one at an enemy and shoot them. If Calhualyana is going to send 'volunteers' after us, we're going to return the favor," Xiadani said firmly.
Texōccoatl grimaced. "Arming untrained civilians and throwing them onto the streets is going to lead to massive casualties. We can't risk that."
"We can, and we will. And I'll tell you why." Xiadani stood up and walked over to a digital screen showing the current status of the battles around the capital, and Huenya as a whole. "Everyone keeps calling this an insurgency. It's not that at all. We've stumbled into a new civil war, ladies and gentlemen. It's the extremists or us. And if this is a civil war, I intend to win it. By any means necessary." Xiadani jabbed a finger at the map, pointing at Chuaztlapoc. "If Chuaztlapoc falls, Huenya falls. This nation will not survive the loss of confidence that would come with the loss of our capital. It just won't. Every Huenyan has to come to the defense of this city now. All of us. I'll pick up a rifle myself if I have to. But the time for half measures passed long ago. This is Calhualyana's big gamble, throwing the entire Golden Blade against us nationwide in one go. To match her, we have to throw everything we have right back at her. We all have to be prepared to sacrifice now. Whatever it takes."
General Huatli sighed. "She's right, we've got to give this everything we've got. Nothing else will save us now."
Texōccoatl shook his head. "I know. I am just dreading the losses we will take."
"No more so than I am," Xiadani said grimly. She thought about the next task she had after this meeting: signing condolence letters to families. Huenyans, Eirians, Acadians, Lauchenoirians, Aredoans and more. Xiadani insisted on signing every single one by hand, even when her advisors told her using an autopen would make the process easier. She wanted to remember the names, even if she had never gotten to meet the people behind those names.
Later that day, around the parts of the capital that the government controlled, Huenyan Army officers would begin opening up their armories and screening people who wanted to volunteer for the fight. The screening was thorough, to limit the impact of Golden Blade infiltrators causing havoc behind the lines. The numbers of vetted volunteers added up, slowly but surely. It was the beginning of the Huenyan Volunteer Self-Defense Force. Xiadani had gotten the idea from Milintica's Popular Freedom Militias, and created a Huenyan version without the ideology. Instead of the virtues of socialism, the Huenyan Volunteers would have only one ideology: defending their homeland against anyone and everyone trying to tear it apart.
---
As the meeting in Chuaztlapoc broke up, Xiadani was informed that Christine Belle was calling. She put the growing stack of condolence letters aside for later and picked up the phone. "Good morning, madam Prime Minister. This is Vice-Speaker Xiadani. How can I help you?"
---
Chamber of Whispers, Palace of Flowers
Tlālacuetztla
Later that day
"I have been informed that our agents in Chuaztlapoc have taken appropriate measures to ensure that there are no more Golden Blade attacks on foreigners in the country," Director of Imperial Intelligence Telchiuhtli said. "The rogue leader Altecal has been...retired and new leadership put in place."
"Good. I want the Blade kept under tighter control from now on." Calhualyana sipped her coffee, making a noise of appreciation at its quality. "But, I assume, we can now expect to see said foreigners interfering with our efforts in Huenya."
"That is my assessment," Telchiuhtli said soberly. "The Acadians and Lauchenoirians, in particular, are likely to be highly angered by the attacks on their embassies. This incident may finally motivate some kind of foreign response. Possibly even direct intervention."
"It already has," Prime Minister Toquihu snapped. "Haesan is sending arms to the Huenyans, and now Sanctaria is talking about doing the same and is helping Haesan do so. That could be a disaster."
"A signal needs to be sent. We should slap sanctions on both Haesan and Sanctaria for their presumptuous interference in our affairs." Cuicanan, the Minister of Justice, shook his head. "We can't let them get away with it."
"Oh, that's brilliant. Let's sanction two of the most important trading nations in the entire world, that won't end badly for us at all. That kind of advice is why you should stay in your lane and administer 'justice'," Toquauhtli snorted. The Minister of State slapped the table with his hand. "We should not respond at all."
"I would second that," Director Telchiuhtli replied. "If we respond at all, it will only prove that we are connected to the Golden Blade."
"I think you let that cat out of the bag ages ago, Telchiuhtli. Does anyone really believe we aren't connected to them anymore? Anywhere?" Cuicanan laughed. Telchiuhtli's face turned slightly red at the remark, and he muttered something about agreeing that someone should stay in their own lane.
Quihichua, the Minister of Loyalty, spoke up next. "Might I make a suggestion that doesn't make us appear impotent and weak by not responding, but that also doesn't connect us explicitly to the Blade? Just expel one diplomat each from Haesan and Sanctaria. Say that while we don't condone violence, we are doing so out of solidarity with the brave ethnic Xiomerans who are fighting to free themselves from the racist repression of the Huenyan state. That checks off enough boxes, I would think."
"That is a bad idea," the Minister of State replied. Calhualyana thought for a moment, taking another sip of coffee. "I disagree. Do as Quihichua has suggested, Toquauhtli. One from each. For the exact reasons she cited. It's not even a lie. The Haesanites and Sanctarians are helping Huenya fight against our kin, who it is solely our responsibility to protect."
Toquauhtli sighed slightly, but nodded. He knew better than to argue too much with Calhualyana.
"There is another matter, Empress," Telchiuhtli said. "We have received reports that the Huenyans are creating some kind of local self-defense force in Chuaztlapoc. Arming citizens to fight against our proxies. While they will be little more than unskilled peasants with guns, their numbers could pose a threat to our operation if allowed to grow."
Calhualyana nodded. "Instruct our Blade friends to take a special interest in these so-called volunteers and wherever they may be mustering. I want the Huenyans so scared of us that they don't even dream of picking up a weapon or raising a hand against us. Terror will be our friend now." Calhualyana finished the last of her coffee.
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