11-27-2023, 01:54 AM
Federal Intelligence Service HQ, Ixtenco
November 22nd
Two people walked slowly down a corridor, heading towards the lowest level of the detention center at FIS headquarters. They were there to see another person. It would not be a pleasant meeting for any of them.
Huatli and Tlalmaxxi were there on business.
When they arrived at the lowest floor's secure lobby entrance, the two guards present returned Huatli's nod and both simultaneously felt the need to take a coffee break. As they stepped out of the lobby, Huatli used her keycard to gain access to the detention cells. The two of them walked to the end of the hallway, with Tlalmaxxi nodding when they reached cell 125. Another quick tap of the keycard allowed the door to open.
Inside the room, a man sat handcuffed to a metal chair. He sighed when the two of them walked in. "I recognize both of you. I guess that your Federal Intelligence decided to send in the heavy hitters since they couldn't get anything out of me?"
"If you know who we are, you know your time is up. You are a Xiomeran agent. It's time for you to admit it, and to tell us what you know about the Imperial plans here in Huenya." Tlalmaxxi stood in front of the man, placing a small black bag on the floor. The bag was slightly dusty, as if it had been in storage for some time. It bore the logo of the old Xiomeran intelligence service, ASI. The man noticed this, and smirked. "Or what? You can't do anything to me and you know it. Huenya's kind and generous laws don't allow it." The man laughed, shaking his head. "That's why your FSI agents could get nothing from me. You won't either."
Tlalmaxxi simply stared at the man. "You're right. But let's just call this an unofficial visit. Other than the two guards, who Huatli knows, no one knows we're here with you. Even Cuetlancaona doesn't know," she said, naming the director of the FIS. "No one knows we're here, and no one is here to stop me." Tlalmaxxi calmly reached down and opened the black bag, rummaging around until she found a scalpel. She began rotating it slowly in her hand, still staring at the man. "It's been years since I was in ASI, but I think I still remember how to conduct a good old-fashioned ASI style interrogation. It's like a bicycle, you know. You never really forget how to do it, once you've learned."
As the man's confident expression wavered slightly, Tlalmaxxi looked over at Huatli, who smiled coldly. "Between a former ASI agent and a former Aurora, I think we can figure out how to make you talk. What do you think?" she asked the man.
He shook his head. "Huenya doesn't torture people. You won't really do - "
With a quick jerk, Tlalmaxxi removed the cap from the scalpel in her hand. The scalpel slammed down, and the man screamed. "Oh, you must understand," Tlalmaxxi said to his shocked face. "There are some of us who will do anything to protect Huenya. To protect our families, our friends and loved ones, and everyone and everything we care about. Everything we believe in. Some of us will do....literally anything."
Huatli's expression grew colder, as she stared at the man wriggling like a live butterfly pinned to a card. "So, let's not waste any more time. Let's start with your name and your position in Imperial Intelligence," Tlalmaxxi said. She reached into her bag again, pulling out three more scalpels that she fanned out in her fingers like a hand of cards. "You don't want to see what I can do with the rest of these."
An hour later, Huatli and Tlalmaxxi left the cell. The two guards nodded to them again. One of them was toting a first aid kit. They went into the cell, as the two women left. They had the information that the new President, Xiadani, had wanted.
---
One hour later, Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
President Xiadani waited as the video call was placed. She was very, very eager to have this particular conversation.
After a long pause, no doubt partly caused due to surprise on the other end of the line, the video link was made. Empress Calhualyana was sitting in her well-appointed office. She placed a delicate china cup on the desk, leaning back in her chair slightly. "President Xiadani, I must admit this is an unexpected call. Congratulations on your new job title."
"Thank you. Congratulations on your efforts to destabilize and tear apart Huenya. Oh, dear. Those didn't go entirely to plan, did they?" Xiadani replied tartly.
So, it's going to be that kind of conversation, Calhualyana thought with amusement. "Of course, I have no idea what you're talking about. But that tends to be the case with Necatli. It's quite hard to understand such emotional and undisciplined temperaments, from our perspective. Perhaps you could explain why you're making this call. I am quite busy, you know."
"Oh, I know how busy you've been," Xiadani snarled. "My entire country bears the scars of your whirlwind of activity. But things have changed. Now we have proof. We just captured and identified an agent of Imperial Intelligence who has been operating in our country assisting the Golden Blade. Masina, a Special Operative I with Imperial Intelligence, to be precise. I am sure you can look him up."
Calhualyana eyed Xiadani for a long time. "And?"
Xiadani was briefly nonplussed. "This means we can and will expose you to the world. I know you are quite shameless, but you can't tell me that doesn't concern you."
And then Calhualyana laughed. "The world? Do you really think they don't already know? Do you think they care about you, or your fantasy land known as Huenya? Wouldn't they have done something by now if they did? Really, madam President, if this was your trump card, you really need to learn how to play the game."
Xiadani shook her head. "You're wrong. The world does care. They are already showing it. How's your relationship with Haesan these days? Or the Acadians? Or the Eirians and the Lauchenoirians? Do you really feel as comfortable as you claim, with even the Sanctarians putting a base in Huenya and looking over your shoulder?"
"Did the Sanctarians come rushing to your rescue when the insurgency almost toppled your government? Did anyone else? You are naive and young and foolish. No one will care enough to risk their own skins to rescue you. Go ahead and 'expose us.' No one cares." Calhualyana smiled condescendingly.
"It was my intention to offer this Masina in exchange for Huenyan prisoners, and for a cease-fire with the terrorists. Something tells me that if anyone is uncaring, however, it is you. About even your own people," Xiadani replied.
Calhualyana laughed softly again. "Unlike yours, our people are prepared to sacrifice their lives if need be in the service of the Empire. Again, your bargaining chip is a dud, Xiadani. But please, do keep trying to play it. I do find it...amusing."
Xiadani's eyes smouldered in response. "You think you know Huenyans, but you have no idea. You just threw everything you could think of at us. You killed a good man, Tiacihitli. You turned brothers against brothers, friends against friends, and neighbors against neighbors. You sent in your filthy mercenaries, blood still fresh on their hands from Auria. None of it worked, did it? Huenya stood up to it all. We're defeating this insurgency that you started as we speak. And I am here to tell you, once we defeat these terrorists, that you're to keep your hands off Huenya. Or else."
"Or else...what?" Calhualyana was genuinely curious.
"Or else if you ever threaten to topple Huenya again, I'll shove a nuke so far down your throat you'll be shitting uranium. That is, before you spontaneously combust."
Calhualyana sat bolt upright in her chair. "You would be well-advised to watch such threats, madam President," she said coldly. "We have nuclear weapons as well."
"And?" Xiadani said, mocking Calhualyana's earlier response. "If Huenya goes down because of you, we're taking you with us. Did you really think your plan to take out our nuclear sites would work?" Xiadani smiled at the sudden surprise in Calhualyana's eyes. "Yeah, your agent was nicely forthcoming with information. We have forty nuclear missiles at our disposal. And if even one gets through to your capital, that's the end of the glorious Xiomeran Empire. All we need is one. Just remember that, Empress. And remember this: if I am as typically crazy as you think all Necatli are...maybe you shouldn't mess with me. Or my country."
Calhualyana's eyes narrowed. After a moment, she slammed her fist on the desk to end the call.
Xiadani sighed after the call ended. Would the bluff work?
For her part, Calhualyana was feeling an emotion she rarely felt: fear. If that woman is as crazy as she acts...
After a moment, the Empress pressed another button to speak with her assistant. "Summon a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet at once. We need to have a discussion."
November 22nd
Two people walked slowly down a corridor, heading towards the lowest level of the detention center at FIS headquarters. They were there to see another person. It would not be a pleasant meeting for any of them.
Huatli and Tlalmaxxi were there on business.
When they arrived at the lowest floor's secure lobby entrance, the two guards present returned Huatli's nod and both simultaneously felt the need to take a coffee break. As they stepped out of the lobby, Huatli used her keycard to gain access to the detention cells. The two of them walked to the end of the hallway, with Tlalmaxxi nodding when they reached cell 125. Another quick tap of the keycard allowed the door to open.
Inside the room, a man sat handcuffed to a metal chair. He sighed when the two of them walked in. "I recognize both of you. I guess that your Federal Intelligence decided to send in the heavy hitters since they couldn't get anything out of me?"
"If you know who we are, you know your time is up. You are a Xiomeran agent. It's time for you to admit it, and to tell us what you know about the Imperial plans here in Huenya." Tlalmaxxi stood in front of the man, placing a small black bag on the floor. The bag was slightly dusty, as if it had been in storage for some time. It bore the logo of the old Xiomeran intelligence service, ASI. The man noticed this, and smirked. "Or what? You can't do anything to me and you know it. Huenya's kind and generous laws don't allow it." The man laughed, shaking his head. "That's why your FSI agents could get nothing from me. You won't either."
Tlalmaxxi simply stared at the man. "You're right. But let's just call this an unofficial visit. Other than the two guards, who Huatli knows, no one knows we're here with you. Even Cuetlancaona doesn't know," she said, naming the director of the FIS. "No one knows we're here, and no one is here to stop me." Tlalmaxxi calmly reached down and opened the black bag, rummaging around until she found a scalpel. She began rotating it slowly in her hand, still staring at the man. "It's been years since I was in ASI, but I think I still remember how to conduct a good old-fashioned ASI style interrogation. It's like a bicycle, you know. You never really forget how to do it, once you've learned."
As the man's confident expression wavered slightly, Tlalmaxxi looked over at Huatli, who smiled coldly. "Between a former ASI agent and a former Aurora, I think we can figure out how to make you talk. What do you think?" she asked the man.
He shook his head. "Huenya doesn't torture people. You won't really do - "
With a quick jerk, Tlalmaxxi removed the cap from the scalpel in her hand. The scalpel slammed down, and the man screamed. "Oh, you must understand," Tlalmaxxi said to his shocked face. "There are some of us who will do anything to protect Huenya. To protect our families, our friends and loved ones, and everyone and everything we care about. Everything we believe in. Some of us will do....literally anything."
Huatli's expression grew colder, as she stared at the man wriggling like a live butterfly pinned to a card. "So, let's not waste any more time. Let's start with your name and your position in Imperial Intelligence," Tlalmaxxi said. She reached into her bag again, pulling out three more scalpels that she fanned out in her fingers like a hand of cards. "You don't want to see what I can do with the rest of these."
An hour later, Huatli and Tlalmaxxi left the cell. The two guards nodded to them again. One of them was toting a first aid kit. They went into the cell, as the two women left. They had the information that the new President, Xiadani, had wanted.
---
One hour later, Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
President Xiadani waited as the video call was placed. She was very, very eager to have this particular conversation.
After a long pause, no doubt partly caused due to surprise on the other end of the line, the video link was made. Empress Calhualyana was sitting in her well-appointed office. She placed a delicate china cup on the desk, leaning back in her chair slightly. "President Xiadani, I must admit this is an unexpected call. Congratulations on your new job title."
"Thank you. Congratulations on your efforts to destabilize and tear apart Huenya. Oh, dear. Those didn't go entirely to plan, did they?" Xiadani replied tartly.
So, it's going to be that kind of conversation, Calhualyana thought with amusement. "Of course, I have no idea what you're talking about. But that tends to be the case with Necatli. It's quite hard to understand such emotional and undisciplined temperaments, from our perspective. Perhaps you could explain why you're making this call. I am quite busy, you know."
"Oh, I know how busy you've been," Xiadani snarled. "My entire country bears the scars of your whirlwind of activity. But things have changed. Now we have proof. We just captured and identified an agent of Imperial Intelligence who has been operating in our country assisting the Golden Blade. Masina, a Special Operative I with Imperial Intelligence, to be precise. I am sure you can look him up."
Calhualyana eyed Xiadani for a long time. "And?"
Xiadani was briefly nonplussed. "This means we can and will expose you to the world. I know you are quite shameless, but you can't tell me that doesn't concern you."
And then Calhualyana laughed. "The world? Do you really think they don't already know? Do you think they care about you, or your fantasy land known as Huenya? Wouldn't they have done something by now if they did? Really, madam President, if this was your trump card, you really need to learn how to play the game."
Xiadani shook her head. "You're wrong. The world does care. They are already showing it. How's your relationship with Haesan these days? Or the Acadians? Or the Eirians and the Lauchenoirians? Do you really feel as comfortable as you claim, with even the Sanctarians putting a base in Huenya and looking over your shoulder?"
"Did the Sanctarians come rushing to your rescue when the insurgency almost toppled your government? Did anyone else? You are naive and young and foolish. No one will care enough to risk their own skins to rescue you. Go ahead and 'expose us.' No one cares." Calhualyana smiled condescendingly.
"It was my intention to offer this Masina in exchange for Huenyan prisoners, and for a cease-fire with the terrorists. Something tells me that if anyone is uncaring, however, it is you. About even your own people," Xiadani replied.
Calhualyana laughed softly again. "Unlike yours, our people are prepared to sacrifice their lives if need be in the service of the Empire. Again, your bargaining chip is a dud, Xiadani. But please, do keep trying to play it. I do find it...amusing."
Xiadani's eyes smouldered in response. "You think you know Huenyans, but you have no idea. You just threw everything you could think of at us. You killed a good man, Tiacihitli. You turned brothers against brothers, friends against friends, and neighbors against neighbors. You sent in your filthy mercenaries, blood still fresh on their hands from Auria. None of it worked, did it? Huenya stood up to it all. We're defeating this insurgency that you started as we speak. And I am here to tell you, once we defeat these terrorists, that you're to keep your hands off Huenya. Or else."
"Or else...what?" Calhualyana was genuinely curious.
"Or else if you ever threaten to topple Huenya again, I'll shove a nuke so far down your throat you'll be shitting uranium. That is, before you spontaneously combust."
Calhualyana sat bolt upright in her chair. "You would be well-advised to watch such threats, madam President," she said coldly. "We have nuclear weapons as well."
"And?" Xiadani said, mocking Calhualyana's earlier response. "If Huenya goes down because of you, we're taking you with us. Did you really think your plan to take out our nuclear sites would work?" Xiadani smiled at the sudden surprise in Calhualyana's eyes. "Yeah, your agent was nicely forthcoming with information. We have forty nuclear missiles at our disposal. And if even one gets through to your capital, that's the end of the glorious Xiomeran Empire. All we need is one. Just remember that, Empress. And remember this: if I am as typically crazy as you think all Necatli are...maybe you shouldn't mess with me. Or my country."
Calhualyana's eyes narrowed. After a moment, she slammed her fist on the desk to end the call.
Xiadani sighed after the call ended. Would the bluff work?
For her part, Calhualyana was feeling an emotion she rarely felt: fear. If that woman is as crazy as she acts...
After a moment, the Empress pressed another button to speak with her assistant. "Summon a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet at once. We need to have a discussion."
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