02-21-2024, 04:46 AM
Outside Juraceda, Northern Auria
“Let's gather the rest of the boxes over here, against the wall.”
Alain Bonnet pointed at a small cluster of boxes in the corner of the barn, causing a few of his subordinates to gingerly put down the heavy wooden crates they were carrying at that location. Luckily for them, the hay on the barn's dusty floor provided some cushion, making their jobs easier. The UAC members began walking back towards the nearby farmhouse, leaving Bonnet to inspect the growing pile of crates in the corner. With a careful lift of a lid, he peered inside the nearest crate, examining the stacked pistols inside. Xiomeran-made pieces of shit. I don't know why we ever considered using such cursed things.
“Having second thoughts, Alain?”
A tall man stood at the barn door, his red armband sticking out against his dark and dirty clothes.
Bonnet resisted the urge to sneer, adopting an almost-joking smile instead. “You'd like that, wouldn't you, Gervej?”
The UAC officer jutted his chin out slightly. “There is still time, Kura.” The title sounded more like an insult than a courtesy. “Bring the council in here and announce that you changed your mind. They can take care of the rest. Please, you need to act before the horde arrives in town.” He gestured at the pile of crates. “Or, at least, hide some of the weapons. You are castrating us. You are dooming us and the nation to the same torture that we've suffered for decades.”
Bonnet raised an eyebrow, meeting Gervej’s tough gaze. “You know, begging doesn't really look good on you, my friend.” He wrung his hands. “And this deal saves us from the wrath of thousands of angry Lauchenoirian capitalists and others who would see us crushed at the first chance that they could. The Commune now has a future instead of a death sentence.”
“You have written our death warrants!” The taller man stormed towards Bonnet, getting right in his face. “You think the pigs in power are just going to let us have legitimacy in government? They will kill us while we are weak, and make sure no one even remembers what we stood for. You are a traitor, and you have doomed us all.”
Bonnet stood his ground, only looking down to wipe a bit of Gervej’s spit off of his shirt. “I am no traitor. After all, the Council agrees with me, not you. This deal saves us from the crushing fist of the rich and gives us a voice to speak to the Aurian people with. This deal gives us a chance, something we have never had before.” He walked around the Lieutenant, turning back once he reached the barn door. “We wouldn't have needed this deal if you would've just listened to me, you know. But no, you convinced them to make a big stand. And then, cooperate with that disgusting bastard Michelin. Don't get angry at us for trying to fix your mistakes, Gervej.” The Chairman of the UAC turned his back on his colleague, walking towards the farmhouse without another word.
—
Lumiere, Auria
Prime Minister Jaques Arquette sat behind his ornate desk, reading the most recent intelligence briefing from the northern front. The corners of his mouth slowly crept up in a smile as he read the report. Bonnet isn't as suicidal as I expected. The Aurian head of government had expected more of a pushback from the UAC on the terms of the deal, so when Bonnet accepted the first offer without question, Arquette was very suspicious. Still, coalition soldiers verified that the communist militia was actively disassembling their defenses around Juraceda and turning over their weapons and ammunition. At least Bonnet is a man of his word.
A knock at the door caused the Prime Minister to look up. “Come in,” he said, taking off his reading glasses.
One of his staffers, a young woman named Elena, peeked her head through the door. “Mister Prime Minister? Her Majesty wants to schedule a meeting as soon as possible.” She stepped into the office, closing the door quietly behind her. “It wasn't her chief of staff calling. It was her, herself. And she sounded… Well, I don't think she intends to have a civil meeting.”
Arquette nodded, setting the intelligence folder back on the table. “I knew she would call. Thank you, Elena. I'm sorry if she yelled at you or said anything hurtful.” He stood, tying his vidukjost tightly. “As for a meeting, I'm afraid that we will be very busy in the coming weeks, as we need to put together two conventions and schedule elections in every municipality in the country. Not to mention that we are still in the process of restoring essential utilities and services to much of the country. So no, I sadly do not have time to meet with her. If she calls back, please tell her that in no uncertain terms.”
“Of course, Mister Prime Minister. Is there anything else that you need?”
“No, thank you.” As Elena turned towards the door, Arquette spoke up again. “Actually, I need the phone numbers of any regional election officers who are in the nation and not implicated in any collusion or treason cases, please.”
Elena looked confused. “All of them, sir?”
“As many as you can find.” Arquette sighed. “After that mob of traitors stormed this house, our country was set on a new course. Nothing will be the same now. And I have a feeling that there will be some changes made to our electoral system at these two conventions. So, we have to plan an election that we don't know the exact details of, because if we don't, we'll face a potential communist revolution.” At that revelation, the Prime Minister sat back down again. “Let's get to work, shall we?”
“Let's gather the rest of the boxes over here, against the wall.”
Alain Bonnet pointed at a small cluster of boxes in the corner of the barn, causing a few of his subordinates to gingerly put down the heavy wooden crates they were carrying at that location. Luckily for them, the hay on the barn's dusty floor provided some cushion, making their jobs easier. The UAC members began walking back towards the nearby farmhouse, leaving Bonnet to inspect the growing pile of crates in the corner. With a careful lift of a lid, he peered inside the nearest crate, examining the stacked pistols inside. Xiomeran-made pieces of shit. I don't know why we ever considered using such cursed things.
“Having second thoughts, Alain?”
A tall man stood at the barn door, his red armband sticking out against his dark and dirty clothes.
Bonnet resisted the urge to sneer, adopting an almost-joking smile instead. “You'd like that, wouldn't you, Gervej?”
The UAC officer jutted his chin out slightly. “There is still time, Kura.” The title sounded more like an insult than a courtesy. “Bring the council in here and announce that you changed your mind. They can take care of the rest. Please, you need to act before the horde arrives in town.” He gestured at the pile of crates. “Or, at least, hide some of the weapons. You are castrating us. You are dooming us and the nation to the same torture that we've suffered for decades.”
Bonnet raised an eyebrow, meeting Gervej’s tough gaze. “You know, begging doesn't really look good on you, my friend.” He wrung his hands. “And this deal saves us from the wrath of thousands of angry Lauchenoirian capitalists and others who would see us crushed at the first chance that they could. The Commune now has a future instead of a death sentence.”
“You have written our death warrants!” The taller man stormed towards Bonnet, getting right in his face. “You think the pigs in power are just going to let us have legitimacy in government? They will kill us while we are weak, and make sure no one even remembers what we stood for. You are a traitor, and you have doomed us all.”
Bonnet stood his ground, only looking down to wipe a bit of Gervej’s spit off of his shirt. “I am no traitor. After all, the Council agrees with me, not you. This deal saves us from the crushing fist of the rich and gives us a voice to speak to the Aurian people with. This deal gives us a chance, something we have never had before.” He walked around the Lieutenant, turning back once he reached the barn door. “We wouldn't have needed this deal if you would've just listened to me, you know. But no, you convinced them to make a big stand. And then, cooperate with that disgusting bastard Michelin. Don't get angry at us for trying to fix your mistakes, Gervej.” The Chairman of the UAC turned his back on his colleague, walking towards the farmhouse without another word.
—
Lumiere, Auria
Prime Minister Jaques Arquette sat behind his ornate desk, reading the most recent intelligence briefing from the northern front. The corners of his mouth slowly crept up in a smile as he read the report. Bonnet isn't as suicidal as I expected. The Aurian head of government had expected more of a pushback from the UAC on the terms of the deal, so when Bonnet accepted the first offer without question, Arquette was very suspicious. Still, coalition soldiers verified that the communist militia was actively disassembling their defenses around Juraceda and turning over their weapons and ammunition. At least Bonnet is a man of his word.
A knock at the door caused the Prime Minister to look up. “Come in,” he said, taking off his reading glasses.
One of his staffers, a young woman named Elena, peeked her head through the door. “Mister Prime Minister? Her Majesty wants to schedule a meeting as soon as possible.” She stepped into the office, closing the door quietly behind her. “It wasn't her chief of staff calling. It was her, herself. And she sounded… Well, I don't think she intends to have a civil meeting.”
Arquette nodded, setting the intelligence folder back on the table. “I knew she would call. Thank you, Elena. I'm sorry if she yelled at you or said anything hurtful.” He stood, tying his vidukjost tightly. “As for a meeting, I'm afraid that we will be very busy in the coming weeks, as we need to put together two conventions and schedule elections in every municipality in the country. Not to mention that we are still in the process of restoring essential utilities and services to much of the country. So no, I sadly do not have time to meet with her. If she calls back, please tell her that in no uncertain terms.”
“Of course, Mister Prime Minister. Is there anything else that you need?”
“No, thank you.” As Elena turned towards the door, Arquette spoke up again. “Actually, I need the phone numbers of any regional election officers who are in the nation and not implicated in any collusion or treason cases, please.”
Elena looked confused. “All of them, sir?”
“As many as you can find.” Arquette sighed. “After that mob of traitors stormed this house, our country was set on a new course. Nothing will be the same now. And I have a feeling that there will be some changes made to our electoral system at these two conventions. So, we have to plan an election that we don't know the exact details of, because if we don't, we'll face a potential communist revolution.” At that revelation, the Prime Minister sat back down again. “Let's get to work, shall we?”
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