04-11-2025, 07:13 AM
Huānoch, Milintica
Haven House
The sounds of things breaking echoed through the halls outside the office of President Neina Arana. Iaka Hamuera winced at the noise. The Popular Freedom Militias commander sat down in a nearby chair, her expression pensive.
Next to her, Red Wave Guards commander Maro Arepata kept his face impassive as he stood in a firmly upright pose. Unlike Hamuera, he understood and shared Arana’s anger.
Police Commissioner Huaxō of the National Police, like Hamuera, couldn’t help but cringe slightly as the smashing sounds continued. Neina Arana had never been a calm or stable person, but this display of fury was unnerving even to someone like him who had been close to her since she had begun to take power.
Intelligence Director Ngaire Arepata, Maro’s brother, had an impassive expression on his own face as he waited with the others. For him, losing his nerve was a useless thing to do. Arana would punish whoever she felt was responsible for the current dilemma she was facing; what was the point in fearing what you couldn’t prevent?
In a separate but nearby huddle of their own, the leaders of Milintica’s military murmured to each other in low voices. General Teyanolli, General Xococatl and Admiral Anaru Aperahama weren’t sure why they were there. The security lapse hadn’t occurred under them. But they had been summoned like the others, so they waited as well.
Eventually (after what seemed like a very long time), the noise from the presidential office subsided. The door swung slowly open. Ahi Kaiata, Arana’s personal bodyguard, gestured for them all to enter with an abrupt swing of his hand. When they walked in, they quickly discovered what the breaking sounds had been. Every single chair in the office, with the exception of the President’s own, had been either kicked or thrown into piles of fabric and wood. Behind her large and ornate desk, Neina Arana sat, panting slightly and a bit disheveled. The inner circle of Milintica’s security structure stood in a row in front of the desk, looking for all the world like schoolchildren called in front of the principal.
The President glared at them. “I am not even going to ask who is responsible for letting that traitor Tahana get out of the country. We will punish their incompetence later. First, we need to determine what she knows and what she could tell the Huenyans.”
Ngaire Arepata coughed slightly. “From what Hauraki told us, she has a substantial amount of information about the election, and the PEC’s role in delivering us victory. Vote records, internal communications, even copies of emails and messages between Hauraki and others.” He sighed as he pondered just how much PEC Chairman Wera Hauraki had warned him about. “We can only conclude that Tahana got out with enough information to reveal, well….everything.”
Arana stared at him silently for a full minute, as he and everyone else in the room sweated. “Well,” she said finally. “We will naturally deny everything. We will say Huenyan intelligence paid Tahana off, that they fabricated all this ‘evidence’ with her. We will say that Xiadani and Huenya, and probably the other UCS states, are engineering a fake story to remove me and put their favorite Matōchmizalo back in power.” Arana paused again. “And, if the rest of the world doesn’t like that story, well, too damn bad. We’re in power now, either way, and they can deal with it.”
“What about our domestic population? There are still a lot of former MPP supporters out there who have never accepted the change in power. They will seize on this to cause more unrest,” Ngaire Arepata said.
“That’s why the rest of you are here.” Arana eyed the others one by one. “You control the police, the military, and the militias. You’ve kept them on my side up to now, and kept the opposition squashed as they deserve. You will continue to do so. Not just for my sake - if I fall, we all fall. For your own necks as much as mine, you better keep everyone in line.”
“Do we have your permission to do whatever it takes to do so?” Maro Arepata asked with a small smile on his face. “You have my order to do so,” Arana replied coldly. “That includes tying up loose ends. While certain individuals were vital to our rise to power, and earned our gratitude, they are also now a liability. That needs to be addressed. For the good of our revolution. I trust you know what to do, Maro.” Arepata nodded firmly, eyes lit with fervor. “As for other loose ends…Tahana may think she is safe in Huenya. I trust that NDIP will make sure she is not.” Ngaire Arepata nodded at the President.
“You are all here for another reason,” Arana said. “Given these unfortunate revelations, we shall need a distraction to unite our people behind us and put this story out of the headlines. It just so happens that we have the perfect opportunity for that. Aoatea.”
At the mention of the islands that were disputed between Milintica and Xiomera, the three military commanders in the room tensed up. “Aoatea, madam President?” General Teyanolli asked finally.
“Exactly, General. I feel that it’s time for us to nudge the Xiomerans to finally move on and let us reclaim our territory. The Xiomerans are stretched thin militarily, especially now that they are getting bogged down in Taragai. They won’t want to start yet another conflict, especially over a small set of islands that are peripheral to them. If we begin putting pressure on them at Aoatea, they may well decide to save face and strike a deal with us.”
General Teyanolli’s expression congealed. “Madam President, I don’t know that we have enough military force available to ‘nudge’ the Xiomerans, even with how burdened their military is lately.” It would be like a mouse trying to nudge an elephant to move, Teyanolli thought privately. He didn’t dare say that, though.
“We don’t actually have to fight the Xiomerans,” Arana said impatiently. “We just need to make them think we’ll fight. They’ll cave. Calhualyana caved in Auria, and in Huenya. She’s not as scary or tough as she wants everyone to think she is. She will cave again,” Arana finished confidently. “I want you to begin drawing up plans to probe the Xiomerans’ perimeter around Aoatea with naval and air sorties. Nationalism and war always unite a country and people. We can use that to unite Milinticans around our government and put an end to the opposition once and for all, and for little risk. The Xiomerans will give in. They have little choice, with their armies scattered around the world and the UCS staring them in the face at home. At least the UCS will finally prove good for something, if it keeps the Xiomerans penned in,” Arana snorted.
The military commanders exchanged glances, before Teyanolli turned back to Arana. “We will begin drawing up plans, madam President,” he said finally.
—
Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
Chuaztlapoc
President Xiadani sat at her desk in the presidential residence, poring over some notes, when the knock came. She had been expecting it. “Enter, please,” she said.
The door opened and her assistant Moquihui peered inside. “Your 10:00 am appointment is here, madam President,” he said. Xiadani smiled and gestured for Moquihui to show them in.
Mikaere Tahana walked in, a smile crossing her own face as she shook the President’s hand. “Madam President, thank you for seeing me,” she said.
“I am honored to do so,” Xiadani replied. “You came a long way to be here, after all. From what I understand, it was not a pleasant journey.”
“Indeed not,” Tahana replied with a grimace. “I had to avoid the National Police, not to mention Arana’s Red Wave Guards. It was….challenging.”
The President nodded. “Well, you need not fear that now. While we haven’t announced it yet, I have instructed the State Department to ensure that your asylum request is approved. The Huenyan Federation will provide you a safe haven until things in Milintica can be fixed.”
“I am grateful for that, madam President,” Tahana said. “But I would be cautious. For your own safety too, not just where mine is concerned. Neina Arana is violent, and frankly a little unhinged. I would not be surprised if she sends knives in the shadows against her opponents here.”
“If she tries it, I’ll send them back to Milintica in body bags,” Xiadani said flatly. Tahana noted Xiadani’s determined expression, and reminded herself that this was the same leader who had fought off terrorists in her own capital and defied Empress Calhualyana. Xiadani’s promise made her feel oddly reassured.
“I just have one question.” Xiadani’s gaze bored into Tahana. “Is it true? Did she steal the election?”
“It is, and she did. And I can prove it,” Tahana replied calmly.
Xiadani grinned. “Then Federal Intelligence and my government will help you prove it.” She looked up as Moquihui came back in with a coffee service. “Let’s have a bit of refreshment, and then we can discuss how.”
Haven House
The sounds of things breaking echoed through the halls outside the office of President Neina Arana. Iaka Hamuera winced at the noise. The Popular Freedom Militias commander sat down in a nearby chair, her expression pensive.
Next to her, Red Wave Guards commander Maro Arepata kept his face impassive as he stood in a firmly upright pose. Unlike Hamuera, he understood and shared Arana’s anger.
Police Commissioner Huaxō of the National Police, like Hamuera, couldn’t help but cringe slightly as the smashing sounds continued. Neina Arana had never been a calm or stable person, but this display of fury was unnerving even to someone like him who had been close to her since she had begun to take power.
Intelligence Director Ngaire Arepata, Maro’s brother, had an impassive expression on his own face as he waited with the others. For him, losing his nerve was a useless thing to do. Arana would punish whoever she felt was responsible for the current dilemma she was facing; what was the point in fearing what you couldn’t prevent?
In a separate but nearby huddle of their own, the leaders of Milintica’s military murmured to each other in low voices. General Teyanolli, General Xococatl and Admiral Anaru Aperahama weren’t sure why they were there. The security lapse hadn’t occurred under them. But they had been summoned like the others, so they waited as well.
Eventually (after what seemed like a very long time), the noise from the presidential office subsided. The door swung slowly open. Ahi Kaiata, Arana’s personal bodyguard, gestured for them all to enter with an abrupt swing of his hand. When they walked in, they quickly discovered what the breaking sounds had been. Every single chair in the office, with the exception of the President’s own, had been either kicked or thrown into piles of fabric and wood. Behind her large and ornate desk, Neina Arana sat, panting slightly and a bit disheveled. The inner circle of Milintica’s security structure stood in a row in front of the desk, looking for all the world like schoolchildren called in front of the principal.
The President glared at them. “I am not even going to ask who is responsible for letting that traitor Tahana get out of the country. We will punish their incompetence later. First, we need to determine what she knows and what she could tell the Huenyans.”
Ngaire Arepata coughed slightly. “From what Hauraki told us, she has a substantial amount of information about the election, and the PEC’s role in delivering us victory. Vote records, internal communications, even copies of emails and messages between Hauraki and others.” He sighed as he pondered just how much PEC Chairman Wera Hauraki had warned him about. “We can only conclude that Tahana got out with enough information to reveal, well….everything.”
Arana stared at him silently for a full minute, as he and everyone else in the room sweated. “Well,” she said finally. “We will naturally deny everything. We will say Huenyan intelligence paid Tahana off, that they fabricated all this ‘evidence’ with her. We will say that Xiadani and Huenya, and probably the other UCS states, are engineering a fake story to remove me and put their favorite Matōchmizalo back in power.” Arana paused again. “And, if the rest of the world doesn’t like that story, well, too damn bad. We’re in power now, either way, and they can deal with it.”
“What about our domestic population? There are still a lot of former MPP supporters out there who have never accepted the change in power. They will seize on this to cause more unrest,” Ngaire Arepata said.
“That’s why the rest of you are here.” Arana eyed the others one by one. “You control the police, the military, and the militias. You’ve kept them on my side up to now, and kept the opposition squashed as they deserve. You will continue to do so. Not just for my sake - if I fall, we all fall. For your own necks as much as mine, you better keep everyone in line.”
“Do we have your permission to do whatever it takes to do so?” Maro Arepata asked with a small smile on his face. “You have my order to do so,” Arana replied coldly. “That includes tying up loose ends. While certain individuals were vital to our rise to power, and earned our gratitude, they are also now a liability. That needs to be addressed. For the good of our revolution. I trust you know what to do, Maro.” Arepata nodded firmly, eyes lit with fervor. “As for other loose ends…Tahana may think she is safe in Huenya. I trust that NDIP will make sure she is not.” Ngaire Arepata nodded at the President.
“You are all here for another reason,” Arana said. “Given these unfortunate revelations, we shall need a distraction to unite our people behind us and put this story out of the headlines. It just so happens that we have the perfect opportunity for that. Aoatea.”
At the mention of the islands that were disputed between Milintica and Xiomera, the three military commanders in the room tensed up. “Aoatea, madam President?” General Teyanolli asked finally.
“Exactly, General. I feel that it’s time for us to nudge the Xiomerans to finally move on and let us reclaim our territory. The Xiomerans are stretched thin militarily, especially now that they are getting bogged down in Taragai. They won’t want to start yet another conflict, especially over a small set of islands that are peripheral to them. If we begin putting pressure on them at Aoatea, they may well decide to save face and strike a deal with us.”
General Teyanolli’s expression congealed. “Madam President, I don’t know that we have enough military force available to ‘nudge’ the Xiomerans, even with how burdened their military is lately.” It would be like a mouse trying to nudge an elephant to move, Teyanolli thought privately. He didn’t dare say that, though.
“We don’t actually have to fight the Xiomerans,” Arana said impatiently. “We just need to make them think we’ll fight. They’ll cave. Calhualyana caved in Auria, and in Huenya. She’s not as scary or tough as she wants everyone to think she is. She will cave again,” Arana finished confidently. “I want you to begin drawing up plans to probe the Xiomerans’ perimeter around Aoatea with naval and air sorties. Nationalism and war always unite a country and people. We can use that to unite Milinticans around our government and put an end to the opposition once and for all, and for little risk. The Xiomerans will give in. They have little choice, with their armies scattered around the world and the UCS staring them in the face at home. At least the UCS will finally prove good for something, if it keeps the Xiomerans penned in,” Arana snorted.
The military commanders exchanged glances, before Teyanolli turned back to Arana. “We will begin drawing up plans, madam President,” he said finally.
—
Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
Chuaztlapoc
President Xiadani sat at her desk in the presidential residence, poring over some notes, when the knock came. She had been expecting it. “Enter, please,” she said.
The door opened and her assistant Moquihui peered inside. “Your 10:00 am appointment is here, madam President,” he said. Xiadani smiled and gestured for Moquihui to show them in.
Mikaere Tahana walked in, a smile crossing her own face as she shook the President’s hand. “Madam President, thank you for seeing me,” she said.
“I am honored to do so,” Xiadani replied. “You came a long way to be here, after all. From what I understand, it was not a pleasant journey.”
“Indeed not,” Tahana replied with a grimace. “I had to avoid the National Police, not to mention Arana’s Red Wave Guards. It was….challenging.”
The President nodded. “Well, you need not fear that now. While we haven’t announced it yet, I have instructed the State Department to ensure that your asylum request is approved. The Huenyan Federation will provide you a safe haven until things in Milintica can be fixed.”
“I am grateful for that, madam President,” Tahana said. “But I would be cautious. For your own safety too, not just where mine is concerned. Neina Arana is violent, and frankly a little unhinged. I would not be surprised if she sends knives in the shadows against her opponents here.”
“If she tries it, I’ll send them back to Milintica in body bags,” Xiadani said flatly. Tahana noted Xiadani’s determined expression, and reminded herself that this was the same leader who had fought off terrorists in her own capital and defied Empress Calhualyana. Xiadani’s promise made her feel oddly reassured.
“I just have one question.” Xiadani’s gaze bored into Tahana. “Is it true? Did she steal the election?”
“It is, and she did. And I can prove it,” Tahana replied calmly.
Xiadani grinned. “Then Federal Intelligence and my government will help you prove it.” She looked up as Moquihui came back in with a coffee service. “Let’s have a bit of refreshment, and then we can discuss how.”
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