08-01-2025, 08:47 PM
The beautiful countryside of Santamarina Township spread out from Sean Khan's front porch. It had been under the same sky in which a young Simiran Jopuri Khan had arrived 50 years ago. He wasn't even with his biological family, having lost them in the chaos of a refugee camp when he was 8 years old. He had taken on the name Sean as his birth records had been destroyed, and as he began life in a new country, he longed to reach beyond those mountains and simply fly home. Now Sean Khan couldn't dream of leaving.
He wasn't alone on this hot summer's day. Like many people, Joshua Lesmondo had gone on a summer excursion to the mountains. Although unlike Khan, he couldn't stay away for long. Lesmondo was the Internal Affairs minister, a catch-all job which oversaw criminal investigations, judicial affairs, tax processing, and business licenses. Not exciting work at all, but an unofficial advisory to the Prime Minister. Depending on how you looked at it, Lesmondo was the 4th or 3rd most important politician in Slokais. Lesmondo had succeeded Khan more than a year prior, upon Khan's unexpected retirement. Publicly, Khan has stated that he needed a break and time to reflect and had stated that he would be returning to his homestead. In reality, a fact that both Lesmondo and the 3rd person with them on the porch knew was that Sean Khan was slowly dying. Sean had been a healthy man, had eaten well, and had exercised regularly. However, a heart condition which caught in childhood could have been stopped had caught up with him. Lesmondo had held his position well, although he was becoming increasingly worried. The political field was in chaos, and the New Right was now leading slightly in the polls as every other major had been thrown into some sort of dispute.
"You've been blessed with a great piece of land out here," Lesmondo said
Sean smiled as he drank his herbal tea, iced in a tall glass."I don't believe in blessings, Lesmondo. But yes"
The third person sitting on the porch was Kareem Galendez, Governor of North Kaijan. Sean had befriended him in 2021, during Khan's term as Vice-President. A mostly ceremonial position, it had allowed for a less forward-facing seat in government. The two often discussed Kaijan, where both seemed to be on the same page. Kaijan needed Slokais and vice versa. Yet it didn't mean independence; rather, greater autonomy. Sean had hoped the 2023 Referendum would set things in motion. However, frustrations had grown further. Now, Galendez would face a tough re-election in March of 2026 from those who were claiming he wasn't doing enough. All 3 men feared for the future in some way.
"This land could be profitable. Sell off some of the excess fruit, perhaps?" Galendez said
"My children tell me to do so. I see no point."
"It's their generation that will change this country, for better or for worse. Back home, it's the youth building the bombs and putting up the posters." Galendez said
"I feel it may be for the worse. Have you seen the latest number, Sean?"
"I haven't checked that email chain in months, but yes, I get a sense of them."
"The New Right is at 20% in the polls, it's even higher among young people."
"Oh, jeez."
"The youth have been so screwed over by the major political factions, they turn to alternative ones. I bet Revolt! did well in that poll as well?" Governor Galendez said
"They did," Lesmondo said
"It's finally caught up to us," Sean Khan said
"We didn't screw things over. We were all outsiders at one point."
"No, we were fresh cogs in the machine. When I was President, I had so many offers, so many deals. Once they were released, I couldn't be used; they started supporting people like Joseph Zhang and George Oliver."
"We need to unify," Galdendez said
"Ironic, coming from a Kaijanese politician, but yes, it's true," Lesmondo said
"I love this country as much as you do, I also love Kaijan as well," Governor Galendez said, getting defensive
"Gentlemen," Sean Khan said, taking another sip from his tall glass.
"I believe in the power of the Federation, as two unique identities, provincial and national. Denying one is the destruction of the other."
"True, although it's different nowadays up there on the Federation Hill. Parties aren't talking anymore like they used to," Lesmondo said
"No, I've talked with Joseph about this, there is a fear from both the left, center, and even right that the rise of the New Right and regional extremism will be the downfall of Slokais." Sean Khan said, standing up to lean against the porch railing
"Chavez, I persume? Zhang had gone off the deep end a little," Governor Galdendez said
"Yes, Chavez. Although he isn't immune to his vices or his moments. Stick around in politics and one will stick"
"Respectfully, Mr Khan, you don't have one," Governor Galendez
"Ease up a little, Mohamed. My vice is that I live in fear, fear of engagement, fear of being bold. And now I sit in its consequences."
"Awfully religious for someone who doesn't believe," Lesmondo said
"I suppose so," Sean Khan said as the former President retreated back inside
He wasn't alone on this hot summer's day. Like many people, Joshua Lesmondo had gone on a summer excursion to the mountains. Although unlike Khan, he couldn't stay away for long. Lesmondo was the Internal Affairs minister, a catch-all job which oversaw criminal investigations, judicial affairs, tax processing, and business licenses. Not exciting work at all, but an unofficial advisory to the Prime Minister. Depending on how you looked at it, Lesmondo was the 4th or 3rd most important politician in Slokais. Lesmondo had succeeded Khan more than a year prior, upon Khan's unexpected retirement. Publicly, Khan has stated that he needed a break and time to reflect and had stated that he would be returning to his homestead. In reality, a fact that both Lesmondo and the 3rd person with them on the porch knew was that Sean Khan was slowly dying. Sean had been a healthy man, had eaten well, and had exercised regularly. However, a heart condition which caught in childhood could have been stopped had caught up with him. Lesmondo had held his position well, although he was becoming increasingly worried. The political field was in chaos, and the New Right was now leading slightly in the polls as every other major had been thrown into some sort of dispute.
"You've been blessed with a great piece of land out here," Lesmondo said
Sean smiled as he drank his herbal tea, iced in a tall glass."I don't believe in blessings, Lesmondo. But yes"
The third person sitting on the porch was Kareem Galendez, Governor of North Kaijan. Sean had befriended him in 2021, during Khan's term as Vice-President. A mostly ceremonial position, it had allowed for a less forward-facing seat in government. The two often discussed Kaijan, where both seemed to be on the same page. Kaijan needed Slokais and vice versa. Yet it didn't mean independence; rather, greater autonomy. Sean had hoped the 2023 Referendum would set things in motion. However, frustrations had grown further. Now, Galendez would face a tough re-election in March of 2026 from those who were claiming he wasn't doing enough. All 3 men feared for the future in some way.
"This land could be profitable. Sell off some of the excess fruit, perhaps?" Galendez said
"My children tell me to do so. I see no point."
"It's their generation that will change this country, for better or for worse. Back home, it's the youth building the bombs and putting up the posters." Galendez said
"I feel it may be for the worse. Have you seen the latest number, Sean?"
"I haven't checked that email chain in months, but yes, I get a sense of them."
"The New Right is at 20% in the polls, it's even higher among young people."
"Oh, jeez."
"The youth have been so screwed over by the major political factions, they turn to alternative ones. I bet Revolt! did well in that poll as well?" Governor Galendez said
"They did," Lesmondo said
"It's finally caught up to us," Sean Khan said
"We didn't screw things over. We were all outsiders at one point."
"No, we were fresh cogs in the machine. When I was President, I had so many offers, so many deals. Once they were released, I couldn't be used; they started supporting people like Joseph Zhang and George Oliver."
"We need to unify," Galdendez said
"Ironic, coming from a Kaijanese politician, but yes, it's true," Lesmondo said
"I love this country as much as you do, I also love Kaijan as well," Governor Galendez said, getting defensive
"Gentlemen," Sean Khan said, taking another sip from his tall glass.
"I believe in the power of the Federation, as two unique identities, provincial and national. Denying one is the destruction of the other."
"True, although it's different nowadays up there on the Federation Hill. Parties aren't talking anymore like they used to," Lesmondo said
"No, I've talked with Joseph about this, there is a fear from both the left, center, and even right that the rise of the New Right and regional extremism will be the downfall of Slokais." Sean Khan said, standing up to lean against the porch railing
"Chavez, I persume? Zhang had gone off the deep end a little," Governor Galdendez said
"Yes, Chavez. Although he isn't immune to his vices or his moments. Stick around in politics and one will stick"
"Respectfully, Mr Khan, you don't have one," Governor Galendez
"Ease up a little, Mohamed. My vice is that I live in fear, fear of engagement, fear of being bold. And now I sit in its consequences."
"Awfully religious for someone who doesn't believe," Lesmondo said
"I suppose so," Sean Khan said as the former President retreated back inside
<t>The Federation of Slokais Islands- fighting for freedom and democracy</t>