[Lauchenoiria]

Sand crunched as a man walked along the beach on the island of Aeluria. In the darkness of the late night, none of his features were visible. He approached another man, who was standing, smoking a cigarette and staring at the sea.

"You aren't allowed to smoke in Lauchenoiria," the first man said as he approached. The second took a long drag on the cigarette, and blew the smoke in the direction of the mainland.

"As I understand it, that won't be a problem for much longer. Not if you have anything to say about it," he chuckled, stamping out the cigarette in the sand.

"You know fine well I approve of smoking about as much as the Lauchenoirian government," the first man responded, turning slightly to also stare at the sea.

"We're almost ready. We have the video from Melissa City, and we're in contact with the one they have in jail."

"How'd you manage that?"

"It's better for everyone if that information is kept in a close circle," the second man stated forcefully. The first man shrugged in response. He took a USB stick out of his pocket and handed it to the second man.

"I'll be in touch," said the second man, pocketing the USB stick and walking away. The first man took a long slow breath, and turned back to walk the way he came.

---------------------

Prime Minister Laura Moore walked along one of the corridors of Parliament, typing a response to an email on her phone. The Foreign Secretary, Josephine Alvarez, jogged a little to catch up.

"Prime Minister!" she called, and Moore slowed to a stop and turned around. "We've just received intelligence that Phillip Reed, one of the fugitives from Sancti Imperii Catholico is in Lauchenoiria."

"Do they know where?" Moore replied.

"Unfortunately not," said Alvarez, shaking her head, "but he's dangerous. They tried to start a coup there, we don't want him in our country. We should divert extra resources to a manhunt."

"And you think we're at risk of a coup here," Moore laughed, smiling. "The budget is stretched as it is, not our problem."

"I really think..."

"I said no, Josephine. Let the Catholics solve their own problems," finished Moore, turning and walking away. Alvarez stared for a few minutes, sighing, then shaking her head again and turning away.

-----------------------

Meanwhile, on the island of Aeluria, Lauchenoirian Home Secretary Suleman Chaher was finishing a meeting with the Governor of Aeluria, Keitha Noguera in the town of Liaville.

"I'm glad we had this discussion. Hopefully it will allow relations between Aeluria and the mainland to improve," said Chaher, shaking Keitha's hand.

"Indeed. I look forward to further cooperation," she nodded to Suleman and sat back down as he exited.

Outside the Liaville Town Hall, Suleman turned around a corner to an alley. A man was waiting in the shadows.

"We're ready. Set the wheels in motion. All is ready for us to move at the weekend," said Suleman to the man, who chuckled.

"I didn't think you were likely to go through with it. Perhaps your people are finally realising how the world works."

"I know what is right. Our country has been invaded and nobody realises it. This is the only logical course of action. See to it that everyone is ready," said Suleman, turning and walking away.

[Lauchenoiria]

Prime Minister Laura Moore sat in her office, reading through a briefing on the nationwide shortage of coffee, quickly eating a sandwich for lunch. She faced questions in the House soon, after the Home Secretary gave his speech on the refugee situation, which he should be doing now. She turned the page and took a sip of her tea, when her door burst open and she spilled tea on the briefing in shock.

"Prime Minister! You need to see this, right now," her aide, Peter Fischer, exclaimed, picking up the remote and turning on the TV.

"You know, there's such a thing as knocking," Moore replied, wiping sandwich crumbs from her face and then trying to dry the spilt tea with the napkin. Peter seemed to not hear her as the TV turned on.

"... people of Aeluria have suffered more than enough from this government, even before they allowed the corporations to exploit them even more. This is why I am supporting Aelurian independence, and calling for this vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Moore. The people of Aeluria did not vote for capitalism in that referendum forced on us by foreign influence, and it is time the government answered to the people and not the corporations and foreign governments bankrolling Laura Moore!"

Home Secretary Suleman Chaher finished speaking and the opposition benches erupted into applause. And some of my own party too, thought Laura.

"This is a coup," Peter said, his voice trembling in a manner that meant both fear and anger.

"I knew I should have fired him when he started coming up with all those conspiracy theories about Skoden. There was no 'foreign influence' in the capitalism referendum," chuckled Moore, "all there is is one more man out of a job."

"No, you don't understand. He has the votes, Laura," panicked Peter. Laura's heart skipped a beat.

"He can't. It's not possible. If he'd been gathering votes for this, we'd have heard," replied Moore, uncertainly.

"I don't know how he did it. There was no signs of this at all before the speech, but suddenly there's a proposed motion with enough signatures to win."

"That is not possible, Peter. Apart from anything else, this is a huge violation of established parliamentary..." she trailed off the TV caught her eye again. Parliament was voting. Except... "There's no votes scheduled for now. Is this a repeat or something?"

Peter's eyes were wide open. "The speaker has allowed an unscheduled vote. This is unprecedented."

"This is illegal, in fact." Laura replied.

There was a knock at the door and her head of personal security, Katya, stood there with another security agent Laura did not recognise.

"Prime Minister, we need to go, right now, I've received warning that..." Katya fell silent as a loud bang was heard. The agent Laura did not recognise then fell forward, blood spilling out from the hole where his heart used to be.

Laura screamed, as Katya slammed the door shut.

"Get out of here, Prime Minister!" she yelled, holding the door. Laura hesitated for a moment, until Peter grabbed her arm. Then she turned, and the two of them ran out the emergency exit, as the government fell.

[Laeral]

"What am I looking at here?" asked Chen Ming-wen, the Laeralian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.
"It's a news broadcast from Lauchenoiria," his aide, Jia, said. "Our ambassador on the ground there is Alyssia Simonine. We haven't heard anything from her since the coup, but-"
"Coup?" Ming-wen asked.
"The one on the broadcast," she said, pointing to the screen of the tablet she held.
"I don't speak Spanish," Ming-wen said. "What's the summary?"
"Prime Minister Moore's Home Secretary, Suleman Chaher, pulled off some kind of snap vote in their Federal Parliament to bring down the government. No one's sure how he got the votes, but experts are divided on whether the vote was legal."
"So besides bringing down the PM's government, what makes this a coup?"
"Apparently there's been violence on the streets," Jia said. "Chaher has Communist sympathies, and he made an explosive speech denouncing Moore and the capitalism referendum. Also, no one's sure where Prime Minister Moore is now."
Ming-wen thought for a second. "This is above my rank. Tell Ambassador Simonine that the embassy should look into the whereabouts of Prime Minister Moore, and also President Walker. If Moore needs to take refuge at the embassy, let her. I don't have the authority to make an official statement on the issue- we'll need to wait until the Minister gets back from her vacation." He picked up the phone and dialed Foreign Minister Beringer. "Pick up..." he said to himself as he waited for Marie-Claire Beringer to pick up.

[Lauchenoiria]

President Leanna Walker scowled as she put down the phone.

"Half the ambassadors aren't taking my call, and a good fraction of those who do just give excuses. At least the ambassador for Laeral was helpful," she said, pouring herself another cup of coffee.

President Walker was part relieved and part angered by the fact she was out of the country at the time of the coup. Of course, that is probably why Chaher chose that time to do it. She now sat in her hotel room, trying to make the international community pay attention.

"You know, you'll have to take Chaher's call eventually," cautioned her Chief of Staff, Daniel Garza.

She had been ignoring Suleman Chaher's attempts to call her since the event. She knew he would ask her to appoint him as the new Prime Minister, which left her with two options.

Legitimise his coup, thus bringing an end to all she had worked for and damaging Lauchenoirian democracy for years to come.

Or start a civil war.

"He has the support of a good portion of the military. Nobody knows what the outcome would be if it came to a conflict. Thousands could die," Walker said, finishing her coffee.

"Nobody wants an armed conflict, but I would urge against supporting his coup. In the long run, it could be so much worse. Also," he added, grabbing the jug of coffee before she could pour another, "that is your third coffee in half an hour. If I drank that much coffee I'd be sick."

Walker hadn't even realised how much she'd been drinking. She took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair, suddenly aware she was shaking.

"I know." She paused for several seconds, then picked up the phone. "I know. Okay, get me Chaher..."

She trailed off as the words "Breaking News" filled the TV screen in the corner.

"We are coming to you live from the Lauchenoirian island of Aeluria, where..."

---------------------

"Then find her!" Chaher yelled, hanging up the phone and handing it to his aide, who promptly left. He turned to former foreign secretary Josephine Alvarez.

"I wanted Moore in custody, not on the run. But some incompetent fool decided to start shooting people, and now things have fallen to pieces."

"Exactly what did you expect, when overthrowing the government?" Alvarez replied. She was handcuffed to the table, having been arrested after refusing to leave her office.

"I didn't overthrow the government, Josephine. I held a legitimate vote of no confidence in a Prime Minister who was working against the country for a foreign power," he explained in a patronising tone.

Alvarez laughed. "Still with this foreign power nonsense! Honey, nobody believes that. Only reason you have any support at all is cause it benefits them, somehow. You don't even believe it yourself, and everyone knows it."

Chaher leaned across the table and spoke quietly but firmly.

"You are going to tell me where Laura Moore is. And then you are going to make a statement to the press telling the world you support my government. And then you're going to retire somewhere nice, with all your capitalist money, and I will never have to see you again."

Alvarez leaned forward until they were almost touching.

"No," she said, then leaned back.

Chaher took his hands off the table and walked over to the door.

"The alternative is you'll be convicted for treason and spend the rest of your life in prison. Your choice," he said, turning back to face her. She opened her mouth to respond, when the door opened and one of Chaher's staff handed him a tablet showing the live news.

"Noguera's making her statement, sir," said the staff member, a young man whose name Chaher could not recall.

"WHAT!?" yelled Chaher, storming out the room closely followed by the young man, who shut the door on Josephine Alvarez behind them. "This is much too soon! Why didn't she call me first?"

"I don't know, sir."

They both turned to the tablet, where First Minister Keitha Noguera of Aeluria was about to start her statement.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, for too long the people of Aeluria have suffered under colonial oppression, and have suffered due to the whims of those in the Lauchenoirian government. With the recent change of government on the mainland, we now have an opportunity to fix all this.

That is why, on this day, the Island of Aeluria is declaring independence from the Federation of Lauchenoiria."

[Sanctaria]

"... That is why, on this day, the Island of Aeluria is declaring independence from the Federation of Lauchenoiria."

The hush that had fallen upon the situation room when the Aelurian leader begun her speech quickly dissipated. Phones rang. Aides resumed their chattering. Officials streamed in and out of the Secret Service-secured, steel double-doors.

"What exactly do we know about the change of government, Alexandra? We have reporters saying it wasn't legitimate, our Ambassador is saying there's no one in their Foreign Ministry picking up calls. Laura Moore is nowh- well, Moore hasn't been seen commenting one way or the other. And now this Aeluria business?" Charlene Hendry stared at the SIS Director before slumping back in her chair and threw her hands up in exasperation. "There's too much going on for this all to be happenstance."

"Prime Minister," Alexandra Maye, the accountant-turned-spy boss began as she retrieved a file from her aide, "initial reports from agents in Lauchenoiria do suggest this isn't the peaceful handover of power that their Interior Mini-sorry, their new Prime Minister-designate is announcing."

"Well that's all we need."

"Yes, Prime Minister. Our sources on the ground have reported hearing scattered gunfire around the Lauchenoirian parliamentary campus as well as some of their ministry buildings."

"Casualties?"

"Unknown at this time."

"And where's Moore?

"Again, Prime Minister, that is unknown at this time."

"And the vote, was it legal?"

"I'm sorry Prime Minister, that is unkn-"

"Unknown at this time, yes I got that." Hendry sighed with frustration. "What is known at this time, Alexandra? What have our exceptionally well trained intelligence agents discovered?" The sarcasm dripped from every syllable.

"Well Prime Minister, the whereabouts of Foreign Minister Josephine Alvarez are also unknown, however," Maye added quickly before Hendry could tear her a new one, "this is especially significant. Alvarez is a popular member of the ruling party and a deeply respected parliamentarian. Any new Prime Minister from the ruling party would either (a) be Alvarez herself, or (b) require the support of Alvarez. That she has not yet issued any public statement suggests things may not be ... entirely above board."

"I've met Josephine. I'd believe that assessment." Hendry stared past Maye's head and began watching the information that was scrolling across some of the screens in the situation room. Lives news one some, classified info on others. She was thinking. "If it looks like a duck, and it sounds like a duck, it's a duck, Alexandra. Until I know the whereabouts of Moore and Alvarez, we're treating this as an illegitimate transfer of power. I want your sources on the ground to confirm this."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

"And Alexandra," Hendry began as the SIS Director rose from her chair, "I want you to return in 60 minutes and I want a hell of a lot more information than you've been giving me." Hendry turned her attention to Brian Young, her Foreign Secretary. "What we do know about Aeluria - and I swear to God if you start saying we don't know..."

"Thankfully, Charlene, we know a bit," Young started. "Agitated community. Rumblings of independence for a long time so the various governments have slowly been devolving power. Current administration on the island are far-left sympathisers. Suleman Chaher, the self-declared Prime Minister-designate of Lauchenoiria, used the speech where he - I am operating under the assumption this is illegitimate - declared no confidence in his own Prime Minister to seize power, well he used that speech to advocate for Aelurian independence. It was known that he has been sympathetic to their cause"

"So the two are connected but ... seizing power to help a tiny island colony declare independence seems inefficient and, frankly, daft. He could have quit and introduced a private members bill - do they have those there? - clearly he had the numbers if he's now doing it as Prime Minister. Or Prime Minister-designate. Whatever he is. Where's the Lauchenoirian President by the way?"

"Actually our Ambassador just sent a missive - the Aelurian declaration has taken everyone by surprise there, I don't think Chaher was expecting it."

"Well, Brian, we weren't expecting Chaher so I'd take whatever the Ambassador is telling you with a pinch of salt. You sidestepped me, by the way. Where's President ... Walken?"

"It's Walker and she's out of Lauchenoiria on official business."

"Have we spoken to her?"

"Yes."

"Y-yes? Surely this should have been the first piece of information you divulged!" Hendry sighed. This was a new government, in office only for a few months. Things hadn't quite settled down yet.

"Well I only discovered through our Ambassador's missive. She rang him, personally, to see if he knew anything but he, wisely I believe, said he couldn't help as he hadn't had any instructions or information from us."

Hendry glanced at her notes and back at the screen. The President of Lauchenoiria was out of the country and, seemingly, ignorant to the details of what had happened. The Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria was MIA. As was the Foreign Minister. And the Lauchenoirian Interior Minister had announced a motion of no confidence in his own party, won, and was suggesting he was the new Prime Minister.

Hendry drank some coffee and cleared her throat. "Brian," she looked at her Foreign Secretary, "call President Walker back immediately - give her the information that we have." She looked back at her aides, ministers, and intelligence agents gathered around the table. "We're going to put out a statement saying we're concerned at the events in Lauchenoiria. We urge restraint from violence. And we look forward to clarification regarding who is in charge".

As she finished speaking, some aides stood to leave.

"I'm not finished. That is our public statement. Internally, we're treating this as a coup until proven otherwise. Reports of violence - of gunfire - in the vicinity of the parliament. Prime Minister and Foreign Minister missing. Their President not have a clue what's going on. And a declaration of independence from a colony with far-left leadership. I don't know who Chaher is trying to kid, but this is the most obvious coup I've seen in my years in front-line politics."

She spoke again to her Foreign Secretary, this time without even looking to him. "Brian, we're not going to recognise Aeluria. Throw something diplomatic out if they reach out to us. We're still waiting until events settle down, whatever. The civil servants can draft something up. When you're speaking to Walker, tell her the reports of violence suggest it's not safe to return to Lauchenoiria. We'd advise to stay where she is. Unfortunately we can't do anymore."

Hendry stood up. "We're going to take a short break. And when we return, all of you are going to have a hell of a lot more information for me than you have now."

[Sancti Imperii Catholico]

"... That is why, on this day, the Island of Aeluria is declaring independence from the Federation of Lauchenoiria."

Archbishop Patrick propped himself up on the table, forefinger and thumb straddling his chin. Vernon McCoy, his Defense Secretary, stood over his shoulder.

"You think this got something to do with Isiah Thomas or Philip Reed?" McCoy inquired.

"No. Reed is in Gonhog, and I doubt Thomas would start a coup somewhere else. They got their minds set on us."

The Foreign Minister, Alvon Russo, chimed in, "Your Excellency, we must decide what we will do with this whole Aeluria thing."

"Of course, release a statement saying we are against any conflict. Of course, I'd must rather have a united Lauchenoria then another communist country.? He shivers, then continues, "Communists have only destroyed our Church." With this, the Archbishop does the Sign of the Cross.

Russo cleared his throat, "Your Excellency, there already has BEEN conflict..."

The Archbishop sighed, "Of course there already was. Are the prime minister and president safe?"

"Unknown, sir."

"We really need to get some embassies set up. Alvon, that's your new project after this. As for you, McCoy, see to that northern border. The Gonhogians are getting a bit rowdy..."

[Lauchenoiria]

Laura Moore tried to quieten her breathing as she hid. She pressed her ear to the floor, but she couldn't hear what the federal police officers were saying. After a tense few minutes, they left and Katya shut the door. Moore waited. Eventually, Katya opened the door to the closet where she hid.

"It's okay, they were looking for one of the fugitives from Sancti Imperii Catholico. Seemed to have an idea one of them is in the area," Katya said as Moore stood up and exited into the bedroom.

"We need to get out of the country," Moore responded.

"We're working on it. Peter is away right now trying to make that happen."

"Any news from Josephine?" asked Moore, as she climbed down the stairs. She fanned herself with a piece of junk mail as she walked, the hot climate near the border with Malabra irritating her.

"She's vanished, just as much as you have to any onlookers. Whether that means she's on the run, or... something else, we have no way of contacting her. As soon as it's dark, we need to head to Summersea. From there, we'll get on a ship out of the country."

"To where?"

"Once we are in international waters, we will contact world leaders who we expect to support you, and ask one of them for asylum."

"And if this doesn't work? If Peter doesn't find a ship, or if Chaher finds us, what then?"

"I am sworn to protect you, ma'am."

"That's not an answer."

Moore sat down on a chair in the kitchen. They were in Peter's uncle's summer house, a secluded small structure in the northeastern corner of Costeno province. After the shooting in the Parliament building, they had fled here, without contacting anyone. They didn't know who to trust.

Moore blinked away some tears as she thought of her family, who didn't know if she was alive or dead. Her husband, Felipe, would be worried. Their two children, Kelli and Jamey, were only 6 and 4. If something went wrong, she might never see them again. She had never truly considered such things before. Lauchenoiria was not the kind of place where these things happen.

"Or so I thought," murmured Moore aloud.

--------------

"Jonas, get me another cup of coffee," ordered Chaher, as he tapped his pen against a pile of paperwork he had shuffled around to make it look like he'd done something with it.

"Yes, sir," replied the boy, Jonas, as he left the room. Chaher leaned back in his chair.

Noguera's declaration had complicated things. True enough, he had promised the Aelurian leader the island would have their independence if they supported his vote in parliament. But not right now!

He sighed, considering his options. He could recognise their independence, fulfilling his promise, and losing an important piece of territory. He could call their declaration illegal, risking retribution and fighting a war on two fronts if President Walker moved against him. Or he could ignore the situation entirely, seeming unprofessional and not in control.

Never any good options. He picked up the phone again, dialling President Walker's staff. Perhaps this time she'd actually pick up.

"Good afternoon, Mr Chaher," said President Walker.

Suleman Chaher almost fell off the seat at his shock. He hadn't expected her to take the call at all, never mind answer the phone herself.

"Good afternoon, Madam President," he replied, hoping he sounded less caught off guard than he felt. "I am calling to ask you to appoint me as the new Prime Minister and allowing me to form a government, following the troublesome allegations against Laura Moore."

"I'm sorry, Mr Chaher, I cannot do that."

Chaher mentally swore. So it would be like this, then.

"Respectfully, Madam President, that would be a mistake. I have the support of parliament and the people." And the military, he did not say. He knew she already had that information.

"Regardless, your power grab was illegitimate and I cannot recognise your government. Please, stop this before it goes too far. There's still time to back down from this, I ask you as someone who cares deeply about the Lauchenoirian people."

"You know I can't do that. Goodbye, Madam President." He hung up the phone.

"Well, it seems like we're going to need a new President," Chaher said to nobody.

-------------

"He hung up on me," sighed President Leanna Walker. "Seems this is going to get worse before it gets better. Call General Sanchez."

"Yes, ma'am," responded Daniel.

Walker pulled the clasp holding her hair back out, then quickly changed her mind and tied it up again. She walked into the ensuite, and stared at her reflection.

She looked like she hadn't slept in a month. She had bags under her eyes, her hair was a mess, and her clothes were crumpled. She was going to have to take a good long time getting ready before the press conference.

She was about to declare Suleman Chaher's vote of no confidence in Laura Moore an illegal and illegitimate coup. And while, constitutionally, the military answered to her, practically he had the support of a much greater fraction. He would fight, she knew. And it was anybody's guess who would win.

She splashed water on her face, then exited back into the main part of her hotel suite, as Daniel put down the phone.

"The General is unavailable, ma'am."

So this was how Sanchez was going to play it. She hoped against hope that he really was just busy, but she couldn't count on it.

"The majority of the people of Aeluria do not wish the island to be independent. This declaration of independence is a move by the AIP's Keitha Noguera to capitalise on the situation in Buttercity..." muttered Walker, preparing her speech for the conference in an hour.

"There will be a teleprompter, I'm sure."

"I am well aware. Now, get me the wardrobe people. And find out where Moore and Alvarez are."

"Yes, ma'am."

[Laeral]

"Everything we're seeing right now points to a coup in Lauchenoiria," Jerome Ferrand said. He was a short man, dark-haired, and completely-average looking. He was also the Director of the Bureau of External Action, Laeral's spy service. President Brennan disliked the man, but he leaned forward to listen as the man spoke.
"In Lauchenoirian government right now, there's three major political figures that are in hiding. Lauchenoiria has a full parliamentary system, with a directly elected figurehead as President and the Prime Minister as the head of state. Prime Minister Moore's missing, and none of my people have heard anything about her since she disappeared. The fact that she hasn't made a public appearance indicates that she's scared of showing herself."
Foreign Minister Beringer nodded, signaling to Brennan that she'd heard the same thing. "My counterpart, Foreign Secretary Alvarez, also hasn't appeared. President Walker is outside of the country, but her schedule hasn't been released to the public."
"We haven't been able to get confirmation of her location," Ferrand said, "despite my people's best efforts. Lauchenoiria hasn't been a focus for our efforts, so we're undermanned there."
"But it's the President's role to confirm the Prime Minister," Nicholas Brennan said. "If Suleman Chaher wants legitimacy, he's going to need her approval. Can we assume that he's also going to try to find her?"
Jerome Ferrand nodded. "Almost certainly."
"And then we've got Aeluria's declaration of independence." Brennan said.
"That's right," Foreign Minister Beringer said. "They've always been separate from the mainland, based on their religious beliefs. A majority of Aelurians practice a religion called Lurian, while the majority of mainland Lauchenoirians are atheists. At this point, their independence declaration is just a way to seize the opportunity to act while the government's distracted."
"So President Walker needs to act," Brennan said. "Laura Moore can't do anything while she's in hiding. Leanna Walker was directly elected, so she's the most legitimate political figure left standing. I don't think that she'll stay quiet while her Prime Minister is overthrown and her country falls apart. If I were a betting man, I'd say that she's going to make a statement soon."
"Mr. President," Ferrand said, "I agree, but I'd like a confirmation of our views on Chaher versus Moore, as well as the independence declaration. Are we staking a claim in favor of Moore and the central government?"
"Stability benefits our aims in the region," President Brennan said. "Lauchenoiria's government is pacifistic, but stable. It's better for Laeral if they stay that way."
"Our primary interests in Lauchenoiria are economic," Beringer said. "We need stability if we want to keep accessing their markets. And a neutral, pacifist Lauchenoiria is better than an isolationist one."
"We can't get drawn in, though," President Brenna said. "The People's Party is already hitting me on foreign policy. We can't get drawn in to a major conflict here. We'll offer Moore, Walker, any Lauchenoirian politicians refuge at our embassy or in Laeral itself, but nothing more. Madam Minister, can you write a statement saying that we support a peaceful solution in Lauchenoiria that reflects the interests of the people- something like that- and that Lauchenoirian officials are safe with us?"
"I'll make it happen," she said.
"Good. Mr. Ferrand, tell your people to keep their eyes open, but not to do anything rash. I want reports from them daily."
"Okay. If I can get someone close to Chaher, should I do so?"
It took Brennan only a second to decide. "Tell them to do it if they can, but to just watch and listen."
"It'll be done." Ferrand replied, and left.

[Sanctaria]

"Prime Minister."

Charlene Hendry jumped slightly with a startle. She had been so engrossed in a financial report before her that she didn't even see the head of the Sanctarian Intelligence Service, Alexandra Maye, enter her office. Last time they spoke, in the situation room, Hendry had been displeased with the scant information the SIS had provided. "Alexandra, hi. Is this about Lauchenoiria?"

"It is, Prime Minister." Maye was a tall woman, with grey hair cut short and in a bob. She was not a spy by trade - she had previously been the country's Ombudsman - but she knew administration, how to lead, and how to collate information effectively. "Do you have a moment to discuss?"

Hendry nodded, put down the report, and motioned for Maye to take a seat. "Go ahead, Alexandra."

"Prime Minister, the SIS is comfortable confirming to you now that there has indeed been a coup in Lauchenoiria. Our agents understand that Prime Minister Moore is on the run - there are reports an aide of hers was seen near the Malabran border, whether or not Moore is with her is not known, but we're considering it likely. Moore will make to leave the country."

Hendry sighed. She had met the Lauchenoirian Prime Minister Laura Moore only weeks previously. They had spoken a few times by telephone. Their relationship was cordial, but distant. The previous Sanctarian administration had not deemed Lauchenoiria a worthy enough trading partner, claiming it was too small. Hendry had hoped to revise that, and was cautiously optimistic that Moore, less communist than her compatriots, would be the right person to work with. "Ok, well liaise with external agencies and see if we can get a confirmation on Moore's location. What else do you have?"

"I've spoke to Foreign Secretary Young, and the information from our embassy in Lauchenoiria is that President Walker is likely to refuse to appoint Suleman Chaher, the country's Home Secretary and instigator of this coup, as Prime Minister. This will put her in a precarious position".

"Precarious as in she's likely to be removed from office?"

"The SIS has made the assessment that Walker should fear for her life. She's a popular figure in Lauchenoiria and is directly elected by the people, giving her legitimacy that other politicians can't claim. Chaher's position as Home Secretary has given him considerable influence over the nation's police and judicial figures. Our agents tell us that he may have military leadership on his side too."

Hendry nodded. "Ok. And what about the situation on the ground?"

"Yes, Prime Minister. There have been fatalities on the parliamentary grounds. The deceased have not yet been identified by anyone the SIS can considered reputable so we can't confirm if they are politicians, aides, security, bystanders, or whoever. The Foreign Secretary, Josephine Alvarez also remains missing. There have been no sightings of either herself or her aides, so the SIS is operating under the assumption that either she is among the casualties, or she has been taken captive."

"We did not need this today Alexandra." Hendry groaned. What to do. "You mentioned you spoke to Brian earlier, what other information did he have?"

"The Foreign Secretary has indicated that the international community isn't buying Chaher's claims this is not a coup. However he doesn't believe, and the SIS concurs, that many will recognise Aeluria's declaration of independence - at this juncture, anyway. We'll see what happens at the end of the conflict."

That word caught Hendry's attention. "Conflict?"

Maye sighed. "Yes, Prime Minister. Our official assessment is that Lauchenoiria is at serious risk of descending into a civil war. The two factions are significant in size and influence, and when President Walker refuses to appoint Chaher Prime Minister, as we expect her to do shortly, he will seize power anyway."

"Well then," Hendry began. "Once that happens, we can't help." The blasted neutrality clause in the constitution wreaking havoc with foreign policy once again. Hendry had a love-hate relationship with the clause. This time, she hated it. "Alexandra, what's the point of having a significant military presence if we can't get involved?"

"Prime Minister, I won't speak for either your Armed Forces Chiefs or for the Homeland Security Secretary, but I would say that our troops are valued as peacekeepers. I understand your frustration at being stuck on the sidelines should civil war break out but we'll be needed towards the end."

"In what way?"

"The same way as always. The Sanctarian Armed Forces always get called in to keep the peace during cease-fires, negotiations and, sometimes, during nation-rebuilding. If I may be so bold as to advise you to remain neutral, as you must, but continuously stress that Sanctaria and her resources are there to assist in diplomatic or peace-keeping situations. If conflict breaks out we can offer protection to humanitarian aid, for example. We've hosted peace conferences before. That is our reputation."

Hendry nodded. "Ok, go back to the Foreign Secretary. Tell him to put an alert out for our citizens in the nation. He is to advise our embassy that non-essential staff are to return to Sanctaria. And once Chaher makes his move after Walker refuses to appoint him, as you tell me will happen, tell him to get our Ambassador to send a missive to both camps, stressing our neutrality and availability, whenever they need it, for humanitarian, peacekeeping, or diplomatic purposes."

Maye nodded curtly. "Thank you, Prime Minister."

Muttering under her breath, Hendry turned on a 24 hours new channel - just to keep an ear on what was happening - and returned to the fiscal reports on her desk. The world was changing, but Sanctaria still had to be ran.

[Lauchenoiria]

"Fellow Lauchenoirians, people of the IDU. I stand before you today to ask for your support in this matter. Secretary Suleman Chaher has illegally seized power in Lauchenoiria. The alleged vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Laura Moore was illegitimate and based upon false information spread by Chaher and his allies.

I ask that Secretary Chaher is immediately taken into custody, pending trial for these illegal actions against our democracy. Lauchenoiria prides itself on our democracy, and I hope very much that despite this incident, we can continue forward as a democratic society. I ask the international community to refuse to recognise Chaher's so-called government as legitimate.

On the subject of the Aelurian declaration of independence, the majority of the people of Aeluria do not wish the island to be independent. This declaration of independence is a move by the AIP's Keitha Noguera to capitalise on the volatile situation in Buttercity, against the wishes of the Aelurian people. This declaration of independence is illegitimate.

I hope that the situation will be resolved quickly and peacefully, and those behind this coup are brought to justice. Thank you."

President Leanna Walker turned to board her flight to Laeral as the press screamed questions over one another. She wasn't going to take any. She remained silent and stared straight ahead until she was safely on board the plane. She then exhaled loudly.

"We'll be departing in 30 minutes for the flight to Laeral, ma'am," her chief of staff informed her.

"Thank you, Daniel," she responded. Laeral had offered her sanctuary, and she was taking them up on their offer. Her security seemed to think that her life would be in danger if she returned to Lauchenoiria. She didn't believe them. Or, she didn't want to. Either way, better safe than sorry.

She checked her watch. It would be 8pm in Lauchenoiria, and at this time on a normal day she would be reading a book to relax after dealing with whatever crisis had happened that day. She shook her head to get rid of the thought. It would be over, one way or the other, soon enough.

-------------

Katya was driving with Peter in the passenger seat, as Laura Moore sat in the back in a cheap wig that wouldn't fool anyone up close. It was midnight, and Peter had arrived back five hours ago to inform them he'd found a ship willing to get them out of the country.

They were a few miles out from Summersea, when they heard the first gunshot. Laura jumped half out of her skin, but Katya barely reacted.

"A lot of illegal hunting in this area," Katya commented. She sounded like she believed it. Moore wasn't so sure. Even if it was true, one of her main policy platforms had been stamping that stuff out. The politician still in her was horrified. The woman who feared for her life was relieved.

They were almost at the Summersea city limits when three military jets flew overhead. Moore knew for certain there was no military base nearby. Katya stopped the car, and they watched.

"Peter, were there military exercises here this afternoon?" asked Katya.

Peter shook his head, staring at the sky, looking visibly frightened. Something had happened, and recently.

A military vehicle appeared around the bend, and seeing them stopped, pulled over. Two soldiers got out and approached. Moore's heart rate doubled.

"You are in violation of the curfew," one of the soldiers said as Katya rolled down her window.

"I wasn't aware there was a curfew," she replied.

"Nevertheless, I'll have to ask all of you to exit the vehicle."

"Is that really necessary?" squawked Peter.

"If you could please exit, so we can..." the soldier trailed off as he glanced in the back of the car. Moore froze like a rabbit caught in headlights. Recognition grew on the soldier's face. For a few seconds, the world stopped.

"Actually, it's late and you look like you've been travelling a long time. Just get indoors as soon as possible," said the soldier. "Oh, and I hope you weren't heading for the sea. Ports are all closed. Have a good night."

He walked back over to the other soldier who was standing just out of earshot. The second seemed confused, and as they talked, Katya quickly turned the engine back on and drove off.

Moore exhaled, her breath shuddering. So not everyone was against her. But enough that she still wasn't safe, by the look of things. She wanted to be sick.

"This won't end well, or peacefully," Peter commented.

[Laeral]

President Brennan took a few deep breaths as he stood outside the entrance to the Media Conference Room at Republic House. In a few minutes, he'd have to go in there to explain to the press and to a Laeralian public increasingly weary of foreign 'misadventures' why he'd extended an invitation for Lauchenoirian President Walker to come to Laeral. He had a few notes with him, but they were more for comfort than anything else. He rarely looked at his notes while he was speaking. His phone rang in his pocket. He wondered for an instant if it was one of the surprisingly many foreign leaders who had somehow gotten their hands on his personal cell phone number, but it was in fact his Prime Minister. He put the phone to his ear. "Tanvi. How are you?"
On the other end of the line, he could hear Tanvi Misra, the Prime Minister. In Laeral's semi-presidential system, the Prime Minister was elected by the National Assembly rather than directly, as Brennan had been. While Brennan himself had needed to appeal to the voters using his charisma and personality, Tanvi Misra was much more of a political operator. Brennan had picked her because she could deliver the necessary votes in the National Assembly to support Brennan's Progressive Party agenda, not for any other reason. "I am well, Nicholas," she said. Brennan could hear her Andhran accent strongly, an indication that she was more agitated than usual. "How are you?"
"I'm good, thank you. I assume that this is about Leanna Walker?"
"It is. I do wish that you had consulted with me before you invited her to Laeral. It would make things simpler," she said.
"What would you have advised me to do?" Brennan asked. He was fairly certain he knew her answer.
"I would have told you to politely delay her, or at the least give her assistance less visibly, than publicly announcing it and holding a press conference to celebrate," she said. "This will hurt us politically. The People's Party will be crafting their response as we speak. They will accuse us of scheming to enter another foreign entanglement, and will proclaim that Lauchenoirian affairs are none of our business."
"You're right," Brennan replied. "And I'm aware of the potential consequences. But a stable, democratic Lauchenoiria is an asset to us and our foreign policy."
"I've seen the reports that you have," Misra said. "And this won't be simple to resolve. There will be violence in Lauchenoiria before this is done," she warned.
"I'm prepared," Brennan replied.

[Gnejs]

Foreign Minister Svein Hellvik awoke startled. "Butterflies," he said and looked around himself bewildered. He had fallen asleep on his office couch again. Was it morning? Had he slept all through the night? He squinted towards the windows while fumbling for his spectacles, but the blinds were drawn and the glasses nowhere to be seen. He moved towards his desk, nearly tripping over his chair in the process. Having regained his composure, he eventually sat down, feeling tired.

Unlike in many other countries, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs traditionally was a position of prestige and importance, in Gnejs it occupied the very lower tiers of ministerial hierarchy. Apart from a brief surge in popularity for international relations during the 2015-2017 grand coalition government between the Unionists and the Moderate Party ? headed by the notorious internationalist Arne Vreeswijk ? the old Unionist slogan "A rock sustains itself" was still very much a guiding philosophy underlying most facets of Gnejsian political life and policy. This was more true than ever after the Unionists managed to achieve a parliamentary majority backed by the agrarian Centrist Party following the 2017 election.

Hellvik was an old man. A hero of the 1970's and 1980's, when he had served as head of the Ministry of Infrastructure and among other things overseen the massive developments of the northern and coastal train corridors. Now in his 90's, he had served as Foreign Minister for nearly a year. It was Tangeus Oxwald, the Unionist Prime Minister, who had asked him to head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Partly as a way of rewarding an old hero of the Union, partly (but perhaps mostly) as a way of showing that the proactive policies of his predecessor - Ronja Bj?rneboe of the Moderate Party - had merely been an anachronism.

As per Unionist tradition, the position of the current Foreign Minister was once again a weak one, wielding virtually no influence or authority expect as a part of collegial government decisions, mostly relegated to symbolic appearances and administratively overseeing what was in all likelihood the smallest diplomatic corps in the IDU. Traditionally, foreign posts were not looked upon as an honour. Put bluntly, it was more of a punishment, put mildly it was a convenient way of dispensing with slightly uncomfortable elements within the party lines.

Hellvik got up, moved towards his office kitchenette, and proceeded to put the kettle on. While waiting for the water to start boiling, he returned to his desk and picked up a heavy stack of papers. It was a collection of the daily briefings his advisors delivered every morning. It contained collected and analysed information concerning matters in the region, and the occasional report from the Union's WA-delegation. He leafed through the thick stack, and started feeling confused. "Why are there so many of them? What day is this?" he thought to himself. The water started boiling, but Hellvik was lost in thought. "I dreamed. Butterflies. You can't hold onto them by force; their wings are fragile, they will break and die." The hissing of water splashing on the hot stove snapped him out of his thoughts.

He filled his mug with hot water and put a bag in it. After sitting down at his desk again, he continued looking through his briefings. Suddenly he stopped abruptly at the sight of a picture of the Lauchenoirian flag. "Butterflies!" he exclaimed. He started scanning the document. Without his glasses, he was not far from blind, so he struggled to make out the words.

" ... the people ... suffered ... recent change ... opportunity ... Aeluria ... independence ..."

"Aeluria," he said. "An island of butterflies. Fragile." Without any real conscious idea of what he was doing, Hellvik grabbed his fountainpen and a sheet of paper, and started writing.

"Comrades of Aeluria,*

I have been made aware of your recent ascendance, and I wish to congratulate you. It is imperative that tender butterflies are not coerced, as any use of force will robe them not only of their wings, but also of their very lives. The Rock of the East will always accommodate those who needs a place to rest their weary wings and decide for themselves their own route when fluttering through existence. Quantum Satis.

In friendship,

Svein Hellvik,
Foreign Minister of the Prosaic Union of Gnejs."

He put the paper in an envelope, and grabbed one of the stones he had on his office desk and slipped it in there as well before sealing it. He got to his feet, and as he started walking towards the door, it suddenly opened and his young aide August Fjordvang came in.

"Good morning, minister," he said and smiled. "Late night again?"

"Yea, it appears so," said Hellvik. "But now, please make sure that this letter is sent to whoever rules the butterflies of Aeluria"

"Aeluria? In Lauchenoiria? But why?"

"Just do it, Fjordvang, it is imperative that it reaches the King of Butterflies as soon as possible."

"Very well, Minister, I shall see to it."


*Comrade is a common way of greeting friends in the Prosaic Union. It does not hold connotations to communist leanings within Gnejs; it's usage is common among most people, also those of a more conservative or liberal disposition.

[Lauchenoiria]

Two weeks earlier

Sonja Virtanen-Alvarez checked her watch for what seemed like the hundredth time since she'd arrived at the adoption agency.

"Sorry, she's always kept late at work," apologised Sonja to the woman behind the desk, who acknowledged it with a nod of her head. Sonja took out her phone and dialled her wife.

"Josie, I know your work is important and all but it has taken so long for us to get this meeting, so if you could please come by before they close! You know how much being late makes me nervous. Thanks," she hung up.

She rested her head against the wall behind the chair in the waiting room and stared at the soundless TV displayed behind the reception desk. She absentmindedly scratched at the scar on her arm from her childhood while the news cycled through the same stories about fugitive Catholics and Bigtopian pirates as had been shown 15 minutes earlier.

She noticed what she was doing to her arm and made herself stop. Before coming to Lauchenoiria, she'd grown up in Kerlile during their civil war. At 13, her parents had been late home one night. The next day, she found their names on a list of people who'd been executed by the government for no good reason.

She'd spent most of her teenage years with the resistance movement, until the day they knew they were going to lose. Then she fled. The scar on her arm was not the only one she had from that time.

"Excuse me," said the woman on the reception desk, "If your partner doesn't get here soon, we're going to have to cancel."

Sonja sighed and picked up the phone to dial Josephine again, when the TV flashed with a breaking news notification, and a picture of the parliament building appeared.

"Could you turn the sound up please?" Sonja asked the receptionist, who did as she asked.

"... shots have been fired. The whereabouts of several cabinet ministers are unknown, including Foreign Secretary Josephine Alvarez. We cannot confirm if anyone has been killed yet. Some are calling this a coup d'état, but we won't know more until..."

The phone clattered to the ground from Sonja's hand, and she screamed.

--------------------

Present day

Sonja stood at the gate to the back garden of the house they were using as a base of operations. She was waiting for Leonie to report back. Leonie was late. Sonja tapped her fingers together to try and calm her nerves when she heard the screech of bicycle tires rounding a corner too fast. Leonie cycled through the gate without braking.

"Sorry I'm late!" she called, in the manner of someone apologising to a school teacher. The 18-year-old swung one of her legs over the bike before it had fully stopped and pulled it to a stop by running alongside it. She took off her helmet, shaking out her hair.

"Go inside, and report to Ross. I have somewhere to be," Sonja ordered. Leonie tilted her head slightly to the side as if she was confused. Then she shrugged and walked into the house through the back door.

Sonja pulled the scarf tighter around her head and headed out into the twilight down the way Leonie came. She checked the time. 43 minutes to curfew. She'd have to be quick.

She headed down the path to the river through the suburbs north of Buttercity. She passed a few dog walkers and some teenagers smelling of alcohol despite being 5 years too young to purchase it legally. She checked to see nobody was looking, then ducked under the tape declaring the stairs to the river unsafe and walked down the crumbling steps.

She had to try several different bricks before she found the loose one her contact had hidden the phone behind. She took it out and dialled the only number in the address book.

-------------------------------

Laura Moore paced back and forth around the garage in the poverty-stricken district on the east of Summersea. She fanned herself with a spam leaflet about pizza delivery services as she waited for the phone to ring.

"She's late," Peter commented. Katya gave him a withering look, and the silence resumed, apart from the flapping leaflet and Peter's leg shaking as he sat on the rickety looking chair. The garage belonged to Peter's girlfriend's grandparents, who were in a care home.

The phone rang, and they all jumped. Laura rushed over to pick it up, but Katya held out her hand and answered it herself.

"Smith's Repairs. How can I help you?"

Laura couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but apparently the response was correct, because Katya held out the phone towards her.

"Sonja?" gasped Moore.

"Don't use my name," warned the voice on the other end. "I know you're new to this, but really."

"Sorry. What's the news?"

"The resistance is growing. After Chaher's crackdowns on immigrants and the news that Jo... I mean, Foreign Secretary Alvarez, is in jail, more and more people are seeing this for the illegal coup that it is. Chaher's still denying it, but our support is growing and his grasp on power is fragile."

"Are you behind the graffiti stuff in Buttercity?"

"Nah, that's a bunch of schoolkids. It's kind of amusing actually, Chaher can't even catch some adolescents with spray paint."

"If it came to an armed conflict, who would win?"

"Well," Sonja sighed over the phone, "we have a lot of support on the streets, and as far as I know there are still elements in the military loyal to Walker, but if she's impeached, I anticipate that will drop away. We might have numbers, but they have the weapons and the training. We need to avoid a war."

"The way the numbers are now, the impeachment vote doesn't stand a chance," responded Moore hopefully.

"If he doesn't have the numbers, he'll just find an excuse to lock up enough of the opposition, like with Josie."

Moore sighed and sat down on the table in despair. A crack appeared on the top and she quickly jumped off.

"I can't just sit here doing nothing!" she exclaimed.

"You're not doing nothing. You're staying alive, you know fine well they'll shoot you in the head if they find out where you are."

"Please don't!" squeaked Moore, still in denial about the imminent threat of death.

"Sorry. Look, sit tight, and I'll keep building resistance here. Good luck, Laura." Sonja hung up.

Moore put down the phone, blinking away some tears that threatened to come out. Katya took the phone and smashed it against the brick wall.

"Come on," Katya said. Laura pulled back on the poor-quality wig and they headed back across the courtyard to the block of flats they were staying in. Someone had painted a hammer and sickle on one of the other garages, and Moore let the hair of the wig block her view of it. A group of young men passed them walking the other way, and Katya put her finger on her weapon.

The men passed without giving them a second glance, and they arrived at the flat without incident. Moore entered the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She looked at her reflection. She'd lost a lot of weight, and the dark circles under her eyes wouldn't leave. She didn't recognise who stared back at her.

She couldn't just sit tight and do nothing.

--------------------------

Keitha Noguera looked out the window at the top of the old town hall of Liaville, glancing towards the mainland. There were no signs of an approaching fleet of ships, no sounds of aircraft flying overhead.

"You were worried about nothing," she told her husband, Anael.

"Just because they have not invaded yet, does not mean they never will," he cautioned. "You have done a very dangerous thing."

"On the contrary, Lauchenoiria is about to have a civil war. I've kept Aeluria out of it," she smiled.

"I hope you're right," he responded.

She walked into her office and he followed. She sat down and opened the envelope at the top of her pile. It was a letter.

"Comrades of Aeluria," she started to read aloud. When she got to the end, she turned to see Anael raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure what that means, honey," he said.

"It means that the international community is taking us seriously."

"Are you sure?"

Noguera chuckled. "Sure enough. Now come on, it's almost time to pray."

They walked together down the large staircase and out the front door. The sun was setting, and they held hands as they stood by the trees outside, eyes closed and faces towards the sky in prayer. Others in the town square were doing the same, and bemused tourists wandered around them, some snapping pictures.

Just when it seemed like nothing would disturb the peace, a single gunshot sounded.

----------------------

Suleman Chaher swore as he threw the report across the doom. The new Defence Secretary, Charissa Clarke, dodged. The Communist MP was far more ruthless than most people knew, and he had chosen her because he anticipated a war.

Rowan Martin, his Foreign Secretary, took a step back. He had been Moore's Foreign Secretary, until she fired him in September for voting against the Private Sector Legalisation Act. Now, back in his old job, it struck him that the new Prime Minister was rather fond of creating projectiles out of everyday objects.

"I want you to arrest every Laeralite in this nation until you are sure none of them are intelligence agents. Walker is hiding in their country, and for all we know she's convincing them to invade right now! And for the love of butterflies, deport the Skodesmen. They have been trying to undermine this country for years!" Chaher yelled.

Jonas nodded franticly, and exited the room, practically squeaking in terror.

"Are you quite sure that's a good idea, Prime Minister," queried Martin. Chaher walked right up to him and stared him in the eye.

"Are you questioning my commitment to this, Mr Martin?"

"No, sir, I'm merely suggesting that antagonising Laeral and Skoden could backfire on us."

"That's Clarke's problem."

Charissa Clarke stopped eating her sandwich.

"Ig Laewal orw Shkoden shtart anyfing," she mumbled, then swallowed, "I will be ready."

"Good," responded Chaher, "in the meantime, find whoever keeps painting pictures of Laura Moore's face on buildings in the city."

Jonas ran back in the room.

"Sir, reports of shots fired on Aeluria."

"From who?"

"We have no idea. Our guys in Aeluria were watching Noguera as you instructed when someone started shooting at her."

"Did she survive?"

"Yes, they missed. She's been whisked away by security."

"Find out who it was."

"Aye, sir." Jonas exited once more.

Chaher walked over to the bulletproof window and stared at the darkess as the clock chimed 9pm, incidating the start of the curfew. He sighed, wondering what was to come.

------------------------------

Six hours later

"I was so sorry to hear about your ordeal. You should know you have my support in this matter, and if Aeluria wants independence, well, we can talk after this crisis has passed." Leanna Walker said over the phone.

"Thank you so much, Madam President," Noguera responded, her voice shaking.

"You should know, we've managed to get pictures of Chaher's men in the vicinity of the shooting. We didn't anticipate him attempting an assassination though, and for that I apologise."

"It's not your fault."

"Anything I can do, just let me know. I'm safe here in Laeral, if you want sanctuary I am sure you will be welcome here."

"Thank you."

"Goodnight, and safe travels."

Walker hung up the phone and leaned back in her seat. She chuckled to herself, as the news channel on the TV announced Chaher's assassination plot to the world. She shuffled her papers together and took a sip of her coffee. Nobody would ever assume that the shooter missed on purpose. Or that the whole incident had been organised by her.

[Laeral]

Matéo Labat sat at a back table in a mom-and-pop restaurant in a seedy area of Buttercity, Lauchenoiria. It was cold outside, and he'd been forced to bike all the way there from his rental apartment in a nicer section of the city. He would have worn the type of long coat he preferred when he was back home in Laeral, but it didn't fit with his cover of being a struggling cookbook author focused on translating traditional Lauchenoirian recipes into Min, a major language in Laeral. The bell above the door at the front of the restaurant jingled, and a teenager in street clothes and a warm scarf stepped inside. He looked around the back of the restaurant, seeing that Matéo was the only person there. He walked up to the table, and Matéo asked him the code phrase: "Did you bike here? You must be cold."
"I took the high road. The cold wasn't bad."
Matéo gestured for the boy to sit down, which he did, sitting across the table from him. "I'm Daniel," the boy said, leaning across the table in what he probably thought was a conspiratorial way. "I hear you've got something you need from me."
"Don't lean over like that," Matéo said. "You look suspicious." The owner of the restaurant came over to the table to take their orders. "I'll get the soup," Matéo said. 'Daniel' ordered coffee.
"Daniel's not your real name, right?" Matéo asked after the waitress left. He was pretty sure that the boy wouldn't be stupid enough to give him his real name, but he wasn't sure.
"Of course not," 'Daniel' replied. "I know what I'm doing. And I have your ID." He passed a package wrapped in brown paper across the table. Matéo opened it and checked. "Martin Collins," he read from the driver's license inside. "31 years old, Lauchenoirian citizen."
"All the other documents you need are in the package," Daniel said proudly. "These are the best you can get."
"Looks good," Matéo replied. "These are real top-notch." The fake documents actually didn't look especially good to him, and the hologram label on the driver's license looked like foil. Still, he just needed documents that didn't identify him as a Laeralian citizen here in Lauchenoria on a business visa. He passed across a wallet containing several hundred Lauchenorian Gold Cookies. "Pleasure doing business with you," 'Daniel' said.
"Actually," Matéo said, "there's something else you could do for me. I'm trying to get in contact with some people who might have some- critiques- of Chaher's government. Do you know anything about these people?"
"You mean the folks with the graffiti? Because I think that some of them go to my high school," 'Daniel' said.
Matéo leaned forward. "That would be helpful. But ideally, I'd like to talk to political figures. MPs, or government ministers if possible."
Daniel sat back. "I can get you in contact with someone I know from my school. I can't do anything beyond that."
Matéo knew better than to push it. "Sounds good. Is this person a friend of yours?"
"Not quite. She's just," he hesitated, "a girl I know. Leonie."
Leonie was obviously a girlfriend or crush. It didn't matter much to Matéo, as long as he could get a conversation with her. "Okay. Can you get her to meet me the day after tomorrow in this same restaurant? It'd be very useful to me- and if you don't like Chaher, this is a way to fight back."
Daniel nodded solemnly. "I'll do my best."
"Good man."
Daniel grabbed his things and started to walk out. A thought came to him, and he turned. "Are you a Laeralite?"
"Excuse me?" Matéo replied.
"I'm sorry, but it seemed to me that your accent seemed sort of Laeralian."
"Nonsense," Matéo replied, making a show of looking at his new driver's license. "I'm Martin Collins. From Lauchenoiria."
"Well," Daniel said, "be careful. The government's rounding up Laeralites."
"I'll be careful," Matéo replied.

_______________________________

Excerpts from the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation in Lauchenoiria, May 26th, 2018.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that President Brennan's decision to offer sanctuary to President of the Lauchenoirian Federation Leanna Walker constitutes an act of goodwill towards the elected leader of a fellow nation, and that President Walker chose to take sanctuary in Laeral due to the uncertain political situation in Lauchenoiria."
"The Allied Provinces fully supports the right of the Lauchenoirian people to a democratic and freely elected government."
"Laeral strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and continued detention of Laeralian citizens within the Lauchenoirian Federation. This constitutes a violation of their human rights by self-proclaimed Prime Minister Suleman Chaher, and the Laeralian government requests that all Laeralian citizens currently held in captivity be released to the Laeralian Embassy."
"It is troubling that there has not yet been any clear indication that the supporters of the Aelurian bid for independence from the greater Federation of Lauchenoiria represents the true will of the Aelurian people."

[Lauchenoiria]

"... and the decline of the Spotted Purple Butterfly is far from over."

"Thank you for that, Mr Sanchez. And after the break, we will have some more guests on to discuss the current political situation unfolding in Lauchenoiria."

Theme music.
Five minutes later.

"Welcome back to Breakfast in Buttercity, I'm Kathy Thompson. Joining us this morning is renowned political commentator, Luis Delaney, Professor of Political Science at Yerville University, along with former government minister Howie Hall and our political correspondent Olivia Quirós. Professor Delaney, what are your thoughts on the current situation unfolding in Buttercity?"

"Well, Kathy, I am concerned that events appear to be moving exceptionally quickly in an unprecedented direction. From the arrests of Foreign Secretary Josephine Alvarez to the manhunt underway for Laura Moore, it is clear this was no peaceful transition of power. President Walker is still in exile and it seems increasingly likely the impeachment will be successful, despite having no legitimate cause. I would argue..."

"Sorry, let me interrupt you there. As a former member of the Cabinet from the previous Communist administration, I have to object to your statement that there is no legitimate cause. President Leanna Walker signed the capitalism bill, which is a crime against this nation. The electoral irregularities in that referendum were considerable..."

"Those 'electoral irregularities' were not noticed by any international observers or the neutral electoral commission. They are a conspiracy created by the Communist Party to delegitimise the Private Sector Legalisation Act. Now, if Walker had refused to sign, it could then have been argued as grounds for impeachment..."

"Thank you both for your views Olivia, can you please remind our viewers what the current situation is in Buttercity?"

"Well, Kathy, Prime Minister Chaher has announced an exceptionally well-funded operation to hunt down former Prime Minister Laura Moore, and so-called 'resistance leader' Sonja Alvarez, wife of Josephine Alvarez. He has also... Howie, no need to wrinkle your nose, we all know your views on same-sex marriage (laughter). As I was saying, he has also arrested several prominent businessmen, of various nationalities. Flights out of the country are fully booked, and given the delays caused by the enhanced border checks for so-called fugitives, there are delays of days for departing flights.

The so-called resistance movement has undertaken a variety of activities, from graffiti to the destruction of property in Melissa City, in a reversal of scenes earlier this year when communist protesters rioted. It is unclear if this is the work of an organised overall movement or disparate individual groups. Meanwhile in Parliament, impeachment proceedings continue. Several Members of Parliament have been arrested for a variety of crimes ranging from 'treason' to 'terrorism', and all of these MPs were against the impeachment."

"Thank you, Olivia. I'd like to move on to discussing the situation in Aeluria. As you all know, First Minister Keitha Noguera was the victim of an assassination attempt following Aeluria's declaration of independence. Mr Hall?"

"As much as I support Chaher's economic policies, this assassination attempt has greatly disappointed me. Noguera is no threat, in fact she is very sympathetic to the communist cause. I would urge Prime Minister Chaher to refrain from targeting Noguera."

"And what makes you think Chaher was responsible?"

"If I may interrupt, all the evidence points towards Chaher's guilt. Some of his goons were on Aeluria, watching Noguera at the time of the assassination attempt. There is photographic evidence that places one of them in the location the shot was fired from. Chaher ought to be arrested for attempted murder!"

"Luis, the evidence is far from conclusive, and you certainly cannot prove they were acting on Chaher's orders. I do not accuse Chaher of ordering the assassination, merely that Chaher's anti-Aeluria rhetoric may encourage others to act in ways that are not appropriate or necessary."

"Suleman Chaher has stated several times in Parliament since the declaration that if Keitha Noguera did not surrender he would consider going to war to keep Aeluria. Seems to me, he found a less costly option to achieve the same result."

Thumping.

"So, Olivia, what are your thoughts on the situation?"

"Well, Kathy, Chaher's grip on power is failing, and with the Aelurian incident, I anticipate foreign powers (Louder thumping) will be standing up to Chaher and demanding he faces justice..."

Loud crashing.

"Apologies, we appear to be having some kind of disturbance in the studio. Olivia, if you would like to..."

Extremely loud crash and then the sound of running footsteps.

"Stop the broadcast. Now."

"For those of you at home, behind the camera right now are several soldiers, who are demanding we stop broadcasting..."

A soldier appears on screen and drags Kathy from her chair. She screams. A face appears in front of the camera and then static.

[Sancti Imperii Catholico]

The Foreign Ministry Building was mostly quiet for the day. Nothing around the IDU had stirred the attention of the couple dozen of people who were in charge of monitoring foreign media and news for any changes in the countries. Yet as many were finishing their duties for their morning shift, one person rung a bell, signaling that something at least somewhat major had occurred. Everyone perked up, and the lead project manager hustled over.

"What is it Laura?"

The girl named Laura looked over while pointing to the static on the screen.

"Some Lauchenoiran broadcast has been cut. Seems to be because they were talking critically about that Chaher guy. Do you think this will affect us at all?"

The boss bit his top lip, "Send a message to Russo. We might need to talk about this."

_________________________________________________________________________
Gonhog

"Glorious Leader!"

The Leader of Gonhog turned around, his classic Gonhogian brandy and cigar each taking one hand. Setting his brandy down on his desk, the Glorious Leader looked up from his computer to see his favorite and best advisor by the doorway.

"Jacobi! Come in, come in. Take a seat, why don't you?"

Jacobi sat on the edge of his seat while leaning towards Leader, "Ken, we must postpone our invasion of the Catholics. We have a golden opportunity supporting Chaher in Lauchenoira."

Ken frowned while Jacobi continued.

"Think about it. Having another military power in the region, especially one indebted to us, would be perfect. The Catholic would be even easier to crush!"

Ken continued to frown thoughtfully while leaning back, then raised his eyebrows inquisitively.

"You really think they would help us militarily if we do the same?'

Jacobi's eyes grew wide, "Of course! With them, we could even conquer Libertas Omnium Maximus and claim the peninsula together! The two of us combined would make us more of a powerhouse then we already are! I mean, Chaher doesn't even know us, but he will once we help him!"

Ken stroked his chin, then breathed a deep sigh.

"I suppose. I'm putting you in charge of this. Don't screw it up Jacobi."

Jacobi saluted then left, closing the door behind him. Ken picked up his brandy from the desk and took a puff from his cigar while swiveling to look over Jaken City. Things were turning out well for him.

[Lauchenoiria]

Josephine Alvarez forced herself to eat another mouthful of the disgusting slop that passed for "food" in Ginsnap Prison outside Lorentonia. It took all her remaining strength to stop from either bursting into tears or futilely attacking one of the guards in anger. She had almost finished eating when the murmur went around the room that indicated new prisoners had arrived.

She brushed her hair from her eye and glanced over in their direction, briefly. Then her brain processed what she saw and she turned back, this time staring. She recognised Olivia Quirós immediately, Olivia had interviewed her several times. And the other woman with her was unmistakably Kathy Thompson. The guards just watched as the largest woman among them sauntered over to the pair.

Kathy, who had clearly been crying, tried to jump away but slipped, sending a jeer through the crowd. Olivia tried to help Kathy, but the large woman knocked her to the ground as well. In seconds, the pair were surrounded. The guards did nothing.

Before Alvarez was aware of what she was doing, she had stood up and pushed through the crowd, helping the pair up. She tried to guide them back to the table she'd been sitting at, but some of the crowd stopped them.

"Move," demanded Alvarez. The large woman only laughed, then grabbed Alvarez and tossed her out of the way like a discarded item of clothing. The crowd then proceeded to crowd the newcomers once more, knocking them over and kicking at them. Alvarez stood up, and took a run towards the crowd, yelling. She lifted her fist, but before it could connect with anything, she felt a sharp pain in her back.

She fell to the ground with a crash, and tried to roll over, but she felt another impact. She managed to get a look at her assailant, just before she blacked out, in time to realise it was one of the guards, and they were most definitely on Chaher's side.

---------------------------------------

"Martin?" asked the teenager who had just entered the restaurant Matéo... no, Martin, sat in. She wore a pale blue hoodie, under which her school uniform was still visible. At 18, she was a legal adult, yet something about the school uniform made her look far too young to participate in such activities.

She slid into the seat opposite him and ordered pizza and a lemonade. Once the waiter was safely out of earshot, she exhaled.

"I'm so glad this wasn't just some scam of his to ask me out on a date," she laughed, "so, what is it you want?"

"You ought to be more careful when making contact with someone for the first time."

"Eh, Daniel showed me your picture, I'm good with faces. And if you're playing us we're screwed already, right?" she grinned, though a flicker of fear was visible on her face. Martin sighed and leaned back as the waiter brought their food.
When he had once again left, Martin turned to Leonie.

"I would like to get in contact with some political figures who have some reservations about Suleman Chaher's government. Do you know anyone like this?"

Leonie's eyes sparkled slightly with excitement. Martin was almost certain she did not comprehend the level of danger she was in.

"Someone like Laura Moore, you mean?" she said quietly.

"You're in contact with Moore?"

"Well, not me, precisely, but I know someone who is. I could ask," she swung her legs as she spoke in a way that did not fill him with confidence in her level of maturity. He nodded regardless.

"Give me three days, then I'll meet you here," she handed him a piece of napkin with coordinates. She opened her mouth to add something else when the door flew open.

"Good afternoon. Please have your identification cards at the ready," said the federal policeman who had burst through the door.

"Is that really necessary?" asked one waitress.

"Given the recent increase in criminal activity in this area," he looked pointedly out the window at some graffiti comparing Chaher to a certain animal on the building across the street, "we are checking for fugitives and illegal immigrants. Now, your ID?"

The waitress pulled a card out of her pocket and showed it. The other police officers went around the room. When they reached Leonie and Martin's table, Leonie handed one of the officers her ID card then twirled her finger around her hair.

"Much better weather than a few days ago, isn't it?" she said to the officer.

"We are not here to discuss the weather, Ms... Boyd," he responded firmly, handing her back her card and turning to Martin. "ID?"

He took out the driver's license he had been given several days before and handed it to the officer. The officer stared at it and began to open his mouth when from the other side of the restaurant a shout rang out as a young man jumped over a table and ran for the door, past where Martin and Leonie sat. The officer dropped Martin's card and grabbed at the runaway.

"No, please don't send me back to Kerlile! You know what they treat men like there, ever since the matriarchal dictatorship won the civil war. Please, you can't!" he sobbed, struggling as several of the police officers struggled to contain him. They dragged him out of the restaurant and drove off, Martin and Leonie forgotten.

------------------------------------

"You have news for the Prime Minister, General?" queried Charissa Clarke as General Sanchez was shown into her office.

"Yes, ma'am. We have been contacted by an individual close to Keitha Noguera, who has informed us that Noguera intends to travel to Laeral to join President Walker. Our sources suggest Noguera is still in Lauchenoiria and is currently on Butterfly Island."

Clarke leaned back in her desk and studied Sanchez. He was a distinguished general, who had far more experience than most Lauchenoirian soldiers, given the previous few governments' pacifistic natures. Yet Clarke was still not sure whether or not they could trust him. His loyalty was unmistakably to his country. But with Walker still technically President, it was down to Sanchez's interpretation of the situation.

"The Prime Minister is on an important call at the moment but tell me what you propose."

"Between our informant and the lack of security surrounding Noguera, it would be relatively easy to detain her, with very little risk. The question is whether or not the Prime Minister wishes her to be detained."

If Sanchez was lying, he was exceptionally good at it. Clarke detected no signs of deception on his face, however being naturally distrusting of everyone, she was still uncertain.

"If you wait here, he will be finished soon."

"This is the call from Gonhog, yes?"

Caught off guard, a surprised look crossed Clarke's face. Who told him?

"What makes you say that?"

The General just smiled.

[Laeral]

Matéo- no, Martin- was sweating beneath his jacket. Even back at the cheap hotel where he was staying, the terrible shock of that moment back in the cafe stayed with him. The police officer who'd been checking IDs had sensed something was wrong with his ID. He knew it, and if the young man a few tables down hadn't chosen that moment to make a break for it, the game would have been up. He looked down at his fake drivers license, noting the spots where his picture had been taped over the original, as well as the fake hologram on the card. It might work under casual scrunity, but under the eyes of a professional...

He shivered inwardly. He took a few deep breaths, and thought about it. He'd have to either find another forger or steal someone else's card, neither of which would be easy. He decided to talk with Daniel again to try and find a better ID card. If not, he had a small pistol stored under the hotel room bed. If he saw the opportunity to steal someone else's card, he would take it. But ideally, he'd have Daniel fix up his driver's license and try to avoid having it checked by police.

As for the rendezvous with Leonie in three nights, he'd take it. It wasn't comforting that his life was likely in the hands of a schoolgirl in a pleated skirt, but he didn't have any alternatives. He decided to bring his (highly illegal) gun with him. It couldn't hurt.

-----------------
President Brennan sat behind his desk, secure telephone in front of him. He turned to Marie-Claire Beringer, his Foreign Minister. "I'm about to make the call. You're sure about this?"
"Absolutely. If we don't send a strong signal to Chaher that we won't tolerate his government and his arrests, then he will continue. And what better way to do so than a phone call from a clearly aggravated President of Laeral?"
Nicholas nodded. "Fire and fury".
He ran through his script in his head once again. He would dial the Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria's secure telephone line, using the number he'd received from Laura Moore a few months back. He doubted the new 'Prime Minister' would have changed the number. He'd then, in a calm tone of voice, inform Suleman Chaher that his government was illegitimate, as per President Walker's denunciation, and that the government's arrest of Laeralian citizens would provoke unpleasant consequences for Chaher and his cronies. He would then inform Chaher that as of ten minutes ago, the Laeralian government was officially forbidding all Laeralian businesses from doing business with any member of Chaher's cabinet under penalty of law. At this point, he would tell Chaher that he and his staff were considering unspecified harsher measures
against Chaher's regime, including summoning the IAC or launching military action. This was a bluff, as Brennan was unsure of whether he had the votes in the National Assembly to justify the kind of military action that would be required to unseat a foreign government. Brennan would then tell Chaher that unless he immediately released all Laeralian citizens in custody and resigned immediately, he would personally ensure that Chaher was removed from office. Fire and fury. He picked up the phone and dialed the Prime Minister 's phone number.

[Lauchenoiria]

Suleman Chaher ripped the phone out of his socket and dumped it in the bin by his desk. He then proceeded to put his head in his hands and tried to slow his breathing. He had to get a hold on his temper, it was causing no end of trouble for him. The unexpected call from the President of Laeral had shocked him. After a few minutes, he exhaled and buzzed Jonas on the intercom.

"Get me Rowan," he demanded.

Several minutes later, his Foreign Minister, Rowan Martin, entered the room, with Jonas trailing behind him. Chaher waved for Jonas to leave them.

"I'll have the report on the risk of Gnejs supporting Aeluria by..."

"No, that's not what this is about," Chaher cut him off, "I just had a call from President Brennan."

Martin lowered himself into a chair and spoke cautiously, "and what did President Brennan want?"

"To inform us of new sanctions, and to threaten that unless I resign and release all the Laeralian citizens in custody, he will basically go to war."

"In those words?"

"Not as such, no. But the implication was pretty clear."

"And what are you going to do?"

"I will not be intimidated. Walker is not the only one with allies. I am going to contact Gonhog, they offered their support last night. I'd like you to get in touch with Kerlile. We've detained a large portion of the fugitives who fled here from their country," Chaher handed Martin a document. "Offer their return in exchange for support. And hint that when we capture Sonja, we may offer her to them."

"Of course, Prime Minister."

Rowan exited, and Chaher picked up a different phone, dialling Gonhog. If Laeral moved against him, they would regret it.

[Sancti Imperii Catholico]

Gonhog

Jacobi leaned back as he finished some paperwork left for him by Glorious Leader. Reaching into his mini-fridge to grab a bottle of beer, his phone began to ring. Breathing a heavy sigh, he lifted his head up, grabbed the phone, and put it to his ear.

"All hail Glorious Leader! How may I assist you on His behalf?"

"This is Suleman Chaher, from Lauchenoira. Laeral has formally placed sanctions on my cabinet and has threatened war against our nation. We need them to know we are not alone. And that they should regret such actions,"

Jacobi nodded, grinning, "Of course. Glorious Leader will be notified right away. A statement will be released within the hour to the IDU." With the that, he hung up, hurriedly opening his laptop and called for his secretary.

"Lilly!"

The secretary entered the room and bowed, "Yes, Mr. Jaken?"

"Tell Our Glorious Leader that Chaher has asked that we stand with them against Laeral and whoever else is in their way. I will take charge as commanded."

The secretary bowed again, "Yes, Mr. Jaken," then exited the room.

Jacobi then continue to draft the statement to the IDU

"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”-

Official Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Gonhog
Jaken City, Gonhog
4 June, Y.L. 63

ON BEHALF OF OUR GLORIOUS LEADER,

To the IDU, and all members of the region:

As a nation that has experienced the struggles of being recognized, Gonhog fully supports and stands by Prime Minister Suleman Chaher's government in Lauchenoira, both militarily and economically. Any acts of hostility will be treated as acts of aggression against Lauchenoira, and will be dealt as such. Prime Minister Chaher, we wish you good luck, and we will provide support and aid for any adversities that you face. The nation of Gonhog and many of its businesses stands by you, Prime Minister.

Signed,

The Glorious Leader of the nation of Gonhog

[conterniasgloriousleader]

"Gonhog's backing Chaher"

The words uttered by Conternia's Minister for Defence Klara Stein, matter-of-factly but with an unmistakable severity, as she entered the office of Prime Minster Ezra Griffiths quickly silenced the hum of discussion within the room. The Prime Minister's cabinet were sitting around the table at the room's back, discussing the ongoing crisis in Lauchenoiria. The air was stifling, and the room had never felt smaller or more suffocating to the veteran politicians seated within it. It was Minister for Foreign Affairs David Falange - an older man with greying red hair on his face and chin and a weariness in his eyes - who spoke first, and rather taciturnly: "well, fuck". There was no hope of a peaceful resolution now, if there ever had been.

Stein continued as if she hadn't heard him, her tone remaining composed by every word imbued with the weight of their implications.

"I think it's beyond time we accept that neutrality is no longer an option. Sides are being taken, lines are being drawn, and the violence is escalating every day. It's no longer a matter of if we get involved as just how and on who's behalf."

Griffiths sighed deeply: he'd hoped it wouldn't come to this. Making eye contact with the Minister for Defence, he spoke, his tone collected but with an unmistakable air of resignation
"What do you propose?"

"Chaher has subverted his country's democracy and plunged it into chaos. We all know that he is a frankly fanatical ideologue, and that if, no, when the people of Lauchenoiria stand up to him, he will clamp down, and hard. We have the power to stand against him, and I think that under the circumstances we have a moral obligation to before this mess gets any worse."

"Hang on, now", interjected Oswald Benneke, one of the Prime Minister's most senior advisors. "You talk about democracy, but there are serious doubts about the conduct of Lauchenoiria's capitalism referendum. I say we ought to find out just what sort of government Prime Minister Moore's was before we take sides in this."

Stein turned her gaze to him, letting just enough derision into her tone to let him know exactly what she thought of his suggestion.

"With due respect", she said, trying not to let sarcasm coat the words too thoroughly, "people have died. The Prime Minister and President of Lauchenoiria remain unaccounted for, we still have no idea what has happened to the hostages at the Buttercity tv studios, and whoever tried to take out Noguera remains at large, and you're asking me to base my decisions on a conspiracy theory more associated with disreputable online forums than the chambers of government?"

Obviously flummoxed, Benneke opened his mouth to respond when the Prime Minister silenced him with a raised hand. Stein was one of his longest-serving and most trusted colleagues, and he took her words very seriously.

"I understand what you're saying, I really do", said the Prime Minister, his gaze meeting that of the Minister for Defence. "But my hands are tied here."

Stein frowned and tilted her head slightly in confusion and apprehension. "How so?"

"I was elected", began Griffiths, "on a platform of traditional Conternian values - the encouragement and funding of education and innovation, the duty of the powerful to help the helpless, a commitment to fighting inequality."

"And?", Stein responded, "if Chaher gets his way, then I doubt those values are going to be top of his agenda."

"My ability to promote those values", the Prime Minister continued, "has been dependent on Conternia maintaining strong allegiances with other left-wing parties in the region. Including Chaher and the Communist Party. If I am seen to move against him, it could cost this government crucial international allies. It would be a blow to our image as a beacon of enlightened, socialist government"

"And if you act in favour of him, what will that do to our image?", Stein replied without missing a beat. "You said it yourself, you were elected for your commitment to the values that make this country what it is. Can you really say the words "Free Minds, Free Eyes, Free People" in good conscience if you backed a would-be dictator trying to have people killed for graffiti?"

Griffiths inhaled and paused. Stein was right, he knew it.

"Very well", he said. He turned to Falange, and spoke precisely yet urgently: "I want your department to issue a statement. Let Chaher know that we do not recognise his government, and that if he does not stand down we are ready, willing, and able to act against him."

*

Excerpt from the Statement by the Conternian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the crisis in Lauchenoiria, 5th June 2018

"Conternia does not recognise Suleman Chaher as the Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria, or his government as legitimate. Conternia recognises Laura Moore as the true and legitimate, democratically elected Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria, and consider Chaher's actions to be acts of terrorism, which we wholly condemn. If Chaher does not stand down and relinquish his claim to power, then Conternia is prepared to launch swift and decisive military action to depose his illegitimate, rogue government and restore Laura Moore to power."

[Lauchenoiria]

President Leanna Walker watched the vote in the Lauchenoirian Parliament on the TV in her room in Laeral. It seemed as if tiny fireflies were dancing around the edges of the screen.

She gasped, taking in air. She'd been holding her breath again, as nerves gripped her. She stood up and paced back and forth around the room. She picked up a biscuit and held it to her mouth, then dropped it again, too nervous to eat.

It was the final vote on the impeachment proceedings. Seventeen Members of Parliament were missing, including Laura Moore and Josephine Alvarez. All 17 were Walker's allies, and none had been seen in recent days, Moore and Alvarez for longer.

Chaher needed 60% for the vote to pass, so she only needed 42 votes to be safe. Chaher needed 62 to succeed. The missing 17 were all Liberals, so that meant 24 Liberals, 38 Communists (following Chaher's defection), 18 Greens, 10 Conservatives, 6 Social Democrats, 4 Aelurian Independence Party, 2 Feminists and the solitary far-right Lauchenoiria First MP.

The Communists would vote in favour, as would Paul Doberman, the fascist. The Feminists had publicly come out in support of Chaher, leading Walker to give new thought to the theory they were a Kerlian front. That gave him 41. The remaining Liberals had stated their intent to oppose the vote, but their coalition partners had backed Chaher. That gave Chaher 59. The Conservatives were backing Walker, as were the 4 AIP, following the assassination attempt on Noguera. Which gave her 38. So it all came down to the Social Democrats.

They were ideologically close to her Liberals, and had always been potential coalition partners. They did not stand for the same things as Chaher, and under different circumstances, Walker would be sure of the side they'd take.

But Chaher wouldn't have moved forward with the vote unless he thought he would win.

Walker watched Chaher sitting smugly at the Prime Minister's seat on the TV. The vote was starting. As she watched, her predictions kept coming true, until they reached the first AIP MP.

"Juliet Manlara, MP for Liaville and East Aeluria?"

"I vote yes."

Walker held her breath once more. What? The voting continued, until it was over. Her Chief of Staff, Daniel Garza, walked into the room as they read out the final totals.

"... with 69 votes in favour to 34 against with 17 abstentions, the motion passes."

Daniel gently extracted the TV remote from Walker's fingers and switched off the TV.

"Leanna? Are you okay?"

She heard his voice but was frozen.

"Leanna? Madam President?"

She just stared.

------------------------------

"Following the set of votes in Parliament today, the formal removal from office of Leanna Walker is complete. We now request that Laeral immediately extradite Walker to Lauchenoiria, to stand trial for her crimes. Under Lauchenoirian law, Walker is no longer President. Vice President Kieran McKenzie is due to be sworn into office later this afternoon.

The events of today show that Prime Minister Suleman Chaher's government is the legitimate government of Lauchenoiria, under our laws. Any action taken by foreign entities against Mr Chaher will be considered an act of war against this nation. We will not tolerate other nations harbouring fugitives from justice. Thank you."

Rowan Martin straightened his tie as soon as the broadcast was finished. Then he picked up his coffee and walked off down the corridor. Charissa Clarke stood waiting for him.

------------------------------

"People of Aeluria, I come before you today with distressing news. The attempt on my life last week was not orchestrated by Suleman Chaher, despite the seemingly clear evidence to the contrary. In fact, former President Leanna Walker was behind the attack, and the subsequent framing of Chaher. We have a recording of her personally giving the order.

Following the discovery of this news, I returned here from Butterfly Island instead of joining Walker in Laeral as she wanted. I instructed AIP MPs to vote in favour of the articles of impeachment against her, as she has performed clearly criminal acts. I urge Laeral to comply with Lauchenoiria's demands for extradition, and will begin working with Chaher on a transitionary agreement to independence."

------------------------------

Laura Moore sat in the tiny flat in Summersea she resided in, fanning herself due to the unnatural heat. She had been watching the news all day. She had seen Walker's impeachment, Martin's threats, and Noguera's announcement. And she had only one response to the latter:

"What the...?"

[Lauchenoiria]

"What's wrong with her?" asked Edmund Walker, standing over the bed where Pres- former President Leanna Walker lay, staring at the ceiling.

"We don't know," replied Daniel Garza. Edmund was the former President's brother. Daniel had called him when Leanna remained in this state. Edmund's wife was from Laeral, and they currently lived there. Despite rarely speaking to his sister, Edmund had rushed over.

Leanna Walker had been staring at the ceiling for hours. She had refused to speak to anyone since the vote. The doctors said there was nothing physically wrong with her. Though he wouldn't admit it to anyone, Daniel was freaked out by it.

He left Edmund in the hospital room with Leanna and, nodding at the Secret Service agent stationed outside the door, he headed down the corridor to the staircase, avoiding the lift. When in the staircase, he took out his phone and dialled.

"Where do we go from here?"

-----------------------------

"Did she do it? Answer me," Laura Moore demanded.

"I don't know," responded Daniel Garza over the phone. He sounded exhausted. Moore paced around the garage they were using as a base of operations.

"Then find out! I want to know if there's any truth to it! Why would Noguera ally with Chaher if he really did try to kill her? She's not stupid, and she's damn hard to buy. If she's switched sides, she believes it."

"She still won't respond. I think something's wrong with her."

"Yes, but is it shock, or guilt?"

Daniel did not answer her. Moore had to know the truth. She didn't want to believe that Walker had ordered a false flag attack, but she remembered once the argument they'd had over the bill permitting research into genetically modified crops. Walker had vetoed the bill, only to have the veto overturned by Parliament. At that moment, she saw something in Walker that scared her.

"Daniel... look, I know you care for her but we have to know what we're dealing with. Is this a clever story by Chaher, or are we going to have to fight a war to save democracy? If Walker really did do this, then the impeachment is legally justifiable. And so is Chaher's government."

"I don't know, Laura. I... she reacted pretty quickly when the assassination attempt happened, but maybe I'm just seeing things in hindsight."

"I need to know, Daniel."

"I know you do. Look, I'll contact you when I have something, okay?"

"Yeah."

Daniel hung up the phone, and Moore exhaled. She tapped her finger against her leg. She didn't want to believe it. The trouble was, that she did.

-----------------------------

Darí­o Vega, First Minister of Melissa Province hurried down the steps towards the exit of the Melissan Parliament. He hadn't dared take the lift, and he wasn't quite convinced the phone had actually ended the call when he threw it down. He checked behind him as he ran, but the staircase was empty. Maybe he had time.

As he approached the bottom, he caught a glimpse of the crowd of soldiers in front of the building and, cursing, headed towards the emergency fire exit. He burst from the emergency exit, setting off an alarm and sprinted towards the crowd of reporters gathered.

The heads of all the reporters whipped around as he approached and they began their cacophony of questions. The soldiers, drawn by the commotion began to run towards them. As Vega reached the crowd, he stopped, and cleared his throat.

"In a call from Suleman Chaher, I was informed that powers devolved to the Provincial Government would be "˜temporarily' brought under federal control as a "˜measure to keep the peace during these difficult times'. Naturally, I refused to consent, as is necessary under the constitution..."

As the soldiers grew nearer, Vega grabbed a microphone from one of the reporters, and against politician's instinct, pushed into the centre of the crowd so they surrounded him. It would take much longer for Chaher's goons to pull him out from there. He would get to say his part.

"... and so, he threatened to imprison my entire cabinet. People of Lauchenoiria, make no mistake, Suleman Chaher is a dictator. I urge you all to..."

Vega fell to the ground as a bullet found his head. Half the crowd screamed and scattered, as the soldiers advanced on the position.

"Pity about that, I'm sure Chaher would have preferred him alive," one of them shrugged.

"Nice shot though," replied another, "no more than what a traitor deserves."

-----------------------------

Sonja Alvarez leaned against her hand as she watched the footage from Melissa City. Things were moving faster than she had anticipated. The resistance wasn't ready. She sighed. There was not much of a choice. Either they moved now, or Chaher's grip on power would be too tight.

She picked up her phone and dialled Leonie.

"Don't come over today, okay? It's not safe," she said as soon as Leonie picked up the phone.

"Who is this?"

Sonja froze at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. She remained silent.

"This is Leonie's teacher, and we do not tolerate phone calls in class, even to the senior pupils. Could you please..."

Sonja slammed down the phone and removed the batter. Stupid. She was normally so careful as well. She exited the cupboard that passed for her "˜office' and handed the phone to one of the others.

"Dispose of this somewhere, please," she asked him. He nodded and left. Sonja ran a hand through her hair. She wondered if Josephine was okay. She remembered the circumstances of her parents' deaths and tried to slow her breathing. It's happening again.

---------------------

Kathy Thomson slid onto the bench across from Josephine as she swallowed some of the slop. Kathy nodded to some of the other former MPs sat at the table. The number of political prisoners had grown enough that they filled their own table. The others mostly left them alone now, just due to their number.

"Where's Olivia?" asked Josephine.

"Didn't you hear? She freaked out and attacked one of the guards. She's in solitary."

Josephine shuddered. She'd only just got out of that place herself.

"Olivia has a fear of confinement," continued Kathy, "and so this is one of her worst nightmares. She took a job as a reporter in a democratic country with a free press, and then this happens. She was a damn good reporter, but she's not going to survive this."

"Why does it sound like you're blaming me?"

"I'm not, it's just... why didn't you lot see this coming!? We'd been saying for months there was something off with Chaher, yet Moore didn't fire him? Even with his misconduct over the riots in Melissa City?"

"Would it surprise you to know that I did speak to her about this? She ignored me."

"I... well, it wouldn't surprise me that you did it, but it's pretty surprising you told me."

"What does it matter? Who are you going to tell?"

"Fair point."

They continued to eat in silence, then Josephine got up to take her tray over to the rack. When there, one of the other prisoners, a fierce woman with a gang tattoo, grabbed her arm. Josephine froze in fear.

"I don't care about politics, but my sister does. I saw her yesterday at visiting. Just so you know."

The woman with the tattoo left and as feeling returned to Josephine's body, she discovered that there was now a tiny slip of paper in her hand. She glanced down at it, and for the first time in a month, she felt hope.

-------------------------

"Gonhog, Kerlile and us, against Laeral and Conternia? Yeah, we can win that," nodded Charissa Clarke, her tone again casual, disguising that her every action was calculated meticulously.

"Good. Ideally, it won't come to that... but better to be prepared," Chaher responded, stacking the paperwork on his desk neatly.

"Are we quite sure we're willing to have Gonhogian and Kerlian military personnel on our soil? Even as allies?" Rowan Martin frowned.

"I doubt the Laeralites and Conternians will ask permission. And you know we can't beat them without help."

"I thought we did this to get rid of foreign influences, not to end up being occupied by foreign powers?"

"You sound paranoid, Rowan. Anyway, this discussion is academic. It won't come to armed conflict."

"No?"

"We always have our backup plan, anyway," interjected Clarke.

"What backup plan?" asked Martin.

"The classified one that you don't have clearance for," retorted Chaher.

Martin raised an eyebrow. If he didn't have clearance, that had to be one dangerous and top-secret backup plan.

"Believe me, Rowan, if Gonhog and Kerlile don't leave when we want them to, they will regret it," insisted Clarke.

Martin did not doubt it.

[Laeral]

"You know as well as I do that we do not have the political capital to mount a war with Lauchenoiria," Prime Minister Tanvi Misra said on one end of a secure phone call.
"I made my decision to call Suleman Chaher as I did," President Nicholas Brennan replied. "We simply have to live with the consequences."
"The consequences of threatening war against another nation when we do not have the political or military ability to do so," Misra said. "Was it Marie-Claire who advised you to do that?"
"It was," Brennan replied.
Tanvi went silent for a moment, and Nicholas knew from experience and the popular conception of PM Misra that she was carefully reevaluating her opinion of his Foreign Minister on the spot. "Provided that you did not explicitly threaten war, we have some room to maneuver."
"I didn't threaten war," Brennan said. "Just serious consequences."
"And now we could be about to be mired in a foreign war the people of Laeral do not want," Misra said. "I have worked with you for 11 years now. I feel that the Lauchenoirian crisis is not a situation best suited for your talents. Nicholas, you are an excellent speaker and a fine leader." Nicholas mentally braced for what she was about to say. "However," she continued, "this situation is rapidly taking on the appearance of a political quagmire. Resolving these political issues is where I can be most useful to you. After all," she said, "isn't the saying that the President solves problems from his desk by day, and the Prime Minister prevents problems from reaching his desk by night?"
"Not exactly," Brennan said, "but you get the idea."
"Yes," Misra said. "I know how Chaher's mind works. I know how every political game on the continent works, and how to play it. I see in Leanna Walker a creature similar to myself, and I know exactly how to move her. I am your most skilled political tool, Nicholas. Allow me to be used where I can be most effective."
Nicholas had made up his mind. "I doubt, Tanvi, that you have ever been anyone's tool but your own. Regardless, you've convinced me. I'm placing you in charge of our government's response to the situation in Lauchenoiria, in my name."
"Excellent," she said. " I will begin working immediately. I would like access to our Security Council, in addition to my present duties."
"You'll have it," Brennan replied, his mind already on the next issue he needed to address. "I'd like this resolved before the elections."
"It'll be done," Misra said, smiling to herself.
----------------
Newly emboldened by her new role, Prime Minister Misra prepared a message to deliver to Leanna Walker at her temporary residence outside Laeralsford once she recovered. She then picked up her pen (she preferred to write her more important correspondence by hand) and began composing a message for Prime Minister Moore. She finished the letter, sealed it in an envelope, and passed it on to one of her aides, Nathalie. "Give this to the Bureau of External Action. Tell them that it is absolutely necessary that their agent, C-02, receives this letter by tomorrow."
"Agent C-02? You know the individual BEA agents?"
"Of course. Tell them Tanvi Misra sent you. Jerome will understand."
Nathalie stood there for a second, trying to process this. The BEA was notoriously secretive, and in fact had a reputation as one of the most tight-lipped and morally
suspect agencies in the Laeralian government.
"Hurry, won't you? I haven't got the whole damn day," her boss said. Nathalie quickly hurried out of the room. She'd learned that the Prime Minister's bark was worse than her bite, but she didn't want to suffer through any more tongue-lashings than she had to.

[Lauchenoiria]

Laura Moore swallowed the coffee Katya handed her and almost gagged at its bitter taste. She preferred her coffee with copious amounts of milk, but after travelling to the outskirts of Buttercity overnight, she needed it to stay awake.

A bitter wind blew, and the teenager, Leonie, shivered. Katya nudged Moore as two figures appeared from the south. Katya reached for her gun, and one of the figures did the same.

"Wait!" Leonie exclaimed. "Hi, Daniel!"

"Hi Leonie! I like what you've done with your hair."

Katya and Moore exchanged a look as the teenagers greeted each other.

"Martin Collins?" Katya asked, her hand still on her weapon.

"Indeed. Nice to meet you, Ms Moore," he said, shaking Moore's hand.

"Likewise. I assume there's a reason you're here? These times are not good for sightseeing and the like," she responded, with a pointed glance at Daniel.

"Hey! I'm..." Leonie interrupted Daniel by pinching him, which caused his cheeks to turn red.

"Sorry about him, he's... assisting me in matters of identification documents. And wished to come along," Matéo smiled apologetically.

"The kids and I will watch the perimeter," said Katya, grabbing Daniel and Leonie's arms and leading them out of earshot, ignoring their protests against the use of the word kids.

"Now, why did you ask for this meeting?" asked Moore.

"I have a letter for you, from Tanvi Misra," he replied, handing Moore a letter.

"And what can I expect to find inside?" she raised an eyebrow.

"The contents are between you and the Prime Minister, but I can tell you that Laeral believes you are a better prospect for restoring democracy than Walker."

"Because of the allegations against her? You believe them?" she responded, looking away towards the city.

"That's not for me to say."

"You're right, Walker's political career is dead, whatever happens. Her silence after this guarantees that. But you wouldn't be here just to tell me you think I'm more competent than Leanna Walker."

"No, I wouldn't. You understand, of course, that Laeral cannot be seen providing military support against Chaher's government."

"But?" Moore looked him in the eyes.

"There are ways of offering support that would avoid that issue. For example, we could provide some assistance in liberating certain individuals being held for politically motivated reasons in Ginsap prison."

"Do you have better intelligence that they're actually there?" Moore said excitedly, as her cool facade slipped. "We've all heard the rumours, though we still have no idea where they're holding the men."

"We believe the female political prisoners to be there, yes," he responded. "We would be willing to provide personnel and supplies to aid the Lauchenoirian resistance in a raid against the facility."

Moore nodded. "We were planning something, but we don't have the resources. Any help would be appreciated."

"Okay," Martin said, "now, I ought to be going, we don't know when the next patrol will be."

Moore thanked him and shook hands as Katya and the two teenagers approached. Daniel gazed at Moore in the manner she'd seen on young Liberal Party members at the last party conference as they asked her for selfies. She felt almost nostalgic, it can't have been more than six months ago, but it felt like a lifetime.

Martin and Daniel left, and the three women watched after them for a few seconds, before turning the other way.

----------------------

"The footage released by the Lauchenoirian Government, showing the abuse of communist protesters at the hands of Melissa City Police Department and the Skodenian Peacekeepers is shocking, and is proof that life under Laura Moore's government was far from the free and fair society members of the so-called 'resistance' claim.

The testimony from the Communist Party member imprisoned after the events is a damning indictment of Moore's regime. The messages he has given the courts access to clearly show that Moore hired these individuals to take hostages, and then brought in foreign forces to kill those she'd hired so that they could never speak out about her plot to discredit the Communist Party."

Chaher switched off the TV. That was much better. Since he'd nationalised all the television channels, and had their reporters thoroughly vetted, there was no more incidents like what had happened with Olivia Quí­ros and her so-called 'facts'. They'd even managed to stop the footage of Darí­o Vega's untimely death being leaked.

This made it so much easier for Chaher to get on with running the country. The traitors who had allied with foreign powers and allowed them to dictate Lauchenoirian policy were gone. One was lying half-dead in Laeral, and the other was too scared to even confirm to her people she was alive. Moore had vanished, and for all Chaher knew, she was indeed dead.

Chaher picked up his tablet and flicked through the feeds from the hidden CCTV cameras he'd had installed around the government buildings, stopping when he noticed Rowan Martin sitting on Charissa Clarke's desk. He turned on the sound.

"... what he thinks he's doing, but he can't just go around having soldiers kill provincial politicians, no matter how inconvenient they are!"

"Look, Rowan, I know how distasteful you find this, but it had to be done. Of course it would have been better if Vega was still breathing, but..." Clarke shrugged and stood up, walking over to the window.

"Charissa, what are we doing? This isn't us. We support the absence of private industry, we oppose the unfairness that comes hand in hand with capitalism," he walked over behind Clarke and put his arm around her waist. Chaher raised one eyebrow as he watched. He hadn't known those two were intimate. "We don't support murdering political opponents!"

"Rowan, not everything is going to go the way you want it to. Sometimes you can't win by playing nice."

"Maybe we should stop playing altogether. We could run away, retire on some nice island somewhere and forget all about this."

"Rowan!" Clarke pushed him away, frustrated. "You're too bloody idealistic! If you hadn't been so quick to protest indignantly instead of playing it smart, we wouldn't even be in this mess! You could have brought down Moore if you'd only given it some thought!"

"I didn't want to bring down Moore! I wanted to help the people of Lauchenoiria the way I was elected to do! And now... I wonder if I picked the wrong side."

"That's dangerous talk, Rowan Martin," warned Clarke.

"I don't care! Let's just go, leave Chaher to his mess!"

"Rowan, take it back."

"I won't!"

"Then get out."

"Char..."

Clarke held her hand up and turned away. Eventually, Rowan sighed and exited. Clarke walked back over to her desk and sat down, head in her hands. She took a deep breath then picked up the phone. After she finished dialling, the phone in Chaher's office rang. He muted the feed, but kept watching as he picked up the phone.

"Prime Minister? I have some disturbing news about Rowan Martin..."