[Xiomera]

(This thread is a continuation of the Xiomeran Chronicles thread, providing behind-the-scenes stories and one-off RP not part of an ongoing RP event. It will provide stories from both Xiomera and Huenya, along with Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands. Although technically not part of Huenya, stories from Milintica may also be posted here as they are related.)

December 9th
Chuaztlapoc

The day after the final battle at Zapotlán, the feeling of most people in Chuaztlapoc was one of overwhelming relief. The Imperial counterattack had been stopped, and the talks to come at Jinyu promised a potential end to the civil war.

While most people were relieved, Cozamalotl was not one of them.

The Huenyan Assembly was having a session to discuss what their stance would be at the Jinyu talks when Cozamalotl walked into the room, Cuetzhual and Natcahuacu in tow. The opposition leader calmly waited as the Assembly members recognized him. "We weren't expecting you, Cozamalotl," Yauhmi said, seeming surprised. "Has something happened?"

"He's gone mad, is what has happened," Cuetzhual snapped. The younger opposition leader looked at Cozamalotl with something akin to exasperation. "He's come here to tell you something, and you need to talk some sense into him!"

Cozamalotl sighed, looking at Yauhmi. "He thinks I've gone mad, but I am quite sane, I assure you."

"That's good to hear, but could you please explain what this is about? We are in the middle of planning for the peace talks," Yauhmi said. Cozamalotl nodded, turning back to the Assembly. "I intend to return to Xiomera to participate in Calhualyana's elections."

Yauhmi looked at Cozamalotl as if he had sprouted a second head. "If you truly don't wish to live any longer, Cozamalotl, there are easier and far less painful ways to commit suicide," she said finally.

Cuetzhual shook his head. "Listen to Yauhmi, you will literally be committing suicide if you return to challenge Calhualyana. The 'elections' she is holding are a sham, just a way for her to cement her power. They will not be real elections; you won't be able to stop her being 'approved' by the referendum she is holding. She will be 'approved' as Empress, and then she will come after you. It is madness for you to return."

"I must agree, Cozamalotl. It is extremely naive for you to embark on this plan," Natcahuacu said. The opposition leader looked at Yauhmi and the other Assembly members. "You cannot let him return."

"We can't stop him from going if he wants to - we're not about to hold him prisoner even to save him," Yauhmi retorted. "I do appreciate that, given that wasn't always the case," Cozamalotl replied dryly. Yauhmi snorted slightly at the remark. "We don't do that.....well. not anymore," she said. "But why do you want to go back? It's surely a futile gesture."

"I do not believe it is. Of course the elections are a sham. Of course I will lose. But someone has to try. Everyone seems to think the fight is over now - even all of you," Cozamalotl said, looking at the Assembly. "It may be over here, but it is not over in Xiomera. People there still deserve freedom, and they need someone to fight for it for them. I will register an opposition political party in her elections, and will argue against her fake referendums on behalf of the Xiomeran people. I will be the opponent that the remaining opposition in Xiomera needs to rally around and fight what Calhualyana is trying to do. She wants to build a system that perpetuates the Xiomeran Empire forever. I can't stand by and watch that happen."

"But you're needed here, to help ensure that democracy becomes a reality in Huenya and that these people live up to their promises - no offense," Natcahuacu said, looking at the Assembly members. "None taken, we do need minding, especially some of us," Sirua, the Itotemoc leader, said with a grin. Yauhmi sighed at the remark, looking up at the ceiling.

"Am I really needed here? There are younger opposition leaders here, who can do what I do. In fact, I would argue that it is time for me to let them do that, and get out of the way," Cozamalotl told Natcahuacu. "You and Cuetzhual are both excellent examples of that, and I trust you to make sure that the promises being made by the leaders of Huenya will in fact be kept. But again, Xiomera deserves the same chance. And Calhualyana can't simply be allowed to push her plans through unopposed. If she accomplishes her vision, Huenya will remain forever divided, Xiomerans will remain oppressed, and the Xiomeran Empire will continue to exist like a dark cancer on the edge of Caxcana. I must do what I can to prevent that. As the most prominent member of the former opposition, before the coup, I am the only one that can rally what is left of the opposition in Xiomera. And if worst comes to worst....I am more expendable, frankly, than the rest of our leadership here. You all have many years ahead of you, Natcahuacu. Myself, not so much." Cozamalotl smiled. "It is really the only logical course of action, at least in this highly illogical situation."

Before Cuetzhual and Natcahuacu could object further, Cozamalotl turned back to the Assembly. "I am leaving today for the border, and hopefully they will actually let me in."

Yauhmi shook her head. "I suppose we cannot convince you otherwise. We will do what we can to help you in your efforts from here, but once you're back in Xiomera....if Calhualyana decides to punish you, we may not be able to save you." Cozamalotl simply nodded, already having accepted that fact. "Good luck, and keep us aware of events if you can," Yauhmi said.

As Cozamalotl turned to leave with the other opposition leaders, another voice spoke. "I thought you were a typical politician, all words and no actions. You're far braver than I realized," Huacue, the Necatli leader, said in what constituted high praise from a Necatli. "I wish you luck. Will you at least let us send some bodyguards with you?"

Cozamalotl thanked Huacue, but declined. "If things don't go well for me, a few bodyguards won't save me, and I don't intend to drag anyone else down with me. Whatever fate has in store for me, I will face it alone."

---

Several hours later
Saclamantón

The customs and border security checkpoint at the main ferry terminal in Saclamantón was busy, even with the civil war barely being on pause. In fact, it was even more busy than usual, between Xiomerans unhappy with the new "Huenyan" government heading east to return to Xiomera proper and Xiomerans unhappy with the old Xiomeran government fleeing west to leave Xiomera for Huenya. But even in the crush of traffic, the arrival of one of Xiomera's most prominent opposition figures back from exile was guaranteed to attract attention.

As a few reporters gathered at the checkpoint, Cozamalotl calmly presented his Xiomeran passport and identity documents to the guards. The guards, clearly not expecting him, hastily called their superiors. As the clock ticked, each person called kicked it further up the chain of command, not wanting to be the one responsible for approving Cozamalotl's return. Finally, the phone rang at the Office of the Golden Chamber. The Attendant transferred the call to the Empress. Calhualyana listened in silence as the situation was explained. After a moment, she chuckled softly. "Let him in. Yes, let him in. Don't arrest him. Let him travel freely and do whatever he likes. But have him watched, and document everything he does all the way down to whenever he takes a crap and for how long. ASI must not miss a single thing he does. And report his actions to me on a regular basis."

The Empress hung up the phone with another soft chuckle. Oh, Cozamalotl. If you really want to hang yourself, I'm more than happy to give you as much rope as you want. I will bury you in rope, if that's what you desire. And then.....I will yank the noose shut.

---

December 10th
Tlālacuetztla

The very next day after arriving back in Xiomera, Cozamalotl arrived at the offices of the Imperial Electoral Commission with a small army of opposition members in tow. Walking into the lobby, he walked up to one of the guards. "We are here to register on behalf of the Unification Party for the upcoming elections."

The guard seemed highly surprised that anyone had shown up to do so; the Xiomeran Citizens’ Party, the party widely seen as being a loyalist party for the Empress, had been the only one so far to actually do so. Another slew of phone calls commenced, before Cozamalotl was led to a nearby office to complete a set of registration documents and pay a sizeable registration fee.

With that, the Unification Party was born. Its platform was simple: end the Xiomeran Empire, unify with the rest of Huenya, and implement a democratic state. While the platform itself was simple, Cozamalotl was by no means blind as to how difficult achieving it would actually be. "This is the first step in a long journey. We don't know how long or hard it will be, or when we will get there. But for our people, we will take those steps," he told his followers outside the Electoral Commission.

As he spoke, there were already several ASI operatives scattered through the crowd, keeping track of things.

[Lauchenoiria]

(Jointly written with [nation]Xiomera[/nation])

The Cauhloc, Xiomera
10th December 2020, 5:17am

Mariya Adema, personal torturer for the Xiomeran Empress, practically ran into the deserted office and scrambled to pick up a phone. She still had some blood on her top, not her own, and she'd left various instruments of torture strewn along the corridor in her haste to get to a phone. She picked up the handset and quickly dialled the Attendant of the Office of the Golden Chamber, heedless of the hour.

The Attendant had been sleeping, but woke when the phone rang stridently. Her apartment at the Palace of Flowers was directly connected to the Golden Chamber. She was expected to answer any calls or business for the Empress at any and every hour. She picked up the phone, doing her best to sound awake and coherent. “This is the Attendant to the Empress. Please state the reason for your call,” she said, wishing yet again that she got overtime pay.

"This is Mariya Adema," Mariya said slowly, in her imperfect Huenyan. "I must speak with the Empress. It is very important." She wished, not for the first time, that her command of the language was better so she needn't concentrate on every single word.

Even with the imperfect at best Huenyan, the Attendant knew who Mariya was. She also knew it would be unwise to delay her call, even at the equally unwise chance of angering Calhualyana. She quickly placed the call through, giving the Empress a brief explanation when she answered.

Calhualyana listened in silence, irritably gesturing to the man who had been sharing her bed to leave the room. Once he was gone, the Empress sighed. “Mariya, as much as I enjoy speaking with you, this had better be damned important.”

"It's Tlālzixiuhxa. The Aurora. She's finally talking. And you need to hear what she's got to say for herself. I'd think she was lying, if I didn't know when I'd broken a person. She's being truthful," Mariya spoke English, knowing the Empress would understand and losing the patience for working out how to pronounce the words in Huenyan.

”I will come and hear what she has to say,” Calhualyana finally said, already out of bed and walking to her bathing and dressing chambers. “I am guessing this will be worth my early morning effort.”

*

About forty-five minutes later, the Empress had arrived at the Cauhloc and descended to the interrogation levels. “Alright, Mariya, what is so important that I had to come here before the sun was even up?”

Mariya led the Empress to Tlālzixiuhxa's cell, and signalled for the man who stood there to unlock the door. Inside, the Aurora was chained to the wall, covered in bruises and sitting next to a pile of blood that hadn't quite finished drying in.

"Repeat to the Empress what you told me," Mariya commanded. "Or I will repeat what we did this morning."

"NO!" the Aurora half-yelled, half-croaked, shaking. She looked up, at Calhualyana, though her eyes were struggling to focus. "Yauhmi doesn't know! She doesn't know... but you'll know. You'll know and you'll be happy and you'll stop, yes? You'll stop her?" Tlālzixiuhxa glanced at Mariya then looked pleadingly back at the Empress.

Calhualyana decided that a routine of good-agent, bad-agent was in order. “If you are truthful with me and tell me everything you know, Tlalzixiūhxa, I will make sure your suffering ends. All you need to do is talk to me.”

"I work for Councillor Robinson," the Aurora blurted. "Well, I mean, we all work for the Council, right? But Robinson isn't part of the Council, not really. Wasn't, not isn't. Well she was but she wasn't, y'know? Not the current Robinson, Carmen, that one, she was a kid, teenager, involved kinda but not really. Sarah, Sarah Robinson, Councillor in the war. The civil war, the Kerlian civil war."

She was speaking fast, too fast, tripping over her words in her hurry to get out what she needed to say. "But Robinson, she was recruiting Auroras, ever since she was young, her mother's death, her mother's murder, yes. She was recruiting Auroras right from under the nose of the Pierres! There's many of us, I know who they are, yes I know who they are. Not who they were, who they are. Where they are, their names. Their use-names. I can tell you them, I didn't tell Yauhmi them, I didn't tell her."

Tlālzixiuhxa started coughing, her throat dry, but continued, her volume lowered. "We weren't on the Council's side. In the war, no we weren't," she laughed. "We gave information to DKS. Robinson worked with them! If they knew, if they knew they'd kill them all. All the Robinsons, the children and the babies too. She told me, not Sarah, the new one, the kid, Carmen. She told me... they saved them. The DKS people. The ones supposedly executed in 2003. They're hiding... hiding. In Zongongia and Eiria. Waiting, waiting, waiting... never being called."

"She wants to start the civil war again, you know," the Aurora whispered, leaning forward as far as the restraints would allow. "Robinson. She wants to destroy the Council, not reform it, destroy it. Just to get revenge, yes, revenge, on Pierre for the death of her grandmother. And we Auroras, she used us, double agents, triple agents, I don't know. She used us..." Tlālzixiuhxa began to laugh and sob at the same time.

Calhualyana stood in silence, stunned. If this information became known to the Council, or became public.....

The Empress smiled slowly. “Provide us their names and where they are. And then I will keep my promise.”

"Veronica Penners, Lauchenoiria... not still there, went home she did. Made a deal with Alvarez, Alvarez doesn't know, Pierre doesn't know, Robinson does... divided loyalties, that one. Gemma... Whitney Seet... she died in Zamastan. Explosion, running away, killed herself to avoid capture. Smart one, smart Gemma. Bin Zhi, Fern... vanished. Nobody heard from her. Riley Nelson, Eiria, a prisoner there now. Xing Yawen, assigned to Laeral, went back to the Matriarchy when the evacuation order came. Alyssa Robinson, was in Lauchenoiria, now home. And Samantha Collinsgate, home too. So few... so few. Robinson didn't want people to get suspicious, no she didn't."

Tlālzixiuhxa closed her eyes and swayed from side to side as if drunk, humming a little to herself. "It corrupted us... many of us failed, they went to failure prison. Hmm yes, failure prison. Casey, Trina, Kristen, Georgina, Janey... May be free now, may not, Kerlile didn't tell me."

Mariya leaned closer to the Empress to fill in the gaps. "The concept of 'failure prison' has come up multiple times. It appears Auroras who fail certain examinations are imprisoned somewhere on their training complex, for life. Usually as children. Apologies for her behaviour, she is on several substances to aid in interrogation."

Calhualyana nodded distractedly, clearly not caring about the odd behavior Tlalzixiūhxa was exhibiting nor how it was caused. “You will attest to everything you know about this subterfuge and these Auroras that the Robinsons recruited, both in writing and on video. After, of course, you are fed and cleaned up. See to it at once,” Calhualyana said to one of the guards. “Truly, Mariya, I am displeased with how you have treated this prisoner. We will discuss this further once we are alone,” the Empress said in a severe tone as Tlalzixiūhxa was helped up by the guards. With her face turned away from the Aurora so she could not see, however, the Empress winked at Mariya.

"Failure prison," Tlalzixiūhxa muttered to herself as the guards unlocked the chains keeping her attached to the wall. "We all end up there in the end... failures."

Mariya leant back against the wall, looking pleased with herself as the guards led Tlalzixiūhxa away to mop up some of the blood stains and give her less tattered clothing. Mariya herself hadn't bothered to remove Tlalzixiūhxa's blood from her clothes, but she enjoyed the way it frightened people.

"She didn't tell Yauhmi," murmured Mariya to the Empress once the Aurora was out of earshot. "Not as loyal to her little saviour as she claimed to be. The Council, Robinson, Yauhmi... all that one can do is betray and betray. How do you plan to use this information?"

”I plan to hold onto it for now,” the Empress replied. “Kerlile is cooperating with me right now, but if the time should come when they stop being cooperative, or if a change in leadership is needed....this is very useful information indeed. I shall have to arrange for ASI to begin monitoring the location and whereabouts of the double agents that Tlalzixiūhxa revealed.” Calhualyana smirked. “Undoubtedly she will now see me as her savior, rescuing her from the torture. We do make an excellent team that way. I’ll have to keep that gambit in mind in the future. Your work, as always, was excellent. I didn’t think we could break an Aurora, to be honest.”

"Everyone breaks eventually," Mariya replied. "The question is whether or not they do so before their mind is so addled they no longer have the mental capacity to tell you anything. The only escapes are death or insanity. Auroras fear the latter, and I would not permit Tlalzixiūhxa the former. What do you plan to do with her now?"

”We shall keep her in custody for now, in case any other useful information can be obtained from her. Or, if nothing else, she is needed as living proof of her claims if I decide the Kerlian Council needs re-arranging,” Calhualyana laughed. “I hate to reward your fine work with more work, but you’ll soon be quite busy. I assume you saw the briefings about Cozamalotl returning to lead the ‘opposition’?”

Mariya barely flinched at the talk of rearranging the Council. It was not her country any more, it was nothing to do with her. "I did, and frankly I'm concerned that he already lacks the mental capacity to make sensible decisions," she snorted. "There are less painful ways to commit suicide; no Kerlian dissident ever returned voluntarily before the grubby reformists got their mitts on the Council. I would recommend you make an example of him, prove your strength, Empress."

”I agree with you. But first, I will use him as a tool to show how much support we truly have. And then, once he has served his purpose, I shall let you and ASI deal with him and his followers. Interrogating them should help us track down even more malcontents. Cozamalotl will draw many of those who oppose me out into the open, which will make the task of cutting them out of the herd so much easier.” The Empress smiled. “I assume you’re up to the task.”

"Of course, Empress," Mariya replied, smiling sinisterly. She was going to enjoy this very much. Coming to Xiomera had been the best decision she ever made.

[Xiomera]

Jinyu, Laeral

Back in her hotel room, Yauhmi turned the piece of paper that she had been given by Councillor Pierre over and over in her hand. She wasn't sure what the unexpected and secretive message would bring her. She wasn't sure, given everything that was already taking place, that she could handle a new development. Eventually, with a sigh, she opened the letter and read it.

Dear Yauhmi,

We are a collective of former Kerlian intelligence agents, part of the Aurora Programme. We desire to free one of our number, who is presently detained by Calhualyana. We write to request assistance, as we fear our mission will fail without outside help. The Aurora we wish to free is known to you, your former spokeswoman Tlalzixiūhxa. If you are willing to meet with us, contact the number on the enclosed business card.

Daisy, Eleanor, Fern, Lauren, Renee, Norma, Naomi, Nicole, Nora.

Tlalzixiūhxa. Yauhmi sighed again, but not in trepidation. She had greatly regretted the loss of her spokeswoman, and had tried to find out what had happened to her once she had been captured by Xiomeran authorities, but to no avail. But, apparently, this mysterious group of Auroras knew where their fellow Aurora was. After a moment, she went into the sitting room and told Texōccoatl to come into her room. After he had closed the door behind him, she wordlessly handed him the letter. He read it through as well, before letting out a slight sigh of his own and plopping down into an armchair. "Breaking someone out of ASI custody will be risky. They will either be holding her in the Cauhloc or at one of the ASI black sites somewhere. Hopefully these Auroras know where Tlalzixiūhxa is actually being held. If it's the Cauhloc...."

".....if it's the Cauhloc, and we don't help them, those Auroras will be walking into a suicide mission, no matter how good they are," Yauhmi finished the sentence in a flat tone.

"I already know you want to help them, and I agree, we should. Is this something we should run by the Assembly?" Texōccoatl asked.

"No," Yauhmi said after a moment. "To be blunt, they might well say no. That is not a risk I want to take."

"If the operation fails, the Assembly will be furious with us both. Even if it succeeds, they will not appreciate not being told," Texōccoatl retorted, but with a smile on his face.

"Then we had best make sure it succeeds, and then it will be much easier to seek forgiveness for not having asked permission," Yauhmi replied firmly. "So. Get in touch with Tlanexchel and have him begin putting a team together to help the Auroras, and as much current intelligence as we can get on the Cauhloc and security arrangements in Tlālacuetztla." Texōccoatl nodded, still smiling, already taking out his phone to make the call.

After he had departed, Yauhmi took out her own phone, and dialed the number on the enclosed card to make a phone call of her own.

[Xiomera]

On the campaign trail

Huitzitaca

Xayactochtli, the candidate for Prime Minister from the Imperial Glory Party, glared. At the crowd in front of him, at the cameras broadcasting his speech, at everything.

He was a very angry man. And he wasn't afraid to show it.

"We are led by fools and cowards!" he shouted, slamming his fist down on the podium. "First Yauhmi, a weak old woman with a bleeding heart who cared more about how much a bunch of foreigners and domestic traitors loved her than she did about the Empire! Then Xochiuhue, a lunatic murder machine with the competence of pond scum! Now Calhualyana, who cravenly seeks permission to give away half of our Empire and prostrates both herself and our Empire before the foreigners in Jinyu! Truly, she is the worst of all - she wants to just give away half of our Empire, which she did nothing to earn us, so she can have a shameful peace and plant her pretty behind on the Obsidian Throne without further work!"

Xayactochtli shook his head. "We will not have it! We didn't fight to build a great Empire over all of Huenya, Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands, just so it can be given away for a coward's peace! What the hell did our ancestors fight and work for, if we're just going to lay on our backs and let the rabble of the west and the foreign devils take it from us without a fight?"

"I say this, and will say it again and again, as often and as loudly as I need to for the message to finally get through to the coward living in the Palace of Flowers, the moronic incompetents who call themselves the General Staff of our military and shame the uniform I once wore, and the other idiot leaders in Tlālacuetztla: we will not accept this! Xiomera must fight to regain our entire Empire! If Yauhmi and the rabble want Huenya 'unified' so badly, let us give them their wish - under the boots of Imperial soldiers! Let us 'unify' Huenya under the great banner of the Xiomeran Empire, as it should be and as it was for centuries before the idiocy that befell us after Topilpopoca died! And if any foreigners object, they can find themselves under our boots as well! We haven't expanded in a very long time, and perhaps it's overdue! But, if nothing else, I will say this: the IGP and those that follow us will never accept a shameful peace or a servile surrendering of our Imperial lands. Xiomera must fight on, and burn down the world if need be, until either we win or until no one is left standing! A century of war to defend what is ours is better by far than a millenia of a shameful peace with us under the boots of the western rabble or the foreign devils!"

The crowd attending his rally, mostly older Xiomerans, veterans and a scattering of far-right activists, shouted in agreement.

---

Xochiatipan

The Plaza Henalca, in front of the Municipal Palace, was traditionally where large gatherings were held in Xochiatipan. It was also typically where the infrequent uprisings by the Xiomeran people began, as the scars the plaza bore from both 1977 and 2020 demonstrated. The largest single uprising in Xiomera proper against Yauhmi's overthrow had happened here, just six months prior. Cozamalotl and the Unification Party were hoping that they could resurrect their waning campaign in this city, the historic home of Xiomeran democracy movements.

Since the campaign had begun, the Unification Party had struggled to recapture the energy of the initial rebellion against Xochiuhue. Convincing people to rebel against a mad Emperor who was murdering people left and right, and driving the country to ruin, was one thing. Convincing them to continue rebelling, after eight grinding months of war, sanctions and economic collapse, was proving to be much harder after the mad Emperor was no longer around as a lightning rod for the people's anger.

The Xiomeran people, more than anything, wanted things to just go back to normal. They wanted the war to stop, and for the sanctions to end. They wanted to go back to work. They wanted money in their pockets, and food on their tables. The heady promises of reform and democracy from just eight months ago were wearing thin, in the face of the very real struggle Xiomera was facing. Calhualyana was promising a return to normalcy, and to prosperity. For a people unused to hardship, her appeal was proving to be very alluring.

It was facing this spirit that Cozamalotl and the Unification Party members running for Parliament seats arrived at the plaza. The first person to speak was Mixochitli, the UP-X candidate for the Imperial Parliament for the newly created Xochiatipan Province, District 1. When she began her speech, the relatively small group of UP-X activists and party members in attendance cheered for her. The great majority of the crowd, however, remained silent, occasionally giving her tepid applause. When she was done, it was time for Cozamalotl to give his own speech. He quickly walked up the steps to the podium, doing his best not to be disheartened by the disinterested, even sullen response the majority of the crowd had given Mixochitli.

"Citizens of Xochiatipan, you know who I am, so I won't waste your time with longwinded introductions," Cozamalotl began. "I am proud to be here, today, in Xochiatipan, the city that has always fought the hardest for democracy and freedom in Xiomera. The Unification Party is here, to continue that fight at your side..."

A voice echoed out from the crowd. "Where were you when your 'fight for democracy' brought soldiers down on our streets and our people? You were off hiding in Chuaztlapoc!"

Cozamalotl was slightly shaken, not expecting such outright hostility before he had even started his speech. Nevertheless, he continued. "To escape the coup, and Xochiuhue's thugs, such a step was necessary. But we are here now, and we will not abandon you..."

Another voice, angrier, shouted over Cozamalotl. "Yeah, like Yauhmi didn't abandon us, right? You're all full of crap! You start fights, and then run away and leave the people facing the anger of the government when things get too hot for you! And you want to run our country?"

Now thoroughly thrown off track, Cozamalotl tried to regroup. "We never abandoned the people or the fight for democracy here. Our presence here, now, is proof of that. We are the alternative to the tyranny disguised as democracy that Calhualyana is trying to impose on us all....under the Unification Party all of our people will have a voice, and we will begin laying the foundation for true freedom in Xiomera...."

"Bullshit!" another person shouted, her voice strident. "You're just another separatist like the bastards in the west! You don't want to save Xiomera, you want to destroy it!"

"That's not true!" Cozamalotl shouted, beginning to lose control of the situation. Before he could continue, some of the Unification Party members began arguing with others in the crowd. In the next instant, fistfights began to break out between the Unification Party members and others in the crowd. Cozamalotl desperately shouted for calm, and for the Unification Party members who were fighting to stop. But it was entirely too late.

Within seconds, Imperial Police began marching into the Plaza Henalca, slamming their batons against their shields. They moved to separate the Unification Party members from the crowd, forming a line between the two groups and not hesitating to use force on anyone refusing to break up their fighting. The rally degenerated into complete chaos, with angry people on one side threatening the Unification Party members if they didn't leave, and the UP-X members shouting their own threats and angry responses. Accusations of treason and corruption filled the air, mingling with the smoke from the tear gas canisters the Imperial Police were now discharging. Several Unification Party members quickly began escorting Cozamalotl and Mixochitli out of the Plaza for their own safety, as Cozamalotl turned back to look in complete disbelief.

The Plaza Henalca, the cradle of Xiomerans' fight for democracy, was filled with shouting people denouncing the very idea of democracy and threatening the people trying to bring it to them. "I don't understand," was all Cozamalotl could say as he was hustled to a waiting van for a harrowing ride out of the plaza.

---

Stadium of September 1850
Tlālacuetztla

In a backstage area of the stadium, Empress Calhualyana and Toquihu, the Xiomeran Citizens' Party candidate for Prime Minister, spoke via video call as the Empress was still in Jinyu for talks. "You certainly did a good job planting GCL, PYC and XSPA members in the crowd to rile up the people at the Unification Party rally," Calhualyana said approvingly.

Toquihu nodded respectfully to the Empress. "Thank you, your Majesty, but it was nothing. We've had a lot of experience in running these radical scum off our streets before. We'll do it again if we have to. But I think we've gotten things where they need to be. After that debacle in Xochiatipan, Cozamalotl is finished. Not that he ever had a chance, really."

Calhualyana simply smiled at that statement. "Let's finish him and his 'democrats' off, then, shall we?" she said. "It's time."

The massive national stadium of the Xiomeran Empire was filled to capacity - over 100,000 people had packed into the iconic structure to attend the XCP campaign rally. The stage, and the entire stadium, were decorated with massive Xiomeran flags, flags with the XCP party symbol and golden bunting. Images of Xiomera's most famous rulers lined the stadium walls - Quiauhticue, Patonal, Achcauhyotl, Camaxtica and Lōpoch. In a deliberately snide affront to Yauhmi, if she were somewhere watching, Topilpopoca's image was also mounted to the walls.

As the rally began, the XCP leaders, with Toquihu at their head, marched down the long aisle to the stage, escorted by Imperial soldiers in dress uniform, representing all of Xiomera's armed forces branches. Following them were members of the various Xiomeran "citizens' groups" - the Patriotic Youth Corps, the Xiomeran Students' Association, the Xiomeran Servicepersons and Protectors Association and the Good Citizens' League. They carried more Xiomeran flags and XCP banners with them as they made their way to the stage, to raucous cheering and applause, as the Imperial anthem played.

With the images of previous Xiomeran rulers, in noble poses, looming over the crowds, Toquihu waited patiently for the XCP candidates for parliamentary offices from Tlālacuetztla gave their speeches. It was his turn soon enough, and Toquihu strode confidently to the podium to more applause. "People of Xiomera! People of Tlālacuetztla! Thank you for your welcome! As the XCP candidate for Prime Minister, nothing warms my heart more than to see so many of our people here today cheering us on. Xiomera, today, faces threats and opposition from both foreign powers and domestic turncoats who want to shatter the Empire, and to destroy the hard work of our people for six centuries. They have already stolen half of our Empire from us," Toquihu said darkly, to angry shouting and booing from the crowd. "But we will not let them take any more from us! We are Xiomerans! We will uphold our way of life, and defend our Empire! Your strength and your pride, which you demonstrate so clearly here today, will see us through this chaos into a stronger and better future!"

As the crowd cheered, Toquihu continued. "We will defend our homeland. We will protect our borders and maintain our sovereignty. We will renew and re-invigorate our economy, and become even more prosperous than before. We will defend our culture, our heritage, and our way of life against domestic traitors and foreign manipulators alike, who think there is something wrong with being Xiomeran. They say that the Xiomeran Empire is wrong, and must come to an end, whether you want it to or not! Will you let them take our country away from us?"

The crowd began roaring angrily in denial. "Of course you won't! And neither will I, and neither will the XCP! Like you, we love Xiomera, and we will fight for it and see that the sacrifices of our ancestors over so many centuries are not in vain. Together with you, we will ensure Xiomera prevails, and not only that, but that our Empire is stronger and greater than ever!" Toquihu shouted, as the crowd roared even louder. "I am not the only one who will fight for you, either. Even as we speak, there is someone else who is ready to fight with you!"

Toquihu turned dramatically to the giant viewscreen behind him. In Jinyu, an XIN crew was ready to broadcast the Empress live. As the screen lit up, Toquihu shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen.....her Imperial Majesty Calhualyana, by the Mandate of Huītzilōpōchtli, Empress of Xiomera, Protector of the People of the Sun, Sovereign of the East!"

Normally, in public appearances, Calhualyana stuck to the smartly tailored professional-looking outfits of a head of state. That was not the case for this broadcast. The image filling the screen showed the Empress in full royal regalia, featherwork crown and all, with golden robes draped around her. A golden dagger and mācuahuitl were strapped to her waist. If a movie studio had tried to capture a perfect representative image of what a Xiomeran ruler looked like, they couldn't have surpassed the image of Calhualyana, staring confidently into the camera.

"Thank you for the introduction, Toquihu," Calhualyana said as the crowd cheered, surprised by her appearance. "While I wish I could be with all of you today, I am here in Laeral fighting for the future of our nation. Just as I work here to defend the Empire, Toquihu and the XCP are working at home to do the same. Together, we are fighting for all of you. For your children, and for our future. Xiomera has withstood everything the world can throw at it for over six hundred years. We will withstand this too, but only if we stick together and stick to what made us a great people and a great nation. If we do that, nothing can stop us. We will throw off the damage of a war and an insurrection we did not seek nor deserve. We will not only rebuild our economy, but we will build it even stronger. We will protect and defend the things that make us unique in all the world, we will defeat the plots of those who seek to undermine us both from within and from without, and we will show the world the true strength of the Xiomeran Empire! If we stand true to our values, and the things that made us who we are today, there is nothing Xiomera cannot accomplish, and nothing we cannot get past. But we need your help! I need your help and your support to save Xiomera and make it better than ever. Vote for the XCP candidates in your districts, and vote for Toquihu as Prime Minister! Together, we will save Xiomera, and we will show the world that this great nation we have built will stand for another six hundred years!"

Raising her hands in a triumphant pose, Calhualyana stared directly into the camera. "Long live the Empire!" she shouted.

The crowd began echoing the Empress, their anger and frustration at the last eight months finally pouring out in a roar that shook the stadium. As the chant "long live the Empire" echoed thunderously, Calhualyana and Toquihu both smiled.

[Xiomera]

Election Day, pt. 1

After the polls closed at 5:00pm Xiomeran time on January 1st, 2021, the Xiomeran Imperial Electoral Commission began counting the results. The first results were announced at 8:10pm. The following are screenshots from the IEC's official feed on Happytime Online, the Xiomeran microblogging and social networking platform.

[Xiomera]

Election Day, pt. 2

[Xiomera]

Election Day, pt. 3

[Xiomera]

Election Day, pt. 4

[Xiomera]

Election Day, pt. 5

[Xiomera]

Election Day, the wrap-up

[Xiomera]

Election Day - the aftermath

Xiomera

In Xiomera, most people were celebrating the results of the elections. Empress Calhualyana was one of them.

Having found herself too excited about the results to sit around in Jinyu twiddling her thumbs, she had summoned the Imperial jet to take her back to Tlālacuetztla to join in the fun. She could easily return to Jinyu in time for the talks once the party was done; having the Imperial Air Force as available to her as a ridesharing car or a taxi was to a normal citizen was just one of the perks of being an Empress.

As she sipped champagne with Toquihu and the other revelers, and looked out from the Palace over the Tlālacuetztla skyline, Calhualyana found herself reinvigorated. I gave the people a chance to make their voices heard, and they have spoken. I am truly Empress now, and Xiomera follows my vision. With the XCP behind me, and with the mandate of the people, nothing will stop me now. Yauhmi's spell over us is broken. And with her final fall, the Empire will rise. Xiomera is mine, and the future is ours.

As Calhualyana partied and took selfies with her fans, the majority of Xiomerans shared her sentiment. But not all did.

In the Tlālacuetztla neighborhoods of Zipacpepe and Italman, in the city of Xochiatipan, and on Cenotillo Island, many of the people were not pleased with the election results. And they made their displeasure known. These were the closest things to strongholds the Unification Party, and the diminished Xiomeran opposition, had left. What started as peaceful protests ended in fire and smoke, as those Xiomerans who weren't content with their country choosing to slide into tyranny made their last outcry on election night. The Imperial Police and the local police, as they always did in Xiomera, quickly and effectively suppressed the protests. Nothing could be allowed to spoil the party, after all.

In another part of Tlālacuetztla, Xayactochtli and the IGP, along with their followers, bitterly ruminated about the severe loss they had been handed. The defeat had simply proven to them that elections were a waste of time, and that the people needed to be led rather than allowed to lead themselves. Watching Calhualyana celebrate her victory online and on television, they nursed their wounds. Calhualyana may have thought the election meant everything was over. They did not agree.

Huenya

In Huenya, the election results were greeted with a mixture of surprise and disgust. For Huenyans who weren't Xiomeran, it served as validation of all their beliefs about Xiomerans "from east" - namely, Xiomera proper. Some Huenyans (the overly optimistic ones) had actually hoped that the Xiomerans would vote against Calhualyana's plans. The more realistic Huenyans, who had hoped that the vote would at least be close, and thus an affirmation of their belief that Xiomerans would embrace Huenya if given the chance, found those hopes crushed.

For Huenyans who were Xiomeran, it was as if their own family had betrayed them. In some cases, it was literally families staring at each other across a growing divide. Many western Xiomerans, having long shared lives and land with the other people of Huenya, didn't share the beliefs of their eastern counterparts. The western Xiomerans (with the exception of those who had, or were, moving "back east") had also genuinely believed that somehow, Xiomera would redeem itself.

Now, after the election, the growing anger and disdain in Xiomera for the rest of Huenya was beginning to be matched by an equally growing disgust and anger among Huenyans of all ethnicities for Xiomera. Xiomeran Huenyans, in particular, were looking at their kin and seeing people who had just voted away their first real chance at freedom after six centuries - out of spite and fear of change. Disgust was, perhaps, a mild word to describe their opinion on that matter.

Three of these new Xiomeran Huenyans, in particular, found themselves at a loss.

In Zapotlán, as he presided over the ruins of a once thriving city and watched to make sure no further attacks on Huenya occurred, General Tlanexchel found himself incandescent with rage. We sacrificed lives, blood, treasure....an entire damned city. And for what? Calhualyana is what they want? Tyranny is what they love? If that's what it means to be Xiomeran, I am ashamed to be Xiomeran for the first time in my life.

As their General brooded, the Xiomerans who had sided with Huenya, lined up on the front lines, shared his sentiment. Any lingering ties they might have had to the Xiomeran Empire were severed, once and for all, on Election Day.

In Jinyu, Yauhmi and Texōccoatl watched the results with dismay. Texōccoatl found himself disgusted and angry, much like Tlanexchel, and much for the same reasons. What the hell is wrong with them? Texōccoatl thought, not understanding his own people for the first time in his life.

After a moment, Yauhmi asked to be left alone in a drained voice. Out of respect, everyone left the room, even Texōccoatl.

Once she was alone, Yauhmi closed her eyes. Tears began to run down her face. She finally faced what she had tried to ignore. She would probably die in Chuaztlapoc, never getting the chance to return to Xiomera or see her home once more. She would never get to see her husband's grave, or visit the places she loved, again. Her own people had rejected her. No matter what happened in Jinyu, she had lost Xiomera - possibly forever. And Xiomera would be locked away behind a golden curtain, held in place by an iron fist, with no freedom for its people.

I'm sorry, Topilpopoca. I failed.

She was thousands of miles away from home, in Laeral. But even when she returned to Huenya, she wouldn't be any closer to home.

[Xiomera]

January 9th
IGP Party Headquarters, Tlālacuetztla

After their massive defeat in the Xiomeran elections, the members of the Imperial Glory Party were convinced once more of what they had, in fact, believed all along. Elections, at least ones that they could lose, were for fools.

Xayactochtli and the other IGP leaders had certain contacts in the Imperial military. They decided to utilize them.

January 10th
Tlehuaxpantl Imperial Army Base
10 miles outside Tlālacuetztla
3:15 am

The 4th Brigade, of the 1st Capital Division of the Imperial Army, was under the command of Brigadier General Chelapan. When Chelapan received the call from Xayactochtli, he had already been prepared. Within the hour, his brigade was on the move, headed to the capital. Their orders were simple: take the Prime Minister and his cabinet prisoner, secure control of the important buildings in the capital, and declare that Calhualyana was deposed and that Xayactochtli was now Emperor. Once they were fully in control of the capital and the government, they thought, their own coup would have no one in a position to challenge it. The IGP leaders fully expected that the other Imperial military forces would flock to their side, if they could move quickly enough and secure the city.

Things began to go wrong almost immediately. Calhualyana had not known about Xayactochtli's specific plan. But she had fully expected a backlash and prepared for it.

When the 4th Brigade began their advance on the capital, the 1st Brigade, 1st Division of the Imperial Army moved to intercept them. Unlike the 4th Brigade, the 1st Brigade was not prepared to betray the Empress. And unfortunately for the 4th Brigade, the 1st Brigade was the best in the entire Army. Stationed at the Palace of Flowers, the "First of the First" served, in effect, as a praetorian guard for Xiomeran rulers. Before the coup, they had served as backup for the Jaguar and Eagle Warriors, as well as the Shorn Ones. In this new era, the Warriors of Huītzilōpōchtli and the Warriors of Tezcatlipōca filled the role of elite protection for the Empress. The 1st Brigade, however, was still an important piece of the capital defenses.

With the advantages of surprise and rapid movement taken away from them by the alertness of the capital's defenders, the 4th Brigade was unable to achieve the swift seizure of the government that Xayactochtli and Chelapan had envisioned. Instead, they found themselves sucked into a street fight they didn't want.

As fighting raged in Tlālacuetztla, Brigadier General Chelapan sent a message to Prime Minister Toquihu demanding he surrender the government. The Prime Minister responded with a set of Xiomeran obscenities vile enough to blister paint. He then contacted the Empress, who was back in Jinyu.

Jinyu
3:37 am

Empress Calhualyana, woken up from a sound sleep, was already out of bed almost as soon as Toquihu finished speaking. She tersely ordered her Prime Minister to secure the capital by any means necessary. She then ordered her servant to summon her plane, throwing on a set of clothes as she did so.

"Um....what do I tell the Laeralites, your Majesty?" her servant said. "Just tell them I had a bit of business to attend to, but that I will return to Jinyu very shortly, before the ink even dries on their draft. This won't take long," Calhualyana replied in a grim voice as she left the room.

Huaxtumba
4:45 am

The 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, Imperial Army, was under the command of Brigadier General Acahuetl. They moved to secure the center of Huaxtumba, where Xayactochtli and the IGP leadership had gathered to lead their coup. Taking control of the local television and radio stations, the IGP began broadcasting a call for Xiomerans to join their revolt against the Empress. Their call to action cited Calhualyana's plans to cede the Empire's claims to western Huenya and end the war as justification, and tried to get the Xiomeran people behind them.

That call was picked up, and amplified, around the country. However, the rest of Xiomera wasn't as eager to topple Calhualyana and resume the war as the IGP was. Much to the consternation of the IGP leadership, their call for Xiomerans to rise up in revolt with them went nowhere. A few Imperial military units did rise up in response to the IGP call, only to be swamped by the much larger number of Imperial forces who remained loyal to the Empress.

7:45 am

With the backup they had expected not materializing, the 4th Brigade found themselves pinned down and rapidly demoralized. They could see the center of the capital, but had made no progress in their advance, and were now taking fire from all sides by the capital's defenders. In Huaxtumba, the 3rd Brigade was also slowly being surrounded by units loyal to the Empress, and finding their own goals of expanding control throughout the city quite well thwarted.

No massive uprising was occurring in the rest of Xiomera as the IGP had hoped; the small pockets that had risen up were slowly but surely being reduced by the Imperial response.

Tlālacuetztla
11:45 am

With much of the fighting coming to an end, the Imperial Air Force command at Chueypotzotl Air Base received the Imperial jet. Stepping into the terminal, the Empress was greeted by Prime Minister Toquihu. "Your Majesty, you really didn't need to bother yourself to come back. We have everything in hand," Toquihu said.

"I know, but I don't hide in Laeral when someone is trying to take my crown from me. Who am I, Texōccoatl?" the Empress joked, to laughter from Toquihu. The Prime Minister presented the Empress with the latest report as they walked out of the terminal.

The relatively small movements of revolt throughout most of Xiomera had already been crushed. There was still some fighting in Tlālacuetztla, but when word got out that the Empress had returned to the capital and was taking over leadership of the counterattack, the already dwindling morale of the 4th Brigade collapsed completely. Within the hour, the capital fully belonged to Calhualyana once more.

That left only Huaxtumba.

Huaxtumba
1:45 pm

Within an hour of the attack on Tlālacuetztla failing, the revolt in Huaxtumba failed as well. As loyal Imperial troops rounded up their treasonous brethren, Calhualyana and Toquihu walked into the municipal palace, which the IGP had used as the base for their attempted coup.

Standing in the lobby, restrained and surrounded by loyal Imperial troops, Xayactochtli glared as Calhualyana walked forward. "You," he said bitterly. "You weak, soft usurper....you have no right to rule this country!"

"Weak? Soft? I defeated your would-be coup within a few hours, I think you have our positions reversed," the Empress purred in a low voice as she walked up to him. Before Xayactochtli could say anything else, Calhualyana knocked him out with the butt of her pistol in a single smooth motion. "When he wakes up, interrogate him," the Empress said coldly, as Toquihu nodded. "All of these traitors are to be interrogated. I want to know how far this plot goes, and if any further purge is required. As for the IGP....I hope they enjoyed their seats in the Imperial Parliament, they won't be sitting in them long enough for them to get warm. Also....set the 16th as the date for Xochiuhue's execution. This was the last gasp of his supporters, and I am not going to leave their idol around to serve them as a rallying point anymore."

Despite the annoyance of having to deal with yet another attempted coup in Xiomera, Calhualyana was actually pleased. All my enemies keep insisting on making themselves so readily known to me. If this keeps up, soon I'm going to be quite bored.

[Xiomera]

Chuaztlapoc

“You cannot be serious,” Huacue snapped.

The Necatli tlatoani looked at everyone in the room as if they were insane. “You’re proposing that we share our power with some raucous body of elected rabble?”

Sitting in front of the Huenyan Assembly, Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli sighed. “It’s not really a proposal. The people are demanding this. The Acalan Manifesto is not some minor wishlist proposed by activists. The people are rallying behind it. They want my position to be elected - a shock to me as well, I can assure you - and they want an elected legislative body to serve as a counterpart to the throne and to this Assembly. They want the Vice-Speaker position to be head of government, and for a combined legislature to ensure that the people’s will is respected. And I think I should be clear about this - in increasing numbers, tlatoani Huacue, they are not asking for these reforms.”

“The tlatoani have always led their respective peoples, with one serving as first among leaders. That has always been our way, even under Xiomeran control,” Huacue said. “I will not give up my birthright, nor will I completely shred our traditional ways.”

“Nor will I,” Cusuyo, the Tepiltzin tlatoani, grumbled. “I have only just regained true freedom to rule for my people. Giving that up at the behest of some crazy reformists is absurd.”

“I also find these reforms a bit....questionable,” High Priest Tlocuauhtoa murmured. The leader of the Huenyan indigenous religion (outside of Xiomera, at least) steepled his fingers as he looked at the others. “It has always been our way that those graced by the sun shall lead.”

“There is nothing absurd or questionable about this,” Texōccoatl replied. “In fact, I think it is an excellent suggestion. Our purpose in creating this new nation was to bring about change, wasn’t it? Opening up a path to true democracy is the greatest change we can bring.”

“Yes, and you’re undoubtedly ready to agree to it because it changes nothing for you,” Huacue replied irritably. “With this new elected legislature they’re demanding, the other tlatoani are the ones whose power is diminished. Neither you, nor your mother, lose any power at all!”

“Not true,” Yauhmi said calmly. “Not if we go all the way, and also make the Vice-Speaker position head of government, as this manifesto is also demanding. I would be sharing power with the Vice-Speaker, at that point.”

“You can’t really be in favor of this, then,” Cusuyo said in alarm. “If this Acalan Manifesto becomes a reality, even you will be reduced to a figurehead. That is a complete break from tradition - and it makes a mockery of all you suffered and gave up to get to this point, if your crown is just a symbol.”

Yauhmi smiled, with a slightly sad tinge to it. “What did my power accomplish? Where did it get me? Where did it get us?”

“It got us to this point now, where we are free and have a chance to rule ourselves. That counts for something,” Huacue replied.

“Yes, but only at the cost of nearly destroying ourselves. Zapotlán lies in ruins. Huenya itself has been pillaged, punishment for daring to seek its freedom. Families are split apart - our homeland is split apart. And so many have lost their lives. That’s what my power brought us. If there had been some restraints on my power, when this all began - if I had been forced to listen to those who warned me that I was moving too fast to change things, too sure of myself in my pride and arrogance, thinking that I always knew best - what could the outcome have been?”

Huacue and the other tlatoani sat silent as Yauhmi continued. “While I cannot, and will never, regret that Huenya is now free, the path we took to get here has taught me one thing - people in power need restraints on that power. They need boundaries. And most of all, they need for someone to be able to tell them no even when they don’t want to hear it, or to tell them you’re wrong when they can’t believe it. That, ultimately, is what democracy does. I used to think that democracy was wrong-headed, that it gave power over to the mob. You know who still thinks that? Calhualyana.” Yauhmi sighed. “We have to take steps to make sure we don’t just become tyrants under a different flag.”

“We do not need this wholesale change to prevent that though! We do not intend to be tyrants,” Huacue shouted.

“Most tyrants don’t - when they start. But they convince themselves that they’re the only ones who can be trusted to lead.” Sirua, the leader of the Itotemoc, shook her head. “If we don’t trust our people to lead with us, sooner or later, we won’t be their liberators - we will merely be their overlords. And what would our sacrifices have all been for then, in the end?”

“I would also point out one thing,” Texōccoatl said. “As the good Vice-Speaker points out, even if we don’t want to make these changes - and I, personally, do - it would be foolish to resist them. The emergence of Huenya has awoken something in its people. They want freedom, and a voice. They will not accept tyrants anymore, even well-intended ones. I, for one, have no desire to become the peoples’ enemy. That never ends well. Ask Xochiuhue.”

Cusuyo and Huacue looked at each other. “How would this legislature share power between us and the elected side, then?” Huacue said finally, in a resigned voice.

As the discussion continued, Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli smiled. We may end up doing this right and not having yet another revolt after all.

—-

Huenyan countryside
Border between Necatli and Itotemoc regions

“You’ve secured the facility. Are the weapons still in place?” Defense Secretary Tlanexchel, from his temporary base in Zapotlán, looked at the screen in stunned amazement.

“Yes, sir,” the Military Intelligence sergeant of the Huenyan Army commanding the detachment said on the other end of the video call. “It looks like they tried to get them out of the base during the withdrawal, but failed to complete their mission before this area fell to our forces, and the Imperial forces fled while they could.”

Tlanexchel whistled. “Happy birthday to me,” he murmured, his eyes glinting as the camera panned around to show exactly what the Xiomeran Imperial Army had left behind as they had abandoned their former base.

“Indeed, sir,” the sergeant said happily. “We also just got check-ins from other units - it looks like this is just one of four bases like it that had their ‘presents’ left behind.”

“Keep this under wraps for now,” Tlanexchel ordered. The MI sergeant nodded, terminating the call. Do I have something to tell the Assembly. Calhualyana, you may want to think twice about threatening the Federation again, Tlanexchel thought.

At his location, the MI sergeant swiftly barked at his detachment to make sure the perimeter was secure. As he walked through the front gate, the sun glinted off the sign mounted next to it:

Ultimchec Base
Xiomeran Imperial Armed Forces
Imperial Strategic Defense Corps

[Xiomera]

February 18th
Zipacpepe neighborhood, Tlālacuetztla

Quenetzatl gripped his MR-1 tightly, gesturing with a single finger to the Xiomerans behind him. The Milintican activist with the Popular Freedom Militias had been sent to Xiomera in hopes of rallying domestic opposition to the regime. Playing Calhualyana's game with elections hadn't worked. With a fair ballot being denied Xiomerans, it was time to resort to the bullet.

Next to Quenetzatl, Tecaha gripped her own rifle. She was a member of the Huenyan Federal Intelligence Service, who had volunteered for an assignment assisting the Milinticans with their efforts in Xiomera. Regardless of anything else, the Huenyan Federation was still sworn to bring about the end of the Xiomeran Empire and the unification of Huenya, one way or another. Huenya couldn't force the issue with war, but could undermine Xiomera from within.

Quenetzatl and Tecaha nodded to each other, then Quenetzatl raised a second finger. That was the signal.

The group of Xiomerans, led by Quenetzatl and Tecaha, moved in the shadows towards the Imperial Police garrison in Zipacpepe. The group was a mixed bag: democratic activists, people still nursing resentments about how the civil war had gone, Zipacpepe residents who were used to clashing with the authorities, members of the criminal gangs that also clashed with the police for control of the poverty-stricken neighborhood.

They were hoping to get close enough to the building to catch the Imperial Police guarding it off-guard. A sudden shout from the walls, and the glare of spotlights, quickly dashed that hope. With a shout, the group charged the garrison, firing as they went.

February 19th
Palace of Flowers

"It seems as if King Hassan is needing an escape plan," Prime Minister Toquihu said with a soft chuckle.

Empress Calhualyana sighed, looking over the message that they had received from the former King and what was left of his followers. "Inform Hassan and his people that they will be granted asylum in Xiomera, should they wish it. We can use the leverage. Also....reach out to this new King of theirs....Ahmar?" the Empress said, looking back at her notes again. The revolving door of Mallacan rulers was beginning to resemble the repeated coups that Xiomera had undergone in its recent civil war, and was equally perplexing. "While we will allow Hassan asylum, we should still reach out to the new ruler. Upholding royal rule in Mallacaland, whoever wears the crown, and ensuring the continuance of the monarchy there should be our top priority. I don't like all these popular movements and revolutions....they do not help our own cause here at home." Calhualyana tapped her pen irritably. "If Ahmar will accept our help, great. If not, maybe we can find a replacement for him. Perhaps even the old king, Abdin. The last thing we want is for Mallacaland Rising to take power, especially if the Milinticans are behind them - how long did it take the Milintican and Huenyan we captured to reveal their identities, by the way?"

Quihichua, the Minister of Security, smiled. "Not long, after my people attended to them. It never does." Quihichua's brief humor became an irritated grimace. "We should put more pressure on the Milinticans to back off - or force them to, if need be."

"And start another war? We're not exactly ready to fight another one, just yet," Minister of Defense Chuanacoyo piped up.

"Indeed, which is why we will handle things in a more subtle way," the Empress replied. "While we're protecting our interests in Mallacaland, make sure we don't run afoul of the Slokaisians in any way. While I do not fear them, I don't want to pick a fight at the moment, either." Quihichua nodded, taking notes. "As for the Milintican we've caught here in Xiomera, and his Huenyan accomplice....send them back home. After they've visited the Huēyi Teōcalli. I am certain they will deliver the message that I want sent to our meddling neighbors."

Quihichua looked up sharply, before nodding firmly and making additional notes. "And the rest who stormed the garrison in Zipacpepe?"

"They don't need special treatment, just throw them into the Cauhloc," the Empress said. "And as for their accomplices among Xiomerans....I think it's time we finally reined in the disloyal opposition," she added with a slight smirk. "Even if the Unification Party isn't part of the Milinticans' meddling, strictly speaking, I was taught to never waste an opportunity."

The rest of the Cabinet laughed, as Calhualyana took her pen and signed an order.

---

February 20th
Unification Party of Xiomera headquarters, Tlālacuetztla

The Unification Party was discussing what to do about their increasingly tenuous position in the government. They had walked out of the Imperial Parliament in protest at the one-sided nature of the body, and its unquestioning approval of Calhualyana's agenda. It was during their debate that it happened.

Shouts of alarm rang out around the perimeter of the building as Imperial Police vans, backed by armored personnel carriers of the Imperial Army, surrounded the building. Party activists tried to stop the police and army from surging into the building, but it was a futile effort. Within minutes, the trap had sprang shut.

The lead Imperial Police officer in charge of the operation, flanked by more police and soldiers, slammed the doors of the meeting hall open. With a brisk stride, he stood in front of his target. "Cozamalotl, I hereby place you under arrest."

"On what charge?" Cozamalotl said, calmly standing up.

"High treason, conspiracy to commit insurrection against the Empire, and conspiring with foreign agents," the Imperial Police officer replied.

"That's quite absurd, and you know it. We have done no such thing," Cozamalotl said.

"Oh really? Do you recognize this man?" the Imperial Police officer said, quickly pulling out a tablet and activating it to show a mug shot. Quenetzatl, the detained Milintican, was pictured. "I don't recognize him at all, or know what he's done, but that hardly matters to you, does it?" Cozamalotl replied. "You're going to arrest us no matter what we say. So go ahead. Do it, and show us all what you truly represent. You don't really want to hide your tyranny, do you? Show the world that there is no democracy in Xiomera, and let Calhualyana's sham fall to pieces before the eyes of everyone."

With an angry grunt, the policeman punched Cozamalotl in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. The other police and soldiers quickly moved forward, handcuffs and restraints at the ready.

---

XIN evening news broadcast

"The Unification Party of Xiomera has officially been banned for conspiring with foreign powers to commit treason against the Empire," the news announcer said in a sober tone. "While the full details of the conspiracy are being withheld by the government for reasons of national security, officials with the Ministry of Justice have accused party leader Cozamalotl and other members of his party of working with an unspecified foreign power in a plot to cause a rebellion against the Imperial government. Further details will be released as the investigation proceeds and the suspects are brought to trial. To repeat, the Unification Party has been implicated in a plot to overthrow the government after its failure in the January elections and has been officially banned...."

---

February 21st
Milintican embassy
Chuaztlapoc, Huenya

Pita Te Uroa stood up quickly, reaching for her MR-1. A truck had just stopped in front of the Milintican Embassy, and whoever was in the back had ejected two boxes before the truck sped off. Raising the alarm, she sprinted towards the boxes, other embassy guards in tow.

"Wait!" a shout echoed. One of the Huenyan Federal Police officers who stood watch outside the embassy perimeter tried to wave her down. "It might be a bomb!"

"If it's a bomb, they wouldn't have dropped it so far from the embassy walls unless it's a really big-ass bomb," Te Uroa snorted. "And if it's that big a bomb, we're all dead already."

Ignoring the Huenyan policeman, she opened the first box - then recoiled in shock. Quenetzatl was inside the box. He would have appeared to just be sleeping, were it not for the empty cavity in his chest. Te Uroa, now much more queasily, opened the second box. Tecaha was in the other box, having been delivered in the same heartless fashion.

Suppressing the urge to vomit, Te Uroa reached for her radio. The Huenyan policeman was not as successful, retching into a nearby bush.

[Xiomera]

Etlaoxtlan Fortress
Chuaztlapoc
February 28th

Defense Secretary Tlanexchel smiled as he removed the silver star rank insignia from the uniform in front of him. He was handed a blue velvet box by his aide. Opening the box, he took out the single golden star, bearing the seal of Huenya, that was about to replace the silver one. "On the authority of the government of the Huenyan Federation and the General Staff of the Federation Defense Force, I hereby promote you to the rank of Brigadier General. Serve well and with honor, and bring only glory to the position you now hold in the defense of the people of Huenya."

The person who had just gotten the promotion nodded, exchanging salutes with Tlanexchel, before breaking into a smile and shaking his hand. The soldiers gathered in the room applauded. "I'm honored to accept this promotion," Huatli said, before leaning a bit closer to Tlanexchel and lowering her voice so only he could hear. "It is a bit unusual to jump ahead three ranks," she said quietly. "Are you sure the people I've jumped ahead of won't be offended by that?"

Tlanexchel snorted. "If any of them are, they're idiots. I doubt any will feel that way, though. Everyone knows what you did to rescue Yauhmi, and what you did at the siege of Chuaztlapoc and during the fighting at the end of the war. It is quite clear that you earned a promotion. Besides, it's pretty common for soldiers to advance in rank quickly during a war and its aftermath. I mean, I started the war as a brigadier general myself, and now I'm Secretary of Defense." Tlanexchel chuckled. "If no one objected to that, you'll be fine."

Huatli smiled again in response. "Besides, news of this promotion will definitely gain notice in certain places. Like Tlālacuetztla."

Tlanexchel laughed heartily. "If your promotion causes Calhualyana and her minions some sleepless nights, I won't complain about that. She deserves a lot more than insomnia. While the fact that your promotion will rightfully frighten her, though, that's not the reason behind the promotion. It's just a nice bonus."

"I don't mind that either," Huatli said, laughing herself. Tlanexchel nodded, turning to walk towards the center of the room. "Shall we join the party, General?"

"In a minute, if that's okay, sir," Huatli replied. "I just need a second to process this moment." Tlanexchel nodded again, giving the new General another smile before walking to where everyone else was gathered.

Huatli turned to look out one of the windows. The Etlaoxtlan Fortress, which was serving as the defense headquarters for Huenya until a new one could be built, was one of the ancient fortresses defending Chuaztlapoc. It held a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. She could see all of Chuaztlapoc to the east, and imagined she could see even further eastward. I hope you are scared when you hear about this, Calhualyana. You should be, Huatli thought, looking once more at the new gold star pinned to her shoulder before turning to join the party.

[Xiomera]

(Joint post with Lauchenoiria)

The Cauhloc
March 4th

The new cell that Tlalzixiūhxa was being held in was much nicer than the one Mariya had interrogated her in. It still bore the hallmarks of a Xiomeran detention cell: bland gray everything, no windows or distractions save for a few books approved by the censors; very basic appointments that were also easy to clean in the event of “accidents”. But at least the lights mimicked a day-night cycle here and there were no horrors taking place. She was even receiving decent food. 

She still hated it. She'd broken. And she was in two minds about that. On one hand, it proved she was weaker than she hoped, and she hated herself for it. On the other, the Matriarchy had left her to rot long enough for her to break. And they had to bear some kind of responsibility for that. Being in this cell had given her plenty of time to think, and there were only so many censor-approved books she could read to distract herself from her introspection.

As if on cue, the door to the cell rattled slightly before opening. Two ASI special agents were escorting an unexpected visitor. “Good morning,” Calhualyana said calmly, waiting for a reply.

This was new. Tlalzixiūhxa sat up, staring at Calhualyana. "Empress?" she said, "can I help you?" She didn't want to be handed back to that little terror, Mariya Adema. She'd resolved to be as polite as possible to her captors rather than face the demon she had the misfortune of sharing a birth country with.

"On the contrary, I was hoping to be of help to you,” Calhualyana replied, taking a seat on the one chair in the room as the two guards did their best to look insignificant. “How are you doing?”

"How am I... I am fine, Empress?" Tlalzixiūhxa replied, wary and confused. She kept her hands where the guards could see them, and didn't bother to move once she'd sat up from her bed. She knew how to be obedient just as much as she knew how to resist. But she couldn't for the life of her figure out why the Empress would care how she was.

"I am sure you’re not fine, you don’t need to watch your words with me,” Calhualyana replied softly. “What Mariya did to you went well beyond the bounds of what should have taken place. Xiomerans are not barbarians. There will be definite consequences for her behavior.”

"Kerlian torturers are not usually so... joyful," Tlalzixiūhxa agreed. "I have some experience with them, and this Mariya appears to be an anomaly." That, or things had changed in Kerlile since her time. It was a coin-toss which was true. "If you wish for honesty, Empress, I would tell you that I am rather bored. There is precious little to do when you're locked up."

”Of course. I can arrange for some additional activities for you. Is there a specific preference that you have?”

"Um..." Tlalzixiūhxa considered. "I confess, I've never had much unstructured time. Even as a child my life was strictly regimented. I do not know what people do with their time."

Calhualyana seemed slightly bemused by the response. “My life as a child was also strictly regimented - although nowhere near as much as yours, I imagine. Much the same with my adult life. Is there anything you enjoy doing for self-improvement? Or just for fun? Any work you would like to do? Even something you haven’t done before but wanted to? Those are all good starting points.”

This is a trick, Tlalzixiūhxa reminded herself. This woman is the enemy, no matter how nice she seems. "I rather feel that most of my interests lie outside of the scope of what you would be willing to permit me to do, Empress." She couldn't allow herself to get too comfortable. She needed to remember that she was a prisoner. Anything else was dangerous.

"Try me,” Calhualyana said with another smile. “The worst that can happen at this point is that I say no. I have no intention of letting anyone else interrogate you further.”

"That would be futile, since your little pet already extracted every piece of valuable information you could get from me," Tlalzixiūhxa replied, calmly. "Any further interrogation would yield little but embarrassing stories, such as the time I slipped during combat training, slid down a muddy hill and ended up face first in a pile of cow manure."

Tlalzixiūhxa decided to ask the question she actually wanted to know the answer to. "I don't suppose you'd tell me whether or not Mariya was lying when she said my children had been killed during the civil war?"

"Your children were not killed,” Calhualyana replied. “I was not aware that you were told such a thing. I can assure you they are fine.”

"Given that Mariya didn't drag them in and disembowel them in front of me, I'm guessing they're outside of Xiomera?" Tlalzixiūhxa asked. "You needn't answer that, I can ascertain enough for myself. Have you had Councillor Robinson killed yet?"

Calhualyana laughed slightly. “Killing foreign leaders and starting a war when I just managed to end one would be rather a bad idea. Are there other questions I can answer for you?”

So she hadn't used the information Tlalzixiūhxa gave her. Interesting. "Am I to be executed?" she asked reluctantly. It was a possibility, and she felt she ought to know, even if she didn't really want to.

Calhualyana smiled slightly at the probing question Tlalzixiūhxa had asked about Robinson. One does not play their cards until the opportune time, madam. “I have no intention of doing that. You’ve suffered enough. There is no need to add insult to injury.”

"After what I told you, I expect I would face a death sentence in Kerlile if it became known," she replied, seemingly unperturbed by the suggestion, but merely hiding it.

"Then it’s in everyone’s best interest that it not become known you provided this information, or that you are protected, in any event. That is what I plan to do,” Calhualyana replied.

"I don't fear death," Tlalzixiūhxa replied. "I was recruited by Sarah Robinson when I was eight. That means I committed my first act of treason when I was eight. The possibility of being executed has existed since then, I've had plenty time to come to terms with my probable cause of death."

"Not fearing death gives you strength. That is a very Xiomeran attitude,” Calhualyana said with a tone of approval to her voice. “But let’s see if we can keep you alive, shall we?”

"That would be preferable, yes," Tlalzixiūhxa nodded. She still didn't understand what game the Empress was playing here. She tried to recall her training but everything had been fuzzy and hard to reach since Mariya had gone at her. She was on her own.

"I’m glad we agree on that,” Calhualyana said, with a slight laugh as she stood up. “I’ll see to it that you’re moved to more comfortable quarters. You’ll have access to a television and a more diverse set of reading material so you can catch up on what has been happening. That will give you some time to think about what you might want to do.” With a few more pleasantries, the Empress left.

The Empress was true to her word; within the next hour Tlalzixiūhxa was moved to a new part of the Cauhloc. The section she was being held in was a bit nicer - the rooms resembled a moderately priced hotel more than a detention center. The only clue that one was not staying at a hotel were the multiple physical and electronic door locks that only opened from the outside.

Definitely part of some kind of game, Tlalzixiūhxa thought. Well, she wasn't going anywhere. She might as well see how this was going to play out.

In another part of the Cauhloc, the Empress watched Tlalzixiūhxa through the well-hidden cameras in the cell. Let's see where this goes, Aurora. Either you'll join me....or you'll join those who have tried to oppose me, and failed.

---

Xochuaxte Palace, Chuaztlapoc
March 5th

Yauhmi put the phone down, an expression of keen interest on her face. After a moment, she asked her attendant to have Texōccoatl and Tlanexchel summoned to her chambers.

It did not take them long to arrive. The Xochuaxte Palace had a rather grand name for a not very grand building, especially by the standards of the Palace of Flowers. Little more than an ancient defensive keep for Chuaztlapoc's inner ring defenses, Xochuaxte was in the process of being converted into a residence for what was now the Huenyan royal family. The palace was not yet so large that visitors had to travel far.

When Texōccoatl and Tlanexchel arrived, she instructed her attendant to leave the room and make sure no one else entered. "We will be having some visitors soon," Yauhmi said calmly, handing the notes she had taken during the call to Texōccoatl. He read the notes, raised an eyebrow, then passed them to the Defense Secretary. After reading them, Tlanexchel looked up with his own raised eyebrow. "The former Aurora Nelichē is coming here? With an Aurora from Eiria?"

"Indeed. They have requested a meeting with me, which I have accepted."

"Are you sure that is safe or wise?" Texōccoatl said. "Normally, I would not doubt them, but both of them have been outside Xiomera....Huenya, now, for a considerable amount of time. We have no idea if someone has had a chance to somehow compromise or convert them with a malicious intent. Calhualyana is not above that sort of trick."

"Calhualyana has, to my knowledge, only had one Aurora in custody, and I fully intend to rectify that soon," Yauhmi replied with a touch of her old determination. "In the meantime, have guards nearby if you must, but the meeting will proceed."

Tlanexchel whistled. "Very well, your Majesty," he said in a mock-lofty tone. Yauhmi rolled her eyes. Tlanexchel grinned and looked at Texōccoatl. "I guess we'll be having dinner guests soon."

[Xiomera]

(Joint post with Eiria)

March 5th
EICA Headquarters, Downtown Geminus

Minister David Park sat at his desk, drumming his fingers on the smooth surface. An open personnel file sat on the table, next to static-marred pictures and a mugshot. An assistant poked his head into the office and handed a piece of paper to the Intelligence Minister. "Here's that number you wanted."

"Thanks." He took it, and stared at it for a moment. Hopefully the Huenyan FIS take warning calls. He dialed the number into his office phone and waited, humming as the dial sound played several times.

FIS HQ, Ixtenco

Unlike their Xiomeran counterpart ASI, the newly formed Federal Intelligence Service of Huenya did not have an impressive and ominous headquarters. The FIS had, in fact, few facilities of its own. Most of the former ASI facilities in Huenya had either been burned down by angry mobs, trashed by the withdrawing Xiomerans, or so thoroughly compromised by ASI bugs and surveillance equipment left behind as to be completely untrustworthy. That was how the FIS found itself operating out of a former bank headquarters in Ixtenco, the most secure building it could find.

Director Cuetlancaona was in his office pondering how to handle the dozens of threats, both internal and external, facing the new state when the phone rang. “Director, Minister David Park of Eiria is on the line,” his secretary said.

This could be good, or it could be bad, Cuetlancaona thought warily. The last thing Huenya needed was more trouble. “Minister Park, this is Director Cuetlancaona. How are you this evening?”

"I'm well, thank you for asking." Park sighed. "Unfortunately, I rarely get the luxury to make social calls, without some kind of business involved. Yesterday, we released an Aurora from our custody. She goes by Riley Nelson, we have a description and pictures here, should you need them. She seems to be heading for Huenya, along with an associate."

"I see,” Cuetlancaona said after a moment. “Do you happen to have any idea where in Huenya they may be heading?”

"Regrettably, no. I don't have enough intel to wager a guess. Plus we don't exactly want to send agents into Huenya to track people who seem to be leaving Eiria. We don't want to step on your metaphorical toes."

Cuetlancaona nodded. “That’s fair, we do appreciate the professional courtesy. If you could send us whatever information you do have on this Riley Nelson or her companion, we would be grateful.”

Park made a small sound of assent. "Of course. We'll get right on that. I'm also concerned about her associate. She entered Eiria with a Kerlian Passport, and she has a Huenyan or Xiomeran name. Given that she knows Nelson, I'd reckon she's an Aurora, which is disconcerting. One Aurora is enough trouble for us as it is."

"And double trouble is more than any of us need, right,” Cuetlancaona said in a more thoughtful tone. “We will get right on this as well, and if we discover anything that would pose a danger to Eiria we will certainly let you know right away.”

Park sighed, content. "Thank you, Director. We'll send over what we have on both of them as soon as possible. Have a good evening, and stay safe! If you ever need anything of Eiria intelligence-wise, don't be afraid to give me a call."

"You stay safe as well, and if you need anything from us also, please don’t hesitate to call. Thank you again for the information,” Cuetlancaona replied, before hanging up. He sighed, before calling and requesting a meeting with the Assembly....the Chamber of Executives, he reminded himself. Everything keeps changing so quickly, he thought.


March 6th
Xochuaxte Palace, Chuaztlapoc

"So you decided to have this meeting with these individuals without telling us," Huacue said flatly.

The Chamber of Executives was meeting, after Cuetlancaona had informed them about the message from the Eirians. After Yauhmi had explained why they were coming to Huenya, they were not pleased. "Was this not something you felt important to inform us? We are supposed to be sharing power, after all."

"I am meeting with them in my capacity as a citizen of Huenya, not in my capacity as cihuātlahtoāni," Yauhmi replied calmly. "I presume I am still allowed to have people visit?"

Her cool tone did not impress or appease Huacue. "These aren't friends coming over to see your garden. These are Auroras. That is something both this Chamber and the FIS should have been told about," he said. "Yauhmi, with respect, you must adjust to the reality that you cannot make decisions on your own anymore without consulting us. Or at least the Vice-Speaker should have been informed."

Tiacihitli nodded at that, his expression concerned. "Yauhmi, you and your son really must stop keeping us out of the loop when you make decisions or extend invitations. For the smooth governance of Huenya, as well as our mutual cooperation, we cannot be kept in the dark."

Texōccoatl's expression grew annoyed, and he was about to speak, but Yauhmi raised her hand. "I understand, and I apologize for not informing you," she said, as Texōccoatl sighed. "But I don't honestly know what you're all concerned about. These people mean us no harm."

"After what we have been through during the war, and since, we cannot afford to blindly trust anyone," Huacue said grimly. "All we ask is that you not do things behind our back, so we can properly assess risk."

Yauhmi nodded. "I will do my best to do so from now on."

That was clearly not an absolute commitment to transparency, but the other members of the Chamber realized that was the best they would likely ever get from Yauhmi. Reduced in power or not, tortured and banished or not, Yauhmi was clearly still not one to be obedient or a pushover. "Very well....you will keep the FIS informed about this visit and anything discussed, then?" Huacue asked.

"Of course," Yauhmi said blandly.

Taking what they could get, the Chamber moved on with its day.

[Lauchenoiria]

Jointly written with Xiomera

Riley Nelson was quiet as they waited for their audience with Yauhmi. Nelichē sat beside her, nervous and excited at the same time. Riley didn't speak a word of the language here, and being what she was, wasn't used to relying on someone else to translate or organise travel. She was also terrified of what she had to discuss with Yauhmi, something even the other Aurora beside her didn't know of.

"You're going to injure yourself," remarked Nelichē, pointing at where Riley was squeezing her own hand too hard. Riley let go and tried to take a deep breath. "I don't know what you're so frightened of."

"I just spent a year in prison," Riley responded. "And when I'm finally released, and ask you for news, you tell me something that I've spent my life praying won't happen. Don't ask, I haven't the energy to repeat it twice. You'll find out. And I hope with all my heart that you let me live afterwards."

"Let you live?" Nelichē looked alarmed. "What the hell are you on about?" she asked, but Riley remained silent.

It was at that moment that the double doors at the other end of the room opened. One of the Shorn Ones impassively gestured the two Auroras forward.

Once the two entered, they found themselves in a surprisingly small yet cozy chamber. It was far different from the grand chambers at the Palace of Flowers, but the attendants had done their best to make it pleasant and suitable in appearance for audiences. A set of comfortable chairs were arranged on one side of a small table. On the other side, Yauhmi stood up from a somewhat more regal looking (but less comfortable) chair bearing the royal seal. "Nelichē, welcome to Xochuaxte Palace and to Huenya," Yauhmi said, gesturing for her to sit. "And Miss Nelson, welcome to you as well. Please make yourselves comfortable. I hope speaking in English works for you both? The only other language I know is Huenyan, and I presume only Nelichē is fluent in that," she said.

"English is perfect," Riley said quickly, relieved. "I speak both Eirian and French too, but if I never hear Eirian again it will be a century too soon. Thank you for allowing me into your country."

"Of course. I was honestly surprised at the request, but I am always glad to have visitors, especially ones such as yourselves. In truth, I don't get quite as many visitors as I once did, thanks to the new role I hold. That's the price you pay for giving up absolute power, I suppose," Yauhmi said with a smile. "But I don't mind that, all things considered. Was your trip here an easy one? I can imagine you were indeed happy to leave Eiria, since you were being detained there."

"I was glad of Nelichē's company," Riley replied. "Or else I'd have found myself lost many times, not knowing your language. Fortunately the extremely obvious EICA tail stopped following once we left Eirian territory. I have no wish to return there, but I also fear returning to the Matriarchy. I have concerns about how they may perceive my detention. And while on our way here, Nelichē informed me of something that I rather urgently need to talk to you about."

"She refused to tell me what it was," Nelichē added.

Yauhmi's expression grew sharper. "I see.....well then. What is it that you wish to discuss?"

"The Aurora Nadia, she's in Calhualyana's custody," Riley began.

"Tlalzixiūhxa, she means," Nelichē clarified.

"Yes, her. I understand you already know this, but there is something you won't know unless Councillor Robinson decided to inform you, and I somehow doubt she has, out of self-preservation. But the Aurora Nadia, she... she knows things most other Auroras, including Nelichē here, don't know. And if Calhualyana gets her hands on that information, it would cause an existential crisis in the Matriarchy. We're talking extreme instability, possibly a civil war, and certainly many deaths."

Yauhmi's expression sharpened still more. "Are you able to tell me what information this entails? It would help me decide what to do if I understand the nature of the threat."

Riley swallowed, and looked to Nelichē. "I'd feel more comfortable talking to you alone, without the presence of my fellow Aurora here."

Nelichē narrowed her eyes at Riley, unblinking. She settled back in her chair and folded her arms. It was clear she wouldn't leave unless Yauhmi ordered her to.

Yauhmi looked at them both, clearly pondering. After a moment, she sat up in her chair. "Riley....is it okay if I call you Riley? I understand this is sensitive information, but at some point, you have to decide whether or not you can trust people. I will ask Nelichē to step out of the room if you insist, but I have learned all too well that keeping things too close to your vest can generate distrust in those you need most. Consider that before asking me to do so."

"Informing a Kerlian of this information would put my own life at risk, alongside the lives of numerous others," Riley replied. "But if there's a chance Calhualyana already has this information, our lives are already in danger."

"You're a Kerlian too," Nelichē pointed out.

"Yes I know," Riley said irritably. "But... very well. I guess I can tell you. The truth is, Tlalzixiūhxa and I, alongside a number of other Auroras, have been working for the Robinson family. Against the Council, in favour of democracy."

Yauhmi looked directly at Riley. After a moment, she took a sip of her tea. Putting the cup down slowly, she looked at Riley again. "I'm going to need a bit more explanation. That is.....a very important piece of information."

Riley stole a look at Nelichē, who had an expression of pure shock on her face. "I don't know how much you know of the 1983 coup attempt in Kerlile? It wasn't really a coup attempt, but that is the common terminology. Councillor Joanne Robinson attempted to depose President Susanna Pierre, failed, and then was found dead on the floor of the Council chamber. Thus began the feud between the Robinsons and the Pierres. Well, Susanna Pierre set up the Aurora Programme."

"We know all this," Nelichē interrupted. "What does a history lesson have to do with you... basically confessing to treason?"

"Sarah Robinson was not pleased when her mother was murdered. She decided to begin recruiting some of the Pierre family's precious Auroras to her own side, for her own ends. Well, when the Kerlian civil war kicked off, Sarah decided to secretly aid DKS. And used us - well, not me, I hadn't been born, but others - to help her with her aims. The Aurora Nadia was one of them. And if she breaks and tells Calhualyana this... they will wipe out the entire Robinson family."

Yauhmi’s expression grew concerned. “I intend to free Tlal....Nadia from Calhualyana’s grasp. She was a good friend to me and it greatly displeases me that Calhualyana is holding her prisoner. But I must be honest with you. Given how long that she has been in Calhualyana’s custody, and the very real possibility that both ASI’s interrogators and Calhualyana’s pet torturer have been interrogating her, this information may well be in Calhualyana’s hands already.”

"If so, then she could blackmail Robinson to do whatever she wants. She owns Carmen Robinson, now. And those of us who were Robinson's Auroras, too. I can't return to Kerlile, they'd kill me at best."

"Well of course they would!" Nelichē spluttered. "This is treason!"

Yauhmi looked at both Auroras again, beginning to feel dismay. And, also, a sense of foreboding. Not only would both of the women in front of her have to make a choice soon, so would Yauhmi, and Huenya by extension. Calhualyana likely knew the secret by now. And would not hesitate to use it.

“This is....quite the dilemma,” Yauhmi said. “Before we dig too much further into the past, which we cannot change, let us look at the present and the future. Riley, what is it you are asking of me, and of Huenya?”

"I don't really know," Riley confessed. "I only found out she was detained a few days ago, this isn't something we planned for. Yes, I know, this should've been obvious. So I guess I'm just providing a warning, and also..." she bit her lip, "asking for asylum for myself."

Yauhmi nodded. “Nelichē,” she said, turning to the other woman. “What are your thoughts in this?”

"If this information comes to light, it will cause conflict in Kerlile, yes," nodded Nelichē. "It seems that ship may have sailed, I know of Calhualyana's torturer, the Kerlian one, and even one of us will not hold out under that for this length of time. It is going to come out eventually. And when it does, the Council will not look favourably upon a nation that sheltered someone plotting treason against them." She looked sadly over at Riley, who cringed at her words.

”Perhaps, but I’ve done worse. Letting Auroras stay here *at all* was not something the Council looked favorably on, but still, it happened,” Yauhmi replied. “Circumstances were different then, admittedly. Now, my country is divided, and the Council could well side with Calhualyana against us if we are seen as helping a plot against them. That is a risk for Huenya. But here’s the thing: throughout its history, Xiomera could pretty much be relied upon to do the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. With Huenya, we’re trying to do the right thing for a change. Throwing someone out seeking asylum....is not the right thing. Nor is turning them over to be executed. I must let you know, I will need to discuss this with our other leaders. But I will fight to make sure you can stay here, if you wish it,” Yauhmi said to Riley. “And I am certain that the other leaders will agree - even if it means we must have a conversation with the Council at some point.”

"Thank you," Riley said to Yauhmi, exhaling in relief. Then she turned to look at Nelichē. "Will you tell the Council?"

Nelichē sighed, tapping her foot. "I don't know, Riley. I... I don't know."

”You face a very difficult decision, and I cannot decide for you. Not that you probably wanted me to anyway,” Yauhmi said to Nelichē. “But my suggestion, if you would like it, is this: go with your conscience. That is all we can do in the world. Regardless of what you choose, Riley will be safe here if I have anything to say about it, and I still do a bit,” she chuckled. “Also, this is still a home for you as well, if you are ever in need of one.”

"I just wanted it to be over," Nelichē sighed, putting her head in her hands. "I just wanted to go to Eiria, pick up my friend and build a new life apart from all of this mess. Not to get tangled up in a mess of warring factions and treason."

"I don't want this either," Riley said quietly. "But I was never given a choice."

"That, exactly," Nelichē agreed, nodding. "We were never given a choice. I'm not gonna report you to the Council, I want out, not to be dragged back in. But even just telling me this has put me in danger, you do see that? So... I may have to take you up on that offer, Yauhmi. Cause I can't go back to Kerlile now, either."

”In that case, we have some work to do,” Yauhmi said firmly. She picked up a phone, speaking rapidly in Huenyan into it. A few moments later, two Shorn Ones appeared along with a member of the royal household. “This is Quiza, one of our attendants. He will see to arrangements for housing and providing for your needs, and get you in touch with the necessary contacts in the civil service to begin the process of giving you temporary asylum visas. At some point, you’ll need to apply for either permanent residency or citizenship to remain in the country, but the temporary visas will give us time to complete all that. In the meantime, I shall have another meeting with our Chamber of Executives about these events, and I am sure they will be thrilled,” Yauhmi said with bemusement.

"Wait! I left Veronica - another Aurora, one of my friends - back in Kerlile because she was denied permission to leave the country. We were close, she'll be in danger when I don't go back," Nelichē said suddenly.

"She's one of ours," Riley replied quietly. "You have no idea how true that statement is."

Yauhmi raised an eyebrow. “Give us a moment,” she said quietly, gesturing for Quiza and the Shorn Ones to leave the room. “Now this raises a dilemma. I don’t know what we can do for her, breaking her out of Kerlile would definitely be seen as a hostile act. Is there any way for you to get a message to her to come here, if we assist? I know Kerlile monitors communications, but they do use Xiomeran systems, and we certainly know how to get into those.”

"I can try," Nelichē said. "But they're monitoring her because they, well, they suspected her of having Lauchenoirian sympathies. It's complicated. She can't legally leave but that won't necessarily stop her. I'll try to contact her."

”Good. If you need help with that, let me know. I would also appreciate it if you can keep me informed on if you do reach her, and if she does plan to come here. In the meantime, I suggest that you both get settled in here and go from there. Is there anything else either of you would like to discuss?”

Riley shook her head, and Nelichē copied though not before shooting Riley a look that clearly indicated that she wanted to have a word with her a little later. Riley blanched and bit her lip.

Yauhmi nodded, satisfied. She stood up, indicating that the meeting was over. “Quiza will be waiting for you outside. If you need anything else, or need to meet with me again, please contact him and he will arrange it for you. And....welcome to Huenya, once again,” she said with a broad smile.

The two Auroras were taken to an office, given paperwork, money, clothing and housing vouchers, then were taken to their new home around the corner from a police station. The whole time, Nelichē was a perfect picture of politeness, but Riley knew that inside the other Aurora, a storm of anger was brewing. Once they were alone, the door closed and nothing but whatever surveillance devices may have been planted in the room could see, Nelichē turned on her fellow Aurora.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to put you in this position,” Riley burst out quickly. “That’s why I asked Yauhmi to…”

She was cut off when Nelichē darted forward, grabbing the other Aurora and pushing her up against the wall before she could so much as blink. Nelichē held Riley against the wall by her neck, pushing so that breathing was uncomfortable but not impossible.

“The position you put me in, Rita,” she hissed, using her training name, “is not exactly comfortable. I do not want to see you dead, I do not want to see the country of my birth engulfed in a civil war, but apparently my only choice to prevent that is to commit treason and never return home. What exactly were you thinking when you made me bring you here? You would have been as well telling your Eirian captors this.”

“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I know it’s… hard, but… I didn’t exactly… have a choice and… if I’d told Eiria… they’d have wanted me to… work for them.”

“I’ve read the reports,” Nelichē said calmly, hands tightening as the other Aurora struggled to breathe. “One of the others in Eiria did just that, betrayed the Matriarchy. Once you’ve committed treason once, it must surely become easier. Why the hell would you drag me into this? I remained loyal even when I had an option to get out. But now you’ve forced me into this. Now everything is broken and wrong.”

“Please… I can’t breathe…”

“They’ll find out, you know. Robinson made a mistake. Because when Kerlile finds out Huenya’s been hiding us, they’ll be driven right into Calhualyana’s arms, they’ll execute the Robinsons and anyone else who takes their side, reform in Kerlile will reverse and democracy will become a pipe dream. Your plot is counterproductive. Frankly, your best chance right now is to beg for mercy from the Council. I don’t know. I’m going for a walk, do NOT try to speak to me when I get back.”

With that, Nelichē dropped the other Aurora on the ground, who quickly gasped in some air, and looked up as Nelichē stormed out of the front door into the streets of Chuatztlapoc.

[Xiomera]

March 7th
Xochuaxte Palace

The members of the Chamber of Executives sat staring at Yauhmi in stony silence. For the second time in as many days, they were hearing the cihuātlahtoāni  tell them something they didn't want to hear, and somehow managing to not tell them everything at the same time.

"You say that we need to offer the two Auroras who met with you asylum," Huacue said. "Yet you state that you cannot tell us why. A day after we said that you could not continue to keep secrets from us. Do you understand why we are skeptical and also rather tired of this?"

"I do understand, but it is essential for national security that knowledge of the reason for granting them asylum be kept to as few people as possible. The information they possess cannot be allowed to reach the outside world."

"What information is so dangerous? And does it pose a threat to Huenya? We at least have a right to know that, and a need to know that, before we can accept this secrecy," Sirua, the leader of the Itotemoc, said. 

"Director Cuetlancaona can confirm what I am saying. I have shared this information with him only, and no one else. Not even my son, who is as skeptical as the rest of you," Yauhmi replied. Next to her, Texōccoatl had an expression on his face that was indeed quite questioning. The fact that Yauhmi had not told even Texōccoatl the reason sharpened the interest of the Executives; it was well-known that Texōccoatl was Yauhmi's chief confidant. The Executives sat more upright, focused, as the Director of the Federal Intelligence Service stood up to speak.

"I have reviewed the files on the two Auroras and their asylum applications," Cuetlancaona said. "I can assure this Chamber that they, individually, pose no threat to Huenya, should we continue the old Xiomeran policy of not giving them a reason to pose a threat to us. Yauhmi's previous policy towards them, which I frankly find wise. One should not go looking for trouble when none exists."

"As for the specific reason they are asking for asylum - the two of them have information which gives them reason to believe that their lives would be in danger if they returned to Kerlile. Both from the government, and possibly from individual Kerlians. That, alone, qualifies them for asylum under the directives established this month by the immigration and Customs Service. However, this information also falls under the recent security guidelines established by the Directorate of National Intelligence regarding matters requiring restricted access to information for national security reasons. I cannot elaborate any further, precisely because this information is Level 1 restricted."

The members of the Chamber collectively widened their eyes at that; Level 1 was reserved for only the most sensitive information. Under Huenyan security guidelines, Level 1 information could only be provided to FIS agents with sufficient security clearance, the DNI, the Vice-Speaker, and to Yauhmi. In total, only four or five people in Huenya qualified for Level 1. Not even the members of the Chamber of Executives did.

"As to why this information is so sensitive, I can only say this: releasing it would cause grave harm to Huenya, and possibly to other nations as well. For that reason, I must ask the Chamber to understand our secrecy on this. I know you believe that the cihuātlahtoāni  is being too secretive on matters. I can assure you, in this case, the secrecy is indeed warranted. If you don't trust her on this, I urge you to trust me. This is my job. And I can also say this: revealing this info to anyone else, and risking a leak, poses far greater threat to Huenya than keeping it secure. And there is nothing that can be done about the overall threat it poses now....that ship sailed decades ago, before Huenya even existed. There may be a time when this information is revealed due to circumstances completely out of our control. But for now, keeping it secret is absolutely essential for Huenya."

Director Cuetlancaona sat down, to stunned silence.

"And we just have to take your word for it," Cusuyo, the leader of the Tepiltzin, sighed in frustration. 

"That is why directors of national intelligence exist, sir. And intelligence agencies," Cuetlancaona replied. "To keep the secrets safe, and make sure they stay secret."

"So the information is dangerous. We have that information, now. Why compound the threat by letting the Auroras remain here?" Cusuyo tapped his fist on the table. "If they brought that information here, and it appears they did, they  are the ones who have put us in this danger now. A danger so grave we can't even be told about it! Are they not a threat to Huenya themselves?"

"There are threats, and then there are threats," Cuetlancaona said firmly. "Rejecting and angering Auroras is something I would consider profoundly unwise - and in itself a grave threat to Huenyan security, especially when we don't need to cause even more  headaches for ourselves."

In the ensuing silence, Yauhmi spoke up again. "The Auroras are not our enemy. We've proven that time and again. Let's not make them our enemy unnecessarily - that has worked out well for us in the past. General Huatli is a perfect example of that. Besides, we have sworn ourselves to be a refuge to those needing one. Are we really going to turn our backs on that promise now - within months after making it - out of fear?"

Cusuyo shook his head, still grumbling, but eventually assented.

In the end, the Chamber of Executives agreed to offer asylum to Riley Nelson and Nelichē, and also agreed to keep themselves in the dark as to why. As bad as those choices seemed, the other choices promised to be far worse.

[Lauchenoiria]

(Jointly written with Xiomera.)

The Cauhloc
Almost 1am

Mariya Adema wore a mask, goggles, gloves and had her hair piled up in a net. She was in a small laboratory, and was jabbing at a concoction in front of her with a very long utensil. Her face was a picture of concentration, complete with a frown as she worked. There was none of her characteristic extreme enthusiasm present, merely focus. She placed the utensil on the surface and picked up the small vial she’d been working on.

She poured a little of the purplish liquid she’d created into a test tube filled with human blood. It bubbled a little and began to take on a greenish tint. Mariya growled and took a pencil, ticking a box in a column marked “unsuccessful - blood damage” next to a random alphanumeric string in a row on the page. The same string was on a label on the vial she’d just finished. She placed a stopper in the vial and put it back in a box.

Mariya wandered over to a drawer which was labelled - in both English and Xiomeran - “Mariya’s Drawer DO NOT TOUCH”. She opened it and started to read the handwritten labels off of various bottles in a section labelled, in English, “oral administration”. She picked up three and put them in the pockets of the long lab coat she wore as a habit. Torture was, after all, a science.

She made her way out of the room into a small changing area where she removed the gloves, sticking them in a waste bin covered in biohazard stickers. She hung her mask, goggles and hair net on a peg labelled, in Xiomeran, “priority cleaning”. Leaving the small area through another door, she walked down a corridor towards a locker room, absentmindedly typing in her code and taking out a smartphone. She frowned at the screen, then made a call.

“You killed another one?” she said in accented Xiomeran the moment she heard the click of an answer. She waited a little longer as the person on the line explained something, then she sighed and shook her head. “It is of vital importance that we find a way to sour the dreams and aspirations of prisoners,” she explained to the phone patiently. “As quickly as possible. Without this control, the ideologues maintain a weapon against us. The Empress is counting on you.”

Her grammar was incorrect, but her Xiomeran had still improved enough that the person on the other end of the phone could at least understand her meaning. They responded, and Mariya shook her head, responding more sharply. “I did not convince ASI to fund Project Nightmare out of some kind of desire to cause pain. Believe it or not, I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t necessary. Get my notes from the lab and prepare a report, I’m going home for the night.”

She hung up the phone and turned to leave. Mariya paused on her way to the exit and decided to make one last visit to her prisoner. She sauntered to his cell, motioning for the guards to permit her entry. He was asleep on the floor when she went in. She kicked him in the stomach.

"Wake up! No sleep for traitors!"

Cozamalotl winced in pain, before slowly rolling to an upright position. He was far from the dapper, elegant image he normally presented to the world. His hair and mustache had grown badly unkempt, and his face bore the unmistakable signs of sleep deprivation and poor rations. The other evidence of his stay in the Cauhloc was hidden underneath the orange prison jumpsuit he wore.

The opposition leader had already figured out that speaking to Mariya only seemed to anger her more. He groaned slightly as he shifted his position on the ground, but otherwise made no sound and waited for her to speak.

"I'm afraid my special surprise will have to wait a little longer," Mariya informed him with mock sadness. "The incompetents in requisitions keep sending me ingredients of suboptimal quality. I'm on my way out, so wanted to give you yet another chance to recant your political beliefs before I dream up more fun activities for us in my sleep."

”Your desire to have me renounce my beliefs will have as much success as my attempts to convince you to abandon being a torturer, I fear,” Cozamalotl replied. “We both have our beliefs, which we refuse to abandon no matter what. I regret that is so, in your case. You could still redeem yourself. But even if I die, I cannot give up my fight for freedom for Xiomerans.”

"Blah blah blah idealistic nonsense," Mariya replied, bored. "And you could convince me to give it up, if you offered me a better job in which I could use my talents. But alas, all other careers I'm good at pay a pittance."

She sauntered over to him, leaning down and taking his arm that she'd broken the other day. She turned it over in her hands, examining it, and then fumbled in her pocket for something.

”One person’s idealistic nonsense is another’s devoted belief.” Cozamalotl winced again as she gripped his arm. “It is a shame that you do not believe in anything. I wonder what motivates you to do what you do,” Cozamalotl mused. “I can only imagine it is a hollow existence, living only to cause others pain.”

"This is work," she shrugged as she found what she was looking for. "I have a social life, too."

She unscrewed the tiny bottle she had pulled from her pocket as she dropped his arm. "Open wide."

”I don’t suppose you could provide something of actual benefit to consume, such as food,” Cozamalotl said with a slight trace of his rhetorical skill clinging by a thread as he complied. He had already figured out that refusing, or resisting, the commands of Mariya and the other ASI people was futile and painful.

Mariya tipped the entire bottle into his mouth and then tucked the empty container back into her pocket. "You offended me by being asleep when I came to see you. In a few minutes when this starts working, you should feel rather sick. That ought to keep you up all night. You can have food tomorrow, I'm afraid it would be a waste to give you any now."

”Everything about this whole situation is a waste,” Cozamalotl replied, a bit more of his professorial tone returning as he became more awake. “It is a waste of my potential, and of yours, that we both find ourselves in this situation for the benefit of a cruel regime and an unjust leader. I can only hope that someday you see that,” he replied, closing his eyes.

Mariya yawned loudly, deliberately, and leaned against the cell door as she waited for the substance to begin working. "You have the power to end this, you choose not to every time you refuse to recant."

”Just as you have your mission, I have mine. The freedom of Xiomera and its people are my mission. They are my purpose for being here. I surely can’t give up my purpose for even existing.” Cozamalotl leaned heavily back against the wall of the cell, as the substance began making him feel unwell. “And even in this cell, even in death if it comes to that, I fulfill that purpose,” he murmured. “My actions will help advance the day in which Xiomera finally finds itself free.”

"Goddess, you're persistent!" Mariya growled. "You're worse than the Aurora. Why anyone allowed you to become like this is a mystery. You sound like a twelve year old Lauchenoirian at a protest."

She checked her watch. It was 1:30am. If he didn't puke soon, she'd have to get someone else to watch him. She wanted to get home.

Normally, Cozamalotl would have been intrigued by the mention of an Aurora, but was frankly feeling too ill to pay it much mind. With a sudden lurch, he leaned over a nearby bucket. When the retching sounds finally subsided, he fell back against the wall. “Persistence is progress,” he said with a slight and raspy chuckle, recalling one of the slogans of the Unification Party.

Mariya clapped her hands gleefully. "You remembered to put it in the bucket, well done! Make sure you continue that throughout the night. If you avoid getting any on the floor, we can see about food. I'm very disappointed you choose to continue this, but we all have a role in life and it seems yours is to suffer. See you tomorrow!"

She banged on the cell door in her regular pattern to be released, waving cheerily at Cozamalotl.

After she left, Cozamalotl sighed and lay back down. He genuinely felt bad that someone could take as much pleasure in hurting others as Mariya did. He also wished, just for a moment, that there was such a thing as a time machine and that either he could go back to before the coup, or forward to the future he believed he saw of a free Xiomera. Anything, other than being in this particular moment.

On her way out of the building, Mariya grabbed someone she vaguely recognised.

"Tell the people from the dream project that they better have a report for me tomorrow. We're running out of time."

Then she let go and stormed to the exit, irritated at Cozamalotl's stubbornness, and her own failure to find something that works.

[Xiomera]

Xochuaxte Palace, Chuaztlapoc

Yauhmi and Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli looked at the screen in front of them with expressions of concern. On the other end of the call, in Ixtenco, FIS Director Cuetlancaona sighed. "We don't know what she will do, at least, not without the kind of surveillance that you've both already told me you don't want us doing on her."

Yauhmi nodded. Ever since the video from their shared quarters showing Nelichē's choke-hold method of expressing her disapproval to Riley Nelson had been shown to them by Cuetlancaona, Nelichē had become a matter of discussion between the three of them. Other than the two Auroras, Yauhmi, Tiacihitli and Cuetlancaona were the only ones in Huenya who knew about the secret of the Robinson Auroras. Tiacihitli was highly concerned that Nelichē might tell the Council about the secret, an outcome that would be extremely problematic from the Huenyan perspective. Yauhmi was not concerned about that; she did not believe Nelichē would do anything that would cause issues for Huenya. The worry the cihuātlahtoāni had was more on a personal level: she was now worried that Nelichē might kill Riley in response to the situation. That was, for the Huenyans, also not an outcome they wanted.

Cuetlancaona had been pressing for tighter surveillance on the two Auroras, but Yauhmi and Tiacihitli had been discussing it, and had an answer the Director would not like. "The Auroras are not prisoners here, nor are they criminal suspects. While the concern about this information leaking is real, we will not resort to the methods of the Xiomeran Empire out of fear. Do nothing to increase the surveillance on them - our motive is to remain ensuring their safety, and ideally keeping them from killing each other, rather than treating them as security threats," Tiacihitli said firmly. Cuetlancaona looked at the two leaders as if he wanted to object, but finally nodded.

The relatively hands-off approach was being chosen for several reasons. All the old ones Yauhmi had emphasized still applied - we don't view the Auroras as our enemies, and we don't want to make them our enemies by treating them as if we do. But there were new reasons as well, which actually had nothing specifically to do with the Auroras.

If one were to make comparisons using law enforcement as an example, Xiomera's massive and coldly efficient ASI would be a SWAT team; the FIS were a group of mall cops in comparison. Cuetlancaona was all too aware of this; his HQ was a former bank and his agents were spending as much time trying to get their hobbled and re-purposed former ASI systems and equipment working and trying to find enough weapons and body armor to do their jobs as they did investigating cases. Half of his agents didn't even have their FIS badges yet. The FIS just wasn't capable of the kind of omnipresent surveillance and monitoring that ASI was.

But even once the FIS was fully up and running, and capable of fulfilling its mission, that very mission was also completely different from ASI. Huenya's leaders had already decided that the Federation would never become the kind of over-policed, over-surveilled, over-monitored police state that the Xiomeran Empire was. The idea of that kind of security presence was completely anathema to the Huenyans who had suffered under ASI's heavy hand. After having seen what ASI really did to those it detained firsthand, Yauhmi was not a fan of the idea of a police state either.

In the new nation of Huenya, the idea of sacrificing freedom for security would never be allowed to take root. Not after the Xiomeran Empire. Huenya would emphasize a government that valued freedom more than control - even if it meant security could not be airtight.

With that idea in mind, Yauhmi, Tiacihitli and Cuetlancaona would turn to discussing what possible actions Nelichē might take, and what contingency plans Huenya could have in place for them - completely unaware that Nelichē had already decided.

---

Palace of Flowers, Tlālacuetztla

Empress Calhualyana calmly sipped her coffee and scrolled through the list on her tablet. Sitting on the other side of her massive desk were Justice Minister Cuicanan and Security Minister Quihichua. The two of them waited while Calhualyana read thoroughly; she insisted on knowing the status of every single political prisoner from the IGP and the Unification Party, and no one rushed the Empress.

When she was finally done reading, she laid the tablet down, making some notations with her jeweled stylus. "Begin setting the dates for trial. We have all we're going to get out of most of these people. Start with the IGP leaders, Xayactochtli last," the Empress said. "After we're done with all the IGP leaders, begin setting trial dates for the Unification Party leaders."

"Shall the trials be closed?" Cuicanan asked.

"No. All of them will be open and broadcast. I want the world to see what happens to traitors in Xiomera. It will also be highly instructive to those within our Empire who are thinking of indulging in anti-Imperial activities to see what happens to those with similar ideas," Calhualyana replied, while making more notes on the tablet.

"And Cozamalotl?" Quihichua replied.

"His trial will be last of all. I want to give Mariya a bit more time to work on him. And also, any performance should end with the star of the show on the stage. Cozamalotl is the head of this particular snake. He wanted to be a martyr for his foolish cause. I fully intend to indulge him. When he is sentenced, it will show everyone that the farce of the 'opposition' is at an end and that we are fully in control in Xiomera. His last bow on the stage will be the ultimate finale."

Both Quihichua and Cuicanan smiled with satisfaction at the words of their Empress, making notes of their own.

[Xiomera]

The special conference room at the Ixtenco headquarters of the Federal Intelligence Service was as private and secure a room as one could find anywhere in Huenya. And it needed to be, for this meeting.

Six Huenyans were sitting on one side of the conference table. Yauhmi was at their head. On either side of her were Princess Tlalmaxxi and Cuetlancaona, the director of the FIS. On either side of them, Defense Secretary Tlanexchel and Etlahuatzitl, the leader of the Shorn Ones. General Huatli rounded out the Huenyan side of the table.

After everyone had introduced themselves, Cuetlancaona stood up to begin the meeting with a thorough security review of the Xiomeran border, Xiomeran internal security, the capital city Tlālacuetztla, and the Cauhloc itself. It was a very long review, and a very daunting one. Calhualyana had been steadily amping up the already extensive security throughout Xiomera to a new level of almost paranoid intensity. When the review was finally completed, and the Huenyans' guests now fully aware of what they would be up against, Cuetlancaona sat down and asked for questions.

The other end of the table contained a sight that would have made the leaders of several countries throw up in fear. Seven Auroras were at the table, ranging in age from 20 to 52.

Nelichē looked deeply uncomfortable, but the other six had the neutral expression which indicates one is getting down to business. Riley Nelson was nodding along, while Lily Doll and Samantha Collinsgate looked eager to get to work. Alyssa Robinson was taking frantic notes on pen and paper in a language only she understood while Maricela Tobin and Xing Yawen were still and expressionless.

After the presentation concluded Xing Yawen, as the eldest Aurora present began the questioning. "Do you know the make and model of the weapons they are likely to carry? If so, then we can potentially sabotage their capacity to deal with us."

Cuetlancaona calmly pulled up a set of slides and pictures on the television mounted at one end of the room. "The standard guard at the Cauhloc is a bit more equipped than the usual ASI agent. They are usually Department E and Department G personnel," the director said, naming Special Security and Special Operations. "The guards in the detention blocks will carry a CC-K-1 fighting knife hidden on their person; some will carry more than one. They will also likely carry a CC-PS-1 pepper spray canister, and some form of electroshock weapon, either one that can be fired from a distance or that requires close contact. They rarely carry firearms, because it's not smart to let a prisoner get ahold of a gun."

Cuetlancaona moved on to another slide. "The guards responsible for actually defending the Cauhloc will have everything I outlined above, but more. Most of the security personnel outside the detention blocks will also carry a mācuahuitl and a standard CC-P-28 or CC-P-30 compact or subcompact sidearm; again, some may carry more than one sidearm, especially the subcompact versions, as those are ideal for concealed carry. Never assume you've completely disarmed one of the guards at the Cauhloc unless you've stripped them naked." No one laughed, as it was clear that Cuetlancaona was dead serious. "Some of the guards will also be carrying carbines, shotguns or assault rifles. And all of them are trained to some degree or another in unarmed combat and martial arts. Some very highly trained."

"I can vouch for that," Tlalmaxxi said. "I was one of those agents."

Cuetlancaona continued on to yet another slide. "The guards at the Cauhloc also wear body armor and have access to arsenals and weapons lockers on all levels to equip themselves rapidly with heavier weapons should it be necessary. That's not the only danger either. In addition to the standard guards, ASI and the Defense Ministry maintain multiple rapid reaction teams that are on site at the Cauhloc, as well as around the capital. The rapid reaction teams will arrive very quickly once it becomes apparent that there is an attack happening - you'll have minutes at most. The rapid reaction teams are as well equipped as any military unit you can imagine. They'll have everything I mentioned above, along with heavy weapons and armor. And they will respond in force."

Yawen pulled her lips into a grim line, nodding to acknowledge the information. It was clear from the looks of the Auroras that sabotage was not going to be an option. Yawen looked to Alyssa and her notes, prompting the younger Aurora to ask the next question.

"Entrance to the country will be an issue. What would you recommend in terms of our entering Xiomera?"

"You will definitely want to avoid any established ports of entry," Cuetlancaona replied. "The border security has increased massively since Calhualyana took power, and the risk of trying to bluff your way into the country is simply too great."

"We recommend traveling in small groups and trying to infiltrate via remote sections of the border away from major ports of entry," Tlanexchel spoke up. "Larger groups are too likely to attract attention, especially since most of you are clearly not Xiomeran. You will want to breach the border at any of these points we have designated," the Defense Secretary added, highlighting several points on a map of the northern Xiomeran coastline. "Those are all areas we have identified as being relatively low-staffed with border guards, and more remote than most. You may still have to eliminate a few border guards, but that shouldn't be too challenging a task for you. I recommend going in individually, or in groups of no more than three, to avoid being detected too soon. Once you've made it inside Xiomera, you will want to rendezvous with the rest of your team in Zipacpepe."

Alyssa took down more notes in her strange code, and then scanned what she'd already written, looking for any gaps in her knowledge.

"Can you repeat the part about the security system? Just so we're clear and haven't misinterpreted anything?" she asked, despite the low likelihood that any Aurora had misheard earlier.

Tlalmaxxi took over the presentation at this point. "The underground levels have their own security center, on level B2, just below the top service level. The surveillance and door control systems are operated there, and the level is heavily guarded. There is also a backup link to the main security center in the Cauhloc headquarters building. Each room door requires a key card entry, and the elevators and doors to the stairs also require a key code entry. Not all cards will work on all card readers, or all levels; it depends on the access permissions given to whoever holds the card. There are, as you might expect, a lot of cameras to contend with as well."

Tlalmaxxi returned to the slide showing the breakdown of the Cauhloc's many levels. "We can bypass the security system by inserting recorded information and surveillance to fool the security people in the main security center, but it must be seamless; any interruption of the system will be detected. Also, we'll have roving security patrols to worry about. One other thing to worry about: these details and floor plans we have are from before the war. No one has managed to get into the Cauhloc since then to record any changes Xochiuhue or Calhualyana may have made since then. Calhualyana, in particular, is likely to have made adjustments and changes to the security since then."

"I don't see how you're going to do this without all being caught or killed," remarked Nelichē, who was sitting with her arms crossed looking at the other Auroras like they were crazy.

"If it was you in there rather than Tlalzixiūhxa, you'd want us to try," Riley pointed out and Nelichē fell silent.

"Moving on," Yawen warned the younger pair, "who should we acquire a keycard from?"

"If you can, you will want to get a keycard from one of the senior guards," Tlalmaxxi replied. "They're usually the higher ranking ones leading security teams on patrol. They should have access to most levels. Once you get into the security level B2, you can acquire keycards from agents there that will work anywhere - unless the main security center catches on too quickly and shuts them all down. Time and speed will be of the essence."

"And I assume," Yawen said slowly, "that if they shut it down while we're in there, that we are unlikely to succeed." Or return. That was a risk on this mission.

"It makes it much harder for an escape to be successful, true," Tlalmaxxi said soberly. "This is why I say time is essential."

"Then we need to be fast," Riley said firmly. She had no intention to back down in spite of the risks. None of the Auroras affiliated with Robinson could afford to. If there was any chance that Tlalzixiūhxa hadn't yet broken, they had to try.

None of them knew that it was already too late.

"No further questions from me," Alyssa said, turning to Yawen, who frowned for a second in concentration.

"That is all we have at this juncture. There is, of course, the matter of our secondary objective," she said, referring to Cozamalotl. "You understand that it may not be possible? Our priority is Tlalzixiūhxa."

Yauhmi nodded in response. "I know that you are trying to free him as a personal favor to me; if you cannot do so, we will understand. We tried to warn Cozamalotl not to go, but he felt that he could make a difference. So, he knew the risks he was taking. If anything can be done to try to save him, we should try. But if a choice must come....Cozamalotl chose his fate. Tlalzixiūhxa did not choose hers."

The gathered Auroras fell silent for a couple of seconds. They all knew what that fate entailed, some better than others. It was one they'd spent their childhoods in fear of.

"No further questions," said Yawen after the pause. None of the others spoke up.

"In that case, Director Cuetlancaona and Secretary Tlanexchel will finalize the arrangements to help you get to Xiomera and undertake your mission - transport, supplies and equipment, identification, currency and the like. One other thing we must mention.....due to the Jinyu Agreement, it cannot become apparent that Huenya is assisting you in this mission. Not, at least, in an official capacity. Therefore, we will have to keep our involvement as secret as possible," Yauhmi said.

"That....may be an issue," Tlalmaxxi said quietly. "Because I intend to accompany the Auroras on this mission."

Yauhmi and the other Huenyans looked at her as if she had spontaneously gone insane. "Are you out of your mind? You will do no such thing," Yauhmi said firmly in Huenyan.

"I know ASI and the Cauhloc better than anyone else. I am combat-trained to a degree no one in the FIS can match - sorry, Cuetlancaona, but it's true," Tlalmaxxi said calmly in Huenyan as the Director was about to protest. “I have the inside knowledge of the capital, and Xiomera as a whole, that this team will need to be successful. Who else is more qualified? I am a top former ASI agent."

"You are also the Princess of the Huenyan Federation, mother to my grandchild and future heir, wife to my son....are you trying to prove something....no. No. It does not matter, you are not going," Yauhmi said, her voice growing even more firm.

"I suggest, instead of discussing this in front of everyone, that we discuss this privately with my husband and decide then," Tlalmaxxi replied, her voice showing no sign of wavering. After a moment, Yauhmi nodded. Switching back to English, she turned back to address the Auroras. "The Director and the Secretary will finalize everything with you. Both on behalf of Huenya, and on a personal level, I thank you for your bravery and your strength in taking on this mission. We are most grateful."

Yauhmi stood up, taking a moment to personally thank each Aurora and offering them either a handshake, a shoulder pat, or a hug - whatever personal gesture they seemed willing to accept - as if the touch could somehow offer them a measure of protection for their dangerous mission. After that, Yauhmi and Tlalmaxxi left quickly, leaving the rest of the Huenyans to finalize things with the team.

[Xiomera]

Office of Director Cuetlancaona, FIS HQ, Ixtenco
Twenty minutes after the meeting with the Auroras

The secretary for Director Cuetlancaona was completing some work on his computer when the door to the antechamber burst open. He was surprised to see cihuātlahtoāni Yauhmi, closely followed by nayeli Tlalmaxxi, marching into the room with grim looks on their faces. "We are not to be disturbed, not even by the Director," Yauhmi snapped as they walked into the office. The secretary simply nodded, not about to argue with Yauhmi.

Inside the office, cihuacōātl Texōccoatl was playing a game with Tonauac, the future heir. A pair of Shorn Ones were watching the duo enjoy their game, usual impassive expressions on their faces. Before either Texōccoatl or Tonauac could greet them, Yauhmi raised a hand. "We need to talk." She asked the two Shorn Ones to take Tonauac for a walk. The child dutifully stood up and left with the Shorn Ones, pausing just once to look back over his shoulder before the doors closed.

Texōccoatl looked at the two women in front of him; seeing them both staring at him, he almost missed staring down the barrels of guns at Zapotlán in comparison. "I take it there is an issue?" he said, doing his best to retain a bland expression.

"Your wife has gone insane," Yauhmi said flatly. Tlalmaxxi, for her part, simply looked at Yauhmi for a moment before looking back at her husband. Texōccoatl managed, with some difficulty, to keep his expression from quirking at that remark. "And what causes you to make that diagnosis?" he said, slightly bemused. "She says she intends to go on the rescue mission into the Cauhloc with the Auroras," Yauhmi replied with absolutely no amusement.

At that statement, the bemusement immediately left Texōccoatl's demeanor. "Is that intended as a joke?" he demanded, looking at his wife. Tlalmaxxi had no more amusement on her face than Yauhmi did. "I enjoy a good joke like anyone else, but this is not one of them. I am going on the mission," she said, as if it was already decided.

"Absolutely not. I forbid it," Texōccoatl snapped. Tlalmaxxi's eyebrow shot up at that. "I'm sorry, you what?" she replied, her expression becoming even frostier. Yauhmi resisted the urge to facepalm.

"I, er, that is to say....I do not want you going on that mission," Texōccoatl finally said, trying to regain his composure after receiving his wife's eviscerating expression. "It is entirely too dangerous."

"You are as well aware of my training and skillset as your mother is." Tlalmaxxi sat down in one of the chairs, allowing her expression to return to somewhat normal. "If anyone at all in Huenya is qualified to help the Auroras on this particular mission, it's me."

"Yes, you're ASI trained, but you are also too valuable. You're the mother of our son, princess to our people, and the person who would bring future heirs into the world just in case, the gods forbid, something happened to Tonauac," Texōccoatl replied. Yauhmi nodded at that, her grandmother side coming to the fore. "Your role and responsibility as the mother of the future heir and continuer of our family line are simply too important. You must remain here."

Tlalmaxxi's expression turned frosty again. "I see. So my future role in Huenya - my only role, according to you two - is to be a mother and a broodmare for the royal line." Yauhmi and Texōccoatl both hrmmed at that, looking down at the desk. "I am sure you both realize that I don't have to be an Aurora - or even a Kerlian - to find that description of my worth to my family and to this country to be insanely offensive as a woman."

"It's not a gender thing!" Texōccoatl said defensively, as Yauhmi sighed and sat down as well. "It's just....damnit, I almost lost you once during the war. Can you see why I am not eager to let you risk yourself and possibly lose you again? If someone who knows the capital and the Cauhloc is needed, let me go instead."

Yauhmi groaned, shaking her head. "How is that any more acceptable? You are just as vital to the future of the royal family as Tlalmaxxi, and would be just as painful for either of us to lose. Neither of you must go, that is all there is to it."

"Yauhmi, we need someone who can give the Aurora team the inside information they will need once they're in Tlālacuetztla, and particularly inside the Cauhloc. I am the one best suited to that out of anyone Huenya can send, and you both know it," Tlalmaxxi said while eyeing both of them. "That's not so. I am trained as well, and I know the city also. I can go instead," Texōccoatl insisted.

"Sweetie, it's cute that you believe our training was the same, but I know the Cauhloc better than you do, and know ASI better. Our training is superior as well to the Army," Tlalmaxxi retorted.

"Not at all. Our training in the Imperial Army was well above what ASI subjected its people to," Texōccoatl shook his head. Before the two of them could go down what was clearly a well-worn path of "who-was-tougher-ASI-or-the-Army" debate, Yauhmi stood up and marched around to the other side of the desk. She began fiddling with the computer screen. "This isn't even up to only us anymore, and you both know that," she snapped, making a call on a secure line. Tlalmaxxi sighed. Eventually, on the wall-mounted screen, the image of Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli appeared. Yauhmi briefed him on the situation, and Tlalmaxxi sighed again as Tiacihitli exploded. "Absolutely not! I forbid this!" the Vice-Speaker shouted. Yauhmi shook her head again, as Tlalmaxxi eyed the Vice-Speaker with her coldest expression yet. "I forbid people forbidding me to do things," Tlalmaxxi replied flatly, as the Vice-Speaker's face turned bright red.

"Princess Tlalmaxxi, your going on this mission would represent an intolerable risk. We could lose a major member of our royal family to death - or, worse, torture and then being paraded around by Calhualyana and her fascist minions as a trophy if you're captured," Tiacihitli said. "And then, well, death, let's be realistic. There are others we can send to help the Auroras, despite your insistence that you are the only one who can go. Why are you so insistent on doing this? Are you out for revenge? Do you hate Calhualyana and the regime that much?"

"They tried to kill me, and my son," Tlalmaxxi said. "They tortured the mother of my husband, and nearly killed her. They tore our country apart, they banished us from our homes, they threaten us even now. I may never get to live in my own homeland again because of them. You're damned right I hate them. And they're holding Tlalzixiūhxa, who became a friend to me when she worked for Yauhmi, and who never did anyone any harm. All she wanted to do was live in freedom and peace, and to serve a country she could be proud of. They're probably torturing her right now for it. I am tired of running from Calhualyana. I am tired of running from the evil that has taken root in the land that was once my home. Someone has to start standing up to them. Someone has to show our people that it is possible to resist Calhualyana, that her regime is not inevitable, and that people can fight back!"

"But we cannot risk the exposure and involvement that sending someone of your importance would represent. We are not supposed to act against the Empire. The Jinyu Agreement - " Tiacihitli began, only to be cut off. "To hell with the Jinyu Agreement!" Tlalmaxxi said. "I know what the damn thing says, I know what we're supposed to do. If the shit hits the fan, you can just say I went on my own, without official authority. ASI agents are trained to expect to be sacrificed, I am prepared for that."

"I'm not prepared for that," Texōccoatl said. "You are needed here. We need you, just as much as the Auroras or Tlalzixiūhxa. I need you."

"You can always take another wife if something happens to me, and continue the line," Tlalmaxxi said, only for Texōccoatl to stand up. "I don't want anyone else! I didn't fight my way through the ruins of Zapotlán for any other wife! You're who I married, who I love," he shouted. "I don't want to risk losing you now."

"I know that," Tlalmaxxi said softly. "I know that's how you all feel - Yauhmi, and even you, Vice-Speaker," she replied wryly as Tiacihitli's expression dropped. "And I love all of you for it. But I cannot stand by and watch anymore. Not now, when I have a chance to help a group of people who are the best chance we've had since the coup and the war and the destruction to strike back at Calhualyana in a way that she'll feel in the deepest pit of that dark morass she calls a soul. If you refuse to let me go," she said, "you will have to lock me up to enforce that. And if you do that....you will all lose me, just as effectively as if some ASI agent shot me in the Cauhloc."

Texōccoatl gasped as if he had taken a punch; Yauhmi looked sick to her stomach. Even Tiacihitli put his hand in his chin, totally lost. "You're not fighting fair, Tlalmaxxi," Texōccoatl finally managed.

"You Army boys are the ones who are all about fighting fair, remember?" Tlalmaxxi shrugged eloquently. "I'm ASI. Or I was, at least, once upon a time. I wasn't taught to fight fair. I was taught to win."

In the end, as one might imagine, the crown princess of the Huenyan Federation was not locked up in a cell to keep her at home. People like Yauhmi, Texōccoatl and Tiacihitli were often seen as immovable objects. But someone like Tlalmaxxi was trained to do the obvious: go around them.

[Xiomera]

Throne Room, Palace of Flowers
April 17th

"You're saying....I need to do what?" Empress Calhualyana said, looking down from her throne at the three people in front of her.

Xiuhcatli, the calpixqui (steward) of the Imperial Household, coughed nervously, before continuing. "We humbly suggest, your Majesty, that you should take a husband. Soon, if possible."

The Empress sighed. "I don't want a husband. I have my male amusements, and they serve their purpose just fine. Why would I want the annoyance of having to manage a relationship on top of all the other issues I must contend with?"

Prime Minister Toquihu gave a wry smile in response. "Admittedly, relationships and marriages can be difficult at times. However, the people will expect you to eventually marry, and sire an heir. We asked them to support a hereditary monarchy, and so they have. But now, they expect us to keep our end of that bargain."

Coaneca, the Minister of Information and the man responsible for Calhualyana's growing propaganda program, nodded at that. "I must also add, your Majesty, that your taking on a husband and having an heir will greatly improve my messaging. We're already positioning you as the mother of the Empire - what better way to cement that impression by bringing the future heir to the Obsidian Throne into the world?" As Calhualyana raised an eyebrow, Coaneca continued. "In fact, the more children you have, the better for both our future monarchy and our messaging."

"Don't push your luck, Coaneca. I haven't even decided that I want the one child, much less a pack of them." The Empress sighed again, standing up. "I suppose there are other reasons you have for this need for me to breed?"

"Having an heir secures the future for both your dynastic line, and for your vision for the Empire. It also helps us to ensure that no descendant of Topilpopoca's line, such as Texōccoatl or the half-breed Tonauac, ever has a chance to make a claim to the Obsidian Throne," Toquihu replied.

"I thought we settled that particular question when Yauhmi abdicated to become the leader of her fake country. No one from her line has any claim to this throne any longer." Calhualyana turned to her steward. "Is that not so, Xiuhcatli?"

"Technically, yes, your Majesty. But as long as Texōccoatl and his son remain alive, they are a threat regardless. Also, we cannot discount the possibility that Texōccoatl could still have more children. It would indeed be best for us to secure your claim to the throne - and that of your line - as quickly as possible," Xiuhcatli demurred.

"Oh, very well," Calhualyana sighed once more, stepping down from the throne as the others moved out of her way. "Xiuhcatli, begin finding suitable candidates to serve as a husband. Make sure they are individuals worthy of my time, and the privilege of fathering the future rulers of this Empire, if you please. And make sure they are well aware that their role is to sire a child and occupy a chair next to my throne - not to usurp my role." The Empress strode out of the Throne Room, as the others nodded. Once the Empress was gone, Toquihu looked at Xiuhcatli. "I presume you will begin within the ranks of ASI or the Army?"

"Yes....but the other armed services would do as well....someone who looks good in a uniform, is healthy and strong, not too old...." Xiuhcatli murmured, already taking notes.

"Yes, do make sure you pick people suitably photogenic, intelligent and capable of stringing coherent sentences together for the public, if you please. Let's not make my job any harder than it already is," Coaneca said in a dry tone as the three men began walking out.

[Laeral]

Raoul Chen, Laeral’s Minister of Trade, got along well with Liu Mei-han because they both understood each other pretty well: they’d both grown up in Rén-majority neighborhoods in the Riverlands, both hustled in high school and attended the Laeralsford College of Political Studies in later life, both worked their way up through the Progressive Party ranks by avoiding aligning too closely with any of the party’s factions. And while they’d both developed into good public speakers and affable campaigners, both always been most in their element with a set of powerpoint slides, speaker’s notes, and an ambitious policy proposal. Raoul Chen had recently delivered one of those policy presentations to the president at Republic House, and what had been scheduled for a twenty-five minute slot had turned into over an hour of back and forth discussion between Chen and President Liu. That had been yesterday; despite Liu’s enthusiasm for the idea, Minister Chen had yet to hear an official go-ahead from Republic House. Just as his thoughts were turning once again to the project, a new email in his inbox caught his eye. 

It was from Alexandre Herault, the president’s Chief of Staff. The president is 100% on board, the email read. You’ll have all the resources and support from Republic House that you need, plus meetings on Mondays and Thursdays for you and your team with the president and Ministers Misra and Jin as needed. Good luck with this, it’s something Liu is very interested in. With a smile, Raoul fired off a quick response to Herault and then sent out another email for the Trade Ministry’s top officials to meet him in his office in a matter of hours.

“I’ve just received some exciting news from the president,” Raoul Chen announced to his ministry’s top officials and negotiators, assembled in the main conference room with a view of downtown Laeralsford outside. “The Laeral-Huenya Economic Corridor, preliminary details of which you can see in your briefing packets, has been approved as a high-priority project by President Liu. Tanvi Misra and Jin Liqing, from the Foreign and Finance ministries, are expected to weigh in as well. The central idea of the project is a mammoth public-private venture, facilitated by the Laeralian government, which will work with partners on the ground to build transportation, energy, and manufacturing infrastructure to help Huenya rebuild from its civil war.”

There were looks of surprise and dawning realization all across the room as they understood what this project entailed. It wouldn’t simply be a trade agreement, or even establishing a joint economic zone. It meant helping Laeralian companies be at the forefront of an entire country’s rebuilding. 

“The Laeral-Huenya Economic Corridor will involve both public investment from our state-owned firms and private investment from private corporations. President Liu is speaking with a roundtable of industry leaders tomorrow, but preliminary indications are that big business is salivating at the chance to get involved in a market that was entirely closed off to Laeralian business under the old Xiomeran economic model. As a ministry, we will be working with our counterparts at the Huenyan Trade Secretariat to fast-track these deals. Broadband internet, port expansion, highways and rail lines, the electrical grid, and heavy manufacturing are all on the table, depending on what our Huenyan counterparts say. We’re also directed to facilitate deals for our state-run companies. In particular, ENL* is interested in selling nuclear power infrastructure, which could be quite lucrative, and before you ask, I’ve been assured we’ll get regulatory approval for the export of reactors. While the exact details and numbers are still to be determined, early projections say that we could be talking about investment in the range of 50 billion marks.”

The room was hushed as Chen finished outlining the initiative. Finally, one of the trade ministry’s longest-serving career bureaucrats, a grey-haired Arrivée man whom ministry gossip insisted planned to die at his desk someday, raised his hand. “This economic corridor plan sounds enticing,” he said. “But what makes us think that Huenya will be interested in choosing us as a trade partner over an ally located in their region?” 

“We have better relations with Huenya than most of their neighbors do,” Chen said. “In particular, their crown prince, Texoccoatl, was given sanctuary by our government last year, and so there’s plenty of goodwill in our relationship. The Jinyu Agreement legitimized their independence as a sovereign state, and it was President Liu’s doing. All indications suggest that the Huenyans are anxious for our investment, and gift-wrapping it all as the “Laeral-Huenya Economic Corridor” will only make it more appealing.”

“What about GDIB?” asked a Rén woman sitting by the door, referring to the Global Development Investment Bank. “Wouldn’t this initiative supplant them in some ways?”

“We’re obviously still a huge proponent of GDIB, and this agreement won’t do anything to change it,” Chen said. “The reason we’re pursuing this rebuilding and investment effort bilaterally, instead of through the auspices of GDIB, is because developing our relationship with Huenya directly is a priority for Republic House. Given our close ties with GDIB, we’ll be able to cooperate with them on a range of lower-priority, lower-profile projects like road construction and sustainable agriculture, but the Laeral-Huenya Economic Corridor will be how we’ll spearhead the rebuilding effort of Huenya’s core infrastructure. GDIB will also be our main means of engagement when it comes to Manauia Island and the Netlcoatl Islands, which are more...auxiliary focuses.” 

“Seeing no more questions,” Raoul said, “I’m going to dismiss this meeting. I have a virtual conference in a matter of hours with some Huenyan officials to formally propose the idea to them. Within the next few days, we can assign working groups and match you all up with Huenyan intermediaries. Republic House is confident in us, and I am too. Thank you for your work, everyone.”

*Énergie Nucléaire Laeralien, Laeral’s state-run nuclear power provider.