[Xiomera]

Secretariat of Trade offices
After the call with Raoul Chen


After the video call with Minister Chen had concluded, his counterpart in the Huenyan government sat back with a pleased smile. "This certainly seems very promising."

"Promising? You've a gift for understatement. It's a lifeline, just when we needed it." Talcueitlaco, the Secretary of Infrastructure, Development and Planning, had an even bigger smile on her face. "Do you think they'll go for it?"

By they, Talcueitlaco meant the people who had to be convinced, more than anyone, before the plan could go forward. "I doubt they will hate the idea, unless some of the less trusting ones raise objections. If they do," Yaochtzin said, "we will just have to out-argue them. We need this deal."

On that note, the two of them stood up to walk over and present their report.

---

An hour later, having concluded their presentation, Yaochtzin and Talcueitlaco waited for the members of the Chamber of Executives, along with Tiacihitli, to review their notes. "This is an excellent opportunity for us, and one that could not have come at a better time," Yaochtzin said.

"So it would seem. However, I have my reservations." Huacue, the leader of the Necatli, raised an eyebrow as he looked at the two bureaucrats. "This arrangement could open the door for foreign domination of our future economy, and our infrastructure. I am not eager to simply switch Laeral for the Xiomeran Empire as some kind of outside controlling force. I was no more enthusiastic about the arrangements that were made with the Eirians, but this is yet another foreign state that will be involved in our affairs - and at a far more massive scale, at that."

"We will retain ultimate control over who has access to any and every aspect of our infrastructure," Talcueitlaco replied. "We are well aware of the concerns of independence and sovereignty involved."

"I would also raise a simple point - if we don't start making deals with other countries to jump-start our rebuilding, is there a better suggestion anyone has?" Yaochtzin tapped his laser pointer impatiently. "Rebuilding on our own will take decades, and even then, we may never get back to what we were before the Empire sacked us. These kind of deals will ensure that we can rebuild much faster, and to a far greater degree. I know that some of you, and some in our military and security establishments, may have concerns. I would simply remind everyone to bear in mind that Laeral has never shown us ill will. But the Empire is still lurking over our horizon, watching us, and I don't think I need to remind everyone that Calhualyana has definitely shown us ill will-"

"You just reminded us," Huacue interrupted sardonically.

"-and the longer we remain in a weakened state, the more likely that when Calhualyana finally decides to try to attack us once more, we won't be ready or able to stop her," Yaochtzin said, refusing to acknowledge the interruption. "We need to get back on our feet as quickly as possible. This deal will help us do that."

Texōccoatl spoke up next. "I would add that if we have strong ties with other countries - countries with a vested interest in making sure the Empire doesn't just swallow us up again at some point - those ties could well deter Calhualyana from trying to harm us. She didn't agree to peace at Jinyu because she liked anything whatsoever about the agreement. She agreed to it because she was forced to, by countries with the will to do so. That international pressure may be the only thing that deters her from attacking us. Agreements like these form the ties with other nations that are the foundation of mutual restraint over people like her."

"I must agree," Tiacihitli said next. The Vice-Speaker nodded as he looked over the notes once more. "This agreement also helps us reverse the pillaging the Empire did in a few swift strokes, and sets us on the path to recovery and rebuilding."

"It does more than that." Yauhmi raised her head, looking over the rest of the room. "We've all been so focused on fixing the damage that was done to us, on rebuilding. We have forgotten that we should be seeking more. I don't know about all of you, but when I look past the walls of this city, I see a bit more than the empty plains stretching around it. I see a new Chuaztlapoc rising, with temples to democracy, freedom and equality serving as a symbol of our aspirations and our values. I see that city becoming a beacon to the rest of Huenya, and Huenya rising to its example to become a beacon to the world. We want to become a new and great force for good in the world - fair enough. But we can't do that alone. No one can." Yauhmi laughed, mainly at herself. "I learned the hard way about trying to do everything by yourself, didn't I? We can't afford to make that mistake now."

"Your judgement may be flawed," Huacue retorted. "The Laeralites protected your son during the war, after all."

"So they did. I am a bit grateful to them for not letting Xochiuhue toss my son into the same kind of torture chamber I was in, I suppose," Yauhmi said dryly, looking at Texōccoatl with a lopsided smile. "If that colors my judgement, so be it." Yauhmi looked Huacue squarely in the eyes. "But for that, I trust them. And in the end, we better start trusting other countries if we want Huenya to survive, much less thrive. Honestly, Huacue, this cynicism and distrust of foreigners is positively...Imperial of you, in its attitude."

"There's no need to insult me," Huacue grimaced.

"Just a gentle wake-up call," Yauhmi replied in what everyone had come to recognize as her grandmotherly tone. "Look, I, of all people, am hardly naive nor blind to how international relations work, and what people may expect or hope for in return for their generosity. But I trust that Huenya can protect its own interests while working with the world to our mutual benefit. We want this country we're building to be an example for the world - well, we can't do that without being part of the world, and forming ties with the rest of it. We can remain distrustful and wary, and slap away hands that are offering us a life preserver, or we can choose not to drown. I like not drowning, myself."

"As long as we remain vigilant that this is not some prelude to being taken over, economically or otherwise," Huacue finally said, "I can agree to this plan."

"Well, how nice. I was afraid for a moment that the rest of us might just have to agree to it on our own and leave the Necatli lands out of it," Cusuyo, the leader of the Tepiltzin, replied archly. Huacue favored his fellow leader with a sour expression in response.

"I believe we are in agreement then," Tiacihitli said. "Yaochtzin, please inform Minister Chen that we are ready to move forward."

[Xiomera]

Xochuaxte Palace
1:45 am, April 25th

Yauhmi sat upright suddenly in her bed, gasping sharply as she woke. Her sharp movement jostled the nightstand next to her bed; a glass fell to the floor with a tinkling crash.

The servant tasked to her quarters overnight quickly walked into the room, a pair of Shorn Ones close behind. "Cihuātlahtoāni? Are you allright?" the servant asked, standing next to Yauhmi's bedside.

"I'm fine; it was just an accident. Everything's fine," Yauhmi said, as if reassuring herself. She shook her head gently to clear the grogginess from it, and to clear the thoughts that had forced her awake from it as well. Her servant murmured in acquiescence, quickly picking up the broken glass and using a towel to mop the spilled water from the floor. After making sure that there was nothing Yauhmi needed, the servant helped her lie back in bed before walking out with the two Shorn Ones. As the three left, Yauhmi noticed the look they exchanged with each other. They know, of course they know. This happens every night, after all. Everyone in the Palace knows, to be sure, Yauhmi thought to herself. The Royal Household had, in fact, been taking great pains to keep the knowledge of these moments confined within the walls of Xochuaxte Palace.

After the doors to her bedroom closed, Yauhmi looked back over at the nightstand. A set of pill bottles sat on the nightstand, lined up in a silent row like a team of brown-clad guards. Real guards weren't able to protect me, and these pharmaceutical ones aren't doing such a great job either, Yauhmi thought with dry amusement as she lay back down. They're a bit late, in any event. For what they're trying to protect me from, the horse fled the barn a long time ago.

During the day, Yauhmi was just fine. In fact, everyone always remarked on how strong she was. You survived a coup, and imprisonment, and torture. You escaped and became the leader of a new nation, a new movement. And at your age, even. How very impressive, Huenyan and foreign officials alike would tell her. They were always so amazed that she could continue to lead, and to serve as the image of the emerging Huenyan state.

The Huenyan public (those that didn't hate her, for being part of the old Xiomeran system, at least) always said the same. Our cihuātlahtoāni is so strong, to endure what she did and still be able to hold the throne. Everyone admired her strength and her determination so much. During the day. If they only knew, the way my servants in the palace know, the way my guards know, the way my family knows, Yauhmi thought with another shake of the head.

During the day wasn't when things were hard for her. It was at night, when she was left alone with her own thoughts and regrets - and memories - that the facade slipped and things fell apart. During the day, she wasn't haunted by the mistakes she had made, or the punishment that she had endured for those mistakes in an ASI cell. During the day, she wasn't besieged with thoughts about what she could have done differently, or not done at all.

During the day, she didn't have visions of a red-haired demon causing her pain like she had never felt before - or, even worse, the visions of her own people doing the same to her with equal glee and violence.

At night, it all came back to her, whether she wanted it to or not. No matter what she tried to do, no matter what the little pills on her nightstand tried to do, no matter what anyone or anything did, her dreams (and nightmares) brought it all back to her, in the end. Not just the torture or the coup, either, but all the myriad decisions and mistakes of her long career. During the day, she could take solace in the things she had done right, or the good things she had done. At night, the spokespeople for the other side of her karma insisted on being heard also, in visions of pain, fire and blood.

Yauhmi had already abandoned any notion of pushing those voices away. The pills kept her functional and able to work on her new mission, and that was all she deserved and needed now. She would not deny the voices of her past, both good and bad, their audience. They had earned their right to be heard, after all.

As the Great Speaker of Huenya pulled the blankets back around her and tried to find elusive sleep once more, the voices from her past prepared to pick up where they had left off as well.

[Xiomera]

Palace of Flowers, Chamber of the Mazātl

After three weeks of rigorous vetting and discussions with Imperial Steward Xiuhcatli and Prime Minister Toquihu, Empress Calhualyana had finally made her choice.

Time to meet the puppet....husband, I mean husband, Calhualyana thought to herself as she waited in the sitting room of her personal chambers. I really do have to make sure I call him by the correct term in public. This has to appear like a perfect love story just like in the insipid telestories, after all.

The double doors to her chamber swung open, and two of her personal guards - one Warrior of Huītzilōpōchtli and one Warrior of Tezcatlipōca, in their contrasting light and dark formal uniforms - led in a third man. He was wearing an Imperial Navy summer dress uniform, impeccably detailed with the rank of a lieutenant commander. The Empress looked him over analytically, in best ASI fashion, as he walked in. He is undeniably quite attractive, she thought, parsing his flowing hair and piercing eyes, and the perfectly trimmed facial hair. Very athletic as well. Physically, at least, he will do. Let's hope the brain matches the outer package. As her guards closed the doors to the chamber, the naval officer bowed to the Empress. "Your Majesty, I have come as requested," he said.

"I can see that. Take a seat," Calhualyana replied coolly, pointing to a chair across from her comfortable armchair. "Your name is Xiyāōtl, correct?"

"Yes, your Majesty," Xiyāōtl replied as he sat down and placed his uniform hat on a nearby side table. He looked Calhualyana directly in the eyes, which she normally would have found offensive and even a bit of a challenge. Instead, she allowed herself to be amused. "You look familiar. Why is that?" she said.

"You may have seen the recruiting ads I've done for the Imperial Navy, your Majesty. They've proven to be quite effective," Xiyāōtl said with a broad smile.

"Of course they have been. People always fall for a pretty package when one is selling a product, first rule of advertising. What else?" Calhualyana said, not returning the smile.

"You might also be remembering the appearance I made on Pyramid of Misfortune," Xiyāōtl said, continuing to smile with surprising confidence. "I do remember seeing that. You lost. Early, as I recall," Calhualyana replied, a slight touch of disdain entering her cool tone. "And then you tried to hit the host with a shoe, and failed."

Xiyāōtl shrugged. "It made for memorable television, at least."

Calhualyana sighed. "You do know why you're here, right?"

Xiyāōtl nodded, not breaking his gaze on the Empress. "I am to be your husband, or so I have been told."

"And so I thought. But so far, Xiyāōtl, you frankly do not impress me. And I am accustomed to only the best, in everything. So far, you do not seem to fit that requirement, especially for such an important choice. Is there anything else you have to offer, other than being a naval officer who aspires to being a media darling and a television star?"

"I am a naval officer who fought for this country in war, your Majesty. I would think that improves my resume a bit," Xiyāōtl returned, allowing a bit of steel to enter his own voice. "I fought at Zapotlán, when our fleet engaged the foreign invaders."

"And you lost there too, as I recall," the Empress parried with a laugh that did not convey amusement. "Although you did fight well, I have been told. You even earned yourself a medal. It shines nicely on your pretty uniform." The Empress rose from her chair, walking around the seated Xiyāōtl much like a jaguar stalking its prey. "My point is this, Xiyāōtl: you're aspiring to become the second most important person in Xiomera, not to mention the person who gets to share my bed. So, tell me, why do you deserve to be that person?"

If Xiyāōtl was nervous or uncomfortable as Calhualyana circled him, he did not show it. "For one reason, and one reason alone, Empress: I am what you need."

Calhualyana laughed at that, a laugh of genuine amusement this time - she was more than a little intrigued now. "That is a very bold statement, I grant you. You have no lack of confidence or courage - and that you will need, if you're to be my husband," she said, taking her seat once more. "But you have yet to convince me. I am Empress of Xiomera, after all. I could argue that there is nothing I need, or am lacking," she said, gesturing with one hand to indicate the lavish surroundings of her chambers. "What can you possibly provide me that I don't already have?"

"Someone strong enough to actually be your husband, and to raise the future heirs to this Empire with you," Xiyāōtl replied. The smile left his face, replaced by an expression of firm belief. "Someone intelligent enough to not bore you, or waste your time, or be a burden to you as you lead the Empire. Someone who understands that you are trying to lay the foundation for a future Xiomera that endures in strength and prosperity, and is both willing and able to do the hard work that is necessary to accomplish that. Someone who will not just help you, but stand ready to defend you, even with my life if necessary. And, I would add, someone who could someday become a husband that you actually like, rather than one who serves a convenient role for you," Xiyāōtl added, his smile returning.

"Do not get ahead of yourself," Calhualyana replied. "I haven't even decided if I want you for the convenient role yet."

"Of course. But I am confident you will." Xiyāōtl once again gazed directly at the Empress. Calhualyana shook her head, her bemusement openly expressing itself on her face now. "You may go," she replied, pointing to the doors and pressing the button that signaled the guards. "You certainly made an interesting pitch for yourself....you will find out soon enough if it worked."

"Either way, I am yours to command, your Majesty," Xiyāōtl replied, standing up and favoring Calhualyana with a deep bow before walking jauntily out of the room between the guards.

Calhualyana shook her head again, as Xiuhcatli and Toquihu entered the sitting room from a side door. "That was certainly interesting," Toquihu said.

"He is entirely too cocky." Xiuhcatli shook his head in disapproval. Toquihu shook his head. "He needs to be confident, to be capable of being a worthy partner. I personally admire confidence."

"As do I," Calhualyana murmured, thinking. After a moment, she nodded. "Xiuhcatli.....he will be acceptable."

[Xiomera]

Xochuaxte Palace, May 27th
Emergency Session, Chamber of Executives of the Huenyan Federation

"You have gone too far this time!" Huacue shouted. He slammed the table with his fist, as the rest of the members of the Chamber of Executives flinched.

"The raid on the Cauhloc was necessary. It would have happened whether or not we helped. We had a good chance to rescue both Tlalzixiūhxa and Cozamalotl, by helping the Auroras. We also gained significant goodwill with the Auroras by helping them, which is beneficial to Huenya no matter what," FIS Director Cuetlancaona said, in a calm tone to try to cool off the temper of the Necatli tlatoani. It did not work.

"At what cost did we achieve these things? One Aurora is dead, and another captured. We lost two Shorn Ones, and another suffered serious injuries, and yet another plans to give up his mantle and sacrifice himself for failure. I am sure I don't need to remind you that ever since the war, the Shorn Ones are very small in numbers, and we rely on them as our ultimate defense. You sacrificed three of them for nothing!" Huacue shouted.

"It was their choice, and is always our choice, tlatoani Huacue. It is not your choice. The Shorn Ones answer only to the Cihuātlahtoāni, and to me." Etlahuatzitl, the leader of the Shorn Ones, shook her head grimly. "Sacrificing ourselves in the service of our Cihuātlahtoāni is the highest honor we can aspire to. Do not use the bravery of my men as a weapon to berate this council."

"You serve the Huenyan Federation, Etlahuatzitl," Huacue warned. "We serve who we serve, and have always served. And we decide that, not you, nor this council," the Shorn One retorted with finality.

Huacue gave up on the clearly unmovable target, shifting his anger back to its original focus. "Yauhmi, we have warned you repeatedly about acting outside our advice and consent. I will tolerate this no longer. Your decision to greenlight this raid has endangered this Federation before it has even been born. We have not even had elections yet, and now, we may have just started the war again! You violated the Jinyu Agreement with this action - do you not grasp that? Huenya is now seen by the world as just as violent and culpable as Xiomera. You have ruined our reputation and exposed us to Xiomeran retaliation, which we are in no position to stop without international help. And do you think that the rest of the world will help us if we are the aggressors? Do you think that Laeral, and Eiria, and Milintica, will not seek to punish us for this? You violated their trust as well, and betrayed them as well as us. Your penchant for unilateral acts has finally gone too far. You represent a danger to Huenya, in my belief, and I demand that you abdicate at once and hand the throne off to Texōccoatl, so that we may have some hope of salvaging this disaster. Director Cuetlancaona, I demand that you resign as well."

Into the sudden stark silence, Texōccoatl's voice echoed like a door slamming. "That will not happen, Huacue. My mother will not be forced to abdicate for this. I will not steal her throne from her on this pretext, nor to soothe your fears."

"I am not asking, Texōccoatl. Either she goes, or I do. And if I go, I take the Necatli with me. We will not be a part of Huenya if its leaders insist on jeopardizing us at every turn and if we are not listened to!" Huacue shouted.

"And if anyone threatens Yauhmi or tries to dispossess her of her throne, the Xiomerans will leave Huenya. And, I will remind you, there are Auroras in Xiomera who are not prepared to serve anyone other than Yauhmi, so you may want to rethink your demand, Huacue." General Huatli, who had insisted on attending the meeting to represent the Auroras, glared at the Necatli leader with an expression that made it clear she was not bluffing.

"I will not bow to you just because you are an Aurora, Huatli. You Auroras are the ones who got us into this mess," Huacue retorted coldly.

"Enough," Yauhmi said tiredly. Her expression was drained. "I never intended for this to happen..."

"You never intend for any of the things that result from your schemes and plans to happen, but somehow, they always do. That is exactly the problem." Huacue's expression was pitiless. Texōccoatl stood up, his expression towards the Necatli leader clearly one of I am about to beat you like a drum, but Yauhmi stopped him.

"One Aurora is dead, another captured, and so many Shorn Ones lost. We played right into Calhualyana's hands. I played right into her hands," Yauhmi said. "This was a mistake. We should have waited, planned more..."

"You should never have done it at all!" Huacue shouted.

"Enough, Huacue," Sirua, the leader of the Itotemoc, said, her expression one of wanting to slap the Necatli leader herself. "The raid may have failed, but I do not believe it was a mistake. Cozamalotl deserved a chance at freedom. So did Tlalzixiūhxa. We did the right thing, we just weren't good enough. Yet. But we will be, someday, if we don't tear ourselves apart now. This Federation is the only chance we have to survive. The unity it represents, of all the Huenyan people, should not be torn apart due to a mistake."

"We are in immense danger now, and it is because of a lack of control." Huacue was unmoved. "I will not consent for the Necatli people to remain in this Federation unless Yauhmi either steps down or agrees to cede all political power."

Before anyone else could say anything, Yauhmi stood up. "I agree to your demand."

"Mother, you cannot!" Texōccoatl shouted, alarmed.

"I am the parent, son. Why must I always remind you of that?" Yauhmi replied, faint amusement over a veneer of sadness. "I will not allow my failures to jeopardize our future, and I will not be responsible for the people of Huenya turning on each other. Huenya is more important than any one person. If this is truly what the Necatli demand, I will abdicate in favor of my son. Perhaps it is time, anyway," Yauhmi mused.

"We can negotiate a different role for you, perhaps a queen mother sort of role, while Texōccoatl adjusts to taking over....." Cusuyo, the leader of the Tepiltzin, said in shock, but Yauhmi simply shook her head and walked out of the room.

Into the sudden silence, Sirua spoke softly. "I suppose now we must discuss what the future holds for the throne of Huenya. And what we will do when the international community demands answers from us....and when Xiomera retaliates."

[Xiomera]

The Empress sat unmoving on the Obsidian Throne, her anger making her appear as rigid as the throne itself.

ASI's initial report on the breach of the Cauhloc had made it clear that the enemies who had attacked ASI had been harbored in Zipacpepe. Throughout her career in ASI, Calhualyana had despised Zipacpepe. The criminals that ruled the slum had defied Imperial authority for centuries. They had made the citizens of the capital fear them and their petty crimes. No Emperor had ever dared undertake the massive and violent effort it would take to uproot them once and for all, for fear of shocking both Xiomerans and the world with the sheer brutality such an operation would require.

Every Emperor and Empress before her, like the citizens of Tlālacuetztla, had feared Zipacpepe and its criminal gangs. But the people of Zipacpepe were about to learn that Calhualyana did not feel fear - she made others feel fear.

Minister of Security Quihichua, Minister of Justice Cuicanan, Minister of Defense Chuanacoyo, Prime Minister Toquihu, and Xiyāōtl watched, rooted in place, as the Empress slowly raised her head from the report. "I want Zipacpepe cleansed. I want the gangs ended, and their members either in cells or in their graves. Use the police, the military, ASI, the Warriors of Tezcatlipōca and the Warriors of Huītzilōpōchtli....as many of them as you need for as long as you need. I do not care how you do it. But I want Zipacpepe placed in obedience to Imperial authority, immediately. And I want those who harbored the attackers of the Cauhloc either arrested, if they comply, or ended, if they do not."

The Prime Minister coughed slightly. "Your Majesty, clearing Zipacpepe....no one has ever been able to do so before. Ever. It would take a tremendous operation of overwhelming force...."

"Then tremendous and overwhelming force it shall be," Calhualyana said, in the coldest voice anyone in the room had ever heard her use. "The rabble of Zipacpepe have made a mockery of this throne for centuries. They have thumbed their nose at the authority of the Empire, and have been a plague on the honest people of our capital - the Imperial capital! - for all that time. And now, they harbor enemies of the Empire, who attack the very instutitions of the state that keep it secure. They dare to defy our authority, and to attack the very home of our security ministry itself." At those words, the face of Security Minister Quihichua turned stony, her anger at the violation of the Cauhloc mirroring that of the Empress.

Calhualyana's face took on a dangerous expression. "These people are traitors. And there is only one response to treason in this Empire. Zipacpepe will burn for its insolence, and then it will bend its knee to the Obsidian Throne, once and for all. Or I will hold all of you responsible for the failure."

As the others in the room turned bone white, the Empress rose angrily from the throne. She threw her tablet against a wall; the shattering of the glass echoed throughout the room. "No person, no neighborhood, no city in this Empire can stand in defiance to the throne if we are to uphold the Empire. We allowed people to think they could do that, and it led to everything we've lost and all the defeats we suffered in the war. I will not tolerate this disobedience one second longer. Either we rule Xiomera, and the Empire prevails, or we do not, and chaos ensues. It will not happen as long as I sit on this throne. Not. For. One. Second. Longer."

No one said anything in response. No one dared.

The Empress swept down from the throne, to where Xiyāōtl was standing. "You will lead the operation."

Xiyāōtl's face paled even more. "I'm a naval officer, not a ground forces soldier, or a policeman or security officer. I am not the best choice for this - "

"Everyone except you, out," Calhualyana shouted, pinning Xiyāōtl in place with the force of her gaze alone. The others left the Throne Room, leaving the Empress alone with her suitor. "Are you a man?" she shouted at Xiyāōtl, once they were alone. "Are you a Xiomeran?"

"Yes, of course I am," Xiyāōtl replied, growing angry himself with her tone but knowing better than to shout back at her.

"Then prove it," Calhualyana replied harshly. She took her mācuahuitl from its place at the throne with a single furious swipe. Grasping it by the protective case covering its razor-sharp obsidian blades, she thrust the handle at him. "You want to be my husband. You want to rule this Empire by my side. Well, ruling Xiomera is not a task for the weak or the soft. It never has been. It never will be. You want to be more than a figurehead. You want a seat up there," the Empress growled, pointing to the elevated platform where her throne sat. "You want the power. In this country, you have to earn the power. Do you have what it takes to rule this Empire with me, or not? This is what it takes, Xiyāōtl. Choose now."

Xiyāōtl stared into Calhualyana's eyes. After a moment, he took the mācuahuitl. His eyes never leaving hers, he removed the case, exposing the blades. He lowered the mācuahuitl to his side, letting its case clatter to the ground. Without a word, he turned on his heel and marched to his destiny, the weapon of the Empress at his side.

Watching her husband leave to earn his own throne, Calhualyana returned to sit on hers and wait. Now, we shall see who is worthy, and who shall be found wanting. Both in this Palace, and in Zipacpepe.

---

The next day, the skies over Zipacpepe, filled with smoke from burning buildings, were the color of mourning. Imperial soldiers and police, led by the elite warriors of the Empress, marched openly through the streets of the slum as they had never dared before. The sound of their marching boots on asphalt and shattered glass was hidden only by the roar of armored vehicles as they took the streets of the neighborhood, and the sound of doors being broken down as the forces of the Empire reasserted their authority over Zipacpepe as their Empress demanded.

The people of Zipacpepe, led by those the Empire had deemed criminals and traitors, tried to defend their neighborhood. They had always managed to fend off the efforts of the government to take control of Zipacpepe back from them. But the luck of Zipacpepe had finally run out.

Those that tried to resist violently were met with the full force of the Empire, unrestrained as never before. The operation had started at dawn. By sunset, Calhualyana had managed to accomplish something that centuries of rulers before had not - Zipacpepe and its gangs were broken, the population utterly cowed, and the authorities fully in control.

In the safe house that the Auroras and Huenyans had sheltered prior to their assault on the Cauhloc, Amequic found himself pinned to a wall by two Imperial Army soldiers. The sheer power that he and his fellow gang members had been met with had overwhelmed him, and he felt with certainty that he would never leave this house alive. But he would not give his captors the pleasure of seeing his fear. Like Calhualyana, he had pride of his own.

"This is the man," Amequic heard one of his captors say. The blindfold that had covered his eyes was ripped off, and he saw a man standing in front of him, mācuahuitl in hand. "You are the gang leader Amequic, the one who helped those who raided the Cauhloc," the man demanded.

Amequic laughed in his face, summoning his last strength to die well. "And you're Xiyāōtl, the boytoy of the Empress. I'm surprised you got your hands dirty down here. I thought you Navy boys liked to keep your nice uniforms clean."

Xiyāōtl looked at Amequic. "Mocking me is not a wise decision. If you admit your crimes, and throw yourself on the mercy of the Empire, you may yet live. If you do not, you will face Imperial justice, here and now."

"Justice?" Amequic said bitterly. "You don't know the meaning of the word. Neither does the woman you want to marry. Even a bunch of criminals like us know more about what is justice than any of you in your Imperial uniforms. I knew my life was forfeit the second I harbored those who broke into your precious Cauhloc. And you know what, Xiyāōtl? It was worth it. Even if I die here, in your custody, I will die a freer man than any of you, knowing I did what most are too scared to do and stood up to all of you. It was worth it, just to imagine the look on Calhualyana's evil face when they told her the Cauhloc was broken. You can't take that away from me. Do what you will, servant of the throne."

Xiyāōtl stared blankly at Amequic, hearing his laughter as if from a distance. At that moment, he could have dropped the mācuahuitl and walked away. But Calhualyana was right. She had him, as surely as poison. He wanted her. And he wanted the power.

With a single swing of the weapon of the Empress, the fate of both Amequic and Xiyāōtl was sealed - as was the fate of Zipacpepe.

---

In the days and weeks after the retaking of Zipacpepe, other restive parts of the Empire learned the lesson well from the example that Calhualyana had made of the slum. What heart remained in Xiomera to resist the rise of Calhualyana's Empire was broken at Zipacpepe. Every place in Xiomera that had a mind to resist saw what had happened to Zipacpepe for angering the Empress; everyone who had the idea of defiance imagined the events of Zipacpepe taking place on their streets, in their homes, in their neighborhoods and cities. And in a way unlike that of any Xiomeran leader before her, Calhualyana had ensured that almost no one in the Empire would dare to raise their hand against her.

---

As the Empress monitored the actions of her security forces in Zipacpepe, her steward came to the throne room. "Your Majesty, Mariya Adema has requested to speak with you. She says she has something to deliver to you, from the Cauhloc raid."

The Empress smiled slowly. "Perhaps someone finally has some good news to bring me. Very well. Have her brought to the Palace immediately."

[Xiomera]

Palace of Flowers

The image of Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli of Huenya, giving a speech with his usual earnestly obnoxious self-righteousness, would normally annoy Empress Calhualyana. Not this time.

As the XIN coverage of his live speech played, Calhualyana sipped a glass of her favorite wine. As Tiacihitli continued, she set down the glass and popped a chocolate from her favorite chocolatier, the high-end artisan brand Apotec, into her mouth. Her smile grew wider.

When Tiacihitli finally said it, Calhualyana laughed. It was the long, slow, highly pleased laugh of someone who had been waiting for some time for a desired outcome, and had finally achieved it. She popped another chocolate in her mouth, still grinning.

"You seem quite happy at the moment," Xiyāōtl said, sitting next to her with his own glass of wine.

"Of course I am. You've returned successfully from your mission, performed quite well, I might add. You've made it clear that you have what it takes to be my husband. And now, I have gotten another present that is just as good. Yauhmi is done. The horrible woman is finally out. Out of power in Xiomera, out of power in Huenya, out period. I've finally beaten the old wretch." Calhualyana took another sip of her wine, laughing again. "And even better, her son is replacing her, and the Huenyan government is in chaos. They haven't even made it to their elections yet, and they're already falling apart. At this rate, if I just apply a little more pressure and a little more disruption, Huenya might just collapse before they even hold a single election, and fall right back into the control of the Empire without me even having to fire a shot. And even if they don't, it's clear that the silly chaotic little democracy they're putting together will never be able to match the stability and strength of this Empire. I've been having good days since becoming Empress, but this is one of the best ones yet," Calhualyana said, practically purring.

"Are you sure it's wise to underestimate Texōccoatl?" Xiyāōtl said calmly, sipping his wine again. "He was raised to be a ruler, he's highly trained, and a war veteran now on top of it."

"Xiyāōtl, are you sure you don't want to marry him instead of me?" Calhualyana asked playfully, earning her a light tap with a nearby pillow on the couch. "Texōccoatl is nothing. He sat on the bridge of a warship, surrounded by ships and planes, and played soldier while real warriors like yourself actually did the fighting at Zapotlán. He hid in Laeral during most of the war. He got his position because he was Topilpopoca's son, nothing more. In the end, he is not his mother. He will prove weak like his father was. And when he does, and when he leads his fake country into collapse, I will have both him and Huenya exactly where I want them," Calhualyana said. "Now top off my wine glass and celebrate with me. Yauhmi's downfall is the best news I've had in....well, in ever."

Xiyāōtl refilled his soon-to-be wife's glass, and clinked glasses with Calhualyana. It was, indeed, a moment of quiet celebration in the Palace of Flowers.

---

Xochuaxte Palace

At the Huenyan counterpart to the Palace of Flowers, the mood was far different as another person listened to someone giving a speech.

From his chambers in the Palace, Texōccoatl could hear his mother, in the plaza, giving her abdication speech to the crowds through the open doors of his balcony. He sighed.

Sitting next to him, Tlalmaxxi shook her head wryly. "Don't you go getting all depressed now. It's bad enough I've been moping around here since the raid at the Cauhloc failed. We don't need to both be depressed," she said in an attempt at humor. Texōccoatl shook his head, deflecting the attempt. "This should not be happening. Mother did the right thing. It was right for us to try to free Cozamalotl and Tlalzixiūhxa. She should not have to abdicate now. Not after all she has given for the Auroras, and for our own people. Not after what she has suffered. Huacue and Tiacihitli should not be blaming her for this and using her as a scapegoat."

"They shouldn't, but politics is what it is. We are a democracy now. This is how things work," Tlalmaxxi said. "Whether it is right or not, your mother will soon no longer be the Great Speaker. And she's making this choice, voluntarily - don't forget that. She could have told both Tiacihitli and Huacue to shove it, and most Huenyans would have backed her. But she knows that Huenya is more important than any one person. We need to honor her sacrifice by stepping up, as she would want us to do."

"But I didn't want to succeed her, not like this, anyway. And....what if I'm not ready?" Texōccoatl said, standing up and turning to face the balcony doors.

"Texōccoatl, you're the son of an Emperor and an Empress. You're also, now, the son of a Great Speaker of Huenya. You've been raised from birth for this moment. And you've fought for it, at Zapotlán and at too many places before that to remember. You're the child of two great parents, with their strength running in your veins, and you're the inheritor of a legacy of leadership that goes back centuries. More than that, you're the man I have seen raise our son better than anyone could, and the man I love. Even if you don't know it," Tlalmaxxi said, taking his hand, "I know that you're ready for this. Your mother led us to this point, and mistakes and all, she led us well and with strength. It's time for you to pick up where she leaves off. If anyone deserves to retire, after all she's gone through, it's her."

"I doubt she will really retire. Can you see her baking cookies, knitting, and babysitting Tonauac for the rest of her days?" Texōccoatl chuckled.

"Oh, I know she won't," Tlalmaxxi replied with a grin. "But I know, and she knows, that the time to pass the torch has come. You're ready."

Texōccoatl smiled, lowering his head until his forehead rested on Tlalmaxxi's. "I believe it, when I hear it from you. You're the biggest reason I fought my way back all the way from Laeral to get here."

"Don't get mushy on me, soldier boy," Tlalmaxxi replied, giving her husband a gentle kiss. "Come on. It's time for the people of Huenya to meet their next Great Speaker."

Holding his wife's hand, Texōccoatl walked out of his chambers to join his mother as she gave the most important, and last, speech of her time as a ruler.

[Democratic Republic Of Eiria]

(Joint Post with Xiomera)

Chancellor's Study, Geminus
May 31st, 2021

"Yes, I am aware. But with all due respect, Senator, a solo Green ticket would lose if the Progressives and Socialists joined forces, and the coalition would be fragmented." Chancellor William Lancaster paused, his desk phone held to his ear haphazardly. He'd been on the phone for over an hour and a half with three different Green Senators, all unsure of any Coalition ticket with a Moderate Right Vice candidate. "If you put forward your own candidate, we would be forced to do so as well, and you lose your party's shot at the Chancellory." He paused again, listening to a response. "Thank you, Senator. Have a good day." He hung up and sighed, leaning back in his comfortable chair. Who knew securing your successor would be as hard of a job as it is? He glanced at his paper schedule half-folded on his desk. "Free Work time", huh? Wow.

A thought crossed his mind, and he picked up his phone, a slight smile crossing his face. At least this call will be interesting... His Chief of Staff picked up from her office right next to his. "Yes, sir?". He took one last breath to prepare. "Could you get the future Great Speaker Texōccoatl on the phone please?"
In his office at Xochuaxte Palace, Texōccoatl was filling out paperwork and listening to his advisors as he found himself having to prepare for a sudden and unexpected promotion. His paperwork and discussions were interrupted by his secretary. “Sir, Chancellor Lancaster of Eiria is on the line for you.”

“Excellent, can everyone leave the room while I take this call, please?” While Texōccoatl preferred to phrase things as less of a command and more of a request, it wasn’t really a request. Everyone quickly filed out of the room so he could have privacy. Once the room was clear, Texōccoatl picked up the line. “Chancellor Lancaster, good to hear from you. How can I help you?”

"I believe congratulations are in order. I don't want to take up too much of your time, because I know you are busy getting prepared to become the Huenyan head of state. But I also wish to talk about... Xiomeran Retaliation. Given the circumstances, that seems like a good discussion to have."

”Thank you for the congratulations. I do wish this role had fallen to me under better circumstances, but I will do my best to be at least an adequate replacement for my mother,” Texōccoatl said with a chuckle. “As for retaliation......that is indeed an excellent topic. It is something we have been discussing extensively here already. Any retaliation would likely only be aimed at us, but I’m glad you want to discuss this. We think it’s likely that rather than a full-scale retaliation that could restart the war or be an open violation of Jinyu itself, Calhualyana will choose something more subtle. The problem is, she has many options at her disposal for that sort of retaliation.”

"I would agree that she would choose something more subtle, but I'm also worried that whatever it is, it may have more consequences outside of Huenya. She has the means and the motive to do an incredible amount of things, and none of them are good for the region, especially not for Huenya." The Chancellor cleared his throat. "Do you have any idea of what she may be planning?"

”The fact of the matter is that we do not,” Texōccoatl said with a slight sigh. “While I have come to despise ASI, I must admit that they were, and are, far more capable than our new intelligence service. I cannot fault the FIS for that. They are essentially brand new and untested, like everything else in our government. But it does make it much harder to conduct intelligence gathering. The fact that we have been cut off from the Imperial systems we once used for intelligence gathering, and find ourselves starting from scratch, does not help.” Texōccoatl sighed once more. “We do believe that she will most likely strike at something that is either symbolic to Huenya, or an important or iconic establishment. Her goal will be to send us a message about intervening in Xiomera, to make us fearful to do so in the future. She will also want to destabilize us if she can, and lower the confidence of our people in our government. And whatever she does....it will be big. That, we are certain of. She will seek to do something that cannot be easily traced back to her, or to ASI. But she will want to make sure that we never forget the lesson she intends to teach.”

"That's what I'm afraid of. If you'd like, we could help the FIS get on its feet, but I don't know how much foreign meddling you'd want in the intelligence service." He chuckled lightly, his mood changing back to serious. "This situation could get out of hand very quickly. We're already monitoring the situation, but we're going to increase observation immensely. I just hope this doesn't become a series of Jinyu-breaking events."

”We hope so as well, and honestly, as long as we do not respond to whatever Imperial retaliation occurs with retaliation of our own, our assessment is that Calhualyana will leave it at that,” Texōccoatl replied. “My intention is to not respond in kind, but to just deal with whatever she chooses to do as best as we can and move on. Of course, I now have an entire council to convince of this, some of whom are not inclined to turn the other cheek.”

"Ah, but that's just a council. Wait until you have a full Democratic legislature to convince. That's when it gets fun." He smiled wryly, glancing again at his schedule. "Forgive me for asking, but when Xiomera retaliates, will Huenya be in a stable enough position? I'm concerned about the democratic transition being affected by Calhualyana's plans."
Texōccoatl laughed in dry appreciation at what the Chancellor considered fun. “Will we be stable enough? I believe in being forthright, especially with our allies, so I will be honest with you: I don’t know. We’ve never done democracy here before, and we have some pretty big fault lines to navigate to make this whole thing work. Anything that adds more instability to the mix only makes our job harder. And Calhualyana is not above prying at those fault lines, either in hopes that we’ll fail and she can scoop us back up into the Empire, or just for petty revenge. We are committed to making this work, though, no matter what she throws at us. In the end, I believe we will prevail, but it will likely be a bumpy ride to the finish line.”

"And Eiria's going to be here to help, every step of the way. It'll be nice to have another Democratic power in the region. Especially one who can stand up to Calhualyana." He fiddled with his pen. "We also look forward to the Huenyan delegation's performance at the Olympics this year."

”We’re very excited about that too. Our team has been rather hastily put together, and hasn’t been able to train much, so we’re trying to temper our expectations. But it will be good for us, and the world I think, to see our flag and our athletes in their uniforms with the name of Huenya on them.” Texōccoatl’s voice took on a proud tone. “There are certain countries out there that insist on questioning our legitimacy as a state. It will be nice to stand on the world stage and show them we’re real and here to stay. While the Vice-Speaker will remain here to make sure the government functions in the event of an emergency, I plan to attend the Olympics to cheer them on. Assuming, of course, that you don’t think it would cause too much of a security issue. I would not want to impose.”

"Of course not! You're welcome to attend. Now the pressure's on us even more to make the experience truly spectacular. As for security, I'll get that arranged. Traditionally, Solar Guards have been assigned to protect visiting dignitaries, so I'll get a contingent cleared for you. Will you have your personal security as well?"

”I will, but any additional security you can provide is always appreciated. Your Solar Guards in particular would be a welcome addition to the group, although I honestly do not expect trouble. Even Calhualyana isn’t foolish enough to try something at the Olympics....or, at least, one would hope,” Texōccoatl said with a slight laugh.

Lancaster returned the laugh. "Unfortunately, I'm not sure what Calhualyana would do if the urge struck her. She's not stupid, but that's not exactly a good thing in an opponent. She's definitely not Xochiuhue."

”That is true, which is unfortunate. For all his insanity, Xochiuhue was both predictable and easily provoked into rash actions. Calhualyana is neither - she won’t do anything that will either jeopardize her position or that of the Empire. She will likely bide her time and wait until it best suits her.”

"And that's our job now, to figure out when that is. I've got our intelligence services prepared for any course of action that she may take, and we will be ready to assist you in the aftermath. Feel free to call when you need help, and I'll see what I can do."

”Thank you for that. Your friendship with us during this whole situation is not something we will forget. I have a feeling that once Huenya is back on its feet and on a stable footing, our two countries will be excellent partners in maintaining peace and promoting democracy in Caxcana,” Texōccoatl replied. “Please feel free to call me as well if you need anything, and I’m looking forward to my visit to Eiria for the Olympics.”

"I look forward to hosting you. Congratulations again, and have a good day."Lancaster put the phone back on the receiver, thinking to himself. This will be interesting. But what kind of leader will he be?

[Xiomera]

Calhualyana laid her tablet down on her desk, gently. She had gone through several of the devices, in the days after the Cauhloc raid, but her temper had cooled considerably. The Empress was now in a contemplative mood, at least enough to think without destroying several thousand quetzals' worth of high-end Xiomeran electronics.

The Security Ministry and ASI had completed their initial report on the Cauhloc breach, and the Empress was surprised at how forthright it was about the failures that had allowed the Auroras and their Huenyan helpers to breach what was supposed to be a virtually impenetrable site. "You've been both thorough and honest about why this happened," she said finally to Quihichua, the Security Minister. "That is good. It will allow you to keep your head. But not your job."

Quihichua blanched; she loved her work as much as Calhualyana had during her time as head of Imperial security, and losing her job would be almost as painful to her as death. Before Quihichua could say anything, however, the Empress shook her head. "Don't worry, I don't intend to fire you, or punish you any more than you have already been punished. You are, in truth, too valuable to the future of our security apparatus. However, there will be major changes coming in the wake of this." The Empress turned to Tlihue, Xochicueyetl and Tōpillnao, the top three ASI leaders. "You allowed the most severe breach of Imperial security in our history on your watch. You failed ASI, and you failed the Empire. You know what is required of you."

The three of them simply nodded, saluting the Empress before being escorted out. By the end of the day, there would be three vacancies to fill in ASI, and three funerals to arrange.

As they left, Calhualyana turned back to Quihichua. "Be thankful I am not ordering you to follow them. And do better next time."

"Yes, your Majesty, I will," Quihichua said, gaze aimed at the floor. "But....if I may ask....what changes do you speak of?"

"Other than clearing out the incompetent deadwood at the top of ASI that allowed this breach?" the Empress said, smirking. "More change than we have seen in our security apparatus since ASI was created 100 years ago." The Empress gestured for Quihichua to sit down. "I love ASI, and I love the Cauhloc. I spent the greatest part of my time serving the Empire there, before becoming Empress, of course. But we must face facts. Both ASI and the Cauhloc are relics of a simpler time, a less dangerous time. ASI's basic structure dates back decades; the Cauhloc itself is a 60-year-old relic. It is shameful that Xiomera, a nation that prides itself on its modernity, allowed its most important state arms, the security services, to become so hopelessly outdated. I even warned people like Topilpopoca about this; the old fool never listened." Calhualyana smiled. "But now I am Empress. And I have the power to bring our security services into the modern age."

As Quihichua watched, Calhualyana turned the screen mounted to her office wall on. "You brought me the problem, Quihichua. I present you the solution."

On the screen, a series of slides displayed what the Empress was about to command. "ASI is too overburdened. It is responsible for everything from intelligence gathering and foreign intelligence operations, to internal threat assessment and domestic counter-intelligence, to internal security and maintaining order. One agency cannot do all these things - not well enough, anyway, to fight the threats the Empire now faces. So, this is my plan. ASI will be broken up, and new agencies created. One of them, the Imperial Intelligence Agency, will handle all of our foreign intelligence gathering, intelligence operations, foreign threat assessment, technological and corporate espionage, cyberwarfare, and anything else we need done outside our own borders. This new IIA will remain under the Security Ministry, under a new leader."

Calhualyana advanced to the next slide. "You, however, will be taking over the Ministry of Loyalty from Tzinaca. He is frankly too weak to hold the position anyway, and I will 'encourage' him to retire. The Ministry of Loyalty will be in charge of taking over ASI's domestic functions. They will form a new agency - the Imperial Security Agency. The ISA will handle all domestic intelligence and internal security threats. They will also monitor Xiomeran populations abroad, to make sure they are remaining loyal to the Empire. They will also work closely with the Ministry of Information, to make sure that both internally and externally, the message that we want sent to people about our Empire is delivered."

The Empress advanced to yet another slide. "A new era for our intelligence and security forces will require new facilities as well. The Cauhloc is in the middle of the city, which makes it entirely impossible to keep secure. There is too much traffic, too many people, too many buildings, around it. This attack has proven that. We must isolate both the IIA and the ISA to keep them secure." On the slide, two sites in the foothills north of Tlālacuetztla were displayed. "The Security Ministry and the Ministry of Loyalty will receive new headquarters complexes. Isolated, in the mountains. Open space for miles around, so that rats like the Auroras can't hide and blend in amongst the city crowds."

Calhualyana began displaying images of design sketches she had done. "The blind spots this raid exposed in the Cauhloc will not exist in these new facilities. There will be not an inch of them that is not covered by cameras, sensors and guards. There will be no way anyone who isn't supposed to be there will be able to get within a mile of them without being spotted and stopped. The roads leading to it will have multiple checkpoints and guard towers to ensure that. And even if someone does manage to get to the new facilities, they will never get past the perimeter fences and walls. We will follow the same model as the Cauhloc, with offices above ground and detention and interrogation facilities below. However, the number of entrances will be much more limited, and much more heavily guarded. It will also no longer be the sole responsibility of security forces to guard security or intelligence facilities - the Army will also be tasked to guard the sites and their surrounding areas. I will not allow anyone to threaten our security or intelligence forces again. We will not be caught off guard again - and no one who guards these new sites will be even the slightest bit complacent, unless they want to end up inside a cell instead of guarding it."

Quihichua had come to see the Empress expecting to be executed, or at least fired. She began to smile as she realized that she was actually about to get everything a secret police agent ever dreamed of.

"In addition, once the new facilities are built, this will enable us to demolish the Cauhloc - which will allow us to be rid of many secrets that it is best the world not know about," Calhualyana mused.

Security Minister Quihichua smiled more broadly at that idea - burying the secrets of the Cauhloc, from her standpoint, was a very good idea. "What will happen to the former Cauhloc site once it is demolished?"

"I have already earmarked that site for the new Ministry of Information complex which will be built. With security maintained on one hand, and the Information Ministry ensuring that this nation hears one voice, and speaks with one voice, Xiomera will finally be ready for the vision that I have for its future. With two razor-sharp, lean and focused security and intelligence agencies, the Empire will be in a stronger position than it ever was with ASI." Calhualyana turned back to the images on the screen, of the rough sketches she had done. I will obliterate the stain that the Auroras and their Huenyan lackeys have placed on my security and intelligence forces. I will level the Cauhloc to wipe the shame of this violation from the face of the earth. And when the new IIA and ISA facilities rise, if anyone tries such a raid again, they will never leave Xiomera alive, she thought.

With that, the Empress dismissed Quihichua to begin implementing her vision for Xiomera's security future. Quihichua had already, days before, been punished for the Cauhloc raid. But she was not the only one due that reckoning. The Empress had an appointment.

---

The sound of the whip cracking was the only noise in the room.

Calhualyana, Empress of Xiomera, had punished those responsible for the lapse at the Cauhloc. Except for the person most responsible, to her very Xiomeran way of thinking.

In Xiomera, the leader was always responsible for any failings of their subordinates. The Director of ASI, his deputies, the guards at the Cauhloc during the attack, the Security Minister....they had all shared some role in the failure of the Cauhloc, to be sure. But Calhualyana had once been in charge of Security herself. And now, she was Empress. For both reasons, Calhualyana could not deny her own role in the failure of ASI to protect itself.

And after all, if the leader is responsible for the failings of their subordinates, who was more responsible than the Empress, in the end?

When the priests of Huītzilōpōchtli at the Huēyi Teōcalli were done scourging her, the Empress put her robe back on. She had not cried out during the scourging, and she didn't wince when getting dressed, even though the wounds were fresh. The pain would be a reminder to her to not be complacent, and not to fail again.

[Xiomera]

Outskirts of Chuaztlapoc, June 3rd

Metztli was tired. He had been on his feet for hours, traveling to different properties in the countryside around Chuaztlapoc. He was one of the top realtors in Huenya, and normally, would go to any length to make a sale. But even his normal determination was beginning to flag. If I had her energy, I could sell half the country, he thought wryly.

Yauhmi, the former Great Speaker of Huenya, had been traveling around with Metztli since 7 am that day. They had viewed ten properties extremely thoroughly, and none had met with the approval of Yauhmi. Metztli had almost, out of exhaustion, recommended that the former ruler just build a property to her specifications and settle for selling her a vacant piece of land. But he had one more property left on his list, and he was hoping this one would finally be the one.

The property was a former Xiomeran noble’s estate, located on a high hill to the west of the city limits. Metztli had been trying to sell it for months without success; it was once a very grand property but was in severe need of restoration. The fact that it had been the site of a battle between Imperial forces and Itotemoc rebels had not helped.

As the caravan of vehicles traveled up the road leading inside the estate to the main house, Metztli noticed Yauhmi looking around with renewed interest. He allowed himself to feel a tiny spark of hope. If he could make a sale to someone as important as Yauhmi, his reputation as a realtor would be assured.

Yauhmi stepped out of the car, looking around the courtyard in front of the main house with a contemplative expression. From its lofty position, the property had an excellent view of the countryside around Chuaztlapoc, and the city itself. Even in its deteriorated and damaged state, the complex was quite impressive. A long, high stone wall surrounded the entire perimeter, dotted here and there with towers. A series of outbuildings dotted the fields around the main house. There were even disused stables and a barn, and a solarium attached to the rear of the house, surrounded by formal gardens that had gone wild.

“This property does require a fair investment to restore it to its original condition,” Metztli said with hesitation. “However, in the right hands, it could shine once more.”

Yauhmi stood in the courtyard, listening to the birds chirping in the trees and the wind gently blowing. The old estate seemed to be a world removed from the politicking she had endured in Chuaztlapoc.

The silence lengthened, until Metztli mentally sighed to himself. He was about to suggest that they return to Chuaztlapoc, when Yauhmi nodded once. “This is the place. Prepare the paperwork and send it to my aides,” she said.

Metztli nodded happily, already counting the Huenyan credits that were about to flood his bank account.

—-

June 8th

A caravan of official vehicles, flying the flag of Huenya from their front fenders, pulled up to the hilltop property. Passing through the restored front gate and its attendant security, the cars rolled under a new sign: Xomaxtli Hill.

The vehicles stopped in front of the entrance to the main house. A Shorn One opened the door to the official limousine. Texōccoatl stepped out, followed by Tlalmaxxi. “Your mother is certainly doing wonders with this place,” Tlalmaxxi said, looking around at the crews already working nonstop to put the shine back on the property.

Texōccoatl looked around, not quite as pleased as his wife. With a slight grunt, he walked inside the main house, his wife following with a slightly bemused expression.

It took a moment for the new Great Speaker to arrive in the grand reception room that was at the heart of the house. Yauhmi was busily discussing plans for the renovations with a group of workers and engineers. Along with Yauhmi, two other people were involved in the discussions who Texōccoatl had not expected to see. “Good morning, mother. Good morning, General, and Tlacochcalcatl,” he said.

Yauhmi looked up from her plans, a smile on her face. Next to her, Huatli gave a smile on her own. Etlahuatzitl, the tlacochcalcatl of the Shorn Ones, nodded to the Great Speaker with her usual impassive expression.

“I was not expecting a visit so soon, son, but it’s good to have you both here,” Yauhmi replied. “I would offer refreshments, but the kitchen is not quite operational yet. Would you like to look at the plans?” she asked with the eagerness of any new homeowner.

“Perhaps later, mother,” Texōccoatl said calmly. “I need to ask you something first. Could we have a moment alone, please?”

Yauhmi nodded, and asked the workers and engineers to leave the room. Only Huatli and Etlahuatzitl remained. “What’s on your mind, son?” Yauhmi asked.

“I think the better question is what is on your mind, mother,” Texōccoatl replied. “I was surprised and concerned when you decided to move out of Xochuaxte Palace after you stepped down.”

“Well, I didn’t want to be in your way. You need to establish your place as the new monarch quickly. Having me hanging around like some ghost haunting the palace would only make things harder for you.”

“I honestly felt it would be safer and better for you to remain with us, but I do understand what you’re saying. I do appreciate it, mother. However, I do have a request,” Texōccoatl replied.

“What is it, son?” Yauhmi said.

“That we cut the crap and discuss why you really moved out here.” Texōccoatl looked his mother squarely in the eyes. Both Huatli and Etlahuatzitl bristled slightly at him addressing her in such a blunt way. Tlalmaxxi, by contrast, simply smiled. She had been in on enough conversations between mother and son to see that they tended to be quite direct with each other.

“I guess you didn’t buy the story about me wanting to retire to the country and step back from public life,” Yauhmi said after a moment with a smile of her own.

“You are hardly the sort to retire and spend the rest of your days in the country tending gardens and chatting up the locals,” Texōccoatl replied. “I also noticed some interesting things about this new house of yours. It’s big enough to house dozens, even hundreds, of people. It’s on a highly defensible hilltop with a nice secure set of walls and watchtowers. It’s also rather close to an army base,” he added, looking meaningfully at Huatli. The General looked down at the table and whistled under her breath. “This place isn’t some retirement home in the country. It’s practically a fortress in the making. So, mother, be honest with me. What are you planning here?”

Yauhmi finally sighed. “I am retiring out here, son, at least as much as a nantzintli of Huenya can retire. But other than the somewhat ceremonial and relatively limited role of honorable mother and occasional international ambassador that I have been given now, I have to have something to occupy my time, don’t I?”

Texōccoatl simply stared until Yauhmi finally continued. “So....I have decided to give myself a project.”

“A project,” Texōccoatl said in a dry tone. “Do I dare to ask?”

“The death of the Aurora we sent to free Tlalzixiūhxa and Cozamalotl, and the other who was captured, have made me think. I used to believe we were so much better than the other nations who encountered Auroras. But in the end, we used them just like the Kerlians did, and now one of them is dead and another will wish she was, if my experience with Calhualyana’s prisons is any indication. That is our fault, Texōccoatl. We sent them to that fate. I sent them to that fate. I must make recompense for that, however I can. So.....I intend to open this home - my home - to any Auroras who need a refuge. Not just Xiomeran Auroras, either. Any Auroras.”

Texōccoatl looked at his mother for several moments of utter silence. “You don’t really intend to do this,” he finally said. It was now Yauhmi’s turn to simply stare until Texōccoatl finally continued. “Mother....why would you do that?”

“Someone has to. The Auroras never asked to be who they are. A choice was forced on them, without their consent or free will, before they were even old enough to understand what consent even is, much less exercise it. And now, the world either uses them or hunts them like animals. Even we used them. It’s wrong, Texōccoatl. And I have the power to do something about it.”

“But you don’t have that power. Not anymore. Not in Huenya,” Texōccoatl said. “This is a democracy, mother, and we have to work with the democratic leaders of this nation we are building. If you do this, you’ll be defying Tiacihitli, Huacue and the other leaders of our nation yet again.”

“What are they going to do, throw me in jail?” Yauhmi said, her voice conveying her opinion of Huenya’s democratic leaders quite well. “I should like to see them try.”

“So would I,” Huatli said, looking firmly at Texōccoatl.

“I, too, would be rather amused by such an attempt,” Etlahuatzitl said quietly. “So would millions of Xiomerans living in Huenya, I suspect. Although, amused may not be the word. Enraged and violent might be better ones.”

“Mother....I have to govern with these people,” Texōccoatl said in exasperation. “Not to mention, once the Councillors of Kerlile discover your intent, they will probably be furious, and I have to maintain relations with them somehow.”

“The Councillors are the ones who created the Auroras, stole their childhood from them, sent them away from their homeland and sent many of them to their deaths. The Councillors are the ones trying to imprison and execute them for supposed treason now. The Councillors are the ones who left them alone abroad when governments around the IDU did unspeakable things to them. I can honestly say that when it comes to the subject of the Auroras, I don’t give a damn what the Council of Kerlile thinks anymore,” Yauhmi replied. “And since the government of Huenya saw fit to pressure me to step down for their own reasons and agendas, I must be honest when I say that I don’t give a damn what the government of Huenya has to say about it as well. Since I am now ‘retired’, I don’t have to care what the Chamber of Executives or the Vice-Speaker think anymore either. I am free from their restraints, and I intend to exercise that freedom.”

Texōccoatl shook his head. “But why? Mother, I feel as badly about what has been done to the Auroras as you do. But it is not our doing, and I am not sure that it is our responsibility to try to fix it.”

“It isn’t our responsibility, true. But we want Huenya to be a nation of principle, a nation that is an example for the world of doing the right thing. What is more right than providing a refuge for victims of circumstance who have been abused, hunted and killed literally everywhere else they go - and who can’t even go home, some of them, because their own government will execute them?” Yauhmi said. “We would provide refuge to anyone else needing asylum and a safe place to go. How is this any different?”

“I would also make a point in defense of Yauhmi’s plan,” Tlalmaxxi said. Texōccoatl turned to her in shock. “Not you too!”

“Yes, me too,” Tlalmaxxi replied. “I have another good reason not to give a damn if the Kerlians object to this, at least one example of which is standing in this very room right now.” She looked at Huatli. “The Kerlians took Xiomerans and did this to them. They abused and tortured our own kin and blood for the sake of this program of theirs. What right do they have to make demands on our kin now, or on us? They may have been Kerlian citizens, but in literally every other way, they are our kin. And as far as I am concerned, that takes precedence. Now, if we can rescue or help any other Auroras, so much the better as far as I am concerned. But at a minimum, any Aurora of Xiomeran heritage has every right to expect and demand that we protect them. And I certainly will.”

Huatli looked at Tlalmaxxi, her expression one of surprise mixed with gratitude.

Texōccoatl grimaced, throwing up his hands. “I thought I was in charge now, but literally nothing I say seems to matter here.”

“You may be Great Speaker now, but I’m still your mother. That’s my trump card,” Yauhmi replied with a smile.

Texōccoatl sighed. “They really would literally have to throw you in jail to stop you, wouldn’t they?”

Yauhmi simply continued to smile.

Texōccoatl finally gave up. “Well, since I would rather not see my mother in jail, or have to topple the very democratic government I am trying to help create to prevent that, I’ll run interference for you. This won’t be easy, though.”

“You can handle it. I have complete confidence in you,” Yauhmi replied, earning her a snort from Texōccoatl. “There is one other thing I would mention,” she continued. As Texōccoatl listened, Yauhmi tapped the table. “Being stuck in this new government was like being trapped in a box, for me. Now that I am out of the government for the most part, I am free from that box. But they will try to put you in the same box, son. That’s the downside of democracy. It is the best form of government, in the end. But in democracy, you deal with leaders like Tiacihitli, whose heart is in the right place but whose brain is often in a different part of his anatomy. And you deal with leaders like Huacue, who lead from fear and from arrogance. And opportunists, like Cusuyo. You’ll be facing dozens of men and women who will try to put you in that box, to limit your power, to limit your influence. Don’t let them. We don’t need any more tyrants, our history has certainly been full of enough of them. But we do need Great Speakers, to be the balance that keeps the elected leaders in check and makes sure they truly represent the people and serve the nation, not themselves or their agendas. From what I understand, democracy works best with those checks and balances. I could never fill that role - I don’t have the patience or the mentality to have to deal with such people. But you can. I will try to protect those I can protect, here. It’s your job to protect all of us, now. You can stand up to Tiacihitli and the others, and make sure they do things the right way. You can be the leader Huenya will need in the months and years to come. Just remember - avoid the traps they will set for you, keep them honest, and keep them on the path of what is right, even when they want to stray. And they will.”

Texōccoatl nodded, his expression a thoughtful one. “I suppose we are long overdue to do what is right,” he murmured, speaking about the legacy of rulership bred into his past as much as the Huenyan government of the present day. “Very well. You do what is right, mother, and I will also. And everything else be damned.”

“That sounds like a good new motto for Huenya,” Tlalmaxxi said. Texōccoatl simply nodded, his expression a bit more determined.

[Xiomera]

(Joint post with Lauchenoiria)

Calhualyana was waiting in the throne room once more for a visitor. She had been quite busy lately. Standing below her raised position on the throne, Loyalty Minister Quihichua was also waiting with an expectant expression. She had found out about this particular asylum request/job application from the new Imperial Intelligence Agency, who had a contact with this man. “Show him in,” Calhualyana said to her steward. Xiuhcatli stepped forward and opened the doors to the throne room, gesturing for the man waiting to enter.

Gabriel Fleming sauntered forward, a wide grin on his face as he took in his surroundings approvingly. The Lauchenoirian nodded to himself and then turned to the Empress, giving a rather theatrical bow. "Your Majesty," he smiled at her. "Thanks for seeing me. Your country is everything I had hoped it would be, from what I've seen so far."

The man has charm, I must admit, the Empress thought as she gave Fleming a courteous nod of the head in response. “I am glad you approve. Most Lauchenoirians are hardly as pleased with Xiomera,” she replied, beginning the conversation with a little bit of a feeler to test the former agent.

"Most Lauchenoirians have a tendency to be wrong," he replied. "It was exhausting, living in a country where people you meet seem to think they live in a children's fairytale and that nothing unpleasant has to happen. Then, of course, the war came, and unpleasantness reared its ugly head. Yet in response, my country decided instead of admitting their folly, they would bury the truth deeper. And then they decided to hang me out to dry because Alvarez needed a scapegoat. I mean, really!"

”Indeed, and that is why I agreed to meet with you. I am well aware that the Lauchenoirian government has labeled you a traitor. And normally, Xiomera has no tolerance for traitors. But the more I reviewed your situation, it seems to me that you were the one betrayed.” The Empress paused. “Is it true that it was your idea to accuse Yauhmi of cheating on Topilpopoca during her Great Selection?”

"Of course," he shrugged. "It was the obvious course of choice. Despite what some people continue to peddle, the court of public opinion will always judge infidelity harshly. Alvarez ordered me to sabotage Yauhmi and I did as ordered. Then Yauhmi overreacted - honestly, it's like she didn't understand politics at all - and cyberattacked Lauchenoiria, and Alvarez decided to lock me up for just doing what she told me to."

Calhualyana laughed, a pleased tone to her voice. “I thought it was a brilliant move, myself. But I despise Yauhmi, as I am sure you know. She was certainly a political harlot, changing her views whenever it suited her, so who knows if she was a real harlot or not? The rumor may not have even been a lie. Topilpopoca was not an attractive man, after all.” Calhualyana nodded in thought. “Yauhmi has always been prone to impulsivity and overreaction. That was her weakness. For Alvarez, the weaknesses are idealism, and lack of discipline. She talks a good game, but in the end, doesn’t have what it takes to lead. Not like we do. I am sure you know I was once an agent myself, so I know very well that we make the choices the politicians and the moralists are afraid to make. The choices that actually keep nations safe and strong.” The Empress looked down at Fleming. “So. From what Quihichua has told me, you wish asylum in my Empire and to enter our service.”

Fleming nodded. "Between Alvarez and Yauhmi, the pair presumably have people hunting me. I am confident in your ability to ensure my safety, and in return I'm willing to offer you my skills which Alvarez so foolishly rejected the use of. Do you know she forbade me to arrest Auroras? And then handed the lot back to Kerlile without so much as an interrogation in some cases? It was frankly absurd given how much damage Clarke was able to do in 2018."

”That was indeed absurd. Not quite as absurd as Yauhmi offering them sanctuary and freedom. But quite close.” Calhualyana grimaced at the mention of Auroras. “I am willing to consider your request. But I must ask. Other than the fact that we can protect you from the Lauchenoirian government and from Yauhmi’s minions - which we can most certainly do - what made you choose Xiomera? There are many places one of your skills can be of service.”

"I chose Xiomera because I believe in what you're trying to do," he replied. "You wish to create a state which is strong and secure, which will not be allowed to fall into degeneracy and ruin. I have spent too long being punished for trying to make my country stronger; I want to work for people who understand what needs to be done to ensure security."

”That is a sound answer. There is only one question that I have left for this little job interview, then. I now know what you want. But the last question is, what will you do? Even in Xiomera, we have had people who were too soft to do the needful things when necessary. I need to know that everyone in my service will do whatever is asked of them, without hesitation or question. I just made my own fiancé march into a restive and treasonous part of this capital and put down traitors with his own hand to prove his worth.” Calhualyana said it matter-of-factly, as if it was completely normal to ask a potential husband to commit mass repression and violence as a sort of reverse dowry. “So, Gabriel. How far will you go? Is there anything you will not do?” Calhualyana looked Fleming squarely in the eyes, not even blinking.

"If I was not willing to do what needs to be done, I'd have stayed in Lauchenoiria," he met the Empresses eyes easily. "So to answer the question: I will go as far as you wish me to go."

”That is the correct answer. In Xiomera, it is actually the only answer.” The Empress stood up, giving Fleming another nod. “Your request is accepted. Welcome to Xiomera, and the service of the Imperial Security Agency. I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish for us. And, frankly, to Yauhmi’s reaction when she finds out. Maybe she’ll finally have a heart attack and we’ll be rid of her once and for all,” the Empress said with a soft chuckle. “Quihichua will make the arrangements from here.”

[Xiomera]

Palace of Flowers

In the Throne Room, Prime Minister Toquihu waited patiently as the Empress read the entire report. When she was done, she handed the tablet back to Toquihu. "It seems like the roster of nations who are hostile to our agenda is growing."

"Surely you didn't think Laeral was truly neutral towards us? They did harbor Texōccoatl during the war, after all."

"I am not naïve, Toquihu. But this.....I traveled to Jinyu, and endured that insult of a peace treaty, thinking that we were dealing with a nation that was, at least, not outright hostile towards us. I was even hugged by Liu," the Empress replied, a grimace of discomfort at the memory of that unexpected personal contact crossing her face. "And now, they're signing deals to rebuild Huenya. We can truly trust no one, it seems."

"This is why we must pursue the XCP 'Empire First' program," Toquihu replied. "We cannot trust nor rely on other countries, especially the democracies. They will never understand or tolerate us. We must be prepared to accept that they will be inherently hostile to our Empire, and act accordingly."

Calhualyana sat back in the Obsidian Throne. "We cannot trust the democracies, clearly. However, I am not convinced that we cannot deal with other countries. There are countries out there, I believe, that will not be as hostile to us. We will seek them out, and will form our own ties to counter whatever our rivals do. But in the end....I am by no means a slow learner. I tried cooperating, and this is the result - polite words to us in public, while striking deals to support our enemies in private. If cooperation does not get us the results we desire....then I no longer have an incentive to cooperate. From now on, the Empire shall do as it pleases."

The Empress placed her hand in her chin, thinking. "What can be done, in Huenya, can also be undone. IIA has been feeding weapons and supplies to the Golden Blade, yes?" Toquihu nodded.  "Double the supply of both to them. I want them blowing up Huenyan infrastructure as fast as the Huenyans can rebuild it. We'll see how well their little agreement with Laeral works out for them while they're dodging explosions. Also.....double our current shipments of supplies to the new Aurian government. If I can't ensure existing governments are friendly to us, I can damned well replace them with ones that are."

The Prime Minister nodded, a small smile crossing his face as he left to execute the orders of the Empress.

[Xiomera]

(Joint post with Shuell)

The Attendant to the Empress calmly looked through the list of contacts that the Office of the Golden Chamber maintained, until she found the one that the Empress had requested. Humming a Xiomeran pop song under her breath, she dialed the number. When the other end answered, she assumed her official and businesslike demeanor, letting the person know that the Empress was requesting to speak with the Director of Trade of Shuell.

Following a short waiting period as the operators processed her request, the Director of Trade finally answered, picking up the phone. "This is Director Bernd Klein. Who am I speaking to, currently?"

”Good morning, Director. This is Empress Calhualyana of Xiomera,” she replied, putting her most charming voice on. “I hope I am not calling you at a bad time.”

A pause occurred as Klein, on the other side of the phone, searched for a piece of a paper and pen. "No, no. I'm merely - doing a bit of housecleaning at the moment, nothing major. What is it you would like to discuss? Something to do with trade, I'd hope."

”That was exactly what I had in mind,” Calhualyana replied with a smile. “As you know, Huenya just signed a big agreement with Laeral. This leaves me in a rather delicate position. Xiomera needs to expand its trade options. Shuell seems like a natural partner for us. I was hoping we could strike an agreement on expanded trade ties.”

"Considering how much aid the Directorate provided you, that would only make sense. For all our hopes, it's difficult for a nation to prosper without trading partners in some form or other - and gone are the days of colonial empires, I'm afraid."

”That is indeed true,” the Empress replied, doing her best to keep a tone of regret at the passing of old-school empires out of her voice. “I believe we could be of great benefit to each other. Xiomera would like to propose mutual investment and development programs, along with the opening up of our trade markets to each other. We would also like to raise the possibility of joint ventures to increase manufacturing, research and development in our respective states. Trade in resources would also be ideal - our former territories did supply a sizeable part of our manufacturing resources.”

Klein wrote quickly, jotting down any and all information he deemed important. "Yes, I see. I'll need to liaison with the Department of Corporate Interests, but I'm certain that many of our businesses would be glad to operate in your country. I believe that Watchtower has special interest in recruiting Xiomeran mercenaries for their operations - I don't suppose you'd be inclined to give their Marshal program legal jurisdiction, would you? They've seen success in many parts of the world."

Calhualyana thought for a moment. “Any such program would have to agree to liaison with Imperial security forces to operate in Xiomera, and would also have to agree to not do anything that could conflict with Imperial security forces or undermine Imperial authority. In practice, this would mean that if we tell them to not do something, we would expect that to be obeyed. But if we can agree on that, I think we can come to an understanding on this Marshal program.” Calhualyana paused. “While we have no such program here, we would hope that Xiomeran firms would have a similar leeway to operate in areas under your jurisdiction, with the same stipulations to follow local laws and orders of course.”

"That's to be expected, of course. The Marshal Program operates in a legal grey zone, but I'm sure that Watchtower would be willing to obey any restrictions placed on them in Xiomera." He paces, sending messages to other members of the Directorate while he talks. "I'm certain we can allow for that, although the exact terms would need to be negotiated on a case by case basis. The only real exception would be our territories in Vertansk, due to the nature of our occupation there - we're guests there, after all, and very well can't violate the treaties that gave us that land. If you'd like a referral, however, our ties to the Republican government there could be helpful."

”That would be perfectly acceptable to us,” Calhualyana said. “As for Watchtower, they have done good work for us in the past and we may well utilize their services ourselves again in the future.” The Empress paused to look over another item on her agenda. “As for trade in resources, is that something which would be acceptable to your government?”

"Despite the best efforts of both our scientists and the Agri-Grow corporation, Shuell's agricultural sector can be generously described as 'lacking' - there's a reason why our diets contain so much lichen and artificial foods. Any produce that could be imported would be greatly appreciated, although joint research on genetically modified crops would be useful as well. Now - how can we help you? I'm certain there's something - oil, electronics, steel?"

”We would be more than happy to work with you on developing GMO crops that would work well in Shuell. We have a lot of experience in bioengineering crops. We can also provide produce and foodstuffs in abundance - we have a fortunate climate for growing and producing food. In return, we could use raw materials for production for our manufacturing industries. Oil, ores, minerals, that sort of thing.”

"Oil would be no issue to us - we have several offshore oil platforms operating in the area surrounding the islands. We'll be able to provide you a steady source of minerals extracted both from the home islands and Vertansk. Despite the changes in Monolith's leadership over the last few years, I'm confident that they'd be willing to provide consultants and other advisors if need be - they all have a stake in seeing Xiomera succeed, after all. Consider it an investment." He said the last sentence in a light, joking tone, making a mental note to talk to Hoffman later.

”That would work very well for us,” Calhualyana said. “Now, the final pieces of the puzzle. We’re prepared to drop any tariffs on Shuellian goods, if you’re willing to do the same for Xiomeran goods. We also seek joint ventures. I can imagine you wouldn’t want to just let Xiomeran corporations begin selling in Shuell without controls - we probably wouldn’t want the reverse here either, to be fair. But we propose joint ventures between Xiomeran and Shuellian corporations to begin marketing and selling products in each other’s markets. Such ventures would benefit us both by allowing Shuellian corporations to sell in Xiomera with the strength of a trusted local name linked to their products, and vice-versa. This would open up brand new markets for both of us, creating jobs and revenue. Does that sound like something you could agree to?”

"Despite my best efforts to promote free trade, Shuell's practiced protectionism for decades, and mercantilism before that. I'd be happy to push for a lowering of tariffs on Xiomeran goods - if nothing else, it'll increase our economic growth. As for the idea you propose - while I can't do much without consulting the Board of Corporate Interests, I personally have little issue with it. In return, I'll see about lowering restrictions on both emigration and general travel to Xiomera, with the assumption that you will do the same in return. I'd need to talk to the other directors about that, of course -" He chuckled nervously at the thought of talking to Director Mueller before continuing. "- but I believe that would also facilitate better relations between our nations. I'm certain it'd be a very attractive vacationing spot for a lot of us."

”I believe it would be as well. We will match any lowering of restrictions or tariffs that you enact, naturally.  I am hopeful that your Board will agree to our proposal in regards to joint ventures. But I do believe we have at least the beginning of a good framework here.”

He nodded. "I'm confident they will. If this goes well, of course, we can see about even more cooperation in the future. Will that be all, or is there anything else you wish to discuss?"

”I believe we have accomplished quite a bit for today,” Calhualyana said with a soft chuckle. “I look forward to your final decision on everything, and if you or your government need anything, please do not hesitate to contact us.”

"Of course. Have a nice day." As he hung up, Klein slumped into his chair, exhaling. "I need a drink."

[Lauchenoiria]

(Joint post with Xiomera)

Mariya Adema usually enjoyed waking up on a workday. Her (disturbing) profession was truly her vocation, and she loved it. That was before Cozamalotl. At first, she enjoyed interrogating the Huenya-loving traitor, encouraging him to confess his sins and admit fault. But months passed, and he remained stubbornly insisting he was right. She despised him.

This morning, she groaned as she switched off her alarm clock after hitting snooze three times. She grabbed a cereal bar and yesterday's clothes, tying her hair back carelessly and heading to work. She glared at the people on the street and they all shied back, knowing who she was.

Eventually she took a deep breath, composed her face into her signature sadistic smile, grabbed her equipment and unlocked Cozamalotl's cell, calling out to him in a false tone of cheer: "good morning, traitor scum!"

Cozamalotl was not as composed as he had been in the past few weeks. He still believed he was right, and that his cause was right. But he just wasn’t sure he had the will left to resist anymore. He could feel himself breaking, and losing himself. When Mariya walked in, he simply stared at her, not trusting himself to speak anymore.

"Aren't you going to say good morning?" Mariya said quizzically, tilting her head to the side. "It's rude to not say good morning. Rude people must be punished."

”Rude people must be punished. Polite people must be punished. Tall people, short people, men, women, everyone must be punished here,” Cozamalotl said dully. “It hardly matters what I do, now does it?”

"Of course it matters," grins Mariya. "If you would only admit your treason and recant your views, this could all be over."

”The torture would be over, maybe. But we both know Calhualyana too well to believe I will ever leave Xiomera alive. So why does it matter? Even if I speak the words you want me to, literally no one outside Xiomera will believe it. They will know it is a lie. Why does that have value to all of you when it will be a transparent fiction to the world?” Like Mariya, Cozamalotl was making one last effort to understand the stubborn people he was dealing with.

"You'd be surprised what the world will believe," Mariya mused. "You're not good at judging people, or you wouldn't have decided to come here. Why are you allowing yourself to suffer when you know we'll get what we want in the end?"

”Because I don’t have to help you get what you want. I don’t have to help the people who are destroying my country.” Normally, Cozamalotl would have added something about Calhualyana’s regime not being inevitable, but he couldn’t muster up the strength this time.

Mariya sighed. "This was your very last chance to do this the easy way. You will say what we want you to say in the courtroom; and I will look forward to watching your execution."

She turned her back to put her equipment case on the ground, trusting that the chains would hold Cozamalotl back far enough that he couldn't hurt her. She hummed as she sorted through her tools, before grabbing one and turning back to brandish it, grinning.

Cozamalotl looked at her with resignation. “So, if I say what you want me to say…..even though anyone with a functioning brain cell will recognize I am not saying it freely and thus it has no meaning….that’s really all it takes for you to cease your barbarity? A convenient lie?”

Mariya decided to drop the fake grin and speak frankly. "I'd prefer you truly regretted your actions, but at this point I'll take what I can get. The Empress instructed me to obtain your confession, I personally do not care what you believe deep in your heart if you say what we wish you to say."

Cozamalotl thought for a long time, until Mariya began to fidget impatiently from his silence. If I don’t truly renounce my beliefs, does it matter what I say? Those who truly know me will know it is false. The world, for that matter, will know it is false. The people who will not already believe what Calhualyana says, and suffering here will not change that.

Cozamalotl had gone into the Cauhloc determined to resist no matter what. In truth, he had held out far longer than almost anyone that Xiomera had held as a political prisoner.

But everyone’s will, if they don’t die, breaks in the end.

“Fine. I will tell your lies, which no one will believe anyway,” he whispered. “So pointless.”

Mariya let her arm holding the whip relax, dropping it onto the floor. She breathed a sigh of relief and let out a small laugh. "Finally! Oh, finally, you've seen sense! I'll get someone else to come in here with the paperwork, I am taking a week off."

”Sense? There is no sense to be had here. The entire Cauhloc is remarkably devoid of sense, as is the Palace of Flowers. Everyone knows what the Xiomeran Empire truly is. Any false words I speak will only confirm it. But let us complete the charade. Send in your paperwork, enjoy your vacation. Even in this, I still believe that in time, my sacrifice will be part of the undoing of this evil Empire. A small part, maybe, but we have our roles to play.”

"I think I finally understand you," Mariya mused as she packed up her things. "You believe your role is to suffer. Well, I can respect someone who is willing to accept their part in life. Even though I still want to see you die."

”There is just one more thing I must ask,” Cozamalotl said. “You believe you understand my role in the world, but I still do not understand yours. I’m not sure I want to. But I am a scholar at heart, so I have to ask. Why do you enjoy harming people so much? Why do you take so much pleasure in what you do? And why do you want to see me die, when I have done nothing to you?”

Mariya paused, thinking on the wisdom of whether or not to answer his question. And then decided, why not, it's not like he'll live much longer. She closed her work case and sat on top of it.

"I will answer your questions, in reverse. I want to see you die, not out of personal malice, but out of professional frustration. You are righteous, believing in a cause, and nothing shakes that. It's infuriating. You don't swear at me, or threaten vengeance, you don't beg for mercy... I tested your blood sample to make sure you were human. You have been the most irritating assignment of my career and only when you're dead will I be free of you."

She glanced over at the cell door, to see if anyone was going to come in and yell at her for speaking to the prisoner in this way. But all the staff were as scared of her as the prisoners were. She continued. "Since you've been my assignment, I have felt little pleasure in my job, I assure you. But appearing excited and happy unnerves most subjects. I take pleasure in a job well done, not in hurting people. I just happen to be good at hurting people; and so frequently do a good job of it. This is where my talents lie; and I believe one should always follow one's fated path."

”In that case, since we seem to be at our end, I will just say what I told you at the beginning: you can always change your path. Fate is something people tell themselves to justify staying on a path, for a million different reasons. You don’t have to stay on this one.”

"You may very well have convinced me to consider a career change," Mariya said, then grinned, this time with amusement rather than sadism behind it, "if only by being so annoying you've managed to make me dread coming to work!"

She stood up, grabbed her case and tapped her signature knock on the door to let her colleagues know she was finished. "I hate you... but I'm also impressed."

”I can take comfort in that small victory, at least.” When Mariya left the room, Cozamalotl sighed to himself, staring at the wall. He did not feel that Mariya should be impressed with him; at the end, he had broken. That reality made him feel almost as bad as the actions that had broken him.

[Lauchenoiria]

Mariya Adema lay on a giant pink float on the sea. A cocktail sat in a cup holder to her left, a half-empty bottle of suncream sat beneath her legs and she breathed in the salty air as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. The only sounds she could hear were waves and the tweeting of birds, not a scream or a beg for mercy in earshot. Finally, she was calm. She had been at the Huedira Resort in Cuautitlán for three days, but the previous two had been a great disappointment.

To begin with, she was clearly far more famous in Xiomera than she’d anticipated. She knew rumours were spreading in the capital, but assumed it was contained. It was not, and the moment she arrived she was very aware that everyone around her knew exactly who she was. The staff behaved perfectly professionally, she could make no complaints, but the other patrons all seemed terrified of her and it had ruined her mood on day one.

Day two, she decided to do something about it. So, she visited the resort’s salon, and instructed the hairdresser to cut her long hair to shoulder length and dye it an almost-black shade of brown. She then got her first-ever fake tan, to try and compensate for her obvious pale skin. She found the fake tan deeply uncomfortable; they weren’t popular in Kerlile and she didn’t know much about them beforehand. She decided never again, once she was done. The end result was that, while she couldn’t pass for Xiomeran up close, she definitely wasn’t nearly as noticeable, nor did she look like herself.

With her makeshift disguise, Mariya could finally relax. After her beauty treatments, she headed straight to the bar to get very drunk. While working, Mariya did not drink in case she needed to be called in, and Mariya hadn’t taken a holiday in years. It had only taken three pints before she had passed out from her lack of tolerance. The next morning, she bought some oversized, very dark sunglasses and headed straight to the beach. She decided to go lighter on the booze this time, and took her time with the cocktails, ordering sparsely.

Cozamalotl had ruined her. She used to take satisfaction from her skills at her job, she knew exactly how to make people do as she wished them to, how to frighten people, and when all the information had been gathered. With him, it had been different. It had been frustrating; she’d been pleased to get off work, she groaned when her alarm went off, and she had been exhausted and fed up most of the time. Now, when she thought forward to her next big task - the captured Aurora - instead of excitement at a challenge, she felt dread.

“Martyrs,” she hissed under her breath, taking a sip of cocktail through her straw. She hated them, she always had, but they’d never been quite so dedicated as Cozamalotl. Mariya thought he must have been dropped on the head as a baby, clearly nobody sane would hold out for that long. At least, that’s what she told herself. In reality, deep down, she worried she was losing her touch. Torture was like sport; a young person’s game. It became more difficult with age, and though she was not yet 40, she feared she was beginning to fail.

Mariya Adema could not quit her job. In Kerlile, she would have been able to. But Kerlile had fired her, she accepted the new job in Xiomera and as her former colleague Adelina Sasaki had learned, quitting was not permitted. Cozamalotl had been wrong; it was in fact too late for Mariya to take a different path. That door had closed several years ago, and would not open again. Too many bridges had been burned, too many people wanted her dead, and Empress Calhualyana would be too disappointed in her if she said anything.

This vacation was supposed to be about getting away from work, and here she was, thinking about work again. It had been her life for so long, she was one of those people others joked about being married to her job, and usually she enjoyed thinking about it. This was new, this exhaustion and dread, and Mariya hated it. Someone had spilled her drink in the hotel at breakfast and then froze in terror looking at her, and all she’d wanted to do was laugh it off, because it was a vacation and these things happen.

Mariya did not usually respond like that. Mariya normally snapped and threatened people who were not perfect. There was something deeply, deeply wrong within her and she worried that Cozamalotl had infected her with something. In Kerlile, they joked about the contagious nature of treason and the need to isolate themselves from it, but it had just been a joke. Hadn’t it? No, she couldn’t afford to think like that. She was just tired and needed a break. She was getting one, and everything would be okay when she got back to Tlalacuetztla.

Everything would be okay. Wouldn’t it?

[Xiomera]

August 20th
The Tepotzoyuc - Chief Justice of Xiomera complex
Tlālacuetztla

"Your honor, the case against this miscreant is irrefutable." Ahuaxayatl, Chief Prosecutor for the Xiomeran Justice Ministry, drew himself up to his full height as he glared down at the man seated at the defendants' table. "Over the past week, we have presented a great deal of evidence showing that the defendant conspired to commit treason and insurrection against the Empire and its lawful authorities. Having failed to secure his desired position of power through elections, he sought to force his will through his leadership of the insurrectionists calling themselves a 'Unification Party', to bring chaos and violence to our streets. In addition, he conspired with the Huenyan state to subvert the legitimate government of Xiomera, as part of their ongoing campaign to bring the Empire under their control. The raid on the Cauhloc was an attempt by his Huenyan masters to free him from our custody, and stands as yet another mark against him." Ahuaxayatl pointed a single finger at the target of his ire. "This man, despite the clear proof of his crimes, insists upon mocking this court, and indeed all of Xiomera, with his insistence that he has done no wrong. At the beginning of this trial process, he claimed to be innocent. This traitor is anything but innocent, and I urge this court to deliver a righteous verdict in response to his unforgivable crimes."

Ahuaxayatl sat down at the prosecutors' table, his expression grim, as his opponent stood up. Caonena, the public defender assigned to represent the man on trial, stood up. "Your honor....despite my urging, and against my advice, the defendant has asked to withdraw his original plea."

As the people in the courtroom began to murmur, Panxī, the Chief Justice, raised an eyebrow. "Very well. Stand up," he said, gesturing to the defendant. "What is your plea now?"

After a long moment, the defendant raised his head slowly. "Your honor....I no longer deny the charges that the state has brought against me," he said softly.

The murmuring and unrest in the audience grew larger, until Panxī had to finally gavel everyone into silence. "I see. Do you understand the consequences of this new plea?"

"Perhaps better than anyone in Xiomera," the defendant replied in the same soft voice.

"Very well. As you are no longer disputing the charges, I have no choice but to find you guilty. And there is no need for a separate sentencing hearing, as there is only one sentence in the Empire for treason. On my authority as Chief Justice of the Xiomeran Empire, I hereby find you, Cozamalotl, guilty of treason and conspiracy. Your sentence, as prescribed in our laws, is that you shall be executed by firing squad. Sentence to be carried out on the last day of August."

---

Watching the conclusion of the trial from her office, Calhualyana calmly took a sip of her coffee.

Some of her advisors had suggested giving Cozamalotl a pardon, or reducing his sentence to something other than execution. One had even suggested letting him exile himself back to Huenya. These advisors wanted to appease the foreigners, and believed that executing Cozamalotl would be devastating to Xiomera's foreign relations.

Calhulyana calmly listened to those suggestions, making note of who made them. Such weakness, among those who served the Empire, could spread like a blight. 

While she allowed people to give her advice, though, in the end the Empress of Xiomera made her own decisions. And Calhualyana, in the case of Cozamalotl, was not feeling merciful. She viewed him as another strain of the blight that had begun to infect Xiomera when Yauhmi had become Empress. Along with the other people who overthrew Yauhmi, Calhualyana had purged that particular strain of weakness very effectively. But that was a mild version, compared to what Cozamalotl represented.

Calhualyana had a long memory. She remembered, during the final debates of the Great Selection that had elevated Yauhmi to power, that Cozamalotl had declared he only wanted to become Emperor so that he could be the last one. Yauhmi's ideology had had a goal of changing the Xiomeran Empire - a dangerous enough idea, in Calhualyana's mind. But Cozamalotl's ideology wanted to end the Empire. That was far more of a threat to everything Calhualyana stood for. It would mean the end of what six centuries' worth of people before her had built. It would mean the end of the nation that she loved and believed in. To Calhualyana, if Cozamalotl's dream ever came to pass, it would only do so if her dream died - and took the Empire with it.

And that was why Cozamalotl had to die.

Some in Xiomera still believed that they were merely in the middle of a political debate between reformers and traditionalists. To the Empress, Xiomera was still in the middle of a civil war. This war, however, was one with the forces of change itself. This war, Calhualyana was determined to wage on her terms. Xiomera may well change, but if it did, it would change in the ways that the Empress deemed fit. And if the rest of the world disagreed, they could be damned.

"Goodbye, Cozamalotl," she murmured, taking another sip of coffee.

[Xiomera]

The Cauhloc
August 31st, 8:00 am Xiomeran time

The sun had just risen not long ago; it was looking like a warm and pleasant day would grace the Xiomeran capital. The man being led into the courtyard squinted as he looked up. This was the first time he had seen the sun in months.

It would also be the last time.

He was led to a post planted on one side of the courtyard. Restraints at his ankles and wrists ensured he wouldn't escape, not that escape was possible anyway.

The commander of the group of ISA guards looked at the prisoner, no expression visible on her face. "Do you have any last words you wish to have recorded for the record?"

The prisoner laughed slightly. "The leaders of this regime would never allow any words of mine that had any meaning to ever reach the ears of the people anyway. There are no words necessary now. Do what you will. Your act, and my fate, will speak louder than any words, and they will help bring you all down someday."

As the commander scowled and walked away, Cozamalotl looked up into the sky one last time, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face. A slight breeze stirred his hair, and he smiled. "I am ready," he said softly.

The troop of ISA guards on the other side of the courtyard raised their rifles.

---

"So it's done," Calhualyana said, after the echoes had died away. "A firing squad is an unusual method of execution," Prime Minister Toquihu observed. The Empress snorted in response. "He didn't deserve the honor of sacrifice to the gods."

"I am still concerned that we may have created a martyr here," Toquihu said as the two of them walked inside.

"Perhaps we have. But martyrs aren't ghosts or spirits. They aren't about to trouble us from the afterlife. The dead do not speak," Calhualyana replied. "Some misguided fools may put his face on t-shirts, write songs about him, use him to try to inspire themselves. But only the living, in the end, influence what happens in this Empire. Cozamalotl was a threat, and that threat is now eliminated."

Toquihu nodded, although in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but think this would turn out to be a mistake.

---

Mocentlalia, noon

Mocentlalia was a very old bar in the Italman section of Tlālacuetztla. Its name meant "gathering", and it had been a place for people outside the Xiomeran mainstream to gather for decades. Normally, it was a place of joy, one where the people that Xiomeran society considered misfits could be in peace together.

The mood inside the bar was anything but joyous now.

"I can't believe they actually did it," Margaxi said. He stared at the television, which was showing Xiomeran state news coverage of Cozamalotl's execution. "I never thought they would actually kill him."

"Then you haven't been paying attention," Eyatzin replied bitterly. "There is literally nothing these animals won't do. They meant to send everyone a message using Cozamalotl as the messenger."

"The question is, are we going to just accept this message and let it be?" Maloxili slammed her own glass down onto the counter. "Are we going to accept being herded to the slaughter as passively as Cozamalotl did? Or are we going to resist?"

"Don't talk like that - the man is barely dead, and you insult him?" Margaxi retorted.

"I don't insult him at all. Cozamalotl was brave - braver than any of us. But he sacrificed himself, and what did it achieve? He's dead, and the government is still in power. Calhualyana is still the Empress. The XCP is growing stronger every day. We are sliding into fascism, and no one is standing up to stop it. Cozamalotl always preached peace, and I used to admire him for it. But we see what being peaceable brings us from this regime, don't we?" Maloxili frowned.

"Maloxili is right," Eyatzin said. "Cozamalotl tried to bring about change in a peaceful way, and they killed him for it. They flaunted their power to do so, to both Xiomerans and to the world. They made it clear they don't care about peaceful protest, or about people who merely ask for change. If we want to stop the XCP and Calhualyana, peace is no longer an option. There aren't many of us left, who believe in reform. But if we don't start fighting back now - treating the regime and its agents and lackeys the way they treat us - soon none of us will be left at all. You've all seen the roundups and the arrests happening, just as I have."

As others in the bar began to murmur in assent, Maloxili took a dagger from her boot and slammed it into the bar. "The regime and its servants only understand one thing - force. They have to be met on the same terms. The time for us to be peaceful is over."

[Xiomera]

September 6th, Palace of Flowers

The Chamber of Whispers was not living up to its name this morning.

The Prime Minister, and his Cabinet, were gathered in waiting for the Empress to arrive. The sounds of anger filled the room as they discussed the recent condemnations by Lauchenoiria and Eiria over Cozamalotl's execution, as well as the sanctions levied by Lauchenoiria. The sanctions themselves were of little concern to Xiomera. The fact that they were placed, however, was not.

The doors to the Chamber swept open, and Empress Calhualyana strode inside. Everyone in the room fell silent as she seated herself in the center of the room. "We all know why we're here," she said without preamble. "Opinions?"

"We cannot let these acts go unanswered," Minister of State Toquauhtli said. "If we do not respond firmly, we will be seen as weak." Minister of Defense Chuanacoyo nodded grimly.

"I must agree," Minister of Justice Cuicanan said. "Our justice system, and indeed our entire state apparatus, are under attack by these outsiders. Xiomera must demonstrate that it is not beholden to them and that their opinions shall not sway us. If we cannot stand strongly now, our people will lose confidence in this government and that will lead to trouble."

"Indeed, and also, we must not forget that these people are attacking our very social order," Maxtla said. The Minister for the Preservation of Xiomeran Values grimaced. "These outsiders know nothing of Xiomera, and yet they insist on tampering with our social cohesion, which will lead to consequences which will be grave for us and totally unforeseen by them. We must resist their interference lest they bring about the upheaval of everything we believe in! That's the sort of thing that caused the civil war in the first place!"

"I would add to that also, Majesty, that all of this has serious ramifications for our internal security," Quihichua said. The Minister of Loyalty shook her head. "These foreign do-gooders give people dangerous ideas. Such ideas lead to disruption and disharmony."

"Is there anyone here who believes we should take a different course? That we should try to smooth things over with these states?" Calhualyana paused for anyone else to speak up.

Cuālincōcatle, the Minister of Trade, sighed. "These conflicts will inevitably lead to disruption of our trading relationships. However, I believe firmly that our economy can survive it."

The Minister of the Treasury and the Imperial Bank, Mixochuatli, spoke next. "I agree with Minister Cuālincōcatle. Our economy is strong, and in many ways self-sufficient at this point. We have always relied on trade with other nations as the driving force for our economy. But I believe that Xiomera has advanced enough, after so many centuries, that we are essentially self-sustaining. We have the technology, the science and education, the industry, the wealth and the resources to continue to thrive no matter what. So, I say, let feeble powers like Lauchenoiria and Eiria sanction us if they want. We no longer need them - and we should not let either our domestic or foreign policies be under the whim of foreign states anymore just because they toss some coins at us. As our trade deal with Shuell demonstrates, we will still be able to trade. And we won't have to answer to interfering outsiders to do it."

Prime Minister Toquihu nodded. "I agree, Xiomera has tried to appease foreigners for far too long, and it has held us back. We cannot truly rise until we refuse to be shackled by them, and their notions of how we should run ourselves. I would be happy to give our response to these interfering devils to that effect, your Highness."

"No. Both Alvarez and Lancaster chose to call me out personally. If they want a response from me, then that is exactly what they shall get. And I know just the place to do it. Coaneca, come with me," the Empress said, standing up and pointing at the Minister of Information. "We have work to do."

---

September 7th, Imperial Parliament Building
Xochitecpancalli Hill, Tlālacuetztla

The Imperial Parliament Building on Xochitecpancalli Hill had been built in record time, using state-of-the-art prefabricated construction methods and crews working 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It stood on the former site of the Huenyan Assembly in Tlālacuetztla, before it had been bulldozed by then-Emperor Xochiuhue after his coup against Yauhmi. Calhualyana had deliberately chosen Xochitecpancalli Hill as the site of her new, XCP-dominated Imperial Parliament as a very clear message. The IPB declared, by its very presence, that any dreams of reform or democracy in Xiomera were dead and buried underneath its tons of black-hued steel, stone and concrete.

The modernistic structure, with its symbols of the Empire and the XCP chiseled into its walls, dominated its immediate surroundings like a giant dark monolith. Inside, the decor was not much brighter. Gray slate floors and obsidian-lined walls were the order of the day. The only spots of color, inside and out, were the giant Xiomeran and XCP flags and banners on the walls.

The Parliament Chamber itself was designed much like a larger Chamber of Whispers. Seats for the Members of Parliament were arranged in a circle, with a path cut out of one section leading down to a smaller circle in the center. The center space held the dais for the leaders of Parliament, and the speaker's lectern. Above the chamber itself, galleries for the audience formed another circle.

Carved into the dais at the heart of the Chamber, in Huenyan and English, was a single phrase: As the sun rises, so has Xiomera. As people filed into the Chamber, they saw the phrase and were confused. The official Imperial motto was "As the sun rises, so does Xiomera." Not a few of those sitting down thought that someone, somewhere, would be paying for that particular typo after today. This was the first official session of the Imperial Parliament in its new home since the January election, and it would be broadcast live throughout Xiomera and abroad.

As an Imperial Guardsman called everyone to order with several sharp raps on a shield with a mācuahuitl, the room fell silent. "Honored Members of Parliament and guests, please stand and honor our Empress, Calhualyana, as she officially opens this first session of the Imperial Parliament in our new chambers," the Speaker of the Parliament said.

The two doors at the end of the walkway leading to the center dais swung open, and Empress Calhualyana began walking down to the dais. She was clad in her full Imperial regalia. Gold and black fabric and steel glinted in the lights overhead; her black and gold cape fluttered slightly as she walked down. The intricately assembled featherwork crown that had, for centuries, signified Imperial royalty shone on top of her head, adding its own colors to the display. As everyone in the room applauded, Calhualyana reached the dais, eventually gesturing to everyone to stop.

"Thank you so much, honored Members of Parliament, for your welcome. I am pleased to open this first session of the Imperial Parliament in its new home, this Parliament Building that we have built. I am confident that all of you will represent your constituents and your communities well, and that together, the Throne and the XCP will govern Xiomera wisely and successfully."

Applause rang out as Calhualyana continued. "This Parliament was assembled, and this great chamber constructed, within just a few short months. And yet, both stand today as symbols of the strength and resilience of the Xiomeran system and our way of life. In the wake of foreign-influenced separatism that split our nation in half, and stole both land and wealth from us on a scale unprecedented in modern times, many expected that this Empire would falter or even collapse. Weaker nations would have. And yet, we are still here. We are still strong. And as both this Parliament and its new chambers show, we are still capable of great things."

The applause rose again, as the Empress smiled. "Our rapid recovery from the war, our continued political and economic strength, and our resilience in the face of adversity and conspiracy prove the greatness of our Empire. And yet, we still face the criticism and hostility of foreign powers who do not understand us and seek to meddle in our affairs. Within the past two days, the leaders of Lauchenoiria and Eiria have spoken in favor of those who would conspire against our government, and criticized us for enforcing our laws by punishing those who would seek to cause insurrection within our lands." Calhualyana would not mention Cozamalotl by name, but she didn't need to. "The Lauchenoirian government has even gone so far as to levy sanctions against us." Audible booing and hissing could be heard in the chamber at this point.

"The Xiomeran Empire, ever since we modernized and adopted the ways of the outside world, has tried to accomodate foreign powers and foreign ways. We have adopted other languages. We have adopted their technology, and many of their ways. And yet, it has never been enough. Xiomera has always faced these criticisms from outsiders who wish us to change to suit them. Our social order, our political system, our laws and how we choose to enforce them. And why have we tolerated this? For trade? For money? To be part of the 'international community'? What has this gained Xiomera, except more demands and more impositions from outsiders?"

Calhualyana's voice, which had maintained the even and calm tones of a head of state up to now, grew more impassioned. "Xiomera has always been treated as a nation who must be 'instructed' and 'changed' by the outside world, and we have been expected to comply if we want to trade with these nations or have relations with them. This has always been predicated on a mistaken assumption - that Xiomera is the junior partner in these relationships. But we are no one's inferior. We are, in fact, stronger than many of these nations that would seek to impose upon us. We dwarf Lauchenoiria in any possible measure of economic, scientific, or military strength. Yet they think they have the right to tell us 'enough is enough', and try to force us to change? Prime Minister Alvarez, to be frank, must be delusional if she believes somehow that Lauchenoiria is superior to Xiomera in any possible way, and thus fit to tell us how we should run ourselves."

"As for Eiria, while they are clearly stronger than Lauchenoiria, they are not stronger than Xiomera in any measurable way either. And yet, their leaders, such as Chancellor Lancaster, continue to insist on pontificating to us and trying to impose their will on us." The booing and hissing in the Chamber grew perceptibly louder.

"In the past, Xiomera would have tolerated this sort of hostile behavior for any number of reasons - to maintain trade ties, to pursue international relations, to try to help other countries understand our point of view. But we must now see, with clear eyes and minds, that this has never worked. It has only emboldened these interfering states to impose upon us more. So, as your leader and the leader of the Xiomeran people, I want to make one thing clear to these other countries - the days of Xiomera tolerating your hostility are over."

Into the sudden silence, Calhualyana stared defiantly at the cameras. "I hereby announce that the Xiomeran Empire is imposing reciprocal sanctions against the Federation of Lauchenoiria and its leaders, and will also be imposing similar sanctions against the Democratic Republic of Eiria and its leadership. Further attempts by those nations to sanction us will result in the immediate ban of all trade and travel between the Xiomeran Empire and those nations, and the immediate seizure of all Lauchenoirian and Eirian assets in Xiomera. If the Lauchenoirian and Eirian governments choose to reverse their hostile course towards us, we will do the same. But any further retailation or pressure applied from those nations against us will result in an equal Imperial response."

As the Chamber filled with applause, Calhualyana continued. "Any other nation that attempts to pressure us in a similar fashion will receive a similar response as well. We do not wish to do so, but we will no longer bow to the pressure of outsiders. For too long, Xiomera has been treated as a nation that can be pressured. We have even done it to ourselves. Our national motto, for the longest time, was 'As the sun rises, so does Xiomera.' This implied that we had not yet risen to the level of others. But I would argue that Xiomera has risen to their level, and in many cases surpassed it, long ago. Our technology and our scientific advancement are the equal of any nation in our world. Our economy is one of the strongest, our society one of the most prosperous. It is time for us to look upon ourselves in a different way, so that others may finally do so as well." The Empress gestured to the words carved into the dais. "Xiomera has risen. Not shall rise - has risen. We are the equal of any nation in the world, and we achieved this because of our social order, our political system and our way of life. No one has the right to tell us that we must change the ways that have brought us such success just to suit their ideals. And we will not do so. Ever."

The applause in the Chamber reached a fever pitch, as the Empress raised her hands. "We want to be on good terms with the other nations of the world, but make no mistake - if those nations decide, as Lauchenoiria and Eiria have, that they do not need Xiomera - we most certainly do not need them either. Xiomera will thrive, grow and advance whether or not we have any dealings with hostile nations. And we will no longer be subject to their whims. Xiomera is a sovereign nation, whose people and nation are not for sale, and we will run our nation as we see fit. The nations of the world must understand - Xiomera has risen. We are not subject to your will, or your pressure. And if we must, we shall prove it. So go ahead and sanction us, condemn us, rage against us if you wish. We shall not concern ourselves with your actions any longer. Today, Xiomera takes the first steps to free ourselves from the shackles of others and march towards our destiny, no matter who may seek to thwart it."

When the cheering and applause finally died down, Calhualyana lowered her hands. "Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare the Imperial Parliament Building opened, and the Parliament in session. Let's get to work for Xiomera and its people."

[Xiomera]

Part 1

September 12th
CityCenter Promenade, Ixtenco

".....and that is what the Unification Party will achieve for Huenya, when you send our fine representatives such as these who spoke before me today, to the legislature. And I promise that with their help, as Vice-Speaker, I will do everything I can to ensure that the dream of an independent, strong, prosperous and united Huenya will be fulfilled. Thank you!" Tiacihitli said, raising his hands to wave to the crowd as he finished his speech. As the crowd applauded (mixed with a few jeers from opposing party members), the acting Vice-Speaker stepped away from the podium. "We have a few minutes before we have to leave for our next campaign stop, sir," one of the FIS agents guarding him said, before stopping abruptly. "Gun!" the agent shouted, stepping in front of the Vice-Speaker and shoving him towards other nearby agents. Three sharp cracks rang out. As people in the crowd screamed and began fleeing, the other two agents quickly pulled out their own sidearms and opened fire on someone below the stage.

FIS agents, Ixtenco municipal police and Huenyan Civil Guard troops began directing the crowd out of the promenade area, while Huenyan Army soldiers began searching the perimeter for any other potential threats. As FIS agents helped the Vice-Speaker to his feet and formed a human shield around him to hustle him to his nearby vehicle, Tiacihitli looked back over his shoulder. The FIS agent who had stepped in front of him was down on the ground, bleeding. Another figure, below the stage, was also down, with multiple armed officers surrounding him.

---

Municipal Palace, Chuaztlapoc

Texōccoatl and Tlalmaxxi waved to a group of nearby people as they stepped out of their limousine and began walking towards the front entrance of the Municipal Palace. They were there to give a presentation to a group of locals about the progress being made on the new center of government, dubbed the Heart of Huenya, being built in the western outskirts of the city with Laeralite help. The project promised to transform Chuaztlapoc, and locals were both excited and skeptical on the plans.

As they walked closer to the entrance, two Chuaztlapoc municipal police raised their rifles in a position to salute. Abruptly, however, the two policemen pointed their rifles at the Great Speaker and his wife. Without thinking, Tlalmaxxi sprang forward, batting one of the rifles upward just as the policeman fired. The shot rang out harmlessly into the air, as the other policeman fired at Texōccoatl. The Great Speaker dropped to the ground, rolling to avoid the gunfire. As he rose back to his feet, he saw Tlalmaxxi quickly and ruthlessly twisting her attacker's head, breaking his neck. She then turned and kicked at the one who had fired at Texōccoatl. The policeman dodged the kick, but was not able to dodge the shot from the pistol that Texōccoatl customarily kept on his person. As the second attacker fell, the FIS agents and Shorn Ones who were ostensibly there to protect the royal couple shrugged and moved to secure the perimeter. "Yours is still alive, Great Speaker," one of the Shorn Ones said, coldly nudging the would-be assassin with his foot.

"Good. Take him to the military hospital. Make sure he lives. He has questions to answer," Texōccoatl said, breathing heavily. Tlalmaxxi smiled wryly. "Getting out of breath so soon? Maybe we need to do more training," she said. "I just wasn't expecting quite this much exercise this early," Texōccoatl replied with a slight smile of his own. "What the hell is going on?"

---

The answer to Texōccoatl's question would come soon enough.

Over the course of September 12th, the Golden Blade would attack multiple high Huenyan leaders, along with political candidates, soldiers and police officers, judges and other figures that were part of the Huenyan government. They released a statement, proudly taking responsibility, and repeating their earlier statement that they had declared war on the Huenyan government.

Most of the attacks would fail, although two Unification Party candidates for the legislature would lose their lives. One judge, a police commander in Acalan, and a Huenyan general in Chuaztlapoc would also fall. A mayor in the small town of Chiautlaoxte, who had openly supported the Unification Party, would also be assassinated.

Huenyan officials had thought they had ended a civil war at Jinyu. It was now becoming apparent to them that someone was trying to start another one, in Huenya itself. And if the Huenyan government didn't respond decisively, they might get their wish.

[Democratic Republic Of Eiria]

(Joint Post With Xiomera)

Chancellor's Study, Geminus
September 12th

The Chancellor's desk was, in short, a mess. Day-old reports and poll results were stacked on top of one another, forming a small wall around the edges of the antique oak desk. Portfolios and pens were placed perfectly within reach, often being used to scribble notes. One single folder stood above the mess, laying open near the edge. The Chancellor had read and reread that report for several minutes, laser focused on every word.

Ava Christiansen, his ever-faithful chief of staff, stood awkwardly in the large study, watching the Chancellor's determined expression. The report on the assassination attempts in Huenya had been hastily compiled, the Chancellor having requested the information be sent to him as soon as possible.

He finally looked away from the paper, blinking twice, before looking up at Christiansen. "Could you get the Great Speaker's office, as soon as possible? If he's unavailable, please tell his office to have him call me at his earliest convenience." He picked up the phone as she walked back to her office, clearing his mind for the conversation to come.

At Xochuaxte Palace, the call was quickly routed to Texōccoatl. “Good evening, Chancellor. Good to hear from you. I would normally ask what the reason was for the phone call, but I think I know already,” Texōccoatl said in an effort to keep his usual composure. In another part of the office, Tlalmaxxi was quietly seething as she issued commands on Texōccoatl’s behalf over another phone line to various security forces.

Lancaster quickly cleared his throat, taking a pen from his desk and tapping it open and closed. "Are you and your wife okay? I was so startled to hear about those attacks. Is there still any immediate threat of second attempts?" He spoke fast, trying to not let his natural accent slip through into his English speech.

"We are both fine, but I thank you for your concern. I wish I was surprised by these terrorist incidents. The Golden Blade has been threatening to attack Huenyan political leaders and security forces for some time now. The number of attacks, and the widely separate locations involved, does concern us however. It is highly likely that the new Imperial Intelligence Agency is behind this somehow, but we aren't able to prove it yet."

"Hmm, I figured Xiomera would be involved in some way. Calhualyana's desperate to exploit any weakness she can find." Lancaster winced at his own phrasing, hoping the Great Speaker wouldn't interpret his statement as criticism. "I'm glad to hear you're both alright. Practically everyone in Eirian Politics was panicking after hearing about the attacks. It was chaos. I've been manning the phone for a few hours now, trying to get everyone calmed down." Lancaster sighed. "At least people care. How extensive were the attacks? I have a report in front of me, but I'm unsure of the validity or detail of it, and you know more than I do. Can Eiria offer her assistance in some way?"

Texōccoatl thought for a moment. "To be honest, if you're so inclined, you could help us track down these Golden Blade terrorists and get them out of the picture. I know you had previously offered Director Cuetlancaona help from EICA, and he was not exactly committal. But we've got elections coming very fast, and I need to ensure Huenya is stable enough to make it through them. At this point, I'll take any help I can get. As for the attacks themselves.....they're not as bad as they could have been, but bad enough. One of our Army generals was killed, as were a judge and a police commander. Two UP candidates also, sadly. I believe a mayor in a town in the southeast also. That's what we know so far."

The Chancellor pursed his lips. "I'm sorry to hear about the deaths. And we would absolutely be glad to help track these terrorists. Securing your elections is one of the most important things right now." He said, glancing at a note page of all the other 'Important Things' that needed to be taken care of. "I will get that squared away as soon as I can." The Eirian leader paused again, contemplating a phrasing. "Forgive me for asking this, but I've been asked this by a good number of people, and I need to know what to tell them. Many companies and high-ranking officials are concerned that Eirian and Laeralite citizens may be viewed as 'Foreign Influences' by the Golden Blade, and therefore be subject to attacks and violence. Some are questioning the rebuilding projects, and if they're worth the potential risk. I know it's an awful thing to ask right after a number of Huenyan citizens were killed, but some are considering issuing travel advisories or recalling their contractors working in Huenya. I want to know your opinion, if I could."

Texōccoatl mentally flinched at the question. If people decided that Huenya was too unstable to invest in, their nation would never recover from the Imperial withdrawal, much less develop into the future that he hoped for. And that was, naturally, exactly the outcome Calhualyana and her pet terrorists were hoping for. "I can't lie to you - it's a risk. Anyone helping us could become a potential target. But I promise that we will do everything to keep foreign nationals safe here. We are growing stronger every day, with our new Civil Guard and our growing strength in our military and our security forces. Stability will come to Huenya, if we stay our current course. But if the international community abandons us, it is entirely possible that Huenya will fail, and become a nexus of instability and violence for this entire part of the world. Or, worse, fall back under Imperial rule, and strengthen Calhualyana and her ambitions. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think the world can afford to abandon us anymore than we can afford to fail. We are.....not opposed to allowing international peacekeepers in Huenya to help secure the country for the elections."

Lancaster was silent for a few seconds, arranging his thoughts. "Alright. I'll maintain damage control as much as I can. Just understand that if a travel advisory gets a certain amount of support in the Senate.... There's only so much I can do." The Chancellor began tapping his pen again. "And I'm not sure how much military goodwill I have left with the Senate for peacekeepers. Especially with the situation in Auria developing like it is. We'll have no problem helping to capture these terrorists. But Peacekeepers... We'll have to see."

Texōccoatl nodded to himself. "If you can help us track down and eliminate the Golden Blade, peacekeepers will hopefully not be necessary at that point." I hope. "That alone will be a great help to us. Once these terrorists are shut down, Huenya will be in a much better position."

"Then we shall waste no time in assisting you. We shall put you in touch with EICA and other intelligence services, and they will be at your service for anything you may need. Well," Will added in a slight joking tone. "Anything within reason. The EICA will report back consistently with their findings." He trailed off, a thought occurring to him. "If the EICA finds a Golden Blade member, where should they send them? Would you like them immediately remanded to your custody, and if so, what branch of Huenyan Government would have authority in this scenario?"

Texōccoatl thought for a moment. “It would probably be best to remand them. The FIS would take custody of them. We are housing them in Huenyan detention centers for now, but are trying to find a location where they can be more safely kept.”

"Understandable." Lancaster sighed. "Well, again, I'm very glad to hear you and your wife are alright. If there is anything else I can help you with, feel free to let me know."

”Of course, and thank you for the call. We will be in touch soon,” Texōccoatl said, ending the call. Tlalmaxxi had arranged a meeting with Huenya’s top military, political and security officials. This latest attack by the Golden Blade required a firm response, and Texōccoatl was planning to ensure that happened.

---

The Chancellor placed his phone down and stood quickly, almost sprinting to his Chief of Staff's office. "Get Minister Park and General Hestia on the phone as soon as possible. They have a new assignment."

[Xiomera]

(Joint post with Shuell)

Calhualyana waited calmly in her office for her first appointment of the day. She believed in starting the day off on a strong note. The Empress was hoping that this appointment would do exactly that.

Her trade deal with Shuell had been one good accomplishment. But with Xiomera now facing an organized alliance against it in the form of the Caxcanan Union, the Empress knew she needed to form more ties, if only to reassure her people.

The door to her office opened, and her Attendant stood next to it, in formal mode. “His Excellency Tariq Abn-Dawid Sayed, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Iskiram,” she announced, gesturing the ambassador inside.

The ambassador, a lanky man with a prominent Adam's apple, stepped into the office. He was dressed in an outfit typical of an Iskirami aristocrat - which is to say that it straddled the line between opulent and tacky on the best of days. Despite his rather ostentatious appearance, however, Ambassador Sayed had a well-deserved reputation for being a shrewd diplomat.

He politely bowed to the Empress, taking care to ensure his form was perfect. Sayed represented not just the Sultanate but his house, and intended on shining a positive light on both.

"The Lord-Regent sends his regards, Empress Calhualyana. I was informed you had something to discuss with us?"

”Indeed,” the Empress replied. “Please have a seat,” she gestured to a chair in front of her desk. After offering the ambassador refreshments and engaging in the requisite polite conversation, she got to the point. “As you know, Xiomera and Iskiram have enjoyed a very beneficial relationship since during the war, and after I became Empress as well. Iskiram was very helpful with my ascension, in fact. I feel that our two nations have common cause in this chaotic world, and that we would both benefit from a closer relationship.”

The ambassador nodded in agreement. "Despite some differences, Iskirami have a favorable view of Xiomera - in no small thanks to your rule, of course. We were very pleased when you took power, and even more so when a favorable peace agreement was reached." Sayed cleared his throat apologetically. "While not the ideal outcome, there are far worse options." Quickly changing topics to avoid lingering on the somewhat sore subject, the man continued.

"The Sultanate is a very old, regal state. We have had a storied history, and we are proud of it." His expression sours. "Despite this, however, we lack allies on the international stage - during our war with Serriel, we realized that much. While our stalwart defense allowed us to win that war, in a future conflict we may not be so fortunate."

”That would definitely be unfortunate,” Calhualyana replied. She frowned slightly at the mention of Serriel - that state was providing the family of Xochiuhue a sanctuary, a point that irritated her. “We believe we can help Iskiram a great deal with our technology. Brave soldiers deserve the best equipment, after all.”

Sayed clasped his hands. “Few in the world would be inclined to disagree, your majesty. While we have naturally attempted to modernize on our own, the assistance of Xiomera in this pursuit will be greatly appreciated. Is there anything that the Sultanate can provide in return? Our lands have much to offer you, I am certain.”

”We would be interested in any natural resources, such as oil, petroleum products, and raw minerals that you may have to supply for our industries. In turn, we would be happy to work together with you on joint research and development projects, as well as providing you access to Xiomeran defense and economic technology and products at greatly reduced rates. We would also be pleased to offer Iskiram any sort of trade goods or merchandise your people may desire, or which your markets may need, at greatly reduced rates also. Would a fifty-percent discount on Xiomeran trade and intellectual products be an acceptable offer?”

Sayed grinned, nodding. "Your terms are too generous, Empress -  you are a true friend to Iskiram. Our country is rich in both gold and oil, which we would be happy to provide to you. Should you agree to have closer ties with the Sultanate, there is much more we could do. Would I be incorrect in saying that both of our countries desire strong allies? The Sultanate cannot have foreign invaders on our soil once more."

”Nor can Xiomera, especially after the outrages perpetrated against us during our civil war,” Calhualyana replied. “Xiomera does indeed desire strong allies. And since we’ve worked well together in the past and share similar values, it would be a natural fit for us to have a more formal alliance.”

"That is excellent to hear, your majesty. Although the Decimation had dealt a great blow to us, rest assured that our country is still a strong one, and one willing to protect its allies. All that remains for me to do is have your proposal officially put into motion."

The ambassador extended his hand to the Empress - a gesture that would have been somewhat above his station, but sincere nonetheless. "To glories both past and new."

Calhualyana took the offered hand, shaking it and giving the ambassador a warm smile. “Indeed, and to a glorious future position for both the Empire and the Sultanate. I will instruct my staff and our relevant officials to contact their colleagues on your end to work out the final details.”

Sayed nodded in response. "It has been a pleasure, your majesty. You will receive the Lord-Regent's reply in swift time. Until then, I bid you farewell." With that, he exited the room. Once Sayed had left, Calhualyana smiled with satisfaction. Xiomera was entering a difficult period, between her upcoming marriage and then probable pregnancy, and the clear formation of alliances against the Empire. The more ties that Xiomera could form with other nations, the better - especially when those ties provided resources for the Xiomeran industrial machine.

[Xiomera]

Great Hall of the Tlatoani
Necuatexi Palace
Necuatexi, Necatli region

Huacue, the leader of the Necatli, leaned back in his throne as he listened to two of his citizens arguing. It was the customary hour of the day where citizens who had requested to resolve a dispute before the tlatoani were heard. Huacue found it the most annoying part of his job. More often than not, they were trivial disputes that adults should be able to resolve just fine on their own without his intervention. But tradition was tradition.

As one of the two men in front of him was about to launch into yet another long-winded explanation of his position, the doors to the hall swung open. A loud murmuring could be heard, as four people walked towards the throne. Huacue waved the two citizens in front of him into silence, and his guards abruptly moved them to the side as the quartet approached. “Ah, Nenalinche,” he said to the woman leading the group forward. “While I always enjoy visits, this is a bit of a busy time as I am in the middle of citizens’ pleadings. How can I help the esteemed prosecutor?” he said, with a slight tone of sarcasm.

Nenalinche, the Chief Prosecutor of the SIPS for the Necuatexi Region, stopped in front of him. “You can help me by disarming yourself, and stepping down from your throne. You are under arrest.”

Huacue laughed. “You’re joking, right?”

“I do not joke,” Nenalinche replied. “You stand accused of ordering the commission of a war crime during the civil war. To wit, the execution of an unarmed Imperial Army commander who had surrendered to you on October 11th, 2020." Nenalinche’s assistant handed Huacue a folder containing the accusations against him. “We have both video evidence, and signed confessions from the two people you ordered to carry out the execution. As such, we have more than enough evidence to enforce this warrant and compel your arrest to stand trial before the CNR.”

Huacue looked at the folder, disbelief written across his face. “I do not admit to anything. But if this man was an Imperial soldier, he was undoubtedly guilty of committing war crimes and atrocities of his own against my people.”

“An extrajudicial execution of an unarmed and unresisting combatant, regardless of his own crimes, is not justifiable. It is, in fact, the textbook definition of a war crime. And well within our power to prosecute. If you agree to leave with us peacefully, we will not submit you to the indignity of being handcuffed before your court and led out in chains. But you will come with us now, one way or another.” Nenalinche’s face was stone.

Huacue shook his head. “I am the leader of the Necatli people and a member of the Chamber of Executives. I dispute that you have the authority to arrest me, prosecutor.”

Nenalinche raised an eyebrow. "Ayak ka akopa in nauatili, ok se tlatoani."

No one is above the law, even a ruler.

Huacue laughed to himself. "The law. Justice. Don't try to insult our intelligence. This is Texōccoatl's doing. I forced his mother to step down, and now he sends his dogs after me."

Nenalinche's face somehow managed to turn even stonier. "The SIPS does not indulge in political vendettas. We enforce justice, whether criminals recognize it or not. Will you comply voluntarily, or will we be forced to compel your compliance?"

The crowd in the Great Hall began to murmur angrily, but Huacue waved them to silence. "I would never refuse to comply with the esteemed officials of the CNR," he said in a tone only slightly tinged with sarcasm. "We all serve Huenya, after all, don't we?" The Necatli leader turned to his son, Macochu. "You will hold the seat of Speaker in my absence. Ensure you do so with diligence." Macochu nodded wordlessly, as Huacue laid the ceremonial regalia of his office on the seat of his throne. With a slight smile, he turned to walk out of the Great Hall, Nenalinche and her escorts following him.

[Xiomera]

If the announcement by Sanctarian officials that they intended to place more forces in Huenya was intended to deter Empress Calhualyana, it was a misread of the person that it was aimed at. Calhualyana hadn't gotten where she was by being easily frightened out of the things she wanted. The very fact that she was sitting on the Obsidian Throne, instead of the now long-dead and unlamented Xochiuhue, was proof of that. She had forced the man off his throne and taken it for herself; that had taken too much work for her to simply give up on her goals for Xiomera now that she had the throne. The rest of the world be damned.

So it was that on the morning on July 28th that said world woke up to an earnest-faced DTNS reporter breaking the news:

"Good morning. Today, in an emergency session, the Xiomeran Imperial Parliament unanimously approved a motion by Empress Calhualyana to grant formal diplomatic recognition to the separatist state calling itself Western Xiomera. Prime Minister Toquihu told reporters today that Western Xiomera 'is a sovereign and independent state and we recognize it as such.' He went on to state that Xiomera does not accept the charge that it has violated the Jinyu Agreement. 'Western Xiomera, by virtue of its independent status, is no longer part of the Huenyan Federation. Therefore, any presence of Xiomeran forces there does not violate any portion of the Agreement forbidding us from having a presence within the Huenyan Federation.' That was another statement from the Prime Minister, tacitly confirming that there is already a Xiomeran presence in Western Xiomera - one that is expected to grow in the coming weeks. Reports indicate that an entire division of Xiomeran troops have been mobilized on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Epeloc in preparation to deploy to Western Xiomera. Officials within the international community are concerned that a Xiomeran vassal state on the western side of the Gulf could give Xiomera control of the entire Gulf, as well as the shipping leaving the southern terminus of the Intra-Xiomeran Canal."

---

"Officials within the international community" weren't the only ones concerned. In Chuaztlapoc, anger and panic were the order of the day after the news broke. An emergency session of the Huenyan Federal Legislature devolved into a shouting match between supporters of the Vice-Speaker and his opponents. His opponents criticized his leadership and demanded the immediate liquidation of the separatist state, even if it meant resuming war with Xiomera. Tiacihitli's supporters angrily countered by pointing out Huenya was in no position to win such a war, and that they could lose a lot more territory if they tried. Tiacihitli's supporters also asked the opposition What do you think we've been doing these past few months with our war efforts against the separatists? That led to the rather pointed response from one opposition legislator: Yeah, what have you been doing, since you haven't accomplished a thing? A few minor brawls broke out, a fairly normal occurrence within the halls of the Legislature.

In his office, Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli wrestled with the question of how to get his fractious government and nation behind him, and how in the world to counter the Imperials' latest move. Huenya was indeed in no position to force Xiomera out of the separatist state, and the international community seemed content for the moment with gestures rather than boots on the ground.

---

And in the Palace of Flowers, Calhualyana smiled. Things were still proceeding according to her plans. The world be damned.

[Xiomera]

The "resources for weapons" trade deal announced between Xiomera and Roucourt was even more complex than it seemed. The trade of significant naval firepower for resources to pour into the ever-hungry maw of Xiomeran industry was the splashy part of the story, the one deliberately publicized by Xiomera and guaranteed to catch the world's attention.

But that wasn't the only trade deal made between Empress Calhualyana and General Secretary Leclerc. It was just the public one.

The two leaders had agreed to something more. A new international trade consortium, known as the Xiomera-Roucourt International Development Consortium, was quietly set up. On the surface, it was an innocuous entity meant to facilitate development in Roucourt. And it would definitely do that, through building projects and the like. The consortium would also build factories to produce goods both for consumption in Roucourt, and back in Xiomera as well.

But to accomplish these goals, the consortium would rely on conscripted labor.

This was not a new tactic, either in Xiomera or in Roucourt. Both countries had used prisoners for labor in the past, for example. But it marked the first time, perhaps, that two countries had agreed to use forced labor for their mutual benefit. Roucourt would gain a fast track to much needed development, thanks to Xiomera. In return, Xiomeran corporations would get to reduce their labor costs through the use of the workers in Roucourt.

As was usually the case with Xiomerans, the deal the Empress made with Leclerc was more than what it appeared to be on the surface. But it was a win-win deal for everyone. Except the people in Roucourt who found themselves being forced to make gadgets and products for Xiomerans and the elite of their own country, with no say in the matter and little reward other than some meager food rations.

And if Roucourt's government needed help to keep the locals in line, Xiomera would be there. Investments needed to be protected, after all.

[Xiomera]

Haven House
Huānoch, Milintica
February 20th, 2023
9:30 am, Milintican time

Neina Arana stood in front of the presidential desk, her posture straight as an arrow and her hands clasped behind her in an almost soldierly pose. If she was aware she was being called on the carpet, she showed no sign of it as she stated unwaveringly at the man in front of her.

President Matōchmizalo stared back, equally unwavering. His face had a clear expression of anger on it as he took a sharp inhale to begin speaking. Next to him, Prime Minister Tupai Tapihana sighed slightly to himself. This would be an argument for the ages, he was sure.

"You pre-empted our official announcement on the attempt to assassinate the Xiomeran heirs back in December, and made us look practically complicit in that crime," he began, which earned a scoffing laugh from Arana. "Crime? If it had succeeded, we'd be free from a new generation of Xiomeran imperialists. How is that a crime?"

Her statement immediately caused Matōchmizalo to leap out of his chair. "It's talk like that which makes Milintica look like we're the ones who tried to kill those kids! Can you not grasp, despite your hatred of the Xiomerans, how bad that makes us look around the world? A nation that tries to kill infants in their beds? Are you that daft?"

Tapihana let out an actual audible sigh this time. They're starting early, he thought. His sigh went unheard as Arana simply shrugged, which caused Matōchmizalo's voice to raise even higher. "You constantly pre-empt, contradict and over-talk me and my administration in public, all to promote yourself in your typically self-aggrandizing fashion - "

"It is not to promote myself, it is to correct your constant incorrectness, incompetence and wavering from the revolution!" Arana shouted back. "You are betraying the principles on which this peoples' republic was founded and has stood for and promoted worldwide! Are you the one who does not see? Are you the one who is daft?"

Matōchmizalo was breathing more heavily at this point. "Your latest insult is to denigrate our plans to rename and re-flag to better suit our direction towards democratic socialism - "

"Rename, and re-flag? More like betray and commit treason. The name and flag of this country were established by the original revolutionaries who founded our peoples' republic and you have no right to change them!" Arana frowned.

"Shut up, you insufferable self-righteous chatterbox!" Matōchmizalo slammed his desk. "You have been coddled and allowed to get away with anything to keep your wing of the party in line. That is the only reason. But I have had enough. You will stop making public pronouncements that denigrate this administration or party leadership, or that contradict our official position on any issue in any way whatsoever. You will toe the line. Or else."

"Or else....what?" Arana said softly. "You know fully well that if I am punished, my followers will not accept that. You won't dare risk losing our votes in the Assembly, or our power on the ground to support the MPP, and we both know it. You won't dare, because you are a weak little man. What will stop is your betrayal of Milintica, and your betrayal of our principles, and your betrayal of the revolution. Or else."

Tapihana watched, openmouthed, at the ultimate demonstration of the phrase "immovable object meets irresistible force." Oh, this is not going to end well.

"As you said.... or else what?" Matōchmizalo said finally after a long silence. "I was weak, to let you get away with as much as you have. That ends now. Neina Arana, you are no longer a Minister in this administration, and you are no longer a member of the Milintican Peoples' Party. You are now officially nothing. Other than a shrieking banshee who I hope to never see in this office ever again."

The silence that fell into the room like a boulder after that remark was broken finally by Arana chuckling softly and picking up her things to leave. "Oh, I may not see you in here again, Matōchmizalo. But one way or another, I will see this office again, and possibly sooner than you think."

"And what does that mean?" the President demanded as Arana reached the doorway. She turned and gave another small laugh. "It means...good luck when you run for re-election, and when the Assembly next has its own elections. You will need it." Arana walked out, slamming the door as she departed.

"That was long needing doing," Matōchmizalo said finally after a moment.

"It definitely was. And I will not miss the shrieking banshee, as you put it. However, as your PM, I must point out that this is going to lead to massive difficulties within the party and the Assembly. We had better prepare for some serious horse-trading and negotiating to keep as many of our people on side as we can." Tapihana sighed once more.

Matōchmizalo simply nodded, his expression grave.

---

As she exited Haven House and flagged down a taxi, no longer meriting use of an official vehicle, Arana smiled broadly. Far from being defeated, she was now freed to pursue her destiny.