Once upon a time in Esquarium 2.0 [Closed, Esquarium only]

[Baiwa]

PROCLAMATION TO THE FAITHFUL

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Issued by the Provisional Headquarters of the Most Faithful Army on June 9 1950

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To the faithful of Baiwa,

It is time to rejoice brothers, for today the Most Faithful Army has completed it's full military objectives regarding the holy war against the heathen oppressor. The last remaining elements of the Royal Baiwan Army officially surrendered to a delegation of our officers earlier this morning, signalling the end of the dreadful conflict that has plagued our dear land for decades. The soldiers and officers of the Most Faithful Army salute all of you, for the support you showed to the forces of the faith during this conflict. The false Christian King and his government are now away from our lands in Aucuria, where we hope they will remain unless they want to face charges of treason against our dear folk. It is of utmost importance that we, the faithful, do our job as men and women of this country and help with the rebuilding effort that should begin soon. Not one should be allowed to say that he has done nothing to assist the fatherland.

Deiwāi mūs wedātajs!

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Committee of Soldiers and Officers of the Most Faithful Army & the Guardians of Truth

[New Zepuha]

Somewhere in North-East Salbeiland
| 7:33 AM | May 10th, 2016 |
Salbish Bundeswehr, 3^rd Mountain Division, Anti-Insurgent Detachment
Operation Divine Custodian

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The sun was just breaking over Mount Gustav and shining it's light down into the sleepy little town of Barden, a village of 2,000 or so people subsisting on tourism. It was a popular tourist destination as it sat under the shadow of Mt. Gustav and it's outlying ranges, popular for climbers and sight seers alike. Pristine and isolated, it remains as one of the few unmolested areas of Salbeiland, save for the town of course. The sleepy towns folk were still in bed as the thrum of engines approached their town from the South. One neat little line of dark green five and a half ton trucks carrying their cargo to the town.

Nowadays it was targeted by the Bundeswehr Anti-Insurgency operation dubbed "Operation Mop and Bucket" by the front line troops who had the glorious duty of "mopping up" after disloyal forces left over from the final capitulation of the armed forces. Many officers had seen the light so to speak and had stopped fighting, having lost sympathy for the royal handling of the armed forces as more of a meat club than a professional military. But with anything there still remained resistance, a small splinter in the finger of the National Transitional Council, one that had to be plucked through hangings and the occasional use of military force.

Today was one such use of military force; headed up by Captain Friedrich Bernbach, commander of the Anti-Insurgency Detachment (3rd Mountain Div.) a force of around 100 men who were deployed to smaller towns and villages to ensure the word of revolution had reached them. In short he was responsible for enforcing cooperation with the NTC in small towns in his sector, a troubling letter of protest from the town council had reached the Governor-General of the state. Of course no protest was permitted in these times and the council had decided not to fall in step with the NTC, this could not stand.

In the town square the five trucks and their leading Humvee stopped in a semicircle in the town's square. Cpt. Bernbach turned and slipped out of his humvee with a huff, he paused to readjust his jacket and place his green beret upon his head. He met with his sergeants nearest the lead truck as senior corporals were given the duty of ensuring each unit was properly unloaded and gathered into their teams for the days events. Five squads of roughly nineteen troopers each stood poised to move.

After short conference Cpt. Bernbach sent his sergeants back to their units and was joined by Lt. Goeppert for final instructions.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your squad leaders have been given the names and addresses assigned to your squads. As instructed previously you are to retrieve only the mentioned people on your lists, do not take resistance lightly. Let's hop to it."

With their orders the troopers headed out to find their targets, being the members of the village council, the six members were woken by boots smashing down doors. The squads brought their quarry back to the town square where people were starting to file in to see what the commotion was about. The six members of the council were stood knelt down in front of a hastily stacked pile of sandbags, so the coming gunfire would not hit unintended targets.

The air was stale in the courtyard as townsfolk shuffled nervously, glancing at the councilmen bound by their hands and now blindfolded by a stoic MP. Cpt. Bernbach walked calmly to stand before the gathered crowd, wiping his nose with a gloved hand before speaking to the villagers.

"Before you are counterrevolutionaries. They may look like your fellow townsfolk but do not be deceived, they are royalists and traitors to the Republic. I have been given a warrant for their death granted by the National Transitional Council," he spat out the last few words holding up a warrant from the NTC, "I am glad you can join us for the day's activities." without turning he barked an order for the firing squad to take it's place. Two neat lines of troopers made firing windows and clicked semi-automatic and took aim at the kneeling council members who began to plead as a final bark sent 12 round of 7.62 into their bodies rendering them silent.

The mop up operation moved on.

[Katranjiev]

At Krasimir Castle
Late May or early June, 2016

"...your Majesty," an adviser said to Queen Elis. "Your... uhm... behavior, has managed to make Katranjiev a laughing stock on the world stage. Already, the government of Ainin has plans to declare you persona non grata and ban you from entering the country because of what you have done with Pisdara. I think it's only a matter of time now before the world turns against Katranjiev and treats us the same way as Koyro or Teutonia."

Elis sighed.

She looked at his wrinkled face. She had a hard time thinking up of a suitable response. She wanted to defend herself, but she was having a hard time expressing herself.

She sighed once more, and then spoke up.

"Sir," Elis replied, "my stunts, for lack of a better term, they are to try and improve public relations. Monarchies traditionally were seen as being full of crusty old people. I want to change the perception of the monarchy. I want to make it so that I am a good monarch, one who has a good reputation and is known as a benevolent ruler."

The man raised his eyebrows. He told Elis, "Your PR stunts to try and improve Katranjiev's relevance... it is totally working. I mean, the Namorese government was frustrated when you suddenly appeared at the election debate without notifying them beforehand. And I already mentioned how Ainin is reacting to your remarks concerning Pisdara."

He paused for a moment. "I think it is time for you to stop trying so hard to get attention. You ought to stay in your country for a while, and you need to put a stop to these stunts. I highly recommend staying out of the media spotlight for a while, and step behind the shadows. Maybe in several months, this whole controversy will blow over and you will be taken more seriously on the world stage, da?"

Elis replied, "Very well. I suppose I did try a little too hard in trying to make myself and my country more prominent than it actually is..."

[Greater Ziegenian Reich]

In the aftermath and grief of a series of terrorist attacks in Nordania that struck at Vjaarland, Arkiasis, and Lyonsland, many were left to wonder "who?" and "why?". A lone video was uploaded to a niche area of the internet, where it would be picked up by lurkers and sent to various news stations and shared across social media.

The Nordanian National Socialist Front is a radical far-right white ultranationalist organization across several Nordanian nations that advocates for the expulsion of all non-white peoples, Nordanian supremacy, anti-immigration, anti-globalism, and White nationalism.
[hr]
Unknown location
Unknown time
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[The flag of the Nordanian National Socialist Front can be seen hanging in the background on a grey concrete wall behind a desk and chair. A middle-aged man walks in and sits in the chair.]

Unknown man: Good evening, fellow citizens. My name is Mikael Hermansen, and I am the leader of the Nordanian National Socialist Front.

M. Hermansen: For decades we have lived with watching our culture commit suicide as our so called "leaders" import thousands upon thousands of foreign immigrants into our lands. These immigrants taint our culture and corrupt our way of life, diluting our blood and poisoning our race. We were slowly becoming the minority in our own lads as these savages rape and murder our people.

The Front was founded to defend our very way of life. Over many years we grew and expanded as people recognized that they too were being deceived by lies from their leaders. We have forged a united front against the bastard globalists who threaten our very way of life. Since then we have used every tool in our arsenal to protect our white, Nordic race from the negro, the slav, and the arab.

Despite out best efforts, we were still coming up short. It became apparent to us that we were aiming at the wrong target and after much deliberation, we have reconfigured ourselves to bring down the establishment through any and all means necessary. We will continue fighting these reactionary elitist Jew bankers until we have liberated ourselves from their hegemony over us.

And so now, we celebrate our most recent victory over the Jew. I, as leader of the Front, proudly and boldly claim the responsibility for the most recent strikes at the establishment Jew. Those very same attacks which have been declared as terrorist attacks are merely acts of retaliation against the establishment Jewry and we will continue our struggle against them for as long as we live.

Victory to Nordania and victory to the White Race.

[End video]

[Qianrong]

June 13, 2016

The Blue House
Yucheng, North Qianrong

Qi Chien-Xuan sighed as she leafed through the foreign affairs briefs on her desk. The past few weeks had been very bad for Qianrong, with Namor and Ainin drifting ever-less-subtly towards aiding the Xiangmen regime. The country's foreign affair woes now permeated every level of the country's politics, from domestic economics to defense policy.

The door opened. Qi looked up, hoping it was her Foreign Affairs Minister, Nguyen Cong Chua, who would no doubt have some kind words and good advice on the issues facing Qianrong from abroad. But Qi's hopeful smile turned into a grimace as she recognized the smug face of Vice President Song Li-Chao. "Good afternoon, Prime Minister," Song said with mock respect and a saccharine smile. "How are you today?" Qi scoffed. "I was better before you showed up," she retorted.

"Oh come now, Prime Minister," Song replied, continuing the feigned courtesy. "We are both officials of the Qianrongese government. Surely we can be more civil than this?" "No, Vice President, I think that would be an incorrect assessment of the situation," Qi retorted. "You were the ruthless autocrat of this country for more than half a decade, and I opposed that autocracy through every subtle means I could." "True, perhaps, but have you forgotten the words of Li Jian-Zheng?" Song answered, grinning smugly as the sarcasm dripped from his words. "A new era of reconciliation and peace? Surely you believe in working together to build a brighter future for Qianrong."

Qi sighed. "Did you come here just to harass me. Vice President? If so, would you kindly leave me to my work?" Song gasped dramatically. "My dear Prime Minister, I came to help you!" he sarcastically chided. "I know you're having... ah, foreign affairs troubles, and I felt- as someone who has dealt with the great powers of the world- I might as well offer you my advice." Qi laughed, sharply and bitterly. "Sorry, Vice President, it is my personal policy and the policy of government that Qianrong will attempt to keep its distance from autocratic and authoritarian regimes and leaders wherever possible. If I'm going to get advice, then I'm going to get it from someone who actually cares about liberty and democracy in this country."

"Oh, Prime Minister, you're so naive!" Song cackled, grinning. "You'd like to think that it's just autocrats who are horrible people, people like me and Saltuceri and Huankun Chen, that we're the only soulless, manipulative, callous people out there. But you want to know the truth? All your fellow democrats? They're just the same, with a thin veneer of civility and respect. Shohai Antelope, Cao Nima, Sera Svensson, Freja Adlerberg, Cedric Liet- they're all liars, thieves, amoral and self-interested. Their words are carefully manufactured by teams of public relations officials to win voters. They sabotage the opposition and the media whenever they can. They make backroom deals with autocrats to advance their own interests. You really think they care about the people? You really think they care about those ideals they preach? You really think they care about what's right or wrong? The only things they care about are their careers, their bank accounts, and their legacies."

Song chuckled. "Honestly, you're the exception to the rule. And even you're beginning to falter. How many laws have you gotten through the National Assembly by increasing the amount of money going to Jing Hui-Zong's personal corporations? How many things have you said in press conferences or on the campaign trail just to look good? How long before you're forced to play the game of realpolitik by Namo and Huimont? Your soul will corrode eventually, Prime Minister, trust me," he declared. "One day, you'll be no better than them- or me."

Fuming, Qi tried to cut in, but Song restarted before she could speak. "And I can't figure out," he taunted, "if what frustrates you the most is that fact, or the fact that it makes that 'xenophobia' you hate so much seem so justified. Because all those 'xenophobes', all they're really alleging is that those foreign countries view us as pawns in some great game, that foreign leaders see us as utterly expendable tools for them to use while playing politics. And now, you have to sit and watch first-hand as they're proved right at every turn. Luziyca? Namor? Ainin? You think they really care about us? When their realpolitik gets a million Qianrongese killed, or thrown into death camps, or whatever else, they don't see mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. They don't see people with dreams and fears and loves. They see statistics. They see strategic objectives. They see polling results. And now you're finally being forced to realize that that's not the delusional fear of paranoid xenophobes- it's the truth."

Qi glared at him, trying her hardest to contain her rage. "I hope that that day is the day I die, Vice President Song. Now get out of my office before I order security to throw you out." Song smiled and shrugged. "You'll see that I'm right one day, Prime Minister. Trust me." He turned around and left the room.

Qi sighed and put her head in her hands. Song Li-Chao is going to be the death of me, she thought to herself. if Shohai Antelope, Marianne de Lotbiniere, and Long Jiao-Dan don't get me first.

[FreYhill]

Liberal Party Headquarters
Goldglass, Freyhill

Entering in one by one, it's clear that Coalition Executive were displeased at the 2016 Federal Snap Election. Whispers, Mumbles and Grunts appeared to fill the room whilst the Coalition Cabinet were waiting to be addressed by their leader - Prime Minister Mats Lundgren. Manilla Files were already spread out across the desk by party interns at the request of the Prime Minister - everything was in place for a productive debate. Lundgren’s Ministry stood up for the Prime Minister as he made his way into the boardroom and the conversation on the party’s plan for dealing with the Hung Diet began.

Knowing he had to pitch strong, Lundgren began to address Coalition Executive; he had to get their support to initiate his support to maintain Coalition Government. “Ministers, we have not failed, nor have we succeeded. The Liberal/National Coalition will storm on; for the sake of Freyhillians. Tonight, we must come united once more and fight for the average Freyhillian; we must keep Labor out of Government. Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs Won Chi Hun & I have worked extremely closely in the past hours to work out a plan and we need your 100% Support. Lundgren Administration MUST retain Commonwealth Government.”

“Crusenstolpe’s One Nation has 13 Electorates under their belt now; some from us and some from Labor; One Nation is our key to maintain Commonwealth Government.” Discomfort spread around Coalition Executive like Lundgren had hit a bombshell on them; Lundgren had planned to form a temporary Coalition with One Nation - Lundgren had planned to form Government with the support of the far-right extremists that were behind the Goldglass Riots. “Yes, I’m aware that One Nation are more right wing than our platform, but we must compare our conscience with our opinion. We know that a Coalition Government under any circumstances is better than a Labor Government. Ministers, Ask Questions; we need a constructive debate.” Lundgren sat in his chair and signaled the Party Secretariat to start the party debate.

Minister for Finance & Special Minister for State Pok Songmin had called upon the Party Secretariat for permission for the stand. “Good Evening Prime Minister; Honourable Ministers. Prime Minister Lundgren, One Nation is known to be vocal in the House of Representatives & has violated Standing Orders on numerous occasions. One Nation would be a liability to our strong united Coalition & would likely oppose Liberal Legislation; Legislation that is vital for our strong Economy, Legislation that is vital for our Liberties - Legislation that is vital for a strong Freyhill.”

Sipping some Coca-Cola, Lundgren stood and began to address the Minister's concern “Songmin, we understand that One Nation is vocal against Labor and even sometimes Liberal legislation. We Understand that One Nation will be a liability in our strong Coalition. Hense why Chi Hun & I are working closely in drafting an agreement that will ensure that One Nation Party whips will comply with vital party legislation.”

The Party Secretariat continued protocol and asked the Coalition Executive if there were any questions. Noting that nobody had made a brief statement or movement, she closed the debate and began the party vote on the issue. “Honourable Members of Liberal/National Coalition, the party vote in regards to ‘Liberal/National Coalition + One Nation Pact Agreement 2016” will commence immediately. Division is required; Ring the Bells for 10 Minutes.” Immediately, Alarms to alert Coalition MPs were set off and the Coalition delegation began to expand further than the party executive.

Once 10 Minutes elapsed, the Party Secretariat told party interns to Shut the doors. “Ten Minutes has elapsed, I assign Nationals Leader Won Chi Hun & Deputy Liberal Leader Lucas Widforss as vote whips. Division is in progress; Members are required to remain in their seats.” Won Chi Hun & Lucas Widforss began to count the votes approving and rejecting Lundgren’s vital proposal. “Madam, we have a result.” The Deputy Prime Minister said confidently; “49 AYE, 16 NAY - 1 ABSTAIN.”

The Secretariat stood from his seat after the results were delivered to his chair, “Ministers, Honourable Members; The Secretariat of the Liberal/National Coalition confirms the result of 49 AYES, 16 NAYS and 1 ABSTAIN. Therefore the “Liberal/National Coalition + One Nation Pact Agreement 2016” is hereby approved by Coalition Executive for implementation. Coalition Backbench is hereby permitted to exit under Coalition Convention Standing Order 23.” Suddenly the majority of occupants in the boardroom stood and left the room and Lundgren’s Ministry was now the only remaining Coalition MPs in the partyroom. “Prime Minister Lundgren has the floor to begin implementing the Liberal/National Coalition + One Nation Pact Agreement.”

“Ministers, we all know that Hung Diets are vicious and rapid times of Commonwealth Politics; we must act fast to maintain our Administration. The current odds of One Nation agreeing to this temporary pact are either high or low; that's why we must act carefully and rapidly to get the job done. I look forward to working closely with you in the coming hours to hopefully provide an agreement to Karolina Crusenstolpe tonight.” Lundgren stood up from the room and began to leave; the ministry applauded their leader and began their work.

[North Daecon]

June 15, 2016
House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Daecon
Daeconese Federal Hall
Waterwitt, SAC-WT, Daecon

The House of Represenatives, the main lower house of Parliament in Daecon, was in full swing as the house gears up for the main part of the Parliementary session.

"This is now the time for Questions to the Prime Minister, any member can petition for questions relating to government policy." Speaker Franklin McKenney spoke out, a man with far more political experience than most of the new MP's that were elected 3 years back. A man of calm political character, he was elected speaker of the House nearly 8 years ago in a close contest, and has lead the Parliament through the bitter years of the Sullivan prime ministership, and had seen the massive landslide that put Harris into the Prime Minister's office, forcing the election of James Howrath to the Daeconese Conservative leadership, the third party wave that was lead by Steiger and Johannsen and the rise of the Daeconese Nationalist Union, lead by the charismatic, young and opinionated Charlotte Durrough. McKenney is now presiding over the question time, and he is about to start.

"Petition starts now." The house is silent for a few minutes as the vice speaker collects the petitions for questions from the various members of parliament, some of them a bit ludicrous. After that, the vice speaker gave "The petition from the Member for Bascrom, Charles Terran of the Agrarian Country Party is accepted, and now he will question the prime minister." McKenney stated the results of the petition. There was a racket as the aforementioned member, who was a novice and only elected in a by-election in Dalshire a few months ago, stood up, dusted his papers and straightened his jacket, and looked at the Prime Minister that was sitting across the chamber.

"Prime Minister," Terran asked, looking a bit nervous. "the question is about the government's ability to handle the increasing distress of the events in Nautasia, as well as the Ankoreni military advance across Irvadistan. Can the government, if required, handle the increasing number of refugees that are sent to Daecon for resettlement, even if it is ordered by various humanitarian organisations?" Terran finished, sitting down slowly while Harris got up in straight fashion and prepared to answer the question himself, drinking a sip of water before starting his response.

"Mr. Speaker, the Member of Bascrom has made quite a few good points in regards to refugees coming from wartorn mainland Nautasia, especially the ones that are fleeing the violence of the so-called 'Caliphate'." Harris responded, his voice going across the hall like a wave. "The government believes that we have a right of care to people that are fleeing the violence as a necessary precaution....." Harris continued, but his answer was interrupted by a shout from the far side of the hall, which was the Daeconese Nationalist Union area and came from Durrough herself. She stood up as fast as she could and directly cut off the Prime Minister.

"Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Member of Bascrom are incorruptibly wrong on all counts and are two-faced liars as there is evidence that the 'Caliphate' is using refugees as cover for terrorists to breach our borders and bomb our country into submission!" Durrough shouted out loud at both Harris and Terran, scaring the former while just raising an eyebrow from the former, clearly not impressed with Durrough going mad again. "If we let in thousands of so-called 'refugees' into Daecon, they will radicalise our country and pull it down, the only way to stop Islamicfication of Daecon is to ban the immigration of all Muslim immigrants from across Esquarium and institute surveillance against........" She was cut off by the Agrarian Country Leader, Christian Steiger, who stood up and interjected at the rant.

"Mr. Speaker, the Member of Hawkins has clearly went out of line on this particular issue, as she called the Prime Minister and the Member for Bascrom 'two-faced liars'." Steiger stated, clearly trying not to look at Durrough the entire time of calling her out. "Can we end this unneeded rant and get on with the Prime Minister's response?" Durrough countered back, saying loudly "We will not bow down to Islamicifaction, and I ask Mr. Steiger, are you supporting the PM's suggestion that we let in terrorists and sleeper agents? Are you?" Before Steiger could respond to Durrough, McKenney's voice rang though the House of Representatives.

"The Member for Hawkins, Charlotte Durrough of the Daeconese Nationalist Union will leave the house under Parliamentary Directive 77a for abusive or disruptive behaviour against one or more members, effective immediately." McKenny finally ordered loudly, his face read like a easily drawn painting at a bar. He was pissed off and tired of the antics of one of the most controversial politicians in Daeconese history, and he just basically booted her out just then. "If the Member for Hawkins does not leave within the next 5 minutes, she will be escorted out under Parliamentary Directive 77b by Parliament security." Durrough just glared hardly at the speakers direction and left the house fuming, with the rest of the MFP's standing there confused. Harris just tidied up himself and started speaking again.

Well, that was one of the weirder moments of house this month..... McKenney thought to himself as Question Time started again.

[Namor]

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF NAMOR
Namo, Capital District

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For immediate release
Statement by the President-General on the emergency election in Lecistan

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ON BEHALF OF the Government of Namor, I congratulate Łukôsz Grzéskowicz for his election as the president of the Grand Duchy of Lecistan. On July 5, the Lecistani people, in an internationally monitored and fair emergency election, chose a new government to lead their country. We are happy to hear that the Lecistani people have been able to seize control of their own destinies, a right that had been denied to them in the past and was won through blood and tears. We hope that Lecistan will enter a brighter future, and that this recent election signals a new era in Namo-Lecistani relations.

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OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF NAMOR
Namo, Capital District

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For immediate release
Statement by the President-General on the passing of Nuoju Zeng, the late President and Premier of Katranjiev

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I SEND my condolences to the friends and family of Mrs. Nuoju Zeng, the wife of the late leader Huankun Chen who served as President of Katranjiev from 1971 to 1981 and Premier of Katranjiev from 1981 to 1986, who passed at the age of 80 in Riro. During her lifetime, Zeng played an important role in Katranjian politics. Even after the restoration of the monarchy, Zeng continued her involvement in politics, albeit at a lower profile. While not everyone agreed with her views, she nevertheless provided a different voice that was interesting to hear. May she rest in peace.

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[Namor]

Ко Цанг July 28, NMR 2379 · Friends, it is my unfortunate duty to inform you that effective immediately, I am stepping down as chairman of the People's First Coalition (PFC). While I will continue to be involved in party activities and fight to defend the sovereignty of our country, I was told by the hospital that it will take several months for me to recover from the barbaric attempt on my life during my Xiangmen rally. The PFC is the party that has most actively safeguarded the pride and dignity of the Namorese nation, and it cannot be brought to its knees by my temporary inability to carry out my duties as chairman. For this reason I am stepping down and consultations to decide who becomes our next chairman will ensue. The new chairman must be smart, vigilant and patriotic. Fortunately, there are many of such people within the ranks of our party, and it won't be long before a bright character emerges to lead us all. Thank you all for the support you have given me not just in the past few days, but throughout my time as chairman. Because of you, Namor has not completely fallen prey to saboteurs and imperialists. But there's always more to be done. Stay vigilant, watch your neighbors, love this country. Heaven bless you all. -KZ Like · Comment · Share Chia Bovang and 789 others like this. View 400 more comments Sang Txoang 1:29 pm · Like · 185 Thanks for all you've done for us, Chairman Kuo. You might have lost two elections, but at least you brought the PFC to national and international attention. With more people like you there's no way we can be karshevized. Be well! Zang Kanghoi 1:34 pm · Like · 153 Thank heaven for your resignation, "Chairman" Kuo. You are a demagogue who has polluted the name of Namorese nationalists everywhere, and you are a bigot who profited from societal rifts. You will no longer play a substantial part in Namorese politics, much rightfully. Chen Penguk 1:41 pm · Like · 89 I hope you recover, Chairman Kuo. May your successor take the party to new heights. Long live the People's Firsts! Lin Antong 2:09 pm · Like · 96 Stay out of politics, scum. You'll never seize the popular mandate.

[Union of Akoren]

Ankoranı Ulusal Silahlın Kuvvetlerin
Ulusal Silahlı Kuvvetler Komutanlığı

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For immediate release to all forces currently deployed in Irvadistan
Decree No.564

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TO ALL UNITS CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN IRVADISTAN:

The hour of revenge has struck. Do not count days or miles, count only the number of Salafist Arabs you have killed. Kill the Takfiri, this is the cry of your beloved Union and homeland. Kill the Takfiri.

There cannot be one ounce of mercy, no offer of sympathy or pity for these individuals. All effort must be applied for his destruction wherever he may be.

Press onto victory and lasting unity of the continent.

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Ankoranı Ulusal Silahlın Kuvvetlerin
Ulusal Silahlı Kuvvetler Komutanlığı

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Classified
Confirmation report of application of the Post-Conflict Area Judicial Policy
02/08/16 - Lt. General Hatem Çevik

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Confirmation report on the application of the Post-Conflict Area Judicial Policy in southern Irvadistan. As a member of the executive command team of Operation Undeniable Victory (Case. 16), I have been tasked by the National Armed Forces Command (USKK) to confirm that the Post-Conflict Area Judicial Policy has been applied to areas currently under Union control in Southern Irvadistan from Divisional and Brigade commanders. I have complied confirmations from all but two of Divisions and Brigades attached under the 3rd Army Corps, final two have reported communication issues and will be added to a secondary edition of this report upon their confirmations.

From my list of confirmations, I can confirm that 4,593 individuals have been punished as per the guidelines set out within the PCAJP. 3,126 received the maximum punishment of execution, of these include 1,014 females confirmed via public denunciation of supporting the so-called Caliphate's (scC) war effort, either through vocal activities or the production of explosive devices and the production of clothing for Salafist fighters. 863 individuals included are males aged between 10-16, either confirmed via public denunciation to either have supported the scC's war effort through combat, production of explosive devices, spying, involvement in Salafist war crimes against the local Irvadi population and Shia Muslims, or through logistical support as ammunition runners or the transportation of food and water. 46 included are scC appointed Imams, who propagated their Takfirism or inspired sympathisers to involve themselves or conduct their own atrocities against perceived apostates and enemies of the scC. The remaining 1,203 were armed fighters of the scC, captured during or after combat operations, 106 were identified through public denunciations.

Mosques, holy centers and scC administration centers have been demolished by follow up units of ANA forces, total number of structures destroyed through arson or explosives currently numbers 496.

The Operation's Standard Ethics Oversight Officer has ruled that the likelihood of mistaken identification or mistaken application of the PCAJP on innocent individuals is low, though a possibility. The SEOO has confirmed that the application of the PCAJP, however has significant benefits to the re-establishment of law and order within Union controlled territory.

Final Note:

The Post-Conflict Area Judicial Policy is being fully implemented by all divisional and brigade commands in the areas of operation in Southern Irvadistan with great efficiency and effect. The sites of the PCAJP Application Zones have been identified in top classified report CF-53A5K for review by the USKK.

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[FreYhill]

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF FREYHILL
~ Goldglass, Commonwealth Designated Province ~

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Passing of Governor-General and Former Prime Minister Pu Sang Jun

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I SEND Condolences to the Pu Family and His Excellencies, The Honorable Pu Sang Jun's friends in regards to his sudden passing at the age of 92. Pu Sang had been an adamant supporter of Liberal Conservatism throughout his successful political career for the people of our Serene Commonwealth, with the man revolutionising Conservatism in the Commonwealth through the establishment of the Liberal Party of Freyhill. Pu Sang had brought this nation together at times of good and bad, with the Prime Minister responsible for the Government exiting the horrid Neutral Period in regards to diplomatic affairs. Pu Sang was a good friend who will be missed throughout the nation for generations to come, let him rest in peace.

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[Senterland]

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Wauter's World

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Articles• Videos • Podcasts • Astrophysical Trivia • Debunking Pseudoscience
My cheep webpage

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"... and the Rest!"

It's always a joyous affair when people come together and bring to themselves a government. In simple english, I love elections. I also love seeing common people do uncommon things. Of course, these people aren't as popular as someone who plays politics. But something about this election makes me want to highlight some of the incredible people running for offices this year in Senterland.

About the author

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Bert Wauter is a political columnist for "4ll-Time".
He studied at the College of Finhaus and
received a doctoral degree in astrophysics.
He also has an affinity for ancient
history and Senterland's political scene.
He's not a fan of grammar.

5.7.9. 5 Falafels, 7 days, 9 relates to ט in hebrew
5.7.9. Is running one candidate for the Chamber of Peoples in an electoral alliance with the National Libertarians. Originally 5.7.9 had multiple candidates on the ballot. I though the party leader, Rudolf van Bôrn, was merging his list to remove his party's other national candidate from this political season. However, the second candidate, Yakov Troznyner will be running in the Aksana county council election. He won't win, but he's still around. Yakov Troznyner is an orthodox jewish rabbi. I happen to have covered some of his writings he has posted online.

Rabbi Troznyer believes the earth is the center of the galaxy. Rabbi Troznyer claims the "scientific elite" have been silencing criticism. The good rabbi is safe despite the elite's censorship and rabbi Troznyer has not commented as to how this possible. Over the years, Troznyer has argued we need to patrol muslim neighborhoods more than other, how libertarian. Rabbi Troznyer ran for the Noron county council as an independent in the 1990s, receiving 19 votes. He's since ran in three more counties and was a deputy presidential candidate in 2010, receiving 0.02% of the votes.

Male and Female Energy
Albert Vaal is currently on the Roggi Municipality's legislature of five. He was elected in 2011 and has been ranked at 88th in his party's list in the House of People's Election. Likely he will not make rank in the Cahmber but his inclusion is astonishing. Albert Vaal has been a spokesperson for the Party in regards to Muslim terror, a major topic. Albert Vaal is in charge of the website EnergyofSpirit. Energy of Spirt promotes viewpoints that "male energy, the left side, looks like an object, moves through a Fibonacci spiral and supports power, problem solving and machismo. Female energy, the right side, looks at wholes, moves to the end of Fibonacci spiral and supports creativity, passion & sensuality." Apparently, traits in men and women are a part of energy and run through spirals. Huh? I am confused. His words mean nothing, it's like saying the genetics that make up my hair are the cause of doorknobs sneezing. He's entertaining, but it's sad he's a spokesperson for anything. I wouldn't trust him with a bath.

The three stooges.
There was defection in Wuxony. a local councilwoman defected from Labor to alternative left wing party. This has triggered a special election. I cannot emphasize how special the election is when looking at three candidates in the race. Police officer Ebba Fridolin has relaxed provocative adds show off her body. Officer Fridolin is hopping her Hot Fuzz Party (which does not exist) will promote women's issues in public service. She's polled at 5 or so percentage point when included in polling. She is pretty good looking.

OOC: That is really a cop.

Then there's Myer Ztar. Myer Ztar ran for local offices in Wuxony since the end of our oppression in the late 80s. He won the position of Wuxony City Election Judge in 1998. There's 75 of those in 25 wards. Odviously a high their political office with competitive elections. Mr. Ztar is the proponent of "Fluid politics." A system where your views change with time and space and you admit to it. In the LGBTQ majority municipality of Jordenvale, Mr. Ztar threw stones at a male mannequins wearing bras. The swing vote in the electoral seat up for grabs is the gay community in Jordenvale. Mr. Ztar proposed the death penalty for hereto-sex while campaigning in a conservative church that isn't in his district.

When confronted with this flip flipping philosophy Mr. Ztar had this to say in a lesser known candidates forum "If I get zero votes, I'll be in a better position to get double in my 2018 comeback bid than any of you corporatist spies." Ztar was included in one of the five polls made on this election. In the poll Ztar and scored a big fat asterisk, the electoral equivalent to a human somehow appearing inside a room with a temperature of absolute zero.

Speaking of spies, theres Henning Henningsen. Henning Henningsen claims to be a government spy. He claims in his 2015 book "700 TnegA" that "fascists form are running the government from the Esquarian Parliament's subcomiites. They meat (he has a typo in his book) in secret, vote in secret and have our rigged government enforce their laws." Nobody has been able to figure out how Senterland entered the EC. But I think the reason is magic. Alternatively, Henning is a maniac. I would let the voters in Wuxony decide, but he isn't included in polls and will not even make the ballot. This is due to a signature challenge by the National Front candidate in July.

I'm going to cry.
The Freedom Party wanted to hit 100 candidates in this election to the House of Peoples. They failed to meet this task but they got close. the party renominated all 61 of the 64 candidates from 2013 but three, 24 local politicians, 6 party bureaucrats, 4 businesspeople, some guy named Mohammed, and Albin van der Loo. Dagfinn van der Loo is not a funny story, it's inspiring. Dagfinn van der Loo was born in 1986, his mother is Ane van der Loo, the sister of then prime minister Axel Lindschøld. For any foreigners reading my blog, Lindschøld was a reformer of Sentrist society and the committer of the most unsettling of human experimentation on his nieces and nephews. Of his 5 relatives he experimented on, three died. Dagfinn was homeless in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

We found him in 2003, after a month of searching and media coverage. Since coming out of homelessness, Dagfinn has been tutored into a second year university degree by some of the finest instructors and psychologist in the country. His life has been covered on television for over a decade and he's even working as an executive assistant for some PR firm in the south. The boy's ranked 37th on the party list and while I don't think his ideology is correct the party has an incredible story. It's a group on honest people, most of whom aren't even part time politicians, coming together and promoting their common interests to the public.

[Luziyca]

August 11th, 2016
Ashuragar, Pisdara
Entana Park

---

Baba Naram-Sin was intially "tolerable" of ONU membership, having privately supported it. However, as soon as he heard that Conrad de Villeroy threatened that if Pisdara joins the ONU, New Bounesque would leave, that spurred him to action. It was now or never.

As he was accompanied by his son, the crowds were singing Kibkar, swarthy town. When they both reached the podium, they both joined in the singing.

Once the song died out, Naram-Sin was ready to make his speech.

"May peace be with you," he began in Pisdari.
"And also with you," the crowd responded.

"Thank you!" he declared. "Today, I have come to you, my fellow Pisdaris. I have come because earlier this morning, I have heard treasonous threats against our Pisdari motherland from the island of Nheshtinabka!"

There was some murmurings, and some people booed.

"The leader of the PUA, Conrad de Villeroy has threatened that if Pisdara joins the ONU, they will make sure that what they call 'New Bounesque', if you pardon my French, will leave Pisdara and then continue their genocidal policies against the Pisdari people on the island! Do you want the Pisdari people to be harmed?"

"NO!" they replied.

"After having considered all the options thoroughly," Naram-Sin explained, "and the stranglehold that these political pedophiles have on the Nheshtinabka District Council, I realize that national unity is more important than joining some international organization that has done very little to help the needs of the Nautasians! I would rather preserve our national unity and the ability to construct a Pisdari nation for the Pisdaris than to allow any Pisdari suffer oppression, to suffer the genocide that we went through under that bastard Leche!"

The crowd cheered.

"Therefore, on the thirteenth and fourteenth of August, I urge you to make the right decision," Naram-Sin declared. "For the sake of the survivors of the [Leche] genocide, for the sake of the Pisdari people living on Nheshtinabka, for the sake of those who desire to never again be exploited by the Aininians, we must make the right decision!"

He had a sip of water as the crowd cheered.

"We must all go to the polls and vote NO!" he exclaimed. "We must vote no to the prospect of another genocide, we must vote no to the division of the Pisdari archipelago, we must vote no to continued exploitation by the Aininian imperialists, and we must vote no to allowing these political pedophiles to cling to their authority to molest the Pisdari nation!"

The crowd began to applaud and cheer, as Naram-Sin was about to conclude: "That's all! Thank you!"

Once he spoke that, he waved to the crowd, as the crowd chanted Baba's name.

[Ainin]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF AININ

18 May 2016: Extraordinary Joint Session of the National Assembly

CHAIR: Order, will the combined House come to order. This joint session has been called by the President of the Republic in accordance to Section 23 of the Constitution, on the topic of Constitutional Decree 2, a Statutory Instrument to Dissolve the Territorial Agglomeration of Pisdara. The chair sets 3 hours open debate on the issue. The chair recognises the Minister for Pisdara, Concordia and the Charline Islands.

Minister for Pisdara, Concordia and the Charline Islands JEAN HÉROULX (BDR, GÉRY): Madam Speaker, Mister President of the Censors, Mister President of the Republic, Madam Prime Minister, Respected Colleagues and Members of the Opposition, Fellow Citizens,

We are gathered here today to make history.

First off, to the people of Pisdara, I say this: This is not adieu. Today, we write the final chapter of the colonial history of Pisdara and start off with a fresh, blank book, that of Pisdara as a fully independent member of the world community. This is far from goodbye, this is a new hello. On an equal standing, Ainin and Pisdara will continue to collaborate on many fronts and our bonds of solidarity will never be shattered. We have gone through hell and high water before, and we shall continue to do so. I hope that you will feel the same sense of optimism and hope for collaboration that I do today.

To my fellow Aininians, I say this: Our history is not without blemish. We have had our highs and lows. We have been through war and peace. However, above all, we have had a strong, beautiful motivation in the form of the republican ideals of freedom and popular sovereignty. It is that proud side of Ainin that we show today. Just as we honour today the Aininian men and women that engaged in a colossal struggle to establish a new nation rooted in the humanistic and fundamentally just ideal of popular sovereignty in 1795, we must honour the Pisdari people's fight for the same in 2016. They have spoken, and loudly at that, in favour of a new relationship with Ainin that would place them as equals. Our republican tradition obliges us, our moral compass compels us, our hearts and minds demands us to do so. Today should not be seen as a tragedy or loss, it is a great victory for the ideals that our Republic is built upon.

This bill is just, it is fair and it is fundamentally good. It has been revised to eliminate all outstanding limitations on Pisdara's sovereignty in terms of fiscal and economic development, and it sets out a responsible framework for a representative government that would treat all ethnic and racial groups in the islands equally. The new Pisdari Republic would be fully independent in its actions, and we will relinquish authority over fiscal and external affairs. However, the status of existing Aininian military, naval and coast guard infrastructure and personnel in Pisdara has not been revisited and will remain undisturbed. We are proud to announce that we expect a clean, orderly transition, which this government fully commits to supporting through expert advice and foreign development aid.

I urge my colleagues in this House to immediately seize the initiative and respect the will of Pisdara's voting public, which overwhelmingly approved this constitutional draft. Pass this bill. Pass it in the name of self-determination. Pass it in the name of the republican and popular sovereignty values that this nation was built upon. Pass it in the name of progress, of liberal democracy. Pass it to do a little more good in the world. Pass it for Pisdara. Pass it for Ainin.

Thank you.

Applause

CHAIR: Thank you, Mr. Héroulx. Are there any points of information in the House? The chair recognises the Leader of the Opposition.

Leader of the Opposition ANNA BARÉSI (RDD, INSAUX-LE-MOULIN): How does the Minister believe that the new status of Pisdara will affect its financial situation, considering that it would make Pisdara ineligible for equalisation transfer payments?

Minister for Pisdara, Concordia and the Charline Islands JEAN HÉROULX (BDR, GÉRY): I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for her question. While it is true that the new status would result in an immediate loss of formal funding in accordance to Section 117 of the Constitution of Ainin, we would continue to fund the Pisdari government through foreign aid and development grants. The Pisdari people should see only negligible tax increases in light of their change in status, if any.

Leader of the Opposition ANNA BARÉSI (RDD, INSAUX-LE-MOULIN): Follow-up.

CHAIR: Granted.

Leader of the Opposition ANNA BARÉSI (RDD, INSAUX-LE-MOULIN): So does the government have a concrete, fully hashed-out plan for dealing with Pisdara's soon-to-be budget hole in the short-term?

Minister for Pisdara, Concordia and the Charline Islands JEAN HÉROULX (BDR, GÉRY): As I've said earlier, we fully intend on authorising foreign aid and development grants of an equivalent value to the lost equalisation payments. Pisdara will not end up in a worse financial state. Indeed, we expect the outcome of this change to be a net positive for the Pisdari economy, as development grants are a more concrete and objective commitment to economic development than block transfers to the government, which may end up squandered by inefficiency or graft.

Leader of the Opposition ANNA BARÉSI (RDD, INSAUX-LE-MOULIN): You haven't answered my question.

CHAIR: Order. There shall be no direct conversation. The member for Charlevoix.

CHARLES VALJEAN (PC, CHARLEVOIX): Will the government commit to never use development grants to build more exploitative factories and industries in Pisdara, which cause extreme social stratification and income inequality in the islands for the exclusive benefit of rich business interests in Ainin?

Minister for Pisdara, Concordia and the Charline Islands JEAN HÉROULX (BDR, GÉRY): Ainin will offer development funding to the democratically-elected Pisdari government, which they will be entitled to spend at their discretion to develop the islands' economic and industrial infrastructure. We will have but a minimal say in this, and we will never attempt to do something as corrupt and improper as advocating for private business interests in affairs of state. Development aid is just that, for public development. Emphasis on public. It is for elevating the people's welfare and security.

CHARLES VALJEAN (PC, CHARLEVOIX): Follow-up.

CHAIR: Granted.

CHARLES VALJEAN (PC, CHARLEVOIX): Is the government saying that its so-called development aid will be used to exploit the people of Pisdara in more sweatshops for the benefit of the billionaire class and crony capitalists?

Minister for Pisdara, Concordia and the Charline Islands JEAN HÉROULX (BDR, GÉRY): That's not what I said at all. As this government has repeatedly stressed, it shall have no direct involvement in the administration of the Pisdari government. How the democratically-elected government of Pisdara wants to spend foreign aid will be up to itself and itself only. The Aininian government will only offer technical and expert advice on certain economic projects, which the government of Pisdara will be free to accept or reject without any ill-effect either way on the relationship between Ainin and Pisdara.

CHAIR: The member for Ducasne.

CYNTHIA LAPRAIRIE (RDD, DUCASNE): Does the government believe that the referendum, which was conducted with a concerning haste that allowed for no campaigning, was proper and free of irregularities?

Minister for Pisdara, Concordia and the Charline Islands JEAN HÉROULX (BDR, GÉRY): Yes, the Pisdari electoral commission has certified the result as adequate, and has not reported incidences of concerted fraud. Our independent observers have likewise confirmed the vote as generally free and fair. While the lack of a proper campaigning period was disappointing, there is no indication whatsoever that there were any concerted irregularities of note.

CHAIR: The member for Haut-Saint-François-Est.

(...)

---

---

Thirty-five minutes later

CHAIR: Thank you, Mister Cornell. Are there any points of information in the House? The chair recognises the Government House Leader.

Government House Leader MARC-HENRI BARTHÉLÉMY (SD, LANAUX): Madam Speaker, I move the previous question.

Audible protests from Opposition benches

CHAIR: Order.

More protests

CHAIR: Order! This House shall come to order. Order!

Scattered shouting

CHAIR: The member for Damienville, order! Is that understood?

MAXIME CORNELL (AN, DAMIENVILLE): This is fascism!

CHAIR: Mister Cornell, please remove yourself from this House for the day.

The member for Damienville is escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms

CHAIR: The motion before the House is to move the previous question. All those in favour, say yea.

Many yeas from Government benches

CHAIR: All those opposed, say nay.

Many nays from Opposition benches

CHAIR: The yeas have it. This motion passes. Cloture is achieved on Constitutional Decree 2. Will the House Clerk activate the voting devices and secure the floor?

Several minutes pass.

CHAIR: Order. With 429 yea, 110 nay, 57 abstaining, the Decree passes. The chair will now look favourably upon a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Minister of the French Language AIMÉE LY (MONTTOURES, AC): Motion to adjourn.

Several members: Second.

CHAIR: That is in order. Any objections on the floor?

None.

CHAIR: The meeting is adjourned.

[Caithaven]

3 Willow Lane, Horgswick, Caithaven
31 August 2016

Willow Lane was the sort of building that lent itself to comfort rather than purpose, thought Leah Rowe, as she entered the 19th century buillding that served as the Premier's official residence.
Nestled at the back of a park, it wasn't in the most convenient place to reach, being halfway across Horgswick from the Parliament buildings and a fair distance from the main road. But it was a nice building, she reckoned. Despite a supposed refurbishment once heard at the Assembly Bar, it didn't take much imagination to picture the building as it had originally looked. The walls were decked in rich colours and glowering portraits, and the floors with lavish rugs and ancient furniture. The atmosphere belonged to a stately home rather than an official government building, but, she supposed, it was the latter first. Duke Stykel would have never have anticipated that one day, power would switch from Uffesblun Palace to his wife's wedding present. But that was a story in itself. There were important things that mattered now. "You can enter now, Mrs Rowe," the staffer indicated, and with a creak of the ancient wooden door, the Finance Minister walked into the cabinet meeting room, conspicously deserted save for the blonde haired figure of Katja Wullburg.
"Good Morning Leah," the Premier greeted, her slight Magdau accent echoing around the room.
"Hello Katja," Rowe replied, taking the cream coloured chair opposite her.  "I've completed the budget." she announced, already knowing what was to be discussed. "Minus fine-tuning, but that can wait 'till next week, isn't it? After all, everyone's still on holiday."
"Okay then. How big's this surplus?" Wullburg inquired, jotting notes on paper. "Isn't worth it if it's just a few billion Kuds."
"1% of GDP".
"Blimey!" the Premier exclaimed. "Where did that come from? "
"Well," Rowe explained, "The sell-off of Groncher mainly but we're ending a lot of the programmes such as the guaranteed jobs now unemployment's back to normal. That also means we can safely cut other budgets such as welfare, and transport can also be  slimmed down."
"The ProgDems might have a problem with that," Wullburg advised. "But we can iron that out next week."
 "But anway,," Rowe continued regardless, the KMP can't accuse us now of being incompetent now we're paying back the national debt, and they can't claim our stimulus hasn't worked. But the whole Groncher thing..."We opposed that at the time. They could get funny about that."
"Yes..." Wullburg admitted.
The room went quiet for a few seconds, and the two women silently agreed not to dwell on it.
"But at least we've turned a balanced budget into a surplus, even if it is negilible," Rowe reflected. "And that'll be good news for us."
"Yes it will.. Well, that's all I wanted to see you about, see you next week then."
The Premier glanced down at her very short typed agenda, and stifled a laugh. "If only all cabinet meetings were this brief," she thought to herself, until she was interrupted by a final question from the Finance Minister.
"Just one thing Katja," Rowe piped up. "Do you think I have a future in the party?"
"What do you mean?" Wullburg answered, looking perplexed. Of course, we've still got three and a half years yet until the next election. Keep out of trouble and you will still be a Minister."
"No. I meant- longer than that."
"Do I think you will be leader one day?" Wullburg guessed, to which Rowe confirmed.
"Well, that's a matter for the membership at the time, Leah. But I'm just eighteen months into my first term! I don't want everyone obsessing over my successor already, but to answer your question- a lot can happpen between now and 2019, let alone when the leadership next falls vacant."

This inconclusive answer would ring in the Finance Minister's mind for a while afterwards. But, she told herself, Katja was right. A lot could happen in three and a half years.  Yet, as she left that day, she still looked back at the comfortable if impractible building with a hope that one day, it would be hers.

[FreYhill]

Representative Offices,
Commonwealth Diet, Goldglass.

---

Although Diet had Adjourned, One Nation Leader Karolina Crusenstolpe remained in her office - Working. Browsing International Media Stories such as Heatwaves in Ainin and Elections in Xiaodong on her Secured Desktop, she decided that now was the time to call in Opposition Leader Ru Seung Min. Lifting Her Navy Tinted Line, Karolina had dialed the Labor Leader’s Diet Office Secretary - a voice that she would hear numerous times over the next month. “Good Evening Lovely, It’s Crusenstolpe - The Member for Cognan. Ping Me towards Seung Min, It’s Urgent.”

“Good Evening Karolina, It’s an excellent night at Commonwealth Diet.”

“Indeed Min, I believe now is the time we plot against Lundgren’s Monarchist Campaign.”

After Moments of Silence, The Opposition Leader Croaked “Yes, I’m coming over now.”

[Ainin]

OOC: This is a cross-post from Arise O' Nautasia Reborn.

---

September in Ainin is not a good time to be alive.

With humidity off the charts and temperatures hovering in the low-40s, the streets of the normally-bustling capital stood deserted, with pedestrians confined to their air conditioned homes and street after street of parked automobiles sinking into the melting asphalt. Temperature records shattered almost as easily as the exhausted electrical grid, the heat wave taking province after province into its deadly grips. For prime minister Marianne de Lotbinière, this was a disaster, politically if not in terms of human casualties. After a middling performance by her Social Democratic Party in the recent local and Esquarian Parliament elections, the October legislative elections in Isle-Royale, home to the national capital, have become must-win. This heat wave seems hell-bent on making sure that that would not happen.

The Prime Minister's Office, Namoirie Hall
Huimont

---

Namoirie Hall was dark. For the sixth time this week, in fact. Not even the centre of government was immune from the rolling blackouts that power officials implemented in a desperate last attempt to stave off the collapse of the entire energy distribution network. In the prime minister's office, illuminated only by the crimson glow of a tropical sunset, Marianne sat at a desk with a hand fan that she vigorously swung back and forth to no avail. Pearls of sweat continued to roll down her face. Across the room, her chief of staff André fared no better, stains visibly developing in the underarms of his white shirt.

"The latest poll has us down 7 points," he announced with visible unease.

Marianne's face paled, and not just because of the possible heat stroke. She looked at him with deep concern. "I thought that the last poll only had us down by two."

"There also wasn't a heat wave, ma'am."

Falling back into her leather office chair, she flicked away a bead of sweat from the side of her nose and let out a sigh. "Thank you, André."

He nodded and exited the room. Less than a minute later, her door swung open again as a gaggle of middle-aged men walked in, carrying briefcases, folders and displays of all sorts. It was the crisis response team she assembled to advise the government on the heat wave. The tallest man in the group, a bespectacled man with a retreating and increasingly white hairline and the olive green uniform of the Army, stood forward and gave her an open palm salute.

"At ease," she said as she returned the salute to the commanding general of the Meteorological Corps.

He began speaking in a quiet, apologetic tone. "Ma'am, we do not expect the situation to improve until Thursday."

Another man in the crowd then stepped forward. Middle-aged, Arab, suit and tie. The state electricity company's COO. "After that, it will be at least a week until power use return to normal," he added. "We will have to extend rolling blackouts to most of the east country to meet soaring demand. We've been forced to cease operations at the Gatillon dam due to low water levels. And as for Isle-Royale, ..."

Before he could finish his depressing status report, the door swung open for the third time and her personal secretary's small figure presented itself in the frame. "Madam, the Director of Clandestine Operations is here to see you. She says that it's urgent."

"Send her in," the prime minister immediately ordered. She then turned to the officials in her room, "Gentlemen, another time please."

"With all due respect, ma'am," the general began to plead, before being abruptly cut off by Marianne.

"General, that's an order. Take it up with the Minister of Civil Defence. This is important."

Another minute, and the crisis team was out of the office, replaced by a short woman with greying blonde hair and a maroon pantsuit. Laëtitia De Villepin, Director of Clandestine Operations and head of Ainin's foreign intelligence service, the ominous-sounding Execution Bureau.

"Madam Prime Minister," she called out as she sat down opposite Marianne, taking a few files out of a briefcase. "I have come to talk about... our Nautasian problem."

"I am well aware, Laëtitia," Marianne replied. "Where did we leave off last time? Something about deploying a carrier battle group to the Gulf of Kraq?"

The director went quiet for a few seconds to consider how to best phrase her response. She knew that it would be the most monumental request that the BX would make of a sitting prime minister since Camp Phantom in 2005. "Circumstances have changed," she bluntly said in a dry, emotionless voice. "The Ankie towelheads are making faster progress than we expect and the Caliphate in Western Irvadistan is quickly faltering. By this time next year, Ankoren could very well consolidate their hold over all of Irvadistan and push into Kraq. We don't expect the Luziycans or Koy to stop them, which would allow them to establish a beachhead on the border of East Nautarya."

She paused to take a deep breath. It was time.

"Therefore, the Execution Bureau seeks executive permission to clandestinely supply the Irvadi Caliphate with anti-air and anti-tank weapons."

A deafening silence quickly seeped into the room as Marianne, taken aback by the sudden and unexpected request, went quiet with contemplation. With the power out, not even the hum of a computer or the whirring of the air conditioning perturbed the crushing silence. This was a high-risk, little-reward plan. If successful, no one would give her any credit for stopping the Ankoreni juggernaut. If unsuccessful, her government would collapse faster than the Mann presidency and she would likely be personally hauled before a military tribunal for treason. But, somewhere in her heart, she knew. There was no other choice. She would not go down in history as the prime minister who lost Nautasia to the towelheads.

"Do it."

A military airbase
El-Ghaba, East Nautarya

---

It was a scorching hot day like any other in the southern Nautaryan desert. Unlike Huimontians, however, the East Nautaryans were accustomed to the heat and built their runways out of sturdier concrete. On the tarmac were ten medium-sized turboprop cargo planes, filled to the brim with crate after crate of old MANPADS, anti-tank rockets and communications equipment. The equipment, largely consisting of mid-20th century Aininian weapons, was a rather common sight among the tinpot regimes and insurgent groups of Nautasia and made untraceable through accounting tricks and good old-fashioned serial number scratching. Plausible deniability, just like the Execution Bureau liked it.

Under the watchful eye of a dark-suited general of the East Nautaryan Security Service, one by one, the aircraft took off, first flying west over the vast Kraqi deserts to avoid detection by Koy or Luziycan radars. Piloted by seasoned drug smugglers with no knowledge of their employers, the planes began their long journey to the south. Their destination: Luqya, de facto capital of the Caliphate.

[Caithaven]

KNF News
March 2011
KNF Evening News, with Andras Stöken," The titles announced, before fading into the image of the familiar newscaster in the swish purple studio. "Good Evening," he began, with a shuffle of his papers.
"For the first time in almost four decades, the government may be forced to call an early election.
Tonight Premier Raukebak faces a confidence vote in the National Assembly which if he loses, he must either resign or go to the country. Our political editor, Kristina Bämann reports."

"For three years, the KMP-NLP coalition has governed in minority," the report began, over footage of the members of the government sitting in Question Time. "Many commentators believed it would be a matter of when, not if, the government would fall."

The pictures changed to ESs voting on their desk-panels. "The government has been supported by a number of independent ESs on crucial issues, who have stuck with the government on controversial issues such as the counter-recession attempts and the semi-privitisation of K-Post. But that could be set to change."

"I was prepared to support the government out of the national interest," one of the Independent ESs, claimed in an interview. "Most of my constituents said they didn't like what was going on, but accepted that the government needed to be stable for the good of the country. But what's happening now, with the proposed tax rises on small businesses whilst larger ones get a cut, and another slash to healthcare funding to the poor are just too far. These are against the manifestos of both parties and they don't have a mandate for this."

"The government shouldn't just stay in power for the sake of it," another ES said. "They've basically proven they've basically given up now, and I will not vote for it again."

"The KMP and NLP have a total of 61 seats, plus the support of 4 Independents, " Bäumann explained, over a graphic of the party compositions in the assembly. They will decide the outcome of the vote. If they vote against as expected, the government will be forced to resign. Premier Raukebak has dismissed the vote as an oppurtunistic attempt to force an election which- if polls are to be believed- would be a shoo-in for the SDP."

"I doubt that after the concessions we have given to the Independents, they will vote us out now," Finance Minister Mathias Svendhoff claimed from outside the Parliament buildings. "And if they do, we shall go to the polls and present our case to the people."

"Even if the government wins the vote, it has certainly shook up the political arena in Horgswick," the editor concluded, now appearing in vision against the Parliament buildings. And if they lose it, then we will have an election, which will be a whole new can of worms.
But as with the old saying, nothing is certain in politics. This is KNF news, in Horgswick."

[Luziyca]

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE NEW PISDARI LIBERATION FRONT
RESOLUTION #21

---

IN LIGHT of Baba Naram-Sin's deteriorating health since the eighteenth of September
CONCERNED that he will be unable to take the pressures and stresses of his role as General-Secretary of the New Pisdari Liberation Front
ACKNOWLEDGING his great importance to the New Pisdari Liberation Front, and to Pisdari society as a whole

THEREFORE, the Central Committee declares that:

1. Baba Naram-Sin shall be designated Eternal President of the New Pisdari Liberation Front, who shall serve as the permanent leader of the New Pisdari Liberation Front until the Yawm ad-Din
   
   • Until the death of the Eternal President, he shall have the duty to give advice to the Pisdari people, and to be consulted by the Central Committee for issues deemed of great importance to the country and to the party
   • The duty of the Eternal President, in both life and death shall be to inspire the Pisdari people and remind them of the struggles that the Pisdaris have made in order to achieve an independent nation
2. Acting General-Secretary Mashda Naram-Sin shall officially be designated General-Secretary of the New Pisdari Liberation Front, with all the responsibilities of the position, and shall handle all day-to-day operations of the party

DECLARES that the provisions of this resolution shall be implemented with immediate effect

[Luziyca]

European Union (OOC)
by Germany » Fri. Nov 11, 2016 11:41 pm

Motion concerning the Alsace-Lorraine question
EDU: 21 NAY
SD: 26 NAY
Liberals: 10 YEA, 2 NAY
Regionalists: 1 ABSTAIN
PENM: 4 YEA
Independent: 1 NAY, 1 YEA, 1 ABSTAIN

Total
50 NAY
15 YEA
2 ABSTAIN

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The Federal Republic of Germany: Factbook • Map • Süddeutsche Zeitung • Constitution

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Ideology: Some sort of socialist, I suppose • Economic Left/Right: -6.88, Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.28

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OOC links: Facebook • About me • European and Proud, join Europe today • YouTube • RPer/TGer

[Qianrong]

OoC: I couldn't resist.
European Twitter Feed [Europe Only]

by Lithuania » Sun Oct 02, 2016 9:23 pm

Dovydas Valantiejutas @dvalantiejutas @AngelaMerkelCDU: ok listen guys now that i've given the intro speech i'm kicking all the reporters out of the room RETWEETSFAVORITES 176165

Dovydas Valantiejutas @dvalantiejutas @AngelaMerkelCDU: this is so we can conduct negotiations without worrying about being crucified by the press RETWEETSFAVORITES 176165

Dovydas Valantiejutas @dvalantiejutas @AngelaMerkelCDU: essentially the goal is that nothing gets out of here but the solutions we agree on, so- RETWEETSFAVORITES 176165

Dovydas Valantiejutas @dvalantiejutas @AngelaMerkelCDU: excuse me mister johnson what are you doing RETWEETSFAVORITES 176165

Dovydas Valantiejutas @dvalantiejutas @BorisJohnson: oh don't mind me i'm just livetweeting the proceedings please continue RETWEETSFAVORITES 176165

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Alt of Ukraine - Come join Europe!
---"Don't kill, and don't be killed, alright? That's the best you can strive for."---
Hayato Nishimura is not my prime minister.

[Namor]

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF NAMOR
Namo, Capital District

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For immediate release
Statement by the President-General on the passing of His Majesty Juhani III, Monarch of Nevanmaa

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I SEND my condolences to the House of Kaarenmaa-Hennala and the people of Nevanmaa over the passing of His Royal Majesty Juhani III, the monarch of Nevanmaa, at the age of 72. Having ruled Nevanmaa for 39 years, the King became a symbol of Nevanmaa, stability and unity. Our ambassador to Nevanmaa, the Honorable Ko Haku, will attend the King's funeral.

May the King rest in peace and may his successor enjoy a harmonious reign.

###

[Tuthina]

From Peccavi (2-1)

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Deep beneath the bowels of the opulent Imperial Castle buried a network of caves, tunnels, bunkers and a myriad of other enclosures. In spite of its humble beginning as a simple tunnel that could be used to escort the owners of the castle to safety beyond a besieging army, it had since been greatly expanded into miles of interweaving concrete and steel, theoretically capable of subsisting its inhabitants for a long time even if the entire surface world was reduced to radioactive wasteland roamed by agony and death. In a sense, the old escape tunnel never lost its function—it remained as the escape for its population from duress, even if it would never lead them to the lights outside, but the unfathomable darkness beneath the world.

For the noblewoman, though, their singular purpose remained clear and obvious. As the continued advance in modern technology allowed a shorter and shorter time for withdrawing from the apocalypse, this reinforced cobweb provided discrete access to most, if not all rooms in the Imperial Castle. The deliberately complicated design, along with the lack of decipherable signs was intended to ward off uninvited guests, but for one of its most honoured inhabitants, the lady would not have any troubles finding her ways to a particular exit among the thousands of rooms and even more dead ends. The fact that she had been roaming across the pipe-decorated corridors for numerous times—both officially and otherwise—since she could barely walk, certainly contributed to her knowledge to form a complex mental map of the facility. However, her primary motivation was clearly to avoid being spotted, although not by anyone: If the witness was a lone guard, her authority and beauty would be able to quickly silence him, perhaps even in an enjoyable manner.

However, it would not work on him. The one she dreaded.

Shaking the voiding thoughts from her young mind, the heiress calmly rested her hand onto the frozen steel handle bolted onto a heavy door. Channelling a little bit of strength beneath her velvety skin, the mechanical guard gave way to her, and the steel-laden gate slowly slid open, bits of rusting snow-like powders falling from its heavy-duty hinges. The almost inaudible screeching sound from the poorly-maintained gateway nevertheless pierced her anxious heart, dotting her otherwise smooth skin with goose bumps.

The space behind the door was only illuminated with ambient light, but after wandering the darkness for a while, the surroundings were obvious to her. A small and fortunately uninhabited room, the impersonal concrete wall on which the utilitarian steel access was located was in sharp contrast to the hand-crafted straw mats covering the floor, as well as the paper doors forming the remaining walls, each decorated with stylised [url=Ink wash painting]ink wash style[/url] that probably symbolised some higher meanings. Among them, a faint light source shined through a painting of… oleander, probably. She was not terribly familiar with that particular style. However, she knew that particular sliding door was among the last things between her and her destination. With three more turns in a long corridor, she would be able to return to her quarters and pretend she had a sweet dream in her bed the whole night.

With a single gulp to calm herself—and a second one to disperse the scent of chestnut flower that previously escaped her notice—the noblewoman slipped her body through the half-opened door, quietly shutting it behind her. Sensation of the straw mats passed through her socks and gave her a familiar, silent welcome. Carefully tiptoeing between seemingly arbitrary spots of the floor, she managed to reach the oleander painting without making a single sound. Extending her lithe fingers from the long sleeves, the sensation of lacquered wood was followed by the door sliding open, revealing the wooden corridors connecting the rooms.

She was not sure how long had it been since she disappeared into the depths of the Imperial Castle she called home. Without any time-keeping devices in her vicinity, and the invisible, yet inescapable stiffness that seemed to fill the air of the entire complex, hours—even days—could pass unnoticed. However, with the only light source across the long and roundabout corridors being the faint, flickering lights from either old-fashioned oil lamps and carefully-concealed electric lights, as well as the utter lack of any footsteps, suggesting that she probably only spent half of the night from her slumber.

Carefully turning to ensure both sides of the hallway was empty, the noblewoman emerged from the small room. The blue tint filling the frozen air concealed her agile body well, as she quietly slips around corner after corner. Despite the seemingly cumbersome dress covering her sweating skin, her treads remained silent even after moving from the soft mats to the hard wooden plank floor, producing only a small cracking sound as the white socks stepped onto it.

With another turn, her compartment would be in sight. Once she returned to that familiar room, it would take mere minutes to undress herself, put on her sleeping gown, and slip into her soft mattress. No one else would know she had breached her schedule to engage in what most others would be considered inappropriate, to say the very least. With the thought of once again sustaining herself from the almost unbearable daily life she had with such actions, a smile emerged from her face as she made the final turn.

However, as soon as her vision caught up to her mind, the smile immediately dissipated.

A figure was standing straight before the paper doors enclosing her room, facing towards her as she left the cover of darkness. Even with her sight already adjusted for darkness, most of its details remained an opaque silhouette. In her mind, though, she knew every single detail of the figure better than anything else, as her feelings gushed from her stomach into her mind, discharging all her momentum without any hesitation.

Although his shadow always loomed over her, his physique had long past its prime: time and history had left their marks on the experienced body of the man, slightly reducing his height and stealing away its physical strength, leaving a husk that only served to hint at what he once was. That said, mere senility could not take away the soul inhabiting the ageing body, as the spirit behind his slightly clouded eyes remained sharp. Sharp enough that he had already noted her presence. Without speaking a single word or making a gesture, a message was sent into the deepest part of her mind, telling her what she had to do.

She had no choice. She unlocked her shaking legs and walked towards him, trying herself to maintain a suitable posture. Even though they now shared a similar height, she could not help but lower her head, not unlike a puppy walking towards its owner after making some sort of mistake. Since she could remember, this scene had played out more times than she would like to remember. Walking under his shadow, berated by the faceless presence for not living up to his strict standard, and not being able to enjoy the leisure that even her lowliest servant took for granted. As the memory clouded her view slightly, she stopped a few feet before the figure, standing still with her head down, waiting for the inevitable.

"Anteko." The voice broke the silence, and sent a chill down her spine, forcing it straight. It was a hoarse, deep voice, one that perfectly convey the inner strength of the speaker despite shortcomings of the body. It was a voice that few dared to oppose.


"Yes." The young, female voice responding, on the other hand, clearly showed the defeat and submission that had already encircled her body and soul. From experience, she knew that it would be better if she just agreed with the voice and did what she should.

"Your return to your bedchamber is later than when you should have." The man, speaking in the baroque and elaborated literary language of the realm, nevertheless address the obvious issue as directly as the tongue allowed. Even though it was to be expected all along, every inch of Anteko's muscle still contracts instinctively, preparing her body for what she had learnt to expect to come.

"Yes, grandfather. I am sorry." She tried her best to maintain a clear voice, even if her throat seemed to conspire against her will.

"However, since you are still awake, maybe you would be able to spare a minute with this old man?" The elder continued, in his usual monotone. That was the voice Anteko knew of him when they were in private. He always spoke without any emotions tainting his inflections, with the few exceptions of anger—perhaps not undeserved ones—being unleashed onto her. The mere recalls of these rare moments were more than enough to drain most of her strength towards her torso, tightening it while melting her legs. If her mind was any less prepared, she would probably have fell onto her knees already.

"I, I am very sorry. I shall return to my quarters now—" Her lips rapidly spitted the predetermined words out. To her, all these words sounded empty and meaningless—maybe it was because they were spoken in a dead language, or maybe because she knew full well that such meaningless collection of sounds were leaked out simply to avoid receiving any more punishment. Either way, her body had learnt full well that as long as those words were spoken, and the required actions be done, she would be fine.

In every other time, the conversation—or rather, preaching—would be ended now, with the old man walking away while she stretched her stressed body inside her confinement. However, the gravelly voice muttered a word that she had never expected, especially from him. The rest of his sentence was blurred by the butterfly tumbling within her torso, but the final word broke through her networks of thoughts and ceased all her actions immediately.

"—please."

"…I…" She knew not how to react. She never remember her grandfather saying anything like that before. Her lips separated from each other, and a few dissected morphemes managed to leak from her empty mind. However, she could not form any coherent sentence, for she could not formulate any meaningful response to such an alien occurrence.

"If you do not wish so, then so be it." Before the elder concluded, she might have heard a brief, almost inaudible sound from the shadowy figure. A sign. She could not confirm it, for her mind was still in a state of confusion even as he spoke once more. As the final word from the crude voice dissipated into the midnight blue, his body started to turn around, firmly but slowly.

"…no." Her chirping word, though, managed to halt his leave. He did not turn around to face her, but the pulled step and the straight stand was enough an indication that she had his attention once more.

"It is… fine." She muttered her compliance, even if she rational part of the soul warned against it. She had been with him long enough, that she knew the old man never inquire rhetorically. If she had maintained silence, the elder would leave her be without any consequences.

However, her emotional part of the soul urged her otherwise, that she would regret her inaction. She did not know why, although perhaps the emotional side of her never really require a reasoning.

The elder did not responded to her answer verbally. Though, she knew that if she could face him directly, she would most likely observe some affirmative gesture. Then, the figure continued his walk once more, in a slower pace than she remembered. Perhaps it was to allow her to follow him? Regardless, she followed suit, as the loose, elegant robes dragged behind her body across the dark corridors.

The silence—becoming even more awkward than before—soon caressed her anxiety, as her heartbeat became quicker and quicker, trying to prepare her for danger. The body—an organic machined designed to fend off predators in time immemorial—prepared her for an upcoming confrontation that the refined mind dismissed, even if it was powerless to suppress the rising urges to do something—anything—to ease the tension.

"May I ask…" Her dried throat decided to break the silence, voicing the confusion inside her mind, as well as the frustration inside her body. "… do you know it all along?"

"A monarch is like the patriarch—or matriarch—of a household." The man responded, in his usual preaching tone, his footstep not slowing down in the process. "You should remember what it entails."

"Yes. A monarch must know the realm as good as the elder to the household." Anteko almost instinctively completed his sentence. Like myriads of philosophy and concepts, this line had been burrowed into her cortex since she was a young child, memorising it on a fundamental level, one that shaped her mind accordingly. That—as her other teachers would say—was how the minds of true leaders were forged.

"What you did not apprehend from it is, the reverse is also true." To most ears, the voice of the elder would sound as monotone and distant as always. However, the trace demonstration of emotions could be picked up by Anteko. The intrinsic complexity of human emotion—especially one of the upper echelon of the antique Empire—could not be easily summarised using simple words, but perhaps the closest word she knew would be: pride.

It took a while for the true implication of his words to penetrate the tumbling thoughts inside the noblewoman's mind and fully submerge itself into her higher functions. The ramification of that statement, though, quickly spread across her drenched body, before finally reaching her stomach, where its content began to vortex from the rather uncomfortable truth. Similarly, the boiling blood flowing within her veins also disrupted its routine and drain themselves towards her brain and head, weakening her legs while turning her smooth, pale skin into a strange tint of cherry colour.

All these were suddenly forced into a grinding halt, however, as the elder stopped before one of the numerous seemingly identical sliding doors. Like every other doors in the entire complex of thousands of rooms, it was made of wood of the highest quality, possibly something carefully selected from faraway countries, before being transported across the vast ocean and crafted by masterful hands. However, the stylised floral illustration decorating the majority of its surface was similarly unique, although it was still not something Anteko could decipher yet—at least, not in her current status.

The shrivelled hand reached for the handle as the old man turned towards the doorway. The well-polished frame silently slid across the fine wood notch, revealing the dimmed room behind the enigmatic decorations. At the dead of the long, winter night, when even the plants were asleep, illuminations were kept at bare necessity, only enough for individuals like her to navigate the seemingly endless labyrinth. The darkness obfuscated the majority of whatever within the room that the elder quietly entered, but judging from the wooden interior wall, it could be one of those reading rooms or storages that littered the corridors.

Moments after the patriarch disappeared from Anteko's dilated eyes, the faint glow leaking into the hallway gradually became brightened. Unlike the flickering flames she remembered in her youth, the smooth transition suggested that it was the product of electricity instead of lamp oil, carrying the implication of the room being something used in at least semi-regular interval. Perhaps it was one of the personal rooms of her grandfather? Not that it would offer anything more than small comforts in her racing heart. However, with the invitation offered without a word, the lady had no choice but to comply as she pulled herself into it, the hand lingering on the frame subconsciously shutting the compartment from the outside world.

By the time her mind returned to the room, it was already fully-lit, focusing her eyes to the illuminated objects surrounding her. It was not a very big room, with an area filled by less than a dozen straw mats, many of which being further covered by shelves and crates storing assorted decorations and objects. Despite never seeing any of them, knowledge engraved into her mind immediately leaped into her vision, informing her that it was one of the many rooms storing collections of the Imperial family was deemed not invaluable enough to be kept in secured locations, but valuable enough to not be distributed outside easily.

In the middle of the room, the elder had already taken his seat on top of a cushion. Before him, an empty cushion signified where the presence of the heiress was required. As the sharp eyes flanked by wrinkles turned upwards towards her, her body straightened itself instantly, before her mind guided it to take a proper seat on the mat, her body resting on the tired legs as instructed by her ancestors.

It was said that the oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. While she was taught that the Empire had long been utilising such nature of human mind to its advantage, it was probably the first time she experienced first-hand: she had no idea what to expect. Even in her arduous childhood, she had learnt quickly that she could safely assure at least what kind of unpleasant experience would be offered to her mind and body alike. However, the quiet old man—her educator, her patriarch, her grandfather, the divine monarch of the Empire—did not appear to show any of his intention of this impromptu meeting. The dread of the cane or wooden sword was nothing compared with the raging storm occurring deep within her bowel and her head.

"I gathered—" Like anchor to a ship, his voice yanked Anteko and her consciousness back to this confined room. Even though he no longer possessed the audible voice she once remembered, the firm and authoritative nature of it was more than enough to cause a shiver in her body and mind. If she had the resolve of herself a few years ago, she might even let out a quiet, squirmed voice from her lips. It, however, only resulted in a brief pause in his words as they broke the deafening silence. "—that you have acquired a courtesy name. Is it so?"

"Yes, grandfather." The lady nodded as she responded without any unnecessary stall. "As the proper age is approaching for me, my teacher in the Classics suggested it would only be proper for me to adopt a courtesy name."

"That would indeed be most proper." The old man answered, although curiously to her, it was the first time she ever see her grandfather having a noticeable pause before a response. It was as if his otherwise sharpened mind had to take a moment to contemplate some fragments of information before proceeding. "I believe the relevant scholars of the Imperial College have conjured a suitable courtesy name for your use?"

"As a matter of fact…" Anteko hesitated. While tradition stated that courtesy name should be granted personally as a reflection of view and expectation towards oneself, being a member of the divine lineage that had reigned for millennia mean every single action—no matter how trivial—should be carefully considered and refined by the brightest minds of the Empire. After all, what is a monarchy without its realm? As such, a brief stutter was forced between her words as her mind calculated and weighted whether her answer should be truthful or proper.

Even though her rational half suggested it would be better if she followed the proper answer as instructed, by the time the silence had ended its lease, her emotional half dictated otherwise. "… no, grandfather." What followed was the return of the suffocating silence. Her body, already expecting the worst to be thrown at it, tightened as her heart beat heavily. It was an ill-advised move, but for some reason, she simply could not help but feel it was the right choice.

However, just like what she had endured before, what she received was not the scolding and punishment to which her body and mind had accustomed. "You have my ears." The elder authorised the remaining words stuck within her throat against all that she had learnt in her life. With such obvious cue, Anteko had no other choice but to continue speaking the truth, as rare as it would be for someone in position of power like her.

"Yes, grandfather. Mister Wagner G– my teacher, that is, recommended me to grant myself a courtesy name instead of seeking suggestions from his colleagues in the Imperial College." She answered, navigating memories through the tumbling worry and confusion inside her skull. "He reasoned that 'it would be unlikely for even the well-learnt ones of the College to know how I see myself better than I do'."

"As expected from Mister Georg." Anteko nodded in agreement. Despite hailing from a faraway country with minimal interaction, her teacher in the Classics was quite famous for his mastery of the intricate, if not indecipherable culture of the Empire, arguably even better than most within the monarchy, a gift that promoted him to, among others, educator of the future monarch of the country. That said, the foreign-born nonetheless retained some of the alien culture from aboard that often interacted with the local tradition in rather interesting ways. In some ways, that might be more important than his knowledge for being chosen to educate a member of the Imperial family. "What is your thought towards his reasoning?"

"I… how would you advise?"

"I failed to see the relevance between them." With that retort, the lady swallowed her unease. With a deep breath, she forced her sincere thought from the oppressed emotions within her.

"I… fail to find any argument against it."

"In such case, you will have to hone your skills in rhetoric."

"Even if I… agree to it?"

"Especially if you agree to it." The lady quietly lowered her head in agreement. However, it rose against as the elder continued from this brief comment. "Would you mind sharing the courtesy name you have granted yourself?"

"Most certainly. It is… Rinka." After pausing and uttering the courtesy name she chose for herself, the heiress could not help but lower her head again, this time caused by another myriad of emotions led by embarrassment. Even though it was not without precedents, and her teacher considered it to be quite appropriate, seeing herself as a "dignified blossom" nonetheless conveyed a sense of grandiose a bit too much to bear, even for the heir to the Imperial throne. The thought of introducing herself to her grandfather or individuals of similar age with such a name almost made her shiver.

"It is a fitting name." Anteko almost yanked her head upward as the elder responded in a way she could not expect, even after considering how different he acted tonight. Staring into his eyes, the heiress was sceptical about that statement despite failing to find any evidence to the contrary.

"Thank, thank you… grandfather." It was always pleasurable to receive recognition, especially from someone whose approval was rare and far in between. With the burden in her heart slightly eased, she straightened her body once again, reflecting her emotion with a faint smile.

"With that, should I—" Despite the rare praise, being alone with her grandfather inside a room was never a comfortable experience for the noblewoman, for as long as she could remember, such scenario was always accompanied with strict, sometimes tedious training and education. Retracting the slip of tongue, she rephrased her words with a more certain tone as she prepared to lift her body. "—I should return to my bedchamber if you would excuse me, for my schedule in the morning was occupied by Mister Wagner."

"He could wait, if you would like to spare one more moment with this old man." The elder, though, slightly raised his shrivelled hand as he asked. Instinctively, Anteko rested her weight back onto her ankle, and her mind focusing back onto him as he reached for one of the containers inside the room. Crafted with the finest red wood and lacquered with fitting skills, the engraved box bore a distinctive style that she immediately recognised as a traditional container for swords of the realm.

One that is intended to be a gift.

With care, the metallic hinges were opened, unmasking the content within the box. A pair of swords, a long one and a short one in accord to tradition, rested tidily in the middle of the silk interior embracing them. Both blades were protected by wooden sheath of top quality as expected, but further lacquered and decorated with a multitude of material, ranging from common precious metal to rare nacre, all complementing each other in the form of stylised fauna and flora no doubt arranged by the careful hands of diligent artists. Although not resembling honorary swords the Empire used to award exceptional individuals, it was clear that the swords before Anteko far exceed any of those in value—monetary or otherwise.

"Are they…?" The lady gulped as her fragment of question was answered with a slight nod.

"I intended them as a gift for your rite of passage. I hope the unintended delay would not be an inconvenience, An… Rinka." Despite the etiquette being drilled into her mind, Anteko could not help but have the unexpected gift before her to occupy her eyes and brain. Perhaps seeing her emotion behind those eyes, the elder quietly nodded once more. "Would you like to examine the blades?"

"Yes—Of course." With the approval to draw blades before the host, Anteko reached for the longer sabre and picked it up. A decade of laborious practice with swords both wooden and metallic, the weight immediately confirmed the authenticity of the blade on her hands. As it hovered before her chest, the lady gulped once more as her fingers enveloped the scabbard and hilt respectively. With a single tap from her thumb, the weapon was quietly unsheathed under the light.

Fitting for its well-decorated scabbard, the blade itself was clearly a labour of love and pride forged by a skilful master, with a distinctive curve and layered metal that characterised the ancient weapon of this realm. Unlike its protector, though, the blade itself was devoid of any engraving or decoration that would otherwise weaken its structure—not that any would be needed for a work of art in itself. That, combined with the visibly sharp edge, suggested that it was as much a proper weapon as it was a ceremonial accessory: with only a brief practice for adjustment, Anteko would be quite confident in decapitating any human being with one swift strike if she wished so.

"It is… beautiful." Am I worthy of such gift? She could see her own doubt reflecting from the smooth blade. After all, she never saw herself meeting the towering expectation imposed upon her shoulders by both her grandfather and the Empire he once represented. The very reason that she could encounter him this night would probably be yet another embarrassment for him as well. Even though the reflection was engulfed by the locket, the fear nonetheless remained in her mind, obstructing her thought.

"Rinka." The plain monotone of the elder, however, acted as an anchor to her mind, firmly grounding her mind and pulling her head upwards towards him.

"Yes, grandfather?"

"Although neither was engraved with their name, I nevertheless took the liberty of bestowing them with names." He explained. "You may ingrain their names on the blade if you wish so."

"What would their name be?" She asked, masking her confusion beneath the inquiry. Her speculation about the intention of this seemingly random topic, though, was soon shattered with each syllable he voiced.

"Pithu and Ryongmun." For those with only passing knowledge of the long-dead language of the Empire, the names bore only the strange meaning of "flying rabbit" and "dragon inscription" respectively. However, a sufficiently detailed dictionary would note both terms as the names for famous steeds buried by millennia of Imperial history. For someone like Anteko and her grandfather, who spent a considerable time refining their knowledge and nuance of the Imperial culture, though, an ever deeper meaning of these terms would be recovered.

Pithuryongmun was an idiom reserved for extremely talented children who fulfilled and exceeded all expectations of their family. In the Imperial culture, such was the greatest praise one can receive from their parents.

Her stoic façade could no longer hold. With her fingers clutching around the named blade and her teeth sinking into her lips, her body shivering as her turbulent emotions began flooding her entire body. She could feel her throat being choked by all the words she could never say, and her eyes submerged with memories forming and fading like a revolving door or a trotting horse lamp.

"A true warrior cry not," Within the chaos, though, the elder's word once again shined through the storm of her mind, calming her while the emotions recede to the darkness deep beneath the waves of her consciousness. With a final swallow for words that were mere redundancy and irrelevance, she opened her reddened lips.

"… for blood alone flow in their tear's stead." Purging her mind of the deluge of emotions and thoughts, she completed one of the many axioms that she had learnt from her grandfather.

"Indeed. You shall never forget that you are always gloomed to be the heir to the Imperial throne." The old man offered her a slight nod, before slowly raising from his seat. His weakening body took a brief moment to adjust to his upright position, before moving himself towards the doorway behind Anteko.

"The people need a strong monarch to lead them. They look up to you." With a final remark, the sliding door closed once more, leaving Anteko and the newfound ramification inside her trembling body.

[Namor]

Central Council Legislative Cadre on Foreign Affairs
Q+A session with the Honorable PAO VENZONG, Foreign Minister
December 11, NMR 2380

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CHAIR: Deputy Chia Bovang, you have ten minutes. Please initiate the discussion.

CHIA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And let me also thank Foreign Minister Pao for appearing in the Central Council Hall to answer our questions. Minister Pao, all my questions concern our country's participation in the Seventh Coupe D'Esquarium.

Mr. Chairman, if you would be kind enough to load my first picture.

(a picture of the Kenyen Fighters from the fifth Coupe)

Minister, do you recognize this picture?

PAO: A football team.

CHIA: Well, Minister, clearly you don't follow sports that much. That's okay, I don't either. (laughing from other deputies in the background) But according to my research, this is the Kenyen Fighters, from Nantai. It's the team that represented the Christian Republic of Luziyca in the fifth Coupe D'Esquarium in Lyonsland -

PAO: Deputy, our stance on occupied Nantai is very clear. We are strongly opposed to occupied Nantai's participation in any international event, athletic or otherwise, in a matter that infringes upon our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

CHIA: Of course, that's the consensus. I'm not questioning that, Minister, definitely not. The reason why I brought up this image is to remind you, and everyone else in the government, of what the Luziycan regime is capable of doing in the field of sport. I'm not talking about the fifth Coupe, but past Coupes in general. The Luziycan regime has tried at every opportunity to snub at our indisputable sovereignty in the Coupe D'Esquarium. They've done so by deliberately selecting players from Nantai to play in the Luziycan national team. Then at some point, the Luziycan team plays our team and their coaches get the Nantainese players to provoke a melee with us. Minister, I wish our team the best in their endeavors as they play in the upcoming Coupe, but now that they're playing in enemy territory, do you think that there's the possibility of the Luziycan regime provoking us again on the Nantai question, especially as it is now led by a President who is hostile to our country? That's my first question.

PAO: (finishes taking notes) Deputy, I assure you and the rest of the Central Council that the People's Republic of Namor is firmly opposed to any attempt to politicize sport. We do not believe in athletes, regardless of their background or nationality, becoming actors in a geopolitical contest. We trust the Esquarian Football Association and relevant organizations to maintain a friendly atmosphere in the next several weeks.

As you mentioned, the Luziycan regime has, in multiple occasions, tried to assert their so-called 'sovereignty' over occupied Nantai in events like these. This goes against the October Consensus, which states that Nantai is Namorese territory. But Deputy, let me remind you that during this Coupe, there are no venues located within occupied Nantai. All venues are located within Luziycan territory. Our government does not hold illusions, however, and we will look out for any unnecessary provocation by the other side in the coming days.

CHIA: Minister, my constituents fear that if our players head to Luziyca, they will be abducted by the Central Intelligence Agency. Sera Svensson might use the abducted football players as leverage to force us into accepting their stance on anything. Do you think that's possible, and if so, how do you plan on dealing with this?

(some laughing in the background, Pao pauses before continuing)

PAO: Deputy...I think that's unlikely.

CHIA: How so? The Luziycans have a history of abducting people. Have you ever heard of the numerous black sites operated by the CIA? Have you ever heard of the thousands of black sites they have over in Aucuria? Who is to gainsay?

PAO: Well, if that happens, I'm sure there will be enough pressure, not just from us but from the international community at large, to pressure the Luziycan regime to release the folks. Governments should not be abducting people. But in any case, I don't think the possibility of abduction is considerable enough for it to be discussed here.

CHIA: How will the government deal with the possibility of the Luziycan regime using the Coupe D'Esquarium to promote their stance on occupied Nantai?

PAO: Like I said, Deputy, the People's Republic of Namor is firmly opposed to any attempt to politicize sport. In addition to that, the President-General insists upon a mutually beneficial relationship with the other side. We expect the other side to uphold the October Consensus all the time, not just in sporting events. Any attempt to politicize the Coupe by the host will be met with retaliation from our side, including but not limited to the recall of our diplomatic personnel from Bethlehem. But we trust the EFA, as well as the hosts, in maintaining a friendly atmosphere throughout the Coupe. We do not expect any provocations to happen, although we will be prepared if they do happen.

[FreYhill]

“Order! Order! The House of Representatives shall come to order! The Rt. Honourable Prime Minister Namgung Yunso has the floor.”

“Madam Speaker, I bring forward the following motion against the speaker of this house.”

THAT the Speaker of the Toksanese House of Representatives has failed his position within the Government to maintain order within the lower house of the Diet of Toksan;

THAT the Commonwealth Government is unpleased with the lack of showing of the Speaker during Question Time and debate on legislation;

AND THAT the House of Representatives under the advice of the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister Namgung Yunso annuls the position of Speaker of the Toksanese House of Representatives.

“Madam Speaker, I move that there is a period of five minutes of debate on this motion”

“The Speaker has noted the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister’s motion for debate on this motion. I assign a period of five seconds of vocal voting.

“AYE;NAY”

“The Speaker has come to the consensus that the AYE’s have won the vote.”

“Madam Speaker, that is false”

“Well Then. In Accordance with the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, we shall have a division on the motion. AYE’s shall be of the right of the chair and NAY’s to the left. Five minutes has been assigned for Representatives to arrive; Ring the Bells.”

“The Five Minute period has elapsed; Lock the Doors!”

“I assign the Chief Government Whip for the AYE’s and the Chief Opposition Whip for the NAY’s.”

Motion on Debate:
AYE- 99
NAY- 51

“The Question on Debate proposed by the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister has passed 99 to 51. I give the floor to the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister to start debating on the Chair of the Toksanese House of Representatives.”


“Madam Speaker, the Commonwealth Government is displeased with your administration of the chair, and pleads with the House to annul for position within the Government immediately. Madam Speaker, you have failed to turn up for the last ten Question Time’s and most voting sessions during your incumbency and this Government believes that the Commonwealth Government must be efficient - not lackluster. You're the broken link Madam Speaker, and we will fight for your removal.”

Moments later, the Coalition Government rose to a “Hear Hear” in support of their leader.

“Madam Speaker, unlike those opposite to us, the Most Serene Opposition of the Toksanese Commonwealth support your efforts during your incumbency and will vote against every form of politicking from the Prime Minister and her Government.”

“Well Madam Speaker, look what we have here! The Honourable Opposition Leader is misleading the House once again. Madam Speaker, I submit the following documents from Hansard to be imputed again to ease research for the Most Serene Opposition and the Toksanese People.”

“Documents Declined.”

“Madam Speaker, I move to put the motion of the Commonwealth Government to a vote.”

“The Speaker has noted the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister’s motion for voting on this motion. I assign a period of five seconds of vocal voting.”

“AYE”

“The Speaker has come to the consensus that the AYE’s have won the vote. In Accordance with the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, we shall have a division on the motion. AYE’s shall be of the right of the chair and NAY’s to the left. Five minutes has been assigned for Representatives to arrive; Ring the Bells.”
“The Five Minute period has elapsed; Lock the Doors!”

“Representatives, we shall vote on the Commonwealth Government’s motion regarding the future of the Speakership of the House. Those wishing that the incumbent speaker is removed shall be of the right of the chair and those wanting the status quo shall be to the left. I assign the same clarks from the last division to monitor and return the results to the chair.”

Motion on Future of the Chair:
AYE- 100
NAY- 50

“The Question on the Chair proposed by the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister has passed 100 to 50. I shall leave the chair to the Chief Justice of the Toksanese Commonwealth.”

An Hour Later, Chief Justice Chung Eun Bi arrived from the High Court of the Toksanese Commonwealth to avoid a Constitutional Crisis caused by the legislature.

“Order! As the head of the Judicial Branch of the Commonwealth Government, I order that the House of Representatives comes to division to decide on the next Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ring the bells for five minutes.”

“The Five Minute period has elapsed; Lock the Doors!”

“Representatives, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Toksanese House of Representatives, the House must elect a new Speaker once the chair becomes vacant within 24 Hours to avoid a dissolution of the House. I give the floor to the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister Namgung Yunso.”

“Madam Chief Justice, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government I move that the Member for Sinuihung (Son Sang Hoon) becomes the next speaker of the house. The Member for Sinuihung has been an excellent member of the Coalition Government since the Pu Sang Era of Governance and has acted as Second Speaker during the outgoing speaker’s absence. The Member for Sinuihung has been an excellent speaker during his acting time in the chair and it is the position of this government to put him in that chair for the remainder of the Government’s term in office.”

“Does the Member for Sinuihung accept his nomination for Speaker?”

“Yes Madam Chief Justice”

“Does another Representative endorse the nomination of the Member for Sinuihung?”

“I Endorse the Member for Sinuihung Madam Chief Justice” (Mats Lundgren; Member for Saricheok)

“It is the opinion of the Chair that the Member for Sinuihung has hit the endorsements required to become Speaker of the House. Are there any more nominations for the Chair?”

“It is the opinion of the Chair that there is a lone candidate for Speaker, and that the Member for Sinuihung is acclaimed Speaker of the House. Those in agreeance shall be on the right of the chair and those opposed shall be to the left. The Chief Government & Opposition whips shall be utilised as Clerks for the Acclamation vote.”

Acclamation of the Member for Sinuihung:
AYE- 88
NAY- 62

“The Acclamation of the Member for Sinuihung for Speaker proposed by the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister has passed 88 to 62. Congratulations to the new Speaker and I shall vacate the Chair for his occupance.”

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