The Skalian Crisis [IC|OPEN]

[National Socialist Korea]

Familiarize yourself: I am more focused on plot points, so military intervention with gigantic forces, orders of battle, complicated logistics and armament superiority is NOT recommended.

You might want to familiarize with the setting of the plot, which is the top link in my sig.

In a way, Gigaverse is the Co-OP of this RP.

OOC: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=297852

May 8th, 2014

Roamuro Pyotreau sat at his desk, feathered pen in hand, staring at a blank piece of paper. He knew that Skalian citizens were angry with him, but he needed a way to calm them down. His 9-year-old daughter, Hana, ran into the room.

"Hi Papa!", she said, hugging her father.

"Shh... Hana, go play outside. Daddy is busy." Roamuro replied.

Hana nodded, running out of the room to her brothers and sisters. Roamuro sighed and pushed his chair back and began to pace along the perimeter of the room. He needed to know what issue to address in his speech. Healthcare? Education? He couldn't think of anything that really needed to change in Skalia. He rubbed his head, very much disturbed by the fact that he couldn't think much.

[National Socialist Korea]

Bayimo Nairatilatot Colveskby, followed by many of his supporters, marched to the town square, just a few miles from the dictator's palace. He stood in full view of his supporters and cleared his throat:

Fellow Skalians, we are a very proud lot are we not? Our nation has endured many years of glorious history, winning countless amounts of battles and trampling our enemies beneath our shoes. Skalia also has a rich culture, with fine cuisine and architecture. However, our "leader" Roamuro Kretoaterik Pyotreau has failed to acknowledge the fact of how proud Skalian citizens are. More than half of Skalia is living in poverty right now! I've personally seen people keel over from starvation on the side of the street! What has Pyotreau done to resolve these issues? Has he lowered taxes? Yes he has... for the rich! There are people in Skalia right now that have rooms full of bread, and throw it out when it gets the least bit stale. What about us? WHAT ABOUT US? I SAY, we march right on up to the Palace of our DICTATOR and demand to lower taxes or lower prices for food! OR ELSE.

Colveskby screamed and hurled his fist toward the direction of the palace. Men, women, and children listening to the speech ran to join the growing crowd on the march.

[National Socialist Korea]

Roamuro Pyotreau continued to pace nervously around the room, when his secretary burst in the room, gave a quick bow, and said,

"Sir, there have been reports from various sources that a mob of people are marching down the streets of Skalium and are headed toward your palace this very instant!"

Pyotreau sighed, and faced the window. He hung his head low, before saying:

"I have failed, haven't I?"

"Sir?"

General Semijohn Gronkob turned to Pyotreau, angrily, and said:

"Listen, we can't have this go on. Send the guards of the palace and perhaps a few other infantry units to gun down the crowd. If we can't win by charisma, we'll have to win by fear."

Pyotreau seemed to hesitate. Gronkob then dismissed Pyotreau's secretary. Pyotreau's secretary bowed quickly once again and ran out of the room. Roamuro Pyotreau sighed and looked out the window to view his glorious capital city. "Skalium..." he said, "How I will miss your beauty..."

[National Socialist Korea]

Bayimo Colveskby and his followers reached the steps of Roamuro Pyotreau's palace, where guards dressed in Maroon and Gold stood on top of the stairs, looking down at them.

"We wish to speak to Roamuro Pyotreau!", Colveskby said.

From inside, a three words were shouted that made the whole crowd flinch.

"Ready, aim... FIRE!"

The guards pointed their rifles at them and a series of deafening gunshots were heard. People of all ages fell down to the ground all around Colveskby and he had just enough time to yell "Stop!" before a sharp pain was felt in his right shoulder. He fell to the gravel path, and breathed heavily. Around him, bodies of men, women, and children lay in a pool of blood. The last image he heard before blacking out was a little girl, about four, tug on a dead woman's hair, crying.

[Vissegaard]

From: Ministry of Ordination, Vissegaard
To: Roamuro Pyotreau, Skalia
Well done, sire. A great shooting it was.
Have a nice day.
Zdar!

[Valaran]

From the balcony of the new Valaran embassy, ambassador David Eskgaard saw the crowd dissolve in panic as more shots rang out. He sighed deeply and continued to stare as the unrest continued to escalate.

It was an inauspicious start to his new diplomatic role, he thought

"Sir?"

He turned to find his secretary Nicholas staring at him.

"Yes?"

"sir I've arranged for most the staff to go home for the day The rioting is getting out of hand."

"That's good thinking of you. But, to be honest, we should probably start to close the embassy completely."

"Sir? The riots may stop."

"No. They'res no chance for that now. The situation is deteriorating too fast. The place is a tinderbox which will soon be sparked off. Even if it doesn't, from my limited understanding of the situation and the region, we would do better business with the Federal Democratic Republic of Korista anyway. They're far more open to trade. Send a message back home explaining that."

"Of course, sir."

Eskgaard turned back to look form the balcony, as flames began to engulf the city.


(I'm quite new to NS and RPs generally, so I might make a few mistakes )

[Valaran]

Dear government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Korista,

As the situation in the People's Republic of Skalia were only worsen, adding the instability of adjacent nations. Therefore, our government has decided to redirect our aid to the Federal Democratic Republic of Korista, and instead encourage your nation to become the dominant power of the region. Your political situation and greater economic openness are more favorable to our own, encourage us to believe that we will be well rewarded for doing so. While we will not offer direct military aid at the moment, we will have troops on standby should the opportunity arise. I hope you will agree to these proposals.


Your sincerely,

Amabssador David Eskgaard & foreign secretary Erik Nygaard of the Valaran Empire

[National Socialist Korea]

May 9th, 2014

Secretary of State Jon Perry kept track of the situation in Skalia through agents of the Koristan CIA. He found it to be an opportunity that he was to take right away - however, he digressed. Korista must wait for an even better opportunity: a civil war.

He then chose to take the time and respond to representatives of the Valaran Empire:

To: Ambassador David Eskgaard & foreign secretary Erik Nygaard of the Valaran Empire
Cc: N/A
From: Secretary of State Jon Perry, Federal Democratic Republic of Korista
ENCRYPTION: EXTREMELY HIGH

The Federal Democratic Republic of Korista shares your point of view in this matter. We wish for multilateral, mutual peace within the whole of Lesrenadia, and thus the situation in Skalia is unacceptable. For now, Korista will not lay a hand on internal affairs of the People's Republic of Skalia, but when the call comes to us, we will dispatch peacekeepers to stabilize Skalia.

Signed,
Jon Perry
Secretary of State Jon Perry, Federal Democratic Republic of Korista

[Valaran]

To: Ambassador David Eskgaard & foreign secretary Erik Nygaard of the Valaran Empire
Cc: N/A
From: Secretary of State Jon Perry, Federal Democratic Republic of Korista
ENCRYPTION: EXTREMELY HIGH

The Federal Democratic Republic of Korista shares your point of view in this matter. We wish for multilateral, mutual peace within the whole of Lesrenadia, and thus the situation in Skalia is unacceptable. For now, Korista will not lay a hand on internal affairs of the People's Republic of Skalia, but when the call comes to us, we will dispatch peacekeepers to stabilize Skalia.

Signed,
Jon Perry
Secretary of State Jon Perry, Federal Democratic Republic of Korista

To: Secretary of State Jon Perry, Federal Democratic Republic of Korista
Cc: N/A
From: Ambassador David Eskgaard & foreign secretary Erik Nygaard of the Valaran Empire
ENCRYPTION: EXTREMELY HIGH

Although we are troubled by the situation in Skalia, it is relatively hard for either of us to intervene directly at short notice; you have a relatively small land border with them and we have none at all. Furthermore, the Valaran empire is currently small, though it is also relatively rich and growing steadily. Thus we agree with your suggestion to wait until we see how the situation plays out; in the meantime we could also turn our attention to other persistent problems of the region. Perhaps we should intervene in the Grouse-Bostanian war, or generously 'help' the Federal Republic of Grestinia. We will send Ambassador David Eskgaard to become our liaison to you in these matters.

Signed,
foreign secretary Erik Nygaard of the Valaran Empire

[Valaran]

"Gentlemen, your mission will be to infiltrate the Republic of Grouse, ostensibly as foreign mercenaries. However, your real objective to be in position to destabilize their military position should the need arise. A secondary target would be the assassination of the tyrant of Grouse.When the time is right, we will tip the war in favor of Bostania and reform Grouse into a democratic and open nation.Do this for democracy, freedom, and the Valaran empire!"
The officers of the Valaran special forces saluted, were handed documents detailing the mission specifics, before returning to their barracks to brief on their men on

"Are you sure this will be enough secretary? Our military is not so strong to merely conquer another nation without incurring heavy losses" asked general Fyodor.

"You are right general. However, this is only part of the plan. We shall soon have help from our allies int eh region. They will provide the manpower, which, combined with your soldiers' training and tech, will ensure a swift victory." responded Nygaard.

"Now I must be leaving, there are certain diplomatic matters to attend to."

[Valaran]

OOC: oh should we get some more people to join (I'm new so I'm not really sure how to do that)? oh also I'm guessing John Perry is nothing like John Kerry?

[National Socialist Korea]

OOC: oh also should we get some more people to join (I'm new so I'm not really sure how to do that)? oh also I'm guessing John Perry is nothing like John Kerry?

((OOC: No worries, they can come at their own pace. I'm fine with a few people - the RP is easier to control that way.

And yes, since I am not John Kerry, of course Jon Perry (without the "h") is nothing like him. ))

May 10th, 2014

The gunshot fire, the terrified screams... kept haunting Roamuro Pyotreau.

"No... It wasn't what I wanted!"

"But it was, Pyotreau. It happened, and YOU are responsible for it. Skalians are 'smart' enough to 'realize' that by themselves."

"You bastard... SEMIJOHN GRONKOB!"

"What? This is what YOU should have done a LONG time ago. It's your fault, Pyotreau."

"Sir...", Pyotreau's secretary came to him, "Your food..."

"I... don't have the appetite right now."

[National Socialist Korea]

Bayimo Colveskby woke up in an unfamiliar environment. He looked around at the moldy walls and aged roof. He began to shift uncomfortably in the makeshift bead he was sitting on, but was forced to stop; the pain in his shoulder was too severe. He looked gingerly at it to take in severity of the wound. The bullet had passed directly through his right shoulder, which was a good thing, he thought. Blood continued to creep out of the wound very slowly, continuing to stain his royal blue jacket.

"Hello? he said as loud as he could. A voice replied back, "Just a second!" Colveskby curiously tried to see who had either kidnapped him or rescued him. Either way, it was a lot safer than laying out in the cold... An older woman, about late 50's, wearing an orange blouse covered by an ugly brown apron approached him with a rag. She began to dab the wound gently. Colveskby grimaced in pain, but she continued to dab, not saying a word until she finished.

"You were right to do what you did out there."

Bayimo Colveskby looked curiously at the woman and replied with a slight nod and a smile. She continued to speak:

"I don't think its right that Pyotreau and his family get to live the life of luxury while the rest of us are scraping by."

Colveskby finally spoke.

"What day is it? Were you part of the crowd?"

"Today is the 11th of May, three days after the shooting, and no, I wasn't there, but my daughter was. I haven't seen her since that night, when she told me where she was headed."

Colveskby replied with a nod and a slightly hurt expression on his face. The woman continued to speak.

"You're not just gonna sit here all night right? I mean, no offence, but you didn't prove anything. Pyotreau is just going to continue acting in his selfish way until you do something about it. Until you really do something about it."

Colveskby nodded again and began thinking in his head. After a quiet minute, he slowly stood up.

"Thank you madam, for your hospitality, but you're right. If I'm going to do something, I can't just sit here."

Colveskby then saluted the woman, and headed outside.

[National Socialist Korea]

General Gronkob sat at the corner of the room, checking on the list of new guard recruits for the Palace. Meanwhile, Pyotreau gathered his wife, four sons and six daughters, proceeding to tell them about the shootings at the Palace steps.

"This isn't going to be easy to say, but I think that its imperative that my own family be informed of the recent issue. Yesterday, a mob came up to the palace and it looked like they were going to lynch us. So... yes, I had a lot of them killed, but I had a reason to. I didn't want any of us to get hurt, and that was the only way I could keep you guys safe."

Roamuro's wife, Zophia, was not buying it. She burst it out in tears and fled the room. Polk's kids just sat there quietly, heads hung down, while their father ran after their mom.

"How could you?", Zophia cried. As Roamuro approached her, she began hitting him weakly.

"Listen, Zophia, I..."

"Shut up! I don't care... You murdered the people that you grew up with... that I grew up with... Some of them might have even gone to school with our children... There were children in that crowd, right...? What... did you think you were doing?"

Zophia stopped, and broke down into a sobbing wreck on the floor. She couldn't seem to stop. Roamuro had to kneel down and hugged her as tightly as he could.

"I'm sorry, Zophia... I'm sorry that I am a no good husband... I'm sorry that the both of us were born here instead of a much more ideal place...", he said, his own eyes began tearing up as he started to fondle her long, sandy-blond hair.

"I just wish... that we can escape.", Roamuro murmured.

[Valaran]

Declaration by the Valaran Government:

We condemn the recent violence that has gone on under Roamuro Pyotreau and his administration. These demonstrators were unarmed and yet they were shot at. The callous and cruel nature of this act must not go unpunished, and unless the perpetrators go without justice, we will hold Pyotreau personally responsible.If the situation escalates we will have to consider further action"

(OOC 'further action' is nicely vague)

[Valaran]

((OOC: No worries, they can come at their own pace. I'm fine with a few people - the RP is easier to control that way.

And yes, since I am not John Kerry, of course Jon Perry (without the "h") is nothing like him. ))

OOC: Fair enough, the only reason I was asking was because there were 7 countries on the continent, and didn't make sense to me just to have one external party interact with them separately.

Btw, you construct really cool characters!

[Gigaverse]

The first part was largely written by NSK; while the second was jointly-written and pre-approved.

Sakahara Shinji/S.S. (read "S2")
Councilor of Chalybs

May 12th, Year 2674 of the Imperial Calendar
People's Palace, People's Republic of Skalia
2300 Hours

By his working desk, with his hand on his forehead, Roamuro Pyotreau sighed. He wouldn't know where to start anymore.

He first met the attractive Zophia Myleanna in 1995, when she was just 16 and he was only Leader for a year. He married her 2 years later, and was soon to have his first child, a son, Edward Pyotreau. They lived a relatively happy life, and his leadership was reasonably bringing the nation along the lines of prosperity.

That was, before a secretive military coup in 2004 AD that turned him into merely a puppet leader.

Had General Gronkob not suddenly showed up to coerce him, his family and the entire People's Party into submission, Skalia wouldn't be in that state. His people wouldn't be in that state. Pyotreau didn't have the allegiance of the military, Gronkob did.

He had only one final trump card he could rely on to save hopes, though.

"My predictions years ago ultimately came about as true, didn't it, Pyotreau? Even down to Gronkob hiring me as a guard."

The voice said, from behind the man's back. He turned to see a dark figure, only made barely visible by the golden phoenix on his eye-patch, his blade and his blond, long ponytail. (OOC: The character on the top center.)

"You came... on time.", Pyotreau said. He could hear his hiccup in his sentence.

"As promised, Pyotreau. I already made sure that your wife and children will be safely brought out of Skalia."

"Are they... already on the way?"

"You had the recording readied, hadn't you?"

"Yes.", Roamuro replied, with a melancholic tone.

"I shall see to it, then."

A moment of silence ensued between the two, before Roamuro Pyotreau knelt in front of the blond-haired man.

"Wh-"

"I am eternally grateful, Governor of North Serica! Please, take good care of my wife and children! I beg you!", Roamuro said.

The man - apparently, the greatest figure of authority of the secretive Governorate of Serica - stood down to look at Pyotreau, "There is no need to thank me, Pyotreau. You are only choosing the best and most rational of options."

"Will my wife and children be safe?", he asked.

"I'll ensure that they can have a... mostly happy life outside of Lesrenadia."

"This debt... I won't even be able to live to pay you..."

"Good friends don't worry about paying debts or giving favors, Pyotreau... Now, go to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us."

"You're right. I should... sleep."

Roamuro walked to his bed. His walk was that of a man who had lost everything dear to him. The blond-haired Governor sighed, turning to the direction of the door, and walked outside of the room.

Why do these tragedies always have to repeat themselves..., the Governor thought.

[Valaran]

Colveskby had managed to gather several dozen men with him. He walked with an iron purpose now. There was less and less doubt with every day that passed. He would usurp the government and restore glory to the people of Skalia. But first he needed weapons and allies. He was about to get the former.

He saluted the soldiers at the guard post.
"Greetings brothers. Cold night, isn't it?"

They stared at him blankly, missing the figures creeping up on them until it was too late. His men, almost all from the earlier rally which he had led, quickly bound the guards and relieved them of their weapons.

"Quickly, now. Don't hurt them Kaska, they were merely unwilling conscripts." Colveskby said to one of his men. "Now everyone, to the amoury. Hakar, stand watch and cover our backs."

They managed to capture 30 rifles, and two machine guns; a successful raid. Most of the weapons were outdated, almost antiques. Still, Colveskby mused, they would suffice for the moment.

Now, onto the next stage of his plan, finding a foreign backing for him to begin to free the people of Skalia.

[Gigaverse]

Hana Myleanna Pyotreau
Youngest Daughter of Skalian Leader Roamuro Pyotreau

May 12th, 2014
Unknown Location
2315 Hours

Hana woke up late at night - as usual. She yawned a bit, before scratching her blond, short wavy hair. The 9-year-old had a bad habit of coming out of her bed at that hour to go to the bathroom - something she hadn't been to give up. It was all of those night when doing so wasn't even necessary.

She wore her bunny sandals, and walked out of her room. When she opened the door, a strange scenery hit her. It wasn't the wall full of pictures running along the hallways of the Palace. It was the night sky. The clouds. The blowing wind. The air.

She didn't know what was going on. She had to run to her mother's room. Everything was still there, situated in the same position. Only the night sky was strange.

"Mama! I think something's wrong... I don't see the wall anymore."

"Huh... What are you talking about, dear...", her mom said, still sleepy on her own.

"There is no wall!", she said into her mother's ear.

Zophia woke up. She had to go check herself. There was, indeed, no wall. She looked to see where she was.

She was up, high in the sky. All she could see were tiny buildings down on the ground.

"But... where is it?"

"You are Zophia Myleanna Pyotreau?", a bespectacled young man with black hair approached the beautiful bewildered woman.

"Y... Yes, I... am..."

"Then I'll be your Guide. Summon your children, then follow me."

She had no idea what was happening; but since the scenery was strange and the man was stranger, it was best that she complied.

When her sons and daughters were gathered, the only person she couldn't see was Roamuro: "his room" was empty. The young man pointed straight into that empty room, to a laptop on the desk.

"There. The message will play for all of you."

The mother and her ten children then walked beside the laptop. When they were all in front of it, the screen flashed, and the message began playing.

"Zophia. Boys. Girls. You are all fine, aren't you?"

An option box appeared below the video.

YES

NO

Zophia chose "YES".

"Thank the Gods that you all made it out alive."

"Dear?"

"Listen, Zophia... This is only a recording, so my ability to contact with you is limited. But... this will be the last moment for me."

"Wha... What are you talking about?", Zophia faked a smile on her face.

"Whatever happens, Zophia, please, follow the instructions of the people on that Zeppelin... They might be a bit cocky, but they are all doing so for our family's welfare... Due to my circumstances, I cannot come with you all. I have to stay back in Skalium. But... WHATEVER HAPPENS! Please, Zophia, do not look back at Skalium. Take care of our family, and let our children have the normal life that we both desired... I have a friend who will help you do just that. There's no hope for me anymore."

"Roamuro Pyotreau... What are you saying...?", Zophia said, her voice slowly weakening, her eyes watering, and her expression clearly that of sadness.

"Farewell, Zophia. Maybe... We'll be able to meet in the afterlife and consummate in our relationship that has been broken by fate...", in the video, Roamuro himself began to tear up. He couldn't hold himself anymore. Before any sign of him crying was shown, the laptop turned off, and the Zeppelin covered itself up, leaving no lights to penetrate.

"No... Thi... This is not happening...", the woman began to murmur to herself, seemingly as a self-encouragement.

"We will see about that.", the voice of the bespectacled man said. In the dark, a red glow was visibly clear through his glasses.

[National Socialist Korea]

May 13th, 2014

Bayimo Colveskby didn't intentionally mean for people to destroy the whole country; all he wanted was the government to be replaced, but he'd get to that later. He issued all of the farmers, hunters, lumberjacks, and butchers either in Skalium, or along the outskirts of Skalium to gather up their equipment such as pitchforks, guns, axes, and knives. Colveskby found that a bunch of people also brought baseball bats. A weird choice of weaponry, but it'd do.

He distributed the weapons among the crowd, and once again, they decided to march to the palace of the dictator, angrily shouting for a free Skalia. Upon approaching the palace, the crowd found that the palace was guarded even more heavily, but what was stranger was that some of these guards, he knew personally. A few of these people were originally part of the first crowd, the one that was shot at. Bayimo Colveskby approached the bottom of the steps, the crowd behind him. With the new flag of a free Skalia in hand, he said to the guards on top of the steps of the palace,

"Join us for a free Skalia."

Some of the guards looked uneasy, until one of the guards, dressed in gold and maroon, stepped forward and handed Bayimo Colveskby his rifle. The other guards followed and handed the unarmed members of the crowd rifles before fleeing the palace. Bayimo Colveskby handed the flag to a man behind him and walked up the steps and banged on the door. Soon, he used the butt of the rifle to bash the door open and the crowd charged in the palace.

Within minutes, he and some of his followers ran into the largest room of the palace and found six of Pyotreau's terrified men dressed in neat military outfit in the room. The crowd charged at the men and then the men were stabbed, hacked and beaten with knives, axes and bats. Soon, all of the men lay dead in the room. A part of the crowd grabbed the men and dragged their corpses outside.

Another group left to search the house for Pyotreau while Colveskby led another group to search for Pyotreau on the other side of the house.

Things were about to escalate for the nation of Skalia.

[National Socialist Korea]

I'll try to get a crude map up as soon as possible. You guys might want to check the OOC spoiler in the OP.

Reminiscing the Past

January 4th, 1980
The Arts-Affiliated University of the People's Party, Skalia

It was a usual day for the 19-year-old Roamuro Pyotreau. He walked along the pavement, humming the newest revolutionary song while reading the textbook on revolutionary arts. It was going to be his first year studying as one of the most prestigious academies of the party that produced some of the best propaganda artists for the People's Democratic state of Skalia.

As he walked, a figure standing against a tree stopped him with his words.

"Hey, kid."

"Huh?"

"If I said that the love of your life was born last year and you're going to be Skalia's Leader 14 years later, would you believe me?"

The young man paused, staring at the figure.

"You're crazy."

"I am the Governor of North Serica after all."

He wouldn't buy it.

"No, you're psycho."

"I'm different."

He stood straight, revealing himself to be a tall man with sharp blue eyes.

"And you too, are different. I befriend only special people. Call me Governor. 26 years old."

"No kidding, 'Mister Governor' - ha! Roamuro Pyotreau, 19 years old!"

Governor stretched his hand to Roamuro. As they shook each other's hands, a bond of friendship was made that day.

March 3rd, 1994
People's Square, Skalia

Years of hard work, striving and receiving advice from his secretive advisor-of-sorts, Governor, Roamuro finally rose to the top of what was back then called "the Skalian food-chain". The people down below cheered for him, wildly, as he waved back to them with a brightened look on his face.

That inauguration ceremony was finally over. He went back to the People's Palace - which would be his official residential area until the day of him passing-away.

On March 3rd, Governor secretly dragged him to the border cities of North Serica - the ones nearest to Skalia.

"... A... Amazing. I mean, just... amazing. I didn't know humanity is capable of all this!"

"But you are capable, Roamuro. I believe in your capacity."

"I promised to the people, and now I will promise to you! I will strive to become a leader for the entire People's Party and People's Republic to remember!", the 33-year-old Leader said.

"I am looking forward to that, kid.", the blond-haired Governor said.

February 2nd, 1995
People's Weaving Facility, Outer Skirts of Skalium, Skalia

The economy of Skalia had been steadily developing. The People's Republic was well on the way to rival the likes of the Federal Democratic Republic of Korista; especially with its optimistic, cooperative and pacifist policies - in place for the hostile outlook it took before 1974.

It was an ideal occasion for the 34-year-old Dear Leader to board a ride and come down to one of the People's Facilities and discuss matters with his citizens.

"Leader Roamuro! So good to see you!", the head of the Facility, the chubby woman named Yubia Wivfina, greeted him. The other people inside the facility also came out to greet him.

"How has work been, ladies?"

"Since you came up with your ideas, we're actually feeling too little, too bored right now!", Wivfina answered.

"Oh, that's good to know..."

He turned his head, looking inside the factory. Everyone had left their positions to meet him in person. However, he could feel something hiding in the corner.

"Excuse me, may I check something?"

"Sure, go ahead, dear handsome leader~!", one of the ladies said.

He came near one of the Facility's machines. Slowly walking to it, he could see sandy-blond hair. Closer to the supposed head, he could see long hair, and what appeared to be a girl sitting beside the machine, on the floor.

"He-"

"I'm sorry, please don't hurt me!", the girl said, covering her head.

"She's the youngest here. Zophia Myleanna, 16 years old. We rescued her from her abusive mother when she was 8. She's painfully shy and a bit clumsy, but is a very sweet kid. She's only a bit scared when she heard that the national leader was coming. We should know.", Wivfina explained.

"I should know.", Roamuro joked, having heard the voice of the girl.

He squatted beside her, and looked at her face. Only until then did he notice that a fair maiden was before him.

"Zophia Myleanna, you said?"

"Uhuh."

The Leader reached for his backpack. He fished out an apple, and gave it to the girl.

"Do you like apples?"

"... Ah... Um.", she answered hesitantly.

"Now that's a good girl.", he said, patting on her head.

What started out with a simple apple later evolved into something much bigger...

But ultimately, his happiness would only last for 9 more years, before it was made to crumble...

[National Socialist Korea]

October 23rd, 2004
People's Square, Skalia

"Papa! Papa!", the boy screamed in terror and agony, as the guards continued to beat him with their rifles.

"Hang in there, son... Father will come for you!", Roamuro said to comfort his son.

"Oh, you think?", a bent, Russian-esque voice said.

The General dressed in grey, black and maroon, sporting a walrus mustache, walked to him. The 43-year-old Leader looked to see who it was.

General Semijohn Gronkob, 45-year-old, practically the most powerful man in the Skalian People's Army.

"Times are ironic, Pyotreau. I know that better than anyone.", Gronkob said.

"I was born in 1959, when the nation was ruled by true, honest revolutionaries that adhered to the theories of Comrade Vistaly Grygoreau as best as they could. But then, traitors showed up, and in 1974, when I was 15, the State and the People's Party was stolen from the People! My heart was crushed, and my patriotic spirit boiled to see the nation returned to its glory... I joined the Party as soon as I got the opportunity, but it still took me THIRTY YEARS to muster enough of a power-base to usurp the throne. Tell me, 'Comrade' Roamuro Pyotreau, how was the last 10 years spent betraying your ideals?"

"And bring myself to comply to the rigid rules set by that senile old tyrant Grygoreau? I would rather die!"

"Oh, you will, Comrade Pyotreau. I will give you the chance to. But when you do, your family will be dragged along with it.", Gronkob cheerfully said.

"NO! LEAVE MY FAMILY OUT OF THIS, YOU BASTARD!"

"Now that I think of it, which is more precious to you? Your irreplaceable nation, or your family that you can restart anytime you want?"

"Are these one of those old philosophical rants from Grygoreau?"

"He once taught us to 'In service of the country, you must abandon your family; if your family betrays, execute your wife, your children, and three generation of anyone related to your family until none is left standing'. It is only logical to put your nation and the People before the petty goods of your family."

"You are citing the words of a despicable rapist and cannibal before he pulled the revolution!"

"Eating people is not a crime. Back in 1914, the people were starving. It was only logical that Comrade Vistaly ate enough food to keep his sanity, rise up in revolt and take back the State for the People. Raping is merely a myth, spread by counterrevolutionaries - I can hardly believe that the supposed successor of Grygoreau would buy for such a cheap joke!"

"And you're saying that humans feeding on humans is not a crime? Is that not what Korista survives on?"

General Gronkob pointed the gun to the kneeling Dear Leader.

"If I need to make my point clear, Comrade Leader, in the next ten years we will see that what I said is entirely true."

"What do you attempt to do now? Kill me?", the Leader said with a sarcastic tone.

"Comrade, that is not how we will do. The people are tortured by you. They indulge in petty luxuries while leaving the nation open for Koristan invasion and turn our nation back to the times of the Stone Age. Yet, they love you. If they are such masochists, then perhaps I can teach them a lesson that our leader is not so nice a man.

I will keep you in power for long enough so that the people realize that they were being oppressed, not liberated. Then, they will cheer in joy when the dictator is finally eradicated. You and your family will then be nothing but animals worth of the people's entertainment - I will throw you to them when the time comes."

"I haven't personally ordered the execution of anyone since I was inaugurated; but you, Gronkob, you are desperately asking for yourself to be executed right now!"

"The traitor doesn't have the right to speak. I, on the other hand, am the leader of the People's Party and the People's Army.

Obey me, unless you want to see your sons used as cannon fodders while your wife and daughters sold to South Serica."

The General walked away. The Leader gritted his teeth, but he was utterly powerless in such circumstances. Gronkob was in control.

And he would be determined to prove his points to the people, by any means necessary.

[National Socialist Korea]

May 1st, 2005
People's Palace, Skalia

Roamuro held the crumbled paper in hand, his tears flowing out of his eyes. He wiped his face with his palm, but the tears kept coming.

"Kid, what's the problem?", the Governor came to Roamuro.

Roamuro couldn't say a thing. Between his hiccups, he gave the Governor the piece of paper.

Yubia Wivfina and People's Weaving Facility. Marked for disposal by the Central State Security Committee (CSSC). Crime: Voicing Against The State. Method of Execution: Arson.

"All she ever did was voicing her concerns on working conditions... Not only did I not answer her, I seemed to have been the one who ordered her dead... What kind of Leader am I?"

"Why don't you stand up to Gronkob?"

"I may have martial arts with me, but they're useless against the number of armed guards he had surrounding him, along with the forceful allegiance of the Party, the Army and the CSSC. To add to that, the instance I choose to stand against him, my family risks being put in the gravest of dangers. What options do I have?"

"You have a point."

"Judging by the likes of him, I know that my family is not far from that point of danger they couldn't bear with... Please, Governor, you are the only one whose existence Gronkob does not know about! Save them! Orchestrate the death of Gronkob! Anything!"

"... my ability to take action is limited. North Serica is officially unaligned, while I can't have myself go up against Gronkob's army, which would be as equally risky as you doing so. All I can do is ensure that your family will remain unharmed until the day when something change."

The desperate Leader's face paled.

"I'm doomed the moment I entered politics, aren't I?"

"At this rate, I'm afraid that you have at most 9 years left until you have to fall."

A sad look was prevalent on Roamuro's face.

"Don't let it get to you. Since your eldest son - who did not understand a thing - was the only one who knew anything about these shady activities, keep up the act. Be a good father and support the whole family as best as you can. I might not be able to save you, but there is much hope for the rest of your family."

"What a... relief. I... go to bed now."

The 44-year-old Leader chose to sink into his sleep, to forget the worries that the days had gotten him into...

March 8th, 2011
People's Palace, Skalia

"The world is cruel... Don't you agree, Governor?", the Leader said, gulping down a glass of Skalian Red Wine.

"... now, please. I think after 31 years, we should start calling each other by our names, Pyotreau."

"But... I've never gotten a chance to know your name, Governor."

A moment of silence ensued. The blond-haired Governor sighed.

"Sakahara Shinji. Shinji is the personal name."

"Ah... Sakahara... How come fate is so cruel? ... when I first met you, I'm 19, you're 26. Now, I'm 50. You're supposed to be 57. Yet you look just like you were back then... Tell me, what did you do?"

"... I would have to answer this with 'North Serican tech'."

"Ah... new technologies... I haven't seen that in this nation since forever..."

The Governor - Sakahara Shinji - looked into his own glass of Red Wine.

"If only... we were born in North Serica...

We would be a happy couple, who met up, marry, have kids, get normal jobs, be as carefree as we want to..."

"Tell me, Pyotreau. Do you value your family?"

"Ehh?"

"Would you make up an elaborate plan with effects lasting for at least a hundred years and sacrifice yourself just to ensure that your family can be happy?"

"... why that question?"

"I'm dead serious now, Pyotreau. Answer me."

"... that... Yes. I love my family. I WILL do anything for them. But there is no way we can escape this fate without some scratches."

The blond-haired man put his hand on Roamuro's shoulder.

"If you're that mentally prepared... You have 3 years.", Shinji said. He stood up, and left the table where they were having their drinks, leaving his glass of Red Wine half full.

[National Socialist Korea]

Back to Reality

May 13th, 2014
People's Palace, Skalia

"What good times, weren't they, Governor?"

"Sakahara."

"Right. I'm nearing my death, yet I don't think I fear anything... anymore. I'm happy that my family made it out."

"Any regrets?"

"I only regret that I won't be alive to see them happy or sad."

"... I will not fail your trust, Pyotreau."

"Sakahara... Is there an afterlife?"

"... I believe. There is."

"Ah. So... I may have a chance to reincarnate and meet her after all."

"You still passionately want to die that much?"

"A good captain always sinks with his ship. I who spoiled my ship, must die with it."

The steps of angry citizens marching came ever closer to the room where they were in. Angrier, faster by every moment...

"So, Sakahara, this is the end... Is it?"

Sakahara Shinji closed his eyes.

"Yes. It is the end."

His blade was then thrust...

... into the stomach of Roamuro Pyotreau.

Blood came out from his mouth, as he grimaced in pain. His head rested on Sakahara Shinji's right shoulder. He managed to calm himself down, and asked one final time:

"Sakahara? Is the cherry blossom... beautiful?"

"It is beautiful... And your wife will tell you more about it when she meets you again..."

"It... is beautiful."

Tears flowed down from the eyes of the stabbed Leader.

"Everything... is beautiful."

And thus, Colonel-Commissar Roamuro Kretoaterik Pyotreau drew his last breath on 09:47:31 AM, 2014/05/13, aged 53. He passed away, as the sun shone onto where the Governor stabbed him. The room was crystal-clear and brightened as ever.

---

Colveskby led the crowd in front of the door of the Leader's Room. They gathered up their strength. He then became the first to storm inside.

"THE PEOPLE OF SKALIA WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEIR DICTATOR ABOUT SOMETHING!"

To his surprise, however, there was the beautiful, picturesque sight of a blond man, with only his blond ponytail and his black long-coat visible, holding the hilt of a blade that had penetrated the stomach of the bloody dictator. Resting on the shoulder of the mysterious man, was the face of Pyotreau, crying, bloodstains from his mouth.

The man pulled the blade away from the stomach of Pyotreau. He fell to the floor, blood from his stomach staining the beautiful rug that covered it. The blond-haired man raised his blade onto the direction of the roof.

"SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!", the man shouted.

The crowd was at first shocked. But then, they burst into cheers and applause. Colveskby himself was surprised. He approached the mysteriously man in black.

"You... did this?"

"No doubt I did."

"May I... know your name, hero of the Skalian people?"

"I am all but a Serican mercenary with a hatred for tyrants. Unlike the Zhu family, Pyotreau is an easy target. It's a shame that I cannot personally handle the others of this family."

"What happened to them?"

"Kidnapped by my colleagues and sold across the Eastern border."

"Good to know.", Colveskby sighed a sigh of relief.

Colveskby then walked outside of the palace, with the mob following him. Another crowd was waiting outside.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!", he declared, "The once powerful dictator IS DEAD!"

Cheers ran throughout the crowd, which then consisted of about 1,400 people.

A new era was about to begin for Skalia.

[National Socialist Korea]

The Daily Tale
All the news that's fit to disclose

Saturday, May 17th 2014

By Doug Napalm

Chaos in Skalia - Should Korista take action?

SKALIUM, SKALIA - "Skalians cannot keep themselves down anymore.", commented Secretary of Defense Suck Feral on Thursday.

On May 14th, it was confirmed that the notorious Skalian dictator, Roamuro Kretoaterik Pyotreau, was assassinated by revolutionaries who demanded for democracy in the region. Meanwhile, his family was recorded as missing - possibly sold by the dictator across the border into South Serica for "market consumption". It all started in May 8th, when the ruthless dictator ordered the death of 500 people right at the doorsteps of his Palace - a feat that even Vistaly Kannivorik Grygoreau couldn't have hoped to achieve.

After the shootings, the people of Skalia was angered. They marched into the so-called "People's Palace", and had the dictator stabbed in the eye, beaten to a bloody pulp and hung by the very people he betrayed in the first place. His corpse is then cut up and sold as meat in black market, much to the horrors of foreign observers.

Since then, for three consecutive days, the nation itself has been beaten to a bloody pulp. Chaos and anarchy reigns, as the remnants of the rubber-stamp People's Party became all but useless, while the ones who actually held any position of favorable power were swiftly tortured and executed by Skalian mobs. The nation is having a slow descend into complete statelessness, but there are those who argue that a civil war might break out between strong warlords to take over the nation and impose their rule over it - which is basically Grygoreau's 1914 "Revolution" repeating itself all over again.

Korista's Department of Defense has been considering military intervention in the situation of Skalia, but as of the moment, all such operations are held back. However, the possibilities are still largely there, as war looms in Skalia, the Federal Republican Armed Forces are stationing more and more soldiers in Korista Southwest...

God prays for Korista to win if it ever enters this mess of a war.

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