Dawn was breaking over Sterkvelso's Shalostiir palace, the seat of Mackonia's government, a den of Machiavellian infighting and bitter power feuds. The sun climbed up the marble towers and gleamed upon their golden spires, the gentle sound of the water lapping against the harsh rocky base of the island the palace was located combined with the morning cresecendo of the numerous colourful birds that inhabited the palace gardens gave the palace an air of tranquility unsuited for its grim purposes.
Deep inside the walls of this citadel, among labyrinthine corridors beneath the gaze of long dead Potentates,Emperors, Presidents and General Secretaries immortalised in dreary portraits, momento mori for whatever ruler stalked the corridors today, the State Council of the Seven were coming to an end of their policy meeting.
The Potentate was a known insomniac and thus decided that the daily convocation of the council should begin at 3:00 AM in the morning and conclude sometime around breakfast at 7:30 AM, this was met with much derision by the other council members, however it was admittedly rather efficient, like most things to do with Rassikyr Zaskolnikvarr.
Today the council had met in one of the numerous Hyzungrelnir, inner rooms; warrens, of the Shalostiir, vast halls built deep within the palace that seemed to serve no purpose other then to hold dimly lit meetings of this nature.
The council were seated around a long, rectangular, black, polished wooden table adorned with slowly extinguishing candles, the air was thick with tobacco smoke and reeked of rum, though the Potentate despised this as he neither smoked nor drank, the reason why he never held meetings in his personal quarters.
"Your Excellency could we please open the curtains now? It has been dawn for two hours now" groaned the Commissar for Economic Affairs and Direction, Augustus Freil
The Potentate glared and grumbled in reply; "It is never dawn until we are dead and life is the tunnel of night from which we transverse but yes I do think it is time to open the curtains" as he signalled to one of the feline servants to pull open the thick red curtains, letting in rays of equatorial sunshine to flood the room with light.
"Now, last topic of this convocation; Mr Kyrkalvir you mentioned some crises in some forsaken realm across the water, do tell?"
Lysias Kyr'kalviir, Commissar for External Interests conjured up several monstrous folders and adeptly removed a single sheet of paper from the hungry layers and began to read...
"The Nation of Skalia, in the continent of Lesrendia is undergoing some sort of civil crisis, reports tell of some sort of popular revolution against a tyrannical regime, the loyalists to the regime have engaged in some kind of counter coup. The Revolutionaries are typical rebels, ill defined ideologically, except for a manic hatred of the regime, the loyalists are typical Stalinist crackpots obsessed over some "Eternal Leader" figure. I predict the entire crisis to be pretty worthless in value".
"Never assume,never,ever assume Kyr'kalviir, situations such as these always present an opportunity for a shrewd government, a people is approaching its greatest test; that of overthrowing its tyrants and the tyrants their own of destroying its own people. We shall of course remain on the side of ascending life, ascending life must always triumph over descending life, the powerful must maintain their moral monopoly, a people can only seize power and not be handed it. You have your orders, you are dismissed, may shadows bless you always".
Greater Mackonia's political system was, schismatic, to say the least, the Potentate alternated between obsessive micromanagement and vague commands such as these, most believed him to have some form of split personality himself. Due to the nature of Greater Mackonia's system, where competition was encouraged as beneficial and multiple departments often fought over the same responsibilities, this sometimes led to governmental "contradictions" when combined with the Potentate's vagueries.
Lysias Kyrkalviir strode into his office chatting nonchalantly to his adjutant.
"The Goverment are clearly the faction more aligned to our intrests, while these types of government are rarely beneficial in the short term they can prove to be long term useful allies, I shall send a communique to this "Comrade General" character and we can get back to that issue over the reefs..."
Addressing: General Semijohn Basziriy Gronkob, General Secretary of the People's Party and Commander in Chief of the People's Army.
From: A Friend.
Encryption: High.
Good Evening, one must be ready for contradictions in our country.
The saddening breakdown of civilised government in your fair worker's state has attracted our attention and we know which side is fighting for truth,prosperity and righteousness. Yours Comrade Gronkob, the counterrevolutionary elements in your nation have attracted the support of numerous imperialist elements but do not fear for we still hold faith in your revolution Comrade. We presume your struggle is in need of ammunition and other armaments, of which we are more the happy to provide, these will come at a price, though heavily discounted, this price can be paid immediately but we are more then happy to offset the payment until these filthy insurrectionists have been thoroughly crushed. If you are willing reply with the information as to what supplies your noble heroes require and we shall arrange for their transportation and discuss options of payment.
Workers of the World, Unite!
Meanwhile Tsigan Malthoutannir, Commissar of Diplomatic Affairs, sat in his office overlooking a mildly busy city square smoking a cigar, "It is obvious that the Potentate wants us to support these brave revolutionaries, ascending life must crush descending life, the great must not be constrained by the small, communism is the birthchild of Christianity and is thus a phony morality, send a communique to the rebel leader at once! More immportantly that bastard Kyrkalvis has once again displayed his treacherous nature and supported the red bastards...."
Addressing: Bayimo Nairatilatot Colveskby
From: A Friend
Encryption: Very High.
Your noble struggle against the tyrannical altruistic parasite regime of the People's Party has come to our attention, it is the duty of all enlightened peoples to win their own freedom in fire and blood, not have it handed to them on a platter by Kings and Foreigners, but a little help in that struggle is never a bad thing.
If you accept this offer we can give you ammunition,weapons,vehicles and a few toys that will certainly shock "Comrade General" that will give you the advantage against the Red Hordes, there will be a price of course, but we understand your struggle is in its pregnancy and will be more then happy to wait until the war is done to receive payment and until then accept promissory notes and the like.
I urge you to seriously consider this offer.
T.Malthoutannir.
Greater Mackonia is a realm built upon contradictions.
