The Season Turns (Telegram for Entry please)

[Novitera]

To: Count Thomas Lalery, Minister of Finance
From: Parker Gladwin, Senior Adviser to the Trask Administration
Subject: Harbortown
Encryption: Highest


Dear Count Lalery,

Yes, I think we should meet in person. My associates are pestering me about the difficulties they are having with the Edomite laws. The situation is not so dire as many of them have bought accompanying title insurance with each purchase. Although there is also the matter of a military assault that has me mildly worried. Would you like me to come to Fineberg or would you prefer another excursion to San Crispiano?

Regards,
Parker Gladwin
Senior Adviser to the Trask Administration

[New Edom]

To: Parker Gladwin
Senior Adviser to the Trask Administration
From: Count Thomas Lalery, Minister of Finance
Subject: Property Values in Harbourtown
Encryption: Delivered in sealed diplomatic pouch

---

Dear Mr. Gladwin,

I would be glad to have a face to face meeting. If you like, we can meet at my home in Quality Bay, New Edom, and you can enjoy some good old fashioned Edomite hospitality as well as have a private chat. I am concerned about the business arrangements; it is very important to me and to my government that agreements should be honoured. Of course in the spirit of fair business I am naturally not going to interfere in every case but if there are bureaucratic hiccups or other issues that could be handled better I will be glad to discuss them.

I have the honour to be
Count Thomas Lalery

Military District of Fineberg

Colonel Tawanga raised his hand,
"General, Colonel...I would like to inquire about how and if we can safely escort in the Cornellian Task Force of the Hutanjian Navy, now that the Cacertians and Adirans are on our side? They should be here in another day or two at the most, and a lot of our gear, more aircraft and vehicles, as well as more troops, are on those ships. Honestly, we could probably accomplish it ourselves, with the air power we now have in theater, but we thought it might go quicker if we have some help to bring it all ashore and some dedicated time and space at one or more ports."

General Romain glanced at Lieutenant-Colonel Sarah Wendt, a striking officer who had just recently joined her staff. Wendt, an Anglo-German, tanned poorly, and had a flushed pinkish look to her face in the dry heat, her short creamy hair neatly tucked with pins, her black beret tucked into an epaulet. She wore the tropical light tan barracks dress, a short sleeved shirt showing a row of combat ribbons, a tan skirt, no stockings, and sensible low heels. In spite of what would have made another woman look dowdy, Wendt looked lovely, like a recruiting poster or something. Every movement made hips sway, every parting of her lips to speak was like a kiss. This was something she hated but could not help.

"Elements of the Southern Fleet under Captain Jacopus Iglesias will be escorting you in accompanied by a drone and fighter coverage from the MDF," Wendt said, indicating the positions on the map and the point of arrival from the southwestern coast towards Fineberg. A guided missile cruiser, the Queen Adah, will lead a force of a destroyer, two frigates and an LHD. A565 AWACs with escorts will be covering radar in overlap with fixed array from our landward radar relay system. This should provide missile coverage and also make it clear that your forces are friendlies. In addition to this, diplomatic efforts will be made to recognize that your forces are here on official government business."

"And no business of anyone else," agreed Romain. "What about the Romans?" she glanced up sternly as there were a few snickers. Roman military might was strongly believed to have waned--while they were considered excellent, noble people their military was considered a joke by some. Romain was intolerant of this attitude towards any ally however.

"The Barebones Legion--about 5,000 mechanized troops--are moving to Padan-Aran and will act as a reserve force for now, but may be used to provide some weight to the Maldorian thrust towards Harbourtown," explained Lt. Colonel Wendt.


Betharan Palace

On a great terrace set above a grand ballroom, some Royal Guardsmen and aides were leaning on the
balcony. A great staircase of carved wood and polished steps led down to it.

"What a lot of riotous noise there is in the news lately--do you think it will come to war after all?" one soldier said idly, watching people mingling, chatting in the ballroom below, finery, evening dress, dress uniforms mixing about.

"The ETC are always fussing and bleating about something," said the other, shifting his stance. Suddenly there was a fanfare below, and the soldiers straightened up as the Heir began to enter the ballroom below, in a dark blue gown with glittering little jewels set in the material, her dark hair piled into a braided crown, her lovely face serene, followed by senior courtiers, people bowing deeply, military officers springing to attention, saluting.

Standing at attention, they muttered still. "There is Colonel Josephus down there, with King-Consort Michael, and Count Falk--how many colonels do we have now anyway?"

"They are not all the colonels," said the other Guardsman. "They are honourary; King-Consort Michael does not even hold a commission in the New Edomite Army. Colonel Josephus is a colonel in the Army, but not officially in command of the Regiment, while Count Falk is a Colonel but is only the commanding officer, not the Colonel-in-Chief..."

"Too much for me. See how he stares at the Heir! Is it devotion?"

"Devotion to something..."

Colonel Marcus Josephus had been about to address the Heir when he was approached by a little sparrowlike man with glasses and an energetic manner. "Colonel Josephus, how delightful to meet you again, sir!"

"I yes, and you're the--er..." said Josephus, his eyes flitting to the Heir's departing form.

"Dr. Amon Ashren, Director, Office of Inter-City Planning and on the Elections Committee, yes yes." said the little man brightly.

"Wonderful. Let me introduce you to someone..."

"I just wanted to say that you might want to be the one to announce to the Heir and the Regent I suppose that voter registration is ready to begin, but we still don't have a green light from the Gloria Regian government," said Dr.Ashren,skipping around to face the Heir's Master of Offices as he began to turn around.

"Oh?" said Josephus. "Well, is that an impediment? What does the Regent say?"

"The Regent says rather little; he simply says that we should proceed and that if people in Gloria Regis do not respond to the notice of registration, that's their problem, just make it very clear. And that is why I am approaching you, sir." said Dr. Ashren.

"I'll brief the Heir on it," said Josephus. "I'm sorry, Dr. Ashren, I really don't have time at the moment..."

"Of course, of course, so delighted that you spared any time at all, Colonel, and a wonderful evening to you," said the little civil servant, seemingly unbowed by this rejection.

Josephus tried not to hurry as he went to catch up to Jocasta.

[Hittanryan]

Betharan Palace, Fineberg

“Well, Doctor Weinstein,” said Queen Mara softly, smiling a little, coming in to his appointed office at the palace, wearing a pink tunic, barefoot, her dark hair falling chaotically around her face and shoulders, Precious pattering along with her, “I bet you’re relieved, hm? We’re soon off to a private estate in Cacerta, and then off to that loony bin in Soledad. Happy?”

Weinstein had been on edge somewhat since his report had been leaked. There didn’t seem to be much by way of legal recourse available to him and Dr. Rezanic, and talk of military movements were worrying. “I really hope no one else is calling it a ‘loony bin,’” Weinstein replied with a slight smile. “Are you looking forward to it?”

“Well, yes and no...I’m nervous about it of course,” Mara said. “But you know, Anelyn has been very kind, she’s a good friend...I’m looking forward to spending time with just her and me for a bit. I’ve really got lovely friends when I think about it.” she sat down and crossed her bare legs. “Anyway…” she put Precious down and let him wander to sniff the psychologist. “I have some news...Michael and I have reconciled. I mean you know, we’re going to stay married, keep having some space, but see each other on occasion, that kind of thing. His sister helped arrange us meeting, and he accepted that it is an arranged marriage and all that, that he was being too intense before. I feel very wary about it though. Like...he just...changed?” she shrugged. “Eh, who knows…”

Nodding, Weinstein said “Queen Anelyn must have quite a bit in common with you. I’m sure it’ll help being able to talk to someone besides a doctor about what you’ve been through. We’re in no big rush to get to Soledad, by the way. You can stay as long as you want.”

“I suppose when it comes to your husband, he’ll just have to demonstrate his sincerity. You said you’ll see each other again? Any idea what you plan on doing when he shows up?”

“Probably have dinner together,” said Mara. “That might be nice. Dinner can be very pleasant, and it gives you something to do when you can’t think of anything to say. I think it’s kind of sad...he’s so clueless about how to handle things. But you know he’s getting a mistress, so that should help a lot.”

“Something like your parents?” Weinstein asked. “Do you have something similar in mind?”

Blushing a bit, Mara said, “Yes...when I go to Cacerta...the Cacertians are a bit more open sexually. I was thinking of exploring things there. Gently, quietly, discreetly. With...well…”

Holding up a hand, Weinstein said “Don’t have to tell me anything you’re not ready to. I hope it works out in Cacerta.” Switching subjects, he said “It must’ve been a hard week. How are you holding up?”

“I’m so tired..but with this done, the political stuff...I can focus on getting better, let Elijah run things and guide Sissy...my sister...and rest more. We’ve barely talked at all. She...stresses me out so much.” Mara suppressed a yawn. “But I can only sleep in the morning, night I hate, without those stupid pills of Rezanic’s. And how are you, Doctor Weinstein?”

“I’m well enough. Have to admit, I didn’t expect to be quite at the center of things when I came to New Edom. I just hope for peace,” he said. “What do you think of this arrangement they made?”

“No, no, Doctor Weinstein...how are you?” Mara insisted gently. “I really want to know.”

Inhaling a bit, he said “Still getting used to some of the politics, I guess. Honestly...I’m still outraged that our reports were leaked. Dr. Rezanic and I are still talking about it. Back home, we could and would sue for breach of confidentiality. The lawyers we talked to though...I’m not sure a case would get too far here in New Edom. Things like that aren’t as protected as they are in Adiron.”

“Family’s on my mind too,” he continued. “Iris and Ron were worried. I guess they’re watching the news a lot, probably expecting the worst. Not really sure if they believe me when I tell them how things are here. It might have helped if I’d been able to say I was talking to Prince Elijah himself during the negotiations, but I’ve had enough leaks for this year I’d say. I’m looking forward to seeing Iris.”

Mara nodded and smiled, watching him with large dark solemn eyes, and said, “Yeah the leaks sucked...welcome to government work. Listen, how long have you been married?”

“Nineteen years,” he replied after pausing a moment. “Big anniversary coming up. Why?”

“Well, are you like still crazy in love with one another?” Mara asked a little shyly but with determination in her demeanor.

Weinstein looked thoughtful. “You mean compared to when we first met? I think we’ve changed over time, like most people I’d say. When you’re young, you’re impulsive and passionate, and so are the relationships. Vast majority of them probably don’t last, but they’re intense while they do.”

“Later though, you’ll start looking for something more viable long-term. If you’re together long enough, you’ll inevitably face some big challenges. Career, money, marriage, kids--definitely kids. Being a parent is a full time job. You grow from that, and you change. Neither of you is quite the same after that. You start to depend on each other, rely on them for support.”

“Iris and I, at this point, it’s probably not what someone your age would consider wild passion, but it’s still love, just the same,” Weinstein said. “Now, I’m not sure what you’re used to, Mara, not growing up in New Edom and certainly not with an arranged royal marriage such as yours. You had to explain it to me, as I recall.”

Mara was quiet for a bit, now and then looking at him,then at Precious, then looking out the window. Finally she said, “You know, on our wedding night, I wanted to just playfully make love. Michael wanted to look into my eyes, have soft music, candles, romance, wanted me to...feel something I couldn’t. It really bothered him that I was willing to just have sex with him because he was my husband. I sometimes wonder now if there’s something wrong with me, that I felt that way. I thought I was being tender with him, accepting. But for him it was this huge big deal. On our wedding night, I tried to get him to chase me around the bedroom, I jumped on the bed, giggled, playfully invited him...and he looked at me blankly, then started doing the same thing. When I said ‘I need some space’ he just...gave it to me. I don’t know, it’s just overwhelming to even think of him. But at least we have a kind of truce. I can’t imagine him being like my father was with my mother--a friend, comrade, companion--they loved each other, not like you love Iris maybe, but they did. I feel a sense of shame now when I think of having sex.”

“Shame?” Weinstein repeated. “In what sense do you mean? Would you characterize it as a feeling of inadequacy? Perhaps because of his reaction? Or is it more disgust?”

“I feel bad about myself,” Mara said softly. “I feel like there is something wrong with me.”

“I see,” Weinstein said, folding his arms. “Do these feelings manifest physically?”

Mara looked at him and said, “It makes me want to cringe, like I want to just...curl up and curl away from it.”

“Curl away. You want to hide, withdraw...from what?” he asked.

“Yes, I feel like...I feel like people can see my badness, my wickedness,” said Mara. “like a stain I can’t see but others can, on my skin, on my body.”

“Wickedness? It sounds like you feel guilty over something. Would you like to talk about it?”

Mara laughed. “You’re such an Adiran, Doctor. Yes, I’m a sinful, sinful young woman. I’ve had premarital sex with several partners, I’ve even had sex with other women. Three other women. And the thing is, I wasn’t just experimenting, I really really liked it. I’m a sinful wicked woman. I wonder if this is my punishment.”

“Well, I’m not going to judge, Mara,” Weinstein assured her. “I know it’s cultural, but humor me as a naive Adiran for a moment. Why feel so guilty about something you enjoy? Discounting everyone’s expectations, do you really regret doing these things?”

Mara considered, and reached down to pick up Precious, who had returned and was begging to be lifted to her lap. “Let’s put it this way: I am both. I am a woman with desires. I like being a lover, I enjoy bodies together. I enjoy the different things...the grain of the skin, the silk of it, the warmth, the kissing, the touching, the smells...all of it. But then too I am a woman of a Christian people in a Christian culture. I am intensely aware of all that my faith commands. I am a fornicator, a lascivious woman, the kind warned about in the book of Proverbs, a Jezebel, a harlot. The Prophet is right about that.”

“It sounds as though trying to live up to the ideal of your faith causes you a great deal of guilt, and that its expectations could get in the way of your own happiness,” Weinstein said, taking notes. “When you feel as though you’re not living up to that ideal, what do you feel like doing? Do you feel anything physically? You know, like curling up from before.”

“Gosh, no,” replied Mara, her eyes widening. “No, you know, prayer, confession, absolution, repentence, the whole jazz, the whole nine yards. That’s why I started focusing on charity originally, you know. Then I found it was a good thing on its own. So I do that but...well….I guess I wanted to turn over a new leaf with Michael, I feel like I’m shop worn. Spoiled.”

“Sounds like you’re trying to compensate in a way. Can I ask you something else? Are you concerned about performance? I believe you said things were generally OK, but did you feel as though you were pressured to perform?”

“That’s the funny thing, I did about emotional stuff, not physical stuff,” Mara sighed. “Like...he’s handsome, he’s kind, he kisses well. It wasn’t the first time I’ve had sex you know. It’s weird, I used to enjoy thinking about it before, and suddenly...I dunno, when we got back I felt this sort of sick feeling about it. And you know what, it reminds me of when I was with Heinrich, he wouldn’t even go to bed with me. You know what? It’s that. I got courted so much, but it’s like...I’m just wrong. Like only my title makes me tolerable.” Mara lowered her eyes. “Like I’m ugly but no one will tell me.”

“With all of those political matches and empty relationships, I understand why you would feel that way, especially with how often it was happening,” Weinstein replied. “Let’s try something. You’ve described some of your troubled relationships, can you think of any better relationships you’ve had? Doesn’t matter how serious, just a few cases where you felt it wasn’t about your title, where the other person genuinely cared about you.”

Looking up, petting Precious, her hands moving in the little dog’s black fur as if to gain comfort from it, Precious panting a little pink ribbon of a tongue out, Mara said, “Well...there’s Anelyn. Anelyn is my friend. She was also my lover while I was there. I...wasn’t so much seeking you know, an orgasm so much as I just loved being so close to her, being with her imaginatively, being so relaxed, so free...I loved that. I also was lovers with Enoch for a while before he got married and before I was. Same kind of thing. Just...so fun, so easy going, caring about each other but so accepting...if I could have anything it would be that….” she said almost dreamily.

Nodding, Weinstein continued. “And it sounds like they felt the same way about you?”

Mara smiled at him. “I know what you’re going to say...how can I then think that I’m maybe ugly, or wrong, or tainted if people love me? It’s easy, Doctor--they’re such good people they love me in spite of how much of a mess I am.”

“You feel ashamed because you think your relationships have fallen through because of you. I know you think it has something to do with you, but it’s not your fault, Mara, it’s how those troubled relationships were formed,” Weinstein countered. “The good ones you mentioned, the ones with Queen Anelyn, with Prince Enoch, these weren’t arranged. They were spontaneous, they were fun, and it was entirely up to you how serious, how fast they went. You had agency.”

“By contrast, the troubled relationships were arranged, and you weren’t really in control of that process, were you? You were raised expecting an arranged marriage, I know, but you still knew how you would make such a relationship work. Finding the right person would have had to ultimately be up to you. You didn’t really get to pick your husbands based on your needs. You said your mother was selecting your suitors? She favored Jocasta, wanted to disempower you. You said with Michael, even though you ostensibly had final say, you were pressured.”

She looked at him and then shook her head. “I dunno...I’m gonna have to think about that. That’s...well I didn’t think of it like that before. And what about sin? You’re a Jewish atheist, aren’t you?” she held up a hand. “I just mean that...I wonder if you get how big a deal that is to me.”

“I’m not actually Jewish or an atheist, Mara, but that doesn’t really matter,” he corrected. “You have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and you trust in the love that has the power to transform any person into a great person. You believe that he has the power to forgive your sins, and if you confess them to God and within your heart and accept his forgiveness, then you have nothing to fear. Placing your trust in God is what gives you saving Grace that Sin can be repented for.”

Mara raised her eyebrow. “Well, that’s one way to look at it. Do you think if you go on sinning and supporting your sin in thoughts that God forgives that? Being attracted to, and pursuing attraction to other women is a sin. So is extramarital sex.” she smiled thinly. “I don’t think that’s something I can just push God’s grace on. Maybe He might forgive me...but I feel bad about it.”

“If I may, can I float an idea? What if you have the wrong idea about what your sin is? What if the real sin was to take vows for purely political motives, rather than forming a sacred union?” Weinstein said.

“Oh my gosh, you don’t understand!” cried Mara. “I mean that what I did before...this is like the result, Don’t you see that? It’s like….” she sketched the air with her hands. “Doctor, you really don’t seem to get where I’m coming from. Do you honestly not see the sinfulness of my actions before? I don’t really feel bad but I know it’s wrong but...it’s such a mess...and now all this...it’s just a headache, so confusing….”

“Mara, take a moment to clear your head. Then tell me what you think I don’t understand, and why you think that,” Weinstein said calmly. “I want to assure you I’ve not considered all of this lightly.”

“I don’t know….” Mara took a few deep breaths, closed her eyes, stroked Precious’ fur, breathing slowly and more rhythmically, flexing her bare toes on the rug. She was quiet for a while, then said, “I am not...I’m not a good woman in some important ways. I don’t really believe that homosexuality is a sin, for a start. But all Five Churches say it is. There’s a start.”

“You’re deeply conflicted, Mara. Your feelings are torn between your faith and your lifestyle. Your faith, a key part of your life, is causing you to feel shame for things you’ve done in the past which have, in fact, brought you great happiness. Neither your faith nor your happiness can be discounted, and you’re struggling to figure out how to reconcile the two.”

Mara laughed ruefully. “Yes, my gosh, that sounds like the truth. Whew...well...that lays it out a bit for me doesn’t it? Doctor Weinstein, may I meet with you this week to discuss going to Soledad? Can you and Dr. Rezanic please put together some kind of plan for me?” she paused a moment. “Probably Enoch will talk to you both about the affairs of state part of it, so this is just for me, to figure out what I’d be doing, all that stuff.”

“Of course, Mara. We’ll talk more about specifics this week, but it’s going to be as close to a completely stress-free environment as you can get. We’ll keep doing the massages, physical therapy, but we’ll also introduce some courses. Those courses will be designed to help you resolve some of those internal conflicts like what we were just talking about, among other things.”

“Alright.” Mara said, pondering. “Will you be there?”

“Of course Mara, you’re my patient,” Weinstein replied. “I’ll be with you every step of the way, as long as you’re under the care of myself and Dr. Rezanic.”

Mara sighed. “Alright. Thank you. But what about your family? Well I suppose Soledad will be safer than here…”

“We hadn’t really settled on anywhere in Padan yet. Iris already has the house taken care of, so it doesn’t really matter where we end up now. Ron will rest a bit easier,” Weinstein said.

“Mmm...well I hope that works out for you. If you need any compensation about the house hunting you have been doing, let my staff know,” Mara told him. “And I need some rest now, but thank you for the talk, Doctor Weinstein.”

“We should be fine, but thank you Mara,” Weinstein said with a smile. “Go get some rest, we’ll talk again soon.”

[Seelelander]

On a great terrace set above a grand ballroom, some Royal Guardsmen and aides were leaning on the balcony. A great staircase of carved wood and polished steps led down to it.

"What a lot of riotous noise there is in the news lately--do you think it will come to war after all?" one soldier said idly, watching people mingling, chatting in the ballroom below, finery, evening dress, dress uniforms mixing about.

"The ETC are always fussing and bleating about something," said the other, shifting his stance. Suddenly there was a fanfare below, and the soldiers straightened up as the Heir began to enter the ballroom below, in a dark blue gown with glittering little jewels set in the material, her dark hair piled into a braided crown, her lovely face serene, followed by senior courtiers, people bowing deeply, military officers springing to attention, saluting.

Standing at attention, they muttered still. "There is Colonel Josephus down there, with King-Consort Michael, and Count Falk--how many colonels do we have now anyway?"

"They are not all the colonels," said the other Guardsman. "They are honourary; King-Consort Michael does not even hold a commission in the New Edomite Army. Colonel Josephus is a colonel in the Army, but not officially in command of the Regiment, while Count Falk is a Colonel but is only the commanding officer, not the Colonel-in-Chief..."

"Too much for me. See how he stares at the Heir! Is it devotion?"

"Devotion to something..." The Heir had accepted obeisance, and people were going back to chatting and talking, The Guardsmen relaxed again, and noticed that the beautiful woman who was one of the Queen’s doctors was passing nearby, obviously on her way to the Queen’s quarters, probably lost or something. It was easy to get lost in Betharan Palace, which ad been built over time by various monarchs and had all kinds of odd corridors, add ons and rooms built entirely for special purposes.

Amyris took care as she counted each door she passed, making a mental note where they were with her usual pen and pad, drawing a map upon it. She raised her eyebrow as she stared at it with confusion for a moment. She then looked back at a familiar room, and she looked over around the area. The notes were scribbled all over in frustration as she looked over at the guardsmen for a moment, and gave a gentle curtsy. “Gentlemen, may I trouble you to direct me to where the Queen’s Quarters are? I’ve been roaming for ages, and I have passed this same hall for the eight time, somehow. I have no idea if I can take passing this same painting one more time. It is mocking me.”

“Hello Miss,” said the first Guardsman with a smile. “Yes, it is a bit confusing, is it not? We have to have a special orientation and even then we find it tries us, but you get used to it. Not like Shiloam Palace at all, not at all. Are you going to an audience with the Queen?”

“She’s a doctor, isn’t she?” the second one interjected.

“Sorry, doctor,” said the other. They were both in formal dress uniforms, with shakos with tall crimson griffon feathers, green jackets, yellow and white facings, white breeches and black polished shoes, as they were Halberdier Guards not Cavalry Guardsmen.

“I am indeed seeking to give Her Majesty an important evaluation and I will continue with helping her with her health, but this Palace reminds me of a tale spoke of in my country where a man offended the local chieftain so greatly that they built an enormous prison-like maze which was surrounding him and he wandered and wandered until the end of time in it. This is so very frustrating, as I cannot tell if this is the exact same painting I see every other hall, and many of the rooms look exactly alike.”

“That some do,” said the first Guardsman with a grin. “Now, i will show you in the right direction, and in future feel free I’m sure to grab a servant and get them to guide you. Which I shall do now, a little ways though I cannot venture far from my post.”

Leading her a little ways down the upper terrace hall, they came to a door and he said, “Now mark you, doctor, this door looks exactly like the other a little farther down, and tricks you into think that this one is but a room or closet, but in fact it will lead you right to a flight of stairs to the upper gallery and there to the left are the Queen’s chambers. Currently the Queen is being guarded by sailors in the service of Prince Elijah, and that may have also deceived your eyes a bit.” he nodded to her in a friendly way. “And I was not sure who you were at first, you look, forgive me, like any servant woman although very fair to the eyes.”

In fact this was a problem that Amyris Rezanic had faced before on arriving at Betharan Palace--being taken by one person or another for a typical palace servant in her natural state, being suddenly given an armful of towels or a cart to push, confusion on the face of the staff member who then heard her accent and realized they’d made a mistake.

Though often she would carry out her duties and added these little chores as she went along, as it was not really much trouble for her to get them done as she was on her way, but it was when she had time constraints that she would rush. Otherwise, Amyris was task oriented, and she focused entirely on social relationships without giving much importance to time. It was a cultural matter, and it was perhaps, a bit of a strange thing for her that she often got ready hours before, and would still only arrive on time.

Amyris carefully approached the area in the tower where before her stood a door that appeared simple and seemed to be what would be no more than a strange closet door, and then she opened it, checking to see if it was the stairs. She had every intention of picking up the pace, and giving Elijah a friendly greeting before heading up to see her Queen for a great amount of therapy that would be focused on her carefully constructed formulae.

“Thank goodness,” she said to herself as she carefully built to a sprint, happy that at last she at least appeared to know what she was doing. As she took each step it was as if a spring had made her bounce into the air. “ I thought I would have lost track if it weren’t for those gentlemen earlier, I must remember to repay them at a later date.” She said to herself mentally as her careful smooth half moon crescent steps, and she finally managed to spot what appeared to be the cluster of sailors.

The hallway was cozy, that led to Queen Mara’s chambers. It had originally been built for Queen Tamara, the wife of King James I, who had been reclusive and shy, and so it was heavily carpeted, with wood paneling framing the walls, curving into an arched ceiling, and there stood several sailors in parade dress with dark blue uniforms, striped blue and white shirts, rifles held, talking quietly but still on duty. One of them, a short bearded middle aged burly looking man, noticed her approaching, slowing her walk from a gorgeous sprint that had their eyes looking at her with open admiration. The Chief Bos’n’s Mate approached her. “Hello my honey, what brings you here?” he asked kindly, always giving a bit of time for a pretty girl, but wary--Jael had thus gulled a heathen general once, long ago.

“It is I, Amyris Rezanic, MD. I have come to see my patient, for an appointment of sorts. I would appreciate if I would be permitted to speak with Prince Elijah for but one moment?” The woman said with that purring accent that lingered on her tongue. “His Highness will be needed for a moment while I shall ask him but a question before going on my way to aid Her Majesty.”

The Chief said, “I believe His Highness is attending the ball, Lady Doctor. Back the way you came.” One of the sailors snickered, the Chief stiffened and darted a glare and all faces were blank.

“I shall speak to him at a later time then, will I be permitted to pass? I do have my identification and necessary passes. I have the clearance, and am considering at the moment the needs of my patient.” Amyris explained. “The stress at the moment needs to be mitigated as best as I can.”

The sailors had no idea what she was talking about, only that she had an appointment. The Chief touched his radio headset. “Dr. Rezanic is here,” he said when he was received. He nodded and said, “You may go in, open the door for the doctor.”

A sailor did smilng, Edomite fashion, at the attraction of her bouncy bosom, much as in another country a person might admire her hair. Within there was a sort of sitting room which was adjoined to others, and a young woman with a kerchief around her head of soft green material, wearing a matching gown, with a large bosom herself and a rather long sharp nose was folding up a laptop that was at odds with the classical woven rugs and antique paintings on the wall and carved furniture. “My goodness, we’re all at sixes and sevens here,” she said with a smile. ‘You must be Dr. Rezanic, I’m Countess Nabal, the Queen’s er...restored Lady in Waiting, how do you do?”

“It is an honor Lady Nabal, I am Amyris Rezanic, MD. I understand that her Majesty is currently available to have her therapeutic discussions at the moment? I suspected that she would need as much comfort as was possible right now as well as various coping skills in order to help her, so I have to speak with her, but I understand as Lady in Waiting you are able to assist me as well in applying various regulations in order for Her Majesty’s swift recovery?” Amyris asked as she took out a sheaf of notepad paper from her personal pad and wrote a few orders upon it for a change in her aromatherapy and bathing oils, increasing her intake of vitamin E using the smooth quickly absorbing jojoba oil. She also included various periods in her schedule for prayer and contemplation that would be uninterrupted and silent. There was as well a few various alterations to her diet, offering a soft gentle chamomile and kava root tea which would carefully relax her before any period of rest. She carefully noted other various necessary infusions that would need to be placed in various areas to carefully increase the sweet scents she would smell in passing from her private space to her public space. There would be a subtle change in scent, and it was carefully expanding as the therapy continued. At first, just her room, then her room and the area by the doorway, and it carefully continued to expand outward into the hallway, leading her ‘comfort’ space to be increased subtly little by little. When Amyris would notice the quick shift into the ‘ball mask’ personality she would place the second infusion smell which would carefully shift the scents to another more musky scent, like smooth sandalwoods and fresh pines or glacial brushvine. These scents would invoke a bit of attention shifting as Amyris had carefully continued to work with her charge.

She bowed her head before the Countess as she took the notes, and then wondered how many appointed positions in Mara’s court were performing to her expectations. She was not, of course, interested in politics but this did not stop her from learning what was relevant to the patient’s ailments and her recovery.

“Yes, i will be able to help you,” the young Countess said, “In fact you’re better off going through me for your appointments. I’m Her Majesty’s lady-in-waiting but also her appointments secretary now. She’s been most kind, most kind indeed. And she would like to see you now. I have you on the schedule of course. Please pardon those uncouth louts Prince Elijah set to guard her--they’re extremely loyal but not used to dealing with Court life at all. And everything is up in the air with our move planned…” she knocked and heard a muffled “Yes?” and said, “It’s Dr. Rezanic.”

The door opened, and a slim Elwe girl with slightly sloe eyes, fair skin painted with pink and blue flowers around her waist and boyish buttocks, her fair hair in a high flowing ponytail, opened the door. “Oh yes, of course she is awaited, Excellency.”
A person as perceptive as Rezanic might notice a faint antipathy between these two--not outright hostility, but cat and dog wariness. The Elwe servant girl was entirely deferential, but there was a stiffness each in response to the other, ceremony keeping it civil.

“Thank you.” the Countess smiled at Rezanic, and then the Elwe girl announced, “Dr. Rezanic, Your Majesty.”

The Majesty had been swimming, and her long dark hair was still frizzled and damp, and she apologized as she stepped into the little sitting room that Rezanic was shown into. it was a very cozy little room, large enough for a few people to perhaps relax in, with a coal brazier burning incense in a corner, a painting of a rather smug looking 18th Century hunter on the wall with a greyhound and a falcon as well as a flowing maned horse; a huge vase painted with delicate blue pheasants and large comfortable chairs with woven shawl like cloths on them. The Queen wore a linen tunic that came to just below her hips and was barefoot, unadorned except for the royal necklace of beaten Cornellen coins, her ring, and a golden anklet made of golden beads. “Dr. Rezanic, how delightful to see you...thank you Tegan,” she said to her maid, who departed and closed the door. “How are you? I was afraid you’d been abducted for someone’s wife or something, won’t you sit down?”

“Of course, your Majesty. I am pleased to see you are well at the moment. I see you have been keeping up with your swimming. How many laps can you do in one minute now?” Amyris asked warmly as she carefully seated herself, giving a gentle nod of acknowledgement to Tegan.

“I’m doing about 30 meters a minute” Mara said with a smile. “I’m getting better at it, and I’ve been finding things to eat, and sleeping a bit better. Not always, but I think so. You’ve probably seen the reports but I’ve been keeping up with things, though it was hard this week.” she sat down herself. “I played cards with a friend, and visited another-well she visited me here. It was nice.”

“A welcome respite, I would imagine. How many hours have you been committing to work and how many in relaxation?” Amyris asked, not because she herself did not know the answer, but she wished to observe Mara’s reactions, from every subtle movement, to facial expressions, and expressed tone of voice. She wanted to evaluate if Mara was feeling stress from overwork, or boredom from lack of motivation, which gave Amyris a barometer on how to update the scheduling plans. The resting schedule for sleep was very strict, but it was kept in order to ensure her circadian rhythms were returning to normal.

For a moment, Mara did not reply, then she said, drawing her legs up so she was almost perching on her chair, “It’s sort of weird...I feel lazy. I’m spending a few hours a day with working, the rest resting or dealing with health. I feel like I have so much sleep to catch up with.”

“You do have a lot of sleep to catch up on. You’ve not actually had a good night’s rest in such a long time, and this is why all of this is giving you the feeling that you are getting not enough sleep. At the moment we’ve moved you to a more normal sleeping pattern, but before you were sleeping less than the Dymaxion Cycle, which is only two hours of sleep per day, so it is only logical with a more normal pattern that you would feel like you are losing time. This is a careful way to build up your sleep to a normal pattern. Now we have several sleep cycles we can adjust you to, but in reality the most beneficial for you would be the normal monophasic sleep cycle, which is six to eight hours a night. This is how much you are pushing for, and at the moment we still have you building up to that, as of now, your sleep hygiene is improving. This is a good set of steps. Now, have you been feeling anything special or unusual today?” Amyris asked, priming her for a chance to speak a little bit about her thoughts. This would be a continued motion of careful observations from reactions to what she would ask.

Rolling her eyes considering, rocking in her chair a bit, her toes twiddling, she said, “I feel like I’m paying for my sins. I saw Queen Anelyn yesterday, and then I felt like our friendship was same as before. But...things are different now. I missed her.” Mara looked at Amyris sadly. “You know what...I’m a very sinful woman...but I don’t know what to do about it. About the fact that...I really don’t have any sexual morals. Like...Michael told me he is going to have a mistress, and I didn’t really care, actually I said and thought ‘good’. At least someone might make him happy…” she ran a hand through her hair. “Sorry, I’m rambling…”

She continued, “I feel like...there’s something wrong with me. Dr. Rezanic. I feel like...well it’s easier just to tell you. It’s not just that I used to be...wicked, that I had lovers, male and female...it’s that I still feel like doing it, I don’t really care. I have no morals at all.”

“Are you speaking about morals in general or only sexual morals?” Rezanic asked as she pondered carefully. “Do you feel sexually aroused by animals or inanimate objects? How about corpses, and also infants and children?” The psychologist asked rhetorically, as she doubted this was the case. “Because if your answer to any of these is ‘no’ then you actually have some sexual morals, but the ones you are missing is the practice of monogamy, and heterosexuality, am I correct?”

Mara burst out laughing. “No, no animals, no children, no corpses, no infants. Well okay, you are smarter than me. And yes, you are correct.” she looked at the doctor with affection. She seemed to physically relax a bit with her laughter and with her liking of the doctor.

“You see things are a little bit more complicated than being written in black and white. Every man is born with sin, and we must struggle with our inner demons before we truly understand why Jesus was willing to take the scourge for us, why he was willing to be beaten for us, and why he was crucified to save us. Our souls are not entirely slaves to our desires, nor are are bodies shackled to sin. This is why we must always learn to confront our fears about Sin and our spiritual well-being, rather than anguishing about it alone. Have you ever made a confession to Jesus Christ?” The woman asked as she did seem to actually be quite faithful with her beliefs personally, but also appealed to the better nature of Mara’s sense of understanding. “Because the greatest thing about his love for us, is that his deep love granted us the gift of redemption. If we learn to struggle against our baser natures, we can even learn to live what is a celibate holy life, if that is what we desired. Giving our entire sacramental holiness to God, this is something that many women of my people have done who are like me, Christian. They become nuns in the fold, living as an example to us all. But even those holy women have desires, they just learn how to control them with their willpower and courage. I believe you have the courage and willpower to overcome anything that makes you unhappy. If you are happier doing it than not doing it, merely pray and surrender your soul to Jesus’s saving grace. Because even the Virgin Mary was freed from sin by grace alone. She did not have the redeeming sacrifice of Christ, she had only the grace of God. You too, may have this grace.”

Mara brushed a tear away, and said “Yes, you are right, of course. I should talk to Father about it, but I have been afraid to. You’re right. I should talk to my Confessor about it. I don’t know why I don’t go to him…” she sighed.

“There is hope, and I believe in a loving God. I believe God will save humanity from Sin, and that our souls are not beyond saving even with remaining sin within us. If you also desire to work on your sense of shame about it, you may always speak to me. I do not consider the existence of sin to be shameful. It was a horrible crime committed by the serpent under the command of Satan to destroy mankind, but God did not merely complacently accept this crime and let mankind be doomed. If there was even one ounce of faith and good loving hearts, God will deliver the soul from hell after the coming of trials. Noah was also saved and those who fled Sodom and Gomorrah were saved by putting their trust in the Lord. You too, will be saved if you accept the sacrifice in your heart.”

Mara sighed. “It’s so hard to repent of it, you know. A lot of my family...they just pretend. I can’t seem to pretend. I thought for a bit that it was okay, to fornicate and all that, to seek out lovers, and then I felt afraid when my father died, that I’d die suddenly and go to Hell. Unforgiven, unrepentant. I mean what if it happened and I had no communion, no confession before? So I got scared about it.”

“It is a galling thought for me, to think about those who still don’t know. To those whose souls are still at risk due to their profound ignorance and hatred. Still not realizing that it is God who loves us and they that hate Him, they struggle against Him. This is just a common recognition I sense, in those voices who are Atheist. They bewail the injustice in the world, oft man-made and done to placate insatiable desires, over flames of hatred that scream and roar louder than the quiet song of peace that sings in the hearts of good people. Even the wicked could hear it, if they just relinquished their arrogance and surrendered to grace. Then there is those who also don’t realize what they do. There is a reason that Jesus cried ‘forgive them, for they do not know what they do’ most Sin is done in blind ignorance, done without realizing it is wrong. Tell me, Your Majesty, which do you think is worse? To Sin while recognizing the filth of Sin, or to Sin without recognizing Sin is Sin?”

“I guess the other thing...but Dr. Rezanic in that case then I really only have two choices, right? To try my best to accept and reconcile with my husband, or to accept that I can divorce him for his adulteries,” Mara said. “I heard he even tried to make love to you.”

“He tried to rape me, actually. I am actually slightly afraid of him, though I find he is attractive.” The Seeleländian woman said without using title, for a Merovani woman that was akin to using a vulgar word, for which she apologized. “Forgive me, I’m sure his Majesty is something of a strange flip flop on the case of myself, as I see that he is an adulterer, and a philanderer, but further: I see that he is ignorant of what love is. He knows what intimacy is, he knows what sex is, but he doesn’t know what love is. If you were to try and tell him what you fear for your soul, do you think he would rise to the occasion and offer you comfort as your helpmate and husband that was bound in the sacrament of God? If not, then there is a problem, because it means there is an issue of faith on his part, or an issue of love, which means he is either godless, or he doesn’t love you. There are possibly other explanations, but there’s few other things I can think of.” Rezanic said with a sigh. “Because of that I would say, try to talk to him, ask if he knows what real love is. Christ Love is not selfish, it is kind.” She said recalling the words of the Bible.

Mara thought. “Yes, I know that, patient, kind, unselfish...but listen to you. He tried to rape you.” Mara said flatly. “What do you mean? Tell me what happened.” Mara seemed to change at that moment, her back straightened, her eyes flashed, her lips tightened, she looked at Amyris waiting for an answer.

“He forced himself on me, I stopped him short of it, because I think even in his heart, he knew it was wrong. He struggled against his baser nature, and very nearly made me more of a victim than I already am. Happily, I am no longer able to remain his doctor as he is not my patient any longer. His good nature won in spite of the lust and violence forcing his hand. I would even say, there is a chance he was demonically possessed. For this, I do not fault him. For this, I forgive him. I will not also allow him to harm my patient, which requires a bit of disclosure. In this case, it is important that you know I am breaking a very important rule by telling you the truth. I am not allowed to report anything said in confidence under the badge of office. If he HAD raped me and I lived, by law he could still sue me for speaking to you about this and he would win. My licence could be revoked, but even now I tell you the truth, because you are the Queen, and a good friend to me over this time. This is why, I am trusting you as well. I am not afraid of him, but I know what happened.”

Mara shook her head and tears filled her eyes. “I cannot believe he tried to do that. Oh my gosh...that’s so awful. Amyris, I will not tell anyone, but are you sure you do now wish to accuse him? I mean...he tried to rape you! That’s so terrible...I’m so unhappy that this happened, you would not have been in that position but for me!” she realized she had called the doctor Amyris but it was in the heat of the moment. “What would you like me to do? Can I do anything for you? I feel so bad about this!”

“You are not responsible for his greed or his aggression, Queen Mara. I do not blame either you, Your Majesty, nor him. I will not accuse him, but I also am going to warn her Majesty for the sake of her own safety. He sometimes cannot contain himself, and thus your majesty must be careful with him as aggression is absolutely not what I want to see result from me not telling Your Majesty the truth. I am sure Teagan can tell you what happened that night in detail as well, so that you may know what is truth.” The Merovani woman said with a calm expression. “There is nothing to forgive, as I believe that you have not made him the way he is.”

“Well...alright,” said Mara. “He seems to not be able to control himself.I was told that he committed adultery with...a foreign woman, and I have heard rumours about him and my sister, though she’s so proper I cannot imagine her even having sex as a married woman...so what should I do then? Divorce him? Try to keep reconciling? Those seem my only virtuous choices.”

“Has he been Baptized, Confirmed, and has he taken Holy Communion?” Amyris asked with a calm expression attempting to see if an annulment was possible. “If he is not really a Christian, then the marriage itself… is not a real one is it?”

“He is,” Mara said.

“Has he confessed? This I cannot be sure, but in order to be redeemed he needs to follow the steps to be forgiven. I have already done so, but I cannot speak for whether God will or not, but God-Willing, there is still a chance that you can make a good decision based on whether according to your beliefs on what makes a good husband, if those are met needs, then it is important to remember he overcame his own base natures. Admittedly, after I wrenched his hands off me and I fled, but he did not chase me, and did not do it again.”

“Well...so far we have had one good conversation,” Mara said fretfully. “He has agreed to respect the distance between us. I said it was alright if he had a mistress. I felt that was the best thing for now.” she rubbed her temple a bit. “Well I’ll have to think about it. This is as much affairs of state as my personal life. I will give it some thought…”

“Precisely, and perhaps he did take a paramour, but how inappropriate that he would seek incest as well as fornication. To seek carnal knowledge of one’s Sister in Law? A most horrifying thought. That is to me a bit strange, but I suppose perhaps this appeals to him. This said, I think again, you must consider how much emotional intimacy you are able to give to him as your husband, because you must also think of your duties as a Queen. Would you be able to bear a son with the man who is having sex with your sister?”

Mara exclaimed, “He is NOT having sex with my sister! He is merely spending time with her! What a strange turn of mind you have! Or do you know something I don’t, eh?” she glared at Rezanic. “What have you heard? Tell me at once!”

“Your Majesty, the truth is there isn’t anyone who does not see the burning lust for which he has for your sister. He desires not only to take her as his wife from what I see, but also to usurp the throne. This would be treason if the gossip of our servants are correct. You may ask the others, and they will come to the very same conclusion. I pray I am wrong, but if I am not, this means that he is not only incestuous, but he is attempting to use Jocasta to gain more power for himself, by committing you against Doctor’s orders.”

“And the reconciliation of our parties...is that all a sham in your opinion? Or do you think he is the sole factor that is a sham?” Mara asked. She seemed very brittle and sad.

“The reconciliation of your parties is something that can be done, but for this to happen, I recommend that there must be a direct conversation, with your sister. There also must be a direct conversation with your husband. If he denies that he made advances on me, you will know he is lying. If he confesses to you, his wife, then he has a contrite heart. If he denies that his relationship with your sister is inappropriate, then demand that he no longer have any contact with her again, and if he refuses then he is likely guilty, if he agrees with your will he has a contrite heart. This means he will try to reconcile with you. For Jocasta, I think she is being used, for this I think you need a direct conversation with her alone. You need to have a conversation as family. You are sisters, born of the same flesh and blood that resides in your veins. There is much you can do to salvage that relationship and even the one with your mother, as long as you are able to open your heart. Taking responsible for your actions is part of what makes a contrite heart. You agree to take active steps for redemption. Your theory is that currently it was your sin that caused your suffering right now, and perhaps this is the time you let go of that burden. You feel your sin has separated you from your mother, and your sister, and your husband, then grapple with it, use wisdom and do what is the most brave and courageous thing you could possibly do. You can tell your family that you have done wrong in the past, and that now, you have understood the power of Christ’s salvation, and now like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden you can see the nakedness of sin in the pure redeeming light of Our Lord. This means that you can overcome what sin has wrought. Do you have the courage and strength to make that step forward? If you need courage, I will help you learn it. If it is not courage that you need and you need temperance, I shall help you learn it. If it is strength you need, I will teach you the way to power. If it is a loving heart you need, you merely need Christ to get it. The things you can learn is quite achievable, but it is scary. I understand it, and even if you believe I could never understand it the way you feel it, which would be the truth, I am still here to help shoulder your burden along with those who care for you. Among those who love and respect you as the Queen of New Edom.”

Mara took in a deep breath. “Well...there is a deal of things you do not know...but you are generally telling me things that I am very troubled by. But what about Soledad? I’ve been wanting to get away so much….to have some peace, now it sounds like you are telling me I have to stay and fight things.”

“No, but you will have to confront its ugly head one day, and in doing so perhaps that weight from your heart will be lifted. The assailing pain that seeps deep within your soul is like a boil. Sometimes in order to get rid of the deepest and darkest of sins, you need to have it lanced. Perhaps this is also what is happening now. You can feel the full pain of it right here and right now. The sin, in order to lance it like a boil and drain away the festering pus beneath, you must do what may feel hurtful in the short term, what will be much less hurtful in the long-term. The result of leaving this to fester and grow is that who you are, what you desire to be will die. It will eat at the tender most bits of your moral fibers, and eat it like flesh eating bacteria, as the healthy right side of your morality dies away you begin to lose track. What is right, what is wrong? Why can’t I see it? The pain right now I can see in your eyes. How would you describe it?”

“I feel sick about it, my head is aching, my body feels just...worn out and sick, I feel so sad about it...I wanted to be good to my husband, he wanted me to be some totally different person...I feel like there is something wrong with me, I feel like curling up and crawling into a ball. I want to shut out the world like a porcupine,” she said, drawing her legs up to her, hugging her arms around them. “I feel like it is a sick lump in the middle of my body…”

Amyris hugged Mara warmly like a mother cradling a child. “It is a sick lump, but it is in the middle of your soul. It threatens to tear away at the things you desire and strive to be. Think for a moment, if you could be wiser, would you not trust in God to help you? Would you let Our Lord and Savior free you from this misery? If so, there are many things I can and will teach you in the Soledad isles. They are on the point of Soladrid, and it is quiet, isolated from the world, and if you desire to do an intensive therapy, we will also ensure that there is no toxic communication with you at all. No bad news, no calls, none of those terrible things that assail you on all fronts. It is a peaceful place full of light and beauty. Of course, you can also return right now, but do you feel like you are strong enough to do it and retain your sense of dignity? If not, you can coalesce and recover your sense of peace first and then live to fight another day. My advice is, you go to the Soladrid Archipelago, and that you go to the Soledad isles, and that you do the intensive course, not merely for your peace of mind, but also to recover the courage in your mind to not only become what is low bar acceptable to the standards enforced by your society, but to go further and to the highest possible standards that you have for yourself.” Amyris said encouragingly. “You have wonderful potential to be one of the Greatest Queens New Edom has ever seen, and the most loved Monarch in Cornellian history, but you have to decide for yourself if you really and truly want it, and how you desire to reach for it. I will give you scaffolding, and you will climb to the top of your expectations, and perhaps even above and beyond them, and you could look into your heart and say, I can feel in my soul, that it is gone. I am not controlled by this anymore. I am free.”

Mara lay against the other woman, and began to slowly breathe more deeply, putting arms around her and whispered, “I want to go. I want to be well. I want to be good. I want to be free of what feels like a curse over my soul. Elijah will protect my rights while I am gone. I can trust him to the bitter end, he would always protect me. You are right...I must go...I will go.” she closed her eyes and was very quiet and very still, only her breathing and warmth indicating her being alive.
Amyris stayed with her as she gently in a maternal fashion stayed with her the entire time, massaging her head, neck, and shoulders. She knew that it would be painful for a while because she had finally gotten out a real and true cry, a cry that had finally could rupture the firm boundaries that Mara had trapped herself in. She took into her heart the belief that she could be better, she could find happiness, she could be everything she wanted to be and more. She had hope, and hope was itself a sweet glistening light when one enters the dark halls of despair. Clawing at it, reaching for it, she had stumbled, struggled and fought with her innermost demons in the darkness and she had finally seen it for the faintest moment, there was light. With that knowledge that there is light, it would begin the second battle, for after the realization of hope, there was now the struggle to reach redemption. The freeing hope that finally touched Queen Mara would perhaps inspire, or doom her future. The unassuming Amyris of course, merely cradled and nurtured her way unassumingly to the center of yet another cold chilling war that would perhaps define the future of New Edom for better, or for worse.

[Hittanryan]

Harbourtown

A discreet communication made its way from the streets of Harbourtown to the Adiran embassy. Word on the grapevine was that there was a fire sale. Businessowners were fleeing the ETC, afraid that fighting could still break out. Only the brave or heavily-invested were still sticking around. A number of Adiran firms were among them. Newell-Nolan and the Journeyman Group hadn't bailed yet; the local managers seemed assured that their government would help guarantee their assets. When the managers were asked where they heard that, they weren't specific.

That same day, Carl Oliviero from Oscillo called the embassy, asking for details about the truce between the monarchist factions. Was it going to hold? Were any parts of the country still in jeopardy? The staffer said that the two factions were largely united in their opposition to the ETC, and as long as that Sword of Damocles hung over them, the truce would probably hold. In the meantime though, many cities still had ETC and labor strikes to deal with. Had Oliviero heard that businesses were starting to flee Harbourtown?

No, as it turned out, Oliviero hadn't heard that. Neither had the other big Adiran companies. 'Thank you for your time, no, we don't need any more details right now, thank you. Listen, I might have to call you back later...'

Almost immediately after that call, Adiran representatives started tracking down the fleeing business owners in Harbourtown. They were already leaving town, if they didn't sell now, they'd be left with just the clothes on their back...maybe. If they sold, they'd have something to start over on. Someone else would take the risk.

Far from every offer was accepted. Some had major legal hurdles, others were too stubborn to sell, and the Noviterans had somehow already smelled the blood in the water. However, a few managed to get through. Green Futures bought out the Kai Commercial House Green Energy Factory, though missed its chance at the ethanol plant. Saito-Farad had better luck, managing to grab a few of its own distribution warehouses as well as putting a few shipping and rail services under some of its subsidiaries. If things held together, it would be the first step towards vertical integration in New Edom. In a panic, even a few Montana assets were sold off to Tai Yong Medical. Montana would still maintain the highest market share in Harbourtown, but it would lose its total dominance for the first time since modernization began. Finally, Evans Industries made an offer to partner with some of the chemical warehouses when they didn't want to sell, give them capital to keep going through the strikes.

Furthermore, the Adiran companies were also alerted to the possibility of this happening in other cities as well. Branches throughout New Edom were told to put out feelers and to keep their fingers on the pulse of the local communities. Wherever the next exodus happened, Adiran firms were going to be ready.

It was perhaps amusing how these events all stemmed from information originating from a naked woman who winced a bit, closing her eyes as she walked into a cold stream of water. Wendy had spent the last few days "looking for work," then going to join some of the protestors as the businessowners started to leave town. Looking around the rest of the public shower, she saw others wiping themselves down in the sun, a woman with her young son singing a bit as they scrubbed lightly. This shower wasn't the luxury it might have been, not particularly warm, anything but private, just an expedient way to get clean.

[New Edom]

THE FINEBERG TIMES

March 23 2015

---

Violent Outbreaks as Elections Start in New Edom

10th Military Police Regiment in Bara Province


By Annabelle Barca

Deadly clashes have erupted on the streets of New Edomite cities as voters began registering for national elections, with the leader of the National Wisdom Party in Harbourtown besieged in his office.

Ministry of Justice officials say two supporters of the National Wisdom Party have been killed in clashes with local dominant Free Congress party activists, fueling tensions on a day that the Free Congress has declared “day of judgement”.

The National Wisdom Party leader, Dr. Campion, has urged activists to take to the streets in their thousands as part of a campaign to force the Prophet of the End Times Church and spiritual leader of the Free Congress as well as Sarah Carmel, claiming succession to the Touchstone presidency, to accept the new constitution and the results of a vote for majority in the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.

A local Militia Commander said the two NWP activists were shot dead during clashes with supporters of the Free Congress. At least 15 people were injured, according to doctors at Harbourtown Mercy Hospital.

Violence also broke out in the capital of Fineberg and in around half a dozen towns as 10th Military Police and Free Congress followers clashed with hundreds of NWP protesters, local television channels said.

Campioin issued the call for mass protests in Bara, Gloria Regis, and Teman Province from inside his office, where he has been confined since Sunday night after Militiacordoned off the area.

The Ethnarch of Harbourtown apparently ordered 14 trucks with City Militia to establish a cordon of the NWP's Harbourtown office in order "to protect the candidate from activist violence and prevent turning the election into a bloody farce," according to the Ethnarch's Press Secretary David Crove.

The trucks, laden with sand and bricks, were wedged outside the gates of Campion's office in the upmarket Circle district and at the beginning of the road leading to the building.

City Militia designated as riot police, flanked by armoured vehicles equipped with water cannon, prevented anyone from entering or leaving the premises.

In spite of the use of Democratic Verification LLC, the neutral Callabanese firm that helped establish the electoral process, Free Congress political wing leader Sarah Carmel has accused the government of "Stepping on the shoulders of the late General Pahath-Moab's dictatorship to re-establish the monarchy. The constitution is unacceptable; they were party to usurping the rightful government. I have returned from what I now call a polite form of exile to re-establish what is right."

Prince Elijah Shalmaneser, the Regent, has been urged by Free Congress leaders to state that the current Council of Ministers are merely a caretaker organization for the purpose of elections. "If the Regent agrees to this, then we will have our vote," promised Carmel. "The constitution itself must be revisited and redone in a fair way before we will even consider this election."

Registration booths in parts of Nass, Sixington and Harbourtown were blocked by activists of the Free Congress or in the case of Sixington by Feminist Collective and Marxist activists. In Sixington and Nass, firebombings left 8 and 25 injured respectively.

In Fineberg, leaders of the Free Congress' local party constituencies have since been detained or charged in connection with the election violence, hampering their efforts to press for new polls.

NWP headquarters was locked down at midnight on Saturday, with Militiavans barricading nearby roads.

NWP officials said at least 500 supporters have been arrested, including two senior party figures, on the day of registration. Scuffles broke out near Campion’s office Sunday when a former Minister of Commerce, Julianna Lindley , was turned away from meeting him. “It’s an insult to democracy,” she said. The Ethnarch's office is currently negotiating with the Ministry of Justice to discuss confirmation of Campion's health and safety.

Some bus and ferry services heading to the capital were also suspended at the weekend in a move likely to reduce the number of protesters trying to reach Fineberg. Lieutenant-General Felicity Romain, commanding the IX Army Corps, has been ordered to establish roadblocks on roads leading between Harbourtown, Fineberg and Glasstower, though Glasstower has had no violence yet and has had only a number of demonstrations; heated exchanges have been mediated thus far by trained Militia staff organized by the Commandant, Elder Brother Ephraim.

The Prophet Samuel Under, who has consistently rejected calls for fresh elections, is to deliver a televised address to the nation on Monday night.

[Hittanryan]

Palace of the Ethnarch
Sixington, Gloria Regis

Consul Singleton took advantage of the refreshments as was customary, listened to Livia's concerns, and eventually addressed her. "My government has consistently supported national elections in New Edom, even voiced our concerns directly to the Heir that her tactics were heavy-handed and risked destabilization of the mainland. We continue to support the Allamunnic States' proposal for CPO mediation with respect to Gloria Regis."

"However, my government is concerned by the rhetoric heard from your Minister of Justice. Initially my government felt that fears of political reprisal by your party were overblown, that there was no evidence that your party would seek retribution on those complicit in the violence last year. Unfortunately, Minister Ferrovius' display in the Senate suggested otherwise. We stand firmly behind your statements that tolerance of dissent is vital to establishing a true democracy. If Minister Ferrovius' faction comes to power, though...it's not going to be easy to support Redstocking, Premier."

"After some deliberation, my government supports your position on participating in the National Elections. The compromise amongst the monarchists will hopefully diminish some of the Heir's ability to commit to military action on a whim. My government and Adiran NGO's have been involved with the National Elections Committee, and we are satisfied that if the plan can be implemented properly with scrutiny from neutral election monitors, your political views will ultimately be heard."

[Novitera]

Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin


A taxi pulled up to the home of Count Thomas Lalery. The counts grandeur was something of note. He suspected that this was one of many home he held while Parker only had the one apartment in an Avantine high rise. For presentation sake, Parker arrived well dressed in a grey suit to combat the heat. Today he wore a bowtie considered an appropriate form of formal dress for Noviterans. It was more popular with those who came from the southeast of the country but the fashion gained some traction with the rest Novitera. The flight here was a simple one. Despite being here as an official diplomat, Parker had taken a commercial flight even though the administration would have provided a private jet. First class of course. This was his first time coming to New Edom. Despite a stint with the FIS, Parker was not really one for leaving Novitera. Not that he was averse to traveling just hardly seeing a reason for it.

Taking one last drag from his Ikram cigarette, Parker exited the cab. Noviteran grown tobacco was mostly used for their domestic premium cigar manufacturers and for chewing tobacco. Most regular cigarettes popular in the country were imported and Ikram Quality Cigarettes held a generous twenty-five percent market share. The cigarette was never really Parker's brand but he figured he would give it a try while in New Edom.

[New Edom]

Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin

Thomas Lalery sighed and put aside the copy of the Times he had been reading. His Chief of Staff, Galen, licked his lips nervously.

"What do you want done now sir?" he said. "This doesn't look good for the elections."

"I think it looks great," said Lalery. "In one sense. Always gotta make lemons, Galen boy. Either we win--and according to the polls we had done we will win--or we win because other parties refused the democratic process, and we are forced by their own admission to crack down on them. Sarah Carmel must be frantically busting that little tush of hers to get Under in control like...like a pixy riding a bull. Ha!"

"Excuse me, Highness," said a voice on his intercom. "It is your 3 O'Clock, Mr. Gladwin?"

"Ah yes. Show him in. Galen, I wanted you here for this. How are the negotiations going over the Ethanol Plant?" Lalery asked him.

"It's a scandal, sir," said the prim proper young chief of staff.

"Great."

Gladwin had been shown in by a tough looking brick wall of a soldier, Sergeant Delian, Lalery's senior valet, wearing a barracks dress uniform with beret tucked into epaulet. The house was decorated with a simple rather clear and yet warm design, with a large entrance hall, elegant furniture (most of it designed at a local carpentry shop), smooth neutral textures and artsy decorations. From artwork to furnishing details, everything was selected with care. Glass, metal and wood harmonised beautifully. Space was divided in two different areas: private and social.

He would have seen, at the airport, a visible presence of military personnel in riot gear or in body armour and battle dress. In the distance along the road, held back by cordons of military vehicles, were protestors; in one case along a street near the stadium the blaring sounds of bullhorns and glimpses of fire hoses arcing. Here in Quality Bay all was tranquil; the hoses spraying were attached to sprinklers on the emerald lawns of fancy estates, and those who were naked in public were elegant, had clearly had hours of body painting done to resemble elegant vases, flowers, even clothing, while walking fancy dogs or exercising; many others though were clothed as this was a gated community for aristocracy, senior government officials and wealthy foreigners.

Here in Lalery's house they walked through the hall until they came to a study, and there was Lalery himself, saying, "Mr. Gladwin such a pleasure so grateful you came on such a long journey. I don't know if you know my Chief of Staff, Mr. Galen?"

"How do you do, Mr. Gladwin?" said Galen, offering a bow and a pleasant smile.

"Please, let Sergeant Delian here know what you are drinking. I'm having vermouth, I'm trying it out," said Lalery. "Not sure I like it. Well...the weather seems to be clearing up a bit."

"Yes, we're all grateful for that," said Galen. "What are things like at home for you, Mr. Gladwin? Have you left unhappy family behind pining for you? Weather alright?"

[Novitera]

Estate of Count Thomas Lalery, Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin


The bland bureaucrat walked through the house taking glances at the decor. It was not surprising as they knew Lalery fancied extravagance. He saw very little need for furniture in his home for he spent most of the time there at his desk or bed. Reports had come in of the rising unrest in New Edom but it was good to get a personal account while on his way here. Although since most information came from what he read and Parker utilized that knowledge effectively.

"Good day Count. The pleasure is all mine. It is good for one to travel and since I have never been to New Edom, I found this a excellent opportunity." He replied plainly to the Count. "No, I have never met Mister Galen." Parker turned to Lalery's chief of staff. "A pleasure to meet you. I am doing well thank you."

"I cannot comment on that. I do not drink alcoholic beverages." He looked at Sergeant Delian. "I'll have an ice water please."

"Ah, I can't say I'm in contact with much of my family Mister Galen. My sister calls once in a while but they mostly live in eastern Novitera. Far away from Avantine. You could say they do just fine without me. I prefer it that way. I can also tell you that the whether is far favorable here. Avantine is a dreary, rainy city. May be why people there are so moody. At least we don't have snow." He remarked to Galen.

"Now, how are things here? The two of you have been quite busy since the Count and I last spoke. Deals with Callaban, the regency plan, elections underway. I applaud your productiveness. One should admire such productiveness." Parker remarked with little enthusiasm however the statements were sincere. "Now some Adiran firms are following our lead and purchasing panicked sales of business assets. An increased demand will only drive up confidence and promote healthy competition. Us Noviterans having no worries about the latter. That arena can get ruthless back home. We can adapt. However, my associates in the private sector are concerned about getting bogged down in the legal processes occurring. Are there any assurances you can give me that the purchases of assets our firms make will become rightfully theirs from a legal standpoint? I'm sure the NWP has reforms in mind but what of something sooner? This litigation drives up costs. Not just for litigation itself but for title insurance premiums and time lost. It makes these investments less attractive and I want to be able to keep our arrangement going." He asked.

[New Edom]

Sixington, Gloria Regis

"I give you every assurance," said Livia Barberina to the Adiran Consul, "That we intend to take part in the elections, and we believe we will win, though the Lecks may give us a good run for the money." Privately she cursed that they'd set the precedent here of having a purely local party stand in a national election--and had done well with it; their local media and financial influence was still something to contend with, and they'd been trying to cut deals with mainland political parties.

"As for Jedorian support, we feel that you have already done a great deal to help us, please stay the course," she added. "We need the guarantee of CPO support, as we do not trust Hesperinus. Really, it grieves me that the main focus of some is Theodora Ferrovius and not General Hesperinus--who has done more harm to the people of Gloria Regis? Nevertheless, we will observe rights to all citizens, of course."

"I thank all of you for support. I think that you will find that our peaceful intentions, though naturally backed up by a willingness to defend ourselves, will prove to win in the end."

---

"Look, I just want to get out of the city, that's all," said Claudius Silva, trying to hold onto his temper as he talked to the blockheaded executive at Griffon Airlines.

"Mr. Silva, I'm afraid that we cannot guarantee security at the moment; there are no flights."

Silva couldn't believe it; he had thought his PA and then later his VIP of Operations for his investments group had been just too incompetent or cowardly to get him a flight. "I have a charter contract!" he exclaimed. "Alright then, you have a cargo contract with the NAF, right? Get me on one of those."

"Sir, I don't think you understand; the mutiny has controlled all flights in and out of Gloria Regis," said the executive sounding exhausted.

"I will see about that. I want to talk to the CEO, now," he barked.

"Not available, sir," replied the executive.

"What, where is he?" said Silva.

"I'm sorry sir, he's not available..."

Silva hung up. "Now what?" he asked Nausica, his PA, who stood elegantly nearby, black horn rims, red skirt, cream blouse, cherry jacket, stockings and low but comely heels.

"Sir, we could maybe smuggle you out in a van." she suggested.

It affronted him; he was part of those who had helped build this country up. To leave his own home in a van. He had only come to Sixington to deal with some personal business with leading Leck party members at a do held by Senator Antinous' place. Now...this. "Alright, see to it, something anonymous, something they won't want...say a laundry service van, septic service, something people want to stay away from. Whatever it takes."

Did she breathe a sigh of relief? "Yes sir," she said, and quickly headed out on clicking heels. Sounds like a pony he thought sardonically.

Silva stood by the window of his study. The district seemed quiet. Perhaps a little too quiet. Many of the more exclusive shops and salons had been shuttered up since the registration booth incidents There weren't enough Militia around for his liking, and his opinion too poorly trained and too loyal to one or two political parties here. Not enough to just law and order. According to the Protectorate's Feminist Justice Minister, they were gathered at trouble spots. This was not one of them--no political offices, universities, airports or major travel junctures here. But he wondered...

Eden picked up the phone and punched in a number.

"Mr. Silva" said the voice at the other end.

"Madame Justice Minister," he answered. He was not referring to Ferrovius but the National Justice Minister, Gabrielle Baalam.

"How do you do, Mr. Silva? I'm afraid I'm about to go to a meeting..."

"I'm sure you are, Excellency, but I'm a bit concerned; naturally there are no forces loyal to the National Government here that are actually on the streets, though I'm sure you have your informants." Silva said politely, holding his frustration in check through years of discipline.

"It's a difficult situation of course, but we feel that the electoral process will succeed." she replied. She had a good speaking voice, a female contralto, low and pleasant, capable of raising itself to be sharp but authoritative; he'd seen her in court when she'd been a judge.

"Forgive me, but are you sure?" he insisted.

"It is in the interests of all parties to be involved in the elections; it's just negotiating and maintaining strong positions. We are going to be seeing envoys from the different parties today. This Theocratic Republic and independence at all costs business cannot last if they don't want a 2nd Civil War," she explained.

"What if something goes wrong? What if they break through the barricades around Campion's office, or there are massacres here like there were two years ago?" he said, rubbing his nose. Damn, he needed a drink. And his bladder was bothering him.

"Then they'll have that civil war on their hands," said Baalam grimly. "If they're smart, they'll know they are up against tough customers. Prince Elijah and Count Lalery barely hold the Heir in check from wanting to stamp on the demonstrators like a boot on an anthill, and she can damned well do it. We won't handle it with kid gloves if they shed blood first and the political leaders don't try to hold them back and support elections. It's the best possible compromise if they had the sense to see it, and I believe they will. Carmel and Barberina aren't stupid, you know."

"I'm glad to hear it, Justice Minister, thank you."

"Sir you had better see this," said Nausica as she came back in and switched on his television.

"...Claudius Silva, a prominent land developer with homes in Gloria Regis and Fineberg, and major financier of the Intellectual Party who is apparently one of the leading members of the Sixington Sex Ring..."

"What?" he cried.

...is now the 19th young woman who came forward with her story of how domestic service became service of a more disturbing kind."

A young woman with a blacked out face said, "I had only agreed to a contract to do laundry services, kitchen cleaning and some delivery service. When I was asked to report to Mr. Silva, I was at first concerned that either I'd done something wrong, but then was accused of stealing and told I would be sent to an immigration lockup if I did not...perform oral sex on him.."

"The young woman reported she and other young women were required to attend parties where prominent Intellectual Party members forced them to have sex with one another as well as with older men and women."

"The Intellectual Party likes to say that they encourage classical sexual freedom, but it is only sexual freedom for the elite. Just as with the classical Cornellian state until very recently, they consider the poor and weak virtual slaves for their amusement or the work they do not care to do," said Social Work reviewer Chloe Marcus...

"This is an outrage, and totally untrue, it's all fabrications!" cried Claudius Silva, switching it off. Nausica gave him a funny look. "You don't believe it, do you?"

"Of course not sir. About the van?"

There was a call on his cell. As it was from his chief of security, he picked it up immediately. "Yes, Rufio, what is it?" he demanded.

"Sir, one of our spotters reported a large number of people in buses and trucks gathering about no more than five blocks away, they have signs, and one of our people on the street reports they are talking about you and your friends, a lot. It might be time to bug out for Little Baiae, maybe see if that local charter can get you out, other wise you might be completely surrounded and trapped." the man's gravely voice said.

Damn. "Alright, we'll get out as soon as we can. Try to see if you can discreetly delay them."

"Will do, sir,"

Silva felt his heart beating. He was getting on for this sort of thing. He felt his mouth going dry, and he sipped his forgotten drink, and said, "Let's get that van sorted fast."

[New Edom]

Estate of Count Thomas Lalery, Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin

Lalery glanced at Galen, who said catching his breath, "You surprise me, Mr. Gladwin--are you suggesting that we interfere with private business arrangements? I don't think that your citizens were forced in some way to purchase anything...particularly the Ethanol Plant."

"A good point. However the Ethanol Plant--let's start with that. We have several in the country, they have very specific contracts of service and agreement with the government through the Directorate of Petroleum under the Ministry of Oil and Resources, which governs mining, energy and so on. A percentage of production goes to direct profit of the owner, the rest to sale or use by the nation of the Allied States. And under Edomite law it cannot be sold outright merely leased." Lalery said pleasantly. "But of course you knew all that. If it was known that this would improve service and mutual profits and your government was prepared to support that very publicly, it could go a long way. You know, when I was talking to Adiran business leaders, they refused to provide open market support for our arrangements, preferring to wait on the elections. There's confidence for you. Look at the Callaban companies by comparison--Silo 1339 for instance--and how stand up they have been. You cannot fault preference for good performance, right?"

The ice water arrived on a tray in a sweating crystal carafe with a beautifully made crystal tumbler carried by a naked young woman padding on bare beringed feet, anklet bells jingling, rouged and silver dusted body oiled and gleaming, sleek hips swaying, cantaloupe breasts young enough to suspend defying gravity, quivering, dark ringleted hair scented with sandalwood, her eyes darkly rimmed with kohl, lips crimson petal crescents, silver-blue eyelids lowered respectfully.

[New Edom]

Harbourtown

Kai Commercial House

Kai Commercial House's branch in New Edom had no license to sell internationally, but had been agreed to be able to provide green technologies to New Edomite governments and companies, the main focus being on recycling and Skyfarms. Skyfarms used a combination of solar power, hydroponics and water recycling systems to allow for larger scale urban farming than Silo 1339's systems. Where the latter was about the size of a large greenhouse or home, the Skyfarm was several stories high and cost at least 200 million NSD to build and install. It also included large storage areas and refrigeration units. While Fineberg had several of them, other cities were working towards being able to afford them. A lot of the business work was thus focused on other projects: the tidal energy project and recycling projects.

At the moment, the owners of the New Edomite subsidiary were almost on their last legs. Only a substantial donation from Lina Comhghall, living in polite exile in New Laconia, had enabled them to stay afloat, but they had been determined to try to keep working. Now they were considering a business deal with Adiran Green tycoons to keep afloat, but were being pressured to sell. Their bread and butter--green products purchased at cost in foreign markets and sold under foreign labels through their own storefronts in New Edom, was faltering due to the strikes. So as the board met in Harbourtown, all of them having arrived discreetly in commuter buses and stark naked, various sagging and wrinkly bottoms in soft chairs, they had to make a hard decision.

Part of it was a legacy issue. Deborah Cruonis, one of the senior board members, said mournfully, "My father founded this company. He was murdered by Anarchists; he was a founding member of the Free Congress too. It doesn't seem to matter now, does it? They don't see that we were on their side..."

"Before it went ETC. They know too that he was never for religion in politics, any more than us," said one of the Vice-Presidents, shaking his head. "We have to decide if we're going to be on a sinking ship or not. And find out if the Adirans wanting to buy us out will provide the same quality of service...so that at least we can say we left something good behind us. It's come to that I'm afraid. I shall retire to my family farm in the country, and make a go of that if I am not ruined by this."

"They've already had the shirts off our backs," Deborah said ruefully. "Very well then: if they agree that they will be working cooperatively with the government to provide increasing growth of urban horticulture and recycling--encouraging it--and will maintain the same contract for domestic production, then I propose that we sell. May I have a show of hands before we get on to the legal niceties?"

The hands slowly went up around the table.

Hephaestos Production Company

The polymer production company produced polyol products that focused on various industrial and household needs, such as fire retardant foam, industrial lubricants, fuel drilling foams, and paper and printing adhesives. Like many New Edomite industrial production companies, it provided the middle rank of industrial production, making the stuff that made it possible to have a finished product.

However they had been subject to harassment, to strikes, to attacks on workers they had hired during the strikes, constant besieging demonstrations, and an indifferent to hostile city government. Their other plant in Nass had been subject to this as well.

Count Basil Notaras, the Director-General of the company, also owned warehouses and other resources, and was a stubborn man; his board of directors desperately wanted to sell as production had not been done since February. Orders had had to be yielded to other companies in Sterry or even outside the country. But the old man was determined and fierce, even though they had been forced to shut down. He wrote angry letters to the government but refused to budge an inch. Then he had a stroke writing one of these letters and died. His sons were considering selling; they had tried to come to Harbourtown to talk to the strike leaders only to be stripped, humiliated by having their buttocks painted blue while their bodyguards, overwhelmed and apparently incompetent, were tarred and feathered.

Now they were seriously considering selling, had mentioned it at functions in Fineberg where they knew foreign ambassadors or others were present.

The Hungry Cities

Ships, trains and planes turned away from Harbourtown, Nass, Hillel, Westmark, had begun to pinch the populations. But the ETC preachers blamed it all on foreigners. The Prophet pointed out that the strikes were not against necessities, so why were the food coffers growing bare? It was because they were being starved by the fat cats, the decadent sinners who had tried to profit from the nation cruelly and unfairly. Now they wanted a fake election to bolster the strength of the corrupt monarchy, holding the poor Mad Queen captive and forcing her into the arms of her Ghantish heretic husband, who mocked her while in the incestuous embrace of her sister, the Heir.

Surely something must be done...

[New Edom]

Betharan Palace, Fineberg

The cream coloured walls of the Palace Conference room contrasted with the wooden carved armchairs around the long oval table. Carafes of iced water and crystal tumblers were near every place, and there were folders with briefing information before every place. The meeting had been called between members of the New Edomite government and the Ghantish Imperial government. However the agenda had been laid out between go betweens before the meeting even happened.

It was to be about the New Edomite government’s future stability and that of Ghant, whose future was conjoined with it now. In the face of elections would further upsets take place, and what would the government do about it? Albert, Sophia and Malibar had been advised that elections would be held regardless, and that the Government would do its best to maintain order. If any ruin of the elections happened, it would be at the hands of the Feminist Collective, Marxists and Free Congress, not the National Wisdom Party which directly supported the Monarchy and promised general stability. However the meeting was to confirm this policy...and sway the Emperor and the Heir.

“That Enoch, he’s trying to bring things down,” said Jocasta quietly to Michael as she came into the room. The idea was for her to sit at one end, Nathan at the other, the Ghantish on one side, Edomites on the other. Prince Elijah at one right hand, Michael on the other, Count Beroth next, and so on. Lalery was absent. “He’s plotting. That’s what his doctors are for. Pouring poison into my sister’s ear. I want him gone. I will have him gone. Make him an ambassador to somewhere...somewhere poopy…”

The Heir’s hair was streaming down from a braided diadem with a thread of gold ribbon and emeralds in it, falling softly on bare shoulders, her bosom heaving with fury at the latest intelligence given her about Queen Mara, her cleavage swelling with each breath above her cream and rose linen pleated dress, a gold cross resting in the middle of it.

Michael nodded as he listened to Jocasta, eyes full of interest. “Nekulturnya is in need of an Ambassador...Enoch could fit that bill quite well, don’t you think?”

Jocasta smiled at him warmly. “Excellent, Michael. Mara won’t need a Royal Master of Offices if she’s in the looney bin in Soledad; she’ll make do a with a chamberlain. Besides, I’ll get Dr. Aphek to put it oh so beautifully as he does so well, the need of the country and all that, and poof--the mean spirited little weasel is gone.”

The doors to the conference room opened, and as it had been timed, the Emperor and the Ghantish entered at the same time. Etiquette had decreed that each head of state should bow, and take their seats at the same time to avoid any hint of deference to the other. Jocasta bowed to Nathan and her government began to take their seats; Prince Elijah’s long stride easily overtook Michael and he sat to her right, wearing a naval uniform with medal ribbons displayed but bare headed, long melancholy face unreadable. Count Beroth was wearing a three piece suit and a sash of office and looked old and exhausted, walking with a cane, sighing as he sat; Count Sharra sporting with his suit a light blue silk tie, looking calm and thoughtful, and along with them Colonel Josephus, Dr. Aphek, General Unwerth, and Judge Baalam.

Nathan did the same, bowing to Jocasta, as the rest of the Ghantish group entered and took up their seats. Among them were Sophia, Malibar, Martin, Prince Edward and Princess Minka, along with Izolde, Lord Pazuzu and Albert himself...who carried with him an ornate box, the contents of which were concealed from view. Like Nathan, he bowed to Jocasta.

“Your Majesties, Your Majesty of Vorindeum, and of other realms of Ghant, please be welcome here at our council,” said Jocasta very formally. “I understand that you have come to some agreement regarding support for the Allied States government. I formally assure you by the presence of Prince Elijah here today that we are unified in purpose to establish unity and peace in our country, and to in every way maintain our alliance with yours.” Prince Elijah, at her glance, merely nodded briefly.

“This is most reassuring,” Nathan said. “It is good to know that unity could be achieved, considering the threats that New Edom faces, both foreign and domestic.”

“Yes,” said Prince Elijah. “Now: we need to know if your government is similarly reconciled.”

“After speaking with my Uncle, I can assure you that both myself and he are in agreement on supporting the government of the Regent,” Nathan explained.

“This is true,” Albert answered. “I find the current arrangement most agreeable and to my satisfaction. The real threat lies elsewhere, and I can say with certainty that we all can recognize what it is.”

Jocasta gave him a doll like unreadable gaze, her lovely perfect features blank. “What’s that?” she asked. Prince Elijah had looked up at him with mournful eyes, brooding.

Albert looked at Elijah and gave him an understanding look. “Threats to this government. It is young, and like young things, are vulnerable and in need of nurturing in order to grow strong. Like you, fair princess. In fact, I have a gift for you, here in this box.”

Jocasta’s face lit up suddenly and she smiled ravishingly. “A present, how lovely! Countess Camilla, bring it here.” Her young slim athletic lady in waiting, wearing a green flowing soft shimmery dress, her hair deceptively in wild waves, came and bowing deeply to Albert went to accept the box, and then brought it to Jocasta, who nodded to her to open it.

The Emperor of Vorindeum gave Camilla an ugly look as she took the box from his hands, a look that burned with contempt. Inside the box was a large and ornate necklace of alternating white opal and black onyx, joined together by silver. “A gift fitting for one of your station, your highness, I would hope,” Albert said.

Camilla had trembled in dread as the Emperor of Vorindeum looked at her so nastily, and was shaking a bit as she opened the box. Jocasta held back her expression of puzzlement, wondering what in the world his problem with Camilla was, but smiled as she took out the necklace. “How lovely! Thank you so much, my dear Emperor, I am very pleased. What a nice ending to our troubles.” she smiled and draped it over her partly bared bosom for her followers to admire.

“Lovely,” said Prince Elijah without enthusiasm. “Emperor Albert, at this time it seems unwise to reinforce our forces as we are no longer facing interference with our government from without to the same extent--except perhaps in Gloria Regis, where we must maintain a careful balance to avoid things spilling over. With much thanks for your offer of help, we hope that you will keep your previous plan in reserve for the time being.”

“Of course,” Albert said with an incline of his head. “I mean only to make myself available should the need arise. I would also suggest contacting SACTO should assistance be required. They have said that they would be prepared to answer the call, should it be placed.”

“Yes,” said Elijah thoughtfully as though Albert were talking about his favourite seasoning. “Well there is another matter. I understand that you have sent a number of soldiers under Prince Christopher. These troops are of course inexperienced in modern warfare, poorly equipped to present standards of the New Edomite Army and lack experienced commanders, discipline and vehicles.” Jocasta caught his eye and pursed her lips and he took a breath and looked at Albert. “No offense meant to you or your abilities of course. Now they have been subordinated to Maldorian command but that was during a time of emergency when any warm bodies were better than none. We now have a nearly division strength unit of Hutanjians on the way who have been sufficiently crossed trained with our own forces and are fully equipped as a mechanized force complete with aviation and artillery. What do you wish us to do with these troops?”

“...That depends on what your plan is with the Maldorians,” Albert answered dryly.

“General Unwerth,” said Prince Elijah, without looking away from Albert.

“Your Majesty,” said General Unwerth, looking up, “We intended originally to have them be in position to support an attack on Harbourtown if the Free Congress and ETC militia units there resist establishment of public order to enable elections. We would then consider them to be in full rebellion and they would be treated accordingly. We would deploy the Maldorian Brigade to attack insurgents and enable Roman and Edomite troops to move through that sector past them to attack Militia barracks and other key tactical areas in Harbourtown.”

“And what is the plan for them at present, then?” The Vorindese Emperor asked, curiously. “Should the Maldorian force be dismissed, then by all means, I will have them disband and return to Ghant.”

General Unwerth glanced at Elijah who nodded to him, and then said, “Sir, I propose that they could be of use, but thus far I’m not happy with the Maldorian organizational plan, and I want to propose that they act as a separate unit under General Romain’s staff command directly. Also I would like to put New Edomite officers with the unit to help train and prepare them for the mission--there frankly isn’t much time but it could help a great deal. They might be more effective that way.”

Lord Pazuzu leaned into Albert’s ear, and the two men spoke softly to one another for a moment. Then Albert leaned his head back the other way once more. “Consider it done, then. I am grateful for your honest assessment and your willingness to use them in the most effective manner possible.”

Jocasta clapped her hands. “Well I’m so happy! We’re all friends again, wonderful! Now: let’s talk about the North. You have backed us here, and we have agreed to back you up there. Have you an agreed upon policy about Nekulturnya and United Macureus?”

“Yes,” Nathan said. “We are all in agreement that the Tsardom of Nekulturnya is to be recognized, as is the United Macureus. Additionally, the Tsardom is to be restored under the Lazodirian model during a probationary period. It is our hope that Grand Duke Pavel accepts these conditions, which to my understanding was what he was hoping for. His forces are invited to Nekulturnya, and he may assume the position of Minister of Defense. Provided he finds this to his liking, we have reason to believe that all is well in northern Acheron, for now anyway.”

Prince Elijah wrote a brief note during this speech to Jocasta, who glanced at him and then at Nathan. “I thank Your Majesty; we will then back that policy up, right Dr. Aphek?”

“Indeed, Highness,” said the elegant Minister of Foreign Affairs. “We will. I have already drafted a policy for that in case this was the situation,” he said with a smile.

“There we are then. Was there any other business?” Jocasta asked.

“There was...my Aunt Minka, Tsarina wanted to address the Regent, if she may,” Nathan responded.

“Certainly,” said Prince Elijah, raising his eyebrows.

Princess Minka cleared her throat. “I thank you for your decision to support my nephew’s policy of recognition, and my brother the Tsar looks forward to cooperating in the future. Having said that, I wonder how willing you would be to allow my nephew, Tsarevich Mikhail, to linger here with the intent to be a suitor to your sister.”

Prince Elijah pondered a moment. “I have no objection, but the final decision is mine, as I am my sister’s legal guardian in every respect since our father’s stroke and our mother’s death.”

Minka inclined her head. “Of course. Thank you, your highness. You are most gracious.”

“Well, I suppose that is that for the time being,” Nathan said as he cracked his knuckles.

“Then I thank you for coming to the meeting, and for honouring the late President of the Council with your presence at his funeral, and wish you all a pleasant journey home,” said Jocasta with a smile.

“And to you as well, your highness,” Nathan said as he got up from his seat. Others followed suit, although Martin and Sophia approached Jocasta and introduced themselves. “Your highness,” Michael said to her softly, “this is my brother Martin and my sister Sophia.”

“Such a pleasure to meet you in person,” Sophia said with a smile. “Michael speaks very highly of you.”

“That he does, your highness. Might I say that you could easily be known as the Jewel of Acheron,” Martin said with a bow.

“What flattery!” cried Jocasta, blushing but smiling. “And such an honour to meet you both more privately. And Michael flatters me, but he is so kind as I am sure you must know, my dear Empress.”

“Our brother is a sweet young man. In fact…” Sophia looked at Martin.

“Not to outdo Albert, but Michael got a gift for you too...straight from Ghant,” Martin smiled as he had one of his people spring forward with an ornate box.

“More presents? You all spoil me…” Jocasta opened the box curiously.

Inside the box was a crown of black onyx, inlaid with silver. Each of its points was a white opal griffin, the heads intricately carved and with gemstone eyes, claws outstretched and their wings pointed out and touching that of the next, all the way around the crown.

Michael blushed bashfully. “A coincidence that it matches the necklace.”

“My...well look at this...it’s very pretty, lovely, wow…” she smiled at him. “How perfectly sweet of you Michael...does it become me?” she asked her nearby courtiers and ministers, who had been gathering up papers but paused to look and listen.

“Wonderful Highness, the star in our firmament is crowned,” exclaimed Colonel Josephus, as though enraptured.

“Your Highness the only thing that makes the crown pale in comparison is your own beauty,” said Dr. Aphek.

“It’s gorgeous,” said Camilla, still distracted by wondering about Albert’s venomous look.

“Thank you so much,” said Jocasta, turning back to the group of Ghantish royals.

“I am glad it is to your satisfaction,” Michael said.

“A pleasure to see it upon you. Best get a painting rendered of you in your regalia, for such a work of art would surely be a masterpiece that would grace some Palace for centuries to come,” Martin said as he bowed, before taking his leave.

“You are a very sweet girl, Jocasta. Please take care of my brother here...he is still adjusting to life in your country,” Sophia said with a curtsy before taking her leave as well.

Jocasta sighed, then spoke to Michael quietly in an undertone just between the two of them. “What a lovely family you have, Michael. Mmm, and what a day, well a bit more work to do now...must hear a briefing on the election riots and such...how ungrateful they are, you offer them elections and they offer you violence, and say they aren’t good enough. Well, let Elijah try his gentleness a little longer...if they do not bow though, those Free Congress and Feminists, then I will unleash my dogs of war, yes Michael?”

“Yes,” Michael nodded in agreement. “It sounds very stressful. You know...I am pretty good when it comes to shoulder and back massages. If you are into that sort of thing, of course.”

“Mmm that sounds very nice,” said Jocasta agreeably to him. “Maybe after the next meetings. I should have a desk and chair in my every room, it seems like that’s all I ever do these days…”

[Novitera]

Estate of Count Thomas Lalery, Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin

The naked servant girl was a pleasant addition to the house. One that Parker ignored completely save for a quick glance over. He grabbed the water and took a sip. The man thought about his next words carefully then leaned forward. "No elected member of Noviteran government would publicly endorse the socializing, even in the milder way you describe, of an industry believed by us to be traditionally private." Which was guaranteed to mean a wide range of industries. Parker continued. "That is what it is in the way you described to me. Socialization. Or at least our people will see it that way. They especially would be averse to praising the method as one for improving service and mutual profits." It was a strange concept to fathom for him. He always thought that if government wanted something others did too, they should get in line and make a competitive bid like the rest. This arrangement between the ethanol plant and the goverment must be for the purposes of maintaining New Edom's energy cartel agreements with FODE by limiting the supply. When Parker thought of it like that, he understood why they were doing it. Although even for somebody as emotionless as Parker, as a good Noviteran the thought of anticompetitive cartels and socialization made him uncomfortable. The concept was practically anathema even for the most economically socialist of his countrymen.

"Tolly, the company who picked up the Ethanol Plant, I'm sure they took into account these required sales to the government. Our firms, they would not purchase or take control of assets unless they were private by the Noviteran definition. Unless of course the price were driven down to be cheap enough which is the case in this occasion. I can assure you those firms who have taken control of institutions like the ethanol plant are very keen on productivity and efficiency, even if they will be limited in their discretion on who to sell to. All I wish is for those firms that have bought as owners or taken control as leaseholders, that they be assured the rights they negotiated for. How can you help me help you? That is what I am asking. If all you can do is expedite the process to reach whatever outcome is to be for our firms, so be it." He explained carefully. "Eventually though, I trust the NWP is intent on a far more privatized free market economy than the situation now?" Parker asked casually. Although it was a critical question. The answer of which he would relay to his associates in the private sector based on what he was confident was truthful and informative.

[New Edom]

Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin

The young woman departed, gluteal hemispheres swinging and quivering delicately before she gently closed the door. Galen said as she was departing, "Mr. Gladwin, I don't think you grasp the economic situation in New Edom. We cannot privatize to the extent that you recommend at this time. First of all: the New Day Party tried it and it simply led to widespread corruption. That is what privatization on the scale you want will establish. Because in order for it to work, there has to be sufficient confidence in the services of the government. Yours has that advantage, ours does not. Business and government working in a harmonious partnership. In our country there must be a sense on the part of the people that there is protection for the ordinary citizen first."

"As for your companies taking control, well...you Noviterans put it your way, we put it ours. But I take your point," Galen continued, as Lalery watched them, seeming rather relaxed. "But there is a question as to whether some of the sales are legal at all. We can expedite the legal process, prioritize it, and encourage every part of the process being as efficient as possible, but I don't think it would be right to have it both ways, surely--to have you want to encourage privatization and then want the government to bail possibly intemperate decisions out?"

[Cacerta]

Il Regno Di Cacerta
Ufficio della Grande Ammiraglia

---

To: Prince Elijah Shalmaneser
From: Elettra Doria, Grand Admiral of the Kingdom of Cacerta
Subject: Forces in Harbourtown
Encryption: Extremely High

---

Most Respected Admiral,

I have been requested by the Queen as to inquire upon the necessity of our continued presence in Harbourtown. As the constitutional crisis between both Monarchist factions has seemingly been resolved, I have been instructed to offer any further services if required. If you deem our presence in Harbourtown is no longer necessary, our Amphibious Strike Fleet will depart to rendezvous with our other forces in preparation to assist with mediation in the proposed CPO mission.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Elettra Doria
Grand Admiral of the Kingdom Cacerta

[Novitera]

Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin

Parker raised a hand. "Of course, of course. I'm not saying privatization right away..." He stated, although taking the response as a negative sign. Not all too unfavorable for his designs on the country but certainly not good. "I rephrase my question. Is it the intention of the Count and NWP to move towards privatization even if it is a slow and delicate process. My question is not a matter of time but direction." He posed for them.

but I don't think it would be right to have it both ways, surely--to have you want to encourage privatization and then want the government to bail possibly intemperate decisions out?"

"As for the processes, it is government institutions that are creating the impediment. The Ministry of Oil and Resources. The Directorate of Petroleum. The City of Harbortown. It is through government, the court system, that we have to settle the process. I am not asking for bailouts. Title insurance can take care of that. Only that decisions and verdicts be made sooner." Parker stated. He took a breadth and continued on. "Although, I think that a favorable outcome for our private firms would be mutually beneficial. I don't think most Noviteran companies can be accused of slacking when profits are at stake. I am confident our companies will do all they can to drive down prices. Then maximize output to increase the volume of discretionary sales after required sales to your ministries. Take the ethanol plant for example. I can guarantee you that Tolly will want to keep as much finished product for themselves as they can. They can only do this by producing more and that means more for the government." He posed to them. "My interest is in expedient decisions. I think it is in our interest for favorable ones. Something for the both of you to consider."

[New Edom]

Quality Bay, New Edom
Parker Gladwin

"The NWP is going to establish if possible an arrangement where more national companies contract out their services, merely guaranteeing provision of government resources through those contracts," said Galen. "That's part of their platform. It will take some time but that is part of the vision."

"The government is not an impediment save in the case of the City of Harbourtown's government. In Tolly's case, they frankly jumped the gun," Lalery said bluntly. "By their own lawyers not taking our property and commerce laws into consideration. I understand they've hired Solomon Brothers, which is a very reliable firm that does a lot of work with foreign companies in contract law. Let them do their work.What I will do is talk to the Minister of Justice about switch magistrates. The fellow they have overseeing the case right now, he's young and trying to make a name for himself. I'll see to it it is switch to someone who is in the middle of his career, someone sound, ideally appointed by one of my uncles. That do Tolly, do you think?" Lalery asked.

[Hittanryan]

Green Futures

Back in Adiron, the woman brokering the acquisition of the Kai Commercial House assets in Harbourtown was seemingly a walking contradiction. Margaret Zamora was wearing a grey women's business skirt with nylons, but was also wearing a light blue bell-sleeved shirt that hung a bit loose on her shoulders. Her hair wasn't styled, extending past her shoulders, slightly wavy and a rather dull brown color.

The office had a lot of glass, with sunlight pouring in through large windows and lots of open space. Walls were generally lightly-colored, but instead of paintings there were walls of leafy foliage. These were extensions of the massive green wall and roof that took up most of the building's exterior aside from the windows. She was walking back from the restroom admiring a flower growing out of a wall when she was intercepted by a subordinate.

"Maggy, we just heard from Cruonis. They'll sell, with some conditions," the man said, dressed in slacks and a button down, with long hair and a beard.

"Oh yeah? I hope they're doing all right, what did they say?" she asked a bit wistfully.

"They want us to make sure to maintain the quality of their services, and they want us to keep up their cooperation with the government to promote recycling, urban agriculture, and local hiring," the man explained.

"Sure, man, that's what we're all about," she said. He seemed to hesitate. "Hey, you all right?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder casually.

"I just hope this all doesn't go down the tubes right after we close the deal," the man said, shaking his head.

"We're gonna do what works. It'll be fine..." Maggy said a bit distractedly.

"Yeah, but all those conditions. If we just bought out some shares, we could get out if everything went FUBAR. Now we might be stuck..."

Frowning, Maggy said "Come on, man. That's not what we're all about. You see pictures of what they do over there? It's really not cool. You know the griffon might go extinct from what they're doing to the environment over there?"

"Whoa, really?"

"And that's on their flag, man. Look, someone has to keep Kai's work going for sustainability. Someone has to get New Edom off that toxic way of life. It's worth it," she said. He looked unconvinced as they entered her office, which was surrounded by windows and green walls. "Come on, you need to chill, take your lunch early and have a smoke," Maggy said, handing him something from her desk.

Saito-Farad

By the time Howard Saito left the company he founded to enter politics, the agribusiness firm had itself already in a sense entered politics. A victim of its own success, the Saito-Farad Agricultural Group had become a target. Competitors characterized the company as an anti-competitive monolith, destroying small farmers throughout Adiron. Online social justice warriors and conspiracy theorists decried the company as having sinister ulterior motives with GMOs and seed patents.

Rather than simply accept the verdict of the court of public opinion, Saito-Farad formed its own defense. Instead they started advertising campaigns featuring some of those small-time farmers, who they deferred payments for in hard times, allowed them to keep their homes through land contracts, and cut discounts on seeds. They donated to the Isidium Foundation the raw crops and equipment needed to make their RUTF rations, which were being used from Cataran to Glasstower. They knew how to fight back, how to win the PR battles.

Taking advantage of its distribution warehouses and a number of shipping services now under Saito-Farad partners and subsidiaries, the company started to flex its muscle. Perhaps a day after food prices started getting squeezed in places like Harbourtown, Saito-Farad container ships arrived in port. It was made clear to the ETC, even inviting them aboard if they were unconvinced, that this was all food, essential goods to the survival of Harbourtown's people. Rice, bulgar wheat flour, millet, onions, carrots, tomatoes, beans, even a shipment of tea arrived by the ton.

The warehouses Saito-Farad bought out had contacts, local distributors who sold to the markets and stores who kept the city fed. Aware of the gouging going on, Saito-Farad undercut the competition. All they asked is that the stores kept their company logos on everything sold, that they let their customers know that Saito-Farad was going to keep shipping food to the city despite the risk, and that they sold their products for less than their competitors.

Polyworks

Eli Heckman was a doughy, plain-looking man with an unremarkable wardrobe who just happened to hear on the grapevine that the Notaras family was ready to sell Hephaestos. If the country held together, it would give Polyworks the facilities to crowbar its way into Edomite heavy industry, including its multi-billion dollar petrochemical sector.

Unfortunately, Eli Heckman also mentioned to his superiors that the Notaras family had been attacked by the ETC. Nobody particularly wanted to deal with that mess, so they gave Heckman the "opportunity" to close the deal and then try to negotiate with the strikers. The Notaras' public humiliation was probably an isolated incident...probably.

Sweating profusely, Heckman decided to contact one of the strike leaders to...open collective bargaining. Someone, a certain AIS agent, identified strike leaders who weren't necessarily true ETC believers but were more concerned with putting food on the table. Under Polyworks management, maybe they could accommodate the demands for better conditions and pay...assuming that's what they really wanted.

[New Edom]

Harbourtown

THE FINEBERG TIMES
Tuesday, March 24, 2015

---

Riots Continue to Threaten Elections

by Annabelle Barca
Disrupted attempts at voter registration risks ruin for national elections, the country’s National Elections Commitee Deputy Director, Dr. Amon Ashren, said in an official statement.

Elections Officers were forced to abandon work in Harbourtown, Nass, Hillel, Westmark and Lookinghaven due to disorder from ETC activists protesting the Royal Government's refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the Theocratic Republic's succession.

Disorder grew into riots as radicals sought to storm the barricades around campaign offices of the National Wisdom Party and Intellectual Party in these cities, with smoke candles, stun grenades and other charges were hurled at the police. Dispersing elections and polling officials have rendered the election dubious in this case.

Elsewhere, in Sixington and Iphegenia in Gloria Regis, while outright riots have not taken place demonstrations and tensions have made things difficult for registration to take place, as predominantly Leck, Socialist and ETC neighborhoods were blocked off or demonstrated against by Marxist and Feminist Collective Party activists. Leck political leaders have accused the dominant parties of preventing their voters from holding similar demonstrations and corrupting the voting process.

“This situation jeopardises the election commission’s ensuring and protecting suffrage for Edomite citizens," said Dr. Amon Ashren.

“This poses major risks for preparing and holding under the country’s constitution, domestic laws and universally recognised international standards of free and fair elections,” he added.

However the Regent, Prince Elijah Shalmaneser, has said, "We have asked that Free Congress and Feminist Collective leaders step forward and promise to control activism, protest and rioting. If they cannot do it, we will offer the help of military units to help control these violations of the law. However if that is unacceptable I recommend the use of CPO observers and peacekeepers. If there is no upholding of the truce, and it is in violation and there is no mission of peacekeepers in time to protect our citizens, we will take all measures necessary."

Tim Stanton watched, appalled, as smoke roiled down the street; shops were being sacked and looted, windows shattering like bombs, as the news crew captured the riot. The report that would later be printed would lighten it considerably. Rumours that pro-Intellectual Party members were hoarding food, holding orgies and disfiguring Bibles had spread somehow, and stores and houses were being looted. He watched in horror as a man with a bloodied shocked face was thrown out the door of a grocery store, and was beaten by naked ETC activists with signs, painted blue and white, who then rushed into the store.

A delivery van had been forced to halt by a surging mob like ants swarming over a grasshopper, the driver protesting innocence of smuggling food--it was a business owned by a known Monarchist though, and the driver was forced to get out, was beaten by several people and shoved away nearly unconscious, and they were furious, felt tricked when it was, as he had said, just wire cables.

It had apparently started with feared rumours that there were Monarchists in the city inviting in the Army, and that was all it took apparently. Jocasta was displayed on banners half naked with King Michael fondling her breast and a lewd smile on each face. While Sarah Carmel made public speeches urging activists to be calm, they were whipped into a frenzy anyway. Polling stations were burned, terrified pro NWP and Intellectual Party groups harassed, mobbed, and some had even been killed. There were rumours, not yet substantiated, that residents of a gated community in the city had been rioted over, looted, beaten, even tortured and raped. He was sickened--that his own co religionaries would act so.

Not all were like this, he told himself. Many Edenists were community minded people who wanted a simpler more pious and compassionate life. How had this message been so distorted?

He wrote, in a column that his editors refused to print, ...we were distorted by the Anarchists. We fought hard to defeat them. I believe however that there is a kind of spiritual osmosis that can happen in war, in which in order to defeat your enemy you become your enemy. I saw this today, where my fellow believers acted like Anarchists. I am ashamed, and I can only hope that that compassion and love for the common man that originally inspired Edenism will revive. I can only hope and pray.

However, the good men who once led this movement are dead. I particularly mourn Thaddeus Burden, who helped establish the CPO and whose compassion and wise diplomacy once promised so much peace--replaced by Samuel Under, who many hail as our Prophet, but who I increasingly fear is mad, and wants only to cover fear with violence and fanaticism. I have never feared for my people as much as now...

[Hittanryan]

To: Vice Admiral Elijah Shalmaneser, Dr. Paul Aphek, Sarah Carmel, Livia Barberina
From: Ambassador to New Edom David Redstone
Subject: CPO
Encryption: High

My government would like to express relief that an agreement had been reached amongst the formerly disputed parties within the monarchy. The establishment of the Regency under His Highness Prince Elijah Shalmaneser represents the triumph of negotiation and compromise over force. However, the outbreak of widespread election violence we have jumped out of the proverbial frying pan into the fire. The legitimacy of the election itself is being called into question, threatening not only months of work by the National Elections Committee but the stability of New Edom itself.

The recent events of the constitutional crisis, we fear, have reopened the old wounds of the Second Civil War. Where under the late President Pahath-Moab elements of the Free Congress and Monarchists were willing to work towards a common goal, the events leading up to the President's funeral has undermined any trust that might have been established between these groups. Without mutual trust that the nation's civic institutions will guarantee political freedom, peaceful and fair elections cannot take place.

It is for this reason that my government is proposing to the major parties in New Edom a major CPO peacekeeping mission aimed at curbing election violence and guaranteeing voting rights throughout the Allied States of New Edom. If accepted by all parties, the CPO would represent a neutral body with a clear code of conduct whose actions are bound by specific rules of engagement. It is therefore the opinion of my government that the CPO, stands the best chance of curbing the most recent round of political violence. It is perhaps only fitting that the CPO, first proposed and later effectively implemented by Presidents Finnhald and Pahath-Moab, help bring peace to New Edom in a time of crisis.

Tentatively the proposed mission's goals include the following:

• Provide and protect election monitors
• Establish a neutral system by which political violence can be reported
• Empower peacekeepers to respond to reported election violence
• Defend polling stations, candidates, public political events (caucuses, rallies, conventions, etc.)
• Directly intervene to prevent voter intimidation, election fraud, abuse of power by politically-affiliated militias/police forces, and other politically-motivated attacks

The Republic would provide peacekeepers as well as monitors and advisors under the aegis of the CPO. My government is committed to seeing open elections take place in New Edom, and will do what is necessary to make it happen.

Regards,
David Redstone
Ambassador to New Edom

[New Edom]

Fineberg

The Shalmaneser Town House

It felt like a perfect spring day at last; the baking heat had melted to gentle rains occasionally, with bursts of warm but less hellish heat, and Princess Ava Shalmaneser and cousin Viola, Simeon's wife, had finally finished the spring frenzy of planting, painting and generally getting the house and garden looking as perfect as possible. Ava felt perhaps she had finally come to terms with her love for Titus being over and was feeling very good about life in general. After just existing through a long depressing winter, fighting to stay active, getting over her drug addiction over the last two years, fighting off the pounds and helping get Mara settled with her doctors.

The beauty and peace of the garden and its budding blossoms, promise of fruition gave her hope, a reminder that there was much out of her own hands. The only fly in the ointment was hearing about courtship. The Obed girls didn't do so well with that, so it depressed her enough that the right thing to do was to go to the garden bench under the willow tree and inhale the gorgeous fragrance of the tulips and carnations nearby and read a book. Ava had never stopped reading; she was more sedentary and bookwormish than Mara, Jocasta, or Olivia who even though she loved to write was more interested in travel and film than reading.

Simeon, looking at her through the window of a sitting room, turned to Elijah who was sitting reading letters at a writing desk. "She's looking very well," He remarked to his cousin.

"Mmm." Elijah said, not looking up.

"More time outside. Doing her good," offered Simeon Shalmaneser.

"Yes. Is there a reason you're in here?" asked Prince Elijah, looking up finally.

"Oh...well...I came to get a book...Thorp's Rural Architecture, here it is. I was thinking of going down to the country if you didn't need me here, I'm worried about that pest hitting the herd..."

Elijah sighed. "I am as well. That would be a great favour, Simeon, thank you. I'm not sure that new overseer is going to work out. He seems to have too many modern ideas, doesn't understand how tradition can work at times."

"Too many theories, I agree," said Simeon. "But you know, I'll be happier there. Things too active politically here for me right now, no one talks of anything else. Wish you could come."

Elijah smiled faintly. "Other than sea duty, nothing could attract me more, dear cousin. But there is no help for it, duty's the thing. I must answer these letters now."

"Of course. Will you being going to the palace or will you be lunching here?"

"No, lunching there. I have a deal of work to do, my staff will be frothing at the bit to have me back." Elijah sighed and got up. His immediate staff, ADC and secretary were in the next room, and had arranged his official correspondence for him in order of priority. It was impossible as a part of the function of head of state to read everything--even more than being an admiral or a ship commander you had to delegate to a startling degree and yet be responsible for everything.

Later, on the telephone, he heard Sarah Carmel say, "I am not against a CPO mission, however there isn't one, Elijah,that's the plain truth of it. I'm entirely aware of their activities, it's all a paper plan right now, barely that. Barely a proposal. Barely more than a motion with lukewarm support. it could even make things worse. You'd better support the idea that we must negotiate on the succession of the Theocratic Republic. Even if there is a CPO mission, it is what we are bringing to the table..."

Livia Barberina said, "I'm due back in a diplomatic meeting right now, Prince Elijah, but I agree...in principle. But what if they send a handful and Hesperinus rolls over us anyway? You wanted peace, start evacuating troops and we'll talk..."

"The increasing mood of the NWP and the Monarchists of the court is that military action must be undertaken, and then under conditions of martial law the election will take place," Elijah informed them bluntly, each in turn. "I alone hold them back from this. I believe they do not grasp that it will not be as easy as in Fineberg. Without the cooperation of local authorities and Militias it will become a chaotic situation that will amount to war. I am holding it back, but i must have agreement. The CPO mission is the best way."

He felt a great gloom descending over him. He felt he lacked the passion and vision of Pahath-Moab or Touchstone; he was simply in his own mind a decent naval officer who was devoted to honour and his country. The mad desires of those around him depressed him. If only a nation was as clockwork, as a good ship must be.

To: Ambassador David Redstone
From: Vice-Admiral Prince Elijah Shalmaneser
Subject: CPO mission
Encryption: Moderate

---

Dear Mr. Ambassador,

I have read through your proposal carefully and am in general agreement with it. As Regent of the Allied States, it is generally my word that carries the most weight at the moment. However I must advise you that there are many parties skeptical that there will even be a CPO mission, even observers.

Right now, I am the only senior official in the National Government who does not believe that calling the Army in to restore order in Harbourtown, Nass, Sterry, Lookinghaven and Sixington would be a good idea. For instance the Army is not trusted at all as an unbiased force for public order in Harbourtown or Sixington.

I have received the very reluctant assent from Free Congress leader Sarah Carmel and from Feminist Collective leader Livia Barberina that there should be a CPO mission to oversee fair elections. However they have cited problems and conditions for their participation in elections that will be difficult to deal with, to wit:

1. The withdrawal of the larger offensive capability of the garrison on Gloria Regis (artillery, air defense, armour, combat aviation, the majority of mechanized infantry leaving perhaps one battalion there)

2. Recognition of the rightful government of the Theocratic Republic is insisted on by the Free Congress as a term of negotiation and revision of the constitution.

3. Protection of the mutineers on Gloria Regis is another Feminist Party condition. However one of my govenrment's conditions is punishment of the mutineers and restoration of stolen naval vessels to the National Navy.

4. There is concern on the part of the Free Congress and Feminist parties that if there are elections that it will prevent either the formation of the Theocratic Republic or the freedom of Gloria Regis. The Elections Commission has attempted to point out that that is why you campaign in elections is to no avail. The stain of the New Day Party and the 2nd Civil War remains on our country.

These are the difficulties presented politically. There is another; I cannot hold back a military response if there are more deaths and more pleas for help from NWP supporters and Intellectual Party supporters indefinitely. It will be my responsibility to help my citizens by the best means available.

Thank you for your offer of help and support.

I have the honour to be
Vice-Admiral Prince Elijah Shalmaneser
Regent of the Allied States of New Edom

"Make sure other diplomats know about this letter," said Elijah quietly to his Chief of Staff, Post Captain Peleg. "I will want to make sure that they know what is at stake. Especially the CPO nations' ambassadors."

"Yes sir," said Peleg. He paused a moment. "The recent news sir, apparently according to General Ashdod it is far worse than reported, thanks to his and Judge Baalam's efforts...so there's a meeting on that. I should warn you, Dr. Aphek advised me that the Heir is hopping mad and wants action."

"She's young. Of course she does." Elijah said absently. "I'll be along soon."

[New Edom]

To: Elettra Doria, Grand Admiral of the Kingdom of Cacerta
From: Vice-Admiral Prince Elijah Shalmaneser
Subject: Cacertian Deployment
Encryption: Moderate

---

Dear Grand Admiral,

I would like to express my entire gratitude to you for the deployment of your fleets to help the Allied States secure a peaceful resolution in the constitutional crisis between the disagreeing Monarchist factions. Queen Mara is safe, and will continue to be.

Considering Cacertian deployment as part of the peacekeeping force, since Cacerta is not part of the CPO and is a New Edomite ally, it would not work. However as allies of New Edom, we can certainly discuss a continuation of your fleet on station in some capacity.

sincerely,
Vice-Admiral Prince Elijah Shalmaneser

[Nerotysia]

The City of Sixington
The Islands of Gloria Regis
The Allied States of New Edom

Krayevsky crossed his arms loosely, keeping his posture relaxed. He was a bit confused by the Adiran's words, and was in the process of crafting a quick response when Ermolai leaned to whisper in his ear:

"Regian feminists and Marxists have been disrupting elections and rioting rather violently."

A flood of understanding brought with it a small nod. Krayevsky decided to reveal fully the Union's position - this seemed to be a natural time to do so.

"Premier, I think it will be beneficial if I clarify the Revolutionary Union's position. We would fully support a one-party state, even if the establishment of such a state requires force. However," at this he paused, "we would be displeased if abuses of the people's rights went too far."

"I would also like to assure you that we respect your nation's right to choose. We will not withdraw our support should you pursue more libertarian options."