“He is unpredictable, and out of control,” Santos leaned back in the chair. “Have you any tequila?”
“Ah, I don't think so,” Luc said, standing up, looking around a cabinet. “Brandy only.”
“You know that gives me a headache.”
“I am quite sure that it will be a mere drop in the ocean.” Luc took two glasses and poured two very stiff drinks. “Now, tell me all about our comrade Riviera. What are your Defense Forces doing?”
“Don't know,” Santos said. “None of us know. It hinges primarily on the Fuerzas Maniobra. That's our main striking arm, as you know. We won't launch any offensive without it. So far Riviera hasn't given any orders, but it is on standby. He will likely give the order at seven o clock. Then they'll move either south or west.”
“And where do you think they will be going?” Luc sat down.
“Who knows? The likely first target is the Surland – that would secure our petroleum supplies for a longer war against Westervelde. But the General Staff might feel their flank far too exposed in the West, and launch a direct offensive against through the Seine Valley first, and deal with the south later. Hell, or maybe even Erquin.” He drained his glass. “Say, pour me another one of those.”
Luc poured.
“Do you really think they will attack?”
Santos sighed, and Luc accepted the resignation of ignorance, and he reached for a remote, turning on a television: the NSR Economics Network was playing a news clip on repeat. A spokesman stood in front of a crowd of hushed cameramen and journalists. In the background, dusk began to set. Firstly, the NSR will continue paying foreign assistance transfers for the foreseeable future. Secondly, the Economic Measures Committee will be giving a full debriefing of future plans in the morning. We are confident the situation will be resolved. That is all. That is all.”
“Riviera might have just seen sense,” Luc said, folding his arms.
“Not a chance,” Santos said, draining another glass. “You don't understand.” He stood up, taking the brandy bottle with him. “You don't understand, Luc.”
“What do you mean? What don't I understand, Juan?”
“You don't understand him. You – you don't understand us. It's crazy, we're – whatever we do, there's no way out. There's no good option. There's only the least worst option.”
“What do you mean, Juan?”
“We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. But look, Luc. Riviera. It's – it's being dealt with. But he's not the only maniac. He's not the only maniac with a gun in this country.” He drank from the bottle and put his hands in his head.
“Juan,” Luc said, leaning in. “What do you mean it's being dealt with?”
Santos looked up. “I'm sorry for hanging up on you.”
The Acropolis
He looked through the files again, out of the corner of his eye. The room was dark; in front of him, he could see the barrel of a gun. Behind that, a man in a uniform. “Time's up, Comrade Riviera.” General Montenegro levelled the pistol. “Don't say anything. Comrade Franco, disarm Comrade Riviera please.”
Franco stepped forwards from the corner of the room, walked across the table, and took Riviera's sidearm from his holster. Riviera didn't even look up.
“Now, Comrade Franco, please go and lock the foyer door.”
Franco left.
“How did you get him on your side?”
“I didn't,” Montenegro said, smiling. “I think he just hates you.” Riviera heard the foyer door click. Then he heard Montenegro's gun click. Franco appeared at the doorway, but he could only see his face above Montenegro's body, smiling. He was smiling. “Time's up, Comrade Riviera.”
There was a gunshot.
The body slumped. Blood began to trickle out onto the desk, the meeting desk of the Committee of General Security, a present from the Confederacy following the coup that put Riviera in power.
Riviera opened his eyes. The first thing he did was flex his fingers and toes. Franco appeared at his side, pistol in hand. “Your sidearm, Comrade Secretary-General. Minus one cartridge.”
“Franco.”
“I shall go unlock the door.”
He watched Franco walk out of the room, looked at Montenegro's body, and looked back at the doorway. He took the pistol and slowly walked out. Franco was facing the door, locking it. He raised the pistol and aimed it at the back of his head. Franco' dark brown hair was in his sights.
He lowered the pistol, walked back inside, and screwed open a bottle in the drawer. Poured a hard drink. Franco came back in.
“Comrade Secretary-General, it's seven o clock. The Maneuver Forces are waiting for your order.”
Riviera reached for the telephone. He picked it up. It rang for one second exactly. “General Iglesias. This is Control. Can you hear me? Taurus. That is all.” He hung up. “Comrade Franco: get me the red line to the Confederate Ceaser.”
SYLVAN GENERAL MOBILIZATION ORDER ISSUED
In the wake of economic crises, the Sylvan military mobilizes along the southern border
A serious development in Sylva today as General-Secretary Daniel Riviera ordered Sylva’s entire Maneuver Force to Combat Readiness on the southern border. Put bluntly, Sylva is preparing for war.
"In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces of the National Syndicalist Republic, General-Secretary Daniel Riviera, today from nineteen hundred hours Chandler Mean Time the troops of the Maneuver Forces, the individual components of Airborne Troops and military transport aircraft are upgraded to Defense Condition Two. " said General of the Army Rafael Luiz.
Corresponding Member of the Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, Colonel S. Caillat, told APJ, the sudden inspection of troops does not mean war preparations. "Our troops were moved, but mobilization of a military district is not a clear indication of war" Caillat said.
"However, right now in Casaterra there is a risk of a serious military conflict with Sylva, Aldanea, Westervelde and Aleckandor." said the expert. In his view, the risk of a military conflict is high.
However, military expert Pavel Felgenhauer of the Mozrian School of Strategic Studies believes otherwise. According to him, ordering combat readiness of the Maneuver Forces is not accidental. "We are talking about the very real possibility of a military conflict in Casaterra. This immediate mobilization is for a war. The likelihood of military action is now very high." He also noted that mobilization is not maneuvers, "this is deployment of forces and resources for a war."
Even more concerning was Felgenhauer's assessment that "We can not exclude the possibility that military action in Casaterra will grow."
In order to understand how very serious this move by Sylva truly is, it would be helpful to outline exactly what military assets make up Sylva's "Maneuver Forces:" http://i.imgur.com/rbfpyiM.png
Over the weekend, an international coalition, backed primarily by the Organized States and Westervelde, issued the first set of sanctions against the National Syndicalist Republic for its involvement in the funding of “terrorist groups” within both countries. (For more on the NSR’s terrorist activities, see page 5)
The result was the largest economic crises in Sylvan history. As a result of the sanctions, mainly hinged on Sylvan oil exports, the Dinero fell nearly thirty percent in value, and continues to fall as various nations, primarily Erquin and Gaulicisa, sell off Sylvan currency reserves far below market value.
The sanctions, and the Dinero sell-off, are being labeled as an “economic war” by the Sylvan government, a label they are taking seriously.