Hoosier Civil War (IC, Closed)

[The Hoosier Alliance]

Indianapolis, Indiana
General Brandon Jones took a deep breath. Before him was the Capitol building. It was modeled after the old American Capitol, large white domes and columns as well as the two legislature buildings flanking on either side, though they now stand empty since the dissolution of Congress. Behind him was the convoy of armored vehicles and armed guards that had escorted him. They were not there to guarantee safe passage through the city. The several dozen soldiers were there to ensure a quick and effective transition of power. Many of the soldiers moved fast, heading toward the barracks and guard posts on site. Anyone not already confirmed as a supporter of Jones was to be detained until their allegiance was tested. Jones wanted absolutely no wild cards to interfere with his plans. The general walked up the large white stairs that lead to the front of the Capitol. Most of the guards on the entrance were working for Jones, something the general made sure of. The others who were unknown variables were quickly stripped of their weapons and escorted away.

The general entered the building and noticed immediately how his men already were securing the building, quickly and quietly. Aides and soldiers that loyal to Jones were detained and massed in some of the larger rooms of the Capitol, where they could be easily watched. Jones was not concerned with them, however. He had one target: Houston. Jones was followed by about a dozen armed men as he walked down the winding hallways, passed all the works of art and scurrying civilians. Finally, he reached Houston's office. Outside stood four soldiers loyal to Jones, as well as a handful of the other generals that made up Houston's junta. They did not say anything. Everyone there was disgusted with what they were doing. As far as they were concerned, they were dethroning one of the greatest Hoosiers to ever live. A man that helped lead them through the Revolution, brought glory and victory through countless armed conflicts, and who was a symbol for the strength for the Hoosier people.

Jones nodded and motioned for one of the soldiers to open the door. As the door opened, Jones walked in, followed by the other generals and most of the troops, with some staying out to guard the door. Houston was sitting at his desk, taking a swig from a bottle of whiskey. He was surprised by the sudden entrance of so many people at once. "Jones? What can I do for you?" He said suspiciously. His eyes slowly drifted from Houston to the other generals lined up behind him. "What...what is this?"

"We're here to ensure the security and advancement of our nation, Houston. Forgive us." Before Houston could respond, the six men that entered the room with the generals aimed their rifles at Houston. Jones continued as Houston glared at him in anger, "General Jim Houston, you are hereby under arrest and stripped of any official power in Hoosier." Houston protested as two soldiers gently lifted him up by his arms. One looked at Jones and held up his handcuffs, asking for confirmation. "There's no need for cuffing him soldier. Just escort him to his new residence."

"Residence?" Houston asked as he was being dragged away. "Yes," Jones said, "You'll be spending the rest of your days in a villa just a few miles away from Garrick's. We may be stripping you of your position, but we still have enough respect to ensure you and your wife live the rest of your lives comfortably." As they dragged Houston away, he suddenly became very violent. "YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS! I'LL HAVE YOU ALL SHOT! YOU HEAR ME? SHOT!" He continued to rant and curse as they moved him along to the convoy that was waiting.

Jones shook his head. He always dreamed of sitting in the Oval Office. As he took a seat in the General's chair, his chair now, he looked at the remaining generals in the junta. His junta. "Well men," he began, "We have a lot of work to do. First, we purge the military high command of Houston loyalists, then crack down on dissenters. I don't want anyone executed, just given an...early retirement. We'll continue our plan on the Missouri front and crush those damn rebels. Then, we'll ensure those God-forsaken communist dogs are purged from our homeland once and for all. Dismissed." The generals quickly snapped to attention, then left the room to carry out the already established plans for the purges and military actions against the rebels.

All throughout Hoosier, pro-Jones military units were dispatched to ensure a smooth transition of power. A few city garrisons turned on Jones when they heard the news of the coup, but quickly surrendered once they found out how much of the military backed the new dictator. Only the officers leading the loyalists were detained. The average soldiers were given new leaders and put right back to work. The Houston holdouts were arrested, but ultimately released, with most of them receiving regular benefits of retiring officers. This was an attempt to guarantee no future reason for dissent among the military. Jones' coup seemed to have gone on without a hitch. He just hoped the civilian population would be as easy to persuade as the military had been.

The battle in Missouri was going well for Jones' forces. Much of St. Louis had fallen, and large swaths of the south had fallen. While the northern part of the state still put up a decent fight, they too were being pushed back the the onslaught of federal troops. Rebels were disheartened and without central command. Government forces hoped to reach Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, within a week or two.

[Cedoria]

Poras, People's Republic of Cedoria
As the dying embers of the sun slowly made their way below the horizon, Former PIA agent David Johnson stood on the balcony of his own apartment. leaning firmly against the railing, watching the setting sun dip imperceptibly. It would be dark within the hour.

Having returned home from Hoosier, Courtney Madison in toe, he had expected a meeting with PIA Chief Schultz, his boss, for a full debrief and report. He had only met Schultz several times before, but knew the man well enough to expect a meeting soon after his arrival.

Instead, he found Schultz dead, the Agency unsure of who was in control, and reports indicating half of the members of the Central Committee had suddenly been purged, with rumors of a violent massacre. Chairman Sorenson meanwhile, was more entrenched then ever.

Within a few days, equilibrium was briskly restored, and his newly-promoted boss had finally given his debrief... and his sacking.

Apparently, one of the higher-ups had decided Johnson was a security liability, his promotion by Schultz before his fall from power had made him a political liability as well as his reports about his mistake, that had led to Courtney Madison's capture.

By rights, he ought to have been annoyed... But things were not all bad.

"Enjoying the view?" came a soft, querying voice behind him.

He turned, Courtney stood there, looking achingly beautiful.

Johnson shook his head, irritated at himself.
"Sorry, just felt a bit melancholic"

Courtney laughed, white teeth briefly flashing as she did so.

"Melancholic, do all you Cedorians talk so well?" she asked.

Johnson gave a matching smile.

"We have one of the best educational systems in the world, but you'll talk like that soon, you'll be living here for a while."

Courtney's grin faded.

"I know, David, will I ever go back? I don't mind being granted political asylum, but how can I return and take my rightful place as President now? I feel so confused."

Johnson moved, quickly pulled her into a hug...

"We WILL get you back. You are the lawfully elected Hoosier President, and I'll make sure you go back. Someday." he vowed fiercely. For some reason, in that moment. He believed it.


Then, softly, tenderly, the two kissed. Only for a moment, but it felt like an eternity.

"What about your wife... Have you... told her... About us?" Courtney asked.

He looked at her, plain love echoing out from his eyes.

"It will be all right.".

Then he took her hand, and gently led her to the now two-person bedroom.


Poras, People's Republic of Cedoria, People's House


Now securely ensconced in his power as Chairman, Treavor Sorenson felt no need to continue the violence of his initial purge. While the Central Commitee members, and a few of the Intelligence and military plotters had died, those below them had already gotten the message. As waves of fear had radiated down into the ranks of the state organs, many provincial and regional officials were removed and retired. There was no need to kill them, Sorenson had done what he needed to do, and his replacement appointments had given him an unassailable power base within the Communist Party. He was safe from removal for the foreseeable future.

Sorenson had been so opposed in his first two years, a leader from the provinces, with a marked rural accent, with strange ideas about devolution and a fierce desire to clean corruption? Anathema, to many Poras bred politicians with little appetite for reform. The previous two leaders, Tizack and Chairman Stavros had both been capable in their running of Cedoria, but neither had the appetite to thoroughly take on and shape the apparatus of the Party and the country to properly serve them. In fact, only Chairman Vallance, widely recognised many years after his death as the greatest of Cedoria's Communist leaders, had ever exercised unchallenged control over the Party and broader society. Tizack and Stavros had both been obeyed, but only Vallance Vallen had made them his.

Sorenson had no choice, his reform plan depended on being carried out, and that meant making the organs of power work in his favour. Now, with his enemies removed, he had the chance to stamp himself firmly on the Party and society.


In foreign policy, he had already achieved his first major success, the Civil War in Hoosier, causing widespread ruination and destruction. While the rebels had been defeated, the new rebel leadership was in the process of shifting their forces south, across the border into one of the neighboring states near Hoosier. The continuing low-level insurgency could be sustained for years, with virtually no Cedorian resources if need be. Wrecking the ability of the Hoosiers to interfere with Cedorian plans by sparking a civil war, causing divisons and hatred that could be stoked and enflamed for years? Genius. It didn't need the government to be overthrown, just... crippled.


For the foreseeable future, the Hoosier Alliance was a non-problem. Ever since their attempts to attack Cedoria, and their violation of the Vallen Doctrine, they had been enemies. Hoosier had paid for their defiance in that conflict, and had paid again for their continuing irritation in the civil war ever since. No enemy that provoked the People's Republic ever stood for long.


Sorenson had cleaned out his enemies, and now, at last. He could begin to work...

South-West of the Hoosier Alliance
Newly promoted Colonel Clara Fox gave a sigh of satisfaction as she looked at her makeshift rebel base. Let the new Hoosier President, Jones, think that the Madisonians had collapsed if he liked. Fox knew better.

After Madison's capture and subsequent rescue and escape to Cedoria, Fox had ordered a bug-out, pulling most of the rebel troops and resources back over the border. Plans for such a retreat had long been made, even if it had happened in a more sudden manner then had been planned. While rebel troops and equipment were lost, many of the most hardened divisions and the most important equipment had remained intact, and was slowly pouring over the border.

From here, they could regroup, rebuild their strength, and carry on the conflict with cross-border attacks. Insurgent bombings, soft police and economic targets, small raids. Typical guerilla tactics.


The Madisonians were no longer a conventional military force, instead, Fox, their new leader, would turn them into an outfit capable of inspiring terror. Hoosier officials would consider them the boogeyman, and politicians would out-compete each other to see who could be 'tougher' on the Madisonian rebels.

Assuming the Hoosier Congress ever came back that is.

Plenty of pro-rebel sentiment still existed in Hoosier, and Fox was damn sure that they could still cause a lot of damage in years to come, despite their defeat in the conventional conflict.

One day, Fox vowed, Courtney Madison would walk into the Presidential Residence and claim her rightful position. She would destroy the Fascistic military junta that had betrayed the Hoosier Revolution, and restore the true successor of America to its rightful place, as a free democracy.


Whether Cedoria's leaders decided, for their own reasons, to help Madison to that place, Fox could only wait and see. She nursed no illusions about the Cedorians, their motives were selfish, but that didn't mean they were not useful, that was something John Clark had never understood.

She had regretted having to execute him, after the successful raid that rescued Madison, she had shot him in the back of the head, his purpose fulfilled. He had been a good man, a principled man, but misguided. His treason had cost them the war, and prolonged the conflict for years longer. Fox knew this, but she was prepared to prolong it now that there was no other option.

Well, other than surrender, and that was unthinkable.


The war was over, formally, but the fighting was not. Her new insurgency would be the nucleus from which a new rebellion would be born.

[The Hoosier Alliance]

Jones smiled as he leaned back into his leather swivel chair. The latest reports from the Missouri front had just come in, and brought great news: Rebel forces had been completely eradicated...or at least, that's what everyone would hear. While they had taken heavy losses, many traitors had been able to cross the border, no doubt in an attempt to continue to fight with cowardly guerrilla tactics. Jones laughed as he spoke to the military officials in front of him, "These bastards want to use terrorist tactics against us? Ha! Let them. We've already won, even if they can't see that." Jones stood up from his chair and walked behind it to look out of the large window directly behind his desk. Outside, he could see Indianapolis, the jewel of the Alliance. While it stood (mostly) untouched by the war, refugees had flooded the area. Slums filled shacks and the poor made up a good portion of neighborhoods, inside and just outside the city. Still, however, Indianapolis would be the center of Hoosier's recovery, the center of political and economic power in the country.

"Sir?" One of his advisers said, interrupting his daydreaming, "There's still the matter of reconstruction to attend to. Should we give the go ahead on the Unity Act?" Jones chuckled, "Yes. Immediately." The officer, along with a companion, quickly left the room to make a number of arrangements. Weeks before the actual coup took place, Jones and his men decided on a post-war plan to reforge the nation. Communist purges had been a rather common sight during the conflict, and weren't unheard of before. Now, however, Jones was stepping things up. He ordered not only the jailing of Communists, but also the execution of many, in order to solidify his power and ensure "enemies to the state" wouldn't be able to resist his regime. He also had orders to arrest and/or suppress anti-government expression, even if it wasn't pro-communist.

Now that the war was over, Jones worried most about the civilian population. It wasn't the Communists that had him worried, it was the normal, everyday Hoosier. Houston had enough legitimacy as a fairly elected president doing what he had to do in a time of crisis when he dissolved Congress and declared military rule. Jones, however, didn't. While popular with the troops, he didn't have much experience on the civilian front. He was vocal on policy only with Houston and other officials, never in front of cameras, unlike Houston before he was elected. So, Jones would have to change that.

He realized that he had to win them over, and the best way to do that was a quick recovery from the war. Law and order was starting to be restored in the more remote parts of the country and food and other supplies was being moved to where it was needed most. These supplies were in short supply, as the border had been locked down in order to prevent foreign fighters from entering the nation (again) and much of the nation's resources had been put into the war, rather than supporting citizens. Unrest was high, but Jones hoped that once he started to improve their lives, they would become distracted from his seizure of power.

Jones dismissed his officers as he sat back down in his chair. As they left, Jones pulled up a number of popular news articles online. He read the headlines in his head, and smiled at the first few:
War in Missouri OVER

Madisonians Surrender

Fed soldiers capture St. Louis, Jefferson City

C. Madison flees to Cedoria

As he went down the page of various articles, passing the links to the writings themselves, he began to frown. Not all of them were so praising of Jones or the victory. There had always been an....agreement between the Hoosier government and media: Don't paint the government too negatively, and we allow you to operate. Jones would have to enforce that.

Coup successful, Jones illegally takes power

With Madison defeated, is democracy dead?

Jones: Military strongman?

The very last one he read however, made him smile. It was meant as an insult, and the writer of it would have to pay along with the other...uncomplimentary journalists. Still, he liked it.

Jones: The Hoosier Caesar

Yes...Jones liked that one a lot...

Weeks later...

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to Sara Long, live in Columbus. Sara?"

"Thanks Rick. As you can see behind me, hundreds have turned out for the protests to end martial law in the city. The military have been running the show here since the beginning of the Civil War, and many people are tired of the military officials appointed by Jones. Their crackdowns on possible Commu- OH MY GOD! Larry, get down! Where did that come from? Are they firing on the pr-"

"Today, twelve more Communists were hanged in Madison Square. Four of them were confirmed rebel officers. That makes forty-two public executions to date since the end of the war..."

"Riot police dispersed a crowd of protesters today with tear gas and rubber bullets. Seventeen dissenters were jailed, accused of inciting a riot. However, many protesters came out today in order demand additional food. Government officials claim that more food is arriving, but that anti-government forces enacted a scorched earth policy near the end of the conflict, burning large swaths of farmland as they retreated. Civilians claim the military is hording food in order to control Pittsburgh..."

"Two dozen former Hoosier Congressmen have been arrested today after clamor for reform. They took to social media, calling for a return of Congress and for public elections to be brought back. Former Senator Robert Shaw said, as he was being dragged from his home in cuffs, "This is nothing more than a right-wing Cedoria. We were promised a return of democracy after the war. They lied."

"You know, boys and girls, I've always tried to be honest with you on this radio program. No lies. Of course, I do have my political slant. Who doesn't? But still, I've always given accurate information, even if it's unpopular. So here it goes: This. Isn't. Hoosier. Not anymore. We were the inheritors to AMERICA. Remember when that meant something? You know, the word America? It used to mean freedom, prosperity, equality. Shit like that. When a foreigner asked, "What does it mean to be a Hoosier?" The answer was always, "It means 'American'. It means a continuation of freedom of thought and speech." Now, Hoosier is seen as a synonym for authoritarianism, ever since our oh-so-beloved Caesar, God I hate title, took power. A pic of the Hoosier and Cedorian flags are shown side by side when you Google, "Fascist pricks". Well, that and a lot of videos that always seem to get me all hot and... Hey, you can't be in here! We're live! No, I won't shut down! You'll have to break down the damn door. Gary, keep going. Hear that folks? The damn Gestapo is here! Guess I got me a one way ticket to the camps, eh? Well come get me, fascist pigs! You may have scrapped the Bill of Rights, but one thing you did keep is the good 'ole Second Amendment! Ladies and germs, if you got children in the room, I suggest covering their ears..."