The Bhikkustan-Vioraux War (TWI only, IC, Closed)

[Bhikkustan]

Bhikkustan
Sankang Missile Launch Facility

The commander gasped with shock as the message flashed onto his screen. Internet was down across Vioraux. The opportunity was too great to miss. He strode purposefully towards the men manning the launch codes.

"Men, get ready for a launch!"

The soldiers were shocked but snapped to attention is a second, their devotion masking any doubts they had about this surprise command.

"What targets does our Khan want levelled?" Asked missile corporal Densing, as he frantically typed into the missile target array. The screen flashed colours through the dank, badly lit bunker. The missile silos were bold and had been, until recently, unused.

"Pick top economic and military targets. I want nine missiles fired."

"Yes sir!"

The soldiers tapped away and brought up their targets. With these selected, they turned the launch keys.

"May Allah guide our blows!" Shouted Ahmed as he turned the key.

The missiles ascended skywards.

[Pacific Peace Union]

"Did they really think we wouldn't shoot them down by cutting off connection for civilians?"

By now men and women were scurring about the bunker trying to sort everything out.

At the round metal table Victoire and the other top officials sat discussing their next move while multiple lower ranks were about the room doing tasks that were given to them.

"Marc what is the status on Vuileries?" Vic shot her gaze to her left staring him down, in an almost '-this better be good news or I will have your head-' sort of way. Marc gulped.

"Riots... continue to progress in favor of Surevi." He brought up a map of the city which appeared on the large monitor in front of them. Red dots began popping up in areas that were riddled with violence. "The entire city is practically shut down and we have the police doing all they can to control the citizens."

Victoire taped her fingers on the table, her long pink nails making pitter patters everytime they hit.

She nodded. "Permission granted for use of strong force for the Vuileries PD."

Turning to the right she locked down on Conductor of the Third Estate Édouard.

"Édouard... Use the phone line to get in touch with the State Directories office."

"Yes Madame."

[Bhikkustan]

"Did they really think we wouldn't shoot them down by cutting off connection for civilians?"

By now men and women were scurring about the bunker trying to sort everything out.

At the round metal table Victoire and the other top officials sat discussing their next move while multiple lower ranks were about the room doing tasks that were given to them.

"Marc what is the status on Vuileries?" Vic shot her gaze to her left staring him down, in an almost '-this better be good news or I will have your head-' sort of way. Marc gulped.

"Riots... continue to progress in favor of Surevi." He brought up a map of the city which appeared on the large monitor in front of them. Red dots began popping up in areas that were riddled with violence. "The entire city is practically shut down and we have the police doing all they can to control the citizens."

Victoire taped her fingers on the table, her long pink nails making pitter patters everytime they hit.

She nodded. "Permission granted for use of strong force for the Vuileries PD."

Turning to the right she locked down on Conductor of the Third Estate Édouard.

"Édouard... Use the phone line to get in touch with the State Directories office."

"Yes Madame."

"Hello my cowardly Amis! Come to groves again?"

[Bhikkustan]

Khaosen Army Base
Bhikkustan

It was night. The base was asleep. Lights out had been called in all of the barracks, and silence reigned. All across the base, except one room. The officers mess was dimly lit, but slowly filling up. In walked Admiral Funlong. While the other officers stood tall he was a frail figure of what he had once been, but the memories of what that had been was enough to keep the other officers hushed. One man walked out from the group. General Sangkhen, deputy commander of the armed forces.

Sangkhen stood up and saluted. The crowd saluted back. The group sat, leaving him the only one standing.

"Brothers. I thank you all for coming here tonight. Your presence here alone is enough to warrant an arrest if the purpose of our meeting is ever discovered, so please do not report this to anyone. If not out of fear then out of a combined respect for us. What we are about to discuss is treason. Anyone who is not comfortable with staying may leave, as long as they do not raise the alarm."

Several officers slowly got up and left the room. Sangkhen did not doubt that they one of them would go to the authorities. For that purpose he had shut down all communication from the base. Any potential whistleblower action could not take place. His most loyal guards were on lookout tonight, with orders to shoot to kill. For what he was plotting here was something sinister. He continued his speech.

"As I was saying, this is of utmost importance that no one catches word of this. If the TANUKH find out it will not be a dishonourable discharge. It will be execution. What we are planning here will go against hundreds of years of tradition, but I believe it is now time. Our khan ostracises us from the international community more every day. It cannot continue. I do not propose getting rid of him entirely. That would be too far. He is just unfit to rule now, and modern times are not the age of the King."

There was a collective gasp from some of the members of the group, but most had already come to this conclusion. Sangkhen began again, the entire room hooked onto his every word.

"We must conduct a coup, simply put. Take control quickly. Declare a state of emergency. If we can take Surevi alive, we cannot be stopped. He values the national unity far more than his own rule. He will sacrifice power for stability. We shall put him in as a constitutional monarch and sue for peace with Vioraux. That war is both meaningless and futile. We cannot beat the west. I have already gotten the backing of several western governments, who will recognise our rule immediately and send peacekeepers."

The coup plotters nodded silently. The plan was a good one, and foreign support was a big bonus. Funlong stood up, and asked a question.

"What of the people? What will they think? And can we trust them in an election? I doubt that a liberal pro-western leader would win in the elections."

Sangkhen nodded grimly.

"That is the crux of the problem. The people are the wildcard here, the uncertainty, the uncontrollable variable. We must just hope that they will see wisdom in our move and hope that Surevi will help support us. He is key to the public opinion on this issue. I also believe a tax cut would be good to help pacify the people."

"And the clergy?" Asked Funlong slowly but purposefully. Though he was a frail shell after his mental breakdown he was still wise, and could see problems. "They command enormous power in our society and, quite frankly, if they told us that this coup was wrong we would lose nearly all of our support overnight."

Sangkhen sighed softly, the air sliding out of his mouth. He had not thought of the clergy, but now realised the influence that they commanded.

"We will have to try convince them. Make them believe that this is right."

"It will have to do," replied Funlong.

Sangkhen nodded.

"Now return to your posts. Do not act until I give the orders to. Build loyalty among your men. Make them ready to die for you. Quite possibly, they shall."

With that, the meeting ended. The officers filed out slowly. There was no conversation as they returned to their barracks. This was far too important. The consequences of their actions would be too far-reaching to ignore. They had crossed the rubicon. There was no turning back now.