The radio in the Kings private chambers crackled to life as the three soldiers who had entered looked at the man laid in his bed. He was a middle-aged man looking very nervously between the Kalashnikovs of the soldiers and the radio they had just turned on. The voice of Laura Camburn, the number one radio news host of the Collective News Agency (CNA), was emitting from the radio in panicked bursts. “I’m getting news in as fast as I can manage here people…sorry. As far as I can tell the military has launched a coup against the King and Royal Family! The heirs to the throne Prince Mark and Princess Ellie have both been arrested in their private residence on the outskirts of the Capital…the Kings palace has reportedly been breached by members of Military Police Detachment Alpha. No causalities so far… the Royal Guard just laid down their weapons! I know I’ve been saying this was going to happen for a while but I mean…Yes I hear you Derick! Okay folks a group of MPs have just arrived here at the station…they want to say a few words. Okay? Yes Okay you want to be on the microphone there. Right!”
With that the door to the Kings bedroom opened and two of the soldiers saluted as Colonel Richard Hun walked into the room, “Good Morning your majesty.” He said as he stopped at the foot of the bed and looked at the now disgruntled King. The two men stopped for a second to listen to the voices of the MPs on the radio informing the public to remain indoors and not take to the streets during this period of upheaval. Then the King spoke quickly, “The international community will not accept this Colonel! I will be back in power within a week!” The King stopped though as Colonel Hun smiled, “The International community supports this move your majesty, we remove you, bring in democracy and the world will be all the happier. No blood has been shed and the whole country has been wanting your blood for a long time I promise you. Now get dressed, there’s a press conference for you to attend! Must do this all legally.” With that said Hun turned and left the room. King Roger looked at the three men still in his room, “What’s the press conference for?” He asked one of the Military Policemen. “To show you signing your abdication sir.” One of them answered. The king went pale.
The Palace of Kings in the centre of Temple Prime, the Capital of the Collective, was magnificent thought John Parly as he sat among the five men on the long table in front of the cameras. Parly had been a member of the resistance for as long as it had been in existence, so around nine months, but during that time he had risen to power as head of the Resistances political branch. Now he found himself ready to be sworn in as the new President of the new Democratic Union of Chimeran Collective and was nervous all the way through. But first the simple business of abdicating the old King Roger and bringing peace to a very unstable situation. The room was a buzz with about fifteen reporters all vetted for their suitability for this task months in advance and made aware of their need to be in the press conference room about three hours ago when MPs arrived to escort them here. The room stood as the King entered, except for Parly and the Generals either side of him, who remained seated. King Roger walked into the room and looked around nervously he was dressed in a formal suit and his hair looked like it had hastily been brushed on the way over here. “Where are my children?” He asked as he came to stand in front of the Generals and Parly.
“Safe your grace.” Answered Colonel Hun from the side of the table. The cameras and recorders of the reporters all filled the silence of the room as the King looked at the men in front of him. “No chance of a reprieve then?” He asked jokingly. No-one laughed. The only motion that filled the room was the simple movement of Parly to push the simple piece of paper to the King. On it read the full terms of his abdication and what would take place next, the room was shocked as the King read aloud that he would abdicate the throne of Chimera and leave the nation to be governed by the people. He and his family would be leaving by the 10:30 am flight to a neighbour state that had offered them sanctuary. The room was shocked as the King placed the piece of paper on the table and asked for a pen and signed it.
The reign of the Chimeran Kings is over, but what will follow?