8KM SOUTHWEST OF CRIFOSO, TUPENGA
A wall of dust and fumes traveled the length of the one-lane highway cutting through the low country, surrounded by rice fields covered by millions of low-rising panicles. Thousands of Creoloso workers were busy in what were more swamps than fields, as the harvest had just begun. The sun's first rays had not the chance to peek over the horizon yet. It was 04:30 hours in Tupenga and at the head of the wall of dust raced a company of tanks and armored fighting vehicles. An additional tank was adjoined to them and in it sat Marechal Louis-August Bragança.
Louis-August Bragança was born to lead. Born in 1973, he was too young to have seen combat in the war of independence. His father, Giribaldo Bragança, had died in it. In 1981, three days before the ceasefire that led to peace, his father stepped on a land mine and was blown to pieces. Louis-August hated the Criolosos and had dedicated his life to their suppression. Graduating from Crifoso Politécnica in 1994, he joined the Tupengan army as a junior officer upon completion. At the time, Fustera was fighting an insurgency that had begun two years prior and Louis-August almost immediately volunteered for combat service. He was assigned to a light infantry battalion and completed a seven-month tour of duty. He returned to Fustera for another seven-month tour half a year later, being promoted to lieutenant and given command of a light infantry platoon. By the new millennium, he had completed three tours in that country and was given command of an infantry company. When the Creolosos revolted in 2001, his bravery and ambition paid off as he was one of the few experienced counterinsurgency commanders in Tupenga. It was between 2001 and 2013 that Louis-August earned his nickname, 'O Terror da Noite' or the Night Killer, and was famed for his night raids. He had abducted and butchered rebels and the innocent alike on the very marshland he was blazing through now. With peace and the subsequent power-sharing arrangement, Louis-August became something of a political pariah, but he would always have a place in the army. And now the army was putting things back in their proper order in Tupenga, with their great marechal at their helm.
In the capital city of Crifoso, all the other pieces were already in place. At 02:00 hours, sufficient infantry and military police companies were deployed to occupy the public broadcasting radio station, the city's central water treatment facility, major power plants, and most of the key administrative buildings. The parliament building, which had been almost empty at the time, was seized and closed. Everything was already in place for the marechal to enter the capital as its conqueror. It wasn't just the capital that found itself under military rule as early risers set out for work, all of the major cities and towns except those to the far north saw similar developments unfold as military and loyal police took over key points of control. The coup had been brutally efficient.
Bragança entered the capital at 05:15 and headed directly for the presidential palace, the old governor's palace built in the mid-19th century. It had already been occupied and President Marco Llorasa arrested, taken with his whole family to a classified location somewhere in the city. The presidential palace had been prepared for the marechal's arrival, including the study in which the President of Tupenga usually gave his addresses to the people.
A broad dark wood desk sat in the middle of the room, two Tupengan flags behind it on either side. Lights and cameras were already set up in an arc in front of it. Louis-August Bragança's escort left him at the door, as soldiers immediately posted themselves outside of it and along the hallway. There was a crew in the study with the commander and one of them started counting down toward zero.
The marechal cleared his voice and, as the video man said zero, began to speak,
Brothers and sisters of Tupenga,
We live in exceptional times and under exceptional circumstances, and the patriots of Tupenga have had to take exceptional action. Today, the weak, corrupt regime of President Marco Llorasa has ended. For seven years, the Llorasa administration has taken us down the path of ruin. Our great nation is being ransacked as insurgents and rebels are allowed to run rampant in the countryside. Our great country is less secure than it has ever been since 2013. The unraveling of our security has been more than matched by the sharp decay in our happiness, health, and prosperity. We, the patriots of Tupenga, could not idly sit by and watch as our beloved country fell into ruin. As good Tupengans, we have been forced into action. This morning, our security forces secured strategic points across the country, have arrested the corrupt leadership of Llorasa's fail administration, and have placed the destiny of Tupenga back in the people's hands.
Our nation's decline precedes Marco Llorosa and reflects how weak our government is after its capitulation to the rebels. As I speak, insurgents have captured the regional capitals of Tusana and Relanga. What did they do about it? Nothing. They did nothing, preferring to relax in their life of luxury as their people suffer the deprivations of what is no more than a criminal gang.
The sad state of affairs that has come over our country is over. As of today, Tupenga enters a new era. It is an era that promises a return to the glory that we once basked in. We will bring back economic growth, tourism, and industry. Our soldiers stand ready to fight and defeat the guerrilla criminals who plague us like locus. Remember my words: we will make Tupenga great again.
The journey back to greatness will not be easy and it will come with sacrifice. I have accepted the responsibility and duty of the presidency from the military and the people and will govern as Marechalisimo until our republic has been restored back to health. We have not abandoned democracy. We are simply ensuring that the foundations for a strong, just rule of the people are not just maintained, but strengthened in the face of adversity. I take no offense at the thought that my emergency presidency is merely a transition to something much better. I accept that as my responsibility. I do not want to be the best leader Tupenga has ever had, because then what would we have to look forward to? No, I simply wish to guide our country back to a course that ensures us a destiny that we can all look forward to in excitement.
I warn our enemies and those who seek to hold us back that I will have no mercy. We will wage an unrepentant war against the criminal guerrillas who kill our people and destroy our property. Our army will win back the countryside and we will restore peace to this magnificent state. That is my pledge to you. Final victory will require hard work and sacrifice, but I have no doubt that the people of Tupenga are ready to do as they must for a better future.
Deus bless Tupenga!
As the camera's red light faded to black, Louis-August rose. The door opened for him as he walked to it and out in the hall he heard the cries of his soldiers, "Long live the Marechalisimo! Long live the Marechalisimo!"
General Riquelme Pauleta was waiting for him, saluting alongside the soldiers as their fearless leader stepped out. "Marechalismo, congratulations on your victory. The whole country looks forward to the years of paradise that will come under your tutelage." There were cameras and reporters filing in, and some of them were snapping photos or taking footage of the top military brass congratulating themselves. The public press would all tell of this historic day.
As the two men retired to more private halls, General Pauleta changed to other subjects. "Gaspar Bernardo has landed in Elani to meet both with the Fusteran government and representatives of the Fourth Reich. It's good that the coup was such sudden success, it will make us look good in front of them. I expect negotiations to be quick and that foreign aid in the shape of money and arms will come soon."
"It can't be soon enough," said Louis-August. "The rebellion is sure to swell as a result of today. I have already put the mechanisms and levers of our conscription drive in motion. I will give you the soldiers you need, you make sure they get the equipment and training they need to end the insurgency. We don't have time to waste, Riquelme. And if we don't succeed, you and I both know that they will have our heads on pikes for display." He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. They were stopped in one of the palace's inner hallways, in front of a large door that gave access to the president's private quarters. Louis-August said, "What about Plan Restore? How quickly can we implement those changes? The success of Plan Restore is of the same, or more, importance than foreign aid."
"Of course," answered Riquelme. "Plan Restore is in motion. I have authorized the press department to announce the new curfews and restrictions next week, after the commencement of our northern offensive. Once our troops are in place in all of the major cities and towns, and we've secured the highways, Plan Restore will go into full effect. There will be a lot of fighting, I am sure of it. But, we are prepared."
"I hope so," said Louis-August. "You have always been a friend to me, Riquelme. Always. I think of you as I would a brother. But, now I am Marechalisimo and know that should you fail your head will roll before mine."
Rebellions and coups in Tupenga are much like money and guns in the Golden Throne, they're common. Still, the nation awoke shocked and confused because there was a moment when at least more Tupengans than ever believed that their country could take the next step forward in its progress. It was believed that the days of military juntas and dictatorships were over. These were the days of liberalism and globalism, not protectionism and authoritarianism. Power is rarely distributed at random, one man does not have an equal chance of it compared to others. Those in power have bent the system to favor the continuation of their rule. In Tupenga, most of those in power did not share the same hopes and beliefs as the majority of commoners they ruled. Men like Louis-August Bragança looked to the past for answers, not to the future. But, the future always arrives.
As day gave way to night, the only noise anyone in the country could hear — from one coast to the other — was the sound of gunfire as a swift coup started giving way to violent civil war...