The Brukean Prime Minister's Inauguration (SEMI-CLOSED) IC

[Bruke]

Government of the Royal Republic of Bruke

Statement from the Office of the President:

We welcome those from near and far to witness the inauguration of the new Prime Minister, and hope their stay is a pleasant one. Those in attendance should feel free to discuss matters of various importance with the officials present at the Parliament and the Royal Palace.

President Bereket Abera

Statement from the Royal Palace:

The Crown and the Government welcome the results of the recent general election. The fact that an election was able to be held in spite of ongoing conflicts which posed an existential threat to the nation speaks to the resilience of our democracy.

In a celebratory spirit, an inauguration will be held in which the new Prime Minister and the Cabinet will be sworn in. His Majesty and the President will be in attendance, along with various figures from politics, culture, business, and other areas.

Officials and dignitaries from other countries will be welcomed, not just as representatives from abroad, but as esteemed and honored guests of the Royal Republic.

Issued in the name of he who is a servant of the the Most High, saved from sin and death by the Son, forgiven by the Father, and renewed and restored by the Holy Spirit, pride of the Prince who was made King, His Majesty Ras-Hoy and Negus Emmanuel the 2nd, of the Royal Republic of Bruke

Inauguration Schedule

At the Church of the Nine Saints, in Brukeville: Special Service for the Inauguration (9:00-11:00 am)
At the Parliament, in Dub City: Inauguration Ceremony and Prime Minister's Speech (midday-2:00 pm)
At the Parliament, in Dub City: Inaugural Session of Parliament (3:00-6:00 pm)
At the Royal Palace, in Brukeville: the Prime Minister's Ball (7:00 pm-midnight)

The 2018 election had been held against a backdrop of unprecedented change.

In a little under a year, the Royal Republic of Bruke had moved beyond its traditional focus on itself and its former colonies (which together make up the West American Union) to engage with the rest of the world.

Some of its first actions were to become part of the World Assembly, join the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement, and provide diplomatic and military support to a newly democratic Diyaristan.

This had domestic consequences almost immediately.

In joining the World Assembly, the country had agreed to abide by a whole other category of international law. Of this, the General Assembly resolutions legalizing same-sex marriage, abortion, and euthanasia proved most problematic. Federal law made euthanasia illegal outright and banned abortion except in the cases of threats to the mother's life, rape, or incest. Recognition of marriage was a provincial issue, with Metropolitan Province extending this to same-sex couples, Central Province allowing civil unions, and Prince Bruce Province amending its constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Activists in favor of LGBTQ rights, abortion and euthanasia took to the streets, with counterprotestors close behind: a violent incident between the two sides left the country on edge. What later become known as the Repeal Campaign Crisis did not just pit the religious versus the secular or the right wing versus the left wing, but cut across party lines. The real divide was between those who wanted Bruke to join and make a name for itself in the international community whatever the cost and those who would rather risk turning inward -and thus losing this newly found influence as the sole WAU member state in the World Assembly- than go against traditional values.

Joining the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement opened up Brukean companies and workers to unprecedented foreign competition, angering the working class, especially in de-industrializing Central Province. Manufacturers like Zekulu Heavy Industry, which once provided employment to thousands, were jolted from a moribund state to closing up shop entirely. The end of the last industrial giants further shrunk the already-small industrial sector, which paled in importance to the services sector. There was a general sense that economic inequality, which was already high, would become even more of a problem as the economic center of gravity shifted to crowded Brukeville and Dub City.

Involvement in Diyaristan was seen as necessary by the national security establishment as part of the fight against a resurgent People's Revolutionary Front, which had established a base there, but the public was apprehensive of war. The first conflict that saw Brukean forces being deployed outside West America was a success at first but turned into a quagmire when the democratic government faded away, leaving Islamist militants and hardline Communists -with the PRF at their side- to fight over what remained of the war-torn country. Brukean forces eventually headed home, and the stinging taste of defeat rattled said establishment and war hawks in the Cabinet and Parliament.

Various other events, from the short but eventful Brukean-Uzumaki War and the infiltration of the military by oligarchic elements attempting to revive a corporatist rump state in the Hinterlands, came together to spur the revival of an anti-war, anti-interventionist and anti-corruption movement among the Brukean public.

Everything mentioned above and more led to a very, very contentious election process.

The right, left, and others sorted themselves out into their respective political parties.

The Royalists -supported by monarchists, social and fiscal conservatives, the civil service, and most business interests- especially the financial industry- supported continued membership in the WA and repeal of relevant resolutions, intervention abroad in the national interest, and an increase in foreign trade and investment. The party seemed willing to prioritize more defense spending and modest tax cuts, with a decrease in social services to balance the budget.

The Social Democrats- supported by weak monarchists or republicans, a still powerful but increasingly small contingent of organized labor, along with most social and fiscal liberals- supported continued membership in the WA without a repeal effort, limited intervention abroad, and an increase in foreign trade and investment. The party called for cuts to defense, a modest increase in taxes, and a revamping of the welfare state that it had created in the midst of the Great Depression.

The Progressives- supported by various social activism groups, some social and fiscal liberals, and progressive activists- supported continued membership in the WA without a repeal effort, a policy of neutrality, and making trade and investment efforts subject to labor, environmental, and human rights concerns. The party called for large cuts in defense, a large increase in taxes on high-income earners and large corporations, and an expansion of the welfare state to include single-payer health care and free higher education.

The Liberals -supported by libertarians, moderates, and a small but growing part of the business community- was split on everything from the repeal campaign to the welfare state. Beyond support for more foreign trade and investment, and lower taxes, the party could agree on little else.

The National Party -supported by ultra-nationalists, isolationists, jingoists, and pensioners- called for immediate withdrawal from the World Assembly and the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement, an end to foreign intervention in favor of a focus on national defense (especially against communists or Islamic extremists), and a moratorium on immigration.

The People's Party of the Republic -formerly the political arm of the PRF- was agnostic on WA membership and neutral on social issues. Save for supporting a balanced budget amendment -a peculiarity from support being concentrated in Central Province- the party is generally fiscally liberal. It was strongly anti-war, supported a policy of neutrality, and wanted to implement both a maximum and a minimum wage. It did not emphasize immigration, even though members were split on the issue.

Having faced civil unrest, divisive social change, an economic downturn, and the prospect of invasion -not once, but three times at least- the Brukean public voted in the most conservative government in 40 years.

Tamru Negasi -a devoted Orthodox Christian, veteran spymaster, staunch monarchist, and aristocratic member of the House of Nobles- is the epitome of the old guard of the Royalist Party. He sees himself as a steady hand for uncertain times, and looks upon the world with caution.

Today he will know just how cautious he must be.

[Bruke]

The Negasi residence, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province (December the 15th)



The Prime Minister to-be waited anxiously for the message.

He was to meet with the current Prime Minister, Finhas Motuma of the Liberal Party. They had much to discuss in the lead-up to the ceremony.

The transition had been planned out for months now. Cabinet ministers had been selected, advisers had been gathered, and the inauguration committee had made the most of its budget to create an appropriate ceremony and schedule of events.

A car pulled up outside the quaint townhouse on Church Street. It was the Prime Minister. Soon, guests from near and far would arrive, and likely ask about the new Government's policies. It was of the upmost importance that he be ready to answer their questions. A driver walked out with him as he entered the car, and soon the two politicians sped off into the night, discussing state secrets of the highest order.

[Pan-Asiatic States]

Neo-Manila

---

Flashy cameras and gossiping columnists were eager to storm Ninoy Aquino International Airport, controlled only by the firm grips of the city Gendarmerie. A black limousine stopped at the airport civilian's gate, containing two of the most powerful individuals the world had yet seen; an old, tired-looking Russo-Filipino man, and a coffee-chugging Korean woman. Both wore official State-Attire, the Korean wore her state's traditional garb, a beautiful pink Oriental dress, and the Russo-Filipino wore a Barong Tagalog, a suit of fine-quality abaca. Undoubtedly, these were diplomatic soldiers going to war. They smiled and waved at the cameras that watched them ascend through the glass-elevator, which landed them high above the mob.

In an hour, the executive plane took-off from the tarmac, setting its course for Bruke. Pan-Asiatic relations with the far-off nation was relatively undecided. For one, Bruke remained vigilant of Pan-Asiatic interventionism; yet have agreed to more cordial agreements such as the building of an embassy to solidify matters of business and trade. The Secretary-General was, like most of his countrymen, undecided too. He had not yet measured the political will of the Brukeans. But Sonya Yoon-Sook, Head of State, was very sure of herself that Bruke could be trusted. Social services were becoming costly with the Ministry of Defense racking-up bonds for the war in Israel, Petrograd, and the recently concluded war in Mioktopia; and the Pan-Asiatic States needed to cross this economic lapse that needed to be filed through foreign investors before the next executive SONA, or else an inconvenient debt with the Soviet Union may threaten the Federation's funds with long-term interest. So, now more than ever did the two need to be on their best behavior.

The jet engines went wild as the wheels scratched the asphalt.

"Garrick, do you look forward to this one? As in, truthfully speaking..?"

"I always do, Yoon-Sook. I hear the cold's nice this time of year. Great excuse to escape the tropical heat in the capital, don't you think?"

[Pan-Asiatic States]

Secretary-General Garrick Abramovich Mensenares Jr. @SGMensenaresOFFICIAL On my way to the Brukean Inauguration. Congratulations to the Prime Minister, and to the other candidates, for putting in the effort of running. In a time when Democracy is threatened by radical demagogues and lying Fascists, the Brukean national spirit enkindles us with hope for the future-- that we may build it as nations side-by-side in peace. RETWEETSLIKES 413k34.5M 8:37 p.m. - 16 Dec 2018

[Polish Prussian Commonwealth]

tagg

[Kyrenaia]

Flight KDC-11975, approaching Dub City International.
Aurelia smiled as she closed her manila folder.
She was a young woman, blue eyed, dark skinned and blonde, she was usually considered a Rose of the Deserts of Kyrenaia, but if one asked her father, Prince Damir ibn-Razia, roses paled in comparison to his daughter.
She wore a dark blue dress, which hinted at many things, but showed nothing except for a tiny smidgen of cleavage (and she would change for the Prime Minister's Ball), which was ideal for the occasion: The inauguration festivities of the Prime Minister of Bruke.
Of course, they had followed the events in the country of their acquaintances, although with not as much of a close eye as they could have, and were now on their merry way to attend these festivities. The folder had been a summary of these events.
She smiled at her father. The golden-eyed man with the mop of brown hair on his head wore a black suit (he, too, would change for the ball), and smiled back.
They did not take the Aurelia, the yacht, which by now was almost an integral part of their state visits to basically everywhere, because she was needed back home by the end of the month: In Sinope, for the Harbour Festival.
"That was one heck of a year.", Aurelia told her father.
"Indeed it was. Not only for them, but for us, too. You'll have quite a bit to tell to Emmanuel.", Damir answered, smiling slightly, "Though... will you tell him everything?"
Aurelia was silent for a moment - he was referring to her having found her love... in another woman, Duchess Marcella Villa of the UIS. Her heart ached the moment she thought of her, yearning for her letters and for her voice, her gentleness... and it ached when she didn't think of her.
"I doubt, that he or one of his courtiers didn't hear about it, but if he didn't... well, I will mention it at the appropriate time and chance.", she replied, "If that chance presents itself."
Damir nodded and there was a faint Ding sound as the pilot called for them to buckle in, the plane would soon land in Dub City.
The trip would be very interesting, Aurelia was sure of that!

[Bruke]

The Presidential Residence, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province (December 15th)

President Bereket Abera paced back and forth across the marble floor of his ornate home. With him was Yessuf Hailu, the Secretary for Strategic Relations, Masresha Demissie, the Secretary for New Markets, and Ashenafi Zeru, the Secretary for Cultural Exchange. Together, they sought to plan out how the Government (in the institutional sense) should approach the Inauguration as an opportunity for Brukean interaction with other countries.

These representatives from various ministries came together to form a plan of action. Abera, as the constitutionally designated Acting Head of State, had to sign off on these plans because they were partially of a “political nature” and so the monarch had no say in the matter (though would be informed).

“Secretaries, you are agreed on the plan of action?”

Secretary Hailu spoke first. “Yes, Mr. President. There will be an emphasis on cultural and economic diplomacy, but we’ll have strategic concerns in mind as well. That’s why I worked with the Secretary for West American Relations to get the other WAU member states to send representatives, and it’s very likely each will send their presidents.”

“Secretary Demissie?”

“In regards to the economy, the Commerce and Trade Ministries estimate that increasing foreign investment and trade would boost our GDP by more than a third within the next year. It’s the only thing that’ll get us out of this slump. We have to move beyond West America -not move away the region, mind you- but look beyond it. There’s a whole world out there to do business with.”

“Secretary Zeru?”

“Using the West American Exchange Program as a model, we could create cultural exchange programs with the nations that are sending representatives. There would be an focus on culture: students, artists, performers, and the like could visit various countries. Think of the goodwill that could be fostered from talented individuals performing at the Leverett Chaloux Theater, or bright young scholars at the Royal University.”

Abera stopped and considered what they had all said before giving his thoughts.

Zeru looked especially nervous, as she remembered how much of a struggle it was to get the WAEP started two decades earlier. Parliament had concerns that the program would be used by foreign spies as a means of infiltration -Bruke had only recently defeated the People’s Republic of Western Section and reunified the country with its capitalist counterpart to the east- and PRF cadres were feared to be among the students that would be sent abroad.

All that, to convince Parliament to support closer ties to former Brukean colonies. But those were different times, times of fear and suspicion. She shook her head. Quite like now, actually.

To her surprise, the president smiled and congratulated them all on a job well done. “Excellent work, everyone. You’re dismissed. Be sure to tell your respective Cabinet members, and they’ll tell the PM.”

[Bruke]

The Royal Palace, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province (December 15th)

The Abeto Daniachew, His Majesty Emmanuel the 2nd’s cousin, had been summoned to the Palace along with his family to play their part in the diplomatic maneuvering that would occur throughout the Inauguration.

The Abeto is the only living relative of the Royal Family that had sufficient rank to serve as Reise Mekwanint (head of the nobility). Daniachew’s role, unofficially, was to keep an eye on the House of Nobles, the only house of Parliament which is appointed by the monarch and whose members serve for life.

Those who serve in the House of Nobles are the Brukean nobility (or what’s left of them after a century of modernization and land reform). While nobles no longer hold land, they receive the title of Nobleman or Noblewoman -along with an allowance for living expenses- as compensation, with the title being hereditary.

Although hereditary nobility no longer make up the majority of the House, as Reise Mekwanint the Abeto has a great deal of connections to the nobility of the chamber. Since the nobility mostly vote as a bloc, Daniachew can keep track of what bills are being discussed and voted on, and which are likely to pass.

Given the imbalance in the two elected houses between the Senate, the upper house with only 6 members, and the House of Deputies, the lower house with 200 members, the House of Nobles and its 100 illustrious members served as the place where bills are initially proposed, and much committee work was done. Keeping an eye on the House of Nobles is a way for Emmanuel to know what the Government would focus on in the inevitable negotiations between Parliament on the one side and the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on the other.

Daniachew serves as a conduit of information for Emmanuel, who is constitutionally forbidden from interfering in the work of legislature. Even the appearance of it would be a scandal. With a man on the inside, the monarch can carry out his constitutional duty of safeguarding the nation’s “interests and morality” more effectively.

Daniachew will be at the inaugural session of Parliament, keeping a watchful eye on the House of Nobles and perhaps the other houses as well....

[Bruke]

House of Deputies chamber, Brukean Parliament, Dub City, Metropolitan Province



"And that's why I will be stepping down as party leader, effective as of Inauguration Day, in favor of Mekdes Gebreselassie, the Deputy of the 89th District. Her record of supporting a just but balanced budget, civil liberties, and environmental protection embodies what we want the new Social Democratic Party to stand for."

Nahum Afewerek left Gebreselassie to answer any questions from the press regarding where she wanted the party to go. They were forward-looking questions- and he was a man of the past. He wouldn't be of much use anyhow.

The 4-term Deputy returned to his office and let out a sigh of frustration. This was supposed to be their year... Voters were on the whole seemed skeptical of the high level of defense spending post-WoW, interventionism abroad, restrictions on civil liberties, and government budgets that placed the needs of big business before the needs of ordinary Brukeans.

The consensus following the last of the decolonization conflicts was that Bruke had to focus on opening up to the rest of the world, starting with the former colonies. As Speaker of the House of Deputies, he presided over the passage of a bill to establish the West American Union and a bill which removed language requirements- with Royalist votes, no less. With this opening up came an uptick in immigration from the usual places -the United States and Latin America- along with the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. He also oversaw the passage of another bill which established programs for social integration and multilingual government services.

This election was a repudiation of his legacy. The Nationalists ran on a platform of xenophobia, and managed to trigger a split in the vote which doomed some SD Deputies to a painful political death. The Royalists wanted to double down on the good old days of traditionalism, and the Progressives were snapping up voters on the left. The days of the Social Democrats as one of the two major parties seemed over. Unless....

Dessalegne Nega, current Ambassador to the World Assembly, would likely be replaced by the incoming Negasi Cabinet. He had not done his best in the role, and would likely be shown the door to a quiet retirement. The only way he could have a role in politics again is if he was appointed to the House of Nobles or some Royal Commission.

Thankfully, Tihuti Sewi Hoy [Great Gentleman] Ruphael was about to step down from the Permanent Commission on National Security due to old age. If Afewerek could convince the Palace that Nega should be appointed in his stead, the soon-to-be former Ambassador could remain a political fixture long enough to become a Deputy at a later time- and perhaps even the next Prime Minister.

As leader of an opposition party, he would be customarily invited to the Prime Minister's Ball and the Inauguration. He still had this invitation -though it would now pass to Gebreselassie- but he had friends at court who could help him get another one.

Afewerek's plan was clear: attend the festivities, and getting close to His Majesty, make a request on Nega's behalf. He would save his legacy -and the party's- in doing so, he knew it.

[Polish Prussian Commonwealth]

Flight KL-08, approaching Dub City
The PZL.87 "Sokół(Falcon)" transport aircraft lumbered through the air. Unlike it's namesake, which flew gracefully through the sky, the '87 was a flying aluminum can that relied on fighters for protection-like the 2 KFZW-7 "Seeadler(Sea Eagle)" naval fighters escorting it.
In the cockpit, the pilot's radio squawked. "KL-08, this is Kurwa flight. You are entering Brukean airspace and should be fine. We will return to base in 5 minutes."
The pilot pressed the microphone button. "Kurwa flight, this is KL-08. Read you loud and clear. Have a pleasant flight home."

He then switched to the plane's PA system. "All passengers, we're entering Brukean airspace and will begin our descent soon."

In the forward cabin, 3 men were hunched over a small magnetic chessboard.
The first was in his late 30s, with pale skin, and hazelnut-brown hair and eyes. Facing him was a young Gefreiter, in his mid 20s, with pale, unblemished skin, grey eyes, and blonde hair. In the middle, keeping time, was a greying Sergeant with black hair, tanned skin, and piercing blue eyes. All three wore grey feldbluses.
They were, of course, none other than Kaiser Crassus and his 2 guards(Hans and Jan), respectively.
Hans moved his rook triumphantly across the board and smiled. "Fair to say I've won this one, Kaiser."
Crassus chuckled. "You sly bastard, you've been taking lessons from Erika, haven't you."
"Aye, sir. She may be creepy at times, but girl knows her stuff."
Jan snorted. "Amen to that. Fleeced her awhile back when we played blackjack for cigarettes. Then she learned how to card count and thanks to her I had to quit smoking for a week."

It was silent for a bit, as they reset the board.
Hans broke it first. "...so, what are we doing again later?"
Crassus sighed. "Brukean PM Inauguration. The old Republic of Christendom had embassies with them and we inherited those, and we're kind of allies...I think. Not exactly friends, but close. Acquaintances, if that's even possible on the world stage."
Jan shrugged. "Well, I suppose. Most of foreign policy these days consists of one country fucking another over. Including old, time-tested allies. Some call it Realpolitik, but it should be called 'fuck your buddy'."
"Amen to that." replied Hans.

While the Kaiser and his 2 guards continued wasting away the remaining hour of the flight, the rear cabin was much more...civil.

2 young women lounged about. One, in her mid-20s, stared out of the window, pulling a little at her form-fitting white gown, cursing herself for not bringing her feldbluse. The other, who was 17 but already tanned from the desert, dressed very much like the men in the forward cabin, paced up and down the aisle, jackboots ringing against the floor.
They were, of course, Irene von Wittelsbach, Queen of Bavaria, and Erika von Scarnhorst, the reason why the Social Democratic Party simply ceased to exist in Prussia-Poland, respectively.

Irene looked over at Erika. "You'll wear a hole in the plane at this point."
Erika shrugged. "At least I'll get fresh air."
"And get turned into American burger meat."
"Still a damned sight nicer than sitting in this goddamn tin can."
"Relax, we only have an hour more."
"That's 3,600 seconds."
"Go watch a movie!"
"We have none, remember?"
"Well, go do-something!"
"...you want to play blackjack?"
"Not after you fleeced me of all my peaches, Erika. If you love them so much, why don't you get some of your own instead of stealing them?"
"...yeah...about that..."
"...oh Lord, forget I said anything."

[Bruke]

Dub City International Airport



Dub City International was actually not located in Dub City proper, but just over the county line in the Warehouse District of the suburban city of East Dub. The Warehouse District was a lower-income neighborhood home to the aforementioned warehouses, along with light industry and cheap retail shopping.

The airport itself was the larger of Bruke’s two major airports, with flights to and from destinations throughout the West American region, such as Frontier and Border in Western Section, Battenburg in the Federal Republic of Regions, and Rose City in Roseland.

In the days leading up to the Inauguration, the airspace around the facility became more and more restricted until it was closed off to civilian traffic altogether. This was done not only for security reasons, but to make navigating the skies that much easier for the visitors from abroad.

Dub City and Brukeville are both crowded, built-up locales, and the airports are surrounded by all kinds of development from high-rise condos (in the Tailor District, where Brukeville International is) to small movie studios (in the Warehouse District). Add to this the sharp turns that must be made when flying through the mountainous and militarized Borderlands Zone, and flights in and out of the country are a challenge even for experienced pilots.

This bit about difficult flights isn’t meant to make it difficult for you to land, but is in line with previously established facts about the country. Might make for a bit of turbulence but nothing extremely severe.

[Bruke]

Saint George’s Cathedral, Dub City, Metropolitan Province



The elder of the Church signed his most recent letter to the faithful, to be delivered across the land.

ብሩክ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋህዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን

Brukean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

I urge all Christians, regardless of earthly allegiances, to pray for the new Prime Minister. We must be united as one people and one nation if we are to face what lies ahead of us. We have been threatened with economic calamity, with war, and even with changes to that which is most fundamental to society. But all this can be overcome, if our Government acts in accordance with the will of God.

We must not be blind to those in need: there are families without food or shelter, and even those who live comfortably face hard times. Responding to their plight requires a willingness to serve. I commend the Biherawi IquibinaIdir and the mahbär for their work, and urge all Christians to work with them or similar organizations in serving their communities. I trust that the new Prime Minister and his Cabinet will deal justly with them as well.

We have faced war, more than at any other point in our history. It is tempting to become paralyzed with fear: fear of what can be done to the body, or what can be done to the mind. But we must reject fear of what could be, for the only fear that a Christian should have is the fear of the Lord. He and He alone is our protector in times of strife. And He will be with the new Prime Minister and his Cabinet as they do what they must to keep us safe.

There has been great confusion and distress among the people concerning basic moral truths. I can think of no other institutions which are more fundamental to society than marriage and the family. There are those -even within the Church- who would transform what are sacred gifts of God into instruments of sin. All of us -rulers and the ruled alike- must place their trust in the Holy Scriptures rather than the words of men.

I pray that the Holy Mother and the Saints intercede for us before God, so that He may grant us compassion, peace, and righteousness.

አቡነ ጴጥሮስ, ብሩክ ፓትርያርክ እና ካቶሊክስ, ብሩክ ክሊቨር ሊቀ ጳጳሳት እና የ ቅዱስ ጆርጅ ኦፍ ቼግጅ
Abuna Petros, Patriarch and Catholicos of Bruke, Archbishop of Brukeville and Ichege of the See of Saint George

One of the priests staying with the Patriarch looked over the letter and considered what it said.

“Your Holiness, will you speak on these matters at the service or perhaps at the Inauguration itself?”

“This letter to the faithful should serve as guidance enough for those who are wavering or unsure of how to respond to these changes. We shall see if further action is needed when the time comes.”

In this pointedly political letter -as political as a man of the cloth could be- the Patriarch was doing his part in fulfilling the traditional role of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church vis-à-vis the state. The Church provided a moral and cultural legitimacy in the eyes of the people that the government would never have on its own.

Though its temporal power was greatly diminished from when Oriental Orthodoxy was the Brukean state religion, today the Church still has some say in worldly affairs.

The mahbär, associations of lay people which host gatherings to honor the saints, also serve as forums for visiting the elderly, providing adult education, counseling the distressed, intervening in the case of addiction, or organizing relief efforts in the wake of a disaster. With a priest present at every meeting to pray over the gathering and provide spiritual guidance, there is always someone from the Church present in the lives of its parishioners.

The Biherawi IquibinaIdir [the National Associated], a mutual bank and insurance company which has a monopoly on life insurance and interest-free loans, has its origins in community practices such as the Iquib and Idir which were rooted in Orthodox principles. Even today, there is an Association of Orthodox IquibinaIdir, and a representative sits on the NA’s board of directors.

Through the work of its members in the NA and the mahbär, the Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the largest social services provider in the country, remaining ahead of the almost-as-large equivalents of the Lutheran and Catholic Churches. Adding to this the fact that the voter base of the Royalist Party is disproportionately Orthodox, the Church remains a force to be reckoned with- though this force is usually applied behind closed doors rather than out in the open.

These were unusual times.

[Bruke]

With the impending arrival of the foreign visitors, an order was given from the Transport Ministry to immediately give clearance to the VIP flights.



Brukeville International, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province

“This is Eskinder Beryihun from air traffic control. We see multiple VIP flights are landing at Dub City. In the interests of avoiding any delay over there, Brukeville would like to inform you that we are open as well. I repeat, we are open for any VIP flights.”

Dub City International, East Dub, Metropolitan Province

“This is Daniel Nega from air traffic control. We see multiple VIP flights coming in, so let’s have a safe landing for all of you. The first flight that has arrived is cleared for landing, I repeat, the first flight is cleared for landing.”

[Kyrenaia]

With the impending arrival of the foreign visitors, an order was given from the Transport Ministry to immediately give clearance to the VIP flights.

(Image)

Brukeville International, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province

“This is Eskinder Beryihun from air traffic control. We see multiple VIP flights are landing at Dub City. In the interests of avoiding any delay over there, Brukeville would like to inform you that we are open as well. I repeat, we are open for any VIP flights.”

Dub City International, East Dub, Metropolitan Province

“This is Daniel Nega from air traffic control. We see multiple VIP flights coming in, so let’s have a safe landing for all of you. The first flight that has arrived is cleared for landing, I repeat, the first flight is cleared for landing.”

Flight KDC-11975, changing course to Brukeville International.
"Brukeville International, this is KDC-11975, understood. We're coming to you. No offense, Dub City International.", the pilot radioed back and began to change the course and then, the approach.
"None taken, KDC-11957.", came back.
From there, everything was a blur for Princess Aurelia.
They landed, taxied, were welcomed by an official of the Brukean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and were then loaded into a limousine. Next thing she knew, they were on the road.
Towards the Church of the Nine Saints.
Aurelia was not Christian. Neither was her father.
They would do it, like they usually did: Keep their traps shut, sit on the side and respect the local faith. After all, they wanted guests to respect their faith, too.
The church was nice. Aurelia knew, that Bruke practiced its own branch of Orthodoxy, Christian Orthodoxy, that is. The architecture reflected that, the church itself in the centre of a courtyard, adorned with frescoes.
She nodded to the person, who had opened the door for her and held his hand out, running a hand through her hair - the advantage of having her hair open, brushed, but not styled.
Her father joined her side.
"Well... one has to give them one thing: They are efficient at transporting people. We came from the outskirts of Brukeville to the town centre of Brukeville in no time.", he remarked to her, which made her laugh. Doing the same in Utica required one to use a helicopter. He offered his arm for linking. "Shall we?"
"We shall.", Aurelia agreed and linked arms with her father.

[Bruke]

Church of the Nine Saints, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province



The Church of the Nine Saints is visibly different from most Orthodox churches in its design. However, if one would look to the campus of All Saints College just 800 meters to the right, the resemblance would be uncanny.

This is because its design is a symbol of Christian unity in the country. When the original structure was lost in a fire in 1911, students and professors from the nearby All Saints College pitched in their time and money to help the parishioners rebuild. Although the College was Lutheran, and the faculty and students, being immigrants from Germany, had no experience in the Ethiopian architectural style, they were assisted by a learned man of their church. The [then] Bishop of Brukeville, Jonas Gloeckner, was a noted Orientalist who held a collection of works on Ethiopia, including reprintings of dictionaries and grammar books by Hiob Ludolf along with contemporary works by German scholars. His direction, along with the talents of skilled architects, craftsmen, and stonemasons, helped in the rebuilding of the church in a style reminiscent of the All Saints Church- the first Lutheran church in the country, built almost 20 years before independence.



A prominent fresco of the Nine Saints greeted those who entered- the work of Bishop Gloeckner and artisans from the royal court.

The church as a whole was designed to serve the parishioners of this side of Church Street and Orthodox students at All Saints.

The Patriarch himself was already inside, ready for the service to begin. In the meantime, a fellow man of the cloth made the final preparations. The service was considered “special” because it was shortened and solely focused on Christian concepts regarding leadership. The liturgy and style of worship was accordingly modified. This was in light of the fact that the Church would broadcast the service via radio, and that the service would be re-broadcast by the radio networks of other denominations.

[Pan-Asiatic States]

Federal Plane

---

There was much downtime during the flight, but, fortunately; the recent expenditure and investment into international relations provided the delegation with a much bigger aircraft that allowed them to operate matters of Federal importance from above the ground.

Head of State Yoon-Sook skimmed through the recently-finished draft of next year's annual budget. The big pile of papers on her desk put her into a studious mood for the next few hours. The Secretary-General had already read through it-- complaining about the democratic referendum to increase Manufacturing subsidies for the Nusanatara State.

"Do you really think these Indonesians-- err, Nusantarans are bad economic managers?"

"Well, if I have to deal with one more god-forsaken agricultural secretary willing to eat weevil-infested rice to prove a point..."

Dub City International

---

The executive aircraft touched-down with only minor turbulence. The sun exposure had interfered with the plane's navigation system a little, and the flight was delayed by a good 20 minutes for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the trip would be worth it, or so hoped the two premiers.

These were two humble people, from a humble nation; in comparison to all the other royalty which surrounded them. Their descent from the plane was again delayed by media, to which they, again, smiled and waved. The media here was much more composed. Their two cadre-guards were vigilant, but, too, smiled and waved; carrying themselves not as subordinates of the State, but rather, one with different roles and responsibilities to that of whom they were defending. They carried themselves with the same pride and dignity, as they escorted both to the provided limousine.

"Huh. A car. Now that's something I haven't seen in a while.", remarked the Secretary-General as he shut the door.

The sights of the city amused the couple, especially the grandiose Brukean architecture. They weren't used to the individualist housing blocs which were prominent in Capitalistic countries, and were not certainly for it, but were definitely amazed by its artistic ingenuity. They remained composed, and did not express this openly, but Yoon-Sook, for one, was most excited about their destination. She was not a baptized Catholic, in contrast to Secretary-General Garrick, who was a Roman Catholic; but was constantly surrounded by Orthodox Priests and Christians. She saw this as an opportunity to further her experience and refine her praxis towards them in the Federation.

The Secretary-General, serving as a religious and cultural conduit, too, was eager. He may be of differing Catholic denomination, but God was God. Immediately, he crossed himself upon reaching the church's doorstep.

[Kyrenaia]

Church of the Nine Saints, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province

(Image)

The Church of the Nine Saints is visibly different from most Orthodox churches in its design. However, if one would look to the campus of All Saints College just 800 meters to the right, the resemblance would be uncanny.

This is because its design is a symbol of Christian unity in the country. When the original structure was lost in a fire in 1911, students and professors from the nearby All Saints College pitched in their time and money to help the parishioners rebuild. Although the College was Lutheran, and the faculty and students, being immigrants from Germany, had no experience in the Ethiopian architectural style, they were assisted by a learned man of their church. The [then] Bishop of Brukeville, Jonas Gloeckner, was a noted Orientalist who held a collection of works on Ethiopia, including reprintings of dictionaries and grammar books by Hiob Ludolf along with contemporary works by German scholars. His direction, along with the talents of skilled architects, craftsmen, and stonemasons, helped in the rebuilding of the church in a style reminiscent of the All Saints Church- the first Lutheran church in the country, built almost 20 years before independence.

(Image)

A prominent fresco of the Nine Saints greeted those who entered- the work of Bishop Gloeckner and artisans from the royal court.

The church as a whole was designed to serve the parishioners of this side of Church Street and Orthodox students at All Saints.

The Patriarch himself was already inside, ready for the service to begin. In the meantime, a fellow man of the cloth made the final preparations. The service was considered “special” because it was shortened and solely focused on Christian concepts regarding leadership. The liturgy and style of worship was accordingly modified. This was in light of the fact that the Church would broadcast the service via radio, and that the service would be re-broadcast by the radio networks of other denominations.

(Image)

Aurelia had read up a bit on the architecture and culture of Bruke in preparation of this visit and she had read quite a bit of the Church of the Nine Saints for obvious reasons. As a Princess, she was also trained in the art of being a Polytheist in a Christian Church, as was her father.
Upon entrance, they bowed their heads in respect and then, silently, moved to their seats.
The fresco greeting them back was impressive, although they lacked the context, if they were honest.
The Patriarch was already there, present to begin the service, but another priest was putting on the finishing touches. Hoping, that they weren't in the way, the father and daughter pair bowed their heads in respect to the Patriarch, then sat down and waited.

[Pan-Asiatic States]

Church of the Nine Saints

---

The Secretary-General asked his two bodyguards to wait outside the holy ground, by the entrance. The Asian delegation moved forward to take their seat. Both bowed their heads at the altar, as if on cue.

By chance, and without looking, the Asian delegation placed themselves on the same bench as the Kyrenian's, on the side nearer to the altar.

[Kyrenaia]

Church of the Nine Saints

---

The Secretary-General asked his two bodyguards to wait outside the holy ground, by the entrance. The Asian delegation moved forward to take their seat. Both bowed their heads at the altar, as if on cue.

By chance, and without looking, the Asian delegation placed themselves on the same bench as the Kyrenian's, on the side nearer to the altar.

Recognizing the people, or at least one of the people, sitting down next to them, Aurelia leaned over to her father and whispered something in Kyrenaian, inaudible to the point, that he, too, had problems understanding her.
He nodded, glanced over, and bowed his head in respect to the Secretary-General... and threw Head of State Sonya Yoon-Sook a charming smile as he bowed his head to her as well. Aurelia smiled, but rolled her eyes as she followed her father's example.

[Bruke]

Church of the Nine Saints, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province

The Abeto Daniachew and his family were the first of the Royal House to arrive, accompanied by members of the Civil Guard and close friends- mostly the nobility. Said friends and family greeted each other and began to converse.

They briefly noticed the visitors before returning to their own conversation, however Daniachew did give a friendly wave to those in the other row.

[Bruke]

Foreign Ministry, Administration Building, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province

The Foreign Ministry was surprised to learn that the Polish-Prussian, Lethen, and Convallarian delegations had returned home, but was understanding when it learned that the Kaiser was urgently needed to deal with an invasion of Bavaria, Princess Olivia had prior obligations which came up, and President Beaumont’s ship ran into a storm and had to be rerouted.

Thankfully, everyone was thoughtful enough to exchange gifts ahead of time.

The Brukean gift for the PPC was a reproduction of the painting Kirchenstraße [Church Street]. The scene was typical of 19th-century Brukeville, when the city was home to a large number of European and American immigrants, mostly of German descent. It featured All Saints College (including the church near the campus), trendy cafe and bakeries, picturesque parks and gardens, and most prominently, townhouses built in the Jugendstil style that would not be out of place in Bremen or Berlin.

The Brukean gift for Letheny was an embroidery of the Lethen flag. It was about the same size as the reproduced paintings, and already nicely folded.

The Brukean gift for Convallaria was a reproduction of Sur le boulevard [On the Boulevard], a painting of the Boulevard neighborhood. The scene was typical of early 20th century Dub City, when the area was home to a large community of French immigrants. It featured an array of buildings in the 2nd Empire style, including cafes, galleries, cabarets, apartments, publishing houses, and Saint Mark’s Cathedral, along with many a casino/hotel/resort, resembling Monaco.

[Bruke]

Church of the Nine Saints, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province

The priest was joined on stage by his colleagues, another priest and three deacons. This was not their only service of the day, already having entered the church at 6:30 in the morning for the first service.

The Preparatory Service already completed for the first service, it was omitted for this service: one of the many changes made to the liturgy for the day. Most importantly, the service was to be conducted in English.

As 9:00 am neared, one could hear the bells of the church ring loudly- as with other churches throughout the city, whose services generally began around this time, unlike those of the Orthodox. This particular bell played the melody of a traditional hymn for the Advent season.

The congregation slowly started to trickle in, with men sitting on one section of the pews and women sitting one the section on the other side. The gathering was a crosssection of Church Street: in attendance were students from All Saints College, nobility (hereditary and prestigious lineage. not merely appointed members of the House of Nobles), and financiers from investment firms like Pfeiffer, Montez & Demessie.

Last but not least, Tamru Negasi and his family entered, also protected by servicemembers from the Civil Guard. They sat in the same row in which Daniachew and his family sat, and like them sat in seperate sections.

Noteably absent was Emmanuel, who was a Lutheran- the first Protestant monarch (and the only member of the Royal Family who was not Orthodox), though Protestants had made up the majority of the country for some time. Additionally, a pressing matter of state had come up: His Majesty was hearing an urgent case in chilot- an ancient institution of the Emperor of Ethiopia, granted through the Constitution to the Brukean monarch.

The first priest that had appeared began to speak, and the congregants fell silent, ready to stand when prompted.

“What follows is the Anaphora of Saint John, he who is known as the Son of Thunder. May the blessing of his prayer be with His Majesty, and the people, into the ages of ages. Amen.” He then addressed the congregation directly.

“The Lord be with all of you.”

The congregation (mostly) stood and responded in unison, and would generally stand throughout the service and respond when addressed. “And with your spirit.”

“Give ye thanks unto our God.”

“It is right, it is just.” The voices of the people resounded throughout the church.

“Lift up your hearts.”

“O Lord, we lift our eyes to Thee, we elevate our hearts, and we raise our consciences and minds to Thee. Thou art eternal, existing before the universe was created, living for ever and ever. There is no limit to Thy power, no one can understand Thee completely, and none can comprehend the fullness of Thine essence. None can even comprehend Thee or see Thee. Thou knows Thyself, Thy Kingdom is without end, Thy power is immutable, Thy greatness is infinite, but Thy glory is not hidden. To all Thou art unseen, yet all is seen of Thee. Thou has no beginning, but Thou brings all things to their end. Infinite art Thou, but for all things Thou sets bounds. All things are from Thee, all things are through Thee, and all things are for Thee....”

And so the service went on, the priest speaking until the point at which there would normally be an oblation. The priest then stepped aside for the Patriarch to step forward.

As he spoke, the congregation looked on in respect.

“We have just heard of many aspects of God: His vastness, His glory, His mercy, and His power being among them. We are reminded of how we must humble ourselves before Him, and acknowledge Him in all our ways.” He looked at the would-be Prime Minister, and addressed him directly, in a commanding voice.

“Do you know God, and of what He demands of those in a position of power such as the one which you are about to enter?”

“Yes, Your Holiness. I am aware of what is required of me.”

“Then step forward.”

With that, Tamru Negasi stepped forward, to be prayed over by the Patriarch himself.

“May You, O Lord, be with our new Prime Minister throughout his time in office. Guide him to act in the best interests of us all, not for personal gain or political advantage. When he falters, remind him that You and You alone are his strength. Give him the wisdom to find capable men and women to serve in the Cabinet. Use him to bring together those of goodwill, who, though they may disagree, are united in their love of country and wish to do right by the people. Lord, be with us in Your fullness -Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- in this time of transition. Amen.”

The congregation also said “Amen”, with most being on their knees in prayer.

The rest of the service proceeded quickly after this, and finally the first of the priests returned to bless the congregation before dismissing them.

[Kyrenaia]

Church of the Nine Saints, Brukeville, Prince Bruce Province

The priest was joined on stage by his colleagues, another priest and three deacons. This was not their only service of the day, already having entered the church at 6:30 in the morning for the first service.

The Preparatory Service already completed for the first service, it was omitted for this service: one of the many changes made to the liturgy for the day. Most importantly, the service was to be conducted in English.

As 9:00 am neared, one could hear the bells of the church ring loudly- as with other churches throughout the city, whose services generally began around this time, unlike those of the Orthodox. This particular bell played the melody of a traditional hymn for the Advent season.

The congregation slowly started to trickle in, with men sitting on one section of the pews and women sitting one the section on the other side. The gathering was a crosssection of Church Street: in attendance were students from All Saints College, nobility (hereditary and prestigious lineage. not merely appointed members of the House of Nobles), and financiers from investment firms like Pfeiffer, Montez & Demessie.

Last but not least, Tamru Negasi and his family entered, also protected by servicemembers from the Civil Guard. They sat in the same row in which Daniachew and his family sat, and like them sat in seperate sections.

Noteably absent was Emmanuel, who was a Lutheran- the first Protestant monarch (and the only member of the Royal Family who was not Orthodox), though Protestants had made up the majority of the country for some time. Additionally, a pressing matter of state had come up: His Majesty was hearing an urgent case in chilot- an ancient institution of the Emperor of Ethiopia, granted through the Constitution to the Brukean monarch.

The first priest that had appeared began to speak, and the congregants fell silent, ready to stand when prompted.

“What follows is the Anaphora of Saint John, he who is known as the Son of Thunder. May the blessing of his prayer be with His Majesty, and the people, into the ages of ages. Amen.” He then addressed the congregation directly.

“The Lord be with all of you.”

The congregation (mostly) stood and responded in unison, and would generally stand throughout the service and respond when addressed. “And with your spirit.”

“Give ye thanks unto our God.”

“It is right, it is just.” The voices of the people resounded throughout the church.

“Lift up your hearts.”

“O Lord, we lift our eyes to Thee, we elevate our hearts, and we raise our consciences and minds to Thee. Thou art eternal, existing before the universe was created, living for ever and ever. There is no limit to Thy power, no one can understand Thee completely, and none can comprehend the fullness of Thine essence. None can even comprehend Thee or see Thee. Thou knows Thyself, Thy Kingdom is without end, Thy power is immutable, Thy greatness is infinite, but Thy glory is not hidden. To all Thou art unseen, yet all is seen of Thee. Thou has no beginning, but Thou brings all things to their end. Infinite art Thou, but for all things Thou sets bounds. All things are from Thee, all things are through Thee, and all things are for Thee....”

And so the service went on, the priest speaking until the point at which there would normally be an oblation. The priest then stepped aside for the Patriarch to step forward.

As he spoke, the congregation looked on in respect.

“We have just heard of many aspects of God: His vastness, His glory, His mercy, and His power being among them. We are reminded of how we must humble ourselves before Him, and acknowledge Him in all our ways.” He looked at the would-be Prime Minister, and addressed him directly, in a commanding voice.

“Do you know God, and of what He demands of those in a position of power such as the one which you are about to enter?”

“Yes, Your Holiness. I am aware of what is required of me.”

“Then step forward.”

With that, Tamru Negasi stepped forward, to be prayed over by the Patriarch himself.

“May You, O Lord, be with our new Prime Minister throughout his time in office. Guide him to act in the best interests of us all, not for personal gain or political advantage. When he falters, remind him that You and You alone are his strength. Give him the wisdom to find capable men and women to serve in the Cabinet. Use him to bring together those of goodwill, who, though they may disagree, are united in their love of country and wish to do right by the people. Lord, be with us in Your fullness -Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- in this time of transition. Amen.”

The congregation also said “Amen”, with most being on their knees in prayer.

The rest of the service proceeded quickly after this, and finally the first of the priests returned to bless the congregation before dismissing them.

Aurelia and Damir watched with great interest.
They had read a few introductions to the local variation of Christian Orthodoxy, but seeing everything in action was something else. It was a magnificent ceremony.
Too late, they realized, that people were separated by gender, too late for Aurelia to scurry to the female section. A crass oversight, that no one informed them beforehand.
So, they followed silently, not going through the motions. This was not their faith, they would not sully it by pretending it was. They appreciated the service being in English, though.
Emmanuel's absence was noted by both, though, who knew, that he was a Protestant.
The swearing in of the new Prime Minister reminded them a bit of swearing in a new Grand Vizier - although neither of them had been personally present at such an occasion, al-Zahir had been the Grand Vizier since long before Damir was born.
When the congregation was dismissed, the two rose with the rest, looking at each other - from here, it would go to the Inauguration in an hour.
"What do you think?", he asked his daughter.
"Interesting blessings.", Aurelia replied, "They remind me of the blessings ben Sahid received. Of course, we are less Christian and blessed him in the names of more Gods."
Damir nodded. "Indeed. One point for Monotheism: Less personnel costs.", he spoke with a small smile.
Aurelia snorted in amusement as they were on the way to the Inauguration.

[Bruke]

Aurelia and Damir watched with great interest.
They had read a few introductions to the local variation of Christian Orthodoxy, but seeing everything in action was something else. It was a magnificent ceremony.
Too late, they realized, that people were separated by gender, too late for Aurelia to scurry to the female section. A crass oversight, that no one informed them beforehand.
So, they followed silently, not going through the motions. This was not their faith, they would not sully it by pretending it was. They appreciated the service being in English, though.
Emmanuel's absence was noted by both, though, who knew, that he was a Protestant.
The swearing in of the new Prime Minister reminded them a bit of swearing in a new Grand Vizier - although neither of them had been personally present at such an occasion, al-Zahir had been the Grand Vizier since long before Damir was born.
When the congregation was dismissed, the two rose with the rest, looking at each other - from here, it would go to the Inauguration in an hour.
"What do you think?", he asked his daughter.
"Interesting blessings.", Aurelia replied, "They remind me of the blessings ben Sahid received. Of course, we are less Christian and blessed him in the names of more Gods."
Damir nodded. "Indeed. One point for Monotheism: Less personnel costs.", he spoke with a small smile.
Aurelia snorted in amusement as they were on the way to the Inauguration.

Daniachew had noticed that the Kyrenaian guests were left a bit bewildered by the seperation of the genders- to his shame. He had taken the advice of the Royal Minister, who had suggested that the service be altered so that those who wished to sit together could do so- but the Royal Minister had not told the clergy who conducted the service, having been brought in rather hastily from their parish church in Wusite County.

He sighed in resignation. No matter. He would express his displeasure with the Royal Minister back at the Palace.

As all of the visitors would make their way to the ceremony itself, they would see a good cross-section of the country.

First up would be the city of Brukeville itself. The city was built according to a grid plan over 5 years, being completed in 1905- but started as a series of closely-knit communities that rose up from the backcountry. The Royal City is dominated by large stone structures -the Royal Palace and the Administration Building chief among them- and criss-crossed by small, narrow roads originally designed for horse-drawn carriages, save for the wider Church Street and very wide Boulevard of the Republic. Brukeville was and still is a center of tradition, including its architecture, with stone very much in use- in everything from the trading houses and financial firms of Church Street to the campus of the Royal University.

Next would be Wusite County, only recently having that status of local autonomy. The County is the last remnant of rural life in Bruke -though even this is incomplete with the ever-busy Provincial Route 1 (the Toll Road) cutting through its heart. The two dominating geographic features are the Valley of the Saints -a narrow valley in between the foothills leading up to the mountains which surround all of Bruke- and the Hills of the Antelope, which are said foothills. The Valley, once home to large estates owned by Californios in exile -such as Rancho Alto Seco- small family farms, and hunting lodges for the nobility, now is home to only a select few of the large ranches and farms that were once there. Long-haul trucking now predominates, with rest stops every so often. The Hills, ravaged by strip-mining during the Gold Rush era, have since recovered -and the most pristine of them are home to Stephanite communities such as Hamelmal, and Orthodox monasteries.

Last but not least would be East Dub (the suburb which broke away from Dub City oh so recently) and Dub City. Both share an Art Deco style -save for Dub City's Boulevard neighborhood which is markedly in the Second Empire style- and boulevards in general lined with eucalyptus trees. East Dub, being fully settled much later than the rest of the area, was the second region where industrialization occurred after Brukeville- and this is reflected in the later prevalence of industrial architecture, save for the Government Annex and EDE College. Dub City as it is now is dominated by the Boulevard- once called the Boulevard of the West but rechristened as the Boulevard des arts (Boulevard of the Arts). This grand, imposing road is the main thoroughfare of the city, featuring all sorts of entertainment -for better or worse, of respectable taste and ill-repute- along with a ever-increasing number of modern high-rises and skyscrapers. The whole area is lit up in a wide variety of lights -at first, of charcoal, but now of LEDs- with advertisements for concerts, comedy shows, art exhibitions, movies, and more.

It is in the wider area known as South Boulevard where the Parliament building is found. The Parliament, along with the Royal Palace in Brukeville, are rare works of traditional Ethiopian architecture in the country that have survived to today. Both are built in the Gondarine style, reminiscent of the Fasil Ghebbi in that city of Emperors long ago.

[Kyrenaia]

Daniachew had noticed that the Kyrenaian guests were left a bit bewildered by the seperation of the genders- to his shame. He had taken the advice of the Royal Minister, who had suggested that the service be altered so that those who wished to sit together could do so- but the Royal Minister had not told the clergy who conducted the service, having been brought in rather hastily from their parish church in Wusite County.

He sighed in resignation. No matter. He would express his displeasure with the Royal Minister back at the Palace.

As all of the visitors would make their way to the ceremony itself, they would see a good cross-section of the country.

First up would be the city of Brukeville itself. The city was built according to a grid plan over 5 years, being completed in 1905- but started as a series of closely-knit communities that rose up from the backcountry. The Royal City is dominated by large stone structures -the Royal Palace and the Administration Building chief among them- and criss-crossed by small, narrow roads originally designed for horse-drawn carriages, save for the wider Church Street and very wide Boulevard of the Republic. Brukeville was and still is a center of tradition, including its architecture, with stone very much in use- in everything from the trading houses and financial firms of Church Street to the campus of the Royal University.

Next would be Wusite County, only recently having that status of local autonomy. The County is the last remnant of rural life in Bruke -though even this is incomplete with the ever-busy Provincial Route 1 (the Toll Road) cutting through its heart. The two dominating geographic features are the Valley of the Saints -a narrow valley in between the foothills leading up to the mountains which surround all of Bruke- and the Hills of the Antelope, which are said foothills. The Valley, once home to large estates owned by Californios in exile -such as Rancho Alto Seco- small family farms, and hunting lodges for the nobility, now is home to only a select few of the large ranches and farms that were once there. Long-haul trucking now predominates, with rest stops every so often. The Hills, ravaged by strip-mining during the Gold Rush era, have since recovered -and the most pristine of them are home to Stephanite communities such as Hamelmal, and Orthodox monasteries.

Last but not least would be East Dub (the suburb which broke away from Dub City oh so recently) and Dub City. Both share an Art Deco style -save for Dub City's Boulevard neighborhood which is markedly in the Second Empire style- and boulevards in general lined with eucalyptus trees. East Dub, being fully settled much later than the rest of the area, was the second region where industrialization occurred after Brukeville- and this is reflected in the later prevalence of industrial architecture, save for the Government Annex and EDE College. Dub City as it is now is dominated by the Boulevard- once called the Boulevard of the West but rechristened as the Boulevard des arts (Boulevard of the Arts). This grand, imposing road is the main thoroughfare of the city, featuring all sorts of entertainment -for better or worse, of respectable taste and ill-repute- along with a ever-increasing number of modern high-rises and skyscrapers. The whole area is lit up in a wide variety of lights -at first, of charcoal, but now of LEDs- with advertisements for concerts, comedy shows, art exhibitions, movies, and more.

It is in the wider area known as South Boulevard where the Parliament building is found. The Parliament, along with the Royal Palace in Brukeville, are rare works of traditional Ethiopian architecture in the country that have survived to today. Both are built in the Gondarine style, reminiscent of the Fasil Ghebbi in that city of Emperors long ago.

As soon as they were loaded in, the Kyrenaian delegation was moved along to the Parliament with the rest of the guests. Neither of them noticed Daniachew and him seeing their bewilderment.
And even if, with how beautiful the route was, they would have forgotten it easily. A small manila folder on the plane had told them a bit about the history, but nothing would have prepared them for what they saw.
Brukeville's contrast of a pre-planned and traditional city with the County's ruralness, apparently the last rural area in Bruke, then the famous Dub City, the East first. Aurelia would have loved to take a tour of the clubs, museums and other such things. It looked fun from the window.
And then, they arrived at the parliament.
Ethiopian architecture was completely and utterly foreign to them, but not in a bad way - it was interesting to see, positively fascinating!
(And neither of them had pointy ears.)
Damir exited the car first, then offered his hand to his daughter, who took it with a smile, then they linked arms as he led her into the Parliament, awaiting further direction.