Quote:"It opens," said the Emperor while sitting at his desk, shuffling through papers.  His speech impediment had gotten worse over the years as he got further and further from having ever been able to hear.  He was nearly 50 now, and after going completely deaf by the age of 15, he had spent more than twice as many years without even being able to hear the sound of his own voice--naturally his speech had become sluggish and, without constant practice, he had lost the ability almost completely to make his spoken words understood.  In walked Chancellor of the Empire Sir David Levine, followed closely by the Imperial Interpreter, Lady Allison Stuart, who closed the door behind him.  The Emperor was relying more and more on the Lady to interpret his signs, as his vocal communication had become more unintelligible.

Through Lady Stuart, the Emperor bid them both be seated.  "We are reading the final reports from the Defense Ministry on Northern Lights Exercises," said the Emperor.  "More or less they tell us that after all these years, we still are no better at finding subs in our waters than we were before the war.  Something really needs to be done about this."

The Chancellor nodded as Lady Stuart finished the interpretation.  "This does appear to be the case, Your Majesty.  However there were many highlights for the exercise too."

The Emperor, who could still very easily read lips waved that comment off.  "Listen, Sir Levine.  Our problem is that foreign navies can still operate with impunity in the Ocean.  If we can't find our friends when we are looking for them, why does the Minister of Defense think we will have any shot at all of discovering our enemies who we are not diligently tracking through the Karzon Strait?  If Lodamun and Dolgava can transit that strait with ease during the exercises, what's to say that some other nation, maybe the Artanian Kundrati territories can't put a submarine through there?  Or a whole fleet of them?  We all recall the problem they caused for Xsampa before the war.  Who's to say they aren't planning to do the same thing to Kaliburg?"

"Your Majesty, they don't have..."  Sir David Levine was cut off.

"Good Chancellor:  you are not so naïve.  Let's not play this game.  The Artanian Sea campaign was nearly twenty years ago, and we have replaced our entire 4th fleet in that time.  Do you not think they won't have produced one sub in the same period of time capable of wiping our capital city off the map if they choose?  And with our detection rates at less than 90%?"

"Yes Your Majesty," said the Chancellor who tried to put an optimistic spin.  "I'm sure we can trust the rest of the world..."  The expression on the Emperor's face darkened immediately, and it stopped the Chancellor short in mid sentence.  "...  they...  will..."

The Emperor began signing very rapidly, and Lady Stuart started interpreting in her head...  She responded in sign to the Emperor, who signed something back to her.  To which she responded, in both sign and in voice, "I don't understand you.  You go too fast."  An exasperated Emperor rolled his eyes, and signed slowly and deliberately.  Lady Stuart nodded, and interpreted, "Sir Levine, if you think the world is coming to Kalistan's defense, especially against Kundrati, you are quite oblivious.  We have endorsed your optimistic internationalist orientation for years and we can't even get meetings with people we have materially helped.  This world is not ready for another world conflict, especially so soon after the last one ended so ignominiously.  If Kaliburg was destroyed tomorrow, we doubt anyone would even acknowledge the matter.  They certainly aren't rushing to Kalistan's defense.  So this is on us.  It's always been on us."

"I understand, Your Majesty,"  said the Chancellor.  "How should we respond to the rocket..."

The Emperor stopped him again.  "How should you respond to the lack of the ability to detect submarines to an acceptable level?"

"Your Highness?"

The Emperor actually spoke the words, while he signed to Lady Stuart.  While his speech was very garbled and was made worse by the volume of the words, he repeated himself "What is our Government going to do about the lack of ability to detect submarines in our Ocean?"  Lady Stuart spoke the words immediately after the Emperor, as her job required.

"Your Majesty," stammered the Chancellor after a moment, surprised by the sound of the Emperor's voice.  "The Defense Department is working on improving our audio surveillance in the Ocean as we speak, as well as outfitting the sonar network with additional sensors which improved detection during the exercises.  We are also having the Spencer folks look into developing infrared detection for the oceans, to look for ocean signatures from oncoming sub fleets.  Generally, we are also developing computer algorithms that recognize faint machine signatures and distinguish foreign from domestic.  It's notoriously difficult to do, but it is the priority."

"Are you looking into additional systems that others have?" asked the Emperor.

"We've made inquiries, but nothing has been solidified in discussions with others."

"Sir Levine," said the Emperor.  "If there is one thing Kalistani Emperors know is that others promise Kalistan things all the time.  And only rarely do they deliver them, and never when we need them the most.  It is to the point of being a maxim.  We need to learn to rely on ourselves and stand on our own feet, and if we end up with help, that's great, but we ought not count on it.  Have KMI start working on prototypes.  We would like this to be the focus going forward:  defense in depth has kept this Empire safe for centuries.  We going to stay with that doctrine as long as we continue to rule in this Empire."

"Yes, Your Majesty.  It shall be done."

"That is correct, Sir Levine.  It is why you have lasted in this job.  We know you will see to it."

The Emperor then concluded the meeting and dismissed the Chancellor as well as Lady Stuart. Both stood to leave, and with slight bows, they backed out of the office and closed the door behind them.

Quote:Dear Directors,

As per with the recommendations from both the Imperial Foreign Intelligence Agency and the Domestic Intelligence Agency, we've prepared an extensive report on the newly-appointed Prime Minister, Mrs. Olivia Mathilda Angela Hall. All necessary information that need to be shared with you are within this file that has been communicated alongside this message.

The Prime Minister was born on April 2nd, 5591, becoming Prime Minister at 40 years old, becoming one of Luthori's youngest head of government in its history. The Prime Minister, at the time of her birth, was the only child of Mr. Tom Hall and Mrs. Fanny Hall, a middle-income couple living at [REDACTED]. The Prime Minister is the first-born child of Mrs. and Mr. Hall who would go on to produce another 3. The Prime Minister continued to reside at [REDACTED] until moving out alongside her family in [REDACTED] at the age of eight. The Prime Minister was educated at Winchester College, while not a prestigious college by any means compared to other great names in Luthorian higher education services, it is still nonetheless, a good school to enter exams for other universities or begin a career as well.

The Prime Minister studied law, more precisely international law during her stay at the Winchester College, she then pursued her academics in international law at the Imperial Academy of Fort William, where she also begun studying corporate law. Mrs. Hall begun working after completing her studies at the University of Northminster and entering the firm "Parrot & Oxbridge" in international law. There, she begun working closely with the Federal Government to offer legal basis and analysis to their actions in regards to international laws and customs. Prime Minister Hall, before engaging herself in politics, advised the MacGregor administration on the status of the island of Etxea, although, she was still, at 25 years old, a junior partner within the firm. Mrs. Hall possess strong political opinions which seems to have been born during her college years.

During these said years, she joined the National Labour Party's youth organisation, with the aim of "fighting for equality and liberty", different traits that have been present during her 5630 campaign. Mrs. Hall's political beliefs could be fit into the ideology of social democracy, as she defends ideals progressive ideals such as gender equality, an increase in the fight against LGBTQ+ discrimination and a continuation of the former administration's ecological policy. Mrs. Hall's economic policies are moderate, with her accepting that capitalism is the way forward and announcing to create a system of "fair capitalism" for the people of the Empire. Mrs. Hall is opposed to nationalisation and is opposed to an economic policy not driven by consensus in the Chamber of Representatives.

As such, it's likely that the Prime Minister, Provincial Minister-Presidents and party leaders would meet at one point during her premiership to discuss the Cabinet's economic plans. Speaking of her ministry, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet His Majesty today to be formally appointed as Prime Minister as the Emperor believes that the National Labour Party's electoral victory allows it to either form a government coalition or to secure the confidence and supply from another party within the House, something that the King-Emperor isn't too worried about. His Majesty has requested a meeting with you two in Rottingham Palace immediately after the new Prime Minister's nomination.

While you will not be dealing with Mrs. Hall right now, the timeframe for your discussion is slowly coming in, Directors. And as such, we've found normal that details of her personality should be disclosed to allow for a smooth meeting to happen between you two and the next tenant of 10 Crown Street. Mrs. Hall has a personality that one could consider as being 'overly friendly', even towards strangers, overtures in 10 Crown Street before the meeting will begin is to be expected from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is also likely to ask you both about your jobs in the former Rodgers administration, that she famously despise. Don't be fooled, your actions during this ministry might also seal your future as head of both of these organisations, as behind these friendly gestures, the Prime Minister will be taking notes and purging anyone who played a too greater role in the last administration.

Advice would be to tell the bare minimum, even though, the PM's teams could search anything if they have any suspicions, of course. Thankfully, both of our intelligence organisations haven't participated to Rodgers' power grab in any capacity as His Majesty himself was opposed to such power play from his Prime Minister. Rumours stated that the Crown was "seriously" considering the option of "dismissing" the Prime Minister, although the risk for a constitutional crisis between the Crown and Parliament was far too great for such actions to be undertaken.

The Prime Minister's foreign policy is likely to see a shift in rhetoric with a return to MacGregor and Brakenbrookite "Defender of Democracy" rhetoric opposed to Rodgers' attempt at conservatism by putting monarchism at the centre of Luthori's foreign policy rhetoric, from our position in New Englia, the incoming administration isn't likely to change the message, the PM is likelier to even "radicalise" the Luthorian Govt by allowing for arms shipments to be sent in New Englia after her meeting with Prime Minister MacGannon of New Englia. Etxea remains the Luthorian Government's priority in Artania and a hard-line stance against Kundrati is to be expected. The Foreign Office may be slightly more pan-Artanian than during the Conservative era, but that remains to be seen with ideas such as the 'Artanian Economic Community' still remaining in a state of limbo even within the NLP's own foreign policy agenda. The Commonwealth will remains the incoming administration's priorities with expansion of the organisation being on the cards.

With this, we consider you two to be well-informed of the next Prime Minister, any more informations will be communicated through your offices.

Long Live the Emperor and God Bless the Empire.

Quote:[Legionary Youth Training Center 2-(REDACTED) Lirnak Mountains]

The room was dimly lit except for the cage in the middle of the room, observation windows with dark faces observed behind the young boys lined on a small bleacher. Yevgeny looked forward at attention not moving a muscle, listening attentively to the loudspeaker with the calming voice reading to him.

"A soldier does not speak until spoken to by a superior officer
A soldier shows no mercy
Mercy is weakness
And weakness is death
The Legion are his family.
He is most happy when following orders"

A small tunnel connecting to the chamber on both sides were suddenly opened, on one end a wild boar entered foaming at the mouth bearing blood covered tusks, the other side filled with multiple frothing rabid dogs enter barking wildly. The doors opened and the chamber became a horrific scene of screaming and fighting. Blood sprayed through the chain links on the floor before Yevgeny, he turned his head away from the scene disgusted, only to have his head pushed back, eyes front witnessing the gore fest before him.

"A soldier lives to kill
A soldier needs no friend or family
War is his friend
Kundrati is our friend, The Legion is our mother, The Supreme Comrade is our father"

Quote:Mary sat on her bunk.  Work for the day was over, and it was time to go through her correspondences.  She read a few letters, many of them personal in nature, that were delivered to her via general delivery.  One letter was from a mother of three saying how sorry she was to hear that her father had died.  Another was from a man in his mid thirties who said he had studied philosophy and was clearly looking for a job.  Another was from a veteran who had fought in the war, and employed some rather vulgar language against her father who had allowed his buddies to take the fall for their actions in the war, and informing her that there were still millions in Kalistan who were still angry that "we" "apologized" for the war, and he thought the Emperor was a disgrace and he was glad that her father "got his" in the end.  Mary couldn't finish the letter:  there were three additional pages of this... diatribe...

Another was from someone who identified himself as "Jacob", and said he was in third grade, and that his class had been assigned a project to write a letter to a famous person and see if they could get a response from the famous person, to practice formal letter writing skills.  Most of his class wrote to celebrities and musicians, but he said he had read stories about Mary and her love of the forest, and he thought that he would like to send a letter to her.  Mary smiled as she read the letter.  The letter was short and told her a little about the kid:  He was 8 years old and lived in Red Pass Vrassa.  His parents were working class folks:  His dad was a worker in municipal water treatment and his mother was a line cook at a diner.  He liked school and his favorite subject was science, but he also likes art class as well.  He finished the letter by saying it would be very nice if she would write him back and tell him what she finds exciting about the forest and how she is liking her National Service.  He also said "If you don't write back, I will understand.  Ms. Longbridge says that famous people often don't read the letters they get because they receive so many, so we shouldn't be upset if we don't get one back, but it would be amazing if you did read this letter and wrote back even a short letter."

Mary smiled, and decided that she would write a letter back to this kid.  Maybe someday he too would come to the forests and plant trees and she could encourage him.

She started writing.  She introduced herself as Mary Ananto, and said that she was glad he wrote because she would love to tell him all about her work in the National Service Program.  She talked about her love of being out in nature.  "It connects me to the world, and I really feel refreshed and invigorated when I am alone in the wilderness," she said.  "I like people, but sometimes, I do also enjoy alone time, just to study plants, and think about how things grow.  I plant trees, from little saplings, and know that one day, this tree will be hundreds of feet high.  It is amazing to me that something like that can happen.  It's just magical."

She also talked about learning about mushrooms in the forest.  "Did you know that when you see a mushroom, it is just one tiny part of a much larger organism called mycelium?' she asked rhetorically.  "Some mycelia cover whole square miles in the forests and are a very important part of every healthy ecosphere, because they take the things that fall from trees, or die or whatever, and recycle that back into the building blocks of new life.  It is a constant cycle that has been going on for millions of years, and we are just getting to view the latest episode of the story.  But isn't it fun to think back on all the versions of life that have existed in each single spot anywhere you go?"

She talked about the importance of National Service, and the opportunities it provides for the people of the nation.  And she added information about how, if Jacob really has a passion, he should learn all he can about a topic, because the NSP looks for aptitude and interest in placement, and when Jacob does his National Service, he can ensure that he gets to do something he is interested in and knows something about.  Mary wrote and wrote, talking about everything in her life, from her daily life in the NSP, to what she was interested in in school, to asking questions that she wasn't sure would ever be answered, like what Jacob's life was like.

She talked about her parents...  

... and then, she paused.  She mentioned that her father had recently died, and his loss had made her very sad.  Her mother was also very sad.  And she started thinking about her mother and their experience at the memorial service.  And Mary realized that she had been crying, when she saw a tear splash on the paper and smudge the ink from the pen she was using to write the letter.  She was still grieving his loss, and she was still dreading her Service being over, because she knew she would have to take his place.  "God damn it," she whispered as she tried to wipe away the tear drop and only ended up smearing the ink even further.

She closed the letter with "Jacob, you can tell your teacher that I read all my letters.  I am so glad you wrote me.  My life will change soon, and I will enter a new phase.  And then I will see no more letters like yours, and that's pretty sad.  So I try to read as many of them now as I can, while I can.  I'm going to send this now, so I don't miss mail.  But thank you again for writing, and I hope you keep up your studies and learn all you can about what you love.  Your friend, Mary."

She quickly sealed the letter and put Jacob's return address on it and dropped it in the mail bag as the clerk was just finishing tying it up to take to the post office in town.  Mary returned to her bunk in the barracks and put on her headphones.  She was eager for the Season to start in a couple weeks, and would be bored until it did.