Quote:[Etxea Proper, February 5633 ]

Slabodan could barely control his excitement, him and his men had stormed the presidents palace and made it out alive, and now it was time to strike at the heart of the traitor scum that dared side with the rebels instead of joining them. Bombs filled with volatile Sladite, the 1000 degree burning mustard gas made by the Legions finest along with multiple Sarin bombs were deployed in 2 dozen locations. Most of them on the outskirts of neighborhoods and some inside to box them in, 80 paramilitaries and agents deployed around the surroundings with gasmask, gloves, and the best chemically treated clothes they had available, some just soaked them in urine for lack of anything better. They would mow down whoever survived and regroup at their HQ's to load up and find new stakeouts, if this worked they'd be the most hunted freedom fighters in Terra.

Slabodan and his men sat inside the dark abandoned warehouse near their target communicating with them via radio transmitter set up in the back of their UAZ-452, "Captain Slabodan calling in, are all teams in place?"

"Team 1 Dragovich reporting ready"
"Team 2 Mislo Ready"
and one by one, all 10 teams reported ready; assault rifles and grenades prepped, all bomb systems recognizing signals, all cellphone frequencies to IEDS responding. The time had come, they would suffer, the few government offices and police departments nearby would be burning before they could muster anyone to stop their righteous orgy of violence. Slabodan failing to repress a murderous smile toyed with the transmit button before in a spike of adrenaline and dopamine called on the radio, "NOW BROTHERS, DEATH TO THE TRAITORS!!" pushing his detonator. In a series of thundering booms half a mile off he heard them pop off like the stacatto crack of 30 explosions, then he felt the heat, and heard the crescendo of screams, laughing manically he jumped into the drivers seat of his UAZ with his other 7 men slamming the gas as they sped towards the major intersection into the first borough.

Jumping out with gasmasks on and rifles racked, they scanned the first buildings. Women, elderly, off duty soldiers were scrambling away from the aftermath, many with their clothes nearly seared off coughing, some with no hair and many burnt black desperately struggling to breathe. Slabodan cried with fanatical anger and began unleashing full auto into the crowds as they fell one by one screaming and holding their hands up to no avail. Some of the other paramilitaries hesitated before firing, one took off his mask and vomited on the ground which Slabodan smacked with the butt of his rifle rebuking him for his weakness, a few others in the group were in adulation of the brutal killing they were undertaking laughing hands trembling with adrenaline and ecstatic need to kill, even the police cruiser that pulled up beside them coming out with sidearms were shredded by LMG fire from their heavy gunner.

Then soon after expending a few thousand rounds they loaded up into the car and sped off nearly spinning into a ditch in a wild race to get far far away, the rear view mirror showed hundreds of dead with streams of blood running down the sides of the roads and clogging the drains in the concrete. By the end of the day, all other squads reported, about 28 of their 80 men died of return fire, exposure, or got left behind in the race to get away before reprisals soon showed, they knew they had killed thousands and injured thousands more, and many bottles of vodka and songs of sladek were sung at their home bases as they reveled in the union news reporting nearly 3,000 dead and 8,000 wounded, and reported to the mainland.

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

Yevgeny and his fellow squad mates had returned to base 3 hours ago and they all had passed their final test. For 4 days without sleep or rest kept awake only by amphetamine pills they had scoured the mountainous forests of Lirnak to chase 20 death row convicts charged with treason, sent into the countryside with a 3 hour head start. They were required to find and eliminate them all coordinating with each other to find them with only basic communication sets and full kits, they returned with with all their inmate tags as proof of the deed, and for their success they were granted their new uniforms.

Yevgeny and his comrades though stoic in face and manners daring not to outwardly show any adulation, internally felt the most intense fulfillment of their lives, each set of armor made from blackened steel plate had the letters L-11 posted to them to signify their new roles as the "Lazar 11", the new bodyguards of the supreme leader who Yevgeny was the leader of, commanding the other 10. Their helmets emblazoned with the title LEGION upon each filled them with pride and they examined them with care, imagining for the moment they had awaited their entire lives

They would finally meet Lazar himself

They had only 1 hour to bathe and prepare, don the armor and report for their last commissariat inspection. They were in formation in half the time, standing shoulder to shoulder in unquestioning obedience and perfect position. The Commissar slowly walked in front of them as the doors to the room opened and the supreme leader himself entered. They snapped their bootheels together and saluted, as the commissar inspected them and had them recite their vow.

"We swear to defend the Legionary party and state to the end of our lives, we pledge to uphold the values of eternal comrade Sladeks vision, to serve to our last breath the defense of the supreme comrade Lazar, to show no mercy to traitors and all who defy his will, and to sow death upon the enemy. Hail, Hail, Hail!"

Lazar slowly approached smiling and told them to stand at ease, all of them in unison obeying. He gazed upon their figures, each standing at least 6'8 and weighing 300lb a man, hulking monsters of muscle and pure steel wrought obedience

"Comrades, my treasured 11, you are the finest men this generation has ever beheld. You, are the future of the New Kundrati Man, I have the utmost confidence in your abilities, all who defy our will shall perish. We leave tonight, I expect you ready to depart in 30 minutes, we are flying to Legionaria where you will accompany me and receive your new quarters. Dismissed!"

The men immediately turned left in unison marching out of the room, Lazar turned to the commissar.

"You've outdone yourself comrade, truly only 11 made the cut?"

The commissar general saluting replied, "Indeed, they are the best of the best. We have however included an additional 500 men into a smaller unit that can be sent wherever you wish, we titled them Brigade NKM and while they aren't as peak in genetic quality as these men, they can be counted among the second finest soldiers in the nation and will serve you unto death. I have had them transported to Legionaria to defend your presidential headquarters, but you are welcome to have them deployed at liberty wherever you wish."

Lazar contemplated a moment and nodded silently, saluting the man and leaving for his helicopter back to his palace.


Yevgeny's past was a distant memory, his sole purpose in life was to kill, to serve, to obey. He would defend Lazar whatever the cost, obey any order, he would die for the Legion.

Quote:The Empress entered the disused office that used to serve as the Personal Offices of the Emperor.  She was greeted by her new Chancellor of the Empire, Sir Michael Koenig, whom she had knighted only two months previous so he perform the duties of Chancellor of the Empire correctly.  Upon her entry, he snapped to his feet and bowed his head slightly as the Empress, who was in a tear moved effortlessly past him to the other side of the desk and sat down in the old leather chair that had belonged to her father.  The normally cluttered desk was bare, as all her work was in Eveari, where she usually was.  She had just returned from the National Assembly, where she had ordered assistance for Etxea and announced her new diplomatic initiative to Valruzia.

"What the absolute f--k was that?" she demanded without even inviting the Chancellor to be seated.

"Madame, that was the National Assembly," said the Chancellor with his head still bowed and his eyes still averted.

"My god, have they no sense of..." she stopped short.  "Mr Koenig, why in the world are you still standing?"

"Your Imperial Majesty has not invited me to retake my seat," he said in a low, humble voice that was not accusatory, but merely reminding her of the protocol.  The Chancellor was surprised at her:  Any other Ananto would not have even asked him why he remained on his feet.  He thought this question was a perfect demonstration of the new Empress' inexperience.  But he remained silent.

"Oh for Eliyon's sake, sit down, please..." she said in an exasperated tone.  The Chancellor retook his seat quickly and sat straight up.  His brief experience of this girl was that she was erratic and entitled--He had his job because she flew off the handle at his predecessor upon taking her throne for mentioning the cost of her dress to the press, so he was not sure how to approach her and was not comfortable around her.  "She's rough," he thought.  "So rough perhaps that it might take more polish than there is in the world to work out her edges."

"Well?" she said.

After a pause, the Chancellor asked "Well, what, Your Imperial Majesty?"

"Is the National Assembly always so unruly, or just when a girl stands in front of them?"

"No Madame," the Chancellor answered honestly.  He may be in his early 30s, but he had served for two terms as a Deputy, and he said he had never seen them do that.  "The debates on the floor can be heated, but this was out of the ordinary."

"Then why do you think they would do that to us?"

The Chancellor paused a moment.  Collecting his thoughts, he started, and then stopped again.  "Madame, I believe they are testing you.  They want to see what sort of ruler you will be."  The Empress sat back in her chair and sized up the Chancellor.

"You, Sir, are their leader.  How would they take it if we made an example of you?"

"With obvious deference to my own health and my political future, Your Imperial Majesty, I would appreciate it if you did not do that."

"And why not, Mr. Koenig?" the Empress demanded.

"Respectfully, I do not think making an example of me will have the effect you may think it will."

"No?" said the Empress.  "We think it will have exactly the effect that we seek.  It would send a message to your Caucus about the dangers of crossing us, especially in public like that."

"Madame, if I may caution a more moderate course instead, perhaps you give my Party Leadership the opportunity to attempt to discipline our members first.  The Institutional Party exists to do your bidding, and to give you advice that they think will be helpful in making decisions.  This doesn't mean that they will just go along with you, especially if they have genuine reservations.  I can give Your Imperial Majesty a majority for anything you want--You merely need to say the word and it is done.  But there will be opposition to policies that are genuinely unpopular, and some will voice that opposition, because when the decision is already made, the vote is merely a formality.  Once we get to 40 votes for anything, every other vote is a free vote:  79-0 is the same as 40-39..."

Fearing he had presumed too much, the Chancellor paused, and waited for a response from the Empress.  Seeing that she made no effort to interject, he continued, "These Deputies see themselves not as your drones, but their constituents' representatives to you.  That said, it is not my place to teach you civics--I offer this only as a gentle reminder that sometimes they may take a while to warm up to you, Your Imperial Majesty.  It is a new experience for you, and you are a new experience for them."

The Empress considered the Chancellor's words.  She realized that the Chancellor had placed his own neck on the chopping block in speaking up just now, and was prepared to allow her to swing her axe if she intended.  And yet, he sounded a lot like her aunt in that moment--Lady Michelle may have said the same thing.  She would not chop off his head this time.

"Mr. Koenig," she began after a deep breath.  "We will have that aid to Etxea one way or another, and it is your charge to see to it, and to go beyond what even we sought on the Floor.  But as you see, our Aunt has returned to Dulnerstaad, as we agreed.  She served as our mentor, but we could no longer justifiably detain her once her formal service to us was completed.  Would you be willing to travel to Eveari when your session is over and talk with us for a while about the members of your Party?  There is so much that was left undone when our father passed before his time, and we are daily learning just how much we do not know.  If you could prepare for us a brief about the factions in the Institutional Party that will help us the next time we go before them to speak, and perhaps advise us on how to avoid this sort of performance in the future, we would be appreciative."

"You may count on me, Your Imperial Majesty."

"And we shall add:  Discipline your Party," the Empress added.  "There is Protocol and there is Lese-Majestie.  Whether it is warranted or not, we ought not have to tolerate such blatant disrespect and lack of decorum.  Our youth and our inexperience does not trump our Title, and if not our person, we will have the Crown respected and deferred to on all occasions, even in disagreement, and by even the highest potentate in Terra.  Our every utterance is law, and as such, there are consequences that must be paid.  If we ought not make an example of you, but instead shall allow you to continue to serve us, we hope that you make this fact unmistakably clear to your members."

The Chancellor's mouth went dry.  The Empress was correct to feel disrespected.  And the Chancellor understood her to mean that she intended him to mete out the consequences for that disrespect, since he had opted to not take those consequences himself.  After all, the unspoken message was that she held him personally responsible for the behavior of the Institutional Party members during the speech on the floor of the National Assembly, and though it was not planned, failure to whip the Party's members was a failure to do one of the basic jobs of a Party Leader.

"I understand and will comply, Dread Mistress."

"We shall then look for your arrival in Eveari."

"Thank you Madame.  I will arrive tomorrow by noon."

"Very well, Sir.  Look to your work.  You may go now."  Chancellor of the Empire Koenig rose, bowed his head slightly and backed away from the desk, closing the door behind him.  His day had just gotten significantly longer, and he would be losing several Party members before the day was over.

Quote:"Happy Birthday Mary!" said Monica DeLaurentis as Mary arrived at her childhood home on the cliffs overlooking Wilson's Gate in Kaliburg.  "To celebrate, I bought a cake, and we can watch movies and have tacos!"

"Do you have any tofu?" asked Mary.

"Tofu?" Monica asked.  "We don't eat tofu on tacos.  Why would we do that?"

"Mom, I don't know how many times I have to tell you.  I am a vegetarian.  I don't eat beef."

"You're a vegetarian?  Since when?" Monica asked with a laugh.  

"Since I was like 15 years old, Mom," said Mary as she threw her hands out.  She couldn't believe that her mother had forgotten that yet again.  "Honestly, mom, it almost feels like you don't listen to me at all..."

"I never knew you were a vegetarian.  You never told me that..."

"Mother I told you a hundred times."  Mary felt her temperature rising a little.  She knew she's had this very conversation with her mother before.

"Well, I don't recall that."  her mother said indignantly.

"You don't recall it mom, because it was never important to you.  I don't eat meat because I don't like the idea of killing animals for food.  I'm not like you.  I don't eat steaks.  I don't eat chicken.  It's not good for you.  You shouldn't eat it either.  If I had my way, nobody would."

"It's a good thing you don't have your way," Monica said, miffed that her daughter had put the kabosh to her plans for a fun birthday surprise.  "Look just forget the tacos.  I'm sorry I tried to do something nice for your birthday.  Your little girl only turns 23 once.  I thought it would be nice.  I was wrong."

"Please mother, I am not a little girl," Mary said, mumbling.  Her mother had taken to guilt tripping her more since Mary's father had passed away, and Mary really resented it.

"Yeah," said Monica.  "That's certain.  I've barely seen you since you actually were a little girl.  You basically moved out of the house when you were 15 and went to live outside.  And now...  you just...  you don't even visit me anymore.  You, your father, your sister...  all gone...  I...  I really miss you, Mary...  I just..."

"Oh please mother.  Don't do this.  It's not my fault dad isn't alive anymore.  If he still was here, I might be in college now...  instead of working all the time..."

Monica looked at her daughter.  A tear rolled out of her eye.  "Mary, I am sorry.  I'm sorry that this was your fate."

"Well I don't want it," she said.  "It's not fair.  Why did it have to happen to me?  Why couldn't people just leave me alone?  I was perfectly happy in the forest, planting trees.  It's what I am good at.  I can't be an empress.  I am terrible at this.  I'm the worst, and I just want to go back to my job and plant trees."

"Mary..." her mother said.  "Mary, you shouldn't say that..."

"Why not?" Mary demanded.  "Did you see what Catherine Probst's column said about me today in the paper?  She called me a petulant child, and said on my best day I was no Carolina Ananto on her worst day.  How can I possibly live up to that?  She said I had no sense of humor, and that people were afraid to talk to me.  I must seem like a horrible person to all these people.  The National Assembly hates me...  I really am the worst person for this job..."

"Mary, that not true.  None of it is."

"I want to give this up, Mom, I am done.  I can't be my father.  I can't be Carolina.  I want to give it away.  Maybe to Margaret?"

"No, Mary, you can't do that,"  Monica tried to be reassuring, but her daughter was now sobbing.

"What about to you Mom, would you take it if I gave it to you?"

"Honey, I can't take it from you.  They wouldn't allow it.  You are your father's daughter:  you are the Empress and you can't give it away until you pass it to your own son or daughter."

"Well, I just won't have kids then.  Why would I ever curse them with this title, with this life?  I can't even say 'I' when talking to other people.  It's so weird.  I don't want to live like that.  I don't want my kids to have to live like that."

Monica embraced her daughter.  Mary was turning 23 years old today, but in many ways, she was still very immature, and still very much a kid.  Monica let her cry a little, as she stroked her hair to try to sooth her.  "Your father didn't want the job either.  Your grandmother didn't want the job but she did it...  You just need some practice and you too will grow into it."

"If nobody wants it, why do we keep it?" Mary asked.  "It's a terrible job.  The pressure is constant, and there are real problems in this world that I don't know how to solve, and if I fail, then everyone will blame me...  I can't live up to that expectation.  Why don't we just abolish the monarchy so nobody has to go through this?"

"Mary, your grandmother used to tell me about her father.  Fredrick the II.  He was a kind man, like your father, from what Carolina told me.  He doted on her and her mother.  He thought he might like to give it all up someday too, and just live a quiet life with the woman he was so in love with, Lady Pav."

"... the Black Empress..." Mary said softly and reverently, almost reflexively, because everyone always followed up Pavlina's name with that title, as if she was a mythical character out of a fairy tale, and saying her name too loudly might evoke her spirit.  Mary had heard her great grandmother referred to as the Black Empress far more often than she had ever heard her referred to by name.

"Yes, dear.  So he thought maybe he should perhaps let up on control of the government, maybe let the people have a say in how some things were run.  Maybe end the one party system.  Maybe have a little democracy...  Maybe this would be his way of freeing himself and his wife from the duties of the Monarchy, to let the people take over.  And do you know what happened?"

"I think they shot him, mama..." said Mary, adopting the tone of a much younger girl involuntarily.  This was the part of the story that she hated the most:  Mary knew full well what happened to her Great grandfather.  It was a cautionary tale her entire life, one that reinforced the lessons about the dangers of democracy.  And it scared her to think that someone might try to do that to her too.  Which, Mary knew, was the primary reason for the Protocol and the Lese-Majestie laws.

"The lesson Carolina learned was that asking the people to govern opens the door for bad actors.  Democratic movements are too susceptible to being taken over by violent extremists who just want to use democracy to take power for themselves.  Just look at what democracy did for a place like Kundrati.  It is not to be trusted.  Your grandmother knew that, your father knew it, I know it, you know it, and everyone in Kalistan knows it.  Carolina said she learned that day that the only way to prevent things like that from happening to the ones you love is to keep the balance between freedom and duty in the lives of the people of this country:  Duty is rewarded with liberty, fail to do one's duty, and you don't get the reward.  She said she understood why she couldn't give it up:  She learned it the day her father was shot by some fascist pretending to be a republican."

Mary looked at her mom.  "What is the reason, Mom?"

"Carolina said that the monarchy was the only thing standing between light and freedom permitted by correct social order and the chaos of democracy which gives rise to any number of social ills and disorders, including fascism.  And when she had served her nation long enough and her own son was ready to take up the cause, she would pass it to him, because he was more capable to carry that responsibility as her ability and faculties started failing her.  And now, you do that job.  You are like the cork in a bottle of poison.  If you weren't there, that poison would spill all over society and kill people.  Our Empress is the only thing that stands in the way of that happening in our country.  Imagine if you said you no longer wanted to do that.  Imagine how many people would be hurt if you stopped doing what you do, if you went back to the forest and only paid attention to your trees."

Mary's spirit dropped.  "It would be a disaster," she said slowly and dejectedly.  She knew now that she couldn't give up the job, but had to do it until it was someone else's turn.

Monica sensed the sadness creep over her daughter, and thought of something that could pick her daughter up.  "And besides, honey.  Who says you can't go plant trees if you want?"

Mary looked into her mother's eyes.  "I mean, I don't have time to plant trees as the Empress.  I am working every single day."

"Oh come on, Mary.  You're the Empress.  You work as much as you want.  Your word is law.  I have heard you say that yourself.  You know your father didn't work every day.  Some days he would decide that he would rather go sailing.  So we went sailing while you and your sister were in school.  You get to do what you want:  All you have to do is decide to do it, and there is literally nothing, or no one who can stop you.  If the Empress wants to plant trees, she can declare it a national tree planting holiday, and require everyone to take off work and join her.  You have that kind of power."

Mary felt a smile creep over her face.  "I...  I do?"

Monica gave her daughter a hug.  "Mary, you are an absolute Monarch.  All legitimacy springs from your breath.  You literally can do anything you want.  You can make anything happen.  Planting trees is nothing if you decide that you wish to accomplish it.  You can do what you want, say what you want.  Those gossips in the columns just talk because you can't be hurt by it- You are so far above them and above the Deputies in the National Assembly who won't say positive things about you that it is ridiculous to concern yourself with their prattle.  You are the most powerful person on this planet, if you want to be.  And if you want to plant your trees, then plant them.  You have whole mountain ranges to reforest right here in Ananto!"  Mary smiled.

"But you can't do that if you give up," Monica added.  Mary sat up.

"No, I suppose not," she said to her mother, who smiled at her.  "I guess I will have to keep being the cork."

"Yes," Monica said gently.  "You do have to be the cork.  Only until you can pass it to someone else, though.  You are very young, and it is not fair that you were put into this position at your age.  But I have faith in you, my Daughter.  You will be special, you will be loved, and you will be respected.  And most of all, you will do your duty."

Mary nodded, grateful for the pep talk, even though it was a little... odd.  "And what is your duty?" she asked her mother.

"My duty is to be the mother of the Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.  And to take care of you when you are sad, and to celebrate your birthday with you.  And it is a duty I will love and cherish until my last day."  Mary smiled and gave her mother another hug.

"Mom, can we please order pad thai tonight?"

"You mean instead of tacos?"

"Yes, instead of tacos.  Then I can get tofu..."

"Because it is your birthday, ok," said Monica with a smile.  "But you will stay for cake, I hope?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Mom."  Mary said with a smile.