Quote:"Welcome to my home, Aunt Meg," said Fredrick. "It's been a while since you were here."

"I see you've painted in here," said Margret, looking around. "I always did like the ceilings in this place."

"That was Jenn's doing. She prefers this color, and she loves the crown molding, so, we kept that."

"Very elegant," said Margret, "and understated."

"It'll be sad when we have to leave this place, but that won't be for a while, I'm told."

"I think your mother wants to go for 65," said Margret with a smile. "But if you ask me, if she loses the Athosian house, she'll find her beloved redwoods calling her back, and she just might quit early."

"Well, heaven forbid," said Fredrick.

"How do you mean?" asked Margret.

"She makes it all sound like such a drag. I'm enjoying my life, I'm learning a lot, Jenn and I are very happy together, I don't know if I want to have to deal with all that..."

"Well," said Margret, "to her it is, I should say, always has been a drag. She is still very much a hippie at heart. She was not really cut out for this job, but she still has done it well. But she thrives in nature, and so when she disappears into the woods, we don't start getting worried until she's not back in like four days... She has her moods, you know..."

"Yeah, that's true. Lady Victoria is a very patient woman. My father was not so much..."

"Is the wedding almost ready?" asked Margret, making small talk.

"It's all set, Meg. We have a few more people to invite, but everything else is done." The Prince paused, and decided to get to the point. "Then, what brings you out to Lolla today?"

"Thank you for asking. I know you have this big plan to visit the world in September, and talk with various governments. But I just want to warn you..."

"Let me stop you right there," said Fredrick. "I have already had this talk with my mother, and I am going. We have to do something else in this country, or we are going to be isolated..."

"I know, I know... But it's just that, some of the people who are planning to meet with, let's just say we haven't always been on the best terms with and..."

"You sound like my mom, Meg," said Fredrick, sitting back into his chair. "Or rather: She sounds like you. Often times, I have wondered, which one of you is actually calling the shots."

"Fredrick, that's a hell of a thing to say," said Margret. "My sister has relied upon me for advice, and that's all. I've given her the advice she asks for, and I have been candid with her. It's not my fault if she doesn't care for international relations. She asked me to commit my entire life to her service, and I have done so, but the decisions, all of them, are always hers, and nobody else's, just as they will always be yours when it is your time..."

"Well, Aunt, you will forgive me if I know enough about the world to be able to recognize that our policy toward other nations makes strangers of them, and think I would like to do something different. We can't keep alienating everyone. We need to fit into the world, not stand against it."

"Standing against the world is what has kept Kalistan safe this entire time," insisted Margret.

"Maybe too safe. Where does this obsession with security come from anyway? Has Kalistan been attacked within the last 40 years?"

"Fred, your mother was attacked when she was a baby." shot Margret back. "You know that park over on the other side of Wilson's Hill? That used to be where this family lived. That home was torn down because it was so poisonous and unlivable from when Kaliburg was struck by chemical weapons during the war. While your mother and grandparents slept. Keeping Kalistan a fortress has prevented any attacks since then, but she was one or two when that happened, and says she still remembers that night."

"That's her memory, not yours, and not mine," said Fredrick. "I know how I want to govern this nation. She does really well for her people here. But we could also be friends with the rest of the world too, most of whom do not wish to be our enemies. I believe that." Fredrick paused. "Did my mother send you?"

Margret leaned in, "Your mother doesn't know I am here. And I am only trying to warn you: Some people's agendas are not as pure as you think they are. It's a sad truth, but this world is full of sharks, and sometimes you can mistake them showing their teeth for a smile. Some people's motivations are as foreign to you and as strange to you as if they were to come from the moon. And you don't have a lot of experience dealing with world leaders, so it will be very easy for you to screw it up and create problems for yourself."

"Are you saying, Meg, that I am naïve? That I will be taken for a ride by some foreign President."

"That is precisely what I am saying," shot back Margret.

"Well, then you are far too cynical," answered Fredrick. "You see the world as us against them, against everyone. And I just don't see things like that. I am going out to meet my peers in the world. I am just going to talk, to let them see a real Kalistani for the first time, not one filtered by state media or a bunch of sycophants who tell people what they think the people want to hear."

Margret continued, "I think you are untested and green... and you have a good heart, and good intentions. But it is important to remember that some will try to take advantage of that, and to roll you. So please be on your guard. Smile back at them if you like, shake hands if you like, but always remember: Everytime you meet someone who smiles at you and shakes your hand, there is one of me right behind them reminding them what this meeting is really all about, for them, not for you. We do not live in the world that is governed by rules. Our world is governed by interests. Whatever they teach you in school about a rules-based world order and international law.

"Your mother doesn't like this fact, as much as she lives by it. She was taught that lesson during her very first test as Empress. Those who whined about how Kalistan was fighting a war, then turned around and complained that Kalistan was attempting to make peace. Because their interest was neither war nor peace, it was to knock Kalistan down a few pegs. And that's all, and she fell for it, and they accomplished their mission. The world has not changed one jot or tittle since then. You have to be on your guard when you speak with these people. That's what I am trying to say. And I can speak from my experience. I am the IBSI Director after all."

Fredrick thought for a moment. "I'll keep this in mind, Meg, and I will try to keep to interests as well, but I would like Kalistan to be better regarded in the world, because that's what is in my interest."

Margret smiled. "Well, then I suppose that is the best I can hope for: It's what's in all of our interests. But," she paused, "One other thing. You will be the Sovereign of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan and the Anantonese Empire. Not a single one of the people you will meet is your peer. Remember to keep that in mind as well. When you are Emperor, all law springs from your every utterance, all right and privilege from your very breath. There is not another soul on this planet that possesses that sort of pure power over an entire nation, over an entire empire. There is not another sovereign that is as unchecked in the exercise of their power as you will be."

"And yet," laughed Fredrick, "I am not allowed to refer to myself as I or me."

"It's a small price to pay, really," said Margret as she returned the smile. "I've said what I came to say."

Fredrick sensed she was getting ready to leave. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" He asked, though he already knew the answer. "Jenn will be home tonight and I'm making roast chicken for supper."

The old spy chief smiled. "I would love to, but I have to return to Lhasa. We are in the process of interviewing replacements."

Fredrick said, "Are you... retiring?"

"Yes, I am 55 this year. I am retiring. I have done enough."

This was the first time Fredrick had heard this news about his aunt. "But, I was hoping you would stay on until I was crowned, maybe a few more years after that even."

"Well," said Margret. "I suppose you could order me to stick around. Your mom would."

"Well, then I order you to do so. I need your help, Aunt Meg."

"Sorry, nephew" she said with a smirk, "You aren't your mom yet." With that, Margret stood up, nodded a familiar sort of lite-bow to the future Sovereign of the Empire, and took her leave.

Quote:Socialist People's Party headquarters in Gemun

Deputy president of the Khanate Yuan Yelu Cukule and the party's secretary-general Jakdan Andara entered the room on the third floor of the party office, where their leader and current Bianjie premier, Ajigen Kode, was waiting for both of them. Sitting in a chair, smoking a cigarette, a 58-year-old woman looked out the window, watching the metro pass swiftly by. When the two men entered the room, Kode turned to Cukule and Andara and put out her cigarette.

"I am not gonna take a while with some prologue speeches, and will ask you both directly: what is going on?", Kode sit in the chair, crossing her hands, looking at the two men. "I do not want to enter history as the second socialist Premier to lose the election to the democrats, and go into opposition, especially with NCU existing. These yotoso just jump from channel to channel, from one online media to another, from one newspaper to another, attacking me, you, our party and the government, and people suddenly like them. We, or rather, you two, must do something to prevent this".

"Madam Kode, I think this is just democracy in action. Just like in 5643, people seem to be tired of the SPP and want some quick one-time change in the face of the democrats and their nationalist friends", Cukule began. "We truly showcase everything we do for this country, and yet people still turn away from us. It's just the nature of the people; we can't make people like us forever".

"Yelu, tell me this: do you want to stay in your position?", Kode turned to Cukule, looking him directly in the eyes. "I-I...Well, yes, madam, I certainly do, but-", Cukule didn't get to finish before being cut off by Kode. "Then, I think it is in your own best interest to actually find a way for people to like you enough to stay in your comfortable seat in Yuan. Or, maybe the list of elected SPP deputies in three years will end before your name."

"Ajigen, if I may", Andara intervened in a slightly tense exchange. "He's not wrong, we cannot really make people love us, but if you are looking for some kind of answer to the close polling, I cannot give it to you this right away, but then also I do think we have enough tools in our hands currently to make something out of this".

"That is an answer that I like more, but yes, you are right, and that is exactly why I have called you both here. I have a proposal that can possibly move the weights in our favour, even with numbers like these, and so I wanted you to hear it out, and give me the analysis".

Two men looked at one another with a bit of nervousness before turning back to Kode and nodding, signalling her to continue.

"So, let me say that, maybe this full proportional democracy experiment has failed. It was approved by the democrats to directly affect and benefit them in the subsequent elections, changing decades of traditions, right?" Two men nod. "So, what we should do is...just return to the previous mixed system, or, even better, implement a full-on first-past-the-post system. Make all 229 deputies be elected in 229 single-member constituencies", Kode looked at Cekulu and Andara, waiting for a reaction.

"I mean, it will help us, but wouldn't this only fuel more people to vote for the opposition in such a volatile environment, especially as the DPP are only 3% behind us. We should play it safe and go for any electoral changes only when we have enough of a majority, I think", Andara immediately weighed the proposal. "Will the Gioro minions really agree to it?"

"Gioro will agree to anything we ask him to do, trust. The yoto agreed to join our coalition the second we sat at the table, they love us", she laughed. "But, I do see what you mean with this. My point is just that we can sell it with a message about deputies caring about people again. Populism sauce always works".

Cukule raises his hand. "I have to agree with Jakdan here, but your reply also makes sense and has reasonable thoughts behind it. I do think if we have to go for it, we have to figure out what to do with the debate about proportionality, because that is serious".

"Yelu, I like you, and your commitment to the image of our party, but let us be real with one another, no one except some nerds in Gemun suburbs cares about proportionality really. People want to see their elected representatives care about them, period. But, I will still note your point down", Premier replied.

"So, do you want us to work on some kind of project to return the single-member constituencies like before?" Jakdan shrugged. "That is exactly why you are the secretary-general, smartypants. Yes, I need you two to work together and make something in that direction. So, now go-go.", Kode clapped.

Quote:Lady Donahue nodded and thanked the Education Minister Simmons for her report. "Minister Simmons, I appreciate your attention to detail in this matter. And I am certain Their Imperial Majesties agree with you that new opportunities to study Egelian in Gaduridos and Egelion should be pursued. As Egelian is more standardized than Vrassan, it is important that we promote the correct versions in our school so neither the Egelian language, nor the Suldanoran dialect of Vrassan are diluted in our country... Looking at the agenda here, Defense Minister Grant, your report is next."

"Thank you Madame Chancellor," said Captain Morris Grant. "I will get to updates about our status of forces, procurement and modernization in a moment, but first I have something to bring up here which, well, lets say, its pretty delicate... And it might be better spoken about out of the meeting, but... I don't know. And so... well, here, read this, Mde Chancellor, and then if you feel its appropriate to bring it up here now, we can talk about it."

The Captain slipped a piece of paper to the Chancellor, and as she read it, she looked up at the Captain, looked back at the piece of paper, and looked at the room, then looked at the piece of paper, and seemed a bit paler for the reading. She folded the paper back up, and handed it back to the captain.

"I think this is definitely something we should talk about here," said Chancellor Donahue.

The Captain swallowed hard, and was noticeably uncomfortable. "Madame, I... was, prepared for a different answer from you on this question."

The Chancellor stared at the Defense Minister. "Why, Minister Grant?"

The Defense Minister stammered, "Well... because... I mean, obviously..." He glanced ever so slightly at the Empress, who was sitting in the traditional spot usually occupied by a Royal when they attend the Cabinet Meetings. His eyes quickly darted back to the Chancellor, as to not be conspicuous.

"Minister Grant, do you agree with the contents of this letter?" asked the Chancellor.

"Well, y... no, not necessarily all of them... I... I know a lot of those members, served with many of them... I know their intentions are good, but I am not necessarily sure this is the best... um... way to really go about it?"

"My God, Minister Grant. You are obviously suffering here," said Chancellor Donahue, not at all sympathetic to the Minister's ambivalent tone. "Surely you brought that letter in here to make a statement. So make it, please."

The Minister sat silently, and a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. the silence, which felt like it lasted ten minutes, was broken by the gentle voice from the corner, "Madame Chancellor, may we see this letter?" The Chancellor glanced over to the Empress and then back to the Captain. Captain Grant knew what the unspoken looks conveyed. He rose from his seat, letter in hand and approached the Empress. "Captain, we may not accept this from you. Please, if you will, hand it to our Chancellor." The Chancellor smirked ever so slightly as to be almost imperceivable. Grant backed away, head bowed, turned and stood straight up and walked the length of the table to hand the letter to the Chancellor. Lady Donahue rose, took the letter and brought it over to the Empress. "Your Imperial Majesty," she said courteously, with her head bowed and waited for the Empress to read the letter.

"Madame Chancellor, you know our law on this," said the Empress, handing the letter back to the Chancellor, who nodded, backed away from the Empress, and then turned smartly to return to her seat at the head of the table.

"Captain Clark, you are relieved," said the Chancellor.

The Captain was aghast. "Relieved? On what grounds? I... I brought this to the Government for... for a decision... on what to do... I..."

"Mr. Clark. You have the confidence of individual officers in the Southern Army who have proposed a military coup. This letter is dated four days ago. And this is the first time you are bringing it to the attention of this government?"

"A... coup?! Are you insane? What coup?"

"Mr. Clark, please lower your tone..."

"Excuse me, Madame Chancellor, but what coup? And why do you call me Mr. Clark? It's Captain Clark..."

"No Sir, you have been relieved," said the Chancellor firmly. She was young, but her resolve was steely, and more than matched the situation at hand.

"This is an outrage," said Clark.

"Is it?" asked the Chancellor, rhetorically. "This letter you presented to me suggests that at least a half dozen officers are independently planning to push Kalistan into some sort of, quote, 'more dramatic action over Athosia which will resolve that situation in Kalistan's favor once and for all.'"

"Yeah, in KALISTAN's favor..." Clark reiterated. "How is that a coup?"

"Has the Emperor or Empress ordered the Southern Army to begin planning for an invasion of Baltusia?"

"Excuse me?" asked Clark.

"I asked you a question. Have Their Imperial Majesties ordered anyone to begin planning for an invasion of Athosia?"

"You know full well they have not," said Clark. "What these officers are talking about is the various contingencies we have on the books..."

"If they have not ordered preparation for an invasion, then why are your friends planning for an invasion?"

"They are not my 'friends'," insisted Clark. "These are people I served with and who proposed I bring the matter up here in the Cabinet Meeting. I didn't expect that she would be here today."

"So, then it was your intention to hide this illegal, and very unprofessional activity from the Empress?" asked the Chancellor.

Clark realized he was in a bind... "I... No, not at all. I assumed that talking to you, it would get back to her and the Emperor. I was trying to do the right thing..."

The Chancellor suddenly became very serious. "Mr. Clark, that is Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Jennifer I Ananto. She is not 'her' to you, or to anybody. You serve at the Empress' pleasure, or you do not serve at all."

Clark sat silently, chastened. "Forgive me, and may it please Her Imperial Majesty, I should not be relieved for reporting on this activity from my former comrades in the Southern Army. But I also do not understand this charge of coup plotting."

The Chancellor opened the letter once more and read the words: "...before more specific domestic pressure directed toward those unwilling to take definitive action becomes necessary." She looked directly at Clark, who sat speechless, unable to say anything to counter the charge at this point. Clark stood, and began gathering his documents.

"Mr. Clark, where are you going?" asked the now stern Chancellor.

"I have been relieved, Madame, and I have been disgraced. I would like to retire to my home, because I have no more business here."

The Chancellor said "...relived but not dismissed. As the informer, you will be granted some degree of amnesty, but we expect you to inform your comrades that Their Imperial Majesties will expect their resignations and statements of collaboration, as well as the names of all other sympathetic officers on their desk in the morning. The Regular Armed Forces of Kalistan is not a democracy, and those responsible will held to account for this."

"Is that all, Madame Chancellor?"

"And leave your reports here. We need to still brief Her Imperial Majesty on the status of her Armed Forces. Thank you: You are dismissed." The coldness in her tone was chilling to all others sitting in the room. The former Defense Minister stared at her with daggers in his eyes, utterly stunned about the course of events that had just transpired. At length, he stood up, pushed his report to the center of the table, and walked from the table, pausing to offer an exaggerated bow before the Empress, and backing out of the room, observing the protocol in letter, if not in spirit. The Empress, for her part, remained perfectly still, in a measure, not accepting the courtesy.

Quote:(A)lexei Staxos, Kundrati: Good afternoon.

(E)dward Hendricks, Kalistan: Likewise.

A: Our countries have not been on the best of terms, so to say, for more than our lifetimes. I will start by saying that. For within our lifetimes my country has, among many other phrases, called our hosts and called your country devils and unworthy of life. Among many other terms, again as I say. I have here prepared a presentation on what we have done to try and mend over this shameful portion of our relationship. A shameful portion that should never have happened in the first place.

E: Of course. And I will reiterate Kalistan's position that we will have to wait and see. We can't simply take your word for it. We've been down that road before and it has led to hundreds of thousands more of our boys and girls entering your country and having their fight be in vain. 

A: Of course. Now, as of 16 September 5673, when our country began our legal purge of Vanguardists, we have apprehended around 23,000 individuals suspected of being in the Vanguardist faith. This was done via the examination of old Vanguardist party records that we've managed to find and prepare for their trials. These individuals were, for example, local members of the party that managed their blocks or districts, local village mayors, members of party associations that managed others, and the like. The highest ranked individual in these trials will be an individual who headed the Vanguard party in Takozvani, the capital of the state of Peghonai that is our northernmost state. His trial is expected shortly as we are beginning to wrap up these trials. 

E: What will happen to them?

A: Some have already pled guilty and have received their loyalty oaths and loss of rights for at least ten years. At least a few of them have gone out of their way to rat out their fellow Vanguardists which has helped us to go after an additional 12,000 people. They will receive a loss of rights for only five years. Everyone will have to sign their loyalty oaths of course.

E: Loyalty oaths?

A: Yes. They will have to sign them at the start and it will tie them to loyalty to democracy and Kundrati permanently. Otherwise they will end up in a prison.

E: Alexei, we all understand that the rule of law is important and paramount to the safety of the world. This loyalty thing may undermine that. Aren't they concerned about that?

A: They are always concerned, Edward. We don't force them to sign their oaths at the start of trial, no, they have to sign it after they get their guilty verdict. If they're found innocent then they don't have to sign that oath.

E: I see. I would have picked another option... still, go on.

A: We have managed to receive word on the status of two cabinet members of the old Vanguardist administration, those being the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Communications. They are still in the country as we have blocked their ability to leave. They are currently in house arrest preparing for their trial. If found guilty, which given their actions and rank is a certainty, they will be shot. 

E: I see.

A: Alright. We have also passed a sweeping disabilities law that will recognize disabilities of any nature upon the body and mind, provide them with treatment to assist them where necessary, allow them resources to easily find a job or otherwise find resources that will help their life and their family. We will also be mandating our locations to provide easy access to the disabled via ramps, elevators, and other various ways.

E: I see.

[They both begin to eat their meals. They both enjoy the meal before sharing the bill and leaving.]

A: Let's both go for a walk.

E: Of course.

[The walk begins. While the conversation is taking place, they both take a walk to a park, then via the streets past the Kalistani embassy and via various embassies before ending the walk at the park.]

A: How is your family?

E: They are doing fine. Our family contributed to the war, you know? They were intelligence officers and provided valuable intelligence to our troops. My mother fought bravely in Aethansk.

A: Is that so? Did they start in Etxea or did they land directly?

E: This was after the Etxeans and Kalistanis secured the beachhead. So many lives were lost there. The inner regions weren't much better. I remember this time when my mother was with her unit and they approached this village. It was a beautiful village with the exception that it was a pile of rubble next to some fields. It was on the road to Aethansk. The smell of chemicals was ripe... but there were boys very young that had rifles and grenades. They threw those at our unit and the units ahead. 

A: I see.

E: We were forced to take them down. 

A: [Nodding.]

E: I have siblings yet I am the oldest. And my mother treated me like, as a Baltusian would say, a helicopter parent would. I understand it, of course, but...

A: I know. Every southern Kundrati has had at least one relative or one friend with a relative that has fought in the war, who has had to deal with that... 

E: To see your country go down the same path that led those children to do that can only cause so much pain for you. When your country has had to deal with fascists who train children to be soldiers instead of training them for a job or just to be children, that is truly a waste. When you have to fight in that environment? And see it all go to waste? I never went to Kundrati, I never served... but it makes you think.

A: I cannot speak for 40 million plus Kundrati in saying we share your grief. We still have to root out those who don't understand your grief and who only see you as Kalistani. That will take time.

E: Did you serve?

A: Not in the war, but I was in the armed forces. I was keeping guard in bases so I never got any significant war experience. You?

E: Well... I'd like to keep that part in my heart for now.

A: Of course.

[They arrive and sit down at a bench.]

E: I've had a thought of the situation in Kundrati. I'm curious about the income doubling plan. How can you do that by yourselves?

A: Of course. Well, we recently found gold resources in the mountain area. We are also working to restart our nuclear power plants and our prior industries. The finding of gold has given us hope that there may be more secret resources of other things that may be useful for the general population like silicon. Dundorf has a lot of silicon, maybe we might have some too, but we will have to see. But our focus is also on having everyone get a job. A job corps, per se. We will be using that job corps, for example, to repair our roads and buildings, repair the dams and highways, et cetera. It will be equalized between north and south so nobody feels their part of Kundrati will be given less benefits. Of course, housing will also be there as well.

E: I see.

A: We will of course need foreign investment to help us there.

E: Were things to go well, of course we would be interested. But we will have to wait and see. I will bring all of this information to my superiors and see what they think.

A: I see. We will await your response.

[They exchange telephone numbers before departing.]