A Battle Unseen

[Doc]

Office of the Chancellor of the Empire, National Capitol Building
Kaliburg, 3:05 PM

Jacob Maxwell, director of AYIC sat in a sofa with several magazines spread out. In front of him was the recent edition of The National with its feature piece on the history of House Ananto which had recently landed it in hot water with the Government. He looked around, and people were walking here and there, opening doors and going in them, coming out of doors and walking down the hall. The outer office, where he sat was a fairly busy place, as one would expect of the Office of the Head of Her Imperial Majesty's Government. A Secretary sitting at a desk ahead of him looked up to see him fidgeting, picking up a magazine, leafing through it, putting it back on the table, checking his watch. Maxwell knew she was looking at him, staring at him, possibly judging him.

"Miss, is the Chancellor free yet?" He asked insistently after looking at his watch again.

"Mr. Maxwell, she will be with you shortly. You are not the first person she is seeing this afternoon. Just relax."

He breathed deeply. In another minute he would stand up and just go back to his office and someday reschedule. As he watched the seconds tick by, the Chancellor's door opened, and the Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Ericka Donahue stepped out, closing the door behind her. She had a smile on her face, and it would appear she was laughing. She came over to Mr. Maxwell and sat on the chair arranged at 90 degrees from the sofa he sat on.

"Madame Chancellor. I've been waiting here for forty minutes," he said, as politely as he could.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Maxwell. Pressing affairs of government and etc. How can I help you?"

"Madame Chancellor?" Jacob asked. He was sure he had written extensively what the point of this meeting was. "Maybe we should go into your office?" he said as he started to stand up.

"Nonsense," she said with a smile. "We have this furniture out here and I so very rarely get to use them. Here will do just fine."

Maxwell felt confused. Did she mean to have his meeting in the public office? This place was basically a lobby. When he saw she was not moving, but staring at him as if he had fallen off a space ship, he realized that indeed she did. So he slowly sat back down.

"Madame Chancellor, I..." he paused as she was interrupted by some undersecretary, who brought her over a paper in a manilla folder to look at...

"That one right there. See? Its mis-spelled. I can't not see it. Please have it corrected..." The secretary nodded, and left, as the Chancellor turned back to him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Maxwell. I really... I just hate spelling errors in my reports. Please continue. You were saying?"

"Well, I... I'd like to see if you will set up a meeting with me and the Princess Regent."

The Chancellor thought. "Well, she's in Athosia until the end of the year with the Princess of the Empire. So..."

Maxwell thought. "Ok, so what about after that?"

The Chancellor looked up as if going over a calendar in her head. "I think she's busy then. The Empress in Waiting is getting ready to study abroad in Valruzia... there's just... there's not a lot of time."

Maxwell suddenly get the feeling that he was being stonewalled. "Is she here now? I thought I heard her in your office when you stepped out?"

The Chancellor looked at her office door, and then back at Maxwell. "She's not here either." But just as she said that, the Empress in Waiting stepped out of the Chancellor's office and without noticing the two of them, fallowed the wall into the hallway just beyond.

"Ah ha. I could speak to the Empress! She's right there. You could speak with her for me..."

The Chancellor leaned forward, "Mr. Maxwell, that is inappropriate. Her Imperial Majesty does not take audiences while she is still a minor. You know this."

"But she's..." He started.

"Perhaps there is something I can do for you Mr. Maxwell?" she firmly answered.

He shifted his attention back to the Chancellor. "Lady Donahue... I doubt... I mean... why have I been shut out?"

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Why have I been shut out? The Anantos always took my calls before. Now that they just gave that diamond away, I no longer matter? The AYIC no longer matters?"

Lady Donahue looked at him. She thought he had become kind of pathetic. "Mr. Maxwell. Part of my job as Chancellor is to run interference for Her Highness, the Princess Regent. If there is someone I don't think it would be wise for her to meet with, she doesn't meet with them. It is what she asked me to do. Not in your case, specifically, but in anyone's case. And right now, I don't think a meeting between you and Her Highness, the Princess Regent would be very productive. So, if you want something, you will need to ask me."

Maxwell stood there with his mouth agape. He knew it was as she said: He just never thought anyone would ever honestly admit that. "Madame Chancellor. I need to talk to them about the Diamond. I don't think they understood what they just got rid of."

"Mr. Maxwell," said the Chancellor. "I'm fairly certain they understand. We don't tend to question things like that around here. Its not good for career longevity, if you know what I mean."

"Career longev... What?! Have you lost your mind?" he said, his voice raising sharply at the end. "How can you say something like that? That diamond was priceless. It is a cultural symbol of my people. It... you... I..."

"Jacob," the Chancellor said. "You're getting a little bit animated here. Take a breath and finish a sentence, please."

Jacob rose to his feet instead. "You people are nuts, you know that? All of you. Just bonkers. I don't think I have ever seen such a bunch of short sighted cynical monsters in all my life. It's like you just sold the three million Yeudis in Kalistan completely out. And how much did you get for it? How much is the life blood and the history of my people worth to that family that has more money than God? Huh? How much did Hutori pay you all for the cultural heritage of my people, which you stole and kept from us all those years? How much, huh? How much? Whatever it is, you owe it to us. The Yeudi people."

The Chancellor sat back in her chair. Jacob waited for her to speak. But she said nothing. So he decided to wash his hands of the whole debacle. "You know what, I'll say it right here. F--k you, Ericka. Alright? And f--k her!" he said as he gestured toward the office. "You guys can have one another. Pure psychopaths, I tell you what." Jacob Maxwell had probably violated about fifteen laws. There were thirty witness in the area who stopped and stared at him in disbelief when he had started cussing, and he would probably not hear the end of this, but he said what he said, and now it was out there. He started walking away...

"They didn't get anything for it," the Chancellor called after him. Her voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

"What?" he said, but did not turn around.

"The Anantos didn't get anything for it," she repeated. "The Princess thinks its cursed, and thinks that if she had asked anything for the diamond, whatever she got for it would be cursed too."

"Well," said Jacob. "That's crazy." He took another couple steps toward the door.

"Her Mother agrees with you," said the Chancellor, almost under her breath. "And I do too." Jacob paused once more, and then continued out the office door, letting it close behind him.

[Doc]

Princess Regent's Office, Cliff Offices, Kaliburg
4:05 PM A Friday

The Princess Regent walked into her office. The Chancellor was already seated, and rose as the Princess Regent entered and closed the door behind her.

"Alright, Lady Donahue, let's make this quick. I want to get back to Luxon this afternoon. I swear I don't think this city ever warms up... I almost need a coat out there, and its July..."

"I'll make it quick then, your Highness," said the Chancellor of the Empire. She let the Princess Regent take a seat first and then she followed suit. From her briefcase, she pulled out a file. It had the word Levinson on the tab. "Alright, Highness, take a look at this picture. Who do you see here?" The Princess Regent picked up the photo and looked closely at it.

"I see Maxwell and his wife. This was from, I'm thinking this was from when they went to Tel Bira on their pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This was the picture from the Republic."

"Yes, that's correct. That's Maxwell, that's his wife Jeanette..."

"She's fun," the Princess Regent said. "I hope that trip cured them of that diamond nonsense..."

"Well, who knows, but do you recognize this guy here?" She pointed at the rather tall individual in a fedora and a heavy coat standing behind Jeanette Maxwell.

"Who is that? He's the head of the security detail, I suppose?"

The Chancellor reached into her dossier and said "No, his name is Levinson, Julian Levinson. He goes by several names: Jules, AKA Julie, AKA The Jeweler, AKA Julie Diamonds, AKA Julie Fingers, AKA Julie Books, AKA Lefty Books... It goes on, you get the picture."

The Princess Regent smiled. "Yeah, because he's left handed, right?"

The Chancellor looked at the Regent. "No. What makes you think that?"

The Princess Regent said, "Because his alias is Lefty? But, why does a security guard need so many nicknames?"

"He's not the security guy. That's this stout fellow over here, and his name is," she flips the pages of her dossier, and reads, "James Liebowitz... and he goes by the name: Der Messer, AKA Jimmy The Shiv, AKA James the Blade, AKA Ice Pick, AKA Jimmy the Pick, AKA Icedick, AKA Slick Rick, AKA Long Dick..."

"Ok, Madame Chancellor...." said the Princess Regent. "I get it. He's talking about his penis. Do go on please. What about Levinson? Am I supposed to know who this guy is? Sounds like Maxwell got a bunch of Yeudis with a bunch of nicknames to go with him on the trip to the Homeland. So what?"

"Your Highness will remember that the Finance Ministry is looking into the accounts of the Bookmakers Association in Sulari. Apparently there's a lot of money in the reported deposits that never made it into the Bank."

"Yes, something like 15 Million, correct?"

"Well, more like 65 million," said the Chancellor.

"65 Million Imperial Rubles?!" said the Princess Regent. "They're missing 65 Million Rubles?!"

"Give or take, Highness. That's what Argon is saying..."

"Well, god damn," exclaimed the Princess. "And this fellow has something to do with it?"

"We believe he has ties to the Yeudi Mafia in Sulari..."

"Wait..." said the Princess. "You said the Yeudi Mafia? Is there a such thing as the Yeudi Mafia?"

"Well, yes, Your Highness..." she said. "There's a Yeudi Mafia.."

"Why is this the first time I am hearing about them?"

"Madame, you've only been on the job for 5 years, and so you can't be expected to know everything. Besides, they're usually small timers. Small fry... I think this is the first thing that they have even been implicated in."

"So are how are they connected to the Bookmakers Association? I thought that thing is regulated a million ways from Sunday?"

"We aren't sure, but we have pretty good reason to believe that this guy Levinson could be involved. He seems to be pretty high up in the organization. Justice has had him on the radar for a few years."

"What sorts of things is he involved with?" asked the Princess Regent.

"Well, he seems to be primarily involved with fixing bets and laundering money through the Bookmaking Association, usually through Casinos. He doesn't do any of the prostitution or racketeering stuff. He's not part of that."

"Wait another second, Madame Chancellor," said the Princess upon hearing this completely new information. "Racketeering? Prostitution? What kind of crime riddled country do we live in here?"

The Chancellor paused and looked at her for a second. "Your Majesty, I'm gonna say this the most respectful way I possibly can, but its gonna sound disrespectful, ok? But... Grow up. We have a country of more than 100 million people. We have almost no law enforcement and almost no laws, compared to many just generic NPC countries. Alright? Every society tolerates a certain amount of crime in their cities, because going after every criminal would bankrupt the country. Alright? Just... Don't act so surprised when you hear there's crime in this country. You spent your entire adult life surfing. You probably didn't run into a lot of Yeudi racketeers out on the Luxon Swell. And good for you. Can we get through this? So you can get to your train?"

The Princess Regent took the gentle chiding in stride, "Ok Madame, please continue."

The Chancellor leafed through her folder. "So: We think this guy Levinson is involved somehow with skimming casino takes, and diverting the money to his boss. The Casino keeps two sets of books, one that they show the auditers, and one that they maintain for themsevles. The ones they show the auditors usually match the bank accounts, but last year, there were these major shortfalls in deposits. The casinos paid taxes on lets say 100 million in revenue, but the bank deposits show only 96 million here, see? So somewhere between the counting rooms and the bank, 4 million went missing."

"Why is that a problem?" asked the Princess. "Isn't it their money? Can't they do what they like with it?"

"Yeah, well, that's sort of a gray area, because yeah they can, and yeah their taxes are squared away, they are paying every cent of tax that we say they owe for the amount of money they are reporting. But see, this kind of missing money suggests that the Casinos and tracks are being used to launder money. In other words, I have all this dirty money from criminal enterprises. I can't just put it in the bank. And I can't pay income tax on criminal activity. So I gotta find some way to clean it. I make a deal with a casino, they launder the money through their games of chance, I walk out of there with my money clean as a whistle, because they pay taxes on it as if they earned it, but instead of putting the money in the bank, because they didn't actually earn it, they hand it back to me, submit one set of books to the auditors for taxes, and their bank records are off."

"So the Casinos never had the money in the first place..." said the Princess.

"Correct. They charge a service fee, probably the profit taxes, and the mafia gets this money free and clear."

"And if the Bookmakers' Association has their monopoly on running gaming, contingent on their regulation of the Casinos, either they missed this and are incompetent, or they are in on it."

"Exactly, Your Highness," said the Chancellor. "We think this guy Levinson is at least a link, and we really don't have a lot on him."

"Well damn," said the Princess. "And so why is he here in this photo with Mr. Maxwell?"

"That's also a mystery," said the Chancellor. "I think Finance is about to lift up a really big rock and we're gonna see some stuff crawl out that we really aren't entirely ready to see."

"Look Ericka, We're gonna focus on this. Take the resources you need on this. Find out what the link is, and keep me up to date. I would prefer to not hear about it in the papers, if that's possible."

The Chancellor put the documents back into the folder, "I will, your Highness. We'll have our preliminary reports back by November to see how big a problem we are looking at here. Meanwhile, go catch your train. We'll be in touch if we find anything else."

"Alright. Otherwise, I'll see you in two weeks in Luxon."

"Aye Madame." said the Chancellor. The Princess Regent stood and the Chancellor stood as well, and the Princess strode out of her office.

[Doc]

Cliff House, South West Kaliburg
March 2, 5691, 2:30 pm

The Door to the office where the Princess Regent was working opened and Carolina walked in. Her aunt looked up from her papers and then went back to work. Carolina, noticing that her aunt's attention was elsewhere, calmly walked over to the water boiler, turned it on and let it heat up. In a minute the pot was hot. She measured two cups of loose tea leaves in her tea balls, poured hot water over both of them and let them steep momentarily. When the tea was good and dark, she took out the little spoon that sat next to her tea cup, opened a small ceramic vase and took about a half measure of the brown powder from the jar and placed it into both cups. She then secured the vase, and stirred the powder into the tea, dissolving it instantly. She then took both tea cups on their respective saucers, placed them on the highly polished silver tray and moved to the couch. She placed the tray on the table and sat down in the arm chair placed perpendicular from the couch. She sat silently until her aunt spoke.

"What is it Carolina," asked the Regent, not realizing that Carolina had made tea.

"You should take a break," said Carolina.

"Yes I know, but there is so much to do here. I don't think I can even get through this file, let alone this whole stack..." She kept working and didn't even look up, a little annoyed that Carolina was interrupting her. She could feel her niece staring at her and didn't really like that feeling. "You're home from school early, Carolina. Did you skip your last class?"

Carolina ignored the last question. In fact, she had, but it was an elective creative writing class anyway, which she was just taking to fill in her schedule. She asked instead: "Can I help you with anything?"

"No... Carolina..." said Nicolette, with a note of exasperation. "I just need to work, ok?"

But just then, Nicolette smelled the tea, the steam had been wafting into the air and the unmistakable orange of the Earl Gray had finally filled the office. She looked up, and surely Carolina was sitting there, two steaming cups waited on the table.

"You should take a break," Carolina repeated. Nicolette, staring at her niece now, who had a pleasant, if slightly naive smile on her face, heard Carolina's words, which had been delivered in an identical way as before, as an order now, rather than a suggestion. "Come over and have tea with me." Carolina, though she was only still 17, was calling her aunt "in" for an informal audience, in a way which was well meaning and gentle, but also carried with it a certain... weight... and authority. Carolina was very rapidly turning into what she would be very soon, an absolute monarch. And Nicolette knew she had better comply with the friendly suggestion, because if Carolina needed to repeat herself, it might be much sharper and unmistakably a command next time.

She got up and walked to the couch, and briefly lowered her head. Carolina invited her to sit, and she did immediately. She was no longer this girl's aunt, but her subject. And... it kind of felt like a relief for a moment. It told her that her time as regent, for better or worse, would soon be over. The young Empress took her cup and sipped the black tea, and the Regent followed suit.

"Aunt Nikki, I would like to speak with you about my time in National Service. I don't know if I am ready for it. I'm a little worried."

"What would your maj... you, like to know?"

"Well, I know how they test you during your basic training. What kinds of jobs do you think I will be put in?"

Nicolette smiled, "Well, you're kind of in a weird position, Carolina. You are already the Empress. I think your grandmother became the Empress when she was about to get out, but you have been the Empress since you were 12. So I suppose you could tell them to put you in whatever job you want... I don't know. I got lucky: I got to work on the coast rebuilding beaches and things like that. I liked being at sea and I think my mother had something to do with that, but, when you turn 18, they'll do whatever you tell them to. If you want to be a cook, they'll make you a cook, if you want to build bridges, they'll let you do that. Your word then is law. So..."

Carolina considered this a second and said, "No that wouldn't be fair to the others. Nobody else gets to pick their job like that..."

Nicolette laughed, "Not so fast now. Plenty of people who enter national service have people on the outside who make plenty of calls to plenty of others to get their special kids placed in spots that will further their career. You just have to know someone and you can usually get a preferred position for your kid or whatever..."

Carolina sipped her tea again. "Isn't that cheating?"

"How do you mean, cheating?"

"Well, I thought the NSP was supposed to be based on aptitude, like you do what you're good at. Not who does your mom know..."

"Oh well, I mean, yeah, it is generally. But the ideal sometimes has a way of falling short, you know? This is how anything anyone calls 'meritocracy' actually works. Its the wealthy and powerful making calls to get their kids into elite or preferable positions and everyone else gets to fight over what's left."

"That doesn't seem right," said the Empress, suddenly struck with a feeling of injustice. "How long has it been that way?"

Nicolette sipped her tea again, "Oh, well, far longer than you or I have been alive. It's how everyone does it, here in Kalistan and even in liberal countries, that claim to let the best rise, when really its just those with the most connections. 'The apple only falls downward' is the motto of meritocracy."

Carolina grew upset. "No I want to be like all the other kids. I am there to serve the nation, our Nation. Not to make contacts and get easy jobs."

Nicolette laughed. "Then ask to be a welder. My aunt worked at the Shipyards here in Kaliburg, that was hard work. It's what she wanted and what she was good at."

"Other people don't get what they wanted..."

"No not all the time, but Carolina, be realistic. Other people are not named Ananto. We have been placed on the top of this whole system because we carry this whole thing. They will do whatever you tell them to do. All of us will. You will very soon be the Empress, in name AND power, and you will be expected to act like that." Carolina seethed. "Carolina, you are not like other people. You never have been. All of your friends at your school all know that when you turn 18, they are probably never going to see you ever again. It will be against the law for them to talk to you the way they do. They know it, and they will understand their duty to uphold that space and it will be a real honor to them if you even remember them someday. You and your friends are not the same."

"Well, as the Empress, can't I change that?"

"What do you mean, change it," asked Nicolette.

"You say my word is law. Suppose I order the Monarchy dissolved. Suppose I order people to just treat me like a regular person."

Carolina was singularly befuddled by this line of questioning. "What are you even talking about Your Majesty... I mean, Ca... No, I mean, your Majesty... What are you talking about, dissolve the monarchy? If you did that you wouldn't be the monarch anymore, and the Government would make all the decisions."

"Yeah, precisely, that's what I want..."

"Carolina, don't you understand? If you give them the power, they'll just vote you back in and make you the monarch again. Besides, it's illegal to dissolve the monarchy."

"Yes, but I am the law," said Carolina

"True, but if you abolish yourself, you are giving the power to people in this society who agree with you, and they will just give it right back to you. Where are you getting these ideas?"

Carolina finished her tea. "I don't know. It just doesn't seem fair... Why should one person have all the power in this country?"

Nicolette leaned in, "Carolina, you are the sovereign and the avatar of this nation. You are the person people look to for strength, for encouragement, and for yes, discipline and unification. You are this nation. When you hit your majority, we, and I will be more like them than you at that point, we let you rule so we don't have to. It is an incredibly awful burden to carry. It is dangerous, and it is soul crushing in many respects. It steals your life, all that responsibility for so many things. But the people of this nation, a long time ago, decided that it was far worse to try to govern themselves than to just hand that off to the Monarch. For bearing that responsibility, you will definitely not be adequately compensated by this nation. It's kind of exploitive, you know... This is something most people in other nations don't seem to understand. Having all that power means you are responsible for literally everything that happens. The only way to keep that from overwhelming and crippling you is to maintain the protocol, to maintain the House Laws, and to allow your helpers to help you do your job when they can, which is your job from sun up until sunup the next day. Until you retire. The National Service is the least of your concerns."

Carolina, who listened, and allowed her frustration to slowly dissipate, said, "Well, can I reform the Service so that the wealthy and connected can't put themselves in the best jobs at least?"

"You can, when you are Empress. You can do what you want, and the NSP will follow, as long as you lead, preferably by example."

"I can do everything but vote myself out of office..."

"Well, you can do that but they will just give it back to you again. So I wouldn't waste my time."

Carolina nodded. "I think I would like to be a teacher."

Nicolette smiled, "I can make some calls..."

"I'd rather you didn't, Aunt Nicki. Let's just see what happens on its own."

Nicolette smiled, "I hope for your sake, you get to do whatever your heart is set on."

Carolina nodded. "Me too. You can go back to work if you want."

Nicolette looked at the stack of files on her desk, and then back at Carolina. "Can I impose upon Your Imperial Majesty for another cup of tea?"

Carolina smiled, and nodded graciously, demonstrating her impeccable etiquette, which she was quite proud of.

[Louis]

Audi Me Rugitum
7:09 PM | Somewhere over the South Ocean

---

"I'm tired of this godforsaken plane. Always going here... always going there.... we need a better one... I should ask the emperor one of these days."

"Well Your Excellency, hopefully this is the last time we're here. I don't usually take these long trips all the way out here. I also hope our negotiations work."

"Well, I was sent by the Emperor himself. I don't have a choice. I also do not understand the need for these islands."

"Well, they have been excellent providers of many resources. Frankly, we just need to keep that up... and of course having a foothold around wouldn't be a bad thing."

" I am hoping those Calatians are responsive... I fear war may be on the horizon".

"Well I'm sure we could give them guarantees. Safety, peace, assistance.... if we get our own guarantees as well..."

"There are several steps to this... we just need to tread carefully."

"Indeed. 7 steps ahead. No looking behind."

"Get your outfit set up, we're set to land covertly soon. May God have grace and wisdom on our ventures."

[Doc]

Cliff Offices, Southwest Kaliburg
3:45 pm, January 2

The chime rang on the office door. The Princess Regent sat at her desk and reached over to press a button that unlatched the door. It was the Chancellor of the Empire, who entered the room, undoing her scarf and unbuttoning her heavy wool 3/4 length coat as she walked across the office. Taking them both off and hanging them on the coat rack, along with her knit cap, she crossed the room, stopped in front of the desk and bowed. The Princess Regent remained seated and returned the salute from her desk.

"Have a seat, Madame Chancellor."

"Is this what I think it is, Your Highness?" asked the Chancellor.

"Very likely, Lady Donahue."

The Chancellor knew it and she was deeply concerned with what the Princess Regent was about to say, but she also didn't know why she had to travel all the way across town to receive what she already knew would be an order of... perhaps... questionable legality. "My Lady, Please do not take this the wrong way, but couldn't you just have called me? Have you seen that weather out there? It is icy as hell on that bridge, and I was so worried about getting into an accident."

The Princess stood up and walked to the seat next to the Chancellor. "No, I can't say what I am about to say over the phone. This office is secure, but I never ever know what those IBSI spooks are listening to. This will be fine. If you are worried about the traffic I can have my driver take you back, but this will just take a few minutes."

The Chancellor sighed almost audibly. There was no point in pleading her case with the inevitable. "No worries, Majesty. I will be ok getting back."

"Very well," said the Princess Regent, not even attempting to feign concern. "I want you to tell Zarate down in Sulari to take the gloves off. He'll know what I mean."

Of course, when she heard "take the gloves off" the Chancellor knew she had guessed correctly. "Madame, if there's improprieties in the trials, you know that causes appeals and overturning decisions. The men you are looking for won't spend long in jail. You are aware of this, I hope."

The Princess Regent nodded, "If that Cop does what he is told, there won't be any trials."

"So..." started the Chancellor, "you are talking about..." The Princess Regent nodded solemnly. "My Lady, I must counsel you against this course of action. That is highly illegal."

"I'll take my chances with the law, Madame. I have a feeling I will win."

"Have you run this by Wilson? Have you talked to her?"

"Have you?"

The Chancellor could not lie to the Regent. "I... I have had some conversations... we've talked about different scenarios."

"Was this one of them?" asked the Regent.

"Regrettably, it was, Your Highness."

"Well," said the Princess Regent. "Then you've done your job. You spoke with stakeholders, and I assume you are giving me your best advice in this situation to help me make this decision. And I thank you for your diligence to our Empire." She paused and then said, coldly, "Do it anyway."

"Have you thought about what this will do to Zarate? Like the legal jeopardy you could place him in?" asked the Chancellor.

"We'll take care of him," said the Princess Regent. "Next week when you call the Assembly back into session, you will call for a resolution on qualified immunity for the Special Investigations Division. He'll be alright."

"I will... What?!" asked the Chancellor incredulously. "I will do no such thing."

"Madame Chancellor, you are charged with carrying out the Empress' fiat, are you not?"

"I hardly believe this is coming from the Empress!" responded the Chancellor.

"No, its coming from her Regent. I am her proxy, am I not?"

"Madame, what you are asking me is to..." the Chancellor could hardly believe she was about to say what she was going to say... "You are talking about empowering the Sulari Police to violate the law, and then you are ordering me to create a law that covers that."

"That's one way to look at it," said the Princess Regent.

"How ELSE is there to look at it, Princess?" demanded the Chancellor.

"Watch your tone, Madame Chancellor. The law applies to you too, I needn't remind you."

"I beg your pardon, Your Highness. But..." she gulped, indignant and also, maybe a little fearful--She did not want to cross the line with the Princess, but, how could she make this Princess see. "Highness, what you are asking me to do, some would call it tyrannical..."

The Princess Regent scooted forward, toward the Chancellor, leaned in and almost under her breath, said, "Do it anyway, Madame Chancellor."

The Chancellor gulped, intimidated by this strange hippy ordering such an unconscionable thing. Nicolette was a Brethrenist. The Chancellor couldn't believe that a Brethrenist would even order this kind of violence to be unleashed.

"My Lady," started the Chancellor. "I would rather resign than make that call. I cannot, in good consciousness follow your order in this matter. I have no desire to alienate myself, but I feel that I must tell you no. I will not pass that to Zarate. I feel the Empress would not support this, and I think it will be well for you to consult with her before making this decision."

The Princess Regent smiled and produced an envelope from the table next to her. She handed the unsealed envelope to the Chancellor. "Madame, your resignation will not be necessary and shall not be accepted. You will do your duty, as your Empress Commands you."

The Chancellor, shaking now, slowly slid the leaf of paper out, unfolded it. Everything was proper. The Handwriting was correct: the way the t's were crossed, the way the sentences was punctuated, the slant of the cursive, the signature, was all spot on. The seal was pressed in at the appropriate spot. She read the paper and then read it again, hoping for something to be off. Hoping, and then losing hope.

"People refuse to take this family seriously," said the Princess Regent. "I know that when my brother died, it was you, Madame Chancellor, who put me in this job, and asked me to do it until my Niece was old enough to take the spot. But you stood on the institution, rather than any personal feeling about me. You did that because it was your job: I know that very well. And yet, you were also kind and caring, and you helped me so much during my grief, and you tolerated a curious little girl, who had lost her father and her mother, hanging around you all day, looking up to you, learning from you, asking you questions and distracting you, for years. Because you are a good person and you knew your job well.

"You are a good person, but you have very little faith in my family as people. So, I am telling you now, Ericka. Your conscience can be clear: You are merely passing a message and passing a law as you are ordered by Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto-- you are yet again just doing your job. The morality of this decision is on me, but also on our Empress, and at the end of it all, I am also just doing as she told me to do. She will not accept your resignation. My advice is for you to find some faith that she knows best what she wants for her Empire, and that she will do whatever she needs to do to get it. Because after all, Madame, it is her Empire. Not mine, not yours, and certainly not those murderers who killed Mr. Maxwell and his wife in our streets. If that looks like tyranny from the outside, we'll know we did what needed to do when nobody ever believed we would, because we could, and nobody else could."

The Chancellor had never been criticized so personally, so correctly, or so gently. It was a knife to the heart for this Chancellor. But she forced herself to smile through the pain. "Did you practice that speech, Your Highness?"

The Princess smiled too, "A couple times, yes. I went for the dramatic effect... Was it alright?"

The Chancellor was therefore resolved: At least the Princess Regent was honest, and that was, at least an admirable quality that most world leaders refuse to posses. "Aye Madame, it was fine. Maybe next time, don't cut so deeply. If Her Imperial Majesty commands me, I will obey as a subject must. I will make the call. And we can work on the law on Monday."

"I knew you would, Ericka. I personally value you as a friend and a councilor, and we've been through some dark stuff together. But if it really is just work, if that's how you justify everything, then this is your job, and nobody will ever fault you for doing your job as your Empress requires you to do it. And we'll forget this unpleasantness between us."

"Madame," the Chancellor said, "As the Philosopher says, it is impossible to truly be friends with someone who is not your equal. The lesser in the relationship will always feel an obligation to the greater, and the greater will always condescend to the lesser. That's not friendship: Its something else entirely."

"Be that as it may, Madame, I look forward to results and I thank you, if not for your friendship, than for your service, which right now is what I require most of you."

"Understood, my Lady. Is there anything else I may do for Her Imperial Majesty?"

Nicolette smiled bittersweetly, realizing that something had been broken this afternoon which may never be repaired. "It looks like the clouds are breaking outside," she said. "You may return to Kaliburg now, with our thanks." The Chancellor rose, bowed dutifully, and slowly walked to the coat rack. She too felt something had been broken, and would likely mourn its loss in the near future. She kept a smile on her face as she turned away and felt tears slide down her cheek.

[Elena1012]

A Petition
March 3rd, 5693
Metz-Leonid, Karoboro Canton
----------------------------

To; Commissar of the Peoples Committee of Financial Management, Tamdin Tamang
From; Deputy of the Sub-Committee of Monetary Management, Metok Chopin

Subject; Looming Trade Deficit Issues & Potential Resolution(s)
----------------------------
It's no secret that trade is a major avenue for Xsampa. It is also no secret that we're surrounded by capitalism globally. Xsampa is a lone socialist island. While Alter-Globalism has seen us push forward into the global market more and more, while still protecting socialism, there is an issue looming. As stated in an earlier report last December, there is a looming trade deficit. It's not that foreign economies are out producing us. Rather, we're suffering from success.  There is demand for our goods, but we are paid with currency that is for all intents and purposes, functionally useless in Xsampa. It can't be spent domestically, and presents 3 glaring issues that must be resolved.

Issue one; this is an inefficient use of foreign reserves. Export payments are remaining idle, and produce little to no value and zero strategic value.

Issue two; this presents a looming trade imbalance risk. Continuing the status quo and allowing for this proverbial mountain of useless foreign money to accumulate will likely result in future headaches, and lead to diplomatic or even economic tensions with trading partners.

Issue three; this is causing missed development opportunities. As of 5693, Xsampa formally lacks a proper, legal, coherent and controlled mechanism to deploy foreign currency abroad for usage (whether it be buying foreign debt, expanding the New Hope Initiative, Investment or stabilizing trade).

Last month, the Sub-Committee of Monetary Management petitioned the People's Committee of Financial Management regarding foreign currency and accepting it, akin to how the Egelian Crown is accepted and used in Xsampa. This petition was shot down. The Sub-Committee of Monetary Management has been working day and night to find a solution, one that is not only aligned with socialism, but realistically possible, tangible and able to pass not only the People's Committee of Financial Management but also the People's Assembly of Xsampa and the Premier. 

After much effort, I would like to formally petition the People's Committee of Financial Management once again regarding our new solution. The External Value Reserve (EVR). Otherwise refered to as the Jar.

If endorsed, the EVR would collect all foreign currency in Xsampa, and all foreign currency made from exports would be deposited into the EVR. 

To ensure domestic economic and financial stability, no foreign currency may be permitted to float within the Xsampan Internal Market. The Egelian Crown is exempt from this as per BREFA. No citizen, Social Enterprise (domestic or foreign), or Local Committee may be in possession of foreign currency, or exchange it. All must return it to the EVR and will be compensated in Xsampan Peoples Tangka's.

Funds within the EVR would be used exclusively for foreign matters. Such matters may include the New Hope Initiative, purchases of foreign debt, payments for imports to stabilize trade, and support for diplomatic goals established by PAX.

If approved, expected benefits are as follows;

The looming trade deficit would be significantly mitigated, albeit not erased. By actively deploying foreign currency and putting it to usage, the EVR (informally the Jar) transforms idle, useless foreign reserves into productive assets, reducing the practical burden of trade imbalances that may arise within the future.

Monetary stability would be safeguarded, as the People's Tangka would remain fully in state control, and not pegged to a foreign currency (thus threatening state power over the economy, and threatening socialism).

Strategic leverage would also be applicable, if desirable. The EVR would ensure a legal, and transparent mechanism for soft power engagement (via efforts such as the New Hope Initiative) and long term investment.

Finally, and most importantly, alignment with socialist principals. Domestic markets remain safe and secure from capitalist infiltration or quasi capitalist actors.

It is worth considering, should this petition be accepted, that the EVR be it's own separate Sub-Committee within the People's Committee of Financial Management. This Sub-Committee is expected to report quarterly to PAX, and the Peoples Committee of Financial Management. It would also furthermore, create a list of approved currencies (of which only approved currencies would enter the Jar), and finally, it is requested that PAX be petitioned for the formal creation of the EVR, and proper laws to designate regulations on foreign currency or speculative usage of foreign currency.
----------------------------
The ultimate conclusion is, the Sub-Committee of Monetary Management requests the approval of this petition. A centralized, state controlled mechanism to manage foreign currency will not only alleviate current issues but also prevent the emergence of worse issues down the road. If approved, the Sub-Committee of Monetary Management is more than happy to work with PAX on formally outlining further what the EVR would do, and ensure it works to its best capacity.

Submitted for consideration by Deputy Metok Chopin.

[Doc]

Downtown Kaliburg, Château Lumière Restaurant
6:45pm, March 29, 5693

The Chancellor had just sat down at her reserved table at the extremely exclusive Canrillais restaurant Château Lumière in downtown Kaliburg.  She was eating alone tonight:  her husband was out of town again, and so she had come directly from the Capitol where she stayed longer so she wouldn't have to go home before dinner.  She studied the menu...  The coq au vin was always a treat here and was one of her favorite meals.  She would start out, however with the house specialty, salade niçoise-  Kalistani tuna, fresh caught just this morning, was always a great way to start a meal.  And for desert...  perhaps well, of course the creme brule...

Just out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement, and looked up from her menu...  and there, across her little table sat a man, in a dark suit.  He was old, his salt and pepper hair falling from his receding hairline put him in his late fifties, but the wrinkled leather of his skin suggested more like late sixties.  He smiled when he caught her eye, and she knew exactly who he was in an instant.  It was the Sulari bookie and Yeudi mob associate Julian Levinson.

"My apologies, Madame Chancellor," said the old man.  "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Mr. Levinson, you shouldn't be here."

"You're right, Madame."

"You won't hurt me here in public...  Mr. Levinson..."

"No Madame, I am not here to hurt you..."

"... because," she continued...  "All I have to do is scream, and this place will be filled with police in an instant."

"Madame, I do not want to hurt you and I apologize for frightening you."

The words left his mouth and Lady Donahue instantly felt a touch of pity, mixed with resentment.  Who was this person to approach her here, with such brashness, and also, how could this restaurant let this convicted mob associate get this close to the Chancellor of the Empire.  The more she thought of it, the more indignant and angry she got.  Security was definitely lacking.

"Well, then what do you have to say for yourself?"

Levinson heard the question with not a little hostility imbued in it, and said, "Excuse me Ma'am?"

"I suppose you are pretty proud of yourself, beating those charges like that..."

This was definitely not how Levinson imagined this conversation would go.  "Madame, I am here to visit Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell at the cemetery.  Your government had me locked in a cage when they were shot."

"And you were walking down the street past this restaurant and you just happened to see me here, so you thought, what, you'd come here and threaten me?  Intimidate me?"

"No Madame, I came here to give you something.  But I don't know if I should bother with it now.  If you show this sort of disdain for an innocent man, I don't think I have much else to say to you."  He put his hat on his head, stood up but then paused and sat back down again.  He stared at her for a moment, "Hashem, gib mir shtarkeyt." he said under his breath, with his eyes fixed on the Chancellor.

Lady Donahue was upset that he sat back down, and she was about to call the staff over to have Levinson ejected from the building, when he picked up his satchel and reached inside.  She froze in an instant, convinced he was about to produce a pistol.  She sat and did not move a muscle.  She felt her breathing stop and she suddenly could hear her own heartbeat in her ears.  Time stopped.  All movement in the restaurant ceased.  She was only aware of her own sudden terror and fear of imminent death, and this old gangster, who had been involved in how many killings, and how many disappearances that she knew off, who had just beat the system, and who was sitting here going through a leather case that could hold who knows what.  She looked for security, not daring to move another muscle.  He looked at her again and produced a thick manila envelope.

"Before my friend Jacob died, I swore to him that I would give you this.  He made me promise.  Jacob didn't think you people liked him very much.  And he was deeply hurt by you and the Princess sending the White Gem from the country.  He felt betrayed, but he was loyal to you goys to the very last breath.  I know he was.  And I know what he told you people before he was killed not one mile from this spot.  He gave you a lot of names that you didn't have, names he shouldn't have given you.  Names of people who would have killed for them to not have been mentioned.  I warned him.  I tried to stop him.  But you know him...  He could be a real schmuck sometimes, a real mshugene Yeudi, follow?  But he was a crusader.  He was what they call a true believer.  And he now he is gone from us.  When I last saw him, made me promise him one thing.  No matter what happens, I am supposed to give you this."

The Chancellor looked down at the manila envelope.  It looked like it hid half a ream of paper inside it.  "What is it?" she asked as he slid it across her table.

"I never looked for myself, Lady Donahue and I didn't ask him.  It's for you, not me."

She slowly took the envelope and brought it closer to her.  "Why the secrecy?  Couldn't you have just sent it to my office?"

"Let's say I have an idea what's in that, and so no.  No chance, Madame."

She undid the clasp and looked inside.  There was a stack of about two hundred leaves of paper, with lists, highlighted names, transcripts, and what could be bank records...  Her eyes grew very wide.  The titles on many of the pages said "AYIC- this or that..." 

"Judging by the look on your face, I think I might have been right..."  said Levinson.

After leafing through it and realizing just what she had--enough ammo to completely decapitate and utterly bankrupt the Yeudi Mob-- she became concerned for Levinson's safety.  "Mr. Levinson, you will need protection...  If anyone ever finds out about this...  I mean... they can shoot Jacob in the street.  These people don't mess around.  I have to make some calls, but I can get you protection..."

He smiled, and said, sarcastically, with a chuckle, "Ohhh...  that's sweet..."  She didn't understand his sudden change in tone.  "See, here's how this works.  If they wanted me dead, I'd be dead already.  I walked right into this restaurant and sat down here with you, and nobody stopped me.  And the waiter hasn't come by to check on you.  Notice that, Madame?  Weird isn't it...  All the security you could possibly dream of wouldn't stop these guys.  I know them.  They're my people, undzer shtik, not yours.  I imagine you saw a lot of names and a lot of numbers and a lot of words in there...  Let's just say this.  Those names?  I'm only walking around still because I know where all their money is buried."

The Chancellor closed the envelope and slid it into her own briefcase.  "Alright Mr. Levinson.  Then what's in it for you?"

"How do you mean, Madame?" he asked.

"You guys are always working some angle.  What's the upside for you?"

"Well," said Levinson, "I already told you, I was keeping a promise to an old friend, maybe one of my best friends, and a far better person than most people walking around on this planet right now.  So here's my angle:  You take care of the muterfaking schvantzes on those lists.  Do whatever you gotta do, before they figure out it was me who put the finger on them.  Then you won't need to hire security.  Once I leave here, just forget you ever met me, or that I even existed.  I'll do my time, and then you can just let me go.  I bought a nice condo in Tel Bira.  I met a nice girl.  I would like to retire in the Holy Land, if you don't mind.  How about one hand washes the other?  I got a year until I can leave Kalistan for good.  You take care of some folks, you have some names there, and the ones you already got, you help us Yeudis clean up our community like Jacob wanted all along, and you pay them back for taking my friend from me, than you and me are square.  Farshteyn?"

The Chancellor considered his request.  "I never met you, Mr. Levinson."

"Smart girl" he said in a very condescending tone, without smiling.  "I think you'll make something out of yourself after all.  He always liked you best, you know..."  Levinson stood up and put his hat on.  He tipped his brim and said "Madame Chancellor..." before turning around and walking away.

"Julie Books," she called after him as he walked away.  "Did you do it?"  He paused and then continued walking out the front door of the restaurant and out into the dusk on his way to the cemetery where Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell had been laid to rest.

[Elena1012]

A risk worth trying.
December 29th, 5696
Metz-Leonid, Karoboro Canton, Xsampa
------------------------------
Passang Asselin put the cigar down. The Conservative Coalition has made progress in terms of rural development, and bridging the rural-urban gap. But, Passang knew that forming the Conservative Coalition required compromises. Compromises with keeping it together, establishing his administration, and more importantly, getting elected. The GNP, the other half of Xsampan Conservatism had it's own demands. One of which was some push for social monarchism. Whether it was a step forward or a leap, it had to be some push. Passang picked the cigar up again and smoked, thinking for a moment. It was no secret that social monarchism was on the rise. Even if it didn't translate into electoral results. Social Monarchism has had since the 70s to grow and grow it has. The breeze from the window of his office hit the room, clearing out the smoke. The GNP so far hasn't demanded anything regarding social monarchism, but they likely will soon.

And there laid the problem, Passang thought. He never campaigned as a social monarchist. And Left-Green Dovani would kill his administration if anything close to monarchism came up. But the GNP would remember if XIP didn't keep any promises. He put the cigar down again, and put his hand on his forehead. Damned if he did, damned if he didn't. Any attempt to pass a monarchist bill would fail, and even if it did pass, the public may demand his resignation and then it's back to square one. Risk short term stability for a long term ally or risk a long term ally for short term stability. There was no realistic way that Xsampans would accept a hereditary monarchy. They'd barely tolerate a constitutional one. 

Then, an idea struck him. Let's not mince words, social monarchism was a complete ideological anomaly globally, and even more of an anomaly in Xsampa. But, the only way to bring social monarchism to Xsampa, would have to be through Xsampan means. A hereditary monarchy would be impossible. Too reactionary. It would be impossible to find a monarch anyways. But, why not take a look to the past? The Serene Phodrang. As reactionary as it was, it was a theocracy but it had one thing that could survive in modern Xsampa. A non hereditary monarchy. Sure, it fell to a regency that was controlled by fundamentalists, but the concept would be enough.

He grabbed the phone on his desk, and dialed a number. He would need to have long talks with the XIP Party Whip, and the GNP. He had an idea. It was risky, but it was worth taking. It would be a busy week. But maybe, just maybe, social monarchism can find a way in Xsampa.

[Elena1012]

A compromise, if you can keep it.
March 13th, 5697
Metz-Leonid, Karoboro Canton, Xsampa
-----------------------------
"You're kidding me." The disbelief in Rabyang's voice was indescribable. Passang spun the chair around and looked out the window of his office. "I wish I was. I know that the bill is DOA. Unless you can convince Left-Green to even entertain the bill in good faith." Passang was asking for the impossible. The seconds between his request and Rabyang's silence felt like minutes. Hours. All in a few seconds. The voice on the phone spoke up. "You do know that you're asking me to convince my party, my own party, to tolerate the antics of your own coalition, right? Even if I could convince the rest of Left-Green, why would the CPX or SLP allow this to go through? They'll kill the bill and your administration by afternoon. Besides, why should I? I'm not s social monarchist."

Passang knew that would be an issue. Convincing Rabyang and then figuring out the CPX and SLP issue. "Look." He paused, hesitant to speak. He gulped, and tried to sound confident. More then he was. "Politics is just the art of compromise. If you can be sold on the idea, Left-Green can follow through and then so can the SLP. So let's work together. I can already tell you that the bill won't have any provisions for an absolute monarchy, let alone a hereditary one. How's that sound for a start?" Silence. Rabyang was thinking. A sigh was heard from the other side of the phone. "That's... A decent start. Removing the hereditary issue will make it easier to convince the party. But then why should I support the bill? Or the rest of Left-Green? This is just going to be what, the Custodian but we call them Your Royal Comrade? You know how the SLP votes. They'll want actual policy, not just giving the Custodian a fancy gown and calling it a day. Besides... There's still the NDA. The CPX will demand that be amended if you even try touching the position of Custodian."

Passang thought for a moment. He forgot about the New Democracy Act. Even if it's basically impossible to trigger, the CPX and the wider public will want to make sure it can be theoretically applicable if democracy killed socialism. He took a deep breath. "Your right. Think of the monarch like this. They'll still pay tax, and be loyal to the Revolution and Socialism, but they'll be like a cultural ambassador. A diplomat. A rallying figure for the people. And maybe the state can even make some money from a monarchist institution. The SLP gets to say they voted in favour of a long term plan for taxation. And that can help the Tsokling Deficit. I can assure you, no one in my coalition wants a strong monarchy. They're all socialists first and foremost. They'd want a constitutional monarchy ideally, but I can make sure they compromise for a ceremonial one or at least a soft c constitutional one. I can enact a Revolutionary Order to give the CPX the avenue to amend the NDA and placate them. Surely that's enough, yeah?" 

More silence. Rabyang hesitantly replied. "I suppose. But." He paused, letting the words float in the air a little longer. "25% of whatever is sent to maintain monarchist institutions must go to the Tsokling. Guarantee me that, and I'll talk to the rest of my party, and see if I can get the SLP to follow suit." Passang almost jumped. He nodded, and quickly responded. "Of course, of course, that's perfectly acceptable. You have a deal. The bill will not include any provisions to see the monarch with any abilities to override PAX."

Rabyang said one last thing before hanging up. "Good good. You'll need luck with this bill. The CPX will go ballistic unless you can sway them. And if you piss them off, the media will take notice and turn this into a bigger issue. And when the CPX is re-elected, whether it be in 5700 or 5705, or 5710, they will move to kill your monarchy project. So you should focus on them before you draft the bill." His words were ominous, but he was right. The CPX would be a major obstacle. Passang didn't need their votes to pass it, but when they come back into office, they will strike hard. He couldn't ignore them. He would need to find some compromise. Somehow.

[Autokrator]

12-02-5697 - The telephone rang in the Lodge, the official residence of the prime-minister of Mordusia. It was right across the Federal Parliament, albeit separated by a garden so as to be able to function to receive guests. In the office Henry Humperdinck picked up the phone.  ‘’yes?’’ he said, ‘’I’m terribly sorry to intrude sir, number 10 Crownstreet Is on line 1 sir, they say its urgent’’, ‘Luthori?’ thought the Prime-Minister, ‘probably about His Majesty’s visit’ he thought, ‘’Well put him through then’’ he answered. ‘’Prime-minister, how can I help..’’ as he was interrupted by his collegue in Luthori he was shocked by the news ‘’what?! An assassination attempt on His Imperial Highness the Prince of Orange?!’’ with the shock his cigar fell in the ashtray. The conversation wasn’t pleasant, not that both men didn’t like each other, that wasn’t the case. It was more that the situation was horrible to them. An elderly and frail Emperor and the heir a target by cowardly republicans, atleast that was mr. Humperdincks thoughts.
 
‘’Thank you for informing me, I know you have a lot to do, but we haven’t much discussed the visit of His Imperial Majesty, well of course our ministers have, but not us. I wanted to convey that seeing this attempt against the Prince of Orange’s life is serious, we will up our security for His Majesty when he arrives. He will of course have doctors and other medical professional at his disposal and we will give him plenty of rest during the day.’’ And so for a brief moment, the powerless prime-minister tried to make sure that Mordusia would take good care of the shared sovereign, so that the worry of the Luthorians could be fully on the heir to the thrones.
 
As he hangs up the phone Henry took a few moments to himself. This was one big responsibility already, with Luthorian armed forces to march alongside Mordusian ones in a big spectacle for the jubilee. But now with the murder attempt on the heir apparent’s life.. that was a big deal. The Emperor-King had to be secured and safe at all times, he worried about that.  He picked up the phone and said ‘’Yes, Michael, please fetch me the Minister of Home Affairs, Defence, the Attorney-General and the National Security Advisor and tell them to meet me in 30 min. Also ring up Rechtenburg, I need a word with the Governor-General at once, its urgent.’’ Then he thought, he had to break the news to the nation soon, ‘’also get my chief of staff in, l want him here yesterday, got that?’’.  He put the phone done and got a pen and paper and began to write something down.
 
Not ten minutes later Rechtenburg called, on the other line was Louis-Ferdinand, Duke of Coliwick and a member of theHouse of Orange-Villayn, the current Governor-General of Mordusia. ‘’sir, I requested this call to inform you on the failed attempt on the life of the Prince of Orange and my plan to increase, with your blessing, the protection surrounding His Imperial Majesty during his visit here’’.