13-04-2025, 08:27 PM
Municipality of Tyrhem, Davostag – 22 January 5634
"Good day ma'am", a man, probably about 65 years old, tall with grey hair, stands behind the desk in the small town hotel. "Herr Jäger told me you were coming. I've cleared the building for you, and I can guarantee my discretion. I've also taken the liberty of collecting all necessary medical equipment, seeing as what's been happening on the news. Those regeringsjävlarna ("government bastards") know no limit."
Lena Greger looks at him, slightly bows her head, "Thank you Herr Grünner. I heard you were a medical soldier in the army, Anders here has been wounded, he's received basic treatment but it's not enough."
"Say no more ma'am. I'll get right on it", he says while stepping away from the hotel reception, "By the way. There is someone here waiting for you."
Lena looks at him confused. First fearing that they've been set up, but then another fear strikes her. Erik! "What in the gods' names are you doing here!?"
He looks at her, saddened, "I saw what happened. I rushed here as soon as I could. For the sake of Greta, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if we were to lose you too"
She looks at him, unsure what to say.
"Why didn't you call? We waited... Greta waited..." he says, trying his best to control his emotions, feeling that he's about to cry.
"I..." she wasn't sure what to say. All she could think about these past days was how to tell the children. But she had cowered. "The fact is th..."
"It's okay mom. I understand, and I'm sure Greta will come to understand too." He pauses. Looks at Jonas Jäger who nods at him and glances over to the other room seeing Grünner do his work on Eva. "You can't send me back now. They are looking for you, it will be too dangerous."
She understood that. It made sense. But still. She's at the risk of dying, and their father murdered. Could she allow him to witness his own mother be dragged away by the military police... or worse. She doesn't have any choice now. To protect him she needed him to be as close as possible. "Okay, but you'll do exactly as I say."
"I understand, mom" he responds.
Looking at Jäger who is standing prepared at the front door, "Jonas, when are the rest of the leadership arriving?"
"In an hour or so. I'll keep the communication going between us."
"Good. I really need a rest after all this, I'll go in and check on the old man and Eva. Erik, help Jonas with whatever he needs."
Erik nods.
About 50 minutes later.
Two cars were driving up to the hotel, Jäger and Erik stood guard. The former taking out his gun. "Do you have one for me?" Erik asks smirkingly.
Jäger gives him a quick glance, "You wish. You're about to begin military service, then you'll get one."
"If I begin" he responds. Jäger, keeping an eye out the window, doesn't respond.
"It's them", he opens the door for Gustav Björnman, leader of the Radical Party, and Anna Karlsdotter, leader of the Centre Party, as well as their small entourage.
Lena comes out to the reception room, "Thank gods you managed".
Having taken off her raincoat, drenched in rain, Anna looks at her furiously. "If I knew anything better I'd curse your name to Hel!"
"Please Anna, this isn't over just yet, we still hav..."
"We still have what?! We have nothing! How can you be so sure that the elections were even rigged in the first place?!" the Centre leader yells at her.
Lena looks confused, unsure what she even means, "I-i'm not sure what you mean? Of course they were, we had several reports indicating large scale election fraud and intimidation from..."
"From who? Hmm? FROM WHO? You, as a journalist, should know very well how the state operates."
"What do you mean?" Lena responds, an unsettling fear growing.
"Why and how was John arrested? The government arranged as we know, with the Cederstam family, to trick your husband into meeting them. Only the SSB operates in such ways! Only they have these kinds of ties with the private sector" Anna says, her voice trembling.
Lena looks at her, trying to keep her calm, "You are suggesting that the government with the SSB arranged for people around the country to call out election rigging to..."
"To make it seem as if we, YOU, had much bigger support than you actually had... Thus giving you the courage to attempt this foolish coup!"
The silence fills the room. Eva, having been stitched up, comes into the room with the help of Grünner. "Or you're having a stressful day Anna, causing crazy thoughts" Eva says.
Gustav Björnman, Radical Party leader, who has remained silent until now jumps in. "But to be fair, it wouldn't be the first time the SSB did something so drastic and dramatic, for the sake of some ulterior motive yet to be known." Erik looks at him curiously, deep in thought.
"Enough. I will not fill this room, our cause, with conspiracy theories at this moment. We have much more important things to do" Lena says firmly, trying to steer the conversation away towards something else.
"Right, let's begin moving to the nearby town of Loderyd" Jäger chimes in.
As the entourage heads out from the hotel, they hear a fierce sound of chopping in the air. Several headlamps are lightened on in the darkness of the town from six military vehicles. A military helicopter swoops in and hover above them, lightening their own headlamp. About sixty army soldiers stand at the road pointing their guns at them. A harsh voice can be heard, "Lay down your weapons and place yourself on the ground! Now!". The company is filled with panic, as Eva draws her gun and starts firing at the soldiers, screaming for the rest to go. Anna places herself on her knees, hands behind her head, trembling like never before. The rest rushes into the house, including the halting Eva. Grünner gets them to the backdoor.
Eva and Jäger, maintaining a position at the front door inside, sees as the soldiers rushes forward to Anna, who has laid down on the ground, putting handcuffs on her. The two joined the rest who secured the passage back. As they rush outside, they see as soldiers attempt to surround the house. Gustav is tackled by one soldier, while the rest somehow manage to rush to the bushes. Hiding behind some trees, Lena grabs her son "Erik, you must go now. I have to help Eva to safety", she says as Erik is filled with panic trying to refuse.
"Come Erik, she'll be alright" Günner says, as the 65 year old man grabs the young man, rushing to a smaller house near a smaller public park. Erik looks back, trying to get a look at what's happening, just seeing her mother looking at him to make sure he gets to safety. She then turns and rushes towards Eva and Jäger.
"Out of my way old man! I need to help her", Erik says, trying to get past the large Günner blocking the door.
"It is time you showed some respect to your mother, young man", he says while crossing his arms. "She has risked everything for you, so that you can keep living, happier and much better than she ever did". Erik just looks at him angrily, then turns his gaze to the floor, realizing he's not getting past the old man.
It was probably just a few minutes, but it felt like days.
Erik and Günner could hear noise, a lot of noise and a lot of shouting. They peaked out the window from the small house. The soldiers and what seemed to look like an army major gathered on foot and their vehicles at the park outside the small house the two were hiding in. They could hear parts of what was being said.
"Have you found the others?", the major asks the captain who just rushed up to her.
"Not yet, major. We have redirected the helicopter to search south, as some witnesses saw them heading that way." The major simply nods.
She turned to look at the captured Lena, Eva, Gustav and Anna. She then asked one of the lieutenants to get Kivonia on the line. Lena tried to observe the face of the major as she was talking to her superiors, hoping to find a clue, just something that could help them in some way. But nothing. The major hung up.
"Take those two away and prepare for a transfer to general Töller", the soldiers dragged Gustav and Anna away for one of the vehicles. "And you two", she says as she walks up to Lena and the injured Eva. She then turns around to see Jäger walking up to her. Lena completely stunned while Eva starts breathing more heavily, her face showing an increasing fury. "Well done, I'll take note of your patriotic service when compiling my report for High Command. We'll arrange for you to be taken to Kivonia", the major tells Jäger, who nods and meets Lena's eyes for a second before quickly turning them away, possibly in shame, and starts walking away.
"W...w-why...? Jonas?", Lena says, barely getting her words out, so quiet that the only one who could have heard was Eva who stood beside her.
"You fucking traitor!! You disgusting piece of worm crap! I'll have you ripped to shreds yo..." Eva furiously screams before being hit in the stomach by a soldier with the end of his rifle. Jäger doesn't react, he simply walks away to one of the vehicles.
The major turns around, signaling for the soldiers to ready themselves. Five soldiers stands in a line, reading their rifles. Filled with a sense of panic, Eva jumps in front of Lena, trying her best to provide some form of cover, pleading with the soldiers to think about what they are doing. Erik, horrified by what he sees, tries to rush out, but is stopped by Günner who grabs him and covers his mouth to not let out any noise. Yet, Erik could see everything that was about to happen.
"Eva". The wounded woman turns around, faces Lena, who simply looks at her with a small smile. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of this." Eva looks at her, mouth half open, her heavy breaths getting lighter with every take.
"I'm not", she looks at her and gives her a grin. "I'm glad to have made this journey with you. Lena, thank you". Lena looks at her, the surroundings deafening out, not hearing as the major readies the soldiers and orders a fire.
Eva feels a horrifying pain in the chest, falling down to her knees. Her hand covered in a dark-red color, as she tries to feel. She gazes down, her pain disappearing in half a second. Her very first friend. Together they would always march. And now she was alone, but not for long. Determined, Lena stands up straight, looks the major in the eyes and then turns to the soldiers. Ready to get going.
The major readies the soldiers again, lifts her arm up. Erik watches trying his best to scream as hard as he can, but Günner's grip forces all his energy from him, and the last thing Erik sees as his sights get blurry is the gesture by the major signalling the soldiers to fire. Then black. Five gunshots.
Municipality of Tyrhem, Davostag – 25 January 5634
Ivar Troelsson just received the mail from the postman. He looks at it as he closes the front door. Addressed to Erik Greger. He thinks to himself, fearing the worst. Wishing to protect her, yet, she deserves to know. He walks upstairs and stands outside Greta Greger's room. He carefully knocks. Ever since Erik left she hasn't spoken nor left the room. He had attempted a few times some days ago, but was pushed out. He attempts yet again. This time nothing. He sees her sitting at the window. He realizes that she must have seen the postman. He walks up to her.
"Here. I'm not sure when Erik is coming home, so you take it instead." She doesn't answer just stares out the window. He leaves the mail on her lap and leaves, taking a last look at her before closing the door.
Greta picks it up and opens it. Unveils a letter from the Registry Agency, "We are sad to inform you that..." She reads it in silence. "...passed in Tyrhem..." Her eyes empty of emotion, and as she finishes the letter, she continues to look out the window at nothing. A tear flowing down on her cheek. Left only to her thoughts.
Gone. They are all gone.
"Good day ma'am", a man, probably about 65 years old, tall with grey hair, stands behind the desk in the small town hotel. "Herr Jäger told me you were coming. I've cleared the building for you, and I can guarantee my discretion. I've also taken the liberty of collecting all necessary medical equipment, seeing as what's been happening on the news. Those regeringsjävlarna ("government bastards") know no limit."
Lena Greger looks at him, slightly bows her head, "Thank you Herr Grünner. I heard you were a medical soldier in the army, Anders here has been wounded, he's received basic treatment but it's not enough."
"Say no more ma'am. I'll get right on it", he says while stepping away from the hotel reception, "By the way. There is someone here waiting for you."
Lena looks at him confused. First fearing that they've been set up, but then another fear strikes her. Erik! "What in the gods' names are you doing here!?"
He looks at her, saddened, "I saw what happened. I rushed here as soon as I could. For the sake of Greta, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if we were to lose you too"
She looks at him, unsure what to say.
"Why didn't you call? We waited... Greta waited..." he says, trying his best to control his emotions, feeling that he's about to cry.
"I..." she wasn't sure what to say. All she could think about these past days was how to tell the children. But she had cowered. "The fact is th..."
"It's okay mom. I understand, and I'm sure Greta will come to understand too." He pauses. Looks at Jonas Jäger who nods at him and glances over to the other room seeing Grünner do his work on Eva. "You can't send me back now. They are looking for you, it will be too dangerous."
She understood that. It made sense. But still. She's at the risk of dying, and their father murdered. Could she allow him to witness his own mother be dragged away by the military police... or worse. She doesn't have any choice now. To protect him she needed him to be as close as possible. "Okay, but you'll do exactly as I say."
"I understand, mom" he responds.
Looking at Jäger who is standing prepared at the front door, "Jonas, when are the rest of the leadership arriving?"
"In an hour or so. I'll keep the communication going between us."
"Good. I really need a rest after all this, I'll go in and check on the old man and Eva. Erik, help Jonas with whatever he needs."
Erik nods.
About 50 minutes later.
Two cars were driving up to the hotel, Jäger and Erik stood guard. The former taking out his gun. "Do you have one for me?" Erik asks smirkingly.
Jäger gives him a quick glance, "You wish. You're about to begin military service, then you'll get one."
"If I begin" he responds. Jäger, keeping an eye out the window, doesn't respond.
"It's them", he opens the door for Gustav Björnman, leader of the Radical Party, and Anna Karlsdotter, leader of the Centre Party, as well as their small entourage.
Lena comes out to the reception room, "Thank gods you managed".
Having taken off her raincoat, drenched in rain, Anna looks at her furiously. "If I knew anything better I'd curse your name to Hel!"
"Please Anna, this isn't over just yet, we still hav..."
"We still have what?! We have nothing! How can you be so sure that the elections were even rigged in the first place?!" the Centre leader yells at her.
Lena looks confused, unsure what she even means, "I-i'm not sure what you mean? Of course they were, we had several reports indicating large scale election fraud and intimidation from..."
"From who? Hmm? FROM WHO? You, as a journalist, should know very well how the state operates."
"What do you mean?" Lena responds, an unsettling fear growing.
"Why and how was John arrested? The government arranged as we know, with the Cederstam family, to trick your husband into meeting them. Only the SSB operates in such ways! Only they have these kinds of ties with the private sector" Anna says, her voice trembling.
Lena looks at her, trying to keep her calm, "You are suggesting that the government with the SSB arranged for people around the country to call out election rigging to..."
"To make it seem as if we, YOU, had much bigger support than you actually had... Thus giving you the courage to attempt this foolish coup!"
The silence fills the room. Eva, having been stitched up, comes into the room with the help of Grünner. "Or you're having a stressful day Anna, causing crazy thoughts" Eva says.
Gustav Björnman, Radical Party leader, who has remained silent until now jumps in. "But to be fair, it wouldn't be the first time the SSB did something so drastic and dramatic, for the sake of some ulterior motive yet to be known." Erik looks at him curiously, deep in thought.
"Enough. I will not fill this room, our cause, with conspiracy theories at this moment. We have much more important things to do" Lena says firmly, trying to steer the conversation away towards something else.
"Right, let's begin moving to the nearby town of Loderyd" Jäger chimes in.
As the entourage heads out from the hotel, they hear a fierce sound of chopping in the air. Several headlamps are lightened on in the darkness of the town from six military vehicles. A military helicopter swoops in and hover above them, lightening their own headlamp. About sixty army soldiers stand at the road pointing their guns at them. A harsh voice can be heard, "Lay down your weapons and place yourself on the ground! Now!". The company is filled with panic, as Eva draws her gun and starts firing at the soldiers, screaming for the rest to go. Anna places herself on her knees, hands behind her head, trembling like never before. The rest rushes into the house, including the halting Eva. Grünner gets them to the backdoor.
Eva and Jäger, maintaining a position at the front door inside, sees as the soldiers rushes forward to Anna, who has laid down on the ground, putting handcuffs on her. The two joined the rest who secured the passage back. As they rush outside, they see as soldiers attempt to surround the house. Gustav is tackled by one soldier, while the rest somehow manage to rush to the bushes. Hiding behind some trees, Lena grabs her son "Erik, you must go now. I have to help Eva to safety", she says as Erik is filled with panic trying to refuse.
"Come Erik, she'll be alright" Günner says, as the 65 year old man grabs the young man, rushing to a smaller house near a smaller public park. Erik looks back, trying to get a look at what's happening, just seeing her mother looking at him to make sure he gets to safety. She then turns and rushes towards Eva and Jäger.
"Out of my way old man! I need to help her", Erik says, trying to get past the large Günner blocking the door.
"It is time you showed some respect to your mother, young man", he says while crossing his arms. "She has risked everything for you, so that you can keep living, happier and much better than she ever did". Erik just looks at him angrily, then turns his gaze to the floor, realizing he's not getting past the old man.
It was probably just a few minutes, but it felt like days.
Erik and Günner could hear noise, a lot of noise and a lot of shouting. They peaked out the window from the small house. The soldiers and what seemed to look like an army major gathered on foot and their vehicles at the park outside the small house the two were hiding in. They could hear parts of what was being said.
"Have you found the others?", the major asks the captain who just rushed up to her.
"Not yet, major. We have redirected the helicopter to search south, as some witnesses saw them heading that way." The major simply nods.
She turned to look at the captured Lena, Eva, Gustav and Anna. She then asked one of the lieutenants to get Kivonia on the line. Lena tried to observe the face of the major as she was talking to her superiors, hoping to find a clue, just something that could help them in some way. But nothing. The major hung up.
"Take those two away and prepare for a transfer to general Töller", the soldiers dragged Gustav and Anna away for one of the vehicles. "And you two", she says as she walks up to Lena and the injured Eva. She then turns around to see Jäger walking up to her. Lena completely stunned while Eva starts breathing more heavily, her face showing an increasing fury. "Well done, I'll take note of your patriotic service when compiling my report for High Command. We'll arrange for you to be taken to Kivonia", the major tells Jäger, who nods and meets Lena's eyes for a second before quickly turning them away, possibly in shame, and starts walking away.
"W...w-why...? Jonas?", Lena says, barely getting her words out, so quiet that the only one who could have heard was Eva who stood beside her.
"You fucking traitor!! You disgusting piece of worm crap! I'll have you ripped to shreds yo..." Eva furiously screams before being hit in the stomach by a soldier with the end of his rifle. Jäger doesn't react, he simply walks away to one of the vehicles.
The major turns around, signaling for the soldiers to ready themselves. Five soldiers stands in a line, reading their rifles. Filled with a sense of panic, Eva jumps in front of Lena, trying her best to provide some form of cover, pleading with the soldiers to think about what they are doing. Erik, horrified by what he sees, tries to rush out, but is stopped by Günner who grabs him and covers his mouth to not let out any noise. Yet, Erik could see everything that was about to happen.
"Eva". The wounded woman turns around, faces Lena, who simply looks at her with a small smile. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of this." Eva looks at her, mouth half open, her heavy breaths getting lighter with every take.
"I'm not", she looks at her and gives her a grin. "I'm glad to have made this journey with you. Lena, thank you". Lena looks at her, the surroundings deafening out, not hearing as the major readies the soldiers and orders a fire.
Eva feels a horrifying pain in the chest, falling down to her knees. Her hand covered in a dark-red color, as she tries to feel. She gazes down, her pain disappearing in half a second. Her very first friend. Together they would always march. And now she was alone, but not for long. Determined, Lena stands up straight, looks the major in the eyes and then turns to the soldiers. Ready to get going.
The major readies the soldiers again, lifts her arm up. Erik watches trying his best to scream as hard as he can, but Günner's grip forces all his energy from him, and the last thing Erik sees as his sights get blurry is the gesture by the major signalling the soldiers to fire. Then black. Five gunshots.
Municipality of Tyrhem, Davostag – 25 January 5634
Ivar Troelsson just received the mail from the postman. He looks at it as he closes the front door. Addressed to Erik Greger. He thinks to himself, fearing the worst. Wishing to protect her, yet, she deserves to know. He walks upstairs and stands outside Greta Greger's room. He carefully knocks. Ever since Erik left she hasn't spoken nor left the room. He had attempted a few times some days ago, but was pushed out. He attempts yet again. This time nothing. He sees her sitting at the window. He realizes that she must have seen the postman. He walks up to her.
"Here. I'm not sure when Erik is coming home, so you take it instead." She doesn't answer just stares out the window. He leaves the mail on her lap and leaves, taking a last look at her before closing the door.
Greta picks it up and opens it. Unveils a letter from the Registry Agency, "We are sad to inform you that..." She reads it in silence. "...passed in Tyrhem..." Her eyes empty of emotion, and as she finishes the letter, she continues to look out the window at nothing. A tear flowing down on her cheek. Left only to her thoughts.
Gone. They are all gone.