Monday, September 19, 2005
~ 12:00 PM ~
Clouds darken over the skies of Council City. The heart of all free citizens of the Republic was now the heart of all fear. Behind the concrete structures, the delicate courage of revolutionaries corrodes. In every house, the horrified dweller lament: Is this the end of our short-lived peace? A republic is not all about benefits after all. We seek only a peaceful life.
Out on the streets, words of propaganda spread like wildfire. The words of comfort came from the Guard, who ensured a safer street. Words of warning came from the Army, against treason to the Republic. ‘Weren’t they one’, the people asked. Why have they fought among themselves? Are they really fighting for us, or are they just fighting for themselves? The question was rhetorical, yet they did not see the answer.
President X sat in the secret office of secret location. “Have you lit the beacons?” The question was to the Vice-President, who was also officially the Minister of All Defences.
“Yes, Mr. President. The Magistrates will come to our aid: House Phobos, House Callisto, House Atlas and House Miranda.”
“One, two, three, four… Only four houses respond? Where is House Triton? Where are their submarines?” President X panicked.
“We do not know, for they have yet to answer. However, we must be prepared for the worst. The rebel leader did come from the House of Triton.”
“So be it. A fifth of the Republic Army is not a fear, when we have four-fifth of it. I just hope they can arrive in time. It was certainly our fortune to have located the guards far away from us in the first place, but our misfortune to place the army further.”
And so it was - the misfortune of the Council. For the House of Triton had betrayed the Constitution. But, that is not all. While the Council awaits the arrival of its allies, its closest friend, and arguably the strongest, had stabbed them in the back. The Agents of L.H.S. had surrounded the ‘secret location’. Edus and Andes entered with an escort of 5 Hephaestois, the name given to the veteran agents who were invincible in any mission.
“Edus, what brings you at this untimely hour?” President X asked, for he would have thought that the diplomats always left the conflict first.
“Mr. President, I apologise for any inconvenience that I have caused with my presence. However, you do know of the impending doom that you are about to face, along with your 25 colleagues. You know of what I speak of: the uprising of the Ex-commander Holisee.”
“Edus, I would expect that you help me in this, not rubbing salt on my wound. The enemy is closing in and our allies are nowhere near!”
“YOUR allies are nowhere near, but ours are right at our doorstep.”
“What do you mean…no! Et tu, Edus? I cannot believe it.”
“Mr. President, no one has betrayed you. We are just following what is to become of the Republic: A Consulate! The Council will serve the Republic better with our aid. And you, Mr. President, will still be the president, while General Holisee, Andes and I would be Consuls, assisting in the functioning of the Council. This is the most peaceful way out, and if you reject this best-case scenario, I hope you do know where your sanity lies.
“No….” And the President of the Council of the great Meridian Republic broke down.
