Tropicalo
28-07-2008, 07:30
"Mr. President, I have alarming news," the portly finance minister Juarez Limon yelled as he hobbled up the grand staircase of the Presidential Palace. "A military coup has started! They have begun shelling the capitol!"
President Quintana stood up from his desk - an old treasure of the small nation made from the wood of colonial era shipwrecks that had washed ashore on the beaches.
"Who is the traitor?!" Quintana demanded.
"General Estarra!" huffed Limon, catching his breath.
Quintana slumped in his chair. Estarra was the main commander of the nation's military. This was no good indeed. He was widely considered an ambitious military genious who made public his frustrations over the nation's lack of assertiveness on the global scale. He believed that Tropicalo had become a lackey of the larger nations and served only as a popular tourist destination and exporter of cheap agricultural goods. President Quintana had promoted him through the ranks to appease his ego and supporters. This plan now has appeared to backfired.
"What is our situation?" asked the President gravely.
"Sir, we have a small group of loyalists defending the Presidential Palace as well as a few checkpoints around the city. Some citizens have taken arms as partisans. Others have taken arms against us. The bulk are hiding indoors and waiting to see how the battle goes," noted Limon.
"General Estarra has divisions outside the city to the south and west. We can bring in a loyalist division from the east, but I am not sure there is time," he continued.
"What are our options?" asked the President.
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"People of Tropicalo!" yelled General Estarra over a bullhorn mounted on a tank. "Join us to overthrow the corrupt government! They take your money and enslave us through medocrity. Together, we shall build a new regime where our people and our nation shall reach their full potential!"
The general stepped off the tank. His dusty green uniform and wide brimmed military cap hid a stark, determined face.
"My General, what are your orders?"
"Continue shelling while we give the people of the city a chance to join our cause. In the mean time we have a militia unit coming on the west side of the city that will cut off or delay any government reinforcements."
"And what of the Navy?"
"The revolution is still fermenting in the Navy. I suspect we shall be victorious. Admiral Golo will ultimately join us, by gentle or forceful persuasion. Then we shall cut off the city by sea. They will have no choice but to surrender."
The Lieutenant saluted. "We pledge our blood to you, my leader!"
President Quintana stood up from his desk - an old treasure of the small nation made from the wood of colonial era shipwrecks that had washed ashore on the beaches.
"Who is the traitor?!" Quintana demanded.
"General Estarra!" huffed Limon, catching his breath.
Quintana slumped in his chair. Estarra was the main commander of the nation's military. This was no good indeed. He was widely considered an ambitious military genious who made public his frustrations over the nation's lack of assertiveness on the global scale. He believed that Tropicalo had become a lackey of the larger nations and served only as a popular tourist destination and exporter of cheap agricultural goods. President Quintana had promoted him through the ranks to appease his ego and supporters. This plan now has appeared to backfired.
"What is our situation?" asked the President gravely.
"Sir, we have a small group of loyalists defending the Presidential Palace as well as a few checkpoints around the city. Some citizens have taken arms as partisans. Others have taken arms against us. The bulk are hiding indoors and waiting to see how the battle goes," noted Limon.
"General Estarra has divisions outside the city to the south and west. We can bring in a loyalist division from the east, but I am not sure there is time," he continued.
"What are our options?" asked the President.
____________________________________________________
"People of Tropicalo!" yelled General Estarra over a bullhorn mounted on a tank. "Join us to overthrow the corrupt government! They take your money and enslave us through medocrity. Together, we shall build a new regime where our people and our nation shall reach their full potential!"
The general stepped off the tank. His dusty green uniform and wide brimmed military cap hid a stark, determined face.
"My General, what are your orders?"
"Continue shelling while we give the people of the city a chance to join our cause. In the mean time we have a militia unit coming on the west side of the city that will cut off or delay any government reinforcements."
"And what of the Navy?"
"The revolution is still fermenting in the Navy. I suspect we shall be victorious. Admiral Golo will ultimately join us, by gentle or forceful persuasion. Then we shall cut off the city by sea. They will have no choice but to surrender."
The Lieutenant saluted. "We pledge our blood to you, my leader!"