Khalbaat
16-08-2004, 00:35
[OOC: For a (bad) description of Khalbaat's destruction, the origin of Ganto Janbar, and an example of some crappy RP'ing by me, go here (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=348746).]
IC:
Ganto Janbar took a swig from his bottle of water. Progress was slow; there was no doubt about that. But it was comforting to see any progress being made at all. The streets were nearly clear of rubble.
“We’re almost ready to start rebuilding number two,” said a voice. It was Max Hollis. His postman’s uniform was torn and dirty. Ganto sat up:
“Which one’s that?”
“Third building on the right,” said Max, pointing.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
Ganto stood and stretched his arms above his head. He felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned.
“Excuse me,” said a short Asian woman. Ganto decided she might have been pretty before the attacks – and a hint of her beauty still shone in her face. Her hair was unkempt and her hands were caked in dirt.
“Are you in charge here?” she continued.
“Looks like it,” said Ganto.
“That’s why I came to you. Do you know what happened?”
Ganto did. In the past thirty hours he had been able to piece it together. Widespread devestation, victims with burns all over their bodies, and rising numbers of sick civilians all added up to one thing: it was a nuclear attack. He said as much.
“That’s what we thought,” said the woman. She held out her hand. “Amanda Wu,” she said.
“Ganto Janbar.”
“Mr. Janbar, I was First Aide to the late prime minister.”
“So he’s dead. I’d heard rumors.”
“They’re correct, I’m afraid.”
“Who’s in charge, Ms. Wu?”
“Long story short, I am. The prime minister, the deputy P.M., and a majority of cabinet members are dead. Under such circumstances, our Constitution’s Devastation Clause goes into effect.”
“I hope you have some sort of plan,” said Ganto.
“As a matter of fact, I do.” The Asian woman smiled. “Mr. Janbar, it is in my power to appoint an acting Prime Minister. I’d like it to be you.”
This took a moment to register.
“What?” said Ganto. “Is this a joke?”
“No joke.”
“With all due respect, Ms. Wu, I’m no politician.”
“Prime Minister Wright was. I’ve a hunch politicians got us into this mess. Look around you, Mr. Janbar. These people don’t need a politician. They need a leader. And you’re the best we have.”
Ganto smiled slowly.
“Anything to serve Khalbaat.” His face fell. “How will I do the political stuff?”
“I thought of that. As acting P.M., you can appoint a deputy. Appoint me, and I’ll handle the political scene for you.”
“Okay,” said Ganto. “So,” he said, “I can give you orders now?”
Wu smiled.
“Go ahead.”
Ganto cleared his throat.
“Ms. Wu?”
“Yes, Mr. Prime Minister?”
“First things first. We need to clean up. Mobilize the army and the police force.”
“Yes sir.”
“And arrange to have elections as soon as possible. This is still a democracy, Ms. Wu, and I want our power to be legitimate.”
“Yes sir.”
“Thank you.”
The deputy Prime Minister ran off.
“Call me Mandy,” she shouted over her shoulder.
So it was that, ten weeks after a nuclear attack on their nation, the citizens of Khalbaat gathered at the inauguration of a new Prime Minister. The new government officials settled to business at the hastily-erected Temporary Cabinet Center. Prime Minister Janbar’s first official act was to order the old site of Government Row filled in with concrete. The square was renamed Memorial Plaza – the names of the dead government officials were etched into the ground.
Excerpts from Prime Minister Ganto Janbar’s inaugural address:
“Fellow citizens, we have gathered today to bear witness to a miracle: we witness the victory of teamwork over destruction. We witness the victory of patriotism over cynicism. We witness the victory of democracy over anarchy.
“Ten weeks ago, our nation was mercilessly attacked by a cruel adversary for voicing its opinion on the world stage. I stand before you to say that we will not repeat our mistakes. . .
“This is a government for a new era. The nation of Khalbaat is intensely aware of its presence before other nations. We recognize that our actions have consequences. The prior government made mistakes. We can say that with no dishonor to their memories. Now, the nation of Khalbaat yearns for an opportunity to start anew. . .”
Prime Minister Janbar studied the framed document. It had been given to him by Deputy Prime Minister Wu, and it served to remind him of his mantra: actions have consequences.
It was the final communication of the Wright Government. He knew it by heart now – “Done in the Parliament of Khalbaat . . .”
“Congratulations, Mr. Prime Minister.”
Janbar turned at the voice. He laughed.
“Thanks, Mandy.”
“I took the liberty of sending a message.”
“To who?”
“To everyone. All nations.”
Janbar frowned.
“Actions have consequences, Mandy. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“We will be. Everything’s cleared through Parliament and the Department of Foreign Affairs.”
“Do you have a copy?”
The Deputy Prime Minister produced a piece of paper. Janbar read.
By Authority of the Department of Foreign Affairs
The Principality of Khalbaat
To whom it may concern:
The principality of Khalbaat hereby announces the assemblage of a new government. The Prime Minister is Ganto Janbar. The Deputy Prime Minister is Amanda Wu. The government of Khalbaat hereby declares null and void all diplomatic agreements sanctioned by the government of Prime Minister James Wright, since deceased. Khalbaat further calls on all nations so inclined to offer aid of any form.
IC:
Ganto Janbar took a swig from his bottle of water. Progress was slow; there was no doubt about that. But it was comforting to see any progress being made at all. The streets were nearly clear of rubble.
“We’re almost ready to start rebuilding number two,” said a voice. It was Max Hollis. His postman’s uniform was torn and dirty. Ganto sat up:
“Which one’s that?”
“Third building on the right,” said Max, pointing.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
Ganto stood and stretched his arms above his head. He felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned.
“Excuse me,” said a short Asian woman. Ganto decided she might have been pretty before the attacks – and a hint of her beauty still shone in her face. Her hair was unkempt and her hands were caked in dirt.
“Are you in charge here?” she continued.
“Looks like it,” said Ganto.
“That’s why I came to you. Do you know what happened?”
Ganto did. In the past thirty hours he had been able to piece it together. Widespread devestation, victims with burns all over their bodies, and rising numbers of sick civilians all added up to one thing: it was a nuclear attack. He said as much.
“That’s what we thought,” said the woman. She held out her hand. “Amanda Wu,” she said.
“Ganto Janbar.”
“Mr. Janbar, I was First Aide to the late prime minister.”
“So he’s dead. I’d heard rumors.”
“They’re correct, I’m afraid.”
“Who’s in charge, Ms. Wu?”
“Long story short, I am. The prime minister, the deputy P.M., and a majority of cabinet members are dead. Under such circumstances, our Constitution’s Devastation Clause goes into effect.”
“I hope you have some sort of plan,” said Ganto.
“As a matter of fact, I do.” The Asian woman smiled. “Mr. Janbar, it is in my power to appoint an acting Prime Minister. I’d like it to be you.”
This took a moment to register.
“What?” said Ganto. “Is this a joke?”
“No joke.”
“With all due respect, Ms. Wu, I’m no politician.”
“Prime Minister Wright was. I’ve a hunch politicians got us into this mess. Look around you, Mr. Janbar. These people don’t need a politician. They need a leader. And you’re the best we have.”
Ganto smiled slowly.
“Anything to serve Khalbaat.” His face fell. “How will I do the political stuff?”
“I thought of that. As acting P.M., you can appoint a deputy. Appoint me, and I’ll handle the political scene for you.”
“Okay,” said Ganto. “So,” he said, “I can give you orders now?”
Wu smiled.
“Go ahead.”
Ganto cleared his throat.
“Ms. Wu?”
“Yes, Mr. Prime Minister?”
“First things first. We need to clean up. Mobilize the army and the police force.”
“Yes sir.”
“And arrange to have elections as soon as possible. This is still a democracy, Ms. Wu, and I want our power to be legitimate.”
“Yes sir.”
“Thank you.”
The deputy Prime Minister ran off.
“Call me Mandy,” she shouted over her shoulder.
So it was that, ten weeks after a nuclear attack on their nation, the citizens of Khalbaat gathered at the inauguration of a new Prime Minister. The new government officials settled to business at the hastily-erected Temporary Cabinet Center. Prime Minister Janbar’s first official act was to order the old site of Government Row filled in with concrete. The square was renamed Memorial Plaza – the names of the dead government officials were etched into the ground.
Excerpts from Prime Minister Ganto Janbar’s inaugural address:
“Fellow citizens, we have gathered today to bear witness to a miracle: we witness the victory of teamwork over destruction. We witness the victory of patriotism over cynicism. We witness the victory of democracy over anarchy.
“Ten weeks ago, our nation was mercilessly attacked by a cruel adversary for voicing its opinion on the world stage. I stand before you to say that we will not repeat our mistakes. . .
“This is a government for a new era. The nation of Khalbaat is intensely aware of its presence before other nations. We recognize that our actions have consequences. The prior government made mistakes. We can say that with no dishonor to their memories. Now, the nation of Khalbaat yearns for an opportunity to start anew. . .”
Prime Minister Janbar studied the framed document. It had been given to him by Deputy Prime Minister Wu, and it served to remind him of his mantra: actions have consequences.
It was the final communication of the Wright Government. He knew it by heart now – “Done in the Parliament of Khalbaat . . .”
“Congratulations, Mr. Prime Minister.”
Janbar turned at the voice. He laughed.
“Thanks, Mandy.”
“I took the liberty of sending a message.”
“To who?”
“To everyone. All nations.”
Janbar frowned.
“Actions have consequences, Mandy. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“We will be. Everything’s cleared through Parliament and the Department of Foreign Affairs.”
“Do you have a copy?”
The Deputy Prime Minister produced a piece of paper. Janbar read.
By Authority of the Department of Foreign Affairs
The Principality of Khalbaat
To whom it may concern:
The principality of Khalbaat hereby announces the assemblage of a new government. The Prime Minister is Ganto Janbar. The Deputy Prime Minister is Amanda Wu. The government of Khalbaat hereby declares null and void all diplomatic agreements sanctioned by the government of Prime Minister James Wright, since deceased. Khalbaat further calls on all nations so inclined to offer aid of any form.