NationStates Jolt Archive

The black van pulled up in front of the reasonably sized townhouse in downtown Generia city, on the quiet, moonless night. Eight men, armed with submachine guns, gas masks, and kevlar vests, got out of the rear of the vehicle. One of them issued hushed orders to the others, and they rushed towards the door of the townhouse. The apparent commander of the force flashed hand signals as he flattened himself against the side of the door. He nodded, and another man kicked in the sturdy, wooden frame, the door falling inward with a crash. The commander tossed a flash grenade into the building, and covered his eyes. At the exposion, the men rushed in. The sound of gunfire and feminine screams reached the street. The noises died off, and two of the men dragged a large, elderly gentleman into the street. He was clad in silk pajamas, and grasping at his eyes, moaning and mumbling uncontrollably. The rest of the team rushed out into the street, helping to haul the man into the truck. The men slammed the doors shut, and the vehicle screeched off into the night, leaving dazed citizens standing in the middle of the street.

Inside the back of the van, the man began to wail.

"Shut him up!" snorted the commander, as he removed the gas mask. One of the others smacked him over the back of the head with the butt of his gun, and the unconscious man fell to the floor of the van.

"One down," said one of the men, softly.

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GII News

Josef Jaroslav was one of seven senators to undergo arrest last night by Generian special security forces. The seven men are charged with murder and conspiracy to commit high treason. The trial is set for this coming Thursday. These arrests come in the wake of significant rumors that Emperor Alexei plans to disband the senate due to increased opposition to foreign policy. Stay with us for more updates as they come in. Now, on to the weather...

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Alexei's Throne Room, Imperial Palace, White Citadel, Generia City

Alexei raised the cigarette to his lips, inhaling deeply. He let the smoke flow from his nostrils, curling into the dark air around him before breathing it out in a ring that dissipated above his head.

"Seven of them?"

"Yes, your grace."

"My, I see they were serious."

"They were nervous, sire."

"Anyone would be, what with the rumors."

"Yes, your grace."

"Of course, the rumors are false."

"We are all aware of that, your grace."

"They weren't."

"They were paranoid, your grace."

"A shame. Perhaps justified, but still a shame."

"There is talk, your grace..."

"Talk? Of what, my dear Alexeevich."

"People seem to think..that you are..."

"Are what?"

Alexei exhaled another cloud of smoke, the fumes curling around his head, drifting through the long black hair.

"Well, losing it, sire."

"Really? Well, again, I'm not surprised."

"Sire?"

"The people do not know what is best for them. I do. Some would disagree. It is only logical. Dissent is always present. You can never quash it completely."

"That is true your grace, but..."

"But what? Are you nervous, Chancellor? Or are you against me?"

The Chancellor straightened up, his face going white with fear at Alexei's casual accusation.

"No! Sire! Never!"

Alexei chuckled dryly, taking another pull on his cigarette.

"Relax, Chancellor. I know that your loyalty is impeccable. Otherwise you would not still be here."

Chancellor Alexeevich relaxed slightly, exhaling softly with relief.

"Thank you sire. I am glad you know your humble servant's loyalty is still absolute."

"I know many things, Chancellor. Many things..."

Alexei drifted off in thought, smoking the cigarette, as his eyes wandered. Chancellor Alexeevich bowed deeply, turned, and exited the chamber, leaving the Emperor to his thoughts.

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The screen glowed blue as the GII news reporter blared a the same update they have been giving for hours.

"Josef Jaroslav was one of seven senators to undergo arrest last night by Generian special security forces. The seven men are charged with murder and conspiracy to commit high treason. The trial is set for this coming Thursday. These arrests come in the wake of significant rumors that Emperor Alexei plans to disband the senate due to increased opposition to foreign policy. Stay with us for more updates as they come in. Now, on to the weather..."

The president's hands felt heavy, he turned his chair back to his desk, in front of him lay his trusty typewriter. Though they were in the information age Daleran never could resist the charm of a good old typewriter. He would mail it if he could, but alas, his advisors and aides always urged him just to fax it instead, ironic in a country whose leading industry is information technology. The president though for a moment, and just let the words flow into his hands.

To Chancellor Alexeevich,

As a republic and a fundamental democratic society, we find that disbanding
the National Senate is a huge mistake for you, resticting everyone's personal
freedoms. Let us not forget that the government is elected to serve the
pople, not the other way around. We hope you can reconsider and choose
the path of democracy and freedom. Tyranny does good for no person.

Daleran Nimohtor
President of Llano Estacado

His fingers felt numb after the letter, though it was short, its words were a heavey burden. A young aide, just starting his political career, bit his lip he tensed up in thought.

"Do you think they will actually listen Mr. President?"

"We can only try, we can only try."

"What if they refuse to comply and just decide to foreget democracy?"

"We can't send cruise missles everytime someone disagrees, the coice is there and they are only to choose with path to follow. They can choose the path of tyranny, darkness, and oppression; or, the can do a favor for their people and continue to live free and let their people be decide what government they choose."

The Emperor of ITD applauds the Generian Emperors plan to disband the Generian Senate. Senators are pesky people who always ask too many questions.

Official Imperial Communique
To: President Daleran Nimohtor
From: Chancellor Feador Alexeevich

Generia shall conduct her business as Emperor Alexei and the Imperial Parliament see fit, as we have done for centuries. If the Emperor decides to act against the senate, than he shall do so.

Chancellor Feador Alexeevich
Appointed Chancellor of the Imperial Congress

Imperial Supreme Courthouse, Generia City

The Judge stared hardly at the seven men who stood before him.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?"

"Yes, your honor."

The foreman handed a small strip of paper to an Imperial soldier. The soldier then proceeded to hand the paper to the Judge. He unfolded the paper, glanced at it, and then returned his gaze to the seven defendants.

"In the name of Emperor Alexei I, savior of Generia, this court finds you guilty of murder, attempted conspiracy against the Emperor, and high treason. The penalty for said crimes is death."

The Judge slammed his fist down on the desk. Two Imperial soldiers stepped forward. They grabbed one of the men, and began to drag him towards the exit. Another pair of soldiers did the same with the next man, and so on.

Outside of the courthouse, a large contraption had been constructed. It had a stock at the bottom, and wooden runners reaching twenty feet tall. At the top was an angular blade. Beside the guillotine stood a large, sturdy wooden table. A crowd had gathered around the place of execution to watch the proceedings.

The condemned were shackled together in a single file line, and forced towards the equipment. A man in a black robe stepped before them, and the group was halted by Imperial soldiers.

"Condemned! You have been convicted of high treason, the punishment being death. By order of Emperor Alexei, you are to endure torture and decapitation by beheading machine. Praetonian! Send forth the first of the condemned!"

The soldiers unshackled Josef Jaroslav, the first senator to have beeen arrested. A large Imperial Praetonian stepped forward, grabbing the man and forcing him along towards the table, where two others hauled him up, and shackled him to the wood by his hands and feet.

A masked man stepped forward to stand over the condemned. The man in black robes who had pronounced the sentence handed the executioner a long, shining blade. The executioner moved the blade over the condemned man's face. Without so much as a flinch, he lopped off Jaroslav's nose. As the man bled and screamed, and the knife moved again. The executioner forced the blade into the man's mouth, hacking around until the tongue came loose. The masked man pulled it out and held it above his head for the crowd to see, before dropping it into a bucket. The knife then began to hover over the man's abdomen. A second man lifted the condemned man's shirt. The knife went to work, slicing and hacking at the man's stomach, sloppily carving the words 'high treason.'

Imperial soldiers unshackled the man, and led the bleeding, moaning figure to the guillotine. His head was forced into the stock and secured. The masked torturer walked beside the machine, placing his hand on a lever. The senator closed his eyes and grimmaced. The blade fell free, slicing the neck. The man's head fell to the stone below, and rolled a few yards, leaving a trail of blood behind it. The masked man walked over to the head, grabbed it by the hair, and lifted it for everyone to see.

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