NationStates Jolt Archive

"People of Studium," a man in his 60s said into the podium microphone commandingly. An audience of camera-snapping journalists stood at the bottom of a tall set of marble stairs, gazing up at the podium and taking notes. "In response to last week's car bombing of the Senate, the Studium Marines have been granted an extra 5% funding. The Airforce shall also receive a 5% funding increase. Furthermore, I am imposing martial law over all of Studium, and sealing our borders to anybody who tries to enter or leave. Any attempts to enter our territory will be met with deadly force.
"All airports and docks are to be shut down until further notice. A nation-wide curfew of 9pm, ending at 4am the following morning, is now in effect. If the armed patrols see any cars parked on the side of a road unless said side of road is clearly designated as a parking area, they will consider it a terrorist attack and deal with it accordingly. Insurance companies will not pay for army-caused damage, so be warned. These new temporary laws come into effect at 12am tomorrow. There will be no exceptions. In addition to these laws, the national elections will be delayed until such a time as we are confident terrorist attacks cannot interfere with them. Any questions?"

He looked down at the crowd of confused journalists swarming the front garden of the senate.
Most of the people listening to him looked at him blankly, shuffling their feet nervously. One finally got the courage to raise his hand.

"President Yates," the man shouted. "Studium National Times. What car bombing are you referring to?"

Yates looked at the man, squinting angrily. "You call yourself a journalist?" he snapped. "Last Wednesday. A bomb exploded, just over there." He pointed at the entrance gates of the Senate gardens. There was no sign of any recent explosion of any magnitude "It was plastered on the news!"

"Um, Mr. President," another, female, voice called out. "I must agree with my peer from the SNT; I don't recall any car bombing. In fact, I was under the impression that the last incident involving a terrorist attack was over 40 years ago, at the Independence Festival."

"You... I... they are a real threat!" Yates shouted, confusing himself. One of his aides reached forward to put his hand on his shoulder, but Yates shrugged it off and shook his head. He scowled at the journalists. "Underestimating them will be a terminal mistake! You... you will leave the Senate grounds now, before I have you forcibly removed as terrorist suspects! GO!" Yates turned and stormed inside the large building. The crowd of journalists remained silent, milling around, until finally leaving through the gates.



"I made the announcement," Yates said, his head in his hands as he swayed in his chair.

"Excellent," a man said, leaning in the dark corner of the Presidential Office. He stepped forward into a stream of daylight, revealing a man in a black suit, with black shirt and tie, and dark glasses. He had slick black hair too, just for some variety. Tapping the ash from a cigarette into an ashtray, the man roughly jumped into the chair behind the President's desk and put his feet up.

"No... it's not," Yates said, standing up. "It is undemocratic. Apart from anything else, my people think I am insane... losing my mind." He shook his head and sat back down again. "Maybe they are right."

"Well, you can see a psychiatrist," the man smiled. "On your own time. Right now, there is more that is required of you. Your next task may become quite messy."

"I will only go so far," Yates snapped.

"I know -- luckily for me, however, you are not a moral man," the man said, maintaining his sly grin. "I have a feeling you will go quite a bit further than you believe. Now, we should talk about what to do about the Senate..."




Earlier today, President Yates announced a bold new plan to rid Studium of terrorism for good. By declaring a state of martial law, increasing funding to the two most important inland divisions of the army and ensuring nobody can roam the streets at night without being noticed, not to mention sealing our borders from all in- and out-going traffic, critics are sure these plans would create unpleasant conditions for any terrorist cells.

If there were any terrorist cells in Studium, however.

According to Professor Klark, these acts have come 40 years too late for them to be of use to anybody.
"Modern Studium is a model of a country to those who have serious terrorist problems," Klark told a SNT reporter. "Having dealt with the issues that caused terrorism in the past, Studium is one of the safest countries to live in, in terms of terrorist threats, anyway. Why Yates is so determined to rid our nation of non-existent terrorists is a question best answered by a trained psychiatrist, I think."

Psychiatrists put Yates' new laws down to his growing age, claiming that senility is the only explanation for the wacky new laws. Conspiracy theorists are having a field day with the news, however, claiming that "this is the first of many steps to dictatorship! Down with government!".

Whatever the cause, President Yates will need to explain himself at some point in the near future, lest he face challenges from his own staff -- or the people of Studium.

NSCWW Late Bulletin:

This morning Yates announced that he was enacting the Emergency Studium Defence Act -- he temporarily dissolved the Senate, citing 'terrorist infiltration' as the cause. He has also appointed an unidentified person as 'defence advisor'. This person remains unnamed despite appearing on camera alongside President Yates this morning.

Now temporarily defunct government officials are considering urging the President to resign, as growing speculation mounts about his mental condition and the terrorist threat he keeps referring to fails to emerge.
Until then, however, Yates' rulings still stand and the curfew, isolation policy and martial law are still in effect.

"You've done well up until now, 'Mr President'", the man said, flicking through a newspaper. "Now you are going to stand down from your position, and leave me in charge to oversee this 'emergency'."

"I beg your pardon?" Yates coughed up his tea. "I don't think so."

"Well, we can do this two ways," the man sighed, standing up. "You resign and allow me to rescue Studium from the menace of terrorism -- which will soon become a reality, by the way. You will be remembered with respect as the president who rightfully stepped down when he recognised he could no longer fulfil his duties. And as you are succumbing to blackmail, after all, you really can't fulfil your duties anymore. Or, you could force me to release documents which show you supplying terrorists with weapons and equipment to further your own power."

"What?!" Yates exclaimed. "There are no such documents."

"There are," the man smiled. "Although they may not be entirely accurate, they will stand up to scrutiny. You still won't be president, but you'll be retiring to a nice prison cell instead of the comfort of your country estate. Say hello to Tyrone for me, if you can still breathe when he's done with you. And I will be hailed as a hero for exposing your evil scheme. Oh, and I will also release the documents which will put your son in jail too, as you have failed to live up to your end of the bargain by not co-operating with me 100%. Then I'll be a moral hero too."

The man leaned up against the wall, his arms folded, while Yates put his head back into his hands.

"You can't do this..." Yates wheezed finally, looking up. "I'll expose you..."

"You don't know anything about me," the man sneered. "And if you so much as try I'll destroy your entire family. It's really quite simple, if you use your common sense; retire gracefully, or leave me to ruin your only living relative and put you both in jail. Either way I get what I want." He shrugged, looking up at the clock. "Though I must press you for time. There will be fireworks in a few hours."

"What?"

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with for the time being," the man said sternly. "What's it going to be? Dignified resignation, or humiliating exposure?"

"I..." Yates. "I give up. You can... you can have your power."

"Excellent," the man smiled, striding over to him. "You will call a press conference now to announce the change."

"Whatever..." Yates said, coughing.

"Sounds like you're coming down with something," the man grinned.



Two hours later, the press once more gathered outside the Senate. This time, there were many more reporters, mostly from low-brow gossip magazines instead of high-class newspapers. They all shushed when the president, and the mysterious stranger, walked out and stood by the podium.

"I... am resigning," Yates said after a long pause. The journalists remained silent, listening to whatever he had to say. "Due to reasons of health and personal conflicts, I can no longer fulfil my position as President of Studium. My defence advisor will take over during this crisis until the Senate can be re-instated."

Yates stepped away, and the suited man in dark glasses stepped in front of the podium. He tugged his jacket straight and cleared his throat.

"Hello, brave people of Studium," he bellowed. "I am a trusted friend of President Yates, and I am sorry to see that his illness has got the better of him. However, I must reiterate that there is a strong threat from terrorists, despite what the media may speculate. Several members of the Senate were affiliated with major terrorist organisations, which is why we cannot reinstate them until the next election. Those accused are being investigated as we speak, though we have plenty of evidence for conviction already. I feel compelled to reveal that President Yates himself is also in league with these scumbags."

"What?" Yates shouted. "What are you doing?"

"I have documents here which shows Yates was supplying the terrorists with all the equipment they need to reap havoc across Studium!" he continued. "Yates hoped that the chaos would give him the chance to take full control of Studium, and establish a dictatorship!"

"You liar, you've been manipulating me..." Yates shouted, struggling as two secret service agents took his arms and the papers the man handed them.

"I saddens me to see my dear friend taking the dark path," the man sighed, shaking his head. He placed a hand on Yates' shoulders. "Where did you go wrong, my friend?"

"I'll kill you..." Yates cried, breaking one of his arms free long enough to take a swipe at the man, who just barely dodged his fist.

"These seem pretty conclusive," the agent holding the papers said. "All sorts of secret memos, invoices, inventories... the works. Cuff him."

Yates was pinned against the wall of the Senate as they shackled his wrists and then dragged him inside. Journalists were quite rightly a little excited, talking amongst themselves and taking a barrage of snapshots.

"Quite please," the man said, turning back to the podium. "As the President's last act was to put me in charge of his affairs before the democratic process could elect a new leader, I will deal with the problems he has created for our country as best I can. I am, however, removing the curfew and relaxing the areas under martial law. Our borders will remain sealed in case allies of the ex-President attempt to leave after hearing of what has happened here today. Thank you, and stay safe."

"Excuse me, what is your name?" one of the journalists called out over the noise as the man turned to leave. He stopped, and looked around, smiling. He stood back in front of the podium.

"What's in a name?" he said finally. He laughed, and turned to leave, ignoring further questions.