NationStates Jolt Archive

PORT YUKO, Bonstock- The newly founded Bonstocknian Corporate Statist Party won last night's Senate elections, sweeping 47% of the vote in the largest third-party grab in Bonstocknian history.

The Bonstocknian Senate, traditionally dominated by the center-left Social Democrats and centrist Moderates, will be radically altered by the dominance of the Corporate Statists, which are considered to be ultra-right wing.

The Corporate Statist Party was recently founded by former Moderates who wanted a more hardline rightist agenda. Forming around Senator Paris Palpat, the party laid out an agenda of curtailing civil freedoms in the favor of increased security.

Among plans for the new Senate party is the buildup of the Bonstocknian military, and plans are underway to reinstate military conscription.

In old times, the Bonstocknian military had been an all-concript force, save a cadre of professional officers. However, after the debacle of the Asian Conflicts, where the Bonstock military was defeated by superior Azn Resistance troops, a coalition of Social Democrats and some left leaning Moderates decided that conscription was outdated. A new law was passed, forming the modern, professional Bonstocknian Armed Forces.

However, the military's size was vastly depleted by the new law. From a high of around thirty million, the military's troop numbers have declined to approximately 12 million soldiers on active duty.

A proposal put forth by the Corporate Statists would call for the use of conscripts as a reserve force, keeping the active military. Social Democrats and some Moderates vocally attacked the new bill, saying that the cost of the new military would force Bonstock to lessen education funding.

"We do not believe we can spend for so many guns and pencils at once," said Senator Ernest Gustav, a Social Democrat. "Something has got to give. We cannot allow the new bill to take away from the education of Bonstocknian students."

President Harald Gustavsson, standing for reelection in two years, declined to comment on the matter. Himself a non-partisan, as his father Gustav Adolphus was, Lord Harald was quoted as saying that "I do not believe this matter of political bickering to be any of my concern. The Senate can make its laws as it pleases."

The Corporate Statists credit their election to a "friendly political environment" and "the dissilusionment of Bonstocknian citizens with their liberal government," according to their website. However, many political commentators stress that there were other factors, including the Corporate Statist militia and generous funding from many giant Bonstocknian corporations.

Many young Bonstocknians were oppossed to the measure to reinstate conscription, but their voices were overshadowed by the demands of many of their elders. There was a high election outturn of conservative elderly voters, and a very low outturn of more liberal younger voters.

As of right now, the Corporate Statists are attempting to form a majority, though that will take some difficulty with about 45% of the seats. The Social Democrats and Moderates, with 32% and 29% of the 300 seats, respectively, were trying to form a coalition against the Statists, but infighting may lead to an early collapse.

There was talk about buying the Statists off by giving one of their members the power of Senate Chief Consul, the highest position in the Senate and essentially the Vice Presidency. The holder of the office would succeed President Gustavsson should something happen to him. That concession, according to some prominant officials in the Social Democrat and Moderate Parties, would help block many of the more right-wing proposals of the Corporate Statists. However, there were some fears that the compromise would backfire, especially if something were to happen to Lord Harald. Many claimed that the Corporate Statists would take over the government and dissolve the Senate, a possibility which, considering Bonstock's long history of coup d'etats, does not seem quite so unlikely.

-excerpt, The Port Yuko Times

OOC: This looks like its going to be a good one. Consider this TAGGED.

MT or FT?

So here begins the second part of the tale of Harald, the son of Gustav and lord of all Bonstocknians. Oh Muse! be my guide as I recite his woeful but heroic saga. Sing in me of his betrayal and exile, of the wrath of his successors, and of his long journey home. Start, goddess, with the tale of his enamouration to Penelope, the daughter of the chief of the Ukrs, and tell us how the power-hungry conspirators began their murderous treachery against their lord.

Night had fallen, and the golden citadel of Port Yuko shined in glory. Overlooking them on a wooded hilltop was the hall of Harald, from where he governed the nation that was Bonstock. Up a long and winding pathway to the manor walked three armed soldiers, one in front and two in back, those in back pulling a girl in chains towards Lord Harald's house.

The two men in back pulled the lady on. She tried to pull back, yanking at her chains, grunting as she did. But it was no use. The soldiers pulled her along, and one of them spoke.

"Certainly a nice lady, eh?"

"Damn fine lookin', if you ask me."

"Amen, brother. Nice rack on her chest."

"It ain't the biggest, but good enough for me. We could pimp her for 15 bucks a roll!"

"Or we could keep her for ourselves."

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"

In front, the leading soldier, an officer, turned around. "You perverted bastards shut up back there. Lord Harald ordered us to keep her intact. She represents the tribe of Ukr, who the Senate plans to exterminate. She seeks to beg on behalf of her people, so Harald has ordered no harm be done to her."

Whispering to the other behind the officer's back, one of the other soldiers said, "I vote we frag this commander. You in?"

"Hell yeah. I wanna get outa this chickenshit outfit."

Just as they were reaching around for their rifles, the soldiers reached the door of Lord Harald's hall. With guards all around, their plans were thwarted. They instead lead the prisoner to Lord Harald's throne chamber, and threw her on the floor before Harald's feet.

The lord of all Bonstocknians stood up. He was tall and commanding, though he looked vibrant and youthful. His face was clean-shaven, and his reddish hair was neatly combed. His skin, though pale, glowed in the dim light of the hall, and his blue-green eyes gazed upon his captive.

"Who are you, woman, who seeks me as an audiance, and what is it that you seek?"

The officer spoke for her. "She's from the Ukr tribe, and asks you to spare her people from the Senate's wrath."

"Guards, leave us," Lord Harald commanded. As soon as they were gone, Harald looked at the lady before him, as she knelt low with her head bowed, her dark hair concealing her face. He spoke, in a much softer voice, "I have heard of you. Penelope, daughter of Chief Granshent of the Urks, who have lived in Bonstock since antiquity. I have heard also that the Senate, with its new Corporate Statist leaders, seeks to eliminate your people as they have oppossed the Corporate Statist rise."

The young woman looked up at Lord Harald. Her dark eyes had tears in them. After a quick silence, she reached out her hands and, kneeling, embraced Lord Harald's legs. Crying, she said, "Please, my lord, don't let the Senate destroy us. Do not follow their orders, they are evil beings! They will do harm to all of Bonstock!"

Lord Harald's gaze fixed on her again, and he reached down and lifted her up by the shoulders. "You need not bow to me in supplication. I will not allow the Senate's course to continue. Though, even I fear them sometimes. There is one named Palpat who seeks my blood, and he now leads the Senate. I cannot intervene, lest the people think me a dictator. But trust me, so long as I am alive and in power, I will not allow any harm unto your people."

Penelope looked up at him, herself much shorter, even standing. Relieved, she said, "Thank you, my lord."

"Now," said he in an even softer tone, smiling at her, "do you seek to leave now, or would you like to have a drink and to spend the night? It is the least I can do for the trouble you've been through."

"I am sure I must go. It is a long journey back," she said.

"Nay, stay this night at least. I will send you home fast tommarrow, without the guards that brought you here. I'll escort you myself."

She looked at him for a moment, and smiled. "Thank you, again."

He smiled back, and took her hand, and led her out of the room.

The new leader of the Senate, Consul Palpat, wandered aimlessly in a park outside Port Yuko, Bonstock's capital. His back was hunched, and his face looked worried. He was strategizing.

It was dark out, nearly pitch black. Palpat sat on a bench. No lights illuminated him, but he saw, out of the corner of his eye, a shadow coming forth. The shadow called out to him.

"Who's there?" it said.

"A Bonstocknian," was Palpat's response.

"Senator Palpat, by your voice."

"Your ear is good. Senator Stamem, what a night it is!"

"Indeed." The figure came forward, so he could be visually recognized. "It is not everyday the President takes a savage for a lover."

"Yes, his choice of women can be described poorly. Indeed, there is much else I can say."

"Well, what should we do?"

"Well, I am the one who would replace him should he fail to do his duty."

Stamem's eyes grew wide. "You don't mean... that's treason!"

"I know. But to die commiting treason is better to live under Harald!"

"We can't just kill him. Even if we hired someone, they have ways of finding out."

"Exactly. But, we don't have to kill him. All we have to do is get him out of Port Yuko, out of Bonstock. We'll take over in his absence, and he'll never be allowed home."

"But what would we do to get him away?"

"What is the only thing that seems to please Lord Harald, besides his sub-human women?"

"Military expeditions, of course. He'd die to get out of politics and lead his soldiers into battle."

"Exactly."

"Well, what can we do? Send him on an expedition? It's not like we can just randomly say, 'Lord Harald, go find the Holy Grail for us,' or something like that."

"That's why we need a plan. We need to do some serious shit starting. His warmongering will do the rest, me thinks."

"How do we do that?"

"A few foreigners plinked off by some 'terrorists,' and half the world will think the blood to be on Harald's hands. Or, better yet, we take our fleets and destroy one of those damned boats of refugees that keep bringing over new FOBs. Some human rights mongerer will attack Bonstock. Lord Harald will lead a fleet to vanquish them. Then, as he is gone, we'll take power and order him deposed. The war will end, and Bonstock will belong to Corporate Statism."

"Lord Harald's troops are loyal to him, especially his guards."

"Then we'll blow up his ship. You can command the fleet, if you'd like. You were an admiral once, right?"

"Yes, I was, but such a mutiny!"

"It is a necessary sacrafice. Lord Harald is too dangerous to be kept alive."

"I hope you're right. If the blood on our hands is exposed, we'll have one hell of a debt to pay with the Bonstocknian Senate and people."

"Don't worry about that. Goodbye, Senator Stamem, or should I say, Admiral Stamem."

"Goodbye, Consul Palpat."

OOC: Interesting read, though I must admit the Corporate Statist was what caught my eye (whistles to himself). Tagged.

The Robotic Parliament responds to the Bonstockian elections with its usual cacophony of shouts and insults. Bonstock is likely threatened with invasion a number of times by less contained MPs before a statement 'expressing displeasure' with the outcome is passed.

Of course, what are they going to do with the Robotic Archipelago? It is considered quite safe to say whatever comes to mind about anyone since the possibility of reproach is very remote.

At an airbase south of Port Yuko, in the middle of the Bonstocknian penninsula, two F-22 jet fighters were feuled and armed, their crews briefed that they were to intercept and destroy a 'drug smuggling' ship, really one of the crowded boats full of work-seeking refugees that would land daily in Port Yuko. Armed each with two JSOW missiles, plus rapid fire cannons, the jets were more then enough to destroy a few unarmed, defenseless boats.

They took off, flying low to complete their mission with maximum surprise. Supercruising above Mach 1, they targeted their missiles from far out to hit the boat as they passed it. When they were locked and within range, the planes let loose their missiles. They flew on, and strafed the survivors with their cannons.

Though many bodies and lots of wreckage were later discovered by fishing boats, there were no survivors.

Back in Port Yuko, Consul Palpat stood secluded with Senator Stamem. They waited anxiously for news of their success. They needed not wait long. Bonstocknian Sattelite Television, or BSTV, quickly picked up word of the incident, and broadcast it all over the world, despite attempts by Lord Harald to downplay the incident.

"Now we need only watch," said Palpat as he fliped the TV off.

"You'd better be right. Our lives, and our careers, may be in jeapordy."

bump