NationStates Jolt Archive

What had just happened? Massive pain was shooting up his brachial nerves as though a knife had being pierced into the side of his arm. His lower body was completely numb, like he was on anasthetics. His head was not damaged at all luckily. His breathing was still good, and his self-diagnosis indicated a C11 fracture to the spine. He wouldn't walk again.

The scene around him was that of utter carnage. It reminded him of the devasation he had poured out on his little "adventure" to the Maropian coast.

He thought back a couple of moments. He was travelling on his presidential aircraft on a visit to his home states. The pilots were mentioning something about engine failure. If that was the cause, he'd have the QC arm of the SCAC cleaned out.

After what seemed like hours had gone by, Liu heard footsteps approaching. A man in PAP uniform approached him menacingly, not bothering to show the proper respect for him. Something wasn't right.

"General, it's time." the man said. There was an anger in his voice and a hint of sorrow. Liu looked closely at the features of his face. Nothing. The man took a rod-shaped piece of heavy aircraft fuselage, spinning it around like a baseball bat.

"Who are you? What ever they're paying you I'll triple it."

The man paid no attention as he stood above Liu with the component, waving it around. He stopped.

"Let me tell you whom I work for."

The man whispered something into Liu's ear, while Liu's eyes dilated with fear.
"It...can't be! That traitor!"
Liu spoke his last sentence as the aircraft fuselage was smashed into his skull.

----------------------------------

Jonathan looked at his father before reviewing the medical file that the doctor had handed to him. Four doctors all had given a terminal diagnosis, that Emperor Charles Zhang would have no way of recovering consciousness and would remain a vegetable on life support. It was now a matter of how long this would be dragged on for. Jonathan took a pen from the hand of the nurse and signed on the dotted line. He had just authorized the Emperor's life support to be removed.

Inside, Jonathan really did not feel much emotion for his dying father. The Emperor had sent his son to the United States at the age of six, out of fear for his safety and to lead a normal life away from the prying eyes of the media. Jonathan spoke with his father very infrequently, only once every couple of years. To him, his father was the provider, but nothing more. Still, he had done so much for him, given him a quality education and a good life overseas. Jonathan didn't fully realise it yet, but his successful assasination of Liu would make him the most powerful man in China. He still needed to dismantle the political machinery of Liu, but this would happen in time. If he had his way, Mao and Liu would no longer be revered, but reviled.

A telegram is sent to the Chinese consulate in Russia.

"The Emperor is dead---Long live the Emperor. With the Emperor dead or soon to be so, and Liu's mysterious plane crash, Mr. Jonathan shall soon become the Emperor of China. If our reports on his life are at all accurate, the policies he will wish to introduce shall force him to dismantle the cult of personality that surrounds Liu."

"Tell the honorable future Emperor that we have information that can help him do that. We can prove Liu to be the murderous scumbag he is---at a price."

"Our...group...is in need of military technology. Specifically, we would like to be able to request military equipment equivalent to that available to an Armored Cavalry Regiment, at any time for any purpose. This would only be a loan, of course."

"If you wish to speak more, send a representative to St. Petersburg. Our man will be waiting at a bar called Ghengis Khan, and if you wish to contact him simply drop off a note at this PO box...", after which the letter began to detail an address and a set of directions.

Signed,
The Apostles

[Hangs around, waiting to see what this fellow does. Er, tag! Still can't get in with my main account]

(I've been putting off replying until most of AMW can get back into the forums bt gah! can't wait!)

The request for military support was an enormous ask, especially as the military was full of Liu's henchman who he didn't see himself getting along well with, let alone lending their toys to a NGO controlled by foreigners. A polite "No thanks" is sent to the Apostles.

Jonathan's main worry now was for his coronation, just a week away. China could not continue the way it had been for the last decade, with constant bickering between the excessively influencial military and a pseudo-Maoist government. His coronation address was the future - filled with explosive words such as "political reform", "transparency", "grassroots democracy" and most controversially, "the end to military rule".

He took a deep breathe as he prepared to rehearse the forty minute address that would be performed in a fairly friendly audience, barring the six most senoir Sinoese generals there. There was something missing from his speech however. He quickly made a phone call.

"How's that engineer who we placed in Hualian doing? No rumours circulating?"
"He was the worst engineer ever. He just stopped turning up to work one day, the labourers don't know what to do now, they don't have any plans and such."
"Alright, find someone else. No idiots this time."

-------------------------------------

The money from the news reporter had been enough for Mr. Lim to retire and buy a nice mansion in Fujian. He had the life now, fast cars, money, cheap local woman. He lived his days decadently, drinking, smoking, sleeping until noon, and lavishing extraordinary gifts onto his many girlfriends. He had become a local celebrity, the Chinese Hugh Hefner. His fame caught the attention of many.

There was a loud knock on the door, sometime past midnight. Lim woke up, somewhat drunk and disorientated.

"OPEN THE ******* DOOR!" a voice yelled. He gasped. It obviously wasn't a friendly visit. Too drunk to think rationally, he hid under his bed to the sound of the front door coming of its hinges. There was a group of them, maybe even 5 or 6. He began to panic as the footsteps approached his room. They were big men, the thuds of their boots sounding like bass drums. He began to pray, renouncing his philandering habits, promising to burn incense to Jesus.

"WHERE'S THAT F******* JAP SELLOUT GONE? CHECK UNDER THE BED."

A massive and hairy arm took Lim by the throat and dragged him out.

"Well traitor, tell us what you told the reporter. I don't have to go and discuss the consequences do I?"

Kokyo Palace, Tokyo

Abukara Kiyoshi offered the report to Emperor Shinseiki. "Prime Minister Minase seemed rather impressed with the information, and suggested that you may wish to see it as well."

Shinseiki poured over the first few lines before a smile broke across his face. "Liu....is dead? I never thought I'd be so happy to read about a death, but it's good that he's gone. We always had him pegged as a stumbling block to Sino-Japanese relations; with Liu no longer with us, we can get our relationship with China kickstarted again."

"True, but Liu wasn't the only hardliner in the military. They may still cause problems for the Emperor-in-waiting."

"Jonathan? I think he can handle himself. Keep track of what you can, though."

The Coronation
In stark contrast to his predecessor, Jonathan's coronation ceremony would be small scale, with a few hundred of China's elite and press attending only. There were individual foreign diplomats attending as opposed to entire rooms of people. The venue was the surprising choice of the Hong Kong Convention Centre.

Jonathan had done everything he could to ensure that there would be no disturbances. The Sinoese generals had been seated at the back and had been surrounded with Jonathan's men. Premier Li was preparing for an overseas trip, and thus had been unable to attend. With the main forces of the old guard contained, Jonathan was free to express himself.

He began his speech.

"Friends, countrymen, I am honored to be placed into this position of responsibility..."

As he continued his speech, he noticed some movement in the back rows. The Sinoese generals were becoming increasingly disgruntled. He clasped his hands as he brought his tongue around the explosive phrase.

"It is time for China to become a free society, and I call on the military junta to end their political ambitions."

Almost as if it were rehearsed, five of the Sinoese generals and their families walked out, right in front of the media.

Undoubtably, news of the walkout would be all over the news the next day. During the buffet dinner that followed, Zhang sat down next to the only general who hadn't left.

"So why did you stay behind?"
"Firstly, I knew your father personally. Secondly, I know you look after your friends. Perhaps we could discuss the future of the country, another drink?"

General Chang was obviously interested in gaining a greater role in the upcoming military spending cuts. Being the careful person that he was, Zhang would make sure he was involved in a purely administrative role.

Realizing they had acted too...brashly, but still angry over their rejection, the APOSTLES decided to release all information they had about Hualien through one of their contacts in the Fox Newski, Russia's premier news service. Building some good political points with the new Chinese government was always a good idea, and any story that discredited the old Sinoese guard would certainly make Jonathan's plans of reform easier.

A small business card was left in the embassy, noting that "Whenever you need something done that...can't be done...", with the obvious implication of special ops operations that the government wouldn't want to be associated with (assasinations, starting revolts, etc.), "...you know where to call."

THE APOSTLES

The 6 'clock news the next day was a lot to stomach. Firstly there was the walkout in the coronation, a direct sign of disrespect to the Emperor. Secondly there was the footage of mass graves discovered in Hualian. Perhaps the Bonstockians were right about some things. To a large minority of Sinoese citizens, the news reports of mass graves bought up fresh wounds of the war. To them, the Bonstockians deserved it by detonating a nuclear weapon on what was essentially Chinese soil. However, most were appalled by the senseless killing, especially since Liu had preached an intergrative policy towards the Bonstockian Chinese. From an opinion poll, it seemed that the public were in support of Zhang's promises to slash military spending and increase social spending.

Jonathan was somewhat relieved to hear that there were no riots, no Sinoese generals calling it a "Western plot to attack China", and no rallies in Guangdong calling for revenge against the Japanese/Bedgellerts/Americans. It seemed he had won the struggle for power against the Sinoese "Gang of Five".

The next day, he would hold a public referendum to place former Finance minister Li Mei into the position of Premier, against the incumbent Xiannese candidate. Li Mei was extremely loyal to his father, and she had pledged Jonathan her support. General Chang would become Minister of Defence, ousting the "Gang of Five" after tearing into them on national TV.

The Apostle's contacts were kept. Although Jonathan was not in the position to offer any sort of payment, he would find some way to help them in the future.