NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is a story idea I have had for a few years now. This story starts a few months back, but will catch up quick. It does start off slow, but just give it a few days and I promise it'll be great and worth reading.

Cameron Wix sat in the Executive Office, which was on the topmost floor of the Executive Mansion, and surveyed his new desk. He opened drawers, fiddled with the computer and surveyed the art hanging around the room.
"Not to bad." he said aloud, unaware that someone was listening.
"Not to bad at all." a voice replied.
Cameron spun around to see a tall, built man in a Valladorian military uniform standing by the door. The military man saluted him, and Cameron saluted back.
"General Guile!" he said, a smile breaking across his face,"Welcome to my new office."
"Glad to be here, Mr. First Executive."
Cameron strode across the room and hugged his friend.
"Please, General, just because I'm here now doesn't mean we aren't friends."
"You call me Will, I'll call you Cameron."
Cameron nodded.
"Fair enough."
Cameron swept his hand towards the offices window.
"Have a look."
Will Guile obliged him and the two walked to the window. Before them, the whole of Federal City was basked in the warm light of the setting sun. It was a warm day in late May, and the sun promised a beautiful summer for the new leader.
"What a summer it'll be. Beautiful." Cameron said.
"too bad it'll be ruined by politics, Cam." Guile responded with a smirk.
"Yes, that is too bad."

*****

About a month later, in late June, Cameron Wix had learned what it was like to be First Executive. He had hardly gotten more then 5 hours sleep a night (if that) since taking office. His reforms were going to drain him, for sure. He sat in his office, surrounded by several advisors.
"With the exception the hardcore bureaucrats, you seem to have the Senate agreeing on at least a few key issues." said Natalie Renara, Cameron's Chief of Staff, a beautiful dark haired young woman.
"You were able to get me approved with a significant majority, and I'm as hardcore a candidate as you're gonna have for the cabinet." said Minister of State Dagger Maclean, and old, stately man with a knack for international politics.
Cameron nodded to both of them.
"That isn't going to last forever, and you know that."
The two nodded.
"Especially with Hal Markum attempting a political comeback. He'll rally them to his banner."
"He will be tough to battle, sir." said Guile, also present.
"We'll just have to do what we can." Cameron replied.

*tag*

Look forward to seeing how this pans out...

...tag...really good first post...keep it going

Hal Markum, former Minister of State and First Executive candidate, sat in his office in Federal City. It was a hot day in mid-August, but Markum's office, as always, was cool. Uncomfortably cool, to anyone but Markum. His swivel chair faced his window, but he quickly turned to face the small, shivering man standing before his desk.
"Yes?" Markum asked in a sinister tone, raising an eyebrow.
"Uhh...excuse me, sir, but I..." the man, who had the appearance of a little rat, stuttered.
"What is it, Marin?" Markum pushed.
"Professor, uh, Professor Rabon, he uh,he just transmitted those files that you, uh, requested, sir."
Marin stared at the floor, while Markum stared him down. For a moment, there was silence.
"Well?"
"Yes, sir?"
"The files, Marin." Markum commanded.
Marin nervously tossed the files onto Markum's desk.
"Sorry, sir."
"You may go, Marin."
"Yes, sir." Marin said, and he turned and hurried out of the office.
Markum picked the file up and opened it. As he read, his eyes grew wider. After a few minutes, a voice from the corner of the office piped up.
"Well?"
Another man, who Marin had not noticed, stood up. He was tall and dark and imposing, but Markum did not seem scared by him.
"Well, my friend, it appears that our great and glorious Executive is indeed who I suspected."
"The heir?" asked the tall man.
"His great-grandfather," Markum replied, "was indeed the last King of Vallicoria."
"Robert III?"
Markum nodded.
"Robert the Terrible." Markum added.
"With this informat-"
"With this information," Markum interrupted, "We can convince the people that Wix is not what he seems."
"Do you think they'll believe it? Wix is renowned for his belief in democracy and small government. They'll never buy that he's trying to restore the monarchy."
"They will. Just give him time. As he attempts to abolish the bureacracy, we can say that he's attempting more direct control. Leak this, and we'll have him."
The tall man nodded with a sinister smile.
"We will drive him into the Unknown lands and beyond! And then...and then I will be the savior of this nation, and the people will see what real power is!"

=+=VALLICORIA NEWS WIRE=+=
Federal City - A quiet day in early September was short lived, as disturbing information was leaked to the press by an unknown source this morning. The information, which experts have confirmed true, relates to the heritage of Vallicoria's First Executive, the ever popular Cameron Wix. According to the documents leaked, Wix is the great-grandson of Robert III, the last kinf of Vallicoria, who was overthrown in favor of democracy because of his tyrannical rule. Mr. Wix has admitted that the information is true, but insists he is far removed from his infamous ancestor. Opponents in the government, however, point to his attempt to take apart bureaucracy as an attempt to consolidate his power. Wix denies this.

Cameron Wix sat silently at his desk, staring out the window at the sun. It was a bright September morning, and, very soon, he would be off to the Senate, for a hearing on his recently revealed heritage.
"Sir?" a voice called from behind him.
Cameron turned. Standing in front of him was his personal secretary, Valeria Zak.
"Yes, Valeria?"
"The car's are waiting for you out front."
"Is General Guile ready?"
"Yes, sir."
The ride over would serve as his morning briefing on national issues today. The security issue was top of the order.
He left his office, files in hand, and took a lift down to the bottom floor. Once there, he boarded a limousine among a flurry of reporters. The door shut and the driver set off. Sitting inside with him were General Guile, and Dagger Maclean, Minister of State, and Natalie Renara, Chief of Staff. His other ministers were available by conference call.
"Good morning." Cameron said.
"Good morning." came the answer from all those listening.
"What news?" he asked.
"You are ware," piped up Maclean, "Of the issues with the Unknown Lands?"
"Still having problems with other national governments?" he asked.
The Unknown Lands were the lands in the west of Vallicoria. A mixture of unknown terrain, they were considered to dangerous to be tamed. A heavy veil of myth and legend and mystery surrounded them, keeping away anyone who even thought about exploring them.
"The other governments fear what could be in there." Maclean stated.
"Like monsters?" Cameron asked with a smirk.
"Like terrorists!" Maclean snapped.
"I assure you," Guole interrupted, "That there are no terrorists out there."
"How can you be certain?"
"Nobody has ever returned from the Unknown Lands, Dagger." Cameron said, taking the General's side.
"And why is that?" said Vin Mallard, the Minister of Defense,"Don't you think it might be worth looking into?"
"With all due repsect, Ministers, the place is wild. Most people probably just underestimated Mother Nature and paid the price." Natalie stated.
"The other governments are pushing us to at least send scouts into the area, for their benefit if not ours." Maclean argued.
Guile raised a hand.
"They shouldn't be interfering. This country's been around for a long time, and there's neevr been a problem before."
"We live in rough times!" Mallard shouted.
"Enough!" Cameron yelled with tenacity. He didn't yell often, but when he did, it quieted everyone, "The Unknown Lands are dangerous, yes, but not for the reason's they think. They're wild and untamed and we have more things to worry about right now then taming them. Maybe someday, but not today."
"But you hard what Minister Maclean said-"
"And you heard what Guile said, Vin!" Cameron snapped, "Nothing to worry about."
There was silence, as Cameron had won the argument and was ready to move on.
"What else? How is the Justice Department's new program of expediating legal proceedings going?"
"Very well. Defendants, prosecutors and plaintiffs all say the new guidleines make things much smoother." said the Minister of Law + Justice, Matthew Lank.
"With no infringement of rights?" Cameron asked.
"None, sir."
"Very good, very good."
With that, the vehicle stopped, and the door was opened. Cameron stepped out, and the Senate building came into full view. The others stepped out with him, and he looked at them. With that, they all walked, amidst reporters and security, to the entrance.

On a television screen in his office, Hal Markum watched the proceedings closely. His friend, the man in the dark clothes, stood by him, watching it as well.
"I hope that our friend Senator Wells knows what he is doing." Markum said.
Wells was trustworthy, but had a reputation for being a dolt at times. Still, he was greedy enough and enough of a crony of Markum that he had been entrusted the job.
"I am sure that we will proceed as planned." the shadowy man said.
"I'm sure he will." Markum said, his hissing, high class accent stressing the "sure." He ran a hand through his wild black hair. Markum was not an old man, 39 to be exact, but he had a way of holding himself that made him seem wise beyond his years. Wise and cunning, just as the way Wix carried himself made him seem regal
Arrogant is more like it, thought Markum.
Turning back to the television screen, he saw one of the Senators about to ask another question.
******************
"Will you admit you take a maverick approach on some subjects, Mr. Executive?" the Senator asked.
Cameron cleared his throat.
"I use the powers of my office to deal with certain problems I see fit. That's my job, there is nothing maverick about it."
A fat Senator at the end of the table spoke up.
"What about the dealings with the cargo unions?"
"What about them, Mr. Wells?" Cameron asked.
Wlls tapped his pen nervously on the desk.
"Isnt it, uh, true that you...that you didn't consult anyone before, uh, dismissing them from their jobs, which were, uh, vital to running this country?"
"Mr. Wells, they were going on strike. Without cargo workers, this country would have fallen apart. I did dismiss them, a power well within my legal parameters, without consultation. It doesn't take a consultation to know what would've happened had I stood by and let them strike."
"Whether or not, uh, your actions were legal, uh-"
"Are you trying to make me look like some sort of tyrant?"
Wells undid his tie a bit.
"I'm merely trying to determine, uh-what about the judicial reforms?"
"I just explained-"
Suddenly, Wells seemed to gain a confidence he hadn't had before.
"Mr. Wix, all that aside, I am trying to determine if you have any plan of restoring the monarchy outlawed after your great-grandfather!"
"Not at all!"
Cameron jumped up, and the room broke into disorder.
"Order!" yelled the hearing's chair, "Order!"
As the disorder died down, Wells stood up.
"I have hear transcripts of recording in which you stated that this country would be better run under monarchy, one of the reasons being there would be less red tape."
The room suddenly fell utterly silent.
"I..." Cameron lost his words.
Shit, he thought.
"I..."
"Did you say that?" Wells asked.
No answer.
"An answer, please, Mr. Wix." the chair said.
"I said, that...under certain circumstance," he said, swallowing hard, "That maybe it would work, but...only in theory, not really..."
"This is a country built on democracy, something you are obviously trying to take away!"
"That isn't true!"
"We've heard enough for today!" the chair stated. "Adjourned!"

"This is intolerable!" Cameron yelled, back in his office.
"The television stations are already calling on you to resign." Guile said.
"For what?" Cameron asked, "I've been setup. They took what I said out of context!"
"I know!" Guile yelled.
"Shouting won't help right now." Natalie interjected, "We need to remain calm and figure out how to deal with this."
"Hal Markum is behind this!" Cameron said.
"You don't know that." Dagger answered him.
"Hey," yelled Guile, "Look!"
They all turned towards the television mounted on the wall. On TV was Senator Wells, several other Senators, and...Hal Markum. A dark, shadowy figure was also in the group, towards the back.
"...We call on Executive Wix to resign his position,and allow the Senate to appoint one of their own..."
"He isn't even one of them anymore!" Natalie yelled.
"Not officially." said Matthew Lank.
Cameron shook his head. He couldn't believe this was happening. Suddenly, his secreatary burst in.
"Sir!" she said, "There's riots in the streets!"
"Now might be a good time to go to a secure location, Cameron!" Guile said.
"We can't just-"
"Sir!" Guile said.
Cameron nodded his head. He knew Guile was right. get away, let this calm down, and work on what to do next.
"Call out the police!" he ordered, "See that they do their best to harm nobody. Lank, do your best to see nobody is charged, just break these up."
"Yes, sir." Lank said.
"I'll take him to a secure place." Guile said, already dragging Cameron out the door.
They were out, with his bodyguards following.
"The others will follow in due time, so we can keep the executive branch working, understand?" Cameron asked Guile.
"Yes, sir."
From the shadows stepped Vin Mallard. Looking around, he darted won the hallway.
Within minutes, Cameron, Guile and two bodyguards were headed due west of Federal City
*****
An aide stepped into Markum's office, just minutes after he had returned from his press conference.
"Yes?" Markum asked.
"Your contact says the Executive's chopper took off a short time ago, headed west."
"Thank you."
The aide left.
Markum looked at the shadowy figure beside him.
"Alert your commandos."

The helicopter sped out towards the west, away from Federal City. It passed over suburbs, and into the farmlands, before again hitting suburbs, and in turn, Vallicon. It passed through Vallicon, over its suburbs, before again flying over farmlands. It was escorted by two fighter jets, and was headed to the Executive retreat at Badon Hill. Though more then a hundred miles from the beginning of the Unknown Lands, no leader of Vallicoria had ever gotten closer to those parts. It was in an isolated, beautiful area, the perfect place for an Executive to find some wuiet time to do his work.
Or watch his back,Cameron thought.
"Not much longer until we reach Badon Hill, sir." said Guile
It had been a rough ride. It was long and the copter was cramped, and when they stopped for fuel there was no stretching. Cameron had to remain unseen.
"I can't believe this is happening." he said, "Four months in office and Hal Markum's already got the riots going."
"Something fishy is going on here, sir."Guile piped up.
"That's the truth. He's made my reforms look like an attempt to take over power. And the people are believing him! And he isn't even a Senator anymore!"
"There has to be more to it than that."
Just then, the copilot stuck his head back into the main compartment of the chooper. Guile, Cameron and the two guards with them turned to look at him.
"Uh, sir, we're recieving a transmission that you may want to hear."
"Patch it through." Cameron ordered.
What now?
Abruptly, it came through.
"Attention Executive chopper. You and your fighter escort are ordered to put down immediately!"
Guile reached for the radio.
"This is General William Guile. Who are you and what is the meaning of this?" he turned to the copilot of the chopper, "Alert the nearest Air Force base to scramble a squadron out here immediately!"
"Yes sir!"
Out of the clouds appeared 10 fighters with markings Cameron and Guile had never seen before.
"Put down immediately or you will be shot!"
The two fighter escorts swooped towards the hostile squadron. The hostile squadron opened fire, and the escorts were gone.
"Jesus..." said Cameron.
"Where is that other squadron?" called Guile.
The copilot came back again.
"I can't get any long range communications sir! I think we're being jammed."
"JAMMED!?!" Cameron exclaimed.
"Put down immediately!" the hostile ordered.
"Sirs?" asked the copilot.
Guile looked at Cameron.
"Do as they say." Cameron told them.
The copilot nodded and went back to the cockpit without a word. Guile looked at the guards.
"Weapons ready." he told them, "Weapons ready!"
"Yes, sir." said two voices from the cockpit.
Guile drew his own pistol, tossed it to Cameron, then drew another from inside his uniform.
"Good luck!" Cameron told them.
The helicopter descended, slowly and carefully. Cameron looked out the window, and below saw several helicopters and trucks making their way to the landing sight. The hostile fighters swooped round and round in the sky. Finally, the copter put down, and Guile, the pilots and the two guards jumped out, weapons ready.
And then, they dropped them. Surrounding the copter were 30 soldiers, in glistening white armor and helmets. They appeared, despite the impossibility of such things, to be Imperial Stormtroopers.
"Tell the Executive to step out!" ordered one of the troopers.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" asked the copilot.
Before anyone could say anything else, the trooper had fired a laser beam at the man's chest. He was dead.
"Uh, sir!" Guile called, "You might want to see this!"
Cameron stepped out, the gun in his hand. Seeing the stormtroopers, he dropped it.
"What the..."
"Not another word!" the lead trooper shouted, "Come with us!"