Susanica
22-01-2006, 23:56
The fire-fight had lasted only a few hours, and even then was localised to the area around the Presidential Mansion, where the Presidential Guard had refused to surrender its positions to the incoming forces. Even so, it was a largely bloodless coup, and the majority of the population say for those in the centre of Susanica City were unaware of the change in government until they awoke the next day to discover a suspension of regular television and a constantly-replayed message on all channels.
The message began with a patriotic sounding of the first bars of the Susanican National Anthem against a fluttering flag, not of the Susanican flag but of a red flag decorated with a yellow rifle at the centre of the rectangle. The screen then faded to show the Presidential Office, with the characteristic large oak table and neo-classical decorative style that the citizens of Susanica had become used to. Behind the desk stood a pair of flagpoles, with the same red-and-yellow-rifle flag draped between the two, and in front of this display sat General Julian Sabbath, known to citizens of the nation as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Julian smiled momentarily. He was adorned in his olive green dress uniform, with gold braid, medals and ribbons hanging from his chest and arms like a militarised Christmas tree. In one hand was a large cigar that smoked lazily from a glowing end, a small gold ribbon ringed around the butt of the object. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” the General began. “Citizens of Susanica, I bid you welcome. You all know me as a man of honour, and as a man of patriotic love for his country. It is with this in mind that I now come forward in our hour of need to rescue Susanica from destruction.”
Julian stood up and walked across the room, the camera swivelling to maintain focus on him. The General paused in front of a board that displayed a picture of the former leadership and its key staff, each with a neat cross through their pictures. Julian continued. “Yesterday, military forces loyal to my command, under the guise of established training manoeuvres, took the opportunity to move in and secure key positions throughout the capital and the surrounding cities. Resistance has been practically non-existent, and the people have welcomed my forces with open arms.”
The camera momentarily changed to a picture shot from the top of a tank as it rolled through Garden City, south of the capital. People lined the streets, cheering and waving as the column of soldiers moved along the road, with women embracing the soldiers that ran escort alongside the armoured vehicles. The screen then changed again, this time showing several men in grey prison suits, shackled around the arms and legs and moving slowly along a prison ground with an infantry escort. Julian’s voice continued; “Seen here, the traitorous President and his vice-President, along with several of his cabinet, now under control of the glorious revolution.”
The screen changed back to Julian in the Presidential Office. “I have also authorised the arrest of the entire National Assembly,” he announced. “All 300 members of the Assembly have been detained into camps around the nation, with their fate yet to be decided.”
Julian walked back over to his chair. “Under the power invested within me by the revolution, I have declared myself Generalissimo of Susanica, and hereby announce the establishment of a People’s Republic. The new government will be appointed within time.”
The Generalissimo sat at his seat once more, and clasped his hands. “I promise to serve my country as its leader in a kind and benevolent manner befitting the People’s Republic, to ensure that the injustices of the past administration are not repeated.” He stood, turning to salute the new flag. “Glory to Susanica!”
The screen then changed back to the picture of the fluttering flag, with the bars of the Susanican anthem playing once more.
The message began with a patriotic sounding of the first bars of the Susanican National Anthem against a fluttering flag, not of the Susanican flag but of a red flag decorated with a yellow rifle at the centre of the rectangle. The screen then faded to show the Presidential Office, with the characteristic large oak table and neo-classical decorative style that the citizens of Susanica had become used to. Behind the desk stood a pair of flagpoles, with the same red-and-yellow-rifle flag draped between the two, and in front of this display sat General Julian Sabbath, known to citizens of the nation as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Julian smiled momentarily. He was adorned in his olive green dress uniform, with gold braid, medals and ribbons hanging from his chest and arms like a militarised Christmas tree. In one hand was a large cigar that smoked lazily from a glowing end, a small gold ribbon ringed around the butt of the object. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” the General began. “Citizens of Susanica, I bid you welcome. You all know me as a man of honour, and as a man of patriotic love for his country. It is with this in mind that I now come forward in our hour of need to rescue Susanica from destruction.”
Julian stood up and walked across the room, the camera swivelling to maintain focus on him. The General paused in front of a board that displayed a picture of the former leadership and its key staff, each with a neat cross through their pictures. Julian continued. “Yesterday, military forces loyal to my command, under the guise of established training manoeuvres, took the opportunity to move in and secure key positions throughout the capital and the surrounding cities. Resistance has been practically non-existent, and the people have welcomed my forces with open arms.”
The camera momentarily changed to a picture shot from the top of a tank as it rolled through Garden City, south of the capital. People lined the streets, cheering and waving as the column of soldiers moved along the road, with women embracing the soldiers that ran escort alongside the armoured vehicles. The screen then changed again, this time showing several men in grey prison suits, shackled around the arms and legs and moving slowly along a prison ground with an infantry escort. Julian’s voice continued; “Seen here, the traitorous President and his vice-President, along with several of his cabinet, now under control of the glorious revolution.”
The screen changed back to Julian in the Presidential Office. “I have also authorised the arrest of the entire National Assembly,” he announced. “All 300 members of the Assembly have been detained into camps around the nation, with their fate yet to be decided.”
Julian walked back over to his chair. “Under the power invested within me by the revolution, I have declared myself Generalissimo of Susanica, and hereby announce the establishment of a People’s Republic. The new government will be appointed within time.”
The Generalissimo sat at his seat once more, and clasped his hands. “I promise to serve my country as its leader in a kind and benevolent manner befitting the People’s Republic, to ensure that the injustices of the past administration are not repeated.” He stood, turning to salute the new flag. “Glory to Susanica!”
The screen then changed back to the picture of the fluttering flag, with the bars of the Susanican anthem playing once more.