NationStates Jolt Archive


A Stone's Throw: First Congressional Election

Jagada
13-05-2006, 04:36
"The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy."
-Sun Tzu, The Art of War
New Christendom, Jagada

"Impossible," stated Highest Minister Riyabuo her eyes narrowing despite the fact no one was in the room with her.

"I'm very real, madame minister," said So-Qi from the other end of the telephone.

"The Constitutionals don't even have an office in Inn, how are they controlling the area?" she exclaimed with a very authoritarian voice.

With a moment of hesitation on the end of the line, So-Qi's voice came threw, "They're promising safer working conditions, higher wages, more time off, along with an end to corporate tax cuts at the expense of worker tax increases. Of coarse, madame, the people flocked to this, seeing as how Inn is our industrial heartland."

Riyabuo bit her bottom lip--this wasn't good. The Consitutionals weren't even a minor party last week, and now they were her parties main contenders, knocking the Reformists out of the race, unoffically. "Find some way to circumvent their movements, have local officals close to us make their campaigning a living nightmare. I will not have both the Council and the Chambers against me!"

Riyabuo slammed the phone down, and stared into the room she was in--her office that is. The Reformists never were a problem, they had radical ideas including the taxation of worship houses, those being such things as churches, mosques, temples, and even shines. Very unpopular with a highly religious people. The Consitutionals had more potential, and she did expect them to easily surpass the Reformists but not this election, and espically not this fast. The Consitutionals had the same foundations as her Nationalist party, but a different route which included restoration of the monarchy, establishment of a Corporate Council (or basically an easy way to keep an eye on the corporate owners in Jagada). She sighed, the battle for Inn was going to have to occur. Even if Nationalist officals in Inn could delay the message of the Consitutionals--it would not prevent its spread via local gossip. Suddenly her mind snapped to attention--gossip. She leaned back in her chair and thought--gossip was a powerful tool in Jagada, the only thing worse for a person than gossip it bad gossip, lies basically.

She picked up her telephone and pressed a variety of buttons. It rang only once before she heard it picked up, "Sz here."

"Sz, I have a job for you. It requires you to be subtle, but quick with your tongue, you got the skills?" she asked calmly. Only a single word was given, "Yes".

---

Three days later at Inn....

"What do you mean we have to have a permit?" exclaimed Jose to the police officer standing before him.

"Listen pal, I'm just doing my job. No permit, no rally. Clear?" stated the firm police officer dressed in blue, being flanked by an entire line of officers holding back the crowd from storming into the park.

"We've been holding rallies across the city for weeks, and you never intervened about some permit. Why now?" shouted Jose.

"Hey buddy, keep your voice down for starters. Secondly, I don't say who does and who does not need a permit, I only enforce what the city council tells me to enforce. Go take it up with them. In the mean time, unless you and your friends all want to go to jail for disturbing the peace--I advise you to be on your way," stated the police officer with a very firm voice, almost insulting in tone.

Jose didn't say anything for about a minute--as if tempting the police officer. The officer in blue then raised his hand, and suddenly from almost out of no where, dozens of police ran forward, their wooden katana swords draw and ready, slowly encircling the crowd on three sides. The officer looked back at Jose, "Last chance."

Jose lowered his head slightly and then turned back to his fellow supporters, "The rally is canceled for today. We shall inform you when the next one is, and where it is being held." With those words the group of supporters, numbering around hundred began to retreat threw the one opening the police encirclment and dispersed.

One of the officers standing next to the Captain, that one being the one who spoke to Jose, leaned over to him, "I got a bad feeling about this. Odd that the city council would bar such a popular party from holding a rally."

"Jagite politics are never pretty, only difference now is that it has to play by vague rules, instead of no rules," said the Captain had he continued to watch the supporters walking away shouting insults and taunts at the police as they did. Indeed, this was just the calm before the storm.

Unknown to the officer, sitting the park was a woman clad in normal clothing, which was a green shirt and blue jeans. She had large sunglasses on and as soon as seeing the crowd disperse she got up and made her way out of the park, being sure to avoid the police. She walked towards a building, her target more or less, it was small and simply apart of a much larger building, or strip center, which held various businesses. She went specifcally towards this particular cafe, called The Golden Horn. Its name would imply the less intelligant of society would be here--drinking away their pain on water or moonshine which occasionally found its way into such places. Though this was, this Golden Horn, was the center of Inn's rather interlectual group. It had students, businessmen, along with the intelligant workers of the city. She walked in and immideately all eyes turned on her, this place obviously had usual customers, and she wasn't one of them. She made her way to the counter, with the eyes still watching her. A man stood behind the counter, also staring at her.

"Yes mame, what can I get for you?" said the man, obviously trying to focus in on anything she said.

"Coffee, please. Black and strong will do fine," she stated calmly. She felt the eyes wander off of her, as if their focus was elsewhere. About that time she heard the door open and turned around to see a youngman, about twenty-four and with a dark complextion walk into the cafe--but the eyes of the people soon went off of him and as he appoarched the counter he got a greetings from almost everyone he passed. Sz knew this man, he was Jose Malaga, the leader of the Consitution Party's rallies in Inn--a smallfry in the grand scale of things but for her task he was vital. Gossip could char his reputation, but debate could cripple it. He walked up next to her, while she waited for her coffee and he quickly noticed she wasn't a regular. "I haven't seen you here before, whats your name," he said with an obviously arrogant attitude.

"Sz Zu, yes a funny name, but thats what you get when your parents have a sense of humor," she stated with a snicker. He suddenly loosened up and smiled, "True, I'm Jose, so you new to Inn?" he asked.

"No, not really. I usually don't travel to this part of town, I live on theopposite end. I just happened to be over here and wanted some coffee...as you can tell," she said as her coffee was handed to her. He laughed, and ordered his coffee the same way. Sz then went to her seat, knowing full well he was interested. As she sat down she acted oblivious to him and simply read the newpaper which was also on the table, curitosy of the cafe, while drinking her coffee. Jose got his coffee, thanked the man behind the counter, and made his way over to her. He sat down, "Do you mind?"

"No, go ahead. Its always good to have company," she stated.

He sat for just a moment, observering her, which she got nervious about--she wasn't well known as a Nationalists but if Jose was high enough up the Constitutional power ladder, he would know of her, if not by name, then by looks. "Have you ever considered getting into politics?" he asked.

She finished a sip of her coffee, which was steaming hot, and replied calmly, "Well sort of, but I really don't know which party suits me the best."

She knew him, and his male ego, would take the bait, and he did just that, "Then may I interest you in joining the Consitutional Party's rally. We were suppose to have one today, but obviously facist elements in our city council have prevented it. It angers me to see them so opposed to progress," he stated.

She nodded, and smiled internally, now he had grabbed the hook and all she had to do was reel him in, "Really? What does your party stand for? I haven't really read into it in depth," she asked.

Jose was obviously a popular guy in this cafe, as a few eyes were now fixed on their conversation--as if waiting for him to score another supporter for the Consitutionals. "Well, we believe in progress more or less. Such as the taxation of worship houses, the teaching of both evolution and creationism, not simply creationism in the schools, along with the forced acceptance of homosexuals in many of the cities which still make it illegal--like Pax Topazia for instance. The Nationlists don't think this way, and thats what makes them to backwards. Change needs to come to Jagada, we have survived extermination and now we know that our theocratic ways didn't earn us friends," he stated.

A grin formed across his face, barley though and not noticeable to him as he was far too busy wrapped up in his speech, "So the Consitutionals think we should change our laws and traditions to appease foreigners?" she stated, and a bit loud too.

Jose froze in his speech and looked at her, knowing he'd tripped up, "No, no. Though we have to show progress to the world, or else we'll be alone and we've lost nine wars. So if we have to change tradition in order to ensure we have allies to prevent another extermination."

"Odd, I just read in the newspaper," she said sliding it over to him, "The Translyvania is going to be building ten bases for the purpose of protecting us, Count JWolf has shown friendship to Highest Minister Riyabuo. Not to mention Kahanistan is helping our economy by exporting some resources to us, along with giving us a good reputation with other countries. The Beltway too, and all without sacrificing tradition," she stated.

Jose was dumbfounded for just a moment, and now he realized more than a few people were now staring at him and this Sz Zu, "Maybe, but we all know what the Count did when Jagada was exterminated. He didn't even bother to send troops to help us, he retreated to his base and hid until the Kravenites left. I can only assume he'll do the same thing if Kraven returns, and he may just help them if Jenrak is also involved again."

"I see..but you do also know that the Highest Minister is working towards securing Malaga from the Jenrakians--peacefully. I also saw on the news a few days ago that the Count has thousands of Jagites in the Dominion--he saved them from the Kravenites. Also, Malaga is full of Jagites, not Jenrakians. So that means Jenrak saved Jagites as well. So I don't see your point in how the Count won't defend us if the time comes," said Sz keeping that same oblivious tone in her voice, but she clearly saw Jose getting confused and trapped.

He didn't speak for a moment, and now the entire cafe seemed focused on him and Sz, "Well, since you don't have an answer to that. May I ask why worship houses will be taxed? They aren't legimate businesses--how can you tax worship," she asked.

Jose's face lit up, as if he knew he could win this one, "Churches, mosques, and the like have to be taxed. They get an income just like a gentlemens club, and just like a business."

Sz took a sip of her coffee and put it down, "But that income is from donations from the people--not a membership tax. I'm a Baptist myself, and I've never had to pay the church to continue worshiping."

Jose's face began to show a hint of annoyance, "What is this money spent on? Paying to priests, paying for church improve. Churchs often give money to politicans, like how the Nationalists pretty much have the entire Methodist denomination on its side."

"There are laws on that though. The church has to hold special offers for that sort of thing, and the people cannot be told to due to by their pastor or kicked out of the church. So I don't really see your point."

Jose lowered his head again, and took a drink of his coffee and kept drinking it, as if trying to burn the shame from him. Sz continued her oblivious outlook even when Jose lifted his head again, "Though, the homosexuals in our country are under oppression and that is more important than simple worship taxtation!"

He was clearly angry, and now the cafe seemed to lean in on their conversation as if they were two master martial artists about to fight. Sz decided to block the first punch, "How so? There are national laws which protect homosexuals, they just don't permit them to marry. Is your party advocating legalization of homosexual marriage?"

Jose waved his hand frantically, "No! Never! My party adovcates forcing those cities which has refuses to lift the ban on homosexuality. To end their imprisonment of them for simply being homosexual and to force the governemtn to ensure their protection."

Sz moved in the for the kill--or the knock out blow as it was sometimes called, "Force? You told me your party seeks to help people, and to be fair to everyone. Now you say you shall force these cities? Forcing them would only ensure the extremeist elements of the city became enraged, then you have crime rates increase because these extremeists attract the youth who feel force isn't nessecary."

Jose was now in a rage, and his words were poorly chosen, "Fair? I never told you my party was fai--" he suddenly stopped realizing his folly.

There was muttering the cafe, quickly forced the now sweating Jose to look around. "So you're party isn't fair? Well then, by your own admission, your party seeks to destroy Jagite tradition to appease foreigners, force people to pay to worship to God, you seek to force people's hand, and you now say your party isn't fair. I think I've heard all I need to hear. I think the Nationalists will have my vote," she said beofre getting up and walking out, leaving a tip on the table for the store. As she walked out she could hear a lot of muttering and groups speaking, almost frantically as if lost. She smirked and mutter to herself, "Score one for the Nationalists."

Thus the battle of Inn was began--and thus far the Nationalists had scored a critical victory over their Constitutional counterparts.
Jagada
13-05-2006, 19:36
New Christendom, Jagada

"Yes mame. I will ensure that those Connies don't set foot in a single park in Inn," said Zhoaz in a deep country (southern) acsent, "I trust you're pleased with how I prevented them from entering the Lordship Park?"

Riyabuo never did like Zhoaz's country ascent, it made him sound more foolish than he actually was, and it was annoying when hearing it over a phone, "Yes, I am surprised you moved so quickly. Do not worry, the Consitutionals will not get Inn's vote. We've already crippled their voice, and you've crippled their movement. There is not much left they can do."

As Riyabuo hung up the phone she looked at the two other men standing in her office--Alfred Rednight, the Foreign Minister, and Uhowego Fong, the chairman of the Nationalist Party. "Rednight, what have you to report?"

Alfred Rednight, his red hair impling no treason to his last name due that it was so red it was almost black, replied in his typical arrogant voice, "Well, madame, we have heard from sources in Malaga that Lord Egos is willing to speak with us regarding the transfer of Malaga to Jagite hands."

Riyabuo leaned back, getting Malaga back was suppose to be a grand war. It was one reason she went to the Translyvania, to prevent the Count from getting involved, and to get into the war before the Count's bases were complete and thus limit his interference. Though if the Jenrakians were willing to hand it over without bloodshed--that would be a diplomatic and political coup, something the Constituionals would clearly suffer from. The Congressional Elections were in about a month and both her Nationalists and Ibiwabo's Constituionals were spending millions on campaigning in their respective election districts.

"Uhowego, what about the chances for the party?" she questioned. Uhowego lowered his head, clearly not a good sign, then replied, "Well, Madame Minister, appearntly the Connies aren't just making gains in Inn. They opened an office in Genisis, and the media has shown them to be strong in the less population northeastern regions of the country."

Riyabuo didn't looked surprised, "You can never trust the media. I suspect they have been bought out. I didn't think the Constitutionals had those kinds of funds to buy corporations, but appearntly I was wrong. They must be promising them to keep all these corporations out of the Corporate Council they'd establish. Layers upon layers."

---

Ibiwado Hokkaido, the leader of the Consitutional Party, smiled as he heard the answer from the man before him, a simple aid he was--but he was bringing good news of sorts. "Sir, appearntly the Nationalists have more power over Inn than we first suspected. They've managed to covince the city council to suspend us from most of the town areas where we can get any support--restricting us to major Nationalist supporting areas of the city. Also, appearntly a suspected Nationalist agent has crippled the reputation and respect of Jose--our parties rally leader in Inn. That is all."

As the aide walked out, there was a stir of commotion, as the man and the woman sitting in his dark brown office with only a single lamp began to speak nerviously to each other. Ibiwado raised his hand, which both surprisingly saw threw the darkness of the room, "Calm down. This was all apart of the plan, remeber?"

The sat almost with blank looks on their faces, Ibiwado sighed, "We knew the Nationalists would rush into Inn as soon as they heard we began getting support. Inn was the most obvious target we could have hit. I'm surprised the Nationalists didn't already have major political defenses set up--a sign that they are arrogant and unsuspecting of our abilities even in areas were we should inherently have support. Now, our target wasn't Inn, remeber? It was Pax Topazia. Sun Tzu says to appear where you are not expected--they would never suspect Pax Topazia. It is prehaps one of the major power bases of the Nationalist Party--but at the same time, its probably even less politically defended than Inn."

Souzo, the man sitting there, replied, "What about Genisis and our campaigns in the northeast regions?"

Ibiwado sighed, "Genisis is the most liberal city in Jagada--they even have some minor secularist feelings--a pity as our party is staunch anti-secularists. Though they will vote for us, as we have some liberal beliefs. I doubt the Nationalists will even try to oppose us in Genisis--they may even simply hand the city over. It'd be a waste of money, more or less, to try and fight for it. As for the northeast, it too doesn't like the Nationalists and they're feelings on protective tariffs in agriculture. So unless the Nationalist choose to reform their belief system and support absolute free trade--then the northeast is also ours. Though, the Nationalists think that the deiciding factor to how many seats they gain will be in Inn. We shall allow them to have Inn, and thus the majority of seats in the Congressional Elections. We, in the mean time, will take Pax Topazia and cripple their power base. Shake up their foundation, and set them up for failure."

The man and women smiled, seeming very pleased at their leader's plan. Though Souzo spoke back up aftering just a few moments of appeasment, "Sir, how are we going to prevent them from simply banning our rallies like they did in Inn?"

"We aren't," said Ibiwado, "Not at first anyway. Pax Topazia is known from having less than honorable police chiefs and the like. I have a few of them that have allowing the glint of icon to distract them."

Souzo smirked, "Then shall I have the operation commense?"

Ibiwado, "Yes, commence the operation. Inform the media to begin bombarding Pax Topazia with pro-Constitutionalist ads, also."

Souzo bowed and then he and he woman he was with left the room. Ibiwado didn't like Souzo at all--not even a little bit. He was incompetant, foolish, and lacked creativity. He was also boring beyond compare. His wife, the woman he was with, had more control of the party than he did. She was just as foolish, but had cunning. He though for a moment on how to get rid of them--as Souzo was publically known to be a fool, and the Nationalists did a masterful job of overdoing their campaign to make him look like more of an incompetant that he was--if that was even possible. Souzo was a good tool, at first anyway, he was semi-popular figure in Jagada following the the establishment of the Republic. He gain the Consitutionals enough supporters to make themselves an offical party. Though now he had very few supporters, and even fewer would leave the party if he was thrown out. Then again, Souzo could have one last purpose--be useful one last time to redeem himself. "We've always needed a martyr."