NationStates Jolt Archive

Uruk, 3:45am local time

Consciousness slowly returned now with the shaking and all the noise. It seemed like it had only been a few minutes since she had fallen asleep and her head hurt. She began to slowly open her eyes, but shut them quickly as the light was blinding, artificial light from the lamp not sunlight, it couldn't be sunlight, it was barely four in the morning. Then slowly she realized someone was talking to her.

"Lushar, wake up it's urgent." Came the soft voice of whoever was shaking her awake. She rolled over, shielding her eyes as she opened them to look at whoever this was. It took her a moment to get her bearings, she had barely had any sleep and was a little disoriented.

"Lushar, up now. The Civil Senate needs you." She heard as the woman she now recognized as her aid began pulling the covers off her. She slowly sat up, shaking her head to wake herself up.

"What is it they need at this hour?" Boomed her voice finally, creaking with the dryness that this cold she had suffered for three days had brought in, her aid quickly handed her a glass of water.

"Lushar Inarunikia, the Civil Senate requires your attendance to a matter of much importance to the nation. Please ready yourself as quick as possible." A new voice, this one from a young man over by the door, a Senator most likely. Harshly she responded to him, "What could the Senate need from me that could not wait until tomorrow? Do they not know I have not been feeling well this week?"

The man staggered slightly as he began to articulate his response, no sounds yet coming from his mouth. He paused, took a deep breath, and responded. "The Civil Senate apologists for this Lushar, but this is a matter of national urgency, and we require the Dictorial Officers for a meeting, yourself included. I will leave you to dress, my car is waiting out front with a light breakfast to get you going."

She snorted at him, not completely intentionally as her nose was beginning to stuff up again, but he got the message, she was not pleased. As he turned to leave the aid closed the door, moving across the room to bring her uniform.

"What's going on Ia?" She asked, looking at her aid as she began to stand to get dressed.

"She's dead Lushar, dead." The response was a little unnerving, almost a little in shock. So she returned the obvious question, "Who's dead Ia?"
Her aid simple looked right at her, handing her a shirt, "The Dictator, Ridingir Puabi Ninatuma, she's dead."

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Counsel Chambers, Civil Senate Assembly, Uruk, 5:20am local time

The room was packed, the entire Civil Senate had assembled, along with the members of the Office of the Dictator. Here in one room was the majority of the Sumerian government, convened before even the sun had risen. If the rumors were true, then there would be much work to be done, much change. The crowds of people, many still waking up, waited eagerly for something to happen.

Quietly, from the sidelines, an old man in a white coat walked towards the center podium. He looked old and frail, but experienced. The man was followed by two others in white coats, a young man and a young woman, each carrying a folder. He was met at the podium by Erim Tabni, the aid to the dictator. Tabni quietly talked with the man momentarily before letting him step back and take a seat. She looked at him momentarily then turned to face the people who waited eagerly to understand what was going on. "Doctor Ekur here, "She spoke, motioning to the old man she had just talked with, "informs me that due to complications of the heart, at 2:56am this morning Puabi Ninatuma has passed away." She paused, looking over the crowd, With many of the officers that outranked her, and the Senators who employed her looking on, she could feel the weight of burden on her almost as much as she could feel the shock that now permeated the room. She took a deep breath, her voice staggering slightly as she continued. "As her aid and friend through her time in office I am obliged to inform you personally of this tragic event. With the approval of the Senate, I would like the honor of ordering the burial rites. The burden of governing now lies on you. With the tragedy in mind it is my hope that we can move quickly to what is needed of us, to continue the legacy of this great nation. It was the wishes of all the Dictators before, all the rulers of the land, that we continue the doctrine set forth by Lugalzagesi, the first Dictator. The house of Ninatuma has lost a great member today, let us pray that Ereshkigal will welcome her with honor, that her deeds in life go before her in Irkalla. Let us now empty the wells of the land, empty the deep wells of the land, and submit ourselves to the gods, their guidance and counsel."
Tabni stopped, now almost in tares as she finished the mostly ceremonial declaration. She turned, walking from the stage. The Senators now had a job to do, they now had to choose the next Dictator. They would be working hard, she however would move to the final part of her job as aid to the Dictator, she would prepare the funeral rites and inform the press of the tragedy. She would help the nation transition.

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Ridingir Puabi Ninatuma, 372nd Dictator of Sumer Passes Away

Early this morning Puabi Ninatuma, Ridingir of Inanna's Temple Guard, and Dictator of Sumer, passed away. The doctor who proclaimed Ridingir Ninatuma this morning will be releasing her medical files later this week, with her briefly mentioned cause of death as heart failure. The seventy year old grandmother and servant to the people will be sorely missed. Her burial rites are being prepared now, and for the rest of the week the central temple in Uruk will be mourning for her, open to all. This is truly a tragedy for our great nation.

- Sumerian National Press

Preparations Begin
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Pictured: An MCA-3 Medium Tank of the 1st Armored Regiment, Inanna's Temple Guard on maneuvers outside of Nas-Arabeh proving grounds.

By Kuri Hammurabi, Sumerian National Press

With the recent death of Ridingir Puabi Ninatuma, the country has once again prepares to rejuvenate itself with a new Dictator. The process is still in it's early stages however, and the funeral rites of the former Dictator have yet to take place. Amid the mourning there is hope, rumors abound in both the Civil Senate and the ordinary citizen about who may be chosen as the next Dictator. Currently the Popular Senate has not reached a consensus on who it will propose to the Civil Senate for consideration, but that does not stop the rumors.

Meanwhile, preparations for the funeral go onward. The date for the funeral has finally been released, and a public state funeral will be held in two weeks. The 1st Armored Regiment of Inanna's Temple Guard, the former Dictator's home regiment, has been called back from training maneuvers in Nas-Arabeh to act as the honor guard in the ceremony. Rubugal Kisikil Ninatuma, daughter of Puabi Ninatuma, is the current commander of the regiment, and will be speaking briefly to the public after the rites have been performed.

The planned funeral ceremony will take place in Uruk, starting at Inanna's temple where the body will be prepared. Following the funeral rituals there, the body will be paraded by the honor guard through old Uruk, then through the rest of the city before finally being taken to the National Cemetery outside of Uruk and buried. The entire funeral is slated to begin just after sunrise and end at sunset, so the day is being declared a national holiday.

Puabi Ninatuma was the fifth member of her family to hold the position of Dictator since the establishment of the office. Her contributions to the nation, as with those of her predecessors, will be recorded into history along with the great deeds they provided. We have truly lost a great leader, a great warrior, and a great citizen.

Final decsion on it's way

By Kuri Hammurabi, Sumerian National Press

The Popular Senate released it's pick of candidates for the next Dictator to the Civil Senate three days ago, now with the Civil Senate locked down in deliberation, away from outside influence, the list has been released to the public. The list holds five names from varying areas of the armed services, including two Temple Guard members. Included here is a list of the candidates and what is thought their qualifications.

Enanatuma Ashusikildigir, Shar of the Igimunu Ereshkigalak First Armoured Regiment, she is known for being someone who can get things done and is the first Temple Guard member nominated this time. Although relatively young for the position, this does not seem to deter her nomination.

Kisikil Ninatuma, Rubugal of the Igimunu Inannak, she is the daughter of the late Puabi Ninatuma, and has proven herself in combat numerous times as a great leader. While she would take office at a younger age then her mother did, she is expected to bring many the same qualities.

Bashaa Ekur, Palil of the Dilmun Fleet of the Chamagudkalam, he is experienced in international relations and holds an avid interest in seaborne commerce. Little else is known as to his inclusion.

Reina Inarunikia, Lushar of Internal Affairs, the current Commander of Internal Affairs for the previous Dictator, Lushar Inarunikia may be the most experienced person on the list in government matters. She has worked the past nineteen years at varying jobs within the Office of the Dictator.

Naram Sin, Ribalil of the Kishengursang Corps of the Anursangkalam, he has an international flair about him, and is considered very ambitious.

Of the five candidates for the Office of Dictator, only one could be reached for a comment. Reina Inarunikia, when asked of her thoughts on her nomination, simply responded that she would prefer to wait and see what the Civil Senate decides before thinking about it.

The Civil Senate is expected to announce it's choice for Dictator following Puabi Ninatuma's funeral. The announcement will be broadcast live on Channel One.

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Job Opertunities Open Up

By Yusia Hatuey, Sumerian National Press

The government announced yesterday that, despite current issues, the construction of new heavy industry manufacturing plants will go ahead as scheduled. The eighteen new facilities in the plan are slated to be completed within six months from now, with construction having already been underway for several months. The eighteen new plants will be used to produce armoured vehicles for the armed forces, allowing the replacement of older systems and foreign procured systems. The project is expected to be followed up with a plan to expand medical and education facilities next year.

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Zunga Kalamak - Sumerian National News

By Yusia Hatuey, Sumerian National Press

Following the public funeral of Puabi Ninatuma earlier today, a spokesperson for the Civil Senate announced to the nation the choice of the next Dictator. Following a drawn out introduction speech composed by several Senators to reflect on the previous years of government, the announcement was made that Kisikil Ninatuma would become the next Dictator of Sumer. The decision was claimed by the Civil Senate to be in the best interests of continuing the trend of internationalization, while upholding the tradition of revitalization that has been the staple of the system for so long. Over the course of the next few days she will be promoted to the rank of Ridingir, and will begin putting together the members of her Office. She is expected to give a public address in a few days when she official takes over.

In the mean time we asked some of the people who attended the public funeral and later announcement what they thought of the decision Here is just a small number of the responses we got.

"Her mother did a good job, and I find it hard to think she will not be able to love up to those expectations."

"I think it should have been Inarunikia. She has the experience, and I believe her stance on a more open international relation would be slower. We're rushing into this too fast, and it would do us better to slow down."

"We'll see how capable she is when she has to deal with the medical and education plan next year. Until then I will hold my call on her performance."

The general consensus among the population is one of caution. At twenty seven, Kisikil Ninatuma is one of only eighteen Dictators who took office before their thirtieth birthday, and many consider her possibly too young for the job. Many wonder if she will handle the increasing openness towards the international community as maturely as her mother did. Still more are unsure if she will be able to take the pressures of the upcoming cycle of social plans that the government has been intending to implement for years. Only time will really tell, however for now most people seem willing to accept the decision of the Civil Senate and, at the very least, giver Kisikil Ninatuma a chance to live up to the expectations placed upon her.