NationStates Jolt Archive

Cusco, Tahuantinsuyu, 24th of June

One month ago the rebuilt walls of ancient Cusco, sacred capital of the Empire of the Inka, had deflected some part of a nuclear blast, swayed in the shockwave, and settled back into place as when faced with the earthquakes that brought ruin to countless Spanish structures raised since the historic invasions.

There could be, however, no denying the damage conferred by the Atopianan Fascist assault on the city that billions call navel of the world.

Blocks, weighing hundreds of tonnes, may have stayed in place, pockmarked now by debris flung against them during the barrage, but llamas now graze on scant pastures sprung from contaminated earth, and the people still wear their wool and ate their flesh.

Today one of these almost-glowing camelids is the focus for the attention of three million pilgrims as the Willaq Uma, or high priest, prepares it for sacrifice to Inti, the Sun God.

A quite other-worldly din spreads through the storied Andes as Quechua voices rise in adulation. These people do not clap their hands in applause but they do holler, wail, stamp their feet and cluck their tongues in a way fit to make an eerie impression on any outside observers as pipes play soft, happy tunes all around.

The squares at Cusco throng with ancient humanity as Tahuantinsuyu celebrates the Inti Raymi, the famous Festival of the Sun!

Blood is spilled to make certain that Inti will rise tomorrow and walk the skies once more, blessing his children throughout the nine day religious observance that has recaptured billions of spirits and warmed them, setting devotion hard within them like sun-baked clay.

The din will only increase as the Sapa Inka, Mighty Pachacutec, Conqueror of Colombia, Restorer of the Faith, Resister of the Pact of Iron, Only Son of the Sun, emerges from a restricted gold-plated temple to celebrate with his euphoric subjects.

So far as these people are concerned, Tahuantinsuyu has just stood with maces and darts against an onslaught of bullets and bombs, and, sacrificing four million peasants and half a million warriors on the alter of nuclear war, has survived to preserve the four corners of the gods' empire on earth!

During the ceremonies, following the Willaq Uma's sacrifice of a llama, Pachacutec restates his intention to bring the warmth of Inti to all South America, stretching the quarters of the empire over, "the remaining infidel Spaniard states, from Argentina to Venezuela!"

^

For all his disagreements with the policies of the Tahuantinsuyu Empire, N Y C president Israel Azullias had to admit a certain admiration for the hardy Andean nation. After all, indigenous civilizations not conquered during the age of exploration were virtually non-existent. And yet there it was, it's shimmering cities haughtily guarding the mountain passes.

But looking over the latest intelligence reports on the country, a little bile rose in his throat. Like any N Y Cer, he abhorred the type of super-organized, autocratic society the Sapa Inka ruled over. He was also under more than a little political pressure to say something. In a nation that arguably was the most multicultural in the world, there was always someone with a vested interest in any given event overseas. Many people in N Y C, the president included, were refugees or the families of refugees who had fled the dictatorships that rose up in Spain and Latin America during the 20th century. A full-fledged Inkan invasion of the rest of the continent would be intolerable to his nation and, he suspected, most of the rest of the world.

At the moment, however, the Inkans didn't seem to be actively invading anyone...but one can't be too careful. The president turned on his computer and looked at the map of force deployment. N Y C was a nation that always focused more on domestic development and trade, but since the fairly recent all-out war between GAPTS and the Black and Grey Imperium N Y C possessed a formidable navy and airforce. With a few clicks, he drew up a proposal for the generals to look over- small-scale deployments of ships to Rio de La Plata on the East Coast and the Galapagos on the West Coast in order to keep an eye on the situation and evacuate foreigners in case anything...eventful happened.

In the Duchal palace of the Grand Duchy of Araraukar, the news of an ancient religious ritual are greeted mainly with amused interest, serving as an easy, non-political topic of conversation for the official Council lunch at the monthly meeting of the heads of noble families.

"Such pagan rituals are an utter nonsense and a waste of valuable resources!" the Head of Araraukarian Bank snorts, gulping down his wine on one go and waving a servant over for a refill of his cup.

"I wouldn't exactly call it a waste of valuable resources, since it seems most of the land is polluted by nuclear fallout right now," the National Environmental Board headmistress observes.

"Besides," Grand Duke Araraukar himself speaks up, "old religious customs tend to have some seed of truth in them, such as the old superstition that if you eat at the table of your friend and drink his wine after you have deceived him, you will drop down dead."

As if on cue, the Head of Araraukarian Bank goes pale, clutches his throat and starts choking. Duke Araraukar motions for the palace guards to remain where they are and not call for help for the dying man. He smiles benevolently to the other Council members who are wearing different expressions of shock on their faces.

"It appears that the old superstition might have more truth in it than we thought previously, since it was just found out that he was stealing money from the National Bank via false transactions," the Duke says, smiling sweetly. **That, and the careful application of poison on the rim of his wine cup,** he finishes the thought. "Let the Tahuantinsuyu Empire have their belief, as long as they don't start looking overseas. If they do, then we'll meet again to discuss if something should be done to the pagan barbarians."

*Just a bit of background for those unfamiliar!*

Tahuantinsuyu hadn't completely survived the colonial invasions. When Pizarro's army arrived in South America the Empire was coming towards the end of a brutal civil war between half brothers Atahualpa and Huáscar and was already feeling the mysterious and terrible scourge of European disease brought by Portuguese and Spanish livestock elsewhere on the continent.

Atahualpa was close to victory when he fell to -historians suspect- smallpox, handing victory to the man who would become known as Inti Cusi Huallpa Huáscar (Son of Joy).

Pizarro captured the new Inka after a gross deception at Cajamarca, but Huáscar was no Atahualpa. He was infamously ugly, cruel, and half-mad, but also a dastardly schemer, every bit the match of the cynical Spaniard invaders. Pizarro in turn was deceived, but he was not allowed time to counter- the Inka had him mutilated and thrown from a cliff top.

The victory created a myth of invincibility about Huáscar which persisted for some time. Eventually, however, modern progress forced the borders of the Empire and Huáscar could not live forever. The Spaniards would find victory in the end, but not before Quechua culture had become ingrained across thousands of miles. The cruelty required to subdue the natives was greater than it might have been if Pizarro had won during the Empire's period of weakness, and revolt was always inevitable.

Pachacutec was the man to lead that revolt, which he did in style and blood.

Today Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and northwestern Argentina are all ruled from Cusco, and Colombia has finally fallen after a multi-way conflict between that nation, Tahuantinsuyu, and the Pact of Iron.

Far-flung territories such as the Galapagos remain beyond Pachacutec's reach, and the islands off the mainland's coast are anarchic at best, many damaged by nuclear fall-out, a few visited by Quechua fishermen, but most left to return to nature, de facto wildlife reserves around the Empire.

*In reality Atahualpa won the civil war and history unfolded as we know. The change is having his mad brother win by sheer chance of Atahualpa's contraction of smallpox, and double-cross the Spanish so that Inka culture remains stronger.*

Benjamin de Santa Ana y Mumbai, Ben for short, stared out at the glistening azure waters of the South Pacific. As captain of the Parnassus, the lead ship of the expedition's 1st group, he and his crew had spent months sailing around the island nations of the Pacific, developing good will, trade ties, plans for humanitarian aid from his country's famously generous pockets and, the government hoped, an invitation to build a naval base, considerably expanding the navy's ability to operate in the region.

Looking at the naval charts on the bridge's computer, the amount of territory they had covered was quite an achievement. Setting out from the Philippines several months earlier, the collection of five ships had been to Papua New Guinea, The Solomons, Vanatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Tuvalu. The other line on the map showed the progress of the 2nd group, which started a bit later and had been to Palau, Micronesia, The Marshall Islands and Nauru. It had been a decidedly relaxed and fun tour for everyone, but after so many weeks at sea everyone inevitably began pining for home.

At their current position, the ships would reach Bairiki, the capital of Kiribati, in under four hours. The town was the last stop on the tour and the rendezvous point with the 2nd group. The crew was looking forward to several days of festivities and then, finally, returning home. His train of thought was interrupted by the communications officer.

"We've got a message from Naval command, Captain. They want to speak with you."

Ben hurried over to the comm room and picked up the radio. He listened for a moment, put it down again and cursed. He decided to wait until they finished their time in Bairiki to speak to the crew about the change of plans. He didn't want to spoil their last stay on land for 6,700 miles. And then, first thing Monday morning, the 5 ships of the first and second groups, now under his command as well, would sail full-steam ahead 185 degrees around the equator. Next stop: The Galapagos.

Galápagos is now home to significantly more than twenty-thousand people, the population boosted slightly by refugees who managed to escape during Pachacutec's bloody aboriginal restoration.

An Ecuadorian government-in-exile remains a potential source of embarrassment and annoyance to Cusco, though in itself it represents no direct military threat, and, lacking any sort of navy, Tahuantinsuyu merely banks on the world's acceptance of the Inka's domination of Ecuador-proper.

The Ecuadorians, of course, accuse Pachacutec of all manner of horrors, claiming that terrorism was used to over-throw the government in Quito, that funds and resources belonging to the exiled government are illegally under Cusco's control, and alleging cultural genocide. The last claim is certainly easy to support as Pachacutec has declared the use of the Spanish language illegal in Tahuantinsuyu and has systematically dismantled all reference to what he calls a colonial past, from ripping down generations-old cathedrals to burning flags and books.

Cusco claims that its practice of expelling or exterminating non-aboriginal peoples ended during the war in Colombia and that Hispanics and others are now the subject of serious integration work, even being encouraged to visit the sacred capital and take part in the Inti Raymi.

"Zia? Our little Zia? But you can't mean...?"

A young mother was almost in hysterics as her Curaca tried to maintain his Ayllu's dignity before the visiting Priest.

"Now, now, my child, proper behaviour! This is a joyous and important day for the Empire. Zia's day must be perfect as she."

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry! Zia! Do you hear that? You are going to Cusco! To see the Sapa Inka!"

Zia, at most ten years old, probably less, certainly looking younger given the hardness of her infancy in the war-torn mountains, didn't fully comprehend, but did have some appreciation of Imperial grandeur.

Presently there was assembled a great procession with Zia at its core. With her went the Priest, the local Curaca, respectable members of her family, and a great entourage of ceremonial import.

The procession snaked through the Andes, taking nineteen hours to complete a relatively short trip to Cusco, sacred capital of the Inka Qhapaq (or Inca Empire). When Zia arrived in the great city she was made guest of honour at a grand feast. Meat, fish, bread, alcohol, potatoes, and all manner of rarities were enjoyed by one and all as flutes played almost constantly.

Then Zia met Pachacutec Capac Inka who had just been conferred with that new, fuller title in recognition of his martial achievements in the restoration of the Empire. She was humbled before the great lord of Tahuantinsuyu, and he was impressed by her flawlessness.

"Indeed, this child meets with my approval. She is perfect in the sight of Inti, and the gods shall be pleased to accept her. Zia, my child, you shall guide our people through this time of disasters."

With the Inka's blessings and the party fed and rested, Zia's procession set out once more for a distant mountain. This time llamas carried goods and building materials. The procession passed through Zia's home village and the little girl seemed to her friends and neighbours to have taken on an aura of serenity and, dare they say it, divinity after being blessed in Cusco by the Inka. She was calm and even offered sage assurances to her emotional parents. "I am going to the mountain, and I shall look down on you forever. Ask my advice when raising a new daughter, parents!"

The party halted many miles away, low on a challenging mountain. The llamas were unloaded and a lasting camp established. Later, a ceremonial element broke-off, Zia and the Priest heading for the summit.

The little girl was fed alcoholic broth distilled from unique Andean maize strains, and she was dressed in beautiful fabrics woven by hand with skill unparalleled in the modern world.

As she arrived at the peak, a difficult climb behind her, Zia was confronted with a newly-erected stone platform protected by substantial walls. She was lead inside, and the sounds of further ceremony broadcast from the mountain top. Observers brought statues, pots, and precious metals into the structure and departed again, leaving a small figurine in representation of Zia upon the snow outside.

Then, with Zia settling herself into a fetal position, the Priest held a bundle of cloth to the back of the little girl's head with his left hand, and raised a smooth, shaped rock in his right.

A soft thud was the end of Zia's consciousness, but not of her life. The Priest and his attendants wrapped her in more fine fabrics as she slept, still hunched over. They returned several times over coming days, leaving cocoa leaves, grass, and other offerings both inside the platform structure and in the snow around it.

Zia never awoke, succumbing to exposure while unconscious.

Back in her village, Zia's family enjoyed the respect befitting the parents of a child blessed by the Inka, and now the increased status afforded to a couple whose child had been judged perfect, sacrificed to Inti, and immortalised as a guiding spirit amongst the mountain gods.

Surely Inti would shine salvation upon Tahuantinsuyu's suffering people now that they had proven themselves willing to sacrifice one of their own perfect children, and able to raise her all the way to the sky-scraping peaks of the Andes and to keep her there eternally.

Congragulations are in order for your upcomming Festival of the Sun. I hope the event will be a joyous ocasion despite the hardships. To aid in your celebration we will be happy to send supplies of grain and cattle to augment your supplies so that your people may feast and rejoice like never before!

Sapa Inka, you once offered to my mother to come join you in this celebration. I would like to take up that offer as her sucessor as Dictator since her death, and continue to build strong ties between our two ancient nations.

"Gamulen Inka Dingirgalute"

Head of State, Dictator of Sumer, Servant to Inanna,
- Ridingir Kisikil Ninatuma

Though Sumerian aid is accepted gladly by the Empire, it is likely that all cattle will be slaughtered and consumed during the festival, as Tahuantinsuyu does not presently keep such beasts, having cleansed the land of creatures many blame for bringing the diseases that hobbled the Empire centuries ago. While modern Quechua and others have, of course, built up immunities to such ailments, the negative association remains for many. Still, a symbolic letting of the dirty animals' blood may not hurt, and grain will likely lead to fresh experimentations with local strains, of which the Empire has developed countless variations.

Sumer's new dictator would be most warmly welcomed in Cusco and invited to dine with the elite. Tahuantinsuyu's out-of-time culture and economy do not lend themselves to the maintaining of good diplomatic relations, so any respectable state prepared to accept them for what they are is worthy of courtship.

Even as festivities resound in Cusco, Pachacutec's legions march anew.

Argentina's northwestern regions of Jujuy and Salta had been incorporated into the Inka Qhapaq during the restoration several years earlier, revolts there supported by the ingress Quechua warriors proving too troublesome for Buenos Aires to resist with such little warning. But now Chaco, Tucuman, Catamarca, Formosa, Corrientes, Misiones, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Neuquen, Chubut, and Santa Cruz were all reporting sightings of suspected Inka warriors, and in many cases abductions, assassinations, explosions, and arson attacks close to their borders with the vast empire.

Apus Sinchi Yupanqui and Guaritito had deputised generals to lead infiltration efforts from their suyus -or provinces- to gather information and begin to undermine the enemy and force him to engage at close-quarters.

An invasion of Argentina looked entirely possible, even so soon after the tribulations of the Colombian affair.