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The best burial shroud...

Pelasgia

Established Nation
Joined
Sep 30, 2014
Messages
4,255
Location
Athens, Greece
Nick
Demos
Welcome to my internal/government RP, where I flesh out my nation's day to day workings while giving a bit of background on my government's policy and decisions! Hope you find it interesting and helpful! Feel free to comment at anytime. A list of all major characters is available in the comments for anyone in need of it. ~ Demos Great Palace of Propontis, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
25/2/1956, 8:06 AM

The Propontine winter was coming to its end. A light mist covered the Imperial Capital, while the temperature was slightly above ten degrees Celsius. Irakleios walked through the courtyard of the palace, his steps making a distnct sound as they touched the marble tiles of the floor, in the otherwise empty courtyard. The building that laid before him was the home of the Propontine Emperor, as well as that of all of his countless predecessors and successors. It was the epitome of Propontine Imperial architecture, a testament to the wealth of both the Basileuousa, the "Reigning" (Capital) City, as well as the Empire in its entirety. Fine corinthian pillars and ornate walls, decorated with geometric patterns, scenes from mythology and Tiburan history and plant shapes, covered the white and crimson surface of the gigantic marble structure that served as the centre of Pelasgo-Tiburan civilisation, or what remained of it.

Irakleios had gone through that very same courtyard for years, being dropped of at the gate by his chauffeur. And every day he did exactly what he was about to now; he stopped and looked at a large, marble statue that laid near the gate of the Palace: the statue of Empress Despoina, though the way the statue had been crafted could have very well fooled one into thinking it was a stutue of the Virgin Mary herself... if one didn't know ORthodox Christians did not make statues of religious figures. On the base of the statue there was an inscription with the words the Empress had told her husband, Emperor Sabbatius the Great, when he was considering fleeing Propontis to avoid "the burial shroud" during the Nika riots. «Κάλλιστον ἐντάφιον ἡ βασιλεία.»; "Imperialdom is the best burial shroud." Irakleios took off the Kepi that covered his head as part of his officer's uniform, slightly bowed his head and continued walking after putting his cap back on.

He moved past the statue and walked up the stairs of the Palace's exteriror, the Varangian Guards who stood guard near the door standing in attention at the sight of him. The men were all very tall, both for the southern lands of the Empire as well as their far away northern Fatherlands. Mostly fair and pale in all their characteristics and well built, the Varangian guards had been the Emperor's finest personnal bodyguards for centuries since their barbarian ancestors first caught the Emperors' interest due to their unmatched skill and ferocity in combat. Wearing grey winter uniforms, with golden threaded details and decorative patterns, as well as black Shakos with the Imperial sigil cast upon them in gold, the gaurds gripped their ceremonial bolt-action rifles with the fixed bayonets as the Marshal walked near them. He gave a small salute with his cap as one of them opened the Palace's door for him. Normally he wasn't supposed to, but he always made a point of being warm to the troops, especially the elite ones. Once into the lavish halls and upon the mosaic-covered floors of the Palace, Irakleios was greeted by a familiar voice belonging to the man Irakleios considered the finest, and only noteworthy, servant in the entire Palace.

«Καλήμερον, κύριε Ἀρχιστράτηγε. Ὁ Βασιλεὺς καὶ οἱ Ἐοὶ Ὑπουργοὶ ἀναμένουσι ὑμὰς ἐν τῷ Θαλάμῳ τοῦ Συμβουλίου.»
"Good day, Sir Marshal. The Emperor and His Ministers await you in the Chamber of the Council."

They aren't waisting a moment Irakleios thought. He smiled and replied to the servant, who had become something of a friend after so many years. The man himself wasn't very impressive, at least for the standards of the Great Palace; he was dressed in a fine suit, probably an Atthine Aslanis or a Nymphene Raptopoulos, wearing golden glasses, probably Justine, and a small, golden pin, bearing the sigil of the Imperial Dynasty, a gift to him by the late Emperor-father for his long and excellent service to the Imperial family. He was rather short, at about 1,65 m, with a wrinkly old face, green eyes and grey hair. Yet his honesty was something rare within these mighty halls and that had captured Irakleios's attention from quite early on.

«Καλήμερον. Εὐχαριστῶ σέ, Νικόδημε.»
"Good day. Thank you, Nikodemos."

«Παρακαλῶ, κύριε Ἀρχιστράτηγε.»
"You're welcome, Sir Marshal."

Irakleios moved forward, walking up the stairs of the palace with such familiarity one could almost think he was a machine programmed for that tasked or a Varangian doing his rounds. The soldiers opened the doors of the Chamber of the Imperial Council. The room was full of light, coming in from the large windows on its left side, which looked out to the sea, while being just as ornate as the rest of the palace, with tyrian purple mantles and curtains, mosaics, gold plated surfaces, crystal chandeliers and fancy wooden furniture. At the centre a large wooden table, covered with maps, documents and other belongings of the various Ministers and the Emperor who sat around it. He bowed and greeted the Emperor and the Ministers.

«Μεγαλειότατε, Ἀξιότιμοι Ὑπουργοί· Καλήμερον.»
"Your Majesty, Honourable Ministers; Good day."

The Emperor replied with a cordial smile, recognising the man who had served as a loyal general to his father and somewhat of a fatherly figure to him, too.

«Ἡράκλειε, εἶ, ἐπιτέλους, μεθ'ἡμῶν. Παρακαλῶ, κάθισε. Διψῇς, Ἡμέτερε φίλτατε;»
"Irakleios, you are, at last, with us. Please, take a sit. Are you thrirsty, Our friend?"

«Ὀλίγως, ναί, Μεγαλειότατε.»
"A bit, yes, Your Majesty."

«Πέμποιτο ὄλίγον ὕδωρ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ.»
"May some water be brought to the man."

A servant walked in with a glass of water, leaving it onto the table in front of where the Marshal was sitting, before exiting the room once more. The Emperor took a breath before speaking.

«Συζητούσαμεν, ὁρᾷς, περὶ ἀνέμων καὶ ὑδάτων. Μεταξὺ αὐτῶν παρήσθη καὶ τὸ θέμα τῶν ἐντάσεων ἐν τῇ Μαρκᾷ Θαλάττῃ, λόγῳ τοῦ ἀποκλεισμοῦ τῆς Ἰουστίνης ἐκ Καδικικῶν ναυτικῶν δυνάμεων. Ὁ ἔντιμος Ὑπουργὸς τῶν Ἐξωτερικῶν ἐνημέρωσε ὑμὰς πρὸ ὀλἰγον. Κύριε Ὑπουργέ;»
"We were discussing, you see, winds and currents (ie. current events). The issue of the tensions in the Long Sea, due to the blockade of Justiza by Kadiki naval forces, was among those which presented themselves. The honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs briefed us a bit ago. Sir Minister?"

«Ἐσμὲν ἐν μέσῳ ἐμπορικῆς προσεγγίσεως μετὰ τῶν Καρινθίων καὶ ἡ σφετέρα Αὐτοκρατορία ἐστὶ βαθυτάτως ἐνοχλημένη μετὰ τῶν Καδικίων. Ἐπιπλέον πολλά κράτη τῆς περιοχῆς, ὠς αἱ Πολιτεία τῆς Ἐγγοῦς Ἀνατολῆς εἰσὶ βαθυτάτως προβληματισμέναι καὶ ἐστὶ σχεδὸν σίγουρον ὄτι πράξουσι. Ἡ Ἰουστίνη ἐστὶ μία χώρα φιλικὴ μεθ'ἡμῶν λόγῳ ἱστορίας καὶ πολιτισμοῦ. Πιστεύομεν ὄτι μία συντονισμένη δράσις ἀνακουφήσεως πέμψει τὸ σωστὸν μήνυμα τοῖς Καδικίοις. Ἐθέλοιμεν ἴνα συντονίσωμεν μία τέτοιαν δράσιν.»
"We are in the midst of a trade rapprochement with the Carinthians and their Empire is most deeply annoyed at the Kadikis. Furthermore many states in the region, such as the States of the Near East (ie. the Levantine States) are most deeply troubled and its almost certain that they shall act. Justiza is a country that is friendly to us due to history and culture. We believe that a coordinated relief action shall send the right message to the Kadikis. We would like to coordinate such an action."

«Καὶ θέλετε τὴν ἐμὴ συμβουλὴ λόγῳ τῆς γνώσεως μου ἐπὶ τοῖς στρατιωτικοῖς τοῦ Κράτους;»
"And you want my advice due to my knowledge of the State's military affairs?"

«Ἀκριβῶς.»
"Precisely."


«Οὐ προτείνοιμι ἴνα ἄρχωμεν ἕνα πόλεμον μεγάλης κλίμακος, ὅμως, σιγούρως, μία κοινὴ ἐπίδειξις δυνάμεως βιβᾷ τοὺς Καδικίους εἰς τὴν σφετέραν θέσιν. Οὔτως ἢ ἄλλως, εἰσὶν ἤδη ἀπησχολημένοι μετὰ τῶν Καρινθίων καὶ τῶν Ἱβερνίων ἐθνικιστῶν ἐν τῷ Βοῤῥᾷ. Οὐ δύνανται ἴνα ὑπομένωσι μία σύγγρουσιν δύο μετώπων.»
"I would not recommend starting a large scale war, but, certainly, a joint show of force will put the Kadikis in their place. Either way, they are already busy with the Carinthians and the Ivernish nationalists in the North. They cannot withstand a two-front conflict."

The Prime Minister, who had been observing quietly, turned to the Emperor and spoke.

«Μία σύνοδος μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἐθνοφρόνων δυνάμενεων εἴη μία καλὴ ἰδέα.»
"A summit with the other nation-minded (ie. very nationalist; euphemism for chauvinist/ultra-nationalist) would be a good idea."

The Emperor nodded by moving his head up and down before replying.

«Καλῶς. Τακτοποιεῖτε τήν.»
"Very well. See to it."

Elenonisos, Theme of Actaea
26/2/1956, 2:03 PM

Laonikos thrusted his pickaxe into the hard, solid rock of the island once more. The distinct 'clunk' sound was yet again followed by bits of broken rock flying here and there as he raised his pickaxe for another hit. He rested the tool on his right shoulder, while he wiped the sweat off of his forehead his his left hand. He looked away from the grey, rocky ground of the island into the Kymatian Sea, the ever extending Archipelago of countless Pelasgian islands that acted as the northernmost frontier of the Empire. As a kid, he always wondered if one could see the shores of Gallo-Germania if they were to swim far enough into the sea. Perhaps that was why he became a sailor... and then a smuggler. Perhaps it was just that almost everyone in his hometown, Thorikos, a small town on the rocky shores of Actaea, the region where Atthis is located, right under the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sellion, was either a worker at a factory or a fisher, some doing both. Perhaps he had just wanted to be free, in true Actaean spirit. Perhaps he just liked having a girl and a bed at all noteworthy, and some less noteworthy, ports in the Long Sea. Perhaps it was none of that. Who knows? Yet one thing was for certain: that life was now long over; even worse it had landed him here.

All states need a way to take care of undesirables. Even the people in his homeland, Actaea, whose capital, Atthis, gave the world Democracy, did not hesitate to execute Socrates once he threatened the establishment. Nor did they hesitate to send countless more great Atthites into exile once they had outgrown their immediate usefulness. The country Laonikos had been born and raised in had no regard for petty inconveniences such as Democracy and Free Speech. There used to be a time when they did... but that time grew more distant, both literally and metaphorically, by the day, being replaced yet again, as it had been 1429 years ago, by the grand policy of "One Empire, One Law, One Church". This Empire, in all its majesty, took care of dissidents and other such 'scum' by shipping them off to the islands of the Archipelago.

For most foreigners and mailanders a trip to the Pelasgian islands meant a splendid summer... as long as they want to the fertile, big, well-known and inhabited islands. These islets on the other hand; they were simple pieces of rock, sticking out of the water like a skull that had been washed up on a beach, with a burning hot sun always above them, save for large storms during winter time, and nothing but countless rocks, wasps and a few wild plants here and there. This island had everything in short supply, save for misery. Then again, it was Helen of Ilion who gave her name to this island when she stopped here. It would only make sense that a person whose very name was associated with the plight and death of good Pelasgians, good people, would gift said name onto an island not so much unlike her. Then again one of the more educated people on the island, some Classicist scholar from Therme who went a tad too far with his love for all things Classical, spoke of how, according to some ancient playwright called 'Euripides' she was actually innocent and it was all a trick of the Gods. If you asked Laonikos, only a fool would speak of Gods and Ancients, having seen a place such as this; for such talk required hope and hope was in short supply in such a place.

Laonikos spat on the ground, in a silent show of contempt. Yet, just as he was done wiping his mouth, the feeling of the metal rod of one of the guards, made unbearably hot by the sun, was all that he felt right before he slummed into, or rather was forced to, the ground. The sharp rock gave him small cuts here and there, while older scars opened up once more, letting blood flow and mix with the sand, creating the sort of muddy colour that red paint has on traditional Propontine pottery.

«Ἐγείρου! Ὀρθώσου! Εἰς τοὺς πόδας σου!»
"Stand up! Stand straight! On your feet!"

Laonikos wanted to grab that man and restle him to the ground, to crush his skull in with a rock, to slit his throat with a broken seashell, to beat him with his own batton. But he had learned better than to do that, as the scars on his back and belly indicated. He stood up straight, raising his hands above his head, ready to take the beating that awaited him. While he waited for the guard behind him to hit his knees or the back of his head, he heard a foot slam into the ground as the guard stood in attention. A voice he did not know was heard.

«Ἀναπαύσου, δεκανέα. Χρειάζομαι ὀλίγον ἰδιωτικὸν χρόνον.»

"At ease, corporal. I need a bit of private time."

The voice had a cetain tone of authority to it. An officer? He had met most of the officers and none of them had such a voice. He could be a new man, seeking to meet the less collaborative prisoners, before he introduced himself to the entire wretched lot. Yet his impeccable Nymphene accent and proper use of Koine, unlike that bastardised Katharevousa the figures of authority used around here, indicated that he was far too educated, and therefore far to important, to be wasted in this craphole. The footsteps of the guard could be heard as he was leaving. The man spoke again, this time adresing his words to Laonikos.

«Δύνασαι ἴνα χαμηλώσῃς τὰς σεὰς χεῖρας, Λαόνικε. Ἐθέλοιμι ἴνα ὁμιλήσωμεν.»
"You can lower your hands, Laonikos. I would like us to talk."

Laonikos lowered his hands and turned to face the man. Average height, olive green military uniform, a Kepi with the Imperial Sigil on it, with the three golden stars of a Colonel on his shoulders. His hands were behind his back. He wore glasses and his uniform was perfectly ironed. He must be with Military Intelligence Laonikos thought. His skin was slightly whiter than that of your average Pelasgian, while his eyes and hair were brown. A small moustache rested over his lips. His face was serious, yet receptive, as if he was waiting for Laonikos to say something. Laonikos opened his mouth and spoke; he did not try to fake knowledge of or interest in archaic linguistic forms. He spoke in his local dialect of Demotic Pelasgian, known full well the man facing him could understand him.

«Τὶ δουλειά ἔχει ἐδῶ ἡ Στρατιωτικὴ Ἀντικατασκοπεία;»
"What job does Military Intelligence have here?"

A faint smirk covered the officer's face.

«Κατευθείαν εἰς τὸ θέμα, βλέπω; Μὴ φοβοῦ. Οὐ θέλομεν ἴνα βλάψωμεν σέ. Πρὸς τὸ παρόν, τουλάχιστον...»
"Straight to the point, I see? Don't be afraid. We don't want to harm you. For now at least..."

«Δῶσε μοῦ ἕναν καλὸ λόγο γιὰ νὰ μὴ σοῦ κάνω τὴ μούρη κρέας.»

"Give me one good reason not to turn your face into mincemeat."

«Πέραν τοῦ ἐκτελεστικοῦ ἀποσπάσματος; Εἰμί ἡ μόνη σου εὐκαιρία ἴνα ἐγκαταλήψῃς ταύτην τὴν ἄθλιαν νῆσον, ἥντινα μισεῖς βαθυτάτως.»
"Beyond the firing squad? I am your only chance to leave this island, which you so deeply hate."

«Πῶς ϗ̀ ἔτσι;»
"How so?"

«Ἀρκεῖ τὸ λέγειν πὼς αἱ σαὶ ἰκανότηται γεγένηνται ἐξ ἄφνου ἰδιαιτέρως... χρήσιμοι τῇ Βασιλείᾳ.»
"Suffice it to say that your skills have suddenly become... useful to the Empire."

 
Last edited:

Pelasgia

Established Nation
Joined
Sep 30, 2014
Messages
4,255
Location
Athens, Greece
Nick
Demos
Imperial Military Police Headquarters, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
27/2/1956, 3:06 PM

The Imperial Military Police, commonly reffered to as ASA (ΑΣΑ.), an acronym for its full Pelasgian name (Αὐτοκρατορικὴ Στρατονομία - Aftokratorikì Stratonomía), had technically existed for centuries, however it had been standarised into a regular force in 1814. Originally having duties similar to those of any other military Police, the Nationalists had continuously expanded its powers, to the point where it had expanded to cover gendarmerie duties and civil control, as well as many of the unofficial duties of a Secret Police. The Headquarters of ASA were located in the historic city centre of Propontis, in the very same Neoclassical Mansion that had served as their headquarters ever since it was confiscated from a dishonoured officer in ASA's first successful case. Armed ASA officers were always on guard around the building, with checkpoints at all the roads around Velissariou Square, where the HQ was located. While the exterior of the building remained largelly unaltered, so as to not disturb the cosmetic harmony of the city, the interior had been reinforced to such a degree the building could be considered a fortress. The floors of the bulding above the ground, which retained most of their original ornations and style, served for administrative duties. Most of the actual Policing and hard duties were condacted in the safety of the underground levels. It was not coincidence that many leftist activists said that somebody got "eatten by ASA's basement" when they wanted to reffer to one of their comrades 'disappearing' for a while, or even for good.

It was in that 'basement', on the third undeground floor, that Colonel Petros Anastasiou, who had just returned from a visit to the Pelasgian Archipelago's Elenonisos Island, was coordinating what would be one of the most important operations in ASA's history. The Colonel and several other ASA officers were gathered around a table with a map of Propontis' Galatopyrgos (Γαλατόπυργος; "Milk Tower") district, an area which was dominated by a tower the Crusaders had built during their short control of the city, called so because merchants sold milk and its byproducts near it. Under the light of lamps, since no natural sunlight could reach thsi level, ASA officers coordinated Operation Phoenix through the use of telephones. Yet, just as the operation was reaching its final, and most crucial, stage one of the officers couldn't help but argue with the Colonel.

«Οὐ κατανοῶ, κύριε Συνταγματάρχα. Διότι ἐλευθερώσαμεν αὐτόν, θέλοντες συλλήψεσθαι τόν;»
"I don't understand. Why would did we set him free, if we want him to be arrested?"

«Διότι οὐκ ἐνδιαφερόμεθα διὰ αὐτὸν ἀλλὰ διὰ τῶν ὑποκινητῶν του.»
"Because we don't care about him but about his instigators."

«Μὰ ἡμεῖς ἐσμὲν οἱ ἐοὶ ὑποκινηταί.»
"But we are his instigators."

«Οὐ λέξομεν τὸ τῷ κόσμῳ, ὅμως.»
"But we won't tell the world that."

«Δηλαδὴ ἐξαπατόμεν τὸ κοινόν;»
"So we're lying to the public?"

«Ἀκριβῶς. Ὑπὲρ τοῦ κοινοῦ καλοῦ, φυσικῶς.»
"Precisely. For the common good, of course."

Just as the Colonel finished his sentence, one of the communications officers sitting behind him pased him a note.

ΧΤΥΠΗΜΑ ΕΤΟΙΜΟΝ. ΔΥΝΑΜΕΙΣ ΕΝ ΑΝΑΜΟΝῌ. ΠΡΟΧΩΡΗΣΩΜΕΝ;
Hit ready. Forces on alert. Should we proceed?


The Colonel turned to the communications chief.

«Δώσε τὸ σήμα.»
"Give the signal."

The communications chief nodded and got back to work. The Colonel noticed that the officer was still uneasy with what was going on.

«Μὴ προβλιματίου. Προσηλώσου εἰς τὸ ἔργον σου καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ εἰσὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ καλοῦ τῆς Πατρίδος. Τίποτε ἐκ πάντων τῶν σήμερον ῥηθέντων καὶ ποιησαμένων πρέπει ἐξέλθῃ ἐκ τοῦ παρόντος δωματίου. Κατανοητόν;»
"Don't trouble yourself. Focus on your work and the rest is for the good of the Fatherland. Nothing of what was said and done today should leave this room. Understood?"

The officer noded.

«Μάλιστα, κύριε Συνταγματάρχα.»
"Of course, Sir Colonel."


The Colonel seemed satisfied. He grabbed a folder full of documents from the desk and handed it to the officer.

«Καλῶς. Πέμπε ταῦτα τῷ Ὑπασπιστῇ Ἀναξανδρίδῃ, εἰς τὸν δεύτερον ὄροφον.»
"Very well. Take this to Lieutenant Anaxandridis, on the second floor."

Just as the officer was exiting the room, one of the officers was heard making a progress report.

«Χτύπημα ἐπιτυχές. Ἀστυνομικαὶ δυνάμεις σπεύδουσιν εἰς τὸ σημεῖον.»
"Hit successful. Police forces are rushing to the site."

Propontis Railway Station, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
27/2/1956, 3:08 PM


Laonikos was not exactly comfortable with working for ASA. They were certainly a powerful employer, with lots of benefits. In his case for example they got him out of the Elenonisos Concetration Camp, or "Political Rehabilitation Facility" as Imperial bureaucracy chose to refer to it. That was no easy task. But he knew all too well that failing or, even worse, outliving your usefulness meant that such an organisation had lots of good reasons, and ways, to kill you.

Then again he had never really been at odds with them. He only got arrested after he started doing those smuggling runs for the "Red Argonauts", an underground Pelasgian Communist group. Communism had not exactly been outlawed yet, there wasn't enough political fuel for it. But it wasn't exactly easy being a Communist in the Propontine Empire either, with compulsory book registration, ideological discrimination from practically every public institution and cosntant surveillance. No wonder the reds were a dying breed. Yet a few chose to strike loud and hard, hoping to get attention and support. And those few needed somebody to smuggle stuff for them. That's where Laonikos had come in. While he had originally only concerned himself with smuggling some drugs and other common contraband along with his usual cargo, the Red Argonauts made him an offer that would give him more hyperpyra than all his other jobs combined. The cargo itself wasn't anything too crazy, a couple of weapons, some books, maybe some fancier equipment like unregistered typewriters every now and then. If only he had known why that job paid so well... when ASA caught him they made sure he got the message. And the Argonauts, who had promised him help, were nowhere to be found.

But, all of that was behind him. Six years had passed. All he knew was that he needed to meet an informant, get a package, learn the details of his smuggling run, and come back in one piece. After that he would be a free man. He would still be under surveillance, but he had no intention of fighting the Nationalists, so he would be safe as long as he had nothing to hide. It all seemed a tad too good to be true but he couldn't care less. Besides, anything was better than rotting on that damn rock.

As he finished his thoughts, he noticed that the cigarette in his mouth was close to reaching its end. He pulled it out, releasing grey smoke, and dropped it to the ground, slamming his shoe over it. He had been waiting in Propontis' main train station for a while. His contact was supposed to come in from Orestiopolis, yet two trains had already passed since morning and he was nowhere to be found. Propontis' Railway Station was the central hub of the country's nationwide railway system, with thousands of Pelasgians and foreigners going through it every day. That included passengers, employees, shop keepers and merchants. The building itself was built in a Neoclassical style, like most of Propontis, while the train platforms were in an area full of ochre and green tiles, with green steel beams supporting a large glass ceiling. His contact was supposed to be dressed as a merchant, selling little flags of AEP and PAO, two major teams that were having a match in Propontis later that day, as well as tickets for the National Lottery, while wearing the cap of Astir Nestanis, a little-known upstart football club from a rural town of the Empire. Laonikos looked at the little copy of the team's logo he had in his pocket and then looked back at the countless people filling the station. There were a few merchants here and there, but none of them wore such a cap. One wore a fisher's cap, common headwear for most working class or old-age Pelasgians, another wore a normal businessman's hat and another had no cap at all. Maybe I'm at the wrong platform he thought. Suddenly, just as he was about to leave, a merchant walked up from behind him and spoke to him.

«Ἐθέλοιτε ἕνα λαχεῖον, κύριε; Κληρώνει διὰ δύο ἐκατομμύρια ὑπέρπυρα, φέτος!»
"Would you like a lottery ticket, sir? This year, the lot is for two million hyperpyra!"

«Καλῶς, πόσον ἐστί;»
"Very well, how much is it?"

«Δώδεκα ὑπέρπυρα.»
"Twelve hyperpyra."

Laonikos reached into his pocket and took his wallet out. He pulled out a ten hyperpyra banknote and a two hyperpyra coin. The banknote was coloured blue, with a portrait of Emperor Sabbatius the Great and the Hippodrome on one side and a prtrait of the current Emperor and the new Imperial Fleet on the other. Courtesy of the Nationalists Laonikos thought. The coin was much simpler, with the Emperor's portrait carved on one side and the value of the coins along with the Imperial Eagle, surrounded by a laurel wreath, on the other.

«Λάβατε.»
"Here you go."

The man pulled out a lottery ticket. It looked almost identical to all the others, with a few notes scribbled on its back. He then handed Laonikos a brown, leather bag and spoke to him in a lower voice, in simple Demotic Pelasgian.


«Περίμενε ἐδῶ γιὰ κανένα πεντάλεπτο, γιὰ νὰ μὴν μᾶς δοῦν νὰ φεύφουμε μαζὶ καὶ μᾶς καταλάβουν.»
"Wait here for like, five minutes, so we aren't seen leaving together and nobody suspects a thing."

Laonikos nodded with his head and stood still while the man moved away.

«Καλὴ ἠμέρα ὑμῖν!»
"Have a nice day!"

«Ἐπίσης!»
"Same to you!"

Laonikos decided to read the note while waiting.
Ἀποβάθραι, πλατφόρμα 42. Συναντίσου μετὰ ἀνδρός, ἐν ὀνόματι Γεώργιος. Μικρὴ ἐμπορικὴ ναῦς, «Valkyria von Rügen/Βαλκυρία φὸν Ρύγεν», σημαία Ἀϊφελλάνδης. Ὁ Γεώργιος λέξει σοι τὰ λοιπά.
Docks, platform 42. Meet man, named Georgios. Small merchant ship, "Valkyria von Rügen", Eiffellander flag. Georgios will tell you the rest.

Georgios folded the lottery ticket and put it into his pocket. Seems simple enough he thought. Just as he was about to leave a small metallic sound, similar to that of the pin when arming a grenade was heard. He looked behind him; a thin, nearly transparent thread, probably fishing line, which was tied around a pipe behind him, was hanging, with what looked like the pin of a grenade on its end. Laonikos looked at the bag he was holding, his eyes wide as those of an Atthite owl. An explosion rocked the station, filling it with fire and smoke, while the shockwave shattered not only the glass ceiling of the station but also the windows of shops and houses from across the street. The sirens of Police and Fire Brigade vehicles and ambulances could be heard in the distance while screams filled the air and chaos unfolded.
 
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Pelasgia

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Imperial Ministry of Defence, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
1/3/1956, 1:27 PM

One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. A new batch of ceremonial guards in the Ministry of Defence's courtyard were training for parade duty. They would need it when celebrations for the Anniversary of the Empire's Restoration came later this year. Irakleios was watching from his window on the third floor of the Ministry's building. Watching the guards gave Irakleios a kind of calamity; it remind him of his time back in the Imperial Military Academy, a time when his life was much simpler: he had a goal and the means and will to achieve, all perfectly laid out in front of him in his classes. Life had gotten somewhat more complicated when his wife came in. He had met Lambrini by chance, when he had been assigned to his first command, in the middle of nowhere, on an islet in the Empire's eastern end. He had bumped into her while he was rushing to board the train in Propontis' Central Railway Station. To this day he did not know how to find the courage to ask her for her adress so he could write to her, but he did and it paid off. When he came back to Propontis a year later they finally got themselves a proper dinner together and everything went on smoothly from there on. A couple of years ago Lambrini gave him a daughter, whom they named after Lambrini's dead mother, and they became the centre of his life. From then on every cent of his comission he did not see as is own money but that of his family. Every day he spent thinking of the Empire's safety, he spent not just because of his dedication to the Empire but because he felt the need to protect his family. Yet just as everything in his life seemed to be going smoothly, it all went to hell. He lost his wife just as she was coming back from her shift at the National Insurance Service, all of sudden, without warning, without reason, without a sign that it would happen. He only found out in the middle of an exercise and he had to give control over to his aide-de-camp, as he felt he was in no position to preside over the whole affair. It would only seem fitting that what started in that station should end there he thought, trying to rationalise the news, somehow.

He turned around and looked at his desk. On its right corner was a silver frame, with a picture of his wife and daughter. He thought of his daughter, Damaris. How could he explain the whole thing to her? How would she rationalise things, her mother was there one day and the next she wasn't. Another thought popped into his head, the realisation coming like a flare in the night: We promised to take her to the zoo this weekend he thought, slamming his first onto the desk. Just as he raised his hand from the desk, a knock was heard and the door of his office opened. Alexandros Akritidis, the newly assigned Captain from Therme came in. He was a rather impressive man, light skinned and haired, with blue eyes, slightly above average height and well built, a typical if not overly typical Pierheian. He was rather blunt and frank, like most people from his place, at least by Propontine standards, though he was a smart, hard-working and honest young man, and Irakleios appreciated that. It was certainly prefferable to the overly frank and somewhat rude Gytheians and the indirect and overly well-spoken Propontines that usually filled the halls of the General Staff.

«Συγχωρεῖτε μέ, κύριε Συνταγματάρχα. Οὐκ ἦλθον ἐν καλῇ ὥρᾳ;»
"Excuse me, Sir Colonel. Did I not come come at a good time?"

Irakleios was rather warm to subordinates he trusted so they were accustomed to coming into his office more comfortably than those of other officers.

«Οὐ, πάντα καλῶς εἰσί. Πῶς δύναμαι βοηθεῖν, Λοχαγέ;»
"No, everything is alright. How may I help, Captain?"

«Ἡ Ταγματάρχης Φηραία ζητεῖ ὄψεσθαι ὑμὰς.»
"Major Pheraia is asking to see you."

Major Pheraia was the newly assigned internal affairs officer from Gytheia. Her name was a reference to the tanned colour of people in her paternal family line, rather than origins from Pherae, since it was common Pelasgian slang to reffer to people from the overly sunny parts of the country where Pherae and Gytheia were located as 'Pheraeans'. Pherae was the largest port in that area so most of the people from there other Pelasgians got to see were from Pherae, giving rise to said last name. Pheraia was slightly too tan even by the standards of people from Gytheia, earning her paternal family said last name. Her mother on the other hand was from the island of Zyphnos, giving her her green eyes. While most people who were not entirely Gytheian would usually choose to not grow up in Gytheia itself, usually some port city in its area or even some large Imperial city, Major Pheraia had grown up and lived in Gytheia her whole life, in the area where most of the hardline military officers lived, no less. That had earned her first hand teaching from the greatest Pankration masters in the country and lots of practice in Laconic speech. Irakleios respected her having managed to overcome the infamous xenophobia of her region and he enjoyed it when her caustic, Laconic remarks angered Propontine officers from big-wig families. Having risen through the ranks from a poor family in Propontis' port district, Irakleios Artopoiopoulos (whose very last name was a low-class way of saying 'son of a baker') felt more connected with people from outside the Reigning City than within it at least whithin the General Staff. Pheraia had been rather busy with cleaning up extremist elements within the military (at least those that were so far fetched even the Nationalists couldn't cover for them), which was rather paradoxic, consider the fact that she came from Gytheia of all places; then again she probably came across quite a few familiar and less than friendly faces in her work, so Irakleios was certain she enjoyed it.

«Ἔσομαι ἐκεῖ ἀμέσως.»

"I'll be there at once."

«Βασικῶς... ἐστὶν ἤδη ἐδῶ, κύριε Συνταγματάρχα.»
"Actually... she's already here, Sir Colonel."

She tends to be bold, but that's a bit out of character, even for her Irakleios thought.

«Καλῶς. Ἀς εἰσέλθῃ.»
"Very well. Let her come in."

Captain Akritidis saluted and moved out of the way, while Major Pheraia walked in and stood in attention.

«Κύριε Συνταγματάρχα.»
"Sir Colonel."


«Ἀνάπαυσις, Ταγμαράρχα. Τὶ τὸ ἐποῖγον;»
"At ease, Major. What's the urgency?"

«Ἐθέλοιμι ὀμιλεῖν μεθ'ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱεροῦ Λόχου.»
"I would like to talk to you about the Sacred Band."

The Colonel's eyes opened wide, like those of an owl. He spoke with a much more serious tone than before.

«Ὤν ὑμεῖς, οὐ χρῴην τοῦτο τὸ ὄνομα τόσον ῥαδίως, Ταγματάρχα.»
"If I were you, I wouldn't use that name so easily, Major."

«Μετὰ παντὸς δέοντος σεβασμοῦ, κύριε Συνταγματάρχα, ἔχω σημαντικὰ καινὰ στοιχεία ἐπὶ τοῦ θέματος.»
"With all due respect, Sir Colonel, I have important new evidence pertaining to the subject."

The Colonel sighed. He turned to the Captain who had been standing next to the door this whole time.

«Λοχαγέ, τὴν θύραν.»
"Captain, the door."

The Captain walked outside and closed the door behind him, staying right outside the room in case anybody felt like eavsdropping.

«Ὡμιληκότες εἶμεν ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος ἐπανειλημμένως, Ταγματάρχα.»
"We have spoken about this, repeatedly, Colonel."

«Κύριε Συνταγματάρχα, οἶδα ὄτι οἱ προκάτοχοί μου οὐκ ἔδωσαν μεγάλη προσοχή τῷ θέματι, ὅμως-
"Sir Colonel, I know that my predecessors did not give much attention to this subject, but-

«Οἱ ὑμετέροι προκάτοχοι ἔδωσαν μέγιστην προσοχή
τῷ θέματι. Ὅμως, δίχως ἀποδείξεις, θέματα ὠς τὸ παρὸν εἰσὶν ἐπικίνδυνα. Καὶ αἱ θεωρίαι, τόσον αἱ σφέτεραι ὅσον καὶ αἱ ὑμέτεραι, οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀποδείξεις, ἀνεξαρτήτως πιθανότητος.»
"Your predecessors gave the utmost attention to this subject. But, without proof, subjects such as this are dangerous. And theories, yours as much as theirs, are not prood, no matter how probable."

«Ἀμφιβάλετε τῆς ἰκανότητός μου;»
"Are you doubting my competence?"

«Παρακαλῶ σέ, Ἀνδρομάχη. Οἶσθα πὼς ἐκτιμῶ σέ ἀνωτέρως πάντων τῶν ἐνθάδε ἀξιοματικῶν.»
"Andromachi, please. You know that of all the officers here, I hold you to the highest esteem."

«Τότε δύναισθε ἔχειν ὁλίγην ἐκτίμησιν καὶ ταῖς ἐμαῖς θεωρίαις.»
"Then you could have some confidence in my theories."

«Ἐλθέ, γιγνώσκεις τὸ προτόκολλον. Μὴν ᾖς ἀπρόσεκτη, ζημιώσεις σεαυτόν.»
"Come on, you know the protocol. Don't be careless, you'll only damage yourself."

«Ὑπὲρ ἑνὸς ἀνωτέρου σκοποῦ.»
"For a greater purpose."

«Ὦν ὁ σκοπός σου πέμψειν μίαν ἀναφορὰν τοῖς κάδοις τοῦ Πειθαρχικοῦ Συμβουλίου καὶ μετατίθεσθαι εἰς Γυθείαν, τότε ναι. Εἰδάλλως, οὐ.»
"If your purpose is to send a report to the garbage bins of the Disciplinary Council and get yourself reassigned to Gytheia, then yes. Otherwise, no."

The Major was stunned by the Colonel's words, this was probably the first time she had seen him be so cold.

«Εἰδέ, συμπαθῶ σέ καὶ σέβομαι τὸ τοῦ πατρός σου ἔργον· Συγνώμη διὰ τὸν τρόπον μου, οὐκ ἔχω μίαν ἰδιαιτέρως καλήν ἠμέραν. Πιστεύω ὄτι δύνασαι ποιήσειν κάτι σπουδαῖον, ὅμως πρέπει πράττειν ὀρθῶς καὶ μεθοδευμένως. Λαβέ τὰ πίσω καὶ ἐπέστρεψε ἔχουσα κάτι στερεόν, ἐντάξει;»

"Look, I like you and I respect your father's work; I apologise for my manners, I am not having a particularly pleasant day. I believe that you can do something great, but you must act in an proper and organised manner. Take these back and return with something solid, alright?"

«Μάλιστα, κύριε. Εὐχαριστῶ ὑμάς.»
"Of course, Sir. Thank you."

The major saluted and started walking towards the door. Just as she was about to exit she turned around and spoke once more.

«Τὰ ἐμὰ συλλυπητήρια διὰ τὴν ὑμετέραν γύναικα, κύριε. Τουλάχιστον συνέλαβον τοὺς συνόμοτας, ὀπότε ἕξετε τὴν ὑμετέραν δικαιοσύνην.»
"My condolences for your wife, Sir. At least they arrested the conspirators, so you'll have your justice."

«Εὐχαριστῶ σέ, Ἀνδρομάχη.»
"Thank you, Andromachi."

If getting one's justice were only that simple
Irakleios thought.

«Δύναμαι ἐρωτεῖν πότε ἐστί ἡ δίκη;»
"May I ask when's the trial?"

«Τὸ Σάββατον. Καὶ ἡ κηδεία τὴν Πέμπτην. Θέλουσα συ καὶ θέλων ὁ Ἀλέξανδρος, δύνασθε ἔρχεσθαι.»
"Saturday. And the funeral's on Thursday. If you and Alexandros want, you can come."

«Φυσικῶς, ἐκτιμῶ τὴν πρόσκλησιν.»
"Of course, I appreciate the invitation."

«Τίποτε, σώσει ὑμὰς ἐκ τῆς ἀγγαρείας τῆς ἐπιθεωρήσεως στολῶν.»
"It's nothing, it will spare you two the boredom of uniform inspection."

The Major nodded and continued walking out, shutting the door behind her.
 
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Pelasgia

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Ophioussa, Theme of the Archipelago
10/3/1956, 12:23 PM

The Pelasgian Archipelago was situated right on the 'bottleneck' of the Long Sea, spreading over and around Pelasgia like an endless flock of swallows in the springtime sky. It's countless islands, hundreds upon hundreds, with more than a hundred of them inhabited since as far back as anyone could remember, where the birthplace of Pelasgian civilisation. Since then, not much had changed in the way of life, or the mindset for that matter, of the locals. Christanity had ovetaken Paganism, older clothes had been replaced by newer, the Imperial authorities had installed telegraphs, roads, electricity, phones and all sorts of modern technological applications, but at their heart, the Pelasgian islands had not changed... not that they wanted to. As the Strategos in charge of the Theme of the Archipelago had once told Emperor Alexios VII, "The islander shall never change, for he already feels perfect."

People from the mainland considered the islanders nothing sort of a bunch of merchants, fishermen, lesbians and whores; with the occasional philosopher, scientist and artist among their ranks. It wouldn't take much research or effort to prove those mainlanders wrong, but then again the islanders were not the sort of folk who cared nearly enough about petty regional rivalries to act. Likewise, the islanders saw the mainlanders as unsofisticated workaholics, who couldn't think outside the box and who lived to work, instead of the other way around. As long as their fish and vines were enough and the Long Sea's trade continued to flow, the islanders saw no reason to bring industry to their islands, save for shipyards of course, how else would those mighty Pelasgian Archipelagot trade fleets be constructed? Besides, as they saw it, those same mainlanders would hawl their asses over to the islands sooner or later, when the time of summer came, bringing with them plenty of Hyperpyra for the 'insular scoundrels'.

Usually the sound of waves and seagulls, along with maybe a couple of children playing on the beach after a long schoolday would be all that disturbed the almost omnipotent peace and quiet of the Archipelago. Today though, was a different day: the last day of the Empire's largest military exercises in almost a decade, "Fire in the Archipelago". The actual exercises had been completed a day ago, on March 9. Warships, aircraft and submarines destroying dummy ships, marines rushing to beaches and everything else sort of actual combat. With the exercises complete the Navy had stopped in Ophioussa and her twin island, Pityoussa, to celebrate their successful completion. Hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors, marines and naval airmen filled the streets of the otherwise tranquil islands, while bands played military marches and the locals cheered. The small villages and towns on the islands were decorated with little flags and patriotic banners, whose black and white colour schemed matched the Xysta, traditional black and white geometric Sgraffito patterns that decorated the buildings of the island.

Trying to escape the noise of the celebrations, Marshal Theodoros Tzimiskis and Admiral Nikodimos Vouvoulinos sat in a tavern in the port of Polycrateia, the capital of Ophioussa. The crystaline blue water of the sea hit the beach under the wooden floor of the taver while the two middle aged men sat on a white, wooden table, covered by a black and white table cloth, decorated in the traditional geometric patterns of the island, occasionally featuring griffins and eagles here and there. Both men were in uniform, one in olive green with a kepi, the other in white with a naval officer's cap, though neither was missing sunglasses, grey hair and a slight tan. As the Admiral took a bite of his kalamari squid, the Marshal found a chance to speak, after clearing some elements of food from his moustache.

«Λοιπόν, Ναύαρχε, ὀφείλω λέγειν ὄτι αἱ ὑμέτεραι ἀσκήσεις ἦν ἐξαίρετοι. Φαίνεται, ἐν τέλοις, πὼς οὐκ ἐσπαταλήθησαν οἱ πόροι οὕστινας ἐπενδύσαμε εἰς τὸ Ναυτικὸν τοῦ Αὐτοκράτορος, Κύριος φοιλάξοι Τόν.»
"Well, Admiral, I do have to say that your excercises were excellent. It seems that the resources we invested in the the Emperor's Navy, Lord protect Him, were not wasted, in the end."

«Χαίρομαι ἀφαντάστως, πρὸς τὴν ὑμετέραν ἰκανοποίησιν, Στρατάρχα. Λοιποῦμαι, ὅμως, διότι ὁ Στρατάρχης Ἀρτοποιόπουλος οὐκ ἐδυνάσθη παρευρέσθαι.»
"I rejoice unimaginably at your satisfaction, Marshal. I am saddened, however, that Marshal Artopoiopoulos, could not attend."

«Κατανοῶ καὶ ἐπαναλαμβάνω τὴν ἐὴν εἰληκρινεστάτην συγγνώμην. Δυστυχῶς, λόγῳ τῆς ἀπωλείας τῆς ἐῆς συζύγου, οὐκ εἶχε ἐπιλογή.»
"I understand and I reiterate unto you his most sencere apology. Sadly, due to the loss of his wife, he was without choice."

«Ἀναπαύσοι ἐν εἰρήνῃ. Σχετικῶς μετὰ τῆς ἐν Προποντίδι ἐπιθέσεως, ἦν πράγματη τραγική. Μόνο δειλοὶ ἐγκληματίαι δεδυνημένοι εἶεν πράττειν οὔτως!»
"May she rest in peace. Concerning the attack in Propontis, it was truly tragic. Only cowardly criminals could act thus!"

«Πράγματι, ἦν καταδικασταῖον. Εὐτυχῶς, οἱ ὑπεύθυνοι εἰσὶν ἐν δίκῃ καὶ συντόμως λείψονται τὴν ποινὴ ἥτις ἀξίζει σφίσι.»
"Indeed, it was condemnable. Thankfully, those responsible are facing trial and soon they shall receive the penalty which befits them."

«Τὶ γενήσεται, ὅμως, μετὰ τῶν σφετέρων ὁμοϊδεατῶν; Οὐ δυνάμεθα ὑπομένειν μίαν ἐπανάληψιν αὐτῆς τῆς τραγωδίας.»
"What is to happen, though, with those who share their ideas? We cannot tolerate a repetition of this tragedy."

«Ἀρκεῖ λέγειν ὄτι ὁ Στρατάρχης Ἀρτοποιόπουλος ἐστὶμ εἷς ἐκ τῶν ἀνδρῶν οἵτινες ἐργάζονται, ἐν παρόντι, ἴνα βεβαιώσωσι πὼς οὐκ ἐπαναλήψεται.»
"Suffice it to say that Marshal Artopoiopoulos is one of the men who are working, at this moment, so as to ensure that it shall not be repeated."

Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
10/3/1956 11:54 AM

The Imperial Supreme Court, Housed in the Palace of Porphyrogenitus, had been at centre of the nation's hearts and minds for the past couple of weeks. Surrounded by police officers, journalists and bystanders, the mighty impressive Tiburan builinding, built in an early Propontine-late Tiburan imperial architectural style, had always stood out from afar due to its sheer size and beauty. Today, however, it was the centre of public attention for quite a different occasion. Inside its main courtroom, countless judicial officials, members of the public and witnesses waited as the judges were about to pass judgement on the members of the Red Argonauts. As the clock neared twelve, it was time for the guards to bring the defendants back into the courtroom, in front of the Bench, where tens of the Empire's most respected and senior judicial officials awaited, wearing black robes and ceremonial caps. Using his batton one of the guards woke up one of the defendants, who was half asleep, by pushing him, while he told the others to move. Flanked by countless guards, and with only one way leading into the light, the defendants knew they could not escape judgement, though they already knew what their sentence would probably be. As they entered the courtroom, where light was much more plentiful than in the hallways, coming in from a large dome, the defendants stood before the bench.

«Νικολαΐδη Τιβύριε, Μακελλαρίδη Πέτρε, Ἀκρίτου Ἀλέξανδρε, Μελαχρινὴ Ἀναστασία, Ξινέ Εὐστράτιε, Περιανδρίδη Κλέανδρε, Ἀποστολίδη Θεμιστοκλὴ, Ἐρυθροῦ Ἑλένη, Πετρόπουλε Γεώργιε, Κυδώνια Ἀγγελικὴ, Ποπολάραινα Ἐλπινίκη, Τιβυροῦ Ξενοφῶν, Ἀκρίτισσα Μαρία· τὸ παρὸν δικαστήριον τῆς τῶν Τιβυραίων Βασιλείας, μετὰ τῆς ἐξουσίας ἥτις δίδοται οἷ ἐκ τοῦ Βασιλεώς, τοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς Μοναδικοῦ Ἐκπροσόπου, κρίνει ὑμὰς ἐνόχους ὠς πρὸς τὰς κατηγορίας τῆς συνομωσίας διὰ τὴν διάπραξιν προμελετημένης ἀνθρωποκτονίας καὶ βιαίας ἐπιθέσεως, τῆς μαζικῆς ἀνθρωποκτονίας καὶ βιαίας ἐπιθέσεως, τοῦ μαζικοῦ τραυματισμοῦ, τῆς τρομοκρατίας, τῆς συνομωσίας διὰ τὸν φόνον ἡ τὸν τραυματισμὸν ἑνός μέλους τῆς Αὐτοκρατορικῆς Δυναστείας, τῆς ἐσχάτης προδοσίας καὶ τῆς διαταράξεως τῆς δημοσίας τάξεως. Ἐθέλοι οἱοσδήποτε ἐξ ὑμῶν δηλώσειν κάτι ἐν εἰς τὸ παρὸν δικαστήριον προτοῦ ἀνακοινώσηται ἡ ποινή διὰ αὐτὰ τὰ κακουργήματα;»
"Nikolaidis Tivyrios, Makellaridis Petros, Akritou Alexandros, Melachrini Anastasia, Xinos Efstratios, Pariandridis Kleandros, Apostolidis Themistoklis, Erythrou Eleni, Petropoulos Georgios, Kydonia Angeliki, Popolaraina Elpiniki, Tivyrou Xenophon, Akritissa Maria; this court of the Tiburan Empire, with the power invested into it by the Emperor, the Sole Representative of God on earth, finds you guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit voluntary manslaughter and physical assault, mass voluntary manslaughter, mass physical assault, mass cause of grave injuries, terrorism, conspiracy to kill or harm a member of Imperial Dynasty, high treason and disturbance of the Public Order. Does any one of you have anything to state to this court, before the penalty for these felonies is announced?"

Xinos looked around him; the eyes of men and women who hated him were pinned on him. The feeling was mutual, he had hated them too; not them specifically, but their obedience to this morally bankrupt and opressive society. He had done many things in his life which they would have just as easily denounced, he wasn't afraid to admit it. But this specific attack was none of his doing. He would have thought his sins caught up to him, but he knew all to well that the meanest of bastards in this world are never punished. Or if they are, it's just them acting as steps for meaner bastards to rise even higher. He closed his eyes for a moment, though to him it felt like an eternity, the absolute silence of the court making it feel even more so. He opened them again and, with a determination unlike any he had ever had in his life, he spoke what would probably be his last words, his last meaningful words that is.

«Αὐτὸ τὸ δικαστήριο δὲν εἶναι παρὰ ἕνα ἐλεϊνὸ ἀστεῖο, ἕνα κουκλοθέατρο, ἕνα ὄργανο ποὺ ὠς μόνο σκοπό του ἔχει τὴν καταδίκη ἀθώων ἀνθρώπων γιὰ τὰ συμφέροντα τῶν ἴδιων δυνατῶν ποὺ ἔχουν τὴν χώρα μας γιὰ φεούδο τους! Ὄπως δὲν θὰ σπαταλούσα τὸν χρόνο μου με σαλτιμπάγγους καὶ ἀποκριάτικους ὑποκριτές, ἔτσι δὲν θὰ τὸν σπαταλήσω καὶ μὲ σᾶς! Ἀρνοῦμαι νὰ ἀναγνωρίσω τὴν ἐξουσία αὐτοῦ τοῦ δικαστηρίου!»
"This court is nothing but a lame joke, a puppet theatre, an instrument whose sole purpose is the conviction of innocent men to serve the interests of the same masters who treat our country like their personnal fief! Just like I would not waste my time on clowns and actors for the Apokries*, I shall not waste it on the likes of you! I refuse to recognise the authority of this 'court'!"
*The Apokries are a traditional festival, rooted in the ancient traditions around celebrations in honour of Dionysus, which commonly involve theatrical plays (being the source of drama), festivals, carnivals, masquerades, people dressing in costumes and masks, countryside trips, orgies etc.

Chaos broke out in the courtroom as the observers started booing the accused man. The judges were able to restore order after almost ten whole minutes. When they finally did, judge Aristodimos Dynatos, adressed Xinos, then the defendants, for one last time.

«Προστίθεται μία καταδίκη Ἀσέβειας πρὸς τὸ Δικαστήριον εἰς τὸν Εὐστράτιον Ξινόν. Τὸ παρὸν δικαστήριον καταδικάζει τοὺς παρόντας ἐγκληματίας εἰς θάνατον διὰ τουφεκισμοῦ, ὅστις ἐκτελεσθεῖ εἰς τρεῖς ἠμέρας ἐκ τῆς παρούσης, εἰς τὴν αὐγὴν τῆς Δευτέρας, 10ης Μαρτίου. Ἡ παρούσα δίκη ἔληξε.»
"One conviction for Contempt of Court is added to Efstratios Xinos. This court sentences these criminals to death by firing squad, to be carried out three days from today, at dawn on Monday, March 13. This trial is hereby concluded."
 
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Pelasgia

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Propontis, Theme of the Phryxaea
27/3/1956, 5:08 PM


Myrsini and had been waiting outside the Imperial Senate for hours. That wasn't out of the ordinary for the coverage of major Law Proposals. If one wanted to even get a few words out of the Senators, they would have to catch up with them while they were entering the building, hours before the debate started. Senators were very busy people; whether they were Nobles in the Chamber of Patricians, whose Tiburan and old Pelasgian families had held positions of power for millennia, or elected representatives in the Chamber of Representatives, talking to news crews was the least of their priorities. The Senate held a prestige matched only by the Imperial Palace itself, within the Empire's politics and hierarchy.

Not that that should come as a surprise; the Senate had preceded the Emperor and technically the Emperor was appointed by the Senate. Pelasgians, unlike Tiburans, had always viewed the Imperator Tiburorum as a Monarch, not very much unlike their own monarchs during antiquity or the Pelasgistic era, going as far as to use the Pelasgian word for King/Emperor (Βασιλεύς/Basileus) to refer to him (or her, in which case the word would be Βασίλισσα/Basilissa, since Pelasgians had never discriminated against women when it came to ruling, or most things for that matter). Even ancient Pelasgian monarchs had never held power in the same absolute fashion as those of Gallo-Germania, with their divine rights and absolute authority (which Aristotle described as slavery that befits barbarians and not free Pelasgians, in his Politica). They had always been held accountable to a council of nobles, elders and sometimes even elected representatives, not very much unlike a Senate, and their actions had always been restricted by laws, not very much unlike a Constitutional Monarchy. Lissander the Great had broken those taboos, but it's no surprise his assassination (or 'death by illness' as the historians of the time chose to record it) soon followed, his lands being split by his generals, who were not as open to Eastern Absolutist traditions.

To the Pelasgians, the Senate represented the link between them and their Sovereign, the accountability of otherwise absolute power to popular will, it was the very embodiment of the distinction between Pelasgian Autocracy and foreign, barbaric absolutism. Myrsini was rather thankful that her job as a political correspondent got her to the Senate. And today she was interviewing the very top of the Senate's aristocratic class: President of the Senate, Theodosios Laskaris. Descended from one of the Empire's most important noble families, which had given the Empire countless great rulers, with blood roots straight from the Eternal City, Laskaris was the very embodiment of the Patrician Class. If there was anything, no matter how big or small, going on in the Senate he knew everything about it and exactly how it was going to end. Following the passage of several public security bills in relation to the February 27 attacks, links had been found between certain members of the Labour Party and the Red Argonauts. Far from surprising if one were to consider Labour's nature: a coalition of various leftist groups, more than a solid, coherent party, it was inevitable for some of the groups to be radical and for some in those factions to have links to non-political representatives of the far-left. But the recent Special Eximanative Committee of the Senate seemed to be moving beyond mere individual cases, according to rumors at least. So today, Myrsini was bent on finding out whether these rumors were true.

As she walked splendid, lively courtyard of the Magnaura, with plants and trees perfectly aligned on both sides of the marble path she was treading, flanked by rows of marble Corinthian pillars on all sides, save for the brick made Propontine structure straight to her front, which housed the debate chamber of the Propontine Senate, Myrsini couldn't help but remark just how hard it had been getting into this courtyard in the first place. Months of waiting, calling in favours, background checks by the Military Police and Imperial Intelligence Service; meeting the President of the Senate seemed harder than meeting the Emperor himself. Yet here she was, treading through the Magnaura, hoping that this meeting would compensate for all her trouble. The President's office was located in the colonnade sections that surrounded the courtyard and building, not in the main building itself. The Magnaura was a rather peculiar place; it had served as the seat of the Imperial Senate, the seat of the University of Propontis, which Tiberius the Great had founded and a Church and Treasury for the Crusaders, only to go back to being the Senate's seat as the University was moved to another building and the Crusaders were expelled from the Queen of Cities.

The President himself was in his office, working tirelessly behind his desk, with a pile of documents on its right corner. A balding man, with white hair and green eyes and pinkish skin that seemed neither too white, nor too dark, as many nobles from Brennia usually had due to mixes with Gaulic settlers in Antiquity, he had a welcoming, yet somewhat serious face. Countless years at the top of Senatorial nobility had taught him to wear a smile, even when he was perfectly entitled to a grumpy face. When he saw the journalist he stood up, and shook hands with her, telling her to sit down once they exchanged their greetings. Myrsini on the other hand was the very embodiment of youth, a rather good looking woman, exceptional even for her home city of Curium, on the island of Cyparissus, which had always been famed in Pelasgia for the attractiveness of its populace, being considered the home of Aphrodite in ancient Pelasgian mythology. Most such women would choose a career in modelling for the fashion industries of Pelasgia, or some job that involved lots of camera time on the news, but to her frontline journalism was what she had always wanted. Plus, most of the men and women she dealt with were mature enough to look past her looks, something which she had really come to appreciate in the Capital.

«Λοιπόν, Δεσποινὶς Ἀλεξάνδρου, μὴ λανθάνων, τολμῶ θαρεῖν πῶς ἤλθατε ἐδῶ ἴνα ὁμιλήσωμεν περὶ τῆς Εἰδικῆς Ἐξεταστικῆς Ἐπιτροπῆς;»
"So, Miss Alexandrou, if I am not mistaken, I dare to think that your came here so that we would talk about the Special Examinative Committee?"

«Πράγματι, Ἐξοχότατε, ἐνδιαφέρομαι ἰδιαιτέρως διὰ τῶν φημῶν ἀναμείξεως μελῶν τῆς Ἀριστερῆς Παρατάξεως ἐν τῇ ἐπιθέσει τῆς 27ης Φεβρουαρίου.»
"Indeed, Your Excellency, I am particularly interested in the rumors concerning the involvement of members of the the Leftist Faction* in the attack of February 27."
(*'Factions' in Propontine Politics include both the party in the Chamber of Representatives and the segment of Nobles in the Chamber of Patricians who represent an ideology in the Senate. In this case the Leftist Faction would refer to the Labour Party and the Progressive Nobles.)


«Οὐκ δύναμαι σχολιάζειν φήμας περὶ τῶν Πατρικίων. Ὅμως, πράγματι, ὑπάρχει ἀνησυχία διὰ ὁρισμένους Ἀντιπροσώπους, οἵτινες φένονται σχεῖν σχέσεις μετὰ τῶν Ἐρυθρῶν Ἀργοναυτῶν.»
"I cannot comment on rumors concerning the Patricians. But, indeed, there is concern about some Representatives, who seem to have had links with the Red Argonauts."

«Δηλαδή, συμφώνως μεθ' ἡμῶν, ὑπάρχουσι, πράγματι, σύνδεσμοι ματαξὺ τῆς Συγκλήτου καὶ τοῦ ἀντιεξουσιαστικοῦ χώρου;»
"So, according to you, there really are connections between the Senate and the anti-state (literally 'anti-authority'=anarchist/anarcho-communist) factions?"

Laskaris let out a small laugh.

«Ἐκπαιδεύουσιν ὑμὰς ἀρίστως ἐν ἀκαδημίᾳ δημοσιογραφίας, βλέπω. Ὅρα, οὐ λέγω ὄτι ἡ Σύγκλητος ἐστί 'γιάφκα', ὅμως ὑπάρχουσι ἀνησιχίαι καὶ ἐν παρόντι ἐστὶ σημαντικότατον καθησυχάζειν σφᾶς. Αὐτὸς ἐστὶν ὁ σκοπὸς τῆς Ἐπιτροπῆς. Τίποτε ἄλλον.»
"They really do train you will in journalism academies, I see. Look I'm not saying the Senate is a 'terrorist safe house' per say, but there concerns and at present it is imperative that they be addressed. This is the Committee's purpose. Nothing else."

«Κριθησόμενοι αὐτοὶ ἔνοχοι, τὶ γενηθήσεται;»
"And if they are found guilty, what will happen?"

«Οὐκ ἔσται 'ἔνοχοι', οὐκ ἐσμὲν ἐν τῷ Πάγῳ τῷ Ἀρείῳ. Ὅμως ληφθήσονται μέτρα ἴνα διασφαλισθῇ ἡ δημόσια ἀσφάλεια καὶ τάξις. Ὑποθετικῶς, φυσικῶς.»
"The will not be 'guilty', we aren't in the Supreme Court. But measures will be taken, to ensure public safety and order. Hypothetically, of course."

«Καὶ ἐν περιπτώσει ποὺ διαπυστωθῇ πὼς οὐκ ἔχωσι οὐδεμία σχέση μετὰ τῶν τρομοκρατῶν;»
"And if we come to the conclusion that they have no connection to the terrorists, whatsoever?"

«Τότε οὐκ χρεαιστεῖ οὐδεμία δράσις ἀπὸ μέρους ἡμῶν.»
"Then no action from us will be necessary."

«Ναί, ὅμως πῶς ἐκτενεῖται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ λαοῦ;»
"Yes, but how will the public's anger be vented?"

«Παρακαλῶ; Οὐκ ἔχομεν ὠς σκοπὸν τὴν ἐκτώνωσιν ὀργῶν, Δεσποινὶς Ἀλεξάνδρου. Μόνον τὴν ὁμαλὴν λειτουργεία τοῦ κράτους. Οὔτως ἢ ἄλλως, ἡ κοινωνικὴ ἔντασις τῆς ἐπιθέσεως ἐξηφανίσθη μετὰ τῆς καταδίκης καὶ τῆς ἐκτελέσεως τῶν τρομοκρατῶν.»
"I beg your pardon? Our purpose is not to 'vent angers', Miss Alexandrou. Our sole purpose is the smooth functioning of the state. Either way, the social tension of the attack disappeared following the conviction and execution of the terrorists."

«Ἡ ἔντασις πρὸς τοὺς τρομοκράτας. Ἡ ὀργὴ πρὸς τὸ κράτος, λόγῳ τῆς ἐῆς ἀποτυχίας τοῦ προσενέγκαι τὴν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ ἡμῖν ὑπεσχημένην ἀσφάλειαν, ζεῖ καὶ βασιλεύει, ὠς λέγουσι ἐν Πιερεία.»
"The tension concerning the terrorists. The wrath towards the state, due to its failure to provide the safety which it had promised us, lives and reigns, as they say in Piereia."

«Δεσποινὶς Ἀλεξάνδρου, ἡ Ἐπιτροπὴ ἐνδιαφέρεται μόνον διὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην. Τὰ λοιπὰ εἰσὶ πρόβλημα τῆς Κυβερνήσεως.»
"Miss Alexandrou, the Committee concerns itself solely with justice. The rest is a problem of the Government."

«Καὶ ὑμῶν.»
"And yours."

«Σιγούρως. Οὔχι, ὅμως, ὑμῶν. Τῶρα, ἐθέλοιτε ὀμιλεῖν ἐπὶ οἱουδήποτε ἄλλου θέματος;»
"Certainly. But not yours. Now, is there any other topic you would like to talk about?"

«Οὐ, εὐχαριστῶ ὑμάς, εἰμὶν ἰκανοποιημένη. Καλήμερον, Ἐξοχότατε.»
"No, thank you, I am satisfied. Good day, Your Excellency."

As Myrsini was exiting the room she bumped into Major Andromachi Pheraia, from the Imperial Army's Internal Affairs branch.

«Ἡ Ταγματάρχης Φεραία, ὀρθῶς;»
"Major Pheraia, right?"

«Νή, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐστέ;»
"Yes, and you would be?"

«Μυρσίνη Ἀλεξάνδρου, ἐργάζομαι ἐν τῷ Προποντίῳ Λογοθέτῃ. Ἐπεποιήκειν ἕνα ἄρθρον σχετικῶς μετὰ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἐρεύνης ἐν Λεύκτρῳ. Ἀν δὲν σφάλομαι, ἐστὲ ἐν τῷ τμήματι τοῦ Ἀρχιστρατήγου Ἀρτοποιοπούλου;»
"Myrsini Alexandrou, I work at Propontios Logothetis. I remember doing an article concerning your work in Leuktron. If I am not mistaken, you are in the department of Marshal Artopoiopoulos?"

«Οὔχι ἀκριβῶς, ὅμως ἐστὶν ὁ ἐμὸς προϊστάμενος. Ὑμεῖς, πῶς καὶ ἐνδιαφέρεσθε;»
"Not exactly, but I report to him. How come this interests you?"

«Ἔχομεν ἕνα αφιέρωμα διὰ τὰς οἰκογένειας τῶν θυμάτων τῆς ἐπιθέσεως τῆς 27ης Φεβρουαρίου. Δύναισθε λέγειν οἷ διὰ αὐτὸν;»
"We have a special dedicated to the families of the victims of the February 27 attack. Would you be able to tell him about it?"

«Εὐχαριστῶ ὑμάς, ὅμως οὐ νομίζω ὄτι ὁ Ἀρχιστράτηγος ἐνδιαφέροιτο.»
"Thank you, but I don't think the Marshal would be interested."

«Καλῶς. Καλήμερον ὑμῖν.»
"Very well. A good day to you."

«Ἐπίσης.»
"And to you, too."

Slightly shocked, Andromachi collected herself and walked into the office of the President of the Senate. The old man stood up, upon seeing her, welcoming her.

«Ταγματάρχα, καλῶς ἦλθες. Παρακαλῶ, κάθισε.»
"Major, welcome. Please, take a seat."

«Εὐχαριστῶ ὑμάς, Κύριε Πρόεδρε. Ποία ἦν ἡ Κυρία ἥτις μόλις ἐξήλθε τοῦ δόματος;»
"Thank you, Mr. President. Who was the lady who just exited the room?"

«Κάποια δημοσιογράφος ἐκ Κυπαρισσοῦ. Ἀγενὴς καὶ βιαστική, ὠς δύνασαι ἀναμένειν. Πάντοτε ἔλεγον ὄτι μόνον μοδέλα καὶ παρουσιάστριαι δύνανται εἶναι, ἀλλὰ τέλως πάντων. Ὁ Ἀρχιστράτηγος δώσει λόγον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς ψηφοφορίας;»
"Some journalist from Kyparissos. Rude and rushy, as you can expect. I always said that they're only fit to be models and show hosts, but never mind that. Will the Marshal give a speech on the day of the vote?"

Andromachi would have usually been outraged at the elder President's comment, but she had neither the nerve nor the time to put the old fart in his place. The Marshal had entrusted her with a job and she would see it through. Normally the Marshal did not concern himself much with politics; unlike other officers he believed that government should be left to the politicians and the military should stick to its traditional duties. But this specific bill had a more personal... connection. And since he rarely intervened in politics, he had a lot of respect from the public the few times that he did. Marshal Tzimiskis and the Senate's President had been trying to convince him to do so for almost a month; and they had finally made it.

«Νή.»
"Yes."

«Ἀρίστως! Τῶρα, ἔχομεν ὀρισμένας προετοιμασίας ποὺ πρέπει ποιεῖν...»
"Excellent! Now, there are certain preparations that we must undertake...."
 
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Pelasgia

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Imperial Senate, Magnaura, Propontis, Theme of the Phryxaea
2/4/1956, 8:08 PM


The Magnaura was an impressive building, a unique mix of early Propontine and late Tiburan architecture. The Imperial Senate, the University of Propontis (founded by Tiberius the Great) and the Treasury of the Crusaders had all been housed in its halls. The main building of Magnaura was a basilica made of bricks, with a dome and multiple windows, was emblematic of Propontine Architecture, so much so that many Architectural Historians referred to it as "Haghia Pronoia's grandmother" or the "first Propontine building". In front of the main building's primary entrance was a large, lavish garden, full of fountains and all sorts of plants that tended to grow in the Long Sea's fertile areas. The garden was surrounded by a white, marble-made complex of rectangular buildings flanked by a colonnade of Corinthian pillars both on the interior and exterior, which housed many offices, facilities and archives of the Magnaura. The main building on the other hand, was reserved for the brain of Tiburan politics: the Imperial Senate's debate chambers, one for the Patricians and one for the Representatives. Each chamber itself was rather impressive; built in white marble from Atthis and decorated with frescos and patterns from all of Aethyia, it had a semi-circular shape, with the seats of the Senators being gathered in front of a central podium for the various speakers, with seats for the Senate’s officials and government ministers next to it. On this specific day the Senate was completely full, with its exterior surrounded by countless journalists and police officers. In that climate both houses of the Senate had been debating the proposed National Security bill for hours upon hours.

Heightened security measures, national safety provisions, legal amendments, broader police authority, increased funding for the security services, you name a controversial subject the bill had it. Yet the most debated of all of the bill’s sections was none other than its very last: the right of the state to strip terrorists of their citizenship and the prohibition of anarcho-communism. Under normal circumstances, such a bill would have never even been considered. But now, following a bloody terrorist attack by anarcho-communists at the centre of the Empire and the discovered connection of certain far-left representatives from the Labour Party’s more radical sections, had shaken the nation to its very foundations. The Chamber of Patricians was sure to pass the bill, as long as it was passed by the Chamber of Representatives. Yet the fact that the latter voted first meant that anyone wishing to see the bill enacted would have to convince a Chamber whose very existence was based upon democratic principles to limit democracy in the name of national security, in an unprecedented fashion none the less. Such a task could never been accomplished by a single politician in the entire Empire. And for this reason no politician had been brought to the podium; well, in fact, many had, but they weren’t meant to put the finish the task, only to make it smoother. FInishing the job, however, was trusted to nobody less than Marshal Irakleios Artopoiopoulos, who was allowed a say in the matter as he was the Vice-Minister of Defence, with the bill falling perfectly within his field of work. He was a man who rarely spoke in Propontine politics, a man of actions, not of words, whose dedication to his Emperor and Fatherland were only matched by his untarnished service record. In a militaristic society such as that of the Empire, few personal histories could command as much respect as his, especially since he rose to his post from nothing, maybe even less than that. And on top of this respect, he had almost unanimous sympathy among the populace, having lost a wife and a daughter to the recent attack. In short, he was the perfect man for the job; and after so many hours of waiting he was finally ready to make his mark. Standing behind the podium of the Senate’s Chamber of Representatives, the light from the dome falling right onto him, Irakleios started his speech.

«Ἐντιμότατοι Ἀντιπρόσωποι, μέλη τῆς Κυβερνήσεως καὶ τῆς Ἀντιπολιτεύσεως. Ἡ σήμερον ἠμέρα βρίσκει ἡμὰς εἰς ἕνα ἱστορικὸ σταυροδρόμιον: τὸ σταυροδρόμιον τῆς πλήρους δημοκρατίας καὶ τῆς μερικῆς τυραννίας, τῆς ἀδιαπραγματεύτου ἐλευθερίας καὶ τῆς θεσμοθετημένης αὐταρχείας, τοῦ πατριωτικοῦ καθήκοντος καὶ τῶν προσωπικῶν ἀπόψεων. Ἀνεξαρτήτως τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀποφάσεως, ἡ σήμερον ἐστὶ μία ἠμέρα ἥτις γράψεται ἀνεξιτήλως εἰς τὰς σελίδας τῆς ἱστορίας, τόσον αὐτῆς τῆς ἡμετέρας πατρίδος, ὅσον καὶ αὐτῆς τῆς οἰκουμένης. Ἐντιμότατοι ἀντιπρόσωποι, οὐ δύναμαι λέγειν ὄτι ἡ ἀπόφασις αὐτὴ ἐστὶ προφανὴς ἢ καὶ εὐκολη. Διοτὶ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ὑπάρχουσιν ἀποφάσεις ὄπου ἡ μία ἐπιλογὴ ἐστὶν ἄριστη καὶ ἡ ἄλλη κάκιστη. Ὑπάρχουσιν, ὅμως, καὶ ἀποφάσεις μετὰ ἐπιλογῶν ταυτοχρόνως κακῶν καὶ καλῶν, ὄπου πρέπει ὁ ἀποφάσκων διακρίνει τὴν ὁλιγοτέρως κακήν. Καὶ, γάρ, ἡ σημερινὴ ἀνήκει τῷ εἴδει τῷ δευτέρῳ.»
“Honourable Representatives, members of both the Government and the Opposition. Today finds us before a historic crossroads: the crossroads of complete democracy and of partial tyranny, of non negotiable liberty and institutionalised autarchy, of patriotic duty and personal beliefs. Regardless of your choice, today is a historic day, which shall be written forever in the pages of history, both that of our own fatherland and that of the whole world. Honourable representatives, I cannot say that this choice is neither obvious, nor easy. For, in life, there are choices where one option is excellent while the other is horrid. There are, though, choices whose options are both good and bad, whereupon the decider must tell apart the least bad one. And thus, today belongs to the second category.”

Irakleios paused. The eyes of the entire Chamber were fixed on him, all five hundred and twenty-six pairs of them, with countless more observing from Television or looking on from the visitor sections of the Chamber. Countless more ears were listening in through the radio. With perfect silence in the room, he could nearly hear his own heart beat. Taking a deep breath, he tried to contain his stress and thought of his motivation. For them, he thought, perceiving what he was doing as a duty to his family; so that no one else has to go through this.

«Πολλοὶ ἐξ ἡμῶν λέξουσι ὄτι ποιῶ ὅ,τι ποιῶ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐμῆς οἰκογενείας. Πράγματι, μεγάλον μέρος τοῦ ἐμοῦ κινήτρου ἐστὶν ἡ μνήμη τῆς οἰκογενίας μου. Τοῦτον, ὅμως, διότι θέλω ἐξασφαλεῖν ὄτι οὐδεῖς χρειαστεῖ μειράζεσθαι τὸν ἐμὸν πόνον, ἐν παρόντι καὶ ἐν μέλλοντι. Ὁ παρὼν νόμος, ὅστις ὑποβέβληται ὑμῖν οὐκ ἐστὶν τέλοιος. Οὐκ ἐστὶ καὶ εὐχάριστος. Ἐστὶ ὅμως ἀναγκαῖος καὶ ἀποτελεσματικός, διότι μόνο δι’ αὐτοῦ διασφαλίσεται ἡ ἡμετέρα ἀσφάλεια καὶ Δημοκρατία. Πολλοὶ λέγουσι ὄτι ὁ νόμος ἐστὶ τυραννικός. Δηλαδὴ ἡ τρομοκρατία, ἥτις χωρὶς αὐτὸν τὸν νόμον ἀφεθήσεται ἐλευθέρα, οὐκ ἐστὶ τυραννία; Σιγούρως, ὁ νόμος δυσκολέψει τὴν ἐμὴν ζωὴν, ὅμως εἰ οὐ θέλομεν μίαν ἐπανάληψιν τῆς 27ης Φεβρουαρίου, πρέπει δεχώμεθά τον. Ἐγὼ, μέν, ἀπλὸς ὑπηρέτης τοῦ Τιβυρικοῦ δήμου· ὑμεῖς, δέ, ἐκπρόσωποί του. Πιστεύετε πὼς θέλει ζῆν μετὰ τὴν ψευδαίσθησιν τῆς συνυπάρξεως πλήρους ἐλευθερίας καὶ ἀσφαλείας; Τότε καταψηφίσατέ τον. Μὰ χύσεται αἷμα, ποτάμι, Τιβυρικόν, αἷμα ὅ,τι ἔσται ἐπὶ ταῖς χείραις ὑμῶν. Θεωρεῖτε ὄτι θέλει τὸ αἷμα τῶν ἑῶν τέκνων ἐν φλεψὶ καὶ οὐκ ἐπὶ δρόμοις; Τότε στηρίξατε τόν. Διότι ἐστὲ Συγκλητικοὶ καὶ ἐκτὸς τῶν προνομίων της, ἡ ἰδιότης ὑμῶν αὐτή, ἔχει καὶ εὐθύνας. Μία ἐξ αὐτῶν, αὐτὴ τοῦ λάβειν σκληρὰς μὰ ἀπαραίτητας εὐθύνας. Καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ εὐθύνη καλεῖ ὑμὰς εἰς τὴν ἐπικύρωσιν τοῦ νόμου αὐτοῦ. Κᾷν ἡ ἐπίκλησις τῇ εὐθύνῃ οὐκ ἀρκεῖ ὑμῖν, τότε λέξω ὑμῖν καὶ τοῦτον: μὴ ψηφισθησομένη ἡ τροπολογία αὐτή, ὄταν γίνῃ ἡ ἐπόμενη ἐπίθεσις, ἐγὼ κοιμήσομαι ἡσύχως· ὑμεῖς;»
“Many among you shall say that I’m doing that which I am doing for my family. Indeed, a great part of my motivation is the memory of my family. This, however, is because I want to ensure that nobody will have to share my pain, both at present and in the future. This law, which was submitted to you, is not perfect. It is not pleasant. But it is necessary and effective, for only through it can our democracy and our liberty be secured. Many say that this law is tyrannical. So, to them, terrorism, which shall be left unopposed without this law, is not tyranny? Certainly, the law will make our lives harder, but if we do not wish for the events of February 27 to be repeated, we must accept it. I, for one, am but a servant of the Tiburan people; you, on the other hand, are their elected representatives. Do you believe that they want to live with a false sense of the coexistence of complete safety and liberty? The reject it. But blood will be shed, a river of Tiburan blood, blood which will be on your hands. Do you believe that the people want their children’s blood on the streets and not in their veins? Then support it. For you are Senators and along with the privileges of your position come certain obligations. One of them is to take harsh but necessary responsibilities. And responsibility calls us to the passing of this law. And if this call to responsibility is not enough for you, then let me tell you this, too: if this law is not passed, when the next attack happens, I will sleep soundly; will you?”

Absolute silence followed the Marshal’s speech. Not a single hand was raised, claiming the right to a retort, for the Marshal had nearly convinced the assembly that raising may very well mean dipping it in a sea of Pelasgian blood. The President of the Senate, satisfied with the impact of the speech, asked if anyone wanted to respond, expecting no response. Silence followed his question. Yet, just as he was about to let the voting begin, a single hand was raised. Near the centre of the Chamber, slightly to the left, in the seats held by the Labour Party, a single hand stood out defiant, belonging to Lambros Garyfallidis. The lone Socialist representative, an emblem of an otherwise shrinking and faltering political space, a beacon of light and hope for leftist people of all classes in the Empire, once again dared to stand again the majority. Just as he had done when he had been nearly beaten to death during a strike in a factory in his youth, just as he had when protesting conservative educational policies in his youth, just as he had done when he had marched with the coal-miners of Mopsia, against a wall of bayonets. Upon being given the stand by the President of the Senate, this specific delegate decided to take his stand once more, caring not for the consequences. From his words hung the fate of a nation and a civilisation older than history; and he would not let either go to waste.

«Ἐντιμότατοι συνάδελφοι, Πατρίκιοι καὶ Λαϊκοί. Ἐσμὲν πράγματι πρὸ ἑνὸς σταυροδροίου ἱστορικοῦ. Πράγματι, ἐμπρὸς ἡμῶν στέκεται τὀ δίλημμα τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ τῆς ἀπολυταρχίας, τοῦ σκότους καὶ τοῦ φωτός, τῆς Δημοκρατίας καὶ τῆς Τυραννίδος. Οὐδεῖς ἀμφιβάλλει τὸν πατριωτισμὸν τοῦ Ἀρχιστρατήγου, ὅστις δέδοικε τῇ πατρίδι χρόνους πολλοὺς τῆς ζωῆς του καὶ, προσφάτως, μία σύζυγο καὶ μία κόρη. Ὅμως δυνάμεθα ἀμφιβάλλειν τῆς λογικῆς τόσον τοῦ ἰδίου ὅσον καὶ αὐτῶν οἵτινες ὤθησαν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν λόγον ὅντινα μόλις ἀκούσαμε. Διότι ὁ ἀνθρωπος αὐτὸς, ὅστις μεμάχηται ὅσον οὐδεῖς ἄλλος ὑπὲρ τοῦ διαχωρισμοῦ πολιτικῆς καὶ στρατοῦ, μόνον μετὰ πιέσεως παρεμβαίνοι τοῖς πολιτικοῖς. Καὶ, γάρ, πράγματι ἰσχύει τὸ δίλημμα ὅ,τι ἔθεσε ἡμῖν. Διότι καλούμεθα ἀποφασίζειν ἐπὶ τοῦ μέλλοντος τῆς πατρίδος ἡμῶν καὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης, καθῶς ἡ παλαιοτέρα τῶν Πολιτειῶν αὐτῆς πρότυπον πρέπει εἶναι καὶ ἐστὶ διὰ ταῖς ἄλλαις. Καὶ οὔτως ἐπιλέξομεν ἀμύνεσθαι πέρι ἐλευθερίας καὶ Δημοκρατίας; Ἠ, μήπως, θησιάσομέν τας εἰς τὸν βωμὸν τῆς ἀσφάλειας; Μίας ἀσφάλειας ψευδοῦς, μίας ψευσαισθήσεως, μίας Ἑλένης, ἑνὸς πουκαμίσου ἀδειανοῦ, καθῶς ἐλευθερία οὐ δυνάται ὑπάρχειν τῷ κόσμῳ, ὅσα μέτρα καὶ λαμβάνωμεν. Ἐπιπλέον, ἡ ἐλευθερία καὶ ἡ ἀσφάλεια, ἥτις συνεπάγεται ἔλεγχον, εἰσὶν ἀσύμβατοι. Καὶ καθῶς ἡ μὲν ἐστὶ ἐκ φύσεως, ἡ δὲ τεχνιτή, καὶ ἡ φύσις παντοδύναμη ἐστί, ἡ ἀπόλυτη ἀσφάλεια παρὰ φύσεως ἐστὶ καὶ ὠς ἐκ τούτου ἀδύνατη. Μὰ καὶ γεγονυῖα ἐφικτή, ἀθέμιτη ἐστί. Τοῦτον, γάρ, διότι πρέπει θύειν ἐλευθερίαν ἀντ’ αὐτῆς. Ἐλευθερία ἥτις κατεκτήθη διὰ δακρύων, αἵματος καὶ ἱδρῶτος καὶ εἰ χαθῇ θελήσει αἰῶνες ὠς ἐπανέλθῃ. Ἐντιμότατοι ἀντιπρόσωποι, γιγνώσκω ὄτι μετὰ τὴν ἐπίθεσιν τῆς 27ης Φεβρουαρίου καὶ τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν δεσμῶν ὀρισμένων συναδέλφων ἡμῶν μετὰ τῶν τρομοκρατῶν ἔχει κράτος καὶ ἐξουσία ἐν τῷ χώρῳ αὐτῷ ὁ φόβος. Ὅμως πρέπει εἶναι γενναῖοι. Πράγματι, κύριε Ἀρχιστράτηγε, ἔχομεν ἕνα καθήκον, αὐτὸν τῆς γενναιότητος. Διότι το δύσκολον καὶ γενναῖον εἶναι τὸ ὑπερασπίζεσθαι τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἐν καιροῖς φόβου καὶ τρόμου. Διότι ἡ Δημοκρατία ἀπαιτεῖ καὶ ἀγώνας καὶ αἷμα. Διότι ἡ Ἐλευθερία θέλει ἀρετὴ καὶ τόλμη, ὠς ἔφη ὁ Κάλβος. Ὁ ἰδρυτῆς τῆς σύγχρωνης Πελασγίας, ὅστις ἐκσυγχρόνισε τὴν ἡμετέραν πατρίδα ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῆς Πολιτείας, ὁ ἀΰμνιστος Κόμης Ἀντώνιος Καπρίτης, ἀντιμέτωπος μετὰ τεράστειας ἀντιστάσεως καὶ ἀμετρήτων δυσκολιῶν, ἀκριβῶς μετὰ ἀπὸ μίαν ἀπόπειραν δολοφονίας, ἔφη εἰς τὴν Ἐθνικὴν Συνέλευσιν: εἰ ὁ Θεὸς μεθ’ ἡμῶν, οὐδεῖς καθ’ ἡμῶν. Ἐγὼ εἰμὶ Σοσιαλιστῆς, γιγνώσκετέ το, οὔτως οὐ δύναμαι ὁμιλεῖν διὰ Θεῶν καὶ Ἀγγέλων. Λέγω ὅμως ὑμῖν τοῦτον: εἰ ὁ Λαὸς μεθ’ ἡμῶν, οὐδεῖς καθ’ ἡμῶν. Καὶ τοῦτος ὁ Λαός, ὅστις ἀκόμη καὶ πρὸ τῶν Θεῶν ὀρθὸς στέκει, ὠς ἔφη κάποτε ὁ Ἀρχιστράτηγος Τσεργίνης, ζητεῖ Ἐλευθερίαν, ζητεῖ Δημοκρατίαν, ζητεῖ ἐλπίδα καὶ ζητεῖ δικαιοσύνη, οὔτε φράκτας, οὔτε δεσμοφύλακες, οὔτε ξιφολόγχας! Καὶ λήψεταί την!»
“Honourable colleagues, Patricians and Populars. We really are at a historic crossroads. Truly, before us stands the dilemma of liberty and authoritarianism, of darkness and light, of Democracy and Tyranny. Nobody here doubts the patriotism of the Marshal, who has given to the fatherland many years of his life and, more recently, a wife and a daughter. But we can doubt both his logic and that of those who incited him to give the speech which we just heard; for this man, who has fought more than any other in favour of the separation of the military from political affairs, could not have intervened in political affairs without incitement. And truly, the dilemma which he put before us is valid. As we are called to decide the future of our fatherland as well as that of the whole world, for the oldest of its Republics must be an example for the rest. And thus, will we choose to defend Liberty and Democracy? Or will we sacrifice them in favour of safety, a false safety, an illusion, a Helen of Troy, an empty shirt, for safety cannot exist in this world, no matter how many measures we take. Furthermore, liberty and safety, the latter implying control, are incompatible. And since the former is natural while the latter is artificial, and nature is almighty, complete safety is against nature and, therefore, unattainable. But, even if it was attainable, it would still be undesirable. This is because we would have to sacrifice liberty for safety’s sake. Liberty which was conquered through blood, tears and sweat, which, if lost, would take centuries to return.Honourable delegates, I know that after the attack of February 27 and the revelation of the connections between certain colleagues of ours and the terrorists, in this space power and authority are held by fear. But we must be brave. Indeed, sir Marshal, we have a duty, that of bravery. For the hard and the brave is to defend liberty in times of fear and terror. For Democracy demands struggles and blood. For Liberty requires virtue and bravery, as Kalvos once said. The founder of modern Pelasgia, who modernised our fatherland during the time of the Republic, the unspeakably virtuous Count Antonios Capritis, faced with immense opposition, after just having suffered an assasination attempt, said to the National Assembly: ‘if God stands with us, no one stands against us’. And this people, who stand straight even before the Gods, as Marshal Tserginis once said, demand Liberty, demand Democracy, demand hope and justice, neither fences, nor wardens, nor bayonets! And they shall have it!”

The Senate exploded into thunderous applause following the Representative’s speech, as he stood defiant, looking at the President of the Senate. The President whispered to the Marshal, begging him to speak again, but the Marshal said that all the Representative had said was true and he had no intention of lying to the very temple of Pelasgian Democracy. Needless to say, no new security bill was passed on that day.
 

Pelasgia

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Imperial Ministry of Defence, Propontis, Theme of the Phryxaea
7/4/1956, 12:25 PM


Surrounded by an army of journalists, the Ministry of Defence was a rather vibrant place. Overlooking the central courtyard, the Minister's Office, belonging to nobody less than, Marshal Theodoros Tzimiskis, was currently housing three very tired, fed up men: Vice-Minister Marshal Irakleios Artopoiopoulos, Admiral Nikodimos Vouvoulinos and, of course, the Marshal himself.

The National Security bill's rejection by the Legislative branch had been a failure of epic proportions; it broke the image of the Militarists' de facto control over the nation while it removed some very important tools towards solidifying, which the security provisions would have granted them. As if that wasn't enough, it had negated all the efforts of the Nationalists. Marshal Artopoiopoulos had no idea that the February 27 attacks had been planned by the Militarists themselves, yet even he recognised how big a setback this was. For the other two men, both of whom were directly involved in the plot, it meant serious danger, as every day that passed without extended authority furthered the risk of their plot being exposed.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the President of the Senate had lost his absolute faith in them, the Prime Minister and the Senatorial branch of their faction now considered itself independent from their influence, if not superior to it, while they were forced to work with a man who had lost family members in the attack and was guaranteed to expose the whole affair, if he found out even a detail. To add insult to injury, the Left was getting rather popular with a populace that had just been reminded of the power of Democracy, the press was getting more curious by the day and the Kadikistanis were probably opening bottles of champagne over in Ivar.

The Militarists were taking fire from all sides and there was only one thing they could do: strike back. Marshal Tzimiskis realised just that as he looked at the crowd of journalists assembled outside the Ministry. Taking his cigarette out of his mouth, he released a cloud of smoke, before speaking.

«Κύριοι, νομίζω πὼς γιγνώσκετε τὴν κατάστασιν εἰς ἥντινα περιεληλύθαμεν. Οἱ Συγκλητικοὶ καὶ οἱ Κομμουνισταὶ χαίρουσι μίας ἀξιολόγου νίκης καὶ ἡμεῖς γελοιοπεποιήμεθα πλήρως.»
"Gentlemn, I believe you're aware of the situation that has befallen us. The Senatorials and the Communists rejoice at a great victory and we have been thoroughly humiliated."

Admiral Vouvoulinos was the first to respond.

«Πράγματι. Ἴσως δύναται ὁ Κύριος Ἀρτοποιόπουλος πληροφορεῖν ἡμὰς διὰ τὴν ἀποτυχίαν τοῦ νομοσχεδίου;»
"Indeed. Perhaps Mr. Artopoiopoulos can inform us about the failure of the bill?"

Artopoiopoulos defended himself, seeing no ill in his actions.

«Οἰδᾶτε ἀρίστως ὄτι οὐ δύναμαι ψεύδεσθαι ἐν τῇ Συγκλήτῳ τῆς Βασιλείας. Ἂκόμη καὶ διὰ τοῦ ψεύδεσθαι, τὸ νομοσχέδιον οὐκ ἐγκρίνοιτο, ὁ Κύριος Γαρυφαλλίδης ἐσιγούρεψέ το.»
"You know perfectly well that I cannot lie in the Imperial Senate. Even if I did, the bill would not be approved, Mr. Garyphallidis made sure of it."

Marshal Tzimiskis agreed with Artopoiopoulos.

«Ἀληθῶς. Μόνο ἄχρηστον ῥίσκον προστιθεῖτε ἡ ἐν λόγῳ δράσις. Ὁμιλοῦντες ἐπὶ τοῦ Γαρυφαλλίδου, τὶ θαρεῖτε πῶς πρέπει ποιήσειν;»
"Indeed. Such action would only add useless risk. Speaking of Garyphallidis, what do you think that we should do?"

Artopoiopoulos replied after thinking for a moment.

«Οὐ δυνάμεθα λάβειν δράσιν κατὰ τοῦ ἰδίου. Δυνάμενοι, δέ, καὶ πάλι οὐ βοηθοῖεν· πρέπει βλάψομεν τὸ κόμμα, οὐ τὸν Συγκλητικόν. Πῶς ποιήσομέν το, ὅμως;»
"We cannot take action against the man himself. Even if we did, though, it still wouldn't help; we must hurt the party, not the Senator. How will we do that, though?"

Both men agreed with Artopoiopoulos. Garyphallidis was a poster boy, a good one, but still a poster boy. He was the very personification of the leftist faction's ideals, a Democrat and a Socialist, a highly educated man and a friend of the common worker, a proud Pelasgian and a widely respected internationalist. He was not just a politician, he was an academic and an author, recognised both at home and abroad. He was far beyond the Militarists' reach and even if he was within their reach, there would be many within the faction itself who would be opposed to killing such a respected intellectual, since they felt he did more good than bad to the Fatherland. No, they couldn't hurt the man; but they could hurt the ideals he stood for! And who better to do that for them than the gallable, divisible, eternally fractured Pelasgian left? After all one of the most famous Pelasgian political jokes went like this, joking about how division sometimes led Pelasgian leftists to contradict themselves: "Scientists consider breaking an Atom too dangerous to be tried; meanwhile in Pelasgia, our Left has moved far beyond such petty precautions." With this joke in mind, Marshal Tzimiskis spoke once more.

«Οἱ Καδίκιοι καλοῦσι συνεχῶς τοὺς ἡμετέρους Κομμουνιστὰς ὅπως ἐνσωματοθῶσι εἰς τὴν Διεθνή των.»
"The Kadikistanis are constantly calling on our Communists to join their International."

Artopoiopoulos rejected the comment, seeing it as pointless.

«Νή, ὅμως ὑπάρχει τεράστεια διαφωνία ἐπὶ τοῦ θέματος ἐν τῇ Ἀριστερᾷ.»
"Yes, but there's a huge difference of opinions about the issue in the Left."

Admiral Vouvoulinos, on the other hand, saw precisely what the Minister was getting at.

«Πράγματι, ἡ ἐν λόγῳ διαφωνία σχεδὸν διχασμὸς ἐστί... σχεδὸν ἀρκετὴ διὰ ἕνα σχίσμα.»
"Indeed, the dispute in question is almost a division... almost enough for a schism."

Now the Vice-Minister, too, saw what the two men were proposing.

«Ἄριστη ἰδέα. Πῶς ὅμως;»
"An excellent idea. But how?"

Marshal Tzimiskis put his cigarette in his mouth and smoked for a second, giving himself a bit of time to think.

«Θυμᾶσαι ὄταν εἶπας μοι διὰ μίας ἐνοχλητικῆς δημοσιογράφου, ἥτις προσπάθησε λάβειν συνέντευξιν ἀπὸ σοῦ;»
"Do you remember when you told me about that annoying Journalist, who tried to get an interview with you?"

«Νή, φυσικῶς.»
"Yes, of course."

«Καλῶς. Τότε χρησιμοποιήσομέν την, ὥστε ποιήσῃ ὁ τύπος τὸ ἡμετέρερον ἔργον δι' ἡμάς.»
"Very well. Then we'll use her, so that the press does our work for us."

The Marshal shook his head in approval. Getting a journalist who had just gotten a big story and succeeded to publish something that would suit their interest wouldn't be hard, as long as they pretended they didn't want it to be published. For the journalist in question had just gotten a promotion and felt infallible, all their suspicions of intrigues and back-door deals being confirmed. Now if they, for example, shipped a box or two of documents hinting at a supposed contact between the Kadikistanis and sections of the Labour Party, then pretended to push against publishing them so as to 'avoid exposing Kadikistani influence within the Empire', the journalist in question would go to hell and back to see them on the front page. The very mention of such a plan would devide the Left and those silently in support would come out an openly support such a move, while those silently against it would boycott it. Voices such as that of Garyphallidis, who had the interest of the whole Left and not a section in mind, would be ignored among the immense debacle that would follow, while the Left ridiculed itself to the voters and a significant part of it gave the Government a good excuse to ban it and send its members over to Elenonisos and the like, with the constant accusations of them being little more than Kadikistan's puppets being confirmed. The Senatorial section of the Nationalists would support this move, seeing it as a way to reinforce their position in the Senate. Little would they, too, know that they would be digging their own grave. Soon enough Tzimiskis and Vouvoulinos would find some other way to rouse public calls for security and then they'd get whatever they wanted through the Senate without issue. And the Prime Minister would lick their boots clean after the whole affair, since only then would the Propontine fool realise that he dug his own grave. Of course Artopoiopoulos could never be let to know the second part of the plan; but then again he didn't need to. The first plan was more than enough work, at least for the moment.


 

Pelasgia

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IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR
IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
SPECIAL OPERATIONAL REPORT

Subject: Internal asymmetrical counter-terrorism operations - Update on Operation "Vellerephontis"
Classification: Top Secret
Location & Date: Propontis, 8 April 1956



Delivery of Documents to subject has been confirmed. Subject has taken documents into their posession. Grounds for arrest based on unauthorised posession of State Documents established, arrest to be postponed later as per Ministerial Directive, due to possible usefulness of subject (A). Subject has proceded to contact members of the Labour Party. The members are Represenatives Georgios Psarianos and Nikolaos Kyllos. Ground for arrest based on conspiracy to expose State Documents established, arrests to be postponed (see A). Subject has also proceded to contact the Kadikistani Embassy about a possible meeting with a representative of the Marxist-Leninovist International. Requesting increased surveillance, possible grounds for High Treason (B). Subject has yet to contact Propontios Logothetis about the whole case, it would seem that the subject wants to gather significant evidence before going forward with a publication. Subject also has consistent contact with a male, around a decade older than the subject, regularly at a Coffee Store belonging to a certain Mr. Phrangopoulos in the Galatopyrgos District. Current conclusion links to a possible romantic affair, it would seem that the male is unaware, up to this point, of the subject's posession of the aformentioned documents. Advising surveillance on the male to ensure that he does not gain access to the information or knowledge of its existence.

Leon Akritopoulos ΙΓ-112Α,
ΑΥΠ Section XIII

 

Pelasgia

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IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR
IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
SPECIAL OPERATIONAL REPORT

Subject: Internal asymmetrical counter-terrorism operations - Update on Operation "Vellerephontis"
Classification: Top Secret
Location & Date: Propontis, 13 April 1956


Following publication of article by the subject, the rift in the Left has successfully surfaced, being placed at the centre of public opinion. Polls show a major drop in overall support for the left, while the two parties that emerged are fighting for what remains of the its voter base. Public support for a ban on the pro-Kadikistani faction is growing. Recommending neutralisation of Garyphallidis, with blame placed on DKKP, so as to deal with two loose ends in one blow. Risk of uniting the left is considerable, however no serious successor exists for the possible supporters of the left to rally to. Subject is no longer useful, but knows too much. Has been seen frequenting the house of the male mentioned in report 8/4/56-B, possibly revealing details to the aformentioned male. Recommending discrete termination of both, after the whole affair has died down.

Leon Akritopoulos ΙΓ-112Α,
ΑΥΠ Section XIII
 

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Homeros Theatre, Propontis, Theme of the Phryxaea
15/4/1956, 12:40 PM


Fate is a funny thing. One moment, you're at the top of the world.
The next you're in the gutter. Lambros Garyphallidis knew this all too well; the son of a poor family from an industrial city in the western, fertile part of the country he had worked hard from a rather young age. He had started in the gutter and through had work he had gotten into the University of Therme, graduating from its world-renowned Medical School at the top of his class. He had fought against strike-breakers, police and just about any major industrial group in the country and, even though he had been thrown into the floor time and time again, he had emerged victorious. In these recent months he was at the top of the nation's fastest growing politcal faction; yet just as the Labour Party's rise to power seemed unstoppable it had fragmented into a thousand pieces, each one fighting the others and moving furhter away from the people's hearts by the day. He too had fallen from auniversally respected Representative, to the leading force in an otherwise dead party.

If it were his own personnal downfall at stake he wouldn't have been so worried; he had fought well, for many years, for what he believed would be a better future for everyone in his homeland and beyond. But to see all of his efforts go to waste, so easily? To see the movement he had forged into a political Colossus of Ophioussa reduced to a fringe voice, nobody cared to listen to? That he could not accept. As long as he drew breath, he would fight for Labour. For, in his eyes, it was the only chance the Pelasgians had to rid themselves of the Southern Tiburan monarchy and to turn their country into a Social Democracy, which would base its prosperity on the cooperation of its people, rather than than enslavement and plight of the lower classes, both at home and abroad.

With that spirit guiding him, Garyphallidis had used his remaining political influence to organise a massive assembly for all the Socialists and Leftists in Pelasgia, in hopes of re-uniting the Left and denouncing the ideological dependence on Kadikistani expansionism that Marxism-Leninovism brought with it. Thousands were attending, even from abroad, filling Homeros Theatre, named after the famous ancient playright from Propontis. After hours of waiting, Garyphallidis finally took to the stage, amidst a mix of applause and shouts. For a moment it would seem he was at the top of the world again. As he moved towards the podium, he uttered his speech's first words.

«Σύντροφοι, εὐχαριστῶ ὑμὰς διὰ τὴν ὑμετέραν παρουσίαν.»
"Comrades, I thank you for your attendance."

They would be his last. From among the crowd a young man, barely older than twenty, fired his revolver, lodging a bullet into Garyphallidis' shoulder. He fired once more, striking the Representative in the heart. He shouted, before fleeing.

«Θάνατος στὸν Ῥεβιζιονισμό!»
"Death to revisionism!"

He ran outside, moving from one of the side doors near the first row of seats, which had conveniently been left open for him. He pulled out the piece of paper he had been given by a Military Police officer.

Πυροβόλησε τὸν Γαρυφαλλίδην. Διέφυγε διὰ τῆς θυρὸς εἰς τὰ σὰ δεξιά. Τρέξε εἰς τὸ πρῶτο ὀδόφραγμα τῆς Ὀδοῦ Ἐπιγένους. Ἀναμενεῖ σὲ κίτρινον ταξί.
Shoot Garyphallidis. Escape from the door to your right. Run to the first roadblock on Epigenes Street. A yellow taxi-cab will be waiting for you.


The man run as fast as he could, stopping right as he reached Epigenes Street. Just as he saw the first roadblock that had been set up by the Military Police, he ran towards a taxi that had been stopped, waving his hand at the officers, while showing them the gun one of their own had given him a few hours ago.

«Ἐγὼ εἰμί! Ἐγώ!»
"It's me! Me!"

The officers looked at eachother. One of them pulled out his gun and aimed it at the assasin.

«Τὶ ποιεῖς; Ἐγὼ εἰμί, αὐτὸς ποὺ τὸν πυροβόλησε! Αἱ διαταγαί σου-
"What are you doing? It's me, the one who shot him! Your orders-

The sounds of a gunshot ripped through the air, followed by the assasin's body hitting the floor.

Galatopyrgos District, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
16/4/1956, 7:15 AM

The sound of an alarm clock woke Myrsini up from her dreams. She yawned, placing her hand in front of her mouth. She looked to her left; the bed's left side was empty. Just as she moved to stand up, Stephanos walked into the room.

«Καλὰ ὄνειρα;»
"Good dreams?"

«Κάλλιστα. Εἶχες ἐπιτέλους κουρεφτῇ.»
"Great. You had finally gotten a haircut."

The couple laughed. Ioannis moved closer to the bed and kissed Myrsini.


«Ἔχει πρωινὸ στὸ τραπέζι.»
"There's breakfast on the table."

«Πῶς καὶ ξύπνησες νωρίς;»
"How come you woke up early?"

«Σὲ εἶδα νὰ λιώνῃς στὴν δουλειά κι εἶπα νὰ σοῦ μοιάσω.»
"I saw you working you ass off and I thought I'd take after you."

«Ἀν μοῦ ἔμοιζες θὰ ἔβρησκες μία πραγματικὴ δουλειά.»

"If you took after me, you'd get a real job."

«Μάλιστα, κυρία ἀρχισυντάκτρια.»
"Of course, madam editor."

«Δὲν εἶμαι ἀρχισυντάκτρια ἀκόμα.»
"I'm an editor yet."

«Κρίμα. Πῶς πάει τὸ μέγα ἄρθρον;»
"A pity. How's the great article going?"

«Πετάει. Ἀν συνεχίσουμε ἔτσι, θὰ γίνω ἀρχισυντάκτρια. Μπορῶ νὰ φάω τὸ πρωινὸ στὸ χέρι;»
"It's flying (it's doing great). If we keep going like this, I'll become an editor. Can I eat the breakfast while moving?"

«Πρέπει νὰ φύγεις τόσο γρήγορα;»
"Do you have to leave so quickly?"

«Πρέπει νὰ προφτάσω τὸ τραῖνο. Ἀλλιῶς, δὲν θὰ γίνω οὔτε καθαρίστρια.»
"I have to catch the train. Otherwise, I won't even become a cleaning lady."

«Μεἶνε. Θὰ σὲ πάω μὲ τ' αὐτοκίνητό μου.»
"Stay. I'll drive you there with my car."


«Εὐχαριστῶ πολύ, μά-
"Thanks a lot, but-

«Ἔλα τῶρα. Ἀκόμα φοβᾶσαι νὰ μὴν μᾶς δοῦν μαζί; Δὲν εἴμαστε καὶ ἀνώμαλοι.»
"Come on now. Are you still scared of being seen with me? It's not like we're perverts, or anything."

Myrsini thought for a second. They had been together for quite some time. She didn't really need to hide whole thing. After all they were in a normal relationship. Besides, maybe that would get Stavros from accounting to stop staring.

«Ἐντάξει, συγνώμη. Αὔριο, θὰ γιορτάσουμε τὴν προαγωγή μου μὲ κάτι συναδέλφους. Ἔλα καὶ θὰ τοὺς γνωρίσεις... ἀρκεῖ νὰ βρεῖς κάτι καλύτερο ἀπὸ τὸ 'ἐρασιτέχνης συγγραφέας'. Δὲν ζοῦμε ὅλοι ἀπὸ τὰ λεφτὰ τοῦ παπᾶ.»
"Alright, I'm sorry. Tomorrow, we're going to celebrate my promotion with some colleagues. Come and you'll meet them... as long as you find something better than 'amateur writer'. Not all of us live off of daddy's money."








 
Last edited:

Pelasgia

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Magnaura, Propontis, Theme of the Phryxaea
25/4/1956, 6:40 PM


Killing Garyphallidis was far from a difficult affair. Two bullets, one to the shoulder, one to the chest and the man fell flat on his back, dead. Killing his work, on the other hand, that was work worthy of praise, or disgust, depending on your point of view. It was, certainly, not an easy task. Murdering a man is hardly a difficult affair; making their murder work in your favour is an entirely different story. Marshal Artopoiopoulos knew that all too well; having dedicated his life to the nationalist cause, wishing to see his country strong, so that it may offer safety and prosperity to all its citizens, he had worked on turning murders and tragedies in his faction's favour more times than he would have wished.

As he stood on the podium of the very same room where, less than a month ago, Garyphallidis had defeated the old National Security Bill, he almost felt bad, as if he had insulted a dead man, or he had thrown a stone onto someone's grave and damaged that little glass case used to store candles and oil on top of it. Almost. The Left could have very well attacked the Nationalists for passing the very law that Garyphallidis opposed in his name, using his murder as nothing but a petty excuse. And they would be right, completely right. But they would not; for, in that new, refurbished National Security Bill, was a clause banning Marxism-Leninovism, securing, for all those who supported or belonged to the DKKP, a spot on Elenonisos. As long as it meant that they would emerge as the sole victors of the Left's internal struggle, the Senators and leaders of the SEKP would support the law, proudly and openly. With the successors, in theory at least, of Garyphallidis supporting the Bill, nothing could stop it.

Judas had taken his thirty denarii and now it was Pontius Pilate's turn to wash his hands, so that the Jesus in question may be crucified, at last.

«Ἀξίοτιμοι Συγκλητικοί, Ἀντιπρόσωποι τοῦ ἡμετέρου Δήμου, ὁμιλῶ ὑμῖν σήμερον ἰνὰ πείσω ὑμὰς ὅπως ὑπερψηφίσατε τὸ Νομοσχέδιον Ἐθνικῆς Ἀσφαλείας. Πολλοὶ πρὶν ἐμοῦ ἀνέλυσαν ὑμῖν λεπτομερῶς τοὺς τρόπους μετὰ τῶν ὁποίων τὸ ἐν λόγῳ νομοσχέδιον ἐνισχύσει τὴν ἡμετέραν προστασίαν ἔναντι τῆς τρομοκρατίας. Συμφωνῶ μεθ' αὐτῶν. Παρὰ ταῦτα, ὅμως, ἐγὼ οὐχ ὁμιλήσω ὑμῖν διὰ τὰ ἴδια. Ἀντιθέτως, ὁμιλήσω ὑμῖν διὰ πρόσφατα γεγονότα. Πιστεύω ὄτι οὐδεῖς παρὼν διαφωνήσει μεθ' ἐμοῦ εἰ λέξω πὼς ὁ Λάμπρος Γαρυφαλλίδης ἦν εἷς ἐκ τῶν μεγάλων πολιτκῶν ἀνδρῶν τοῦ ἔθνους ἡμῶν, ἀδιαμφισβήτον ἐστί. Καὶ οὗτος ὁ ἀνὴρ ἐφονεύθη ὑπὸ αἰσχρῶν δολοφόνων, τρομοκρατῶν, ἐγκληματίων, ὧντινων ἡ σποίρα ἔχει ὄνομα καὶ ἰδεολογία: τὸ 'Διεθνιστικὸν' Κομμουνιστικὸν Κόμμα Πελασγίας', ἕνα ἐλεεινὸν ὑποχείριον τοῦ Καδικικοῦ Μαρξισμοῦ-Λενινωφισμοῦ. Καὶ τὸ νομοσχέδιον ὅ,τι προετάθη ὑπὸ τῆς ἡμετέρας Κυβερνήσεως ἀποβαλεῖ τοῦτον τὸν πολιτικὸν καρκίνον ἀπὸ τῆς πατρίδος ἡμῶν! Ἀξιότιμοι Συγκλητικοί, εἰ ἔχετε τὸν ἐλάχιστον σεβασμόν, τὴν ἐλάχιστην συμπάθειαν διὰ τὸν συγχορεμένον συνάδελφόν ὑμων, παρακαλῶ ὑμάς, ἐγκρίνετέ το.»
"Honourable Senators, Representatives of our People, I am speaking to you today so as to persuade you to approve the National Security Bill. Many before me analysed to you, in detail, the ways in which this bill will reinforce our protection against terrorism. I agree with them. At the same time, however, I shall not speak to you about the same things. In contrast, I shall speak to you about recent events. I believe that nobody present will disagree with me, should I say that Lambros Garyphallidis was one of the great statesmen of our nation, this is without a doubt. And this man was slain by vile murders, terrorists, thugs, whose gang has a name and an ideology: the 'Internationalist Communist Party of Pelasgia', a pathetic puppet of Kadikistani Marxism-Leninovism. And the bill, which was put forth by our Government, shall eject this political cancer from our fatherland! Honourable representatives, if you have the least amount of sympathy, the smallest of respect for the late colleague of yours, I beg of you, approve it."

The Senate exploded into applause once more, just like it had when Garyphallidis had opposed the National Security Bill. Yet, this time, the law passed with flying colours and nobody could do anything to stop it; not that the vast majority of Pelasgian wanted to stop it.

Hagia Eirene District, Propontis, Theme of the Phryxaea
25/4/1956, 8:20 PM


Georgios Psarianos was still in his underwear when he learnt that the bill had passed; he had resigned from the Senate, boycotting it and calling for new elections, along with most of his party. He assumed that the moderate Leftists would have never approved the new bill, it was, in his eyes, too much of an insult to Garyphallidis, the very destruction of his legacy; seeing how they worshipped the man, there was no way they could have approved it.

Yet they did and they even managed to portray it as a testament to his memory. Needless to say, Psarianos had ended up running around the city in his underwear, like a fool, trying to evade Military Police, which had set up roadblocks across the Reigning City. Most of the DKKP's members were already in custody and those not yet under the care of the ASA would soon find themselves in one of the cells under Velissariou Square. His only hope was getting to the Kadikistani Embassy, there he could seek refuge and be smuggled out. Staying in the Empire was suicide; the only reason he had evaded Police in the first place is because of a tip off from one of his party members, who called him as Military Police were smashing his door.

He had heard quite a lot about what happened to those on Elenonisos; he had met a lot of people who did unspeakable things, who betrayed friends and family and became ASA's dogs, just to get off that hell of a rock. And he was bound for that rock, unless he got smuggled out safely. With rainwater covering him and soaking his clothes, he ran through an alley connecting Agias Eirinis and Plethonos Streets, on to Pleithonos Square. Psarianos stopped and ducked behind a car, a black Ippolochos I700. Looking through a the window, he found that the street outside the embassy was empty.

Psarianos had always known, as he had always told his fellow party chiefs, that if trouble was to occur, the Kadikistani Embassy was where they would all go to; yet not a single member had cracked, not a single member had told them anything. It almost seemed too good to be true. Then again, these were dedicated revolutionaries, people who would see their own nails and teeth carved and pulled out before uttering a word. And, even if it wasn't true, he didn't really have anywhere else to go. He could already hear the sirenes of the police cars and the roar of the Military Police's heavy duty trucks moving his way. Hopefully, getting arrested outside the embassy could at least raise a fuss, or could deter ASA from taking him in, on an ideological basis.

Gathering all his strength, both mental and physical, Psarianos ran across the street. It was surprising: no gunshot, no cops, no nothing. There was a couple kissing inside a car but that was about it. Just as he was about to reach the front gate, crossing through Plethonos Square, he felt the touch of cold metal, followed by pain, on the back of his head. He fell to the ground, having been struck by pistol's grip. He looked up; two figures stood there, one removing a wig. The couple was no couple, after all. The sound of the police cars got louder.

He looked up and started shouting.

«Συλαμβάνετε μὲ διὰ τὰς πολιτικὰς μου πεποιθήσεις! Ἀπαιτῶ ἕναν δικηγόρον!»
"You're arresting me for my political beliefs! I demand a lawyer!"

One of the two undercover cops replied, dismissing the grey haired man's complaints, in plain Demotic, as if he were some schoolboy caught shoplifting.

«Ἀσ' τὰ σάπια, γέρο. Πήγαμε στὰ γραφεία σας, τὰ εἴδαμε ὅλα. Ἄσε καὶ ποὺ ἡ γελοιότητα ποὺ ἀποκαλεῖς ἰδεολογία εἶναι παράνομη πλέον.»
"Cut the crap, old man. We went to your offices, we saw everything. On top of that, that joke you call an ideology is illegal now."

«Τὶ εἴδατε; Εἶσαι μὲ τὰ καλά σου;»
"What did you see? Are you out of your mind?"

As the uniformed cops moved closer, the undecover office switched his tone and spoke in archaic Katharevousa.

«Ψαριανὲ Γεώργιε, συλαμβάνεσαι διὰ συνομοσία κατὰ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ Διαδόχου, Δεσπότου Ἰσαάκου, καὶ διὰ ἔσχάτης προδοσίας. Ἔχεις τὸ δικαίωμα [...]»
"Psarianos Georgios, you are under arrest for conspiring against the life of the Heir Apparent, Crown Prince Isaac, and for high treason. You have the right [...]"


Highway from Propontis to Sestos, Theme of the Phryxaea
25/4/1956, 9:35 PM


Ioannis had been driving for almost an hour now; He was taking Myrsini to his family's country home, to enjoy the Pelasgian Easter Holidays. He caught himself yawing; he really was sleepy. He had barely drunk, only a glass of wine from one of Myrsini's colleagues. Was he losing his tolerance that fast? He looked to his right; Myrsini was already asleep. He thought of waking her up, but with the deep a sleep, he doubted she would take it as a joke. He looked ahead: another sharp turn, as usual on the highway from Propontis to Sestos. He got ready to slow down, to change gears and turn. But, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Helplessly, he felt his eyelids close, as if elephants had been hanging from them. A few second slater, the car flew over the edge of the cliff. A car that was behind stopped, moving to the part of the road where Ioannis' car had broken through the protective railing. Two men walked out from it. The two undercover officers had been following a car for almost four hours now.

«Νομίζεις πὼς δούλεψε;»
"Do you think it worked?"

«Ἔχω δῇ λίγες σταγόνες ἀπ' αὐτὸ νᾶ κοιμίζουν δίμετρους καταδρομεῖς. Εἶναι θέμα χρόνου.»
"I've seen a few drops of it put two metre tall commandos to sleep. It was only a matter of time."

«Νή, ἀλλὰ εἶναι νεκροί;»
"Yes, but are they dead?"

«Θὰ δοῦμε Βέβαια, αὐτὸ εἶναι δουλειᾶ τῆς ὁμάδας β'. Ἐμεῖς τελειώσαμε γιὰ σήμερα.»
"We'll see. Then again, that's team II's job. We're done for today."

«Τὶ εἶπες ὄτι θὰ γράψῃ ὁ τύπος;»
"What did you say the press will write?"

«Αὐτοκινητιστικὸ λόγῳ μέθης, ἀν δὲν κάνω λάθος.»
"Automobile accident due to alcohol intoxication, if I'm not mistaken."

«Τραγικόν.»
"Tragic."

«Πράγματι.»
"Indeed."




 

Pelasgia

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Imperial Supreme Court of Cassation, Propontis, Theme of the Phryxaea
1/5/1956, 6:40 PM


The arrest and trial of the DKKP conspirators had captured the nation's attention. Even among Easter holidays, most people were quite interested in the news and the developments surrounding the trial. While almost everyone was enjoying their vacations during Orthodoxy's most important holiday, the three members of the Special Military Tribunal charged with judging the conspirators had been working tirelessly. The three judges were Navarchos (Admiral) Nikodemos Vouvoulinos, Archistrategos (Field Marshal) Theodoros Tzimiskes and Pterarchos (Air Chief Marshal) Athanasios Georgiou. The prosecution was being handled by Tagmatarches (Major) Andromache Pheraia, while the defence had been undertaken by Dionysios Chalkondyles, a renowned Pelasgian lawyer and statesman, who had been appointed by the court, since the defendants failed to find any other lawyer to defend them.

Of course there really wasn't any conspiracy; all the evidence had been planted by the Imperial Intelligence Service and the Imperial Military Police. However, both services were excellent at doing their job and the DKKP had not been very secretive about its intent to rebel and its vicious, nearly violent hate for the Imperial Monarchy. The prosecution had hundreds of incriminating statements and documents, some public, some seized from the DKKP's offices, even without those planted by the authorities. The plot had been set up so well that even Major Pheraia, who had no knowledge of it, had been convinced of the presumed conspirators' guilt and had volunteered to take the case. For a verdict to be rendered, though, all three members of the Tribunal needed to come to a unanimous decision. The Archistrategos and the Navarchos had masterminded the plot, so they didn't need to be convinced. The Pterarchos, on the other hand, was just as oblivious as Pheraia. He would be the one who needed all the convincing.

The trial had begun the day before, on Holy Saturday, while it was reaching its second day on Easter Day. Both sides had already called in a number of witnesses and presented evidence, since the defendants had, obviously, pleaded not guilty. On the second day , the prosecution decided to cross examine the leader of the DKKP, Georgios Psarianos, concerning some statements of his.

«Κύριε Ψαριανέ, ἐθέλοιμι διαβάσω ὑμῖν μίαν δήλωσιν καὶ ζητῶ ὑμῖν ὅπως διευκρινῆτε ἀν ᾖ ὑμετέρα: Πολλοῖ στὴ χώρα μας νομίζουν πὼς τάχα οἱ στρατιωτικοὶ κοροϊδεύουν τὸν καλό βασιλιᾶ, ὁ ὁποῖος ἔχει μόνο τὸ καλὸ τοῦ λαοῦ μας στὸ μυαλό του. Αὐτὰ, λοιπόν, εἶναι ψεύδη. Ὁ βασιλιᾶς δὲν εἶναι τὸ θύμα τῆς κρυφῆς χούντας ποὺ μᾶς κυβερνᾷ, εἶναι τὸ αἴτιο τῆς ὕπαρξῆς της. Ὅσο ζῇ ἔστω καὶ ἕνας Κομνηνός, ποτὲ δὲν θὰ ὑπάρξῃ λαοκρατία στὴν Πελασγία.»
"Mr. Psarianos, I would like to read to you a statement and I ask of you to clarify whether it is yours: Many in our country believe that, supposedly, the military fools the good emperor, who only has the good of our people in mind. That, however, is a lie. The emperor is not the victim of the covert junta which rules us, he is the cause of its existence. As long as even a single Komnenos lives, there will never be popular rule in Pelasgia."

«Ἐμὴ εστί, Κυρία Ταγματάρχα.»
"It is mine, Madam Major."

«Ἰσχύει ὄτι ὁ στόχος τοῦ ὑμετέρου κόμματος, ὅπως ἄλλοστε λέγεται ἐν τῷ καταστατικ του, ἐστίν ἡ ἐν Τιβυρίᾳ ἐπικράτησις τῆς ἐν λόγῳ 'λαοκρατίας';»
"Is it true that the goal of your party, as is, after all, stated in its founding declaration, is the prevalance of this so called 'popular rule'?"

«Ἰσχύει.»
"It is true."

«Δηλαδή, συμφώνως μεθ' ὑμῶν, ἡ δολοφονία τῶν μελῶν τῆς Δυναστείας τῶν Κομνηνῶν ἐστὶν οὐ μόνον ἀποδεκτόν ἀλλὰ καὶ άπαραίτητον βήμα πρὸς τὴν ἐπίτευξιν τῆς ὑμετέρας 'λαοκρατίας';»
"So, according to you, the murder of the members of the Komnenos Dynasty, is not only an acceptable, but also a necessary step towards the creation of your 'popular rule'?"

«Ὁρᾶτε-
"Look-

«Ναὶ ἢ οὐ, κύριε Ψαριανέ;»
"Yes or no, Mr. Psarianos?"

«Ναί.»
"Yes."




 

Pelasgia

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Imperial Naval Base, Republic of Justiza
4/5/1956, 10:56 AM

Spring had barely come, yet the Justinian sun was already schorching everything and everyone, in the Imperial Navy's base in Justiza. From the balcony of his quarters, the commander of the Imperial forces stationed in the base was looking out to the sea; far from here, across that sea lay Pelasgia. Lay home. A home he had not seen in God knows how many years. Barely over fourty years of age, the commander was far paler than most Pelasgians, with green eyes and brown hair, the distinct features of the Komnenoi. Yet something about him, his face, his stature, wasn't exactly of the Komnenoi. His mother certainly was a Komnene, but his father was a Laskaris and it showed.

A first cousin to the Emperor, he had be sent to Justiza, far from the politics of the Empire and, before that, in the most remote of islands the Empire held. The Pelasgian were not barbarians, they did not aknowledge the right of a man or woman to rule due to descent, each Emperor appointed their successor, with the approval of the Senate. Yet, more often than not, the right name brought lots of public support, prestige and imperium to its holder, things one could use to rise to the very top of Propontine bureaucracy.

Another man walked into the commander's chambers, dressed in his uniform. Olive-skinned, with black eyes and hair, he stood behind the commander, who was looking out, to the sea. The commander spoke in Demotic, showing as much familiarity as the man's sudden entrance had shown.


«Διάβασες τὸν Προπόντιο Λογοθέτη;»

"Did you read the Propontios Logothetis?"

«Οἱ Μαρξιστές-Λενινωφιστὲς δικάζονται γιὰ συνομοσία κατὰ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ Δεσπότη.»
"The Marxists-Leninovists are facing trial for conspiracy against the life of the Despot."

«Λοιπόν;»
"So?"

«Ὁ Ἀνδρόνικος;»
"Andronikos?"

«Ὁ Ἀνδρόνικος εἶναι μία ἰκανὴ μαριονέτα, ἀλλὰ παραμένει μία μαριονέτα.»
"Andronikos is a capable puppet, but he's still a puppet."

«Ὁ Τζιμισκής...»
"Tzimiskes..."

«Καὶ ὁ Βουβουλίνος, σύμφωνα μὲ τὸν Ἀρτοποιόπουλο.»

"And Vouvoulinos, according to Artopoiopoulos."

«Καθαρίζουν τὴν πολιτικὴ σκηνή.... Ἀνησυχεῖς;»
"They're cleaning the political stage... Are you worried?"

«Ὄχι. Νομίζουν ὄτι μὲ ἔχουν ξεκάνῃ ἤδη. Ἄσε ποὺ δὲν σκοτώνεις εὔκολα ἕναν Κομνηνό, ἀκόμη κᾷν εἶναι μισὸς Κομνηνός.»

"No. They think they've dealth with me already. Besides, you can't easily kill a Komnenos, even if he's half a Komnenos."

«Δὲν θὰ τὸ ἐπέτρεπε ποτὲ ὁ Ἀνδρόνικος καὶ θὰ ἔβρησκε κάποια καλὴ δικαιολογία ὁ Ἀρτοποιόπουλος.»

"Andronikos would never allow it and Artopoiopoulos would find some good excuse."

«Αὐτὸς ὁ ἀνθρωπος εἶναι πράγματι ἄξιος θαυμασμοῦ.»
"That man is truly worthy of admiration."

«Τόσον καιρὸ ξέρει ὄτι τοῦ σκότωσαν τὴν οἰκογένεια καὶ κρατᾷ τὴν σιωπή του.»
"All this time he's known they killed his family and he keeps his silence."

«Ὁ Ἀρτοποιόπουλος ξέρει αὐτὸ ποὺ ξέρουν μὰ ἀγνοοῦν ὅλοι... ὁ καιρὸς πάντα φαίρνει δικαίωση, με σκληρὴ δουλειᾶ.»
"Artopoiopoulos knows that which everyone knows but ignores... time always brings redemption, with hard work."

«Ἔσσεται ἦμαρ, ὠς ἔλεγεν Ὅμηρος.»
"The day shall come, as Homer would say."



 

Pelasgia

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Demos
OOC: As per to Spelev ( @ )'s recommendation, a list of all major characters in the RP is available , in the comments. Please note that all dead characters are marked as such, so if you want to avoid spoilers, feel free to message me and I'll sum up each character you may have questions about, up to the point in the story where you are at. ~ Demos
 

Pelasgia

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Imperial residence, Princeponesus, Theme of the Archipelago
24/5/1956, 12:37 AM

Princeponesus (Pringiponisos in Pelasgian) was an island right across from Propontis, it's capital being Principaeum (Pringipaion), literally meaning island and town of the Prince, respectively. Prince, of course, was used in the classical sense, not the one given to it by many Gallo-Germanian monarchies in the modern era. Its name orignated from its frequent use by Propontine Imperials as a summer retreat or a last resort during rebellions and invasions, sometimes even the staging ground for attacks on Propontis by Propontine rebels who sought to take the throne.

It was on this heavily fortified island that the Emperors fled during the Fourth Crusade and it was from here that the Queen of Cities was recaptured. Pringiponisos had grown wealthy, acting as a middle ground for trade between Propontis and the coasts to its south, as well as a stopping point for most ships following the trade roots from Euxeneia to the Kalahari Sea. The local architecture was distinctly Pelasgian, but it resembled the style of Phryxaea, on the mainland, than that of other islands, with several Eastern influences, no doubt acquired through trade and mixing of cultures and populations.

Built in the island's modified Neoclassical style, the Imperial residence was located not too far from its capital, acting as a quiet summer retreat for the Komnenoi. On the side of the house towards the sea, a small platoform surounded by pillars and covered by a roof acted as a small spot for the Komnenoi and their guests to catch some shade after swimming. In this little construction, Isaakios Komnenos-Angelos, the heir to the throne of Propontis, looked as his brotherly friend and lover, Orestes Theatrikos swam. From behind him, Isaakios heard footsteps approaching, slowly yet steadily bouncing off and on the marble floor behind and under him.

«Ἀρχιστράτηγε Ἀρτοποιόπουλε.»
"Marshal Artopoiopoulos."

«Ὑψηλότατε.»
"Your Highness."

«Ἀς μανέψω... ὁ ἑμὸς πατὴρ πέμπει τοὺς ἐγκάρδιους χαιρετισμούς του;»
"Let me guess... my father sends his cordial regards?"

«Γιγνώσκετε ἀρίστως, Ὑψηλότατε, ὄτι ὁ Βασιλεὺς ἀγαπάει Ὑμὰς βαθυτάτως.»
"You know perfcetly well, Your Highness, that the Emperor loves You most deeply."

«Πράγματι, ὅμως ποτὲ δὲν ἀμφέβαλα διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην του... Ὅμως, ὠς λέγει συνεχῶς, μετὰ τοῦ ὀνόματός μου ἐκληρονόμησα καὶ ὡρισμένας εὐθύνας. Μία ἐξ αὐτῶν, τὸ κρατεῖν τὰς ἐμφανίσεις καὶ τιμᾶν τὰς ἐντιπώσεις.»
"Indeed, his loved I never doubted... But, as he says all the time, along with my name, I inherited certain responsibilities. One of them, is to keep appearances and honour impressions."

«Ὁ Ὑμέτερος πατὴρ οὐκ ἔχει πρόβλημα μεθ' Ὑμῶν. Οὔτε ὁ δῆμος, ἴνα ὦμεν εἰλικρινεῖς. Παρὰ ταῦτα, ἡ Ἐκκλησία καὶ αἱ παραδώσεις τοῦ θρόνου, αἵτινες πηγάζουσιν ἐξ Ἰουδιασμοῦ καὶ ἐκ Τίβυρος καὶ οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ Πελασγικοῦ φωτός, διαφωνοῦσι.»
"Your father does not have any problem with You. Neither do the people, to be honest. However, the Church and the traditions of the throne, which stem frm Judaism and Tibur and not the Pelasgian light, disagree."

«Καὶ τοιαῦται παραδώσεις ἔχουσι θέσιν ἐν τῇ καινῇ Τιβυρίᾳ ὑμῶν;»
"And these traditions have a place in your new Tiburia?"

«Φυσικῶς. Οὐ κτίζεις κάτι καινὸν μετὰ τὴν καταστροφὴν τοῦ παρελθόντος. Οὔτως, ἀπλῶς σκάβεις τὸν λάκον σου. Τὸ παρελθὸν καὶ τὸ παρὸν πρέπει πάντα εἶναι τὸ θεμέλιον τοῦ μέλλοντος.»
"Naturally. One does not build something new by destrying the past. Thus, one only digs their own grave. The past and the present must always be the foundation of the future."

 

Pelasgia

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Principaeum, Princeponesus, Theme of the Archipelago
29/5/1956, 11:29 PM

Principaeum, an otherwise calm and serene port town, acting as a relay between Pelasgia and Himyar Proper, between the Kalahari and Euxenia, saw its port full to its maximum, with counltess ships and people moving about. Yet, unlike most nights, the locals were inside their homes, with soldiers patrolling the streets. The ships in the port were not colourful freighters and passenger ships, carrying cargo and travellers, but, rather, grey, imposing warships of all sizes, beloning to a special detachment of the Imperial fleet which had left from Justiza to move to Propontis. Normally, it was supposed to be made up of only a single ship, carrying the base's commander, whom the Emperor was rather eager to see, in light of recent publications, but Attalos had decided to bring some muscle with him.

As thousands of sailors, dressed in white and blue moved around the harbour, flanked by marines in olive drab and prototype camouflage uniforms, who patrolled the streets, the commander looked on from the window of the Town Hall, where he was dicsussing with the Mayor.

«Ἐλπίζω ἡ ἡμετέρα διαμονὴ ἐν τῇ νήσῳ νὰ μὴν ἔχει προκαλέσῃ μεγάλα προβλήματα τοῖς νησιώταις ὑμῶν.»
"I hope our stay in the island hasn't caused any major problems to your islanders."

«Καθόλου, Ναύαρχε. Ἤμουν φίλος τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν, ὠς καὶ πάντες ἐδῶ. Ποιήσομεν ὅτι χρειάζεται ἴνα βοηθήσωμεν ὑμὰς νὰ ἀπαλάξετε τὸ ἔθνος ἐκ τῶν Κομνηνῶν καὶ τῶν Στρατοκρατῶν των.»
"Not at all, Admiral. I was a friend of your father's, just like everyone here. We'll do anything it takes to help you rid the nation of the Komnenoi and their Stratocrats."

«Εὐχαριστῶ ὑμάς, κύριε Δήμαρχε.»
"I thank you, Mr. Mayor."

As the two men finished their sort discussion, Antinavarchos (Vice-Admiral) Nearchos Thrasyboulides, Attalos' second in command, walked into the room.

«Κύριε, εὐρήκαμεν τὸν Βασιλόπαιδα Ἰσαάκιον.»
"Sir, we have found Basilopais (Emperor's Son/Prince) Isaakios."

«Ἀρίστως. Πέμψατέ τον ἐδῶθε, μετὰ τοῦ ἡμετέρου πρακτόρος. Οὐδὲν νέον ἐκ τῆς ἠπειρωτικῆς Πελασγίας;»
"Excellent. Send him here, along with our agent. Any news from the Pelasgian mainland?"

«Αἱ ἡμέτεραι δυνάμεις ἐλέγχουσι πᾶσα τὴν ἐπαρχία. Ὁ Ἀρχιστράτηγος Ἀρτοποιόπουλος κινεῖται ἴνα θέσῃ ὑπὸ ἔλεγχον τὴν Βασιλεύουσαν. Ἐπικοινωνήσει μεθ' ἡμῶν προσεχῶς.»
"Our forces control the entirety of the provinces. Marshal Artopoiopoulos is moving to place the Reigning City under control. He'll be in contact with us shortly."

«Καλῶς. Εὐχαριστῶ σε, Ἀντιναύαρχε.»
"Good. Thank you, Vice-Admiral."

Nearchos saluted and promptly left the room. Soon after a group of guards brought in two men. One wearing handcuffs, with a hood over his head, another walking around freely. The second man, Orestes Theatrikos, was a rather good looking young man, neither too pale, nor too dark skinned, with light brown hair and emerald green eyes. He bowed slightly.

«Μεγαλειότατε.»
"Your Majesty."

«Δὲν θυμοῦμαι νὰ ἔχω στεφθῇ, Ὀρέστη.»
"I do not recall having been crowned, Orestes."

«Ἀρέσκει μοι νὰ σκέπτομαι διὰ τὸ μέλλον. Τέλος πάντων, ἔχω ἕν δῶρον δι' ἡμάς, ὦ Μέγα Δούξ.»

"It entertains me to think of the future. Anyway, I have a gift for you, o Megas Doux."


Having made an ironic reference to Attalos' position as Megas Doux, the Grand Admiral of all of the Empire's fleets, which was usually filled by the most trustworthy and loyal officer of the Emperor, Orestes noded to the guards, who removed the hood from the first man, who was revealed to be no one less than Isaakios Komnenos-Angelos.

«Ὁ Ἄτταλος Λάσκαρις-Κομνηνός... Φυσικῶς, ποῖος ἄλλος θὰ εἶχε τὸ θράσος νὰ ποιήσῃ κάτι τέτοιο; Θέλω νὰ δῶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ὅταν ὁ ἐμὸς πατὴρ πέμψει σε νὰ ἀπαγχονισθῇς
"Attalos Laskaris-Komnenos... Of course, who else would have the audacity to do something like this? I'd like to see your face when my father sends you to be hanged."

«Ἐνδιαφέρον. Πῶς ποιήσει τοῦτον δίχως στρατὸν καὶ θρόνον;»
"Intriguing. How will he do this without an army and a throne?"

«Μετὰ τοῦ δήμου. Ὁ δῆμος ἀγαπάει ἡμάς-
"With the people. The people loves us-

«Ἀληθῶς, ἐ; Πότε ἦν ἡ τελευταία φορὰ ποὺ εἶδες τὸ δῆμον σου; Ἐγὼ εἰμὶν ὁ δῆμος σου. Οἱ στρατιῶται δίπλα σου εἰσὶν ὁ δῆμος σου. Ὁ δήμαρχος ἀπὸ 'δῶ, οἱ νησιῶτες τῆς Πριγκιπονήσου, ὅλοι ταῦτοι εἰσὶν ὁ δῆμος σου. Καὶ οὐδεῖς σπέυδει εἰς τὴν βοήθειάν σου.»
"Really, now? When was the last time you saw your people? I am your people. The soldiers next to you are your people. The mayor over here, the islanders of Pringeponesos, all these people are your people. And nobody is rushing to your aid."

«Ἐγὼ εἰμὶν Βασιλόπαις! Σὺ εἶ εἷς βάσταρδος Λάσκαρις! Τὸ μόνον αὐτοκρατορικὸν μέρος σου ἐστὶ τὸ ὄτι ἐτέχθης ὑπὸ μίας μικρῆς ἀδελφῆς τοῦ πατρός μου!»
"I am the Emperor's Son! You are a Laskaris bastard! The only imperial part of you is the fact that you were born of one of my father's younger sister's!"

«Καὶ παρὰ ταῦτα, ὁ δῆμος ἀγαπάει καὶ σέβεταί με περισσότερον ἐκ σου. Διότι, πᾶς ἔχει ἕνα γένος, ὀλίγοι ὅμως ἔχουσιν τὴν ἰκανότητα τοῦ ἄρχειν. Ἐγὼ εἰμὶν εἷς ἔμπειρος στρατιωτικὸς καὶ εἷς σεβαστὸς ἀρχηγός. Σὺ εἶ ὁ ὑιὸς τοῦ πατρός σου καὶ τίποτε παραπάνω. Καὶ ὁ δῆμος τὸ ξέρει. Δὲν εἴμεθα βάρβαροι, δὲν πιστεύομεν εἰς κληρονομικὸν δικαίωμα βασιλείας. Πιστεύομεν εἰς βασιλείαν διὰ δημοσίας συναινέσεως. Σὺ δὲν ἔχεις τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ ἄρχειν. Ἐγὼ ἔχω κάθε δικαίωμα.»
"Despite all that, the people love and respect me more than you. For, everyone has a descent of birth, but few have the ability to rule. I am an experienced military commander and a respected leader. You are your father's son and nothing more. And the people know. We are not barbarians, we do not believe in the hereditary right of imperialdom. We believe in imperialdom through popular consent. You lack the right to rule. I have every right."

«Καὶ τὶ ποιήσεις μεθ' ἐμοῦ; Σὺ καὶ τὸ ἀνδράποδόν σου. Φονεύσεις με;»

"And what will you do with me? You and your slave. Will you kill me?"

Orestes laughed at Isaakios' anger. Attalos turned around, looking at a pistol on his desk.

«Ὁ Νίκολο Μακιαβέλι ἔγραψε ἕν ἄριστον βιβλίον περὶ ἡγεσίας· Λέγεται 'Ὁ Ἡγεμών.' Θὰ ἔπρεπε νᾶ τὸ εἶχες διαβάσῃ, ὅμως ἦσθα ἀπασχολημένος μετὰ ἄλλων πραγμάτων, ὠς δύναται λέγειν ὁ ημέτερος κοινὸς φίλος. Ἐν ἕνι τμήματι λέγει πὼς ὁ Ἡγεμὼν ποὺ καταλαμβάνει τὴν ἐξουσίαν μετὰ συνωμοσίας πρέπει φονεύειν τοὺς ἐχθρούς του, ἴνα μὴ βλάψουν τον, καθῶς καὶ οἵτινες ἐβοήθησάν τον, ἴνα μὴ ᾖ ὑπόχρεός των. Εὐτυχῶς δι' ἑμέ, ὑμεῖς αὐτοεκτείνατε.»
"Niccolò Machiavelli wrote an excellent book on leadership; It's called 'The Prince.' You should have read it, but you were busy with other things, as our common friend can attest. In a part of it, he says that the Prince who takes power through conspiracy should kill his enemies, so that they do not harm him, as well as those who helped him, so that he is not in their debt. Thankfully, for me, you killed yourselves."

Orestes looked at Attalos in shock, but before he could utter a word, Attalos turned, pistol in hand, and fired at him, the bullet going right into his forehead, spraying blood around the room, while forcing his body down and back, into the soldiers behind him, who maintained their composure. Before Isaakios could say a word, Attalos fired a second shot, the bullet killing the Despot before the shell from the first shot had even touched the ground. Shortly after two bullets could be heard hitting the floor, followed by the sound of two bodies. The soldiers picked them up and took them outside, along with the murder weapon, witht the confidence of those who had planned for such a moment for a long time. Attalos turned and looked to the mayor.

«Ὀλίγον ἀκραῖον, ἀλλὰ ἀποτελεσματικόν. Δὲν θὰ τὸ καταλάβουν ὅμως;»
"A bit extreme, but effective. But won't they realise?"

«Ὀλίγοι μόνον. Καὶ αὐτοὶ ποὺ θὰ τὸ καταλάβουν θὰ πάρουν το μήνυμα καὶ δὲν θὰ τολμήσουν νὰ σταθοῦν στὸν δρόμον μου.»
"Only a few. And those who understand will take the message and not dare stand in my way."

Attalos turned around and started walking towards the washroom, to clean his hands.

«Τὶ νέα ἐν Προποντίδι;»
"What news [are there] in Propontis?"

Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
29/5/1956, 11:29 PM

Propontis' Goverment Quarter looked more like a military staging area than a historic city centre. A tempoary curfew had been imposed on the entire city, with all major ways in and out controlled by military checkpoints. The city's port had been cut off by Megas Doux Attalos Laskaris-Komnenos' fleet segment, while troops loyal to Marshal Artopoiopoulos surrounded the Great Palace of Propontis. Artopoiopoulos stood next to a platoon of soldiers in the communication unit, waiting for information on the situation.

«Τὶ γίγνεται ἐν Πριγκηπονήσῳ;»
"What's going on in Prinkeponesos?"

«Ὁ Διάδοχος Ἰσαάκιος καὶ ὁ ἐραστής του αὐτοέκτειναν. Ὁ Μέγας Δοὺξ θὰ εἶναι ἐδῶ συντόμως, κύριε Ἀρχιστράτηγε.»
"Heir Apparent Isaakios and his lover committed suicide. The Megas Doux will be here promptly, Marshal, sir."

«Τραγικότατον. Ἐκτὸς Προποντίδος;»
"Most tragic. Outside Propontis?"

«Ἐλέγχομεν πᾶσα τὴν ἐπικράτειαν, κύριε.»
"We control the entirety of the country, sir."

«Ὁ Ναύαρχος Βουβουλίνος καὶ ὁ Ἀρχιστράτηγος Τζιμισκής;»
"Admiral Vouvoulinos and Marshal Tzimiskes?"

«Συνελήφθησαν. Ὁ Πρωθυπουργὸς εἶναι ἕτοιμος νὰ ἀνακοινώσει τὴν μετάβασιν ἐν Συγκλήτῳ.»
"They have been arrested. The Prime Minister is ready to announce the transition in the Senate."

«Καλῶς. Ἦλθε ἡ ὥρα νὰ μιλήσω μετὰ τοῦ Διοικητοῦ τῶν Βαράγγων.»
"Good. It's time to talk with the the Commander of the Varangians."

«Εἶσθε σίγουρος, κύριε; Δὲν ἔχουν στασιάσῃ ποτέ, ἐν μίᾳ χιλιετίᾳ ὑπηρεσίας.»

"Are you sure, sir? They haven't rebelled ever, in a millennium of service."

«Δὲν ἔχουν ἐπιλογή. Ἢ θὰ μᾶς στηρίξουν ἢ θὰ πεθάνουν.»
"They don't have a choice. They'll either support us or they will die."


 

Pelasgia

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Great Palace of Propontis, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
29/5/1956, 11:36 PM

Marshal Irakleios Artopoiopoulos walked closer and closer to the gates of the Great Palace's courtyard. Behind him were the men of the Pelasgian Guard Regiments. The Pelasgian Guard Regiments had been formed in 1703 by the Emperors, who joined together the older non-Varangian Imperial Guard forces, being made up of the Melingian Infantry Regiment, the Pierheian Infantry Regiment, the Brennian Cavalry Regiment, the Actaean Marine Regiment and the Euxenian Mountain Regiment. The Emperors had, however never trusted the Pelasgian Guards entirely, as they were prone to supporting coups and siding with popular revolts. For this reason, most Emperors had been using the Varangian Guards' two Regiments since the 10th century.

The Varangian Guards, clothed in intricate grey uniforms, were the proudest and most trusted of guard regiments, each Regiment carrying a golden and tyrian purple standard, with the honours awarded to them by various Emperors and Empresses inscribed on it, along with the battles they had fought in their Sovereign's name. Having never once rebelled or betrayed the reigning Basileus or Basilissa in almost a thousand years of service, the Varangians were not exactly expected to simply agree to break their vows. Military force could not easily intimidate them either, as they had given their lives to protect Sovereigns from revolts and coups more than once.

For this exact reason, Artopoiopoulos had arranged the troops of the Pelasgian Guards following an inctricate and almost entirely fullproof plan: the Melingian Infantry and the Pierhiean Infantry had taken position on elevated areas in the buildings surrounding the courtyard, while the Brennian Cavalry Regiment had taken position behind the Palace in case it needed to break in, behind the Varangians. The Euxenian Mountains troops and the Actaean Marines had moved in front of the Palace, ready to advance in case the Varangians decided to put up a fight. Each Regiment's role was suited to their abilities; the Melingians and the Piergeians had great aim and were adept in ambushes, the Brennians were able to move quickly and reinforce other units or outflank any defenders, the Euxenians and the Actaean Seamen were big-bodied and drilled to such a degree that they had not broken a single time since their Regiments were created. As for any moral restrictions.... sufice it to say that the Pelasgian Guards had no inhibitions whatsoever in killing those they perceived as foreign mercenaries, who had taken over roles that were rightfully theirs.

As Artopoiopoulos approached the ornate gate of the courtyard, he stopped, seeing the Varangians Guards arranged in perfect formation, behind sandbags and in lower level windows of the palace, their commander standing before them. Artopoiopoulos spoke to the Varangian, whose greyish-blue eyes and aged, pale face showed no emotion, other than slight contempt.

«Διοικητά, γιγνώσκετε τὸν λόγον τῆς ἡμετέρας παρουσίας.»
"Commander, you know the reason of our presence."

«Πράγματι, Ἀρχιστράτηγε. Στασιάζετε.»
"Indeed, Marshal. You are rebelling."

«Οὐ δύναμαι πείθειν ὑμὰς ὅπως λάβητε τὸ ἡμέτερον μέρος;»
"Can I not convince you to join our side?"

«Ὁ Βασιλεὺς Ἀνδρόνικος ἡμάρτηκε πολλάκις. Ὡρκίσθημεν, ὅμως, ὑπερασπίζεσθαί τον καὶ κρατήσομεν τὸν ἡμέτερον ὅρκον.»
"Emperor Andronikos has erred many times. We did, however, swear to defend him and we shall keep our oath."

«Ἡ Σύγκλητος ἐστὶ μεθ' ἡμῶν. Συντόμως, κηρύξει τὸν ἔκπτωτον.»
"The Senate is with us. Soon, they shall dethrone him"

«Μόνον ἐὰν καταλάβετε τὸ Παλάτιον. Καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐπιτρέψομέν το.»
"Only if you take the Palace. And we shall not allow it."

«Μάχεσθε διὰ ἕνα ἔκπτωτον ἄνδρα.»
"You are fighting for a fallen man."

«Μαχόμεθα διὰ τὸν Βασιλέα ἡμῶν. Μόνον αὐτὸς δύναται ἀπαλλάσσειν ὑμὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡμετέρου ὅρκου. Καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησέ το.»
"We are fighting for our Emperor. Only he can release us from our oath. And he has not."

«Μὴ θέλοντες ἔρχεσθαι μεθ' ἡμῶν, ὁρκίζομαι ὑμῖν πὼς ἀν παραδοθῆτε ἡμῖν ἀμαχητί, ἐπιστρέψετε εἰς Γωταρίγην σῶοι καὶ ἀβλαβεῖς.»
"If you do not wish to join us, I swear to you that if you surrender to us without a fight, you shall return to Götarige safe and unharmed."

«Δυστυχῶς, Ἀρχιστράτηγε, πρέπει ἀρνεῖσθαι. Ὁ Θεὸς μεθ' ἡμῶν.»
"Regrettably, Marshal, I must refuse. God be with you."

«Καὶ μεθ' ἡμῶν, Διοικητά.»
"And with you, Commander."

Artopoiopoulos saluted the Commander and he returned the gesture, walking back to his forces' front line, where soldiers stood behind truck and sandbags. Just as he was about to enter the line, a shot from a Varangian markasman hit the soldier to his right in the head, narrowly missing him. As Artopoiopoulos jumped to the ground, behind a pile of sandbags, a firefight broke out, with the Varangian commander being among the first casualties. The Brennian Regiment charged, bayonets fixed, through the back of the Palace, clearing the marksmen and guards inside the palace. A few minutes later, when the sounds of gunshots had stopped and the smoked had cleared, a few Varangians came out of their foxholes with their hands up, some wounded, others miraculously unharmed, but all soundly defeated.

The Pelasgian guards, previously so eager to pull their weapons' triggers were almost as shocked as those whose comrades lay in pools of their own blood. The Marshal turned to a communication squad next to him, slightly shaken, taking a moment before speaking.

«Πεῖτε εἰς τοὺς Συγκλητικοὺς νὰ κηρύξωσι τὸν ἐκθρονισμὸν τοῦ Βασιλέως Ἀνδρονίκου.»
"Tell the Senate to declare the dethronement of Emperor Andronikos."

The soldiers saluted and complied, while Artopoiopoulos moved into the palace, flanked by men of the Euxenian and Actaean Guard Regiments. Climbing over the marble stairs and going through the ornate Palace halls, Artopoiopoulos felt as he had never before; the place was not at all like he had been used to it. The Varangians who once saluted him now lay dead, maimed or chained in the yard behind him or the windows near the Palace's facade. Brennian soldiers of the mechanised infantry regiment, which only used horses for ceremonial displays now, met up with the Marshal, moving up the stairs that led to the Emperor's chambers.

Emperor Andronikos III Megas Komnenos was the last living member of a dynasty that had ruled the Empire for centuries, its roots ranging back to millennia. He stood behind his desk, in his full uniform, with his otherwise ceremonial revolver in his hand and his sword seathed. Seeing the Emperor armed, the rebel soldiers aimed their weapons, ready to fire at him should his so much as flinch. Artopoiopoulos, obviously dismayed, ordered them to lower their weapons. The Emperor, having abandoned all pretense of superiority, his pride hurt as much as his unbottoned uniform, spoke in plain demotic to the man he had once looked up to as a second father.

«Ἤξερα, Ἡράκλειε, ὄτι πολλοὶ ἤθελαν νὰ μὲ ῥίξουν καὶ πὼς κάποια στιγμὴ θα συνωμοτοῦσαν. Ὅμως... ἐσύ; Γιατί;»
"Irakleios, I knew that many people wanted to overthrow me and that at some point they'd conspire. But... you? Why?"

«Ἐξέρατε διὰ τὸν φῶνον τῆς οἰκογενείας μου, διὰ τοῦτον τὸ ἔκτρωμα ἀντιτρομοκρατικοῦ σχεδίου καὶ ἐσιωπάσατε. Εἴχατε λανθάνῃ πολλάκις, ὅμως ἔκει ἐπεράσατε τὴν γραμμήν. Τί, ἀν δὲν εἶσασθαν πρόθυμος να ὑπερασπιστεῖτε τοὺς ὑμετέρους πολίτας ἴνα μὴν ἔνταντιοθεῖτε τῷ Ἱερῷ Λόχῳ, εἴσασθαν ἐπικίνδυνος διὰ τὸ Ἕθνος.»
"You knew of my family's murder, of this abomination of an anti-terror plan and you stayed silent. You had erred many times, but then you crossed the line. For, if you were not willing to defend our citizens and stand up to the 'Sacred Band', you were dangerous for the Nation."

The Emperor let out a small laugh.

«Καὶ Ὁ ὑιός μου;»
"And my son?"

«Νεκρός. Αὐτοκτόνησε.»
"Dead. He killed himself."

«Τὸν αὐτοκτόνησαν. Καὶ δὲν ἔχεις κᾷν τὸ θάρος νὰ μοῦ τὸ πῇς.»
"He was 'suicided'. And you don't even have the courage to tell me."

Artopoiopoulos stayed silent. The Emperor zoned out for a moment and spoke again.

«Φαντάζομαι πὼς εἶναι ἡ σειρά μου. Μὴ φοβάσθε, δὲν θὰ χρειαστῇ νὰ βρῆτε δικαιολογία γιὰ μένα... Θὰ τὸ κάνω εὔκολο.»
"I imagine that it's my turn. Worry not, you won't need to find an excuse for me... I'll make it easy."

Andronikos placed his pistol's muzzle inside his mouth and pulled the trigger, covering the glass behind him in blood. The Komnenos dynasty was over. As silence ensued in the room, the small radio that the Emperor had kept on broke it, playing a recorded message:

«Ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης καὶ ἠμισείας πρωινῆς τῆς σήμερον, αἱ ἔνοπλαι δυνάμεις τεθείκασιν τὴν διακυβέρνησιν τῆς Βασιλείας ὑπὸ τὸν σφέτερον ἔλεγχον, ἴνα ἐξασφαλισθῇ ἡ ἀσφάλεια καὶ ἡ εὐημερία τοῦ Ἔθνους. Ἡ Σύγκλητος κεκήρυχε τὸν Βασιλέα Ἀνδρόνικον ἔκπτωτον καὶ ἠκύρωσε τὴν Συμβασιλεία καὶ Δεσποτοσύνην τοῦ Βασιλόπαιδος Ἰσαακίου. Η Σύγκλητος ὥρικεν ὠς προσωρινὸν Ἀντιβασιλέα τὸν Ἀρχιστράτηγον Ἡράκλειον Ἀρτοποιόπουλον, ἴνα ἄρχῃ τ Βασιλείᾳ μέχρις ὅτου ἀποκατασταθῶσιν ἡ τάξις καὶ ὁμαλότης τῇ πολιτικῇ τοῦ Ἔθνους. Ὁ Πρωθυπουργὸς ἀπευθυνεῖ λόγον τῷ Ἕθνει, συντόμως. Ζήτω ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Τιβυραίων! Ζήτω τὸ Ἔθνος τῶν Πελασγῶν!»
"From the first and a half morning hour of the present day, the armed forces have placed the administration of the Empire under their control, so as to ensure the safety and prosperity of the Nation. The Senate has declared Emperor Andronikos to be fallen and has invalidated the Co-Emperorship and Despotship of the Emperor's Son, Isaakios. The Senate has appointed Marshal Irakleios Artopoiopoulos as the temporary Regent, to lead the nation until order and normality are restored in the Nation's politics. The Prime Minister will adress a speech to the Nation, shortly. Long live the Tiburan Empire! Long live the Pelasgian Nation!"


 
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Pelasgia

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Demos
ΣΥΓΚΛΗΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΗΜΟΣ ΤΙΒΥΡΟΣ
ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟΝ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ




Θέμα: Αὐτοκρατορικὸν Δημοψήφισμα τοῦ 1956
Ταξινόμησις: Δημόσιον
Ἠμερομηνία ϗ̀ Τοποθεσία: Προποντίς, 5 Ἰουνίου 1956


Συμφώνως μετὰ τῆς ἐκτελεστικῆς ἀποφάσεως 456/1956 τῆς Συγκλήτου τῶν Τιβυραίων, λήψεται χώραν δημοψήφισμα τῇ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ ὁγδόῃ τοῦ Ἰουνίου τοῦ παρόντος ἔτους, σχετικῶς μετὰ τῆς καταργήσεως ἢ μὴ τῆς θέσεως τοῦ Βασιλέως καὶ τῆς ἐκλογῆς τοῦ Μεγάλου Δουκὸς Ἀττάλου Λάσκαρι-Κομνηνοῦ τῇ προανενηνεγμένῃ θέσει. Παρακάτω παρουσιάζονται τὰ δύο ψηφοδέλτια ποὺ δοθήσονται τοῖς ψηφοφόροις ταῖς δύο ἡμέραις. Ἴνα δωθῇ τὸ δεύτερον ψηφοδέλτιον, πρέπει ὅπως ψηφισθῇ «ΔΕΝ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ (ΟΥ)» τῷ πρώτῳ ἐκ τῆς πλειοψηφείας.

ΣΥΓΚΛΗΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΗΜΟΣ ΤΙΒΥΡΟΣ
ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟΝ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ

ΔΗΜΟΨΗΦΙΣΜΑ
ΤΗΣ Ζ' ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ 1956

Πρέπει ὅπως καταργειθ ἡ θέσις τοῦ Βασιλέως τῶν Τιβυραίων καὶ ἀντικατασταθῶσι πάντες Βασιλικοὶ θεσμοί μετὰ Δημοκρατικῶν καὶ Πολιτειακῶν θεσμῶν, οἵτινες πηγάζουσι ἐκ τῆς Συγκλήτου καὶ τοῦ Δήμου τῆς Τίβυρος.

ΠΡΕΠΕΙ (ΝΑΙ)

ΔΕΝ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ (ΟY)

ΣΥΓΚΛΗΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΗΜΟΣ ΤΙΒΥΡΟΣ
ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟΝ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ

ΔΗΜΟΨΗΦΙΣΜΑ
ΤΗΣ Η' ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ 1956

Ἐγκρίνεται ἡ ἐκλογὴ τοῦ Μεγάλου Δουκὸς Ἀττάλου Λάσκαρι-Κομνηνοῦ τῇ θέσει τοῦ Βασιλέως, μετὰ τοῦ ὄρου τῆς Συνταγματικῆς Ἀναθεωρήσεως μετὰ τὴν ἐκλογήν του.

ΕΓΚΡΙΝΕΤΑΙ (ΝΑΙ)

ΔΕΝ ΕΓΚΡΙΝΕΤΑΙ (ΟΥ)


Ἀριστόκριτος Χαλκονδύλης,
Ὑπουργὸς τῶν Ἐσωτερικῶν



THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE OF TIBUR
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS




Subject: Imperial Referendum of 1956
Classification: Public
Date & Location: Propontis, 5 June 1956


According to executive decision 456/1956 of the Tiburan Senate, a referendum will take place on the seventh and eigth days of June of the current year, concerning the abolition or not of the position of Emperor and the election of Megas Doux Attalos Laskaris-Komnenos to the aformentioned position. Below are presented the two voting sheets which will be given to the voters on those two days. For the second voting sheet to be given, "IT MUST NOT (NO)" must be chosen on the first by the majority of voters.

THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE OF TIBUR
MINISTY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

REFERENDUM
OF THE VII OF JUNE OF 1956

The position of Emperor of the Tiburans must be abolished and all Imperial institutions must be replaced with Democratic and Republican institutions, which will come from the Senate and the People of Tibur.

IT MUST BE (YES)

IT MUST NOT BE (NO)

THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE OF TIBUR
MINISTY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

REFERENDUM
OF THE VIII OF JUNE OF 1956


The election of Megas Doux Attalos Laskaris-Komnenos to the position of Emperor, on the condition of a Constitutional Revision following his election, is approved.

IT IS APPROVED (YES)

IT IS NOT APPROVED (NO)


Aristokritos Chalkondyles,
Minister of Internal Affairs

 
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Pelasgia

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Great Palace of Propontis, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
9/6/1956, 7:36 PM

The lust Gardens of the Imperial Palace served as a secluded, quiet retreat for Emperors, their families and guests from the hustle and bustle of the Imperial capital. At the heart of the gardens, surrounded by the hanging plants and vines that covered the wooden structures near the gardens' pathways, Grand Duke -and soon to be Emperor- Attalos Laskaris-Komnenos and Prime Minister Eustratios Kantakouzenos sat and discussed over a cup of traditional Propontine tea, a habit imported from Eastern cultures through trade as much as the crystal blue glasses in which the tea was poured. Kantakouzenos looked at an issue of the Propontios Logothetes, the most prominent newspaper of both the Capital and the Empire as a whole, and read the title.

«Ζήτω ὁ Βασιλεὺς Ἄτταλος!»
"Long line Emperor Attalos!"

«Ἔχει ὠραῖον ἄκουσμα.»
"It has a nice ring to it."

«Θὰ τὸ ἀκοῦτε συχνῶς ἀπὸ 'δῶ καὶ εἰς τὸ ἑξῆς, Μεγαλειότατε.»
"You will hear it a lot from now on, Your Majesty."

Attalos took a sip of tea, before speaking again.

«Τὶ ἄλλον γράφει, Κύριε Πρωθυπουργέ;»
"What else does it say, Mr. Prime Minister?"

The Prime Minister looked below the main story, to the secondary articles' titles.

«Οἱ ἡμέτεροι φίλοι ἐξ Ἰουστινίας, Ἀϊφελάνδης καὶ Ἐνιασουφίας ἔστειλαν ἡμῖν παρατηρητὰς ἴνα ἐξασφαλισθῇ ἡ ὁμαλὴ ἐξέλιξις τοῦ δημοψηφίσματος. Παραλλήλως, ἐν Αἰγιμίᾳ, συνελήφθη εἷς νέος ὅστις ἐβανδάλισε ἕνα τοῖχο μετὰ ἀκραίων ἀριστερῶν μηνυμάτων καὶ εἷς ἄλλος ἐφονεύθη ἐκ στρατονόμων, παραβιάσας τὴν ἀπαγόρευσιν κυκλοφορίας.»
"Our friends from Justiza, Eiffelland kai Veniasufia sent us observers so as to ensure the proper execution of the referendum. At the same time, in Aegimia, a young man who vandalised a wall with far left propaganda was arrested and another was killed by Military Police, having broken curfew."

Emperor Attalos looked at a lone robin which was standing on a wooden pillar in the garden and took a sip of tea before speaking again.

«Οἱ Μαρξισταὶ-Λενινωφισταί.»
"The Marxists-Leninovists."

«Πράγματι.»
"Indeed."

«Εἶναι ὠς ἡ Λερναία Ὕδρα: κόβεις μία κεφαλὴ καὶ δύο καιναὶ πετάγονται εἰς τὴν θέσιν της.»
"They're like the Lernaean Hydra: you cut a head off and two new ones takes its place."

«Προσπαθόμεν νὰ χρησιμοποιήσωμεν πῦρ ἴνα κάψωμεν τοὺς λαιμούς των, ὅμως οὐ φαινόμεθα νὰ ἔχωμεν ἐπιτυχία.»
"We are trying to use fire to burn their necks, but we seem to lack success."

«Τὶ θὰ ἀπαντούσατε ἀν ἔλεγα ὑμῖν ὄτι μάλλον χρειαζόμεθα ἕν δόλωμα;»
"What you say if I told you that we seem to need some bait?"

«Εἶχα μίαν τέτοιαν ἰδέαν, μὰ οἱ στρατοκράται οὐδέποτε ὑπολόγισάν την.»
"I had an idea, yet the stratocrats never took it into account."

«Δηλαδή;»
"Meaning?"

«Οἱ Μαρξισταὶ-Λενινωφισταὶ λαμβάνουσι δύναμιν ἐκ τῆς ἀπαγορεύσεως ἥτις ἰσχύει ἔναντί των, ἰσχυριζόμενοι πὼς εἶναι ἐπαναστάται καὶ δι' αὐτοῦ διώκονται.»
"The Marxsists-Leninovists draw strength from the prohibition which stands against them, claiming that they are revolutionaries and are thus hunted down."

«Καὶ ἡμεῖς προτείνετε νὰ νομιμοποιήσωμεν τὸ κοίνημά των;»
"And you propose legalizing their movement?"

«Ναί. Ἐντὸς τοῦ δημοκρατικοῦ πλαισίου θὰ εἶναι εὐκολότερον νὰ ἐλεγχωμέν τους. Ἐπιπλέον, τὸ νόμιμον πλέον κόμμα των θὰ πρέπῃ νὰ ἀποκηρύξει τοὺς συλληφθέντες συνωμότες. Ὁ κόσμος ἤδη μισεῖ τους λόγῳ τῶν τρομοκρατικῶν ἐπιθέσεων καὶ τῆς δολοφονίας τοῦ Γαρυφαλλίδου καὶ οὔτως οἱ ἀριστεροὶ θὰ στραφοῦσιν εἰς τὸ ΣΕΚΠ. Παραλλήλως τὸ ΔΚΚΠ θὰ εἶναι νόμιμον ἀλλὰ μικρὸν καὶ συνεχῶς συῤῥικνώμενον, δίχως τὸ στοιχεῖον τοῦ ἐπαναστατικοῦ κινήματος. Κᾷν ἀρνηθῶσι θὰ περιθοριοποιηθῶσι καὶ, πιθανῶς, θὰ διασπαστῶσι περισσοτέρως.»
"Yes. Inside the democratic system, it will be easier to keep track of them. Furthermore, their now legal party will have to denounce the arrested conspirators. The people already hate them due to the terrorist attacks and the murder of Garyphallides and thus the leftists will turn to the SEKP. At the same time the DKKP will be legal but small and continuously shrinking, without the element of a revolutionary movement. And if they refuse they will be further marginalized and, possibly, fragmented."

«Ταυτοχρόνως, ἡμεῖς θὰ ἀνακρίνωμεν τὸν συλληφθέντα καὶ τοὺς μελλοντικοὺς ὁμοίους του, ἐτοιμαζόμενοι νὰ ἐκθέσωμεν καὶ νὰ καταστρέψωμεν τὰ κρυφὰ τμήματά των καὶ τὰς σχέσεις των μετὰ τῶν Καδικίων.»
"Meanwhile, we will question the arrested man and theose like him in the future, so as to prepare to unmask and destroy their secret sections and their relations with the Kadikistanis."

«Ἀκριβῶς. Κρίμα ὅμως ποὺ οὐ θὰ δύναμαι νὰ φέρω τὸ σχέδιον εἰς πέρας.»
"Precisely. It's a pity I will not be able to bring the plan to completion."

«Μὴ φοβοῦ, Κύριε Καντακουζηνέ. Θὰ σιγουρευτῶ νὰ τὸ ὑιοθετήσῃ ὁ οἱοσδήποτε ὑμέτερος διάδοχος.»
"Do not be afraid, Mr. Kantakouzenos. I will make sure that it is adopted by whoever is you successor."



 
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Pelasgia

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Imperial Cathdedral of the Haghia Pronoia, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea
12/6/1956, 11:30 PM

The Haghia Pronoia meaning 'Divine Providence' was the Imperial Patriarchal Cathedral of Propontis, the greatest Church in all of Christiandom for more than a millenium. The first of its kind, its massive Dome was said to be as big the sky itself. Building such a lage dome and fitting it on a Basilica was a remarkable feat of engineering, even by the standards of the present day, much more so by those of 537 AD, the Cathedral being considered the epitome of Propontine Engineering and Architecture. The Cathedral was filled to capacity and surrounded by excited citizens, as well as thousands of tourists, sine the Empire's summer holiday season had begun, waving the banner of the Laskaris Dynasty: a black, double-headed Propontine Eagle, with red beaks on both heads and a bright golden crown above the heads on a deep golden field. The pathway leading to the entrance of the Cathedral's entrance was flanked by the loyal Pelasgian Guards, who stood in attention with fixed bayonets on their rifle, wearing the dark blue, ornate ceremonial uniforms, while the car carrying the soon-to-be Emperor to the Senate was flanked by the Pelasgian Guards' mounted Regiments. The car, a luxurious, black Ippolochos I800 sedan, came to a halt at the start of the pathway. Attalos Laskaris-Komnenos, the man who was soon to become Emperor, walked out, fully dressed in a ceremonial Tyrian purple mantle, with golden decoratory designs and patterns sewn into it. Behind him followed his wife, Empress Maria Eirene Palaiologina-Rhaoulina, dressed in similar clothes, with a veil covering her hair.

Along with the banners, the crowds waved palm branches, like those that had been waved at Christ when he entered Jerusalem. Upon entering the Haghia Pronoia, the Emperor was greeted bt the entirety of the Empire's Patricians and Senators, who bowed before him. The bowing was attributed to God and not to the Emperor, as the Emperor is considered to be God's representative on Earth and Pelasgians do not bow to other men. The Emperor walked through the massive nave of the Church, up the stairs to the wall and gate that seperated the altar from the rest of the temple. From there, the Patriarch walked out, holding a golden Imperial crown. The Patriarch, too, bowed down before handing the Crown to the Emperor who placed it onto his own head. The Patriarch then made the sign of the Cross onto the forehead of the Emperor. The Deacons in the Church then shouted the first line of a prayer.

«Κλίνατε κεφαλὰς τῷ Κυρίῳ!»
"Bow your heads to the Lord!"

All those assembled bowed and responded.

«Σοί, ὦ Κύριε!»

"To you, o Lord!"

The prayer was repeated two more times. After that, the Patriarch brought forth a second Crown, which the Emperor placed on the head of his wife, naming her Despoina, Co-Consul and Co-Empress. Following this the Emperor and Empress turned around, as it was time for the Polychronion; the Polychronion was the Imperial Coronation Anthem, also serving as the Empire's National Anthem, being the oldest anthem in the world, dating back to the Tiburan "Ad multos annos," which was chanted by the Tiburan people to the Emperors of Ancient Tibur. All those assembled, as well as those outside the Cathedral and everyone watching the Coronation on television or listening to it on the radio, sang along. In fact, everyone knew at exactly what time of the day it was supposed to be sang, so theoretically, everyone who was at Church for Sunday could have sang along.

«Πολυχρόνιον ποιῆσαι, Κύριος ὁ Θεός,
τὸν εὐσεβέστατον Βασιλέα ἡμῶν, Ἄτταλον,
καὶ τὴν εὐσεβεστάτην Βασίλισσαν ἡμῶν, Μαρία Εἰρήνη.
Κύριε φύλαττε αὐτοὺς
εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη.» (τρίς)


"Grant life, O Lord God,
to our most pious Emperor, Attalos,
and our most pious Empress, Maria Eirene.
O Lord, preserve them,
unto many years." (thrice)

After the chant was sang, the Emperor and Empress walked out of the Cathedral, greeted by applause, brass bands playing military marches and all sorts of celebrations, for the Empire had, once more, an Emperor. The Senate had officialised the Emperor's election a few hours before the Coronation ceremony, as well as the appointment of his wife as his Despoina. Later that day, the Empire approved the new Constitution and dissolved, in anticipation of elections for a new Senate.





 
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