The Expediency Council Chamber

[Clarenthia]

BACKGROUND
The Expediency Council, constitutionally, is the advising council to the Supreme Chancellor. Faraj Khayrat surrounded himself with economic and foreign advisers, along with the required members (President of the General Assembly, Chairman of the Supreme Council, and Chief of the Constitutional Court). Mirwais Ahmadzai was interim-Supreme Chancellor for a time, but did not select a different council. Riaz Karimi maintained a similar council to Khayrat’s, he believed it worked well.

Delbar Achakzai completely reworked the Expediency Council. He turned it almost into a shadow government of sorts, a body of the highest profile politicians and military leaders in the country. Achakzai believed the Expediency Council should be an overseer of the direction of the Government and the country and a body designed to more effectively handle crisis, should one arise. Achakzai’s Council deals with the chief domestic policy makers, economic policy makers, foreign policy makers, and the leadership of the Jurzani Military.

As such, the members of Achakzai’s Council are:
Delbar Achakzai, Supreme Chancellor of the Islamic Republic of the Jurzan (Overseer of the Council)
Mirwais Ahmadzai, President of the General Assembly (Domestic Policy, required)
Abbas Taniwal, Chairman of the Supreme Council (Domestic Policy, required)
Shuja Durrani, Chief Honor of the Constitutional Court (Domestic Policy, required)
Ashraf Arman, Chief of the Executive Council of the Armed Forces (Military Policy)
Nasrullah Zakhilwal, Director of National Security (Domestic Policy)
Hakim Tohki, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Foreign Policy)
Ifran Hotaki, Minister of Defense (Military Policy)
Hayat Jahan, Director of the Central Development Committee (Economic Policy)
Rahim Khan, Director of the Northern Development Committee (Economic Policy)
Hashim Lodhi, Director of the Southern Development Committee (Economic Policy)
Khushal Aloko, Director of the Western Development Committee (Economic Policy)

The Government District of Sharjah is perhaps the cleanest, most modern, and safest area in the entire country. The pinnacle of the Government District is Capital Square. Capital Square is where the vast majority of Government Headquarters are located. The buildings form a giant square of sorts, on the inside of this square, there is a park. At the center of the park stands a flagpole that hoists the largest Jurzani Flag ever made. At the base of the flag is a marble monument built to all those who laid down their lives to provide an independent Jurzani State, their names are engraved on the marble monument.

In the square, the northern end has the Capitol Building, which houses the General Assembly. The southern end has the Temple of the Jurzan, which is the largest mosque in the nation. The eastern end has the Khayrat National Palace, the home of the Supreme Chancellor. The western end holds Constitutional Hall, the home of the President. Other government buildings make up the remainder of the Square.

The Expediency Council Chamber is located in the Capitol Building, the Chamber is underground and restricted solely to the members of the Council, and no one else may enter. Upon entering the Capitol Building, the main lobby holds what is called the Grand Staircase. If you walk directly up the Grand Staircase, you’ll enter the General Assembly’s Floor. This is where the General Assembly meets. To the left and the right of the Grand Staircase are over a thousand conference rooms and offices, every Representative has an office, ever subcommittee has a conference room.

Behind the Grand Staircase is another lobby that houses various other offices, but most importantly, a closed off section. If you go into the restricted area, there will be a door that leads to a staircase that goes down to a small lobby. At the opposite end of the stairs are two French, thick, heavy mahogany doors and two guards at both ends. Upon opening the door, you’ll find a large rectangular room. At the back end of the room, there are two Jurzani Flags on poles and in the middle the Coat of Arms, made of pure gold, is attached to the wall.


In the middle of this room stands a mahogany rectangular table with twelve chairs situated around it. The chair at the head of table, where the Gold Coat of Arms hangs, is raised slightly higher than the other chairs. This chair belongs to the Supreme Chancellor himself. The other chairs are the same height. Each chair has the name of the official on them. At the other end of the table is the President’s chair.

 

[Clarenthia]

“Carentania’s in a situation where I am doubtful they’d make the first move,” opened Hakim Tohki.

“I feel as though they’re determined to enforce this blockade. I’m also confident that they want a war and for that reason, I know it’s only a matter of time before there’s a conflict and something bad happens,” responded Delbar Achakzai.

“Yes, however, I feel like we can still solve this diplomatically. It may be necessary to contact Carentania’s Government as I am doubtful they will contact us,” Hakim Tohki said.

“I have to agree with the Supreme Chancellor. I’ve been Director of the National Security Agency since President Nadarejshvili established it. I know that we have had no contact with the Mezhist terrorists and as far as I am concerned they are not operating in our country,” Nasrullah Zakhilwal said “However, I am confident that Carentania’s investigation will confirm that not only are they operating here, but we’ve been actively supporting them.”

“I’m confident of this. The invasion of Raigestan and our apparent new stance of communism have given Carentania a perfect opportunity to reign us in once again. I’ll be hard pressed to believe they’ll pass it up unless extreme force is used,” Delbar Achakzai stated.

“We made a stance, the world reacted favorably to it, I think it was necessary to announce we don’t support communism,” Mirwais Ahmadzai chimed in, as soon as he spoke, Achakzai’s gaze turned to him with a powerful look of disgust, it caught Ahmadzai’s attention and the attention of the Council.

“Reacted favorably? You gave Carentania a reason to blockade our shores. Your statements on foreign policy have compromised the safety and peace of this nation. Your actions have put every life in this nation in jeopardy. As you go off making political statements and heartfelt speeches to gather whatever votes you can, I’m here trying to pick up the pieces of your student remarks to ensure that there’s still an opportunity to even vote next month,” Achakzai angrily stated.

“You supported my statements, you backed them. It showed our allies we’re no longer on the fence and that we’ve chosen a side, it’s reinforced our independence!” Ahmadzai argued.

“You are President of the General Assembly; your realm is domestic policy, which I’ve never made a comment on since I came to this position. What you did with that speech was not your call and it was not your authority, you undermined my authority and demeaned the office I hold. You claim I supported you? I feel as though it’s necessary to say that yes, the Jurzani Government is united, it would have hurt us if I said differently. As a result of your completely illegitimate actions, a foreign nation is blockading our ports and preparing for an invasion on a scale even larger than the Talemantine invasion. What you did was endanger this entire country, what you did was tell the world that we aren’t proponents of communism, why would you make such a statement within a week of a diplomatic visit from the Mezhist Union? Did you even consider the consequences; did you even think to ask me, the one who designs foreign policy? Achakzai yelled.

“I am President of this country! I reassured my people that we will not be victimized by communists! I restored faith in our system, I-“ Ahamdzai said.

Achakzai rose and slammed his hands on his desk. “You put this country into jeopardy, you brought us to the brink of war, you turned our neutral stance that would have maintained peace into an anti-communist stance that resulted in a blockade of our shores and war to our lands. Now, the intelligent members of this Government, the ones who actually think about the consequences are stuck picking up the pieces and convincing the Carentanians that we are not interested in war and that we are entirely neutral to the war in Sarmatia.”

“I fought on the frontlines of the revolution! I know what people have gone through to get the Jurzani State! I will not allow the Carentanians to treat us like a puppet state for fear of war with them! I know the resolve of this country!” Ahmadzai responded.

“I’ve been in government longer than you’ve been alive. Do not stand there and treat me as though I am unaware of what we went through. I was the one who worked with Faraj Khayrat to keep the Talematines from putting an end to our independence. I aided in directing the war, I aided in bringing in foreign aid. I was on Khayrat’s Expediency Council, I worked to maintain peace. I succeeded and as Supreme Chancellor I will ensure that peace remains in these lands. You have a charisma that I’ll never possess, you are able to swing an entire country to believe whatever you say, but you over stepped your bounds. You made one speech for political points that may very well result in the end of the peace I’ve worked for two years to maintain! What you did is inexcusable, now, sit down, and shut up. You are to not make a god damn statement about this current crisis unless you get explicit permission from me, and only me. Not my secretaries, not my aides, not my office, me. I will not stand to have you jeopardize this country again. You are too young, too inexperienced, you’re arrogant and short-sighted. Now, stop digging this hole for yourself and sit down and keep your mouth shut.” Achakzai demanded, with a very stern voice.

Ahmadzai opened his mouth but before he could say a word, “Mirwais, please. There’s no need for this,” Hakim Tohki said.

Mirwais stared at Hakim, and then his attention turned back to the Supreme Chancellor. Mirwais clenched his fist and was clearly grinding his teeth. Achakzai gave a cold, stern stare at Mirwais, he didn’t blink, and his complexion did not change. The entire council was sitting, not making eye contact with anyone, in complete silence. Mirwais slowly unclenched his fist and sat back down. Once he did, the Supreme Chancellor also sat down. The tension in the room was tangible.

“This meeting is over. Given the current situation in Sharjah, I think it unwise to leave just yet. We will reconvene tomorrow, at the same time. Dismissed,” Achakzai declared. The members of the council gathered their things, Ahmadzai immediately left the chamber, faster than the others. Achakzai was then alone in the chamber. Achakzai leaned in and rested his elbows on the table and joined his hands, resting his head on them. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh.