Curatores Unitas|Pinnacle

[Khemia]

Chapter One: Evolution
A species evolves, or it dies.

Our path, as a race, is set before us in darkness. We traverse it, uncovering and discovering only that which is illuminated by the daunting light of the beacon of evolution. Change, spurious and intrepid, carries a species forth. Survival through adaptation, adaptation through survival, an endless and vicious cycle, set in the context of an epoch whose cessation is the end of survival and adaptation.

Marjhan's eyes opened and scrutinized the blank ceiling and the accusingly brilliant florescent light that glared at her, as though to blame her rest for some great evil that had set upon her country. Her eyes were a brilliant if unusual azure, something uncommon for a woman of her ethnic background. It was a genetic 'defect', if it could be called such. She had worn it as a badge of pride from childhood, deflecting the scorn of her classmates by terrorizing her female peers through the systematic flaunting of her looks to dazzle the other gender. But she had failed to commit to any man in her life. She had been taken under the wing of a tyrant who had given her a nation, and had put a gun to her head to take it back. A tyrant who now rested in a coffin at the bottom of a bay with over twenty lead pellets in his body. The fish were his only company, now, and they were probably not the most social. At least Bahn would have the silence he so often shrouded himself with in life.

Marjhan lifted herself up from the bed, the bareness of her exposed back in the cold, sterile room made her aware of her near nakedness. Only the scant garment prevented the world from seeing her, she looked around the room but knew that there would be nothing else.

Wires were still taped to her body, connecting her to various machines that monitored her life sign. She mused over the futility of technology as she pulled off the one connected to her heartbeat, entertained by the simple machine struggling to comprehend it's severance from it's charge. Machines being machines, it could understand nothing but the only command it was programmed to response with. A sharp, whistling noise accompanied the harsh, foreboding eeriness of the following flatline.

And such was the ultimate failure of machines, unable to comprehend the random oddities, the human factor, that spurred on evolution. Marjhan's trusted friend Dow walked into the room with a smile and a nod.

"Madame President, I see you're well," she smiled.

Marjhan nodded, "I see that Arkhan kept her word. I wonder what Bahn did to displease her?"

"Apparently he went into her office and told her, rather curtly, that women weren't fit for positions such as hers. She walked into his office and... well. Bahn's nothing more than shark bait now."

The young President rose to her feet, covering her naked rear awkwardly. Dow smiled and moved closed, and it was then that Marjhan noticed the welcoming clothes the police woman held. Function over fashion, very typical of a woman who spent her life in the service. She smiled and put on the pants and shirt which smelled fresh and simple.

"Madame President, to bring you up to speed, the military has begun elections for the National Assembly, and has eliminated the large majority of those declared to be bureau..."

Marjhan raised her hand, "Technicalities later, Line Officer. Right now I have a headache and a huge urge for some iced tea." She let a long grin cross her lips and Dow nodded and opened the door. A new world was waiting for Marjhan.

 

[Khemia]

That new world she had thought she found, however, was dark. Abysmal, as if an eclipse had blotted out the sun and destroyed all the awesome radiance it provided. A cold wind blew threw her hair, and Marjhan wrapped herself in the small coat just a bit tighter as she hurried to a car where several police officers awaited her. The threw their salutes with excellent precision, and she smiled to them. She recognized Line Officer Dow, she was likely the leading officer of this band of Troopers and Sergeants.

"Madame President," she bowed and allowed the President to enter the car with haste, escaping the brutal wind that was tormenting the city. She wasn't quite sure which direction the storm was coming from, but she knew there was one coming.

"Line Officer," she smiled as her friend entered the car with her, in front the driver started to travel in the motorcade with the rest of the convoy. Their destination was obvious, but still Marjhan couldn't escape the fluttering feel she felt as she looked out the window and looked upon her city. She felt as though it were brand new, as though it had been constructed overnight by the hands of a God. "Do you expect the National Assembly to be in a better mood than the weather?" Marjhan asked without taking her eyes off the skyline.

"I doubt it, Madame President. There's not much optimism for our new democracy, especially not with events in Sai Yok breaking down. Ahremen is considering handing power over soon, she's feeling a lot of pressure from the Communists."

Marjhan frowned, "I had grown hopeful that our efforts against the Communists were coming to an end."

"OL Arkhan has decided that the wreck off the coast isn't as high a priority as previously believed," Dow leaned over to whisper to Marjhan, "and not because it's unimportant, but because any evidence aboard the vessel that's actually useful is likely to have been destroyed by the water already."

Marjhan looked at Dow with a quizical look. "More than weapons?" she asked.

Dow nodded and continued to whisper, "We believe the Vangalan's were sending orders, not guns. This recent insurgency is no coincidence." Dow leaned back to her side of the car but kept her eyes pinned on the President.

Marjhan looked back at the skyline. "Looks like the Assembly and I will have a lot to talk about."

 

[Khemia]

The steps up to Unity Complex, the building wherein nearly all government organs were connected, seemed a foreboding and daunting ziggurat that taunted her as she stepped up each tiring stone step. The building itself was a renovated ancient temple, nothing new architecturally but absolutely monumental and impressive. It was over nineteen centuries old, and represented the pinnacle of ancient-Sinese and ancient Hindu culture, as it continued to do even now as the primary governmental structure of the Union.

As she reached the pinnacle atop the one hundred and fifty step approach, she looked back towards the long mall that extended past the moat of the UC. She smiled at the dark clouds that rolled overhead, and turned back towards the old stone columns that welcomed her into the revered halls.

Within she was guided by several aides who presented her with fresh, new faces. But even these youthful people had expressions of worry or concern on their face as they rambled off about agenda's as she entered a room through a high vaulted archway. The oaken doors remained open, but were guarded by a heavily armed retinue of Curators.

She nodded to the room that stood and applauded her ceremonially as she stepped up to a dais to speak. She took a moment to allow the crowd to finish their applause, signaling them to sit with her hands. They did, and she took her time before she decided to speak. The moment lasted for only a minute, but for the crowd it seemed as though an epoch was slipping past.

"Our country has changed," she began as the crowd began to murmur amongst itself. "We all know it has. But while we may wish to see it change for the better, we can not deny that the reality is quite the opposite. Our people do not believe the country is moving forward anymore. Communists, and do not be mistaken by this my fellow citizens, are at war with us! We are onset by enemies from within and without, and they are many. Our fragile Union faces both threats native and foreign, red and true, and our economy itself is beginning to fail. While our government struggles to put back together the pieces of a puzzle, we refuse to acknowledge that the picture has changed. Not only are we no longer plagued by the bastard sons of a nation we have forgotten, those old, corrupted bureaucrats entrenched in their positions, but now we must face newer problems. An entire people look to us for protection, while enemies within funded by those abroad destroy their homes, kill their sons and daughters, and create an environment of terror that may destabilize not only the city of Sai Yok or the region of North Sinhai. No, this threat holds the entire Union in it's grip."

She paused, looking at the crowd that stirred and murmured softly, but the camera's continued to watch. "We need to be vigilant, we need to stand fast to our ideals, we need to remember our past in order to forge ahead into a new, bold future. That is the only way."

"You talk about our people as though their dangers are easily defined!" shouted out a member of the Assembly, breaking decorum and causing an even larger stir in the Assembly. The Speaker called for order, but Marjhan raised her hand to silence the Speaker.

"This new nation cannot start by quieting the voices of it's people," she nodded to the man that spoke out of turn. "Please, introduce yourself and continue."

"Sayan Jaa, from Sai Yok 4th Citizen Council," the man responded. Marjhan's brows furled, she knew that this man's voice spoke directly to the problems that she sought to address. But was it really wise for her to interrupt the Speaker... she contemplated the thought.

 

[Khemia]

"You need to listen to the people who are suffering from these problems!" shouted the northerner. "The news doesn't report all of the problems! There have been murders, robberies, rapes, much more crime than is simply reported to the police. Reporting the crime could get you killed! I'm here because people in my city believe that this government should be able to help us! But no, the military can do nothing! The police can do nothing!"

The Assembly began to slowly rumble, and other representatives of northern Citizen Council's began to slam their fists into their desks as a sign of agreement.

"We need harsher action to be taken! We need to revoke this treaty with Khalistan, stop the foreigners from coming to Northern Sinhai! We need the military to take more action! We need to stop Communism, now!"

The man was stirring the Assembly even as he agreed with Marjhan, but she could tell there was something far more to what he was saying. He was a radical, even by Sinese political standards. She knew that he had tied together minorities and communism, that he represented an ever growing far right wing social undercurrent that threatened to sweep away those people that did not turn red. The north was falling to extremism, and she needed to downplay this man's fervor before the rest of the nation that watched the speech was allowed to listen to this man more.

"Assemblyman Jaa, I understand what you mean to say. But you must understand that these problems are new, quick and hasty action requires one to make mistakes, and this is simply not something a government that represents the entire Union can do. We need to consider combating these Communists in another method than total warfare on our own soil, we cannot turn your citizens homes into bunkers, their schools into fortresses, their workplaces into armories. We cannot abandon sanity in the face of danger, because then how would we dare call ourselves a legitimate government? Assemblyman Jaa, I applaud you though for your zeal and conviction. I ask you, please work together with me in this future, because I do not plan to see a Presidium restored to this Assembly. I plan to see that the rest of my term finds a free Assembly working independently and yet cooperatively with the office of the President. If there is nothing we can solve now to alleviate the suffering of our northern brothers, then we can at least guarantee that future generations will find a sensible government to guide them. Will you, Sayan Jaa, and the rest of this fine Assembly, work together with me in this noble goal?" she paused and awaited a response. Slowly several men started banging their fists on their desks, until the entirety of the crowd had joined together in a boisterous rumble that shook the dais she stood upon. She set her hands down on the folder in front of her, weary that even such an imagined tremble might send her papers flying.

"Here is what we can work on, together, to make sure that change starts now," she started, keeping her eye on Sayan Jaa as he sat back down in his seat. "Increase our presence on the Dai Viet border and crackdown on insurgents crossing it, find those Vangalans that escaped into Sinhai and question them for information, and fully mobilize the SDF and increase our active force in the north by at least two hundred thousand soldiers."

The crowd began to stir and Marjhan watched Sayan Jaa place his hands around his chin contemplating something. She knew that he was going to pose a much larger threat that she had anticipated.

"This insurgency stops now. The last domino falls here," she stated emphatically, slamming her fist down on the podium.

 

[Khemia]

Marjhan sat in her office, reading through the daily reports she received from the various agencies of the Union. They were growing darker and darker. She fingered through the paper until she hit the newspaper. She read over tomorrow's headlines and felt her heart sink into her stomach. This was not what she needed.

She felt tears of frustration building up behind her eyelids, shut tight to keep them in. She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed, letting her tied breath release from her body before she felt the smooth, clean air re-enter her lungs. She focused on the breathing for a moment, trying to clear her mind and think clearly.

She felt like she needed to quit her job, the stress was getting to her. She felt far older than she was, and much older than she looked. She was considered an attractive woman by nearly anyone's standards, especially for her youthful political age of thirty five. That was probably why she'd been placed into her office, the Party had known her good looks would gain support. They had little idea that her ideas would help her better than her looks, though.

Now, here she was. Her country was falling apart at the seams, the Baht was worth less than what the government said it was, and now the insurgency had shot ninety some children. Fucking children. This was going to cause a riot in Sai Yok, and many more people were going to die. But all she could think of at the moment was that man Sayan Jaa, and the look that was on his face as she'd quieted him. She knew that he was going to make this issue one of the greatest of Sinese politics, and she feared that what he represented was a greater danger to Sinhai than the reds. He was the people's fear, the people's vengeance, the people's madness, their paranoia and their hate. She looked at a painting of one of her predecessors from the fifties. Sayan Jaa reminded her of him.

 

[Khemia]

Much had happened in the month since her first encounters with Sayan Jaa. His actions spoke far louder than his words. He was far worse than she had imagined, and now he continued to haunt her. She had gave a speech today denouncing Vangala, but she knew better. Vangala was not the sole party to blame.

Sure, she knew at some level the Communists were involved. Hell, Vangala probably was selling the insurgents weapons. But right now the insurgents were hardly a problem. The entire north was falling apart, not just Sai Yok. Reports flooded her table daily of violence as far south as Katchaburi, something that the government was trying so hard to cover up that even the journalists in Katchaburi didn't know. ISOC was trying to suppress the revolts there, but she knew why they were fighting. They had witnessed the oppression of decades of harsh communist rule, they had found their freedom and for a brief moment they had everything. Then the insurgency sparked, and they lost everything, even what little they had had under the PIP. They blamed everyone with equal doses of antipathy.

She sighed and sat at her desk, rolling the ball point pen through her fingers. She felt like she needed to write down something, but she wasn't sure. There was so much to be done. A gentle rap knocked at her door, and she felt like bashing her forehead into her desk.

"...Yes?" she finally sighed.

Her old friend Line Officer Jintana Umarin walked into the room with a folder, more bad news no doubt. "Madame President, another report for you."

"Put it on the pile with the others."

"Madame President," Dow spoke, "this one comes directly from the Director of Sahmhang."

Marjhan's eyebrows perked, her curiosity piqued. She extended her hand to take the folder, gesturing for her friend to leave the room. "Give me some privacy," she said as the woman that had helped safeguard her life left.

She looked at the folder, dubbed US-0214.89/N. Unity Suspect 0214.89, not resolved. Sayan Jaa. The file officially did not exist, Sahmhang had opened it at Marjhan's request. She'd opened it even before he murdered the negotiators at Pak Nam Pran. She opened it and read through it. Standard stuff, as far as reports on extremists went. She saw nothing she hadn't seen before, until she flipped to the yellow page, 32.

"...Intelligence suspects US 0214.89 to be working with numerous militant groups in and around Sai Yok. This is supported by the increased incidences of commonality between various previously separate groups through a common symbol: the use of red in icons and displays.

It is our agents belief that US 0214.89 may be behind several attacks, and may have even fostered support for the militant attacks against insurgents.

Agents within Sai Yok note that despite US 0214.89's influences, militant movements are largely popular movements generated out of anti-insurgency sentiment.

Multiple agents in Pak Nam Pran and Tha Rahat believe that violence in the area has been created by US 0214.89, as anti-insurgency sentiment has been lower.

The tracking of US 0214.89 has thus far been unsuccessful; it is likely that he is aware or suspicious of such actions, and has taken preventative measures. Order to terminate US 0214.89 has been received and relayed...."​

She sighed. His crimes went much further than murder. Sayan Jaa was quickly rising to rally the militia's around a common cause. If he succeeded, she was going to have a civil war on her hands.

 

[Khemia]

Chapter Two: Pinnacle
Only at the brink do we realize our flaw.

Marjhan Visariya, President of the Sinhai Union, paced her study fiercely, burning a hole in the floor with every vigorous footstep. She knew she had problems on her hands. Nokanawa was demanding blood, blood for its stained honor and worse blood for its threatened empire. Or was it just blood for the threatened empire. She was sure the Emperor had no honor left in his body to order the execution of such an integral ally as Jizhou.

A war was coming, whether she liked it or not. The ultranationalists would not like a foreign war, but they were already pissed off as it was. She was more concerned with the businessmen of Sinhai, they had trusted her to restore the economy, and had invested billions in Jizhou in a scheme to expand their industries. And now this blockade was threatening to ruin everything.

On her desk lay two folders. Two simple choices. One - the easy path - pursue some diplomacy, then back down when it failed. She knew Sinhai could not stand alone against Oikawa. Two - the difficult path - take a stand. Open warfare with the worlds sole military power. Either the nations of the world would come together like domino's, leading to a new, more massive war in the East; or Nokanawa would occupy Sinhai. She shuddered to think about the damage they would do to her nation. But she knew that if she was weak, she would lose her grip over her country. The ultranationalists would throw the nation into civil war, the SDF would be too busy, and the Oikawans. Knowing them, they'd probably commit another genocide.

What's worse, she though to herself, how does one give aid to a country that is surrounded on all sides. Her curiosity piqued, she had to read the red folder. Her eyes skimmed over the text, and her adrenaline began to rush. She could feel her heart pounding, and she knew that right now there was no right choice. This was going to be one of the most difficult decisions of her career.

What's worse? she asked herself, trying to calm her nerves. Destroying the economy altogether, unemploying millions of workers, and sending the people even further into Sayan Jaa's hands? Or war with Oikawa, and everything that may come? The answer lay in the National Assembly. She picked up the phone, knowing that at 2 am the other person would not be very happy to meet her. But she needed to speak before the Assembly in less than 12 hours.

 

[Khemia]

Every day saw her face grow even more tired, her Presidency questioned more now than ever. Where she had succeeded at giving her people a voice, and vanquishing the Old Guard of the nation, the violence within her country had spread to levels that had not been seen since the '40's. She sighed, glancing over the opinions columns and reading depressing reports. They were pretty accurate, which was the disconcerting part. She had lifted a lot of the censorship holds over state media since her time in office began, and for it the people knew more now than ever before. But they still didn't know the truth.

She put the newspaper aside and picked up a folder the military liaison had dropped off an hour or so ago. She knew it wasn't a good idea to put such things aside for later, especially in this time, but her mind was too heavy with doubt.

She glanced it over and grimaced. The reds in the north were gaining more ground... units from Tha Rahat were already falling back to more fortified locations outside of the town. Falling back wasn't quite the word she'd use, it sounded too strategic. Retreat was more like it. The SDF was surrounded on all sides by an enemy whose numbers intelligence had yet to deliver a definitive report on, whose supplies seemed to never end, and whose will to fight seemed to borderline sadism.

She knew Sinyaphum was next, it was the last major urban center left in the interior of Sinhai that was fully controlled by the SDF; only Katchaburi and Nakhon remained otherwise, in addition to the multitude of tiny towns that were nothing if not supply depots for the reds. The communists in Mae Rae were doing what they could to buy the SDF time to bunker down in Sinyaphum, but the best defense was not static; holding Sinyaphum would do nothing if an offensive could not be launched to gain ground in the north. But what would that do? It would only give her foes more reasons to despise the south, which was not going to win the war. This was a battle for hearts and minds, not land and territory.