Author Topic: Breaking the Cycle  (Read 1690 times)

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Offline Dijel

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Breaking the Cycle
« on: August 12, 2018, 12:18:35 AM »
Prince Ike Ezana; Fasal Gebi, Katamba, Merina

An unseasonable rain was falling on the capital, dark clouds swirling overhead, as the column crusied down the Martyrs' Boulevard. Katamba bore the unmistakable scars of war, from the shell-holes in her mightiest buildings to the hollow looks in the eyes of her children, yet a modest crowd nonetheless watched with trepidation as the victorious allies passed before them. Though the fighting in the city was all but over, their convoy still bristled with weapons, from the Impera Brigade tank out front with its powerful gun and armour plate, to the militia fighters crammed onto every available surface of their trucks, every man among them scanned their surroundings with wary eyes.

The three allies were odd bedfellows: Brigadier Diakame Bemba, the commander of the erstwhile presidential guards, the Impera Brigade; Sony Muamba, the charismatic former excile; and Ike himself, the rebellious nobleman down from the mountains of Pindar. But united they were, by mutual animosity towards the regime of President Nguessa, if little else. So had been the pattern of much of Merina's recent history - a warlord became a tyrant, only to fall before another, more ruthless warlord. But perhaps this time could be different. Perhaps.

The Fasal Gebi, the ancient fortress which squatted on its low hill in the middle of Katamba like some great beast, was already in the hands of allied troops, who raised a cheer as the column reached the gatehouse and swung around to come inside. The fortifications, as the focal point of the old city, had long been used as a royal - and later, presidential - palace, and although Nguessa remained at large his capital and most of the country were now in the hands of the rebels. The writing had been on the wall for some weeks, admittedly, and some thought had been put into winning the peace, as it were, by all sides. The Impera Brigade, so often the kingmakers in these kinds of conflicts, would undoubtedly have their own candidate for the presidency and call for a status quo ante. Sony Muemba would, more than likely, move to put his foreign ideals into practice and replace the powers of the warlords with the powers of the people, or something similar.

Ike, for his part, was satisfied to concern himself primarily with the future of Pindar. For the time being, at least, the Pindari clans had at their disposal more than enough fighting power to maintain their independence from Katamba, and maybe enough to go it alone, if it came to it. The feeling in many of the other rural corners of the country was much the same, so Ike felt confident enough that his homeland would emerge from the war in a better place then they were when they started, even if Bemba and Muamba went for each others' throats once the dust settled.

For now, however, there was a previously agreed declaration to sign, making clear their triumph and the transfer of power from the old presidency to the new 'transitional' government. The "National Unity Council" - which was neither wholly national in character nor truly united - would now take over the running of the country, until such a time as a satisfactory arrangement could be reached for the long term. Perhaps this would require more blood to be shed, but perhaps not. Nevertheless, the signing ceremony would be one for the cameras.



Commonwealth of Merina

Official Dispatch

Let it be known!

The excesses of the corrupt Nguessa regime are at an end! Through the valiant sacrifices of her sons and daughters, Merina has been freed from her shackles! Hear a hundred million voices call out in relief!

Yet as the work of liberation comes to an end, the work of rebuilding is just beginning - the physical and moral damage wrought to our nation has been great, and shall take time to undo. Foremost in this must come closure; the warlord Nguessa is still at large, as are many of those complicit in his crimes. We, the National Unity Council, hereby place a bounty of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) upon the head of former President Nguessa, for his capture - dead or alive - or information leading to his capture by Merinan allied forces. Further to this, the NUC places a bounty of one million dollars ($1,000,000) upon the heads of the members of the so-called "council of twelve" - those degenerate individuals known to be integral to the machinery of the Nguessa regime, payable under the same conditions previously stated.

Furthermore, we ask all the right and god-fearing nations of Mundus to recognise the National Unity Council - being constituted from the membership of the former National Alliance, those who have fought and died to bring freedom to Merina - as the true custodians of Merinan sovereignty. Nguessa and his thugs no longer posses even the thinnest pretense to legitimate government, therefore it has been necessary for the NUC to take control of the institutions of state on a provisional basis until free and fair elections may be conducted. Any attempt by a third party to reinstate, or otherwise support, elements of the former regime will be considered an indelible act of hostility against the Merinan people.

With the help of our friends at home and abroad, the NUC shall endeavor to eradicate the foul legacy of Nguessa and restore the glory of the Commonwealth of Merina to her people. The cycle of violence must, and will, be broken, in the name of our children and the future generations of Merinans to come.

The Co-Chairmen of the National Unity Council,

Prince Ike Ezana
Brigadier Diakame Bemba
Sony Muamba