Confederation of Corrupt DictatorsBoard

The Duma members whisper amongst themselves, nervous and curious about why they were summoned. They knew full well what happened to the nobles the preceded them. Well, they didn’t know exactly what happened, but it can be assumed by the fact they have mysteriously disappeared that they upset Lazar.

The Speaker of the Duma clears his throat.

“Ordah!”

The Duma quiets and all eyes turn towards Isay.

“His Grand Imperial Majesty Lazar Murmanov has summoned you here today for an announcement. You shall all listen well.”

Lazar appears from the balcony, face emotionless, his cold eyes bore into the Duma members. After a minute of silence, he begins to speak, his voice as cold as his eyes.

“Members of the Duma, you have been summoned here on my behalf. I know you all are wondering why I have. Simply put, I have decided to begin a period of isolation for our great state. While this normally would not effect you, the reasoning does.

You all know of the previous members of the Duma, who were replaced by yourselves. You also know they have gone silent shortly afterwards. That is because I had them liquidated. Most have not been terminated, most jailed or relocated. But the Grand Dukes and Duchesses that preceded you did not care for Eurasia. They cared for their own interests. They were incompetent, weak, unworthy of leading on my behalf.

I am pleased to say that so far, you Governors have done far better. I have certainly chosen well. However, you will now be tested. In recent weeks, more and more dissenters have revealed themselves, due to a great many reasons. The National State, my predecessor’s abdication and subsequent death, the collapse of the two largest criminal organizations within Eurasia and the resulting power vacuum, and, most importantly, the refocus of my attention from Eurasia to foreign affairs. This is why I have ordered Eurasia into isolation.

We must stabilize the Empire, and I call on you to do your part. You shall aide the Imperial Ministry of State Security, the Imperial Ministry of Justice, and the National Guard in apprehending the traitors who are within our midst. For too long have they gone unnoticed, for too long have they infested our Grand Empire. And I will not have it any longer.

Now go, you are dismissed.”

The Governors rise, bow, and leave. Soon, all that is left is Lazar, Isay, the Grand Chancellor, and Lazar’s guards. Isay looks up at Lazar, and kneels to him.

“Your Grand Imperial Majesty, I vow upon my life that all traitors within my Governorate will be found and killed.”

“I have faith that you will do so, Isay. Now go and make it so.”

Isay gets up, bows, and quickly leaves. Nicholas looks over at Lazar.

“Are you sure that they will succeed, my liege?”

“They will, and if they don’t…”

“My liege?”

“Well, Kolya, take a guess. When the nobles failed, what became of them?”

“They were removed-“

“Precisely. If they fail, I will find those who will succeed. Should they fail, I’ll replace those replacements as well. This cycle will continue until all dissenters are eliminated and I have the perfect state I imagined.”

“Of course, my liege.”

“So. You had a problem with my thesis.”

The woman sitting across from her, holding one of the metal arms of her reading glasses in her right hand a little bit away from her sternum and staring at the auburn haired woman with a lightly incredulous look. Ministerpräsidentin Freya von Stauffenberg most certainly did not look impressed by the whole situation, and the thing that Robin was most banking on was that she wouldn’t know how to react.

“Professor Kuo, I… There is no easy way to respond to the thesis that I requested of you, I hope you are quite aware of this.” Well that was rather the point, to keep just about everyone off balance until Robin could make her point that would probably have been treasonous if put directly down on paper where people could re-read it countless times until they fully understood the context. Better to keep it off paper, where people could second guess their memories.

“Well, where exactly do you want me to start?” Robin lightly clapped her hands together, sinking just a little bit further back into the chair that she had been seated in once entering the Ministerpräsidentin of Prussia’s office. She had to find out where you could get chairs like this - then promptly get one for her office at the University of Köpenhamn, all things provided.

Things like not being sentenced to death.

“Perhaps with the.. Interesting phrasing you used?” Robin paused at these words, biting the inside of her cheek between a canine and its lower counterpart and finding just a bit of calm solace at the pain blossoming through her nerves in the location. She had used a lot of interesting phrasing, and honestly, the less that the Ministerpräsidentin was aware of, the better.

“Anything in particular?”

“Perhaps we can start at the line that caught my attention-” ‘Caught my attention’ oh that’s not good. Ministerpräsidentin von Stauffenberg flicked through the first few pages, passing a few sections marked with the yellow stain of a highlighter, passing so many pages that Robin reckoned that she knew what the stateswoman was going to, the stateswoman pausing and donning her glasses. “Ah, here we are. ‘Thus, I can only conclude that the reemergence of a Francois state has proven once again to the Concert of Europa that the presence of a seventh great state involved in Europan affairs is a factor so destablising that there now exists a program of ‘Compeditive Genocide’ amongst the great powers to acheive nothing short of the total destruction of the Francois culture’.”

Yeah that’s the one I was worried about. Ministerpräsidentin von Stauffenberg sat back and looked across at Robin, taking her glasses off her face as she did so and staring across at the University Professor with a look that was more akin to a police officer in an interrogation than a few questions about a thesis paper. This would be a very interesting conversation.

“Well, frau Ministerpräsidentin.” Robin paused for a few seconds, pressing the pads of her fingers together in a pyramid that she brought to rest against her chin and nose as she stared at the severe Prussian woman sitting across from her, still expecting her answer. She probably thinks I’ll either back down, or make some sort of excuse. Can’t back down. It’d undermine my entire argument. “Am I wrong?”

There was a sudden choking noise on the other side of the desk as Ministerpräsidentin von Stauffenberg made a particularly ungraceful response to the question she had just been handed so abruptly. The beginnings of a sharp cackle left the woman as she managed to recompose herself after a few seconds, clearing her throat and staring down the University Lecturer with just a bit more respect. Pausing for a few seconds, the Ministerpräsidentin spoke.

“One would wager that it is perhaps the issues that you have hit the nail on the head far too accurately that is the main issue.” Oh that’s.. Unexpected. The Ministerpräsidentin continued. “Much of the unpleasantries of the current geopolitical situation has fallen under the jurisdiction of my estate, most probably because of the general geographic location, but also perhaps because it is the history of the Prussian state with regards to the Francois that makes us uniquely qualified to carry this out.”

“Well, you know what they say. If you want something done with efficiency, get a Prussian to do it.” Robin was unable to shake the dry annunciation of her words, but the Ministerpräsidentin nodded sagely regardless of the woman’s tone.

“One supposes that is true. Perhaps it is why the Loreauan’s were so eagre to integrate Prussia as opposed to carrying out a genocide against our culture and customs like the Bohem-Hungars.” That was spite - that was dangerous.

“It is a dangerous policy to begin the wholescale elimination of cultures on the continent, no matter how threatening or dangerous they may be in the long run. My thesis was espousing the belief that this must be a one off event.” Ministerpräsidentin von Stauffenberg sat back and stared at Robin for a few seconds, letting the other woman sweat under her gaze before responding.

“What would you have me do about it?”

Professor Kuo blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden question that came so far out of left field that it probably hit Robin in the back of the head. Clearing her throat, she stared down at her lap. What WOULD I have her do?

Silence for a few seconds.

A reluctant sigh escaped her. “Do not allow it to become a precedent.”

2 Days Later

--- ---

Stylus wondered what use was there to swirl your cup of alcohol. Was it to look fancy? Or was there some scientific reason to it? Well, she wouldn’t know, she was a diplomat! Well, only recently became a diplomat, but still a diplomat! Stylus doubted that many wine enthusiasts knew what was the purpose of this activity. Just drink it! She thought, It ain’t that hard? Stylus grumbled a bit as she took a sip of the most certainly expensive wine she had in a glass. Her eyes wandered around the room. The Ministerial Breakroom in the Ministry of Administrative Affairs was clearly much more spartan than hers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There were more means to store things than means to relax. She supposed it did fit the demeanour of Medical. A Workaholic, and that demeanour influenced everybody else in the Ministry. Her eyes, however, were quick to spot the alcohol cabinet hidden in between the actual cabinets.

Medical sat next to her. The Stallion dressed in his usual garb, a suit and tie. His eyes were solely focused on a Tripad before him. Taking odd sips from a tumbler filled with beer. Lavender sat adjacent to him, she wore her usual business uniform. A similarly toned business suit, with a colour nearly identical to her coat colour.

“I’d reckon that since you two are here, there is something of severe importance you have to ask me?” Medical asked, moving his gaze towards Stylus. He placed his Tripad down, raising his eyebrow. “Unless you’re talking about something else?” He lidded his eyes as he added, with a small smirk. Lavender stifled a laugh as Stylus blushed.

“Well… inappropriate jokes for a minister, aside, Medical, yes there is something we need to ask you,” Lavender stated, her grip on the file notably got stronger. “Prima facie evidence has revealed that there might be someone trying to slander Stylus. Notably by writing a hit piece that is based on an old paper of Stylus’.”

“Mhm, I presume you two have already suppressed it?” Medical asked, taking another sip. Stylus nodded.

“Indeed, it has been… diverted, due to security reasons and inaccuracy by the MBC,” Stylus answered. “However, we are still unsure of who… leaked such a fact to the MBC. It doesn’t feel like something to come out of the Ministries… does it?”

“Of course not,” Medical remarked. “There are more… efficient ways to take down a Ministry from within the government. You publish something more damning than a past admiration for a genocidal regime. You shake up the political process by showing it to the masses how… politics is actually done. Through backdoor deals, and enough favours to make MineLegotiponyian blush. And you implicate, the one you wished to topple, by showing that they… have taken part in such activities. So it’s most likely the one you that’s trying to topple you is… from without the Ministries. A muck, a captain of industry, or an Imperial Family member. Or a particularly incompetent enemy state.”

“How are you… so sure, that it’s from without the Ministries?” Lavender asked. Medical rolled his eyes at her as he took another sip.

“If they were from within the Ministries, why would they not… leak it in the proper channels within the ministries. Tell the civil servants that the Minister of Foreign Affairs likes the rebellion and they’ll go rabid within an hour and oust Stylus here from power. But if it's being presented by the media… then the civil servants would rally around the Minister more stronger than ever. No one within the government likes the media since they have access to the straight facts,” Medical paused to look back at Stylus and back at Lavender. “Knowing the Ministries, they’d probably know more of her past than me.”

“So… they’re outside the Ministries… any idea who… might have done it?” Stylus asked, and Medical shrugged.

“It could have been anyone… too large of a sample size to get an idea who did it,” Medical looked down at his Tripad again. A flick got it to live again, and Medical saw the time. “Ladies, It seems my break is over, I presume I’ll see you both later at dinner?”

A nod from Stylus and Medical proceeded to go back to work, picking up his Tripad with him. Lavender levitated Medical’s tumbler he left, taking a sip of his alcohol before scrunching up in disgust. “Medical’s a damn war criminal with this disgusting beer.”

“You just knew?” Stylus tutted, “He has bad taste in alcohol, housing, living conditions, and paintings. But great taste in music, books, parks, and mares.”

“That so?” Lavender chuckled. “Well then, we’re not leaking from the top. Any guesses where else might the hole be?”

“Medical said that it can’t be from the inside. If they wanted to depose me… they would try from the inside. But instead they tried to do it from the press… they wouldn’t do that… unless. Unless they wanted the public to be angry at me!”

“And by proxy, Medical as well… but why?” Lavender pondered, “The only motive here I can see is revenge, or power hungry…”

“Then this is an attempt at a coup…” Stylus deduced, her hoof rubbing the bottom of her chin. “But who…”

--- ---

“What do you mean they blocked it?” Wleian II was not happy. The reporter tried to explain, but she stuttered every two words. An additional glare from Wleian II shut her up. The stallion rubbed his muzzle as his mind tried to wrap around the situation he found himself in.

The reporter had come to him in panic, the article was discarded without much word by the Editors suddenly. A complete 180 from their previous demeanour. Implying that someone caught wind of his plans… someone within MBC knew of his plans…

“A-am I… still going to get, get paid?”

Wleian II sighed, pulling out his cheque book. He quietly wrote in it before handing it over to the reporter. “Leave, and this never happened.”

The reporter nodded, and scampered out of the cafe. Wleian sighed as his mind shuffled files together. The MBC wasn’t going to work… and knowing the MBC and the Empire’s old boys club, they were going to make sure it wasn’t published anywhere else…

Unless…

The internet!

Wleian II chuckled as he left his tab on the table, rushing out of the cafe, he had a plan in mind. Upload the files, and watch as Stylus and Medical get attacked relentlessly by the media…

Lavender burst through the door into Medical’s office, sighing a relief when she spotted Stylus there. The room for its part, was… oftly generic. It felt more like a secretary’s room than a minister’s. Cabinets, several computers, a couple chairs for guests, and the sort. The only distinction from one of a lower bureaucrat was the window behind where Medical would seat.

“You heard the news?” Lavender asked, Stylus nodded.

“MiniAdmin Minister to Govern Confederation Prison State’. It’s very prestigious if the CCS is to be believed,” Stylus remarked.

“Well, yes, the media’s gonna be either angry or quite happy that some other state recognises our Regent’s diligence,” Lavender took a seat opposite Stylus. “But has anyone told him?”

“You full well it’s a Monday, he doesn’t go home on Mondays… I’ve been waiting here for an hour or so, and I don’t know how he’s going to react to this…”

The door slammed open and the stallion of the hour walked in, he paused in his walk as he noticed the two mares in the room. “Do… you two have anything to tell me about? Because I’m pretty sure the Weekly Ministerial Meeting happens on Friday.”

Getting onto her hooves, Stylus spoke up. “Minister, I have a confession to make.”

“That’s weird, okay,” Medical commented as he took a seat at his desk.

“It seems that the Empire will be more tied in.... to the Confederation,”

“Really? Did we manage to actually seal a trade deal with them?” Medical asked, his eyes darting around the paperwork on his table.

“No… but, they’ve appointed one of the Ministers, to govern Vangmar.” Lavender remarked.

“Isn’t that their prison state?” The two nodded, and Medical continued. “I see no problem with that.”

“Well… they’ve appointed… a Mr. Kartogrefi, to the stand.”

“Mhm,” Medical nodded, before looking up. “Oh that’s my name! Good for the lad that gets app… hold on you said one of the Ministers?” The two nodded, hesitantly one might describe. “I’m the only mister in the Ministries… with a Kartogrefi. Sorry, are you implying they appointed me? To run a prison state?”

“Pretty much so,” Stylus commented. “Came out of nowhere.”

“That sounds like more of a nuisance than a career ender, its easier to run that place than this! It’d be easy to, deal with three jobs at once I think… get me the Imperial Oath! I’ve got to read it! ”

Lazar sits at his desk, five men standing before him: the Grand Chancellor, the Imperial Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Imperial Minister of State Security, the Imperial Minister of War, and the Imperial Director of Alliances and Prosperity.

All of them, save the Grand Chancellor, are of course arguing. Over what, you may ask? Well, that recent transmission from the South, obviously.

“We must support this group!”

“They are nothing but teenagers! What will we get from them?!”

“An allied state obviously! Marionette could be put to us-“

“Oh please, enough about that damned operation that couldn’t even get us California! The Southern Republic is far more powerful then them!”

“Power which we could have! Molotov, surely you must see where we are coming fro-“

“I know where you are coming from Androcov, and I don’t like it one bit! Even if this group actually allied with us in OTO, they will oppose us in the Senate!”

“Of course you care more about the Senate then what actually matters! You despica-“

“Silence.”

The two bickering ministers stop as Lazar gets up.

“We shall do nothing at this time.”

“But, my liege, the possibili-“

“Androcov, I do not care about the possibilities. My isolation order stands, Eurasia shall remain out of the spotlight. For now at least.”

“Bu-“

“Androcov, do not tempt me. I know full well you wish to continue with Marionette, and I know you do as well Alexi. We will when the time is right. For now, it isn’t. Be patient, or I will get someone else who is.”

“I-I understand, my liege.”

“Good. Now, leave my office. I must think.”

The Ministers bow, and leave quickly, leaving only Nicholas with Lazar.

“You as well Nicholas. Rest for a while, you earn it.”

“Of course, my liege.”

Nicholas quickly bows and leaves as well. Lazar sighs.

“Sometimes I just want to abdicate again…”