M nation, the East Side of New York City, Central Manhattan.
Home to the primary headquarters of the federal government.
The stately and magnificent Federal Parliament Hall.
The 1,7871th executive meeting was underway.
The rotating parliamentary leader, Fang Xiuping, a Chinese-born M.P. from one of the free cities, was reading out a draft of a bill.
"The multiple incidents that have happened in Free City No. 298 involving harm toward women's rights, discrimination based on speech, online verbal abuse, and insult toward women have caused public outrage among women across the globe. In order to uphold gender equality, we are placing a comprehensive sanction on Free City No. 298, which will persist until an official apology is issued."
Fang Xiuping raised his head slightly as his gaze swept across the space below. He opened his mouth and said, "Commence voting."
The M.P.s begun discussing:
"Agreed, the city must be sanctioned!"
