Imperial Palace, Ragna
Marix observed the screens with growing disbelief. The Crown Prince's visage, a specter he had long dismissed as irrelevant, now dominated every television. This turn of events, while unexpected, was not entirely unforeseen. He had known the Imperial family escaped, had even anticipated they might attempt some form of retaliation. But he had grown complacent, too confident in his control over the Empire's narrative.
He had underestimated them, he realized. In his focus on the war effort and the tight grip he maintained on information within Gra Valkan borders, he had allowed the exiled royals to become a blind spot. A miscalculation, certainly, but not an insurmountable one. The question now was how to regain control of the situation, to spin this development in his favor before it could unravel everything he had built.
The broadcast's existence alone was a significant blow, but its content and reception would determine the true extent of the damage. He needed to act swiftly, decisively, to frame this as a desperate ploy by discredited figures seeking to undermine the Empire's strength in a time of war. But… would they believe him?
Well, the first thing he needed to do was obvious enough. He must act with precision and authority, quelling any seeds of doubt before they could take root.
"Terminate the broadcast," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "Send our forces to the IBC headquarters. Immediately."
The ensuing silence unnerved him. His orders hung in the air, unheeded. The staff remained motionless, captivated by the Crown Prince's address. A flicker of uncertainty threatened Marix's composure. Had the foundations of his authority already begun to erode? No, he admonished himself. He must not entertain such notions. His vision for the empire was too crucial to be derailed by these... these theatrics.
He needed to discredit this charade, to reaffirm the righteousness of his cause. "Gentlemen, let us not be deceived by this obvious fabrication," he began, his voice already starting to crack. "Our enemies have clearly developed this… this hoax to–"
"Sir." General Koll's interruption was unexpected and unwelcome.
Marix turned, prepared to reprimand the man for his impertinence, but the words died on his lips. Koll's expression was one of grim determination, tinged with what Marix recognized – to his dismay – as pity. It was a look he had never before seen directed at him, and it sent a chill through his very core.
"By order of Crown Prince Gra Cabal, you are to be placed under temporary detention, effective immediately."
The proclamation struck Marix with the force of a physical blow. He could not allow his life's work, his grand vision for the empire, to be undone by this... this mummery. He must make them understand the necessity of his actions, the purity of his intentions – that he was right.
"Gentlemen, let us not be hasty. This broadcast, while cleverly orchestrated, changes nothing about the realities we face. The Empire I've built – that we've built together – stands stronger than ever!" Marix stammered. "The Crown Prince, in his isolation, cannot comprehend the progress we've made, the threats we've overcome. Everything I've done has been in service of our greatness, our destiny. Would you throw all that away on the word of a prince who abandoned his post, who fled rather than stand with his people? I am the one who stayed, who fought, who led us to–"
Another voice interrupted him – a random officer whose name he hardly bothered to learn. "Chancellor," he said, "that's quite enough."
Marix fell silent. His gaze swept the room, he saw only uncertainty and dawning realization on the faces of his once-loyal officers. Even those he had considered his most steadfast allies seemed to waver, knowing they were outmatched and outnumbered even in this very room. The carefully constructed edifice of his rule was crumbling, and for the first time in years, Marix felt the cold grip of genuine fear.
– –
Imperial Senate, Ragna
"Senator Klieger?" Deputy Chancellor Voskol called out, addressing the chamber.
"Present," a frail old senator responded, raising his hand.
Voskol set aside the roll call sheet. "With a quorum established, this emergency session is now in order." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Honored Senators, we face an unprecedented crisis – namely the Crown Prince's broadcast and the allegations of Chancellor' Marix's treachery. The gravity of recent events has necessitated this gathering."
He drew a deep breath. "I assure you, our proceedings today are in full accordance with Imperial law and our sacred constitution. We stand at a crossroads, and the decisions we make here will shape the future of our great Empire. But before we deliberate, we must review critical evidence that has come to light."
As Voskol nodded to his aide, Senator Haldor shot to his feet. "Deputy Chancellor, I object! On what grounds are we meeting without Chancellor Marix?"
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the chamber. Voskol raised a hand for silence. He almost wanted to scoff at the idiotic question. Why in the depths of Hel would they have the main suspect present? Even as a moderate, he could hardly ignore the… bluntness of some of the War Hawks. He bit back a retort, instead calmly responding, "Your concerns will be addressed, Senator. First, the evidence."
The lights dimmed, and a replay of the Imperial broadcast began for those who hadn't been able to witness it. As the Crown Prince's face appeared, senators leaned forward in their seats. Shock turned to disbelief, then to anger as the allegations against Marix unfolded.
When the broadcast ended, the chamber erupted. It was a headache Voskol had expected, but a headache nonetheless. The Doves, in particular, were more than happy to be proven right -- calling out for immediate justice. Even the moderates, faced with the revelation of the Chancellor's treason, were up in arms, though not quite to the same extent. And then there were the War Hawks: a mixed bag of disbelief and those crying slander.
Understandably, many of the War Hawks present refrained from making any comments. Maybe they didn't know if the coup had actually happened. Perhaps there were some who might have been aware, but intelligently kept their mouths shut, not daring to incriminate themselves. The few who cried foul, however, were Marix's staunchest supporters -- either ignorant of the truth, or blind in their compliance.
"Order!" Voskol bellowed, slamming his gavel. "We will proceed with questions in an orderly manner."
Senator Haldor, spoke first. "This is preposterous! Where's the proof this isn't some foreign ploy?"
"Our experts confirm the broadcast's authenticity," Voskol replied firmly. "The Imperial Seal imprinted upon the document we received cannot be easily falsified. Nor can the Emperor's own ring." He held up the item for the entire chamber to see, pleased as the doubt settled from their faces.
"Where is the Imperial family now?" Senator Klieger interjected, his voice tinged with what seemed to be genuine concern.
Truthfully, Voskol didn't know at all. But he could see the obvious reason why. "For their safety, that information is classified," he answered. "The alleged coup attempt necessitates such measures."
Senator Hardt, a long-time supporter of military expansion, stood up. "Deputy Chancellor, if these allegations are true, what does this mean for our ongoing military operations? Our men are out there fighting based on Marix's orders."
Before Voskol could answer, Senator Krell interjected, "Forget the military! What about our domestic situation? If the Emperor was deposed, how deep does this corruption go? How do we know all of you aren't involved?"
"Gentlemen, please," Voskol raised his hands, trying to maintain order. "We cannot assume every War Hawk is involved. We will determine this after our investigation. And to answer your concerns, Senator Hardt, our best course of action is to conduct this investigation as swiftly as possible, so the Crown Prince may enact his ceasefire with haste."
As the two men settled down, a moderate senator spoke next. "Deputy Chancellor, can we be certain of the Crown Prince's current status? Is he in a position to assume leadership immediately?"
Voskol nodded, "The Crown Prince's safety is assured, Senator Volker. As for assuming leadership, that will be addressed once we've dealt with the immediate crisis."
"This is all happening too fast," Senator Brahms muttered loudly enough for others to hear. "How do we know this isn't a ploy by the Doves to seize power?"
A dove, Senator Eisenner, interjected. "How dare you suggest this is a ploy! The evidence is right in front of us, Brahms. Or are you so blinded by Marix's war mongering that you can't see the truth?"
For Valhalla's sake, why did these imbeciles have to devolve so quickly? Tired of the nonsensical questions, Voskol boomed, "GENTLEMEN! I expect order from all of you, especially the War Hawks who brand the natives as savages, yet howl like primates in these very chambers. Now, it is of NO use to us to debate questions and speculate possibilities that would be easily answered by an investigation."
Senator Laesonar, a known moderate, stood. "Deputy Chancellor, what immediate actions do you propose?"
"Senators," Voskol began, cutting through the murmurs, "we must now consider our course of action. I propose two immediate measures: first, the suspension of Chancellor Marix's powers, and second, the launch of a full GVBI investigation into the allegations against him."
Senator Hardt stood, his face etched with concern. "Deputy Chancellor, while I support an investigation, suspending the Chancellor's powers seems premature. What of our ongoing military operations? Our troops need clear leadership."
It was a solid point, but one Voskol had already given thought to. "Senator, I understand your concern. However, we cannot allow potentially compromised leadership to continue guiding our forces. I suggest we immediately recall our fleets to defensive positions pending the outcome of this investigation."
This statement sent a ripple of unease through the War Hawk faction. One of them – he couldn't tell who – shouted, "This is outrageous! You're playing right into the hands of our enemies!"
"Order!" Voskol commanded, slamming his gavel. He could feel his patience wearing thin but forced himself to remain composed. "May I remind you that it is not the Muans or the Elysians or the Americans who have allegedly deposed our Emperor. Our greatest threat right now appears to be internal."
Senator Eisenner stood up. "I second the Deputy Chancellor's proposal. We cannot allow a potential usurper to retain power for even a moment longer."
The chamber erupted into heated debates. Voskol watched as factions formed and reformed, noting with interest that not all War Hawks were rallying to Marix's defense. Some, like Senator Hardt, seemed to be gravitating towards a more moderate stance. Though they may have shared the same views as Marix, not many seemed to be willing to side with a possible traitor.
As the debate raged on, Senator Laesonar raised a point that cut through the noise. "If we suspend Marix's powers, who will take charge in the interim?"
Voskol had anticipated this question. "The Crown Prince has expressed his readiness to assume leadership immediately. However, I propose that we form an interim council to support him during this transition period. It is possible that the Crown Prince will not reveal himself until we, his subjects, guarantee his safety from murderous treason."
This suggestion seemed to calm some of the more agitated senators. Even some War Hawks nodded in agreement, seeing it as a compromise.
As the debate continued, Voskol noticed Senator Klieger, the elder statesman, rising slowly to his feet. The chamber fell silent in respect.
"My fellow senators," Klieger began, his voice frail but clear, "I have served this body through times of peace and war, prosperity and hardship. Never did I imagine I would see a day like this. But let us not forget our duty to the Empire and its people. We must act decisively, yes, but also judiciously."
Klieger's words seemed to have a calming effect on the chamber. Voskol seized the moment. "Thank you, Senator Klieger. Your wisdom is, as always, appreciated. Now, let us formalize our proposals and move to a vote."
Voskol outlined the key points: the immediate suspension of Marix's powers, the launch of a GVBI investigation, the formation of an interim council to support the Crown Prince, and the recall of military forces to defensive positions – based upon the authority of said interim council.
"We will now vote on these measures," Voskol announced, his voice firm. "Those in favor, raise your right hand and say 'Aye'."
A chorus of 'Ayes' rang out, with even some War Hawks joining in.
"Those opposed, raise your left hand and say 'Nay'."
A smaller, but still significant number of 'Nays' followed.
"Those who choose to abstain, raise a hand."
A small chunk raised their hands – mostly uncertain War Hawks and a handful of moderates who were on the fence.
Voskol nodded to his aide, who quickly tallied the votes.
He glanced at the final number. 74 for, 16 against, 10 abstaining.
"The votes have been counted," Voskol announced, his voice cutting through the silence. "With 74 in favor and 16 against, the motion passes. Chancellor Marix's powers are hereby suspended pending investigation, and the GVBI is authorized to commence its inquiry immediately."
"Now, we must establish the oversight committee. I nominate Senator Klieger, a respected moderate, to head this committee. His years of service and reputation for fairness make him ideal for this crucial role. Any objections?"
Silence met his words. Even the War Hawks, perhaps sensing the shifting tides, remained quiet.
"Very well. Senator Klieger, do you accept this responsibility?"
The old senator rose slowly, his voice firm despite his age. "I do, Deputy Chancellor. I shall ensure the investigation is conducted with the utmost rigor and impartiality."
Voskol nodded curtly. "Good. Now, as for the matter of governance during this period of... uncertainty. I propose an interim council to support the Crown Prince. Three moderates, two Doves, two War Hawks. This council will ensure our Empire's strength does not waver while we root out any potential treachery."
Senator Brahms, a staunch War Hawk, shot to his feet. "This is outrageous! You're handing power to the Doves on a silver platter!"
"Sit down, Brahms," Voskol snapped. "This council will make no policy changes. Its sole purpose is to maintain order and support our military efforts until this matter is resolved. Unless you're suggesting we leave our Empire rudderless?"
Brahms sat, scowling but silent.
"Now," Voskol continued, "we will take nominations for the council positions. Choose wisely, Senators. The eyes of the Empire are upon us."
And thus it began. Voskol surveyed the chamber, exhaustion threatening to seep into his bones. The past hour had been a maelstrom of political maneuvering, with every faction clawing for influence. His own appointment and Klieger's had been mercifully straightforward, but the rest? A circus of ambition and paranoia.
The Doves, predictably, had pushed hard for Eisenner and Laesonar. Cunning choices, he had to admit. Both had shown backbone during the initial debate. The War Hawks, not to be outdone, had thrown their weight behind Hardt – to little surprise – and the former general, Senator Reinstadt. At the very least, they hadn't selected that imbecile Haldor.
Securing Volker as the third moderate had required some... delicate negotiations. Volker's recent push for increased border defenses had made him palatable to pragmatic War Hawks but suspect to the Doves. It had taken all of Voskol's political acumen to present Volker as the ideal compromise – someone who respected their martial traditions, yet remained loyal to the Emperor.
The resulting council was a precarious balance, a microcosm of the Senate's divides. No one looked entirely pleased, but perhaps that was the best he could hope for.
With their decisions settled, he addressed the room once more. "Senators, we have taken the first step in addressing a potential threat to our Empire. But let no one mistake our actions today for final judgment. We are Gra Valkans – we act with strength, but also with the wisdom our position demands."
His voice grew colder. "The GVBI will conduct its investigation swiftly and thoroughly. If these allegations prove true, make no mistake – the punishment for treason against our Emperor will be severe and absolute. But until then, we must stand united against those who would exploit this moment of uncertainty."
He concluded, his words ringing out like a command: "This session is now adjourned. The Empire endures, as it always has, as it always will. Hail Gra Valkas!"
"Hail Gra Valkas!" the chamber thundered in response, fists raised in salute.