Federalist Republics of Pyolangi (Glitch)

Persundheim, Pyolangi

After the press conference, he walked towards the government's private car together with the Premier and his ministers. Camera lights surrounded him as he walked, followed by journalists holding out microphones. Pyolangians also surrounded him.

He clung onto his trench coat as the night became colder, a typical Pyolangian climate that was felt all over the nation. Even though it was still at fall, it felt like it was winter.

As he stepped on the car, he shut the door and closed the window, preventing journalists from entering his car. Soon, he felt the car accelerate. Despite keeping his calm, he thought, Why Naomi? Why do you have to invade us?

Deep inside, he still couldn't believe it. His own friend attacking him? He clenched his fists again as he reminded himself of how Pyolangi once trusted Radish Land and regretted it.

"Sir," the Premier, Cayden, called him.

"What?"

"Now that they had taken aggressive motions against us, despite the fact that we were friends with her, do you think we should... retaliate?"

"We already retaliated," he answered coldly.

"No, I mean... like attack the Republic."

"What do you mean by that, exactly?" Glitch asked. Although he wasn't the aggressor type of leader, he mentally asked where exactly was he going for.

"We'll conduct a meeting when we reach the Mountain Palace."

* * * * *

As soon as the vehicle stopped in the Mountain Palace premises, the Prime Minister had stepped out of the car, landing his gaze on one of the most prestigious structures that currently existed -- the Mountain Palace. Made by one of Pyolangi's finest architects, it boasted stained windows painted with famous scenes from Pyolangian history, from the Pyolangian revolutionary movement from the Minetopian empire to the moment Pyolangi launched Orion III into space. Inspired by Gothic architecture, it had flying buttresses everywhere, made out of the finest stones available in Pyolangi, protected by well-dressed guards. Inside, however, is where all government sectors work in.

As he stepped on a curved staircase that led to the entrance of the palace, he heard the Premier talk to him again.

"Let's go to the Emergency Meeting Room."

He nodded, and walked inside the palace. His shoes stepped on the smoothness of wood planks. Curved stairs hung from the second level down to the ground floor. The rails were filled with intricate details, each subtly depicting more scenes in Pyolangian history. However, Glitch felt like he broke a cellphone as he realized that they weren't going the grand staircase.

They headed towards the seal of Pyolangi, which he knew was actually a hatch. The bodyguards in the area approached them and crouched. As soon as they had lifted the hatch, it revealed a stairs that led to a new hallway.

When the members of the Conclave, which was consisted of the Premier, and the Ministers of Defense, Air Force, Army, and Navy, had entered the secret hallway, the guards behind them closed the hatch, leaving them with nothing but a secret environment.

Their footsteps echoed as they walked across the hallway. It was actually easy; the entire hallway just goes to one direction, with rooms handling the entire system, from maps, spyware, statistics, and even network systems that provide access to the remnants of Pyolangi's never-used nuclear weapons that were kept secret, even to the public. However, Glitch didn't want another nuclear war. He didn't want his people to suffer more than they already had.

They headed towards a room, which only consisted of a metal table and chairs, surrounded by concrete walls designed against radiation in case of another nuclear attack. The walls have been filled with maps, statistical data, and archived documents stored in file cabinets.

Glitch looked to his right and saw a board filled with charts, equations, and a map of Pyolangi posted on the board, with red pins indicating the location of all cities, and blue pins indicating famous towns. However, there were also green pins, which indicated shelters in case of an attack, most of which were currently filled to the brim. Glitch knew that there have been at least a hundred of shelters in the mainland, and fifty more in the islands. There were sketches all over the map, which indicated Operation Keypad, a nationwide emergency operation that involved all personnel, both civilian and military alike, to hide in nearest shelters and continue whatever war they had.

He looked down, realizing that they had used Operation Keypad only once.

He prayed that he never had to use it again.

As he sat down, he looked at the Premier and other ministers.

"As I said, earlier, we should retaliate. Let's order the Air Force to commence airstrikes in any enemy city they find."

Glitch closed his eyes as he imagined all hell break loose. Pyolangi was once known for its advanced weapons technology. But we were peaceful, and we never bothered a country except Minetopia in territorial matters, and we never used our now almost non-existent advanced technology against anyone else.

As the Premier spoke, he prayed. I hope this is all over . . . I don't feel good about this.

* * * * *

An hour had passed. Glitch adjourned the meeting, with his body slouched and a look that almost reflected his lifelessness. Bombing the Republic. . . Declaring martial law nationwide. . . Conscripting civilians. . . Even trying to access our nuclear weapons system.

He looked at the night light as a silent reminder that he has to fly to Vepton for campaigning tomorrow. Flipping elections.

As he thought back on the meeting, he had tried to solve it by diplomatic means, but his ministers just dismiss his idea. Why go to war when you can do it with other means?

He sighed. War is inevitable, I guess.

Glitch was about to drift off to sleep when he heard his phone buzz. Groaning, he absentmindedly grabbed his phone and opened it.

"Sir, Vepton is requesting more food aid."

He scratched the back of his head. This is the fifth time this week! We're running out of supplies!

"I thought I just sent food aid yesterday?"

"Vepton is a metro, with almost a million population. Of course that's not enough."

Shaking his head, he typed in, "Send ME the aid. I'll personally give it to Vepton tomorrow."

"Are you serious, sir?"

"Dead serious. If I don't see the food aids in the Federal Aircraft by tomorrow, I'm going to assume that your men are as corrupt as Pete."

"Okay sir. Have a nice night."

Good.

* * * * *

City of Vepton, Vepton Republic, Pyolangi

While the colored leaves on Southern Pyolangi fell down, snow already showered against the northernmost metropolitan (and the only metropolitan remaining in Pyolangi) in the world. Rhine grasped into her trench coat just below her dangling blonde hair, walking on the streets that reminded her of the lower Industrialization period, surrounded by colored houses with windows shut.

She passed by two mobs on a riot, yelling political reasons. She would've hated something like this to happen, but she couldn't change the fact that the world has changed. Back in the old days, crime rates were rare. The riot she saw was a reminiscent of the opposite; in almost every corner of Vepton, she could see robberies, riots, and even murder committed. Radish Land may have not nuked Vepton, but it certainly did destabilize its government.

"We're going to starve!" yelled a thin person near her.

"Ha! As if those rich and lucky bastards in the mainland will listen!"

This is why I don't trust anyone.

She considered herself lucky; she didn't have to starve. She stocked up on supplies during the summer and fall, after learning from her experiences before she moved to Vepton after living in the colder areas surrounding Vepton.

Rhine shook her head. A good percentage of Pyolangi was nuked. What do you expect? Have the government piff-poof food for everyone like a fairy?

She turned back and forth as she stopped on the frozen road. Police cars raced in every direction she could imagine. A gunshot boomed the air, causing her to jump. Wish I never have moved.

Even then though, she didn't blame the government -- she knew it was nearly impossible for the government to send supplies to Vepton. But she can't blame the revolutionists either. Vepton's population is currently suffering from starvation, and Vepton's tundra and mountains is definitely not a suitable land to grow food on. Not a lot that they could do. I just wanna live. That's all. No political bullcrap.

She walked past another riot, this time it was a mob holding signs that read from GIVE US MILK to VEPTON FOR INDEPENDENCE!

A little walk further, she could see the police holding their shields to block the protests. A fire truck was parked behind them, its hose pointed at the crowd. This city's a total mess. I should really move to the mainland.

"CALM DOWN! THE PRIME MINISTER IS GOING TO COME HERE AND GIVE US AID!"

What? The Prime Minister is going to give aid himself?

However, as she walked by, she watched the whole thing tense even more.

The crowd disintegrated out of their positions and went on full random. It felt like she was walking through a maze, only that there were no hedges in Vepton, or that it wasn't made of angry people. Soon after that though, she felt something hit her at her back. She started running, shortly after she saw showers of rocks and glass bottles showering the police, accompanied by yelling curse words and harsh political statements. Gimme a break, oh my heavens. . . .

The chaos quickly evolved into something that no longer felt like a rally. It now felt like an actual, civil war and revolution. I only want to head home, flipping darn it!

Policemen retaliated against the public, revealing their batons and pushed it against the mobs, whilst using their shields to protect them from rocks and bottles. Rhine also felt water spray at her face, as she could see the fire truck shooting water against the mob.

She looked away and started sprinting as she heard more yelling and batons clashing.

"Madam, you are under arrest for participating in the riots!"

Rhine cursed. Flip.

I have a feeling that crap is about to get real.

* * * * *

Persundheim, Pyolangi

Voices echoed in the eerie environment. It was dark, even I couldn't see the surroundings. However, figures lurked and gathered, although their faces are recognizable.

"Sir, our destabilization plan is ruined. The Prime Minister is heading to Vepton himself. With the food aid. That means he's actually going to make sure food reaches Vepton."

"Not completely ruined. Just pay them a little more money."

"To them?"

"Yes. To them. Start a fight. Bam. Civil war. And you got a destabilized government."

"Wouldn't that affect the elections?"

"Exactly. Even if he declared martial law, there's nothing he could do. People will overthrow him anyway. All you have to do is link those events to blame the ineffectiveness of his administration."

"And use it to our advantage!"

"Exactly."

"What about the war with the Republic, though?"

"Let him handle it. Just fund more riots or terrorist attacks."

"Let's just hope that people will vote for you in the elections."

"Oh, they will. . . ."

* * * * *

Totally not rushed and unedited.

What will happen next? What happened to Nathan? What will become of Rhine? Who is destabilizing the government? What will happen in the war? Find out next time on Chasing Chaos!

That's it from me, everyone!