The First Hundred Days, Part 2
National crisis as government struggles to recover
Berlin – A state of national emergency has been declared after the most devastating terror attack in Roman history, which wiped out the chancellery, Diet, and the Augustinian Court. The previous chancellor, Angela Merkel, and chancellor to be, Thierry Baudet, were pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining fatal gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. His Majesty the Kaiser escaped unharmed, although the same could not be said about Prince Karl, a royal family member also in attendance.
Citizens have been under martial law since late Tuesday night. Both the Augustinian Code and Diet proceedings have suspended for the time being while Vice Chancellor Brad Folger, the only survivor of Baudet’s cabinet, assembles a caretaker government. In a speech Wednesday night, he announced his intention to “clean up the country” and restore order as soon as possible. Once that is done, he would restore the country to its state as one of the world’s premier meritocratic world powers.
Very little information is available about how long the country will be under lockdown, but authorities say they are still gathering information about the attacks and the motives of the terrorists involved. All of the terrorists involved in the Reichstag attack were killed by law enforcement and private security before they could leave the building. It is currently believed the attacks were carried out by a remnant MSC cell.
Committee headquarters (formerly CB party headquarters), Berlin - January 14 (Day 12)
The committee members flipped through the pages of their newest proposal.
“The withdrawal of overseas troops to aid the rebuilding is in progress,” Heinrich said, “Aside from the Yavdian garrisons, as you said.”
“Good,” Elias said, “Adjust the foreign aid budget to reflect this. Josiah, put the extra money in our reconstruction fund.”
“I’ll make a note of that,” Josiah said, “Oh, and Heinrich, when the secondary Pacific fleets arrive in Africa, we’re going to need them to crack down on Indian Ocean piracy. That’s a serious problem these days.”
“I’ll make a note of that,” Heinrich said.
“We’ll have to screen the admiralty and officer corps for any terrorist sympathizers,” Elias said, “It’ll be easy to do so as each fleet arrives.”
“Right, of course,” Heinrich said.
“What are we going to do about the surge in dishonorable discharges?” Jacob said.
“I assure you, Jacob, all of those women deserved it,” Elias said.
“But…a lot of those women are complaining about harassment,” Jacob said, “Why are we expelling them?”
“It’s for their own good,” Josiah said, “And we need to have cohesion and discipline in our armed forces. If they keep making their other squadmates act up, we need to remove the root of the problem.”
“So, nobody wants to object to the confirmation of the new Foreign Minister?” Elias said. “Or provide their opinion on the cuts to the immigrant shelters?”
Nobody said anything.
“Okay, then,” Elias said, “Let’s move on to the Diet replacements. Next up are the two Reichsrat seats from the state of Nineveh…”
“Elias, if I may,” Jacob said.
“Yes, Jacob?” Elias said.
“Don’t you think we’re moving a little too fast with this?” Jacob said. “Thierry and the others are barely buried and we’re already working on their replacements.”
“Don’t worry, Jacob,” Josiah said, “This is what Thierry would have wanted.”
“He would have wanted us to spend more time mourning him,” Jacob said, “And are you sure this is all legal?”
“Augustinian code administrative clause 7,” Josiah said, “The Throne reserves the right to replace Diet representatives. And we’ve been given a mandate by the Throne to do so.”
“Are you sure you’re up to the task, Jacob?” Elias said. “Nobody said you had to be here.”
“I…I just want to make sure we’re going about this the right way,” Jacob said.
“Don’t worry, Jacob,” Elias said, “We’re on the right side of history. Of course we’re doing the right thing. We’re making history. Tell me, has any African Roman ever attained as high of an office or as much reputation as you have?”
“Uh, no?” Jacob said.
“Exactly,” Elias said, “You’re making history, Jacob. The first African Roman in a cabinet, shaping policy, directing this nation. For too longer, the people of Africa have been ignored under the party cartel, but you refused to take it.”
He patted Jacob on the back.
“Decades from now, they’ll be telling stories of the visionary Jacob Baldouin, who had a dream of a government run for the people,” Elias said, “Jacob Baldouin, who refused to let the party cartel silence him like his fellow Africans. Jacob Baldouin, the first African to have a major cabinet office. Jacob Baldouin, the second coming of Abraham Green! Jacob! Jacob!”
“Jacob! Jacob! Josiah cheered.
“Jacob! Jacob!” the other committee members joined in.
“Jacob,” Heinrich muttered.
Jacob nodded in agreement.
“You’re right, Elias,” he said, “We’re doing the right thing. Let’s keep at it.”
Constantinople - January 22 (Day 20)
Josh tapped his foot impatiently.
“When do we see some action?” he asked.
“Calm down,” Gustav said.
“Why do you keep telling me that, Uncle?” Josh said. “If I didn’t know any better, you sound like a coward. Like you want the terrorists to win. Like you’re a traitor.”
“Are you listening to yourself, Josh?” Gustav said. “Saying this to your uncle?”
“As a citizen, I have a duty to defend my country against all threats, both within and without,” Josh said, “Even if those threats are my family.”
“We’re family, Josh,” Gustav said, “We don’t betray each other.”
“That’s what Prince Maximilian said,” Josh said, “Before he launched the Maximist Wars.”
“Who taught you this stuff?” Gustav said. “You weren’t like this before.”
“You taught me, remember?” Josh said. “The world’s a cold place, and we have to fight to keep the lights on. Just like the committee’s providing law and order against the terrorists.”
Gustav gulped and looked away. “I’ve created a monster…”
They heard a commotion a while away.
“Get ready,” Kurt said, “It’s starting.”
A group of young protesters walked down the street, chanting slogans and waving signs.
“No more martial law!”
“Justice for Bloody Tuesday!”
“Down with the committee!”
“It can’t happen here again!”
Josh scoffed. “Bah, more equalist traitors. If only we had guns…”
“Masks on,” Kurt ordered.
Josh eagerly put on his mask. Gustav looked disgusted, but he obliged and followed suit.
“Let’s go,” Kurt said, “And remember, no fatalities, and no speaking.”
The group descended on the protesters and began beating the kids with their fists and bats. Josh gleefully slammed his bat down on his targets, their screams like a home run for him and the sound of bones crunching music to his ears. After a few minutes of fun, the protesters, the few of them without broken legs, limped away, their entire bodies bent and bloodied. The others lay on the ground, groaning and clutching their wounds. Kurt’s group left them there and walked away.
Die Zeiten - January 25 (Day 23)
“Some on the left were immediately up in arms about His Majesty and his emergency committee standing up for our men and women in uniform and for our national security,” Bysandros said, “The fact of the matter is that this is an attempted subversion of our country, both within and without. Period. Our nation must remain intact and secure. It is not a partisan position to believe there are subversive elements within our nation which need to be rooted out. However, it unfortunately appears there are many on the left who believe it is wrong to defend our country and abide by the rule of law. I would bet that many of those same people live behind walls and locked doors but do not want to afford the same benefit to our country as a whole.”
Theresa paused the clip.
“You see what we’re up against now?” she said.
“Not really, that’s just journalists being journalists,” Jung said.
“Are you serious?!” Anders said. “This is not journalism, it’s punditry! This man makes a mockery of journalists! They run biased segments and force their stations to air them! And they insert opinions and advertising into reporting!”
“And ignoring the content, there’s also the matter of their reach,” Theresa said, “The committee approved the merger with Tribune, so they now reach 75% of Roman households.”
“You’re mistaken,” Jung said, “The merger was approved under the Merkel administration three years ago, not three days ago by the committee.”
“Still, this is worrying,” Theresa said.
“What the frak do you expect me to do about this?” Jung said. “Even if I wanted to do something about it, I can’t. Augustinian Code and all that.”
“Okay, then I should be well within my rights to write about them,” Theresa said.
“Theresa, can you please calm down?” Jung said. “I don’t want to rock the boat too much, but you’re making it hard.”
“Jung, we journalists have a moral duty to inform the public on the truth and to defend the truth, whatever it may be,” Anders said, “You can’t stop us.”
“You don’t understand,” Jung said, “Things are…different now. We can’t publish this kind of stuff anymore.”
“Why?” Anders said. “Who’s going to stop us?”
“Remember we’re still banned from Brandenburg Palace press briefings?” Jung said. “Well, we’re now banned from all government press briefings altogether. I don’t want the regulators to come after me.”
“Well, if they do, we’ll sue them,” Anders said.
“Remember what you said fifteen years ago?” Theresa said. “When Sentinel tried to silence us after I published that report. ‘Those shooters, they wanted to intimidate us. They wanted to shut us up. They wanted to punish us for today’s story. But we’re going to show them. We aren’t going to be intimidated. We will not be silenced. We will put out a damn paper tomorrow!’ Whatever happened to that Jung?”
“It’s no longer 2015,” Jung said, “Things are different now. You know how the Kaiser is.”
“If we’re too scared to call out those abusing their power and misleading the public, we’d be no better than Sentinel,” Anders said, “And if we sell ourselves out, we will be destroyed, and we will deserve it.”
“Look, I’m just a messenger,” Jung said, “Fine, try to publish what you want. You’ll see what I’m talking about.”
“Maybe we will,” Theresa said, “But we will not be silenced. We’re not going to sit idly by while our people need us.”
“Unfortunately, it seems like they don’t really need us,” Jung said, “They need TiEfarmo and Schmitz instead.”
By the authority vested in me as Kaiser of the Romans by God and the Augustinian Code, We, Wilhelm the Fourth of House von Hohenzollern (titles here) hereby order as follows:
Section 1. Policy. To effectively carry out the broad array of activities assigned to the executive branch under law, His Majesty and his appointees must rely on men and women in the imperial service employed in positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character. Faithful execution of the law requires that the Kaiser and his Committee have appropriate management oversight regarding this select cadre of professionals.
…
Pursuant to Our authority, We find that conditions of good administration make necessary an exception to the competitive hiring rules and examinations for career positions in the imperial service of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character. These conditions include the need to provide agency heads with additional flexibility to assess prospective appointees without the limitations imposed by competitive service selection procedures…agencies should be able to assess candidates without proceeding through complicated and elaborate competitive service processes or rating procedures that do not necessarily reflect their particular needs…Agencies need the flexibility to expeditiously remove poorly performing employees from these positions without facing extensive delays or litigation.
…
Brandenburg Palace - January 29 (Day 27)
A reporter stood up.
“Yes, Elaine?” Wilhelm Karl said.
“Sir, are you concerned about the new imperial decree’s unintended consequences?” Elaine said.
“Elaborate,” Wilhelm Karl said.
“Many are concerned the relaxing of Qualifications’ assessment of current and prospective civil service officials may lead to a purge of bureaucrats in the coming months, particularly staff members of the Bureau of Qualifications,” Elaine said, “What assurances will you provide us that this will not be the case?”
“Are you making demands of your own Kaiser?” Wilhelm Karl said. “I don’t know what equalist ivory tower you were raised in, but real Romans know Administrative Clause 11 of the Augustinian Code: ‘In the event the Diet becomes hostile to the interests of the state and the people of Rome, the Kaiser may dissolve the Diet’. As our Augustinian Court just ruled two days ago, this extends to bureaucratic appointments, and as the tiebreaker in Qualifications, I am responsible for helping ensure only the most qualified are given positions appropriate for their expertise and experience. Are you asking me to disobey my obligation to the people?”
“No, sir, I was just—” Elaine said.
“Just questioning my orders,” Wilhelm Karl said, “That’s what the left always does, question if I’m fit to rule. They’ve done that my entire life, and I’m done being politically correct. If we don’t have order, we don’t have control, and if we don’t have control, we don’t have a country. I am trying to take back my country from the corrupt left which has been leading us to ruin for the last fifty years. Whenever great powers have collapsed or decayed, a common cause has been the loss of central authority. Anybody who doesn’t want our country back is at best naive and at worst downright treasonous. That will be the end of it.”
After all of the reporters left, Wilhelm Karl returned to his room. Francesca was already there, watching the news.
“Don’t bother watching, it’s all trash these days,” he said.
“No thanks to you,” Francesca said.
“Don’t blame me, blame Elias!” Wilhelm Karl said.
“Don’t hide behind that excuse,” Francesca said.
“What the frak was I supposed to do?!” Wilhelm Karl said. “I couldn’t have seen this coming!”
“Then let’s at least find a way to get out of this mess,” Francesca said, “Without destroying us.”
Reichstag - February 2 (Day 31)
Brad put his right hand on the Bible and raised his left hand.
"I swear to uphold the Augustinian Code and all valid laws within the Reich against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” he said, “That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and fulfill my duties of the office faithfully. That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Committee headquarters - February 9 (Day 38)
Gertrude approached the conference room, but before she could go in, Elias stopped her.
“Morning,” he said, “What do you have there?”
“Oh, good, Elias, just in time, my arms are getting tired.” Gertrude dropped the heavy stack of papers into Elias’ hands.
“No, seriously, what is it?” Elias said.
“A comprehensive climate plan I hope to introduce to the Diet by the end of the month,” Gertrude said, “I already talked over the wealth redistribution details with Josiah. I just need to get Heinrich onboard with mobilizing the army to build seawalls and pumps on much of the Atlantic coast, and maybe Theodor to invest more into driverless electric cars and solar panels. We’ll also have to work on the gas-powered car restrictions and the public transit expansions, but we need to talk to local authorities for that. Also, we need that national carbon tax, Josiah can tell you more about that…”
“Dear, slow down,” Elias said, “There’s no rush. The momentum is in our favor. Investors already don’t like fossil fuel stocks. That is, the few that are still listed. after our new Borsenplatz regulations.”
“We need to speed up,” Gertrude said, “We’re no longer in opposition. The party cartel is gone, and we’re in control now. We have everything we need, but we haven’t done much. We’ve gotten complacent, like the party cartel.”
“Quite to the contrary, dear,” Elias said, “We simply have…other more…immediate priorities to attend to first.”
“What?” Gertrude said. “But…what we’ve always wanted…”
“Don’t worry,” Elias said, “We haven’t forgotten our roots. I assure you, once we’ve handled the administrative issues, we’ll have all the time in the world to fulfill Ellie’s dream. Until then, I’ll put this bill in a safe place.”
He turned to leave.
“Elias?” Gertrude said.
“Yes, dear?” Elias said.
“Are you sure this is what Ellie would have wanted?” Gertrude said.
Elias turned back and smiled. “Of course.”