The Monqiz Port Scandal stretched to Rizian national politics. De Rava's time in politics ended.
King Romus called for snap elections in 1968.
A Sotelato-headed RPP attempts to win the election
The only person between Comrade Sotelato and the Premiership is Lucita Azaro, the RNC candidate.
She even changed her haircut for give a gentlier look. She will need more than that to win though...
Saltana's haircut always gave me that fluffy vibe.
Another bridge-ish eyeglasses
Anyway, biscuit time (without tea?)
In 1955, one year after the Democratic forces Summer offensive, the Royalists take the initiative in their first offensive of the Civil War by taking back the Holy Penguvi Isles and the important port city of Penguvi in Operation Condor.
The Rizian soldiers had a crucial role for the operation's success and, in the first engagement since 1926, they paid the price of war, which was honored by the King
>In his conduct of the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Sordland, Orso Hawker, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Sordland and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Sordland, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of the Sordish citizens, contravened the laws governing agencies of the executive and the purposes of these agencies, has failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Grand National Assembly State Finances and Fund Accountability Committee and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas, conspired against the Republic of Sordland and the Sordish people.
GNA Impeachment Resolution Against Chief Justice Orso Hawker, 1959
It looked like that the ACP wasn't alone investigating the Old Guard. The following week after President Rayne created the ACP, the Lachaven Times resistered a record of newspapers sold as two of its editors published the following article on the frontpage.
I stared at the Times before the voice of the food vendor got me back to reality.
"Hey, you want this hot dog or not?!"
The man was left hanging with his arm extended with the hot dog
I blinked before I picked the newspaper. In the end, I bought both the hotdog and the Times.
The moment immediatly after I gave the paper to Mrs. Morgna, a furious "WHAT?!" echoed trough the entire Ministry.
"The Anti-Corruption Police", continued the article, "Found that Adenoid Olken, Head of the "Internal Disciplinary Committee" of the Young Sords, paid a SR 25.000 check to the recently acquitted Lucian Lapi, accused of being an accomplice in the murder of Bernard Circas. Government's sources revealed that Olken was a former SID agent before joining the nationalist organization."
Mrs. Morgna was tapping her fingers on her desk as Willem entered the office.
"We have someone leaking to press...", she glanced at me, "And I think it's your informant... Mr. Greiser..."
"Y-you think it's her, madam minister?", I was too not sure if I could trust "Robin" if she was revealing the investigation's informations to the press.
"I talked with the others, they swore that they didn't talk to the press", said Willem
Mrs. Morgna rolled her eyes
"Of course they would say this..."
She exhaled
"Anyway, now we have far more important matter. Everything ready for the interrogation?"
Willem nodded
"Yes, Mr. Olken should be arrive now..."
Leaving the press leak aside, there was something that wasn't working in this payment by Olken to Lapi. Checking to the bank where Olken deposited his money, the Estord Bank, it was verified that those 25.000 Sordish Rens were added the same day of Lapi's acquittal. Asking to the bank staff, they told that Olken walked in the bank with a suitacase and, revealing 25.000 Sordish Rens, he asked to the director to convert the cash in a check for Lapi. Now, the problem is:Where did found all those money? Not from his deposit in Estord, that's certain. But then, who gave him those money? In fact, there was no source of those 25.000 Sordish Rens.
He was a tall man, even taller then Willem, Mr. Olken walked in the ACP HQ with his lawyer, Mr. Danziger, significantly shorter than his client. I noticed he arrived late and was brought by a cab.
Two of my men would conduct the interrogation, of course it was recorded.
Where di you found 25.000 Sordish Rens?
>D: "My client doesn't have to answer those questio-"
Olken gestured to the lawyer to let him speak
>O: "I took the money from a fund."
And that's how we discovered the "Lespian fund" and the "Lespian Money Laundering".
Several weeks before the GNA vote for the Campaign Finance Bill, later vetoed by the President, Olken made a tour across the entire country to gain the last finances for the NFP. It was a "favor", Olken told us, to Mr. Kiberner who was his old friend.
Olken toured across the country. If some hesitant USP and PFJP voters were reluctant, he assured them that the source of those finances would be kept anonymous, trough sending the financement to a lespian "friend" he knew in Perla, who couldn't be prosecuted by any Sordish judge. Thanks to this system, Olken (in practice a secret treasurer for the NFP although "only" a member of the Young Sords) could finance the NFP trough anonymous sources (the Campaign Finance Bill would've made this system risky, as the public fund wouldve been so big that any more money would've raised eyebrows, along the fact that those anonymous sources would've been made illegal by the bill). They were CEOs and Union Leaders who were having problems with the government's agencies, lobbying groups, the Koranelli and Skinner cartels.
To protect those eager financiers - be it checks or bonds - the money would've ransferred to Lespia, converted in cash in the "Banchea Lespia" trough the deposit of this Lespian friend who apparently doesn't have any business with the NFP, and then sent back to Sordland. All the paperwork necessary for this money laundering was under several individuals "protection".
Olken didn't hesitate to remind to the reluctant financiers about the possibility of a "visit" from the police, and their hesitation always disappeared instantly.
Now the two officer interrupted him
Who are those people who "protect" this fund?
>"I*-*I can not tell..."
There was no way for us make him talk about the name. But at least we got the idea of the amount of money in this "Lespian fund"
>One million
I remember I turned to Willem when we heard the number, his eyes were wide open in astonishment
Those people protecting the fund, do they use the money too?
>"Yes... Although I don't know what they do with that money..."
We couldn't get more information from Olken. He looked like scared of talking.
"One million of Sordish Ren...", murmured Willem, "All that money for what...?"
"I don't know... In the meantime, we should prepare for tomorrow's meeting with those two editors of the Lachaven Times... Mrs. Morgna will not be diplomatic, that's sure...", I said before we returned to work.
Thanks to the phone bugging we did in Olken's house while he was interrogated, we heard an interesting conversation with his former employer, a realtor. The realtor asked him about the fine to pay for the car crash he had while coming for the interrogation.
>R: "But what you think about the car crash? I mean, you crashed with a supercar..."
>O: "I am not worried... They will worry about the money..."
>R: "They? Who are you talking about...?"
>O: "I can't tell you."
Looking further into War of Suzerains site
The power behind frontlines thing is what got my attention
Codex says that until 1928, Beatrice aligned herself to the Crown Preservation Party, something I imagine like a RNC like party, before aligning with the Great Rummish Unification Party, I assume more a NFP-ish party.
Now, being in a regency, it's not unheard of regents trying to use the actual monarch as a puppet. and I think regent Eadric it's trying to do that.
The game suggest that side missions will earn influence and the protagonist political standing, likely choose between two orders, cnflicting ones, from the regent and the other from the Princess.
Being Beatrice a regent, the choice of war it's the regent's responsability. The Halsecroft-Denwald family will likely have a role in the influencing politics. codex says that Beatrice (yes, her) pressed for peace talks and the regent's government fallen.
So the regent will be likely a power hungry noble witha GRU vision who will try to influence Beatrice, while the young Beatrice (somewhat moderate CPP aligned) will defend herself from his attempts to puppet her.
Our fate will depend on our relations with Beatrice after the war, conditioned by our choices durinng the campaign.
I know the man has the warmest smile for his family only
I will NOT comment about the eyeglasses
Also: Big and round-ish ear alert!
All the Colonel's Men, by Karl Greiser
Prologue: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/KEKYsVKWfs
Chapter 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/CugApbS1pU
Chapter 1.5: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/EJPitWzgdX
>I might sound naive, but it's my personal conviction that power must not mix with what I call "money anxiety"
Nia Morgna, Ministry of Justice (1954-1962)
I still remember the first time I met the Ministry of Justice Nia Morgna. I was offered a lift by Willem as he was going to pick her mother-in-law at the Holsord Airport. We were talking about Robin, the informant, and the things I discovered digging as a "private citizen", and asking to the colleagues that investigated the Circas Case.
"What you mean ADENOID OLKEN?!", he said shocked as I told him the name
"I am not joking", I shook my head, "I am telling you that the SR 25.000 check that Lucian Lapi received after his acquittal came from Adenoid Olken..."
Adenoid Olken was the Head of the "Internal Disciplinary Committee" of the nationalist organization The Young Sords. In the immediate aftermath of Circas death, Olken issued a statement saying: "Our organization is a cultural organization only, which only responds to lefitst attacks. In no way we support such disgraceful acts. When there is death, there is nothing to be happy about... Even when it's a malenyevist's death. If someone in the organization helped this lone wolf, I assure you, we will denounce him, or her, to the proper authorities.". Of course, the internal investigation done by Olken in the Young Sords staff didn't find anything. But the contradiction remained. The allegedly accomplice of the gunman received money from the same man that assured transparency in the internal investigation.
"Looks like hush money to me, sir...", said Willem
"To you, to me, and to the officer who were assigned to the investigation... I talked with some of my academy's colleagues who were assigned to Mrs. Graf's Task Force, they complained that they literally did nothing... All the investigation was made by the SID, which then passed the results to them. The last word was Graf's, who told them what trail was worth to follow", I turned to him meaningfully, "And guess what was the trail she chose...?"
Schmidt chuckled dryly
"Something tells me you are going to say "lone wolf"..."
I nodded
"They told me that she never bothered to look into the other reports, the moment she had reports about a possible lone wolf, she'd told them to ignore the other options... The meeting the gunman had with other Young Sord members the previous day, before Circas death, was never explored further... But I managed to get the information that the accomplice Lucian Lapi indeed was along other members of the Young Sords that night..."
Willem nodded, then blinked
"How you got that information, if I can ask you, sir?"
I cleared my throat
"Well, remember last week control on that bar? After the reports of them serving minors, I talked with the bartender while you and the other were inspecting the place. I showed him the photo of the gunman and Lapi. He confirmed that they were the Young Sords members who met there..."
We arrived at the Ministry of Justice. Before I got off the car, I looked at Willem
"Hey, about what I told you..."
"It's okay, sir... What you told me in the car stays in the car..."
He gave me a little smile before he left, driving for the airport to pick his mother-in-law he coudn't stand for.
The Minister of Justice's office was located at the third floor of the building, which was relatively small compared to others state building like the Maroon Palace, the Ministry of Interior, or the Ministry of Defense. I entered Miss. Morgna's office, she was in the middle of the call with the Ministry of Education.
"Well, Ciara, you know that the Benfi Festival is Leste's place... It's no wonder the President said no to the First Lady..."
She gave me an apologizing look and gestured me to take the seat across her. I seated and, damn, it was the most uncomfortable seat I ever seated in.
Meanwhile the conversation between Miss. Morgna and the Ministry of Education continued.
"Look at the bright side, Ciara, the President defended her from Curtan's attacks... It means that what Mrs. Rayne told you at the Sordish League of Women about her husband's support is true."
She eyed me as I took an interest to the view trough the window.
"Listen, I have someone here in my office I need to talk to... What about we talk about it later...?"
She leaned back, something that Miss. Walda said made her blush.
"Yes... See you later..."
After she hang up the phone, she cleared her throat
"Sorry to make you wait, Mr. Greiser... Some exchange of opinons with my Education colleague..."
I nodded understandingly
"It's okay, madam Minister..."
She straightened herself on the chair
"I talked with the President. And he authorized me to found a new police department. To be more precise, a finance policing department."
I nodded, a silent invitation to her to continue
"I checked several officer's backgrounds... And well...", she paused, "I think you are the best officer that could lead the new department."
I smiled politely
"Miss Morgna, I am honored to be kept in such consideration. If you think I am the man for the job, as a servant of Sordland, I accep."
Her eyes brightened.
"Happy to hear that, Mr. Greiser! Now, the staff from this new police will be from the general police service, the Ministry of Justice itself, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation. The Revenue and Taxes Department of the Ministry of Finance will transfer some of its officials too."
I hummed
"Looks like you had this idea since a long time, madam Minister..."
She smiled
"Since I was Vice Minister of Law, in 1949... Alphonso refused this idea, I might have a few ideas why..."
She shook her head
"But anyway... The Police will probe state officials, police officers..."
She looked at me to catch my reaction. I nodded
"Our current laws permit it, so it's not a problem..."
She chuckled dryly
"In other times I would want to modify the law, but in this case I might make to an exception..."
"Especially if there are bigger forces in motion..."
I let those words spill out from my mouth unconsciously. She blinked.
"What you mean by that?"
I damned my mouth, should I've tell her what I discovered on the Circas case? Was she a member of the so-called Old Guard?
In the end I told her about the SR 25.000 check with Olkner's name on it, and about the meeitng between the Lapi and the gunman, along the converations I had with the officers of Graf's Task Force.
"This is worrying... It means we can't trust almost no one..."
She took a deep breath
"Mr. Greiser, I advise you to take caution... Even in our future investigations..."
I nodded
"Yes, Miss. Morgna"
She exhaled
"If what you are saying it's true, I would suggest you to tell what you told me to the President in tomorrow's meeting with him."
I nodded.
We shook our hands before I left the Minister's office.
After the following day's meeting in which President Rayne authorized the "investigation for any state officials irregularities", ie the investigation on the so-called Old Guard, the switchboard noticed a lot of phone calls between Hawker's house, Duru Island, and Graf's house in Arvory.
Prologue: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/XnmbQGDnm8
Chapter 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/Qsx0v3sgsl
Chapter 1.5: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/XNRYoGC4FU
"Your Majesty:
I hereby resign the Office of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Rizia.
Sincerely,
Daria de Rava"
"If politics are fights between Markian gladiators, De Rava is the lioness. She rips her enemies apart, and her enemies are everyone, everywhere.
The Azaros, who keep bitching about the loss of the control on the military, the Sazons and their hypocrite reformist crusade, the Toras, yes, even the Nur damned Toras and their arrogant taken-for-granted attitude, the traitor's son. And the so called Intermerkopum allies, the Socialist Saltana, the Derdian golcondist cave man...
They always kicked her down, but she always clawed back, just for one more opportunity to shred them limb from limb.
The reconstruction after the War of Succession, the Porte Drazon New Town business district, the paranoid Valero, the Stagnation period, damned King Romus's reformism, the constitutional reforms. De Rava and her family have overcome them all.
Since Reconstruction, the De Ravas knew humiliation. The nobilty who looked down on them (but who helped reconstructing Rizia while they were drinking the damned Qalus wine? Assholes), the other business families who wouldn't hesitate to trick them... And then the RNC right and moderate wing, both dangerous to De Rava's centrist wing, and ready to jump on her.
Daria especially felt that humiliation, a puppet of the monarch who do whatever he wants. The newcomer treatment, the feudalism and the nobles private armies, their blinded conservatorism, hell, not even conservatism, better say regressivism. Are they loyal to themselves, or to Rizia?
Double-crossed by the King's sudden reform in late 50's. Now that she's Prime Minister, she faces old and new enemies.
The press, the left wing columnists of the Voice of Rizia, but even the damned Royal Herald (if the former Grand Vizier wrote the articles himself there would be no difference).
Once again the kid Manus Sazon, whose crusade brought the malenyevists in the House.
The Adarfo guy and his gang, a malenyevist in reformist's clothing.
The Golcondists punch men.
The Wruhecists bigots.
The Su Omina racist mob and their leader, the idiot King's cousin.
The RNC wings.
ATO and CSP.
Intermerkopum allies.
The nobles who keeps with their shady schemes, the bastards need to know when to stop, damnit.
And the King himself, with his immediatism opinion that no one care about, audiences with him are a pain in the ass.
De Rava hates all of them, each with different degrees, and they are her enemies, somehow.
That's the right word, enemies. And she will do all she can to teach them a lesson, channeling all that hate fueled by the common Rizian citizens. The Silent Majority against the "Enemy"."
Inspired by a non-heated exchange of words with u/RobinBobbin555 on a Nixon-ish Daria De Rava
Big Bea's worst day is Anton's happiest day
Music plays
Off screen voice:
"Monqiz. RNC called it a third rate burglary. But it escalated in the worst political scandal in Rizian history. Duchess Lucita Azaro and Daria De Rava finds themself haunted by a question that will not go away. What did the former War Councilor and current Prime Minister did know, and when did they know? For the first time in Rizian history, the Prime Minister resign before her term is over, and a noble house member faces trial.
This is the story of the fall of Daria De Rava and Lucita Azaro. Of the charges of corruption and cover-up, of high crimes and misdemeanor in Palas Rezna, of the battle for the secret tapes, of the disgrace of the King Romus most trusted persons, and of the ultimate triumph of Rizian democracy.
Trough it all, RBS news was there. Watch now the original RBS Great Stories Broadcast of the great TV story: DISGRACE IN PALAS REZNA;THE MONQIZ PORT SCANDAL AND THE FALL OF DARIA DE RAVA AND LUCITA AZARO"
June 17, 1963
News anchor (NA):
"The Rizian Police in Monqiz is trying to solve a spy mistery. Before dawn Saturday five intruders were captured by police inside the Monqiz Port Communication's Tower. The five men carried cameras and apparently planted electronic bugs. One of them had brand new 100 guilders bill in his pocket.
The police said they were thorougly professionals, the suspects are saying nothing. The Port's authorities say they have no ideas who would want to spy on them"
June 22 1963
NA:
"Prime Minister Daria De Rava says emphatically that His Majesty's government is no way involved in the burglary and bugging of the Monqiz Port Facilities and she has no further comments on that matter."
August 29 1963
NA:
"Miss De Rava made these points. She admits that overzealous workers in her own re-election committee may have been involved in the Monqiz Port Bugging. And fot the first time the Prime Minister admitted that Palas Rezna has investigated on its own and it says it found no one employed by this government to have been involved in any way"
August 30 1963
NA:
"The Monqiz Post reported that the Rizian Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established that high RNC officials had ordered a major political campaign of spying against the RPP to reassure Prime Minister De Rava reelection this year. As part of this campaign, says the Post, several RPP and State buildings were bugged with electronic surveillance equipmen last June. That was the so-called Monqiz Port affair. According to the Post, that was only a part of a much more ambitious effort by the RNC hierarchy.
The Post says the espionage operation on the Prime Minister's behalf was called the Offensive Stability Program. It began in late 20's during King Valero's reign and was aimed first at the major reformists leaders. Its goal: infilitration and subversion. The Post reports that a former RIS agent, Orlando Sagriz, attempted to recruit three persons as agent provocateurs"
Music plays
Off screen voice:
"Despite the Monqiz Port controversy, Daria De Rava is re-elected as Prime Minister and the RNC keeps a majority in the HOD. But the questions about Monqiz will not go away.
A total of six men have been charged for the break in and face trial in Monqiz. The five men all arrested in the Monqiz Port's Tower, and one low RNC aide, Ewaldo Fidis, charged with planning and execution of the break-in. Some plead guilty, some are convicted. All refused to implicate higher-ups."
>Every organization has a weak point, their money.
Robin the informant
President Rayne was standing on an improvised podium. He chose to visit the towns affected by the protests and the clashes between the Young Sords and the Red Youth after the death of Bernard Circas. The Ministry of Interior Mrs. Graf and myself advised him to not put his life in danger, but President Rayne always been a capable and fearless leader.
"I call for all of you, my fellow Sords. To every hard working citizen of this country. Dark times and evil forces are testing our country's resolve... But they underestimate us, they underestimate our unity as a country", the President was speaking to the silent crowd gathered around him and our security perimeter, "And it's only by staying united, united by the common goal of bringing our country to the greatness it deserves, ending the recession and reforming our constitution, that we will be victorious against all odds. A' Morgna wes core!"
The crowd responded, "Vectern sis da!" , I quietly said the motto along them, checking for any threat to the President.
I held the car door to President Rayne before I seated at the passenger seat. I was at the front beside Serge Wolkner, the presidential driver, while the President seated in the backseat along Mr. Galade.
"You seems to have convinced the people, sir...", said Mr. Galade pointing to the crowd as the car left the town.
"I hope so, Lucian... This term could've started in better conditions...", said Mr. Rayne after he let out a long exhale.
"Well, if this can make you happier, I read reports from the police that protests appears to be calmer", said Galade
I nodded, "Yes, sir. While there are still cases of violent acts between the two groups, the general situation is a lot calmer... Compared to the immediate aftermath, of course..."
Mr. Wolkner nodded smiling watching the road, "I talked with my parents in Nehir and they said that at Deyr everything returned normal..."
The President hummed, "One can only hope..."
Mr. Galade cleared his throat, "While we are here, Mr. President... Everything's set for your meeting with Mr. Beniwoll and Ms. Walda in Narbel and..."
I pushed the button and the glass between the front seat and the back seat raised. Some things were to be kept only between the administration figures.
I thanked Mr. Wolkner for giving me the lift to the Police HQ. The headquarter was bustling of activity as usual. I walked in my office, I settled in my seat to do some paperwork when Schmidt entered the door.
"Morning, sir. While you were away, the mail delivered this to you..", he raised his hand, which was holding a mail folder.
I blinked, I never received mail in my years of service.
"Oh really?", I picked the folder
As Willem left the office, I opened the folder. There was nothing, apart from a note written on a piece of paper.
"CIRCAS CASE COVERED UP. HSU FIRE AND CIRCAS DEATH A BIGGER PLOT.
CALL PHONE NUMBER IN PHONE BOOTH. POLICE STATION PHONES ARE NOT SECURE.
617 190 7274
DESTROY NOTE"
I blinked, staring at the note. I glanced around. Trough the glass, all the staff was working as usual. Should I have asked the secretary about this? I stayed seated for a minute before I stood up and walked fast out the building. I remember saying to Willem that nothing was wrong as he asked me why I was walking out my office.
I entered the phone booth. Unconsciously I glance aroud. I typed the phone number in what it looked like an eternity.
I picked the phone, after some seconds, a voice of a woman answered the call.
"Well, well, well, i was starting to give up... Surely the president take his time...", joked the woman
I cleared my throat
"You are the one who sent the note? Who are yo-"
I could hear her snort from the other end of the line
"Hey, hey... Slow down, Mr. Greiser... You aren't the Ventrie City's Sheriff, you know...", I heard a amused "Eh" from her, "Now, given the fact you called the number, I suppose you are eager to know what's happening with this Circas thing..."
"Y-yes... Kinda..."
"Mmm, not so convinced, are you? Not yet, at least..."
She cleared her throat.
"We can't talk here at the phone, pull out your pencil and I will give you the coordiantes for a more... quiet place to talk without being in hurry..."
I picked my pen and noted the place for the next meeting.
Capitol Park, 11 PM, Same day night
I was sitting in the bench. Checking my watch, I noticed the caller was a quarter of hour late. Silence reigned in the park apart from a nearby bar which music faintly reached my ears. I began to tap my feet against the ground. Looking to my right, stood the Presidential Palace, the domes of the Maroon Palace stunning as alays, to the left, the Grand National Assembly.
I was startled when someone tapped my shoulder, I unconsciously put my hand in my inner jacket reaching for the gun I brought with me.
The woman was wearing a beige coat, her chestnut hair waved by the wind's gust.
"Whoa, whoa, easy...", she murmured likely amused raising her hands, "I didn't brought any gun..."
She settled in the bench beside me.
I glanced at her with my eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
She blinked and hummed
"My name... I am Robin", she said leaning back on the bench, "No need to introduce yourself, I already know you"
She laughed at her own words
"That's not your real name...", I murmured dryly
"Duh!", she answered in such a childish manner I couldn't expect in any way.
She cleared her throat
"Anyway... The serious matter here is that Circas death wasn't a lone wolf job as the interior ministry officials concluded..."
"Why you say this?"
She ligthened up a cigarette
"Well, how is possible that the gunman killed Circas with a military model gun? Gun ownership is forbidden, and the military arsenal is off limits to the civilians..."
I blinked
"It's not what the reports said..."
"And you believed what's written in them?", she let out a dry laughter
"Someone falsified the reports saying it was a civilian use gun, substituted the bullet and gun, and "made sure" that there were some negligence, lets say, in the autopsy..."
My jaw clenched
"It can't be..."
She nodded
"On the contrary, it can be... Some individuals are interested in keeping Sordland in the middle of chaos. Tell me, how is it's possbile that the Bergian border with Rumburg, the most controlled border of Sordland, is where the BFF purchase their KA 74 from Rumburg?"
I swallowed
"You are saying that..."
"Yes, my man... Or the Grumren outpost commander is not good at his job, but that would mean that even his predecessors were trash, or that is intentional..."
She exhaled the smoke, "I would agree if it was for tracking the rifles... But it's been decades since they started the investigation..."
"You are telling me that someone is helping the BFF?"
She mocked a thoughtful expression, her cigarette sticiking out her lips
"More like "ignoring this thing to have a benefit in the future for my own agenda"..."
I leaned back on the bench
"Why me?", I murmured quietly, "Why me of all the people in Sordland?"
She looked at me with genuine compassion
"Because, while there are some motherfuckers trying to ruin this country for their own ideology, there are still common folks that work hard and serve the people."
I chuckle
"It reminds me of todays Rayne's speech..."
"Where you think I took inspiration from...?"
I turned to her realizing
"You were there, how...?"
She grinned
"Everyone has its job to do... "
A man whistling perked up our attention.
She narrowed her eyes in the whistle direction and stood up
"I gave you the informations, its up to you to know what to do it with them... Call me by the same number if you need help. In the phone booths."
I stood up
"That's all? Just words?"
She exhaled and thrown her cigarette away
"I won't say that the murderer was seen with members of the Young Sords in a pub close the GNA the day before the murder. And I won't say that one of the prosecuted and now acquitted suspected accomplice received a SR 25.000 check immediatly after his release..."
She looked at me meaningfully
"Follow the money. It's their ultimate weakness..."
She motioned to walk away before turning back to me smirking
"A' Morgna wes core..."
Once I returned home, I couldn't sleep.
Prologue: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/ESYVaCX78h
Chapter 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/3wP4DbNWly
Chapter 1.5: https://www.reddit.com/r/suzerain/s/4IBp7hmGDo
>Mr. Clavin, we didn't call ourselves "The Old Guard". That was a nickname the reformists gave to us. We simply referred to our group as the "Checking Commitee"... Or "The Fourth branch", if you like it more...
Minister of Interior Lileas Graf at the Grand National Assembly's "State* *Finances and Funds Accountability Committee" (SFFA), or "Clavin Committee", 1957
Before I continue writing, I think it's better to make a full list of the people involved in this complicated story.
Listed with their 1956 positions before the beginning of the investigations.
Important individuals
The Colonel
Tarquin Soll, Second President of the Republic of Sordland
The Colonel's Men
The Supreme Court
Orso Hawker, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Heron Garaci, Justice of the Supreme Court
Edward Olkin, Secretary of the Supreme Court's Press Office
Anna Hari, Chief Justice Hawker's secretary
Petr Danziger, Justice Garaci's aide
Johannes Sanei, Supreme Court's counsel
Ludwig Van Konn, Supreme Court's Counsel for Domestic Affairs
Deivid Grecer, Supreme Court's Counsel for Foreign Affairs
The Ministers
Lileas Graf, Minister of Interior of Rayne's Admistration
Iosef Lancea, Minister of Defense
The Armed Forces
Valken Kruger, Chief of General Staff
Ikar Holga, Commanding officer of the 1st Army
Willem Jeni, Chief of the Gendarmerie
Samuel Rikard, Commanding officer of the 2nd Army
Viktor Obin, Commanding officer of the 6th Army
Carl Van Pookin, Chief of Navy's General Staff
Paul Collins, Chief of Air Force's General Staff
The Sordish Intelligence Directorate (SID)
Henry Heltig, Deputy Director of the SID
Frederick Wolner, Director of the SID
Damian Ferren, SID's Special Operations Director
The Assembly
Kesaro Kiberner, MP, Leader of the National Front Party
Remus Holstron, MP and member of the NFP
Mikael Mossoliner, MP and member of the NFP
Julian Felt, MP and member of the USP
Curtain Leste, MP and member of the USP
The Press
Rikard Vicker, Owner of the Holsord Post
Harry Hoppir, Holsord Post's Finance Committee Director
Robert Fall, editor of the Lachaven Times
Petr Morgna, editor of the Lachaven Times
The Young Sords
Adenoid Olken, Head of the "Young Sords Disciplinary Committee" ("Olken's fixers")
Kurg Leinke, member of the Young Sords and "Olken's fixers"
Lucian Lapi, member of the Young Sords and "Olken fixers"
The Revenue, Tax Evasion, and Criminal Investigation Agency (RTCA), or Anti Corruption Police (ACP)
Nia Morgna, Ministry of Justice
Karl Greiser, Chief of the ACP
Willem Schmidt, Deputy Chief of the ACP
The MP
Albin Clavin, USP's MP and Chair of the GNA's State Finances and Funds Accountability Committee
The Informant
"Robin"
Chapter 10: The Prince of Rizia be like
Put the NSFW, better safe than sorry
>Damn it, if fucking (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Rayne can't be convinced to stop the reforms, force the son of a bitch (EXPLETIVE DELETED) to do so. You understood, Lileas? Send someone to kill motherfucking (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Circas. The Colonel gave his approval. It's time to deal with that communist, anyway. No one will miss him...
Chief Justice Orso Hawker voice's transcription in the "Circas" Tape
I still remember the last time I seen Bernard Circas body. It was after I secured President Rayne and his family for safety. His eyes were closed, a peaceful expression on his face, like he knew for his entire life that, against the odds, he was ready to die for the ideals he believed.
Not distant from him, the murderer. He was killed by my men immediatly after he exploded the first shots. While the cops covered the body of the Sordish poet with a white sheet, I inspected the murderer's body. He didn't look older than 20, his eyes now lacking that "light of life" were wide open staring at the dark sky. There was a note in the inner pocket of his jacket.
"What's the greatest honor for a Sord, if not to die as a martyr of the fatherland?
A' Morgna Wes Core, Vectern Sis Da!"
Meeting of the Regional Police Chief, Ministry of Interior
The following day, Mrs. Graf's office at the Ministry of Interior felt smaller. All the regions Chiefs of the Police were called in the meeting after the Murder of Bernard Circas and the following protests and clashes between the Young Sords and the Red Youth. I was chatting with the Police Chief of Nargis region. Some of my colleagues were old friends of mine, others were simple colleagues.
The chatting abruptly ended as Mrs. Graf entered the office. We stood to attention. She seated at her desk.
"At ease, gentlemen...", the usual no nonsense voice carried a lingering rage.
She took a moment to look at everyone.
"What happened yesterday wasn't an attack to a politician. It was an all out attack to Sordland, to this Republic, founded by Soll, to this country's democracy. I had a call with President Rayne, I assured him that I would give him a full report on our internal security. Now more important than ever, after last night's events..."
I was the first to give her my report
"Immediatly after the news of Mr. Circas murder, members of the Red Youth sorrounded the Young Sord's headquarter. Incidents with police forces escalated after a group of Young Sords members arrived. We managed to keep the two groups separated, this morning the situation is calm, yet tense."
All the reports of my colleagues contained similar contents.
After the last Chief gave his report, Mrs. Graf exhaled.
"A worrying situation... Political violence need to stop...", she glanced for a moment to a picture of Tarquin Soll on her desk. She tapped the desk before speaking out.
"The Circas Murder Case, in ordinary situations, would be assigned to the local region Chief of Police...", she said looking at me, "But given the political implications and the violence in the streets, I decided to form a Task force of ministry officials for the investigation."
All of us were confused, murmurs could be heard in the back seats while I and the other colleagues in the front seats looked at her questioningly.
Graf sighed, as she was annoyed to deal with all of this.
"I suppose you have your objections..."
I cleared my throat
"Well, madam Minister... I think I can talk in the name of all my colleagues that the idea of minsitry officials investigating, instead of the regular police, was never done..."
She scoffed
"There's always a first time, Mr. Greiser..."
I felt stabbed by her glare
"Yeah, but... This look like a cut and dry case, madam Minister... That's why I dont think there is the need fo-"
"Do I need to remind you, Mr. Greiser... That's the responability for the Maroon Palace security perimeter was yours? And that a shooter managed to get at the Palace's gates...?"
I swallowed and lean back to my chair.
"No, madam..."
She hum, "Good... You have to thank your records in past offices if I am not demanding your resignation.", she looked at the others, "Someone else want to give his opinion?"
No one spoke.
"Good, you are dismissed..."
We all walked fast, that wasnt a good meeting and we all felt a sense of relief once out of the Ministry.
In the following days, reading the newspapers and hearing rumors, I came to known that the SID suspended the HSU investigation, and that the Ministry task force solved the case. The murderer was a student of the HSU, allegedly "a lone wolf". One could have some ideas linking the two cases. In the police narrow quarters this was treated as a conspiracy theory by the majority and I was one of them.
I was wrong.
To all Lespians seeing this, Alvarez's not that tall.
To the Rizians and Morellans seeing this, yeah, I would shot down the balloon if Alvarez was inside too.
>If an infection gangrened a patient's hand, the only thing the doctor can do is to cut it. That's what we did with the so called "Old Guard".
Karl Greiser
I was woken up in the middle of the night, might been 2-3 AM, by the phone's ringing. I walked in the living room and picked it up.
"Who is it?", I mumbled still rubbing my eyes
"Sir...", I recognized Inspector Schmidt's voice, "There was a fire in the Holsord State University, it's pretty bad and..."
"I will come, let me change clothes and I'll be there", I hang up.
I walked quietly and took a coat along the first pants and shirt I seen. As I was going to leave the bedroom, I hear my wife calling my name.
"Karl...?", she propped up on her elbows, "Where are you-?"
"Work, darling... A fire at the HSU", I murmur quietly, "I dont know when I will be back..."
I walked to the edge of the bed and kissed her briefly, a tender peck
"See you later", I smiled tenderly before I left the apartment.
Approaching the "League of Trident" quarter, the orange and red glow of the fire was visible from the highway, I parked the car as the sound of the fire engine's sirens overwhelmed the rain's tapping sound. The view was astonishing, part of the eastern facade of the HSU building was ravaged by the flames, four fire engines were fighting them along their each crews.
I seen Inspector Schmidt approaching me, "Sir..."
I nodded, "Willem...", we watched the fire for several seconds before I spoke up, "What do we know so far?"
Willem scratched the back of his head, "Well sir, we received a call 10-15 minutes ago telling us that there was a fire in the League of Trident. The caller said the fire was already developed when she called..."
I glance up at him, "Already developed? How no one called before that hour?", I asked confused.
We stepped aside to let a fire team to pass.
"That's why I called you, sir...", Willem glanced around before leaning to me, "All the telephone booths and the phone lines in the quarter are not working"
I blinked, "Are you sure?"
Willem frowned, slightly offended (?) "One hundred percent"
He gestured me to follow him. We walked to a nearby phone booth.
"Try to call your family...", he said.
I entered the booth and typed the phone numbers. leaning my ear to the receiver, there was no sound. I exited the booth, worried.
"You are right... It's not working..."
"Not only that, all the phone booths in the League of Trident quarter...", he sighed, "Now, I understand a malfunction of the phone booths, but not in this scale. And the private phone lines too...?"
He looked at me with a meaningful look. I nod.
"You are right, a strange coincidence...", I looked at the building facade once again, "Hypothetically speaking, if this is a arson case, what would be the motive?"
*He lights up a cigarette, "*Well, we still don't know what's located in that wing of the building... But, being a university, there is no secret about the clashes between the Young Sords and the Red Youth in the campus and in classes..."
I hummed, narrowing my eyes as the wind carried the Willem's cigarette smoke to my face, "While it's a possibility, if what you are suggesting it's true, I struggle to believe that a bunch of teenagers are able to sabotage an entire quarter's phone line..."
Willem nodded, "Me neither, but we might need to wait to see what's been burned in that damned building to verify the possible motives..."
The fire was extinguished arounf 6 AM, the sun was rising when we entered the burned wing. Several classes were made unsuitable for teaching at least for an entire semester, from the fire's scale.
"A shame, this is where my son attended his law lessons..", he commented.
Descending to the underground floors, we looked at the completly destroyed library.
"Still struggling to see a motive in all this...", I said walking downstairs to the last underground floor.
We entered a room, the doorsign "ARCHIVE" barely visible after what's happened. It was the most damaged room, a immense room, seemingly endless.
"What's this place?"
"Oh, this... it's the university's archive... My son worked here during summer... If I remember correctly, here are located the data of all the students when they enroll here", Willem gestured to the room, "I mean, they were located... it's gonna be a nightmare to redo all the paperwork..."
"All the the students data...", I murmur repeating his words, "Interesting"
I heard commotion at the stairs
"Sir, you can't stay here!"
"Let me pass, you idiots! Who is the chief here?!"
At the top of the stairs two cops were holding a man from reaching us. He was wearing a dark blazer, along a coat, more elegant than the one I was wearing. He has a boyish face.
I spoke out at the bottom of the stairs, "I am. Let him pass"
The cops released his arms, he looked at them and let a indignatly "Ah"
We shook hands, he pulled back his hand immediatly after.
"Karl Greiser?", he asked
I nodded, "Guessed right. And you might be?"
The man pulled out a badge. I recognized the Sordish Intelligence Directorate insignia. I noticed Willem being more guarded.
"Henry Heltig, SID", said the man putting back the badge in his coat's pocket.
I raised an eyebrow, "The SID? What's the SID doing here? It's a police investigation..."
"Not anymore, I am afraid...", on the last part, his expression told otherwise. Heltig grinned, "The Directorate couldn't ignore this grave threat to national security, don't you agree?"
Willem scoffed "National security? What's the meaning of this? It's-"
"I am talking with the Chief of the Greater Holsord Police, not with you", his voice turned serious before he glanced back at me, "You are a smart man, Mr. Greiser... Both of us know that this isn't some student's shenanigans work... It's obviously that greater powers schemes are behind this... I am disappointed to see you surprised, to be honest."
I frown, "Sorry to disappoint you... But as you know the SID need the Ministry of Interior's authorization for the case to be passed by Police to Intelligence's jurisdiction. And I dont think Mrs. graf will give that so easily."
Heltig's shook his head, "Mr. Greiser, Mr. Greiser... You disappoint me again..."
He pulled out a piece of paper, "You know a different Mrs. Graf, perhaps... Here is the authorization signed by the Minister of Interior Lileas Graf herself"
I stared at the authorization shocked, I always believed that Mrs. graf was jealous of the Interior jurisdiction. At the time, I didn't know that I known a different Mrs. Graf.
"Your signature, please...", Heltig passed me a pen.
I took the pen reluctanly and rapidly signed the authorization. I gave the piece of paper back to Heltig. He exhaled satisfied.
"Thank you gentlemen, your usefulness is no longer required"
Me and Willem walked out the university building, a little crowd of curious student gathered at the area's limits.
"The SID, if they are investigating this case... The suspect we have about this being a much bigger work than the Young Sords and the Red Youth might be true...", said Willem.
I hummed, "If that's so, we the police can do nothing about it..."
Time would tell me I was wrong, there was indeed something we could do about it.
The man drinks acid for breakfast, and somehow survives
Cheers to Karl!
