A Lion in the Night

[Syrixia]

Rajat Mirpuri had a worried look on his face. Amongst the personnel within the upper echelons of the State Department, he had always been on the more reserved end of the spectrum within said group. "I am telling you, Diwan Sahab Ji, it will be a very risky endeavor." he said. "What will this gain us? The RSP or the press could very easily find out and if this breaks, there will be pandemonium both at home and abroad!"

"You don't think we all know that, Mr. Mirpuri?" Diwan Sahab said with a chuckle. "You underestimate the ability of the Darshak to get things done. Unlike most other agencies of their kind in foreign states, they are not bound by statute after statute and can operate more freely..." he paused. "...and with less compunctions about what they do. Besides, the Emperor wanted this done, and I have no objections- hell, even if I did, Pawar would be on all our asses again for 'seditious activity'."

Mirpuri nodded in acknowledgement, after which Rahul Khanna spoke next. "So, Diwan Sahab Ji...on that note, I have the finished first contact plan for us to take a look at. We'll give the Darshak an encrypted message making the offer. If who we're looking for accepts, they'll have someone on her team give the agent that passes it to her, who'll be staying for 2 days in a hotel nearby, a paper that says some code phrase indicating her acceptance."

Diwan Sahab nodded. "Have you finalized the transaction plan I mentioned on Tuesday, so we're ready to go incase she accepts?"

"We have." Rahul replied. "The Government will secretly appropriate and smuggles funds to collaborators at the Grand Lowicz casino in Kalety, who will in turn invest it in a Peuportilean bank. From there, companies sympathetic to both us and the target will take out the money, splitting it amongst themselves equitably before donating it to her. We'll start with a small amount of funds and once we know things are secure and the system gets settled, we'll increase the payloads incrementally."

"Good. If she denies the offer, get rid of the evidence and be prepared to wire hush money to the collaborators so they won't be angry that the deal's off. Worst case scenario: deny, hush, and change the subject. And don't tell anyone in the RSP about any of this at any time." Diwan Sahab concluded, then leaning out the door. He had asked Sasil kul Kyloth, the Emperor's Imperial Dragon and one of his chief advisors, to come by a few minutes prior to pick up the finalized plan. Sure enough, he was outside.

"This had better work, Mr. State Curator." the dragon huffed, taking careful hold of the envelope. "His Majesty expects nothing less. He could forgive the Phoenix Union because the CEA sprouted up to take its place, but if this backfires, you will not receive his trust a third time."

Diwan Sahab nodded in acknowledgement as the magnificent tiger dragon flew away from the State Curator's home at 19 Avanti Boulevard, where the talks had been taking place, towards the Golden Palace. Later that day, the Emperor would approve the plan and the game was afoot.

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Approach, by David Productions (JoJo Part 3 OST)

 

[Kanada]

The session was ended with the strike of a gavel, and the whole room stood up in a single, uniform motion. Some moved aside to walk out, others turned to those who had sat with them, opening discussions about the day’s topics. Topic. For six hours they argued about Prime Minister Johannsen, and his taxes, and his possible resignation. Madam Anne Ulburg was one of the ones who walked.


The lady exited into the main hall, with marble floors and velvet chairs, where men with loosened ties lounged and talked. It looked precisely like the same parliament thirty-five years before, though with less cigarette smoke. The MP approached an older man, standing by the door to the exit. He held a clipboard and didn’t speak until she did.


“What’s next?” she asked. The man blinked and looked down at the clipboard, “Uh… Nothing actually. I believe you’re free to go, ma’am. I’ll call you if something shows up.” Anne nodded, “Thank you, Simo.” The woman left the building and began down the stone steps.


-


Ulburg sat at her desk, slowly reading through a paper in her hands. Someone knocked on the door, and she glanced up, “Come in,” and so a man in uniform did.


“Paper, ma’am?” He asked. The MP nodded, thanking him and looking back down.


The man added, “Uh- There’s also this with it?” Anne looked up and was handed an envelope, and once again she thanked him and looked back down.


Once he had left, she looked closely at the letter, before opening it with her thumb, taking out the paper and reading it. It started with normal salutations, but was… different. The message broke into sudden instructions, with no connection to the beginning. She looked down at the bottom. It showed no sender. Neither did the envelope, once she checked it.


Her eyes drifted to the box of paper, and she stood, opening it and taking out the stack, laying it on her desk. At the bottom of the box, she took out a small container that almost looked like a small liquor flask.


The MP looked back at the letter, reading over the instructions more carefully. Following, she flipped through the stack of papers at the corner, until she found one that had been folded, and she carefully pulled it out, before clearing an area of her desk, and pouring whatever the container held onto the paper.


The moment she started pouring, she realized she felt silly. What was this? She had no need for dealing with secret messages. Perhaps it was boredom or childish curiosity. This could just as easily be some elaborately thought-out teenage prank as something that mattered.


Yet she continued and felt some satisfaction when whatever liquid it was hit the page, and dark writing appeared. Ulburg picked up her phone and dialled, “Simo . . . ? Gather everyone at my office, please.”


-


Six people sat around the woman’s desk, quietly murmuring until Simo asked, “So, what’s this for?”


“This,” Anne responded, handing him the message written in formerly invisible ink, and the page with the instructions on it.


“Yes, this…” Simo said, looking at the folded page and continuing, “...doesn’t say anything.”


“Hand it here,” said a young man wearing glasses with big lenses. Leevi took the paper from Simo and looked at it, then the instructions, “Oh, it’s encrypted. Hand me a pen…”


As he began to write, Ulburg and another woman spoke about the possibility of the Kanadian parliament being permanently dismissed, as rumours told. Simo looked bored, slumped in his chair.


Leevi stopped writing after a moment, in the middle of a sentence, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. He felt his throat dry, but he continued writing.


“It’s done-” his voice cracked, and he repeated it, deeper than normal to make up for it.


Ulburg took the paper and began slowly reading it out loud.

TOP SECRET - DESTROY UPON READING


Greetings, Mrs. Ulburg,


For security purposes, we will not directly identify ourselves, but you will know who we are by the time you have finished reading this message. We have taken note of the movement for greater democratic freedoms in Kanada, a nation consumed by its southern neighbors at the behest of a compliant government against the will of the people.


We commend you for representing that will. Malorian expansion represents a threat to the stability of Craviter and the self-determination of its peoples, such as those of Kanada. For that reason, we wish to do all we can to assist you and any members of the Kanadian parliament who support your cause.


We are prepared to appropriate and transfer any necessary funds, through proxies, to banks in Peuportile and from there to sympathetic companies who will donate said funds to you. We intend to start with a small amount of funds, and once we know things are secure and the system gets settled, these payloads will increase incrementally.


If you wish to accept the above proposed financial aid, please have a trusted individual on your team give the agent that passes this message to you, who will be staying for two days in Room 242 at the Solvang Central Hotel, a paper that says the following phrase indicating your acceptance: "THE LION FLIES AT MIDNIGHT".


We wish you the best of luck and look forward to your response.

The room remained completely silent as she set the page down.


“Well, we can’t do that…” Simo said, breaking the silence, but he sounded unsure, waiting for Ulburg to say something.


“Simo.”


“Yes?”


“We are a revolution, aren’t we?”


“Yes.”


“Against a tyrannical government that does not care for the opinion of the Kanadian people?”


“Yes.”


“Then I have no problem committing treason against a government I do not believe is legitimate, and I definitely have no problem taking help from the Lion.

 

[Syrixia]

October 11, 2019
9:00 PM

It was a cold October night at the Solvang Central Hotel in Kalgary. Arvind Thackeray had been playing billiards with an old Malorian man in one of the common rooms after a long day's work, having gone to three meetings that day. Arvind worked at an insurance company in Bergum, and had flown up north for his meetings. All in all, he seemed tired beyond belief, though he somehow managed to win his game of billiards.

Of course, he won because he wasn't tired at all. Nor was he working for an insurance company, or even Arvind Thackeray. But what he was, without a doubt, was diligent in ensuring his room wasn't bugged. After this, he turned on his TV to sound less suspicious as he dialed a seemingly unregistered number, one that would not show up in his call history or even in his phone's hidden data. As Arvind waited, he picked up the small piece of lined paper folded carefully on his floor and read it to himself. After a minute, the phone call went through- a further security measure.

"Hello, Mazowiecki Capital and Wealth Management. How can we help you today?"

"Yes, hi; I am a new investor. Where can I find advice on evaluating bull markets?"

"To clarify, sir, do you want our pamphlet on bull markets or bear markets?"

"Bull markets, please."

"Of course, sir. You can find them on our website. Would you like to know where to find it?"

"No, thank you."

"Alright, sir; have a good day."

Arvind hung up and sighed before going to sleep. He would be home tomorrow.

---

October 12, 2019
1:00 PM

Rajesh sat in his office, reading the Kanadian local news. In two days the Central Court of Kanada would be voting on whether to demand the tax information of embattled Prime Minister Kristian Johansson, following demands from Anne Ulburg and her supporters. Sasil kul Kyloth sat quietly in the corner. The two had been talking about the goings-on, whilst waiting. Suddenly, Avi, his RHB, made a noise he had been expecting for the past hour, signifying that the wait was over.

"Your Majesty."

"Avi, acknowledge."

"The State Curator wishes to see you."

"Avi, open the door."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

A minute later, the door opened. Sasil turned his head, nodding welcomingly in the direction of Diwan Sahab, who proceeded to bow customarily before the Emperor bade him to sit.

"What is our response, Mr. State Curator?"

"It's yes, Your Majesty. She's in."

"Good. Are our proxies and the banks ready?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And our proxies over there as well? Are they?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The system has been set up. We await your order."

Rajesh paused. This was a decision he was ready to make. He knew what he wanted to say. Despite this, he wondered what would become of it. If his plans were to come to fruition- if Anne Ulburg were to become Prime Minister of Kanada- would it do what he wanted? Would Kanada wrest more autonomy from the Malor-Kanadian federal government? Would Malor-Kanada dissolve? Would there be political turmoil in Kanada, or even civil war? He had weighed a million scenarios in his head, but at the end of the day, what confirmed his will to make this decision once and for all was that he was ready for all of them. Could Marten Severyn say the same?

"Release the lion, Mr. State Curator." the Emperor said with a smirk.

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Legends Never Die, by Against the Current (2017)