Post
Region: Liberal Democratic Union
And I remade this thing to not look like cringe, anyway.
In a confrontation following her proposal for a wage increase, Simon, the emissary of the true wielders of power, vehemently opposed her altruistic initiative, emphasizing their indifference to the plight of the populace and their singular pursuit of wealth. Subsequently, when Ardjenta raised concerns about escalating gang activity, Simon callously revealed their complicity in exploiting such criminal elements for financial gain, dismissing her apprehensions with disdain.
As time elapsed, Ardjenta found herself increasingly coerced into acquiescing to the demands of the oligarchs, even when it meant implementing policies detrimental to the welfare of her people. Threatened with dire consequences should she defy their will, she reluctantly yielded, her spirit gradually corroded by the weight of her impotence and the suffering she witnessed daily.
Amidst the relentless monotony of her existence, punctuated by the ceaseless cycle of signing papers and succumbing to despair, a glimmer of hope emerges in the form of a clandestine message from a mysterious benefactor named Putler. Despite his controversial reputation, Ardjenta contemplates the possibility of aligning with him in pursuit of liberation for herself and prosperity for her nation, recognizing the stark contrast between his autocratic rule and the destitution plaguing her people under the current regime.
Previous version of text:
Start of everything
Ardjenta, the president, got her position from her father. It's always been like this. The president was never elected. Honestly, she never met him. By now he is long dead.
In the beginning, things weren't so terrible. Ardjenta applied her economic abilities for the good of her people, and applied them well. Even if the real power wasn't in her hands, she could still do something. But as time went on, the oligarchs and gang leaders only got hungrier and hungrier: they needed more and more money, they didn't care about the economy (let alone the welfare of the people). Each time, she got less and less work. But now... when was the last time she was engaged in any task for the good of her country? She can't even remember anymore. It's been so many years.
Every decision Ardjenta wanted to take was sabotaged by the oligarchs in whose hands the real power lay. She should be the head of state... Only nominally. Just a lever used in this game.
Many years before from now, many years later from start
After Ardjenta tabled a pay rise for the people, a red-faced Simon (the man the oligarchs, the real people in power, send to Ardjenta to pass on their instructions) walks into her office, tears the paper to shreds and asks: "What the hell are you doing?! You've been given a simple task, you should just sit here with a pretty face and sign the papers I give you! What is this?".
A: "I... I just wanted to help people, they're suffering on the streets, they're barely surviving. Don't you see that?"
S: "Who cares! We don't care about these people, don't you understand? We only want money, we are only interested in our own comfort. You do that again and we'll replace you. As punishment, I'm increasing taxes by 5%."
Few weeks later
Ardjenta says she needs a meeting with Simon.
S: What do you want? I hope it's something particularly important, otherwise why did you call me?
A: It's about the gangs on the streets, I think they've become too brazen. They are racing through the streets, putting an extra tax on their streets, extorting money, beating up, even killing people. Shouldn't we do something about it?
S: And you seriously called me out for this? Haha, these people, these gangs are controlled by us! Us! We get extra money because of them! Didn't you know that?
Simon walks out of the office. "Don't call me for such trivialities again."
Many months later
Simon walks into Ardjenta's office. He has a stack of papers in his hand. "You have to sign these papers," he says. She takes the papers and reads what it says, much to Simon's indignation.
A: But I can't sign this! The people are barely surviving as it is, and you want to lower the minimum wage...
S: Tell me something I don't know. I don't give a damn. I'm warning you: we will have random people from streets in our custody, and if you don't listen to our instructions, we'll torture them to death. And then we'll replace you. Is that what you want? You think your replacement will be as good to the people as you are? I'm giving you 20 minutes to sign these papers.
He walks out of the office. Ardjenta looks at the papers. After a while, there's her signature on the papers.
Same week
Ardjenta stares blankly at the television screen as the newsreader tells how thousands of people have died after the earthquake. She changes the channel. The newsreader talks about the increasing deaths from diseases, people have no means of food, medicine. Thousands of people are living on the streets.
Has it always been like this? Definitely not. They used to live in affluence. But that was so long ago, as if in another life. It's different now.
She turnes off the TV. She stares at the dark screen for a long time.
More than couple of years later
Stand up. Sign the papers. Lie down.
Stand up. Sign the papers. Lie down.
Stand up. Sign the papers. Lie down.
Stand up. Sign the papers. Lie down.
Stand up. Sign the papers. Lie down.
Routine for Ardjenta. Hopelessness. Meaninglessness. Frankly, she doesn't look at what she's signing anymore. Laws about fines, taxes, transferring land, reducing pensions, benefits, salaries. She can't look at it anymore. She just signs everything. She doesn't watch the news anymore. Death, death, death, death, death. She doesn't want to hear it anymore. She's already dulled all her emotions because otherwise the grief would destroy her from the inside. She feels nothing when she gets up. When she signs the papers. When she lies down.
Few months later
Is this really life? Is she helping the people with her miserable existence?
There's no point in even trying to escape: there are two snipers watching outside her office door, four guards standing at the door.
She opens the dresser, pulls out a hidden pistol. She looks at it, then puts it to her temple. 3... 2... Stop. There's a knock on the door. She sighs and opens the door. One of the guards says, "Your food." Ardjenta takes the plate, closes the door and is about to continue, but looks at the napkin. There is a letter.
"Greetings, Ardjenta Hendrix. I have heard a lot about your situation. I can help you, and I can help your country. I know the position they have you in. Do you want freedom for yourself and prosperity for your people? We will discuss everything. I'll see you when you're brought out for your next diplomatic meeting.
I'm sure you've heard of me. My name is Putler."
Putler... She's definitely heard that name before. Obsessed with control, hates the West. But... did his people ever sleep on the street, live on the street? Dying in droves from cataclysms, from disease? Couldn't his people walk into a supermarket at any time and buy a trolley full of groceries? Eat in a restaurant? He gave no freedom, but under him people could live.
Ardjenta made a decision.
P: Without a doubt. We'll fabricate intelligence indicating an imminent attack from Romanum et Britannia Minor, providing us with the pretext to stage bombings at our border with Potenzia. Blaming Romanum et Britannia Minor for these actions will create chaos and divert all of our troops to the border, leaving the cities vulnerable for uprisings. Regarding the border guards, we'll ensure their safety by coercing their surrender before executing the staged events. If necessary, we'll address any resistance accordingly. Simultaneously, we'll instigate uprisings in our cities, capitalizing on the grievances of the unemployed while our troops are occupied at the border. This will enable us to seize control of key infrastructure and neutralize the oligarchs perpetuating our oppression. Your pivotal role will involve signaling the commencement of the revolution, culminating in a televised proclamation of my leadership as the vanguard of change.
A: The potential loss of life is deeply troubling.
P: Unfortunately, yes. However, it is a calculated cost, and among the casualties will be our adversaries.
Previous version:
A: False flag operation? Are you sure? Have you thought this through?
P: Of course. You'll feed them false intelligence that Romanum et Britannia Minor is going to attack our country in the next few days to take over because they think it's an easy target. Then we'll blow up a couple of our border towers and buildings on the border with Potenzia. And who do we blame for all this? We blame Romanum et Britannia Minor, Augustus IV will be shocked. Why would they blow up buildings on our border with Potenzia and not themselves? You'll say it's a maneuver to divert our attention from the border with Romanum et Britannia Minor to the border with Potenzia. And, of course, you'll feed them the intelligence that Romanum et Britannia Minor's intelligence services have been tasked to blow up those border facilities on our border with Potenzia.
A: What happens to the border guards in these fortifications? I don't want them to die in an explosion.
P: We'll force them to surrender under cover of night and keep them in a secret building. We'll blow up the buildings afterward. We'll let them go after the fall of power. But if they don't surrender, we'll deal with them as necessary. Anyway, you'll tell the oligarchs to put all of the country's troops on the border with Romanum et Britannia Minor because the situation is critical, they have stronger troops and more of them than we do, but there's a chance to scare them if you put them out in advance. That way we will draw attention away from all the cities and the capital. Your agents will go through the streets at that moment and call for an uprising of the unemployed, who are countless thanks to the policies of the oligarchs. They will distribute to the unemployed the equipment of the security forces, which we will conveniently take away from the security forces for "inspection and improvement", of course, we will tell all the chiefs of the security forces, so as not to arouse suspicion, that we have taken only from their security forces, and we will take from others when we return them. So, the protesters in each city will take over government buildings, media buildings, TV towers, buildings that control the internet. They'll call everyone to revolt. You will call those who control the troops on the border and give orders not to move anywhere, and you will also order the police of the cities not to resist, because it is already pointless and will lead to casualties. During this chaos, my agents will eliminate the oligarchs who have real power in the country. Also, the protesters will move towards the government building where they are holding you hostage. When you get the signal, you will have to call one of the guards into the room, then get rid of him with a shot from your hidden gun, which will distract the other guards and allow my agents to shoot them. Soon, all the cities will fall, and you will have to go on TV and to the protesters and tell all the remaining law enforcement to surrender, because you are the legal authority. When it's all over, you'll declare that I started the revolution and that I have more power than you.
A: Many will die that day.
P: It's true. But it's a necessary price, and what's more, your enemies will also be on that list.
