Lyrali

RP: Spring has sprung in 2130

The spring season has been largely uneventful with regard to the investigations into Prime Minister Russell's controversies. He continues to be mired in three different controversies: the first involves suspicious business transactions made by the Prime Minister and his wife Margaret during Russell's time as Governor of the State of Mecklenburg; the second is a lawsuit brought forth by Taylor Smith against the Prime Minister, alleging that he had sexually assaulted her during his time as governor; the third is an investigation into allegations that the Prime Minister had an affair with Charlotte Hollis, who formerly worked as a secretary in the Federal House.

Recently, Prime Minister Russell has attempted to postpone the Smith lawsuit on the grounds that he is currently serving as Prime Minister of Frontier Isles. However, the Frontier Isles Supreme Court has rejected the Prime Minister's attempt in a 9–0 ruling, with Chief Justice Carol Chang stating that "the principle of separation of powers does not require federal courts to postpone private civil litigation against elected officials until the conclusion of their term in office."

As such, the investigations continue.

..........................................................................................

Despite these controversies, Prime Minister Russell's policies remain popular for the most part. The Crime Control Act of 2128 championed by Prime Minister Russell and Jack Blewitt MP has reduced crime throughout the nation. In the spring of 2130, Parliament passed a good amount of multi-partisan legislation, including

The Financial Reform Act, which reduces regulations in the banking industry and is aimed at further expanding the financial sector of Frontier Isles;

The Healthcare Standardisation Act, which under the recommendation of the Healthcare Reform Committee chaired by Margaret Russell, is aimed at implementing more federal standards on local healthcare systems so that a greater number of people will have equal access to the National Health Service;

The Improved Foster Living Act, which is aimed at providing foster children with more access to educational and vocational resources;

The Education Affordability Act, which increases the amount of need-based federal financial aid for university students in the country following the recent expiration of the Education Financial Aid and Grant Act of 2116;

The Veterans Welfare Act, which increases the amount of aid provided to veterans and their families to help them adjust to civilian life;

The Deficit Control Act, which is aimed at maintaining the level of administrative spending by the national government as enforced by the Balanced Federal Budget Act of 2117.

Many see Prime Minister Russell's policies as an extension of the policies of the popular former Prime Minister Arthur Basilston, despite the fact that Basilston and Russell are from opposing political parties. One historian has described Russell's "New Way Forward" political philosophy as "the Modern Democratic Party's reaction to—and adaptation of—popular Basilstonian politics."

..........................................................................................

In a passionate debate in the halls of Parliament, Jack Blewitt, a Member of Parliament from New Caesarea, has expressed his support for the continued Frontieran military presence in the Vimia:

"Viactaii can not stay united without Frontier Isles. There is no moral center in Viactaii. When have we ever seen the Actaviians, or the Vimians, or the Yi, or the Setnerians moved in a way to unify that continent in the name of freedom? When have they done it? The only reason why the Vimia has not yet been totally lost to the chaos of the Actav-Fuskoriai War is because Frontier Isles finally—finally—has understood its role."

However, many politicians, especially those from third parties, have stated that the Vimia is "too costly and quite frankly none of our business."

The United Oceanian Isles wrote:

-snip-
Oceanian Vimia reunition program
In another strange turn of events, a 5 year long program has been created and put into place to reunify the Vimia as stated in the treaty that split up the nation with Jenna stating:

It is indeed about time we let them go on our own path - we have other concerns to worry about but with the Frontierans agreement or not we will let them fly by themselves.

This comes after the recent announcement of the Setnerian Independence referendum announced to happen next month.

Vimian reunification already happened lol

Here was the RP post for that:

Frontier Isles wrote:

RP: Vimian Reunification
15 January 2127

-snip-

On the steps of the former House of the People of the Vimia, which will be renamed to the National Assembly of the Vimia, Theodore Shine, President of the Constitutional Legislature of the Vimia (and also a politician who once worked for former president Owen Stark of the Federation of the Vimia), has officially announced the ratification of the new Constitution:

"It is with great pride and honour that I officially announce the ratification of the Constitution of the Vimian State. From this day forth, there shall be peace and stability again! For the Vimia!"

-snip-

In the Oceanian and Frontieran Occupation Zones, both nations have officially converted their occupation zones to Security Districts, as prescribed by the Champlain Accord. These troops will maintain their respective Security Districts at least eighteen months (or at most three years).

The United Oceanian Isles wrote:

Whoops, pretend it’s a full withdrawal

Well, you're in luck because troops were given three years to withdraw, and it just so happens that the current RP year 2130 is 3 years after 2127 when this happened.
So you can still RP a withdrawal right now.

«Што адбываецца?»
Duchersk, the Commonwealth of Batakhovia
19th March, 2130

The President, Comrade Yaramir Zylinski sat in his leather chair, its familiar creak punctuating the heavy silence that enveloped his stately office within the Krepasc. A light rain drummed against the ornate windows of that gleaming bastion of government that watched over the bustling city, a soothing symphony that seemed at odds with the turbulence that had been brewing in his mind for some time now. His eyes were weary from the countless hours of poring over diplomatic briefs, his heavy-set physique slouched slightly as he held his phone between his ear and shoulder, fingers absent-mindedly stroking his moustache he had meticulously groomed that morning.

"Arkadzey," he intoned, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of concern. "This business with Comrade Kulanova needs to be addressed immediately. We've only just managed to calm things down with our 'friends' across the ocean. This debacle with Sarah Gold isn't just some minor affair; our relationship with them is already as taut as a bowstring, especially seeing how they've taken our current absence as some kind of personal slight against them."

The door to his office creaked open, the head of his secretary Kulina Praškovič poking itself in. "Director Tarasov is on the other line, Comrade President," She whispered over to him, her voice a crisp little breeze in the stillness of the room. Yaramir silently nodded and waved her away, his gaze lingering on the map of the six republics that made up the Batakhovian nation. On the other end, Prime Minister Yakovenko's voice crackled through the receiver, tinged with frustration.

"I entirely agree, Comrade President, but this isn't merely a communications issue. Khaarchaana... cannot recall the exchange, adamant that she doesn't remember posting those accusations to Sarah Gold. It's as if her memory has dissolved completely."

Yaramir furrowed his brow, his frown deepening. Amnesia? At the age of thirty-five? A tirade lasting two days for the whole world to see, yet Khaarchaana, the sharp-tongued Secretary of Foreign Relations who had dazzled many with her sharp thinking and rhetoric, could not remember the very words she had spoken. "What do you mean she can't recall? This isn't something one just forgets overnight... Where is she now?"

"She's checked herself into the Duchersk Region Clinical Hospital, awaiting a full examination." Arkadzey assured him, though the grave feeling in his voice could not be mistaken. "But there's more... The four men accused of killing those two Oceanian foreign nations in Severomorsk last night committed suicide in custody this morning. They exhibited similar memory loss, swearing that they had no memory of the incident despite being caught red-handed."

The President felt his pulse quicken, the room quiet save for the distant hum of the city outside the walls of the Krepasc. He felt a knot of unease beginning to tighten in his stomach, the telltale feeling of something brewing that was already beginning to spiral ever further beyond their control. "...Are we sure they weren't just faking the amnesia?"

"The prison psychiatrists seemed to believe they were being genuine, Comrade President," Arkadzey replied, his voice heavy, "The Military Intelligence Directorate is looking into possible foreign interference. But the coincidence is... troubling."

"You're telling me..." Yaramir muttered, his thoughts racing. What the hell was going on here? "Keep me informed," He then said firmly, running through potential scenarios and contingencies. "I want daily updates on Comrade Kulanova's condition. Make sure the Severomorsk homicides are never mentioned in the press again, understand?"

With that, he hung up the phone, his hand lingering on the receiver for a moment before he finally stood, his body feeling heavier than usual. He paced the room, the plush carpet muffling his footsteps; the implications of this were vast, and the timing couldn't have been worse. Newfortress had just suffered a devastating terrorist attack, and now, their top diplomat had gone rogue on social media, only to conveniently forget the whole thing? As though reading his thoughts, Kulina had sauntered back into the room, hugging her clipboard to her chest as she looked to him for guidance.

"Set up an emergency governor meeting between each of the republics," He instructed, his voice tight. "Get me the latest intel on any unusual activity in Oceania leading up to the Newfortress attack-- Oh, and make sure Director Tarasov knows that our official communications channels may be compromised; that Sarah Gold knew about our mutual military aid proposition to Comrade Burke, and I want the head of anybody who leaked that to her. Chop-Chop!"

Не за краіну, проста за тое, што правільна
Byarozahorsk, Kashalnka Oblast, the Commonwealth of Batakhovia

The apartment of Savel Volacič was a cramped fifth-floor unit located in a dilapidated building, a fortress of wires strewn down from faded yellow walls like the vines of some jungle of technology. Adorned over peeling paint were posters of iconic slogans, messages of freedom and reminders that the Revolution - the people's revolution - had been betrayed by Yaramir Zylinski and all the cronies that surrounded him. Savel sat hunched over his desk that was cluttered with empty coffee cups, remnants of sleepless nights fuelled by urgency, passion and a flicker of hope that the winds of change might soon blow through the Commonwealth.

The air was thick with tension; he could feel it in his bones as the glow of multiple computer screens illuminated his tense features, his eyes deciphering encrypted messages from a government server. Misappropriated funds, mass surveillance, foreign sleeper agents embedded deep within the Frontier Isles, a great dark underbelly of the Zylinski regime that went right under the noses of everybody who paid taxes for it all. He leaned in, heart racing, fingers poised over the keyboard. The suspects of the Severomorsk killings had just died in custody, and by the looks of things, the President had now issued a gag order to the press. What were they playing at? What the implications of this information were, as of yet, he didn't know. But somewhere out there, somebody's son was now dead and nobody else cared; they were at least owed some closure.

Just then, a sudden crack echoed through the apartment, shattering his concentration. An unfamiliar sound, unsettling, like the prelude to a thunderstorm; Savel's brow knit in concern as he swivelled around in his chair, half-expecting a stray cat to be clawing at the window. Instead, the door to his apartment burst open with a viciousness that shook the very foundations of his world.

"Рукі ў паветра, зараз!"

Harsh, guttural Batakhovian screamed at him from behind blinding flashlights affixed to sub-machine guns as the Special Purpose Mobile Unit stormed in, clad in black tactical gear, their faces obscured by visors. They moved in with trained precision, sweeping through the space like shadows, scouring the room for any hint of resistance. Savel's breath caught in his throat as he instinctively snapped his hands up high above his head, feeling that his hourglass had just run out of sand. He was not mistaken. The spectre of freedom he had been chasing for so long had just been snatched from his grip.

"Лезь на зямлю!"

The barking voice of the officer was a clipped command laced with authority. Savel froze, torn between instinct and the overwhelming desire to protect the data on his computer. He hesitated for but a moment, his mind racing with thoughts of escape, perhaps suicide, but realisation struck him like a bucket of ice water -- this was it. The fight he had waged for freedom was folding in on itself, consumed by the brutal reality of Zylinski's iron fist. He threw himself onto the floor, the cool tiles beneath him a biting reminder of his insignificance in the grand scheme of things. Despair washed over him as he felt rough hands seize him, yanking him back to his feet. He was spun around, and the sharp scene of sweat and adrenaline engulfed him as he faced the unit's leader, a woman with a steely demeanour and an all-too-familiar glint of menace in her eyes.

"Unlock your devices," She intoned, her voice as cold as the steel at their sides. A glimmer of recognition flickered within her gaze as she spoke, the undercurrents unmistakable. She knew who he was - the ghost who had been making waves in Batakhovia's waters, the man who'd leaked the missile deal and dared to challenge the status quo. Savel felt a surge of defiance swell within him, but the weight of the machine gun on his back just as easily crushed any spark of rebellion. He swallowed hard, the taste of bitterness coating his tongue.

"Y-You don't understand. They're hiding the truth from you, from all of us!"

"Truth?" The woman's expression barely flickered, "The truth is that you are a traitor, Mr. Volacič. The truth is that espionage under the guise of righteous indignation only gets you one thing, and that's a cell, where you can think about your small-minded delusions of grandeur."

'Mr. Volacič. Not Comrade Volacič.' He thought to himself with a sinking feeling of deep melancholy. The other officers tightened their grip on him, propelling him towards the exit, his dreams slick with hopelessness as he heard his rights behind read out to him.

"In accordance with Article 51 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth, I am obliged to read you your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights?..."