4-8 Incident (military coup in Kannex)

At the Malecian Embassy...

Marines made their way into the Embassy as D.S.S. staff hurried about. The ranking diplomat on site, Counselor Terrence Wolf, had ordered the administrative staff to begin emergency procedures, which included a "read and burn" of all sensitive documents. Staff members in the basement used the incinerator to destroy all documents classified as secret or higher.

In the communications office on the second floor, Counselor Wolf dictated a message to a marine, who was seated at the computer terminal, typing as Wolf spoke.

"Begin Message," dictated Wolf. "Hostile action underway in Hwaiteu-Gyomen. We have observed what appears to be at least one battalion sized unit moving on the Imperial Palace. We are currently executing disposal protocol Easy-86. Embassy staff currently light 14 administrative personnel, 4 D.S.S. agents, and 3 Marines. Ambassador, Chief of Mission and his deputy, as well as Counselor in Chief believed to be in Imperial Palace at present. Advise as to instructions. End Message."

Wolf waited for the marine to finish typing and then ordered, "send that in the clear. Don't bother with encoding or encryption. Send it A.S.A.P."

The marine acknowledged the order and opened the necessary sockets to send the message via one of the undersea cables that spanned the immense body of water between Kannex and Malecia. Similar to the trans-Atlantic cable, it took more time than the web, but since the Internet was unavailable right now, the direct connection was the only option available.

Malecia, 25 minutes later.

The President read the cable and looked at Brenda Howe. "We need to talk to Ambassador Reikling about getting our people out."

"What about aid sir?"

The President thought for a few minutes. He finally said, "We need to know who is who in this crisis. I am not about to get caught like I did during their last upheaval. We wound up aiding the side that was the aggressor. If this is some kind of five way fight, I am pulling our people out until they get their situation settled. Which is why it's all the more important that I talk to their Ambassador. Call their embassy and tell them that it's imperative I speak with Mr. Reikling."

"Understood, sir."

He turned to Carl Knox and said, "I want whatever ship you have in the region with helicopters to move toward Kannex in case we need to evacuate our people."

"And get hold of Blissex on Pureuda Island," he ordered the Secretary of State Chris Kraft. "Tell him to see what their P.C.O. representative can tell us. Find out who may be leading this coup, and see if there is a way to get a message to that person as far as allowing our delegation to leave."

Looking at all three of his cabinet members he said, "Understand this people. Our only task right now is to get our people out. After they have been safely evacuated, we will discuss our next move."

The Birodalman government offers its encouragement to the Imperial Government, and hopes that it can fend off this anti-constitutionalist rebellion. If the rebellion becomes modertaley successful, we will provide whatever support needed.

Inside the Takaram embassy, Takaram Guardsmen hurried to bar all entrances and exits to the building as staff members rushed around, taking measures to secure all important documents, with copies sent along secured lines to Tarakia, along with a message from ambassador Harold Turner alerting the Takaram government of the coup. A message was also sent to the Mrs. Hunter, Takaram's representative to the PCO, but no word had been received yet. A notice was posted on the embassy's website alerting Takaram citizens in Kannex to remain in their homes and await further instructions.
Meanwhile, in Tarakia, Prime Minister Marshall and FR Minister Rose met via teleconference to discuss the issue.

Back in Malecia

President Ennis sits in his office in the Executive Mansion, looking thorugh intelligence reports that were not encouraging. According to one report, rebel troops were observed conducting a summary execution.

He took off his reading glasses and closed his eyes while he rubbed his temples, hoping the nagging headache he was experiencing would go away. Since the crisis started, he hadn't slept more than 4 hours a night and it was catching up to him. As he was contemplating on a course of action, there was a knock on the door.

He stood up as Eleanor, his secretary, entered and said, "Sir, Martin Paskow is here."

"Thank you, Eleanor" he replied as Marty entered. "Marty, thanks for coming," the President said as Eleenor closed the door. "Please, have a seat," he said motioning to one of the couches in the conversation circle in the middle of the room.

"Thank you, Mr. President. Marty's face showed fatigue and he needed a shave. The President noticed the redness in his eyes and the unkempt manner of his thinning hair. Looks like he isn't sleeping well either, the President surmised.

"Marty, I brought you here because I know that you are aware of something Louise Cross set up with Minister Zomzalcon when Kannex and Malecia were establishing diplomatic relations," he began. "The two of them thought it would be prudent to set up a back channel so that they could communicate directly." He handed Marty a smart phone. "This is a secured phone. There is only one contact in it, and it goes directly to the former Foreign Minister. But Louise said the only person besides her that has the access codes is you." He looked at Marty expectantly.

"As you know, sir" he replied, that is an unofficial channel. Now that Minister Zomzalcon no longer holds a position in the Court, and Secretary Cross has died, it's anyone's guess if he maintained that circuit. But I will certainly try to contact him," he said.

----

20 minutes later, Marty was back in his office at the State Department. He hit the power button on the phone and entered the access code to open the instant messaging app. "Sir. This is Marty Paskow. The President has asked me to contact you to ascertain the situation in your country and to ask if there is anything you need? Ambassador REihling doesn't have much information. Do you have any messages for him?"

Marty put the phone on his desk. It could be 5 minutes or 5 days before there was a reply. If the minister hadn't been killed in the fighting.

On top of the Globexian Embassy, the last Globexian had thrown his bag into the cargo part of the helicopter and closed the door as he jumped in the rear section. As the total of 21 citizens whom worked at the embassy strapped themselves into their seats as the guards pulled shut a sheet of metal over the windows in the passenger area, to allow that extra bit of safety.

"This is your pilot talking, please remain calm and silent during the entire trip. Please refrain from moving near the windows and obey the guards orders as quickly as you can. In the event of crash landing in rebel area, please make sure you are carrying no weapons and no vital information. You shall be landing in 30 minutes on a Globexian National Forces Rapid Response ship, whom has helicopter facilities to allow us to land. From there on you shall return to Globexanter." said the pilot through the speaker as his co-pilot began to take off.

In ten minutes, the helicopter had left the Embassy area and was heading to the G.N.F. N.S. R.R.C. (Rapid Response Class) 'Tiler'. The pilot was flying with no exterior lights and the interior ones dimmed, the Embassy had been stripped of important information and any information the staff could find. Every weapon and bit of ammonution had been crammed onto the helicopter just before takeoff.
The pilots began to follow what seemed to be a more silent approach to leaving Kannex, by flying low with their sound reducers through the country side as most as they could.

The Officer in charge of the Marines had taken the preliminary steps of barricading the entrances , but after the tank and rocket fire had blown a hole in the wall facing the street on the first floor, he realized that the barricades were now pretty much useless.

Observing the hundred or so troops now in the embassy compound and preparing to enter the building itself, he realized that without reinforcements, his force would probably be wiped out. They had plenty of ammunition and adequate heavy weaponry, in addition to their rifles and pistols, that would enable them to hold out for a short while. But the rebels already demonstrated that they had access to tanks and rockets.

But the plain fact was that they were outnumbered, and they occupied one small fixed position. Protocol called for the destruction of all sensitive materials, which was complete. It also dictated against needless loss of life. The captain decided that since the only thing left to defend was the building and some furniture, there would be no Malecian lives lost, if he could help it.

Turning to his NCO in Charge he said, "Gunny, are your sniper teams deployed?"

The Gunny spoke into the radio and after receiving a reply said, "Yes. sir."

"Okay," replied the captain. "I'm going to see if there's a way we can avoid being taken prisoner. We may have to surrender our weapons, but I'm betting that these guys have bigger fish to fry than us. Not to mention that if they end up taking power, they aren't going to want the world mad at them for taking the lives of unarmed foreign nationals."

Proceeding downstairs and exiting through the hole in the wall that the Kannexian rebel tank had blasted, the captain approached the contingent of rebels with his hands up, indicating he did not seek a confrontation. The rebels in the compound stopped, astonished at this lone individual walking right into their midst.

The captain looked at the troops in front of him, illuminated by the compound's floodlights. He noticed one that had the unmistakable air of authority. When he was 6 feet away from that person, he stopped and turned in a complete circle to show he was unarmed.

In nearly unaccented Kannexian, he said, "My name is Captain Charles Rogers of the Malecia Marine Corps. I am the officer in charge of the Marine Security Guard contingent of the Diplomatic Mission to Kannex."

Remembering the esteem in which the Kannexians held the honor of warriors, the captain spoke in a tone that was proud, not angry and inquisitive as opposed to fearful. "I would like to know why you have chosen to attack us, and what we can do to defuse the situation? What do you want from us? I am asking thes questions warrior to warrior, and I am hoping you will act with honor and not take the lives of my men, who have not fired on you."

Inside the Takaram embassy, the ambassador and his staff had been placed inside of a secured room inside of the building. Takaram Guardsmen had already fortified the entrances and broken out their stores of assault weapons, ready to defend the embassy as necessary. However, having just witnessed the storming of the Globexian and Melacian embassies, they decided that it was quite likely that they might be next. To that end, ambassador Turner ordered an encrypted message beamed directly to Takaram.
======HIGHEST ENCRYPTION======
TO: ForRelMin, Takaram
FROM: Takaram Embassy, Kannex

Globexian embassy staff was heard fleeing their embassy by helicopter. Globexian and Melecian embassies have been stormed by rebel forces. Please advise.
======END MESSAGE======

Having received this message, the Takaram government sent back this reply.

======HIGHEST ENCRYPTION======
TO: Takaram Embassy, Kannex
FROM: ForRelMin, Takaram

If challenge, do not resist. Destroy all remaining sensitive material now and surrender to rebel forces if challenged. We do not wish bloodshed if it can be avoided. We will work to expedite your release as soon as possible.

======END MESSAGE======

After reading this, the ambassador nodded. As they had already destroyed their sensitive documents, they had nothing to do now but wait to see how things played out.

Senior Lieutenant Patriluei Kredoi spat with clear contempt, his hand on the grip of his sheathed sword, ready to draw it out and cut down the Malecian. "You are the poison that is poisoning Kannex. You are the filth that is tricking His Majesty."
According to most accounts of Kannexian myoshietao, killing noncombatants is dishonorable, but refusing to fight when there is a duty to fight is--in their eyes-- even more dishonorable.
One of Patriluei's subordinates snorted and called out, "What does an esdarguma [foreigner] know about honor?"
"You are not worthy of even death. If you give us your weapons and anything else we require, as well as allow us to search your embassy, we will spare your pathetic lives," Kredoi said to Captain Rogers in a taunting tone.

In the Crisis Room, much was happening, and Ambassador Morris's translator could barely keep up. The Overall Chief of Staff (Kannexian equivalent of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) General Omikerai Arzher stood and read the manifesto that the rebels had sent him, and explain the message in a calm, "with-all-due-respect" voice.
The Emperor exploded, seeming genuinely pissed. Even the translator fell silent as Emperor Dovira raged--although in a somewhat dignified manner--about how the rebels had killed some of his most obedient subjects. Many of the Cabinet looked nervously at his hand, which was angrily clutching the grip of his sheathed sword. Finally, the Emperor calmed and eyed the Overall Chief of Staff. "Lyoh-ru zhyun hie."
Ambassador Morris looked expectantly to her interpreter for a translation. Her translator gave barely a whisper: " 'Slaughter them all.' "

Despite the Emperor's call for a violent and very bloody suppression of the rebellion, the Prime Minister managed to convince him that this was not the best choice.
Ralyanga Thakom, the Commander of the Imperial Army (equivalent of Chief of Army Staff), suggested that reinforcements be called from Fort Zomzom and Fort Rajeiia, but his suggestion was voted down.

Instead, a statement was released by the Imperial General Headquarters, addressing the "troops that have gone into action on the 8th day of April":


The rebels were largely confused at the intent of this statement, but many believed that their demands and requests had been accepted.
Meanwhile, although the Commander of Navy and the Commander of Air Force argued against it, martial law was declared over Hwaiteu-Gyomuen on the fourth day of the incident, at the order of the Emperor.
The Imperial Government was seemingly bowing down to the demands of the rebels, yet many officials still argued for the violent suppression of the coup...

"What did Ebadofya-tronghyao say?" Kredoi asked in a hushed tone to his aide. He was referring to Lt. Colonel Rokhano Ebadofya.
"Capture the embassy. Disarm the guards," Kredoi's aide replied.
"Very well." Kredoi turned to Captain Rogers. "We accept your terms." Kredoi ordered his men to withdraw from the embassy grounds and allowed the Malecian delegation to retreat-- although only under the watchful eye of the Kannexian rebel troops, along with their tanks and guns.

Out at sea the single helicopter was being flown pretty close to the water. It was not a comfortable ride, but then neither was the situation they were running away from.
The two Globexian pilots were trained to, in these types of situations were a withdraw was needed at top speed, to fly low and fast in order to attempt to evade the enemy.

They were only five minutes away from the 'Tiler' now, who's crew was working around the clock to prepare landing lights especially for the helicopter while keeping a very close eye on the sonar and radar screens, half expecting a submarine to pop up from the middle of nowhere.
As the helicopter approached the 'Tiler', the lights began to turn on to indicate the landing area. Within a minute, the pilot was already beginning to ease off the power, slowly putting the helicopter down on the Helipad.

On-board the 'Tiler', five crew members began to pull open the doors of the helicopter and to help the passengers climb down onto the helipad. At the rear of the helicopter, two other men began to unload the cargo the Embassy Staff had took with them.
As soon as the helicopter was fully tied down, one of the crew members on the launch deck sent a quick radio message to the Deck, where the crew began to turn the ship around and to head back to Globexanter.

On the launch deck, the crew began to take the once embassy staff down into the ship, into some standard rooms with two beds whom had been left empty in case of a need to accommodate more men and women on-board the 'Tiler'.
The ship began to slowly turn and speed up, leaving the Kannexian Navy convoy behind as it moved towards international waters.

The "troops that have gone into action on the 8th day of April" were now clearly labeled "rebels". From the sky, planes dropped leaflets that told the rebels to return to their original units and surrender.

Despite this, Colonel Seiwertha Bodolu prepared for an attack. Neighbors in the area took refuge, and regiments from nearby military bases were entering Hwaiteu-Gyomuen from several directions. Over 11,000 troops were entering the capital, ready to crush the 2,000 rebels.

By 8:30 of sixth day since the beginning of the incident, the rebel troops still had not evacuated the Imperial City, Thu-An, nor any other wards they had occupied.
Colonel Bodolu ordered an attack. Personally leading the Elite 3rd Rangers Regiment, he began engaging the enemy. The Elite 12th Regiment and Elite 8th Infantry Regiment joined. The Elite 4th Infantry Regiment and Elite 13th Guardsman Regiment were closing in from Fort Rajeiia to the north, while the Elite 9th and 10th were arriving from Fort Zomzom to the west.
Within half an hour, the white flag was raised.

"What do you think, Ambassador Morris?" the Emperor asked, still in his fancy military uniform. His tired brown eyes displayed clear relief as the news of the rebel surrender poured in. "I hope those five long days here have not been too much for you?"
The Crisis Room led to an entire underground bunker system, with bedrooms and other conference rooms. The Cabinet, Supreme Military Council, and the Malecian delegation had been staying in that underground bunker system for days, and none had seen sunlight for a very long time.
The Emperor and Empress, escorted by their Imperial Guard agents, were the first ones to emerge out of the underground Crisis Room, out of the darkness and into the sunlight. Facing the rising sun, the Emperor noted that the sun was shining rather brightly, as if this was the aftermath of a great storm.
The Prime Minister, emerging out of the Crisis Room, penned a traditional-styled Kannexian poem on the spot and recited it loudly, much to the pleasure of the Cabinet and the imperial couple. The theme of the poem was "yuu-khi", or bravery.

A carriage could be seen in the distance, making its way slowly to the part of the Imperial Palace where the entrance to the Crisis Room was located. The carriage stopped, and an 8-year-old boy in fancy and colorful Kannexian clothing rushed out, followed by a palace woman and two Imperial Guard bodyguards.
"Pyochan! Metchan!" shouted the little boy, running as fast as his little legs could take him.
The Empress shrieked of joy and gave the little boy a tight embrace, as did the Emperor, despite his disapproving look at the boy's act of running in his robes.
Ambassador Morris and the other Malecians were at first confused, for not even a normal adult was allowed to touch the imperial couple, much less a normal child. However, a shocking realization soon hit Ambassador Morris-- this boy was no regular boy. This boy was the future Emperor.
"Ambassador Morris. I would like you to meet our son, Crown Prince Tzuenyan," said the Empress as her 8-year-old son suddenly turned from an excited child to a proper prince, bowing politely to the Malecian.

Emperor Dovira nodded. "Very well."

Twenty minutes later, a heavily-armed convoy exited the Imperial Palace and headed out towards the Thu-An ward. Passing by the Imperial City, they could see an abandoned tank or destroyed buildings here and there. Most of the bodies had already been taken care of, and the rebels rounded up.

In the Embassy Row, Colonel Seiwertha Bodolu had set up his martial law HQ. He was slightly surprised by the convoy bearing the imperial standard, and even more surprised when the Emperor and Empress appeared. The colonel and his subordinates quickly switched from the standard military salute to genuflecting on one knee, showing their respect and undying loyalty to the Emperor.

The Malecian and Globexian embassies were empty, except for the Kannexian house-servants that remained inside them. Both had minor damage, including a hole in the Malecian embassy building.

Senior Lieutenant Patriluei Kredoi was found dead in the rebel headquarters in the Imperial City, having committing the traditional Kannexian ritual of tsitpuk, or self-disembowelment, as it is dictated in traditional myoshietao. Using a dandao (short knife), Kredoi stabbed himself in the belly and slit it open while his aide dealt the mortal blow by decapitating him with a sword.
Lt. Colonel Rokhano Ebadofya, meanwhile, was found dead after shooting himself in the head just minutes after the white flag was raised by rebel troops in the Imperial City.

Government buildings damaged during the coup were quickly repaired, although at a huge cost. The Kannexian Parliament reconvened at the Parliament Building, with empty seats filled in by replacements chosen by the Emperor.
The Senate of Kannex allowed the Embassy of Malecia to be rebuilt, but on the condition that all expenses are to be paid by the Government of Malecia.