Entering the general's office at the command center, Major Katia knows she has finally reached the pinnacle. The overwhelming sense of power accompanies her. She now has control over Rinascita, and she can finally lead the community towards the prosperity she desires so much.
But this was not her original goal. Katia never wanted to come this far. The story of how she got here is complex and, at times, painful.
General Venturi, a man Katia has always respected and admired, is now advancing in age. And it seems that with age, he has also lost his clarity of mind. Katia had tried to warn him, to explain that welcoming more strangers into Rinascita would further deplete the already scarce resources, but the General did not listen. For him, hospitality and aiding strangers were moral duties.
However, Katia saw things differently. She had the support of many in Rinascita, people who shared her vision, her determination to protect the community's resources at all costs. It was not easy, but to effect a peaceful transition of power, she had to devise a secret plan.
First, she had to prepare a substantial military force that would support her. She found loyal individuals ready to follow her, to share her dream of a stronger and self-sufficient Rinascita. These men and women would be essential to take control when the time came.
Then, the right moment arrived, a situation of chaos and emergency, just as she had foreseen. The presence of the Raider prisoners was a stroke of luck. Katia personally handled the interrogations of Saverio and Filomena, the two Raiders captured by Otilia's group. She studied their behavior, their personalities, trying to understand how to best exploit them.
She intuited that Saverio was the man best suited to create havoc. His violent and ruthless temperament, along with his strong desire to escape and return to the Raiders, made him a ticking time bomb. Katia arranged for Saverio to have the opportunity to escape, provided him with inexperienced guards—foreigners she could easily sacrifice—and even ensured he got an extra fork with one of his meals. Above all, she ensured that he was not tied during transport from the cell to the interrogation room.
And now, the moment has arrived. Chaos reigns supreme in the Rinascita base. The escape of the prisoners has triggered a series of unforeseen events, but Katia is ready to use them to her advantage. She wants to exploit the general confusion to impose martial law, oust General Venturi, and eliminate all foreigners from Rinascita.
"Major, we must get rid of General Venturi permanently," her trusted soldier, Fabio, tells her. Tension is palpable in the air.
However, Katia knows that this is not the solution. She cannot allow the General's assassination, as he is a symbol of Rinascita. If they were to kill him, they could never control the community. She must find a way to neutralize him without killing him, even though she knows it won't be easy. Her faction consists of individuals difficult to control, ruffians who crave power and who could easily slip out of her grasp.
"Do not speak nonsense. The General represents the very idea of Rinascita, and if we were to kill him, we could never control the community," she admonishes him. "Besides, he still has many supporters. We must be cautious."
The situation is extremely delicate, but Katia is determined to carry out her plan. Her mind works tirelessly, trying to find a solution that will allow her to achieve her goal without destroying Rinascita. The community is her priority, but she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect it and make it thrive, even if it means confronting General Venturi and his supporters.
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"Is the General in his quarters?" Katia asks. "Yes, Bravo squad escorted him there. We've sealed the door and posted guards," Fabio responds. "Very well, let's go. I want to talk to him," she says, heading toward the residential level.
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Escorted by Alpha squad, Katia reaches General Venturi's penthouse. Two soldiers loyal to her are standing guard in front of the door and salute her as soon as they see her.
"At ease," she tells them and then orders, "Open the door." One of the guards types a security code on a virtual screen, and the door opens with a whoosh.
Katia enters, escorted by her men, into General Venturi's penthouse. The door closes behind her. Katia feels the weight of the moment. Her shoulders bear the burden of responsibility, but she is ready to carry it forward with determination. The Rinascita community needs strong and determined leadership, and she is prepared to be that leader. Her hand clenches the pistol, but she knows that using it would be an extreme act, a point of no return. She must find another way.
General Venturi, seated in front of her, looks worried but resolute. His stern expression conveys disapproval. Katia knows she must be skillful in persuading him to relinquish power without using force. She must convince him that it is in the interest of Rinascita and all its inhabitants.
"Major Katia, would you care to explain all of this?" General Venturi's voice carries the bitterness of feeling betrayed, and his eyes struggle to hide his anger, but despite this, he maintains a calm and resolute tone.
The words that will come out of her mouth in the next moments will be decisive for the future of the community. Katia takes a deep breath, trying to find the right combination of words that will lead her to victory.
"General Venturi, I understand that the situation is extremely difficult. But we must consider the well-being of Rinascita. By welcoming more and more strangers, we are putting our resources and our very existence at risk. The recent escape of the Raider prisoners has shown how dangerous it can be to allow strangers into our bunker. We cannot afford to be generous at the expense of our people. It is time to make difficult but necessary choices. I ask you to relinquish power, to allow new leadership to guide Rinascita towards sustainable prosperity. Your experience and wisdom will always be appreciated, but it is time to pass the torch."
Katia can read dismay in the man's eyes. The General never believed she would go this far. The man struggles to contain his anger.
"Nonsense! This is a coup! A mutiny! You are endangering all the inhabitants of Rinascita with this reckless act!"
The General's words hit Katia like a punch in the stomach. She knows she must act with caution, that she must carry out her secret plan to take control without using violence. She must do it for the good of Rinascita, even if it means challenging the General she has admired so much.
"I did not want it to come to this, but for the sake of Rinascita, I am forced to relieve you of command. It is you who, with your decisions, have put Rinascita in danger, and the facts are proving it," she says, not yielding in her convictions.
"This mutiny will cause a deep division in the community that will lead to conflicts. Major, step back. We still have time to resolve the situation."
"This is not possible. The only peaceful solution is the one I hope for, and that is for you to relinquish power and step aside."
"Major Katia, I cannot give up so easily. I have dedicated my life to Rinascita, and I cannot betray my belief in helping anyone in need. I know the situation is difficult, but I believe we can find a solution that allows us to continue being a beacon of hope for those in need. I don't want Rinascita to become a closed and ruthless community. Rinascita is humanity's only hope. The only chance to build a future. Without it, we have nothing left, and we are destined to extinguish ourselves," he tries to explain, speaking from the heart.
"Unfortunately, you leave me no choice. You will remain here until you come to your senses. In the meantime, I will ensure that order is restored within the facility," the Major states firmly.
General Venturi clenches his fists in his helplessness.
"Declare martial law and announce that the General is under custody for his safety," Katia orders.
"Yes, ma'am!" Fabio responds and immediately gets to work.
"Katia, stop this madness..." General Venturi whispers in anguish.
"General, your stubbornness could cost many lives. I truly hope you can understand what the right thing to do is. For the sake of Rinascita," Katia says with regret.