0848 June 3rd, 2020 CE
0724 Sun 34th, 196 AE
Aginport, Bem Kingdom
Side by side, two Bem men wearing full-skirted knee-length coats, knee breeches, and a vest, which seemed straight out of 18th century Europe, walked by an electric light pole. “Say, Glover, chap, I know they made us register for this and issued us ID cards but I have yet to be informed of how this voting works.”
Glover scratched his head. “Have you not been reading the Aginport Daily Journal, my old friend? It has a full description of how to do so. It also said that if we are confused, they will have people there to help us. Now, what I’m more concerned about is whether or not these Americans will rig this in their favor in order to have control of us.”
“Now, now, why would they care about controlling us?”
“Ervin, it is of most sense. Any normal country would want to control another country. That’s just how the world works these days.”
Ervin waved around. “Then they don’t have to put such effort into doing this. They already have full control of our country. Look around us, we are basically an occupied nation.”
Both watched as an American soldier walked by holding his automatic rifle. Ervin continued. “And besides, they have given us so much unlike the Mach Imperium. They even created an electric company to give us electricity.”
“Well, it is just a subsidiary of an American company and they haven’t given everyone electricity.”
“They still gave us electricity in the end. Better medicine, interesting products, and their food is great. I don’t have anything to argue against that.”
They took their place at the end of the line that stretched outside the polling station. American soldiers were more present than on the streets but there were also some Bem soldiers who were armed with muskets.
Walking into the polling station, they were greeted by a man dressed just like them sitting at a desk. He looked up at Ervin. “Please present your ID card.” Ervin showed it. “Okay, please sign your name on this form.”
A few minutes later
Ervin found Glover as he walked out of the polling station. “So, who did you vote for?”
Glover raised an eyebrow. “Well, who did you vote for?”
“A predicament indeed. How about we say it together.”
“Sure. That’s a terrific idea.”
“I will count down. Ready? Glover nodded. "Three. Two. One.”
Ervin’s words came out a second earlier. “Milton Wareham of the Bem Democracy Party.”
“Ned Hays of the Unity Party.”
“Why Ned Hays? He’s a bit too conservative there.”
“Well, I like the status quo. Too much change doesn’t suit me well. He isn’t bringing much change to the laws from what I have read."
“We have a new system. We should have new laws to go along with it. It’s only of most sense.”
“Ervin, I never saw you as one of those revolutionaries.”
“Oh, pish posh, Glover. Everything has changed. By any standards, the Democracy Party isn’t revolutionary at all. If you want revolutionary, then look at the New World Party.”
0812 June 5th, 2020 CE
0706 Sun 36th, 196 AE
White House
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Ronell looked through the report on the election results of the Bem presidential elections. Katrina was beside him. “With 54% of the vote, Milton Wareham of the Bem Democracy Party won the presidential elections.”
Ronell nodded slowly as he read. “What did they campaign on?”
“Closer relations with us, improvements to civil rights, and support for free market capitalism seem to be their main focus.”
“That sounds decent.”
“There are other good options but much better than the Monarchist Restoration Party or the Noble’s Party.”
Ronell looked up at Katrina. “There’s already a party that wants to restore the monarchy?”
“They only had about 2% of the votes.”
“We literally just got rid of the monarchy.” Ronell shook his head. “I want to have a meeting with Mr. Wareham as soon as possible.”
Katrina nodded. “I will set that up.”
“Also, when are the parliamentary elections occurring?”
“We are hoping no more than six months from now but that isn’t guaranteed.”
“Well, at least we have someone up there running the country.”
Port City of Filanneas
The Port City of Filanneas had become the temporary capital city of the New Elven Nation. Of course with Afvalin becoming a massive lake, the port city could actually become the permanent capital. Anfalen sat at the desk of his office in the ‘Presidential Building’. The Americans had made him interim president. He looked through the papers stacked on his desk. Reporting everything ranging from the food situation in every city to the appointment of new officials. Anfalen was glad to see that rebuilding efforts had already begun in multiple cities albeit slowly. They had just gotten the power back on in this city.
He looked at one of the reports and sighed. The main problem was how hostile most elves were to the humans. The Americans were already on his skin about the situation. There were those who just didn’t care about the humans. But quite a lot ranged from skeptical to outright suicidally hostile. It was going to take a lot of work to change the hearts and minds of the population after living so long under a regime with the main goal of teaching everyone to hate humans. Right now he was placating the population using the promise that once they established this new government, the humans would be gone. Anfalen feared that once he wasn’t President anymore, a dumb zealot in his place would launch another idiotic war against the humans again.
Another concern right now was the loss of population. Some cities lost 50% of their population due to the war. It was estimated that by the end of the war, 25% to 50% of the elven population would have died. Recovery might take decades.
He got on his phone and called up an aide. He had to deal with the short term problems right now and worry about the long term ones later. The aide entered the room. “Send the magibattery engineers we have in this city to the Port City of Ilysesari. We need to get power back as soon as possible in every city.”
In the streets of the Port City of Filanneas
Everyone kept a wide distance from the human soldier. Some stared at him hostilely. Arasne Qinrieth walked briskly to the food market in order to get out of the tense atmosphere. With current infrastructure in tatters, much of the food here came from relief aid from the humans, more specifically the Americans. Some avoided it but she relatively didn’t care as long as it kept her fed. As she looked through the selection of vegetables, a human military vehicle colored in various shades of green drove past her. Someone threw a rock at it but missed and it kept going.
Getting her groceries, she got back home in a few minutes. She turned on the lights. The power had just come back on a few days ago and she was thankful for it. She was thankful for a lot of things. The fact that she survived, that the humans occupiers weren’t being hostile, and that things were actually going back to normal.
0912 June 5th, 2020 CE
0755 Sun 36th, 196 AE
Forest of Origin
<<<“We are closing in on the target.”>>>
Two B-52s cruised through the skies in formation. The bomb bay doors of both B-52s opened up. Bombs started dropping in a slow pace. The forest below started exploding.
An elven officer shook his head. “They completely destroyed a portion of the forest. Everything is gone. The entire defensive network, a hundred or so elves are all gone.”
“They are seeking to completely destroy us all.”
“What do we do, Field Marshal? We have nowhere else to run. They are shooting at us like fish in a barrel.”
“We only have one option left. I don’t like it but we won’t survive if we continue.”
Subican Kingdom, Soane Continent
“Well, King Ferdinand. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Vilo’s lioness figure loomed over the king who was clearly trembling in fear.
“Commander Flametail… I was forced to do this… I had to do this to save my people. The situation was hopeless. They came at us with tanks and guns. You have to understand.”
Vilo snorted and turned to walk away. “You threw yourself at their feet the moment they arrived and offered your full collaboration. You sent your own army to fight us. No matter how much I would like to kill you right now, the Council will deal with you. Knights, take him away.”
Ron quickly followed after her. Jeb and Ahab also started to take their leave. Behind them, the king struggled. “What are you doing!? I’m the king of this nation. Get your hands off of me!”
Vilo turned and glared at him. “Or, I could tell the Council an accident happened and a sword accidentally found its way cleaved into your head. I’m pretty sure the Council will understand.” The king emitted an ‘eep’ and went quiet.
Ahab walked beside Vilo. “The elves are pretty much broken at this point. Quite a lot of the occupied nations have declared their liberation. I wonder if you guys even need our services anymore.”
Vilo nodded. “That’s up to the Council. And your contract hasn't ended yet. We still have some resisting elements to sweep up.”
Ahab chuckled. “The resisting elves have no armored support anymore and barely have any ammo left. My country has nearly conquered the elves' homeland. Well, it still feels nice to kick their ass.”