Chapter Thirty-seven.

At the meetings within the president’s office, Signi simply became more and more animated, and he came across as even less in touch with the rank and file of his supporters, let alone the under-represented masses!

As a people who often bore the brunt of the draconian measures meted out to them, they became less and less of a concern as he lost touch with reality.

He quickly seemed to become more deranged. A dangerously out of control individual who still had the power to issue orders for someone’s summary execution for displeasing him in the least way imaginable. His rants, always legendary in their vitriol and seeming randomness, became even worse to witness, and potentially downright unsafe for anyone in his line of sight.

His experts had been unable to explain the random messages that had been heard, albeit faintly on frequencies generally used by the Granarian bureaucracy. While patterns had been observed at the outset, these had now ceased to be an element of this data, but what it was, where it was from and where it was going? His experts couldn’t or wouldn’t tell him. Not knowing was eating away at his core and he hadn’t long to get a grasp on events.

His missing soldiers were still unaccounted for, as were their weapons and uniforms. From all over Masonville came similar reports of disappearing troops and their officers and N.C.O.’s being slaughtered. He’d ordered the Masonville’s citizens town council seized and placed under arrest within the watch towers dungeons until the rest of his troops were released.

Truth be told, he was probably going to have them all summarily executed at the end of festivities on Saturday evening anyway, he’d show the rabble the dire consequences for anyone daring to defy his rule! Nothing reinforced his position than public executions, perhaps a collective burning at the stake was just rewards for the mob burning his lorries during the recent market! He was a cruel and vindictive individual.
By Thursday he belatedly realised he had to get a grip on himself. He had important speeches to make, rallying calls to the great unwashed to issue, people to pander to.

Due to the inept performance of the last few ambassadors that had been appointed to Granaria, food imports had markedly dropped below those normally received by Masonville. Food stocks were at an all-time low, and somehow, the populace knew this. If he could find out who or where the leaked information came from then he’d have a field day making examples of such disloyalty, such personal disloyalty too.
The tirades that had so marked his meetings at the start of the week faded away into stoney silences. He’d show them come the parade day morning though, nothing like a day’s military parades to put him in a good mood and show the population in general just who was in charge.

Signi had buckled down and had written his speech, several times over. This he would issue, as was normal, from the palace balcony, and which would then be relayed all over Masonville and towards Granaria too. It wouldn’t do any harm for their near neighbours to listen to his thoughts and feelings and hear just what was instore for anyone or any nation that had the temerity to cross him.

Saturday morning eventually dawned clear and bright. Crews were already busy erecting stages and screens all around Masonville, both in the capital city, the major conurbations and larger factories, mines and ports. Some places would get to see specially shot film, but all sites were to receive a direct radio broadcast from the palace of Signi’s speech.

Flags, banners and flower displays were all in place by the tenth hora that morning. Crowds began to gather around the edge of the marketplace leaving the central area, which was cordoned off, free for the massed parades to form up as they arrived later. Although the crowds were slowly building up, it was noticeable that the number of people were significantly reduced compared to previous annuals rallies.
Signi had been on the prowl all morning, he’d rewritten parts of his speech several times overnight, which he normally did as events progressed during any given day. Today however, things were rapidly changing all over the country, reports were arriving all the time, events through mass desertions and even assassination of commanders. It was a very confused picture that was being built up on Signi’s desk. This situation was unprecedented, but he’d survive it one way or another. He’d work out who was behind the unrest, and he’d make spectacles of them and their supporters, he’d inflict such pain and suffering that nobody, NOBODY would ever have the temerity to challenge his authority ever again.

The problem with society was giving the people too much choice, and a sense of self-importance. Didn’t they grasp that working for the collective good meant foregoing some privileges, but, in the long run it was better for everyone that they all had the same goals in life. Solidarity, security, all had to be bought and paid for, and it was important that people like him, who were at the head of the nation, were there to dictate what was good for each and every one of them. He wasn’t going to allow over a century’s hard work fall apart while he was at the helm.

The market square was filled with almost all the military vehicles at the president’s immediate disposal, all formed up in neat lines, with massed infantry in their best uniforms in their serried ranks in and amongst the vehicles. At the head of each column were elite soldiers at the president’s personal beck and call. Some mounted in vehicles, others on foot. Some facing the square, others defending the palace, all were the members of the imperial guard, resplendent in their highly polished ceremonial uniforms. Specimens of peak size, strength and training, all sworn to give their lives to protect the president and all that he represented, in exchange for privileged treatment and conditions. Brass breastplates, helmets with coloured plumes, arm and leg guards sparkled in the sun. Spear points glinted with their sharpness and the guidons fluttered in the breeze.

Now, it was time for his speech and to accept the adulation that went with a job well done. He’d show these troublemakers just who they were dealing with, but first, time for his annual moment in the spotlight. The imperial guard moved towards the palace gates, ready to move out into the square at a moment’s notice.
Signi checked his uniform, and satisfied with his appearance, he stepped out into the sunlight. Time to start his performance.

Chapter Thirty-eight.

Karin had her tapes all set to play. It had taken her almost two days to piece together clips and snippets of information from the history of her own home planet. All through the long line of Earth’s human history, people had grabbed hold of a fleeting moment of opportunity and had done irreparable damage to human civilisations smooth progress towards a better outlook for everyone. She was spoilt for choice for examples of characters similar to Signi.

From peoples from pre-history, to The Vikings, William the conqueror, Edward I, The Moors, Vlad the Impaler, Philip of Spain, Bonaparte, Kaiser Wilhelm, Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Trump, Cheung and as recently as Ritcher, Karin wanted to ensure that the people of the planet Villiar and Masonville in particular, learned the lessons of her own home planet. How dictators had caused abject misery and suffering to untold millions. But she also stressed that knee jerk reactions could actually make ordinary people’s lives worse. much worse.

Someone clever had once said that one person’s terrorist was another’s freedom fighter. It all depended on an individual’s point of view and terms of reference.

Once it was possible to look back on history it was possible to see a familiar trend. Even if they did all feel that they were acting in their nation’s best interests, many of these individuals became distracted and presumed that they, and only they knew best and would go to any length to ensure that their particular brand of democracy was the best for all concerned and their rule protected at all costs.

An Earth nobleman once wrote that ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’ and it held true no matter who was in control and what ideology that they claimed to represent nor on which planet that these views were expounded.

Nations had fought wars about who’s system was best, about which race deserved preferential treatment compared to others. Millions and millions of people had fought and died, often to keep a single individual or family in power. An ocean of blood had been spilt, from ancient prehistoric wars over hunting rights, ownership of land, slavery, up to the recent all-out war against the Toini.

Karin had almost too much material available to her via the Vasco da Gama’s data banks. She had requested whatever information the Vasco da Gama had access to, and this had been beamed down to her in small bursts to a radio transceiver Rae had constructed for her using microwave frequencies hopefully unavailable to Masonville. She had decided several examples from the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries would suffice for now, it was vital to keep her message short, sharp and to the point, before people’s minds wandered. The computer facilities on board the Vasco da Gama had translated the snippets of speech Karin had selected, from the original Earth languages of German, Italian and English into the universal language that seemed to be used across Villiar. By this means she hoped to get her message across to the masses in a format they could readily understand.

It was also uncertain how long she would be able to transmit her message before Masonville’s scientists blocked her signal. She started her message two munts before Signi’s expected broadcast was due to begin. She assumed he would be already on the palace balcony preparing to give vent to his hatred. All she could hope was that she could show that other people had suffered under similar oppressive regimes and had regained control and autonomy over their lives. That the ordinary people of Masonville were not alone, help was theirs for the asking, maybe not immediate military aid, but help non the less, they could be free, they could prosper, they needed to work together and take back control of their lives, their democracy and their country.

The clock counted down and at the relevant point in time, the generators were cranked up to full power and the message of hope, unity and an overwhelming need to fight to safeguard freedom and to ensure people’s rights was broadcast all over Granaria, Masonville and all the other nations within Villiar capable of receiving the message who were tuned in. All she could do now was sit back and hope. She left the transmission control room and the technicalities of the transmission to Granaria’s scientists, to Raelynne and the crew of The Vasco da Gama.

Karin left the palace’s office complex and ascended to the floor where she currently resided with Raelynne and her other friends, friends that they had made since their enforced arrival on Villiar. She headed to the room she shared with Raelynne to await her return once the broadcasts were complete

There was a gentle knock on the bedroom door and upon the welcome summons, Rusan, Jena, Sleal and Jinz entered the room, all showing various degrees of trepidation. Rusan and Jena were afraid that Signi, somehow, would retain control by some means when they’d held out hope for a good while that change was underway. Sleal and Jena were also worried that the quest for change would fail but also tempered with fear for their many friends’ personal safety, friends they had left behind when they had fled Masonville. The only thing they all knew was that inevitably, today was going to be the start of dangerous times for all concerned.

They all looked from one to another and little was said between themselves, each wrapped up in their own thoughts and worries. All any of them could do now was to sit, hope and wait for news and hug each other. Raelynne eventually returned to the room she shared with Karin, and after telling everyone that it seemed the message had indeed been broadcast in its entirety, she sat with them all to await developments.

Up on the Vasco da Gama, Admiral Suarez listened to the message of hope that Karin had put together. He didn’t like interfering in another world’s democracy in such a direct manner. But these people didn’t have democracy, and it was highly likely that the totalitarian regime would continue trying everything it knew to spread its ideology into its near neighbours and even beyond.

From all the information that had been gleaned from radio intercepts to personal testimony from Magni Porarinn and Jena’s mother and sister, Sleal and Jinz, the populace of Masonville had reached breaking point. That they were on the brink of staging a revolution against Signi and his immediate subordinates, that much seemed evident to most everyone within Masonville.

The insurrection was slowly and methodically gaining in intensity. It had infiltrated the rank and file of the military and the various arms of the militia, and it seemed today was the day that the uprising was to reach its culmination. The populace had to know they were not on their own, that they would receive help if needed.

Chapter Thirty-nine.

Signi stepped out onto the palace balcony to desultory applause. He performed his usual waves and posturing that was his modus operandi, gestures that seem to be common to dictators all over the universe. He would accept the adulation of the masses, slowly building them up to fever pitch with his smiles and waves.

As he was preparing to commence this year’s morale raising speech, the radio burst into life and a woman’s voice boomed out from speakers all over the nation. Her message was interspersed with excerpts from various demented sounding individuals, but they were saying the same sort of things that he had extolled over the annuals and was about to inform the masses of again this annual.

The messages were interspersed with facts and figures of how long the wars had taken to reach a culmination and the number of people killed in the conflict or the immediate aftermath. Fifteen million here, twenty-two million there to forty million in the more recent conflicts. Signi looked perplexed, what world could lose so many people to war, famine and disease, yet carry on expanding and undergo further conflicts?

The whole population of Villiar in its entirety was one hundred to one hundred and ten million at most, surely the current population would see the disparity in size. It was an impossibility, wasn’t it? Yet even he had been shaken with the content of the broadcast. He would have his scientists work out where this interruption originated, and he’d take steps to ensure they were dealt with appropriately.

The reassurances of help to be provided to the ordinary citizenry of Masonville raised his hackles. He knew what his people needed, and that was a firm hand in control of the direction that Masonville should take, and that hand was his and his alone.

He looked across at Colonel Hygens whose expression looked as confused as Signi himself felt. Technicians seemed unable to interrupt this woman in any way, it was only once her broadcast was completed, that control of the airwaves was returned to the Masonville Broadcasting Authority.

The crowds had been far more animated during this unauthorised broadcast than at any point during the day so far. As Signi and his cronies remounted the front of the balcony, boos rang out from all round the market square. This was unprecedented, and the reception raised Signi’s ire to a peak of annoyance that scared those around him.

He started his speech by holding his arms up, palms facing outwards appealing for silence. As he watched the crowds, they started to dissipate, moving in an orderly fashion down the side streets, away from the spectacle that was designed to impress them with just how much power and gravitas their leader had at his fingertips! He became even more angry.

Signi glanced at Hygens who could only shrug his shoulders as he disappeared into the depths of the palace. Signi would deal with whatever was happening within the capital’s populace later, for now, he’d concentrate on delivering his speech to the many millions tuned into remote broadcasts either in town squares, factories, mills or on their own personal radio receiver sets, although these were few and far between.

As Signi continued to deliver his speech he became vaguely aware of the drone of approaching aircraft. Glancing up from his notes he could see the oncoming fleet of aircraft lining up for the flypast that should have provided the culmination to his speech. An impressive aerial display, before the masses of the assembled troops would march off, past the upper echelons massed on the balcony with the president. Due to that woman’s interruption of proceedings, he was running behind schedule, all the timings were now out of sync with his carefully determined plans.

Signi now had a decision to make, did he quickly wind up his speech early, wait for the flypast to disappear behind the palace or order it to go around again at the end of his full speech. Quickly deciding he’d wait until the flypast had performed their ritual before carrying on with his full speech. He glanced across the balcony to communicate his decision to Hygens to find Hygens was nowhere in sight. That was it! Signi would replace him as soon as he could. No matter what had happened in the past, Brandr was always at the president’s side, Hygens would pay for his dereliction of duty.

The approaching air armada continued to get ever closer and the sound of all the many aero engines grew in volume. At the same time many of the armoured vehicles at the far end of the square seemed to be changing their formation, just as many of the infantry started to march to the back of the marketplace. This was not part of the plans, just what was going on? It seemed that many of the senior officers were just as clueless as Signi as to what was unfolding in front of them.

As Signi was wondering what was happening with the ceremonial troops, many of the approaching aircraft seemed to reduce their speed and altitude.

Then, completely unexpectedly, red flares were fired high into the sky from either side of the market-place closest to the palace.

Signi and those on the balcony could only look on in confusion, as small arms fire broke out from many different sources around the square. Signi just had time to look up and notice flashes of light from along the wings of many of the approaching aircraft. He just had enough time to realise that something was radically wrong, when bullets and cannon shells started slamming into the front facade of the palace building,

Scything through wood, stone, concrete and plaster, along with the flesh and bone of those on the balcony.
Signi never knew what had hit him, he found himself in paroxysms of agony. He looked down at the bloody stumps where his legs had once been. What had he done to deserve such treatment? He tried to pull himself upright just as the second wave of shells and bullets slammed the remaining elements of the palace to bits, more pain wracked his body as he heard the whistle of the first bombs to fall on the palace and its grounds. His rule and that of others like him was being brought to a sharp and painful end, not that he knew or cared for that matter, he was dead by this stage.

Down in the square, many of the officers and men of the imperial guard were cut down where they stood. Their ceremonial uniforms meant any sort of retaliatory effort was badly affected by uniforms that looked superb on guard duties but were worse than useless in a fire fight.

Tank commanders were shot from out of their turrets and the rank and file, mainly conscript force had, with the element of surprise, very little trouble in mopping up any resistance that was offered. Within thirty munts the coup was over, and the small pockets of resistance being offered were being quickly annihilated. The flames leaping from the remains of the palace were reaching high into the sky, and the pall of black smoke could be seen from many miles away.

Later that afternoon a broadcast was made stating that the rule of President Signi was over, whilst the military and militia would remain in control temporarily, to ensure a relatively peaceful transition to civilian control.

The populace were told many offers of assistance had been received from every nation that made up the continent of Villiar. Bureaucrats from every nation would arrive to ensure fair and free elections, shipments of foods and medical supplies were ready to stream across the border, and whilst the civilian population would be expected to celebrate the lifting of the military yoke, restraint was called for, along with a request for blood donors to report to their nearest hospitals to help with the treatment of the many wounded. The broadcast was signed off by Ex Colonel Ryne Hygens and the civilian committee for the freedom of Masonville!

During the coming days some sort of normalcy was returned to Masonville society.

The prisons were cleared of political prisoners, many tearful reunions were held at camp gates throughout Masonville. Like many other totalitarian regimes everywhere, it was determined that meticulous records were kept of who had been accused of what crimes and by whom and the type of punishment that was meted out.

People like Jena who had been sold into slavery and had suffered incredible abuse at the hands of their new ‘owners’ were freed and their abusers seized and held pending trials before a new judiciary to be appointed from within trusted individuals, almost like Justices of the Peace.

Even those murdered, either intentionally or ‘accidentally’ by the regime and whose burial sites could be identified were returned to their families. Whilst the endings might not have been the happiest, at last their loved ones knew what had happened to them and there was a degree of closure.

So it was that Masonville, slowly and inexorably started to heal itself, from within. It would take many, many annuals for the scars to begin to fade, but the populace had had enough of conflict and strife. The people were determined to make the lives of themselves and particularly their children, far better than that that, that had gone before. Folk were determined to learn from the likes of Signi and his cohorts and to never, ever, allow their society to get so away from the ordinary peoples control ever again, only time and history would record how successful those aims would be.

Karin was able to broadcast that the release of withheld food stocks, medical aid and offers of clothing and other items that had been held in abeyance were to be distributed to those who needed it.

Some tried to take advantage of the situation by running black market operations to line their own pockets. What they didn’t realise was the depth of feeling against abuse against society in general. The weak found that they were no longer so isolated from the opportunity to improve their lives, they were no longer powerless and those that tried to abuse the system quickly found themselves held to account and were ostracised by those they tried to extort from.

The benefit of an individual’s hard work would no longer be siphoned off for the profit of others. It would be a long hard road to recovery, but with the willingness of the ordinary citizen, justice for all was possible and within their grasp.