Disclaimer: (to the tune of the State Farm ins. jingle) Like a broken record, I still own nothin'
Chapter Three: A Meeting of the Legislature
Rai arrived in his office just a minute after his clone had dispelled. He quickly pressed a different button on the square communication device's panel. This button sent a signal to all one hundred members of the Legislature; it indicated that the Chancellor was calling for an emergency meeting within the next hour. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Rai was sure that the meeting was going to be a madhouse of conflicting opinion; it always was. But after Doto's reign, Rai wouldn't have it any other way.
Spring Country's Legislature was divided into three main factions, political parties if you will, and a few independent politicians. The first of three was the Merchants. As the name suggests, the Merchants were a party of businesspeople and they were interested in pro-business policies. They tended to be urban in nature, and mostly lived in Capital City and Port City. They had forty politicians in the legislature. The second was the Techs. They were a party of scientists, engineers, and technophiles nearly exclusive to the capital, although a few also lived near Rainbow Glacier super volcano where the Research and Development Department was located. They were most interested in policies that would promote science, engineering, and education. They had thirty legislators. The third major party was the Shinobi. From the beginning they denounced what Doto had done with the use of chakra; they said they had always disagreed with what Doto and his elite followers had done, but had been too afraid to do much about it until Rai and Sandaiyuu came along. They favored policies that allowed for some continued use of chakra and the shinobi arts in Spring Country, and were spread out across the island. The Shinobi and Tech parties often supported each other in a sort of coalition; the Shinobi had twenty of their own in office. The remaining ten were made up of independents or minor parties, the most prominent independents being Sandaiyuu and, present as the tie-breaking vote, Chancellor Fujito.
Fifty minutes after Rai sent the signal, most of the legislators had arrived. The meeting chamber itself was centrally located on the second floor of the Grand Legislature building. The room was a hundred feet long and wide, and twenty feet tall. The seats were spread out in a circle around the room in a three level deep pew like design; each legislator had his or her own desk from which to put papers and make use of an electronic voting system. The Chancellor's seat was similar in every aspect except for a gavel which lay on its desk. And hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room was a two-sided display that showed the total vote for each issue put to a vote.
A thick tension spread across the room, as the few remaining legislators filed into the chamber. This was the first time they had ever been called to an emergency session. Whispers of an imminent attack began circulating among those assembled. Objects and fists started flying as the Merchants, still angry at everything having to do with chakra, accused the Shinobi of all sorts of blasphemies and crimes against humanity. Sandaiyuu, who was sitting in the third row, just covered his face with his hand.
The one hour mark came and the doors opened, which caused Sandaiyuu to breathe a sigh of relief. It was Rai. Rai gazed around the room at the mayhem that had broken out, and then causally went to his seat.
"ORDER!" BANG!
Rai put down the gavel and cleared his throat, raising his right eyebrow expectantly. The angry politicians suddenly stopped bickering and returned to their respective seats, straightening out their clothing, trying to look professional. Rai stood up, as was the custom when a legislator or Chancellor wanted to address the chamber.
"When we're all done fighting ourselves, I have an issue of immense importance that needs to be addressed."
The legislators sat silently. One of them, a Tech, stood up.
"Is that really you, Chancellor, or just another one of your clones?"
"It's me; my training's been brought to an abrupt end by the issue at hand."
The Tech sat back down, satisfied but still somewhat nervous.
"Right. A little over one hour ago, the airship Coastal Spy II reported that a large force of Kumo Alliance Shinobi was embarking from Lightning Country. Further consultation with the airship Kumo Spy confirms that this fleet...is heading for Spring Country. It will arrive here in a few days."
The legislature exploded into fury as nearly everyone stood up and started shouting war cries, doubts about the information's accuracy, and desires to capitulate when the invasion force arrived.
"WILL YOU SHUT UP ALREADY!"
Again, the legislature silenced itself as Sandaiyuu Asama slowly stood and glared at the assembly.
"We didn't overthrow a tyrant and work until blisters formed on our hands and our faces prematurely line with wrinkles just to have it all blown to pieces by this sort of threat! Of course we'll fight, but we can't underestimate what it is we're up against! Of course the information is correct; if you think otherwise, you can go ahead and waste your time interviewing the CO's themselves! And again, we'll fight; take that knowledge of shinobi arts and use it against them!"
The legislature looked cowed as they stared in shock at the normally silent and reserved Sandaiyuu.
"...that is all."
He then sat back down, wiping the sweat that had formed on his forehead. The rest of the legislature sat back down as well. Rai glanced around at his suddenly silent colleagues, and then stood up.
"There's little to debate at this point. The invading force is on it's way. It's time to put the question of war or capitulation to a vote."
The room filled with clicks as people voted. After several tense minutes, the display revealed the final vote total: 99 for war, 0 for capitulation, 1 abstention. Rai grimly nodded his head.
"Very well. The Constitution states that in times of war, the current Chancellor is to become the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and is to name a temporary Chancellor to manage non-war related activities, upon final approval of a supermajority of the Legislature. I nominate Sandaiyuu Asama as Temporary Chancellor, as the two positions are inherently different in nature. Any other candidates?"
None volunteered.
"Very well. First, the CIC vote."
Clicks filled the room again. After a few more minutes the screen showed: 75 for, 15 against, 10 abstentions. Rai closed his eyes.
"I will do my utmost to protect Spring Country and its citizens against these invaders." He paused, the seriousness of the situation beginning to weigh on him. He wasn't one for long speeches to begin with. "Now...the Temporary Chancellor vote."
After a few more minutes, the vote results were: 99 for, 0 against, 1 abstention. Sandaiyuu stood back up and walked over to the Chancellor's seat. Rai moved aside, and handed Sandaiyuu the gavel.
"Are there any more issues to be brought forth?" Sandaiyuu asked, addressing the legislature.
The legislature fidgeted, until one of the Merchants stood up.
"Of course not! Now let's get ready to throw these fuckers out of Spring when they show their sorry asses!"
The assembled politicians cheered in agreement.
"Then I hereby draw this emergency session to a close. I trust Commander Fujito will begin evacuating non-essential civilians to the mountain bunkers." Sandaiyuu said and then smacked the gavel down with an almighty BANG.
The politicians quickly began to file out of the chamber as Sandaiyuu and Rai stood at the Chancellor's seat.
"That went better than I thought it would when I first heard the fighting before hand." Rai said.
"Well Rai, if there's one thing even these folks agree on, it's that we've had it with tyrants." Sandaiyuu replied, his face becoming serious. "But still...we have some advanced equipment, but only a small army. It'll be difficult to raise even half of the number the Kumo Alliance has against us. I hope you have a plan."
Rai nodded.
"I do, but it's not a sure thing. We need a degree of luck, and we need my cousin over at the R & D department to have completed those new flying machines in time..."
