ME: It's almost 75 ADD, people. You know what that means.
Today is New Year's Day. As a result, Central City will be hosting the official celebrations for District Two.
My troops need it, for an uprising occured in District Six during the Winter Solstice just over a week ago.
A large group of rabble, after gathering in various community squares or the District/Sub-District Squares, began to riot and rebel against the authority of President Coriolanus Snow and his fellow benevolent leaders in the National Government. Their treason was a surprise-to be in the streets after dark during holidays and mandatory programming is expected.
As a result, granaries, Administration Halls, Peacekeeping Departments, power plants, the Justice Building and the Communications Center all fell to the rebels. Fortunately for the local Peacekeeping Garrison, they were able to hold both their Complex and the local Inter-District Maglev station until reinforcements from District Two arrived.
It took said reinforcements (my Peacemaking Brigade and the Airborne Division) less than five hours in District Six's Central City, an industrial powerhouse once known as Detroit, to arrive by train and hovercraft. Bombers, tanks and artillery reduced rebel held buildings to rubble, while the brave Boys and Girls in White were able to annhiliate the enemy fighters (I refuse to dignify them by calling them "infantry") and restore order to the District; because of this, my troops were allowed to return to District Two yesterday.
Another National Security Decree was signed by the President; all the Peacekeeping Force vehicles are now to be constructed entirely in Sub-District Two, while the factories in Six are either to be shut down or will now manufacture civilian transports.
In addition to the normal fireworks and the impassioned speech traditionally delivered by the Mayor of District Two on the local television channel, the new Peacekeeper Utility Uniforms will be shown to the public for the first time. Simultaneously, the Praetorian Guard and Capitol Garrison will appear in the new uniforms-of the former, the two Presidential Protectors always by the President's side will be included.
A rifle company from the Peacemaking Regiment's First Battalion has been detached from the Brigade to help police Central City, for people from the rest of the Sub-Districts can travel there for the celebrations. The Regiment's Third Battalion is on standby in the event of riots and/or uprisings in the Production Districts, while the Second Battalion will conduct a parade from Fort Mars to Fort Fidelis. The Fourth Battalion is currently training, while the rest of the First Battalion is on leave due to having a company detached from it.
I check my desktop computer, which is linked to District Two's fiber-optic communications network. Apart from a few messages concerning supplies, nothing new.
Suddenly I get a videocall from Remus. "Yes, brother?" I answer.
He smiles. "Good news, we got more company inbound. Plus the SSS's Head Peacekeeper is finally retiring."
"Company?" I ask. I'd be lying if I wasn't glad the current Head Peacekeeper of the SSS was retiring; he's a womanizing, sycophantic idiot.
"Airborne Division just got sent back from Six; they'll be here in time for lunch. Additionally, Aggie and her family says hi."
I smile. My sister Agatha-I never was one for nicknames-is a good woman who was adopted a year after Remus and I became Cadets. She's now a mother, wife of Central City's Magistrate and the Headmistress of the local school. She is very sympathetic towards orphans and other community home children-in fact, my youngest niece is adopted. Her older children have already grown up to be successful Peacekeepers among other honorable professions like weapons factory management.
"Quick question: Is the situation in District Six truly stable?"
Remus nods. "Of course. The local population has been pacified; we had to divert recruits and OCS graduates to replace the dead and those too wounded to continue serving from Six's Garrison, of course, but the young of our District always want to serve, Romulus."
Hopefully that will never change, ever. "And the new uniforms?"
"A platoon of my troops will show them off," my brother answers. "In fact, I'm gonna wear one myself. Of course, everything but the boots will be hidden by a cloak and I won't have a helmet."
This is unusual, but not the first time my brother has exhibited eccentric tendencies. Though no law dictates it, protocol has the Head Peacekeeper of District Two appear in an "A" Service Uniform or Dress Whites out of formality.
The day goes by rather uneventfully. After ordering the Fourth Battalion to standby in the event of unrest in either Central City or the Production Districts, I leave with Lieutenant Claudian for the District Square.
I have been granted temporary OPCON over the local Peacekeeping Department due to the fact I outrank the Commander; however, things look relatively calm.
The Mayor delivers the expected speech while a train descends from Fort Cheyenne to the nearby station.
As the train stops, the Mayor sits down and Remus gets up.
"Citizens, you may notice that I'm not dressed up like normal and my boots are white. There's a reason for this."
As if on command, the platoon egresses from the train.
"Ladies and gentlemen of District Two, I present you the latest and greatest Peacekeeper Utility Uniforms!"
Citizens begin to cheer as the anonymous Boys and Girls in White march single file.
"These new uniforms, manufactured entirely in District Two, will be soon be the norm throughout Panem. Already the Praetorian Guard and Capitol Garrison have begun to use these new Utility Uniforms; our proud but humble Garrison, along with the Airborne Division and the Peacemaking Brigade will receiving their own outfits tomorrow. A new year with new uniforms, hurrah!"
That was admittedly corny, but it doesn't stop others from chanting, "Hurrah!" Fireworks are launched-the night sky is beautiful on it's own, but I don't mind the explosives and the results of their detonations.
It almost makes me forget about the Victory Tour occurring next month.
ME: A/N: Okay, Remus was kinda corny with his last line. Sue me.