Author's Note: From one of my favourite characters to one of my least. Here is the reaction of President Coin to the victors who could be making their way to District Thirteen. This is the penultimate chapter to the story. The final will be published on Friday. Thank you to everyone who has read this far and as ever, any comments, feedback etc would be much appreciated. 😊
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It was times like these where President Alma Coin was glad to have maintained the link with Capitol controlled television. Only she would get full access of course. Her citizens would see what she authorised. But from this, she knew how confident the Capitol or Snow was feeling, how indoctrinated elements of the population were, what they believed and who they perceived to be the latest great threat to their lives.
The idea was inspired. She could not have come up with anything better herself. A solution which rids Snow of some of his problems whilst she takes advantage of what remains. This would be the final of such a spectacle to be shown in District Thirteen. The final Hunger Games of the Capitol-dominated era. The population of Thirteen would watch, for they were to be ready for their new arrivals, whilst she was to see how many victors would fall and whether her decision would be correct. She failed to see how it could not be, however. Flying all the victors and their stylists to Thirteen would be disastrous. They could not have Capitol loyalists and traitors to the cause undermining her efforts, and midnight was still too early, giving those she did not want in Thirteen a chance to access what she had built up. Besides, if there was one thing she could agree with Snow on, as uncomfortable as that notion made her, it was that the victors had amassed far too much power and influence. She would have no time for their whims and demands.
Once the Games started it would be three days until the Mockingjay arrived. She had wanted the boy at first but Plutarch, Haymitch and her closest advisors insisted on the girl. The boy could inspire people with his words and would be more docile, but it was the more impulsive girl and her actions which were to unite the districts once more.
If he were close by, the boy would be second to be picked up. If the Mockingjay were to die, they would make a martyr out of her and prioritise him. Otherwise, they would find Beetee, who she was sure would be immensely useful. It would also be immensely useful to keep someone so clever under watch. She had been informed that Finnick had a mind for intelligence and was holding a goldmine of useful and incredibly damaging information which could be weaponised against the Capitol, so he was next in line. She could also deploy him when it would be convenient. She would make no efforts to divert or send a team to Four to pick up the girlfriend, she had no use to them.
She had to admit that Plutarch Heavensbee had done a good job with the reapings, with the help of whoever was also pulling the strings. But the man would be brought back down to earth here, under no illusions of who was in control. The next three days would give her what she needed, ensuring that she, Alma Coin, retains the power and influence.
Mags Flanagan and the victors in Four were practically running the District, or so she had been told. There would only be room for Odair here, until his deployment. She could not have someone who held such a sway over the other victors in her district.
The Sevens were unpredictable. Johanna seemed a nightmare and Blight too unknown but too close to Heavensbee. The Threes had lots of influence over their Mayor, too much for her liking and she did not need another district answering to its victors. She would deal with Beetee and Halley when the time came.
And what to do about Haymitch Abernathy? A detox first and foremost, such addictions could not be tolerated. She hated to admit it, but she needed him, for the time being at least. To control the Mockingjay above all, but also as a strategist which everyone claimed he had a talent for. He knew how to play the Capitol, knew what appealed to the masses and had a mind for tactics. Some fresh ideas could be useful, for now.
But now she would watch and wait. The hovercrafts from both the Capitol and Thirteen were prepared, plans had been made to pick up the Mockingjay's sister, mother and 'cousin' and the Games were about to begin.