Author's Note: Happy New Year! In the spirit of keeping on schedule, here is the third chapter. As ever, any thoughts would be appreciated!

….

Priorities

"Good evening Panem,

Today was always going to be a historic day. Marking the fall of the old regime and welcoming in the new. But what happened was unexpected and we understand that you may have questions.

Today both Mr Snow and Alma Coin died, along with fifteen civilians and five soldiers. The Mockingjay remains in the Capitol, and we are convinced that she acted alone, not under orders from anyone else and not under pressure applied by anyone else. These are unprecedented times but tonight we are asking for calm and for you, the people of Panem to remain resolute and strong.

Our nation has changed once more and tonight, we announce an opportunity to transform Panem for the better, for all of us.

Tonight, I am announcing a Presidential Election, to take place four weeks from today, on the 4th of February in this Seventy-Sixth year. This will be your opportunity to shape Panem, to decide what kind of country we want to be, to choose who you want to be the President of this new Panem. Anybody who is beyond reaping age will be able to cast their vote.

Voting will be very simple, and the process will be announced in the coming days, along with candidates for the presidency. Tomorrow morning, eligibility criteria for the presidency will be announced for anyone who wishes to stand in the election themselves. This is a time for all of us, and no longer will power be held by those who imposed themselves and wished to oppress.

This is our choice. A free and fair election, with no intimidation or policing, overseen by civilians from across Panem, with all of the districts, and the Capitol public, included.

We encourage you to get involved. To vote above all. But also, to volunteer to help administer this crucial election, to be involved in something so important for our nation.

The results will be announced on the night of the 4th of February across the nation after voting has ended. The votes will be counted and verified and the process broadcast so everyone can observe this momentous occasion.

As important as this announcement is, I understand that this will not have answered many of your questions. It is true that there is currently no President. But we are not without leadership. Earlier today, representatives from all thirteen districts and the Capitol gathered to decide our next steps. For the twelve districts, this was our first voice in leadership in over eighty-five years, for those in Thirteen, this was the first sign of you rejoining our nation, and we welcome you. We will act as an interim council until the morning of the 5th of February when the newly elected President of Panem will take office. We will collectively step aside on that morning, that is a guarantee.

There will be no single leader and we will act together, united in our aim to serve you, the people of this country. To begin to put things right. To rebuild your homes, to ensure power, food, and water and begin to restore stability to your lives.

There will be changes across Panem, in the Capitol and across the thirteen districts. We cannot promise that this month will be easy, in fact, we know it will be a challenge. But we can face this challenge together, as a newly reunited nation, working to rebuild our lives into something better, a promising future, no matter where we live or were born.

There will be no more fighting. We call for an immediate ceasefire and demobilisation of all forces, wherever you are, whoever you are fighting for, however organised you are. The fighting must end. You must stand down. The war is over, and we must stop killing each other. We cannot see each other as enemies. District or Capitol, we are part of the same nation, we are all part of Panem and we can all work together to rebuild this country.

Thank you and goodnight."

….

An election, a council of representatives and no real leader. Apparently, the war is over and there will be no more fighting. Well, they were not all holding hands in District Two. They simply did not know Two, their Two. A strong, capable, and proud Two. Enobaria was supposedly representing them, but what good would a victor turned rebel do in a room full of clueless workers and self-appointed leaders from Eight and Thirteen?

The 'leaders' in Two wanted to talk. No more fighting. Well, Paylor did not mention any consequences for disobeying the ceasefire. They were powerless to enforce the announcement. Or they simply did not wish to address the difficult questions. The fact that not everybody would be happy or feeling secure by the news. This is not a victory for everybody, and it is foolish to assume so. There are people who want stability now, who had good lives from working hard under their old leaders. They were rewarded and now they could lose what they worked for, and they did nothing wrong.

Two's remaining fighters were sure in their beliefs, and they were sure they would be echoed elsewhere. There would surely be people in One who were in similar circumstances. But money talked in One, whereas strength and real power did the talking in Two and these rebels turned leaders had no real power, only the joy of victory and a false sense of unity keeping them together. That would fall apart the moment things got difficult, and interests diverged. Someone will have to be ready to step in when the moment arises. They needed to make contacts in the Capitol once more. There will be people like them in hiding or carrying on in plain sight, unable to voice their opinions. They stand to lose too, and they did nothing wrong either.

As for their supposed leaders in Two, they will set their terms for a meeting. If there are to be elections, they want a candidate, someone who will be suited to the Presidential role, not a former labourer or know-it-all bureaucrat and not a victor, traitors as they turned out to be. Someone strong. The fighters will not put down their weapons and they will continue to combat opposition to their fightback. They have their own leader, Colonel Lon, who will do the talking and their Captains who will continue to fight. The rebels and their leaders will have to meet them, both at the negotiating table and in the streets.

….

Elsewhere, the reaction was more positive. There was excitement in One as to the possible candidates and whether one of their own would decide to stand. Those with the most money, from the oldest, wealthiest, socialite families to the newly enriched rebels were thinking about where to place their funds, who they were going to support.

In Three, their Mayor, himself elected by his citizens following their victory, confirmed that he would not be interested in the presidential election. His priorities were at home and in the plans they were making for a better Three. Their university was to be opened to all, their people free to develop their own ideas, learn new skills and better their education. Their factories were going to change with plans for updated machinery, safer working conditions and their children were going to stay in school. Halley Mir too confirmed that she had no interest in becoming president. She would do her work on the council, plan and deliver the elections and decide where she was most needed afterwards.

In Four they were content. Out of all the districts they were in one of the best positions. Not beholden to Thirteen for support, not still counting their dead and with their own temporary government in place. Their victors and their associates had planned meticulously for decades, and they were now in a position to think freely and independently about who they wanted to lead and where Four's place in Panem would be. Fishing was down and would remain so for a while, so they would need to diversify and wanted a leader who understood and supported that. They could be from Four, or they could be from elsewhere, they were open-minded as to the possibilities.

Cautious optimism described the mood in Six, Seven and Ten. There were problems aplenty in all three districts, but they trusted Commander Paylor and their representatives on the council. They would not act against their interests. Their industries would be in demand, and they were looking forward to reshaping their relationship with the rest of the country.

Twelve's survivors were meeting in Thirteen. They were grateful for the formerly hidden district for their assistance and generosity in providing for them in a time of great need. But they were Twelve, not Thirteen. They had their own thoughts and were resistant to being moulded into the Thirteen ways of thinking. They could go along with the schedules, were grateful for the food, and the living conditions, whilst grey, were safer and warmer than many of their former houses. But not all of them would vote for a Thirteen-born candidate because they rescued them. Some would, and their choices would be respected, but many were willing to see the other candidates and what they could offer. Most of them wanted to return to Twelve. They wanted to rebuild their home and wanted a leader who would support them.

There was still unease in Eight and Eleven. They knew they could rely on Commander Paylor and they knew she understood them. If she was certain that the fighting was over and the war was won, there was no better judge than her. They should trust her. But they were not willing to be defenceless. They had heard rumours of a Capitol-supporting uprising in Two and could not be confident that they would lay down their arms. Nothing that supports the old Capitol should be trusted. But Eight would vote for Paylor. She was their own and there was nobody better for the role in their eyes. She would carry a great majority in Eleven too. Their leaders, Orchid at home, and Lily in the Capitol liked and trusted her. But they would all make up their own minds. Eleven was a big place with hundreds of thousands of people after all.

Caution was the word in both Nine and Five. The council sounded like it might be unstable, and they had to hope it would last the month. Their districts were the last before Two and then the Capitol were swept up with the rebellion and they wanted to know it had all been worth it. Five had enjoyed stability, always in demand, their industries profitable and adaptable and they did not want to lose what they had. They had to hope that with parts of Panem still in total darkness that their skills would be needed. But they had to look out for their own interests and make sure one of their own was right there with Commander Paylor and the inevitable presence from Thirteen.

Whilst sharing their caution, Nine was different to Five. Their main industry was entirely different, granaries, agriculture, swathes of vast land and their people spread across many villages. They had seen greater hardship, they had lacked the negotiating power that Five had built for itself and were determined to not be taken advantage of again. They would reserve judgement on the council and the presidential candidates.

….

Upon calling for a break, General Montgomery quickly moved to the office he had taken for himself and wrote a note to General Law, to be sent via one of his staff members who had joined him in the Capitol. He would have to start preparations early and he needed to re-join the other representatives imminently. He could rely on Law's support and needed to work with him to start the election as he intended.

He could live with the woman from Eight delivering the announcement. He was not convinced by the elections and did not want to be the face of a plan which may fail. But nevertheless, he wants the presidency, so he must be involved, and the elections must work for him to be seen as legitimate and accepted across Panem.

"Law,

Elections 4th February. Too early. Too soon. May be a disaster. But this is the only chance. Reach out at home, who do people prefer? Who will pick me over Silver? We need a good base.

Get someone working here too. What is the appetite in the Capitol? Who are the district forces likely to support and how can we convince them to switch to me, to us? They've been through a lot, and we can promise them the chance to stay on top, to see their oppressors defeated.

I can see Commander Paylor gaining a base, but she won't do well in the Capitol, nor Thirteen and probably not Two. Five and Nine seem less aligned to places like Eight so maybe there is a chance with people there. See what you can do. Speak to people and see what you can find out.

Respond as soon as you can,

M"

….

The council was pleased with Paylor's delivery of the announcement. She was able to instil the confidence and calm and that was needed. People were used to her voice and seeing her on the television, so her familiarity was an advantage.

They had quickly assembled a small group of staff to assist and advise. People who had somehow found themselves working in the presidential mansion, having found they had skills that were in demand or were brought in by council representatives themselves, eager to find friends in the Capitol's chaos. Many of them were sent out to judge reactions on the streets of the Capitol and to talk with connections set up across the districts.

It was too early to judge whether Eight and Eleven had been reassured and the word was that the regime-supporting uprising in Two had not followed the ceasefire direction. Enobaria was immediately sent to call Two's leader. But in other districts they were relieved to see some tentative support, people were responding positively to the idea of elections and nobody with any backing seemed to be calling for the removal of the council, so they felt confident enough to resume discussions.

Decisions would have to be made, immediate priorities set out and now it had been announced, they would have to successfully run the first truly democratic presidential election in Panem's history.