He stands atop the Sydney Tower, on the roof of the observation deck. His eye is narrowed as his arms are folded across his chest, the wind blowing his hair. Beside him stand his fellow leaders.
Minaguma's eyes are soft as she eyes the light from the rising sun.
"I guess this is it..." she whispers. "Another year of those Games."
Largina snorts through his mask's ventilation slats. "Yes. But we are prepared, are we not?" He turns to Seph.
"Hardly..." he mutters with a snort. "But we are better prepared this year." His optic flares red in the morning light, and Un frowns as he notes his fellow leader's expression.
"I hope you aren't going to do anything drastic, Matthews," Un says.
Seph shakes his head. "Not even thinking about it, mate," he mutters. "Not since that last incursion succeeded. After they were driven off from the farm barges, they retreated and haven't come close to our borders since. From what we know, and from past experiences, those bloody 'Hunger Games' draw everyone's attention over there."
"What about Pok?" Minaguma asks.
"We'll handle her for sure," Seph hisses. "But not right now. We need to be ready for the Games..."
(The scene shows a small flame before darkness snuffs it out. But a small ember burns...)
Hikari ga tsudzuku... ! (The ember is blown away, becoming one of many as the sun begins to rise beyond a war-torn town.)
Hikari ga tsudzuku... ! (The light from the sun overcomes the camera and it fills the screen before fading to show the skyline of Sydney and the name of the series.)
Yami ga sono tochi o shuchō suru kamo shirenai (The image flares before it shows two people trapped in a ruined structure in what was once Shanghai. They are both shaking and are wounded from shrapnel.)
Shikashi, kibō wa enjo no te o kasu (A pair of explosions rocks the area and they huddle and whimper before someone lifts the debris off the two of them. It is a group of Australian soldiers.)
Sekai ga kawaru to (The soldiers help the two children to their feet before one of them grabs a grenade and throws it at some bandits coming to pillage. The grenade explodes before the debris falls away, exposing the ruins of Europe, Marshal Sergei Kudryavtsev's image over the continent, King Lawrence III opposing him over Europe as well.)
Furui risō wa moe tsudzukeru (The scene is engulfed in a bright flash as it shows Korean soldiers storming through city ruins in what was once Seoul, South Korea, carrying Panemian weaponry as rebels fight back desperately. Above them is Ahn Sun Pok, her face twisted into a sneer as she holds her hands upwards, as if mocking the world's helplessness. Behind her is the Panemian Vice President while President Kane is off to the side, gazing at the sky.)
Kieru hikarinonakade (With a wave of her hand, she commands the forces to open fire on rebel positions. Missiles rain down, the black smoke engulfing the area before it is blown aside by a hoverplane.)
Kurayami ga hirogaru ni tsurete (The hoverplane is painted in Arabian colors, and on top of the imposing palace is Muthasim V, the sultan. He looks back as it fades to a map, showing the Egyptian Union breaking away from them. But then it shows the country turning a bluish green as it fades to show a new figure in the shadows.)
Watashitachi no kibō wa tsudzukudeshou (The figure holds up its right arm before it lunges out, coming into the light to reveal Seph Matthews as he swings his beam saber mounted onto his right arm, cutting through a bandit before spinning and cleaving another's gun in two, following up with a left hook leaving him dazed. He turns, his left optics lens flaring red as it engulfs the screen.)
Watashitachi ga mada ikite iru kagiri (The light fades to show three other members, all of them gathered around in front of the Meldney Complex. To the left is Japanese Empress Yuki Minaguma. To the right is Filipino President Gueo Largina. And in the middle is Taiwanese President Chae Yang Un. Behind them the flag of the Australian Confederation flutters before the camera zooms in on it, only for it to fall away.)
Un, hikari ga tsudzuku! (The image of Sydney is revealed, above it Seph and his fellow leaders side by side with the sun behind them, the Australian Confederation flag above them all as the series name appears below them.)
Chapter 7: Something to Believe
Location: Sydney Tower Observation Deck, Sydney - Australia
Time: 1000 hours
Date: Tuesday, 16 May, 139 AF (2158 AD)
Seph's eye flicks to the city below him and he feels a smile tug at his lips. He can see the vast array of green power sources lining the cityscape, and it really brings a sense of relief and happiness to his heart when he sees it. Solar panels glimmer in the light of the sun as it peeks over the skyline, and wind turbines hum both on and offshore. He can see the facilities for the wave pumps, and further out beyond the city's outskirts he can see the nuclear fusion reactor power plants giving the city the majority of its power. Power stations for the electric cars and hydrogen fueling stations line the streets at intervals, and he can also see the massive algae farms closer to Sydney Bay.
But then his mind drifts back to Panem, and he scowls to himself. "Damn blokes don't get it..." he mutters. He crosses his arms as he turns away from the city view and walks towards the elevator.
Around him a group of Secret Service agents watch, keeping their eyes peeled for any possible assassins from foreign powers, namely Panem, Korea, and the USS. He flicks his eye down to his beam saber on his right arm briefly before returning to the matter at hand.
Today is the day, he knows. The day the Games begin. And all he wants to do is make sure that the kids don't go through this barbaric tradition again. But until further notice...
His musings are interrupted by his commset beeping and his hand flies to it. He presses the button. "Yeah? What is it, mate?" he asks Hunter.
"We found it, Seph! We bloody found it!" his best friend cries in excitement.
"What?!" Seph jolts as he hears those words. "You found the bloody arena?!"
"Yes! We damn did!" Hunter blabs excitedly. "The sats just picked up a hoverplane heading in that direction! We tailed it, and there it was!"
There is only silence for a moment before a smile starts to cross Seph's face. He can't help it. He lets out a whoop of excitement as he punches the air. "Yes!" he cries. "About damn time, too!"
Hunter nods, even though he can't see it. "Hell yeah!" Then his voice becomes serious. "We'll start observation as soon as possible."
"Good. Keep me informed, mate," Seph says.
The affirmative echoes over the line before it goes dark. Seph's hand falls away from his commset and he becomes serious as he enters the elevator. The ride down allows his mind to drift back to the meeting a few days ago with the Spanish ruler and his fellow nobles.
That's a day he can never forget...
-Flashback-
Location: Spanish Airspace, over Madrid - Spain, Iberian Peninsula
Time: 2100 hours
Date: Monday, 15 May, 139 AF (2158 AD)
The aircraft circles around, its paint a dark grey color in the dim light of the sun as it tries to peek through the darkness of the soot covering the sun. He scowls at the sight, and his eye becomes hard as his optic flickers in his anger. Around him hum the engines of the last known passenger plane in service, the Boeing 747-8. The four-engine Boeing was the last one to ever land in Australian territory, and it has served as a Presidential aircraft ever since.
Ever since landing, the plane has been extensively modified and overhauled to keep it up to date and in good condition. The plane's paint job has been removed and replaced with a light grey color scheme to blend in with the cloudy skies over most of the so-called 'nations' Panem is 'allied' with, a key advantage when it comes to losing pursuers. The scheme also grants it invisibility when the sun goes down beyond the clouds, making it a specter of the past as it lurks amongst the ruins of the present. To also add to its invisibility, the plane has flares equipped to it to foul up any enemy heat seeking missiles, and jammers to scramble their radar. Other classified features are also added.
Seph is grateful knowing that this plane has lasted for over one hundred years in service and has continued to be an extremely reliable piece of equipment. And he knows of the risks it poses to fly through foreign airspace without permission. But that's why his plane has been painted a grey color and has jammers equipped. Unlike the old Air Force One, this plane doesn't have the name of his country or alliance on it. At least from a distance. The name is actually there, but it's been made a slightly darker shade that is only visible when one gets close to it.
He turns his gaze back from the window to the room he's in, and he sits down beside his VP, and his wife and Chief of Staff. The foursome are the only ones in this room at the moment. The others coming with are all in their separate spaces, either getting ready for the meeting or just going over business for back home to keep the country and alliance running smoothly.
A flash of grey passes by the window and he shoots a glance back at it, noting with some sense of pride that it's one of the fighter jets assigned to escort them.
The fighter jets are a far cry from hoverplanes, as they are considered slower than some of them. But in terms of flight ceiling, they surpass all hoverplanes, a key advantage that Seph knows makes all the difference in the world. They have the same design as the old F/A-22 Raptor from the old America, but are filled with more advanced technology and are able to evade radar more effectively.
He hears Martha cough a bit beside him as she gets his attention.
Seph turns to face her and looks at his friends and wife. "We'll be there soon, I take it?" he asks.
Martha nods as she steps closer to be beside him. "Yeah. The blokes there have already cleared us for landing." She pauses. "I take it you have something planned?"
Seph smiles grimly. "Just a little something intended to show those blokes what the world has come to After the Fall." He pats the chest pocket of his uniform with his right hand and she nods, getting the idea.
Beside him Tina is silent before she speaks. "You think they'll believe us?" she asks quietly.
Hunter snorts as he crosses his arms and leans back in the chair, placing his feet on the table; while not standard protocol, Seph could care less about the table's appearance. As long as there's no really bad cracks or dings, he doesn't mind. The plane has to be at least modestly clean, not downright dirty or absolutely spotless. "Hardly," he grunts. "I'm not too sure on this, to be honest. I mean, what if they turn against us and go to Panem's side?"
The threesome fall silent at his words, and Seph grimaces. "I dunno about that," he says. "I doubt they'll scurry to Panem's side after I show them this data."
His optic flares bright red and he grits his teeth. "This time... we're gonna get to them before Panem does!"
The door to the room slides open and all four turn; Hunter puts his feet back down on the floor.
Agent Seabrooke enters. His sunglasses are currently resting on his forehead, exposing his reddish eyes and contrasting with his white hair. "We're here, sirs, ma'ams," he says.
Seph nods. "All right. We'll be out in a bit."
All four take their seats as the plane begins to descend.
During the landing, Seph can only think about the risks for this whole thing. The entire Egyptian Union is on his side, he knows, but due to the Spanish factor, it only makes this risky. No one has heard from Spain since the end of the Apocalypse, and only now have they started to send out feelers into the outside world. He's just thankful that some cunning American immigrants had hacked the US military satellite network to keep some of it out of Panem's hands. So to be honest he's a bit wary of the whole deal with this meeting.
The plane finally touches down at the remains of Madrid's airport. Seph is confused as the plane taxies to a stop close to one of the old terminals. Not many planes remain here, and what few do are rotting and falling apart.
Instincts honed from years in the military kick in and he is instantly on guard as are his friends and wife. More Secret Service agents swarm into view and take up positions of security as the other members of the delegation are ushered into the room, all looking quite worried. The next thing they know, sirens wail around them and many vehicles, some of them old law enforcement models, come careening into view.
The plane is surrounded by the vehicles, which include a few dozen old tanks from Before the Fall. His eye hardens and his optic flashes briefly. "Shit...!" he mutters.
Within minutes the lead vehicle aims its gun at the old Boeing. A voice in Spanish barks out, and Seph has to struggle to translate it; Spanish is not his strong suite. Thankfully Seabrooke is somewhat fluent in it; his father is of Spanish descent.
The agent steps closer to the window and narrows his eyes as he frowns.
"They're demanding that we come out with our hands up," he says.
The Australian growls as the order comes again. When they don't respond, a second command is given. He watches as a set of stairs is hauled out of storage and is dragged over to the side of the plane. He turns and makes for the door, intent on meeting them face-to-face, fist-to-fist if need be. The closest agent tries to block him, but Seph just shoves the man aside. "Out of my way, mate!" he shouts.
The door opens to reveal the interior hallway and the side entrance. The door is already beginning to buckle under some ramming, and he grabs the handle, flicking out his beam saber and, with his left arm, wrenches it open. The door flies open and a man clad in a Spanish military uniform comes in with a sword of his own. Seph meets the man's blade with the glowing blue beam of his beam saber.
The two press against each other, trying to outdo the other in strength. Seph sizes up his adversary with a keen eye. His opponent is six foot one, just an inch under his six foot two, and is lean in build. He has a healthy beard, in contrast to Seph who has none. His hair is longer and messy, and his right eye is covered with an eye patch. The Spaniard also has the marks of a general on his uniform.
His opponent seems to be a bit intimidated by Seph's overall appearance: grizzled features, an intimidating height with muscular build, right arm entirely mechanical and a Gundam-styled optic in place of his left eye. But he doesn't back down. Instead he shifts his weight and using his momentum, presses Seph until he's finally outside the plane on the top of the staircase. Seph is caught off guard by the tactic and glances back before he turns his gaze back to his opponent. Only the man comes lunging out of the plane, slamming into the Australian and sends him falling.
Seph grits his teeth and, drawing on training long since ingrained into him, twists his body around and lands on his feet and one hand like a cat. He glances up in time to see the man jump off the top of the stairs as more people start to surround the aircraft. He brings up his beam saber and blocks the sword, the energy blade creating sparks between them. He can hear Seabrooke calling for him from the top of the stairs, but he brushes it aside and draws on his impressive strength to push back. He starts to get up, pushing the opponent's sword back.
The Spaniard's eye widens as he sees this foreigner actually getting back up. "You...You dare to attack us unprovoked?!" Seph growls. "What have we done to deserve such a welcome?!"
The man grunts. He doesn't answer.
Seph grits his teeth again and presses back, finally matching the Spaniard in strength before suddenly breaking off and landing a few feet away. His optic whirs a bit as he studies the Spanish general. He briefly wonders if this man is one of many warlords lording over the region like in China. If that is the case, then maybe this wasn't such a good idea, after all, he muses as he growls.
The Spaniard lunges again, this time drawing out a pistol from a side holster and fires it, forcing Seph to duck to the side before it even fires. The Australian spins around, suddenly charging at him and bringing up his sword for a cross slash. The general barely blocks it with his own saber. The two men press again, Seph finally shoving the sword down and delivering a punch to the Spaniard's face. His blow does the trick in forcing the man to back off before he growls. "You dare to hit Army General Rogelio Bautista?!" he snarls.
"Only because you attacked us without provocation, mate!" Seph snaps back, his optic flashing red.
"How can we be sure you are who you say you are, Australian?" the general asks as he starts to circle.
"For one thing, the plane I bloody came on!" Seph says as he gets into a crouch and starts to turn slowly. "It's the last one left, and I intend to keep this thing as long as possible!"
"Then where is the symbol of your alliance?" Bautista sneers.
"Security measure," Seph explains. "Don't want anyone trying to shoot us down as we illegally cross their airspace now, do we?" He keeps himself ready in case the Spaniard tries anything. "It's technically the fastest way to get here without wasting much fuel."
Bautista frowns. "You illegally cross foreign airspace all the time, yes?" he asks.
Seph is silent as the two stare each other down.
There is tension in the air, and everyone is watching as both the Australian President and the Spanish Army General circle like two tigers ready to fight. It seems like this alliance is going to break apart even before it begins.
But thankfully someone arrives to see what the commotion is, and it turns out to be the man that Seph has come to see.
A small motorcycle careens around the corner, its engine noise catching both fighters by surprise. Many of the soldiers glance back at it and the plane's passengers all swarm to the door, peering out in confusion. The driver brings the bike to a drifting stop and a voice calls out. "¡El general Bautista! ¿Qué pasa en la Tierra aquí?"*
The general turns to face the driver as he removes his helmet, exposing a man with neatly combed hair framing dark colored eyes and tanned skin. His features are somewhat aristocratic, and he wears a black leather jacket with dark pants and boots. But he carries an air about him that Seph has gotten from only one other man: an air of royalty.
"¡Príncipe Teófilo Oleastro, señor! ¡No es seguro para ti, mi señor!"* Bautista says, holding out an arm protectively.
The motorcyclist shakes his head as he finally speaks in English. "Stand down, General. These people are not a threat."
The general is about to protest, but then a hand from the Spanish prince finally convinces him to do so. He sheathes his sword, and Seph shuts down his beam saber, folding it back into storage against his right forearm.
"I apologize for General Bautista's behavior," the prince says as he finally approaches Seph. The Australian eyes him critically, taking in his lean build and sort of scruffy appearance. The prince studies the man before him, taking note of his muscular physique and cybernetics. Both size each other up, and Seph finally steps forward.
The general prepares to attack, but Seph merely holds out his left hand. "No harm done," he says. "But I wish that you'd explain why he suddenly attacked us as soon as we landed."
"Blame recent incursions by Panem," the prince scoffs as he shakes Seph's outstretched hand. "It's become quite a hassle trying to keep them out of our borders. They claim they're here to help us, but I highly doubt it."
Seph's optic flares, and Prince Oleastro's eyes widen in mild surprise and intimidation. "Mate, you have no idea how right you are..."
End Flashback
Seph is brought back to the present by the beeping of the elevator and he exits once the doors slide open. He makes his way back to the entrance of the tower and the doors slide shut once he leaves the building.
The Beast is already waiting for him as he gets in.
As the limo drives off, Seph turns to look out the window, his mind drifting back to the meeting in Spain once more.
Flashback
The palace is a mess, but at least it is in somewhat a decent shape compared to other buildings. There are several dozen undergoing reconstruction efforts, and some of them are even patched up with just duct tape and boards and half-broken windows. It's a city that has no resources to repair itself very effectively right now, but the people are learning to make do with what they have. Seph quietly makes a note to provide more resources so they can rebuild more effectively.
The doors barely swing open, but when they do, they reveal the battered, but intact interior of the royal palace. Seph and his delegation are led past the dust-covered Grand Staircase into the royal library, which is covered in dust and dirt from winds blowing the stuff in through several cracked windows. The prince turns and looks at the Australian apologetically.
"I am deeply sorry you have to see the palace in this state..." he says with a sheepish look.
Seph merely brushes it off and waves a hand dismissively. "I've been in worse, mate," he insists. "I'm out in the field whenever I get a chance, so this is no big deal."
Prince Oleastro blinks in mild surprise. "I'm surprised, Señor Matthews. I thought you'd appreciate finer surroundings," he remarks. "And given the state of much of the country, this was the best I could do."
Seph just grunts. "Trust me, mate. I am nothing like those blokes from Panem. I hate the idea of living luxuriously while others suffer." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a photograph before handing it to the prince. "See for yourself."
The prince looks at the photo, surprised to see that the Australian is standing in front of a modest ranch house with his wife and two young adults beside him. "I prefer the simpler places to live."
Prince Oleastro chuckles and hands it back to the Australian President. "I can see why then, señor," he says. He looks him up and down again. "And if your appearance is anything to go by, you're not the kind of man to waste resources, are you?"
The ex-soldier can't help but feel immense pride at the prince's comment. He stands up straighter and more erect, like he did in his youth in the military. "I can safely say with pride that it's true on that one, mate," he says with a smirk. "Whatever we use, we put towards our people, not some elites who would subjugate the populace for their own gain."
Seph's feelings are brought back to reality as he hears his wife clear her throat and he turns, looking at her with a sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry, hon."
The prince can't help but feel a bit jealous that he has someone, but he brushes it aside and returns to the matter at hand. "So, señor, shall we get to the reason why you're here?"
Seph nods, becoming serious as he and his delegation are led to a table that is somewhat clear of dust. Prince Oleastro pulls a set of chairs from storage underneath a tarp - the former soldier notes that they're plastic and foldable, not that he cared; he'd sat on metal ones during cold winters in China before - and sets them up. He gestures for the President to sit.
He sits down beside the other man and reaches back for the laptop that one of the aides brought with. He takes it from her and opens it up, booting it up not even five minutes later. As soon as the screen comes up, he reaches into the chest pocket of his uniform and pulls out the data drive. He sticks it in and with a few keystrokes brings up the data on it, but all neatly organized into folders: not just the data on the arena, but also information on Panem's extensive surveillance networks, the treatment of their so-called 'victors' and the treatment of traitors. Other things are listed as well.
"First off, mate, I know you blokes began to only recently make contact with the outside world. But... ever since the end of the Apocalypse, have you noticed anything off?" Seph asks, beginning the meeting.
The prince frowns at his statement and tries to think. His line has seen much in the aftermath of what the people of Spain have taken to calling Fines de Los Días. The most notable thing though was the sudden retreat of America from world affairs, but his predecessors only considered it because they have to rebuild and recover; America was the lone superpower of the world, after all.
He finally looks Seph in the eye and optic. "I will be honest and say that I have heard much. My family line has seen it happen, and well... one thing my great-grandfather noticed was the sudden retreat of America from world affairs. I have seen news archives stating that they have formed a new entity, called the PANEM, but other than that, nothing," he admits. "I take it you have much to tell?"
Seph nods grimly and at once, Oleastro gets a bad feeling in his gut. He has no idea why.
The Australian begins to speak, and at once the prince's eyes widen and his mouth falls open at the information he is hearing. From the barbaric treatment of cutting out a traitor's tongue to forcing children to fight one another for entertainment all because their parents and friends wanted them to have a better future, he is sickened. The prince gapes as Seph launches into as detailed a description of the Hunger Games as he remembers, from the Fifty-Fifth Games up to today, and he even outlines the other stuff found on the data drive. He even includes information on the so-called President Snow, who had much of the 'nation' in poverty, save for only 30% of the population.
Finally the prince has had enough. He slams his hands down on the table, his eyes not just filled with anger, but positively livid with pure hatred. His shoulders are hunched and he grits his teeth. "How can anyone in their right mind allow such barbarities and such fascists to rise to power?!" he cries.
Seph's optic flashes bright red in his own fury. "We know who triggered the Apocalypse, mate. We don't say his name, but he was the one who began it. And his successors gave rise to Panem as they know it. And his name is censored from our history. Just one word tells us who he is: Destroyer," he mutters. "The Destroyer of Hope... And the Destroyer... of Humanity's Future."
He is dead serious as he looks at Oleastro. "But the worst part is the fact that no one aside from the Capitol residence have any knowledge of the past as they know it, and nor do they know about the outside world. Ignorance can lead to history repeating itself if we don't learn from it." He hesitates before he continues. "As for your question... it was their 'President' Snow who allowed it to happen. And that man's lineage has to end, so as to prevent another like him rising and causing another global Apocalypse."
The prince is silent for a moment, then speaks once more. "Señor Matthews... You... How can you be sure that any of this is true though?"
"Mate, I've got footage of all Hunger Games to date, and it's just getting worse," Seph says as he bares his teeth. "This whole bloody slaughter has to end!" He then proceeds to outline the Second Revolution and how it failed, and during the entire time, Oleastro is once again silent, his mouth agape and his eyes wide in horror. Then Seph goes on to talk about Panem's so-called 'allies', or in reality, puppet states controlled by them, and the other nations that rose up after the Apocalypse, save for Great Britain, which is right now, aside from the Confederation and the Swiss Federation, the only real democracy left on the planet.
When Seph finishes, the prince is silent as he ponders all that he has learned.
From what he has heard, Panem is definitely the worst place to live, despite the liberal changes made by Kane. Especially since its recent history is full of spilling blood, much like ancient Rome used to. Since Spain still has yet to recover fully, if they continue to resist, it is not too hard to guess who would be on the losing side. And he wants to keep his people safe from becoming a puppet state under Panemian rule. His country is full of rich history, and he wants to keep the nation intact. Especially as now they have started to recover.
To ally with the Kingdom of France is one thing, but to become a puppet is another. He glances back at Seph. He wonders if the man will do the same thing to him that Panem has done to so many others.
Seph glances at him and cocks his eyebrow. "What?"
Oleastro purses his lips as he sits back in his seat. "Let me ask you something, Señor Matthews. How can I be sure you will not turn us into a puppet state like so many others have?" he inquires.
The President scoffs. "Hardly the truth, mate! I'm not one to strip a sovereign nation's rights away! Least of all their very right to exist as an independent state. It goes against what the Confederation stands for." He looks at the prince briefly. "So... you can trust us when I say we will respect your nation's sovereignty."
He looks at the President's delegation, and each of them have a grim look on their faces. The woman beside him steps closer and places a hand on his shoulder. "My husband is one of the most strong-willed men I've met. He's never let his ideals waver, and he has indeed shown that he can be trusted on the issue of nations' existence," she says. "And for that matter, we actually have plans to restore the sovereignty of several nations in Asia." A smirk crosses her face. "If that doesn't say anything about our beliefs, then I don't know what else does."
One of the men with Seph finally clears his throat. "Basically, mate, we know how Panem thinks and acts. So we're offering you an alliance, not just for your protection, but also to help us restore the ideals of the so-called old world order. When the world was more open, tolerant of others, and respectful of children's rights, and back when the world was cleaner and greener than this. Our goal is to heal the world. This division and carelessness with our resources has to end, and soon." He pauses briefly before continuing on. "Or else... there will be a point of no return. We're not sure as to when it will be, but it is coming soon. So... we need all the help we can get. And you blokes, alongside the Egyptian Union, are only the first of many peoples we intend to unite. So... the question now is... Are you in?"
Prince Oleastro pauses before he opens his mouth. Everyone is waiting for his response, and he sighs, looking down. "I... I will be honest, señor. I... I am very hesitant about this. Especially as my country has yet to recover fully. But in light of recent events, and in light of all this information... I can safely say that Panem is not going to get our assistance, least of all a foothold here. My people are sick of the fighting, and we wish no conflict until we have recovered sufficient defensive capacity."
He looks up, his eyes hard. "But one thing is clear: we do not tolerate any of the things Panem has done. And we will fight, but on our terms, alongside you to restore hope and decency to the world. I am still slightly doubtful of this, but from what you showed me, it's become clear who's the enemy here. And as such, as the Prince of Spain, of the Oleastro line, I swear to provide you with all the help you request."
Seph is surprised. He has half expected the man to at least say that there has to be neutrality, but to hear this... it's a real surprise. His eye widens a bit as his mouth falls open and he gapes for a moment. Then he regains his composure and smirks. "Mate... you have no idea how happy I am to hear it. I mean... sure I heard it from some sources that you blokes were looking into an alliance, but to hear this is just what we needed."
In truth, Oleastro has been wanting to hear what the man had to say about Panem. And to hear all that detailed information is the backbreaker for him. He has actually been considering an alliance with Panem for some time, but things just haven't added up when they told him about their so-called 'terrorists', and how they threatened the peace of the Capitol and its Districts. So he's played it safe and told them he'd consider the alliance, deftly stretching the timeline until now.
Now that he knows the truth, he wants nothing to do with Panem. And when he speaks once more, it solidifies his opposition to the stronger nation.
"Matthews, to be an ally of these cuntas would be a fate that dooms my people. All I want is for Spain to recover, and become a prosperous nation once more," he says. "So..." He holds out a hand. "Consider my allegiance yours."
End Flashback
The President feels the Beast come to a stop in the suburbs near his home. He opens the door and exits the vehicle, heading back to his house.
As the limo drives off, his best friends come out of the house, waiting for him. He smiles as he sees them. "Well, good timing, mate," he says. "I take it the trip back wasn't too much of a hassle?"
"Hardly," Hunter remarks as he leans against the door, folding his arms across his chest. "But we did run across a few Panemian aircraft in the area. They have control of the Azores, so..." He grimaces. "It was a close one. Thank God for the paint scheme the mechanics insisted on!"
Seph nods. "Yeah. We got lucky then."
Martha looks back at the sun rising, now throwing its rays over the subdivision. "By the way, have you reviewed the interviews, mate?" she asks.
Seph purses his lips, but nods. "Yeah. I did. And for one, I am glad we got that footage." He is silent on the last sentence though. Now I know who not to sponsor... he thinks to himself.
His mind is about to drift back to the interviews, but is stopped by his wife's hand on his arm. He looks back at her. "Something's bothering you," she says.
He sighs and nods. "Yeah. I mean... during the first group of interviews, I noticed that one of the girls, the female from Three, she seemed to have regrets about this whole damn thing. She actually said, and I quote her directly, "We tend to take family for granted." That alone shows something that could hint as to America's past coming back to a degree." He grits his teeth. "And then... that woman said something that diffused her feelings. She mentioned about how every tribute, both living and dead, have a role to play in safeguarding Panem's future. If that isn't brainwashing, then I don't know what is."
Hunter growls. "Well, that has to end too."
Martha nods as she looks back at Seph out of the corner of her eye. "Now all we gotta do is prepare for the coming Games..." she hisses.
Seph nods in agreement.
For a moment there is just silence between the foursome. Then, Hunter finally speaks. "Oh, Seph? I got word from some of our assets abroad." Seph looks at his Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman.
"What's the word, mate?" he asks.
Then, much to his surprise, a smirk crosses Hunter's face. "Well, this I think you'll like..."
He quickly outlines the report, and Seph's eye widens in shock. Martha and Tina look on in shock as well. Their mouths fall open and Martha places her hands on the porch railing, surprised. "You mean to tell me that South America has managed to keep Panem back as well?!" she blurts, shocked.
Hunter nods. "Yeah. Somehow they got their shit together and united into the South American Protectorate, with the aim of defending themselves against Panem's encroaching reach. They've done an amazing job at keeping the blokes back from getting their greedy little hands on the Amazon Rainforest's vast lumber resources." His smirk grows into a full-fledged grin. "Any Panem ship that gets close... is halted in its tracks."
"How?!" Tina asks in surprise.
The JCS Chairman becomes serious as he holds out his tablet, the screen displaying a real-time satellite image of South America. He zooms in on one of the ports, the old city of Rio de Janeiro. Seph and the two women lean in, and Seph blinks his eye in surprise at seeing the large fiery orange lines going from one end of the port entrance to the other. There are multiple, and each one seems to be made of fire. He takes the tablet from Hunter and zooms in further, only for his eye to widen at the realization that those lines are fire, burning on the water in neat, controlled conflagrations. Outside, further away from the port, are Panemian naval ships, clearly unable to get in close.
Seph shifts the location to another, and another, followed by a fourth. And each one has the same thing: ports blocked off by lines of fire, preventing Panem from sailing in.
"Bloody hell...!" Seph whispers. "What are they even doing?!"
"From what I can gather, the Protectorate is using oil slicks to barricade their ports, keeping Panemian ships out. Whenever a Panemian ship comes into range, they set up some kind of slick and contain it using booms. The booms-" Seph zooms in on one of the burning lines and is surprised to see the flames are contained in metal booms, all right. "-are metallic, so they can take a great deal of heat. Anyway, once the booms are containing the slick in front of the ports, they set it on fire, and the ships are forced to back off." Hunter pauses a bit before continuing. "Due to Venezuela possessing large oil reserves, they have decided to use them in an effort to blockade their own ports."
"But wouldn't that drain reserves they could be using for themselves?" Martha asks.
Hunter shakes his head. "Not really. See, Brazil, which is the leading nation in the Protectorate, has vast amounts of sugarcane that can be refined into ethanol. And even before the Apocalypse, they were a world leader in ethanol fuel production and with green energy in fuels. Bad news is since the end of the Apocalypse, their fuel production has plummeted, but recent years have shown it to be returning to pre-Apocalypse levels. Within a few more years, they'll be back to full capacity." He pauses before bringing up data on the Protectorate's fuel supplies. "Brazil has become the leading fuel supplier for the rest of the nation, and as a result it is an economic powerhouse. So they decided to use Venezuela's vast oil reserves as a means to enact a fire line of sorts to keep Panem ships out."
"But wouldn't that hurt their economy?" Tina asks. "It's not like they have planes that can import good they need."
Hunter nods on that one. "That is true, but they have rebuilt their aviation capacity in the years following the South American Wars. The wars also helped jumpstart their aviation capacity again, anyway."
Seph purses his lips as he folds his arms. "So... I wonder though... if they'd be willing to ally with us..."
"Hold on! You have to run it by the others, remember?" Martha reminds him.
Seph nods. "I know. I plan to, but first I need to get an idea for the situation down there. Considering Panem's vast reach... I don't want to take any chances. Even if they have protected the Amazon Rainforest." His eye flicks to each of their faces. "We just got lucky on the Spanish factor." Who knew if Panem did have influence in South America?
Martha's eyes narrow as she picks up on his thoughts. "You can't be serious!" she mutters. "And just as the Games are about to begin?!"
"Better than sitting around and doing nothing, mate," Seph counters. "But you'll be the one going, not me. I have to stay here and keep tabs on things."
Hunter and the others all know what he means by that. Given the Games, he'll need to be monitoring them and gathering data on the tributes for the Days of Remembrance. But then again, they need to give a small subtle message to Panem as well.
As the TV blares in the background, an ad for the upcoming Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam: Genesis comes on and Hunter perks up, looking directly at the TV, and then his memories fill with images of the interviews, and an idea forms in his thoughts. A smirk crosses his face.
Seph takes notice and looks at him out of the corner of his optic. "Something up, mate?"
"Hell yeah..." Hunter mutters. "I think I got an idea to get a small message out to Panem... as a whole." His smirk becomes a full-fledged grin. "What if... we broadcast something to them? And not just one time, either? But a whole series..."
Seph's eye widens as his wife and Martha all look at him, then each other, then back at Hunter.
"Mate... Hunter, you're joking, right?" Tina asks in shock.
But he shakes his head. "No, Tina. I'm not joking. This time... we can get something out to them, as well as give a hint as to the rest of the nation that there is an outside world!" Hunter's eyes light up as he outlines his idea, and Seph has to admit, it does sound a bit crazy. But at the same time, he can see the political ramifications behind it. If it gets broadcast out to Panem, then maybe... it could spur them to do more research on the outside world. And it could also drive home a message embedded within the series itself!
He frowns a bit though, running the consequences through his mind. But then again, it is a nonviolent form of protest, so... yes. It could work, even if only for a short time. But it will be the long-term political aspects he has to be worried about. He weighs the risks, but in the end decides that the ramifications can be worked out. He looks Hunter in the eyes.
"Go for it, mate. Get the ABC on it, ASAP." Those words are all he needs to hear. Hunter's grin grows wider. "But only the Australian Anime Network! No other channels... for now, anyway."
Hunter nods and withdraws back into the house.
Seph finally reflects back on one particular part of the interviews, particularly about visiting the moon again. His eye glimmers as a smirk crosses his face. "Boy, will those blokes be in for a big surprise..." he mutters as a smirk crosses his face, reflecting back on Australia's latest achievement in space exploration.. and not for any race either... The moon race...
Later that afternoon...
Male voice: The Apocalypse draws near...
(The scene shows several ships in Earth orbit, each on bearing the symbol of Panem)
Male voice: And only one young man stands in its way
(A darkened shadow steps into the light, revealing a Gundam with reddish armor, gold accents and blue optics under a golden V-fin: the Genesis Gundam)
(The Gundam's cockpit is shown next, with a man dressed in a red and gold pilot suit and helmet with Panem's symbol on the side of it. He has blonde hair and blue eyes, and is of Caucasian descent)
Male voice: Rising from despotism, he and his allies must fight to raise the Earth back to modern civilization.
(Earth is shown in total ruin, people living and scavenging for useful technology from amongst the ruins of ancient cities long past. It shows five youths standing atop a ruined skyscraper, looking up with defiance on their faces)
Male voice: But there are those who will stand against him and his mission...
(Depicts shadowy figures as five new Gundams are shown, each in shadow as well. The scene then changes to the Genesis Gundam battling one of these new machines, only to lose an arm to it before fire engulfs the screen)
Male voice: Only one side will triumph...
(Shows the Pan Asteroid National Economic Movement emblem, followed by a red bird like ensign with flames around it: The Mockingjay Alliance.)
Male voice: Get ready... for a new Genesis!
Mobile Suit Gundam: Genesis!
Premiering 22 May, 2158 at 2:00 pm on the Australian Anime Network, Channel 45
Seph watches with a smirk as the ad finally ends and he shuts down the TV. Hopefully it will get the message out to the people.
His comm unit beeps and he grasps it in his hand, holding it up as the screen shows the ID caller. A smirk crosses his face as the line opens and the caller comes into view. "Harald Ott?" he asks.
The German nods his head. "Da," he says. "I take it you want us to observe the arena?"
"Negative," Seph says. "You get the news?"
"About the interviews? Hell, that was picked up by our broadcast equipment last night. And they are in for a serious surprise if they come close to our vicinity," Ott replies. His grey eyes glimmer as he runs a hand through his reddish blonde hair. "Those blokes want to visit it, then they'll have to see that old flag. And maybe with it will come some sort of minor revelation if they see the plaque."
"I highly doubt it," Seph mutters as his eye hardens. He sighs. "Look. Just keep an eye on them, okay? And if they start to make serious advances in space exploration, keep me informed if you see advances that could jeopardize our own space projgram."
Harald nods as he salutes. "Will do, sir!"
The comm line goes dark as Seph turns to look in the direction of the Outback...
Oooh boy! Things are starting to heat up, peeps! The AC has just made an alliance with Spain, and now South America is also in their sights for an alliance. And Panem is about to be exposed to the outside world through a subtle, if brilliant, method through television: showing off one of their Gundam anime series. But will the plan work, or will it go downhill? And what about the Games? With things rolling, now what will happen? And what of this little secret that the AC has in place?
Stay tuned and see for yourself, peeps~!
Ja ne! :D