Yesterday
"In conclusion, General Grumman, this places you in a very delicate situation, and I think that you will finally see reason, once you have considered all the options." Brigadier General Edison leaned forward and steepled his fingers, resting his elbows on the polished wood of the long table in Central Command's main strategy room. He glared at the General, who was sitting at the far end of the table.
While Edison was surrounded by a handful of the surviving members of King Bradley's forces, the General had nobody behind him. Despite being outnumbered, the General was stoic in the face of Edison's fighting words. He too leaned forward, refusing to come off as intimidated by the other man.
"Just tell me how you managed to evade capture. I saw you and your men in custody with my own eyes."
Edison grinned. "Well, I can't reveal all my secrets, can I? Let's just say that I have some sway still in the military. Which brings be back to what I was saying earlier. Now that Amestris is once again peaceful, the Ishavl Trials must proceed. We almost destroyed this world with fire twice and now the nation must rise out of the ashes, with everyone on the same page, so to speak."
Grumman considered his situation. Delicate indeed. The old man scoffed at the Brigadier General's obvious lies. The real reason that he wanted to resume the trials was because he needed an excuse to incarcerate those who might oppose his new regime. While it was no secret that Grumman ought to be in charge after Bradley's death, the man hated to admit to himself that he was indeed getting on in years. And while the nation was still reeling from the aftermath of the Promised Day, now was an optimal time to serve retribution. People wanted to look for someone to blame.
But this was dangerous territory. Edison had promoted himself and his team, including Brigadier General Clemin, and Major General Hakuro, to the position of trying to fill the vacuum left by Bradley's death. This was a power struggle and nothing more. Often, governments would undergo a change as they sought to establish a new order. Grumman tried to comfort himself with this thought. Amestris would not go the way of Xerxes, of that he was determined.
Grumman sensed Edison's impatience and noticed Hakuro cracking his knuckles. It was probably better to let this man's plan play out until he could counter it. To openly deny Edison his trails would result in Grumman being formally deposed and dismissed. Though he was practically already reduced to a figurehead and nothing more, Grumman had played enough chess in his day to know when it was time to move from offence to defence.
"I will not stop you." Grumman's voice cracked, but then he seemed to find some strength and looked Edison dead in the eye.
"Let the Ishval trials begin."