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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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"The Irony of Platitude"
January 2 1940 EC
Exiled President Albert Bloch
Palaise du Lorreinia, Randgriz, United Kingdom of Gallia
P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c
When Bloch ran for Gallia in an effort to pursue a most peaceful life, he didn't expect that the ensuing four years would have seen so many things change.
The 'End of the World' as many political commentators had highlighted had been quite a dramatic shift in Europa's borders and ideologies as the 'Age of Superpowers' came to an abrupt end to make space for the 'Age of Reconstruction'. First the Federation, then the Empire, a domino that led to an economic crisis that crippled the United States of Vinland and that forced the Kingdom of Edinburgh to shift its trade focus beyond Europa due to the crisis.
Gallia withstood the major hit as its economy was mostly self-reliant. In fact, Bloch's own perception of the brief rise of taxes before their lowering in the middle of 1936 confirmed that the government had been ready to move fast and solve the crisis.
The real plight was the massive emigration that saw the national population almost double in the matter of mere months. After the five years following the Second Europan War, from the 4.32 Million people living in Gallia, the United Kingdom of Gallia now boasted roughly 25.6 Million denizens.
The major swelling in its workforce urged a major case of spending. Sometimes causing deficit and raising a hefty debt, the monumental national intervention to expand the housing and working sectors had left to one of the most unexpected growth within the continent.
Where before the old quarter of Randgriz represented one of the biggest cities in Gallia, the creation of the 'New Randgriz' districts had tripled the size of one of the oldest capitals in Europa. Tall buildings, some skyscrapers, and various hydroelectric dams had allowed for the nation's power to rise well above the status of 'relevant minor country'.
The acquisition of quality manpower in the workforce had allowed for innovation and industrial expansion to be attainable with the right amount of monetary capital. And with more services such as hospitals, schools and even new military academies filled the country, a big surprise was dropped within 1937.
Queen Cordelia came out as a Darcsen, discrediting centuries of lies from her old house. The girl had definitely known for more than she let it appear, yet the script she read was convincing: the young reformist monarch trying to pay her due to her subjects by being honest to this major discovery.
If that had been produced in 1935 or even 1936, then Albert would have seen an uprising mustered at the news. But with Darcsens having long been a fixture of Gallia and with the Queen having brought herself a grand reputation in her individual efforts, the news managed to ruffle some old-boned feathers. Only some of the old political class opposed this, in particular the pesky Federal Party as they had long endorsed an Anti-Darcsen platform which had actually wrecked their popularity with the voters.
The elections of 1938 had, in fact, consolidated the rule of the People's Party for the years to come, with the Social Democratic Union becoming a long-standing partner of the ruling coalition. Reforms had been successful for both, and the brilliant mind of the unifying Prime Minister that was Jean-Luc Leclaire allowed for a smooth cooperation to be forged between the two giant parties, with other similar-minded parties tagging along.
Stability was strong in Gallia despite those had lost the war after a vicious battle, the bravery of the fallen and the strength of the survivors forging a new unitary military doctrine known to many as the 'Combined Arms' doctrine. The Lanseal Military Academy had brewed a new generation of officers that were quite invested in the ever-evolving doctrine in the pursuit of achieving 'true doctrinal supremacy'.
With Aerial developments adding an extra edge of support for military offenses and defenses, the application of the 'Imperial Blitzkrieg' and the 'Late Gallian Superior Firepower' Doctrines had seen for the creation of a well-disciplined army.
Yet, to Albert this didn't matter much- or used to not matter much before 1939.
When he first arrived in Gallia, he was detained and brought to speak with Hertling. The infamous 'baby-eating monster' as some rags back home had labeled him was actually a keen-minded fellow. Young but definitely blessed with sharp mind for military and politics. Not a genius, far from it, but he was aware of those weaknesses and sought to have a loyal bureaucracy that was as well-oiled as it was stable.
When Democracy was established, the former Diplomat had thought that Hertling would have left. So, he was pretty much stunned when the man remained with the occupation forces, and also ended up subjected to a nationwide love confession from the very Queen that he was supposed to 'limit' with his presence.
Bloch had laughed so loudly when the radio had gone crazy on what had happened when the Queen had proclaimed her interest to marry Hertling in a radio conference in 1937, with many thinking it was an Imperial Ploy, only to realize that Hertling's awkward mood was one of someone that hadn't expect this turn of events to be so monumental in nature.
Ah, to be young and foolish.
It was a huge gamble, but one that pretty much continued the Royal Dynasty in a somewhat traditional manner. Albert was baffled when he learned that the idea of a conquering military leader claiming the dynastic name to continue the royal family was actually a historically-accurate rule within Gallia.
Still, the news had found mixed reaction, with a stronger rebuttal from some of the anti-Imperial camp even condemning Hertling as an 'opportunistic womanizer'. The news that he had been spotted quite close to other women had warranted some substance on the matter- and yet this had turned some support back to him.
After all, one of those 'ladies' was actually a Valkyria and a rather 'well-mannered' one if treated nicely.
Still, Bloch's life was, until 1939, one of a philosophical hermit. His meeting with Hertling had left him to coach and write essays on the Gallian Model of Democracy. He found the laws unusually intriguing and worthy of further studies as the basis of potential 'variants' that could be applied within each nation. It was an effective way to neutralize extremists and it allowed for progress to be achieved uninterrupted.
But when the Lorrenian Republic collapsed in 1938 due to a radical nationalist coup, two things happened that gained Bloch's attention. The first element was the migration of 2,6 Lorrenian into Gallia, while similar numbers had gone either into Fhirland or Wendia as those countries were deemed as 'free and progressive as Gallia'. And Albert saw it as an intriguing new issue to see the solution for.
Now, the Second Element was what really brought him out of his nice and cozy retirement after serving two years as a political science teacher: the request of the 'exiled' politicians in the large migration to have him as part of the government.
Bloch was... Well, he was amused. He never thought his tainted name could have warranted an invitation. He had accepted out of spite, bracing as he expected to find old disgusted faces trying to lynch him and claim any political power he truly didn't have in this country.
So, he was reasonably upset and shocked when he realized the oldest member of that political 'club' and the leading figure was actually a young man in his early 20s. The rest went as young as 15, and the club itself was made by about 30 members.
This was- well, it made him reconsider that the situation may have been far more desperate than he had thought. The news that 'Grand Marshal Derocles' had taken over left him floored for a few long seconds.
Gautier Derocles was a madman. He had been around since the formation of the Federation, espousing 'National Rejuvenation' as the central point of creation 'One Long-Standing Central Federation'. He was sneered upon by most of the political class and should have not gained the kind of power he ended up with.
The 'Grand Chef du Lorreine' became reality. The idea that the monstrous and insane fellow gained the power of the military to establish a dictatorship was worrying, and the news of atrocities against 'pseudo-Darcsen' foes had further sent shivers down the old man's spine.
Albert knew some of the name that the 'leader' listed out were fathers and relatives to the 'children' in that club. Some had their faces darkening, gone were the snot-nosed brats he had been worried would have ruined the Federation in a possible victory during the war.
Their futures were now robbed of any potential happiness, their destiny denied. And they were lost, seeking guidance that best represented what was lost.
Albert Bloch thus accepted the notion of being their 'President', but not before setting some ground rules that had to be followed. The group was expected to do the Gallian National Military Program, going through two long years of military service to learn 'how to fight with their hands while also learning how to fight with their souls'.
Those that couldn't do it just yet were granted books on his treatises, but also old tomes from Gallia in regard to the nature of moderate democracy.
By the time it was 1940, some had already returned from the military period, while others had merely started it. Albert had to beg Hertling and the Prime Minister to let this happen, and with the news of the atrocities known to them, a fund was opened for 'governments in exile'. It was the kind of fund that was needed to support such education and preparation, which would then, without anyone knowing just yet, led to the return of Democracy in Lorreine in the ensuing years.
But before that...
A border crisis unfolded between the Kingdom of Wendia and the Duchy of Lutzen...
AN
Nobody expects Bloch's obtaining a 'returning Secondary Character' upgrade!