September 4th
Ezkrau, Kostoria-Obertonia
“Has it really come to this, Sergei?” Vendel sighed, slumping back into his chair. Before him lay a small document which he’d hoped he would never have to lay eyes on.
‘The Free State of Kostoria-Obertonia Hereby unconditionally surrenders to the Republic of Faethalria and her allies…’ it began, the words dripping with malice as if they were taunting the defeated dictator.
“We have no other options, sir,” said General Segei Golos. “We’ve made our last stand on the greenbelt, tomorrow Ezkrau becomes the front line. The seas are blockaded and our navy is without fuel. Without our supply lines the soldiers are beginning to starve. Lack of food is probably the only thing keeping the people from rioting in the street ready to throw you at the Ethalrians in exchange for peace.”
Vendel was wordless. His head fell forwards into his fingers as he stared in deep thought at the cheap desk he’d set up in the impromptu presidential office. With air superiority long lost, most government and military buildings had been on the receiving end of a constant stream of precision guided bombs and remote ordinance. Thus, the essential command structures for maintaining the thinning grip of martial law had been relocated to a more secure location underground, a process enjoyed by no one.
“What should we do then sir?” Golos questioned. Vendel lifted his head and stares straight at him.
“Do you think this will be the best option for Kostoria-Obertonia?” He asked. “That it will guarantee the freedom of our people from foreign menaces and the continued integrity of our identity?”
“It’ll give us the most options, in my opinion at least.”
Sighing, Vendel rose to his feet and walked slowly over to the general, stopping only when he was face to face with the man. He removed the honours pinned to his lapel one by one, and thrust them into the hands of a bemused Golos.
“If this goes wrong, and considering this is the Ethalrians we are dealing with I’m almost certain it will, I will not be the one with my name on the agreements forever remembered for signing over our proud nation to condemnation. If you truly believe this is best for our nation, president Sergei, you and you alone will be the one putting bloody pen to bloody paper.”
“Sir?”
“I am not ‘sir’ to you anymore. For now, I’m leaving you to do what you think is best for us, and I shall return when the time is right to retake our nation should you fail. Death is not the end president Golos.”
With that, Vendel pulled a ball-point pen out of his pocket and threw it at the surrender agreement, sending it spinning off the table and onto the floor with a clatter of plastic. Sergei Golos, still stunned from the turn of events and clutching a handful of pins, stared out of the office as Vendel strode down the concrete corridor, before abruptly turning left and disappearing up a flight of stairs.
[hr]
News Flash
With Faethalria coalition troops outside the Kostoria-Obertonian capital of Ezkrau, the office of the president declared an unconditional surrender, with Sergei Golos as acting president due to the disappearance of Alexander Vendel. A search operation has been mobilised to locate the man, who is charged with illegally taking control of the country in a coup d’etat, sanctioning the execution of president Carl Strasser, and multiple other atrocities whilst in power.