Three paces
The lead up to the storming of the council chambers, and the failure of the island’s security, can be blamed on fatigue.
To understand the situation, a month before the storming of the chamber Jackson Woolf had arrived back to the island–post eradication of the Kjerne Island Independence Movement cells–to see a people tired, towns in ruins, but perhaps a glimmer of hope in the beleaguered populace. After years of being terrorized by the armed thugs, things were finally looking up for them. But, the people were apprehensive, for the soldiers that removed the terrorists from the island might very well turn around and hold them prisoner again. Furnifold’s soldiers, there to protect, were met with fear and hostility. Jackson Woolf needed to diffuse the situation, which is why he had returned to the Skjerne Island.
To a leader who did not want him there.
Marissa Skjerne, a strong, proud, dynastic leader, but a leader constantly under the control of someone else. Be it her father, who became morbidly sick right before Furnifold eradicated the armed thugs, or the Kjerne terrorists, forcing her to acquiesce to demands. She wanted to protect her people, but as news broke from the Kjerne Islands and Kohlandia about bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations tied to these terrorists, was she really helping her people? Or was she an accomplice to terrorism, aiding and abetting them as they did their evil? She knew eventually Kohlandia would invade her island to remove the thugs, and her people would be civilian collateral.
Was she just prolonging the inevitable?
But, a godsend in the form of a purple and gold flag “rescued” the island. Her father, as his last act as leader, asked Furnifold to intervene and protect the island. Furnifold and the Skjerne Island Council had previously worked together months before, and her father had a good relationship with Jackson Woolf. She did not share the same relationship with that man.
And she was tired. Tired of everything. Caring for her ailing father, the long nights in secure bunkers, as Furnifold and Skjerne Island forces cleared out the hovels where the Kjerne Island Independence Movement spawned its terror, and seeing yet another armed group enter her land without leaving. She was fatigued, just like her people, weary and wary, and the last thing she wanted to deal with was to talk diplomacy with Jackson Woolf. The weedy, sly, untrustworthy Foreign Secretary of Furnifold, opportunistic, probably willing to take advantage of her because she was not her father.
But, here she was, waiting on the dock of the island, observing Jackson Woolf’s diplomatic flotilla mooring. The cables and cords tying the vessel felt… symbolic, like it was her island being tied. Jackson Woolf exited his vessel, and the two of them embraced, awkwardly. Marissa remembers hearing Woolf say, “M’lady, allow me to first express my condolences at the ailing state of your father. He is a strong leader and a caring man, and I know you will be as strong and caring for your people as he is.” The wishes were actually well received by Skjerne, as she thought, Perhaps he will not be deposing me by nightfall. Could Skjerne actually remain free?
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jackson Woolf got down to business. "Ma’am, we need to discuss how to best protect your island. Though the terrorists are gone, we can’t expect them to stay away for good. Your island will likely be viewed as a target for more attacks, your people’s and your own lives in danger. I want to talk with my commanders overseeing Furnifold’s force in the area, and consult with your security forces about their readiness to handle conflict.
More conflict!?
Marissa knew the wolf would not remain in sheep’s clothing for long. Jackson Woolf would be meeting with his commanders, who would tell him that the best thing to do would be to assume control of the island. She would not allow that to happen without a fight of her own. “In that case, sir, I would like to accompany you as you meet with your commanders.”
“Certainly,” was the response. Without any indication of hesitancy or suspicion on Woolf’s part. He almost welcomed the company. Marissa was taken aback. Was she being paranoid?
Of course, life is a jagged wheel, full of highs and lows. As the two were readying to depart, an aide contacted Marissa. It was about her father. She had to leave immediately. Marissa rebutted Woolf’s protestations about holding off the meeting until she returned. Her father, bedridden and dying, needed her full attention, sometimes for hours at a time. She could not in good faith keep Woolf waiting that long. Perhaps she should have waited.
Commandment Number Three - Have your seconds meet face to face. Jackson Woolf’s second, the Furnifold military, had worked in tandem with Marissa Skjerne’s second, Skjerne Island’s security, to clear the island of the terrorists. Furnifold’s commanders knew the island security and its capabilities.
Woolf went ahead and met his commanders about the assessment of situation. The answer was clear. “Mister Secretary, there is no way the island’s security could protect it against another terrorist group. Our assessment is that Skjerne Island would not last more than half a year without significant military presence. The Kjerne Island Independence Movement will be out to take down the island’s leadership next time it attacks. The entire Council will not survive if it attacks. The security forces are corrupt, fatigued, insufficiently trained, and unable to protect the island and its people. We recommend Furnifold military remain on the island for an indefinite period of time, until the island security can be purged and trained, and the Kjerne Island Independence Movement is taken out by Kohlandia.”
Could not have been more clear than that. Woolf, who had been pondering how to approach this talk long before on his diplomatic flotilla, would need to return to Marissa Skjerne with this information.
The next morning, Woolf arranged a meeting with Marissa Skjerne. The two met, and he could tell that Marissa was not in a good place. “Bad news about your father?” Woolf asked the beleaguered leader.
“Yes,” was the answer. “He is likely going to die today.”
A pause, and a drawing of the head by Mr. Woolf. “My apologies, this is simply terrible. Let us talk later, you should be with your father.”
A slight blip of anger was felt by Marissa. This man was doubting her capability, to act as a leader and a representative while under pressure. She loved her father, but he would still be alive at the close of the meeting. Her demeanor was as strong as it could be, and there is no way she would let Jackson Woolf take advantage of her while she was grieving for the loss of her father. “No, I want to meet now, and then I will be at my father’s side. What is it you wanted to talk about, Mr. Woolf?” She curtly said.
“Well, ma’am, I met with the armed forces yesterday, and here is what they said.” Woolf told Skjerne everything, not mincing words, speaking through the vein of protecting the Island and its denizens. It was as she feared.
Furnifold will be taking over, she thought.
Then, once the military assessment was complete, Woolf stated his diplomatic offer. Ma’am, because of this assessment, I would like to offer you Furnifold’s military, to remain on the island for your protection. They will train your security forces, and make sure your people will be safe from terrorists. I would also like to begin the process of incorporating Skjerne Island into Furnifold. You and your family would still retain absolute control of the island, but it would fall under the protection of Furnifold."
Woolf continued, discussing matters of laws, taxation, and tariffs, but Marissa was not listening. She took over for her father a few weeks ago as his condition got worse, and her noteworthy act as leader would be to surrender sovereignty of the island? No, her father wouldn’t want this.
Marissa interrupted Woolf. “Before you continue, sir, I want to be with my father. We will discuss more of this later.” Without waiting for a reply from Jackson Woolf, Marissa left the meeting, leaving Woolf behind to mutter condolences to her retreating figure.
Marissa arrived at her father’s side, to see the life leaving his body. He was not going softly into the night, and was raging. But, in between the delirium, there was a short burst of sanity. He pulled Marissa to his side, and asked what has become of his Island. It was safe, but Furnifold and Jackson Woolf were present, she said to him. Her father, in his last gasp of sanity before rambling took over, whispered to her.
“Do not let them take over, my darling. Defend this island with your life!”
With that, Joseph Skjerne, the leader of Skjerne Island and father of Marissa, could observe no more. He died soon after.
Marissa, upon the last wishes of her father, contacted Jackson Woolf. “Mr. Woolf, my father is dead.” Ignoring any of the sputtered utterances of condolence from the Foreign Secretary, she talked over him. “Sir, regarding your proposal, I will flat-out refuse. Skjerne Island has been, and will always be, independent. Furnifold may remain to train my forces, and you will be compensated, but my people will not be occupied yet again.” Marissa hung up the phone.
On the other end of the line, Jackson Woolf put his phone down, got up, and paced around. “The people are tired and weary, and the more they see Furnifold present, becoming used to the purple and gold, they will see us as protectors. Marissa will be pressured to accept my diplomatic offer. She is fatigued and emotional, her father just died. In a month, I bet she will take my offer. I’ll just be persistent.” Woolf decided to stay on Skjerne, to negotiate, to be a constant presence. He sent a line to Magistrate Jacopo d’Arrigo, notifying him of the intent, assuring him that this is the best and safest course of action. Woolf, determined and opportunistic, settled in for a period of grieving and mourning on the island, looking forward to Skjerne becoming part of Furnifold.