The Balochian Crisis

[Flo]

Rven, Balochia
13 Marth, 1583
Evening

President Anton Buraukin rubbed his temples as his ministers argued. The raids over the previous month had been successful. Countless Saamojedi settlements in the wilderness had been destroyed and for the first time, the forests to the north were quiet, or so they thought.

In the past week there were twenty-eight different acts of terrorism in what was called Balochia proper, or the south of the country. This part of the country was supposedly devoid of Saamojedics ~ they were officially banned from the provinces of Viladyya, Druedestok, and North and South Bolochyya.

In spite of that, Saamojedic terrorism was growing more rampant. It had always been a problem in the cities of the north, such as Grot Obvinsk, Arl Lappa, and Asa Mabov. This was partly the reason for the acts of extreme prejudice. There had never been any sort of activity "south of the border" as they called it, yet, just the day before, a car bomb exploded just a few miles away from the Balochian legislature. This was a problem.

The pogrom, as it was called in back rooms of the government, was intended to end the growing tension among the subjugated Saamojedic population. The government was aware that they were capable of causing extreme problems if they were properly motivated. By decisively demonstrating Balochian authority, they had hoped they would silence the opposition. Clearly, they had the opposite effect. The Saamojedi, rather than being beaten into submission, were mobilizing in even greater numbers. It was not at a critical level yet, but already protests were occurring in Arl Lappa, the largest major city with a significant Saamojedic population. Then, the terrorism. At the moment, the ministers were arguing about how they got into Balochia proper.

The Minister of State was presently shouting. "If your border agents were capable, they wouldn't be here anyway! They've clearly come through the forests and wilderness to the north."

The Minister of the Interior retorted angrily. "No, they've come from abroad. They're coming from the Harmajaan state. They've never liked us. We must summon the Harmajaan ambassador."

The Minister of Defense held up his hand. "Gentleman, our intelligence indicates many of them were already here. While the ban has been remarkably successful since we started it, nothing we do can be foolproof." The Minister was the second oldest man in the room, next to the President himself. They had both participated in the Winter Wars as teenagers and were highly esteemed for it. The President still wore his medals every day.

The President nodded. "We need to understand what is going on. I am going to invest further in our intelligence agencies to try to learn where these insurgents are. We need to know what they are going to do before they do it."

The Minister of Defense looked pleased. The other Ministers appeared satisfied.

"We all need to be focused on solving this problem. The Saamojedi are growing unbearable. I would also suggest that we introduce a military presence in the north. We need to lock down the northern provinces."

"This is wise as well. We need to show greater force. If they continue to rise we will continue to knock them down until they are unable to continue." He looked pleased with his conclusion until a fit of coughing came over him.

Just as his hacking subsided, there was a great shudder throughout the building. The floor shook and bits of plaster fell from the ceiling. The Ministers bellowed in fear. Just then, an aide burst through the door.

"My apologies President, there has been another attack! They've detonated a bomb just outside the entrance to the legislature!"