The Summer of the Thousands Flowers

[Ayzek]

On the evening of the forth day, Géza Békésy received a phone call from the Lanlanian embassy. The Holy Lanlanian Empire had, of course, an invested interest in the Keszarian Republic and had been monitoring the fledgling democracy since its foundation. Both Imperial observers and their handlers in Halvadag had been quite distraught with the events unfolding in the Republic over the last two decades, their concerns only made worse by this year's elections. The Empire needed a stable partner in Keszaria, after all, and one held together by force and flawed elections was not such a Keszaria.

The reasons were obvious. Corruption made Keszaria volatile--and the consequences of that were already taking shape in Koszovar. Such a Keszaria was dangerous. The Empire had enough of a headache with a feisty Strathae, it did not need an unstable Keszaria also triggering the Allied States's sensitive reactions.

"President Békésy!" the ambassador began, when the Keszarian President answered. Invar Jarlssen had been the Imperial ambassador to Keszaria for over a decade now. It wouldn't be his first phone call with the Keszarian President. He also made sure to maintain a professional relationship, despite being taken with Keszarian culture and cuisine. Jarlssen's Keszarian was fluent. "I trust I find you well?"

Jarlssen did not wait for an answer. "Mr. Békésy, I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but I am afraid that Halvadag is pressuring me to repeat myself." The Empire pressed the Keszarian government for answers every time its observers reported significant violations of appropriate election procedure, and it had certainly asked many questions when Békésy's supporters were caught on video going from polling station to polling station. "The Empire is quite concerned with the situation unfolding in Keszaria.

"Mr. Rithlund has expressed great frustration with the continued violations of fair election procedures being reported in Keszaria, though respects that progress has been made since previous elections. I must agree with him, Mr. Békésy. It is regrettable, but not a surprise, that the consistent reports of violations have undermined Keszarian's confidence in their nation's electoral process to this point.

"Halvadag has urged me to convey it wishes to see a civil resolution to this matter, as well as its hope to see a strong, democratic Keszaria. The empire is ready to help in that pursuit."