Saving the Republic

[Nentsia]

Prologue

About two years before...

A thick mist dawned in the streets of Civrai, consisting of smoke and tear gas. Protestors wearing gas masks and black hoods threw rocks and pieces of metal towards the anti-riot police formations that were shielding a motorcade, which transported the Socialist government of Thucer Crespe. Prime Minister Crespe had come to visit the regional capital of the Civrai region, to show his willingness to negotiate with local separatist elements. Such a policy was not received well among the Petreans living in Civrai. To them, Crespe was a traitor. The shocking images of a beleaguered prime minister diving for his life and fleeing from the scene would forever haunt his government and reputation.

It was the worst possible propaganda humiliation a new prime minister could imagine, while the Rightist opposition back in the capital, Halas, sharpened its knives to exploit this mighty PR failure of the Socialists. Theatrically, they hung up banners in the parliament declaring their solidarity with the Petreans in Civrai, and declared them ‘saviours of the Republic’, in the face of Socialist attempts to dismantle it. Crespe changed his mind to a tougher stance, postponed negotiations, and several weeks later the Republican Guard swept through Civrai to arrest dozens of Separatist figures and activists, as well as suspected terrorists.

When journalists leaked reports of abuse, excesses and torture, several government ministers resigned. When such reports surfaced, perhaps the greatest opposition in the parliament came from the Leftist majority upon which Crespe relied. Crespe tried to rein in the security services, but these responded by openly criticizing the government and its handling of the separatist issue. Having clearly failed at regaining the confidence of his own security forces, and having lost the confidence of his own ministers and ideological peers, and suffering PR defeat after defeat, Crespe resigned after just two years in office.

Two successors barely lasted longer than half a year, while violence in the Civrai region spiralled out of control. Shootouts between Separatists and the Republican Guard resulted in a bloodbath with hundreds of innocent civilians killed, while the country held its breath in fear of a looming civil war. The Republic was in a deep crisis, and everyone felt it. Rescue was perhaps nearby however.