[b][u]Some Weeks Ago[/u][/b]

[b]Ente Hall, House of the Noble Parliament[/b]

Standing up from his seat and habitually brushing his suit off Kenst spoke above the cacophony of voices that had filed the room,“There seems to be quite a bit of debate, but please enlighten me Harns, what would we possibly have to gain from such posturing?”

For the first time in what seemed like ages since Belvon Harns presented his bill room fell silent as the assembled looked to Kenst and subsequently swivelled their heads towards Belvon, awaiting his answer.   Finally having the attention of the room the plump man took the opportunity to rise from his seat with a groan, supporting his considerable mass with a worn cane Kenst imagined was far from fit for the task.  After he'd stood Belvon took a moment to gaze around the room, no doubt judging how the others of the parliament had received his suggestion.  With a grunt to clear his throat Belvon began, “Posturing?  Why Terou you consider all support of the military posturing don't you?  I cannot recall a time you've ever agreed with our military policy.  This is merely what the nation requires to maintain its sovereignty in this day and age.”

Holding back the indignant retorts sure to emerge from his own allies with restraining wave Kenst chuckled, “You'd certainly like to think that Harns, but let's not disguise the issue.  Your bill would have us expand our standing forces enormously, an increase that would drain vital workers from our factories and farms, for the sake of what again?  We have never expanded our military so drasti-”

Slamming his cane into the ground Belvon cut Kenst off with a shout, “For we have never faced so great a threat!  The world has changed while our hair has greyed Terou!  If we sit idle there will only be ruin in the future!”

In the wake of the outburst several whispers cropped up around the long hall and its many seats, some dismissive of the prospect, but most echoing Belvon's fearful rhetoric.  Kenst found himself disturbed by how openly supportive the independent families seemed on the issue, but he put that thought aside for the moment.  Shaking his head he replied in equal calm to Belvon's anger, “The world may have changed, but we need not lash out at it for the action.  The relationship with Moravia you and your father before you pushed so hard for provides all the deterrence we need, why provoke our neighbours aimlessly?”

Belvon scowled as he shouted, “A state that cannot defend itself or act in its interests does not survive!”

With another slam of his cane he continued, “I will not allow that!  This nation will not fall to foreign aggression nor will it cower in the face of foreign power!  This kingdom will survive!”

At the conclusion of Belvons sentence an eruption of applause rose from his supporters, one that seemed to take an eternity to subside.  When silence and civility returned to the hall Belvon collapsed back into his chair and motioned for the vote to commence, clearly finished with his side of the debate.  Kenst could only sigh, he knew well his own liberal voting block would never defeat Belvon without independents. 

After handing in his ballot Kenst stood up and departed the main chamber of the noble parliament.  He had no power to stop Belvon there, nobody in Verendes had that power anymore.  Yet still something had to be done, and with a pause Kenst thought that if there was nothing else that those within the government could do, then just maybe other options were to be explored.

[b]Terou Estate[/b]

Having arrived throughout the night the men and women now assembled around the dimly lit long table  represented the core of the liberal voting block, though of late it seemed they represented its entireity.

 It had started years ago, but for more than a decade the moderates in parliament were vanishing.  Some had gone to the more reactionary groups within the government out of fear for their wealth when acts they helped pass prompted them to confront the reality of their supposed humanitarianism and ensure a standard of living for their workers, and others had been bought with exclusive contracts abroad.

Whatever the cause, the liberal faction had shrunk notably in the last ten years and looking upon nearly all of them Kenst could only fear for the future of the kingdom.  The act Belvon proposed had passed by an overwhelming majority and now all that could be hoped for was some way to mitigate the fallout among the general populace when the conscription notices started rolling out.

Across the table a woman’s voice rang out that broke Kenst from his contemplation, “This is becoming absurd!  How much longer must we sit by while that man fashions himself as Dictator?”

Looking up Kenst identified the speaker as Kaela Feste, one of the younger family heads in parliament.   Across from her Simon Esden nodded and added, “I'd have to agree, a year ago I'd have called it madness but if this goes on a coup is inevitable, Harns is trying to create his own Moravia.  Perhaps we could persuade the Queen to support us?  It'd be a propaganda victory if nothing else.”

Kenst rubbed his short white beard and cut in, “You know she doesn't have even close to the respect her father had.  Associating with political factions, especially ones on the losing side of the aisle, would be social suicide for her.  If you're right Harns would use that as all the excuse he needed to seize power.”

With an exasperated sigh Kaela leaned back in her chair, “Then what?  Are we damned to watch our nation descend into Harns personal plaything?  Must we wait patiently until he decides a purge is in order and we get the best seats at our own executions?”

Kenst slowly drummed his fingers against the table, “That may be extreme even for him, but I can't deny you have a point.  I've been thinking on the subject myself to be honest...  Though I'm not fond of the options I've been able to come up with.”

With a raised eyebrow Simon questioned, “Options?  Do share them Kenst, because regardless of how tasteless they may be if we don't do something within the next few months I fear it may be too late.”

Flattening his fidgeting hand onto the table Kenst nodded, “Before I say anything, I feel it's necessary to state that I've discounted any entirely domestic means of resolving this issue.  I despise that we are in this position, and it goes against all we believe, but we must seek the aid of outsiders.  Unfortunately... That leaves us with only two practical choices, the Communists, or the Valkyerians.”

Kaela looked ready to shout her protest, but it was clear that the harsh reality had been circling in her mind for some some time.  Resigned, she managed to utter a mere three words, “Not the Communists.”

Simon sighed and nodded, “I've never felt so vile, but you're right Kenst, and so is Kaela.  I'm not sure how we shall do it given current relations, but we are without choice.  We must contact Avalia.”

Kenst stood, “If any of you stand opposed to this course of action, speak now.”

Of all nine people there, none spoke a word.  With a nod of his own Kenst spoke once more, “Then we either save this nation or damn it to a fate worse than we are already barrelling towards.  I will look into ways of contacting Avalia.”