[b]Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia[/b]

The sunlight fell golden through the amber liquid. Fanning out into a soft burst of light as the glass was held against the setting evening sun. Ulaanbaatar. The city was hardly old. Not by the standards set in Beijing, Nanking, or elsewhere. As it was, much of the city was built almost as modern revolutionaries would see it, influenced by what architectural ideas could be salvaged for the benefit of the Chinese state. Rising alongside the hidden old temples of the city's past, and almost in an attempt to tower above the mountains that wrung around the city in the distance were the steel and brick and glass skyscrapers of the Mongolian region's administration. Through its heart, the Tuul river cut a silvery path through the city, winding around un-developed grassy and rocky hills as it crawled out of the Mongolian steppe.

“Have you by chance heard what Mang Xhu's been campaigning under?” a stiffened man said, he was old. Somewhere over the hump of a man's life. His skin was kissed by the sun and was a darker olive than most. His eyes pressed thinner. But for the lines around his eyes he wore a happy smile, even given the circumstances.

“I haven't.” said his friend. Zhang Auyi. He sat reclined in a wicker chair atop the apartment building his friend called home. A top floor penthouse, though not nearly as large a flat as many Europeans would consider luxury. All the same he did enjoy many features that some kinsmen that still roamed as their ancestors had for thousands of years would consider wealthy.

Nekhii Bathukhan was a fortunate man.

“It is no wonder he seems to seek to campaign directly to us fellow politicians.” the Mongolian said, sitting down, “I was invited to a private dinner at his home in Beijing, if you're wondering why I know. Some fifteen other comrades of mine in parliament where there in attendance.”

“I had an invitation to one of those.” Auyi laughed, lowering his glass of beer to the table as he leaned back. He was still dressed in a thick black coat. A cold wind blew down from the north across the barren Mongolian steppe. A restless sort of continuous wind. It bit into him.

“And how'd you respond?” Bathukhan laughed, “I would think that two men competing for the same office would have interesting excuses.”

“I told him I was busy.” Auyi laughed, a large grin easing itself across his face, “I actually called him back thanking him for the invitation, but that I would be spending the date in Hong Kong at a conference between college staff.”

“And did you?” the Mongolian representative asked.

“I did, but not on that day. I did make sure to leave around the date of his party to not arose suspicion.” Auyi said with a snide laugh, “He – like I – has his birds no doubt. So if I didn't at least look the part he'd be suspicious.”

“Not to mention it hasn't ever been in good taste to be seen attending the parties of the man you're competing against.” Bathukhan agreed.

“Oh no, this was shortly before I applied to run for Grand Secretary!” laughed Auyi, “It's that when I heard later he was campaigning that inspired me to apply.”

“I see.” Bathukhan said casually, looking out over the glistening towers of a city at twilight.

“So what did Comrade Xhu have to say?” asked Auyi.

“The usual.” grunted Bathukhan, “I was almost offended enough to leave mid-way through. He's counting on the Unity Bloc in the National Congress to act as his supporting platform. He's hoping on the feeble resistance to the Autonomy Proposition.”

“How is that, by the way?” asked Auyi, “It's been silent in the papers for a while, and I haven't read any executive memos.”

“It's up for one more vote this coming week.” chirped Bathukhan, “Comrade Hou's stroke those couple months back threw us all off enough that the revision vote was delayed and the debates. I think the Unity Bloc managed to delay it as long as they did by pushing other topics into the way.”

The Mongolian looked up at his friend who looked to be already bored with the idea of discussing parliamentary procedure, “As it turns out, it had already used up enough time on argument on the floor to be moved to later.” he said in finished.

“I see.” Auyi nodded, raising the glass of beer to his lips and taking a sip.

“It's thrilling, and I would strangle most people some days if I wasn't an old man.” laughed Bathukhan.

“So did he appeal to anything else?” Auyi asked.

“Mostly got the bullshit to swim concerning total unity.” remarked Bathukhan, “I feel like he's a step and a half away to proposing that China annex the whole of the Third International as a singular, Beijing-centered government.

“Both you and I know how well that would go.”

“Is Mongolia still having reactionarian issues?” Auyi asked, curious.

“I think they all gave up in late 1969. Since then it's been quiet. Every once and a while we'll get someone setting fires to something downtown. But the large-scale post-annexation violence is gone.

“I've talked with a few men in the local IB about it and they say all intelligence suggests they've disbanded. There's a few self described 'old clans' out in the west. But you get out there and everyone's too busy moving their goats to actively fight Beijing.

“Here and in the East I'm sure Deep Gobi keeps the dissent subdued. Half this region's in helicopter range from there alone. Not much horses can do to evade that. And I say that as an avid, retired runner myself!” he added with an enthusiastic shout. His voice was rather booming when it needed to be.

Auyi couldn't help but laugh as he leaned over in his seat. Sipping again from the amber cup. “Xhu probably thinks that the region being the development center for the Ministry of Science is enough for up here then.”

“Most likely.” nodded Bathukhan, “I wouldn't say it's a total benefit. But it's certainly boosted the prominence of the local university.”