OOC: I do ask you not to reply here as this is a in depth look into my hellish wonderland, however if you wish TG any questions.
[A teachers' early morning]
The brisk morning air crept into the small one room apartment, whos walls were cracked and the lone window facing the dilapidated apartment buildings across the street; the street which was still dark as the old gray stone buildings blocked the sun from view at street level. The old radiator was still warm despite the electricity was out once more, as it is many time during the day, especially during the winter months when demand is higher. Getting seemed impossible this morning as the cold curled around the bed and awaiting for me to get up to attack with its coldness. But I must get up as the week long break from work is over and time for everyone to start going back to work.
As with there is no electricity warming up the cold water is impossible, that is if i'm lucky any water will come out with no power means the pumps that bring water to the upper floors aren't running, thus I must go to work with out a shower, though that is no problem the school has showers with hot water, a luxury that i'll never be able to afford. Being a school teacher in its self is a luxury a much better life than those who must labor each day year round with maybe if they're lucky two days off, in the factories that produce the goods consumed by the rich elite or needed to power the military.
I must be on the street in ten minutes or else i'll be forced to walk the five miles to the secondary school and even then risk losing my job or punished by the officials who patrol the streets. Any form of punishment really, they can send me to prison for breaking any numbers of laws that they see fit. So I must be at the curb for the bus, which so many in the city use or the trams as like so much owning a car is the greatest luxury that any civilian can buy.
On the bus ride for those five miles like after every holiday this past year the mood is subdued by the ever growing presence of armed military personal showing up on the streets making more arrests than in any year before. Many think this doing is by the new leader Kevin Anderson whom believes in a strong central government, one much stronger than we've witnessed where he believes many laws were rarely enforced and lax patrolling to catch perpetrators of what we think as non-serious crimes. Life under the old leader Kelin Frolls seamed like a paradise compared to what we have now, any type of criticizem of the government no matter how soft is punished by death, public at that even the family is rounded up and punished by public whippings.
Once I get off the bus at the school I am surprised by the number of armed military personal surrounding the school, I dare not to ask what the purpose of this is because I know as a teacher we will be informed what the meaning of this is for. It'll be either to protect the children or to make sure we're not breaking any new laws. My suspesion is the latter as it is known that the new leader despises public schools, believing that they are epicenters of future rebellions or independent thinking that goes against the intentions of the government. Still I walk into the doors and down into my classroom, which is adored with the national banner and a picture of the leader whom we must obey if not we're punished, in between the two are four large windows that give the students a overlook of the city. On the other wall facing the front a large blackboard which I must write the lessons the students will learn today, and on back wall a map of the nation and a book shelf filled with government approved books for the students use.
Behind the blackboard though is a closet where I keep all the students books, and lessons for the year. Like everything else the lessons must be approved by the government, sometimes though the government will send lessons to the school. That is the case for elementary classes other than math and science the government sends boxes to the classrooms for educational use, history and reading books are what is sent. The government for years has banned all use of computers, at one time many years ago when I was in school we used them for classes, but the government thought they would ruin the society and peoples intelligence. So they banned them, though the main reason many thought is that foreign governments would try to spy on the nation which could be true.
The schools announcer asks all teachers to report to the auditorium for a special announcement, like many I guess it is to tell us about why there are armed guards around the school. When I and many other teachers reach the auditorium we discover about five to six armed guards, guarding the doors leading inside, we are asked for out school ID and are allowed to pass. We all quietly take a set near the front rows, the first four are marked off, adding to many of our suspensions, which are soon answered. Because there right in front of us is Kevin Anderson our nations leader, like every time he is seen out in public he shows no emotion only give a stern look as he looks down onto us. Before starting he asks(more like demands) us to stand up for our nations anthem, afterwards we all sit back down.
Anderson walks up to the podium which as the nation national crest attached to it, "Good morning educators of Public School 34. By now everyone one of you should know me if not I don't know where you've been hiding. The main reason why i'm here today is to by every measure possible rid free thinking from my...our country, it once nearly destroyed us, and I will not let it happen again. My guards will search everyone of your class rooms for illegal materials such as journals where students may have been allowed to freely write what they think about our glorious nation. If any illegal materials are found in your room you will be arrested and possibly executed for defying the laws that I have set in place."
I walked back to my room with a guard following the moment I stepped into my room he ordered my to sit down at my desk and get ready for the Leader. I could hear however though out in the hall as the classroom doors were being opened and once or twice a shuffle of feet and the loud thumps of boots as some one was being escorted out of the school. I began to get nervous not knowing what may lay await for me, I know though that there are in fact no journals but what else will be considered illegal?
At this time there he stood in my room with about three to four guards looking sternly; Anderson simply slowly walked over to the book case looking thoroughly at everyone of the books. He picked one out that had an old worn cover, I have never paid any attention to it until now. I started to get even more nervous not knowing what that book contained. Anderson simply looked through it, slowly turned each page as if reading it, suddenly he turned towards me, instinctively I stand up.
Anderson looks at the book confused, "where did this come from?" he said in softly.
I simply answered, "Sir I regret that I have no clue, I..I uh have been working here for five weeks."
Walking closer, "Do you even know what book this is. No of course you wouldn't like you said, this book right here you have.....has been missing from the National Library for over fifty years since the war. This book was written by our nations first leader, General Fana Johnson it laid the foundation of this country."
Still confused a bit, but knowing very well what he is saying, "The book was lost during the first Civil War when the East seceded many thought it was destroyed. The Book of Fana has been then ever since the war been inside this class room?"
Smiling at me, which I found strange and scary he simply said was, "Yes.". Walking back to the door pausing to look at the book in his hand, "Your room passes, though I must admit school number thirty-four will be needing a new history teacher, as the old thought free thinking was okay."
I would be lying if I told you my heart wasn't racing at all, the leader smiled at me, but also made sure to let me know that free thinking shall never be allowed. Mrs. Haftin, the schools history teacher was the one who I heard being dragged out..I know that all the rest of us teachers shall be lead out side to the school courtyard to watch as our co-workers are executed.
After half an hour, all us teachers are told to go out to the schools courtyard. Out there in the ever cold morning are seven posts to which seven of our co-workers are tied and blindfolded to. I'm not watching the guards as much as I did this early morning, but i'm watching the Leader as he walks past all our co-workers. He stops in front of Miss Thierson, she's been here only three weeks, she's the librarian. My own room is three rooms from hers and I could clearly overhear the commotion. Poor thing, she'd been going through the whole library looking for anything that could be illegal. But the Leader cuts her free and says something, she crawls towards us but three feet from me a guard steps in front.
"Did the Great Leader tell you to move?" she says nothing, "You are to honor your Leader and do what he tells you, he did not tell you to move. That is dis-obeying your leader, which the punishment is death." He points a gun at her head and shoots her body collapses to the ground. Like the others i'm shocked but only so much. The Leader walks back a bit and gives the orders to fire, most of us close our eyes next thing we see is a small dark red dot appearing on their fore heads. We're told to go back to our class rooms and wait.
Life in Fantoa
Moderator: Pharaoh
Life in Fantoa
[The morning of a MP]
The room was small, in it just only a small bed which I lay and a trunk where I keep my clothes for when I have a day off which comes about twice a year. The room was warm...a bit too warm for me, but I enjoy it knowing that some where else in the city many were waking up cold, as their home had no electricity to warm the heaters. Overall I do enjoy getting up as each day of my job is joyful, unlike the regular person who must wake each morning and get onto the bus or tram so they will not face the likely punishment for having to walk with out the proper permit.
I must get out of bed and be ready to get into the conference hall to receive the days reports and orders. After taking a hot shower and eating a bowl of oatmeal, I dress and walk out into the hall. The place where I live is on a block that houses military police, like myself and top members of the national party who govern the nation with a iron fist. our Great Leader Kevin Anderson rules with a even hand though many civilians think otherwise, they know better than to speak out against the Great Leader or they'll be publicly executed and their family will receive at lest 100 lashes to their backs. It is the laws to protect this nation from another war. As I walk the long hall down to the conference room I still yet admire the pictures of the past great leaders of this land and the great generals who sacrificed so much to help keep this land glorious.
Once I arrive in the hall, I take my seat and wait until our Captain walks in we all rise and salute him as he returns our salute. Motioned to take our seats the thirty of us are told what our orders today will be; "Today we will be accompanying the Great Leader Anderson to Public School number thirty-four wherein he shall talk to the teachers and look through their classrooms. What he'll be looking for exactly will be illegal materials such as journals that were written by freedom of thinking and such. Any teacher that is found guilty of committing any crimes while the Great Leader is there will be arrested at once, marched out of the school to a courtyard wherein they'll be executed for committing such crimes."
The ride to the school was short, as like any official government activity all people and non-government vehicles move out of the way. However though there are a few times those who do not move out of the way, and with people..well they're simply ran over after all human lives in Fantoa mainly civilians lives are not worth the cost. And on this cold day wherein many are bundled up the truck runs over three, one was carrying a baby but oh well more will be born.
Once at the school we are in our body armor with M-16s strapped around us, as I look down the street towards the front of the school I see a younger school teacher staring at us then quickly walking inside. Good for him as if he'd stood there any long he'd been arrested for what ever crime we wanted to charge him with. In this case we could charged him with trying to organize a protest, which the crime is punishable by death.
After five minutes, we're called inside to help aid our Great Leader in the searching of class rooms, any and all materials that show free thinking has been allowed will result in death for those teachers who's class rooms such things are found. I find myself in the hallway next to the history class room, I watch as four guards enter as does our Great Leader. He says a few words very sternly has I also hear people ripping pages out of a book? The next thing I see is a middle-aged woman being dragged out of the room with tears running down her cheeks, the Great Leader passes by me nodding his head. He walks into what I think is a Literature classroom, my commander is smiling at me and whispers, I've got a good feeling today, many traitors shall die.". I simply nod my head in agreement.
The Great Leader says a few words about a book, then leaves that classroom showing that it has passed. As I walk by, glancing into the room I see the same younger teacher I saw this morning looking very relived. Up next I'm ordered into a library to search through all the books for anything that is illegal, the librarian that I can see is crying and very nervous. The third book I reach for is hidden behind several large books, the title is all the proof I need to demand an explanation (Our Love For Democracy).
I walk up to her holding the book cover first so that my commander can see as well. Sternly, "Why is this book here?"
The librarian shaking, and mumbling something I can't understand. Now I shout at her, "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!".
She looks up with even more tears streaming down her cheeks, This...th...is..my first year, I was going through all the books and I thought...".
I give her no time to finish, "You thought what? That this is ok. Now explain yourself!".
Holding tightly onto her wrist, no looking back down, "the former librarian, told me it was ok to keep it, as...as Leader Frolls gave it...".
I grab her wrists and so does another guard, she's pulling and screaming to not to kill her that aggravates me to the point I pull her hair back and force to look into the eyes of the Great Leader. He takes out a knife and uses it to write on her arm, "NO DEMOCRACY". She's now all out and screaming with a nod of the Great Leaders head, I shove her to the ground, and shout, "HOW DARE YOU DEFY YOUR LEADER AND LIE ABOUT LEADER FROLLS!" Two guards come and drag her out of the room, blood dripping onto the tiles all the way out.
Twenty-minutes latter we're all outside in the school court-yard, the teachers have been ordered to come out and watch as their co-workers die, for harboring illegal materials and as a future lesson. Out of the fifty teachers and administrators, seven will be executed, each of the seven have been tied to polls and blind folded. Great Leader walks out and passes by each of them, he stops right in front of the librarian and cuts the ropes. She falls to the ground where-in he says something to her, she shakes her head up and down and starts to crawl towards the school. One guard steps in-front of her, Did the Great Leader tell you to move?" she says nothing, "You are to honor your Leader and do what he tells you, he did not tell you to move. That is dis-obeying your leader, which the punishment is death." He point the gun at her head and shoots her body collapses to the ground.
The Leader gives the order to fire, all six are killed in one try their heads flop down and a small dark red dot appears on all their foreheads. The Leader speaks up again, "Let this be a lesson to all of you, that free thinking will never be allowed and this will be your punishment".
The room was small, in it just only a small bed which I lay and a trunk where I keep my clothes for when I have a day off which comes about twice a year. The room was warm...a bit too warm for me, but I enjoy it knowing that some where else in the city many were waking up cold, as their home had no electricity to warm the heaters. Overall I do enjoy getting up as each day of my job is joyful, unlike the regular person who must wake each morning and get onto the bus or tram so they will not face the likely punishment for having to walk with out the proper permit.
I must get out of bed and be ready to get into the conference hall to receive the days reports and orders. After taking a hot shower and eating a bowl of oatmeal, I dress and walk out into the hall. The place where I live is on a block that houses military police, like myself and top members of the national party who govern the nation with a iron fist. our Great Leader Kevin Anderson rules with a even hand though many civilians think otherwise, they know better than to speak out against the Great Leader or they'll be publicly executed and their family will receive at lest 100 lashes to their backs. It is the laws to protect this nation from another war. As I walk the long hall down to the conference room I still yet admire the pictures of the past great leaders of this land and the great generals who sacrificed so much to help keep this land glorious.
Once I arrive in the hall, I take my seat and wait until our Captain walks in we all rise and salute him as he returns our salute. Motioned to take our seats the thirty of us are told what our orders today will be; "Today we will be accompanying the Great Leader Anderson to Public School number thirty-four wherein he shall talk to the teachers and look through their classrooms. What he'll be looking for exactly will be illegal materials such as journals that were written by freedom of thinking and such. Any teacher that is found guilty of committing any crimes while the Great Leader is there will be arrested at once, marched out of the school to a courtyard wherein they'll be executed for committing such crimes."
The ride to the school was short, as like any official government activity all people and non-government vehicles move out of the way. However though there are a few times those who do not move out of the way, and with people..well they're simply ran over after all human lives in Fantoa mainly civilians lives are not worth the cost. And on this cold day wherein many are bundled up the truck runs over three, one was carrying a baby but oh well more will be born.
Once at the school we are in our body armor with M-16s strapped around us, as I look down the street towards the front of the school I see a younger school teacher staring at us then quickly walking inside. Good for him as if he'd stood there any long he'd been arrested for what ever crime we wanted to charge him with. In this case we could charged him with trying to organize a protest, which the crime is punishable by death.
After five minutes, we're called inside to help aid our Great Leader in the searching of class rooms, any and all materials that show free thinking has been allowed will result in death for those teachers who's class rooms such things are found. I find myself in the hallway next to the history class room, I watch as four guards enter as does our Great Leader. He says a few words very sternly has I also hear people ripping pages out of a book? The next thing I see is a middle-aged woman being dragged out of the room with tears running down her cheeks, the Great Leader passes by me nodding his head. He walks into what I think is a Literature classroom, my commander is smiling at me and whispers, I've got a good feeling today, many traitors shall die.". I simply nod my head in agreement.
The Great Leader says a few words about a book, then leaves that classroom showing that it has passed. As I walk by, glancing into the room I see the same younger teacher I saw this morning looking very relived. Up next I'm ordered into a library to search through all the books for anything that is illegal, the librarian that I can see is crying and very nervous. The third book I reach for is hidden behind several large books, the title is all the proof I need to demand an explanation (Our Love For Democracy).
I walk up to her holding the book cover first so that my commander can see as well. Sternly, "Why is this book here?"
The librarian shaking, and mumbling something I can't understand. Now I shout at her, "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!".
She looks up with even more tears streaming down her cheeks, This...th...is..my first year, I was going through all the books and I thought...".
I give her no time to finish, "You thought what? That this is ok. Now explain yourself!".
Holding tightly onto her wrist, no looking back down, "the former librarian, told me it was ok to keep it, as...as Leader Frolls gave it...".
I grab her wrists and so does another guard, she's pulling and screaming to not to kill her that aggravates me to the point I pull her hair back and force to look into the eyes of the Great Leader. He takes out a knife and uses it to write on her arm, "NO DEMOCRACY". She's now all out and screaming with a nod of the Great Leaders head, I shove her to the ground, and shout, "HOW DARE YOU DEFY YOUR LEADER AND LIE ABOUT LEADER FROLLS!" Two guards come and drag her out of the room, blood dripping onto the tiles all the way out.
Twenty-minutes latter we're all outside in the school court-yard, the teachers have been ordered to come out and watch as their co-workers die, for harboring illegal materials and as a future lesson. Out of the fifty teachers and administrators, seven will be executed, each of the seven have been tied to polls and blind folded. Great Leader walks out and passes by each of them, he stops right in front of the librarian and cuts the ropes. She falls to the ground where-in he says something to her, she shakes her head up and down and starts to crawl towards the school. One guard steps in-front of her, Did the Great Leader tell you to move?" she says nothing, "You are to honor your Leader and do what he tells you, he did not tell you to move. That is dis-obeying your leader, which the punishment is death." He point the gun at her head and shoots her body collapses to the ground.
The Leader gives the order to fire, all six are killed in one try their heads flop down and a small dark red dot appears on all their foreheads. The Leader speaks up again, "Let this be a lesson to all of you, that free thinking will never be allowed and this will be your punishment".
Life in Fantoa
[Continued...Teachers afternoon]
After the events earlier today, it is in no doubt that I along with the rest of the staff is still in shock and trying to get over their feelings. We all knew that this day may come and that we will lose a few good educators, Anderson is as ruthless as well have come to know his guards come in and drag our co-workers out. Though like all good citizens we dared not to show any resistance towards their actions or else we'd have been killed along with them. It was ten o' clock when Anderson left and when we had to clean up, before any of the students could enter.
At eleven, my class was becoming more full, the students are mostly from factory worker families two though are from the elite class in this nation. The elite class students you can always tell them from the factory worker families, they're always better feed they come to school with their own lunch boxes filled with food and delicacies that the other poorer students and their families could barely afford. With the elite students, we as teachers must always be on the look out, not for the elites but for the poorer students anything they say will be held against them and their family. Last year I had a student who bad mouthed the family of an elite, the guards were called in and that student was dragged out.
when I was coming home on the bus there was a large crowd of people, were in a square near the school, I got off the bus to see what was happening. There in the middle tied to a pole, was the student being whipped by a guard an elderly woman told me that the family he mouthed off to was General Falther. The student was sentenced to 300 lashes over a course of ten days, his family was rounded up and lashed too, each receiving 90. I knew that the student wouldn't live long enough to see out his sentence, I was right he died on the fifth day, on the 134th lash. After the guards confirmed he had died, they allowed the public to view the body, his back was just shredded, one could easily see his back bone. The family, they were thrown in jail for five days, the body like all guards throw gasoline on and light on fire. It reminds all of us that the life of a human in this country is minuscule and death..is painful.
The students have just seated when the bell rang to begin class, "Now today we shall over view our lessons before the break. In 1999 Great Leader Frolls assumed power after the death of Supreme Leader Jonson. Supreme Leader Jonson, had ruled our great nation since its founding in 1932, when we had won our independence from the imperialist pigs. The imperialist pigs are also known as Alkoul, you see Alkoul hated Supreme Leader Jonson, to the point they exiled him to an island off the cost of our great nation. But this was in the year 1931, Alkoul at this time sub com from its imperialist ways and was being destroyed from the inside out. Given this chance Supreme Leader Jonson came back to our nation and lead the people in a great revolt, that we today know as the People's Revolt. Seven thousand Alkoul soldiers fought against our people during the revolt, in the end the pigs were defeated and Supreme Leader Jonson, declared that Fantoa was free at last."
One of the elite students raised her hand, "Not to be rude or anything Mr. Todlyn, but may I ask where Miss Thierson is? She told me before break that she'd help me with my history project for Mrs. Haftins class who is also missing."
I know very well, she knows what happened to both of them, but I have been trained to avoid these questions, "Miss Falther, now is not the time, we are not talking about either Miss Thierson or Mrs. Haftin are we. Now do I have any other topic related questions? Good now take out your pencils, for the test." As I hand out each test, I can see out the corner of my eye, Miss Falther is smiling, as I look up at her she makes a motion with her index figure that shocks me. She made a throat slicing motion, then pointed to me. I didn't say anything, and continued to hand out the tests Miss Falther like all the students don't know but by the order of Anderson, all public schools in Eagle Center have security cameras installed. Each classroom has four, positioned in the corners of the room, they are hidden of course and teachers and/or students can use the footage for their own defense.
I walk to the closet behind the chalkboard and make a copy onto a tape where Miss Falther made the threat, even though she's an elite her father General Falther has much respect for educators, as his own father was one. I walk out of the room with the tape in hand and head for the office. As I walk down the hallway, I get the sensation that something is about to happen, like..like several armed guards will burst into the school. I had just walked into the office when five Military Police, the five were the same ones here earlier. They ask where George Hidderhill is, the Principal tells them and they walk off, I look at the secretary with a worried face knowing that his father must have done something or said something and was reported.
I try to get back to normal, and hand the tape to the Principal, "General Falther will be most displeased with dear Abaline". He shakes his head, then looks ups and I turn around there the five police are dragging, George Hidderhill out of the school. One of them says his father spoke out against the government and the whole family is being sent to a "rehabilitation camp" in others words either a hard labor work camp or death camp depending on the crime.
After the events earlier today, it is in no doubt that I along with the rest of the staff is still in shock and trying to get over their feelings. We all knew that this day may come and that we will lose a few good educators, Anderson is as ruthless as well have come to know his guards come in and drag our co-workers out. Though like all good citizens we dared not to show any resistance towards their actions or else we'd have been killed along with them. It was ten o' clock when Anderson left and when we had to clean up, before any of the students could enter.
At eleven, my class was becoming more full, the students are mostly from factory worker families two though are from the elite class in this nation. The elite class students you can always tell them from the factory worker families, they're always better feed they come to school with their own lunch boxes filled with food and delicacies that the other poorer students and their families could barely afford. With the elite students, we as teachers must always be on the look out, not for the elites but for the poorer students anything they say will be held against them and their family. Last year I had a student who bad mouthed the family of an elite, the guards were called in and that student was dragged out.
when I was coming home on the bus there was a large crowd of people, were in a square near the school, I got off the bus to see what was happening. There in the middle tied to a pole, was the student being whipped by a guard an elderly woman told me that the family he mouthed off to was General Falther. The student was sentenced to 300 lashes over a course of ten days, his family was rounded up and lashed too, each receiving 90. I knew that the student wouldn't live long enough to see out his sentence, I was right he died on the fifth day, on the 134th lash. After the guards confirmed he had died, they allowed the public to view the body, his back was just shredded, one could easily see his back bone. The family, they were thrown in jail for five days, the body like all guards throw gasoline on and light on fire. It reminds all of us that the life of a human in this country is minuscule and death..is painful.
The students have just seated when the bell rang to begin class, "Now today we shall over view our lessons before the break. In 1999 Great Leader Frolls assumed power after the death of Supreme Leader Jonson. Supreme Leader Jonson, had ruled our great nation since its founding in 1932, when we had won our independence from the imperialist pigs. The imperialist pigs are also known as Alkoul, you see Alkoul hated Supreme Leader Jonson, to the point they exiled him to an island off the cost of our great nation. But this was in the year 1931, Alkoul at this time sub com from its imperialist ways and was being destroyed from the inside out. Given this chance Supreme Leader Jonson came back to our nation and lead the people in a great revolt, that we today know as the People's Revolt. Seven thousand Alkoul soldiers fought against our people during the revolt, in the end the pigs were defeated and Supreme Leader Jonson, declared that Fantoa was free at last."
One of the elite students raised her hand, "Not to be rude or anything Mr. Todlyn, but may I ask where Miss Thierson is? She told me before break that she'd help me with my history project for Mrs. Haftins class who is also missing."
I know very well, she knows what happened to both of them, but I have been trained to avoid these questions, "Miss Falther, now is not the time, we are not talking about either Miss Thierson or Mrs. Haftin are we. Now do I have any other topic related questions? Good now take out your pencils, for the test." As I hand out each test, I can see out the corner of my eye, Miss Falther is smiling, as I look up at her she makes a motion with her index figure that shocks me. She made a throat slicing motion, then pointed to me. I didn't say anything, and continued to hand out the tests Miss Falther like all the students don't know but by the order of Anderson, all public schools in Eagle Center have security cameras installed. Each classroom has four, positioned in the corners of the room, they are hidden of course and teachers and/or students can use the footage for their own defense.
I walk to the closet behind the chalkboard and make a copy onto a tape where Miss Falther made the threat, even though she's an elite her father General Falther has much respect for educators, as his own father was one. I walk out of the room with the tape in hand and head for the office. As I walk down the hallway, I get the sensation that something is about to happen, like..like several armed guards will burst into the school. I had just walked into the office when five Military Police, the five were the same ones here earlier. They ask where George Hidderhill is, the Principal tells them and they walk off, I look at the secretary with a worried face knowing that his father must have done something or said something and was reported.
I try to get back to normal, and hand the tape to the Principal, "General Falther will be most displeased with dear Abaline". He shakes his head, then looks ups and I turn around there the five police are dragging, George Hidderhill out of the school. One of them says his father spoke out against the government and the whole family is being sent to a "rehabilitation camp" in others words either a hard labor work camp or death camp depending on the crime.
Life in Fantoa
A MP's day continued
It hadn't been no more than a n hour since we left the school then our commander had an arrest for us to carry out. The kids father earlier in the day had gone on a crazy public rant against the government and Leader Anderson, calling for him to be hung and to start a second people's revolt. Of course those watching him dared not to join him, knowing very well what would happen to them as well. The kids name is George Hidderhill, his family are factory workers, like all of them they work long hours each week up to 60-70 hours, it isn't un-common for some of them to go off their nut, but that is no excuse to defy the government. His family spaning two generations will be sent to a rehabilitation camp, namely death camp in this case. On the drive back to the school we were going slower we know if the kid were to run, by days end the whole city would know his fathers crimes and he'd be helpless.
One of my fellow soldiers looked over at me and smiled asking, "I still don't understand why you'd leave the center of this city for this life style." Before going back to stare out the window he says, "Hey how your uncle been doing?" Everyone in my unit says this all the time and jokes about it, at this point I laugh too, you see my family belongs to the elite class, those who are rich CEOs or hold high government positions. My father is our nations number two leader, while my uncle his brother is....Leader Kevin Anderson. Though both were and still are supportive of my choice to join the Army, for you see children of the elite classes don't have to serve their country in-voluntarily, they get options, what I did is rare.
As we pull up to the school a heavily armored van is already waiting there, along with three guards who will take the kid to one of the camps his family is more and less already at. One of the guards looks at us with a frown and asks what took us so long, we just ignore him camp MPS are not well liked among city MPs they're very impatient and rude, maybe its just that we don't understand what they go through each day. We walk up to the office and ask the principal were the student in question is, as we pass I see the same young teacher that i've seen twice now, normally when I see civilians this many times they're about to be executed. We enter the classroom where the whole room falls silent, I ask where Geroge Hiderhill is and the entire class looks at him, his face drains of color and we escort him out of the room then the school. Before we throw him into the back of the van he his read what charges have been placed against him. The charges are, associating with a anti-government activist whos plot is to overthrow the government and or to assassinate the Leader. His sentence is life at a Class B Rehabilitation Camp, or commonly referred to everyone in the nation as a death camp.
Our unit only carriers out these arrests as we're to stay with-in the confined's of Eagle Center unless we're given orders, otherwise those who are on duty who leave maybe charged with desertion which is a five year sentence to a hard labor camp. Now if a whole unit were to leave the city with out any orders the unit and every member in it would be charged with treason and attempting to start a rebellion, the sentence is of course death by firing squad. The rest of our afternoon is the same as so many others, arresting people for not having the proper permits to walk around freely during a workday, helping mothers find lost toddlers warning them afterwards that their child will be sent to a military school if they do not watch more carefully.
I along with many other MPs who work in Eagle Center are thankful their not one of the seven thousand who must patrol the dangerous streets of our once glorious capital of Fantoa City. Years of war, government in-stability and national in-fighting have taken its toll on the once gallant city, what used to be home to a some eight million people now home to 130,000 and millions of tons of ruin and debris, those who still live here now live in what used to be the elite side of the city, one of the only areas that wasn't badly destroyed. Among these survivors are 4,000 militants of the Free Fantoan Army rebels who once back King Iris and his government, they control small sections of the city, but that land has been shrinking and so have their numbers.
Before my uncle became Supreme Leader of all Fantoa he was Kelin Frolls number two for many years, he was of most help during the last civil war in which imperialist dogs back the government of Iris Hefson a former general of Frolls of 22 years. He named himself king and ruled Fantoa for about six months, during that time his government controlled 90% of Fantoa including Eagle Center. My family we didn't leave the city fast enough and iris's government arrested all of us and we were thrown into prison for five months, we were freed one hour afterFrolls took back the city and he personally invited us up front in the square that night. That night the top political figures of the Iris government were marched onto a stage, changed and blindfolded to be executed in-front of a crowd of 10,000. One of those who were executed was Frolls only son, he was named President by Iris to be a jab at his father, who knew that his father would get the last luagh.
latter
Our units shift is over so I dress in my civilian clothes and make sure to get my proper credentials in the case any on duty MPs ask to see my ID. The day has gotten colder, it doesn't help though with the shadows of the gray-stoned buildings blocking out the rays of the sun to aid in providing any warmth. It's now mid-afternoon I see many school children running about, in a hurry to get home and do their home work as they all strive not to let down their parents, family and most of all the Leader. As I get to the bus stop, the only one closest that takes me to the walls of the center of the city, I overhear a conversation between two men, by the way they're dressed the must work in one of the factories down the way.
"Did you hear what happened at school thirty-four, apparently seven staff were shot, one by Anderson himself, for harboring free thinking materials"
"Anderson,....he's an ass he..."
"Andre...be careful what you say.....you want your family taken to a death camp?"
"Just saying Frolls was better.....brutal but fair."
Luckily for Andre, two MPs walked up second after he stopped talking asking for their IDs, they both show theirs and the MPs nod. They turn to me and I hand them mine, the one a Sargent asks me sternly, "Lieutenant Anderson, why are you taking a civilian bus?"
"It's the only bus that takes me right to the walls of the city center, why wait hours to get permission to use a military car?" I see the man named Andre looking at me with wide eyes, the MPs aren't paying him any attention since theirs is focused on me. After hearing my explanation, they nod and walk off. The bus has just arrived and Andre now looks as if he's about to break out in a sweat, I state sternly, "You are very lucky that i'm off duty, and didn't report your actions when I had the chance."
It hadn't been no more than a n hour since we left the school then our commander had an arrest for us to carry out. The kids father earlier in the day had gone on a crazy public rant against the government and Leader Anderson, calling for him to be hung and to start a second people's revolt. Of course those watching him dared not to join him, knowing very well what would happen to them as well. The kids name is George Hidderhill, his family are factory workers, like all of them they work long hours each week up to 60-70 hours, it isn't un-common for some of them to go off their nut, but that is no excuse to defy the government. His family spaning two generations will be sent to a rehabilitation camp, namely death camp in this case. On the drive back to the school we were going slower we know if the kid were to run, by days end the whole city would know his fathers crimes and he'd be helpless.
One of my fellow soldiers looked over at me and smiled asking, "I still don't understand why you'd leave the center of this city for this life style." Before going back to stare out the window he says, "Hey how your uncle been doing?" Everyone in my unit says this all the time and jokes about it, at this point I laugh too, you see my family belongs to the elite class, those who are rich CEOs or hold high government positions. My father is our nations number two leader, while my uncle his brother is....Leader Kevin Anderson. Though both were and still are supportive of my choice to join the Army, for you see children of the elite classes don't have to serve their country in-voluntarily, they get options, what I did is rare.
As we pull up to the school a heavily armored van is already waiting there, along with three guards who will take the kid to one of the camps his family is more and less already at. One of the guards looks at us with a frown and asks what took us so long, we just ignore him camp MPS are not well liked among city MPs they're very impatient and rude, maybe its just that we don't understand what they go through each day. We walk up to the office and ask the principal were the student in question is, as we pass I see the same young teacher that i've seen twice now, normally when I see civilians this many times they're about to be executed. We enter the classroom where the whole room falls silent, I ask where Geroge Hiderhill is and the entire class looks at him, his face drains of color and we escort him out of the room then the school. Before we throw him into the back of the van he his read what charges have been placed against him. The charges are, associating with a anti-government activist whos plot is to overthrow the government and or to assassinate the Leader. His sentence is life at a Class B Rehabilitation Camp, or commonly referred to everyone in the nation as a death camp.
Our unit only carriers out these arrests as we're to stay with-in the confined's of Eagle Center unless we're given orders, otherwise those who are on duty who leave maybe charged with desertion which is a five year sentence to a hard labor camp. Now if a whole unit were to leave the city with out any orders the unit and every member in it would be charged with treason and attempting to start a rebellion, the sentence is of course death by firing squad. The rest of our afternoon is the same as so many others, arresting people for not having the proper permits to walk around freely during a workday, helping mothers find lost toddlers warning them afterwards that their child will be sent to a military school if they do not watch more carefully.
I along with many other MPs who work in Eagle Center are thankful their not one of the seven thousand who must patrol the dangerous streets of our once glorious capital of Fantoa City. Years of war, government in-stability and national in-fighting have taken its toll on the once gallant city, what used to be home to a some eight million people now home to 130,000 and millions of tons of ruin and debris, those who still live here now live in what used to be the elite side of the city, one of the only areas that wasn't badly destroyed. Among these survivors are 4,000 militants of the Free Fantoan Army rebels who once back King Iris and his government, they control small sections of the city, but that land has been shrinking and so have their numbers.
Before my uncle became Supreme Leader of all Fantoa he was Kelin Frolls number two for many years, he was of most help during the last civil war in which imperialist dogs back the government of Iris Hefson a former general of Frolls of 22 years. He named himself king and ruled Fantoa for about six months, during that time his government controlled 90% of Fantoa including Eagle Center. My family we didn't leave the city fast enough and iris's government arrested all of us and we were thrown into prison for five months, we were freed one hour afterFrolls took back the city and he personally invited us up front in the square that night. That night the top political figures of the Iris government were marched onto a stage, changed and blindfolded to be executed in-front of a crowd of 10,000. One of those who were executed was Frolls only son, he was named President by Iris to be a jab at his father, who knew that his father would get the last luagh.
latter
Our units shift is over so I dress in my civilian clothes and make sure to get my proper credentials in the case any on duty MPs ask to see my ID. The day has gotten colder, it doesn't help though with the shadows of the gray-stoned buildings blocking out the rays of the sun to aid in providing any warmth. It's now mid-afternoon I see many school children running about, in a hurry to get home and do their home work as they all strive not to let down their parents, family and most of all the Leader. As I get to the bus stop, the only one closest that takes me to the walls of the center of the city, I overhear a conversation between two men, by the way they're dressed the must work in one of the factories down the way.
"Did you hear what happened at school thirty-four, apparently seven staff were shot, one by Anderson himself, for harboring free thinking materials"
"Anderson,....he's an ass he..."
"Andre...be careful what you say.....you want your family taken to a death camp?"
"Just saying Frolls was better.....brutal but fair."
Luckily for Andre, two MPs walked up second after he stopped talking asking for their IDs, they both show theirs and the MPs nod. They turn to me and I hand them mine, the one a Sargent asks me sternly, "Lieutenant Anderson, why are you taking a civilian bus?"
"It's the only bus that takes me right to the walls of the city center, why wait hours to get permission to use a military car?" I see the man named Andre looking at me with wide eyes, the MPs aren't paying him any attention since theirs is focused on me. After hearing my explanation, they nod and walk off. The bus has just arrived and Andre now looks as if he's about to break out in a sweat, I state sternly, "You are very lucky that i'm off duty, and didn't report your actions when I had the chance."
Life in Fantoa
Leader Andersons' morning
The Center
The walled enclosure in the center of Eagle Center where the majority of the elite class live also known as The Center, the area is about three square miles, dotted with high rises, large supermarkets and unlike the rest of the nation the idea of rolling blackouts is absurd. In the center of The Center is Fantoas seat of power and the home of Leader Anderson, the ultra modern building encompasses over one hundred acres of land, of which include a three acre pond slash fountain.
[/hr]
The sun had just risen over the city, even for late December the morning air was quite chilly, Supreme Commander Kevin Anderson resisted in waking, pulling the heavy bed covers over his head. He finally woke, but not after his phone rang which demanded his attention, picking it up "What?...Ok." sighing as he got up and pulling his robe on. After a few minutes he steps out into the enclosed veranda looking out over the skyline of the ultra modern city. Two young women walk up, both hold trays one with coffee and the other with his breakfast, they carefully place both down on the table doing their best to avoid eye contact. Before they leave Anderson examines their clothing, both wearing the exact same outfit dark blue robes dropping to the ankles and tied at the waist. They both wear their hair pulled back in a pony tail.
He nods and they leave, while eating his breakfast an older man walks out and pulls up a seat, taking out the paper he sighs, "Kevin, what exactly are you going to do about the rebels in the north-west. They believe they are winning the war and I have heard rumors that many citizens in that region are trying to rise up and fight back. I'm not the leader anymore but I'm having a hard time not criticizing your lack of action. If I were still the head of this nation I would have carpet bombed them and sent in 20,000 troops to kill every last one of them."
Dropping his fork Anderson sighs, "Kelin, you are not the head of this nation under stand that right now. I know what i'm doing, for weeks now we've been cutting them off from food, water and energy. Daily air raids, dropping 200 pound bombs on their positions repeatedly knocking out their radio and TV stations. Our plan has been clear, weaken their morals and make them feel they are fighting a losing battle."
Sitting back into the chair Kelin looks out and the skyline of the city, "Though I will and must admit, you have transformed this nation, I mean the old capitol Fantoa City never looked this good, Eagle Center is the utopia that our fearless founder Fana dreamed of all those years ago. Hell I never in my life have I seen the economy so strong in my life."
Anderson nodding, "Well i've been more willing to accept bribes from the corporations and allow them to do as they please, to a point. Is that wrong, well I suppose in Fana's eyes it would be, but giving these CEOs free range we are able to increase our manufacturing and keep to his idea of self reliance. Though on the positive, our exports are up three fold since you left power."
Stirring his hot tea Kelin looks down, "So with a growing economy, are you going to allow the people to earn more, and let them think they have more freedoms and then start to think they are more powerful than the state?"
Anderson getting up and looking down "You know damn well that I wont allow that to happen the nation as a whole is stronger now, and the people know what real fear is, your laws were weak, mine are strong. You step out of line, the first of steel comes down on you and leaves ripples to everyone you know." As he walked into the room he heard Kelin say something back but couldn't hear it very well.
After he dressed for the day Anderson walked into his office, which is in the same building he lives in. When he first came to power many top advisors urged him to live else where believing if Fantoa were attacked the palace was would be the first place attacked. None the less Anderson has always ignored the advice from others even Kelin. Sitting down and almost immediately General Yirito walked in, "Sir, I have come here to request your attention to the situation in the Xiang valley."
Anderson thinking, "What's going on in that valley?"
Yirito walking up to his ear and whispering, "The dam blast."
Anderson raising his head then nodding, "Ah yes, the Xiang Dam, yes General the blast will go ahead as planned. Now please I am trying to plan a state visit, with a nation whos ideals pair with ours. The last damn thing we need is a war with another country." Pulling out a drawer and handing the General a pile of papers, "If it all goes to plan, Xiang will be under water."
"Thank you sir." General Yriito quickly walks out.
Swiveling his chair to stare out the window, "Yes, the people of Xiang will know why they are being punished, that damn civil rights activist has been a thorn on my side for years, but now we have in our hands, we'll force him to watch as everyone he knows and loves dies with a twenty foot high wall of water." Pushing a button on his desk, with in moments one of the young blue robed women walk in. Barking at her Anderson gives her a envelope, "Take it to Minister Zafe."
The Center
The walled enclosure in the center of Eagle Center where the majority of the elite class live also known as The Center, the area is about three square miles, dotted with high rises, large supermarkets and unlike the rest of the nation the idea of rolling blackouts is absurd. In the center of The Center is Fantoas seat of power and the home of Leader Anderson, the ultra modern building encompasses over one hundred acres of land, of which include a three acre pond slash fountain.
[/hr]
The sun had just risen over the city, even for late December the morning air was quite chilly, Supreme Commander Kevin Anderson resisted in waking, pulling the heavy bed covers over his head. He finally woke, but not after his phone rang which demanded his attention, picking it up "What?...Ok." sighing as he got up and pulling his robe on. After a few minutes he steps out into the enclosed veranda looking out over the skyline of the ultra modern city. Two young women walk up, both hold trays one with coffee and the other with his breakfast, they carefully place both down on the table doing their best to avoid eye contact. Before they leave Anderson examines their clothing, both wearing the exact same outfit dark blue robes dropping to the ankles and tied at the waist. They both wear their hair pulled back in a pony tail.
He nods and they leave, while eating his breakfast an older man walks out and pulls up a seat, taking out the paper he sighs, "Kevin, what exactly are you going to do about the rebels in the north-west. They believe they are winning the war and I have heard rumors that many citizens in that region are trying to rise up and fight back. I'm not the leader anymore but I'm having a hard time not criticizing your lack of action. If I were still the head of this nation I would have carpet bombed them and sent in 20,000 troops to kill every last one of them."
Dropping his fork Anderson sighs, "Kelin, you are not the head of this nation under stand that right now. I know what i'm doing, for weeks now we've been cutting them off from food, water and energy. Daily air raids, dropping 200 pound bombs on their positions repeatedly knocking out their radio and TV stations. Our plan has been clear, weaken their morals and make them feel they are fighting a losing battle."
Sitting back into the chair Kelin looks out and the skyline of the city, "Though I will and must admit, you have transformed this nation, I mean the old capitol Fantoa City never looked this good, Eagle Center is the utopia that our fearless founder Fana dreamed of all those years ago. Hell I never in my life have I seen the economy so strong in my life."
Anderson nodding, "Well i've been more willing to accept bribes from the corporations and allow them to do as they please, to a point. Is that wrong, well I suppose in Fana's eyes it would be, but giving these CEOs free range we are able to increase our manufacturing and keep to his idea of self reliance. Though on the positive, our exports are up three fold since you left power."
Stirring his hot tea Kelin looks down, "So with a growing economy, are you going to allow the people to earn more, and let them think they have more freedoms and then start to think they are more powerful than the state?"
Anderson getting up and looking down "You know damn well that I wont allow that to happen the nation as a whole is stronger now, and the people know what real fear is, your laws were weak, mine are strong. You step out of line, the first of steel comes down on you and leaves ripples to everyone you know." As he walked into the room he heard Kelin say something back but couldn't hear it very well.
After he dressed for the day Anderson walked into his office, which is in the same building he lives in. When he first came to power many top advisors urged him to live else where believing if Fantoa were attacked the palace was would be the first place attacked. None the less Anderson has always ignored the advice from others even Kelin. Sitting down and almost immediately General Yirito walked in, "Sir, I have come here to request your attention to the situation in the Xiang valley."
Anderson thinking, "What's going on in that valley?"
Yirito walking up to his ear and whispering, "The dam blast."
Anderson raising his head then nodding, "Ah yes, the Xiang Dam, yes General the blast will go ahead as planned. Now please I am trying to plan a state visit, with a nation whos ideals pair with ours. The last damn thing we need is a war with another country." Pulling out a drawer and handing the General a pile of papers, "If it all goes to plan, Xiang will be under water."
"Thank you sir." General Yriito quickly walks out.
Swiveling his chair to stare out the window, "Yes, the people of Xiang will know why they are being punished, that damn civil rights activist has been a thorn on my side for years, but now we have in our hands, we'll force him to watch as everyone he knows and loves dies with a twenty foot high wall of water." Pushing a button on his desk, with in moments one of the young blue robed women walk in. Barking at her Anderson gives her a envelope, "Take it to Minister Zafe."