Preparation
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CHAPTER ONE
Vincent Archambault was confident that he wanted to invade Eastern Haane. He had many ideas for it and wanted to make sure everything aligned. Everything was ready, except... an excuse. Archambault needed a good reason to attack Haane, and he knew it. Television was playing in the background like white noise as Archambault kept thinking about how he could make it perfect.
When television was playing ads, it abruptly stopped and switched to breaking news to show the recent news in Hattington, Victoria. A truck has driven over an anti-war protest. Foreign Minister Nicode Sebastiano burst through the door to tell the news, but it was not needed. The channel was live from the city, showing absolute devastation. Sebastiano was quite surprised but unexpectedly happy.
"This is our chance."
Archambault knew exactly what to do. He called the Governor of Victoria, Perin Descera. She picked it up, quite excited that Archambault called her.
"Hello, dear Prime Minister! How's it going in Malbory?"
"Thank you, Descera. I was wondering if you could do me a favour..."
"Well, what is it?"
"Put a lockdown and a curfew on the city of Hattington. I have suspicions that this is a terror attack and it could damage more Victorians. Use the entire Victorian force if necessary."
"Ah... Okay."
"Also, very, very important: When you have the body of the perpetrator, call me immediately. We'll transform it into a morgue with higher security. He was dead, correct?"
"...Yes. I'll inform you about it."
"Thank you, Descera."
Archambault hung up the phone.
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CHAPTER TWO
Perin Descera did what Archambault asked, as she was also scared of what happened in the biggest city of the region she governed. She didn't know anything and was incredibly confused and horrified about the attack. She kept walking around her office because of stress, hoping that this lockdown would protect her citizens. But for Archambault, she was no use anymore. He could continue with his plan of justifying a war in Eastern Haane. After all, he wanted to paint a bigger picture for Malborya in the European Union than whatever Eusebiu did.
Archambault sent an e-mail to the director of MIA (Malboryan Investigation Agency) to establish a meeting with him, director, deputy director and Sebastiano. The MIA was also aware of the rather unusual lockdown, so they accepted the invitation to find out what is going on. Around six hours later, the four men sat on a conference room below the ground level. The director started the conversation with Archambault.
"Mr Archambault, we're glad to see you. We are aware of the situation and have already started an investigation. We may show you what we have so far, though it's still early."
"Thank you for your fine help, but I need you to do something else. I need to make sure that corpse is in the hands of the MIA."
The deputy director chimed in, rather confused.
"...The corpse of the perpetrator?"
"Yes. You and your director will acquire the body and we will erase its identity, adding a new one. To be more specific, a Haanean one. This is quite an important step to stop that infectious country that is Eastern Haane! As you know, I need justification."
The director couldn't believe what he was hearing, but he also didn't have a choice but to accept. He knew that Archambault had surrounded himself with boxes of guns, ready to be fired at him if anything went the opposite of his way. He couldn't believe his country was not considered a dictatorship yet. Archambault continued.
"I know how to put some nils on your pockets. You do not want to miss the chance. Time's running out... You better make it quick."
Archambault left the room with Sebastiano, who was rather silent during the whole session. For Archambault, everything was slowly going into place. He could not wait, but he had to. But he also had to make it quick before the Republic liberated the whole country, which would ruin his chances.
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CHAPTER THREE
General Augusta Cato picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"We need to talk."
General Cato immediately recognized that voice. It was the MIA Director, Mullier Mathena. They were quite close friends back in the day, but as they got into their jobs, they started to talk less and less.
"Ah, Mullier! I'm so stoked to hear your voice again. It's been months!"
"Yes."
Mathena was nervous... Really nervous. He was hoping to cut the call soon. He couldn't talk what he wanted on the phone.
"Ah... I assume it's an emergency situation? Okay... I'll pick you from the building in three hours."
Cato hung up the phone.
Three hours later, General Cato was right on time, waiting outside the door of the MIA headquarters. Mullier got into the car a while after.
"My friend, your sound was quite nervous and tinny on the phone. Are you threatened?"
"Sort of."
"Who is it?"
"Well... The Prime Minister."
"What?"
"I don't know! He's planning something. He is obsessed with taking over Haane."
"I didn't know that. I'm confused. What does he want?"
"So, that truck attack in Hattington. He wants me to help him mask it as a terror attack from Josephine Areai, even if it's not."
"And that way, he can justify a war with Haane."
"Exactly."
"Did you agree?"
"Well, I had to! How do you think I'm talking to you right now? I have to give him the body."
"Then we have to stop him before he does anything. That military is not his."
...
"I'll show him."
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CHAPTER FOUR
Vincent Archambault was in Hattington for further information, along with the MIA. The MIA finally acquired the body. Now, they could start the smearing.
"Okay. Have we acquired the name of the guy? Who is he?"
"His name is Merido Nekvillzo. The guy has a lot of criminal records. An entire binder dedicated to him. Now that is something."
"So we're going to erase all the information and records off the Malboryan systems, apparently. Then we're going to put the blame on Haane."
"Archambault's a mastermind, dude. No way this won't work."
"Yeah."
Archambault was waiting in the MIA headquarters with Director Mathena. He was also quite excited as he could finally start proceeding with the operation.
As all of the identity information got erased and replaced with a new Haanean one, Archambault grinned bigger. He could prove what Malborya was all about... or so he thought.
"It's done."
Deputy director's words woke him up from what it seemed like a small daydream.
"His new name is Markus Krog Mathiesen. He came from Eastern Haane two months ago. We even prepared some evidence that he was actively supporting Josephine Areai." Deputy director then handed Archambault the evidence. It was silent for around half a minute, but it felt like hours.
"Good. Very good."
Meanwhile, General Cato gathered a small group of soldiers for a secret emergency meeting. Majors, captains, colonels... Many soldiers from many ranks.
"Gentlemen, I am so glad all of you have gotten here. Archambault has gotten out of control. There is a big chance that he will destroy our army with his imperialist policies. There is no need for a total invasion of Eastern Haane. He has gone insane to the point where he doesn't see the harms of this operation. I'm afraid that we'll have to do the worst of the worst..."
To be continued...