Un Coup de Main
-
LUNONJRAUK, NEW NICOLEIZIA, DAWN
"General Ilkmaun, Tulsi Gabbard is dead. You are now the Commander in Chief of the Nicoleizian Armed forces." An aide said to the General.
"Excellent." He said, standing up from his desk. "We have no time to waste. Launch operation Coup de Main."
"Affirmative General."
As his order was launched, all members of all Nicoleizian battalions, in the air, sea and sky were informed that their General was taking control of Icholasen due to 'circumstances affecting the survival of the nation'. The message encouraged the fragging of disloyal generals.Troops then entered the the major cities of Icholasen, including all 4 Dominions of Icholasen, Saint Regina, Saint Pierre, Lunonjrauk and Saint Romain. Checkpoints were set up on highways to secure the nation. Energy was nationalised, soldiers entered power stations to ensure they would continue to work, supplies of food, coal, and oil were captured. Whiteford was not in the country and so was unable to be murdered. There were some disloyal generals, and a few were fragged. Some remained loyal to Queen Anastasia and the Kingdom, but were heavily outnumbered. Resistance continued and would likely continue for several weeks or months, but the armed forces had taken most of the cities, most of the resources, and most of the transport links by nighfall. The next day the operation would continue. Governor Jirluchuz was made Chairman of the United Nicoleizian Socialist Republics in Saint Regina.
The Scarlet Standard was raised above buildings across Icholasen for the first time since 1990.
A hunt began for enemies of the Nation. On this list were people such as Queen Anastasia, Prince Tommy, Eilidh Whiteford, and Poppy Carlton-Romanov. It was unknown as to where these people were. With the suddenness of the coup d'état, it may have been difficult for them to escape.
ROMANOV PALACE, SAINT REGINA, 9:00 AM
"Ma'am, you must leave immediately" a servant shouted after hastily running into Anastasia's study.
"I've heard. Thank you, we'll be heading to the docks in 5 minutes."
Queen Anastasia left in an inconspicuous taxi, leaving for the docks of Saint Regina. There, she met Prince Tommy and her children. They hugged, and then boarded a small yacht that Prince Tommy bought his former suga baby. They launched off, and headed for Gallorum across La Manche.
After a few nauseating hours at sea, they arrived. They were escorted to a secure location by the Gallois authorities.
DUBLIN, IRELAND, 10:00 AM
Eilidh Whiteford heard the news and immediately stood up. Her heart sank and she felt the physical embodiment of dread run down her spine. She knew that she would not be heading back to Icholasen anytime soon. What surprised her was the ease at which Icholasen's armed forces succumbed to this. Surely their oaths had meant something ? She suspected that communist grooming had been happening since the 1990s, the armed forces never letting up on the ideals of communism.
Whiteford had no choice but to stay in Ireland. She had no idea if she would be safe there. At least it would be Saint Patrick's day soon and she could drink her body weight in Guinness.
HYLANDS HOUSE, COUNTRYSIDE OUTSIDE SAINT REGINA, 13:00 PM
Jirluchuz arrived at Hyland Manor, the Dacha of the Korojaunu.
"Report." The Chairman barked at an intern carrying his Starbie's coffee.
"Well, Sir, we have reports that resistance from the armed forces has so far been minimal. It seems our grooming operation has worked. There are pockets of resistance all over, some civilian some military but we are fighting them and cutting them off. They will either surrender or starve."
General Ilkmaun arrived in the room. "Sir, I have taken the liberty of ordering patrols over our skies with as many planes as we can muster at this moment in time. I have also instructed some of the military to start defending our coastlines, though the nuclear subs should be able to manage that just fine. Anti-air guns are now operational across around half of the country, and we are working towards them having full control. But, Chairman, it seems we've done it."
"Thank you, General." The Chairman said. "Send a message to all world leaders that we do not wish to harm any nation, we will only intervene to protect communists from capitalist aggression."
-
Elysee Palace
Queen Margrethe had been staying in the Palais Elysee when she was alerted that the royal family of Icholasen was heading her way by the Jaubert division of the Marine Commandos, met by the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade and Gendarmerie. Immediately she called Prime Minister Baschet to the palace. She arrived with her usual entourage of Gendarmerie as well.
"Elisabeth, they've done it," the Queen said to the Prime Minister. "They've gone back to red."
Elisabeth didn't need any reminders of what that meant. She had served in the Marine Commandos during the Cold War between Icholasen and Gallorum. She remembered having to defend the shores of Miraco from communists and being deployed to Ulster to quell communist Nicolezian funded rebellion there. It was an all too familiar feeling.
"Whiteford is in Dublin right now, and I think that's probably best for now. The Irish will take care of her just fine. Let them know that they will have to watch her drinks very carefully and make sure that any supply of food to her must originate from Ireland. Poisoning is something that you have to think about in situations like this. We will up our surveillance of La Manche and even start sending naval formations to Ulster," Prime Minister Baschet said to the Queen. "Florence made it back from Inquista just this morning, so she will be ready to act."
"Reitzmag can wait a bit; the Inquistans don't necessarily need us to be there right away, and I figure Paul would understand the idea of keeping communism contained closer to home," the Queen sighed. "I just wish it didn't come back to this."
They waited for the arrival of the Nicolezian royal family. They heard a flurry of activity outside as the Marine Commandos, 9th Brigade and Gendarmerie pilled into the courtyard of the palace before letting Queen Anastasia, Prince Tommy and the children out of the vehicles. They kept them moving quickly into the shelter of the Elysee Palace. Queen Margrethe made her way over to the Romanovs and gave each one a hug.
"Mon Dieu, you are okay," the Queen gasped. "It has all happened so suddenly! La Manche must have felt uninviting. Les Dominions, ma chere Anastasia. We're back to when you grew up in the Palais de la Cite."
Elisabeth had never met the Queen of Icholasen, but knew that when she was fighting in the armed forces in the 80s, she was charged with protecting this life as much as she was protecting her country. This was a 360 degree turn back to where the Gaulois governments of Chirac and Mitterand were in fighting communism in a next door neighbour. She felt tears trickle down her face.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Elisabeth said as she wiped her face. "I remember that I laid down my life in defence of democracy, freedom, and my country. But I also laid it down for your family to take the thrown again. Yet here we are, Romanovs in Aurelis once again."
Queen Margrethe, after showing her maternal affection to the Romanov dynasty, turned to Elisabeth. Smartly dressed in a powder blue three piece ensemble, she showed strength.
"The House of Valois has been standing alongside the House of Romanov since 1518. The Kingdom of Gallorum has stood by the people of Icholasen since the 1820s. We fought to help free the island kingdom, and by God we will do it again. This is beyond a repeat of history, it is about the core of who we are as the Gaulois people. Elisabeth, this is an extraordinary moment and you are an extraordinary leader. You are uniquely positioned to understand the past and lead us into a future where we stand strong. We will do it together," the Queen said to her Prime Minister. Baschet smiled with a renewed fire in her eyes.
"Anastasia, by all that is good, the Kingdom of Gallorum will stand with you and support the legitimate government of Icholasen," the Prime Minister said to Queen Anastasia. "There is a secret passage from this Elysee Palace to the Palais de la Cite. It is dark, and it is underground, but it is secure. It also leads you to the GASCO, our government's secret bunker underneath the Prime Minister's residence. All of it has been fortified with nuclear weapons grade secure materials. Should someone try to attack, they cannot get in or blow up the channels from the two royal palaces. It was...a necessity during the Cold War. Alas, I must go to GASCO to meet with Defence Minister Parly and the rest of the Cabinet."
The Prime Minister, instead of walking out the door of the Elysee Palace, walked further into the palace. She rounded a corner and the sound of a portal opening and closing could be heard. The Queen knew where it was, but it was completely out of sight of the remaining people in the foyer of the palace.
"You must stay with me at all times, I insist," Queen Margrethe said to Anastasia.
-
Château de Vaillant
Queen Margrethe looked out from the royal apartment at the Chateau with great sorrow. She had stood with Prime Minister Baschet and delivered what she felt was a concession speech to a foe she had seen Gallorum and the people of Icholasen vanquish once. The palace faced west, facing the setting sun. She turned to Anastasia.
"I'm sorry my dear. That's the best we could do. I'm surprised that Eilidh hadn't tried to organise something more concrete," the Queen said to Anastasia, the new Grand Duchess of Racines. "Perhaps it is a sign that Europe's relationship with its member states will forever change."
The Prime Minister walked towards the Queen and stopped about a good three feet away from her.
"Your Majesty, I am sorry your Government has failed you," Baschet said to Her Majesty. "I take it as a matter of pride that I should resign as Prime Minister of your Government."
The Queen turned around and looked at Elisabeth in a stunned voice.
"Elisabeth, I..." The Queen began. She paused and let out a deep breath. "Should you feel like you must resign, as the head of state I have to choose to accept that resignation."
"I would not accept anything else, Your Majesty," said Baschet. "I've put so much of my own reputation on the line here."
The Queen watched as Elisabeth got onto the knee. "In service of Her Majesty's Government, I hereby announce my resignation as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Gallorum. My party's deputy leader, Jean-Marc Ayrault, will lead the Government. He will command a majority in the National Assembly."
The Queen looked at Elisabeth, proud of her being the first female Prime Minister, outstretched her hand, and allowed Elisabeth to kiss it.
"Elisabeth Baschet, it's been a pleasure. Your work for our Kingdom will not go unnoticed and history will look back at you with great admiration."
"Merci, Your Majesty," Baschet said. "Until we meet again."
With that, she left the Chateau de Valliant immediately.
