Southern Crescent Moon Convention, 1,028 (7—Last Part)

  Luis stood up and walked to the stand after nodding at his group, which was all of the south. The other groups felt something as they sat, the moment they were waiting for finally arriving. Only the experienced veterans, slightly elderly in their groups, looked on with calm attention.

  “Ahem,” Luis greeted the old senior council member before standing behind the wide glass. He looked at everyone and began, “Lymoca did have a plan to integrate part of the south before the First Ters-Ly War, and it only… became frustrated when the Terkan government ‘attacked’.”

  Some frowns and exclamations were earned, but they didn’t stop Luis or make him feel unable to continue. It was a tough beginning, but the rest of the speech was even more so.

  “Terka’s situation had us act very fast, and it was decided that we would get rid of another potential issue. At the same time, we understood this would’ve further destroyed any… ‘dream’ Lymoca’s plans were about.”

  “But the plan from before wasn’t a major ‘conquest’ over the south of Moonblue. It also was nothing like what happened with Terka. It was a plan of approximately 15 years or up to 3 other terms for this plan to work. We weren’t going for an offensive or to instill pressure, but to simply join our peoples and our political identities through time— through years of talking about it.”

  “First, with the governments. Then, the people. The only countries we thought of were Endesa, Carnge, Pyot Island, and Meztle Island. These are the countries Lys have always supported, worked with, and have retained excellent relations than with any other and in such proximity.”

  “When I took possession of ‘this’ chair years ago, I didn’t think of this. I had nothing, even if I had strange and silly ideas. But as my second term began, I had to do me. I wanted to work for Lymoca and throw away whatever was holding Lymoca down and backwards.”

  “We were returning to the times before the Green Humanism, before our great step into the world, and further sullying the beauty that the Humane Key brought to Resilient.” Luis stopped and gave the audience a deep look. “Yes, it ended up backfiring as time passed and events caused uncertainty at best throughout the world. Now, you can see and hear the results if you listen closely.”

  “But Lymoca wouldn’t grow dispirited with this, and as…” Luis glimpsed at ANS’s group for a moment, “Certain fears of the outside grew, we found those countries we considered our greatest chance at integrating with us presenting to us with another chance for that to happen.”

  “We believed it might take a decade after my last term— this one. Just a few years less than the original plan. Thus, we considered that a victory. Terka developed well. Better than never before. You might have seen in social media how Ly Ters refer to their transition into Lymoca as ‘never having known a head of state could be like this’ until Phesx Caolia became the and its first senior minister.”

  “That’s just the tip of anything. If you really want to know, you just have to get close to Terka, talk to the people around, and then, with your excitement, visit Terka and its people. They are Ters, but now, they are Lys, too.” Luis shook his head in gestures, becoming a little passionate.

  “Well, then we know what happened. ‘It’ happened again, and this time, to other countries. Lymoca made the call. I presented it to my cabinet after hearing advice from my close people, and they accepted it. We also know everything of what happened later, and how it ended.”

  “I can only say, with humble facts, that Lymoca made the right call time after time. I dare say Lymoca alone has better criminal activity than ANS and any other part of the world as of before the eastern Radical Wars. I dare to say it will remain the same.” Luis looked at them seriously.

  “With this convention, I am not seeking your approval to distribute what we did, and better than how we initiated with Terka. We have more experience now,” Luis shook his head. “I am still going through it. You may try to change that with the next president of Lymoca, but this is my word… and I lay my heart out for all Lys’ sake.”

  “Endesa, Carnge, Pyot Island, Meztle Island; now also Argopolas, Melenon, Cerka, Torka, Collan, and Mount Veneta. With the already existing Terka region in Lymoca, while there would still be the remaining vote in a year, they are Lymoca and Ly Ters. The former are those that have become interested in Lymoca’s ways and wish to join the Lys. We Lys welcome them with spread arms and our beating hearts, still able to make space for more.”

  “We do hope to talk to you and convince you it’s the best for the south. For years, decades and even centuries, there’s been always an inconsistent dynamic there, to the point it is now difficult to face without severe major problems. Some of them lack medicine or food, infrastructure, livelihood needs not met, or all of the above. Others cannot even make substantial trade.”

  “While the latter can be achieved with the simple cooperation between countries, it is uncertain and unsecure. Rather, being an ally to trading between supercontinents, Lymoca itself is a more reliable method. Become part of Lymoca, in this case, would be what is most needed then.”

  “Becoming a region in Lymoca, with the borders decided as they are now, but joined between some current countries as one region depending on the people’s vote— won’t take away the identity of the people. Their land will remain the same, if only more cared for, and improved and developed than ever before.”

  “The military would become Ly. It will first turn into the Lymocan forces before each region is established, and regulation can thus be made. Each region will then have their respective force, but also contribute to Lymoca’s forces under Lymoca’s command. This is, however, for the purpose of self-defense. While we won’t allow any conflict between regions, let alone from Lymoca or Lys to other Lys— anyone who attacks, offends, insults, or targets one of us, even a single citizen, will be going against all Lys.”

  “Our trade won’t be completely globalized, as each region would need different categories, be it supplies or material. Thus, not only would the trade outside Lymoca be fluent and unshackled, as opposed to an empire from yore, but even between regions, it would become more alive.”

  “The people of every region is a Ly, and they can freely travel through Lymoca’s land, air, and waters. A new IWS section will be made specifically for these needs so everyone in Lymoca can have their well-deserved recognition in every part of our nation.”

  “Friends of nowadays Lymoca will be comrades with all of the Lymocan regions. Our stabilization of credits will also turn global, too. Limited within our borders, of course. But it will improve like it has never been before, better than even Cors has been in a row for the past few decades.”

  “Our technology will be Lys, for all our people. The military’s is only a bit of what most of the world has seen. We are already concluding projects, including for Preutians who are still in danger of experimentation across the world so they might be recognized and protected.”

  “As I already said, this is only the tip of everything— anything. I will say more next, but first, I will speak for Lymoca and all Lys.” Luis paused for a moment and deeply breathed in, “We compromise to the bettering of all these people, regions, and Lymoca as a whole. Lymoca promises the life and process that Moonblue always deserved— that the south has been indebted for too long!”

  “Neither the south nor the center of this supercontinent, filled with rich history as well as its contemporary people, will be left out or alone to face the dangers of today and on the long run. Our culture goes beyond the current knowledge, and every time we have improved a piece of land in Terka, we found exquisite historic records and relics that further prove this. We are only beginning our evolution towards the future, any of that which might be!”

  Clap, clap, clap, clap… Southern Moonblue’s group stood up and clapped. Only Cors and Preato didn’t, but they clapped with as much emotion. It was an important element and leadership that Moonblue has never seen, not even from ANS, especially not ANS.

  After the clapping, of which the rest of the audience followed, even if not as touched and frantically, Luis thanked with several nods before continuing with the elaboration of Lymoca’s future projects. Not as the Lymoca known in the 20th year, but the Lymoca spread throughout the south. With the integration of so many southern countries, turning all peoples into one.

  For slightly more than 3 hours, he detailed everything the public should know about the agreements reached during the meeting at Cors back then. After all, the south did talk a lot for days and then concluded with the last 2 countries to join the fray excitedly debating with the others.

  … At last, once Luis finished his speech and granting information, he stepped off the stand and returned to his seat. He didn’t behave in any way, simply sitting with a smile as even Cors and Preato congratulated them while the others excitedly clamored him.

  The old senior council member stood forth again and spoke after tiredly breathing in and out, finally catching a long breath into his aged lungs. “That has been all for the people to speak in favor of this convention’s goal. If there’s anyone who’d like to question this convention, please do so now. For we are all equal in this hall.”

  “ANS will speak!” Garalf Stient stood up and yelled. Waiting for no one, he stomped towards the stand, garnering quite the eye-attention in the hall. Laen didn’t even have time to move. He stared at Garalf’s back, startled. They were so silent and never argued once after arriving in the City…

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  “Lymoca has spouted too much nonsense to remember what they were supposed to represent,” Garalf nodded at the old council member who remained at the stand and spoke. The latter jumped his eyebrows and stepped away, the corners of his mouth hooked downwards.

  “Humanism! They like talking about it, but they keep violating their own Key. They have intervened in the Radical Wars! Do they deserve that territory? They don’t! Nobody does. Cerka, Torka, Argopolas, Melenon, and Terka shall be divided to ensure their so-called ‘foreign powers’ don’t threaten them anymore!”

  “And what is that foreign power you think it is?” Luis stood up and calmly questioned. Garalf looked at him with wide eyes before responding, still yelling, “Marcoplix is a good choice!”

  “They suddenly struck Zyckevele while they were in a losing war against the north and south of Twilight in their search for sovereignty. Only such people would meddle with other countries.” Garalf said. Luis didn’t let it get to his head, nodding a few times, still calm.

  “I had a feeling you’d say that.” Said Luis before sitting back down. Garalf squinted his eyes but ignored Luis, but then noticed the reactions from the others. He snapped his neck, twisting it to stare at Luis again, “What did you mean by that!?”

  “Everyone, ladies and gentlemen,” Laen finally stood up and caught up to the stand, after trotting towards it. He stepped behind Garalf and superficially placed his palms on the old man’s shoulders. Then, he looked at the audience and smiled brightly with politeness.

  “The Aggregated Nation States would like to speak and let you know that we care and treat these matters with utmost importance,” Laen looked at Garalf, who looked back at him and robotically stepped back. Laen positioned himself before the wide glass microphone and went, “The division of these countries is safer than their integration into a ‘warmongering’ country. I can’t say they are the reason of the Radical Wars, but they were always ready to participate, were they not?”

  Luis slightly lifted his chin as Laen continued, “Melenon and Argopolas are a bit too small. If they could be fragmented with Cerka and share customs with Mount Veneta, that would be better. They don’t need to subjugate themselves to a ‘higher’ power because of the circumstances.”

  “What they think might be different from reality— nobody knows the truth, yet. What if it’s contrary to expectations?” Laen gestured, his eyebrows showing gentle worry. “This way, they receiving help from all parts of Moonblue, not just the center and the rest of the south, would be more viable.”

  “I suppose Cors and Preato thought of this, even Collan and Mount Veneta. I wonder if they believe such things are possible?” Laen gestured to the southern Moonblue groups and waited for 3 seconds, but not even Cors and Preato spoke up. He looked at the audience and saw the same. Laen breathed deeply in before carrying on.

  “Lymoca shouldn’t be their only choice. ANS has a great support viability that no one is asking for. Why? Because it wasn’t there before? Lymoca was never like this, and they are now. We are also Humane Key, so why shouldn’t we be able to? Why can’t we prove it?”

  “Before you vote, remember all the major events in history during the Aforesanctum Order. How many times were there opportunistic, charismatic leaders who brought disastrous choices to the world? It hasn’t happened just yet, but why shouldn’t it? Anything seems possible nowadays.”

  Laen glared at the audience with a frustrated frown before facing Luis, “President Luis Heartez, with all due respect. Answer this question from me.”

  Luis looked at Laen and tilted his head slightly upwards. Laen articulated, “Why did you reply in the way you did to senator Garalf Stient after he answered to you?”

  Luis stood up, looking at Laen before sweeping a glance to his group. He lifted his chin and spoke with calmness, “Do you think Lymoca, all of Lys, are afraid? Who else could be so interested in meddling with the south but you? You ANS.”

  Chatter, chatter, chatter. Luis was ruthless. Regardless to what they spoke of just last night, and how they behaved, both weren’t friendly or filled with a tiny iota of camaraderie. They were countries talking off to each other, vying for their people’s interests.

  “Order, please, maintain order!” The old senior council member stepped forth and lightly tapped the desk, sending gentle vibrations across the hall, which quickly startled but relaxed everyone. He looked at Laen Worfield and nodded slightly, but also a little dismissive, “Thank you for your time, spokesperson Laen.”

  Laen nodded halfway, cutting it off, and walked off the stage. He glared at Garalf as he returned to his seat. The latter wore an expression of knowing what he did, and not a contented one.

  The old council member continued, “Thank you for your understanding. Is there anyone else who is willing to speak up now? If not, the voting for this convention’s understanding will commence.”

  Nobody spoke. Laen still had hopes, looking around and waiting for someone to speak up before the imaginary time went up. But nobody did. Luis’s face didn’t change in the slightest, and just as Laen noticed, looking at him from the side, the old council member spoke again.

  “Let us vote.” He stepped off the stage and the giant screen behind him turned on. At once, there was a 36 vote, with Cerka and Torka’s decision decided by an intermediary between either Preato or Cors with ties to them.

  Rapidly, the southern Moonblue group voted in favor as their names were colored with green. Then, for the following 2 minutes of 3, the rest of the countries… also voted in favor. This was only the first voting, however.

  Marcoplix was one of the last, who ended up voting in favor. Only ANS, of which Laen spoke a little with Garalf on their seats, voted against, becoming the only blue color in the voting list.

  “Time is over, the council thanks everyone in the hall and this convention for their time and decision-making. Without further ado, we will now commence the voting for deciding if it has been a transparent and worthy process, and to proceed with the re-confirmation vote.”

  After 3 minutes went by, the old council member spoke again. More than the 67% voted in favor, the crushing majority, with 35 in favor and 1 against. Lymoca watched with confident crossed arms or light smiles. Now, it was time for the ‘interlude voting’.

  The voting this time lasted only 1 minute, but it needed 30 out of 36 votes to immediately pass on to the next. However, this time, besides all other countries voting in favor, ANS also voted the same. They were on the same page. After all, doubting the City’s methods would be petty.

  “Finally!” The old council member excitedly clasped his hands. Some could see the slight shaking of his wrists, “This convention has voted in favor in the first voting, and that its procedures have been carried as expected. To conclude this event, we will re-confirm our vote and possibly end or postpone this convention. Thank you everyone for participating.”

  There was a brief recess for lunch and going to the bathroom, giving the groups time to chat and relax, to talk to each other and release some of the tension built up before the voting began. This time, neither Lymoca nor ANS approached anyone with intentions. It was already set in stone.

  When they returned, the voting began after a few minutes. The voting had a limit of 5 minutes, but this time, and as a surprise, before even southern Moonblue got to vote, ANS did. They voted in favor of the convention ending, and thus, the rest rapidly voted the same as well.

  Luis looked at ANS’s group for a couple of moments before focusing on the old senior council member, who spoke with the excitement of a lifetime. “The voting results are as such, culminating with this convention and recognizing not only Terka, but Argopolas, Melenon, Cerka, Torka, Endesa, Carnge, Pyot Island, Meztle Island, Collan, and Mount Veneta as the integrated nations into Lymoca. Congratulations, Moonblue, and good luck to all the countries, peoples, and promising futures of the involved parties. Have a good evening.”

  Cheeeer! Clap clap clap… As the southern Moonblue group celebrated, slightly raising their voices and clamoring, the hall clapped in return. Even the 8 counselors in the senior council applauded. This was a historic, fructuous, and elating event. Of course every involved party would be glad to participate. It would be recorded everywhere. From Humane Key to the peaceful and willing integration of the south. A feat for the ages and the Sanctum Order.

  Amidst the ruckus, Luis saw ANS’s calmness and took away his attention for a couple of split seconds. But he returned to the small celebration. He couldn’t wait to return to Lymoca after a few days here and do the real celebrations after spreading the word and joy in all of Lymoca.

  ***

  Knight Assembly Association, noble building. 6 days later.

  It was now the 6th day of the 5th month of the year. During these days, southern Moonblue celebrated the news of the unified vote to recognize the integration of most of the south into Lymoca. The details were all over the media, but the celebrations were carried on as well.

  Like never before, all of Moonblue except for ANS celebrated on the streets, bars, restaurants, and even the corporate sector welcomed the changes and worked a little donation for the public. It was quite the move and incoming change and promising future to Lymoca as a whole.

  There were banners of the symbols of each nation, now region. A new movement to form a flag out of each pre-country’s state symbols was carried on, joining them all into one and presenting them at the governmental precinct, just beside the region’s flag.

  Lymoca’s symbol flag wasn’t still put up, but it was added and installed in several buildings, such as the police, military, and any governmental structure. They had a long time to keep everything steady. Besides, immediately going for it would take away some time from the celebrations.

  Similarly, the presidents and cabinets have been transitioned from such to senior ministers. It was a lower position, no matter how one put it. Fortunately, no one from either party, Lymoca or its new regions, tried to soften the hit and blow to these imaginary statuses.

  Their cabinets also became lower cabinets, managed by the senior minister just like one would with a president and their cabinet. That hasn’t changed. Only, the senior ministers were to meet the Presidents at least once every 2 weeks, and anytime they required a meeting.

  The military was just amidst passing records and files to Lymoca’s officials, who worked hard every day to complete it before too much time was spent. Similarly, the national guard institutions of each region began advertising for recruitment, selectively looking for retired veterans, or those who left the army legally but of an age higher than 35.

  It would still be a struggle to find the right spots to step and continue with the integration, but nothing was more complicated than arriving to this consensus and convincing the people. The rest wouldn’t be easy, but the most complex facets of this change were already achieved.

  Lymoca immediately sent enormous shipments containing a little bit of everything to each region. Some were already prepared, such as the center and coast regions of Lymoca in the south, but others not so much, for Endesa, Carnge, and the islands region; Pyot and Meztle Islands.

  That was a bit too much, but such things could be resolved in due time, and not too long from now. It was how things had to be now. Getting these resources from the east was now impossible, especially the EPA Commonwealth as the extra card for Zyckevele.

  Lymoca wouldn’t wrong the commonwealth after they aided Fox on his flight to Zyckevele, having seen what they and the ‘hidden’ enemy were capable of. Dawn was even worse. It was a matter of time before all sides were completely banned of any trade and route.

  In Knight Assembly Association, however, things seemed to get more difficult. The death ratio decreased a bit, but the Ziaca people began losing territory on their south fairly quickly.

  …