by Max Barry

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Region: United Alliance

"Unlikely Enemy"
June 14th, 1940
Asadal, Arcadisia

Collaboration between myself, Arcadisia and Calarim.

General Erwin Ostfeld narrowed his eyes outside the Asadal Calarimian Post Office, his hatred for this parasite which sought to suck blood from his purging growing by the second. In the dark of night, it was the only building which was even slightly lit. "Begin your assault, lieutenant." The General said cooly, and Host nodded, signalling for the Exoan team to begin.

In an instant, shaking its inhabitants with surprise, dozens of soldiers zipped from the ceiling of the building down to the windows, crashing through them and allowing glass shards to splatter across the rooms of the post office.

Min Suk Jon looked out at the soldiers. Several other people near the doorway were covered in glass, bleeding. Min ran out and tried to help the nearest one up, while carefully looking at the soldiers, not making any quick movements.

"Stand back!" One of the soldiers yelled toward Min, pulling his MP39 to face the young Arcadisian.

Min backed off slowly, looking at him in the eyes. He began scanning the region to see if there was anything he could use to fight back. He decided against it within milliseconds, seeing how quickly THAT would get him killed.

Eisen, in his sleep wear, holding a cup of warm Calarimian Tea, walked in. He stopped mid-step, eyeing the Exoans. He dropped his cup, it's contents shattering onto the floor.

"What the f**k-"

"Hands behind your back!" Lieutenant Host said, stepping forward with a wicked grin across his face. "You're under arrest for treason against the Colony of Archuko."

"W-wait, you can't do this-"

He took a step back, shaking.

Min stepped forward.

"Hang on, you can't just do this. We're Calarimian citizens, you'll need further proof than just bursting in and saying we're traitors!"

The wicked officer's grin simply built further as he stared down at the Arcadisian for a brief moment. Chuckling, he stepped forward. "Don't flatter yourself, inferior. We're here for the mailman, and the Governor-General has already signed his execution." He said, shoving the Arcadisian away with the butt of his MP39 before turning back toward Eisen. Locking the postmaster's hands in cuffs, he took the man to the top of the office's staircase, Arcadisians crowded in the room below.

In an instant, the front doors were kicked open once again, and through them ran a series of soldiers, lining up quickly in a row, heiling. "Heil Boross!" The said as Governor-General Ostfeld walked through. The man who had ordered this terror against Arcadisia barely paid the huddled masses any mind, turning up toward Eisen. "Mr. Totoya." Ostfeld said, beginning up the steps slowly, his hands locked behind his back.

His mind raced around as he attempted to figure out something, anything that could get him out of this. The fine print on a legal document, a threat of international reparations, anything. But... he came up blank. There was nothing he could do. He eyed Ostfeld with a anger that was if you had known him, completely unlike him. He normally kept himself collected. But he represented everything he was against. A break from character would be allowed here.

"...'Governor-General'."

Min looked at Totoya. Was this what he was always like? From the looks on the other people's faces, that's certainly what they seemed to think so. But no, from what little time he had known him...he was protecting them. He tried to think of some way to help, but his mind also came up blank. Perhaps, for now, the best way would be to stay silent. He looked at Totoya. The fate of everyone's lives rested on him in this moment.

"So good to finally meet you." Ostfeld said, wearing the same wicked smile as Host. He chuckled a bit himself, continuing up the stairs, before finally finding himself level with Totoya. He took one of his black gloves off, and then with his free hand the other, tossing them toward Host. Remaining silent for a moment more, he took in the man. "You didn't seriously think this would work, did you? That you could just harbor a few thousand Arcadisians in this post office in clear violation of my orders?"

"Arcadisians and Calarimians. You blocked the cities from all supplies. That means none of the supplies needed to sustain the Calarimian lifestyle are coming in and we are starving alongside them. Many evacuated, but a good portion have not. Anyone is - or was - welcome in the post office."

Ostfeld's smile grew. "If you had any complaints about my governance, you could've lodged them with my office." His smile suddenly and quickly faded. "But no, you wanted to die a martyr. Against what? Against your own race?" He said, curling his lip. "You know, it's a great shame, this. I know that all even semi-successful cultures and civilizations were built by the Exoan and Miklozian people, but I really thought that Calarim was an exception. I suppose I was wrong." He said, moving up to the top of the flight of the stairs and drawing his luger from his waist. "You are the exception that proves the rule. And now all of these people who you thought you could save will die with you." He said, cocking the pistol and aiming it at Totoya's head, as the soldiers spread throughout the building did the same, turning the barrels of their weapons toward the Arcadisians gathered.

The Arcadisians quivered and looked at the soldiers, wide eyed in terror. A few fell backwards, the others tried to shield their loved ones. Others still tried to hid behind the others. Min himself stood his ground, glaring at the soldiers. He was careful not to look TOO angry, as if that could somehow make the situation worse - somehow, but enough to stand his ground.

It clicked. He knew how to get out of this.

"Wait, hold on! This post office, it isn't territory of Archokuo. It's officially Empire of Calarim, so you have no power here!"

Technicalities were his specialty... it's how he avoided being heavily taxed due to operating inside Archokuo.

Ostfeld stopped, his gun beginning to shake in his hand. Host watched with subdued shock as the Governor-General's eyes darted side-to-side rapidly in quick thought. The Exoan's hand shook further, the room deathly silent as the gun remained pointed toward the postmaster, however erratic. Unable to control himself, he pulled the trigger.

"Bam!"

The gun fired off, the bullet landing in the ceiling, the general having diverted his aim at the last second, before Ostfeld holstered his pistol. "So be it, postmaster." Ostfeld said, his face struck with intense anger as he threw the weight of his hands against the Calarimian, pushing him down the flight of stairs.

Min quickly ran for Totoya, trying to help him up. He wasn't sure if what Totoya had said was legit - wasn't the colony a property of the Empire? But he wasn't going to complain. Plus, his knowledge on the matter was dim. He knelt down.

"Are you ok sir?"

He groaned, rubbing his head. He had quite the fall but it was better then a bullet to the head.

"Yeah, I'm fine..."

He rose to his feet and dusted himself off. A sharp pain went up through his leg, but he paid it no mind... for now atleast.

"You are a fool to make me your enemy, Totoya." Ostfeld said from atop the stairs, his wicked smile returning with each word. His eyes narrowed, playing into the postman's game. "This post office may be property of the Empire of Calarim, but the people you're holding here are property of the Colony of Archuko. I demand you hand them over."

"You cannot demand anything from here, Ostfeld. Not even a drop of water. You may leave now."

He said this as he gave a reassuring nod to Min.

Min looked over Totoya his medical training drowning out whatever happened around outside. He didn't seem to be hurt that much. Maybe some bruising on the backside - but he'd have to -

He snapped back to reality, and realized he couldn't look at any of that. At least, not in this situation. He'd have to wait for Ostfeld to leave. The Arcadisians in the building stood around, looking at the confrontation.

Ostfeld's face became red, pulsing with rage. His fist shook even as he took his hand to his eye to readjust his faltering monocle. Taking a deep breath in, he turned around, looking toward each and every Arcadisian face crowding the room. "I hereby," he said, his voice still shaking, "grant a full pardon to each and every Arcadisian who has committed sedition by taking refuge in this office. Leave now, and you and your loved ones will be allowed out of Asadal." Breathing in again, he turned back down toward Eisen with complete hatred. "As for you, I have always believed in one guiding principle: the crime of one man stains his whole race. I will hereby order the execution of every Calarimian left in the city for treason." He said, beginning to glide down the stairs, his hands still behind his back.

Charlie and Ellie, who were among the crowd, looked out at each other. They too began to talk among themselves as the rest of the crowd began to murmur.
"Think we should help the Calarimians?" Charlie whispered.

"I don't know. Should we? Wouldn't they turn us in the moment we helped them out?" The two remained silent, looking out at the crowd. "We should get out of here. We're not doing the others here any favors by being here. If the Governor General finds out that we're here, he'll order every one of us to be killed. Actually, I'm surprised he hasn't realized that he does have the authority to just-"

"Shh. He'll hear."

"If he's heard this, he's heard everything and we're dead." The two fell silent, as they listened to the rantings of a portly man telling a long and lanky man about how his basket weaving business was going to go broke due to the lockdown.

He stood there, silent. Most of the Calarimians had evacuated anyway, but... there were the ones who haven't. Oh no... He shook his head.

"..."

"Sir?" The lieutenant independence fighter stepped up and walked up to Totoya. "I think...I think I can help them."

"That's right, you fool!" Ostfeld said from atop the stairs still, his wicked grin growing with each step down. "In your attempt at a humanitarian rescue, you have just doomed your own people to death!" He become to cockle, before taming himself as he reached Eisen, readjusting his monocle once again. "And... I wonder how well you will do here without any more supplies?" He glared down at the beaten-down man with pure hatred, before turning and finally making his way to the door, the soldiers heiling once again before following their general out, quickly moving to form a military blockade around the post office.

"You weren't being serious about that pardon thing, were you sir?" Lieutenant Host muttered to the General.

Ostfeld simply smirked. "Of course not. If any give themselves up, take them over to that alley and have them shot." He said, gesturing toward an empty alley nearby.

As Ostfeld left, Charlie walked up to the lieutenant, and dragged him up the stairs.

"What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm paying them back for how they helped us." Charlie laughed.

"Paying them back? What are you, Ostfeld? One Calarimian helped us. Ok. You really think those Calarimians you'll 'save' will thank us?" He looked around. "You know how they see us?" He spat on the ground. "THAT's how they see us. You heard of the pogroms, the massacres, and the destruction they've wrought - and that's just as civilians. They'll turn us in to save themselves the first chance they get. We have to save ourselves." Charlie looked down, guilt clouding his face. He clutched his head. "In any case, the best way to help is to just leave. Pack your gear. We're leaving." Charlie sat down into the corner, clutching his head. The lieutenant headed back down the stairs, running into Totoya.

He stumbled a bit, due to being pushed down a flight of stairs moments earlier. He swiftly regained balance.

"Hey, wait, you said something about being able to help?"

"..." He paused for a moment, thinking about what Charlie had said. Would the Calarimians REALLY sell them out to save themselves? "Yes. As a matter of fact, I think I can help the Calarimians left in here out." He looked around. "Most cities in Archuko are populated by Calarimians at this point...except for Asadal." He straightened up. "I believe there are still around a thousand Calarimians out in the city. If we can reach the Calarimian quarter -" He paused. "No, ones who haven't left are likely in the common city. I know a few districts where we can get them." He remembered on his first day as an independence fighter, what regions he was told to avoid. "Yeah, I think that could work."

"Oh, thank goodness..."

He sighed relieved, the burden of knowing he caused the death of his countrymen being lifted.

"Alright, - When do we begin?"

Oceascopia and Arcadisia

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