Special Bulletin from Militia Captain Robert, Commander of the Northern Liberation Forces

I had promised Emilia that the militia would show up in support of her protests. We have overlapping interests, but we also have many concerns of our own about the constitutional convention, and we needed to show up in person to make our concerns known. It took a few days to get organized, but by Wednesday morning, we were rolling into the capital.

I was worried about the danger of escalation, but I decided we had to be armed for our own protection. I told the boys to leave their pikes at home, they would be too awkward for urban street fighting. Most carried axes, swords and knives. Some even had muskets. I hoped they would not be necessary. In a shooting match, the army certainly would have us outgunned.

When we arrived, the protests were surprisingly small. I asked the locals about it, and they said the protests were larger on Tuesday, but lost momentum because many of their leaders were arrested. I heard Emilia herself had been arrested, and I immediately leapt into action. I asked for directions to the prison where they were being held, and led my men and as many protestors as I could convince, and we marched over to surround the prison.

The soldiers guarding the place seemed nervous, they insisted we must disarm. I told him, we were the Northern Liberation Forces, and we had the right to be armed. That’s the basic requirement of being a militia: carrying arms. He said the militia had no business in the capital, and I said our business here is the same as in the north, to defend the values of the revolution. One soldier ran off to report the situation to his boss.

In the afternoon, Aguilo himself showed up at the prison, greeted by boos from the crowd. I quieted them down so we could hear what he had to say. Aguilo wanted to speak with me privately so I agreed. We went to the same pub we had gone to after our debate on militia independence.

Aguilo insisted that an armed mob surrounding government buildings looks a lot like an insurrection. The army is obligated to suppress us if we don't disarm. I resented him calling the brave militia fighters, who bled for the revolution, a mob, and he apologized. I offered to pull my men back at least a block from all government buildings, and let the unarmed protestors move up front. This should make the soldiers less nervous if they are not directly facing an armed group. Aguilo conceded that my suggestions would be helpful. I warned him that if the soldiers attacked the unarmed protestors, we would move forward to defend them, which he acknowledged. 

I asked about the release of the arrested protestors. Aguilo insisted that he could not release Emilia or the other leaders, conceding now would only embolden the protests, he had to draw a line somewhere. Finally, I just told him we would not respect the curfew, we would sustain the protest through the night unless the arrested protestors were released. He said it was a bad idea, but didn’t make a serious effort to dissuade me.

I asked to speak to Crysta, but he said it was impossible, she was too busy, but she had full confidence in the army to handle this situation. I  wondered what could be keeping her so busy, and he mentioned that Pepe had taken an unplanned vacation out in the countryside, leaving more paperwork for Crysta. I was pretty sure that Crysta was not qualified to do Pepe’s job, and he said, “that’s why she's overwhelmed.” I guess that made sense. After that, sensing we could make no further progress, he left, but he promised no force would be used on the protest until he conferred with his fellow officers.

Memoirs of General Oliphaunt, Revolutionary Commander - Northern Front

With all due respect to General Aguilo, he has handled the riots in the capital very poorly. He was too soft on Monday and Tuesday, and things got even worse on Wednesday. We received a report that Robert and his armed thugs had arrived in the capital to intimidate the lawful authorities. They wanted the release of the instigators of this situation, undoing what minor gains Aguilo had actually accomplished.

Aguilo was insistent that he couldn’t use force on the militias without an attempt at negotiation. They were brothers in arms, who fought for the glorious revolution. He didn’t understand they were little more than violent criminals. He left to speak to Robert personally, and I wasn’t holding my breath that he would resolve the situation.

When he returned we learned what concessions he had gotten. The militia agreed to withdraw all armed rioters one block away from any government buildings. Oh, well done Aguilo. Oh and one other thing, the militias vow to defy the curfew and will violently resist any lawful attempt to break up the protests. What a disastrous negotiation!

Aguilo summoned all the senior and flag officers present in the capital and asked for suggestions on how to deal with the situation. This was a man who decisively cut down royalists without hesitation, and now he was too timid to break up a band of violent farmers. I suggested we needed new leadership in the capital. I had the utmost respect for Aguilo’s command over the western border, and he should continue in that role, but the capital should be assigned to a different command. I suggested that we should hold a very quick debate and then vote on assigning a new commander over the forces in the capital.

From the notes of Citizen Emilia, Voice of the People

Around lunchtime on Wednesday, I could hear the growing chants outside. The protestors were not just taking a stand against the corrupt constitutional convention, but also of our unjust imprisonment. I soon received a smuggled letter from outside. Robert and his farmers had arrived to show support. Maybe that’s why the guards looked so nervous. I was worried about violent escalation, but I admit, it was a little satisfying to see the soldiers squirming for once.

I sent out another note encouraging them to keep up the protest, and also reminding them to remain peaceful. Violence should only be used in self defense. One very nervous and sweaty guard asked if I wanted to go to a window and shout out the message I had written down. I accepted his offer, I spoke out the window to great cheers. The guard seemed at first to regret granting me this privilege, but once I emphasized peaceful protest and discouraged violence, they relaxed a bit. After speaking for only a few minutes, I was brought back to my cell, but I still felt great about being able to speak to the crowd.

I was very surprised that the chanting outside continued after sundown. The protestors were defying the curfew, and there was no sound of violence either. Aguilo wasn’t willing to pick a fight with the militia, at least not yet. The guard meanwhile seemed to have calmed down considerably, reassured that the protest would not be violent, and becoming accustomed to the noise.

Dispatch from Admiral Dauphin, Revolutionary Naval Command

I’m not surprised Oliphaunt wanted to take command in the capital. He had disagreed with Aguilo since the protests began. Aguilo seemed personally hurt by the suggestion, but conceded that he would defer to the collective wisdom of the assembled officers.

There was some controversy over whether I would get a vote, as the army was responsible for security in the capital, not the navy. Aguilo stuck up for me. I appreciate it, old friend, but I decided to give up my vote if they merely let me speak my mind, and that resolved the controversy. Almost everyone accepted that I had some wisdom to contribute, even if not actual authority.

Oliphaunt made the case that Aguilo should be removed from command in the capital because his handling of the protests over the last 3 days have been an ever worsening disaster. He recommended himself as the new commander, of course. He was, after all, the most senior officer in the army. Of course, it was pointed out by some daring colonel, that most of Oliphaunt’s experience was serving a tyrannical monarch. Many in the room still didn't trust him.

I was less concerned with his past and more concerned with the future. What exactly did he intend to do to resolve the situation? He explained his plan: the protesters would be given one final warning to disperse, and if they didn’t, the army would open fire. I was disgusted at the suggestion, as were many officers, but some made sounds of agreement. Aguilo insisted that firing on the militia would trigger a civil war, and I agreed, but Oliphaunt and his supporters contended that the militia was already guilty of insurrection and had to be suppressed.

Our friendly debate was interrupted by crashing sounds. We ran into the hallway to see what it was, and Crysta was smashing down the door to her office with her mighty hammer. She demanded to know who had locked her in. A good question. Who would be dumb enough to try and lock Crysta in her own office? There was silence for a moment, before Colonel Leone took responsibility. I doubt it was his idea, but I have no way of proving otherwise.

The Colonel apologized and offered his resignation. Crysta just told him to shut up and do his job. His punishment would be decided later. Crysta also declared that Emilia and the other leaders of the protest must be brought here to negotiate an end to the protest. She would not allow any force to be used except in self defense, until a genuine attempt at negotiation was made.

I agreed with her general plan, but I explained that the protesters probably will not trust the army. Any attempt to move Emilia could trigger resistance and escalation. I suggested that we leave the protesters and the prisoners alone for now. The protesters cannot possibly maintain this level of energy forever, sooner or later they will exhaust themselves. When the situation has calmed down, and their numbers have thinned, then we can bring the leaders here to talk.

Crysta nodded her assent to my plan. She then informed us she would be temporarily taking Pepe’s office, since it was unused at the moment and her office had a broken door. She recommended that no one try to lock her in again, or she might or she might get angry.