October 1, 1896. At the Senate Chamber, Washington D.C.
The Senate floor was in chaos.
The grand hall, usually a place of asured debate and political maneuvering, had transford into a battlefield of words. The galleries above were packed with spectators, citizens eager to see the fate of their nation unfold before them. The booming voices of senators echoed off the marble walls, clashing in a war of rhetoric that threatened to spiral out of control.
At the center of it all stood Senator Jas Macias, one of the loudest and most fervent voices for war. A tall, imposing man with a graying beard, Macias gripped the podium with both hands as he delivered his speech with the force of a hamr.
"How much longer must Arathia endure humiliation?" His voice rang across the chamber. "How much longer must we sit idle while our enemies kill our brave n in cold blood? Forty dead at Fort McKinley—forty of our sons, our brothers, our fathers, slaughtered by the hands of the xican military! And what does our President do?" He scoffed. "He invites the xican ambassador for tea."
A murmur rippled through the chamber—so in agreent, others in frustration at Macias’ incendiary rhetoric.
Macias slamd his fist against the podium. "This is an act of war! No great nation—no great people—would allow such an outrage to go unanswered. And yet, here we are, debating whether we should stand up for ourselves! We are being tested, my friends! If we do not answer with fire and steel, the world will see Arathia as weak! As a nation too cowardly to defend its own borders!"
The gallery erupted in applause, joined by several senators who banged their fists on their desks in approval.
On the other side of the chamber, Senator Joseph Langley, a staunch anti-war advocate, rose to his feet. A slender man with sharp features, Langley’s voice was controlled but forceful. "Senator Macias, you speak of honor and strength, yet you ignore the most crucial part of this equation—evidence."
Macias turned, glaring at his opponent.
Langley stepped forward. "You say xico is guilty. That they must pay for what happened at Fort McKinley. But I ask you—where is your proof? Where is the undeniable, irrefutable evidence that it was the xican governnt that ordered this attack?"
Macias sneered. "The proof is at Fort McKinley itself! xican weapons, xican docunts—how much more do you need?"
Langley raised his hand. "Weapons and docunts that could have been planted. Weapons and docunts that conveniently appeared at the perfect mont to enrage the public. Does that not strike you as—suspicious?"
Macias scoffed. "Suspicious? That is the language of a coward, Langley! You hide behind hesitation, behind weak excuses! How many more Arathian lives must be lost before you finally grow a spine?"
The room erupted again, voices clashing in a storm of fury.
"Order! Order!" The Vice President, acting as President of the Senate, slamd the gavel down. "This chamber will not dissolve into a shouting match! Senators will address each other with respect."
Langley took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "This is not about fear. It is about wisdom. We have been given reports—convenient reports—that tell us exactly what we want to hear. Do you not see how dangerous that is? We must demand answers before we plunge our nation into war!"
Macias leaned forward. "The only answer we need, Langley, is that forty Arathian soldiers are dead! Do you want to wait for another attack? Do you want to wait until xico marches into our cities?" He pointed an accusing finger. "You are playing with the lives of our people!"
Langley shook his head. "No, Senator. You are playing with their lives. Because if we go to war without knowing the full truth, it will not be just forty dead Arathians—it will be thousands. And their blood will be on your hands."
A ripple of unease swept through the chamber. The air was thick with tension, senators murmuring amongst themselves.
Then, another voice joined the fray.
Senator Felix Carter, another pro-war advocate, stood, his deep voice cutting through the noise. "Let us not fool ourselves, gentlen. This war is inevitable. Even if this attack were staged—which I do not believe—it does not change the fact that xico is a weak, unstable nation sitting at our southern doorstep. War with them is only a matter of ti. The question is, do we strike now, while we have the advantage? Or do we wait until they are stronger?"
Langley clenched his jaw. "Are you listening to yourself, Carter? You are advocating for a war of conquest!"
Carter’s lips curled into a smirk. "And what of it? Nations do not rise by sitting still. We have proven our strength against Spain. We hold Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines. We are no longer a nation content with watching from the sidelines. We are a power now. And powers do not hesitate."
The chamber erupted once again—so in approval, others in outrage.
Macias raised his arms. "Enough talk! The people demand action! We must vote on this declaration now!"
A loud "Aye!" ca from the pro-war faction, while shouts of "No!" rang from the opposition.
The Vice President banged the gavel again. "Enough! A vote has been called. The Senate will now decide whether to approve a formal declaration of war against xico."
The murmurs died down. The mont of decision had arrived.
The clerk stood, voice steady. "All those in favor of war, say ’Aye.’"
A wave of voices filled the chamber. "AYE!"
The clerk continued. "All those opposed, say ’No.’"
A chorus of defiant voices responded. "NO!"
The clerk turned to the Vice President, who nodded solemnly. "The vote is too close to call by voice. We proceed to roll call."
One by one, senators were called, their voices ringing out in the chamber.
"Aye."
"No."
"Aye."
"No."
"No."
"Aye."
"Aye."
The tally grew. The room was breathless.
Then, the final senator cast his vote.
The clerk hesitated, reviewing the numbers.
The Vice President leaned forward. "The final count?"
The clerk inhaled deeply. "The Senate vote stands at… 46 in favor, 46 against."**
A collective gasp spread across the room. A tie.
All eyes turned to the Vice President, who, as President of the Senate, held the tie-breaking vote.
He stood slowly, his expression unreadable.
Macias clenched his fists. Langley watched intently. The entire nation seed to hold its breath.
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The Vice President took a deep breath and spoke.
"I vote… YES."
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