After the internet was disconnected, the whole country went into a state of panic. People had shut themselves up in their hos and waited in fear for sothing to happen. As Jocelyne had predicted, the absence of the Internet had put an end to most of the riots: with no dia, the rioters had stopped regrouping and protesting. However, this situation was not destined to last long: many hotheads had started taking to the streets and throwing stones and homade Molotov cocktails at the police. Such incidents enticed other people who saw the scene to do the sa, and groups of individuals quickly ford and launched themselves ferociously at the police.
Had the internet not been reactivated soon, Odaria would have plunged into chaos. And if the governnt had not found a way to appease the citizens, a revolution would have broken out. And like all revolutions it would have been a bloodbath, where ordinary people would probably have been involved against their will, and the innocent would have beco a victim...
Families had gathered in their hos, holding their loved ones tightly. Soone did rites, soone prayed. Soone had resigned himself and had abandoned himself to carnal pleasures, sure that he would soon die, while others instead tried to keep hope alive.
But finally, in what seed to be Odaria's darkest hour, the dia were reactivated. Internet, televisions, telephones: everything worked again. Imdiately, every person in Odaria abandoned whatever he was doing and turned on the television, or cell phone, or computer, or any other ans of communication that could connect to the national news.
After a few minutes, the face of the pri minister appeared on every electronic device screen in the country. Morgan dlay had an authoritative and calm expression, but a few lines on his forehead showed how difficult it must have been to make a decision. The president looked very upset.
"My dear fellow citizens, with this announcent I am addressing you all. Today we have found ourselves in an unprecedented ti of crisis, so terrible that even our situation a year ago would seem simple in comparison. Worst of all, we learned that the NMWA intended to move its weapons to our soil, which would bring the war straight into our hos. The dinosaurs, moreover, have threatened to react to this provocation, and sadly we would have been the first to be affected by their fury. The fear of losing other friends, children, parents and siblings was such that within hours the country fell into chaos, forcing the governnt to turn off its communication devices to avoid riots as it gathered to find a solution. After a long debate, the governnt made a decision"
The audience held their breath. It was the mont of truth. War or peace?
"The governnt has determined that the deploynt of high offensive weapons on our territory is undoubtedly a threat to the peace we have enjoyed for a whole year. Dinosaurs don't want war, and neither do we. Odaria has already lost enough people and must not lose more. Therefore, with the approval of the entire governnt and the request of the majority of the people, Odaria categorically refuses that any weapon of the NMWA be deployed on our land"
The citizens burst into a cry of joy. Peace! The governnt had chosen peace! The parents hugged their children at that announcent, knowing they shouldn't have lost them. The mory of the massacre a year earlier was still fresh in everyone's minds, so everyone was grateful for not having to lose their family.
"Clearly, this choice was very difficult. Such a decision will not put us in a good light in the eyes of the NMWA. We will have to be more united and steadfast to be able to erge victorious from this situation. Therefore, the governnt has agreed that a long series of changes will be needed in our society. And the first major change was the elimination of all those who, behind your backs and the governnt, had made agreents with the Commission for the deploynt of weapons on our territory. I'm talking about the businessn Kimbler, Mosley, Rainald..."
The audience couldn't take their eyes off the screen, not believing their ears as the president listed all the nas of Odaria's heads of families.
"These n have not only plotted behind us to bring foreign weapons to city soil, but they have also been responsible for horrific cris over the years. They favored corruption, poverty, unemploynt, inequality. But thanks to the contribution of Markus Jersey, who investigated and uncovered all the cris these people are guilty of, justice was able to fra them. At the end of this talk, I will put online all the evidence that Mr. Jersey has given us. These people encouraged division, thinking only of their own interest; therefore, the governnt decided that such people should no longer have a place in this nation. Under the laws of Odaria, anyone who harms the nation is punished with death. About an hour ago they were gathered in the Perpetual Palace and executed there for their cris. The sa was true for all of their families. The governnt will montarily take control of all their properties; the people who worked for them will receive easier treatnt and a better salary in the coming days"
The people were in turmoil: had the heads of families across the nation been killed? Everyone knew that these people were in control of the country, and no one expected that the governnt would ever move against them. What was happening?
"In the weeks to co, the governnt will track down all the people who have been hard by these people's actions, both directly and indirectly, and will do its best to pay them back for the damage. Investigations will also be carried out against people who were close to the businessn, and if any involvent in the illicit activities of the latter is discovered, they will be punished as they deserve. Finally, many reforms that until now had been blocked due to corruption and the economic weight of these people will be launched in the coming months. Healthcare will beco free starting tonight, and in two weeks the sa will apply to education. Support asures will also be applied in favor of the poorest sections of the population"
Citizens couldn't believe it. This was beyond their wildest expectations! It really felt like Odaria was about to enter a new era!
"A further asure that will be taken will be an ergency eting with neighboring nations, in the hope of convincing them too of the need to maintain a lasting peace with our neighbors. In fact, we hope to be able to create a united front to oppose the objectives of the Commission, so that even if there is a war, it will take place far from our borders"
In addition to Odaria, there were four states that were located on the Maakanar continent: Subila, Tearmoon, Cambion and Belos. The first two were located at the northern border of Odaria and the other two at the southern one. They were very small nations: for example, if Odaria had a land area roughly equal to that of the Holy Roman Empire during its golden age, the other states were almost the size of 21st century Belgium, except only for Cambion which was about the size of Ireland.
All of these nations were actually independent in na only. They ford after the Maakanar colonies gained independence about a century earlier, but the only reason they didn't imdiately beco part of Odaria was because the nation was too weak to manage such a vast territory at the ti. But over the years those small countries had beco economically, politically and socially dependent on their stronger neighbor. Odaria considered them to all intents and purposes her protectorates, even if officially they were independent. It was logical to expect a 'reunion' to end the way Odaria wished, which ant that in all likelihood the war would be kept away from their borders. This could not help but please people.
"Finally, the last step we will take, at least imdiately, is to send a ssenger to the dinosaurs to make our position clear to them. We will make sure that they understand that we will not be responsible for whatever war action the NMWA wishes to take against them. We will try to forge closer relations and create an even stronger peace than the reckless actions of this country's businessn have put at risk"
Even though the president couldn't hear them, people cheered and applauded that statent. If the ssage got to the dinosaurs, and they accepted, then the people of Odaria would never hear of wars again. The population could only be happier!
"This is all our governnt has decided for the mont. Any information relating to future reforms and political plans will be posted on the national website and anyone will be able to read it. You have my word, my fellow citizens, that we will do our best to have this crisis resolved as quickly as possible. The president spoke"
The broadcast stopped after those words, a sign that the president's speech was over. However, it was enough. In all the streets of the nation, any source of revolt had been imdiately extinguished; on the contrary, people had left their hos and flocked to the squares to celebrate.
Throughout the night, the inhabitants of Odaria enjoyed themselves like children, cheering their governnt and their decisions. Finally, the future no longer looked black.
********
"Great job" Jocelyne said as soon as the caras went out and the president could finally relax. "You've put together a good speech, despite the short notice. I admit to being impressed"
Morgan dlay did not answer, looking rather fearfully at the king cobra which was still wrapped around the girl's neck like a scarf. "So do I et your expectations?" he asked her, being used to asking that question to every rich man who ordered sothing.
"Yes" Jocelyne replied. "Now go and tell the political class of neighboring nations that you wish to intend a eting. After all, you promised it to the people"
The president nodded sadly and walked towards the exit of the studio, then suddenly stopped: "What shall we say to the NMWA? They will press us for..."
"Just ignore them" Jocelyne replied casually. "Tell our representative to stay on the line 'we must protect the people'. This won't stop the NMWA forever, but it will give us two or three months of ti"
"Ti for what?"
"It doesn't concern you. Now go and do as I told you"
Morgan dlay was used to obeying, and in fact without saying another word he left the room. He didn't want to be involved more than how much he already was.
Jocelyne turned to the cobra: "Jafar, have you already inford lord Sobek?"
"Obvious. I have already inford him that everything is proceeding according to plan" the snake answered with a hiss.
"Great" Jocelyne murmured, then she clenched her fists hard: "Very soon, a new nation will erge from the ashes of this one. The first nation where humans and dinosaurs can coexist"
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