The Swan Song

The off-topic. Ali Khan operates a shawarma van that he drives around the city. Stupid tourists buy food here, does usually not end well.

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Malliki Nur Pinito
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The Swan Song

Post by Malliki Nur Pinito »

‘2.15 pm flight to Talenore, Craitland, now boarding. 2.15 pm flight to Talenore, Craitland, now boarding’, the PA system announced at Shirekeep’s international airport. Malliki Nur Pinito still winced at the ‘Craitland’ following the name of his homeland, even though it was ten years since Talenore became a Craitish protectorate. He still thought it was a travesty, that a prosperous and diverse city in the middle of the world could not maintain its independence. References were made to the treat from the East, how a small, island-based nation would have a hard time maintaining that independence given the volatile times. Malliki argued long and hard for continued independence, but could only watch as the Talenorian legislature ratified the treaty with Craitland.

Malliki rose from his seat in the café, put on his coat and picked up his carry-on and made his way towards the gate. The lady at the gate asked him for his passport. ‘Which one’, Malliki answered, smiling. She eyed him suspiciously. Malliki handed her his Craitish diplomatic passport, she stamped it and he was through the gate. The flight ahead of him would take him halfway round the world, to the island he left ten years prior, to once again lead its people to freedom. The task ahead of him was daunting, even for a person with Malliki’s experience. He had done it once before, even though it felt like a failure considering the treaty with Craitland that ended independence. He had also seen his uncle’s initial success with Sanilla, which later turned into a collapse as well. So it was with anticipation and a not negligible amount of dread Malliki began his journey home.

More than 24 hours later, Malliki’s flight touched down in Jasmine Bay International Airport. With age, he more and more felt like an unfolding zombie after a long flight, all his joints creaking and bones aching. Turning 71 this year, he started feeling the signs of his advancing age, although he had outlived his father by a few years so far. He still had a couple of years to go to reach his uncle though, who passed away at the tender age of 85. He still missed his uncle, having been a large influence on his life and his career, bearing his name as well as passing it on to one of his sons. As he entered the waiting area, he searched for the driver with his name. He found it in the hands of a dark haired, dark eyed, dark skinned Babkhan limo driver who took his bags with a nod and a growled ‘effendi’. The driver led him out into the pouring Talenorian rain and into a sleek black Vrolok Stella. As the driver made his way out into the bustling city traffic, Malliki almost suffered a heart attack before he remembered that cars on the island drive on the left hand side of the road. Usually.
Malliki Nur Pinito

Malliki Nur Pinito
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Re: The Swan Song

Post by Malliki Nur Pinito »

The limo driver dropped Malliki off at the Grand Ritz Hotel in downtown Talenore. He had seen just a little bit of the city on the long drive from the airport to the hotel, since the city covers about half the island. Malliki checked into the hotel and slumped down on the bed. The long flight and the drive had really taken its toll. In two days time he would deliver the independence speech in Independence Plaza, fittingly enough. He both looked forward to and dreaded the moment. A lot had changed in Talenore since the island declared independence the last time. Tensions between the various ethnic groups was growing, and a new under-current of Craitish nationalism had begun to show itself. Several of the non-national ethnic groups that often were left out of the decision-making process had started to advocate for Talenore to remain a Craitish protectorate. These groups were by no means the majority in either Talenore as a whole or the non-nationals, but they were vocal. Given their severely limited civil rights, who could blame them. The special treatment of the national races was something Malliki had had to agree to in order to win majority support for independence. He had probably always known that it would come back to bite them in the ass. Malliki had a good life tho, just retired from the Imperial Judex of Shireroth with one of his sons taking over, and one of his daughters was the CEO of Talcorp. His other children also held various high-level positions. He had passed on a big part of the wealth left by his uncle to his children and grandchildren, much of the rest he had donated to various charities. He had always found the accumulation of wealth to be both immoral and a bit silly. After all, you didn't get to bring it to your next life after you died.
Malliki Nur Pinito

Malliki Nur Pinito
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Re: The Swan Song

Post by Malliki Nur Pinito »

The Gendarmerie captain in charge of the security surrounding Malliki Nur Pinito's speech the day after surveyed the preparations. Mahmoud Alizadeh tried to focus on the briefing he was getting from his lieutenant, but he was too hungover to properly concentrate. Alizadeh knew he had somewhat of a drinking problem, but was still in denial about the extent. At least before he used to be able to do his job, but he couldn't even do that anymore.
'I have posted snipers on those rooftops, and here, here and here the close protection will be seated,' the lieutenant said proudly. A new transfer from the Metropolitan police, he wanted to make a name and career for himself. He was having doubts about his commanding officer though, who was now swaying gently in the breeze.
'Skip the snipers, those guys give me the willies,' the captain slurred. He burped. 'You can keep the rest. I don't even know why we bother with all this independence bullshit, no one cares anymore.' The lieutenant looked at him, but since he was a good Babkhi public sevant he knew when to keep his mouth firmly shut.
'And say nothing to that Vanguard asshole over there,' the captain added, pointing at a tall man standing in the shade on the other side of the square. The man was Tanilo Nur Pinito, CEO of Vanguard Inc. and son of Malliki Nur Pinito. 'He's a nosy little Sani bastard, just like his father,' the captain added. He said the word 'Sani' in the same way an exterminator say the word 'vermin'. The captain burped, then let loose a massive fart. 'I'm leaving now, you finish up here,' he said and got into the waiting car.
Tanilo Nur Pinito observed the preparations from his place in the shade. He had been expressly forbidden by the civilian authorities from interfering. As CEO of Vanguard, Talcorp's private military arm, he had sizeable resources at his disposal. These had instead been used to eliminate threats against his father, but even Vanguard couldn't keep up. There were simply too many of them. He had on several occasions asked his father to cancel the event, but his misgivings had been brushed off. His father was too invested in the independence issue. He could only hope there would be no attack, because he wasn't exactly thrilled by the level of security the civilian authorities had rolled out.
Malliki Nur Pinito

Malliki Nur Pinito
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Re: The Swan Song

Post by Malliki Nur Pinito »

Theodore Longe Sr. stumbled out of the Safir brothel where he had spent most of the last two weeks. In line with the sexually liberal Stormarkian culture, Rosenborg was home to multiple brothels, some of them catering to the most disgusting needs. Theodore was attracted to long blue women ever since he saw the movie Avatar in 3D. Now he had finally been kicked out. The pretense was that he was out of money, but the real reason was his personal hygiene. Ever since he was a child, Theodore had smelt like excrement, sweat and urine. It didn't matter how much he showered, which had lead to him not showering at all, compounding his problem. Being from Ergonia, a nation long gone, didn't make things easier. Theodore's cell phone buzzed. He checked the message. It was a job, in Talenore, a flight of a couple of hours to the south. He checked the photo, information and layout. Would be a piece of cake.

Malliki awoke with a twitch, he felt the panic rushing over him. He had overslept, like so many times before. He could feel it. He scrambled for his phone. 6.30 am, a full half hour before his alarm would go off. Malliki sighed and slumped back down on the hotel bed. This was a day he could not miss, everyone was counting on him. The ethnic situation in Talenore was precarious at the moment. Malliki was universally respected and needed as a unifying figure. He swung his feet off the bed. As usual he couldn't go back to sleep after waking up early. He sighed, stood up and walked into the spacious bathroom. A shower and shave would be a good start to one of the most important days in his life.
Malliki Nur Pinito

Malliki Nakita Nur Pinito
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Re: The Swan Song

Post by Malliki Nakita Nur Pinito »

The birds were singing, the cikadas chirping. Malliki stood at the podium in the middle of Independence Plaza. The crowd in front of him was huge, at least half a million, perhaps more. He was nervous, as he always was when addressing a large crowd. He pushed those feelings aside and focused on his notes. He held up his hands, begging the crowd to quiet down. He leaned forward to the microphone.

'My fellow Talenorians! Babkhi, Elw, Sani and non-citizens! I stand before you today to once again declare our independence. The people of Talenore has once again chosen to take their destiny into their own hands. The yoke of colonial rule, even though voluntary, is too heavy a burden to carry. We once again join the community of independent nations. We will forge a strong future together. I humbly accept to once again serve as your President, and I pledge that democratic elections will be held as soon as possible.'

A flare from a rooftop caught Malliki's gaze. He heard a loud bang and everything went dark. That is when Malliki found out what happens after you die.

Theodore Longe folded up his sniper rifle and made his way down from the roof. He would have no problem slipping away from the chaos in the square.
Malliki Nakita Nur Pinito, Viscount Myn
Former President of the State of Talenore

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Noor bint Daniyal
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Re: The Swan Song

Post by Noor bint Daniyal »

RIP
Noor as-Salaam
NOOR AS-SALAAM BINT DANIYAL UMRA SULEIMAN AYREON-KALIRION IBN AL-MAJEED AL-OSMAN BIN SATHRATI AF ETTLINGUM FREYU UMM ZAHIR AL-DIN OF WAFFEL-PAINE
Queen of Goldshire, the Elian Lands, Leng, Elwynn, Amokolia and Uppland

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Wil
Executed in accordance with imperial law
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Re: The Swan Song

Post by Wil »

Yes, RIP. :OO:

Leli Nur Pinito
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Re: The Swan Song

Post by Leli Nur Pinito »

In connection to the assassination of Malliki Nur Pinito, several government buildings were bombed with IEDs and car bombs. Riots also broke out in the streets and the government of the state failed to control the situation. The People's Front of Craitish Talenore (PFCT) claimed responsibility for both the assassination and the bombings. The PFCT is a nationalist organisation fighting to keep Talenore within Craitland, classed as a terrorist group by both the Craitish and the Talenorian government. The group managed to carry out the attacks in part because of ineptitude in certain areas of the Talenorian law enforcement system. Following the assassination and the bombings, the newly formed independent government collapsed. In the following power vacuum violence rose between citizens and non-citizens as well as between the national races. In this lapse in government, Talcorp stepped in and assumed control of the island. Vanguard assumed control of the Talenorian military as well as the law enforcement system, while the President and CEO of Talcorp, Leli Nur Pinito (daughter of assassinated President Nur Pinito) assumed control of the civilian government. Due to the violence and unrest, the constitution was suspended and martial law imposed.
Leli Nur Pinito
President of the Provisional Government of Talenore
President / CEO
Talcorp

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