Alea Iacta Est

[KyferLegs]

War was in the south now. Troops marched down the streets and people said goodbye to their husbands. It was celebration throughout as people grew hopeful liberation of the Balkans was to come. In the capitol grounds it was different, men rushed to each other, officers yelling and barking reports. Every branch of the armed forces was being prepared and the logistical impact was in full gear as hundreds of companies were being shifted around. However, as the day went on, the focus shifted slowly. Gazes were locked, and worry was beginning to show.

Nikola leaned over the vending machine and was quite tired. He looked and felt drained, exhausted even, but he had always had a night of sleep. His advisors and closest friends in the government notice the staggering Nikola. He was usually energetic and joking with them, even basic workers knew this. He was sweating and looked quite pale as he walked back to his office. Relja Dušan worried of his friend and his state of weakness walked up to Nikola and grabbed his arm, and keeping him straight up as Nikola sighed tiredly. Relja spoke, curious but also in a light-hearted mood. "Too many drinks last night, comrade?" Relja said as he attempted to cheer Nikola up.

Nikola took a few seconds to respond as he perked up and looked at Relja. "Yeah, comrade. A hangover is a bitch." Nikola smiled in a smirk as he shook Relja off his arm. He continued to walk a few steps. He grabbed a table that was left empty for the day. His canned coffee began to shake in his grasp as it fell to the ground. Then Nikola fell forward also, with no sense of stopping himself.

Relja rushed to his friend rolling him over. He wiped his forehead that was cut open by the tile floor. Other workers and officials ran over to him as Nikola laid shaking and confused. Relja got up and quickly grabbed the closest phone he saw, quickly calling an emergency line. "Upomoć, Nikola se upravo srušio!" He yelled on the phone, and another voice yelled back loudly. Suddenly the room was being cleared as paramedics and soldiers rushed in.

Nikola was motionless at this point and extremely pale. Paramedics rushed to his side and checked his vitals. Carefully they put him on a stretcher. The paramedics spoke to themselves as Nikola got removed, and surrounded by officials, only for them to be pushed away by soldiers trying to calm the panicked room.

Nikola was out of the building shortly after, down an elevator and through packed halls. A hastily assembled convoy gathered outside the capitol, emergency vehicles blaring now waiting for the President. Eventually, he was put into a medical truck that immediately sped away to take him straight to the hospital. Everyone in that office looked at each other in fear and shock. However, some stared blank. A race had just begun, and the die has been cast. The helm was empty, for now.

[KyferLegs]

Only three days after Nikola got booked into the hospital, and still, nobody knew Nikola's current condition. Yet, a prejudiced aura filled the halls of the capital once more, like that in 2080. In a two-story home, gleaming light poles and cobblestone footpaths, a conference was in place. Down the hall, up the stairs, and behind a heavy wood door. Three men sat; the door was locked by a doorknob lock and two bar locks. The walls are marked with photos of past rulers of Yugoslavia. Documents were scattered across the foldable metal table with a plastic wrap over its top. The floor had parts covered by a blue construction tarp that was bent and rumpled. Bellow, it was an ebony polished planked flooring, luxurious and elegant in design. The windows shut with blue denim curtains knotted and tied in artistic creation. The white roof had a chandelier with arms spread out with rain-drop-shaped bulbs.

The room glowed with a yellow-white faded dim as the three men spoke and conversed among themselves while glancing at papers. Jakov, the leader of this meeting, his silver hair glistening under the yellow gleam and his prominent jaw-line twisting as he thought, then spoke. "Any news on Nikola's condition currently?" A slight shuffle was heard as Božidar Stefanović, the Air Force Commander, raised his hand slowly to answer Jakov's question. "I heard mixed reports. However, he is no longer capable of leadership." An eerie silence gripped the room as the light buzzed under the in-construction wiring. Miodrag Dedic turned as his chair squeaked, his naval commander uniform still on, combined with white and navy blue colors as he handed Božidar a phone.
 
"Is he dead? No?" Božidar spoke into a phone, his voice quivered, his body shaking as he grew scared, and stressed overflowed his consciousness then the line hung up "H-he, Nikola has gone braindead. His brain was starved of oxygen." Jakov slammed his fist abruptly into the table; he glanced at the two Commanders, watching them fiercely with them almost in tears as they twitched and looked at Kazimir Jakov. Miodrag looked in a shocked glance, eyes protruding as Jakov grew upset, his knuckles pushing against the table. His bucktooth pressed against his bottom lip, and his arms locked in a hostile position. "Nikola is dead! Now you are sad over this!?" He threw himself up and unfolded his palms which they pushed against the table. It dragging against the tarps, pulling them even more across the flooring. "That- That! Fucking, the monster killed hundreds, no, millions of our people! For what, he to end up retarded cause he had a few too many shots!" The men stared blank but also in some understanding. They turned back to each other and then looked back to Jakov in an awkward unison.

Božidar rubbed his left eye wiping some tears from it as he blinked a few times, regaining composure. "What are you implying, Jakov?" Božidar asked as his gaze went from fearful to skeptical. Miodrag grunted and sniffed as he attempted to compose himself. Jakov was now enraged at the Naval Commander. He marched over to Miodrag and backhanded him with his strong war-torn hands. Miodrag swung left; he felt a burn spread against his cheek. After his eyesight, he blacked for a second due to the intensity of the hit then picked himself back up. Jakov looked down as if Midrag was pathetic and nothing.

"You are willing to cry over a murderer, do you realize that. Nikola is no Tito. He is a fucking degenerate like the rest he spews and talks against! Half of them didn't even do anything wicked." Božidar observed his face blank again as he listened Jakov chastise Miodrag. Jakov stood prominent, towering, and firm. His declarations are brave and compelling. Behind him, perhaps by pure coincidence or a sign, Tito's portrait sat on the wall behind Jakov's head.

Jakov sighed and adjusted his sleeve, staring at the two commanders. "I am stating we take back our motherland from these fake liberators, who are only mentally unstable brats. If we keep them in power, if they are allowed to regain power, the country will collapse again." I promise you, I've fought in the collapse. I know what it's like to want freedom. These people require it, begging and starving for liberation. They are lambs to the slaughter that have been baited by hay." Miodrag held his cheek and looked up at Jakov, bitter but also unmistakably convince to his declarations. "You know you could have convinced me without hitting my fucking face," Božidar uttered to Jakov, uncertain and suspicious of his plan. "How do we even get one of us in control. Relja Dušan will certainly be the new president; he's Nikola's most trusted man." Jakov composed himself and prepared his throat to speak and gazed at them both. "He's Nikola's guy, but think about it, he leads the agency for spying on most of us. Most will turn their backs on Relja if they are given a rifle and free will. The two men acknowledged as they looked at each other and back to Jakov in approval. "What about the people?" Miodrag asked questioningly. Jakov already had the solution, which he wanted to speak about for a long time. "The assembly, the people have always tried to involve themselves in it but never got anywhere.

"Furthermore, only 3 people in the government currently have no monitors attached to them. Nevertheless, if we urge the Government Assembly to our will, the people will practically charge machine guns. I don't want it to come to that, but we must, for our country." The men agreed again, now wholly convinced. But, Božidar had one more inquiry. "What about the war with Montenegro currently?" Jakov glanced to the window and uttered. "That we will fight, as the French did in the French Revolution during the 1700s. Our nation-changing and progressing, but our people are still willing to fight. It is just we need to show that there's purpose still." Jakov promptly walked to the window after declaring his plan and peered through a slit of the curtains. Straight through was the hospital a few streets down, he then muttered to himself, sealing the deal. "Goodbye, Boogeyman"

[KyferLegs]

Down the curved halls of the Assembly, where walls were gold and marble, art portrayed events or leaders in murals of history, or photos hung from walls. Kazimir Jakov walked with Božidar Stefanović in formal suits with Yugoslav pins attached to their suit jackets. They swung left, walking quickly down the halls and a fleet of stairs to the lower levels of the capitol. Miodrag should've tipped off or dealt with security by now. Nobody had stopped them at this point. They turned right, and down a grey and white hall, by all means, it looked more rustic than the top, but both men kept walking until they found room-203. Both men pulled the door open quickly, peering inside to see a lone figure nearly fall back from the sudden intrusion. They both walked inside, and the door closed behind them.

Božidar then pulled the lock closed and turned back around. Jakov already approached the man and dropped a folder onto his desk. "Sergej Andrić, leading Federal Chamber Judge for the Socialist Republic of Serbia. Here is a list of every Judge to be 'Introdicnated' into your court by now removed President Nikola Mihajlo, and State Security Administration Supervisor Relja Dušan." Jakov talked aggressively and sternly to the Judge. The Judge winced, his eyes freezing as he glanced at the folder. Sergej spoke, his voice shaking, "Is this a test?" Jakov looked down to the Judge with a look of seriousness but also hopefulness. A judge could read those eyes.

Jakov then spoke, clearing his throat, "No, it isn't. If you can't tell, I'm Kazimir Jakov, Commander of the Ground Forces. We need your help." The Judge looked up, setting his pen and paperwork down. "With what, Kazimir?" Jakov sighed in relief as he knew he could trust Sergej. "Nikola is brain-dead, he is going to be removed from his position, and they are voting in someone new." Sergej scoffed and then profoundly sighed. "Then that bastard Relja Dušan gets the presidency for life." Jakov nodded and spoke. "Exactly." The Judge, Sergej, froze as he also realized he had power above Relja for the time being, but his 'elected' replacements filled the courts. "With the death of Nikola, that means emergency elections are to be held. However, I can temporarily enact Order 104." Jakov nodded as he then laid his palm forward towards Sergej to explain. Sergej grunted and began to explain in detail. "Order 104 is a war-time act. It suspends the Assembly from enacting any new leading bodies in the executive branch. However, I can quickly enact Order 135 if I can pull some strings." Sergej spewed his rough plan into the room as Božidar looked at his watch to monitor their time as Sergej started explaining again. "Ah! Order 135, basically, allows leading judges to remove their chosen judges for corruption. Usually, the president requests this, but we can enact it on my behalf due to his absence." Jakov sighed in relief as he finally understood the plan and concept, he was never good with judges, but Sergej was different. Jakov spoke again, "What's in it for you then, Sergej?"

Sergej shook his head and sighed. "I only ask for me to keep my job and to get these idiots out of my fucking country." Jakov chuckled as Božidar reminded them they didn't have long to make it out away from turned off CCTV. "You deal with removing his moles. I will have a list by tomorrow, 9am, at Jurija Gagarina 16, then we will announce the death of Nikola to the public behind Relja's back soon as possible. Got that?" Sergej nodded and casually went back to go writing. Jakov kicked his shoes together and saluted with Božidar. Then both men left the room quickly.

[KyferLegs]

The meeting was already convened, and it was a few hours in already. Jakov sat in a black chair. He was president-elect now, and his competition was seated a few feet away from him, Relja Dušan. Jakov stared at him for most of the hours directly, going through laws, codes, and acts. A few chairs were still empty from judges that were removed recently and hadn't been replaced yet, but all was to go ahead due to the war. Sergej Andrić with the Bosnian, Croatian Head Judges. In front of them were two other chairs, Kosovo and Vojvodina elected-head judges. The empty chairs were Slovenia, Macedonia, and Montenegro. Jakov stared at them as Sergej Andrić tapped his gable and spoke.

"Federal Chamber, all judges of the Socialist Republic of Serbia who agree on Jakov's assumption of power, now may give their vote."

The Lower Federal Chamber had 30 Judges of each Republic, with the Autonomous Regions having 20. Followed by the Chamber of Republics and Provinces, which had 12 Judges from each Republic and 8 from each Autonomous Region.

Jakov grinned a bit as he saw judges stand. 17 Judges from Serbia raised a slip and said, "Da." It was 17-13 for now.

The Head Croatian Judge spoke now, "Federal Chamber, all judges Socialist Republic of Croatia who agrees on Jakov's assumption of power, now may give their vote."

All saying "Da." 15 Judges stood up, raising their slips. Once again, then sitting down in unison.

The Bosnian judge now spoke to the room, "Federal Chamber, all judges of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Hezervogina who agree on Jakov's assumption of power, now may give their vote."

23 Judges stood, and Jakov held in his excitement. All of them yelled "Da." and sat back down.

The Kosovar Judge now spoke, "Federal Chamber, all judges of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo who agree on Jakov's assumption of power, now may give their vote."

5 Judges stood, and all said "Da" in hushed tones. Jakov stared at them, shaking his head as Reljan sat his arms crossed.

Finally, the Vojvodina judge spoke, "Federal Chamber, all judges of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Vojvodina who agree on Jakov's assumption of power, now may give their vote."

19 Judges stood, and said "Da." Jakov again had to hold in his excitement as Reljan threw his pen down.

The room remained silent as the head judges spoke, and then Sergej Andrić tapped his gabled again. "That concludes the Federal Chamber. We will now move onto the Chamber of Republics and Provinces. All Judges of the Republics may now cast your vote."

25 Judges stood out of the 36, "Da." It was already clear who won, Jakov.

Sergej Andrić gabled again as soft mutters began to talk among the Federal Chamber. "Silence. All Judges of the Socialist Autonomous Provinces now may cast their vote."

9 Judges stood and said, "Da."

Jakov looked around with a grin a he turns to the Reljans palms buried across his cheeks and eyes.

"Kazimir Jakov is now acting present of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. May he lead the Motherland to success." Sergej said while turning to look at Jakov. The Chamber began to talk, and a cheered for him as now he was the president.