The Steely Faux

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Of course, after its latest article - the Steely Post was permanently banned of Achyon, unfit for distribution.
Yet, instead of blatantly censoring the piece, an answer was posted, denominated as The Steely Faux.

Men of Achyon. I am not a man known to justify myself, yet, belligerent words aim to taint my reputation. Rhetorics aiming to disrupt the status quo, chitchat to seize power. Achyon, it is not these well-fed, healthy men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking. Our city contains no famine, our citizens do not lack anything; I have done my best to maintain a perfect lifestyle to all those who serve under the Empire. Nevertheless, soldiers who have never been denied food; soldiers who were given the best weapons, soldiers who have not suffered the harsh times - those are attemping to overthrow my family.

I will address everything, and allow the people to think for themselves. Everything written under red sentences are my answers to the victimizing colloquy made by Ayla pyr Aertas.

Ipsis litteris:

Upon a wooden cross, Nekra Bullwark was nailed. She was hoisted above those who watched, to die a slow painful death. Without a word. Without a sound. Such is the punishment allotted to traitors of the empire. Those who dissent from the Empire. Or so it was said. Yes, capital punishment is the most common sentence to traitors, period.

Recently, my husband Cyril pyr Aertas, a noble, was threatened by his own sister. A captain in our grand military, Matryona pyr Docro gave him an order to which Cyril bucked. She then accused him of treason. No, Cyril has been plotting against the government, giving inside information to the Moxtli and the traitors - dissent was the last of his actions. I have warned Amelia of Cyril's plan roughly two years ago, and she's able to confirm such. We were discussing how to handle the situation. But of course you wouldn't mention the full story, pathetic journalist.

Treason, my dear readers, is actions taken against the empire as a whole. Those that weaken the empire. Lovely euphemism, but Achyon is part of the Empire. Taking actions against its government is treason, otherwise, nothing would fall under the category, unless done directly to the Capital. Are you even reading what you write? Insubordination is the act of defying a superiors orders. Neither of these apply to Cyril, a man who disobeyed an order when he is not a soldier at this time. Refusing an officer is a punishable offense, yes. It is not treason. His sentence has enough crimes to leave you astonished. Yet, so he was accused, and so the Docros have shown their brutish manner, a belief that they are the Empire. It's called being part of the government. My father, Walter pyr Docro, is Chief General of Barsburg, and a member of the capital's council. I am a member of Achyon's council, an extension of Barsburg. And you, dear, you are nothing. If you believe my family is not inherently tied to this Empire, I have bad news for you. The same applies to the Synthetics and to the Aertas family. Our current hierarchy is there for a reason.

Those unaware should notice now, the council is filled with those loyal to the Docros. They have, for all intents and purposes, performed a bloodless coup. All members of the council have a singular vote, equal power of speech and, of course, all new additions were accepted by the previous members. None was injected. Your coup is called centralized democracy. Any with a desire to succeed must not serve the Empire, but must instead serve the Docros with everything they have. The Docros will say they serve the Empire, yet from what I've seen? The Docros serve the Docros. The Empire is secondary if that. And what have you seen, Ayla? When have you seen the Docro Family not serving the Empire? I thought journalists were supposed to hold decent rhetoric, because your excerpt is permeated with argumentative fallacies.

They are cowards and bullies that hide behind their name, that abuse their position to harm any who could even potentially weaken their standing. Utilizing of the political powers granted to you to destroy any treachery is not abuse; it is exerting your function as an official. But tell me, as part of the government, how you would allow fraudulent men to weaken your Empire. You'd be the best of governors, certainly! Please, you would have done the same as me. Who are you trying to deceive? And if you need proof? I ask you to look at Ryker pyr Docro. At Luca pyr Docro. People who kill one of their own family, within their own house. There's no law in that. There is no order in that. It's merely tyranny, an extrajudicial killing. Mercedes' death was not extrajudicial. Shows how little you know. And I love how you blame my family for executing a traitor actively working with the Moxtli to kill a member of the council. Of course, me. Am I really the one plotting to kill their own family? Wasn't it you who had no qualms with Mercedes killing me? Your hypocrisy is not even recondite. You should be ashamed of what you write. Yes, I have executed a member of my own family, and I will execute more should they betray the Empire. Undoubtedly, a testament to my unquenchable loyalty. They will not be punished for this. This is the fate that awaits those in Achyon if you do not serve the Docros. A death without arrest, without trial. If you're lucky, it will be quick.

I vowed to serve an Empire of laws, one that punishes those who break those laws harshly, but not without any manner of reason. I would not be killed by a single individual acting as judge, jury, executioner. All my sentences are accepted by the judiciary system of Achyon, voted by the council. Nor a single family. This is the Achyon I present to you. One in which the Docros control every facet. I am still waiting a single presentation of the arbitrary decisions.

Nekra Bullwark was a faithful patriot of the Empire, but not of the Docros. A faithful patriot doesn't project dubious plans hidden to the council's eyes. Cyril pyr Aertas is a loyal man of the Empire, but not the Docros. The so called rebels? Serve the Empire, but not the Docros. Do you want a letter from the capital saying you are wrong? Because I can get one.

There are those of you within the city who feel it can be changed. Changed? Our Empire doesn't change. Love it or leave it. Yet I would point out, every day that's passed, the Docros only secure more on the council. Appoint who they wish, everyone I have personally appointed was elected with unanimity. tighten their grip. If you wish to succeed you will give your everything to them. The Empire will be an afterthought before your new masters. I offer you a path to serve the Empire. Ironic, you serve the Empire outside of it, against it. Unseat the unlawful traitors who would fatten themselves off your labor, off the fruit of the empire. Be content not with their scraps. Let your ambition run free, pursue the council, pursue more than simply a life of servitude and boot-licking. Perchance this is why you are so stupid: you consider listening to the authority as 'boot-licking'. Our hierarchy exists for a reason. Every person has their social function, like a machine, with countless pieces working together. Some pieces are there to control, some pieces are there to listen. Akin to anatomy, too. And if the arm abruptly believes it can do the brain's job, the whole body will be viewed as abnormal, defective.

Those of you who know me? Know that I am no traitor. I was born in the capital. Sorry. I forgot being born in the capital excuses treachery. I sacrificed my arm for Barsburg. The Empire is my everything, I would give my life for it. So I ask you what would drive me to this length? I have seen Achyon begin to crumble A lot of honeyed words, a lack of examples. When have you seen Achyon crumble because of the Docros? under the Docros and their fleshmancer puppets. The Council is a formality, nothing more. Luca pyr Docro rules Achyon. What he wishes is what happens, as if a king. He has fashioned himself as a Petrakis of Achyon no less. So let's give him the fate of the last Petrakis who fought against the Empire. Funny - my father killed him.

Seek out the patriots. Thanasis, Auralei, or myself. Surrender to Moxtli and request to join us.You use the term patriots and subsequently you tell our soldiers to surrender to Moxtli. You are no patriot, fool, you are being used by tribesmen, because they benefit from inside chaos. Do you think they'll simply allow you to rule shall our council be overthrowed? Are you that innocent? But be warned. If you are found to be a spy you will not be released. You will be killed, painfully. We have no mercy left to spare. Our mercy died on a cross, silently, showing us the strength of the empire. Where the pain of the individual is insignificant. Where the sacrifice of the individual for the strength of the Empire matters not. Trying to shatter Achyon's government is nowhere near the act of strengthening our Empire, no matter how much logical-juggling you start.

One last matter. Specifically to Ryker pyr Docro. If you recall our final conversation. I found the leader I was pursuing. Turns out they'd been standing in front of you that whole conversation.

To the Docros? Come meet the might of the Empire. You see yourself as leaders, but you know not the power of cogs, of those who've sacrificed our sweat, flesh, and blood. Without anymore than the clothes on our back and the weapons in our hand. Those who fought only for the promise of a future that you would deny us. Everything ever done to you was a consequence of dissent. You denied your own future. Should you wish this to stop? Surrender yourselves, all of you. Cast away your title, abdicate from the council, and come receive your judgement. I promise it won't be a crucifixion. No.

The Achyon Reclamation has begun, and we will fight alongside Moxtli, alongside any other forces that wish to aid us in the purging of the Docros from Esshar! For the glory of Barsburg and the Empire! You need two neurons to understand the problematic of this final excerpt. Consider joining the Grimmore family, you remind me of Lannis. Attempting so hard to usurp power under beautiful words, when the true motivations are not even close to such benevolent colloquies coming from his fetid labiums.

Men, remember. The Empire has given you homes, hospitals, wealth. You were never denied a single thing. We have conquered nations with gargantuan power, and all those conquests are consequences of our system, because it works! They wouldn't be possible without soldiers to siege, without generals commanding loyal men, and without politicians to find the best possible outcomes. Those who serve Achyon's Iron Chambers undoubtedly serve Barsburg, and anyone saying otherwise is lying, trying to disrupt our status quo.

To prove my allegiance is to the Empire, I have initiated a public referendum, to vote the Docro Family out of Achyon. Those who are not happy with me, councilman Luca pyr Docro, can attempt to remove me. However, I am certain you will not be capable of such. My actions are utterly unclouded, all claims of corruption are lies, and this city knows it needs me.

Do your best and vote.

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As expected.