Rondure of Roses

"Dammit! I knew this would happen!" Kallios slammed his fist on Forroway's desk. "I knew it was a bad idea to send our military against the Federation! Our military power is compromised thanks to you, Mr. President!"

"Look, Director," Forroway drank his cup of water. "We warned Fanghui of our resistance if he violated our boundaries, and he did. We kept our word!"

"I don't give a darn about keeping words. As director of national security, I do my best to maintain America's military. You wasted our troops for what? Nothing! Perhaps if we gave up the Niangs and those UICA scum all those years ago, this would never have happened!"

"Now don't start with that, Director!" Press Secretary Feina stood up. "The Niangs and those poor survivors had the right to live here as free Americans!"

"Oh yeah? What about that time those families sued us, huh? Want that to happen again?"

"Please, don't bring that up," Forroway clenched his fist. "Shien did what was right, defending an innocent vulpi from those racist bullies!"

"But that was clear evidence that the Niangs are dangerous! They don't deserve our protection!"

"Just calm down everyone," Vice President Idiyura scratched his hair.

"Look, Kallios," Forroway sighed. "I know this is frustrating, but we must never forget that we have to keep our democracy alive, including protecting people's rights to be free from tyranny, even the Niangs."

"And the vulpi," Feina added.

"Then tell me, what if those people are the sinister UICA?" House Speaker Rodigand shook his cane. "We protected them, and how did Cecilius thank us? They trap our people in that damned game! My son is in there because of that wretched organization! We should have turned the UICA in when we had the chance!"

"Rodigand, I understand that you are frustrated that your son is in the Syanic Earth," Idiyura stopped Rodigand from slashing his cane across the air. "But we don't know for sure if-"

"I know 100%!" Rodigand smacked Idiyura with his cane. "The UICA were our enemies the whole time like Fanghui told us for years!"

"Settle down, please," Forroway blocked Rodigand's cane from hitting his vice president again. "I am so sorry that your son is in there, but we can't assume the UICA is truly behind the World Cybertrap just because the Federation says so. I still have doubts about this situation. We don't have sufficient evidence to prove-"

"I agree with Rodigand!" Kallios snapped. "The UICA's true colors have shown! Was it worth it to send General Covinski to rescue those good for nothing Niangs?"

"To protect those who are oppressed by the Kneapexists, yes."

"Director Kallios! The UICA was being persecuted just like the vulpi!" Feina mentioned. "Remember the Middle Eastern Smite? You saw what the Federation does! We should defend these poor people from Fanghui's terrorism!"

"Terrorism? The UICA is the terrorist! Not the Federation!" Kallios spat at Feina. "Fanghui was our friend the whole time. We were just too blind to see it. Now, they come to offer us protection from these enemies, which I think we should accept."

"And you trust them? You want to replace our military with a genocidal droid army?"

"If it works, I would be more than happy to! Especially for our security since Forroway was dumb enough to fight our protectors, throwing our power into the trash!"

"Kallios," Forroway wiped off his sweat. "It's not all about security, but defending human rights as well. We are not going to appease the Kneapexists as Europe did! They did that to Hitler before, and that didn't work out. We can't just give up our beloved democracy for protection."

"It's about time you changed, you fool!" Rodigand stomped his cane on the floor. "We must listen to Fanghui now! May I remind you? Just look outside!"

The politicians looked out the windows to see thousands of people flooding behind the gates. They held signs showing the minotaur's skull with the five stars of China, the Kneapexist symbol. The people ferociously protested against Forroway.

"Kill the UICA!"

"Fanghui will save us!"

"You are useless, Forroway!"

"See?" Rodigand shouted. "Even the people see your errors for protecting these UICA freak people. You heard them! They lost family members to that stupid game. All this is entirely your fault, Forroway! We must destroy the UICA once and for all. And Mr. President, I always knew you never deserved to be in power!"

"How dare you talk to President Forroway like that! Just retire, you geezer!" Feina yelled, stomping on the floor.

"What was that?"

"Maybe we should just take a-" Idiyura stood in front of the two.

"I know, Rodigand!" Kallios interrupted. "I knew the UICA would destroy us if Forroway won another term!"

"It's a wonder you even became our Director of National Security!" Feina spat out.

"Gentlemen, please," Forroway sweated.

The bureaucrats viciously argued with one another as Forroway and Idiyura couldn't find a way to stop the commotion. Forroway sat down, covering his sweaty face, knowing this wasn't the first time they have heatedly argued about the UICA and the Global Federation. Soon, Forroway heard his phone ring.

"Hello?" Forroway picked up.

"Guys, shut up!" Idiyura shouted, preventing Rodigand from hitting Feina with his cane.

"Mr. President," The phone's speakerphone turned on. "This is Vargose, pilot of F22 Beta-6. A Federation aircraft is requesting to land at the White House."

"What?" Forroway adjusted his glasses.

"The person identifies herself as Colonel Maika."

"Okay? What does she want?" Forroway asked.

"She wishes to speak to you about actions to be done for America," The phone sounded.

"What are your orders?"

"Mr. President," Kallios said. "We should listen now, since ignoring them for years never

worked."

"No, we can't trust them!" Feina said. "They are vulpi killers!"

"Shut up, missy," Rodigand swung his cane again. "At least they will clean this world of the UICA!"

"At least? Are you being racist against the vulpi?"

"Racist? I don't quarrel with the vulpi living here! I just think the Kneapexists may help us stop the UICA!"

Idiyura once again stood between the opposing officeholders, doing his best to appease their rage.

"Ugh, okay," Forroway replied to the phone. "Let them come."

***

A dark purple helicopter shaped like a wasp approached the White House, guarded by two istiophoroid enforcer drones. A dropship ejected off the helicopter's hidden back compartment. The F22 Raptors flew off as the wasp shaped helicopter and the dropship landed. The helicopter's long cannon tail straightened for the aircraft to land on its six legs. The rapidly beating wings made of shining hexagonal scales slowly stopped.

Reaper Squad Commandos fanned out from the dropship. Out of the helicopter came Colonel Maika, holding her rose as two White Death guards escorted her out. The crowd cheered as they saw the aircraft's Kneapexist symbol. Behind Maika and the White Death were Zentroid and SANDRA.

"Hear ye! Hear ye! Rejoice, and be merry!" SANDRA acknowledged the crowd. "O ye faithful, I bring thee great tidings of joy! Gnash thy teeth no more, wipe thy tears, but lift thy heads, and thou shalt smile. Sing thy canticles to the Supreme Herald, who's wisdom shimmers as lustrous as the magnificent incandescence of the sun. Heed my words, and look no further, for the blasphemous UICA shall perish in the great inferno, and there will be everlasting ecstasy! For your accursed democracy, for thy iniquitous Forroway, there will be judgment!"

The crowd raised their signs and applauded, as SANDRA and the crowd exchanged Kneapexist salutes. As Maika's group walked through the hallway, Zentroid made the hallways turn pitch black. The officers and tourists were frightened.

"Boo!" Zentroid scared a young girl with his screen showing worms coming off a pony's head.

She knelt on the ground, crying.

"Zentroid," SANDRA stopped. "Thou mustn't be so quick to gratify thy self-indulgence."

"Aww, but can I eat her?" Zentroid's abdomen drooled. "I am hungry!"

"No, Zentroid. Thou must have patience, for there shall be more than enough corpses to assuage thy hunger in due time. And thou hast no need to flaunt thy abilities extravagantly. Thus saith your queen."

"That's no fun! As you wish, my queen," Zentroid grumbled, floating back to Maika as the lights flickered back on.

"My child. My dear sweet child," SANDRA knelt to the weeping girl, wiping the girl's tears with her metal fingers. "Be not afraid, for my servant shall not lay a finger on thy skin."

The girl laughed as SANDRA released nanoparticles to tickle her face.

"There, there, little one," SANDRA flicked her fingers. "Thou shalt not grieve, but be gracious. For the great Supreme Herald shall bring this world eternal mirth unlike no other."

The particles flew back onto SANDRA's hand, morphing into a pink cupcake. The Machine Queen placed the cupcake onto the girl's hand.

"Delight in thy sapid aliment," SANDRA smiled. "Savor the blessings of the exalted Global Federation."

SANDRA walked back to Maika. As the girl happily ate her cupcake, the people didn't know how to react to the interaction.

***

"President Mikalus Forroway," Maika entered the presidential office.

The legislators sniffed something fragrant in the air. The Colonel smelled like roses.

"I am Colonel Shiran Maika of the Global Federation of World Justice," Maika reached her hand out for a handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Forroway looked at his administrators. Kallios and Rodigand nodded, gesturing to him to shake it while Idiyura and Feina shook their heads.

"It… it's a pleasure to meet you as well," Forroway reluctantly shook Maika's hand.

Maika then greeted the others, exchanging handshakes with them as well.

"I know you and your fellow lawmakers are quite busy, and I apologize for the intrusion," Maika stroked her rose. "But we have much to discuss."

"What do you want to talk about?"

Maika walked to the window to see the cheering crowd as SANDRA, Zentroid, and the White Death stood by the office doors.

"Your country had so much potential," Maika smiled. "All wasted not just by your faith in democracy, but for your misplaced faith within the UICA."

Forroway didn't know what to say.

"Let me ask you," Maika turned around. "Out of curiosity, what were you lawmakers planning to do next in dealing with the ongoing conflict?"

"We…" Forroway hesitated. "Um… we were discussing… talking about what to do next…"

"Really?" Maika sat on Forroway's chair, leaning her legs on the table. "That's all you have done so far?"

"Excuse me, Colonel," Idiyura spoke out. "You, you can't just sit-"

The vice president felt his mouth being clogged with gray matter jolting out from SANDRA's hands. SANDRA told them to hush with a finger on her mouth. None of them said a word.

"No actions, I assume? Mr. President," Maika chuckled.

"Not… not yet," Forroway felt embarrassed.

"What a shame," Maika stood up. "Although discussion is a virtue, it's funny how disagreement within democracy slows you down from doing anything for your people. But don't worry, the Federation is here to help you."

"And how, exactly?" Forroway asked.

"Of course, the elimination of the UICA remnants is imperative. President Kainos Cecilius is dead. All WARBLER Centers have been destroyed. Our best troops are currently hunting the last of them, including the Niangs."

"Wait, Cecilius is dead?" Feina whispered to the others. "No wonder he didn't pick up."

"Haha, that's good," Rodigand replied. "That man was better off dead."

"Rodigand!" Forroway shouted.

"What? How can you say that?" Feina protested.

"Wow! The Federation does things fast!" Kallios smiled.

Forroway made a facepalm.

"I killed him! I killed him! Yay!" Zentroid flapped his tentacles around, displaying a laughing babyface. "His guts spilled like crazy! Weee!"

"Zentroid," SANDRA raised her voice. "Control thyself, for these are such delicate matters."

"Aww, fine!" Zentoird groaned, licking his abdomen with his three tongues.

The American officeholders gagged as Zentroid spat out rancid green liquid on the floor.

"In addition to the ongoing campaign, our armies have been mobilized across the Americas for martial law. Federation war factories are being installed for America's protection."

"Wait, what?" Forroway blinked.

"Conversions of your education systems into Kneapexist academies have begun as well. More troops, labor, and serious discipline are needed at such times. Your confused people must contribute to-"

"Hold on, stop!"

The other politicians looked at each other, squabbling their opposing views to each other.

"Slow down," Forroway continued. "Aren't you and your Federation taking this too far? May I remind you that you are in my country?"

"Of course," Maika walked around. "We would have it no other way. Fanghui merely sent me here as an advisor. I am doing this for your country. Unlike you bickering Democrats and Republicans, the Global Federation is very quick to act against any threat, especially the UICA."

"The UICA," Forroway pointed out. "What evidence is there that the UICA was behind the World Cybertrap?"

Maika activated a small device on her hand, showing him a 3D globe. The map zoomed into America.

"I can share our investigation progress," Maika placed the device on the table. "The disaster began at the WARBLER Center located in the east of Baltimore."

The globe zoomed into the city to highlight a destroyed WARBLER Center in red.

"Once it started, it spread across the globe like wildfire," Maika spun her rose across her fingers. "Cecilius was at the origin WARBLER Center when it happened. So far, we have done our best to capture and apprehend the UICA members. They have shown great resistance in giving us any intel about their activities. Cecilius died, refusing to tell us anything."

"Uh, okay?" Forroway adjusted his glasses.

"Unfortunately, as you can see, the UICA shows no signs of cooperation to provide any data, which is a sign of their guilt. However, our search for the last UICA members is in progress. General Lifen Saitori and Dr. Isrina Niang are our primary targets now. We will notify you when we obtain a clear UICA perspective."

As the globe turned off, Forroway's group was overwhelmed, yet stunned with the amount of information the colonel gave them. Doubt continued to shroud Forroway's thoughts within Maika's briefing but didn't know what to say against it.

"My son," Rodigand said. "What about the players?"

"Don't worry, House Speaker Rodigand," Maika assured. "We are currently creating an anti program that may end the World Cybertrap using salvaged UICA products. However, we still need vital information from UICA members to come up with an effective solution. I promise you will see your son."

"Have you found out why the UICA did this to us?"

"They were trying to weaken your country. The UICA thought that by using the Syanic Earth: Year 3225, most of the population would be unconscious."

"But why?" Kallios questioned.

"They want to take over your government to mobilize America against us. Because the UICA lack numbers in their small yet advanced military power, the World Cybertrap reduces their trouble in conquering your people."

"How dare they!" Kallios grumbled.

"Thou shalt not fear," SANDRA said. "For the unholy UICA shall pay the price for their wretched deception against you."

Rodigand and Kallios seemed to believe her. Feina crossed her arms in doubt while Idiyura stood silent with his mouth full of SANDRA's metallic substance. Forroway scratched his chin, uncertain if Maika was providing true information.

"Your briefing is… is greatly appreciated…" Forroway finally said. "But aren't the UICA receiving a fair trial?"

"Of course," Maika smirked, stroking her rose's pedals. "We aren't savages, Mr. President. I assure you, when we successfully capture a UICA member who is willing to comply, we will make sure that person receives the fairest of treatment."

Forroway nodded, still sensing inaccuracy within the information. Rodigand and Kallios seemed very happy about Maika's data. All except Feina and the silenced Idiyura.

"I see," Forroway adjusted his glasses. "But is all this necessary? Especially an invasion that violates our boundaries?"

"Of course it is," Maika smiled. "Since your fellow associates seem busy talking among themselves, your democracy has failed to stop the UICA threat. You must realize, Fanghui deeply cares about your country's future."

"Really? Even if it means killing countless lives? Perhaps if he cared, he would be here!"

"I do apologize that the Supreme Herald couldn't personally hear your grumbling under your breath. Hmhmhmhm," Amitonyx chuckled as his life-sized hologram appeared on the table in front of Forroway, making him flinch.

"Overseer… Am… Amitonyx?" Forroway mumbled.

"The Supreme Herald is heroically suppressing a Taiwanese uprising led by a few Vultau masters in Hualien," Amitnyx smirked. "That's why Fanghui ordered me to tune in to your conversations and report to him until he delights in speaking to you personally. So don't think for a second that Fanghui doesn't wish to hear your concerns. Hmhmhmhm."

"Hail, Fanghui!" Maika and SANDRA exchanged salutes with their overseer.

"Colonel Maika," Amitonyx smiled. "I see you are making good progress in briefing Forroway of our ambitious campaign? Has he agreed to join our cause?"

"Our negotiations are progressing, but Forroway still questions our presence in his country," Maika sniffed her rose. "So he hasn't made the decision yet."

"Ah, I see," Amitonyx turned to Forroway. "You should be thankful that Maika has been working hard to help you defeat those UICA scumballs. Hmhmhmhm."

"Look, you all forget that this is my country!" Forroway declared. "We can't just let you do what you want here!"

"And this country is still yours. However, we are the ones who bring order to those who need it. Right now, your country is in such desperate need of reformation. Even your protesting people seem to want that."

"Yes, we wish to hear your decision in joining our campaign," Maika told Forroway, lifting her rose under his nose. "Sometimes you must sniff the rose to appreciate its aroma."

"Um," Forroway took a whiff of Maika's rose.

The rose smelled like perfume. Once again, Rodigand and Kallios gestured to him to join while Idiyura and Feina gestured the opposite.

"I… I will think about it… " Forroway said.

"Very well," Maika smirked. "But you should take some action, Mr. President. Your people depend on you."

"I will discuss it with my representatives."

"As you wish," Maika took out a spare communication device like the one on the table. "I will check with you daily at noon. I truly hope you have what it takes to lead your country."

Maika threw the device to Forroway. As the American president caught the device, he frowned at the idea of Colonel Maika nosing into his affairs. Forroway wanted to protest, but he remembered SANDRA's power, being able to silence his vice president with a flick of her finger. Forroway then observed Zentroid, who made nasty grins on his computer screen as he licked his green saliva on his abdomen. He sensed that it wouldn't be wise to reveal his opposition, at least not yet.

"Well said, Colonel Maika. Hmhmhmhm," Amitonyx chuckled again. "Colonel, we have heard word that General Covinski has been mobilizing renegade remnants of the US forces to strike our progressing war factories and academies. They call themselves the SHRIKE Rebellion."

"Covinski? He's alive?" Forroway muttered.

"Wait, General Yurik Covinski is making a rebellion?" Kallios asked. "I thought he retired after the Niang Chronicles."

"Ugh, that crazed old veteran that never follows the rules?" Rodigand brushed his beard. "I never liked him."

"Ah, an old enemy," Maika crossed her arms.

"Cyroid also informed me that the SHRIKE Rebellion is currently on the search for the last UICA members and their Vultau allies as well. You must deal with these forces before they can unite with our enemies. Cyroid predicts that the next attack will occur on our new Titanium Refineries in Columbus, Ohio."

If Covinski is looking for the UICA, then he could find answers for us, Forroway thought. Perhaps if he found the UICA before the Federation does, and if we question them personally, the truth will be confirmed. That's something we can start with, but how will I ever convince Rodigand and Kallios to approve this? Not only that, with Maika's nose in our beloved White House, we would need to be careful.

"We will be heading there shortly," Maika saluted. "Hail, Fanghui!"

"Hail, Fanghui!" Amitonyx saluted back as his hologram disappeared.

"Well then," Maika spun her rose. "I must be going now. It has truly been a pleasure to be acquainted with you all."

"Yes… likewise…" Forroway awkwardly said.

"I do hope you consider joining our campaign soon."

Maika along with the White Death, Zentroid, and SANDRA walked out of the office.

"Excuse me," Forroway caught SANDRA's attention before she left. "My vice president?"

"My deepest apologies," SANDRA snapped her fingers to free Idiyura's mouth.

Idiyura breathed multiple sighs of relief. SANDRA curled her fingers, turning the particles into elegant glasses of clear yellow champagne. The shiny glasses slowly descended from the air onto the delegates' hands. Forroway and his cabinet stared at the bubbling liquor. They were amazed at SANDRA's powers, yet fearful.

"A mere token for our colloquy," SANDRA smiled as she made a glass of champagne for herself to drink. "Enjoy. Let thy tongues chant oratorios of exhilaration."

The Machine Queen drank her champagne as she left. When she finished, she threw the glass behind her. It turned into a metal snake that absorbed Zentroid's green putrid saliva. Afterward, the snake slithered across the hallway back onto SANDRA's hands. The others were speechless, unable to comprehend the powers of the Machine Queen.