Crisis of Dissent

POV - Governor CAL 

[Day 2, March 2002, 7pm]

"Minister Sara," I said, extending my hand. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Governor," she replied, shaking my hand firmly. "I understand you wanted to see me?"

I led her into the study, where Caldwell had set up a small table with refreshments. The atmosphere was tense, the air heavy with unspoken accusations. "Please, have a seat," I said, motioning to the chair opposite mine.

She sat down, her expression wary. "What is the occasion for this sudden meeting, Governor?"

"Why didn't you tell me about the shooting, Sara?" I asked, keeping my tone calm. "I just want to know why I wasn't informed immediately. I don't have any malicious vendetta against you."

She met my gaze steadily. "Your Excellency, I believed I could handle the situation on my own. I didn't want to burden you with unnecessary details when I was confident I could resolve the issue discreetly."

Disappointed with her response, I tapped my fingers thoughtfully on the table. "Discretion, hmm? Or perhaps you were hoping to keep me in the dark about your true intentions."

"I'm aware of your actions to suppress the situation," I continued, my tone neutral. "What I'm not aware of is why you chose to act without informing me."

She leaned back, crossing her legs. "Governor, the situation required immediate action. There was no time for lengthy consultations. My priority was to prevent further violence and maintain order."

"At what cost?" I asked, my voice hardening. "One civilian is dead, and your actions may have prevented an immediate escalation, but they've also left us vulnerable to serious allegations."

"Sara, your tactics may work this time, but in the future, when the population is more educated and everyone has a camera, incidents like this will make front-page news," I warned. "We need to be proactive, not just reactive."

Her expression remained calm. "Governor, these are extraordinary times. We cannot afford to adhere strictly to protocol when lives are at stake. I did what was necessary."

"Necessary or not, we need to be united in our response," I countered. "By acting unilaterally, you've undermined that unity. The public needs to see that their leaders are in control, not acting on their own whims."

She nodded slowly, as if conceding the point. "I understand your concerns. But we are facing unprecedented challenges. Flexibility and decisive action are crucial."

"I am not an authoritarian, Sara. I don't know the inner workings of the military, research, or finance," I replied firmly. "I believe you work best without being micromanaged. However, I do not appreciate being kept out of the loop."

I continued, "We need to work together, not against each other. This isn't just about dealing with today's crisis but preventing future ones."

The minister sighed, finally showing a hint of the weight she carried. "You're right, Governor. I should have informed you. In the heat of the moment, I acted on instinct."

I leaned forward, softening my tone slightly. "We all want what's best for our region. But we need to ensure our actions don't create more problems than they solve. Going forward, I expect to be informed of any such actions immediately. We need to present a united front, especially in times of crisis."

"Agreed," she said, her voice resolute. "I will make sure to keep you informed. And I'll take responsibility for my actions today."

"Thank you," I said, feeling a small measure of relief. "Now, let's focus on managing this crisis and preventing further incidents. We have a narrow window to control the narrative before rumors spread."

After the discussion, the Minister was allowed to leave and head back home. Caldwell, sneaky as ever, whispered to me that Janick had been nosing around, curious about our meeting. "Caldwell, bring Janick here then."

As I waited, I turned to the chef and began speaking in our national language, discussing our country's cuisine and politics to pass the time and calm my nerves before divulging the information to Janick. When he arrived, I allowed him to take a seat.

I sighed deeply, my shoulders slumping under the weight of the lie I was about to tell. "Janick, there's been an incident at one of the checkpoints. It's bad—really bad."

I paused, casting a glance at the chef, who nodded solemnly and excused himself, leaving us alone in the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, I continued, "A group of insurgents attacked the checkpoint early this morning. Lady Sautereau's driver was killed, and while no one else was injured, the situation is escalating and causing significant unrest."

Janick's expression shifted dramatically, as if his heart had sunk into his stomach. He had been sitting upright, but now he slumped back into his seat, looking utterly defeated. He raised his eyes slowly to meet mine. "How damaging is this to the government?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I rubbed my temples, feeling the tension throbbing behind my eyes. "From what Caldwell told me, the checkpoints are breeding discontent. They're a major inconvenience for people trying to go about their daily lives," I explained, my voice heavy with concern. "So, it is very damaging to the government. Public trust is at an all-time low."

Leaning forward, I locked eyes with Janick, my tone turning serious and urgent. "Hence the emergency meeting with Sara. We need to act quickly to control the narrative and restore some semblance of order and public trust."

"She was the first to know about the problem and has been proactive in squashing any opposition or misinformation."

His face shifted from curiosity to guilt when he heard that, realizing that Caldwell had informed me about his impatience and attempts to eavesdrop on our conversation with Sara.

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "What do you need me to do, Governor?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

"We need a plan, Janick. We've stopped the initial narrative, but we need to reassure the public, strengthen our security, and find a scapegoat. And we need to do it fast."