Realpolitik of the Smoky Skies - The Reboot

Oh what a marvel is the new steam engine. I travelled upon it and travelled fleetly to Haven of Peace, a city I had oft read about but not oft visited.

I had been delighted to receive a reply to a request for an interview with one of the residents there, a next generation leader coming up through the ranks.

I was eager to meet Daniel Antilles, the much-younger son of Senator the Honourable Heerlo Antilles, former Prime Minister and current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

The young, aspiring politician appeared to be following in his father's footsteps, and had secured himself a seat in the recent city council elections.

We met in the home of Mister Antilles, a surprisingly down-to-earth residence for a member of a Pulian political dynasty. Having only met his father on a few occasions, and fleetingly at that, I had to admit he did in fact look like a thirty year younger version of his much-esteemed father.


G. Granville: Congratulations on your recent election to the Haven of Peace city council.

D. Antilles: Thank you, Mr. Granville.

G.G.: I'm sure your father is proud.

D.A.: He is, almost a little too much.


We both smiled at the joke. This interview was going to be much breezier than some of the tougher topics I'd encountered recently. And another that I was in the midst of.


G.G.: How does it feel, with two Antilles enjoying election wins in just two months?

D.A.: It feels great. It's a dream come true for me. I've been intrigued by politics ever since I was old enough to follow my father's career, and I'm glad to be able to represent the people of Haven of Peace here.

G.G.: Your family name is clearly quite a drawcard in this city.

D.A.: Indeed, the people of Haven of Peace have been very kind to my family. They have trusted my father to represent them for the majority of this city's history.

G.G.: That is certainly true. Why then do you feel your father came so close to being unseated at the recent general election?

D.A.: I believe it was because he just had no time to campaign. People like to see their candidates out discussing the issues of the day, and proposing their ideas to remedy problems. He did none of that during the general election, and it hurt him. That said, it wasn't his errors alone that made it a tie. The people of Haven of Peace thought Senator Megame ran a very solid campaign here. And while I mean no offense to the honorable minister, I really do not understand how she got so many votes with her odd speeches and buying people drinks.

G.G.: Perhaps we should never underestimate the power of free drinks.

D.A.: Perhaps not.

G.G.: Any plans now you're officially in the city council?

D.A.: I simply look forward to helping guide this great city. We are about to get underway on building a hospital here in Haven of Peace, and I intend to assist however I can. Healthcare is one of the most important issues here right now. Other than that, I will do my best to deal with the issues here as they arise.

G.G.: Any plans of running for the Senate yourself one day?

D.A.: Probably so. I'd love to follow in my father's footsteps one day. I hope the people of Haven of Peace will trust me enough to allow me to represent them, as they have my father.

G.G.: Aer we perhaps seeing another Prime Minister Antilles in the making?


Mister Antilles chuckled slightly.


D.A.: I don't know. That's a long ways off. I've got plenty of things to take care of in my career before I get to that point. But even if I don't, there are plenty of other capable young leaders who are rising stars in our country.

G.G.: Do you have a view on the so-called anthem scandal surrounding the Minister of Culture?

D.A.: I feel like Minister Melda did go a little too far in promoting his son's work. There would've been nothing wrong with merely mentioning it as a candidate for the Pulian anthem; but trying to persuade the Cabinet to adopt his son's piece? I wouldn't have done that, were I in his shoes. Don't get me wrong, both me and my father have a great respect for Senator Melda. I believe he is a good man and a wise leader. But I do believe he made a mistake here, because he has left himself vulnerable to accusations such as these. And I fear it could hurt his reputation. I grew up with Charles. He is a great friend, and a wonderful composer. I have loved all his music, including Rise Like a Phoenix. And I would love to see it become our national anthem. However, I don't believe that Senator Melda should have tried to get it adopted himself. And now I can only hope that his mistake doesn't hurt Charles' career as well.

G.G.: We will see how it all plays out.

D.A.: Indeed. If you are staying in town tonight I believe there is a premiere of a new piece Charles has just written being performed in the opera house.

G.G.: I thank you for the kind offer, but I have to get back to the capital as soon as possible. Perhaps another time.

D.A.: Perhaps so.

G.G.: Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today.

D.A.: It's been an honor. I wish you a safe travel back to the capital, Mr. Granville.


It certainly was pleasant engaging in an uncontroversial interview for a change. Perhaps now that I've interviewed his son, I would be able to interview the Deputy Prime Minister himself? Time would tell. But for me, I had a train to catch back to a political scandal still unfolding.

Just when it seemed as though the national anthem scandal was going to fade into the shadows of obscurity without any consequences the Emperor directly intervened by commenting on the matter yesterday. In a royal bulletin released by the Palace, the Emperor slammed what he termed "a blatant act of nepotism". He also suggested Charles Melda's composition Pulias, Rise Like a Phoenix should be rejected on those grounds while proposing a piece honouring his own family, Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser (translation: God Save Emperor Francis), be used instead.

Later that afternoon the Prime Minister's Office released a statement indicating that the minister at the centre of the allegations, Senator the Honourable William Melda had submitted his resignation as Minister of Culture. The statement clarified that Senator Melda would remain Minister of Science, and that an investigation into the matter was being conducted by the Cabinet, which Senator Melda would be absenting himself from. It went on to name the independent Senator for Coventry, Senator the Honourable David Richterson as the new Minister of Culture. This adds to the Intelligence minister's workload and makes him the most powerful independent in the Senate.

A statement released by Senator Melda's office requested privacy for his family during this time and also congratulated Senator Richterson on his appointment.

This is a consequence that in my view should have occurred days ago, not now. And it shouldn't have needed a reigning monarch to force our political class to act ethically. But that the right outcome took place raises other questions about the means that it came about: such direct intervention by the Emperor is highly unusual and a truly unprecedented action in modern Pulias, where the constitutional monarch's role is normally seen as above all politics and current affairs. Is this an indication of tension between Senate House and the Palace? Is it a sign of things to come? It may well be that the quiescent reign of the admittedly troubled Grand Majah is not what we can expect from our demonstrably interventionist Emperor.

A disturbance has erupted in the normally aptly-named Haven of Peace which had an unusual genesis. Last evening the Opera House was packed with patrons eager to receive the première performance of Charles Melda's curiously-titled Night of the Roaming Dead.

There are reports that disturbances in the audience began during the introduction, and grew into a crescendo as the piece reached its dissonant climax. Reportedly the audience became so rowdy and unruly that it became impossible to hear the music even near to the stage. A first-hand witness who wishes to remain anonymous stated that "the demonstrations grew into a terrific uproar, and before I realised what was happening a person behind me had gotten so carried away with excitement that he began to beat rhythmically on the top of my head. I didn't even realise it at first, as my own emotion had become so great."

One of the musicians who claimed that the real trouble started when two factions in the audience began attacking each other, but their mutual anger was soon diverted towards the orchestra. "Everything available was tossed in our direction, but we continued to play on".

Order was soon restored, but some community leaders have called for composers and artists to be held responsible for the responses their works provoke. Others argue that such a notion is ridiculous, but have instead called for artists to be mindful of the powers they wield and temper their works accordingly.

Mister Melda has been contacted for comment.

This message goes out to those of you who attended Mr.Melda's premiere performance of Night of The Roaming dead.

I say, that such an uproar was completely uncalled for and unruly in our civilized city. Here you have my friend, Charles, who I'm sure has already been on edge enough from this scandal in the Senate, and now you become violent at his concert? You ought to be ashamed. It's music, my fellow Pulians. Sure, it can move you, as Charles' music has moved me time and time again. But it is no reason to resort to violence. Not only have you broken national law, but you have disgraced the kind and peaceful nature of our city.

If you cannot control yourselves while listening to music then I suggest you stay away from concerts so that your inner unrest does not hurt and disturb others.