In an undisclosed bunker, Paris
"...For the last time, Arlette, we're not starting until Annette gets here"
Annette silently cursed herself as Hiver's echoing voice down the hallway reminded her of her tardiness. It's not my fault, she internally argued, that there was an accident today in downtown. Maybe if someone didn't drive like a man, I would have been here on time!"
In her hands, the Commissioner of the STD was carefully gripping a manila folder, making sure no paper waywardly fell. Even a single sheet missing would implicate France in a national embarrassment for generations to come; she can see why previous heads had a fondness for burning their plans once they were commenced. Annette glanced at the front cover; a crude Scorpion graced the majority of the space. With its claws snapping and its barb poised for a strike, Operation Scorpion was a genius plan that would guarantee French security, and, more importantly, establish her legitimacy as Commissioner.
It wasn't easy being the head of the world's largest and most lethal special force unit in the world. Annette quickly learned that the organization was fiercely independent from the government at large; they felt superior to everyone else in France, and resented the fact the new Commissioner was a "sissy author" rather than a grizzled veteran of the organization. Whenever she shows up to HQ, Annette could feel the institutional subterfuge going behind her back. The top brass below her are like Westeros; constantly fighting each other in order to become the most powerful and eventually take Annette's spot. One sign of weakness on her part, and Annette knew her authority would crumble. That's why she had to prove her competence; they would finally respect her.
"Every moment we wait," Annette could recognize Arlette's voice speaking, "is one moment closer to the death of feminism. We ne-"
Annette dramatically slammed the door open. Immediately in front of her were three women at a table, with various maps of France, Thailand, and Indonesia sprawled across the surface with little rhyme or reason. Directly in front of her was the Président of France, Jeannette Hiver. To her left, Annette saw a burly redhead in a military dress uniform, staring intently at Hiver. She was Arlette Morin, the Minister of Defense, and probably the closest thing to a man anyone will ever see in the French government. To her right, a ravenette topped with an equally black beret buried her face into her hands. Annette recognized her as Giselle Buckley, the elusive and surprisingly reclusive Minister of Foreign Relations.
Arlette quickly turned around to face the newcomer of the conversation. "Uh...," she flustered, "Annette, nice to see you... Why don't you take a seat?"
As Hiver mouthed to Arlette an "I told you so", Annette took the only available seat left in the council, which was fortunately adjacent from Hiver. To be completely honest, Annette didn't know Morin or Buckley all that well; they clearly made a favorable impression on the blonde haired President to have their jobs, but Annette never had a tête-à-tête with either of them. However, even thought it was months since Annette pulled a gun at Jeannette, the former author still didn't feel comfortable being near her, let alone in the same room as her. The friendship they used to have was terminally ill, if not dead, and Renard, at this point, didn't care what happened to it. To her credit, Hiver seemed to want to throw an olive branch at her, but Annette couldn't tell how genuine it actually was.
"So," Hiver beamed, "Now that everyone's here, let's get the meeting started. I called this emergency meeting because feminism is under siege. A long, arduous siege which can break decades worth of women's hard work everywhere. Namely, Indonesia.
Thailand, in a grave action of gender imperialism-"
Buckley meekly raised her hand. "Actually, the reasons for the invasion are a lot more complex, and don't..."
"In a grave action of gender imperialism," Jeannette continued, unfazed, "Thailand invaded the feminist nation of Indonesia. By some miracle, the Thais managed to break through the Indonesian main line of defense. Reports from all three of your branches have indicated a general lack of faith of Indonesia managing a favorable conclusion to this ordeal on its own, militaristic, diplomatically, or socially.
Ladies, we need to act. Now. Indonesia's continued existence as a feminist state is paramount to French national security. Indonesia represents a stepping stone for the expansion of the feminist revolution into Asia proper, but that will never happen if we allow Thailand to recreate their twisted patriarchy in Indonesia. Our policy of calling for a ceasefire are being ignored. We need to step up our pressure. I want to hear your suggestions."
"I don't think the Thais are going to respond to anything but a show of force," Arlette admitted, "I think it's time we get boots on the ground"
"Woah!," Annette exclaimed, "I think you're going too far here, Arlette"
Arlette countered, "Standing around is getting nothing done. We already have a total embargo on Thailand and been attacking them verbally in every way possible. They simply do not care. Mendogs don't respond to strongly worded letters and speeches. If you want them to listen, you got to grab their nuts and slap them silly. Then they'll do what you want."
"But what about the international community? Surely they would take Thailand's side because we're 'evil women threatening the social order'"
"Annette," Giselle quietly retorted, "the world isn't so black and white as you think it is. Most nations are viewing this conflict in terms of food, not gender. Rich, industrialized nations that secured their own means of food production, along with states focused on agriculture, are likely going to disapprove of Thailand because a Thai victory would mean one more rising empire they would have to deal with. Only poorer nations with no agricultural base and can't secure an alternative means of food will likely support Thailand. As long as we play our cards right, preventing Thailand's ascension as a imperial power would actually make us look good in the eyes of nations we actually care if they like us."
Jeannette nodded her head in approval. "I never even thought of it that way, Giselle. Very interesting observation." The foreign minister politely bowed, while the president continued, "However, it really seems like Annette has some serious reservations about a direct intervention. I think we owe it to let her come up with an alternative plan"
"Merci," Annette replied as she threw the folder she was holding onto the table, "To be honest, when you said 'Meeting about National Security', I thought you meant actual national security. What I have here will finally solve-"
Jeannette, recognizing the scorpion on the cover, motioned Annette to stop. "Annette," the Président trailed off, like the mother who has to tell her asthmatic daughter she will never have her dream of being star football player, "You told me about this plan before. And I said I'd consider it, and I still am. But it's completely irrelevant to Indonesia, and that's what we're going to focus on-"
Annette pleaded, "But now is the time to do it! Never before had we have such a golden opportunity to finally pull it off, and if we send troops down to Indonesia, we're going to overextend ourselves, and then the opportunity will past!"
"I understand your enthusiasm, but I'm not going to sell Indonesia out for France's gain. The matriarchy is an international movement, and it requires a united effort of all the world's women to protect it. You even said that yourself, in epilogue of The Folly of Men. This is the first time in history where that principle is going to be tested, as in, 'Can the combined efforts of women can protect the matriarchy where it already stands?'
Men backstab. Women don't. I'm not abandoning Indonesia for your Scorpion plan and that's final."
Annette quietly grabbed her folder back. "Fine," she hissed, dejected.
Trying to defuse the situation, Jeannette asked, "So, we're all confident that we should intervene?"
A chorus of yeses, even a half-hearted one by Renard, encouraged the Président. "In that case, I'm going to motion for the National Assembly to approve of a declaration of war later today. Thank you all for your time."
"Wait!," Arlette demanded, "Before we go, I want to add one thing. I got that expeditionary force idea you wanted ready and finalized. You know, the small yet always mobilized elite force that could be deployed anywhere at a moment's notice. All I need is a name for it, and I thought I had a good one.What about the Hiver's International Vanguards?"
"That's actually not a bad name," Annette was forced to bitterly concede, "I like it."
Giselle nodded. "I agree, works perfectly"
Annette smirked with glee, "I just like how it's named after me. I approve of it. We'll test it in Indonesia, if the National Assembly approves of the intervention. Meeting adjourned"
Annette hastily grabbed her folder and quickly left the room, fuming. I worked so hard on this plan, and Hiver dismisses it without even reading it!. This could have been the one and only chance for her to prove to her underlings in the STD that she was qualified for the job, and the stupid Thais had to ruin everything with their invasion. Now she's going to have to deal with xenophobic schemers who want nothing more than to see her go, and she can't do anything about it.
Unless..
Plently of times the STD did their black ops without approval of the Président, for the sake of the nation. Of course, Hiver appointed her Commissioner under the implied agreement that she wouldn't run off and do exactly that. Yet, she knew if she ever wanted to get anywhere besides perpetual vice president, she needs powerful allies, much more than the Président herself.
Annette reached for her pocket, and pulled out a disposable cell phone. She furiously typed a number in, and then paused for the connection to go through.
"Hello?," a voice spoke on the other end of the line.
Annette smirked. "Operation Scorpion is a go. We're doing it"
---
To: Thailand
From: France
CC: The world
Following the approval of legislation in the National Assembly passed earlier today, Thailand has 24 (IRL) Hours to unilaterally withdraw from all Indonesian lands, or a state of war between Thailand and France will commence