Athens – Greece
Two days later.
The security forces guided General Officer Feodor Anastasios to the podium throughout the labyrinth of the former parliament building where he would eventually wind up outside to the main platform that rested both the corpse and casket of the former leader. As he turned towards the exit and down the corridor, familiar voice spoke out in a gruff tone and Slavic accent.
“General Anus…” the voice jokingly spoke behind him. “I hope you are enjoying your place… but I suspect that you are enjoying it more than I am…” General Feodor stopped as he turned around to see a familiar face. An old friend by the name of Lt. General Dragomir “The Dagger” Damir stood behind him as Feodor smirked out a smile and understood the title, which stuck to him during his time in the army.
“Lt. General Dagger! I thought you were busy back in Serbia dealing with rebels in Sarajevo. Perhaps you are here to pay respects, or you wish to be in my shoes instead to prove to me how envious you are?”
“Perhaps the latter…” joked Dragomir, “… but I do wish to pay my respects and congratulate you on becoming his successor.” He started to walk beside him as they continued along the path to the outside. “But one question I must ask. How did such a great man put someone like you in power as his successor? I mean, after all you did not earn such title on the battlefield, so I’m guessing a bit of favoritism played his decision in his selection.”
“Possibly that is the case, but, it seems that as he saw the end of his reign, he knew what we did what most thought impossible.” Said the General as both he and Dragomir walked together with the guards. “Unifying the Balkans under the Confederacy was a daring move, and the civil war was a test of that alliance. I believe he chose me in order to keep us strong and not waste any more lives. I also know that the men are exhausted from the war and wish to be with their families. He saw that I could bring sanity and peace to the Confederacy.”
Dragomir rolled his eyes, believing what Feodor was doing was a fool’s errand with the Oculi possibly supplying the rebels and anarchists under their noses. “Perhaps it is wise to know that we can crush our enemies first, and once and for all in the region before we can have peace.”
“I do not think that is wise. There will always be enemies in our mist, whether from the people or from within. Now, I wish to regain our strength and make alliances for trade and deal with them when the time comes.”
Dragomir chuckled as he pat on Feodor’s shoulder heavily. “Perhaps that is why they call you an ass, because you’ll eventually make an ass out of yourself.”
Feodor moved on ahead as Dragmir stood behind him as he headed outside and started to go onto the platform. “You forget that Christ rode into Jerusalem on an ass.” He retorted with a smile on his face before he started to walk up on the stairs onto the platform and to the podium where he stood in front of the massive crowd with roars and chants of praise.
His head lifted up to the crowd in slight shock, with the hundreds of thousands of people stood in front of him. Bulgarian, Greek, and Serbian flags waved in in the air as signs in bold letters in languages common to the Balkans all in praise for him. His picture held high on in admiration for the handsome dictator, making him a bit embarrassed as he though himself as a mere figure of the Confederacy. Nevertheless, he had a speech to make before the nation could say their final goodbyes to the corpse former leader.
“My countrymen… My allies... and my friends.
Today is a final day of mourning for our former leader, Nikolaos Michaloliakos. For after this day, I believe, is the beginning of a new era. Perhaps, he was a prideful man, no doubt. But let us not forget that he has accomplished what most people would had thought impossible. We today, stand as evidence that it was not impossible. Our faith, pride, and history united us during the darkness in standing strong against the anarchist threat, against the greatest conflict mankind has ever known, and will continue to hold us against our enemies whether within or mists, or beyond the borders of our countries. Challenges await us within the future that will continue to test our resolve.
Let us not wallow in sadness for the end of our leader, but let us celebrate the legacy that build this opportunity!
Let us forever honor him not by worshiping the end of his reign, but let us honor him by establishing that fact for once, the nations of the Balkans are finally masters of their own destiny! We will not subjugated by aloof and naïve liberals with their Marxist plans, or undermined by anarchists who wish to destroy the dream we have made a reality! A new dawn awaits us, not just for Greece, or Serbia, or even Bulgaria alone! But a new dawn rises on all of the Confederacy that united this land under one banner against our enemies and we will outlast them, as God will be with us as we not only regain our strength, but come out stronger than we could ever thought possible!
Heil Byzantium!”
“Heil Byzantium! Heil Byzantium!” the chants of the crowd in front of him rallied in unison. Feodor felt a rush of hope flow though him, and he believed that he was the one to help forge that legacy. He stood there for a moment taking in the praise and chants of the rallied crowd before he stepped down and back into the corridor where Dragmir clapped slowly with a happy smirk on his face.
“Impressive, but you still haven’t shown yourself to have the will of a leader…” he spoke to him as he looked at the newly established head of the Byzantine Confederacy.
“In due time…” replied Feodor as he walked passed him. “…In due time.”