Please note that the following transcript was translated from Standard Jacarian to English. Some words, such as names or positions, remain in their original language for the ease of translating staff.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “Please begin the transcription of this meeting on the date of April 12th, 2310. We shall start in five minutes; please take your seats.”
The last few represӕntӕtives and senatørs file into the room as Fӕderål Gård members shut and seal the doors. Everyone sits down as the Leader of the Hӕse, Alӕn Finlӕ-Johnson, rises to acknowledge the officials around them. They return to their seat and gesture to end various conversations.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “I call to order the 54th monthly meeting of the Hӕses of Lӕgislatøre. The first order of business, as mandated by Lård High Willӕmsbørg, is on the topic of our embassy with the United Commonwealth. Represӕntӕtive Divsӕn will elaborate further.”
Divsӕn: “Thank you, Mx. Alan. As stated, Willӕmsbørg wants us to decide on additional diplomats to venture to Thessarapolis for the We Are One summit at the end of the month. The list of diplomats representing the Alliance thus far consists of Willӕmsbørg, McMillør, Finlӕ-Johnson, Richӕrds, Dinkørton, Logӕn, Smith, Bӕxter, and Orwӕll. Any additional diplomats may be added via a majority confirmation of this Legislature. Are there any persons currently interested in this position?”
Several people stand up and walk down to the central area.
Divsӕn: “Thank you. Are there any objections to the volunteers below?”
The room is quiet except for the rustling of paper and the occasional cough.
Divsӕn: “Good. That concludes our first order of business.”
Finlӕ-Johnson: “Wonderful. Next order of business: Represӕntӕtive Edwӕrds has proposed a new budget for the Ministry of Ӕducation and Sciӕnce based upon the number of 500 billion kroner as agreed upon at the meeting last month. He would like to present it for the consideration of the Hӕses.”
Edwӕrds: “Yes, I have it here.”
He steps onto the stage as several people wheel in a large whiteboard.
Edwӕrds: “Of course, this is simply a proposal, and will be finalized at a later date. If you would take a moment to look at the figures, I’ve been able to balance our expenditure while still allowing for a significant portion of the funds to be diverted to revamping our older buildings and systems. The largest portion of this budget, as you can see, is for the subsidization of tertiary education. With this budget, we were able to allow citizens to partake in quality education without payment, and it will serve as the basis for a generation more intelligent than any other before it.”
Applause rings out through the chamber.
Edwӕrds: “Thank you. There is also a large portion given to JANSA for the development of their WASD devices, inter-universal rifts, and for the progression of our space program. There’s another section, roughly an eighth of the budget, devoted to our healthcare and social security systems, about a 5% increase from last year. The rest of the budget is made up of retirement funds, food subsidies, and various other investments. That will be all.”
More applause, with several officials standing up as Edwӕrds returns to his seat.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “Just from the sound of it, I don’t think I need to ask, but all in favor of approving this outline?”
The vast majority of representatives raise their hands.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “Four thirty-five… Four thirty-six… Yes, that is an approval. I’ll have it sent to the budget team for refinement. Now, the next order of business: Represӕntӕtive Knight wishes to propose a motion regarding the situation in Bӕxter and Orwӕll Industries, Ltd., and the crackdown on freedoms the citizenry is experiencing.”
Another person walks down to the stage.
Knight: “The fact that we, a democratic republic, still deal with the Industries is worrying in its own right. How can we stand by while such heinous acts are being committed?”
Several people gasp.
Knight: “We have played the dummy for far too long. What Bӕxter is doing to his citizens is irredeemable and requires international intervention immediately. This is a proposal of war, and nothing short of it.”
Dozens of people gasp and murmur at the proposal. A man to the right stands up.
Geårge: “Sir, do you call these Democratic Nations the ‘dummy’ and expect us to then follow you into war? Your proposal is absolutely insane, and against a member of the Alliance, no less. How will the international community look at us if we attack our own ally without good reason? And until Bӕxter is reelected, there is not a single reason that could convince the Houses to declare war.”
Geårge wins several rounds of applause as Knight is visibly fuming. When he retorts, he is on the verge of yelling.
Knight: “What better reason is there than the protection of their citizens? What better reason is there for liberating their people from a madman?”
A woman stands, addressing Knight.
Hӕnry: “You are asking us to betray our ally for a cause we don’t support. While the situation in the Industries is certainly unacceptable, there is absolutely no reason to act now. The polls are already showing a landslide victory for Orwӕll, who has been gaining popularity with the people recently. Again, there is simply no reason at the moment for war. Orwӕll has proven himself to be a trustworthy man, and he will certainly turn the Industries around for the better.”
Knight is now yelling.
Knight: “How could you not support it? The lot of you, you’re all traitors! Traitors to the Democratic Nations! Bӕxter is an absolute madman and deserves nothing less than death!”
Represӕntӕtives are now yelling back at Knight. Several have stood up and are shaking their fists.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “Represӕntӕtive Knight, you know the nation’s policy regarding capital punishment. If you have nothing else to say, we shall-”
Knight: “I. Am. Not. Done! I don’t give a damn about our policy! The man deserves death! If you suggest anything less, you are not just a traitor to your country, but you must be a rebel spy for the Industries themselves!”
The room erupts into chaos, with represӕntӕtives standing and yelling at Knight. Finlӕ-Johnson picks up their gavel and slams it into their desk repeatedly to little avail.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “Order! Order! I call for order!”
They slam the gavel a final time, the wood splintering as the Overseers jump back in surprise. Finlӕ-Johnson drops what remains of the gavel and stands up, trying to yell over the crowd.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “SILENCE, THE LOT OF YOU! OR I SWEAR TO IT THAT I WILL BRING WILLӔMSBØRG DOWN HERE MYSELF!”
The crowd quiets down almost immediately. All eyes are on Finlӕ-Johnson.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “Thank you. Represӕntӕtive Knight, you may see yourself out.”
A gasp rings out from the assembled represӕntӕtives, for an official hasn’t been dismissed from the Hӕses in decades. As the Fӕderål Gård escort Knight out of the room, another, much younger man slips in unnoticed.
Finlӕ-Johnson: “This behavior was unacceptable, both from Knight and from yourselves. I am ashamed to lead such a legislature. I want to make it clear that this will never happen again. These Democratic Nations will not be declaring war against the Industries, and that is final. This meeting is dismissed.”
The young man, now identified as Williӕm Bӕxter, steps up to the stage. All eyes turn from Finlӕ-Johnson to Bӕxter, who is somehow both fuming and excited.
Bӕxter: “And all this behind my back. Nice to see you standing up for me, old bean.”
He walks away, brushing off the Fӕderål Gård as he leaves. A disgruntled Orwӕll, walking through the halls to Willӕmsbørg’s office, turns to look at Bӕxter with wide eyes.
Orwӕll: “What the devil are you doing here? You didn’t embarrass yourself again, did you, you utter swine?”
Bӕxter shrinks away, suddenly losing his previous demeanor. He walks off to the car waiting outside for him as Orwӕll continues to Willӕmsbørg’s office.
When the above event was relayed to Willӕmsbørg, he was reported to sigh as he stood up and walked out of his office, presumably to the joint Hӕse Mӕting Hall. Finlӕ-Johnson’s gavel was later taken and placed in a display case above the entryway.
