Another Day

Another Day

The Senat’s chamber filled with chatter as its esteemed membership filed into their places. For some, today would be the first foray into an exciting half-decade of policy making and legislating for the good of the nation. For others, it would be a brief reprieve from the coming days of endless debate and argument as they enter yet another term in office.

Senator Aemilius was part of the first group. Running as a candidate for the AIL was surprisingly easily in hindsight. All you had to do was gather some signatures, get approval from your Industriam and get your name on the party list below tenth place. Aemilius had just so happened to occupy the ninth spot. Election night had been a watershed moment for the Labourers, picking up two whole seats in the Senat from the Toreys and Respublians each. Unfortunately, this did not result in any real shift in the Senat with the Unity-Bloc of the Maros and Toreys holding their two-seat majority. Aemilius, of course, sat with the Forward-Bloc alongside the Respublians.

The Labourers were the second-youngest party in the Senat behind the absent CLF. The rapid industrialisation of Mesea had brought sweeping changes in the attitudes of many lower class Meseans. They found the aging Respublian party out of touch as it refused to incorporate the policies of the radical Association of Industrial Labourers. The inevitable outcome was the collapse of the Respublian majority in the Senat when the AIL organised their campaign. The Labourers vacuumed up votes in its stronghold cities and company towns winning 6 Senat seats in its premier election. Aemilius was admittedly late to the party but felt proud to share the legacy the AIL was building for the workers of Mesea.

Ten minutes past ten the Forward-bloc had already fully seated themselves. The last stragglers entered the chamber with a yawn. Across the aisle the Maros had formed a huddle and seemed to be discussing something. Aemilius noticed the speed at which the Maros shifted their eyes to get a good look at him before moving back to the safety of the group. He sighed and turned towards the Speaker’s chair still vacant despite being ten minutes late.

Finally, after twelve minutes the Torey leader strutted into the chamber. ‘All rise.’ croaked the voice of the Respublian leader. The chamber turned towards the Speaker and bowed before returning to their seats. The Speaker shuffled some paper around on his desk and coughed into his hand. The silence of the chamber was new to Aemilius as the Speaker rose from his seat and began to speak.

‘Citizens and soldiers, I stand before you humbled. Once again, this nation has come together and decided to return my government. I thank you. Mesea is a vast nation of many different people with goals, dreams and accomplishments. Numerous and far-reaching. The time for bickering has ended, we step into a new term of challenges and opportunities that we must accept and achieve to forward our Republic and the ideas for which it stands.’ The Speaker pauses and shuffles his paper. ‘Senators. Congratulations on your election! You are one of the lucky sixty-one chosen to represent and lead this country. Whether you stand with my party or in opposition, I welcome your words and your activism as we walk forward together.’ The Speaker moves his eyes over the chamber ensuring he makes eye-contact with as many in the room as possible. ‘As prescribed in Article IX of the Senat Act of 137 I ask all Senators to remain standing as we play the National Hymn and raise the Flag. Afterwards, incoming Senators will read the Pledge of Allegiance and take their seats. Once again, I thank the citizens and soldiers of Mesea and congratulate Senators on their newfound positions.’