First Entry of Procopius
writing from the Teias Province, American Empire
The Anglo-Germanic Day of Thor (Roman Jove). The nineteenth of November in the Two-Thousand and Twentieth Year of Our Lord:
We are now in our eighth month since the plague first swept the continent, and sixteen days since the People’s voting was concluded.
As to the latter event, some districts within the provinces of Michigania, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsinia, Nevada and Arizona are in a constitutional uproar. How the Electors of those places will vote is still in question. The Reds (the faction of the sitting emperor) are divided. Over half the Red leaders, and all of its common members, are charging that Blues may have created thousands of fraudulent votes in certain cities. The local custom in each province is that whichever candidate receives the most votes of the common People in each province will receive all of the Electors for that province. This is ridiculous of course! The Electors should be chosen by each of the fifty provincial governments and each Elector should cast a vote as he sees fit. What’s the point otherwise? Common sense would dictate that the votes of the Electors would reflect those of the state governments, with the votes between the Red and Blue candidates apportioned accordingly. In fact, the People’s vote means nothing. It should be nothing more than a courtesy to the public. It meant nothing in 2,016 (AD) when the Germanic burghermeister Donald Trump defeated the Clintonus dynasty.
Most of the Reds, led by the emperor himself, are using their barristers and other agents to overturn results, or otherwise appeal to every court in the empire to hear charges against the Blues. In order to stave off further anarchy or even civil war, some of the Red leaders (including some senators) are supporting the Blue candidate. They are trying to talk the emperor into giving up. The emperor has lately secluded himself in the White Palace. The Blues meanwhile charge that the Reds attempted to suppress the votes of the Blue populace. This is possible since the Reds control the Posts. Either way, it looks as if both sides have tried to steal the election in some way. It remains to be seen which side will out-steal the other. Both sides have histories of cheating. I had first arrived here from my own time not long before the fateful election of 2,000 AD. I was also involved in the 2,004 election and that of 2,016. So I have seen this sort of thing before. Neither side here seems willing to concede. I believe the Senate and the Tribunate House would prefer to see the old deputy-emperor, Vice-Praeses Josefus Bidenus ascend to the White Palace. The army has not yet come out in support of eithercandidate. However, Emperor Trump sacked and exiled his senior minister of Soldiers days after the People’s election. That chief minister (a Syrian I believe?) was replaced by a Germanic military count who was previously in charge of partisan forces. There is a reorganization of the military register of dignitaries taking place.
It seems there is a rise of those infected with the Cathayan corona plague this week. Most notable is the great city of Novo Ioric where the schools and academies are again closed due to outbreaks. The Proconsul of California has caused a scandal by celebrating and dining publicly with his companions. This is after he forced his subjects to do otherwise. Here in rural Teias, it’s as if there is no plague. The Reds, including the emperor and the Teias proconsul, are more inclined to ignore it. But I abide by whatever rules and restrictions are in place to avoid fines, or worse. (note: submit “Abidin’ by Biden” as a slogan)
That being said, the leaders of the Blues seem as committed to stopping the plague as the Red senators and tribunes are to helping their emperor remain in power. That’s to say, they don’t seem to care much. The Blues have marvelously used the plague to their advantage this year to suppress the rise of the popular senator, Bernard Sanders. Further, the plague and subsequent riots have entirely overshadowed the popular actions of Emperor Trump — namely his attempts to end the Persian War and his dismantling of the school of confidential agents throughout the empire. While it’s true that Trump did some good, I believe I will be happy to see him go. The Red peasantry loved him. The senators, the patricians, and the commercial guilds have found him disruptive. The army’s leaders disliked him, though he was a hero to the private soldiers. The Blues were overly fearful of him due to his barbarian ancestry and coarse speech. They loathed him so much that I can’t imagine they would peacefully allow him to sit as emperor for any further amount of time.
