Stories From Syena

Iulian Gaius Roma was woken from sleep two hours earlier than usual. Every member of the Politburo was required to keep a phone next to their beds, so that the entire Central Committee of the Gaelic Soviet could be summoned even in the middle of the night. This morning, at 4:15am, the People's Commissar for Energy was roused from his sleep by the furious ringing of his phone. A hoof clumsily reached out, taking the receiver.

"Iulian Roma here." He said groggily.

"Comrade Commissar, there's been an accident at the Syena Magical Power Plant." The hurried tone of the speaker and the words he said snapped Iulian to full awareness. "I apologize for calling at this hour, Comrade Commissar, I'm Deputy Secretary Loranei, head of the Syena Comitia."

"No need for introductions, comrade, what happened to the plant?" Iulian asked, already up and out of bed, throwing a suit on.

"I'm still trying to figure that out, comrade Commissar. All I know right now is the ground shook and I can see multicolored light coming from the direction of the plant." Loranei said quickly. "I've already summoned the town comitia and ordered the city fire brigade to the site."

"You said you can see light from the reactors? Start evacuating the city; pregnant women, eggs, and children first. Do whatever you see necessary, I will call you with further instructions from the Politburo." Iulian hung up without another word, taking off out the door.

October 29th, 4:49am, Palace of the Soviet, Londinium

"What happened, Iulian?" Premier Nicholai Oin asked. The entire Committee was staring at Iulian.

"I've received word that a magical power plant near the city of Syena has suffered an accident. The local Comitia has reported to me that the ground shook and a multicolored light could be seen from the direction of the power plant, Comrade Premier." Iulian took a deep breath, already knowing what was going to happen next.

"You woke all of us up at 4:30 in the morning because of a tremor and a light show?" An aged griffon, Prigid Orearm, the People's Commissar for War, spat at Iulian from across the table.

"Comrade Orearm, do you know what might cause that 'lightshow'?" Nicholai asked. Prigid immediately backed down, shaking his head.

"No, Comrade Premier." Prigid said.

"Comrade Roma, what makes you think this was an accident at the plant?" Nicholai looked back to Iulian.

"When a unicorn casts a spell that backfires, it flashes light, a reflection of the Nether itself is in that flash, showing colors that none of us can comprehend seeing. This is called the Tasha Effect." Iulian explained. "If the ground shook in Syena immediately before this effect was observed, it suggests that one of the reactors at the plant ruptured and now the reaction chamber is exposed to the open air."

"Are you a magical engineer, Comrade Roma?" Another Gaul, People's Commissar for the Interior Anatoline Julician, asked. Her expression was... doubtful.

"No, but I've..." Iulian began.

"So why are we taking your word on this?"

"Because unlike you, Comrade Julician, I decided to learn the basics of magical reactors, as fitting the job I was elected to have." Iulian snapped. He looked to Nicholai. "Comrade Premier, if the Syena plant has suffered an explosion, the situation will need to be contained quickly and liquidated thoroughly."

"How quickly, Iulian?" Nicholai asked.

"I can't give an accurate timeline at this moment, Comrade Premier, but if the situation is as bad as I fear it is, if we don't move on this now, we will never be able to contain it and it will kill untold numbers of people for thousands of years." Iulian said.

The table was silent for a moment, then Theodora Merula, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs spoke up.

"What do we say publicly?"

"Is that even a question? We have to tell the world what happened." Iulian looked at Theodora with something akin to disgust.

"And if we don't?" Prigid asked.

"Then the world thinks we detonated a megaspell when their labs detect the corrupted exals carried on the wind from Syena. Is that what you want, Comrade Orearm?" Iulian demanded. "You're already going to be responsible for who knows how many deaths to liquidate the effects, do you want a war on top of that?"

"Enough." Nicholai slammed his hoof on the table. "Iulian, find out exactly what happened and how bad the situation at Syena is. Order the local Comitia to muster the Red Guards and take necessary safety precautions if they haven't already started. Theodora, put out a notice that there has been an accident at Syena. If the Equestrians and Alternians start asking questions, tell them we're determining the extent. I want a progress report from both of you in two hours. Meeting adjourned."

October 29th, 6:51am, Palace of the Soviet, Londinium

"Comrades, you've had time to gather facts. What is the situation at Syena?" Nicholai asked. "How bad is the situation, what do we need to do to liquidate the effects, and what are other nations saying about it?"

"The Syena Comitia has confirmed that Reactor 3 at the Syena Magical Power Plant has exploded, Comrade Premier." Iulian said, letting the deafening silence of the table sink in for a moment. "The local Red Guards have closed off the area surrounding the plant, have evacuated plant workers, and... have regained access to Reactor 3's control room at great sacrifice in order to prevent additional explosions."

"What is the current death toll?" Nicholai sank in his chair.

"Plant workers report 15 casualties, the local Red Guard regiment has reported 190, last I was able to determine, Comrade Premier." Iulian sighed, shaking his head. "The local Comitia has already begun evacuating the entire region and Trilenia Republic's Comitia has been gathered in Ad Pontes to mobilize additional Red Guard units to aid Syena."

"A whole Republic mobilizing in the space of two hours. At least we're efficient, Comrade." Nicholai looked up. "What will be needed to contain the accident?"

"Comrade Orearm will need to deploy the chemical units of the 19th Combined Motor Army to begin containing the reac~" Iulian began, but was quickly cut off by Prigid.

"How many men?"

"At least 125,000." Iulian said.

"And to liquidate?" Nicholai added. Iulian took a deep breath, bracing himself.

"Approximately 2 million. The rubble will need to be buried, contaminated animals need to be put down, trees will need to be felled, villages and towns need to be evacuated." Iulian explained. "Among other things as the situation on the ground develops."

"How many will die?" Anatoline asked.

"Thousands. Tens of thousands. More if we don't throw everything at this now." Iulian's eyes shifted between Anatoline, Prigid, Nicholai, and the sullen looking mare sitting just behind the Premier. Director Noctis Dain, head of the Joint-State Directorate.

"What are others saying?" Nicholai looked from Iulian to Theodora.

"The Alternians are still battling their own apocalyptic energy production disaster. They send their condolences but they aren't focused on us enough to demand immediate inquiry or send assistance." Theodora reported.

"And the Equestrians?"

"Their elections are in a month. Prime Minister Arcamide isn't concerned with anything going on up here, he's too busy ensuring he can retire quietly. Nothing's going to come from Equestria either, Comrade Premier."

"No help is coming except that which we can scrounge from our kin, Comrades, and we're going to be killing a lot of them. That's what I'm hearing." Nicholai stood up.

"That... is correct, Comrade Premier." Iulian nodded. "But many more will die if we don't sacrifice them now."

"Iulian, you have full authority to do whatever is necessary to contain and liquidate the accident. Prigid, Anatoline, you are to provide anything and everything Iulian asks for. Men, material, I don't care what it is, he gets it." Nicholai turned to Theodora. "Theodora, you and Director Dain will make sure that the public situation doesn't deteriorate. Accidents attract foreign journalists, who will frame whatever we do in a negative light. Get to work. Meeting adjourned."