American Spring (MT/PMT)

April 21st to August 15, 2283

A large crowd gathered in Central Square of the Municipality of Charleston, to protest the failure of the Walker regime to restore democracy as promised. Although Roald did publicly state that the transition was bound to be slow and would take several years, and concessions were made to the democratic cause, he has repeated set back the target date for civilian control of government several years over and over again. When he first took power he said that control would be relinquished in a matter of a year. But then he set that back four years due to the constant ZPCI threat. From there he set it back ten years, stating that the UMNA still needed a strong central hand to guide it's development. And then from there he set it back another five years, stating that the instability in the region was dangerous and the UMNA needed a strong leader to deter encroachments on it's territory by foreign powers (once can only wonder which would be foolish enough to do so).

Although Roald was certainly a tolerable if not agreeable leader, his constant creation of setbacks for the re-institution of civilian rule have angered the people. Now with new technologies that ease communications between the people of the UMNA, they have organized to protest. Thousands streamed in to the Central Square of Charleston, an image that is now being broadcast throughout the world. "Thanks for our independence, but no thanks for our freedom", the slogan of the protestors goes. It echoes around the UMNA, from the smallest of the rustic villages to the largest of the cosmopolitan cities. All have had enough, including perhaps the Generalissimo himself. Despite recently ordering a shipment of powerful weapons from the Rheans, no shows of force are made to the peaceful protestors, although ones that turn violent are quickly brought down with nonlethal bioweapons. The protests go on for a month, and it becomes known as the "American Spring" to the world.

Roald himself deliberated constantly on what he was to do. Obviously it would reflect poorly of him to put down the protesters with force of arms, as the nation was like a growing child and needed guidance. But there was no way he could do that, and it would be impossible for him to create an agreement that would placate the teeming masses. In fact, more came out to protest day after day after day. It all tired him, making him extremely world weary when he was already so old and had seen enough. Sooner or later he knew that the UMNA would outgrow him. And if sooner, why not now? Then again, the people who wanted him to cede power always thought it was now. It really was a minority not long ago, but now things had changed. Perhaps he was out of touch with the realities of the current world? It was much more internationalized then before, and local matters were now less concerning then global ones. And yet he still felt, deep inside, that the UMNA was not ready.

Then it raged on, three more months through the summer, and everyone was growing tired. Sentiments of revolution began growing, and several of Roald's advisers resigned in solidarity with the protesters. And then, with a heavy heart, Roald decided that it was time to relinquish his position and made the announcement on national television. Then, he came to Central Square where the protestors had stood their ground for months, and he spoke. And surprisingly enough, they listened. He explained his positions, his visions, his desires for the world, and how he thought of the UMNA as his own son. But anyone carefully observing him would realize how his voice was full of weariness and seemed to help little with his message. Eventually, he concluded with the following line, "As things are, the UMNA has grown into an adult, and thus I resign my position and offer control of the nation to the Grand Council and pray that the winds of fate will bring a superior successor."

And with that, he departed to leave on a private vessel, deciding that it was best to separate himself from the new incarnation of his nation. And then the Council began to prepare a nationwide election to see who would lead the new democracy of the UMNA, and the winds of fate began to blow on the vessel that the UMNA was...

The Swiss Empire thanks Roald Walker for his friendship towards them and wishes him a happy retirement.

Bismouthi intelligence agencies seem active, but Bismouth makes no attempts to intervene. They're probably wondering what will happen to the UMNA's involvement with the Stargate program, but have no other interest in the matter.

August 31, 2283

Roald reaches Port Ledo and boards a small private transport that makes regular trips between the Swiss Empire and the UMNA. Long before the beginning of the American Spring, Roald had bought a small and secluded house in a Swiss canton in France as a potential retirement home. Now with his retirement coming early, he suspected that it was best to move on there and carry on with his life in another nation, and live on in comfort. Although it pained him slightly to leave his homeland, the Swiss certainly wouldn't mind his presence there and neither really would his fellow Municipal peoples. Besides, he thought, he could pursue things that he didn't have the time to as Generalissimo, like the medical trade which was his original job so long ago. Perhaps he could volunteer, he thought. It would put him in a good light, and be a peaceful way to live on.

***

September 2, 2283

Meanwhile, in the UMNA, the Grand Council of the Municipalities has convened to decide the terms of the handing down of power. Firstly they decided unanimously that they would uphold all agreements made by Generalissimo Roald while he was in power including the mutual defense pact with the Swiss and the stargate internationalization pact. They also decided that the election for the Prime Executive of the nation would have to be settled as quickly as possible. Eventually, after much deliberation they agreed that the election should be carried out within the last week of December and that the results should be declared on New Year's Day to both symbolize a new era of the UMNA and to allow at least two months for candidates to prepare and organize. The election would solely be based on popular vote and all peoples registered under the archives of the UMNA as citizens would be permitted to vote. Vote fraud would be monitored by an impartial group of experienced analysts and antifraud specialists. Elections would take place every six years from that point on and all Prime Executives could only serve one term. Once these decisions were made into law and posted to the general public, the scramble for the elections began.

***

September 16, 2283

Within two weeks, several individuals had declared their intention to run for the position of Prime Officer of the UMNA. They were all supported by a bloc of individuals that were both representative of current government officials and the general population. The major candidates were the following:

Mayor of Port Ledo Richard Vaulter, a nationally renowned supporter of the democratic movement and well recognized politician throughout the nations, and leader of the United Democratic Bloc. Seeks to further entrench democracy in the UMNA and promote decentralization.

General George Hunter, a highly ranked officer and leader of the National Defense Bloc. Very conservative and desires to continue the militarist policies of the Generalissimo as well as expand the borders of the UMNA rapidly and aggressively potentially at the disregard of other nations if need be.

CEO Nolan Salem, an extremely wealthy self made CEO of a large industrial conglomerate named United Industries of America who is famously the rival of Charles Baxter of BaxterCo and leads the Freedom and Prosperity Bloc. Agenda is to align the UMNA closer to the Swiss and reform the UMNA in their model.

Councillor of New Motown Gerald Aliman, a populist politician who advocates bringing power to the people and creating laws that benefit the common man and leader of the People's United Front Block. Has some socialist leanings. His primary goal is to institute populist policies that help benefit the common workers of the UMNA but also seeks to keep democracy safe in the UMNA.

***

January 1, 2284

After two months of hard campaign and the elections, the results of the elections have been announced. Richard Vaulter won a slim majority of the votes at 50.78%, and thus becomes the first Prime Executive of the UMNA. Gerald Aliman follows behind at about 24.91% of the votes, and then Nolan Salem at 17.34% of the votes. George Hunter as the last of the major candidates receives 5.23% of the votes. The remaining 1.74% goes to minor candidates. Prime Executive Vaulter then gives an improvised inaugural address, which turns out to be surprisingly rousing and outlines the UMNA's new democratic course and assures the international community that the new government will not hold relationships with Generalissimo Roald against anyone, citing how his leadership was not his failing but his failure to keep oaths to his own people.

And so begins a new era.

And so the Swiss congratulate them on handing power over without bloodshed. Yay. Roald does make a good neighbor and his medical expertise is welcomed.