Coup

In the Ecumenopolis of Mars, whose shining roadways and bright city lights lit up the entire planet like a star, a revolution is brewing. The sentiment spread like wildfire, like the propaganda videos of Julius that set off their entire portion of the galaxy into a fit of rage, so too did the hatred over him, and over Seneca grew. This belief was headed by Brutus, and soon his thousands grew into millions.

These millions of followers culminated along the dark and dingy alleyways of Mars, as the crowd grew, so did Brutus’ ego, they revered him as God. As savior of the republic, they revered him as the man that would overthrow Seneca and bring on a new age of peace and prosperity across the Empire. Of course, he omitted any mention of Julius, not that his followers questioned him for it.

But really, no one man could have all that power. Not even Brutus, and as he marched through the streets of Mars, he found himself unable to control his loyal soldiers, “THE REPUBLIC MUST BE REVIVED!” one man yelled before throwing a rock at a store, and by then, there was chaos. But Brutus didn’t care, he didn’t care for the chaos he’s causing upon the world, in fact this was beneficial to him.

“Pyotr, bring out division 1.” He commanded through a transceiver, from the shadows of Deimos Boulevard, out came a hundred thousand armed men, with them were tanks, and they moved as silently as they could through the night.

Soon, Mars was on fire. And the fire was blamed on Seneca. It was Seneca after all that had his hand pushed to the brink and thus had to make an irrational decision in an effort to save the republic. It was Seneca, after all, that forced Brutus’ hand and staged this coup, it was all Seneca’s fault.

“AND SENECA WILL FALL!” Brutus screamed at the top of his lungs, his followers cheered over this call and charged through the walls of the senate hall. They swarmed the building on all sides as if to besiege the people inside.

Inside the senate hall were twenty guards along with Seneca who chose to live in those grounds. Eventually, the gigantic golden doors opened up and out came these soldiers who made way for their Consul. Seneca stepped out and faced Brutus who stood amongst the millions of rioters, “What is the meaning of this?”

“Can it, Seneca. I’m staging a coup here.” Brutus stepped ahead of his boss followed closely by his armed insurgent, Seneca scoffed and walked sternly towards Brutus and grasped his shoulder as he leaned in for a punch.

It connected and sent Brutus flying a few feet away from the Consul. As Brutus stood up, he pulled out his gun and aimed it at Seneca, who was pointing a gun towards him as well. Their guards, in retaliation, aimed their weapons towards one another, there was a standoff, and the once rowdy rioters came to a silent standstill, “Are you really willing to do this?” Asked Brutus.

“I would do anything for my people, for I am a Son of Mars.” Seneca cocked his gun and aimed it at the heart of Brutus.

“Look around you, oh, son of Mars, do you think your people would do anything for you?” Seneca looked around and saw the millions of rioters wishing for his downfall, and though there were no guns pointed at him, it seemed that he was already shot by everyone in the crowd.

But he relented, “The people are misguided! And so is this great Empire! I WILL bring us back on track!”

“Seneca, your abdication will be the one to bring us back on track. You should be grateful that I am here to facilitate stability within the Empire you so loved!”

“You’re a cheat! A liar! You will bring this great Empire to ruin!” Two shots rang out, it was all a blur to the spectators, to the guards, to everyone involved. All they heard was the sound, and all they saw was Seneca falling down. After that, chaos.

Brutus ran quickly towards the senate hall along with his associate, “Bring in the senators, now! And if they refuse threaten their lives. And you!” Brutus pointed at his insurgents, “Dispose of them.” They fired at the senate guards, executing them one by one as Brutus went inside the senate hall and closed the golden doors behind him.

Later that same night, a sizable portion of the senators arrived. They took upon their respective seats and saw Brutus sitting over the chair that Seneca—whose remains still lay outside the senate hall— once owned. “What is the meaning of this?” Asked Leroux Monet.

“I am saving the republic, monsieur Monet.” Replied Brutus. He dusted off the podium that Seneca once spoke on.

“By killing the Consul!?”

“Blasted that Consul! He started this chaos! And I will be the one to end it!” He pounded on the Podium. There was silence in the senate hall, “As Emperor.” Now there was chaos. Bickering and shouting from all the senators as they argued about the legality of Brutus’ emperorship.

Then, the golden doors were kicked open by a dozen insurgents. They aimed their guns towards the senators who then fell into a deep, angered, fearful silence, “This is unconstitutional! Weapons are illegal on senate grounds!” Leroux called out.

“Silence, soldiers, hold your fire.” They held their fire for as long as Brutus wanted them to, “It is by my right that you are alive, it is by my power that I will bring peace to this Empire. I crown myself Antediluvian Emperor. And my name will precede any and all events in this glorious realm.”

The senate accepted its defeat in silence.

That is, until another insurgent came along. He walked urgently towards the center of the senate hall and bowed on all sides, first to Brutus, then the left side, then the right side, “I’ve come to be the bearer of bad news, my lord.”

“Bad news?”

“It is the Consul’s body sir, it’s missing.”

“Missing? In the middle of a crowd? In the eyes of many? It’s missing? How could that be? Tell me!”

“Well, we tried to carry him away so that your announcement would be far better received by many with no messes but… the group in charge of him along with him are both missing. We are still unable to locate them.”

Brutus grasped his face, angered, disappointed, bewildered, in his mind he’s thinking, ‘That old poof just refuses to die doesn’t he?’ And he wasn’t. “Forget about that, he has no power anyway. Do prepare for my public inauguration and as for our guests here in the senate, please, make yourself feel at home.”