The Revolution Came

Chapter 36: Assassination Attempt

May 13th, 1938

The streets of the capital were alive with tension, the air thick with the clash of ideologies. Supporters of the Magdiwang Nationalist Party and the Magdalo Imperialist Party paraded through the boulevards, waving banners and chanting slogans, while hecklers from both sides hurled accusations and insults. To the people of the Republic, this election was more than just another political contest, it was a fight for the soul of their young nation.

Beyond the fervor of domestic politics, however, two great titans watched from afar, each eager to claim the Republic as their own. To the east, Communist Russia saw an opportunity to spread its revolutionary doctrine, supporting radical Magdalo factions who spoke of wealth redistribution and worker-led governance. To the west, Capitalist America sought to ensure that the Republic remained a strategic ally in its global struggle against socialism, quietly backing Magdiwang candidates who promised economic stability and strong military ties.

Yet, standing between these two forces was President Ken Drick Winchester, running for an unprecedented third term in office, a move that sparked fierce debate. His supporters, including moderates and war veterans, argued that the nation could not afford political instability after the attempted rebellion in Heltic. His critics, however, saw his continued rule as a dangerous precedent, one step away from an authoritarian grip on power.

The Church, once a neutral institution, was now a battleground of its own. While some bishops aligned with the Magdalo faction, urging their congregations to support a strong, centralized government, others warned against the dangers of religious interference in state affairs. Among the latter was Father Ramon Jacinto, who openly condemned the clergy’s involvement in politics. "The Church must guide souls, not dictate votes," he declared from his pulpit, a statement that earned him both admiration and death threats.

Father Reynaldo Burgos, a close confidant of President Winchester, shared this sentiment. Having been taught the painful history of the Cavite Mutiny and the execution of Gomburza, he knew all too well the consequences of allowing religion to become a weapon of the state. He and other reformist priests cautiously supported Winchester’s leadership, believing that the alternative, a Republic consumed by foreign influence or extremist factions, would be far worse.

Behind closed doors, however, the Imperialist faction was working tirelessly to push the Church onto their side. They whispered of a new order, one where the Republic would cast aside its fragile democracy in favor of a glorious empire, strong enough to withstand both Russian communism and American capitalism. To them, Ken Drick was a relic of a failing system, a leader too focused on compromise to secure the Republic’s future.

As the election neared, the people found themselves trapped in a choice between order and upheaval, sovereignty and submission. Would they entrust Winchester with another term, despite the warnings of creeping authoritarianism? Or would they gamble on new leadership, knowing that the forces pulling the strings behind the scenes could shape their Republic into something unrecognizable?

All the while, the superpowers waited, knowing that whoever won the election would decide the fate of the Republic.

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Dwayne Newhiskey sat at the head of the long, dimly lit table, his expression unreadable as he listened to the tense discussion around him. The Imperialist Supreme Council, a clandestine gathering of high-ranking officials, military officers, and influential senators, had met once again. Their goal was clear: to dismantle the Republic and establish an empire.