The Revolution Came

Chapter 23: The Constitution

May 4th, 1933
Vichisburg

As Cody stepped into the Assembly chambers, the distant hum of Vichisburg's bustling streets drifted through the open doors. The city was alive with movement, yet all he could think about was Kyra.

The woman he had failed to save. The one he had failed to protect.

The gunshot that took her life still echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of his greatest regret.

His fingers curled into a fist at his side as he forced himself to push forward. Behind him, National Guardsmen moved swiftly, sealing the heavy doors as the last few members of the Constitutional Assembly entered.

The future of the republic was about to be decided. And Cody was determined to make sure Kyra's voice would not be forgotten.

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"The Articles of Confederation," the speaker announced, lifting the document for all to see.

"This document provided law and order during the turbulent years of the revolution," he continued, as murmurs of agreement spread through the chamber.

After a brief pause, the speaker glanced down at his notes. "Now, I yield the floor to Magdiwang Representative and Supreme Council Member, General Rivera."

Cody rose from his seat and stepped toward the podium, a stack of papers in hand, his draft of the constitution, a project he had worked on since last December. Taking a deep breath, he scanned the room, gathering his thoughts before he spoke.

"What if we allow the provinces the right to self-govern while the national government serves as an overseer?"

The hall filled with murmurs as the delegates turned to one another, whispering their thoughts.

"A strong central government, yes," Cody continued, "but one that permits the provinces to govern their affairs while ensuring national unity."

The murmurs shifted into quiet contemplation. Some nodded in agreement, while others exchanged skeptical glances.

"I present to you all a draft of the constitution," Cody declared. "This is merely a framework, a starting point. The final decision on how we govern this nation lies in your hands."

Copies of his draft were passed throughout the chamber. Cody watched closely as the reactions unfolded before him. The radicals nodded in agreement with his proposals while the moderates turned their noses up in distaste. Neutral representatives had mixed expressions, some intrigued, others hesitant.

Then, a voice cut through the room.

"General Rivera, with all due respect, your proposal is bold but deeply flawed," Judge Tarkin said, his gaze sharp as he set down the draft.

All eyes turned toward him as he continued. "A strong centralized government, much like a monarchy, contradicts the very ideals of our revolution."

Cody refused to react, keeping his expression unreadable.

"This proposal isn't about power," he responded calmly. "It's about the lessons we learned from the war. The revolution exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Our soldiers went unpaid, our merchants refused to accept anything but British pounds, and Congress was powerless to demand support from the provinces. How can we build a nation on such a foundation?"