Patheos

[Marcus DuBois]

Alexandrova Vladislavovna

Office of the Consul on Public Engagement, Propaganda, and Interdominance Relations

Alexandrova didn't bother with any disguise. Her Consulate was not well known despite the fact that it had its fingers in every part of the empire. Leonid was the public face of their partnership, the voice used when Nik spoke through proxies.

In private, in their little cabal, it was she who usually took the lead. Strategy and framing had always been her specialty. Seeing the big picture, the shape of public sentiment, discovering the levers and imbalances they could use to influence that shape.

It had been she who had come up with the core strategy to reshape the DV over the next 20 years. Already, Leonid's media affairs department was hard at work, in association with their consultants, cranking out scripts and cultural elements that would be released over time.

Elouera Galloway was on assignment, interviewing youth groups in the region in an attempt to get an accurate picture of their concerns and aspirations, fears and hopes. It was a good place to be.

Still, Alexandrova could wish she were here with her at this stadium. If it hadn't been so last minute, she would have had Leonid recall her. The head of the Religious Dialog desk of Media Affairs would have been a nice person to have alongside her. She often brought a fresh perspective.

Here especially. Most of the crowd were older, though a smattering of youth could be seen in the mix. Various religious groups milled about, mostly keeping to themselves though there was constant communication back and forth. She saw Catholic and Orthodox priests in their vestments, Hasidic Jews and Imams, even what appeared to be indiginous groups. Those she didn't recognize, though many had the looks of Africa, Siberia, or even Australia on their faces. And here and there were what could only be termed doomsdayers, with their signs, preaching loudly. They had sprung up like weeds in the last few years.

By itself, none of that would have concerned her. Religions, organized or otherwise, were one of many levers they used. What concerned her most, instead, was the feeling of confusion and resentment in the air.

It was understandable. Too many questions had been raised with no answers. The revealing of channelers called into question many of the tenets of some religions.

It was all changing too quickly....too much, of great importance. She knew change took real time, at least one or two generations. That was the strategy for DV. But things had sped up and flowed out of anyone's control. Even Nik's.

Poor Nik, she thought. His display had been necessary, she knew. Mostly. But the proclamation had bothered some. Even the Pope had been forced to issue a statement. She felt a flash of irritation at Marcus. She was sure he had nudged him a bit, just before the creation. The boy was ambitious. He thought he concealed it- and from many he did- but she had noticed. He was a tool, a valuable one, to be sure. But he had to be reigned in. Shepherded. One day, perhaps, he would join Nik's inner sphere. But only when he realized their purpose. To keep Nik's empire whole and stable. To help carry the load. Personal aggrandizement was never to be considered.

There were considerations she had to make. The upcoming Ball. She would speak to Leonid. Later though.

For here, now, she saw potential chaos. Still, that was not necessarily a bad thing. It was fluid. It could be shaped, with care. But first, she needed to understand its flows and eddies.

Alexandrova found a seat and sat down to watch and listen. She needed to see how things lay.