(+10 Military)"How?" Isabella whispered, her voice trembling. "How do I do this, General?"

[Military+10]

"How?" Isabella whispered, her voice trembling. "How do I do this, General?"

General Serrano sighed and loosened his grip, gently pulling back.

"Your father's unexpected **** complicate things. According to the Constitution, as his heir you're now the interim-Presidente with all the authority he had, until an election is held in a year. That was meant to help establish your authority as the incumbent and prepare for the transition after he retires before his term ends, keeping up the appearance of democracy to appease the western powers. But now the people sense weakness, and the communists want your head on a spike, Isabella. They are busy celebrating now, but sooner or later those rats will leave their nest and storm the capital."

Isabella felt sick. The last thing she wanted was for Montesoro to slip into a violent, bloody civil war like so many others.

"How do we stop that?"

"I have some ideas, but we'll need to act immediately. Strike them hard while they are still unready, leave them too busy picking up the pieces of their friends and family to march on us. They are terrorists, Isabella, and the only language they understand is terror. Your father, bless his soul, understood that well."

Isabella contemplated silently. Finally, she lowered her eyes and nodded.

"Then show me how."

Without hesitation Serrano saluted and led her outside, towards the roof of the palace. As they marched past the servants, Isabella couldn't help but notice that while they curtsied and bowed as usual, their eyes now remained on hers, unblinking.

They boarded the chopper that had carried him back, and the pilot quickly brought them high into the air. Isabella stared down at the city, the streets still shrouded in mist. She couldn't imagine what was going on there. There were no demonstrations, no signs of unrest, just the same morning rush as every other day.

They flew west for about half an hour, and the jungle below changed, becoming more lush and thick, the terrain rising into rolling hills and then towering mountains. At last, the chopper descended into a clearing in the middle of a small valley, and they disembarked.

There was a large compound surrounded by a high fence, the buildings all made from concrete and metal. Men were marching in formation, and in the distance she could hear gunfire and the shouts of her father's soldiers.

"What is this place, General?"

"This is a military training camp for our special forces. The men here are the best and most brutal we have, and they are loyal to me. They are also the best chance we have of keeping the communists at bay, if you give them the right motivation."

Isabella couldn't help but notice how the General emphasized where their loyalty lie.