Malaysia Shoukan

Chapter 6: Parade

https://discord.gg/ZrWqTNvhAP

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Central Calendar January 29, 1639

Dataran Merdeka, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In the morning, the delegates arrived at the Merdeka Square in black cars. They came in right behind the Malaysian government officials’ cars. Arde was shocked at how many people actually attended the event. He would have expected the instability caused by transfer economic collapse would have caused an empty field, but apparently not. Arde looked around. There was a large stage, where a lot of people(translator said they were dancers) were on it. The crowd seemed to be waving that Malaysian flag, albeit one small enough for even kids to hold and wave around. 

Their car entered a much more free space, where the crowds on the two sides of the road are split up into a larger gap. Then, the car stopped not far from a large stage, where all the VIPs are supposed to go. In front, Malaysian troops seemed to stand. They were dressed in white and green. They were equipped with firearms that look similar to the ones on the border, but they were longer, had some weird handles, and a bayonet fixed to them. In front of those men is another man dressed in a similar uniform. However, he has a saber of sorts. Judging by this, he assumed that they were ceremonial and not combat troops.

Arde, Rius and the rest of the delegation got onto the stage whilst the Malaysian officials seemed to talk a bit before getting on. They then seemed to be waiting for something or someone to arrive.

"Excuse me, what are we waiting for?" Arde asked the translator.

"'The Yang-dipertuan Agong, or 'He who is made Lord'. He is the head monarch of Malaysia, and technically the supreme commander of the Malaysian military, though that is in name only,'" the translator said.

Not long later, a lot of men dressed in red and black on horseback arrived. They are carrying the flag of Malaysia. In the middle, a horse-drawn carriage carrying a couple. The man, Arde assumed was the Agong, was not dressed in the extravagant royal attire that was often depicted in the royal photos everywhere. Instead, he was dressed in the uniform of a military officer.

The Agong and his consort got off the carriage and got on the stage. At this point, the translator asked Arde and the delegation to stand up straight. The leader of the ceremonial troops put his saber in front of his face and yelled some command. In unison, the troops presented arms, and the Agong saluted back. As if on cue, the band started playing what Arde believes is the national anthem of Malaysia. However, it wasn't the grand song he expected, but rather a more…peaceful melody.

Above Arde, gyrocraft fly by, each carrying different flags. He assumed those were state flags for the various regions in Malaysia, as per the report written by Rius and Remille's first expedition. The anthem came to a close. Another command was shouted by the saber wielding man, which resulted in them presenting arms once more.

The agong walked off the stage to inspect the troops. Under what Arde assumed was military music, he inspected the troops. After which, the agong retreated back to the stage. The commander of the unit marched forward and saluted the agong, kissing his saber. The agong returned the salute. The guard then marched back to his troops and barked some commands. At once, the troops turned and marched out of the field, along with the red shirted men from earlier. After the men left the area completely. There was an announcement that came in, it was in that damned Malaysian language, then, the band started playing the anthem again. However, this time, there was singing, along with the raising of the flag. Unfortunately for Arde, he didn’t understand the language, and thus, he had no idea what the lyrics were saying. However, all the sudden, an artillery shot can be heard.