As a brand new nation, Molvaria was keen to create a real sense of national identity, but when it came to shaping that identity the government decided to look outside of its new borders for inspiration.
One senior government minister, Marta Hvala, believed that Molvaria should become the world’s greatest manufacturer of cuckoo clocks and so she introduced subsidies for Molvarian cuckoo clock producers. However, Hvala wanted to do more. She decided it would be beneficial to destroy the world’s greatest cuckoo clock makers, leaving a clear path for Molvarian-made clocks to replace them.
Under her instructions, Molvarian soldiers began experimenting to discover the best way to destroy cuckoo clocks. They concluded it would be easiest and most effective to simply burn down the workshops. However, Hvala instead insisted that merely burning down the workshops wouldn’t dissuade people from making cuckoo clocks in the future.
Instead, Hvala took advice from a military computer, which analysed the situation and concluded that the best method to destroy their competitors would be to buy seven platypuses and train them to eat cuckoo clocks. This process took three months. The platypuses, along with 15 handlers, then travelled via train to Switzerland with the goal of destroying its entire cuckoo clock industry.
Unfortunately, upon their arrival, it became apparent the idea that cuckoo clocks are Swiss is in fact a misconception, with relatively few being made there. The platypuses, unsuited to the cold weather and hungry from a lack of clocks to eat, quickly began to fall ill. Their handlers, fearing for their wellbeing, gifted them to Zurich Zoo.
The details of the operation were leaked to the press and an enquiry was set up to establish how she’d been able to obtain the funding to buy seven platypuses, train them to eat clocks and transport them to Switzerland. Hvala was removed from government shortly afterwards.