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Chapter 10
Comissary-General Zohira K’Tun sighed.
This was not a road he wanted. While he did see the merit in securing their borders, the Roccan Resistance should be better than this, he told himself.
The closer ties to the Independent Tal’Akkuran Republic, who had turned out to be old slaves of the old nemesis of the Roccan, sharing their fate, but not their renewed strength? Good. He would make sure they were secure, even now that the Zrian were surrounding them and even though the Zrian was to eying them. As far as he could determine policy, and he knew he was not sole arbirator of that, as recent events had show, he would protect them.
And the habitat in previous Havensky space? Colonization was underway and that was the Roccan way. Peaceful, but not pacifist, ready to do what needed to be done. He could subscribe to that.
But this?
The Enlightened Kingdom om Jumla was weak. They should have been protected. Perhaps become friends. Like the Fexklansiga had been, as a vassal, but even so as a friendly, allied state if so. Like the Zrian Confederation, perhaps. A trading parter, research parter, perhaps one day an ally.
Perhaps, as was Zohira’s dream, a federation of allied states.
But no. The kingdom had been belligerent, threatening even. Weaker, yes. But not in fierceness. They wanted nothing to do with the Roccan Resistance.
And now parts of his own government, large parts actually, together with a sizeable part of the electorate, was calling for war. There were rumors of raiders on the other side of the kingdom, raiders like the Panurians close to the Roccan homeworld, Nogg.
Some argued for invasion of Jumla before they fell to the raiders, weak as they were. Protection, under the guise of imperialism. Some argued for securing the kingdom so that the Roccan could keep a better eye on the rumored raiders.
He snorted.
Imperialism. Warmongering. He wished he could have nothing to do with it. But he knew he was defeated. The people spoke. The rest of the government spoke. War it was.
He just prayed it would be so easy and quick as the warmongerers proclaimed it would be. And that as few as possible would die. Some days he wanted nothing but becoming a mere scientist again. The simplicity of science. Knowledge and research. But he knew he was not merely a scientist these days. He was a politician, whether he wanted it or not.
He did not believe in gods, but if they existed, he prayed he would end his rule and life not tainted more than absolutely necessary. That he kept his soul clean, whatever a soul was in the big picture of things. He prayed his rule would leave the galaxy and Roccan at a better place.
With that, he signed the order to invade the Enlightened Kingdom of Jumla.
This was not a road he wanted. While he did see the merit in securing their borders, the Roccan Resistance should be better than this, he told himself.
The closer ties to the Independent Tal’Akkuran Republic, who had turned out to be old slaves of the old nemesis of the Roccan, sharing their fate, but not their renewed strength? Good. He would make sure they were secure, even now that the Zrian were surrounding them and even though the Zrian was to eying them. As far as he could determine policy, and he knew he was not sole arbirator of that, as recent events had show, he would protect them.
And the habitat in previous Havensky space? Colonization was underway and that was the Roccan way. Peaceful, but not pacifist, ready to do what needed to be done. He could subscribe to that.
But this?
The Enlightened Kingdom om Jumla was weak. They should have been protected. Perhaps become friends. Like the Fexklansiga had been, as a vassal, but even so as a friendly, allied state if so. Like the Zrian Confederation, perhaps. A trading parter, research parter, perhaps one day an ally.
Perhaps, as was Zohira’s dream, a federation of allied states.
But no. The kingdom had been belligerent, threatening even. Weaker, yes. But not in fierceness. They wanted nothing to do with the Roccan Resistance.
And now parts of his own government, large parts actually, together with a sizeable part of the electorate, was calling for war. There were rumors of raiders on the other side of the kingdom, raiders like the Panurians close to the Roccan homeworld, Nogg.
Some argued for invasion of Jumla before they fell to the raiders, weak as they were. Protection, under the guise of imperialism. Some argued for securing the kingdom so that the Roccan could keep a better eye on the rumored raiders.
He snorted.
Imperialism. Warmongering. He wished he could have nothing to do with it. But he knew he was defeated. The people spoke. The rest of the government spoke. War it was.
He just prayed it would be so easy and quick as the warmongerers proclaimed it would be. And that as few as possible would die. Some days he wanted nothing but becoming a mere scientist again. The simplicity of science. Knowledge and research. But he knew he was not merely a scientist these days. He was a politician, whether he wanted it or not.
He did not believe in gods, but if they existed, he prayed he would end his rule and life not tainted more than absolutely necessary. That he kept his soul clean, whatever a soul was in the big picture of things. He prayed his rule would leave the galaxy and Roccan at a better place.
With that, he signed the order to invade the Enlightened Kingdom of Jumla.
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I'm sure every empire has said that at one time or another.
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Such a sad line. Zohira once had hopes and dreams, but now he's just another politician.
O'm glad he's at least pragmatic enough to know that no one emerges unscathed from politics. Maybe he'll keep most of his soul intact since he realizes that. Or will he fall further into populism and warmongering?
The people wanted war, and now they have it. Will this be a rude wake up call?
Yeah, power is a double edged sword...
I am sure he will cling to it as long as he can, fwiw. But will he succeed in the end? That's yet to be seen. As for wakeup calls, we are extremely strong compared to the enemy. Their rating is pathetic.
Chapter 11
Comissary-General Zohira K’Tun yawned.
It had been a long night. The war was over, finally. He felt this war was a betrayal of what the Roccan stood for. Perhaps he was naïve.
He felt like being naïve.
To a point.
He looked at the communications in front of him. A surrender declaration. He quickly signed an excecutive order to give the new subjects of his the best terms possible under the circumstances. He signed an order for the minister in question to find promising new leaders among the beaten. Perhaps they could be made into full members before long, like the Havensky.
He hoped, hoped oh so hard.
He hesitated.
And then signed an order for the main fleet of the Roccan to be stationed in the Dontaur system to guard against their latest enemy.
Or potential enemy, he should say.
The Knatzan Void Riders.
He shook his head. Barbarians. Raiders of the worst sort. Pirates. A menace to the civilized world.
And immensely powerful, just like the Panurian Raiders, so close to home. Some day, he vowed, they would be set right. Pacified.
But not today.
Today, however, would mark a new beginning for the relationship between the Polity of Fexklansiga and the Roccan Resistance. Today, he signed the treaty to integrate the Polity into the greater Roccan realm. United, one realm, one destiny.
He looked up as a knock was on the door and the minister of war strode in.
“What now, at this late hour?”
The minister smiled weakly.
“Our allies the Zrian Confederation has a minor rebellion happening. They call us into war with the M’tok Citizen Commonwealth as of tonight.”
He added,
“It seems sleep is not a gift we get today.”
It had been a long night. The war was over, finally. He felt this war was a betrayal of what the Roccan stood for. Perhaps he was naïve.
He felt like being naïve.
To a point.
He looked at the communications in front of him. A surrender declaration. He quickly signed an excecutive order to give the new subjects of his the best terms possible under the circumstances. He signed an order for the minister in question to find promising new leaders among the beaten. Perhaps they could be made into full members before long, like the Havensky.
He hoped, hoped oh so hard.
He hesitated.
And then signed an order for the main fleet of the Roccan to be stationed in the Dontaur system to guard against their latest enemy.
Or potential enemy, he should say.
The Knatzan Void Riders.
He shook his head. Barbarians. Raiders of the worst sort. Pirates. A menace to the civilized world.
And immensely powerful, just like the Panurian Raiders, so close to home. Some day, he vowed, they would be set right. Pacified.
But not today.
Today, however, would mark a new beginning for the relationship between the Polity of Fexklansiga and the Roccan Resistance. Today, he signed the treaty to integrate the Polity into the greater Roccan realm. United, one realm, one destiny.
He looked up as a knock was on the door and the minister of war strode in.
“What now, at this late hour?”
The minister smiled weakly.
“Our allies the Zrian Confederation has a minor rebellion happening. They call us into war with the M’tok Citizen Commonwealth as of tonight.”
He added,
“It seems sleep is not a gift we get today.”
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That's exactly what it is, the Roccan used to be the plucky underdogs, the good guys, but now they're the evil empire they once fought against.
There is a ladder and it goes up or down. I guess the Roccan don’t want to fall down again.
The Roccans will stymie the attempts of others to Resist. The boot, it is now on the Roccon foot, or claw, talon, or whatever other term they use for their appendages
I wonder just how far they will go along this road.
I wonder just how far they will go along this road.
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@stnylan ! My good friend! SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AROUND!The Roccans will stymie the attempts of others to Resist. The boot, it is now on the Roccon foot, or claw, talon, or whatever other term they use for their appendages
I wonder just how far they will go along this road.
@stnylan ! My good friend! SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AROUND!
Though in all honesty I don't know how long I will be able to, but I am poking my nose back in a little.
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Political ideals never seem to last long in the face of reality. Zohira is finally understanding that lesson, no matter how depressing it is.
But he is also the leader of the Roccan government. If he wants a better, brighter future with less imperialism, he should convert his feelings into policy. Instead, his policy has been fighting this war. Actions speak louder than words.
But he is also the leader of the Roccan government. If he wants a better, brighter future with less imperialism, he should convert his feelings into policy. Instead, his policy has been fighting this war. Actions speak louder than words.
I hope you will find a way to remain, my friend.
Though in all honesty I don't know how long I will be able to, but I am poking my nose back in a little.
Yeah, he has to work with what he has. Even a Commissary-General has his limits of power. But he's learning, for sure.
“Sir!”
Comissary-General Zohira K’Tun’s aide rushed in, unannounced.
Zohira frowned.
“What is the matter, Froth? I’m in the middle of an important call with the minister of defence.”
Suddenly all screens lit up with the image of a scowling alien Zohira had never seen the likes of before.
“Oh. I see.”
He cocked his head.
“To whom do I owe the pleasure? I see you’ve taken control over our networks, so it must be important.”
The alien hissed.
“Pitiful creature. Abomination. Pay your betters some respect!”
Zohira sighed.
“I thought I were. Well, then. Sir. Or madam. Whatever the gentleperson prefers. This is clearly important. I am all ears.”
The alien hissed louder.
“Creature. Know we roamed the stars for eaons before your hapless species mastered space flight. You are closing in on our space. Don’t. We’ll crush you like the pitiful ants you are.”
Zohira nodded.
“I see. Well, I am sure we can come to an arrangement. If I were only to know whom exactly I am speaking to...”
The alien scowled.
“No arrangement. No trade. No contact. If you come here, only death awaits. We are the Sejetharian Vestige, your doom if you approach us. In any way.”
Zohira smiled weakly.
“Noted. We will let you be. Now, if you could give me back control over my holonet, I have some work to be done.”
He added:
“Work that in no perceivable way will harm you. We get it. No trade. No contact. Now, this here is certainly contact, so I’ll let you disconnect the receiver, so to speak, now.”
He smiled broader.
“Have a wonderful day, representative of the Sejetharian Vestige. We will note your generous warning with all due diligence.”
The alien growled.
“So be it. You have been warned.”
Comissary-General Zohira K’Tun’s aide rushed in, unannounced.
Zohira frowned.
“What is the matter, Froth? I’m in the middle of an important call with the minister of defence.”
Suddenly all screens lit up with the image of a scowling alien Zohira had never seen the likes of before.
“Oh. I see.”
He cocked his head.
“To whom do I owe the pleasure? I see you’ve taken control over our networks, so it must be important.”
The alien hissed.
“Pitiful creature. Abomination. Pay your betters some respect!”
Zohira sighed.
“I thought I were. Well, then. Sir. Or madam. Whatever the gentleperson prefers. This is clearly important. I am all ears.”
The alien hissed louder.
“Creature. Know we roamed the stars for eaons before your hapless species mastered space flight. You are closing in on our space. Don’t. We’ll crush you like the pitiful ants you are.”
Zohira nodded.
“I see. Well, I am sure we can come to an arrangement. If I were only to know whom exactly I am speaking to...”
The alien scowled.
“No arrangement. No trade. No contact. If you come here, only death awaits. We are the Sejetharian Vestige, your doom if you approach us. In any way.”
Zohira smiled weakly.
“Noted. We will let you be. Now, if you could give me back control over my holonet, I have some work to be done.”
He added:
“Work that in no perceivable way will harm you. We get it. No trade. No contact. Now, this here is certainly contact, so I’ll let you disconnect the receiver, so to speak, now.”
He smiled broader.
“Have a wonderful day, representative of the Sejetharian Vestige. We will note your generous warning with all due diligence.”
The alien growled.
“So be it. You have been warned.”
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Zohira is being awfully nice to the Sejetharian Vestige, and it isn't being reciprocated...