Life always comes first. Continue this whenever you're ready and hopefully feel better.
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Glad to hear this is still going on, and can't wait to see the conclusion!
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General! So good to see you again after all this time!
Very happy to know you're reading this story of mine. - 1
2322.04.05 – President’s Office, Earth
2322.04.05 – President’s Office, Earth
Peace.
Wonderful, delightful peace.
President Ersh na-Filvan smiled. Eleven years had gone by. He had been reelected, of course. Promising no more wars under his watch – granted it was not forced on him and Sol.
It had worked. People, tired of war, used to his rule, most of them brought up on the dream, had let him back into their hearts. Not a given, he knew. But he was thankful. This was his destiny, after all. His calling.
He might be 156 years old; he might feel it in his bones. But he had a mission. He just hoped he had more years to him. He felt…older, now. His doctors warned him there might be a limited number of years left in him.
He scoffed. They had said so before. Decades before. New technology came, all the time, and he had a hope he would see many more years.
If not? Well, he would finally see his beloved Eira again. He knew it in his bones, he would see her again. Heaven. She was waiting. He was sure.
He straightened. There were work to do here on Earth before that, though.
Work he had done for over a decade now, after the war ended. First, humanity had improved. Again. Increasing the fertility of humanity, Human Clarus Mutatis Illustratis had been born. The best humanity yet. Spreading like crazy, kids everywhere.
Oh, how he wished he and Eira had got kids. Before she passed, so early, so young. There had never been any after her. Not even as a century had gone by. It was her. Only her. He smiled, wistfully.
He sighed.
After humanity, the other species of Sol would come. Second up, were the Neo-Ti-Zru, soon to become Trans-Neo-Ti-Zru. Stones, yes. Wild to think of merely decades ago. But good citizens. Loyal. Productive. Good citizens.
He looked at his digiplate. So many species. Most of them, perhaps all, would see improvement. But boy, were there many species in Sol these days. The Dream…it had become reality, hadn’t it?
Now to improve, develop, secure it.
Peace.
Wonderful, delightful peace.
President Ersh na-Filvan smiled. Eleven years had gone by. He had been reelected, of course. Promising no more wars under his watch – granted it was not forced on him and Sol.
It had worked. People, tired of war, used to his rule, most of them brought up on the dream, had let him back into their hearts. Not a given, he knew. But he was thankful. This was his destiny, after all. His calling.
He might be 156 years old; he might feel it in his bones. But he had a mission. He just hoped he had more years to him. He felt…older, now. His doctors warned him there might be a limited number of years left in him.
He scoffed. They had said so before. Decades before. New technology came, all the time, and he had a hope he would see many more years.
If not? Well, he would finally see his beloved Eira again. He knew it in his bones, he would see her again. Heaven. She was waiting. He was sure.
He straightened. There were work to do here on Earth before that, though.
Work he had done for over a decade now, after the war ended. First, humanity had improved. Again. Increasing the fertility of humanity, Human Clarus Mutatis Illustratis had been born. The best humanity yet. Spreading like crazy, kids everywhere.
Oh, how he wished he and Eira had got kids. Before she passed, so early, so young. There had never been any after her. Not even as a century had gone by. It was her. Only her. He smiled, wistfully.
He sighed.
After humanity, the other species of Sol would come. Second up, were the Neo-Ti-Zru, soon to become Trans-Neo-Ti-Zru. Stones, yes. Wild to think of merely decades ago. But good citizens. Loyal. Productive. Good citizens.
He looked at his digiplate. So many species. Most of them, perhaps all, would see improvement. But boy, were there many species in Sol these days. The Dream…it had become reality, hadn’t it?
Now to improve, develop, secure it.
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This strikes me as very sad. Poor Ersh, filling the void left by the lack of a family with politics and war. I hope he finds peace in the Great Beyond.
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Ersh might subconsciously want to die. His long life is proving the horrors of outliving your loved ones - and why immortality would suit him ill.
The people of Sol don't want things to change, I guess, hence why Ersh is de facto president for life.
The people of Sol don't want things to change, I guess, hence why Ersh is de facto president for life.
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I must admit I also found that update sad, but for completely different reasons. Sad that Ersh is still (somehow) winning elections, sad that the people of Sol must endure his so-called leadership, sad there is no hope of change or freedom. On the plus side at least he is suffering mentally, which is the very least he deserves for his crimes, and there is no Ersh II to carry on his evil legacy.
Speaking of which I see his imposed genetic tampering continues. Given what that genetic engineering is apparently capable of altering, things that look more cultural than genetic frankly, it would not surprise me if Ersh had sneaked in some extra modifications - "Always vote Ersh", "Never question Ersh", "Shut up and die quietly for my stupid plans", those sort of changes. It would explain a lot.
Speaking of which I see his imposed genetic tampering continues. Given what that genetic engineering is apparently capable of altering, things that look more cultural than genetic frankly, it would not surprise me if Ersh had sneaked in some extra modifications - "Always vote Ersh", "Never question Ersh", "Shut up and die quietly for my stupid plans", those sort of changes. It would explain a lot.
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I would always be cautious with genetic modifications. Ersh... Not so much! . I do wonder what the societal AND galactic consequences could be of his "dream". Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
I also wonder about unintended consequences.
Thank you Nikolai!
Rensslaer
. I do wonder what the societal AND galactic consequences could be of his "dream". Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.I also wonder about unintended consequences.
Thank you Nikolai!
Rensslaer
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Ersh feels sad about his passed wife and about missed opportunities with children, but he also hasn't fully accepted his death ("He scoffed. They had said so before. Decades before. New technology came, all the time, and he had a hope he would see many more years").
He believes himself to be the only man for the job, humanity's savior. That is why he can't step down or accept the inevitable. He is too ingrained into public consciousness.
He believes himself to be the only man for the job, humanity's savior. That is why he can't step down or accept the inevitable. He is too ingrained into public consciousness.
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I think our general consensus is that hubris is not a suitable balm for grief.
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Oh, hey, I finally figured out how the quoting thing works in this new Forum software (yes, the "new" software we've been using for a decade -- very different from the software we used a decade before that
). I think you're right, and I wonder how the Sol Republic will react when the only president many of them have known is no longer at the helm because he actually, finally, DIED!!
I'm reminded of how it was for people in the '40s when FDR died. He became president in 1933 and by 1945 there were people -- soldiers even! -- who had never been politically aware during a time when someone else was president. And those people still TODAY talk of FDR as if he was a savior. What happens when you magnify that several times over, where people in their 80s and 90s have never known another president??
Rensslaer
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Lovely discussion going on here, folks!
The people of Sol? They hardly know anything else than Ersh by this point.
Ersh does what he feels is needed. Someone has to.
When Ersh is gone, there WILL be a vaccuum. And not only a power vaccuum. Who is to step into the shoes of someone who embodies the republic and has ruled for the better part of a century?
Interesting comparison with FDR. And he merely ruled for a good decade!
Ersh has this pull towards death and peace and the wife he adores and which he is certain is waiting for him. And on the other side his wish to secure what he has fought for for so long now.
The people of Sol? They hardly know anything else than Ersh by this point.
Seems someone has snuck away from mandatory modification...guards!I must admit I also found that update sad, but for completely different reasons. Sad that Ersh is still (somehow) winning elections, sad that the people of Sol must endure his so-called leadership, sad there is no hope of change or freedom. On the plus side at least he is suffering mentally, which is the very least he deserves for his crimes, and there is no Ersh II to carry on his evil legacy.
Speaking of which I see his imposed genetic tampering continues. Given what that genetic engineering is apparently capable of altering, things that look more cultural than genetic frankly, it would not surprise me if Ersh had sneaked in some extra modifications - "Always vote Ersh", "Never question Ersh", "Shut up and die quietly for my stupid plans", those sort of changes. It would explain a lot.
Thank you for reqding and commenting Rensslaer!I would always be cautious with genetic modifications. Ersh... Not so much!
I also wonder about unintended consequences.
Thank you Nikolai!
Rensslaer
Ersh does what he feels is needed. Someone has to.
Good catch! He does, indeed, think he has to do what is needed. Who else, after all? This is his life mission, his dream, the lasting legacy of his wife and as such, him. He longs for peace but fears what will become of Sol when he is gone. Sad, in multiple ways.
Nothing can soothe his grief. Yet, for over a century, his entire life has been dedicated to trying through the only way he knows - his and his wife's dream.
Congratulations!Oh, hey, I finally figured out how the quoting thing works in this new Forum software (yes, the "new" software we've been using for a decade -- very different from the software we used a decade before that
I think you're right, and I wonder how the Sol Republic will react when the only president many of them have known is no longer at the helm because he actually, finally, DIED!!
I'm reminded of how it was for people in the '40s when FDR died. He became president in 1933 and by 1945 there were people -- soldiers even! -- who had never been politically aware during a time when someone else was president. And those people still TODAY talk of FDR as if he was a savior. What happens when you magnify that several times over, where people in their 80s and 90s have never known another president??
Rensslaer
When Ersh is gone, there WILL be a vaccuum. And not only a power vaccuum. Who is to step into the shoes of someone who embodies the republic and has ruled for the better part of a century?
Interesting comparison with FDR. And he merely ruled for a good decade!
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I don't understand.Said every dictator (and Paradox player!) ever!
Rensslaer
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I think a good comparison would be Ramesses II. When he died after reigning for 66 years, barely anyone remembered any other Pharaoh.
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