January 796 UC Heinessen
Job Trunitch was perhaps the second most powerful person in the Free Planets Alliance. As the Secretary of Defense, he knew everything that the Military was doing or was planning to do. His position on the High Council allowed him to affect and make decisions on policies that affect the entire Free Planets Alliance. For the last several years he has been working to concentrate more and more power into the High Council and into the position of Supreme Chairman. With the intent on becoming the Chairman himself someday soon.
He was watching a recording of yesterday's remembrance ceremony for those who died at Astarte where he gave another of his speeches to support the war.
"To all citizens and soldiers in attendance: for what purpose have we gathered here on this day?"
"To console the spirits of the heroes who died in the battle at the Astarte Starzone. They gave their lives to defend the freedom and peace of our homeland, and to tell us, those left behind, that there was something more precious than their lives."
"What is that something? It is our homeland, and our freedom! Why did those brave servicemen die?"
"They laid down their lives to defend our homeland, and our freedom! I would like to make this abundantly clear! Our homeland and our freedom are worthy of defending with our lives. You pacifists among us who advocate for reconciliation with the Empire, awaken from your delusions!"
"Peace does not come as easily as you profess it will!"
"Those who oppose this battle to oppose the Galactic Empire's autocratic totalitarianism have forsaken their homeland!"
"We know the history. Our homeland, with its great history! Our homeland, with its freedom! We must stand and fight to defend the one thing worth defending! Now is the time to fight for our homeland! Long live the Alliance! Long live our republic! Defeat the Empire!"
He shouted to which the entire room stood up and began to cheer repeating the last three lines. Applause began to break out as the cheers continued. People all around began to stand up and shout, cheering and clapping.
He smiled, such good obedient and blind soldiers ready to fight and die at a moment's notice or at a single given word.
Eventually the cheering died down and the recording showed a brief discourse between three figures in the audience. Captain Christian, Commodore Yang Wen-li and of course, her. But it seemed she only stepped in to prevent any escalation between the good Captain and the ever-annoying Yang Wen-li whom he had sent to Astarte to die much like he had another person. Then the recording continued with him speaking once more.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our greatest weapon is the unity shared among us all."
"So long as we live in a free country governed as a democratic republic,"
It was at this point the recording began to focus on the woman who dared challenge him in his domain.
"no objective, however noble, can be forced upon the people."
When they reached the halfway point the guards finally moved to stop her from going further. But the cameras were already on her and recording her.
"Defense Committee Chairman, my name is Jessica Edwards." The woman called out.
"I am the fiancée of Jean Robert Lapp," She spoke loud enough to be heard just as the security came up to her.
"An officer of the 6th Fleet who died in the Battle of Astarte. No… I was his fiancée." She said her voice softening slightly. To make people feel more sympathetic to her.
"Goodness… My deepest condolences to you, young lady. However," He had started to speak and convince her to take a seat with everyone. Tsk, if he had known she would have been as troublesome as she was. He would have asked the security to escort her out sooner.
"I am not demanding sympathy." She cut him off, "Chairman, my fiancé died a noble death in defense of our homeland."
"Of course… You are truly what every woman on the home front should aspire to be. I am certain your commendable spirit will be warmly rewarded."
"Thank you, Chairman. I am here because I wish to ask you a single question."
"Ah, and what would that be?"
"Where do you stand at this moment?"
"Er… Say again?"
"My fiancé went to the battlefield to protect his homeland, and now he is no longer in this world. Mr. Chairman, where do you stand as you glorify death? I gave my fiancé as a sacrifice! It is my fiancé's grave you stand upon right now. Will you stand upon the graves of your family and the graves of these people's families while you continue to glorify death as you stand on the top of my fiancé's?"
"The young lady has lost her composure. Escort her out of the room. My speech is over. The national anthem, please!" He announced and walked off the stage as the screens filled with the flag of the FPA and the anthem began playing loud enough to cover up the sound of any resistance the woman might put up against the security. Instead she was seen running off hand in hand with the damnable Yang Wen-li.
He took another sip of his glass to calm himself down.
It was good so many had died at Astarte. He could and did use the deaths of millions to push the populace to embrace the war. To embrace giving more powers to the High Council and Supreme Chairman and more importantly, to him.
The news called Astarte a great victory. As the Navy once again fought off the Empire and their upstart Admiral. Leaving out the number of dead and the losses suffered as they should, lest they be visited by his Patriotic Knight Corps to remind them what happens when they do not report what they are meant to report. He smiled as sipped his brandy at the brilliant thought he had of creating the PKC so long ago. They were paying back in dividends far beyond the now infinitesimal cost of getting them started, granted they occasionally needed to be reeled in. But all he really needed to do was point them at something and they did their best.
*Knock, Knock, Knock*
And then there was his other great investment into his future rise to power knocking at his door.
"Enter." He called out and turned off the screen to face the door to his office.
As in entered a woman in her mid-thirties with short blond hair and sky-blue eyes. Looking every bit like the woman that the Alliance Navy used as propaganda to encourage more young men to enlist, fight and die for the cause. With the vague insinuation that they could find and rescue such women in the Empire. So long as they gave it their all.
She had grown since they last spoke twenty years ago. Twenty years since he convinced her to join the military under the auspices that by doing so, she could secure herself the funding she needed to start up that absurd scheme of hers. Starting up a company focused primarily on logistics? That was a foolish notion. Oh, she made a convincing argument as to why she should start up such a business and how it would ultimately prove beneficial to the Free Planets Alliance.
But he did not adopt her to chase after foolish dreams. He adopted her to be a martyr for him. That wasn't the only reason he adopted her. If he wanted a martyr to fight and die for him. He would have adopted any one of the millions of war orphans and raised them to fight and die in the military so he could once and for all silence people like that woman.
No, he adopted her out of all the other millions of far less politically damaging children. Because he saw a use in her. She was intelligent and wise beyond her years. Learning to read and write at the age of three. Making nuanced arguments and conversations with adults many times her age when she was five and some of them had university degrees. But that still would not have been reason enough to adopt her. Because she came from the Empire. She was one of those filthy Imperials who came to the Alliance seeking to take and give nothing.
She had been smuggled in as but a baby of three months by a mere maid. Her noble family were placed in debtors' prison and worked to death under orders of the Kaiser after Duke Otho von Braunschweig convinced him to do so with all their holdings and possessions seized. The maid only escaping barely with the young baby and making it to Alliance space through Fezzan. Said maid wandered aimlessly around the Free Planets Alliance for several months before abandoning the baby at an orphanage here on Heinessen before disappearing and likely dying in some back alley. Like all the scum from the Empire should.
Five years later he would learn of her, and the rest is history as far as he cared. But so long as she lived, she continued to fail in the one task he adopted her for.
"Hello, father." She greeted him as she stood across his desk from him.
"Hello, daughter." He greeted in return as he hid away his wish that she would hurry up and die in battle for him already. He had almost used up all his favors and connections in the Navy to ensure she stayed out on the front where she should have been dead by now. Instead, she only continued to succeed. If she were any more successful. She would be out of his reach and ability to force her into a position where she could die in battle for him.
It was to the point he was having to rely on his rival Cornelia Windsor and her group in the military to see her dead. Though they were instead trying to get her disgraced and removed. Thus, damaging him and his reputation by getting rid of her. But their blundering would only ensure that she would die one way or another and he would ultimately get what he wanted, a martyr.
…..
Tanya
Twenty years, it had been twenty years since I had a chance to talk to my father. In twenty years, he had not changed at all. He was all business. Like a good CEO should be. Focused on achieving a goal that furthered the business in which he worked.
It was just frustrating that he pushed for further war and bloodshed. I had seen many Warhawks like him in my second life and heard many like him in my first. Always constantly pushing for more war. When I was young, I foolishly believed he was just an overworked father who just wanted the best for his adoptive daughter. Who had taken on great debt to raise me and then encouraged me to join the military to make my dream of starting up a logistics company feasible with all the connections a job in the military would bring.
It took me longer than I care to admit to realize that I had a Warhawk for a father who wanted me to be just like him, to glorify war and death for profit. While I know I should be angry with him. Twenty years apart and light years of separation turned that anger into cold acceptance and realization. I did not like what he intended, but I had walked into it all like an eager recruit oblivious to the signs. As no matter what century or millennia, so long as there is War there are people who will want more and more war to profiteer of off.
I no longer hated him. I understood him and because I understood that his goal was war and profit. I came to terms with the fact we would never see eye-to-eye. As he wanted more war while I abhorred war as the waste of life, resources, and material that it was. In a way, it made working with him easier. He rarely said anything to me, and I rarely said anything to him. With him congratulating me on surviving the front lines whenever I rotated or got a promotion and me thanking him.
Now though, I was in his office with a purpose. The last time I was here he had convinced me to join the military and go to war. Today, I was in his office for another reason.
I had been in the audience at the remembrance ceremony and his speech while typical of him as a Warhawk. A person who had attended raised a serious question. A question I wanted answered.
"I hope the evening finds you well." I say and pull out a chair to sit so we could talk.
"It does, mostly dealing with the paperwork that comes with my job at the office." He said and poured himself more brandy after finishing his first glass.
"I imagine so. The Battle of Astarte was not pretty. No matter how much the Media pretties it up and claims the opposite." I say shaking my head in disappointment. Honestly, whatever happened to journalistic integrity? Did no one bother to do any research? Or were they all just taking marching orders from a singular source like some dystopian fictional novel?
"True, but imagine the blow to morale across the Alliance if it was learned just how bad the war was going?" He asked me.
"Yes, they would be demoralized to the point that someone would be too paralyzed to do anything. Riots in the streets and calls for ousting of not just the current High Council but of the entire government to be replaced." I nod and list off only a few possibilities which made him frown. With a bad economy, a crumbling infrastructure and a war that had been turning south for a while now. It was only a matter of time before things fully went downhill and were unrecoverable. I only hoped we had not yet reached that point where there was no turning back.
"How has the military life treated you, Tanya? It has been twenty years since we last talked face to face like this and in this very same room." He pointed out.
"It has had its ups and downs. Though a lot more downs than ups lately if you can believe it." I sigh and shake my head.
"Yes, I've heard rumors that there are those within the military moving against you." He said and set his glass down. "I can help you with them if you would like." He offered chillingly.
I shook my head, turning him down. "No," I said, I would get myself out of this mess and I had a reliable way to do so too. "But thank you though. I already have something in mind to take care of things." I told him as I gave him a comforting smile. I was certain any father would be relieved to hear that their daughter who was being threatened by jealous coworkers was taking care of them on her own. Of course, he would likely want to do something to help ensure my success.
"Although, if you hear any further rumors about their doings. Please let me know, so I can treat them properly." I might not be able to put anyone into a court martial, because I did not want names. But since I left Fleet Admiral Sidney's office, I have been thinking of all my options to counter those in the military who might be opposed to me. I did not want to know who was after me. Because if I did, I would give them something to legitimately fear me for. Instead, I wanted to present them with something vague but very real that if they pushed too hard and too far. I would push back and there would not be anything they could do about it.
"I will keep in touch if anything comes across my desk."
"Thank you, father."
"You're welcome, daughter." He nodded approvingly.
I guess now I should offer him something in return for the information he would be providing me with in the future. "There is a very good possibility I will be promoted to Admiral soon." I tell him and smile proudly. "Soon I will not have to be on the front lines anymore and I can work here at Headquarters and assist you." I told him. Though I do not tell him exactly how or when I will be made Admiral.
Clearly hearing his daughter was going to get a promotion soon and be in a place of such high position that he could make use of it for his own Warhawk plans. Fit perfectly within his plans as I saw his eyes sparkle for a bit in excitement and surprise. For that I poured myself a little bit of the bourbon he had.
I was not a drinker. But I felt I owed him this small toast. And drank the little bit of alcohol I poured.
With business out of the way. It was time to get to the real reason I was here. Setting down the glass I looked at him seriously.
"Dad," I started calmly to indicate I was not angry and did not want to argue or fight. "Yesterday a civilian confronted you during the Remembrance Ceremony."
"I remember." he says cautiously nodding his head.
I take a slow deep breath to indicate I am remaining calm before I continue. "Do you remember what she asked you?" I ask him and he nods. "If I were to die fighting the Empire. Would you use my death to further your career or whatever purpose you have?" I asked him.
If he said yes, that would hurt, very very deeply. But I could live with it. People wanted me dead through a good portion of my second life. Hell, a person wanted me dead so much in my first life they threw away everything they had to push me in front of a train to kill me! So, this time. I would at least like to know if the person who had raised me planned to use my death for his own ends. Instead of being blindsided at an inopportune time.
He looked struck. As if I had taken out a massive bayonet and stabbed him in the heart and ripped both out of his chest. "I… Tanya…" He said clearly disturbed by my question. That I would suggest he would use my death to his benefit. Again, I had already long since gotten over my anger for him years ago. I just wanted confirmation. So, I would not feel betrayed and could at least keep us both at a respectable distance, so we never talked or interacted again.
After a few moments of silence. I was in no rush and had nowhere to be. So, I would wait until he answered me as I watched and waited for him to come to a decision. I know it would be difficult for a Warhawk to be honest with their feelings. But I hoped he at least could be honest with himself and with me.
"Tanya, I would never, ever, use your death to further my own career." He said speaking seriously and leaning forwards in his chair. By the tone and seriousness of his voice. I could tell he meant what he said. Which lifted a weight from my shoulders that I did not know was there. With a smile I stood up and walked around the wooden desk to hug my father for the first time in twenty years.
"Thank you, dad." I say holding him tightly. Reassured by my father's own words. Standing back up I smiled at him. "I promise I will make Admiral soon and then we can work together closer than ever."
I say and then leave his office. I wasn't a Warhawk like my father. But once I capture Iserlohn, I can give him insider trading information on the military that the reports he got as Secretary of Defense did not tell him. I would not be able to change his Warhawk nature. But I could at least see that he remained wealthy enough to not feel slighted and regret his words tonight.
…..
He regretted ever adopting that girl! How had she learned his plans for her? It wasn't just that woman asking him that stupid question. No, it had to have been something else. Did one of his contacts tip her off that he did not notice? He would need to do a full check over all his connections and call in favors to find out who leaked.
Then she had the gall to threaten him. HIM! He would be livid if he was not also absolutely terrified right now about the prospect of her revealing everything he had planned. How dare that Empire born thing threaten him! But she had made it clear. If he wanted her to keep quiet and not trouble him or his plans. He needed to provide her with information. As if information came cheap! Stupid girl! Like all the rubbish from the Empire expecting things to come to them freely!
Well, if she thought that by becoming an Admiral, she was going to be allowed anywhere near him. Let alone Heinessen after this he would just have to make sure she never came home and had orders to never come back to Heinessen!
Yes! He would make sure she was permanently stationed in some useless forgotten about Starzone in the ass end of Alliance space! Yes, he already saw the plan coming together even now.
Smiling and calming down. He poured himself another glass of brandy and turned on the recording of his speech yesterday. But looped it on one point.
"Long live the Alliance! Long live our republic! Defeat the Empire!" Were the repeated chants of a crowd of thousands of loyal, obedient, idiot voters and soldiers who would do everything they were told and would ensure his rise to ultimate power.