|Viraliv|[20-14]Sliue-Ececs|Ora’s Eye|Tepi|Tepi-3|
11,163,955,738cy
Terraformer Station ‘Favala’, Low Tepi-3 Orbit
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#Small Hidden Away System in the [19-15]Etan-Ifleks Stargroup
Something similar to a computer receives a signal, as is its main purpose. It also displays the information of that signal on a large board, displaying this information to its readers. The readers of this board are a mercenary group somewhat famous though not as powerful as the others in the stargroup. This stargroup is on the higher level of technological development, but only just. To simplify, on a scale from 0 to 10, 0 being no technological development, this stargroup would be a 5.17. As a comparison [20-14]Sliue-Ececs would be a 4.58. In a technological sense this gap is quite large and things that [20-14] would have a hard time doing on the industrial scale or even imagining how to do them [19-15] can do quite easily. Which is why it surprised this mercenary group, the Melthi of Zantark, when they received a signal from a lacking stargroup like [20-14].
Such a stargroup shouldn't have the technology to be able to send a signal all the way to [19-15] in a reasonable time, which is what the message suggested given the timestamp. The leaders of the Melthi could only assume that some advanced hermit had settled in that stargroup. However the message was a request to invade the stargroup to help some nation there in a war. Something that is very risky because it goes against the unofficial rules of the galaxy, invading other stargroups without a real reason is seen in the same light that breaking a peace-deal is on Earth. However, independents are given a little more leniency in the matter, this would include mercenary bands. That still doesn’t mean that it’s okay to do but, given the right rewards it might be an option worth the risk.
And the rewards do make it an option, specifically the opportunities that could be gained from accepting this contract. While the reward is meager, mainly resources but also favors and total access to the nation making the contract for the intents to repair and the like. To the surprise of most of the mercenaries, aside from the officers, their leader accepted the contract. Such a contract would certainly blacken their reputation and it would take a seriously long time just to get there so there must be a good reason for it. Regardless they got ready to move, fulfilling their contract to this Sekull coalition would be very easy and they were in a lull between jobs anyway.
#Back to Tepi
After Simiffin’s last decision he and the head officers quickly got to work coming up with strategies to accomplish their plan. Their plan to incite the people and introduce an alternative budget to the government's current one, of course. Inciting the people is rather easy, just by the Captain writing several speeches that denounce the government’s decision is enough to rile the already resentful citizens. Not to mention that many of them are already riled up from other sources, many factions are influencing the people to see Simiffin’s current lack of movement as a way to rile them up even further which would increase the people’s trust in these factions' ideas. However this incitation works in Simiffins favor and the reason why he’s not been doing anything for a week, close to two, is because he has been writing an extensive budget. This is not only because of how extensive such a budget must be and because the government is not very cooperative in sending over requested and needed data, but also because it gives time for Simiffin to incite the people. However, by week four of working on the budget it was time to introduce it to the colony.
#Point of View of a Random Officer Worker
Another day of work, an endless loop of comparing data from one file to another and other more mundane tasks. Looking outside I can see the expansive vault that I call home. Though I can’t see too far into its depths, not to mention all of the buildings akin to stalagmites and stalactites that form the city, the vault is so large you can see fog. Focusing back on my work, the boss is meandering through the office, I notice a news pop-up in the corner of the screen of my device. Seems like Captain Simiffin is about to make a move, he’s got a speech on at the end of the day. He’s probably going to subsume control of the government or something, it’s obvious that colony security can’t keep up with the unrest and higher-than-usual amount of crimes.
Speaking of crimes, I’m lucky that my big Thelsk friend has the same route home as me. Otherwise my fragile blue skin would be a huge target to those criminal fiends. Really, the lack of security is driving me a little mad with paranoia. Us Egol are a little more susceptive to mental issues resulting from stress than others. We didn’t evolve on a planet that causes a lot of stress so our stress response and management is quite bad compared to others. Though I don’t really have to worry with a Thelsk by my side, no common criminal would challenge a Thelsk for no reason. Well, regardless there’s nothing to worry about right now, except for finishing my work that is. Not that it will take my mind off of it but the boss is coming around.
After work, me and my friend, Jetik, meetup in the lobby and start our route home. Going through the various magrails and loops we finish the journey with a short walk to our respective homes. A journey that would’ve taken a few days on foot was completed in under an hour, a marvel of technology based upon Egol designs. Stepping inside of my apartment, I let a sigh of relief go. I always do make it home safely but even so, it can still happen. Oh right, the Captain’s speech is due soon. That explains the excitement that many people showed on the way, though it’s hard to understand Tarmon emotions since it relies on the color of their bioluminescence and how tall their fur stands. Their body language is truly a language of its own, Thelsk simply state what they want, no need to learn a new language in order to understand them.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Turning on the tv, I quickly absorb the information being given to me. Many people thought that the Captain wouldn’t do anything. The majority thought that he would do something and that it would be to take control of the government, or at least force it to revert its changes. What actually happened was quite different though, only the people in the deeper vaults thought it would happen, but the Captain is going to introduce his own budget. He also encourages the government to listen to the people and subtly threatens that if they don’t then the Captain will forcibly hold a new election. Though many people might not understand that, those government officials certainly will.
Just like that night four months ago, people are already rushing out their door to the government’s offices. Though this time it’s to show their support for something, and not just indigent feelings.
#End Point of View
Simiffin finally did it, relief flashes over him, this is just the start and the government can still refuse making things harder. However, now Simiffin has room to breathe. And breathe he did, along with the various officers and advisors in the room with him. Slow breaths that show the stress and concern each of them had, it was a big political movement but one that was quite solid. The unrest has already reached the breaking point and the government will be forced to make a decision, if it’s a bad one and the people lash out then the security forces will likely sweep in. In such a case, Simiffin would be entirely justified to unseat the current government and run a flash election.
Which is exactly what nearly all of the factions are desiring, a new election would give them the chance to sneak in their members for direct influence in the government. Currently, most of those on the government’s council are corrupt or otherwise coerced but direct control is a lot better. As such, those factions are calling on the council members to resist the proposed budget. A small number of councilors resigned, being able to see the future ahead of them or having a gut feeling, they simply opted not to play the game anymore. The other, more greedy or foolish perhaps, continued to resist thinking that the factions would have their backs.
To buy some time the councilors sent out some information that they would enter talks with the Captaincy to discuss the new budget and its details. In reality, they didn’t and even refused any communications request from the Favala. The Captain stated as much in an interview which only confused the people, getting conflicting information from the factions, government, and the Captain. Regardless, the people were in the throes of emotions, confusion, anger, and some madness from something similar to mob mentality resulting in an outbreak of armed protest in the first valve. Security forces very quickly rush in to combat the citizens field by the various faction’s agents.
Though at first the advantage was held by the people this was mostly due to surprise and once security was organized, their training and tools allowed them to take the advantage. Still the people outnumber them greatly and more are entering the fray. Of course, the Captain and the head officers were prepared for such a result. Using a special device they relay commands to agents that were embedded into the city. This is a special squad of mixed troops that were given the go on orders to capture the councilors and subsume control of the government’s office. They quickly work to infiltrate the government office, using the chaos of the mobs as cover. Easily gaining access to the building, they take out any guards in the building through non-lethal means. The risk of them being injured is low so lethality can be risked. This is due to their, at the time of Favala’s embarkment, cutting edge suits and tools that are incomparable to the pens the security forces use.
After a few flights of stairs and multiple dozens of guards, they busted into the council's meeting room still rife in debate and heavy in a chaotic stew of emotions. At the sound of the door being busted from its hinges and many people with guns rushing in, all of the councilors stop arguing and look at the intruders. Some of them are quick to react and either put up their hands in surrender or hit the ground attempting to hide from the agents behind the meeting room desk. These politicians are quickly arrested and brought to an exfil site where they are transported to the Favala, an operation that took a little over an hour. Yet they weren’t quick enough even though they tried their hardest, citizens had already died in the mob outside.
To stop any further conflict, Simiffin opened a stream and spoke a personally, and hastily, written speech with the various council members in the background, still bound and gagged. While the stream itself looked rather sketchy, that didn’t matter as the contents of the speech were enough to still those fighting. Both the security forces and the citizens stopped to watch the large screens that were all around the vaults displaying Simiffin. The chaos and noise immediately succeeds to silence and stillness as the people wait for their brains to make sense of what is being said.
Simiffin truthful to his word, simply stated the situation and called for new councilors to be elected. Then briskly shut off the stream, turning around Simiffin quickly orders the ‘retired’ counselors back to the brig, not knowing what to do with them. All of that, including how the new election will be facilitated can be thought of tomorrow. Wanting the day to end already Simiffin starts walking towards his room before stopping, thinking, and turning around to head to Shanak’Ti’s office. Dragging his feet he enters the office and feels somewhat refreshed, like someone with a tough job walking through the door of their home. Simiffin was welcomed inside and they quickly got to the therapy session. Though, throughout Shanak’Ti once again led the conversation towards the new found political developments, “So, what do you plan to do with the old councilors?”
Simiffin lets out a grunt before saying, “I’m not sure, I wasn’t going to do any thinking on it until tomorrow.” Simiffin rubs the back of his neck for some reason, like an embarrassed schoolboy. Shanak’Ti responds with, “Hmmm, yes that may be best, rest and think on it. Perhaps it might be best to let the people decide, with some limitations of course, on the councilors' punishment?”
Simiffin promises to bring it up to the Advisory Council and the head officers when they have their status meetings and then head off to bed for the night. Crashing into the bed and falling asleep soon after.