Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 16:45:52 GMT
Celefra Imperial Palace: Capitol Space
“Your worrying”
“Hm?”
“Your worrying, I can tell. The way your breathing, how you just lie here like your cold inside, like your letting it take over you. Relax” The soothing voice had the power to make her relax, but not this time.
Not this time.
Events were moving too quickly, foundations were crumbling, people were dying and even as they lay here in bed the galaxy was rapidly changing. Capitol was losing this war, the APP was losing its hold.
“I can’t relax at a time like this Alaca, you know that” Inara replied turning under the sheets to face her wife. The blonde haired women had sympathy on her face, and a defiance in her look which also denoted understanding, she had tried to support her these few weeks but affairs just kept going downwards.
“I know. But at least we can enjoy the moments of quiet” Alaca smiled, Inara did the same albeit weakly, they went to kiss before a com chime echoed through the room. The ornate decoration and large lavish queen size bed looking almost empty in the dark of night. Inara growled before speaking out.
“Yes what is it?”
“Ma’am… An update from the Crucible. It’s gone my Empress. It’s been destroyed, Raxis is personally leading the defenders to inflict as much damage on the allies as possible. Losses are reported to be very high” The voice was one of the various aids, she had to take on more lately with the amount of updates coming through. The tide had turned, first in the galactic west, then the east in a renewed AGA push through USM space and now Rubikon and the Crucible. She knew when Carnaith had struck that it had only been a matter of time before they had come in force, in many ways she had foreseen the Crucibles destruction, knew it was destined to die. But still the news bit deeply into her emotion. Alaca sensed this, the pain written across her face, and stroked Inaras hair.
“…Understood. Tell Raxis his orders are to recover whatever and whomever he can. Inflict what losses he deems acceptable, but under no circumstances is he to martyr himself and the fleet. Get our forces out of there, we have lost enough at Rubikon as it is. Sacrifice is meaningless if it accomplishes nothing” Inara replied with orders. She kept stern.
“Understood, orders will be relayed immediately. I apologise for the disturbance ma’am” The com link shut off and Inara sat up in bed rubbing her temples.
“I’m so sorry… I wish there was something I could do” Alaca sighed.
“There’s nothing anyone can do. Rubikon is devastated, the Crucible is gone, the Axioms have distanced themselves from us, EPA is desperately trying to make their new wonder weapon worth it and I’ve received a hint from John Triarch. Personal encryption, he says the company is compromised and that they may even pull out the war soon. Nothing is going uphill from now on.”
“There must be something we can do? We can’t just give up”
“I don’t intend to give up, I will save this nation one way or another. I have contingencies in place to delay the inevitable for a while, at least long enough to clean up ready for what comes next. Alaca I will ask much of you in the next few weeks and months, it will be tough on both of us and maybe Elena most of all.” Inara looked drained, physically and mentally. Alaca had tried to help but she knew this wasn’t just obscene stress. She knew what pacts Inara had entered into, after all… Alaca had been brought back as part of such.
Was she even still human? This question bugged her every day, despite what the medical scans said. She didn’t feel like she fitted in.
“Then I need you to tell me what they are. Inara I can’t protect us if I don’t know your schemes, I want this nation to be what we dreamed of but this route was never the best solution. Tell me, please what are you planning” Alaca took Inaras hand, causing the Empress to flinch, she almost felt cold to the touch.
“It was the only solution. You know that, we are too set in our ways, too militaristic, they would never have allowed more progressive reforms. Resentment and hatred are what drives this nation, we directed it to the AGA, rightfully so, but you are right it was never the best solution. We will lose this war Alaca, it is only a matter of time before allied vessels are once again above this world knocking for my head on a pike. If Triarch pulls out our economy will collapse, our military is already battered and our logistics will fall apart. I can inflict more losses on the allies, keep them focused on the political moral picture. I will play along as the evil dictator.” Inara then paused, closing her eyes before continuing.
“Alaca I need you to open up a secret line to the allied forces, use the contact we have through Carnaith. Tell them we are willing to negotiate. Tell them this war needs to end, for the sake of this galaxy”
Alaca was shocked, she had not expected Inara to say such a thing. But she also knew it had been coming. Alaca shuffled close to Inara, and wrapped her arms around the Empress, leaning her head onto Inara shoulder and stroking her hair.
“Baby… They will kill you, or publically try you for war crimes… Or both. This nation will fall apart and everything you have built will die” Inara chuckled for a moment before putting a hand on Alacas.
“I know. Alaca I am going to give you a file that I have been working on in secret for 2 years now, it contains within it every single individual who would be fit to run this nation. And run it properly, I’m talking about total reform, rebuilding Capitol from the ground up. I want you to send it to the allies, it will affirm the legitimacy of this negotiation request. I’m going to purge HICOM and the government, use my power to behead Capitol from within when the time is right. Then I will surrender to the allied forces. I will portray myself as a madwomen, someone who the allies were right about, a monster who people can rally against. With the path cleared you will place these individuals into power immediately, and instigate orders within that file to direct public hatred towards me. Use the media, tell them they were lied to, and tell them Capitol is a lie. Work with the allies, maybe we can build our nation again with their help” Inara explained.
“That’s madness! Paint yourself as some kind of monster in order to save the rest? You will be tried and killed, or at least our very own people will want you dead!” Alaca said aloud, tears welling in her eyes.
“An age old tactic, one that would work well to smash down our mistakes and make room for total rebuilding. Alaca I’m asking you to take my mantle, rebuild our nation and see our dream come true to raise our daughter in the place we always wanted!” Inara truly believed, she truly believed this would be the only way. Alaca shook her head, tears running down her face.
“No! I refuse, I will not sit there and watch you hang knowing that you died a hero. I will not let you feel the pain I felt just before I was executed by your father! No more sacrifices Inara, this ends here. I will contact the allies, I will help you implement the changes. But you run Capitol, it will be rebuilt by your hand and our daughter will grow up with the two of us” Alaca embraced Inara tightly. The Empress felt herself regain some of her strength back. As of late the blade and parasite she had been given was feeding off her essence through her mental suffering, such a little boost was a welcome relief. She sighed.
“I know your way too damn stubborn to accept anything else. Fine have it your way. But this only solves the material situation. You know the powers I have consorted with, there is no way out of those pacts” Inara muttered.
“We will cross those bridges when we come to them. But right now you need to get some sleep” Alaca smiled wiping tears from her eyes. Inara smiled back this time with effort and nodded.
“Your right. I am terribly angry in the mornings without decent sleep” She laid back down again and Alaca quickly cuddled up to her, making Inara breathe a sigh of comfort.
“That you are. But this can be fixed. Life finds a way”
“Your worrying”
“Hm?”
“Your worrying, I can tell. The way your breathing, how you just lie here like your cold inside, like your letting it take over you. Relax” The soothing voice had the power to make her relax, but not this time.
Not this time.
Events were moving too quickly, foundations were crumbling, people were dying and even as they lay here in bed the galaxy was rapidly changing. Capitol was losing this war, the APP was losing its hold.
“I can’t relax at a time like this Alaca, you know that” Inara replied turning under the sheets to face her wife. The blonde haired women had sympathy on her face, and a defiance in her look which also denoted understanding, she had tried to support her these few weeks but affairs just kept going downwards.
“I know. But at least we can enjoy the moments of quiet” Alaca smiled, Inara did the same albeit weakly, they went to kiss before a com chime echoed through the room. The ornate decoration and large lavish queen size bed looking almost empty in the dark of night. Inara growled before speaking out.
“Yes what is it?”
“Ma’am… An update from the Crucible. It’s gone my Empress. It’s been destroyed, Raxis is personally leading the defenders to inflict as much damage on the allies as possible. Losses are reported to be very high” The voice was one of the various aids, she had to take on more lately with the amount of updates coming through. The tide had turned, first in the galactic west, then the east in a renewed AGA push through USM space and now Rubikon and the Crucible. She knew when Carnaith had struck that it had only been a matter of time before they had come in force, in many ways she had foreseen the Crucibles destruction, knew it was destined to die. But still the news bit deeply into her emotion. Alaca sensed this, the pain written across her face, and stroked Inaras hair.
“…Understood. Tell Raxis his orders are to recover whatever and whomever he can. Inflict what losses he deems acceptable, but under no circumstances is he to martyr himself and the fleet. Get our forces out of there, we have lost enough at Rubikon as it is. Sacrifice is meaningless if it accomplishes nothing” Inara replied with orders. She kept stern.
“Understood, orders will be relayed immediately. I apologise for the disturbance ma’am” The com link shut off and Inara sat up in bed rubbing her temples.
“I’m so sorry… I wish there was something I could do” Alaca sighed.
“There’s nothing anyone can do. Rubikon is devastated, the Crucible is gone, the Axioms have distanced themselves from us, EPA is desperately trying to make their new wonder weapon worth it and I’ve received a hint from John Triarch. Personal encryption, he says the company is compromised and that they may even pull out the war soon. Nothing is going uphill from now on.”
“There must be something we can do? We can’t just give up”
“I don’t intend to give up, I will save this nation one way or another. I have contingencies in place to delay the inevitable for a while, at least long enough to clean up ready for what comes next. Alaca I will ask much of you in the next few weeks and months, it will be tough on both of us and maybe Elena most of all.” Inara looked drained, physically and mentally. Alaca had tried to help but she knew this wasn’t just obscene stress. She knew what pacts Inara had entered into, after all… Alaca had been brought back as part of such.
Was she even still human? This question bugged her every day, despite what the medical scans said. She didn’t feel like she fitted in.
“Then I need you to tell me what they are. Inara I can’t protect us if I don’t know your schemes, I want this nation to be what we dreamed of but this route was never the best solution. Tell me, please what are you planning” Alaca took Inaras hand, causing the Empress to flinch, she almost felt cold to the touch.
“It was the only solution. You know that, we are too set in our ways, too militaristic, they would never have allowed more progressive reforms. Resentment and hatred are what drives this nation, we directed it to the AGA, rightfully so, but you are right it was never the best solution. We will lose this war Alaca, it is only a matter of time before allied vessels are once again above this world knocking for my head on a pike. If Triarch pulls out our economy will collapse, our military is already battered and our logistics will fall apart. I can inflict more losses on the allies, keep them focused on the political moral picture. I will play along as the evil dictator.” Inara then paused, closing her eyes before continuing.
“Alaca I need you to open up a secret line to the allied forces, use the contact we have through Carnaith. Tell them we are willing to negotiate. Tell them this war needs to end, for the sake of this galaxy”
Alaca was shocked, she had not expected Inara to say such a thing. But she also knew it had been coming. Alaca shuffled close to Inara, and wrapped her arms around the Empress, leaning her head onto Inara shoulder and stroking her hair.
“Baby… They will kill you, or publically try you for war crimes… Or both. This nation will fall apart and everything you have built will die” Inara chuckled for a moment before putting a hand on Alacas.
“I know. Alaca I am going to give you a file that I have been working on in secret for 2 years now, it contains within it every single individual who would be fit to run this nation. And run it properly, I’m talking about total reform, rebuilding Capitol from the ground up. I want you to send it to the allies, it will affirm the legitimacy of this negotiation request. I’m going to purge HICOM and the government, use my power to behead Capitol from within when the time is right. Then I will surrender to the allied forces. I will portray myself as a madwomen, someone who the allies were right about, a monster who people can rally against. With the path cleared you will place these individuals into power immediately, and instigate orders within that file to direct public hatred towards me. Use the media, tell them they were lied to, and tell them Capitol is a lie. Work with the allies, maybe we can build our nation again with their help” Inara explained.
“That’s madness! Paint yourself as some kind of monster in order to save the rest? You will be tried and killed, or at least our very own people will want you dead!” Alaca said aloud, tears welling in her eyes.
“An age old tactic, one that would work well to smash down our mistakes and make room for total rebuilding. Alaca I’m asking you to take my mantle, rebuild our nation and see our dream come true to raise our daughter in the place we always wanted!” Inara truly believed, she truly believed this would be the only way. Alaca shook her head, tears running down her face.
“No! I refuse, I will not sit there and watch you hang knowing that you died a hero. I will not let you feel the pain I felt just before I was executed by your father! No more sacrifices Inara, this ends here. I will contact the allies, I will help you implement the changes. But you run Capitol, it will be rebuilt by your hand and our daughter will grow up with the two of us” Alaca embraced Inara tightly. The Empress felt herself regain some of her strength back. As of late the blade and parasite she had been given was feeding off her essence through her mental suffering, such a little boost was a welcome relief. She sighed.
“I know your way too damn stubborn to accept anything else. Fine have it your way. But this only solves the material situation. You know the powers I have consorted with, there is no way out of those pacts” Inara muttered.
“We will cross those bridges when we come to them. But right now you need to get some sleep” Alaca smiled wiping tears from her eyes. Inara smiled back this time with effort and nodded.
“Your right. I am terribly angry in the mornings without decent sleep” She laid back down again and Alaca quickly cuddled up to her, making Inara breathe a sigh of comfort.
“That you are. But this can be fixed. Life finds a way”