Post by paracelsus on Mar 22, 2023 15:43:45 GMT
Eden, Genesis System
Central Colonial Administration, Overseer Council Office
The meeting room of the Overseer Council was designed in the typically dark and utilitarian design of the Unified Democratic Systems. Dim white lights served to keep the room in a modest light. Pale blue holographic screens acted as the only other light source beyond that. The Overseers occupied a circular metal table at the centre of the room and nearly all of the thirty seats surrounding it.
“Apologies for being late,” Overseer Michael muttered as he entered the room, “I overslept,” he sounded genuinely guilty about his tardiness, “I was caught up in work- had to provide another report for the SIO regarding the whole affair at the Silver Cradle. Anyways, are we ready to begin?” He rubbed his eyes as he sat down. Without his usual mask on, his shallow cheeks and dark eyes were too clear to see.
“Indeed we are, comrade Michael,” Anisha spoke. She was a short woman with deep brown skin and hazel eyes. She cast him a sympathetic gaze before turning to face the rest of her fellows, “very well. Since we are swamped with work it is best we get straight to the point. Denver, if you’d please?”
The sharp-faced man with neatly combed hair waved his hand over the table which activated the holographic projectors built within it. Thirty images were projected to the council, each one showing a similar set of data, “as we all are aware, our request for reinforcement has been answered,” he spoke, “the supercarrier SSV Hyperion will arrive in Ancerious in a matter of weeks. Alongside it, we are to receive over a thousand ships to reinforce our navy within the next few months. This poses a great advantage to use while revealing a new set of issues to deal with,” from there, he let Anisha speak.
“Firstly, we must consider our bureaucracy,” she began. More than a few overseers winced. The bureaucracy and red tape of the UDS were always its greatest strength and obvious weakness. While it served to keep the nation unified, it also made governing it difficult- especially now that they had grown so large, “we will need to work overtime to process everything. And not just us, but our comrades too.”
Michael let out a deep sigh, “well we can try encouraging people to look into administration and government work. But other than that, I think we know the obvious answer,” he hummed, “we’ll have to introduce more working hours for government officials. Twelve hours on the weekdays and ten on the weekends? This is our second increase isn’t it?”
Denver nodded, “aye. I don’t suppose we can increase their benefits?” At the shake of a few heads, he sighed, “well we can put it to a vote. We can probably look into shifting the budget a bit at a later date as well but for now, I agree with increasing the working hours.”
Anisha nodded, satisfied with the efficiency of her peers, “very well. I too am in agreement. But I also have another suggestion,” this time it is her turn to swipe her hand across the table. This time, a central projector was activated. The image of a metallic sphere appeared and upon closer inspection revealed that its surface was made up of thousands of buildings similar to that of the standard UDS Cosmopolitan.
Every overseer in the room recognised what it was.
“A Yggdrasil?” One overseer muttered aloud, “do you really think we should build one so soon? Usually we build them years after the foundation of a colony,” when it was proven that it was a worthwhile investment was left unsaid but implied.
“It does hold merit,” Denver admits, “we can likely make a case for Ancerious- this galaxy, while dangerous, has proven to be worth the risks. Besides, we’ve already expanded far too much- there’s simply no going back now.”
“One must consider then the price of making one then” another overseer added, “a dyson shell is incredibly expensive and even if we received approval from Parliament, we’re not likely to get all the support necessary to build one. We’ll have to draw from our own resources which could make an already bad situation worse,” she presented her own datapad, where a report on her sector’s production output was displayed, “the drain could prove to warrant drastic measures.”
“This war proved too costly,” Michael sighed. Indeed, the UDS had given a lot for so little in return. Aedleshaven was a mess and the Furrelian theatre was showing little progress. And that’s not even getting started on the mess with the Selenican Republic, “but regardless, even if we are put close to the danger zone, provided we be more cautious in the future, then I can see us averting the crisis. So I do think petitioning Parliament for a Yggdrasil is worth it.”
“There is another facet, however,” Denver spoke, “namely how the resource drain will worsen once reinforcements arrive- we must remember that these warships cost a lot of Ancerium and Sinarium to maintain. The Hyperion alone consumes that of an entire battlegroup to function. So I do think we’re a lot closer to hazardous times than what you anticipated, Michael.”
He frowned as he considered this, “you are correct,” he nodded reluctantly, “but I think there’s already another suggestion in mind, isn’t there, Anisha?”
She had been silent during this seemingly content with letting her peers speak. When she was called, she nodded, “yes. I think to ease the burden, we should set up colonies and outposts in the Umarian Reach- our scouts managed to detect several resource pockets there- Goldenstone, Sinarium, the like. We could put them to good use and with better handling of our bureaucracy thanks to a Yggdrasil we should be more than ready to proceed.”
Michael snorted, a hint of dry humour escaping him, “setting up colonies usually are resource extensive. Wouldn’t that worsen the situation? Unless of course,” he leaned forward slightly, “you are willing to have us enter a period of recession before hoping that the new colonies there jumpstart us back up. Clever, but risky,” he tutted.
Anisha took no offence. Instead, she smiled sardonically at him, “it is all we can do. Don’t get me wrong- if we are all in agreement on this, I aim to present the plan to data analysts first before submitting a request to Parliament. I will make sure that this plan has as little risk as possible.”
“And who will run these new colonies?” Denver wondered aloud, “you do realise that one of us will have to handle that until they can elect a new overseer. And it's a lot further away.”
There is a moment of open discussion amidst the council before eventually, Michael sighed and raised his hand, “I suppose I’m the person for the job then. I have the most experience in foreign policies and we’re likely to make greater contact with natives there. While you all have each other, I will be operating alone, which evens things out until the aforementioned election.”
Another discussion. While none doubted him, many still were wary of the risks. Eventually however, Denver smiled as he slotted in a message for everyone to see, “very well. Shall we vote on all of these matters now?”
The first to come up was the vote to decide to propose to Parliament to build a Yggdrasil. It passed with twenty-five in favour. The next to arrive was the Umarian Reach proposal. It again passed but with twenty-one votes this time, the bare minimum needed. Finally, there was the vote to send Michael. Passed unanimously. After all, their only concerns were if they should set up the colonies in the first place.
“Very well,” Anisha said as she dismissed her hologram, “I will prepare a report to Parliament. You should all do the seem. We submit it next week.”
Dynamo’s Orbit, Dynamo System
Yggdrasil Construction Site
“I brought some tea,” Henry stepped into the room. Her co-worker appeared as a middle-aged man with close-cut dark hair and grey eyes. He wore the same grey jumpsuit that workers like her were required to wear with the only other addition being a pair of holo-visor he wore that he was no doubt using to multitask.
“Thank you,” Julie muttered. She hardly turned away from the holographic interface as he placed the tray of biscuits and tea on the nearby table, “what flavour?”
“The biscuits are lemon and vanilla,” he replied and poured the both of them a mug, “and I managed to acquire tea made from real leaves- they’re supposedly grown all the way in Serica,” he sounded a bit proud of his choice. She wasn’t too sure whether it was because he spent some credit for the tea or because he was pleased at his skill at picking food. She decided to ask.
“Real tea leaves?” She murmured, “how many credits did they cost?”
She could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke, “none. Those working on Yggdrasil receive a higher level of amenities. It seems that we made the right choice to sign up here,” Henry sat down next to her and sipped his tea before letting out a relieved sigh, “drink up, comrade.”
Julie nodded and turned away from the screen to drink from her mug, “I suppose it makes sense considering the hours we’re made to do. Twelve every weekday and ten on the weekends. I didn’t think we were getting this desperate.”
Henry shrugged, “it’s a temporary measure until we get the Yggdrasil up and running. That’s what the Overseer Council said,” and definitely not what was being discussed on Cable communication sites. She was surprised that none of them had gotten shut down yet considering how close their rhetoric was turning into sedition.
The two entered a companionable silence as they tended to their snacks. Eventually, the tea pot was emptied and the plate was cleared of biscuit crumbs. Julie sighed, “it’s just been stressful. I was hoping that now that the war was over we’d have time to just… take it easy. But we’ve jumped right into another one and now it’s as if times never changed.”
Henry didn’t reply. Instead, he simply booted up his computer and began to control the engineer drone needed to work on the Yggdrasil’s frame. Julie joined him and thousands of others workers shortly after. It was only when the last of their twelve-hour work had passed did they finally get enough time to speak to each other.
“Trust me,” Henry admitted, “we all share the same feelings.”
Eden, Genesis System
Universal Relay Station
Today the station was lively or rather even livelier than it normally should have been. Indeed, while the station was often host to hundreds of people at a time, these people usually ranged from workers to officers to commuters registering their vessels. These stations were the beating heart of the universal colonies of the UDS and often were centres of travel and trade for both civilian and state forces, most notably including the military.
And a military vessel that was making its way across the universes was the reason why the station was even more crowded than usual- for military personnel of every rank and stripe were in attendance alongside dozens of political figures and news reporters. This was a monumental event after all for one of the UDS’ greatest superweapons was arriving soon- the supercarrier SSV Hyperion. It was to herald a new age for the colonies- one of safety and security, two things desperately needed in these trying times.
The reporters were watching the scene from the top of floating hardlight platforms with hovering camera drones catching every moment. This was both a safety measure- to ensure the civilians were in sight of the troopers standing guard, and convenience to prevent them from getting in the way of the spectacle.
From the other end of the hallway was a marching crowd. Leading the way was Vice Admiral Kleiner. He was the commander of the SSV Hyperion and the man in charge of what would be called the 1st Ancerious Colonial Fleet once it arrived to Ancerious. Joining him were several of his lieutenants and officers, all of whom preemed under the attention.
This group marched towards another that stood still at the other end. Standing at the front was the wisened Admiral Trelawney who was in charge of all of the colonial fleets in Ancerious. He was still to command the forces for he was not deemed responsible for the recent setbacks experienced by the navy as of now. By his side was Vice Admiral Faraday of the soon-to-be 3rd Ancerious Colonial Fleet. The two men stood at attention, not once taking their eyes off the arriving commanders.
The hallway was long, tall, and wide. Normally it would be filled with commuters and vehicles passing by. Now it was nearly empty sans the officers and reporters. At the sides of the hallway were two holographic screens that offered a view of space.
Kleiner and his retinue stopped a few feet away from the group. Then as one, they raised a closed fist above their heart- the traditional salute of the UDS, “the SSV Hyperion will arrive in a matter of weeks. Regardless of its arrival, I place myself under your command, sir.”
Faraday and his own group returned the salute before both parties lowered their fists. With a smile, Faraday offered his hand for Kleiner to shake, “knowing I have yet another capable commander by side places me at ease. I take we expect the arrival of your fleet around the same time as well?”
The vice admiral nodded, “yes sir. When the Hyperion arrives it will be at the head of a thousand more warships.”
Arcana, Tarot System
Central System Administration, Arcana Central City
“And here we are with the protestors rally in sight just outside the Administration Hall. This is a group of hundreds strong with all of them bearing the same grievances shared by other protestor rallies across the planet; outrage at the drastic increase in mandatory working hours, the lack of appropriate compensation for said working hours, and the recent foreign policies adopted by the Overseer Council,” the reporter on the screen said.
The camera panned over the street to show the huge crowd of protestors. They had all gathered just outside of the System Administration and held hologram projectors that showed their message for the world to see. Yet all of them were silent, choosing to instead stare sullenly at the building and at the gathering lines of armoured officers. This silence was their own way of protesting. It showed not their fury, but their disappointment and their rebellion against the demand for action in a time when none was needed.
The reporter carried on, “it seems that the Security Officers have arrived in force. Quite a surprising display considering how widespread the protests are. Still, we have yet to see any suppressive action from them no doubt because no law has been broken nor any right overstepped. However, the governor ordered a curfew meaning that if the protestors overstay their welcome then there could be the beginning of suppressive action.”
As if in response to the reporter’s words, a droning hum echoed throughout the city. The signal that curfew was beginning in thirty minutes. Yet even then, the crowd did not depart and continued their silent protest against the government. Then, the signal for the beginning of the curfew rang again once more. A tense standoff occurred as the officers and the protestors stared down at each other, daring the other to make the first move. The officers now had the right to break up the crowd yet they all knew that such a scene would only escalate the situation. The protestors knew that if they stayed for too long then they would be going farther from their given rights to protest that was reasonably expected- something that could determine their public image. And both knew that if no action was taken, then it would only symbolise the disunity within the nation- something neither group wanted.
In the end, the protestors responded first. They slowly began to leave the area in an organised manner. Soon, the officers joined them to assist with their departure and to monitor them. A sign of cooperation even in these hard times. Yet both knew deep inside that this state of affairs could not continue. Something needed to change before it all blew over.
Richterdris, Richter System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe Aleph
Unified Systems Parliament, Chancellor’s Office
Blue lights from dozens of holograms shed light onto the darkened office of the Chancellor. Despite being the workplace of one of the most important individuals of the UDS, it was a sparsely decorated room with only metallic tables and projectors serving as the outliers in a room of grey metal. Within the office, the ministers present there were joined by the holograms of the other ministers as they all took part in lively discussion over the latest decision that had swept through Parliament.
“We’re looking at a 65% in-favour for the expedition project over in Ancerious,” Minister Finnigan said. He was the head of the Ministry of the Interior and was responsible for all territories directly controlled by the UDS. While he did keep a cool head, everyone knew he was all for supporting the expedition.
“Lots of support from the Socialist and Progressivist factions,” Rosaline of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology said. Even in an important meeting like this she was still focused on a datapad, carefully analysing the information about the vote taking place, “the Liberal Democrats seem mixed- they cite concerns over an overburdened government. And they aren’t wrong but…”
“We need to take this risk,” Chancellor Melchior stated. The man himself was also looking over a wealth of data presented to him by a series of holograms, “or rather, they need to, if the Ancerious colonies ever wish to thrive. Still, the mess up with the snake people and the disastrous campaign at the galactic core have cost them a lot a confidence. Many in Parliament wish to replace the current Overseer Council with some even calling for a direct disbandment of that system to be replaced with a more democratic and transparent one. Especially considering the amount of criticism levelled to them by their own populace. They better hope this expedition works out for them.”
Melchior sighed as he closed one of the data screens to rub his temples. It’ll still take a few more days, if not weeks, before the voting session concludes. Such was the nature of a universe-spanning nation. Bureaucracy moved slow and news travelled slower. And since a maximum of three weeks was granted to discuss a vote, it was to no surprise that many took their time to decide. Some might ask why a small set of colonies mattered so much to the UDS. The answer? Because these small set of colonies were also jockeying with other sets as well. Combined with the major colonies, this made one lovely mess.
And that wasn’t even considering the time taken to travel between universes…
The chancellor sighed and rubbed his hands, “well, unless something happens I feel we can begin the process of approving the Ancerious colonies’ requests. They’re already getting a thousand ships and a supercarrier- I think we might as well go all in.”
There are notes of agreement from all the figures. Melchior sighed and dismissed the final data screens that contained the information about Ancerious, “well. Let’s see what’s next to tackle…”
Central Colonial Administration, Overseer Council Office
The meeting room of the Overseer Council was designed in the typically dark and utilitarian design of the Unified Democratic Systems. Dim white lights served to keep the room in a modest light. Pale blue holographic screens acted as the only other light source beyond that. The Overseers occupied a circular metal table at the centre of the room and nearly all of the thirty seats surrounding it.
“Apologies for being late,” Overseer Michael muttered as he entered the room, “I overslept,” he sounded genuinely guilty about his tardiness, “I was caught up in work- had to provide another report for the SIO regarding the whole affair at the Silver Cradle. Anyways, are we ready to begin?” He rubbed his eyes as he sat down. Without his usual mask on, his shallow cheeks and dark eyes were too clear to see.
“Indeed we are, comrade Michael,” Anisha spoke. She was a short woman with deep brown skin and hazel eyes. She cast him a sympathetic gaze before turning to face the rest of her fellows, “very well. Since we are swamped with work it is best we get straight to the point. Denver, if you’d please?”
The sharp-faced man with neatly combed hair waved his hand over the table which activated the holographic projectors built within it. Thirty images were projected to the council, each one showing a similar set of data, “as we all are aware, our request for reinforcement has been answered,” he spoke, “the supercarrier SSV Hyperion will arrive in Ancerious in a matter of weeks. Alongside it, we are to receive over a thousand ships to reinforce our navy within the next few months. This poses a great advantage to use while revealing a new set of issues to deal with,” from there, he let Anisha speak.
“Firstly, we must consider our bureaucracy,” she began. More than a few overseers winced. The bureaucracy and red tape of the UDS were always its greatest strength and obvious weakness. While it served to keep the nation unified, it also made governing it difficult- especially now that they had grown so large, “we will need to work overtime to process everything. And not just us, but our comrades too.”
Michael let out a deep sigh, “well we can try encouraging people to look into administration and government work. But other than that, I think we know the obvious answer,” he hummed, “we’ll have to introduce more working hours for government officials. Twelve hours on the weekdays and ten on the weekends? This is our second increase isn’t it?”
Denver nodded, “aye. I don’t suppose we can increase their benefits?” At the shake of a few heads, he sighed, “well we can put it to a vote. We can probably look into shifting the budget a bit at a later date as well but for now, I agree with increasing the working hours.”
Anisha nodded, satisfied with the efficiency of her peers, “very well. I too am in agreement. But I also have another suggestion,” this time it is her turn to swipe her hand across the table. This time, a central projector was activated. The image of a metallic sphere appeared and upon closer inspection revealed that its surface was made up of thousands of buildings similar to that of the standard UDS Cosmopolitan.
Every overseer in the room recognised what it was.
“A Yggdrasil?” One overseer muttered aloud, “do you really think we should build one so soon? Usually we build them years after the foundation of a colony,” when it was proven that it was a worthwhile investment was left unsaid but implied.
“It does hold merit,” Denver admits, “we can likely make a case for Ancerious- this galaxy, while dangerous, has proven to be worth the risks. Besides, we’ve already expanded far too much- there’s simply no going back now.”
“One must consider then the price of making one then” another overseer added, “a dyson shell is incredibly expensive and even if we received approval from Parliament, we’re not likely to get all the support necessary to build one. We’ll have to draw from our own resources which could make an already bad situation worse,” she presented her own datapad, where a report on her sector’s production output was displayed, “the drain could prove to warrant drastic measures.”
“This war proved too costly,” Michael sighed. Indeed, the UDS had given a lot for so little in return. Aedleshaven was a mess and the Furrelian theatre was showing little progress. And that’s not even getting started on the mess with the Selenican Republic, “but regardless, even if we are put close to the danger zone, provided we be more cautious in the future, then I can see us averting the crisis. So I do think petitioning Parliament for a Yggdrasil is worth it.”
“There is another facet, however,” Denver spoke, “namely how the resource drain will worsen once reinforcements arrive- we must remember that these warships cost a lot of Ancerium and Sinarium to maintain. The Hyperion alone consumes that of an entire battlegroup to function. So I do think we’re a lot closer to hazardous times than what you anticipated, Michael.”
He frowned as he considered this, “you are correct,” he nodded reluctantly, “but I think there’s already another suggestion in mind, isn’t there, Anisha?”
She had been silent during this seemingly content with letting her peers speak. When she was called, she nodded, “yes. I think to ease the burden, we should set up colonies and outposts in the Umarian Reach- our scouts managed to detect several resource pockets there- Goldenstone, Sinarium, the like. We could put them to good use and with better handling of our bureaucracy thanks to a Yggdrasil we should be more than ready to proceed.”
Michael snorted, a hint of dry humour escaping him, “setting up colonies usually are resource extensive. Wouldn’t that worsen the situation? Unless of course,” he leaned forward slightly, “you are willing to have us enter a period of recession before hoping that the new colonies there jumpstart us back up. Clever, but risky,” he tutted.
Anisha took no offence. Instead, she smiled sardonically at him, “it is all we can do. Don’t get me wrong- if we are all in agreement on this, I aim to present the plan to data analysts first before submitting a request to Parliament. I will make sure that this plan has as little risk as possible.”
“And who will run these new colonies?” Denver wondered aloud, “you do realise that one of us will have to handle that until they can elect a new overseer. And it's a lot further away.”
There is a moment of open discussion amidst the council before eventually, Michael sighed and raised his hand, “I suppose I’m the person for the job then. I have the most experience in foreign policies and we’re likely to make greater contact with natives there. While you all have each other, I will be operating alone, which evens things out until the aforementioned election.”
Another discussion. While none doubted him, many still were wary of the risks. Eventually however, Denver smiled as he slotted in a message for everyone to see, “very well. Shall we vote on all of these matters now?”
The first to come up was the vote to decide to propose to Parliament to build a Yggdrasil. It passed with twenty-five in favour. The next to arrive was the Umarian Reach proposal. It again passed but with twenty-one votes this time, the bare minimum needed. Finally, there was the vote to send Michael. Passed unanimously. After all, their only concerns were if they should set up the colonies in the first place.
“Very well,” Anisha said as she dismissed her hologram, “I will prepare a report to Parliament. You should all do the seem. We submit it next week.”
Dynamo’s Orbit, Dynamo System
Yggdrasil Construction Site
“I brought some tea,” Henry stepped into the room. Her co-worker appeared as a middle-aged man with close-cut dark hair and grey eyes. He wore the same grey jumpsuit that workers like her were required to wear with the only other addition being a pair of holo-visor he wore that he was no doubt using to multitask.
“Thank you,” Julie muttered. She hardly turned away from the holographic interface as he placed the tray of biscuits and tea on the nearby table, “what flavour?”
“The biscuits are lemon and vanilla,” he replied and poured the both of them a mug, “and I managed to acquire tea made from real leaves- they’re supposedly grown all the way in Serica,” he sounded a bit proud of his choice. She wasn’t too sure whether it was because he spent some credit for the tea or because he was pleased at his skill at picking food. She decided to ask.
“Real tea leaves?” She murmured, “how many credits did they cost?”
She could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke, “none. Those working on Yggdrasil receive a higher level of amenities. It seems that we made the right choice to sign up here,” Henry sat down next to her and sipped his tea before letting out a relieved sigh, “drink up, comrade.”
Julie nodded and turned away from the screen to drink from her mug, “I suppose it makes sense considering the hours we’re made to do. Twelve every weekday and ten on the weekends. I didn’t think we were getting this desperate.”
Henry shrugged, “it’s a temporary measure until we get the Yggdrasil up and running. That’s what the Overseer Council said,” and definitely not what was being discussed on Cable communication sites. She was surprised that none of them had gotten shut down yet considering how close their rhetoric was turning into sedition.
The two entered a companionable silence as they tended to their snacks. Eventually, the tea pot was emptied and the plate was cleared of biscuit crumbs. Julie sighed, “it’s just been stressful. I was hoping that now that the war was over we’d have time to just… take it easy. But we’ve jumped right into another one and now it’s as if times never changed.”
Henry didn’t reply. Instead, he simply booted up his computer and began to control the engineer drone needed to work on the Yggdrasil’s frame. Julie joined him and thousands of others workers shortly after. It was only when the last of their twelve-hour work had passed did they finally get enough time to speak to each other.
“Trust me,” Henry admitted, “we all share the same feelings.”
Eden, Genesis System
Universal Relay Station
Today the station was lively or rather even livelier than it normally should have been. Indeed, while the station was often host to hundreds of people at a time, these people usually ranged from workers to officers to commuters registering their vessels. These stations were the beating heart of the universal colonies of the UDS and often were centres of travel and trade for both civilian and state forces, most notably including the military.
And a military vessel that was making its way across the universes was the reason why the station was even more crowded than usual- for military personnel of every rank and stripe were in attendance alongside dozens of political figures and news reporters. This was a monumental event after all for one of the UDS’ greatest superweapons was arriving soon- the supercarrier SSV Hyperion. It was to herald a new age for the colonies- one of safety and security, two things desperately needed in these trying times.
The reporters were watching the scene from the top of floating hardlight platforms with hovering camera drones catching every moment. This was both a safety measure- to ensure the civilians were in sight of the troopers standing guard, and convenience to prevent them from getting in the way of the spectacle.
From the other end of the hallway was a marching crowd. Leading the way was Vice Admiral Kleiner. He was the commander of the SSV Hyperion and the man in charge of what would be called the 1st Ancerious Colonial Fleet once it arrived to Ancerious. Joining him were several of his lieutenants and officers, all of whom preemed under the attention.
This group marched towards another that stood still at the other end. Standing at the front was the wisened Admiral Trelawney who was in charge of all of the colonial fleets in Ancerious. He was still to command the forces for he was not deemed responsible for the recent setbacks experienced by the navy as of now. By his side was Vice Admiral Faraday of the soon-to-be 3rd Ancerious Colonial Fleet. The two men stood at attention, not once taking their eyes off the arriving commanders.
The hallway was long, tall, and wide. Normally it would be filled with commuters and vehicles passing by. Now it was nearly empty sans the officers and reporters. At the sides of the hallway were two holographic screens that offered a view of space.
Kleiner and his retinue stopped a few feet away from the group. Then as one, they raised a closed fist above their heart- the traditional salute of the UDS, “the SSV Hyperion will arrive in a matter of weeks. Regardless of its arrival, I place myself under your command, sir.”
Faraday and his own group returned the salute before both parties lowered their fists. With a smile, Faraday offered his hand for Kleiner to shake, “knowing I have yet another capable commander by side places me at ease. I take we expect the arrival of your fleet around the same time as well?”
The vice admiral nodded, “yes sir. When the Hyperion arrives it will be at the head of a thousand more warships.”
Arcana, Tarot System
Central System Administration, Arcana Central City
“And here we are with the protestors rally in sight just outside the Administration Hall. This is a group of hundreds strong with all of them bearing the same grievances shared by other protestor rallies across the planet; outrage at the drastic increase in mandatory working hours, the lack of appropriate compensation for said working hours, and the recent foreign policies adopted by the Overseer Council,” the reporter on the screen said.
The camera panned over the street to show the huge crowd of protestors. They had all gathered just outside of the System Administration and held hologram projectors that showed their message for the world to see. Yet all of them were silent, choosing to instead stare sullenly at the building and at the gathering lines of armoured officers. This silence was their own way of protesting. It showed not their fury, but their disappointment and their rebellion against the demand for action in a time when none was needed.
The reporter carried on, “it seems that the Security Officers have arrived in force. Quite a surprising display considering how widespread the protests are. Still, we have yet to see any suppressive action from them no doubt because no law has been broken nor any right overstepped. However, the governor ordered a curfew meaning that if the protestors overstay their welcome then there could be the beginning of suppressive action.”
As if in response to the reporter’s words, a droning hum echoed throughout the city. The signal that curfew was beginning in thirty minutes. Yet even then, the crowd did not depart and continued their silent protest against the government. Then, the signal for the beginning of the curfew rang again once more. A tense standoff occurred as the officers and the protestors stared down at each other, daring the other to make the first move. The officers now had the right to break up the crowd yet they all knew that such a scene would only escalate the situation. The protestors knew that if they stayed for too long then they would be going farther from their given rights to protest that was reasonably expected- something that could determine their public image. And both knew that if no action was taken, then it would only symbolise the disunity within the nation- something neither group wanted.
In the end, the protestors responded first. They slowly began to leave the area in an organised manner. Soon, the officers joined them to assist with their departure and to monitor them. A sign of cooperation even in these hard times. Yet both knew deep inside that this state of affairs could not continue. Something needed to change before it all blew over.
Richterdris, Richter System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe Aleph
Unified Systems Parliament, Chancellor’s Office
Blue lights from dozens of holograms shed light onto the darkened office of the Chancellor. Despite being the workplace of one of the most important individuals of the UDS, it was a sparsely decorated room with only metallic tables and projectors serving as the outliers in a room of grey metal. Within the office, the ministers present there were joined by the holograms of the other ministers as they all took part in lively discussion over the latest decision that had swept through Parliament.
“We’re looking at a 65% in-favour for the expedition project over in Ancerious,” Minister Finnigan said. He was the head of the Ministry of the Interior and was responsible for all territories directly controlled by the UDS. While he did keep a cool head, everyone knew he was all for supporting the expedition.
“Lots of support from the Socialist and Progressivist factions,” Rosaline of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology said. Even in an important meeting like this she was still focused on a datapad, carefully analysing the information about the vote taking place, “the Liberal Democrats seem mixed- they cite concerns over an overburdened government. And they aren’t wrong but…”
“We need to take this risk,” Chancellor Melchior stated. The man himself was also looking over a wealth of data presented to him by a series of holograms, “or rather, they need to, if the Ancerious colonies ever wish to thrive. Still, the mess up with the snake people and the disastrous campaign at the galactic core have cost them a lot a confidence. Many in Parliament wish to replace the current Overseer Council with some even calling for a direct disbandment of that system to be replaced with a more democratic and transparent one. Especially considering the amount of criticism levelled to them by their own populace. They better hope this expedition works out for them.”
Melchior sighed as he closed one of the data screens to rub his temples. It’ll still take a few more days, if not weeks, before the voting session concludes. Such was the nature of a universe-spanning nation. Bureaucracy moved slow and news travelled slower. And since a maximum of three weeks was granted to discuss a vote, it was to no surprise that many took their time to decide. Some might ask why a small set of colonies mattered so much to the UDS. The answer? Because these small set of colonies were also jockeying with other sets as well. Combined with the major colonies, this made one lovely mess.
And that wasn’t even considering the time taken to travel between universes…
The chancellor sighed and rubbed his hands, “well, unless something happens I feel we can begin the process of approving the Ancerious colonies’ requests. They’re already getting a thousand ships and a supercarrier- I think we might as well go all in.”
There are notes of agreement from all the figures. Melchior sighed and dismissed the final data screens that contained the information about Ancerious, “well. Let’s see what’s next to tackle…”