Original A/N: "You know… All I've been doing is layering development upon development. I thought I'd get to the action a lot sooner, but background is so fun. =w=
Two old men muse about the future. (Wait, two?)"

First Pass Above Heaven, War Room

Hongxi, Jiguang, and Yayoi stood around a holographic projection of the Tianxia System. Yayoi was mostly there as an observer, noting down the conversation for the archives. She took a moment and spared a glance at Jiguang. Jiguang was an older, middle-aged man. His neatly trimmed graying mustache and hair and wrinkled skin gave away his age. Jiguang was more on the heavier and stocky side, sporting a beer belly and muscular arms and shoulders from years of protein rich diets. He looked to be approximately the same height as Hongxi, however he did have a little bit of a slouch.

On the holoscreen was Tianxia's red giant, the three rocky planets, an asteroid belt, Tianxia and two other rocky planets, and then four gas giants. Listing the names from closest to the star to the farthest, they were called: Muxing, Huoxing, Tuxing, Tianxia, Jinxing, Shuixing, Tianwangxing, and Haiwangxing. All five rocky planets were already fully colonized and terraformed long ago while only mining facilities existed on the 'surface' of the gas giants. Instead, colonization was directed at the numerous and sometimes unwelcoming moons. Not much time has passed between initial colonization and present day, thus only about a quarter of the gas giants' moons were fully terraformed and the others were simply in the proto-terraforming stage. As of the moment, these proto-terraformed moons were restricted to military colonies only.

Due to the remoteness of the Tianxia system and the rather close proximity with the Astral Expanse, domestic trade vastly outnumbered foreign trade. Just a century ago, the domestic market had suffered a massive recession when the Alliance and their corporations entered the fray with their vastly superior goods. However when peace and stability finally returned to the system, the Tianxia's system rapid growth quickly reversed any competitive advantage these intergalactic corporations initially had. Currently, the only industries with foreign competition are those involving popular culture.

Hongxi: "Jiguang, how goes the defenses?"

Jiguang: "Mobilization and activation of our defenses can be done rather quickly when the Council of the Three Elders authorizes it. All interplanetary merchant ships have already been notified of mined space and have received instructions to dock with the nearest starport upon commencement of hostilities. Likewise our minelayers have already finished covering all the non-major trade route space and are ready to deploy at a moment's notice to seal off all trade routes."

Hongxi: "How about the defensive satellites I ordered to be deployed in the asteroid belt?"

Jiguang: "Preparations are almost complete. The asteroid belt is 95% seeded, including the 101st to 174th armored divisions."

Hongxi: "How about the colony's IPBMs? It is to my knowledge that construction of their missile silos did not initiate until I pushed that bill through last year."

Jiguang: "Ahh, don't worry about it old friend. It was a little tricky, but after the Council of the Three Elders approved shifting the Interplanetary Economic Policy from Peacetime to Gearing, those silos were built in no time. However their stockpile is obviously not as heavy as Tianxia's, thus we are currently transferring some from Tianxia to her colonies."

Hongxi: "How many are we transferring per ship?"

Jiguang: "We're only using light transports right now so, a few hundred a ship."

Hongxi: "Not enough, enlist the commercial freighters. Those can carry tens of thousands. We cannot afford to allow even one colony to fall or the entire defensive network in this system will be compromised."

Jiguang: "I understand, it will be done right away. Hongxi, you will only be taking the Yamato with you yes?"

Hongxi: "Yes, only the Yamato. I managed to recall 2 out of the 3 cruisers given to us by the Alliance in time. However the 3rd one is still in Alliance docks for repairs, I fear for our men and women on that ship."

Jiguang: "… So that means we will only have 2 cruisers and a battleship left as a mobile fleet huh. We have 2 light carriers converted from atmospheric aircraft carriers as well as the thousands of police gunboats that patrol our trade routes. For a total of 5 capital ships plus auxiliaries."

Hongxi: "Didn't you always tell me that our strength lie not in our fleets but our planets? That the age old doctrine of ship verses fort, the fort wins?"

Jiguang: "Yes, but I'm just trying to plot possible raids we can do. However at this point, our fleet feels more like a liability than a bonus. Are you sure you can't take them with you?"

Hongxi: "They are too slow. If there is one thing the Yamato can have pride in, it's its speed and maneuverability. Our guns and the Macross cannon are simply scaled up versions of the Alliance, the maneuverability however comes from over engineering and the complete disregard the Imperial Wa Empire had for cost during the World War."

Jiguang: "I suppose… Oh, did you hear? The Alliance embassy fled just hours ago."

Hongxi: "Really?"

Jiguang: "Yeah, right after we declared our intent to secede from the Alliance. Haha, they took off with their tails between their legs. You should have seen the look on their faces."

Hongxi: "Both Alliance and Pact are staring each other down with no clear moves on either side. They will likely ignore us as we are too far out to be of any strategic importance. The Alliance might send a reserve fleet to subdue this system, thinking there's only a battleship and two cruisers guarding it."

Jiguang: "In which that case I do what I do best."

Hongxi: "Indeed. One bushel of wheat captured from the enemy is worth ten bushels of your own. It is unlikely PACT will pursue our system upon seeing the Alliance be defeated, they might try to approach us diplomatically to win us over to their side."

Jiguang: "But that's not going to happen is it? What you're aiming for is complete and utter humiliation of Alliance while expanding our prestige and military might. PACT is simply another empire full of planets you want to expand the ancient Tianchao Tributary System to, isn't it?"

Hongxi: "It will be difficult… When I carry out my raids, I will not be occupying any planets. Alliance's and PACT's numbers vastly outnumber mine and it will be impossible for me to hold onto any planets. I will strike at their outposts and supply lines, destroy their stations and remove all influence of their embassies until-"

Jigaung: "Until they decide to send a fleet to stop you or to occupy us in order to bring you in."

Hongxi: "Occupying the Tianxia system will be exponentially more difficult than subduing the Yamato. But yes, that is the end goal. They will send a fleet at you, you will capture or destroy them. They will send a bigger fleet, you will capture or destroy that too. They will not want to waste any more ships, but I will force them to. I will slowly but surely draw the attention of the galaxy to us here, the Tianxia system."

As Hongxi spoke of this, the hologram changed showing a single ship being pursued by thousands of Green and Red ships. The two fleets slowly shifted their positions inwards toward the galactic center where Tianxia was located. Jiguang then motioned with his hand an explosion when the two fleets entered the Tianxia system.

Jiguang: "The inner galaxy is a hostile place. Supermassive stars, gravitational anomalies, massive black holes, volatile nebulas. Their routes are limited, even now foreign trade ships rely on our navigators to arrive. A truly fitting place to bring this silly war between the two galactic superpowers to an end."

Hongxi: "Indeed, hopefully sheer attrition will be enough to deter any more combat. As soon as the First Imperial Fleet is complete, it will be deployed heading towards the outer edges of the galaxy and incorporate any world I managed to 'liberate' from Alliance and PACT control."

Jiguang: "The media will have a field day with this."

Hongxi: "Not until they realize the nature of the Tianchao Tributary System."

Jiguang: "The first intergalactic tributary system huh? Tianchao has sure come a long way if we get there. Give a little money, get more in return and benefit from the protection of the Imperial Fleet? Sounds like a good deal to me."

Hongxi: "While they do maintain independence, their fleets and armies will be disarmed and incorporated into the Imperial Fleet. The monetary funds they contribute only covers the maintenance of their own fleet and the revenue from newly established trade routes should be more than enough to cover that cost."

Jigaung: "And such flourish of trade will only be possible because..?"

Hongxi: "Your favorite, pirates. Individually, the planets of the Neutral Rim do send out patrols. However these patrols only cover the immediate vicinity and rarely do any of them send out punitive expeditionary fleets."

Jiguang: "So I'll be doing the same job my ancestor did huh?"

Hongxi: "Yes. However instead of hunting Wokou, you will be hunting space lol- ahem I mean space pirates such as that Cosmos fellow. Our actions immediately after will be critically important in establishing the galaxy's view of us. Perhaps the planet of most interest would be Ongess."

Jiguang: "Think you can succeed at rebuilding Ongess where others failed huh?"

Hongxi: "Ongess is a world rich in Ongessite. Nations and corporations exploit it for economic reasons. We, brother, do not."

Jigaung: "Reading Alliance history books and all their colonial exploitation… They think by mandating it in our curriculum, we will understand and become aware. All it does is make me sick."

Hongxi: "That is because you do not understand. The Alliance heavily emphasizes critical thinking, something we taught only to the brightest minds and only in specific subjects."

Jiguang: "Critical thinking… Useless. Understanding your opponent and breaking the norm to defeat them, I understand. Understanding the motives and reasons behind some villain in a novel written hundreds of years ago? Utterly useless."

Hongxi: "Remember, our own history developed in a vastly different direction. We were mostly unified, these Alliance weren't. They developed along the basis of intense competitive growth, we developed along the basis of a stable and powerful empire. When they expand, they seek profit and resources. When we expanded, we sought prestige and the spreading of our culture and people. Sadly it was this savage competitiveness that caused them to outstrip us in the fields of technology and when they arrived… We were vastly underprepared."

Jiguang: "A stable and power empire with no competition. Han and Wa were strong, but they dared not challenge us and vied for the status quo. We have competition now yes? Our people are smart and hard working. Brother, we will overtake them."

Yayoi: "These Huaxia call anybody close to them their brother don't they."

Jiguang glanced at Yayoi who was silently standing by, documenting the conversation.

Jiguang: "Who's the Zebbener? A fling?"

Upon hearing this, Hongxi coughed and cleared his throat.

Hongxi: "Ahem, my First Mate to be exact."

Letting out a deep bellow of a laugh, Jiguang ruffled Hongxi's hair.

Jiguang: "Ha ha ha! I know, I know. That's about the closest I can get in making you to break your composure."

Hongxi: "Are you ready to debrief the defense forces?"

Jiguang: "Yes, but are you ready to address the people?"

Hongxi: "What is there to be ready about, I am simply addressing them of our intentions."

Jiguang: "Hm, so your thoughts do not reach your heart. One day brother, one day. Someone somewhere will crack open that shell you built around your virgin heart of yours and ravage it."

Hongxi: "Thoroughly and intensely?"

Jiguang: "Yes, savagely and barbarically."

Yayoi blinked a couple times at this, the conversation finally piquing her interest.

Yayoi: "Barbarically… We're called the Eastern Barbarians by the Huaxia right? Soooo…"

Hongxi: "Oh my… Well, it will certainly be something to look forward to."

Yayoi mentally squealed.

Yayoi: "CHANCE!"

Jiguang: "Buahahaha! Alright, get out of here sir. We have things to do."