September 1, 1928
The prince looked out the window into space. They were traveling in a Republic ship towards Coruscant, the capital of the Republic.
"And so, in a matter of hours the world changes. It's amazing how you can spend years doing something just for everything to stop making sense in mere hours" Karl said. "I was alone in the room and it all happened so fast. In a few years the Empire dominated Europe, it almost disappeared after the enemies of the homeland reached the borders. We then moved to a new world, we discovered aliens, and then we were invaded by aliens."
Many hundreds of other things as well. So much had changed in less than five years. It was scary. The changes so fast. However there was one change that affected him in particular.
"Your Majesty," Tanya von Degurechaff said through the door, who was escorting the prince and had been training the prince for several months.
"Please Tanya, don't call me that," said Karl. He didn't like being referred to that way, much less Tanya treating him that way.
"As you wish," Tanya said, sitting down and putting food on the table.
"This is what looked best. I'd rather have a thousand times more potatoes and sausage than this" She said wryly. Karl appreciated the humor and began to eat.
"It tastes worse than the porridge we ate in training" Tanya looked at Karl for a second and he looked back.
They both laughed lightly and continued eating. Tanya respected Karl for his behavior in training. He had really shown perseverance and composure during the training. He had never abused his power as an heir and had quickly understood how the 203rd worked.
On the other hand, Karl respected Tanya for the countless stories the 203rd told him about the wartime, not including that he partly felt honored to be training under her command and developed a feeling that he was sure if he told Tanya she would shoot him. He just couldn't see the war heroine, the best mage in the world and a tactician comparable to the best generals getting married in a normal marriage.
"Do you have a political ideology?" Karl asked Tanya, curious to learn more about her and also as a way to distract himself from how disgusting the food was.
Degurechaff stopped eating, and thought for a second. "I would tell you that I am a liberal democrat, but as you can see from the government we have that no longer applies. Speaking in the favor of the Zettour government I can say that our politicians were the ones who almost destroyed the Empire."
Karl drank water and nodded.
"But does the momentary failure of the political system really deserve a coup d'état and the establishment of a dictatorship?"
Tanya drank water, thinking for a few minutes.
"It's all relative. I know it may not make much sense what I've said to you, but a liberal democracy is the fairest possible system. However, it is also the most insecure and corrupt system depending on who you ask, but depending on whom you ask, dictatorship is also either the most insecure and corrupt or the most just system."
Tanya stood up and created an illusion with her orb. There were three cities: Pariisi, Berun and Moskova.
"Imagine Berun is the current government, a military dictatorship. Moskova, a communist dictatorship. Finally, Pariisi, a liberal democracy."
She moved pointing to Pariisi.
"People are freer in Pariisi. The economy grows by the invisible hand of capitalism but their government is corrupt and inept."
Tanya moved again, this time pointing to Berun.
"Here we have less freedom, but we have a strong and non-corrupt government. The economy is managed by experts as well as run by rulers. So it is an economy with slow or fast growth depending on the situation but much less direct economic benefits than with free capitalism."
Tanya then moved to the last hologram.
"Now we have the communists. They have inept, fast economic growth but no direct improvement in the lives of the population, and corruption is through the roof. In exchange, theoretically, everyone has social rights. Let's not even talk about freedom, it simply does not exist.
After that, within the illusion appeared people with the flag of Francois, the Empire, and the Russy Federation, in which they seemed happy with their government.
"However, these three systems have fervent defenders. There are people who prefer freedom, there are people who prefer security, and there are people who prefer the state to control everything: freedom, economy and security. I defend, theoretically, Pariisi's system. The question is, is it really the best? It depends on who you ask. In Berun, that system brought war, the destruction of the nation, the death of millions of young people and adults who will never see their family, their friends, will never work again or contribute anything to the society."
A small stop took place. And then she continued talking.
"Why do people now support the dictatorship if 6 years ago they voted and supported democracy? It is because democracy failed the Empire as a system. Now this dictatorship will simply be temporary, for democracy will return sooner or later. It is clear to me.I believe that in order to ensure a strong and incorruptible democracy in the future we must make a dictatorship in the present. I think it may be worth it. I am not an idealist. I am simply a pragmatist."
The Prince, who stopped eating long ago, looked at what he was being shown.
"So even communism has good things in it?"
Tanya shrugged her shoulders.
"A society that is able to sacrifice ten million people to industrialize a country in less than 10 years after being the most backward country in Europe definitely has good things, but you have to balance what has been gained with what has been sacrificed. That being said, no matter how fast the system advances it will always be inefficient".
Karl stood up and set up a city. It looked like Berun but with more prosperity.
"What about socialism? It has the benefits of authoritarian control over society while maintaining democracy."
Tanya's sneer gave Karl the answer, but he wasn't really going to save himself from political discussion either.
"Maybe so, but I don't personally like socialists. I'd vote for liberals. Not conservatives or socialists!"
An awkward silence filled the room so Karl decided to make an illusion that looked like 203, but chibi, bombarding Moskova's illusion. Making Tanya start to manipulate the city of Moskova burning with the imperial flag on top.
"It was a good time when we were winning," She said with a bit of sadness in her voice. "Although, war is always bad, even when we are winning."
—-
"Is that Coruscant?" asked Karl. Tanya walked over and looked out the window, unknowingly making Karl nervous.
"Is it.. a city planet?"
Karl nodded, looking at the planet. "It makes me sick if that's the capital, and it's not because of the food. I feel like throwing up just looking at this planet."
Tanya had to nod. She was always in favor that humans should control nature, but she would never have supported this. It was absolutely disgusting.
"I agree with your opinion," Tanya said.
When Tanya turned away Karl got up and went to the bathroom, throwing up in the toilet. Tanya came up behind him and looked at him. She had that urge to throw up too, but she was stronger than that.
It wasn't just how gross it was. It was also because she understood how small they were in the galaxy. This was their capital, but what would the rest of the planets be like? Finding out how insignificant they were was scary in part.
"Throw it all up now. When you enter the Senate you will represent two hundred million Imperials. You cannot fail them before the Galactic Republic."
Karl looked at her, nodding as he stood up and wiped his face with cold water.
"After this I have to warn my father about the dangers of destroying nature. No matter what happens to the Empire we can't become that."
Tanya nodded. Although she enjoyed the city, she also appreciated nature. A city planet was the worst fate a planet could have. Even for her neoliberal mind, this was too much.
"The liberals of our land would like something like this. You're not like that, are you?"
Tanya laughed.
"I think that you think liberals are like snake eaters of worlds, who want to destroy nature and human beings."
Karl came out of the bathroom.
"Sort of."
—-
The ship landed in a landing zone, exiting from it Karl and Tanya, both of them teenagers and they had so much power. It was amazing if you saw it from far away and from planet earth, but for the Grand Chancellor of the Republic to discover that the teenager was the Senator and the teenager accompanying him was a general of great renown did not surprise him. He had seen much stranger things.
"Welcome to Coruscant, representatives of Planet Earth" said the Grand Chancellor, being translated by a protocol robot
Karl shook his hand, the Grand Chancellor shook his hand back, and they both nodded.
"Although the actual name of the planet is Earth, being from the Empire we have decided that officially we will be named after our nation. The Empire."
The Grand Chancellor nodded with a smile. "Of course, there will be no problem. Senator Palpatine has already told me about the Empire. Truly, your introduction to the Republic will be...very beneficial."
Karl nodded and the Grand Chancellor went to greet Tanya, but she gave a military salute instead.
"Tanya von Degurechaff, head of the Kriegsmagi and representative of the government of the Empire."
The Grand Chancellor hid his hand and nodded.
"Pleased to meet you both. Let me escort you to your position in the senate."
Accompanied by Senate guards, the Grand Chancellor, Karl, and Tanya advanced, being unaware that the only reason that the two of them were on Coruscant was a conspiracy of Zettour.
—-
While in their Repulsorpod both Tanya and Karl caught a glimpse of the Senate inside, a titanic, elegant, beautiful and modern building.
"This will be your Repulsorpod and until you learn the common language the protocol droid will be assigned to you so that you can understand and participate in the Senate."
Karl nodded, turning back to look at the senate.
"When is the next senate session?"
The Grand Chancellor thought for a second before laughing.
"In one hour it will be held to celebrate your union to the Republic, where you will sign the treaty and accept the Republic. Once this is formalized you will be assigned a residence in the Senate."
Karl nodded. The Grand Chancellor left, letting the new users get used to the Senate.
"Well, from Heir to the Empire to private and now Senator. A little more and your biography will be a bestseller in the future."
Karl laughed and gave Tanya's arm a little smack.
"Don't laugh at me."
—-
The Senate, bustling, glimpsed the new members of the Republic. Two teenagers lay on a Repulsorpod next to a protocol droid. The Grand Chancellor called for attention, his voice ringing throughout the senate.
"It has been my pleasure, in my governance of the Galactic Republic, to add a new world to our great Republic. Officially, after the signing of the galactic treaties, the Empire will join the Republic as a new member of the Republic. With it they accept the laws of the Republic and adoption of the currency of the Republic. Therefore, welcome to the Galactic Republic the Empire."
Everyone in the senate except a few began to applaud, in a false political applause that no one believed or cared about. Not knowing that the idealistic socialist Karl and the demoness Tanya were going to change the Republic.
Whether they wanted to or not.
Whether it was part of their plans or not.
The Galaxy had a new threat.