Politicking to Save Reality
"No! I don't care if there is a crawler swarm out there or if it's an infected one! Our policy is to protect the shipping lanes and that's what we're going to do, damn it! So quit your bitching and get your sub out there or sign your damn resignation!"
This is how I am reintroduced into the story to stay relevant?
A frustrated man turned around to see the Jackal sitting on the other end of his office. With an angry sigh, he walked towards a cabinet and pulled out a bottle and a glass.
"Jackal… Ever heard of knocking?" he asked as he poured himself a drink and put the bottle away, "How can I help you? I'm working the best I can but things have hit a snag here as you can see."
How goes your efforts to talk with the Vaulters Bernie? , the Jackal asked.
"Not well on my end or anyone else's sadly. The Coalition is still pissin' about like the half baked organization it is while the bureaucrats are hashing out the details for democracy," Bernnie downed the glass, "A word of advice, don't go into politics."
I should be the one to say that. However, that is the order of business today and we don't have the luxury of reorganizing governments smoothly , the Jackal said.
"Smoothly my ass. We both know how it works under the Iceshelf," Bernie scoffed, "Democratic ideals are nice and all but the Separatists threw everything out the airlock and into the deepest depths of the Abyss with the reformations and we still have extremists on the frontier causing a mess of things."
I'm well aware of the necessary evils down here. Our enemies are on the move however and this infighting is weakening the Coalition. Surely you've noticed the increased rogue submarines.
"More than usual if that's what we're talking about. Gutsy bastards to use the Abyss as means of travel, I'll give them that."
Indeed. What are they doing? I've been busy and can't keep an eye on everything.
"Fair enough," Bernie opened a drawer and pulled out a folder, "Let's see… Mining operations, raiding ruins, hitting supply convoys and lone subs… Nothing out of the ordinary except for the fact they are too organized to be pirates and have easy access to advanced hardware. Normally I'd blame the Church but they've been operating on the frontier and having a pissing contest with the extremists," Bernie glanced at the folder contents.
Hmm… Matches what everyone else has been reporting , the Jackal said in thought, Keep tabs on them but focus on securing those trade routes.
"No promises but you've helped me and my compatriots save millions so I'll do what I can," Bernnie put the folder away, "Now if you excuse me, I have five different trade corridors to secure before we can even reach the Surface."
I'll be back for a progress report , the Jackal turned to leave, Oh, and that swarm is a large one. You may want to send two heavy subs rather than a single one.
"Would be nice if the crews remembered they were Europans," Bernie grumbled as the Jackal disappeared.
Grabbing the radio receiver on his desk, he adjusts the frequency to make a call.
"Hello, Gorbanveich Station? This is Coldsteel representative Bernie Charleston. Can you get me Ivan Weilheim? He's not in? I see… No, I need to reach a Coldsteel official immediately… The governor? How would he help? Oh… Yeah put him on…
"Yes good afternoon sir. Uh-huh… Yes, that's correct. I assume you know about that infected crawler swarm harassing Sven's Passage so I'm going to get straight to it. A recent development has come up and I need those little shits to die… No, it's not just a company matter or me being petty… Look, Ivan is out and I needed to talk to someone with the authority to send out attack subs. I can reimburse you through the proper channels but I need you to hire a freelance crew to handle the job… Yes, I've already got a sub going out there but-Hey! Listen you son of a bitch! I'm trying to offer a deal here that benefits us both! I need a second sub to pincer those bastards to ensure they all die with minimal casualties. You want them dead, I need them dead, they need to die, got it?! Okay… Yes I'll foot the bill upon confirmation… No, we have regulations and we both know payment comes only with the job being completed… I'll talk it over with Ivan and the higher ups… Yes… All right, bye."
Bernie turned the radio off and sighed. He gave a quick glance back towards the cabinet before getting up and grabbing the bottle.
"I hate those damn politicians," he growled as he refilled the glass before grabbing a file on his desk and opening it.
Ori was having a headache. Niwen had developed a fair share of issues that not even the Light could deal with. Disputes between Moki tribes, the Gorleks having engineering mishaps, Mora requesting yet another place for her children to feed peacefully… He had dealt with this several times over the past seventy years but it was becoming more frustrating to deal with as the lands expanded to their prior glory.
How Seir managed it all before her sudden fall still eluded him. Niwen was still recovering and it had nearly doubled in size from when he traversed its lands.
"Mora you overlook nearly the entirety of the southern lands, both above and below ground. I can't limit the Light any more than I have and Niwen is growing even larger with each year. Your children are going to have to come out of the shadows or you are going to have to make due with what you've got," he huffed tiredly.
"We do not belong amongst the others. Even those in the Glades are not welcomed. You know this Ori," Mora said.
"I know and I'm working on that. But I can't play favorites simply because you are afraid of sunlight. Just...please do us both a favor and stop hiding. I don't want to be like this but you remember what happened when you secluded yourself…" Ori would have shuddered if he still could, memories of his journey through the Moldwood Depths resurfacing from the darker corners of his mind.
Despite not being physically near Ori, he could feel the spider bristle with fury before her presence disappeared. Ori gave a mixed sigh of relief and frustration. Mora still disturbed him despite the long years of working alongside her. He still could remember the icy cold that threatened to kill him when he ventured into the shadows, the ever present feeling of something watching him, and her unbridled fury that he dared to intrude on her home. He knew she had been corrupted and her children never bothered him, but she still unnerved him.
"Hopefully she listens this time… Now, what to do about the Glades?" he asked himself.
She has always been prideful. All spiders are predators and she is no different. The fact you deny her new hunting grounds is something that not even Seir achieved easily , a familiar voice said.
"It just has to be one of those days," Ori groaned, "Jackal, since you're here I am going to assume you need me for something. Is the Decay on the move?"
You fortunately don't have to worry about the Decay right now. But you stand watch over something that must be safeguarded , the Jackal said.
"What is it then?" Ori sighed, his protective nature getting the better of him.
The Wellspring holds many ancient texts relating to magics and the means to harness them. Our enemies are seeking relics of immense power and the means to harness them. The pettiness of the Glades must come to an end if you are to protect the Wellspring properly.
"I've been doing my best for the past fifteen years but it's difficult when you're a tree," Ori said dryly, "If I could go down there I would have handled it."
Perhaps… Didn't you have issues with them during your time as a Spirit Guardian however?
"Not many and most were just grouchy that I showed up 'too late' as they put it. I'd say the worst was Mokk and even he knew he was telling tall tales."
Memories of his time in the Glades came back as he looked towards the community. While it had taken hard work and more than a few brushes with death to get the resources necessary, the Glades had become one of the few places in Niwen he could actually call home when he had been traveling throughout the land. Even if the Glades could never replace Swallows Nest and he was an outsider, there had been a sense of belonging and warmth that existed nowhere in Niwen at the time.
This made the disagreements between the Glades and the rest of Niwen all the more heart wrenching for him. To see his children and their friends be exiled had been terrible. Why the denizens in the Glades felt privileged and established absurd rules regarding all "outsiders" eluded him but he has been doing what he could to return the Glades to their former status as a home for all.
"Why are they doing this?" he asked quietly.
Entitlement, fear, the belief they are better off alone… Not everyone shares your values Ori. Most of them come from tribes that-
"I know!" Ori snapped, "But that doesn't give them the excuse to hurt others! They should know it was this kind of behavior that caused Shriek to stay in the darkness, for the Decay to take over so easily, for-for-for just so much needless pain!"
The Jackal looked towards the Glades and then back at Ori, I'm sorry Ori. Truly, I am. If circumstances were different I wouldn't ask this of you but we don't have the luxury of time. You have to be ready for what is coming, both from the Decay and its allies.
"Go," Ori said with a quiet sob, "Please...just go."
The Jackal left without saying another word. Ori felt the presence disappear and finally let his restrained emotions loose. At the base of his roots, his children and their children looked up at him and felt his sadness. They could feel his tiredness, his confused frustrations, and above all else his regrets.
"What am I to do?" he asked himself before he turned his focus towards his family, "It's nothing. Please...don't worry. I'll figure everything out and you all can help when I need you."
His words did little to reassure them but they all returned to their prior activities. Ori bottled his emotions and began to focus on his work. Niwen needed him and he could not afford to be distracted.
"We need more Titans to secure the borders. Our strongholds won't be able to keep the warring armies out of our lands if they are left undefended."
"Your territories have the best Marines in all of Auriga and yet you hide behind your walls! Perhaps if you were to actually defend your lands rather than merely your cities you would have the security you desire."
"As if you are one to speak! Hiding on your island with a fleet of ships at your beck and call while armies march across our land with impunity!"
Zolya massaged her temples as the Great Orrery bickered endlessly about matters other than the Broken Lords and Allayi fighting each other. It was truthfully a miracle that she managed to actually lead a nation at all considering the infighting she had to mediate.
"All of you, enough!" she yelled before a full blown shouting match could erupt, "We are here to discuss the reconstruction of our military and the means of keeping our people safe. Our neighbors fight amongst themselves over ideological differences while Necrophages plague our countryside with impunity. Are we to allow these threats to go unchecked or are we to sit here like children, fighting over petty personal gains while our people live in terror?!"
That got them all to shut up. Zolya could hear herself think again as she glared at the assembled members of the Great Orrery. It was time for her to remind these bickering fools that they were leaders of a nation.
"You all have a responsibility to our people. We might be governors, military officials, and head scientists but we are still flesh and blood like the common citizen. Had we acted like this a few months ago we would have never taken the Argosy Citadel. Where is the unity that inspired our people to take back our homelands? Where is the strength of the Vaulters who have conquered magic and science alone during our darkest hours? I do not see these things here and I haven't seen them ever since we achieved our greatest victory. Where we should have been standing strong we have turned on each other like rabid dogs over a piece of meat! This foolishness stops today! I have asked for answers and I will have them, so I declare!" she ended with a thundering order that left the room in silence.
"My lady… May I suggest we return with cooler heads and time to adhere to your command?" a young military officer asked.
"You all have one hour," she said, "Now go and ensure you understand the gravity of this situation we find ourselves in or I will find those who will."
The room emptied and Zolya took a deep breath to calm herself. Even with the room in front of her empty, she knew she was not alone.
"Who is it?" she asked.
I see some progress has been made , the voice of the Jackal said behind her chair, The Coalition has been having internal problems but many have agreed to new trade deals.
"That might be the best news I've heard all day," she got up and cracked her back before looking towards the Jackal, "You already know where my diplomats are for Cherrystone so don't ask."
I wasn't. I came with a warning for you in particular. The Necrophages are getting overrun by something in the Labyrinth. It's hidden from my view but they're running scared.
"The Necrophages are scared? That would be a first," Zolya scoffed.
Zolya, I'm being serious , the Jackal emphasized, The raids you are experiencing are merely the first wave. Railton has mobilized its military to Fort Helheim and the Broken Lords had to divert an entire army to keep a sudden swarm from eating their vassals. The Necrophages are scared and would rather risk fighting above ground rather than stay in the Labyrinth.
Zolya straightened at this, "You might have given me the best means of rebuilding our military even if it's in the form of an incoming nightmare. How much time do I have before the Necrophages escalate out of control? I will not allow my people to be eaten alive and used as a labor force for those monsters."
Difficult to say. It could be weeks, it could be days. I can't read the future Zolya, only make interpretations on what will happen given the circumstances , the Jackal said.
"Says the higher being that states we are merely unwitting actors in a story."
Remind Opbot to stay focused on the task at hand and that if he wants to tell me something he can say it to me in person , the Jackal turned to leave, And just because I can see things most can't doesn't mean I can see everything. I have my role to play, you have yours, I suggest we focus on them. A lot happens in the background of a story, remember that.
Without another word, the Jackal disappeared and left Zolya by herself. Her thoughts regarding the warning and the statement ran through her head. She knew what needed to be done and now thanks to the Jackal she had everything she needed to bring the Great Orrery back into line.