The War Ministry
Preenasette - Trun Rizontella - 2002
The Cast
Sub Officer Pilz, Supreme Commander Zander, Commander Mancer, Premier Gor
Nearly two years on and Sub Officer Anton Pilz was still being made to wear his formal sash to the Quarter Luna War Council meeting, visibly highlighting his demotion following his error when the Vercetian Life Teams escaped. He was here with Supreme Commander Komitry Zander and Commander Dori Mancer, to keep a record of the proceedings. He still felt that he was being paraded as an example of an officer failing in his duties.
He despised the council building. It represented everything that was grim about Trun society. Built entirely from dark grey granite slate, it had two characterless statues of uniformed soldiers from a former age guarding the severe entrance. Just inside they were greeted by a circular stone registration desk manned by two stern looking receptionists.
They stopped there, with Pilz carrying out the duties of registration, before proceeding through a long, dimly lit corridor with portraits of Trun political leaders, each trying to look grander than his predecessor, and not a smile between them. At the end of the corridor was the Assembly Antechamber, a dull, dark grey room with a sprinkling of oil paintings depicting historical debates, and four quite uninviting pairs of dark bronze doors leading to the Great Debating rooms. They went to Assembly Room 3, where the entire War Council awaited.
The military party settled at the north end of the great Vesica Piscis oval table, with Zander taking the northern, head position. At the southern end, immediately opposite Zander, was Premier Gor. He had become premier a few years earlier, after the untimely death of the sitting leader. He went about his business quietly, but was very effective at getting results. Pilz watched Zander survey the assembly. Of all the people seated at the great table, just three wielded real power. Pilz knew this as well as anyone. Gor, Zander, and the chief executive of the Space and Weapons Manufacturing Corporation, Salvia Kiy. Zander regarded Kiy as she marshalled her small entourage. The rumours surrounding her sudden rise to power were abundant, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. If only a quarter of them were real, then she had manipulated, slept, and poisoned her way to the top spot. Just looking at this woman sent a shiver up Pilz’s spine. He knew it was just a matter of time before Zander locked antlers with her, and he hoped to not be around when that happened. Missing was the secret organisation, the Reticent Guard. They were autonomous of the council even though their commander, General Kirk-am, was part of the Council Inner Circle.
The room went quiet, as the Council Head Speaker welcomed them all and started laying out the agenda.
Pilz knew he was in for a long evening. The agenda, as usual, covered a whole realm of subjects ranging from funding appropriations and military training, through to Gor’s state of the war address. Even Zander was required to speak. He typically avoided this at all costs, but tonight had to give an update on the space battle against the Vercetians. Until recently, Zander hadn’t even come to these meetings, but for some reason, had started taking a keener interest. He had even taken to analysing the full transcript with a select group of military personnel the following day. Pilz’s job was to record the meeting, then cut out the procedural rubbish and separate all political speech, leaving the facts for the following day’s meeting and the rhetoric for Zander’s private viewing. Pilz knew his Supreme Commander was mindful of something, but what? He had yet to discover.
The debate opened with Finance Minister Cammero’s report. As usual, there was a shortfall in nearly all the main funding streams. The war was slowly bringing Trun Rizontella to its knees. When he’d finished, the Speaker invited questions, and Salvia Kiy quickly seized the floor and the attention of the chamber. ‘The sum allocated to our bifighter replication project is paltry. Surely, as this addresses one of the fundamental flaws in our arsenal, this project should be of top priority. We’ve had the completed plans for two years now, and the manufacturing process is now soundly developed and refined. We need to conclude development and begin!’ The last sentence was delivered with her usual, and now famed venom. Pilz wondered if she would ultimately get the funds she wanted. He didn’t have to wait long for an answer. After a short period of bickering, Premier Gor stepped in to end the debate. ‘Space and Weapons have a legitimate claim to more funds. I shall set up a subcommittee meeting with Minister Cammero and find a revenue stream for this money.’ His statement was final, and Pilz knew that Kiy would get what she wanted and that this part of the debate was over.
The Council Head Speaker then moved the meeting on to the Military Training and Recruitment Committee report and handed over to Lysanda. This statement caused many in the room to lose focus, and the Speaker had to jump in a couple of times to restore order. The only news of note was the increase in troop numbers. But this wasn’t a priority for the military. Zander didn’t want more troops, he wanted modern weapons for the men he currently had. He wanted a better arsenal and had pushed for it at the last few subcommittee meetings, but seemed to be banging his head against a wall. Pilz, usually in tow, had seen how frustrated he was getting.
Zander’s report was next.
Pilz knew that Zander hated this part of his job. Not that he wasn’t a competent public speaker, he was. He just didn’t see the need to report all of the military’s activities to the masses assembled here. His reports were massaged to tell them what the inner circle of the ruling council wanted them to hear. He could keep it short. Premier Gor would follow him with the battle cry stuff.
In the weeks and months following the space battle, Pilz knew Zander had questioned the need to take any further action against the escaped Royals. ‘Who cares that they have fled to some distant planet?’ he had overheard him telling Mancer. ‘Let them stay there and rot. Why waste valuable resources chasing after them?’ They had all regretted sending in a sorely overmatched squadron against the Vercetian armada. They now had two significant assets in space dock, out of commission for a long time, as well as four spheres still on a wild goose chase.
So, this would be one of the few occasions where he could report the real facts. Because, after due consideration, the Royals’ escape was of little consequence. And that’s what he told them.
‘...and it is, therefore, the Inner Council’s decision to support the Military’s policy of not committing any further resources to finding them. In conclusion, I would report that five of the Vercetian decoy ships have returned to Preenasette, as have two of our own. I will update the War Council further on this matter at the next quarterly meeting.’
He stood down to polite applause from the assembly.
Up next was Premier Gor.
For reasons both obvious and subtle, Premier Gor commanded respect. The simple act of looking up and surveying the room induced silence. This particular address to the assembly was a state of the war summary. High and low points, ongoing tactics and new initiatives. Lots of rhetoric but little detail, and a rallying cry at the end. He stood up and commenced his address.
Pilz saw Mancer lean towards Zander. He couldn’t hear them but saw where he was pointing. Zander was nodding. In the gallery seats surrounding the table, Pilz could see a sprinkling of Sestapol police sporting their new black military uniforms, with steep visor caps. Their primary duties were not defined yet, but rumours abounded.
Pilz’s mind drifted away for a moment, and an awareness dawned on him. Sestapol were part of the Reticent Guard! What were they even doing here? Now his two bosses’ interest in the Council Meeting was becoming clear.
Gor began, ‘The balance of the war is slowly swinging our way. The Vercetians are in a panic. The evacuation of their Royals is a sign of this, but as Supreme Commander Zander has just told you, we aren’t planning any further action. In other developmental research, I can confirm that we are making sound strategic advances.’ Gor scanned the auditorium. ‘Our new kinetic pulse body armour with projectile sensing shielding is in phase two testing. There are still some technicalities to be worked on, but I understand we are well ahead of schedule.
‘Underground force field penetration tests are ongoing, but are hitting technical problems. I will personally look into this woeful lack of progress.
‘Troop numbers are higher than ever, as Sub Commander Lysanda has just reported.
‘Our plan is coming together.’ He paused for a rapturous ovation. Pilz, Zander and Mancer were quite aware of the Sestapol officers leading the frenzied applause, one or two even encouraging those around them to show more enthusiasm.
Gor raised his hands for silence.
‘But we cannot be complacent. A full-scale ground attack will only work with a concerted space offensive as well. And for this to happen, we need bifighters. We are outgunned, and need the Space and Weapons Manufacturing Corporation to accelerate this building program.’ He held the moment for just the right amount of time. ‘Friends. While we develop our strategies the foe is developing quite diabolical ones of their own. During this last quarter alone, our spies have informed us of plans to create cyborg super-soldiers, and of force field penetrating missiles that will deliver horrifying biological payloads. There are no depths the Vercetians will not plumb to win this war and assure the end of our culture. That has always been their intention, and nothing has changed.’ The onlookers in the gallery cursed and shook their fists at the absent foe. Gor continued, in full battle cry, ‘We will stay strong. And we will work tirelessly to make our home safe. Free from the tyranny of the Vercetians. For our children and their children. For Trun Rizontella!’
The roar of approval was thunderous.