Pierson’s Round Table: War Drums? 03/31/3133
INN - Interstellar News Network
PIERSON: Good morning, viewers! Ian Pierson here, and the topic of the morning’s
Round Table is: War. Certainty, or just a lot of hype? With me this morning is INN
political analyst, Doctor Stefan Marshall . . .
MARSHALL: Thank you, Ian.
PIERSON: former Senator of Zamora Province, Philip Genakis . . .
GENAKIS: Hello, Ian.
PIERSON: and Captain Annabelle Kemiko of the Towne Militia.
KEMIKO: Good to be here, Ian.
PIERSON: Thank you all for coming, people. Now, to the topic at hand: Doctor
Marshall, anybody with half a brain can see that things have gone crazy since the
interstellar communications net went down in August. Before then, we saw Capellan
threats and calls to expand Republican military. Now, it seems that new armies are
growing up all around us and many are openly engaged in hostilities--not with any
foreign invader--but against each other. Is the future one of war, or is this “just a
phase”; and how should the people of Towne react?
MARSHALL: Well, Ian, what I think it is we’re seeing is the initial panic that goes
with a person’s first real experience with blindness, expanded to the social level. It’s
akin to seeing dark and menacing creatures all around you in a crowded room, right
before somebody turns off the lights. These armies now forming are the result of
certain leaders, many with the best interest of society at heart, lashing out in panic lest
they be caught flat footed by one of those mysterious attackers. As to how Towne
should react, well, it’s not really my place, but if it were me, I’d get ready just in case
one of these “panic attacks” hits home.
PIERSON: Interesting theory, Doctor. Mr. Genakis?
GENAKIS: In my opinion, arming ourselves for solo action when The Republic at
large is in danger is a very dangerous path to choose. Contrary to Doctor Marshall’s
assessment, the truth is that some of the forming factions--such as the Dragon’s Fury
and the Steel Wolves--are outright aggressors, targeting worlds in a larger campaign
aimed at claiming territory for ancestral reasons, or to carve their own fiefdoms in the
name of glory. The moment we become a threat or our military industry rises to the
point where it’s worthy of a pitched battle, Towne is doomed to become another
statistic in The Republic’s gradual decline. Instead, I think we should be giving The
Republic more political and financial support, and maybe requesting support from the
Knights, rather than just arming ourselves like vigilantes.
PIERSON: Another excellent point. Captain Kemiko?
KEMIKO: As much as I hate to disagree with Mr. Genakis, the fact of the matter is
that The Republic, and more specifically Exarch Redburn, has granted emergency
authority to local commanders and planetary leaders to take those actions needed to
maintain order. Now, because Towne has no major base of operations for any
Republic militia units or major defense forces, we are forced to secure our own
defenses and the means to maintain order from within our own ranks. We are aware
that there are agencies, even those formerly among The Republic’s own most
outstanding citizens and leaders, who've turned on the ideals of Devlin Stone and who
seek their own conquests. Without any form of militia, Towne doesn't stand a chance
against them. Meanwhile, we see friendly forces out there, like the Highlanders, who
are dedicated to maintaining the central authority and have the limited means to hold
multiple worlds in The Republic’s name, but not all of them. Those forces will require
allies interested in the same goal to help other worlds--allies such as Towne itself.
PIERSON: So, what you’re saying is that the Towne militia believes the question isn't
if, but when, Captain?
KEMIKO: Unfortunately, yes, Ian.
GENAKIS: Now, see here, Captain. It’s one thing when a man keeps a club under his
bed to ward off intruders, but another thing entirely when the same man posts land
mines on his front step and packs a semi-automatic on his way to work in the
morning.
PIERSON: On that note, it’s time for our first commercial break. Stay tuned, Towne,
as we continue to discuss the sounding of the war drums.
Towne Log
+ This show kills me! I mean, Pierson almost never speaks for himself; he just gets
his guests to do all the talking, then shuts them up for a commercial break! Where can
I get a job like that? :- Synnik
+ Glad someone’s amused by all this. Has anybody here noticed that today’s
discussion is seriously slanted in favor of war footing? I mean, look at these guests?
The militia recruitment chief, an INN war analyst, and a deposed Senator for the
Nationalist party. Really, who gives Genakis any credibility at all these days, anyway? :
- Hippee
+ Oh, hell, Hippee! If Stone himself crawled out from wherever it is he’s gone to hide
and showed up here, we’d all be bowing and hanging on his every word! And why?
Because he held the respected position for so long. Genakis is clearly the voice of
reason here, if Kemiko and Marshall would only shut up and listen up. :- Kurious
+ Sad fact, folks, is that the militia chief and the war correspondent are right. I mean,
six small armies formed in our little corner of The Republic as it is, and Knights are
few and far between. Even if Genakis were right, we’d not have much chance of
surviving the next Dragon’s Fury attack if we had no army of our own, and before
you know it, those of us who don’t swear to the Dracs’ Dictum Honorum would find
our heads in the gutters--very far from our bodies, if you catch my drift. :-
Chungabunga
+ I for one detest warmongers, but ’Bunga’s right. If we don’t gear up for war, we’
re facing oblivion, no matter how much or how little we have to offer. Warm bodies
make for a good labor force, no matter the banner. :- ElSi
+ Hey guys, stow it! The show’s back on . . . :- Kurious
INN - Interstellar News Network
PIERSON: Good morning, viewers! Ian Pierson here, and the topic of the morning’s
Round Table is: War. Certainty, or just a lot of hype? With me this morning is INN
political analyst, Doctor Stefan Marshall . . .
MARSHALL: Thank you, Ian.
PIERSON: former Senator of Zamora Province, Philip Genakis . . .
GENAKIS: Hello, Ian.
PIERSON: and Captain Annabelle Kemiko of the Towne Militia.
KEMIKO: Good to be here, Ian.
PIERSON: Thank you all for coming, people. Now, to the topic at hand: Doctor
Marshall, anybody with half a brain can see that things have gone crazy since the
interstellar communications net went down in August. Before then, we saw Capellan
threats and calls to expand Republican military. Now, it seems that new armies are
growing up all around us and many are openly engaged in hostilities--not with any
foreign invader--but against each other. Is the future one of war, or is this “just a
phase”; and how should the people of Towne react?
MARSHALL: Well, Ian, what I think it is we’re seeing is the initial panic that goes
with a person’s first real experience with blindness, expanded to the social level. It’s
akin to seeing dark and menacing creatures all around you in a crowded room, right
before somebody turns off the lights. These armies now forming are the result of
certain leaders, many with the best interest of society at heart, lashing out in panic lest
they be caught flat footed by one of those mysterious attackers. As to how Towne
should react, well, it’s not really my place, but if it were me, I’d get ready just in case
one of these “panic attacks” hits home.
PIERSON: Interesting theory, Doctor. Mr. Genakis?
GENAKIS: In my opinion, arming ourselves for solo action when The Republic at
large is in danger is a very dangerous path to choose. Contrary to Doctor Marshall’s
assessment, the truth is that some of the forming factions--such as the Dragon’s Fury
and the Steel Wolves--are outright aggressors, targeting worlds in a larger campaign
aimed at claiming territory for ancestral reasons, or to carve their own fiefdoms in the
name of glory. The moment we become a threat or our military industry rises to the
point where it’s worthy of a pitched battle, Towne is doomed to become another
statistic in The Republic’s gradual decline. Instead, I think we should be giving The
Republic more political and financial support, and maybe requesting support from the
Knights, rather than just arming ourselves like vigilantes.
PIERSON: Another excellent point. Captain Kemiko?
KEMIKO: As much as I hate to disagree with Mr. Genakis, the fact of the matter is
that The Republic, and more specifically Exarch Redburn, has granted emergency
authority to local commanders and planetary leaders to take those actions needed to
maintain order. Now, because Towne has no major base of operations for any
Republic militia units or major defense forces, we are forced to secure our own
defenses and the means to maintain order from within our own ranks. We are aware
that there are agencies, even those formerly among The Republic’s own most
outstanding citizens and leaders, who've turned on the ideals of Devlin Stone and who
seek their own conquests. Without any form of militia, Towne doesn't stand a chance
against them. Meanwhile, we see friendly forces out there, like the Highlanders, who
are dedicated to maintaining the central authority and have the limited means to hold
multiple worlds in The Republic’s name, but not all of them. Those forces will require
allies interested in the same goal to help other worlds--allies such as Towne itself.
PIERSON: So, what you’re saying is that the Towne militia believes the question isn't
if, but when, Captain?
KEMIKO: Unfortunately, yes, Ian.
GENAKIS: Now, see here, Captain. It’s one thing when a man keeps a club under his
bed to ward off intruders, but another thing entirely when the same man posts land
mines on his front step and packs a semi-automatic on his way to work in the
morning.
PIERSON: On that note, it’s time for our first commercial break. Stay tuned, Towne,
as we continue to discuss the sounding of the war drums.
Towne Log
+ This show kills me! I mean, Pierson almost never speaks for himself; he just gets
his guests to do all the talking, then shuts them up for a commercial break! Where can
I get a job like that? :- Synnik
+ Glad someone’s amused by all this. Has anybody here noticed that today’s
discussion is seriously slanted in favor of war footing? I mean, look at these guests?
The militia recruitment chief, an INN war analyst, and a deposed Senator for the
Nationalist party. Really, who gives Genakis any credibility at all these days, anyway? :
- Hippee
+ Oh, hell, Hippee! If Stone himself crawled out from wherever it is he’s gone to hide
and showed up here, we’d all be bowing and hanging on his every word! And why?
Because he held the respected position for so long. Genakis is clearly the voice of
reason here, if Kemiko and Marshall would only shut up and listen up. :- Kurious
+ Sad fact, folks, is that the militia chief and the war correspondent are right. I mean,
six small armies formed in our little corner of The Republic as it is, and Knights are
few and far between. Even if Genakis were right, we’d not have much chance of
surviving the next Dragon’s Fury attack if we had no army of our own, and before
you know it, those of us who don’t swear to the Dracs’ Dictum Honorum would find
our heads in the gutters--very far from our bodies, if you catch my drift. :-
Chungabunga
+ I for one detest warmongers, but ’Bunga’s right. If we don’t gear up for war, we’
re facing oblivion, no matter how much or how little we have to offer. Warm bodies
make for a good labor force, no matter the banner. :- ElSi
+ Hey guys, stow it! The show’s back on . . . :- Kurious
| March 31, 3133 |