The Hand of Starling – Where in the Universe is Sun-Tzu Liao? 1/26/3134
INN - Interstellar News Network
SHADOW: Well met, Truth-seekers! Once again, the Hand of Starling is back on the
air with the show The Republic doesn’t want you to see! I’m your host, Shadow.
With me as always are my fellow Illuminati, Phantom and Wraith.
PHANTOM: Sic Semper Tyrannus!
WRAITH: Carpe diem!
SHADOW: I see we’re having a Latin moment, gents?
PHANTOM: Breaks up the monotony.
WRAITH: Yeah.
SHADOW: Well, welcome brothers, just the same! Before we begin today’s topic:
“Sun-Tzu Liao: Alive, Dead, or Just Indifferent?” our question of the week here
comes from a viewer using the on-line nick of LevEOsa. He (or she) says: “Starling
Gang, I just came upon your show this morning and have to admit that I was
fascinated in spite of myself.”
PHANTOM: Gee. Thanks.
SHADOW: Hush, you. “…My question for you is whether or not in your travels you
guys have looked into that oft-quoted line that the Games on Solaris VII are all
rigged?”
WRAITH: Erf! No-brainer!
SHADOW: Try and show a little patience, Brother Wraith. Lev is a new viewer, after
all. Now, Lev, of course we have heard the rumors before as well, many suggesting
that the local mafiosa, yakuza, Tongs, and even government agencies have a complete
stranglehold over the Games on Solaris VII, and that each and every match is rigged
as part of a grand scheme by the powers that be. The truth, astonishingly enough, is
that the Games are totally rigged, but the amusing part is that so many different
entities are rigging them, that nobody knows who really is in charge. Of course, the
Hand of Starling has learned beyond all doubt that there is a super-powerful
conspiracy controlling all these agencies as well, manipulating the manipulators as it
were, but we will have to discuss that at a later date.
WRAITH: Well said, Brother Shadow!
SHADOW: Uh-huh. Now, onto today’s topic: Sun-Tzu Liao, the deified ruler of the
Capellan Confederation, a visionary leader who helped a war-weary nation survive—
and even recover from—its worst wars in history, allegedly vanished during the
fateful Massacre of Liao back in 3111. Capellans say the one-time Star Lord ascended
into godhood, while Republicans claim he was killed in the chaos of all the fighting. In
either event, no body was ever recovered, and though both sides claim a different
outcome, they agree on one thing, Sun-Tzu is gone, at least from this plane of
existence. But is this really the truth? What say you, Brothers?
PHANTOM: False.
WRAITH: Absolutely false.
SHADOW: Then what are you saying, gents? The Celestial Wisdom is actually alive?
PHANTOM: Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Brother—no pun intended, of course.
SHADOW: Back it up.
WRAITH: My turn! Brothers, it should be obvious to anyone with two brain cells to
rub together that Sun-Tzu is alive and well. After all, how does a leader who never
travels without the escort of his trusty Death Commandos simply *vanish*, especially
with no body to recover? The Capellans, known for their pathological hatred of all
things Republican (second only to their hatred of all things Davion, of course) would
have leapt at hoisting Sunny’s bullet-riddled body aloft as justification for an all-out
war against the Republic. Yet, at the Massacre of Liao, they never did. Instead, they
withdrew and went silent until only recently. Two decades have passed with nothing
but words, while a cult has risen about the man, directed by the questionable wisdom
of his son, Daoshen Liao. Now, what son takes the throne and doesn’t pursue a war
against the folks who killed his daddy and still retains control of a realm that reveres
him? The answer is nobody, unless the Liao *never died*!
SHADOW: Then, if that’s the truth, why keep the secret?
PHANTOM: Well, because of the mystique, the power, and the ulterior agendas, of
course!
WRAITH: All things the Liao’s have raised to high art.
SHADOW: Expand.
PHANTOM: Gladly. No body means the Liaos can claim Sun-Tzu “ascended” elevate
a man already revered as a savior from the Davion Imperium *and* the Jihad to
godlike standing. This breeds generations of followers as fanatical as any WoBbie you
ever dreamed of. It also means nobody sees—and therefore, nobody has access to—
the real hand of the state. Assassins and spies will seek out Daoshen, figuring him for
the Celestial Wisdom, secure among his fearsome DCs and sitting on that throne on
Sian. This leaves Sunny, in an alternate guise, to wander among the various Capellan
communities “wrongly” absorbed into Republic and inspire them to unite and rise up
against their masters. Two decades of having the messiah in their midst, and by the
time the real Cappie troops are ready to strike, entire worlds can fall without a shot.
Only a man like Sun-Tzu could cook up such a scheme, and only he could implement
it!
SHADOW: But what about the rumors that Sun-Tzu never left Liao all this time? And
that his body still exists there, kept alive by artificial means, where it dispenses advice
and wisdom to the core of a Capellan resistance?
PHANTOM: Hey, I never said in what actual form Sunny could have survived in, but
staying on Liao? Even in a glass case on wheels, I’m sure they’d keep him mobile to
avoid detection. A world gone over with a fine-toothed comb umpteen million times
since he vanished there? Come on, Shadow! If Sunny were still there, don’t you think
two decades of government searches would have uncovered him by now?
WRAITH: Unless they really have found him, and are keeping the secret to forestall a
panic…
PHANTOM: Unlikely, Brother Wraith, and you know it as well as I, especially since
he’s fomenting unrest throughout the rimward prefectures. The smartest thing to do
is to keep moving, to touch as many would-be rebels as he can.
WRAITH: Point.
SHADOW: Then that only leaves the next obvious question: For how much longer
can they keep up the deception? Indefinitely?
WRAITH: How much longer do they need to? Sun-Tzu *is* the Capellan messiah.
Once all the lost Capellan worlds are returned, he can come out from hiding, risen—
almost literally—from the dead.
PHANTOM: Of course, then we might see a power play between Daoshen and Sun-
Tzu, but I imagine that it’s more likely the son will yield to the father who’s been
pulling his strings for so long. With or without the life-support gear, Sunny will be too
powerful to overthrow so simply. Yes, Daoshen will have to yield to the messiah he
has been acting in support of all along. I mean, unless Sun-Tzu returns just long
enough to give his formal blessing to his son and wanders off to pasture, secure in
achieving his lifelong goals at last.
SHADOW: All possibilities, and worthy of discussion at another time, perhaps.
Meanwhile, it seems we’re about out of time here. Return next week, Truth-seekers,
as the Hand of Starling continues to bring enlightenment to all, lifting the veil of
secrecy for all to see!
INN - Interstellar News Network
SHADOW: Well met, Truth-seekers! Once again, the Hand of Starling is back on the
air with the show The Republic doesn’t want you to see! I’m your host, Shadow.
With me as always are my fellow Illuminati, Phantom and Wraith.
PHANTOM: Sic Semper Tyrannus!
WRAITH: Carpe diem!
SHADOW: I see we’re having a Latin moment, gents?
PHANTOM: Breaks up the monotony.
WRAITH: Yeah.
SHADOW: Well, welcome brothers, just the same! Before we begin today’s topic:
“Sun-Tzu Liao: Alive, Dead, or Just Indifferent?” our question of the week here
comes from a viewer using the on-line nick of LevEOsa. He (or she) says: “Starling
Gang, I just came upon your show this morning and have to admit that I was
fascinated in spite of myself.”
PHANTOM: Gee. Thanks.
SHADOW: Hush, you. “…My question for you is whether or not in your travels you
guys have looked into that oft-quoted line that the Games on Solaris VII are all
rigged?”
WRAITH: Erf! No-brainer!
SHADOW: Try and show a little patience, Brother Wraith. Lev is a new viewer, after
all. Now, Lev, of course we have heard the rumors before as well, many suggesting
that the local mafiosa, yakuza, Tongs, and even government agencies have a complete
stranglehold over the Games on Solaris VII, and that each and every match is rigged
as part of a grand scheme by the powers that be. The truth, astonishingly enough, is
that the Games are totally rigged, but the amusing part is that so many different
entities are rigging them, that nobody knows who really is in charge. Of course, the
Hand of Starling has learned beyond all doubt that there is a super-powerful
conspiracy controlling all these agencies as well, manipulating the manipulators as it
were, but we will have to discuss that at a later date.
WRAITH: Well said, Brother Shadow!
SHADOW: Uh-huh. Now, onto today’s topic: Sun-Tzu Liao, the deified ruler of the
Capellan Confederation, a visionary leader who helped a war-weary nation survive—
and even recover from—its worst wars in history, allegedly vanished during the
fateful Massacre of Liao back in 3111. Capellans say the one-time Star Lord ascended
into godhood, while Republicans claim he was killed in the chaos of all the fighting. In
either event, no body was ever recovered, and though both sides claim a different
outcome, they agree on one thing, Sun-Tzu is gone, at least from this plane of
existence. But is this really the truth? What say you, Brothers?
PHANTOM: False.
WRAITH: Absolutely false.
SHADOW: Then what are you saying, gents? The Celestial Wisdom is actually alive?
PHANTOM: Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Brother—no pun intended, of course.
SHADOW: Back it up.
WRAITH: My turn! Brothers, it should be obvious to anyone with two brain cells to
rub together that Sun-Tzu is alive and well. After all, how does a leader who never
travels without the escort of his trusty Death Commandos simply *vanish*, especially
with no body to recover? The Capellans, known for their pathological hatred of all
things Republican (second only to their hatred of all things Davion, of course) would
have leapt at hoisting Sunny’s bullet-riddled body aloft as justification for an all-out
war against the Republic. Yet, at the Massacre of Liao, they never did. Instead, they
withdrew and went silent until only recently. Two decades have passed with nothing
but words, while a cult has risen about the man, directed by the questionable wisdom
of his son, Daoshen Liao. Now, what son takes the throne and doesn’t pursue a war
against the folks who killed his daddy and still retains control of a realm that reveres
him? The answer is nobody, unless the Liao *never died*!
SHADOW: Then, if that’s the truth, why keep the secret?
PHANTOM: Well, because of the mystique, the power, and the ulterior agendas, of
course!
WRAITH: All things the Liao’s have raised to high art.
SHADOW: Expand.
PHANTOM: Gladly. No body means the Liaos can claim Sun-Tzu “ascended” elevate
a man already revered as a savior from the Davion Imperium *and* the Jihad to
godlike standing. This breeds generations of followers as fanatical as any WoBbie you
ever dreamed of. It also means nobody sees—and therefore, nobody has access to—
the real hand of the state. Assassins and spies will seek out Daoshen, figuring him for
the Celestial Wisdom, secure among his fearsome DCs and sitting on that throne on
Sian. This leaves Sunny, in an alternate guise, to wander among the various Capellan
communities “wrongly” absorbed into Republic and inspire them to unite and rise up
against their masters. Two decades of having the messiah in their midst, and by the
time the real Cappie troops are ready to strike, entire worlds can fall without a shot.
Only a man like Sun-Tzu could cook up such a scheme, and only he could implement
it!
SHADOW: But what about the rumors that Sun-Tzu never left Liao all this time? And
that his body still exists there, kept alive by artificial means, where it dispenses advice
and wisdom to the core of a Capellan resistance?
PHANTOM: Hey, I never said in what actual form Sunny could have survived in, but
staying on Liao? Even in a glass case on wheels, I’m sure they’d keep him mobile to
avoid detection. A world gone over with a fine-toothed comb umpteen million times
since he vanished there? Come on, Shadow! If Sunny were still there, don’t you think
two decades of government searches would have uncovered him by now?
WRAITH: Unless they really have found him, and are keeping the secret to forestall a
panic…
PHANTOM: Unlikely, Brother Wraith, and you know it as well as I, especially since
he’s fomenting unrest throughout the rimward prefectures. The smartest thing to do
is to keep moving, to touch as many would-be rebels as he can.
WRAITH: Point.
SHADOW: Then that only leaves the next obvious question: For how much longer
can they keep up the deception? Indefinitely?
WRAITH: How much longer do they need to? Sun-Tzu *is* the Capellan messiah.
Once all the lost Capellan worlds are returned, he can come out from hiding, risen—
almost literally—from the dead.
PHANTOM: Of course, then we might see a power play between Daoshen and Sun-
Tzu, but I imagine that it’s more likely the son will yield to the father who’s been
pulling his strings for so long. With or without the life-support gear, Sunny will be too
powerful to overthrow so simply. Yes, Daoshen will have to yield to the messiah he
has been acting in support of all along. I mean, unless Sun-Tzu returns just long
enough to give his formal blessing to his son and wanders off to pasture, secure in
achieving his lifelong goals at last.
SHADOW: All possibilities, and worthy of discussion at another time, perhaps.
Meanwhile, it seems we’re about out of time here. Return next week, Truth-seekers,
as the Hand of Starling continues to bring enlightenment to all, lifting the veil of
secrecy for all to see!
| January 26, 3134 |
