Senate: Defeated Proposal #76 - Military Decentralization Act

[Yangfan]

"The universe does not revolve around the Fifth Expeditionary," James intoned, placing his wings down on the table. "When Hotaru was attacked, the First and Third Expeditionary Fleets were busy protecting Yamatai, Ohara, and other major population centers of the Empire. Would you have us sacrifice them all for the Lorath's hide?"

James gestured, pulling out a quote to display on the main screen:

If we intend to destroy the SMX we need to stand with a coordinated effort from ALL of the fleets.

"I agree. I believe the problem right now is too much freedom and a lack of central control of our various fleets. You seem to seek to confuse us by telling us that the fleets are shackled, but the truth is that they currently operate with zero oversight by central command. I don't see how the current proposal is a change in the right direction. And let's not forget what we're arguing about:"

Proposal #76 - Military Decentralization Act

Purpose:

1. To make fleets more self-sufficient and independent.
2. To overcome performance problems with the centralized organizations of the Star Army of Yamatai.

Proposal:

1. Number of Shosho in a fleet is now limited to 25.
2. Maximum number of Taisa is raised from 100 to 250.
3. SAINT will be decentralized (each fleet will have its own SAINT)
4. SARA will be decentralized (each fleet will have its own SARA)
5. Star Army Logistics will be decentralized.
6. Star Army Personnel Management will be decentralized.
7. Star Army Command will be disbanded.
8. Star Army Training Administration will be disbanded.
9. The position of Master Fleet Admiral is abolished. Creation of fleets will now be the responsibility of the central YSE government.
10. Fleets may now independently operate as politically independent entities.

This, at best, will do nothing, and at worst, will doom us all. Let's look at this line by line:

3. SAINT will be decentralized (each fleet will have its own SAINT)

"We can say goodbye to intelligence-sharing." James turned to Aegis. "If the Mishhu passes 1XF territory on their way to attack Lor, I suppose that you don't care about being forewarned."

4. SARA will be decentralized (each fleet will have its own SARA)

"We can say goodbye to technology-sharing. If the 5XF comes upon an alternative weapons technology that is effective against the Mishhu, they will be under no obligation to share it with Yamatai."

5. Star Army Logistics will be decentralized.

"We can say goodbye to resource-sharing. I suppose none of you care for Phodian vegetables, but without centralized logistics, we will have no resources allocated for maintaining and protecting our supply lines. If the Mishhu ever cut off your people's food supply, don't expect old James and his people to come to the rescue!"

6. Star Army Personnel Management will be decentralized.

"And just how will the fleets find more personnel? I suppose we will have to start drafts in the systems that each fleet is protecting. Tell me, Senator Aegis, how old does a Lorath child has to be before he's considered fit to fight in wars?"

7. Star Army Command will be disbanded.

"... Actually, this line won't make any difference at all. No one listens to Command anymore anyways. Let's move on."

8. Star Army Training Administration will be disbanded.

"And I suppose that we won't even get professional personnel training our drafted recruits. Let's just put a rifle in each one of their hands and send them off to fight the Mishhu. Sounds like a plan to me!" James rolled his eyes.

9. The position of Master Fleet Admiral is abolished. Creation of fleets will now be the responsibility of the central YSE government.

"Ah, yes... Let's entrust a military matter to bureaucrats and politicians. Because that has worked so well in the past..."

10. Fleets may now independently operate as politically independent entities.

"... Really? Does that mean that I can petition Taisho Branard to declare war on Lor? Start a civil war? It would be treasonous of course, but I'm really tempted to. Aegis has been giving me the evil eye for a while now. I'm only kidding of course, but this law would legitimize that action."

"Now, the Third Expeditionary Fleet has been the protector of my people for quite a while now. We're fully committed to supporting them financially and logistically. And I'm sure that the Lorath Senator will say the same about the Fifth Expeditionary. Given enough time and resources, each of our civilizations can help our respective fleets rebuild these organizations for themselves. It's time and resources better spent elsewhere though, such as figuring out a way to drive back the Mishhu. Collectively as an Empire or individually as Fleets, I believe we can all agree that those vile monsters are the biggest threat to the future of all our peoples."

"In fact, I'm begging to think that this whole proposal is a sham... A test of loyalty from the Emperor himself... Hmm..."

James falls silent, rubbing his chin.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Roxanne did what she thought was the smart thing — she ignored all of the detractors and smirked at the Oharan.

"The gentleman from Ohara speaks sense!" she cried, beaming. "I believe my point has been justified now — and for the sake of my constituents, who are the only ones I care about, as is my duty, I restate my vote of no on this proposal."

She then turned to the Lorath. "And, by the way, Ms. Aegis — you should be thankful that rubble of a planet of yours was glassed and we got you out of harm's way, or your entire constituency would be dust. Perhaps you should offer your opinion to Tange-Katsura-san here; I certainly don't give a fishy shit what you think, slaver."

 

[Gamerofthegame]

Mayosaki sighed a little and shook her head, "I haven't changed my opinion on the proposal from No." She then looked to Roxanne and gave her a evil glare, which she does quite well. "And you will remain polite and kind while you are doing your job as a senator. We don't care about your personal feelings on anything else that isn't pertaining to such when here. And we don't really care about them when not here, for that matter."

She paused a moment and then counted heads, "... I do believe thats a majority vote... By one... In favor of no. Can we end this, then? Before people start hitting each other."

 

[Doshii Jun]

Roxanne utterly ignored the look and the lecture, not giving a single damn.

"I motion to close, as a final vote tally has been achieved."

 

[Kim]

Ayana's jaw tightened as she stared at the other members of the Senate. She had examples of the neglect and apathy of the central government towards her constituents... thee treatment of the survivors from Taiie on Pisces Stations being a prime example but, it seemed that it would lead her no where. She wondered what it would all eventually lead to but in the end, nothing would change- the neglect and lack of communication would continue.

She looked disgusted, "I also support the motion to close, as no further ground can be covered without distracting from the true notion at hand.

I should like to remind Senator Mayosaki that it is our personal feelings and morals that allow us to create laws that fit the needs of the people we serve and represent. If we cannot voice these things how can they ever expect us to represent them. In the end, we are all selfish and want the best of all things for those we are closest too.

It does sadden me that racism continues to exist and be encouraged to thrive in the core of our great nation. But, we are imperfect creatures no matter how hard we strive for perfection," she bowed politely and deeply to Roxanne and the other senators present.

 

[DocTomoe]

Aegis beamed a smile at the senate chamber, the situation presented was politics, but it was just another battlefield to her... and she liked it. Phodan, Neko, it was all the same to her really, just another objective to be overcome.

"Phod, you're just afraid because your people can't kill the SMX by feeding them your horrid food. As for my people, we are capable of replenishing our forces at a whim through our own methods, we are capable of defending our homes with the aid of the Fifth Expeditionary, and we are by all means capable of delivering a decisive and swift blow to those who would ever dare to turn on us, especially plague prone primitives."

Aegis' gaze then shifted to Roxanne, her lips then curled into a malevolent grin which caused a brutal set of canines to be revealed. "Roxanne, I am sorry to hear about your bowel troubles, I'd like to suggest that you cease welcoming tentacles up your rectum, that may assist you in removing that fishy scent... or is that from another orifice?"

The Lorath senator then reached to a data pad on her desk and held it out in her hand as it projected a volumetric display of a black painted Nozomi-Class and a black painted Mindy with shoulder spikes. "Maybe dividing your SAINT would be good, then things like this would not leak out." Aegis said with a sickening sweet tone. "During the 'glassing' of Lor, your precious First Expeditionary was busy playing with a SMX ship, and a group of these Mindy and a Nozomi which were quite apparently opposing your forces. Due to this, your forces were distracted from their duty which was to prevent the moon's decent." The projected image then shifted to a lone Black Mindy, with damaged exterior plating. "Also, your forces seem to have an issue with your own security, considering that one of your valuable officers, a Miles Gunn, was killed by this Mindy, which seemed to be piloted by Ketsurui Hanako-Hime. Additionally, this same Mindy killed a number of my people's forces, and ruined an experimental lab complex. It seems, your military with your centralized control can not keep a leash on your own people as it is. NH-18 units, power armor, starships, and even entire families of traitors are slipping through your centralized grasp... if we must continue to rely on the central government, I can only imagine what other trouble may be brewing."

Aegis then put the data pad aside and pulled out another. "Also, Roxanne... we do have slaves, much like your own Empire. I do think that one of the senators present would know that quite well, along with your Emperor, and your precious Mistress Yui... currently though, as per your Empire's demands, we have ceased in trading slaves, I do suggest you keep track of the current reports from Lor and our other systems." With that, Aegis threw the data pad to and at Roxanne. "The Lorath Senator also motions to close... and I request an escort assigned to me to take me to my quarters, I fear that I may develop an urge to ingest pork and fake-meat."

 

[Doshii Jun]

Roxanne caught the datapad while standing — with both hands — and broke it over her knee, tossing the two pieces aside and laughing.

"If this measure is all done and over-with, I want a damn drink, and a few of those tentacles the Lorath was talking about! Tange-Katsura-san, Mayosaki, James, my dear new-found friend of sense! We've got time before the next session; let's get something to whet our passions before they consume us!"

 

[DocTomoe]

"Fellow senators, do look upon what we have as a decision making force in this Empire... a drunkard whore. I assure you Roxanne, you'll have plenty of tentacles upon you soon enough with the way the war is going." Aegis grinned widely as she looked at the woman which she felt she would have to deal with many more times in the future.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Roxanne had stopped listening several seconds ago.

 

[Kim]

"I agree on the need for a time to cool our tempers before the next session.

With your nature, Kurokawa-san, I assume you a lover of whiskey. I'll have one of my aides bring you a bottle of one of our best," Ayana offered with a polite smile though the seemingly plausible results of this proposals failing left a sour taste in her mouth. She did hope that some good liquor would dull her ability to taste it.

 

[DocTomoe]

The Lorath senator took her seat and let out a disgruntled sigh before she took a package from inside of her leather garments, she pulled a thin strip from the package and placed it in her mouth before she began to chew, quite audibly, upon it.

 

[Doshii Jun]

"Wonderful! Sit with me in my office and share it. Mayosaki, James, you must come." Roxanne approached her fellow senators, leaving the Lorath to herself.

 

[Gamerofthegame]

Mayosaki's evil glare moved on to Aegis, "As much as I am sure she probably deserves it, stop it. Things I hear you do don't form a good image either." She then stood, regardless of what was said, and smiling faintly to Roxanne. "As much as I would enjoy that, as you do make me laugh... I have to make sure my friend isn't drowning in work... Their repairing the waterlines..." Her friend being the governor, of course. She then nodded a little in general to everyone.

 

[Doshii Jun]

"Damnnation, that thing called work. I'll save you a few swigs. James, Ayana, come, quick, before that thing finds us too!" Roxanne headed out of the Senate chambers, whistling loudly as she went.

 

[Kim]

Ayana sent her aide a message to meet her in Roxanne's chambers with that bottle of whiskey. She knew there was much for her to do still but she had some time to work on her diplomatic relations with this senator from the core of Yamatai. She hoped some good would come out of some friendly interaction and perspective.

 

[Gamerofthegame]

Mayosaki just shook her head a little, "Right... Motion closed in favor of a 'No'." She then tipped her invisible top hat that didn't exist and exited.

 

[Yangfan]

James snorted. "Very well. If the Senator from Lor insists on turning this institution into a farce with her vulgarities, I don't have the power to stop her. But I don't have to sit here and listen to her venom."

James jumped off his tall stool, and took one last look at Aegis. "We're not allowed to eat in here... But I suppose you know that already. Good day, madam."

Wrapping his blue jacket around him, James walked out of the Senate chamber.

 

[Andrew]

-----
Priority One Message
5th XF External Communications Protocol

Ayana,

I am on my way. I will arrive at Yamatai in a few hours.

How dare these over comforted politicians point the finger at a fleet which has successfully defeated the SMX in their last two encounters and claim we are not supporting them in this war.

They seem lost to the fact as well that rather than gaining intel on the SMX their SAINT has been busy cruising around safe ports like Hotaru on fact-finding missions. Meanwhile our BISA is in the field, getting intel and is preparing for the largest offensive strike on the SMX since the war started.


With love,
Shogun-Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko.
Commander 5th Expeditionary Fleet
Motoyoshi Bakufu.
-----

 

[Kim]

Ayana paused in her tracks at the message that was patched to her communicator. She frowned, it was indeed dangerous for the Taisho to come through the blockade for this matter but if this was her will, who was she to advise against it.

She looked at Roxanne with a soft frown. "It seems Roxanne, that I'll have to join you another time. Something has come up. Please enjoy the whiskey, it's one of my finest." She bowed very deeply to the senator again and hurried towards her own office to prepare for her Taisho's arrival,

Enroute she responded with a very brief message:

I eagerly await your arrival, Motoyoshi-dono.

- Tange-Katsura Ayana

 

[Doshii Jun]

Roxanne frowned as she looked at Ayana walk away. "Tanaka, the Senator from the 5th XF has turned down the chance to drink her own swill. I want to know why. Watch the communication lines, keep an eye out for her. I'll be there soon."

"Yes ma'am," came the eager reply.

She returned to her office. The desk was large, darkly lacquered and made of fine oak; a few datapads were strewn about on it, but it was mostly empty. She hadn't apparently been around for very long, as the lush red and gold carpet still smelled of cleaner. Any visitor would be faced with the back of a much larger seat than anticipated -- Roxanne had taken the visitor's chair for herself.

"Where the hell's James; by the sea I would kiss him if he let me. I want to enjoy this booze, but not alone!" She held up the bottle of whiskey like a drunkard.