Humans are weird: Sewing Chaos: An Earl Von Morgan story
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“We predict that within the next thirteen solar rotations our enemies will have reached our capital worlds.”
From the center of the dark room a projector ignited and displayed a map of the several surrounding galaxies. Each one color coded to match their respective claimants before the speaker hit a series of keys on the display terminal.
Several red lines began forming from different directions each one slowly pushing through the territories and arriving at the star mark planet signifying the capital worlds.
“These are the most likely avenues of advance they will take which will be coordinated simultaneously to ensure we could not bring our full might against any single thrust.”
“If we did combine our forces,” a robed representative from the Hadrion Confederation spoke, “would it be possible to defeat them?”
The figure at the display terminal entered new combinations of keys for the projection. It showed the military forces of each member state joining together to face a single thrust, and though the red line blinked out of existence the remaining lines still continued.
“If we did marshal all of our collective military might we would be able to stop one, maybe two, of the enemy advances; but as a result we would leave the remainder of our territory exposed and defenseless."
The small group of representatives murmured amongst themselves at this. They had been drawn into the conflict with the Jokonan Empire after a series of border conflicts had escalated into full blown war and now they faced the reality that they would soon become little more than puppet states to the Jokonan’s.
The speaker at the display terminal raised their hand and the conversations died down slowly as all eyes turned to one man.
“As you can see, our situation is rather dire Mr. Morgan; can you assist us?”
From the back of the room a figure rose to their feet and slowly made their way to the center of the room; the clanking of his cane echoing out like gun shots as he strode across the polished floor. As he stepped into the light of the projector he stopped and with his free hand removed a cigar from his jacket pocket and placed it in his mouth. He shifted his cane to his other hand and removed a lighter before swiftly lighting the cigar and returning the lighter. He gazed up at the star map before him and slowly began to circle it. He paced the display quietly, only so often taking an inhale of his cigar and puffing it out as he remained transfixed with the projection.
After circling the display for several minutes he stopped and casually spat out his cigar on to the floor. While the other representatives gasped he stomped it out with his foot before turning to the speaker still at the display terminal.
“I can.”
The mood of the room was a mixture of joy and hesitation at the human’s remark but before anyone could ask how it would be possible the human continued.
“I will need access and authority over all of your intelligence branches and military assets, the very best translators and speakers of the Jokonan language we have on hand, and the complete cooperation of every governing body present here without question.”
This statement was followed by a rash series of shouts and outcries from those gathered. They were shocked by the audacity of this human to walk into their council chamber and demand to be given near total control of all of their governments as if it was as easy as asking for a drink at a bar.
“Oh,” the human continued despite the uproar around him, “and I will need the best Jokonan historian as well.”
The speaker raised their arm again and the room quieted down once more. “And if we give you these things and privileges, you can stop these attacks?” the speakers said.
“I shall do more than that.” Earl Von Morgan said he turned and smiled at the gathered group. “I shall shatter the Jokonan Empire.”
*Twelve solar rotations later*
Morgan sat at his desk reading the latest progress reports when the doors to his office burst open. Each member of the council walked through and stood before the desk, each with a look on their face with a mixture of disgust, anger, and barely contained panic. The final member to walk in was no less the speaker themselves as the rest parted to allow them to stand directly before Morgan.
Morgan briefly looked up from his reports to scan the room before looking back down at them.
“Though my secretary handles my appointments I am sure I would have noticed the council on my agenda for today.” Morgan said dryly.
“It has been twelve solar rotations.”
The speaker’s voice was calm and collected, but Morgan was experienced enough to hear the undertone of hostility behind each word.
Morgan set down his papers finally and looked up at the assembled group. “Has it really been that long?” Morgan looked over at his desk calendar and gave a look of surprise. “So it has; time really does just fly by the older you get I suppose.”
The speaker stepped forward and placed their hands on the desk, leaning their head down so the swirling darkness of their veil was gazing down at Morgan.
“It has been twelve solar rotations,” the speaker continued, “and you have told us nothing.”
“You’ve doomed us all!” one of the assembled representatives shouted drawing cheers from the others.
“I knew we shouldn’t have trusted a human!” said another drawing even more adulation.
Morgan leaned back in his chair and clasped his fingers together. He showed no interest in the gathered mob before him and if anything appeared frustrated that his daily schedule was being interrupted.
“I have not felt the need to issue you status reports because I believed some among you,” Morgan said as his eyes wandered across the gathered faces pausing here and there on certain ones, “would not pass along that information to the Jokonan’s.”
This drew outbursts of anger from several members while others, those that Morgan had focused on, appeared to retreat further to the back of the group.
“You have the audacity to claim one of us is a traitor?” came a cry from a Funtak, his lips struggling to form the words as his three tongues clashed with each other to pronounce each syllable.
“I am a politician; it would be out of character for me not to suspect those around me of treachery.” Morgan chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders childishly.
The Funtak looked to continue the argument before an Ultoine put a hand on their shoulder and stepped forward.
“You and your inaction are the subject here, not us.” They said as they pulled out a binder and casually tossed it on to Morgan’s desk.
“In the past twelve solar rotations you have not only refused to engage the enemy but have in fact more often ordered the withdrawal of our forces when facing the Jokonan fleets; even going so far as to order some of the captains to surrender to them rather than fight.”
“If anyone is the traitor it is you!” the Funtak shouted.
At this Morgan appeared to take offense to. Rather than addressing the accusation Morgan merely grabbed a remote control off his desk and aimed it at a nearby tv. The tv flickered on to a news channel already in progress.
“Our top story tonight is the unfolding outbreak of what appears to be the beginnings of a civil war within the Jokonan Empire.”
Every representative’s face turned to the tv while Morgan continued staring down the speaker.
“What did they just s-“ one of them began before being shushed to silence as the broadcast continued.
“Reports are coming in that second prince Hafala Kajar has declared himself the rightful successor to the imperial throne and denounced his elder brother and the first prince Umba Jaka.”
The screen panned over the images of the two princes. Between the two of them Umba was more physically fit while Hafala standing easily two feet taller, but he lacked the dignified manner Hafala seemed to carry himself with.
“Several Jokonan officials, who have spoken to us unanimously, have stated that military forces loyal to each of the princes have already begun engaging each other in open conflict while Emperor Xar Moth has called for all combatants to cease fire immediately.”
Several video clips played with what looked to be Jokonan ships firing on each other, some even showing grievous damage to their hulls billowing giant clouds of ash.
While the council had their eyes glued to the TV Morgan threw his own folder on to the table, right in front of the speaker. The cloaked head finally broke its gaze with Morgan and slowly picked up the folder, opening it and flicking through the first few pages.
“For the last twelve solar rotations I have been using the resources you have provided me to drive a wedge between the first and second princes.”
Morgan reached for his cane and stood to his feet. He circled round his desk and stood before the speaker as they continued flipping through the pages.
“At first the second prince had no interest in ascending to the throne, he was content to remain at his post and serve his empire.”
Morgan reached over and tapped a certain file the speaker was now looking over.
“So you make those around him believe that he would be a better emperor then his brother, and get them to do the convincing for you.”
Morgan began working his way through the council as they remained transfixed on the tv.
“Whenever I knew the second prince was in a battle I made sure our forces were soundly routed and fled the battlefield, building the prince’s military victory tallies, making his men believe that he was some great tactician who made his enemies cower and flee before even setting foot on the battlefield.”
The speaker nodded, finally grasping the initial part of Morgan’s plan. “It’s one thing for outsiders to say you should be emperor, but another thing entirely when those you have trusted all your life begin saying it.”
Morgan smiled and tipped his head to the speaker as he continued to mingle through the crowd.
“The main offensive that was predicted twelve solar rotations ago was planned by the first prince himself and while we did engage in delaying battles with his fleets we made sure that at every turn the first prince was left humiliated.”
“Every battle ended in horrible losses with little to nothing to show for it as our own fleets engaged in hit and run missions, depriving the first prince of the large scale engagements his younger brother was reaping glory from.”
Morgan continued describing his plan as he made his way back to his desk as the tv was announcing that the second prince had officially declared his brother a traitor to the empire and called on all loyal Jokonan’s to rise up against him
“Next we began hacking into the Jokonan communication systems and broadcasting the second prince’s victories to the entire empire, editing the footage to appear like it had been offhandedly recorded by a waiting bridge officer or a soldier observing the space battles through a view port; and the civilian population lapped it up and over night Hafala became a household name.”
He returned to his seat and to the surprise of many touted a devilish grin as he explained the final part of his plan.
“The final stage had us sending forged documents for Jokonan senators, industrialists, members of great houses, and others in positions of power not openly defying the first prince, but suggesting that the second prince has the potential to be even better.”
“Of course these messages were also then leaked to the first prince who became understandably enraged and arrested many of them, who continued to pronounce that they never made such letters all the way to the gallows.”
“This pushed any supporters he did still have to become increasingly worried that they would be next in this mindless rampage and sought protection of the second prince, which in turn led to what we have before you.”
The news broadcast ended their segment with a Jokonan capital ship imploding like a pumpkin full of firecrackers as Morgan turned off the tv.
One by one the council began turning back to look at Morgan with a renewed respect in their eyes, but were unable to speak praise due to their previous outbursts.
“Not all wars are fought on the battlefield my friends.” Morgan began as he pulled out another cigar and lit it. “We could never match the Jokonan military, so, we turn their own military against themselves and watch as they eat each other alive.”
“Brilliant!”
To Morgan’s surprise it was the Funtak who issued him praise before continuing.
“While they are at each other’s throats we can attack and destroy them once and for all!”
Morgan let out a billow of smoke and to the councilors surprise shook his head in disagreement.
“If we attack now we give them both a common cause to rally behind and unite again.” Morgan cautioned. “We must continue to remain on the sidelines for now and merely stoke the fires of this civil war for a few additional solar rotations, at which point there may very well be no more Jokonan Empire to speak of.”
“It was wise to entrust our survival to you after all it would seem.”
The speaker set down the folder finally having read its entire contents and bowed to Morgan. The rest of the council quickly followed suit as a sign of respect and remained like this for several minutes.
“We shall continue to abstain in favor of your judgement in the coming solar rotations; should there be anything else you should require merely ask it.”
Morgan nodded his head to the speaker before looking back at the council. “For now all I need is for you all to respectfully leave.”
The councilors raised their heads in confusion at this.
“My next meeting is with a particular Hive diplomat I am rather fond of and we have pressing matters to attend to.”
The ease with which he seemed to casually dismiss them offended some, but they yielded all the same and removed themselves quietly as Morgan looked out the window at an approaching transport and smiled to himself.
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