Third History Lesson

[make_history_chew_scenery]

[After that little hostage situation, Jeremy can be seen walking around and wearing slightly more than he usually does.  Along with his pants, he's also wearing... bandages.  A lot of medical bandages wrapped around his midsection.  Turns out that quite a few ribs had been cracked when he'd been squeezed roughly, with nothing but the power of HAM keeping him going.  He's not looking too happy though.]

Wearing all this excess material... it's almost as if I'm being smothered!

[So says the man who can count the number of times he's worn a shirt in the past year on one hand.  But there's more on Jeremy's mind though, and when he returns to one of his preferred reading spots, he's cracking open two books.  One: The Art of War.  Two: one volume in a multipart series covering the actual events during the conflict popularized in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.  The stuff with Gucun's making him want to start from the ground up, and hopefully find a way to help Cheng by turning to one of the past's biggest accounts on chronic backstabbing.]

Han Zhi is nothing more than a usurper and a despot, his public support be damned!  He is not the first man in history to stage an uprising such as this, and many that came before him have failed in time.

I will not give up.  I will not see the troubled tale of Gucun end in such a way as this!

Comments

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew is also in the lounge, trying to pour over a list of military casualties in the Earth Federation for Raynor Joz...but failing as he too muses darkly about Han Zhi's betrayal.

"He is just like Stefan Amaris, the Usurper." He mutters.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

I take it then that the Clans have had to deal with men such as these as well?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff...that is to say, the ancestors of the clans–the men and women of the Star League–fought one such as Han Zhi."

He launches into a historical lecture that, to anyone else, might be a little off-putting.

"Stefan Amaris was the ruler of the Rim Worlds Republic, a minor star nation and protectorate of the mighty Star League, which was led by First Lord Richard Cameron, a young and troubled soul newly risen to the throne.

The vile heart of Amaris saw opportunity, and so, he cultivated the attention of Richard Cameron with gifts and flattery, supporting him in his rasher and more foolish political actions, and acting as Cameron's only ally whenever the Great Houses checked his influence. He started minor revolts all along the Periphery–save in his own nation, of course–so that General Kerensky and the S.L.D.F. were fighting never-ending suppression campaigns. And then he 'graciously' offered his own armies to help garrison Terra."

Matthew snarls quietly.

"Within a few months all members of the Cameron family line were butchered, and his forces drowned all opposition within the Terran Hegemony with their own blood. He 'offered' an alliance of power to Alexander Kerensky, but the Great General would not let his duty and honor be soiled by such an offer.

Though it took him 13 years of roaring civil war, he and the S.L.D.F. drowned the Rim Worlds Republic in flames, and wound their way through the core of the Hegemony to Terra itself. The would-be Emperor and his forces fought to the last, but were finally put down."

Matthew hesitated. "And yet the dream of the Star League was already lost..."

[make_history_chew_scenery]

[Certainly not off-putting to Jeremy. In fact, he's filled over two dozen notebook pages with comments and lines of inquiry for a later date.]

Astounding... regrettably more than a little unsurprising, but as my first real glimpse into Clan history it certainly has whet my appetite, Matthew!

Regrettably, I will have to ask for more information later... I cannot afford to let myself be distracted by another project when this one is so crucial!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"What project are you currently invested in?" Matthew inquires.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Conditioning myself! We have been played for fools constantly through this current crisis in Gucun... to have any hope of salvaging the situation, it's critical that we get on the same level as Han Zhi and plan and accurate predict his next moves.

My current readings will help with that.

[poorgirlsarcee]

[He's not the only one in bandages. She's still sulking a little, but she's curled up, a data pad in her lap and a cup of coffee in her hands. She's careful not to shift too much.]

It won't. They may be broken now, but I highly doubt Cheng and Devon'll let it stand as is. And the people there will probably wake up soon enough. Wouldn't be the first time a politician pulled the wool over public's eyes. That usually kicks the politician in the ass. I'm just hoping it's with something big hard and metallic and that he goes flying a good couple hundred yards.

[And there's a small wince as she sips her coffee.]

[make_history_chew_scenery]

I think you're underestimating the strength that the Chairman and his wife have shown in the past.

Fate may have dealt them a cruel hand this turn, but they've endured many a hardship in the past.

[bloodedsakura]

It's not their strength that I underestimate. They've just been dealt a huge blow, their moral's low.

[She shifts carefully, putting the coffee on the table.] They pretty much lost everything it will take them a little while to bounce back. I'm sure they will, but you can't shrug something like that off and act like nothing's going on.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Indeed, it is only human for these events to shake them, but saying they are "broken", considering the tribulations they've endured in the past, is practically an insult to their inner strength.

Even before he came onboard the Chalice, Cheng had survived in the hellish military state that Gucun once was, and is now dangerously slipping once again into. And Devon was part of the team tasked to battle against the Shifting Entities.

[Trust him, he's a historian.]

[poorgirlsarcee]

So I worded it a little wrong. I'm off my game today. [Yeah royally off it...]

[alwaysmyturn]

[Small sweatdrop here.]

With your body type, excess sounds about right.

What about these books though? Can they help with what's going on?

[make_history_chew_scenery]

They may very well indeed. If not directly, they will at least help as a primer. Looking to the past is often an invaluable tool in preparing for the future, and Gucun itself seems to have trouble in breaking free of its violent history.

[alwaysmyturn]

And this isn't one of those fights where you can just beat one guy up to win, is it?

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Unfortunately no... and for that matter, fights like those are few and far between, contrary to popular thought.

[alwaysmyturn]

Well okay then, let's see what we've got here...

[She approaches the copy of The Art of War that you've got open.]

"Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate."

Huh. Those guys must be using the same book.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

The Art of War's one of the oldest pieces of nonfiction in existence, and in spite of that its teaching still apply to battle as much today as they did the day Sun Tzu first penned it.

An if I can understand Han Zhi's next move, perhaps we can still save Gucun.

[alwaysmyturn]

I see where you're going there...

But this book is pretty much saying that if we know their plan, we'll plan around that. So they'll plan around the plan that we're planning around.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Ah, but that is where we have an insurmountable advantage.

If Han Zhi wished to engage in that game, he would have to account for every strategist onboard the Chalice... and he will no doubt be most concerned with what he thinks Cheng might do.

Whereas I merely need to plan for what Han Zhi might do.

[alwaysmyturn]

Got it. In other words, you'll be planning around the plan that they're planning around the plan that Cheng is planning around their plan!

That's awesome!

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Exactly!

And last, but not certainly not least, there's the abilities I can bring to the table as a former Adventus general in helping organize this counterstrike.

[alwaysmyturn]

Yeah, I heard you were a pretty overpowered boss back then...

Don't tell me...does that mean you're secretly keeping minions somewhere?

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Far from it. However, I do have the materials on-hand to reconstruct the Hyperion, if the need arises.

[alwaysmyturn]

Or that. That's fine too!

Having a robot with boss stats would help a bunch.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

"Boss stats"?

[Your Gamindustri is showing, Neptune.]

[glemy_magnet]

But, there's a problem with this: what if the people really do like Han Zhi? What if he makes things better? Do we still go through with trying to liberate it?

I know it's silly to think that, but there is that possibility.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Han Zhi is far from a benevolent tyrant. Perhaps he did have a point that Cheng was not the leader that Gucun needed... but he went to such lengths in his own bid for power.

Men like that make enemies far more often than friends... and the time will come, sooner or later, where he will have to choose between in serving himself or the people.

If it is the latter, then perhaps there is the possibility of reconciliation with the man. If not, then he will lose the support of Gucun's people.

[glemy_magnet]

Mmm, I guess you're right. But, in some odd way, it feels like a lot of this could have been avoided.

I have to wonder if... no, I KNOW a lot of this could have been avoided.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

It could have been, but we all had to go with what information we knew of. Had we known the details of Wang Ding Bang's abduction or some of Han Zhi's actions during Chairman Kwan's absence, we may have been able to keep things from reaching this point.

But alas, the past is past, and even those who study it cannot change what has already happened.

[whats_a_paladin]

Jeremy? Sorry for interrupting, but I need your expertise.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

You do?

[The historian looks up from his books.]

Very well then, how best can my knowledge be of service to you?

[whats_a_paladin]

Have you ever heard the name Alex Globing?

[make_history_chew_scenery]

[There's a moment's pause, Jeremy trying to comb through all off-hand knowledge of a "Globing" he might've retained in his magnificent brain. But alas...]

... There have been plenty of Globings and Alexanders who I've at least heard of and am somewhat familiar with... but unfortunately no one with that specific name.

Who might he be, a previous Paragon?

[whats_a_paladin]

I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out.

All I know for certain is that Alex Globing is dead at this point... And very important.

Whee, backtagging

[make_history_chew_scenery]

A man of importance should never be forgotten by history.

If you discover his role in the past before I do, please inform me so I may amend this travesty.

[whats_a_paladin]

I'll make sure to do that. Trust me.

[armored_runaway]

[[Here's a girl who doesn't know him.

Here's a girl who doesn't pay any mind to the books he's reading.

Here's a girl gawking and borderline drooling...]]

Woooah... look like sumone chizzled ya roight outta marbl'!

[make_history_chew_scenery]

[And Jeremy's just going to smile at that idolization.]

I saw to it that my body was strengthened alongside my mind! Far too often men of science are thought to be weak and frail, yet many times that is not the case... in fact, Dr. Neils Bohr was an Olympic-level gymnast!

[armored_runaway]

Doctor Who?

[[Word play... she's Brittanian!]]

Ah think Ah getcha... Still.... Ah mean... W-wow...

[make_history_chew_scenery]

A famous 20th century physicist. If I had the time perhaps I could give you a brief, but still enlightening recap of his contributions to science... but alas, my current task is too pressing!

[armored_runaway]

Ah... sorry fer makin ya go off on outta yer way...


So... what are you lookin at then?

[make_history_chew_scenery]

A history lesson. For those whose very career involves cataloging and recording the past, it is even more important than for most.

The incident in Gucun was severe, and the proper course of action may be difficult to figure out. Thus, I'm immersing myself in the past of the region, to remind myself of that which served as the foundation for war and politics for China!