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Chapter 50[]
Can you tell me where can we start over?[]
The Triad
Tharkad, Lyran Alliance
3065
A variation of the report found its way to Regent Nondi Steiner's desk...right about the same time that Adam Steiner was announcing that the Melissia Theater command, including both the zone recovered from the Jade Falcons, and Kowloon, was going 'neutral' in the Civil War.
This did not make the old lady happy.
ComStar HPG Compound
Kowloon, Lyran Alliance
October 22nd, 3065
Elizabeth sat in the comm center, and looked at someone she hadn't seen in years.
"MMMM...Crayyyaans." she said, "What do you want, Nondi?"
"You've been holding out on us." accused Nondi
"You took long enough to notice." she said, "I assume this is about my reforms."
"The nation requires-" Nondi began
"So sorry, gave at the office." Liz said, "or has your Intel been so shit that you haven't gotten my casualty reports? So far we're up to thirty thousand troops deployed in active combat against the Clan invaders. With just under two thousand casualties, not to mention the bill for the lost equipment you didn't even want me to have."
Nondi Steiner's jaw dropped on the screen, then closed, "I never-"
"Never fast-tracked approval on licenses, never signed the waivers, never allocated funds. You also withdrew support from units on the front lines that I had to pay to rescue. You've never come up with a counter-offensive, never assembled forces, never did your ****** duty and never earned my trust." Elizabeth continued, "Your regency reminds me of Stonecipher's, only had an excuse-he was a bloody foreigner." Liz tented her fingers, "I played it straight for years, Your Grace. I followed the rules and when they fell apart. I followed the law, and when that turned into your shit-show. I followed my conscience. Make your pitch, Nondi, because right now, I'm thinking I can tell you and the entire staff at Mount Asgard to go ****** yourselves. Adam Steiner agrees with me. YOur stupid, petty little family feud has cost this realm big time." she held up a waxy candy "Mmm...CRaaaayons. YOu know, I really should've asked if we were including these in the MEU rations. This one is tangerine, I don't know what a tangerine is, but it tastes like wax and citric acid with a little sugar."
"Elizabeth NGO!! You're perilously close to being in open revolt against-" Nondi Steiner shouted
"Against who? The usurper who can't run her realm-either of them-without shooting her subordinates in the back or the guy who let himself be deposed for a little Drac pussy? I have my 'yard', madame REGENT. The Coast Guard will not be leaving it except under the command of the one Steiner Cousin I know isn't going to ****** me over. The 171st will remain where stationed unless or until there is a national government that can govern, which clearly neither you, nor Krazy Kathy can manage."
"You can be removed!!" yelled Nondi
"Come and take it." Elizabeth said, "Oh, right, you can't, because you've got your key units earlobes deep in fighting your key units. Christifori and Adam Steiner are minding the ****** store, Morgan Kell is minding the ****** store, I'm minding the ****** store, and you can go ****** yourself. You're irrelevant...hey, lookit that..." Liz pulled out a brownie from her lunch bag, "Pot brownies!" she grinned, "I'll be a little bit delinquent on my taxes this year. Sorry, but funding the defense of the Lyran Commonwealth is Expensive and the central government has been of no use whatsoever!!"
"You're..you're irrational!"
"I'm high as a kite and dying of an incurable disease-what's your excuse?" Liz paused as the Regent started trying to sound threatening again with dire warnings and promises. She bit into the (not pot) brownie, and chewed. "Oh! Oh right..I was supposed to tell you...um...what was I supposed to be saying..?" she put the half-eaten brownie aside and opened the box of 'crayons'. "Oh...right...I signed my own waiver. ****** you very much, but I've got Clan forces one jump off my coreward front and well...that's too close...hmmm, cherry?" she bit into the waxy candy. "Right...cherry...less sugar would work, I think...but the guys are gonna love these." she reached over as Nondi Steiner struggled to get a word in edgewise, "I sent a Toothpick by parcel post, it's not to scale, but it's a promise. Goodbye."
Liz tapped the off-switch, ending the HPG call. "Thanks Demi-Precentor. I feel much better now."
"A...toothpick?"
"Nevermind. Mm, Crayons, want one?"