On The Path
Undefined Undefined News UpdateContent
English
This portfolio originally appeared in Jump Point 9.3.
Imperator Erin Toi’s autobiography, “On the Path,” provides an honest and insightful look at her personal life and political ascension to becoming the first post-Messer Imperator. The book’s unique format finds the former Imperator focusing on important days that forever changed the trajectory of her life. Below is the excerpt from March 11, 2777.
March 11, 2777 – SHANGHAI, EARTH, SOL SYSTEM
“It’s time to go, Senator Toi.”
When asked about that day, those words are first to mind. Calmly whispered to me by Irfan Udell, my security chief, before I could ask the crowd of constituents for more questions. My first in-person event since my election to the Senate was already an hour over schedule. I apologized to those still waiting and asked my staff to gather all remaining questions.
Irfan casually chatted with me during our walk to the hangar. Something he rarely did in the early days. Waiting inside was a full military transport. I had expected a small hopper to ferry me to Shanghai’s waterfront gardens for a sunset walk. Before I could inquire, Ifran handed me a dossier. Irfan informed me that Shanghai officials had just arrested two individuals involved in a plot to assassinate me. Flipping through the files, I saw records of comms discussing my scheduled visit to the gardens, schematics, three suspect profiles, and photos of two people being arrested while unloading crates from a handcart. Since the third suspect was still at large, he deemed it imperative to get me off-world.
Whenever I reflect on that day, Irfan’s calm, professional demeanor always stands out. Only later did I learn how his team had worked tirelessly for weeks to orchestrate the sting without allowing it to affect my appearances or tip their hand to Messer loyalists. If Irfan’s team could defy the regime, then so could I.
PRIME TARGET
To anyone paying attention, the Messers effectively began hand-selecting Earth’s senators in the mid-2600s. Although Senate elections still occurred, the eventual winner was always obvious thanks to pervasive ads and a non-stop media blitz focused on a specific pro-Messer candidate. Around the same time, particularly vocal political opponents began to disappear (we now know to Charon’s secret prisons). Earth’s opposition parties withered along with any enthusiasm to run against a Messer-backed candidate, eventually leading to several Senate elections where only one candidate appeared on the ballot.
By the time I registered my run for the Senate in late 2775, I knew the risk I was taking but didn’t let it deter me. Honestly, I never expected to win. Only to show the empire what was clear to many of us on Earth; the Messer’s political influence was waning.
Once elected, the Senate assigned me a security team led by Irfan. I had heard that Messer loyalists were known to be installed with the Senate security services to keep tabs on senators, but an emboldened block of anti-Messer senators had recently restructured and reformed the security services to end such surveillance. Irfan’s team quickly earned my trust and eventually my eternal gratitude for their actions in Shanghai. As we broke atmo leaving Earth that day, Irfan promised that his team would continue to do everything within their power to keep me and my staff safe, and I promised to fight like hell to save the empire from the Messers.
STRATEGIC VISION
Exhausted yet strangely energized from the events of the day, I spoke with Terran Senator Heng Ibrahim who was then the head of the Senate’s Defense Committee. He told me privately what could never be uttered publicly, that the Messers were responsible for sending my would-be assassins, but they still had enough loyal senators to stop any investigation. Despite my desire to confront Imperator Messer X over the incident, now was not the time to pick a fight.
Unofficially though, further details about the failed assassination attempt continued to trickle in. The arrested conspirators, Shigeki Renshaw and Dalton Boudet, were both in possession of valid employee IDs that allowed them to bypass security checks at the Shanghai gardens. An attempt to access information on their comps was thwarted by an advanced encryption system that wiped the devices when a password wasn’t entered within the allotted time. Despite a variety of threats and incentives, Renshaw and Boudet refused to talk and both were killed in jail before making it to trial.
Strategically, it was better to focus that political anger and energy onto issues that improved the Empire for all. To show voters how a good, responsible government could work if they wanted it. Publicly, this included legislation that restored the voting rights of political dissidents (which failed upon introduction, naturally), and behind the scenes, attempting to establish positive diplomatic relations with the Xi’an that eventually led to the Akari-Kr.ē Treaty of 2789.
History has proven this strategy effective. In the aftermath of the Messers, we now know the failed assassination attempt angered Linton and Fiona Messer, who believed it made their father look weak. Due to this and various other grievances, the two began plotting what would become the coup at Khanos Stadium that deposed Ulysses Messer X in 2781. While the regime festered from the inside, Senatorial influence increased and positively reformed other parts of the government. I saw the system begin to heal before my eyes. That’s why, when the terrible and bloody 11-year reign of Imperator Linton Messer XI finally came to an end, I felt more confident than ever that everything was going to be ok.
Let’s go to that day next, May 3, 2792.
Imperator Erin Toi’s autobiography, “On the Path,” provides an honest and insightful look at her personal life and political ascension to becoming the first post-Messer Imperator. The book’s unique format finds the former Imperator focusing on important days that forever changed the trajectory of her life. Below is the excerpt from March 11, 2777.
March 11, 2777 – SHANGHAI, EARTH, SOL SYSTEM
“It’s time to go, Senator Toi.”
When asked about that day, those words are first to mind. Calmly whispered to me by Irfan Udell, my security chief, before I could ask the crowd of constituents for more questions. My first in-person event since my election to the Senate was already an hour over schedule. I apologized to those still waiting and asked my staff to gather all remaining questions.
Irfan casually chatted with me during our walk to the hangar. Something he rarely did in the early days. Waiting inside was a full military transport. I had expected a small hopper to ferry me to Shanghai’s waterfront gardens for a sunset walk. Before I could inquire, Ifran handed me a dossier. Irfan informed me that Shanghai officials had just arrested two individuals involved in a plot to assassinate me. Flipping through the files, I saw records of comms discussing my scheduled visit to the gardens, schematics, three suspect profiles, and photos of two people being arrested while unloading crates from a handcart. Since the third suspect was still at large, he deemed it imperative to get me off-world.
Whenever I reflect on that day, Irfan’s calm, professional demeanor always stands out. Only later did I learn how his team had worked tirelessly for weeks to orchestrate the sting without allowing it to affect my appearances or tip their hand to Messer loyalists. If Irfan’s team could defy the regime, then so could I.
PRIME TARGET
To anyone paying attention, the Messers effectively began hand-selecting Earth’s senators in the mid-2600s. Although Senate elections still occurred, the eventual winner was always obvious thanks to pervasive ads and a non-stop media blitz focused on a specific pro-Messer candidate. Around the same time, particularly vocal political opponents began to disappear (we now know to Charon’s secret prisons). Earth’s opposition parties withered along with any enthusiasm to run against a Messer-backed candidate, eventually leading to several Senate elections where only one candidate appeared on the ballot.
By the time I registered my run for the Senate in late 2775, I knew the risk I was taking but didn’t let it deter me. Honestly, I never expected to win. Only to show the empire what was clear to many of us on Earth; the Messer’s political influence was waning.
Once elected, the Senate assigned me a security team led by Irfan. I had heard that Messer loyalists were known to be installed with the Senate security services to keep tabs on senators, but an emboldened block of anti-Messer senators had recently restructured and reformed the security services to end such surveillance. Irfan’s team quickly earned my trust and eventually my eternal gratitude for their actions in Shanghai. As we broke atmo leaving Earth that day, Irfan promised that his team would continue to do everything within their power to keep me and my staff safe, and I promised to fight like hell to save the empire from the Messers.
STRATEGIC VISION
Exhausted yet strangely energized from the events of the day, I spoke with Terran Senator Heng Ibrahim who was then the head of the Senate’s Defense Committee. He told me privately what could never be uttered publicly, that the Messers were responsible for sending my would-be assassins, but they still had enough loyal senators to stop any investigation. Despite my desire to confront Imperator Messer X over the incident, now was not the time to pick a fight.
Unofficially though, further details about the failed assassination attempt continued to trickle in. The arrested conspirators, Shigeki Renshaw and Dalton Boudet, were both in possession of valid employee IDs that allowed them to bypass security checks at the Shanghai gardens. An attempt to access information on their comps was thwarted by an advanced encryption system that wiped the devices when a password wasn’t entered within the allotted time. Despite a variety of threats and incentives, Renshaw and Boudet refused to talk and both were killed in jail before making it to trial.
Strategically, it was better to focus that political anger and energy onto issues that improved the Empire for all. To show voters how a good, responsible government could work if they wanted it. Publicly, this included legislation that restored the voting rights of political dissidents (which failed upon introduction, naturally), and behind the scenes, attempting to establish positive diplomatic relations with the Xi’an that eventually led to the Akari-Kr.ē Treaty of 2789.
History has proven this strategy effective. In the aftermath of the Messers, we now know the failed assassination attempt angered Linton and Fiona Messer, who believed it made their father look weak. Due to this and various other grievances, the two began plotting what would become the coup at Khanos Stadium that deposed Ulysses Messer X in 2781. While the regime festered from the inside, Senatorial influence increased and positively reformed other parts of the government. I saw the system begin to heal before my eyes. That’s why, when the terrible and bloody 11-year reign of Imperator Linton Messer XI finally came to an end, I felt more confident than ever that everything was going to be ok.
Let’s go to that day next, May 3, 2792.
German
Dieses Portfolio erschien ursprünglich in Jump Point 9.3.
Die Autobiographie von Imperatorin Erin Toi, "Auf dem Weg", bietet einen ehrlichen und aufschlussreichen Einblick in ihr persönliches Leben und ihren politischen Aufstieg zur ersten Nach-Messer-Imperatorin. In dem einzigartigen Format des Buches konzentriert sich die ehemalige Imperatorin auf wichtige Tage, die ihr Leben für immer verändert haben. Nachfolgend finden Sie einen Auszug vom 11. März 2777.
11. März 2777 - SHANGHAI, ERDE, SOL-SYSTEM
"Es ist Zeit zu gehen, Senator Toi."
Wenn man mich nach diesem Tag fragt, kommen mir diese Worte als erstes in den Sinn. Ruhig flüsterte mir Irfan Udell, mein Sicherheitschef, zu, bevor ich die Menge der Wähler um weitere Fragen bitten konnte. Meine erste persönliche Veranstaltung seit meiner Wahl in den Senat war bereits eine Stunde über dem Zeitplan. Ich entschuldigte mich bei den noch Wartenden und bat meine Mitarbeiter, alle verbleibenden Fragen zu sammeln.
Irfan plauderte während unseres Spaziergangs zum Hangar ganz beiläufig mit mir. Etwas, das er in den ersten Tagen nur selten tat. Drinnen wartete ein voller Militärtransporter. Ich hatte einen kleinen Hopper erwartet, der mich für einen Spaziergang bei Sonnenuntergang zu den Gärten am Wasser von Shanghai bringen sollte. Bevor ich mich erkundigen konnte, reichte mir Ifran ein Dossier. Irfan informierte mich, dass die Beamten in Shanghai gerade zwei Personen verhaftet hatten, die an einem Attentatsplan auf mich beteiligt waren. Als ich die Akten durchblätterte, sah ich Aufzeichnungen von Kommunikationen, in denen mein geplanter Besuch in den Gärten besprochen wurde, Baupläne, drei Profile von Verdächtigen und Fotos von zwei Personen, die verhaftet wurden, während sie Kisten von einem Handkarren abluden. Da der dritte Verdächtige noch auf freiem Fuß war, hielt er es für dringend erforderlich, mich aus der Welt zu schaffen.
Wenn ich an diesen Tag zurückdenke, fällt mir immer wieder Irfans ruhiges, professionelles Auftreten auf. Erst später erfuhr ich, dass sein Team wochenlang unermüdlich daran gearbeitet hatte, die Aktion so zu inszenieren, dass sie weder mein Erscheinungsbild beeinträchtigte noch den Messer-Loyalisten in die Hände spielte. Wenn Irfans Team dem Regime trotzen konnte, dann konnte ich das auch.
HAUPTZIELSCHEIBE
Für jeden, der aufmerksam ist, haben die Messers Mitte der 2600er Jahre damit begonnen, die Senatoren der Erde von Hand auszuwählen. Obwohl es immer noch Senatswahlen gab, war der letztendliche Gewinner dank der allgegenwärtigen Werbung und der ununterbrochenen Medienpräsenz, die sich auf einen bestimmten Pro-Messer-Kandidaten konzentrierte, immer offensichtlich. Etwa zur gleichen Zeit begannen besonders lautstarke politische Gegner zu verschwinden (wir wissen jetzt, dass es sich um Charons Geheimgefängnisse handelt). Die Oppositionsparteien auf der Erde verkümmerten zusammen mit dem Enthusiasmus, gegen einen von Messer unterstützten Kandidaten anzutreten, was schließlich zu mehreren Senatswahlen führte, bei denen nur ein Kandidat auf dem Stimmzettel stand.
Als ich Ende 2775 meine Kandidatur für den Senat anmeldete, kannte ich das Risiko, das ich einging, aber ich ließ mich nicht abschrecken. Ehrlich gesagt hatte ich nie erwartet, dass ich gewinnen würde. Ich wollte dem Imperium nur zeigen, was vielen von uns auf der Erde klar war: Der politische Einfluss der Messer war am Schwinden.
Nach meiner Wahl wies mir der Senat ein Sicherheitsteam unter der Leitung von Irfan zu. Ich hatte gehört, dass Messer-Loyalisten bei den Sicherheitsdiensten des Senats untergebracht waren, um die Senatoren zu überwachen, aber ein ermutigter Block von Anti-Messer-Senatoren hatte die Sicherheitsdienste kürzlich umstrukturiert und reformiert, um diese Überwachung zu beenden. Irfans Team hat sich schnell mein Vertrauen und schließlich meine ewige Dankbarkeit für ihr Handeln in Shanghai verdient. Als wir an diesem Tag die Erde verließen, versprach Irfan, dass sein Team weiterhin alles in seiner Macht Stehende tun würde, um mich und meine Mitarbeiter zu schützen, und ich versprach, wie der Teufel zu kämpfen, um das Imperium vor den Messern zu retten.
STRATEGISCHE VISION
Erschöpft und doch seltsam erregt von den Ereignissen des Tages, sprach ich mit dem terranischen Senator Heng Ibrahim, der damals den Verteidigungsausschuss des Senats leitete. Er erzählte mir unter vier Augen, was niemals öffentlich ausgesprochen werden durfte, nämlich dass die Messers für die Entsendung meiner Möchtegern-Attentäter verantwortlich waren, dass sie aber immer noch genug loyale Senatoren hatten, um jede Untersuchung zu verhindern. Obwohl ich Imperator Messer X wegen des Vorfalls zur Rede stellen wollte, war jetzt nicht der richtige Zeitpunkt, um einen Streit zu beginnen.
Inoffiziell sickerten jedoch immer mehr Details über den gescheiterten Attentatsversuch durch. Die verhafteten Verschwörer, Shigeki Renshaw und Dalton Boudet, waren beide im Besitz gültiger Mitarbeiterausweise, mit denen sie die Sicherheitskontrollen in den Shanghai Gardens umgehen konnten. Ein Versuch, auf die Informationen auf ihren Computern zuzugreifen, wurde durch ein fortschrittliches Verschlüsselungssystem vereitelt, das die Geräte löschte, wenn ein Passwort nicht innerhalb der vorgegebenen Zeit eingegeben wurde. Trotz einer Vielzahl von Drohungen und Anreizen weigerten sich Renshaw und Boudet zu reden und wurden beide im Gefängnis getötet, bevor sie vor Gericht gestellt wurden.
Strategisch gesehen war es besser, diese politische Wut und Energie auf Themen zu konzentrieren, die das Imperium für alle verbessern. Um den Wählern zu zeigen, wie eine gute, verantwortungsvolle Regierung funktionieren kann, wenn sie es wollen. Dazu gehörten in der Öffentlichkeit Gesetze, die das Wahlrecht für politische Dissidenten wiederherstellten (die natürlich bei ihrer Einführung scheiterten), und hinter den Kulissen der Versuch, positive diplomatische Beziehungen mit den Xi'an aufzubauen, die schließlich zum Akari-Kr.ē-Vertrag von 2789 führten.
Die Geschichte hat bewiesen, dass diese Strategie erfolgreich war. Im Nachgang zu den Messers wissen wir nun, dass der gescheiterte Attentatsversuch Linton und Fiona Messer verärgert hat, da sie glaubten, dass ihr Vater dadurch schwach aussah. Aus diesem und anderen Gründen begannen die beiden, den Putsch im Khanos-Stadion zu planen, durch den Ulysses Messer X im Jahr 2781 gestürzt wurde. Während das Regime von innen her schwelte, wuchs der Einfluss des Senators und reformierte andere Teile der Regierung. Ich sah, wie sich das System vor meinen Augen zu heilen begann. Deshalb war ich, als die schreckliche und blutige 11-jährige Herrschaft von Imperator Linton Messer XI endlich zu Ende ging, zuversichtlicher denn je, dass alles gut werden würde.
Kommen wir nun zu diesem Tag, dem 3. Mai 2792.
Die Autobiographie von Imperatorin Erin Toi, "Auf dem Weg", bietet einen ehrlichen und aufschlussreichen Einblick in ihr persönliches Leben und ihren politischen Aufstieg zur ersten Nach-Messer-Imperatorin. In dem einzigartigen Format des Buches konzentriert sich die ehemalige Imperatorin auf wichtige Tage, die ihr Leben für immer verändert haben. Nachfolgend finden Sie einen Auszug vom 11. März 2777.
11. März 2777 - SHANGHAI, ERDE, SOL-SYSTEM
"Es ist Zeit zu gehen, Senator Toi."
Wenn man mich nach diesem Tag fragt, kommen mir diese Worte als erstes in den Sinn. Ruhig flüsterte mir Irfan Udell, mein Sicherheitschef, zu, bevor ich die Menge der Wähler um weitere Fragen bitten konnte. Meine erste persönliche Veranstaltung seit meiner Wahl in den Senat war bereits eine Stunde über dem Zeitplan. Ich entschuldigte mich bei den noch Wartenden und bat meine Mitarbeiter, alle verbleibenden Fragen zu sammeln.
Irfan plauderte während unseres Spaziergangs zum Hangar ganz beiläufig mit mir. Etwas, das er in den ersten Tagen nur selten tat. Drinnen wartete ein voller Militärtransporter. Ich hatte einen kleinen Hopper erwartet, der mich für einen Spaziergang bei Sonnenuntergang zu den Gärten am Wasser von Shanghai bringen sollte. Bevor ich mich erkundigen konnte, reichte mir Ifran ein Dossier. Irfan informierte mich, dass die Beamten in Shanghai gerade zwei Personen verhaftet hatten, die an einem Attentatsplan auf mich beteiligt waren. Als ich die Akten durchblätterte, sah ich Aufzeichnungen von Kommunikationen, in denen mein geplanter Besuch in den Gärten besprochen wurde, Baupläne, drei Profile von Verdächtigen und Fotos von zwei Personen, die verhaftet wurden, während sie Kisten von einem Handkarren abluden. Da der dritte Verdächtige noch auf freiem Fuß war, hielt er es für dringend erforderlich, mich aus der Welt zu schaffen.
Wenn ich an diesen Tag zurückdenke, fällt mir immer wieder Irfans ruhiges, professionelles Auftreten auf. Erst später erfuhr ich, dass sein Team wochenlang unermüdlich daran gearbeitet hatte, die Aktion so zu inszenieren, dass sie weder mein Erscheinungsbild beeinträchtigte noch den Messer-Loyalisten in die Hände spielte. Wenn Irfans Team dem Regime trotzen konnte, dann konnte ich das auch.
HAUPTZIELSCHEIBE
Für jeden, der aufmerksam ist, haben die Messers Mitte der 2600er Jahre damit begonnen, die Senatoren der Erde von Hand auszuwählen. Obwohl es immer noch Senatswahlen gab, war der letztendliche Gewinner dank der allgegenwärtigen Werbung und der ununterbrochenen Medienpräsenz, die sich auf einen bestimmten Pro-Messer-Kandidaten konzentrierte, immer offensichtlich. Etwa zur gleichen Zeit begannen besonders lautstarke politische Gegner zu verschwinden (wir wissen jetzt, dass es sich um Charons Geheimgefängnisse handelt). Die Oppositionsparteien auf der Erde verkümmerten zusammen mit dem Enthusiasmus, gegen einen von Messer unterstützten Kandidaten anzutreten, was schließlich zu mehreren Senatswahlen führte, bei denen nur ein Kandidat auf dem Stimmzettel stand.
Als ich Ende 2775 meine Kandidatur für den Senat anmeldete, kannte ich das Risiko, das ich einging, aber ich ließ mich nicht abschrecken. Ehrlich gesagt hatte ich nie erwartet, dass ich gewinnen würde. Ich wollte dem Imperium nur zeigen, was vielen von uns auf der Erde klar war: Der politische Einfluss der Messer war am Schwinden.
Nach meiner Wahl wies mir der Senat ein Sicherheitsteam unter der Leitung von Irfan zu. Ich hatte gehört, dass Messer-Loyalisten bei den Sicherheitsdiensten des Senats untergebracht waren, um die Senatoren zu überwachen, aber ein ermutigter Block von Anti-Messer-Senatoren hatte die Sicherheitsdienste kürzlich umstrukturiert und reformiert, um diese Überwachung zu beenden. Irfans Team hat sich schnell mein Vertrauen und schließlich meine ewige Dankbarkeit für ihr Handeln in Shanghai verdient. Als wir an diesem Tag die Erde verließen, versprach Irfan, dass sein Team weiterhin alles in seiner Macht Stehende tun würde, um mich und meine Mitarbeiter zu schützen, und ich versprach, wie der Teufel zu kämpfen, um das Imperium vor den Messern zu retten.
STRATEGISCHE VISION
Erschöpft und doch seltsam erregt von den Ereignissen des Tages, sprach ich mit dem terranischen Senator Heng Ibrahim, der damals den Verteidigungsausschuss des Senats leitete. Er erzählte mir unter vier Augen, was niemals öffentlich ausgesprochen werden durfte, nämlich dass die Messers für die Entsendung meiner Möchtegern-Attentäter verantwortlich waren, dass sie aber immer noch genug loyale Senatoren hatten, um jede Untersuchung zu verhindern. Obwohl ich Imperator Messer X wegen des Vorfalls zur Rede stellen wollte, war jetzt nicht der richtige Zeitpunkt, um einen Streit zu beginnen.
Inoffiziell sickerten jedoch immer mehr Details über den gescheiterten Attentatsversuch durch. Die verhafteten Verschwörer, Shigeki Renshaw und Dalton Boudet, waren beide im Besitz gültiger Mitarbeiterausweise, mit denen sie die Sicherheitskontrollen in den Shanghai Gardens umgehen konnten. Ein Versuch, auf die Informationen auf ihren Computern zuzugreifen, wurde durch ein fortschrittliches Verschlüsselungssystem vereitelt, das die Geräte löschte, wenn ein Passwort nicht innerhalb der vorgegebenen Zeit eingegeben wurde. Trotz einer Vielzahl von Drohungen und Anreizen weigerten sich Renshaw und Boudet zu reden und wurden beide im Gefängnis getötet, bevor sie vor Gericht gestellt wurden.
Strategisch gesehen war es besser, diese politische Wut und Energie auf Themen zu konzentrieren, die das Imperium für alle verbessern. Um den Wählern zu zeigen, wie eine gute, verantwortungsvolle Regierung funktionieren kann, wenn sie es wollen. Dazu gehörten in der Öffentlichkeit Gesetze, die das Wahlrecht für politische Dissidenten wiederherstellten (die natürlich bei ihrer Einführung scheiterten), und hinter den Kulissen der Versuch, positive diplomatische Beziehungen mit den Xi'an aufzubauen, die schließlich zum Akari-Kr.ē-Vertrag von 2789 führten.
Die Geschichte hat bewiesen, dass diese Strategie erfolgreich war. Im Nachgang zu den Messers wissen wir nun, dass der gescheiterte Attentatsversuch Linton und Fiona Messer verärgert hat, da sie glaubten, dass ihr Vater dadurch schwach aussah. Aus diesem und anderen Gründen begannen die beiden, den Putsch im Khanos-Stadion zu planen, durch den Ulysses Messer X im Jahr 2781 gestürzt wurde. Während das Regime von innen her schwelte, wuchs der Einfluss des Senators und reformierte andere Teile der Regierung. Ich sah, wie sich das System vor meinen Augen zu heilen begann. Deshalb war ich, als die schreckliche und blutige 11-jährige Herrschaft von Imperator Linton Messer XI endlich zu Ende ging, zuversichtlicher denn je, dass alles gut werden würde.
Kommen wir nun zu diesem Tag, dem 3. Mai 2792.
Chinese
This portfolio originally appeared in Jump Point 9.3.
Imperator Erin Toi’s autobiography, “On the Path,” provides an honest and insightful look at her personal life and political ascension to becoming the first post-Messer Imperator. The book’s unique format finds the former Imperator focusing on important days that forever changed the trajectory of her life. Below is the excerpt from March 11, 2777.
March 11, 2777 – SHANGHAI, EARTH, SOL SYSTEM
“It’s time to go, Senator Toi.”
When asked about that day, those words are first to mind. Calmly whispered to me by Irfan Udell, my security chief, before I could ask the crowd of constituents for more questions. My first in-person event since my election to the Senate was already an hour over schedule. I apologized to those still waiting and asked my staff to gather all remaining questions.
Irfan casually chatted with me during our walk to the hangar. Something he rarely did in the early days. Waiting inside was a full military transport. I had expected a small hopper to ferry me to Shanghai’s waterfront gardens for a sunset walk. Before I could inquire, Ifran handed me a dossier. Irfan informed me that Shanghai officials had just arrested two individuals involved in a plot to assassinate me. Flipping through the files, I saw records of comms discussing my scheduled visit to the gardens, schematics, three suspect profiles, and photos of two people being arrested while unloading crates from a handcart. Since the third suspect was still at large, he deemed it imperative to get me off-world.
Whenever I reflect on that day, Irfan’s calm, professional demeanor always stands out. Only later did I learn how his team had worked tirelessly for weeks to orchestrate the sting without allowing it to affect my appearances or tip their hand to Messer loyalists. If Irfan’s team could defy the regime, then so could I.
PRIME TARGET
To anyone paying attention, the Messers effectively began hand-selecting Earth’s senators in the mid-2600s. Although Senate elections still occurred, the eventual winner was always obvious thanks to pervasive ads and a non-stop media blitz focused on a specific pro-Messer candidate. Around the same time, particularly vocal political opponents began to disappear (we now know to Charon’s secret prisons). Earth’s opposition parties withered along with any enthusiasm to run against a Messer-backed candidate, eventually leading to several Senate elections where only one candidate appeared on the ballot.
By the time I registered my run for the Senate in late 2775, I knew the risk I was taking but didn’t let it deter me. Honestly, I never expected to win. Only to show the empire what was clear to many of us on Earth; the Messer’s political influence was waning.
Once elected, the Senate assigned me a security team led by Irfan. I had heard that Messer loyalists were known to be installed with the Senate security services to keep tabs on senators, but an emboldened block of anti-Messer senators had recently restructured and reformed the security services to end such surveillance. Irfan’s team quickly earned my trust and eventually my eternal gratitude for their actions in Shanghai. As we broke atmo leaving Earth that day, Irfan promised that his team would continue to do everything within their power to keep me and my staff safe, and I promised to fight like hell to save the empire from the Messers.
STRATEGIC VISION
Exhausted yet strangely energized from the events of the day, I spoke with Terran Senator Heng Ibrahim who was then the head of the Senate’s Defense Committee. He told me privately what could never be uttered publicly, that the Messers were responsible for sending my would-be assassins, but they still had enough loyal senators to stop any investigation. Despite my desire to confront Imperator Messer X over the incident, now was not the time to pick a fight.
Unofficially though, further details about the failed assassination attempt continued to trickle in. The arrested conspirators, Shigeki Renshaw and Dalton Boudet, were both in possession of valid employee IDs that allowed them to bypass security checks at the Shanghai gardens. An attempt to access information on their comps was thwarted by an advanced encryption system that wiped the devices when a password wasn’t entered within the allotted time. Despite a variety of threats and incentives, Renshaw and Boudet refused to talk and both were killed in jail before making it to trial.
Strategically, it was better to focus that political anger and energy onto issues that improved the Empire for all. To show voters how a good, responsible government could work if they wanted it. Publicly, this included legislation that restored the voting rights of political dissidents (which failed upon introduction, naturally), and behind the scenes, attempting to establish positive diplomatic relations with the Xi’an that eventually led to the Akari-Kr.ē Treaty of 2789.
History has proven this strategy effective. In the aftermath of the Messers, we now know the failed assassination attempt angered Linton and Fiona Messer, who believed it made their father look weak. Due to this and various other grievances, the two began plotting what would become the coup at Khanos Stadium that deposed Ulysses Messer X in 2781. While the regime festered from the inside, Senatorial influence increased and positively reformed other parts of the government. I saw the system begin to heal before my eyes. That’s why, when the terrible and bloody 11-year reign of Imperator Linton Messer XI finally came to an end, I felt more confident than ever that everything was going to be ok.
Let’s go to that day next, May 3, 2792.
Imperator Erin Toi’s autobiography, “On the Path,” provides an honest and insightful look at her personal life and political ascension to becoming the first post-Messer Imperator. The book’s unique format finds the former Imperator focusing on important days that forever changed the trajectory of her life. Below is the excerpt from March 11, 2777.
March 11, 2777 – SHANGHAI, EARTH, SOL SYSTEM
“It’s time to go, Senator Toi.”
When asked about that day, those words are first to mind. Calmly whispered to me by Irfan Udell, my security chief, before I could ask the crowd of constituents for more questions. My first in-person event since my election to the Senate was already an hour over schedule. I apologized to those still waiting and asked my staff to gather all remaining questions.
Irfan casually chatted with me during our walk to the hangar. Something he rarely did in the early days. Waiting inside was a full military transport. I had expected a small hopper to ferry me to Shanghai’s waterfront gardens for a sunset walk. Before I could inquire, Ifran handed me a dossier. Irfan informed me that Shanghai officials had just arrested two individuals involved in a plot to assassinate me. Flipping through the files, I saw records of comms discussing my scheduled visit to the gardens, schematics, three suspect profiles, and photos of two people being arrested while unloading crates from a handcart. Since the third suspect was still at large, he deemed it imperative to get me off-world.
Whenever I reflect on that day, Irfan’s calm, professional demeanor always stands out. Only later did I learn how his team had worked tirelessly for weeks to orchestrate the sting without allowing it to affect my appearances or tip their hand to Messer loyalists. If Irfan’s team could defy the regime, then so could I.
PRIME TARGET
To anyone paying attention, the Messers effectively began hand-selecting Earth’s senators in the mid-2600s. Although Senate elections still occurred, the eventual winner was always obvious thanks to pervasive ads and a non-stop media blitz focused on a specific pro-Messer candidate. Around the same time, particularly vocal political opponents began to disappear (we now know to Charon’s secret prisons). Earth’s opposition parties withered along with any enthusiasm to run against a Messer-backed candidate, eventually leading to several Senate elections where only one candidate appeared on the ballot.
By the time I registered my run for the Senate in late 2775, I knew the risk I was taking but didn’t let it deter me. Honestly, I never expected to win. Only to show the empire what was clear to many of us on Earth; the Messer’s political influence was waning.
Once elected, the Senate assigned me a security team led by Irfan. I had heard that Messer loyalists were known to be installed with the Senate security services to keep tabs on senators, but an emboldened block of anti-Messer senators had recently restructured and reformed the security services to end such surveillance. Irfan’s team quickly earned my trust and eventually my eternal gratitude for their actions in Shanghai. As we broke atmo leaving Earth that day, Irfan promised that his team would continue to do everything within their power to keep me and my staff safe, and I promised to fight like hell to save the empire from the Messers.
STRATEGIC VISION
Exhausted yet strangely energized from the events of the day, I spoke with Terran Senator Heng Ibrahim who was then the head of the Senate’s Defense Committee. He told me privately what could never be uttered publicly, that the Messers were responsible for sending my would-be assassins, but they still had enough loyal senators to stop any investigation. Despite my desire to confront Imperator Messer X over the incident, now was not the time to pick a fight.
Unofficially though, further details about the failed assassination attempt continued to trickle in. The arrested conspirators, Shigeki Renshaw and Dalton Boudet, were both in possession of valid employee IDs that allowed them to bypass security checks at the Shanghai gardens. An attempt to access information on their comps was thwarted by an advanced encryption system that wiped the devices when a password wasn’t entered within the allotted time. Despite a variety of threats and incentives, Renshaw and Boudet refused to talk and both were killed in jail before making it to trial.
Strategically, it was better to focus that political anger and energy onto issues that improved the Empire for all. To show voters how a good, responsible government could work if they wanted it. Publicly, this included legislation that restored the voting rights of political dissidents (which failed upon introduction, naturally), and behind the scenes, attempting to establish positive diplomatic relations with the Xi’an that eventually led to the Akari-Kr.ē Treaty of 2789.
History has proven this strategy effective. In the aftermath of the Messers, we now know the failed assassination attempt angered Linton and Fiona Messer, who believed it made their father look weak. Due to this and various other grievances, the two began plotting what would become the coup at Khanos Stadium that deposed Ulysses Messer X in 2781. While the regime festered from the inside, Senatorial influence increased and positively reformed other parts of the government. I saw the system begin to heal before my eyes. That’s why, when the terrible and bloody 11-year reign of Imperator Linton Messer XI finally came to an end, I felt more confident than ever that everything was going to be ok.
Let’s go to that day next, May 3, 2792.
Links
No links available.
Metadata
- CIG ID
- 18548
- Channel
- Undefined
- Category
- Undefined
- Series
- News Update
- Comments
- 8
- Published
- 4 years ago (2022-02-09T02:00:00+00:00)