A Shadow needs Light..
16 Oct 2024Brotherblaze
The Shadows' Gamble
The private chamber aboard Christian Works was dimly lit, the hum of the refinery’s distant machinery a constant background noise. At the center of the room, a round table hosted two figures deep in conversation—Jay Miranda, the sharp, calculating Director of Mebech Netcoms Limited, and Brotherblaze, the enigmatic leader of the Shadow Heaven Squadron. Between them, a half-filled bottle of rich, red wine and a freshly poured shot of tequila sat untouched, but not unnoticed.
Jay Miranda leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass, his eyes narrowing in thought. "I’m honestly surprised they let you in," he said, breaking the silence. "After all the trouble we've caused the Monarchy of Votama, you'd think they'd shoot you out of the sky the moment they caught wind of Shadow Heaven. Yet, here you are, strolling into the Dogo Mineralogic Complex with bags of credits like it's just another day at the market."
Brotherblaze sat across from him, his face shadowed, but his presence unmistakably calm. He shrugged casually, running a gloved hand across his chin as he considered Miranda’s words. "They're desperate," he said, his voice low but firm. "The Monarchy lost too much in their war with Ice Storm Squadron. They’re barely holding on. That place looked ragged, Jay. The workers? They appreciated the relief. The credits helped them repair some equipment and brought in a few more resources, but the guards... well, they were watching every move I made. They haven’t forgotten what we did."
Miranda smirked, pouring himself another glass of wine before topping off Brotherblaze’s tequila shot. "I imagine they wouldn’t forget the sight of the Spear of Sol or the Iron Heart lighting up their skies. But still, it’s bold of you, showing up there with Se Liberté. What was that about?"
Brotherblaze tilted his head, his eyes momentarily distant as if recalling the gleam of his old Cobra Mk III. "It’s symbolic," he replied. "That ship… it was my first real step into this galaxy on my own terms. I named it Se Liberté to honor the legacy of my ancestors, the fight for freedom. I thought it might remind some of those Monarchy workers that they don’t have to be tied down by some hereditary monarchy. That maybe, just maybe, there’s a way to rise above where they are now. At the very least, it showed them how far I’ve come by working for it—through performance, through skill. If they noticed, it wasn’t lost on them."
Miranda chuckled softly, taking a sip of his wine. "A bold move, indeed. A taste of liberty—showing them what could be theirs. But if we’re going to push this hearts and minds campaign, we need them to crave it. We need them to want that freedom as much as we need them to accept Mebech Netcoms as their ticket out." His voice turned sharp, calculating as he leaned forward. "The Dogo Mineralogic Complex—that’s the prize. I need it under our control, but I can’t be the aggressor again. The investors are already watching too closely after our victory at Christian Works. One wrong step, and we lose their trust. But if the Monarchy falls apart on its own…"
"…we’re not the ones holding the knife," Brotherblaze finished for him, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He took the shot of tequila and downed it in one smooth motion. "I understand. Make them see us as the better option. Make them come to us."
Jay nodded, pleased. "Exactly. We can’t afford another direct assault. Not now. But if they believe we’re their salvation, that we’ll lift them out of the mess the Monarchy left them in… well, they’ll beg for our help. And once they’re in our hands, we’ll take Dogo without firing a single shot first."
Brotherblaze leaned back in his chair, considering his next words. "I visited Alpha Volantis before I came to Dogo. Did some work there—ground combat on some planet I didn’t bother to remember, and I racked up a kill tally of eighteen ships from Alpha Volantis Bridge Incorporated. The Monarchy’s forces? They’re in even worse shape than I expected. It’s like they’ve lost their veterans—what’s left are the stragglers, the serfs, as you like to joke."
Miranda’s smirk widened. "Well, what did you expect? They’ve been bled dry. Now it’s up to us to help them realize that their best bet isn’t with their crumbling nobility. It’s with us."
Brotherblaze shrugged, feeling a slight unease at Miranda’s words. He didn’t like thinking of the Monarchy’s forces as simple serfs. They were people, just as anyone else. But this was war—and in war, you used what you could. "I’ll keep showing my face," he said, leaning forward. "I’ll visit their stations, like I did with Dogo. Keep delivering relief. Show them that we’re not their enemies. We’re the ones who can help them rebuild. But don’t mistake this—they’re suspicious. Those guards weren’t there for show."
"No," Miranda agreed, swirling his wine again. "But suspicion can be overcome. Especially when they’re hungry for something better. We just need to show them what better looks like. And that’s where you come in. Your past, your history with them—it’s not clean, but it’s respected. They know Shadow Heaven is formidable. And if they come to trust you, they’ll trust the company by extension."
Brotherblaze studied Miranda for a long moment. There was always an angle with Jay, always a plan behind every plan. But the path was clear enough. Get close to the Monarchy’s workers, make them see that Mebech Netcoms was their way out. Let them come to the corporation willingly, and in doing so, let the Monarchy fall apart on its own.
"Opportunity," Miranda said softly, pouring another drink and handing it to Brotherblaze. "We’re giving them opportunity. But first, we have to make them want it."
Brotherblaze raised the glass, considering the weight of the task ahead. "Then we’ll make them want it."
They clinked glasses, sealing the unspoken pact in the cold shadows of Christian Works.
