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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:19 am
This is often a congregation point for groups and meet other people and is a very busy place. The courtyard is often seen to be filled with people waiting on one business of another. One can also see many streets sellers of various good (from the clean to the sordid) trying their luck at peddling the wares (whatever that may be) upon those waiting there.
At night this can be a rather dangerous place
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Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 2:03 pm
Statesman Benjamin Bach Minister for Internal Affairs
On a cold, autumn's day there was a brisk wind that whipped up the fallen leaves and whisked them about the large square that was found before the Clock Tower of the Stohess District, one of the most well-endowed, that is wealthy and comfortable districts left in the Human Lands.
The people of this district had never in their lives seen of Titans, and these mysterious and terrifying entities were all but a story to scare children into behaving. Protected, comfortable, rich. These people seemed to have it all. Little did they know just how precarious this apparent state of being actually was, how much it depended on those who could not be allowed such a life.
As he checked the time on the golden watch he had inherited from his grandfather, Statesman Benjamin Bach made sure it was running correctly according to the Clock Tower and thought about these 'sacrificial pieces' in this deadly serious game of tug-o-war between Human and Titan. Humanity had once, he knew, boasted a massive population of billions. They had well out-numbered the attacking creatures.
Benjamin often wondered how on Earth they could have gotten to this state of things. It was one of the most truly unfathomable of all mysteries he could think of. Humanity had had far better technologies, numbers, stability; the Titans, however dreadful they may be, should have had no chance to to even gain a momentary foothold. No species had ever been able to do so before.
First time for everything, Benjamin thought dryly. Serves us right, I suppose, for being so c**k-sure.
But it simply did not matter how it had happened, what had transpired, as it was the result, the consequences of some unfortunate action or series of actions that had ended up with Humanity now confined behind three great walls in an absurdly tiny remainder portion of the land it had conquered over millennium.
If people had not started to build the Walls when they had, it was more than likely Humanity would already be wiped out.
Being the sort of person he was, Benjamin privately wondered if this was a good or bad thing. Good, of course, that some had managed to survived, even if it was a meager and sad piece of Humanity that had remained. Bad, he decided, because thy still remembered the days of their freedom and pride; a cruel fate indeed. Regardless, life went on as it could, even behind these closing Walls. Benjamin could see this all around him. It was almost blatant the way people here enjoyed their lives at the expense of others, but it had never been any different Titans, or no. The desperate state had served only to highlight this situation. Oh, people, especially people in power always gave long-winded speeches about equality and such and such, but when push came to shove, it was gold to copper coins that those in power would not be offering their places to those without social privileges. It was just the way the world worked, like it or no.
Then again, if a person knew no better, had their basic needs attended to, if they felt safe and could raise families and prosper in some little way, then they would be happy with what they had. One really did have to know where to set the 'limit'. It was basic psychology that if you raised the standard of living, moral would grow, but this was a false friend. If you raised this standard of living too high, i.e. too high to be sustainable, then people would get a 'taste' of what they were 'missing out on' and even if they were no worse off than they had been before the improvement, their moral would never even come close to what it had been. Hence the massive problem Benjamin and his fellow statesmen were facing now: never before had politicians been faced with this manner of work.
Not only did they have to raise parties and keep status and so on, but they actually had real work on their hands: to keep Humanity organized enough from going completely under and taking them with it. If they made a mistake, they did not have to worry about not being re-elected, they had to be worried about avoiding becoming Titan fodder, which was a far better motive, to say the least. It had brought about a completely new breed of politician, a prime example of which was Benjamin himself.
Benjamin was no figurehead, he was no puppet, he was a puppet-master. His high intelligence and finesse in coordinating people to his own needs and their own as well was finely-tuned and had been shown as highly successful. He was not only popular in social circles befitting that of a statesman, but also with everyday people as well, on general. There next to no one he could not talking to doing something, even, on occasion, giving their own lives. He could achieve this very simply enough: he, should the necessity arise, would do the very same himself and he knew full well that this honesty was something primordial that every person 'picked up on' and subconsciously understood and made them follow his words, sooner or later.
Setting his watch right by the Clock Tower as he did every time he passed it, Benjamin wondered if he should catch some lunch before visiting the Palace Gardens.
NON-COMBATANT RPC "If a lawyer jumps out the window,
jump after him.
That's probably where the money is..."
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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:17 pm
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What a blustery day. Maximilian thought to himself, sliding his white gloved hands into the warmth of his trench coat pockets. A crisp, chilling wind blew through his platinum blonde hair, causing him to curl his body in a futile attempt to stay warm. His boots clopped on the brick pavement as the well renown politician leisurely strolled toward the Stohess District landmark, the clocktower. Taking casual walks like these particularly soothed his mind, alleviated some of the stress of his position. But right now, this walk was hardly relieving his burdens. Recently, the military had begun a wave of recruitment and training. Fresh faced Cadets, blissfully unaware of the imminent demise on the battlefields surrounding the Walls. They all too much reminded Maximilian of Arthur. His young, naive, idealistic brother who joined the military, wanting to do some good in the world, only to end up rotting in the stomachs of one of those Titan sons of bitches. The very thought of Arthur, helpless in the stomachs of one of those devils as their stomach acid dissolved his very flesh made Max's stomach roil and turn. Clenching his fists inside his coat pockets, Maximilian shoved the thought away and refocused himself, his green eyes shutting momentarily as if to avoid picturing the grotesque image. When they reopened, Maximilian found himself facing the clocktower's massive figure. The courtyard in front was bustling, as usual, with very familiar faces. Affluent business owners busy trading advice. Politicians debating policies with one another. And of course, plenty of bored, carefree elite merely chatting with one another, spending their day away while idle chit chat and stories. Everyone here knew each other. And everyone here knew who Max was.
Maximilian had made quite a name for himself in the past decade. To the business owners, he was a worthwhile ally and a figure to respect. To the rich folk, he was a headlining name and a person of intrigue. To the politicians, he was a dangerous opponent. One way or another, everyone knew who he was. However, in this moment, this fact meant nothing to him. His mind was completely preoccupied with this new wave of Cadets. Particularly, their training. Too many rookies died far too quickly. Many would not make it back from their first expedition. This meant that their training, their equipment, and their lives would be completely wasted. In other words, the taxpayers' money would be wasted. Swords were not cheap. Their training was not cheap. Their 3D Maneuver Gears were definitely not cheap. Every single death tightened the taxpayer's purse. Who wants to fund death? Nobody. And if nobody wants to fund the military, there is no military. Take the money you say? Civil discontent and possibly even uprising from the poorer districts. And the rich...the rich would cry bloody murder. Death was not a wise investment. Maximilian knew that. But perhaps...perhaps he could play this situation in his favor. And in the favor of those fresh faced Cadets. Yes...Max could propose a new policy. A new plan. Stricter training. Longer training. A higher standard that every Cadet must reach. Benefits? Less death on the expeditions. More lives saved. Greater manpower due to higher survival rate. Taxpayer money saved. Cons? Time. It would cost more time. But the parents, the families, they didn't care about time. As long as their father, their mother, their son, their daughter made it home, they didn't care that humanity was running out of time. And of course, as the one spearheading the policy, the huge benefit for him would be higher approval ratings and soaring popularity. Yes...this would be a good idea. He'd be sure to bring it up next time at Parliament.
As Maximilian ran through his long though process for the policy, he absentmindedly wandered through the crowds, swerving and dodging the people as he made his way towards the clocktower. When he finally finished his thought, the politician found himself standing directly in front of the base of the structure. Craning his neck up, Maximilian stared blankly at the face of the clock. Time...they were running out of time. As many bodies as humanity was throwing at the clock, it wasn't enough. Could they afford more time? If they lagged behind, would they lose the race? Would time catch up and devour them all? With a long, drawn out sigh, Max turned away from the clock, only to accidentally spot one of his fellow statesmen. Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin Bach. An astute politician. Worth of respect and acknowledgement. But the same time, he was a dangerous adversary. Not someone one would want to face in Parliament. However, Maximilian was no ordinary man, no dime a dozen politician. If they found themselves on opposite factions, Maximilian would triumph without a doubt. For now, it was worthwhile to be cordial. Strolling over to Benjamin, Maximilian removed his white gloved hand from his pocket and gave a short wave, enough to catch Benjamin's attention. "Mr. Bach. Fancy seeing you here. Hiding away from Parliament?" Maximilian asked in his typical cool fashion.
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:54 pm
Statesman Benjamin Bach Minister for Internal Affairs
Pondering upon whether his gold watch needed some repairs or no, Benjamin heard a familiar voice address him, it was the voice of an old rival, or sorts. One with whom he rather delighted in setting himself up against.
This man was someone whose reputation, influence, and intelligence rivaled his own and one for him to keep an eye on. They were on friendly enough terms, as far as politician ever went into such things, however while they could come to amiable enough agreements, if they wanted to, they did differ on a number of basic points that made them stand in opposing parties in Parliament.
Benjamin smiled and returned the waved.
"Hiding? Hmmm....I'm not the one whose hair has been bleached white in fight, my friend." He returned, jokingly. It was a jibe he often used when Maximilian held to his defense-tactics, especially against sending people out against the Titans.
Though he was against waste of human life on general principle, Benjamin was also firmly against demeaning and crippling Humanity by completely hiding away behind the Walls. To his mind there was no sense in it. Of course they had to make a strong basis of operation, a place where those not in the fight where safe and safe enough to live a fairly normal life. However, the idea of completely shutting out the world outside, the world Humanity had once ruled was abhorrent to Benjamin's mind and thought those who did think so were short-sighted to say the least. Humanity was above thinking in one, or not even on generation. For their survival, Humanity needs must begin, finally, thinking in the long term: 4, or even 5 generations ahead. This required radical thinking and in a time where every man was out for himself and only himself, but it was a change in mindset whose time had long come.
But Benjamin knew that not everyone was of the same opinion, and that some even had no idea that anything could be done. Moral was so low, it was shocking.
"And what about you, hmm?" Benjamin went on, returning his watch to his pocket. "Out for a stroll in this wonderful weather?" Again his dry humor getting the better of him.
NON-COMBATANT RPC "If a lawyer jumps out the window,
jump after him.
That's probably where the money is..."
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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 3:51 pm
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In response to the harmless jibe, Maximilian uttered an amused chuckle, running his white gloved hand through his platinum blond hair. Indeed he had a unique color of hair. Not too many people in the kingdom had such light colored hair, bordering white even, at such a young age. However, he took it in stride, as it helped define his character and image in the eyes of the people. The White Haired Knight some called him, both in jest and mockery. It did not matter much to him. As long as the people and his opponents, such as Benjamin, recognized him, his platinum blond hair did its function. Letting the jibe now slide off his shoulders, Maximilian returned his white gloved hand into his trench coat pocket. "Me? Oh, just out and about. Enjoying the scenery of our District." he replied, his tone cordial and pleasant with a faint smile. Every single word and action Maximilian performed had multiple meanings. Max could have very easily said that walking around the District helped him process his thoughts with greater efficiency and come up with new policies, but then he would be giving Benjamin far too much information. Just that simple, seemingly casual statement would inform Benjamin that Max often strolled around to think, and thus Benjamin would know one of Max's routines. Knowing his routine would mean that it would be possible for Benjamin to hire tails and informants to follow Max and keep tabs on his actions, making it harder to coordinate his faction if needed. Also, it would give insight on how Max works, and if Benjamin ever sees him around, it would mean that Max would assuredly be in deep thought and tip Benjamin off on his future intents. Similarly, Max made sure to speak politely, cordially, and emanate an amiable personality, as in public, every little action resonated to the people. His constituency. His supporters. His opponents. Everyone. It was always better to play it safe and behave with civility. Paranoia was a useful tool. It could occasionally be a double edged sword, but the way Max used his weapons, he never found himself facing the blade.
"Unfortunate about the weather isn't it? I was hoping it would be a more sunny day today. But alas, autumn is not a flexible mistress. She behaves as she will." Maximilian said, peering upwards at the overcast skies. Dreary and dreadful indeed. Returning his green gaze to his fellow statesman, Maximilian pondered what Benjamin was doing here. The Minister of Internal Affairs had very easily brushed past his question with his jibe. As clever dodge. And if Maximilian asked again, it would be rude and blatantly broadcasting his curiosity. Not worth it. "Any news from Parliament? Any developments I've missed during my break?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:14 am
Statesman Benjamin Bach Minister for Internal Affairs
Despite their being on opposing political sides, Benjamin did think of the other man as a friend of sorts. After all it was said, 'keep your friends close, but your enemies closer'...
"Really, Schäfer?" Benjamin replied with apparently perked interest, using the other's family name in a psychological way to keep distance between them and the aura of respect, glasses glinting in the light as he tilted his head thoughtfully. "Gone past the local brothel again, have we? Hmm?"
This was a half-joke, half-prod. Like any self-respecting politician, Benjamin would have adored getting such dirt on an opponent. There had been rumors, but such gossip had been circulating about himself as well. It was not overly surprising, as both men were rather handsome and still unmarried, which gave rise to different speculations. After all, it was common practice that such men married as soon as possible into what had been called 'good families' since time unknown to further their careers, but these two had not done so. This had intrigued the society they frequented, naturally. Not to mention that quip of 'mistress' was simply asking for it.
"All mistresses are steel after a time," he added, seemingly taking the claws of his previous statement, "As for Parliament," Benjamin shrugged eloquently enough, "It is the same old, same old. Nothing new in our quarter, and nothing from yours, either, from what I hear, Schäfer, unless you have something to divulge to an old friend, hmm?"
Here Benjamin smiled faintly, knowing full well he would be the last to hear any revelations from the opposing political side from Schäfer. Not that he was the most forthcoming with information himself. One did not become Minister of Internal Affairs as he had done by being free with information.
"And how was your break, by the way?" He continued smoothly, flowing naturally from one subject to another without hesitation and enjoying directing the topic of discussion. "Could you possibly fill me in while accompanying me to the Palace? I assume you are headed there as well?"
NON-COMBATANT RPC "If a lawyer jumps out the window,
jump after him.
That's probably where the money is..." (OOC: @ L: I was thinking about some title for Maxy boy as well....what title would you like, or think good for him, as in Minister of such and such? Minister of Defense? That might sit well, and be a good offset for Benny's Minister of Internal Affairs, no?)
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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 12:08 pm
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Another amused chuckle escaped from Max, a little smirk forming on his face. Benjamin was in a playful mood today with all his little jibes and jokes. Excellent. It made the conversation much more interesting. Most other politicians were a dime a dozen. Boring. Plain. Stiff as a board. Dumb as a doorknob. Too easy to manipulate. Benjamin was a challenge. Of course, behind all this chit chat was the secret intent to divulge information from another. Both of them knew this, and both of them were carrying on with full recognition that the other knew it as well. It was just a normal thing. "Ah those girls can't capture my interest long enough. I'm sure they would make a pleasing distraction, but I prefer a girl with a brain to match her looks to tie me down. I'm sure you're the same Benjamin. Unless you have..."other" tastes." Maximilian replied, hoping Benjamin would be keen enough to catch his own little jibe. The Minister of Internal Affairs was four years older than Max and has not been married either. It was just a little jest, a little prod to see if there was any reaction. As a politician, Benjamin would just let the jibe slide right off his shoulders, but who knows? Giving a little jab like that was worth the seconds.
"Nothing knew in Parliament. Of course. Nobody other than you or I know how to take initiative there. Without you or I, it seems they're always either sitting still or in mind numbing gridlock." Maximilian said, accompanied with a short sigh. Max was about to let the other half of Benjamin's question fly right over his head, but he figured that ignoring it said more than denying it. Besides, he didn't want to talk about his break while walking. He'd prefer to answer both so then during the walk, Max could casually inquire what Benjamin has been doing lately. "No, I've got nothing. I've just been taking advantage of my break and enjoying myself for once. Visiting the theater to see a few productions. Attending one or two concertos. Spending time at home with a good book." Of course it was a lie. Well, half lie. During his week off, he did do everything he listed. However, his mind never ceased functioning. Day and night the wheels in his brain spun and spun, pumping out dozens of possible proposals and policies. In the end, Maximilian nodded. "I'll gladly accompany you. Indeed I am headed there myself." With that, Maximilian began strolling in the direction of the Palace. "So Benjamin, what have you accomplished lately? Or have you been sitting on your hand in Parliament without me?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 12:25 pm
Statesman Benjamin Bach Minister for Internal Affairs
Benjamin was, almost always, in a playful mood. He was not one who would pass an opportunity to poke and prod at another should that person be unwitting enough to give him material to work with. It was not unlike walking past a pack of rottweilers with raw steaks tied to your calves: it was asking for it.
"Really?" Benjamin returned lightly, thoroughly enjoying himself, now walking along the Main Road from the Clock Tower in the direction of the Inner Keep and the Palace behind it. "I did not know one visited brothels to indulge in chit chat. But each to their own...tastes, I suppose, eh? And a paying customer is still a paying customer, hmmm? Might even be a nice change for those poor girls once in a while, come to think of it."
As he walked, Benjamin tapped a beat to some tune he had in his head, looking pleased with himself, indeed. Like someone who had just won the lottery.
"What you say is undoubtedly true, my friend." He said, "Then again, taking the initiative is a difficult thing to do requiring not only brains and political brawn, but also a charisma to follow it through and make others follow through with it as well. Finding all three in one person is far from an easy task. We both are gentlemen with these capabilities, all three of them, in fact. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I never quite know, but you and I are on opposing sides. Lucky for some, or perhaps even most, I would reckon, hmm?"
Benjamin was thinking that things had been a bit too dull while his age-old rival had been out of town. The others on the opposing side were small fry and he did not bother even speaking with them, leaving his own subordinates to deal with them, directing them from the background when necessary.
"I've been sitting on my hands indeed, Herr Schäfer." He said, "I've been horrible bored and have had no real intellectual challenge worth bothering about in Parliament. I've been force to look elsewhere to satisfy my mental delights."
He let this hang in the air for a while, letting Schäfer ponder about just what background work Benjamin had been doing while he had been away, that is what the fox had been up to when the dog was sleep...
"Mind you," he added, rather cheekily, "I felt that a little work outside Parliament has been long needed. Thankfully, it seems that it was a job well done."
NON-COMBATANT RPC "If a lawyer jumps out the window,
jump after him.
That's probably where the money is..." (OOC: You got it, then hun. smile Henceforth let Lord Maximilian Schäfer be known as the Minister for Defense. wink )
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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:34 pm
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Maximilian nodded his head in absolute agreement as Benjamin mused the necessities of a powerful politician. "Indeed. If you and I happen to finally share a single cause, I shudder for anyone who stands in our warpath. The King himself would tremble and quake in fear of our capabilities if we ally. But alas, fate would not have it this way. I must say though, at least life is more interesting on opposite sides. It would be dreadfully dull to smite the opposition without even having to expend the slightest effort." the Minister of Defense said, his tone casual and cordial to his friend and opponent. As the pair walked down the Main Road, Maximilian removed a white gloved hand from his coat pocket and reached inside the his jacket, removing a thin, brown leather case tied with a simple string. Now removing his second hand from his pocket, Maximilian carefully undid the string, unfurling the case to reveal his much used smoking pipe. It was much simpler than some of the more luxurious and extravagant pipes some had. Nevertheless, the ivory inlaid stem and pearl accents on the bowl added a unique flavor to the oak carved pipe's glossy finish. Inside the leather case was also several already prepared bundles of tobacco, ready for packing, along with a packet of matches.
"So, Benjamin. Have you kept up with the news regarding the Scouting Legion? They've begun a wave of heavy recruiting and training. Thoughts?" Maximilian inquired, curious to what Benjamin has to say. It was a casual enough topic, ordinary enough to not elicit suspicion regarding Maximilian's plans. A good piece of conversation while Max handled his pipe. Sticking the mouthpiece of his pipe into his mouth, Max used his free hand to remove a little bundle of tobacco, plopping it into the bowl of his pipe. Sticking the case into one of his trench coat pockets, Max removed the mouthpiece of his pipe from his mouth and held the bowl in the palm of his left hand while packing the tobacco with his right thumb.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:46 pm
Statesman Benjamin Bach Minister for Internal Affairs
Benjamin watched Schäfer light his pipe with a look of mild distaste on his face. He acutely disliked smoking. His father had been a heavy smoker himself when the old fat man had still been alive. But that bad habit, and his other vice of drinking too much whisky after work had killed him off at an early age, an unnecessary death Benjamin had never really been able to forgive his old man not even to this day.
"Do you really think smoke signals are effective nowadays, Schäfer?" Benjamin commented, not being able to help himself. While he firmly held the belief that one's habits had nothing to do with another person, this personal habit was clogging up air right to clean air..."Naturally I have." He continued, replying to the question. "I've seen some of the so-called zero-generation soldiers showing of this new-fangled 3DMG equipment. Mighty impressive, I have to say. It really does strike a cord with one's soul, this idea of finally being on par with those revolting entities we call Titans. I don't doubt that their recruitment lists will be overflowing with dashing young people ready to take on this fight and help us stand firm against those God-shameful beings."
Benjamin nodded to himself, pleased.
"It is definitely a step that will not only raise the general moral, but also our standing upon the front."
NON-COMBATANT RPC "If a lawyer jumps out the window,
jump after him.
That's probably where the money is..." (OOC smile
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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:32 pm
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Maximilian did catch Benjamin's look if irritation and disapproval when he began to pack his pipe, but continued nevertheless. Smoking was his one vice that he allowed himself in this world. He typically only drank to celebrate victory or in times of extreme stress, and it was usually only a small amount anyways. Distaste or not, Benjamin would have to deal with this one. "Indeed. The 3DMG equipment is a mighty boon for the military. It will hopefully give us a greater edge when battling those monstrosities. I believe that their demonstration has inspired many to enlist to try out this new gear on the front lines. However..." The Minister of Defense paused, sticking the stem of his pipe in between his teeth. His hands free once again, Max reached a hand into his pocket with the case inside, his fingers digging around until he finally captured the matchbook. Plucking a match out of the bundle, Max ignited the end with a flick of the wrist before sicking the end into the bowl of the pipe. Seconds later, a steady stream of smoke rose from the bowl. Another flick of the wrist promptly extinguished the flame from the match. Dropping the dead match into his coat pocket to dispose of later properly, Max pulled his leather case from his other pocket and replaced it inside his jacket once more.
The Minister of Defense took a deep inhale of the soothing smoke, filling his lungs before removing the pipe from his mouth. Savoring the sweet smoke for a few seconds, Max finally blew a torrent of smoke into the air, only for it to be blown away by a chilling gust. "However. The front is still not doing so well. Reports say that the 3DMG is giving our soldiers aid, but since this is a relatively recent technology, our troops are still having trouble optimizing its potential. Thus, we're still losing soldiers. They're still dying out there. Wall Maria's construction has remained more or less the same. No faster, no slower." Maximilian took another pause, his gaze falling to the the pipe he held in the palm of his hand. "The people may think this revolutionary technology guarantees our victory, but the reality is that it is only barely leveling the playing field."
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:51 pm
Statesman Benjamin Bach Minister for Internal Affairs
Benjamin looked behind them as Schäfer lit his pipe, taking in those massive walls in the distance that now served to not only protect Humanity, but also to confine it. Even though he was a man who delighted in dissecting even the most trivial things, he never could figure out how he really felt about those overwhelming feats of Human construction.
It was something that haunted him. This would most likely be the best way of describing how he felt about the Walls. While they were a protection they needed, and desperately so, they were also an obstacle and a bleak reminder of just how insignificant Humanity had become. A symbol not so much as to their triumph in defense, but one for their darkest defeat. Over millennium Humanity had pushed forward relentlessly, taking one step after the other, never looking back, always striving for the next and the next...and now...they had been usurped by a greater power, and they had been left worse than second.
This idea irked Benjamin even more than the blue smoke that was winding it way towards him nostrils. He could step out of the way, upwind of the smoke, he could not avoid facing a Wall, not matter which direction he turned.
"It is a first step to taking back what is ours." Benjamin said firmly, believing this to his very core. "This fight will not be decided today, nor tomorrow, but, hopefully many generations from now."
He looked up at the sky, the one and only place where there were no hideous barriers to confound his eyes and block his view of the infinity that he knew he held a right to, just like any other creature before God.
"Even the smallest pebble will turn a tide," he added, smile creeping back into his face. "We simply have to make sure those little pebbles are doing their work correctly."
With this Benjamin looked back at Schäfer and tapped his nose.
"Wouldn't you agree?"
NON-COMBATANT RPC "If a lawyer jumps out the window,
jump after him.
That's probably where the money is..." (OOC smile
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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:27 am
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Oddly enough, despite Benjamin's overly enthousiastic and idealistic musing, there lay some truth in his words, enough to make a smirk sneak across Maximilian's features. Indeed, this war will not be won anytime soon, most likely not in their lifetime at least. The simple truth was that humanity was nowhere near strong enough, 3DMG revolution or not. In the current state, humanity has no chance of obtainiing victory over the colossal, monstrous Titans. As difficult and terrifying as it may be, they had to wait. Bide their time and build up the strength necessary to even consider taking the offensive. For now, the key word was defense. Protect the Walls that will protect the people and the kingdom. Humanity has to stand their ground before they can march forward. Until Wall Maria is complete, there should be no reason to even discuss retaliation, retribution, revenge, or any other meaningless money words politicians like to carelessly toss out. Right now, defense should be their strategy. Once humanity can properly secure their territory, their last bastion of sanctuary, then they can begin building the foundations of future triumph. Victory did belong to the future. Which is why it is of utmost importance to ensure there is a future. As politicians, they had to be able to gaze at the entire landscape and do what was best for all the small pebbles, to better their effectiveness and efficacy. And who knows? Maybe Benjamin's prohpecy would prove true in the future, and that humanity would be saved by one of those small pebbles that would finally tip the scales in their favor. But for now, that idea did not concern Max in the slightest. Wall Maria and the new Cadets did.
"I think you're quite right. Quite right." Maximilian replied, giving a curt nod of agreement towards Benjamin before sinking his teeth back into the stem of his pipe. The Mininter of Defense's emerald eyes found themselves locked onto Wall Sina, their constant guardian angel that shielded them from the cruel world ourtside. Wall Maria was still in the process of being constructed, and thus all the people behind Wall Maria and the soldiers stationed at the breaches lived in perpetual terror. They needed aid. Time was not on their side. However, with Maximilian's intended proposition, it would take more time for Cadets to be trained, increasing their combat readiness but at the cost of more lives on the front lines. Was it a just exchange? He would have to debate with himself more before formulating the formal proposition. "So Benjamin...have you finally come to understand why defending our last bastion of safety is more important than ineffectually attempting to assert our ground?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:00 pm
Statesman Benjamin Bach Minister for Internal Affairs
Benjamin sniffed, the cold breeze had a chill to it now. One that he felt more than he had before.
"We are going to have to stand our ground." He said coolly, "Naturally, but we cannot shut ourselves completely off from the world outside. It's too dangerous to do so. "That safety which you mention, Schäfer, is nothing more than a mirage. Worse, in fact; it is a deadly false friend. "
Banjamin nodded, more to himself than to his colleague.
"If we ever closed off the Walls," he continued, "The days would be numbered for Humanity. Once we forget how to live without walls, Schäfer, we are to all extents and purposes an extinct species. Humanity would fall in on itself and become stagnant. And nothing can remain stagnant in the world for long; it dries up and disappears with the wind of Time. Such a thought repulses my very being."
For a moment only their footfalls could be heard as they walked up the road towards the Inner Keep and the Palace. It was rare for this road to be so quiet, but, for some reason, it was now.
"We must keep ourselves in the predator-prey circle, even if we are, hopefully momentarily, prey. The reason behind this is simple. Those creatures in the circle retain their abilities to develop and keep one step in front of the opponent. Those who are not loose their ability to keep to advance, and hence, die out. This is the Red Queen game of symbiotic evolution, my man. We cannot turn our backs on basic facts. Life waits for no man; needs must that we go and take it."
NON-COMBATANT RPC "If a lawyer jumps out the window,
jump after him.
That's probably where the money is..." (OOC smile
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Robotic Zamat Vice Captain
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