Location: Shipyards, guarding one of the control centers
It would've been easier just to shoot them.
For all his loyalty to the goddess, for all his love for the people, and for all the pleasure he took in seeing them create an empire of their own, Sylvanan could not stand the Lord-Imperator's recent actions. What had once been a hardliner leader had become too...soft. When the Galactic Alliance had struck against the Essonians on Atrisia, they had fought. When the Sith Empire came to turn their world into a slag heap, they had fought. When the Republic came for them?
They sat there, they were shot at, and waited for a few politicians to finish their talks, hoping they weren't killed in the process. The Imperium could bring its full military might to bear and be done with this, but for one reason or another the leadership seemed keen on playing nice.
"We could take Corellia in a month," Sylvanan grumbled as he scratched away some of the detritus that had stained his helmet. "Mobilize the Bluecoats, recall the fleets back to Coruscant, and we just spearhead right on through. Can't fathom why we're even entertaining giving up Kuat."
"Other things to worry about Sylvy," Krakow reminded, "We've got reports of terrorists running around on the rings, and some kind of craziness on Alderaan. There's someone else involved here."
Sylvanan scowled at his fellow trooper. They'd been assigned to the defense of the entry way of one of the drive yards' control centers. Everyone else was getting some excitement, but of course Sylvanan had been given one of the dullest tasks on the rings. "Okay," he shrugged, "Deal with them, then go after the Republic. I don't see the problem here."
"They follow the Ashla just as we do."
"No they don't. Most of them are godless. You know just as well as I do that career politicians are all atheists. The democrats are just as bad as the socialists and the selectivists."
Krakow snickered. "Do tell."
Sylvanan lofted a brow. "You remember how the ministries worked back home. All deliberation, never any action unless you lined their pockets," Sylvanan gestured toward the ceiling, as if it represented the Republic fleet. "Republics are a sham. Direct democracy or benevolent authoritarianism, only way you can avoid corruption."
Krakow tilted his head toward Sylvanan - the closest thing to an expression one was going to get behind that helmet of his. "Authoritarianism tends to breed nepotism."
"I'd rather have a bit of nepotism than corporations deciding the vote. Ever heard of a lobbyist?"
"Of course I've heard of lobbyists, you idiot."
"Then you know that anytime there's a 'democratic' regime it swiftly becomes a corporatist oligarchy."
"I think you're a bit of a pessimist Sylvy."
"I'm a realist. If you want a democracy, make it direct. No representatives, no middle man, just the people and their word."
"So you're an anarchist?"
"No."
"Sounds like anarchy to me."
A bored silence filled the air for a few moments. Unfortunately Sylvanan couldn't leave it alone.
"Let me put it this way." He turned toward his friend, "Republics lead to corporate control, corporate control leads to oppression. They're selectivists with a different paint job. Instead of the government seizing the means of production and controlling the people, the corporations seize those means, and control the people themselves."
"And how exactly are we better?"
Sylvanan snorted. "Our people actually believe in the Goddess, for one."
Krakow shook his head. "That's not an argument. Religious belief does not dictate a just society."
Sylvanan clicked his tongue. "No, but it helps. If we're talking from a purely secular sense, I like our system. The people are represented like a Republic, but the corporations have no say. The workers are represented in our trade unions, and a proper wage is guaranteed without worry of corruption."
"And the monarchy?"
"It's acceptable. I don't much care for Grayson, but he's had our interests at heart long before Ession ever fell. The people need a figurehead to follow anyway - you'll always find idiots looking to die for king and country."
"So what are you keen on dying for?"
"Absolutely nothing," he paused, shaking his head, "If I had to, the country, and the people. High Lords wouldn't want us dying for them anyway. The Imperium's around to serve the people, not the other way around."
"Can't disagree with that," Krakow mused, "Still don't think we should make war with people that could be our allies though."
Sylvanan shrugged. "Kark 'em. They picked what side of history they wanted to sit on when they started shooting at our people."
Krakow snickered, "And what if this all ends up in a peace deal?"
"Then the Imperator's an idiot. They're a threat, and they don't care about peace. They'll try to frame this whole debacle on us, you watch, and they'll use that propaganda to convince the Silvers that dealing with us militarily is the prudent course of action. Whole time their people are going to buy into it too. That's the trouble with a politically ignorant population."
"Whatever you say Glass." Krakow sighed, growing tired of the discussion. "Just watch the hall. I have to take a leak."