He just did not listen well enough. Watching the seemingly failed applicant he still hid any sign of emotions, but of course there were thoughts. 'You failed already once. On failure is acceptable...a second one will kill you...or bring you even worse things...'
Although he followed the Commisar with the same self confident walk he just used to enter the waiting room. Alexej was not sure whether the Commisar on the opposite of the desk was one of the bad ones or one of the even worse ones. It was hard, if not even impossible to completely do what they want, but the chance to serve the Coalition was worth it. Thinking for some moments Alexej tried to choose his words well, to avoid another failure.
"A great benefit of the new economic policy is of course that we opened ourselves to those who understand what we are doing. Together, we are strong, isolated our ideals would be doomed. That sounds quite simple, but it is exactly what the communism, our communism, wants to and will reach. But a more direct influence has the fast development of JaingXi, which could only be reached by the more open economy policy. But also, this concession to the weak capitalistic world out there made many of those fools doubt whether their way of live is so right. Sick of fighting for the benefit of others they support us instead, if as workers in our factories or on the battlefield, doesn't matter. And all this litle successes combined reveal the -real- benefit the new economic policy brought to the Coalition: A general increase of our capabilities, opportunties and the ongoing weakening of the Alliance controlled Sirius"
Alexej did not dare to lean back, even if he would do it right now under normal circumstances.
Squished bigly ~Champ- Thanks, you're a champ. "What's the word for when it feels inside your heart that everything in the world is all right?"
Vladimir did lean back and pressed both his index fingers up to his lips, listening to the words of the recruit.
"Perhaps, however you haven't referenced the advantages of bringing in the Social Credit. You mentioned the benefits to our capabilities, but what of the benefits to the people? Continue."
It had been a long flight - the broken Dragon fighter was docked on the Trotsky, and, while at gunpoint by several SCRA troopers, and explaining his reason for being here, he was led to a small room, given a number, and told to wait.
His name was Ketsu Shigemori, he was shaking, but his eyes were confidant, and as he clutched the ticket, bowed to the person who gave it to him, and sat down, he wondered if everything that had come before was just a passing moment to the now. Or if this was the beginning of something greater. Or the end of what could have been.
Mendel was enjoying a mug of coffee, standing in his office reading over batches of newspapers that were spread out across the large table in the office.
The Trotsky had been commissioned by Colonel Razin for Katz to use as a diplomatic cruiser. One of the latest designs to come out of Mykolaiv research station. But in all his years with the Coalition, Mendel had yet to hear of Katz ever actually using the Trotsky. Its primary role had become recruitment, and that had meant, the big office he was in now bore the scars of the in-numerous interviews that had gone on inside it.
The blood in the cracks of the table. The bullet holes hastily patched in the walls, and the scorched edges of the books.
He adjusted his tie, looking up at the next applicant, "Well come the Frak in, or Frak the Frak off!" He bellowed.
Shigemori entered promptly, looking around the room. Making sure the door was closed behind him, he bowed respectfully to the man at the desk.
"Good day sir. My name is Ketsu Shigemori - I was, at one time, a fighter pilot with the Kusari Navy. My purpose here is simple. I wish to make myself useful to your cause. My reasons are not revenge. I am hoping to change Sirius through my actions."
He bowed again, and waited. He was still shaking a bit, but still confident...
"Bloody hell," Mendel rolled his eyes. "What is it with today, it's like a bloody waiting room at the prostate examination center. Makes me miss the days when Nutty mc-fracking-nutbar used to come in here, waving his sword/or other sharp impliment (specifically excluding their wit, I might add) around, declaring that, and I quote "I R COM-YOU-NIST, ME GET STORM NOW?" And why do I miss them, you might be wondering, because at least with them I could rip their heads off and give them a spindectomy... you... well you don't seem to have a spine at all, so it's a bit of a lost cause."
He slammed his mug down on the table.
"What, you think I want meek little kids who barely look like they can eat solid food? What are you, two? Tell me, before I have to shoot you, why you think I should give you a chance, what makes you worthy of the People's Army?"
Shigemori closed his eyes, took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and calmed his nerves.
He quelled his limbs, brought control over his heart, and calm to his breath. Under control, no longer shaking, he nodded his head once, and opened his eyes.
"Sir, forgive me. I stand upon a precipice - I do not quail at combat."
"The reasons to accept me are yours, as they will continue to be. What I can say to sway your thoughts is simply this: I have left Kusari because I disagree with their corrupt social system. Such a system, while not duplicated in its way, is only duplicated in its problems elsewhere..." he gritted his teeth, seeing as he was rambling "...In truth, I have studied, I've chosen this as my path for my life - I can fight, and if rejected, I would ask to work in a factory within your state, seeing as I've done that before."
"The purest reason - I am educated to know this is the cause I wish to aid - Im skilled enough in a fighter that its the one skill I can bring here"
He nodded once. Each breath paced and under control.
"So you're more a lover than a fighter then? I mean if you really want a use, I can send you down to the reactor room on the Karl Marx, where at least the burly sex-starved maintenance guys use protection... But if you really want to impress me, then you can show me you're a bit tougher than a brown paper bag in a monsoon."
He affixed a stern eye on the candidate. "Well, either your serious about getting into the fighter corps, or your just here to waste my damn time, which is great, 'cause I just love having my time wasted. I mean I could book a holiday, two weeks of watching you dribble on your shirt."
Rolling his eyes he gestured with his coffee mug, "The Kusari Emperor got his panties in a bunch over the Taus, threw a gigantic hissy fit and stomped all over the Tau systems, and most of Leeds, with size ten jackboots. Tell me, was this good or bad for the people of Kusari?"
Shigemori frowned at the mention of Kogen. Not in the way he was mentioned - Shigemori had no love for him.
"Kusari's military presses ever forward in this war, and they have made many gains. For all it seems, as I was on the front lines, Bretonia fights bravely, but they are losing. The causalities inflicted on Bretonia's people at Leeds is rather disgusting - but when you attack a Houses civilians, you damage its means of making war. Not something I agree with - it is murder - but seeing as Kusari consider anyone not of its blood and birth to be not worth considering - they dont see it that way. During my time away, I heard they captured LD-14."
He took a deep breath.
"But there are others that live in the Tau systems that will not take kindly to Kusari's presence, or there presumption. The Colonials maintain a sizable and fierce military, and because they are more brave and stubborn then they are smart - they will fight to the death. As for the IMG - they wish peace to mine in peace - but everyone knows they will fight if needed - and if the Colonials push them into fighting - together, they will split the Kusari Navies supply line - strand its soldiers in Leeds, and strike deep into Kyushu. Kusari's Tau lines are vulnerable, and well placed hammer can cause incredible damage. Kogen is a fool to disregard the Colonial's and IMG so rashly."
"As for Kusari's people - they continue to labor, as they always will. They produce means for this war, as they always do. They are ground under its system, oppressed, the chosen few who reap the reward, while the peasants labor for those few. Those that fight, do so for honor, and will fight for there emperor - the few who become disillusioned, find there own means - some with a knife in the belly, others just disappear. The truth being...Kusari itself, as well as this war, is not good for its people. pointless death and murder for one mans pride, at the head of a corporation that cares only for its continuing control and greed. It has been this way for a long time. But I think the people are starting to realize it. Honshu gives me that thought"
Mendel curled his lip, "smarter than you are strong. It's always the smart weaklings that you have to look out for, they're the ones who hold daggers and stand behind you. Not that I disapprove of that, it keeps heroes from thinking they are bigger than the revolution. And no man is bigger than the Revolution. Take these papers, go wait in the outer office, and try not to look too smug. If I catch one wiff of self-satisfaction from you, I will go to great pains to bury you under a frozen mountain of cow dung, and then come after you with a blowtorch."
He pointed to the door, "now get out, before you piddle on the carpet."