Ma-tek
25-11-2005, 14:34
NENYA, FRIDAY - It is a matter of public record that the early days of the Empire of the Eternal Dawn - nowadays known as the Iluvarauromeni Commonality of Everlasting Light - were fraught with conflict, war, and death. It is perhaps fitting, then, that the child of the Empire be in many ways more mature than it's parent; although this viewpoint is strongly disputed by the barbarian cultures - not least amongst those in Der Angst, who, through their own limited and perverse viewpoint see the Commonality as exceptionally bizarre - it is almost certainly proven by the lack of action undertaken by the Executive Council in recent months.
Contrast, then, the early days of the Empire, with the modern days of the Commonality; in the early days of the Empire, Si Ling I, Emperor, decreed that the Empire would not brook any orbital aggression and nor would it refuse to strive to prevent nuclear warfare. In many ways, this policy can be hailed as a success; intervention, to a point, did indeed work, and a great many lives were saved in the process. However, the then-Emperor did not enjoy great external support - and the current Empress can be said to suffer in her international and stellar position as a result. In those not-too-forgotten days, the Empire fought several wars in just two years of Si Ling's reign; (technical, if not necessarily absolute/literal) victory in all of them aside, none of these wars can be considered by any stretch of the imagination to be successful. The Empire did indeed build itself from a third-rate power to a widely-recognized global power, and then stellar power, but those days of recognition swiftly came to an end. Nowadays the Commonality is more likely to be seen as 'decadent' - if it is seen at all.
The Watchers on the Walls of Paradise have finally silenced their guns; but this journalist asks - is that worth all that it would appear to be?
The Amerigo Slave War was perhaps the defining moment of Si Ling I's rule; his only true success, in fact, despite grave losses of the prototype M# interceptors - which, outfitted with non-lethal arms, struggled against less-agile but lethal enemy aircraft. However, despite the lack of tangible victory, the goals of the war - on the side of the then-Empire - were met. Neutrality being the aim, the Empire secured it's position as a real power - despite being in the midst of a rapid buildup of military strength... and in fact lacking any real power whatsoever.
This Great Bluff is now seen as the only true success of Si Ling by many Iluvauromeni historians; other events, such as the Moscow Massacre, are likely to be remembered for a far greater period of time.
How, then, will Empress Rialla ux-Rihad II be recalled, in latter years?
It seems almost certain that the answer to that question is 'quietly'. The Empress - and her handpicked Executive Council - have hardly bothered to project the force of the Commonality onto the world, or, indeed, even the Solar System. It could be argued that this is 'wise', or 'just', or 'fitting'; after all, the barbarian cultures are quite obviously hell-bent on destroying themselves - why should we not stand back, and allow them to do so?
And yet...
There is something dark and troubling when we, who once strove and fought for what was right wherever wrong reared it's head, no longer make the effort. There is something dark and troubling when we shake our heads at the deepening Night, and still yet speak of the burgeoning Dawn as if it were something that truly exists.
And so it is, while we build great works and send forth great ships to explore the very stars themselves, that those on this planet die in misery and pain and agony.
But I suppose in the end...
Who truly cares?
Not, it would seem, the great and wise Iluvauromeni People.
~ Nenya Today broadsheet - excerpt from 'Watchers on the Walls - Who Cares?' article; writer: Ilipsip Dupont-Aquinall
Contrast, then, the early days of the Empire, with the modern days of the Commonality; in the early days of the Empire, Si Ling I, Emperor, decreed that the Empire would not brook any orbital aggression and nor would it refuse to strive to prevent nuclear warfare. In many ways, this policy can be hailed as a success; intervention, to a point, did indeed work, and a great many lives were saved in the process. However, the then-Emperor did not enjoy great external support - and the current Empress can be said to suffer in her international and stellar position as a result. In those not-too-forgotten days, the Empire fought several wars in just two years of Si Ling's reign; (technical, if not necessarily absolute/literal) victory in all of them aside, none of these wars can be considered by any stretch of the imagination to be successful. The Empire did indeed build itself from a third-rate power to a widely-recognized global power, and then stellar power, but those days of recognition swiftly came to an end. Nowadays the Commonality is more likely to be seen as 'decadent' - if it is seen at all.
The Watchers on the Walls of Paradise have finally silenced their guns; but this journalist asks - is that worth all that it would appear to be?
The Amerigo Slave War was perhaps the defining moment of Si Ling I's rule; his only true success, in fact, despite grave losses of the prototype M# interceptors - which, outfitted with non-lethal arms, struggled against less-agile but lethal enemy aircraft. However, despite the lack of tangible victory, the goals of the war - on the side of the then-Empire - were met. Neutrality being the aim, the Empire secured it's position as a real power - despite being in the midst of a rapid buildup of military strength... and in fact lacking any real power whatsoever.
This Great Bluff is now seen as the only true success of Si Ling by many Iluvauromeni historians; other events, such as the Moscow Massacre, are likely to be remembered for a far greater period of time.
How, then, will Empress Rialla ux-Rihad II be recalled, in latter years?
It seems almost certain that the answer to that question is 'quietly'. The Empress - and her handpicked Executive Council - have hardly bothered to project the force of the Commonality onto the world, or, indeed, even the Solar System. It could be argued that this is 'wise', or 'just', or 'fitting'; after all, the barbarian cultures are quite obviously hell-bent on destroying themselves - why should we not stand back, and allow them to do so?
And yet...
There is something dark and troubling when we, who once strove and fought for what was right wherever wrong reared it's head, no longer make the effort. There is something dark and troubling when we shake our heads at the deepening Night, and still yet speak of the burgeoning Dawn as if it were something that truly exists.
And so it is, while we build great works and send forth great ships to explore the very stars themselves, that those on this planet die in misery and pain and agony.
But I suppose in the end...
Who truly cares?
Not, it would seem, the great and wise Iluvauromeni People.
~ Nenya Today broadsheet - excerpt from 'Watchers on the Walls - Who Cares?' article; writer: Ilipsip Dupont-Aquinall