Fiction:Will of Steel

Chapter 1: The Inevitable Outcome
The highest ranked military personnel of the had been summoned to a meeting on the capital of Destra. They sat in a council chamber deep underneath the principle city, seated all around a holographic display. The Iron Bloc had failed to successfully smooth out the hierarchy of their military, so the heads of the military were numerous. They chattered amongst themselves as they waited for any word from The Leader. They all knew why they had been brought here. Admiral Izihle confided his concerns to Marshal Kutau Zair, until the holographic display lit up.

A section in the floor opened up, and the AI brain casing of Governor AI 169 rose up to address them. There were a few murmurs of disappointment that they would not see The Leader in person. They weren't surprised, just disappointed.

'Admirals and marshals of the Iron Bloc,' said the AI. 'Our military preparations are complete. It is time for us to conquer the old. The time is opportune.'

This confirmed the suspicions of most of the military leaders. There was very little approval. There were open demands to explain how "the time was opportune."

'Calculations of Iron Bloc and DSB industrial capacity shows that we are at our most advantageous ratio of materiel we will see in the foreseeable future. Our spies within the DSB military are at the greatest foreseeable level. Negotiations with the Zarni Empire have secured an alliance against the DSB. The time is opportune.'

The council murmured to itself. Some were convinced, but others were angered over how left out of the loop they were.

'This war cannot be won!' shouted Admiral Iguiul. 'The Iron Bloc has failed to match the DSB's strength!'

'Coward!' screamed Marshal 0E-NES. 'We are built for war! They know nothing but hedonistic indulgence!'

'The Admiral is right!' said Marshal Kutau. 'The Iron Bloc failed to form properly form for war. We took in the dregs of society to quickly bolster our numbers, which put off more respectable prospective members. Had we not accepted those Kirgle outcasts, the entire Holy Empire may have sided with us.'

Marshal Vurglet, a Kirgle "dreg" in question, roared abuse at Kutau. AI 169 briefly shocked them both with an agony ray.

Marshal Kutau calmed down, and more productively asked: 'How is this war to be carried out?'

'To avoid sudden overwhelming and invasion, we will set up a interdiction field and interception fleet to protect our space. Admiral Kool, you will take this duty.'

The Bordooshio admiral stood and bowed.

'We will begin attacks on the outer worlds of the DSB. Our spies within the DSB will cause inadequate aid to be sent, to be easily swept up by our own forces. A taskforce with Zarni allies will block the DSB's extragalactic colonies from sending aid. Attacking outer worlds will spread the DSB fleet enough for a sudden attack to seize inner DSB worlds. The Zarni fleet will then join us in destroying all remaining DSB forces, and seizing the rest of the DSB colonies.'

The leaders murmured again.

'Are there backup plans in case this fails?' asked Marshal Drud.

'Yes,' said AI 169.

...

'Will you tell us?'

'No.'

The council murmured in irritation. They weren't surprised, they just forgot.

'Our attacks will begin immediately. Our first attack will be on the border planet of Satalkis. It is out of the way, and will confuse the DSB military-'

'It certainly confuses us,' said Admiral Iguiul.

'-I have chosen Marshals Kutau and 0E-NES for this task.'

'Two of us?' shouted 0E-NES. He didn't ask; just shouted.

'You have a purpose there. It will be explained when the time comes.'

The council sighed at the continuing vagueness. They were all loyal to the Iron Bloc and its ideals, but they all held doubts, however privately, at the intentions of The Leader. But while The Leader hid behind the governor AIs, there was nothing they could do but obey and wait for them to show themself.