Fiction:Great Cyrannus War/Year One/Plan of Dissent

What can a bounty hunter do in this galaxy?

Quite a lot, would you believe? In the United Republic of Cyrannus there's always been several rats just laying around, waiting to strike. And let's not forget the dozens of civilizations the Cyrannus Galaxy has, none of which will admit that they're too scared to fight the Republic head on, and so us bounty hunters gotta do their dirty work. I'm an honourable soldier, but in most cases I don't care who or what I fight, only that I do the job well, and get paid better. I'm a tool of someone else' ideologies and plans, but unlike a soldier, one that's allowed to decide for itself.

Normally I take most big jobs, especially if they'd do something that could, I dunno, cause a huge galactic war in Cyrannus that could affect the entire Gigaquadrant, but this one was tricky. I had to be asked to perform the same task by two people, and even then it took persuading before I took the job. So how'd it start? Like all things, I was just chilling in a cantina.

Part One

I was sat in the same old cantina with the same old trophies of the same old Cyrannian wildlife, watching the same old pole dancers dancing to the same old music with the same old bartender yelling insults at the same old people. Orbispira's same old tourists brought the same old entertainment and the same old friends spoke to me in the same old competitive matter. But for once, I wasn't listening to the same old rumours.

"Éaltar Gauisa, old pal!" I never forget a face, old Nexatru turning up, but what did he want?

"Sup Nexatru," I responded, "how's the Confederacy of Allied Systems treating ya? I hear you boys've gotten big."

"That's right," he responded, "we're beginning to make a name for ourself in this huge galaxy, and every day more people seem to sympathise with our cause."

"Good to hear I guess," I said almost sarcastically, not caring at all. "What use do they have for you?"

"Eh, not much," he said nonchalantly, "though they managed to use me as a military commander and diplomatics guy, especially since I told them that I was related to the Nex Prophet from the Trucinex War."

"I guess you also told them you used to hang around scum like me," I said, with no expression on my face or in my voice. "And I guess they thought as their 'diplomatics guy' that I'd be just the dude to get them to do some of their dirty work." Nexatru's eyebrows raised.

"Always know when someone wants you, eh? Yep, the Confederacy's got a job for ya."

"Great. Which Republic guy do I have to kill next?" I made it very clear in my sacrcastic voice that I didn't wanna do some Confederacy crap.

"Well, I won't be doing the talking," Nexatru said. "My superior, Garlboz, would like to talk to you instead. Come this way, into the lounge."

"Aww," I said disappointed, "there was gonna be a thug brawl here that I wanted to watch. No matter, make it quick."

Nexatru took me inside, turned on a hologram, and left. No idea why he left, and I felt uneasy in such a tight space with just a hologram. But I've been used to this stuff before, like when one of my clients tried to force me to work for them to kill some rival crimeboss. But the Confederacy were some rich people, not even I knew how powerful the people they had on their side were.

"Well, Éaltar Gauisa," Garlboz said. "You've made quite a name for yourself in the Cyrannian underground. Tell me, what is the most wanted bounty hunter in the galaxy doing in the very center of the Cyrannian Republic?" I shrugged.

"You implying hiding with some other rats around the Outer Rim is a place for a bounty hunter? It's boring when you've got no one to escape from around here, and also, Orbispira is where all the galaxy's fun begins and ends.

"Is that so?" I already didn't like this guy, his grin seemed to be the one a common deceptive villain-type would have, and I could tell by his expression that he wanted me to do something pretty big. "Because I've got a job for you that, should you accept, would earn you billions, if not trillions, in cash. How do you feel about becoming the richest individual in Cyrannus by sparking a huge war?" I simply folded my arms, siting in a chair with no expression on my face.

"Just tell me what you have in mind before I consider." Garlboz raised an eyebrow.

"Hard to convince, eh? I'll take your help any way I can get it." He paused, and I could just tell he was about to give me some story. "The Cyrannian Republic is a corrupt government, the Cyrannian Federation needs a new order, a new rule, and the Confederacy of Allied Systems are the only ones who can provide that new, fair rule, and bring true peace to Cyrannus. We've used economic and diplomatic means before, but we feel the only real way to show the Cyrannian Republic's weakness is to blow them up from the inside."

Garlboz paused, obviously expecting me to show some reaction.

"I'm listening," I replied, to keep the conversation moving.

"Good," he said in a calm, manipulative tone, "because what you're about to hear is for your ears only. In order to expose their weakness, I feel that we must engage in all-out war. My superiors don't feel the same way, but many Trucinex and Basileus individuals, such as Zillium himself, have persauded me that it's the right way to go about it. Most of the Confederacy are against going to war, believing that it'll just bring us down to the Republic's low level and diminish our reputation, and I agree. So the only way to expose their weakness, and to engage in war without needing the consent of others, would be if the Confederacy didn't begin the war..."

I got it.

"So," I said, "you want me to kill some Republic guy, or to blow up some Republic tower or symbol?"

"You've caught on, then? No, I'd rather you make it look to the Republic like the Confederacy would have done it and not some well-trained bounty hunter, yet look to the Confederacy like the Confederacy couldn't have done it for reputation issues. You've got a perfectly capable cruiser, with the ability to bomb Orbispira-"

"Not interested," I cut in, with a straight face. Garlboz' eyebrows raised.

"Is that so?" I could tell from his tone of voice, which seemed only slightly sharper, that this guy wasn't about to give up. "You're the only one who can help us, my friend. If you don't want to help, then maybe I could find other means of persuading you..."

"What'll it be," I asked, "bribery or blackmail? Higher price or a form of torture, I'm guessing."

"Oh you're good..." I awaited something to happen, as Garlboz stroked his chin. "Well, I've got nothing. Discussion closed."

What the hell had just happened? It was only natural for me to wonder that, but I was pretty sure I'd made it very clear that I didn't care for the Confederacy's cause, nor did I care for the Republic's. But I should have known that wasn't the last I'd hear.

Part Two

I left the lounge, into the main part of the cantina, and saw several bottles smashed, two people screaming at each other, and tourists running away.

"Aww," I said, "what did I miss?"

But it was time for me to head off. I left the cantina, flew off to my appartment out in a more quiet part of the city, and then I just sat at home and relaxed. Ah, life is good. Most people wouldn't be able to return to their appartment in the city they'd bombed, but I live in that appartment even now.

Course, I woke up the next day. It was raining outside, pretty heavily. I got myself prepared for the day, when the door rang. Some Libertus woman who looked like she was important. Hey, she was outside in the rain, the least I could do was let her inside.

"Ah, Ealtar, thanks for letting me in," the Libertus woman said. She was tall, and spoke with a quite calm voice yet it was still sharp and to the point. "I am Senator Mizio of the Cyrannian Republic. PLeased to meet you, Ealtar Gausia." She held her hand for me to shake it, but I didn't, and she put it back.

"How'd the Republic find my location? And what do you want?" I asked.

"The Republic didn't find your location," she said, "I did. And what I want is a job." I nodded my head.

"Tell me what you've got in mind," I replied. "And what're you doing bringing that girl along?"

We went into my house, in the dining room, and all sat down to talk round a table.

"So, Mizio," I said, with no expression in my voice, "tell me what you have in mind." Mizio sighed.

"For many years," she began, "I've designed warships and weapons to protect the Republic, and become Cyroenia's senator for my work. My work is always used for the good of the Cyrannaian people, when we protect our home from oppressors, and bring justice where it is needed."

"I see..." I said, "and how does that concern me?"

"Because something's not right," Mizio said. "An armed group is arriving near the Core Worlds, and intelligence suggests it is funded by the TSOIB."

"TSOIB? You mean the Confederacy's involved?"

"Yes," Mizio said, "and if they're involved, they could be planning an all-out war. And if my weapons weren't made to protect from this, what were they for? I've pleaded with other senators, and they've refused to help." Mizio pleaded. "You must show the other Senators that they're wrong! You must show them that we should fight against them!"

I simply sat their, sipping the Cyrannian wine, not showing any care.

"I won't fall for a sob story," I insisted. "If you've been trying to persuade the other senators that way, it explains why they weren't interested either." Mizio shook her head.

"You don't get it..."

"I do get, senator." Yes I was getting snappy, but what gives? "I'm a bounty hunter, not some 'dog of war' as you think. If you want to persuade them, then you should hire some proffessional diplomat. Though I'm surprised you're a senator if you're not capable of persuading me yourself without some sob story."

Mizio went silent.

"You know," she began, "I've not been completely honest with you."

"ALl right," I said, "now I'm listening."