Soft Warfare

[Alucard Tobor]

1 / Opening Move

“Politics, I find, is rather akin to soft warfare; the elegant clash of swords, instead of the thunder of artillery.”


James Mills-Seong eyes the House warily as he settled into his seat. Parliament was always a tense affair these days, with the election upcoming, but there seemed to be an odd energy in the air - and his instincts told him something was looming on the horizon.

MPs scurried to and fro, whispering or speaking quietly in pairs and groups, all seemingly excited about something. Something which he was as yet uninformed of.

How rude.

The echoing tap of a gavel resounded throughout the room. “All members, please rise.” the Speaker intoned, joining the mass of suited figures rising to their feet.

As the first bars of the anthem began to play, Mills-Song’s mind raced. No major vote was due today - that suggested a new motion. Rho’s little cabal had been quiet lately… but then, Sim and his goon squad had been making noises recently about some civil rights legislation or other.

He returned to reality as the anthem faded out, leaving the MPs to take their seats. He would find out soon enough, he expected.

True enough, the standard pleasantries had barely been dealt with when Rho rose to his feet. “Speaker, with permission, I should bring forth a proposal for reading.”

The Speaker nodded. “Very well. The Opposition leader has the floor.”

“Members of Parliament. The past two decades have demonstrated rather conclusively the dangers of our world, and its inhabitants. Horrors that many would scarce even believe possible, inflicted on a global scale. The Holocaust. The German Flu. The Second World War itself.”

Turning in a sweeping motion, the slight man cast his gaze across the room. “These events have tempered us. Taught us. Revealed the true depths to which humanity can sink, given a chance.

“Here I have a proposed bill-” Rho handed a folder to the Sergeant-at-Arms, who silently carried it up to the Speaker, “To authorise this Parliament to take action against those nations of the world who look to be sinking into those horrifying depths we now know exist. We need not control our world, Parliamentarians-” Mills-Seong noted with amusement several of the Liberal Party MPs stirring at the ‘take action’ comment “-but merely to provide a guiding hand, where needed. Things can change abruptly in this day and age - why, the government of Japan today is not the government of Japan several years ago. If a nation’s leadership is as fragile as that, then it is clear to me that we, as responsible citizens of the world, must watch the watchmen, as it were. A guiding hand where needed.”

Mills-Seong suppressed a twitch. The cheeky little shit.

Rho took his seat, and the Speaker opened the folder, scanning it briefly. Setting it on his desk, he nodded politely to the assembled House. “This bill appears to be in order. We shall distribute copies and recess for one hour that all present might read the proposal for themselves. Do I hear any objections?”

When none were forthcoming, the Speaker tapped his gavel. “This body is now in recess.”

<><><>

Mills-Seong sighed quietly as he set the papers down, leaning back into his chair, gaze unfocused.

The proposal wasn’t damning because it was nonsensical, or ill-considered. No, it was damning because it was both sensible and well-thought-out. And so of course, Rho had neatly derailed his plans by pre-empting his own move.

Well. no sense lamenting it now. Such things were only to be expected in the grand game.

He sat forward, eyes falling on the innocent-looking sheet in front of him, mind ticking over slowly.

Hmm. Perhaps, when confronted with an unexpected attack, an equally-unlikely riposte was in order.

[Alucard Tobor]

"And so the display of barbarism continues."

"Perhaps just sociopathy with a side dose of pyromania?"

Prime Minister Rho snorted. "Is there any appreciable difference?"

Opposition Leader Mills-Seong sighed. "No, I suppose not. And here I thought that accepting an alliance would reel in her more... destructive impulses."

Rho swirled his glass of rum, staring at the television screen displaying the wedding of Queen Catherine and now-King Atieno. "As did I. The temptation to take her to task for it is immense, albeit tempered by the knowledge that she would disregard it in a heartbeat. Decry it as "too soft", or somesuch, no doubt. Because clearly, taking the less-violent option is just not possible." Muttering something distinctly impolite, he tossed back the remainder of his drink.

Mills-Seong politely ignored the unflattering phrase thus uttered, observing the proceedings. "Hundred won says she'll drop another Judgement on someone before the decade's out. Two, probably."

"Sucker bet." Rho returned, refilling his glass. "The woman's mad. Eleven million people on Taiwan, and she didn't hesitate to raze it. I still need to talk with Du, or possibly Liren, about that."

"I do not envy you that." his counterpart replied, wincing. "Speaking of. SeaBees reported that much of the clearing is done in our Taiwan zone, and they're contracting civilian companies to start work on Sacheon."

"I'm not sure I want to read the reports on that." Rho leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Remind me tomorrow evening, if I haven't by then. And get Bellman to ring up his man and set up a meet with whoever in the Legislative Yuan cares to speak with us soonest, would you? After this display-" he waved at the TV "-I'm going to take a few hours out and visit the shrine."

Mills-Seong nodded his acceptance, returning his gaze to the two figures now taking their thrones in Dar-es-Salaam.

[Alucard Tobor]

The Blue Palace wasn't the type of bar one would find in a tourist's pamphlet. It wasn't a bar one would find wandering the streets of Busan. Even one staring at the storefront below it wouldn't note the dimly-illuminated gathering place on the second floor.

Mi-jin Nam, the only partly sarcastically-titled "Blue Princess", had gone to some pains to ensure that. A secure, and more importantly neutral, meeting place was important for the less-than-legitimate side of the city.

Said meeting place was currently hosting six individuals; Thomas Young, the American expatriate who had met with a dishonourable discharge from the U.S. Navy and had made the most of it, forming the rabble and low-life criminals of the city into the Navy Yard Reds, daring to challenge the young but still far more established Chong-ro family; represented now by Seon Choi.

Bodyguards - well, thugs in suits, if Mi-jin were more honest with herself - loomed large behind their patrons, eyeing each other as the two men observed the chess board before them.

"I must admit, this is remarkably generous." Choi commented, sliding a pawn forwards. "Handing over your territory wholesale - well, save for your, as you say, embassy. And yet, I cannot help but wonder what the hidden clause is."

"You already know it, Mister Choi." Young countered, apparently considering his next move. "You permit some of mine to remain as representatives, and don't interfere with their daily business. They will restrict their activities to the areas I've specified."

"Hmm." Choi's face was blank, but he gave off an air of doubt. "What, precisely, prompted this? I doubt the Myong-dong will particularly care for your presence in Seoul or Incheon, for example."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not going to Seoul, I suppose." Young smiled thinly. "Taiwan, firstly, is our initial destination. Hence, why the agreement indicates your own shall remain off the island. After that... well."

Turning, he snagged a dart from the board beside the table. A glance over his shoulder, a quick toss (and accompanying flinch from the bodyguards), and it embedded itself in the large world map pinned to the wall.

Choi observed this, an eyebrow raising. "Interesting. I would not have expected that. Which, again, prompts the question of why."

Young's smile grew. "An old friend of mine from the Navy. No longer navy, admittedly, but he brought quite the offer to me. Funding, materials, a capital-F Favour from some of his associates... and all I had to do was set up where they wanted, and follow the occasional specific directive." Returning his gaze tot he board, he shifted a bishop.

Choi considered this. "I believe I have an inkling of your associate's intent. Assuming that is true - and admittedly, you've little reason to lie about such a thing - then for the good of all our people, I wish you the best of luck in your... new environment, shall we say." A smile appeared on his face, and he tilted his head to the side. "And, if you wish, pass along to your associate that my own organization would be amenable to working in a similar capacity, for... similar considerations."

Young sat back, gazing at his counterpart for a long moment. "I believe I will do exactly that. And I must admit, I will miss our Great Game here in Busan."

The ex-American extended a hand. The Korean, after a moment's consideration, clasped it in a handshake. "As will I, Mister Young. As will I."

Turning away towards the array of bottles behind here, Mi-jin permitted herself a small smile.