**"Opening Shots"** [[wiki:df|{{ :df.png?nolink&50|}}]] ---- 111 Congressional Plaza, Olympic City \\ Olympic City, Emerald Alliance \\ January 11, 0120 R.C. \\ ---- It was almost midnight. President Tulliver rose the steps to 111 Congressional Plaza, the headquarters of the Coalition’s executive and legislative branches. Her security formed a veritable cordon against the journalists who’d gathered at the steps, all eager for a statement from the President on the developing situation. A meeting with Secretary-General Kehr was in order, and the press would not be privy to it. The interior of the building was almost as extravagant as the exterior, but the President’s security didn’t linger for long—her detail pushed through any who impeded her path, and the reporters who’d managed to follow her in were stopped by the building’s own security. The conference room where she would meet the Secretary-General was on the third floor, a journey made by elevator. The President was only accompanied by two members of her security detail, the rest staying behind to ward off reporters in the lobby. When the elevator opened to her destination, Tulliver was greeted with the sight of two more Secret Service officers. Nodding to the President and her entourage, they led her to the meeting room, gesturing her in. Inside, the meeting was already in motion. Tense words were being exchanged between members of Kehr’s administration, the Secretary-General himself at the head of the table. Formally, those seated before her were part of the ‘Joint Emergency Government’, which represented a number of military and corporate interests that had asserted themselves in the wake of Operation Boswilger. To say Tulliver approved little of having to contend with more megacorporate influence was an understatement, but she had to work with what she had. “Madam President,” The Secretary-General greeted her with a nod. “Have a seat. I’ll get you up to speed.” Tulliver took her seat at the table, leaning on her elbows as she listened attentively to the Secretary-General. “As of the first twenty-four hours of the war, we remain engaged with the Compact in L4 and L5, as well as on Luna. While we are more than capable of contesting them there, they’ve also managed a number of daring breakthrough raids in Plateian orbit. A number of defensive railgun stations in Plateian orbit have been disabled or commandeered in the process. We fear they may try to attempt landfall, but—” “Preposterous!” objected a bald, gruff admiral, who slammed his hand on the table. “To think the Compact would ever be able to land on Plateia, given our advantages, is nothing more than defeatism! They would be suicidal to fight us here! We must commit more resources to the space theatre!” Fleet Admiral Sesai Isoto had long been hawkish with regards to the Compact, and the growing discontent of Spacers against the Coalition more broadly. It was his insistence that had led to the intervention on the space colony Esmeralia, which had snowballed into the present conflict. The blockade had not gone according to plan, but Sesai remained adamant that the situation could still be salvaged. “Our intelligence has not ruled out this possibility, however,” said the Supreme Coalition Commander, Valamer Sisigisunus. “We cannot rule out the possibility of them taking advantage of the orbital gap created by the loss of our gun stations. The Compact’s ability to project power in Plateian space is now more or less unchecked, and our orbital assets are stretched thin as-is.” “We have an overwhelming numerical edge over the Compact.” argued Sesai. “That is a fact! Were they to set foot on Plateia, there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass to meet them.” “It is unwise to underestimate our enemy, Fleet Admiral. While we maintain an edge in quantity, the quality of their weaponry is not to be underestimated—especially not with the advent of mobile fencers. They have the means to strike Plateia, and we cannot afford to ignore this fact.” warned Sisigisunus. “Even if that were the case,” Kehr interjected, “There is little to gain from invading Plateia. They would merely be feeding their personnel into a bloodbath. Their orbital superiority does not translate into the same on the ground.” “A sound argument, Mr. Secretary-General, however...” One voice, above all others, seemed to carry sway over the civilian and military staffers alike: that of Mitsubara Meiko, head of the Mitsubara Group’s CorpSec division. Heiress to the monolithic Mitsubara zaibatsu, the formation of the JEG had owed a great deal to her orchestrations, a sharp reaction against prior attempts by the Coalition to deter megacorporate influence and seek compromise with the Spacers. Meiko was motivated by profit—even at the expense of Spacer wellbeing—and had the ear of many of those present. “The Compact would be fools to not take advantage of the rampant unrest and disorder plaguing the Coalition. Even now, separatists and dissidents are seizing the opportunity to sow further chaos. Our ability to keep the peace has never been more crucial.” she spoke with a sense of refined elegance, every word calculated. Despite her youthful appearance, she was much older than looks let on, and she leveraged this effectively when it came to enacting the interests of the Mitsubara Group. “So what are you proposing?” Sesai inquired. “That we withdraw a fleet from the L-points, risking even more colonies?” “That CorpSec be allowed to deploy its forces, as part of the CFA Auxiliary Service. The member-states of the Emerald Alliance would be first in line for a Compact strike, of that I am confident—the seat of Coalition power lies here, after all. They know this. We can afford no misstep in defending Plateia, and the Compact knows that. If we wish to put an end to this conflict, we cannot allow ourselves to be caught offguard.” Meiko argued, her tone insistent. “We must show that our resolve has not waned.” “CorpSec lacks the experience of a true fighting force,” Sisigisunus argued. “They aren’t soldiers, merely mercenaries in all but name. We have the Coalition Forces Authority to rely upon.” “With all due respect, Supreme Coalition Commander, the CFA is a bloated, inefficient behemoth that has already failed to deter the Compact.” Meiko said, not mincing words. “While your forces have failed to deter the Compact from entering Plateian orbit, CorpSec has maintained a steadfast presence offworld, where their primary limitation has been the meddling of Coalition Congress in what are rightfully the operations and affairs of the Mitsubara Group.” “I cannot allow such a controversial action without the approval of the republics,” Tulliver interjected. “The Coalition has already taken a heavy hit in terms of its reputation. If we are to resort to CorpSec, the people will likely not trust the CFA’s competence in maintaining its monopoly on force.” “Suit yourself, Madam President, but the heart of the Coalition is in imminent danger.” Meiko said. “The Compact will not spare you and your government, rest assured of that.” “I am not the one who has to be assured, Ms. Mitsubara, my people are.” replied Tulliver. “It is their will I must respect, and they are the ones I must convince. If you wish to see the deployment of CorpSec to the Esmarian theatre, then you must work with me to win the confidence of the Emerald Alliance’s member states.” “Very well. You can expect the Mitsubara Group’s full cooperation on this matter.” Meiko agreed. “Allowing CorpSec auxiliaries to deploy may lessen the potential strain on logistics and manpower that might otherwise be incurred from recalling CFA troops from lower-priority offworld theatres...” another general, who had been quiet for most of the meeting, voiced his thoughts. “We should begin planning for such a contingency, regardless of the President’s success or failure in convincing the Emerald Alliance.” “Agreed,” said Sisigisunus. “We cannot afford to withdraw troops from Vasati or Apason at this moment. Our situation with the other blocs is bad as-is.” “Understood. I will make the necessary preparations, then.” he replied, looking over to Tulliver. “Madam President, if you would join us, there are a number of details that we should—” Without warning, the door to the conference room swung open, an aide hurrying over to Kehr’s side and whispering something into his ear. The Secretary-General’s face contorted into a grimace, and he looked over to the other members of the Joint Emergency Government. “Orbital artillery attacks have commenced across the Coalition. We’re being advised to seek shelter underground.” The room’s inhabitants were taken aback, exchanging nervous and alarmed glances. President Tulliver, herself, was in disbelief. To think the situation had come to this in such a short period of time... “Then it’s settled.” Meiko spoke. “The situation can no longer wait.”