Werner’s Office, Diamond Palace, United Human Dominion territories

  March 11th, 2509

  Evan Werner flicked through his glass of warm water in his office. In its window, he can see the rotation as per the custom of the four toroidal-ringed space station he was in; Diamond Palace. An extravagant station filled with clubs, bars, casinos, and other events.

  And a remarkable display of waste of billions over something frivolous just to please the highest-class of clients. Only billionaires or the powerful with the right connections

  It disgusted Werner, but that wasn’t what his mind was lingering at the moment.

  Yesterday, Empress Anna Vollan of the Tortsinan Imperium made her speech right in the Santris Square, the place where the war of unification reached its climax in Tortsin and the found of its Imperium. It was a gesture, that heralded a great and terrible war.

  Within a matter of days, the Dominion’s invasion fleet will reach Tortsin’s system and begin the assault. It would’ve been preferable to end the civil war that was engulfing their territories, force the belligerent leadership to resign, start over and make things right. But the hungry appetite of war is more seductive than doing the right thing, and belligerent leaders were very allergic to the latter. Werner looked at the physical document file of Directive 94 and read it.

  In the opening, there was the usual words about confirmation, who signed it, blah fucking blah, and the document’s date being July 2442.

  But what interested him through are the details. Directive 94 was detailed as this:

  In the event of a human superpower failed its duty in protecting humanity, ensuring their prosperity, and ensuring a strong and easy life for humans under their wing, the Special Tactics Recon can activate this Directive to have full authority to take over the Dominion’s infrastructure, root out the traitorous leadership that failed their duty in hunger for power over responsibility, and stand back to let a new human superpower rise from the ashes.

  Such a powerful directive only meant an abuse of power by those who held malice within their hearts. Indeed, Directive 94 was suppressed by the Dominion in the years after the second Cyberis war after the STR’s defection when they saw the blatant corruption and abuse of power held by the system infrastructure that linked the UHD. Since then, talks about Directive 94 became a fable, a myth. However, something piqued his interest, when he learned through communication channels with his network that a hacker who goes by the nickname of Breacherkid was arrested by Dominion agents due to stealing critical intel related to D94.

  Werner had a feeling in guts that it had to be Directive 94. But what was the critical intel? Was it the activation key? Codes of a signal to spread communications networks in the Dominion? He didn’t know, and that bothered him, when his work as a leader of his group relied on the power of information.

  A shift of his door was heard, and the Prince was snapped out of his thought. He saw Colonel Falka Walsh saluting him, then put her hands behind her.

  Like the other soldiers of his group, Colonel Walsh was a battle-hardened officer and a soldier in her own right. Decorated over 15 years of her career. Her dark short hair, betrayed the face weathered by scars and battle. She wore a blue navy dress uniform, pants head to toe, boots, and sleeved outfit.

  Like her fellow soldiers in Defectors of Corruption, she was disillusioned about the direction that United Human Dominion was going through. When she was contacted by the Prince Heir, she accepted.

  Unlike some of her peers, Walsh saw the Dominion as an irredeemable institution, corrupt to the core. The systems it’s built on was working as it was intended. She believed that humanity’s future rested on the complete dissolution of the Dominion

  The young Werner admired the Colonel for that, and had put her in his

  “Sir.” Walsh greeted. “I wanted to inform you that the commanders of the Special Tactics Recon wish to speak with you.”

  Evan Werner felt himself lighter. No doubt STR’s command wanted to speak with him about his involvement in the Eridani conflict. Part of him feared that he was gonna be persecuted for the hundreds of thousands lives that perished by the ORUS-Class Warhead detonated in the center of the capitol.

  The warhead that he smuggled and helped Eridani’s soldiers in using it.

  “Sir?” Walsh asked.

  “Did they say who they are?” Werner asked, and the Colonel shook her head. “No. They wanted to stay anonymous and expressed they will only reveal themselves once you talk to them.”

  Smart, he thought, but still. He had another question. “Timeframe?”

  Walsh checked the clock on her wrist watch. “In 30 minutes, sir.”

  Werner got up slowly, his disability weighed him down. The Colonel approached to help, but gestured her to let him handle this by himself, then he picked up his prosthetic leg and attached it to the stump at the end of his right thigh.

  Werner looked at the empty darkness of space, stretched beyond his window, beyond many systems, many lightyears. It was his favorite ritual of the day, he liked the feeling of so small in a great and enormous universe. That all of what was currently happening would be faded away, in memory, while the galaxy kept moving forward.

  But he also liked being in the present. To focus on the here and now. That’s not to say he doesn’t have feelings of the past and the future. The past, rich in history and stories of mistakes, sorrows, and failures. But also triumphs, victories, and accomplishments. The past was a huge ever evolving tapestry, for those who studied it well could understand the present and make the future better.

  The territories and sectors held by the Dominion over its long span was falling apart. Economies shattered. Protests cried out. Riots carried by the people who decided that enough was enough. Conflict through different territories, as planetary governments pushed for secession.

  And the order that the Dominion used in an attempt to wash away the fires, only for the fires of chaos to grow stronger. Brutalizing the civilians who wanted to answer to the problems.

  Quality of the everyday life went rock bottom

  Many Dominion military personnel, law enforcement, and agencies

  And yet, in their so-called wisdom, the Dominion’s leadership believed that waging an open war against the Tortsinan Imperium will stabilize things. Get things back to normal.

  But the old normal they’re clinging to was never coming back. If Evan had any bet, the Dominion’s attack on the Imperium would kick off on March 15th. The Ides of March. He couldn’t help thinking if the symbolism was overboard, or just felt right. He only hoped it would be a turning point in the Dominion history, not for the Imperium.

  Especially given the negative relationship Evan cultivated with his father, Richard Werner. Commander-In-Chief of the UHD. Like some of his siblings, Evan was destined to inherit his family’s business. But the disability that afflicted the young Werner’s leg, was seen as a liability by his father’s inner circle. And thus, he was removed from inheritance. It was more than justified for Evan to despise his father. But in all honesty, he hated the Dominion and the systems it was built upon. In his eyes, to take revenge only on his father was petty and had no reward.

  Still, he was more focused about the STR, particularly the operative who goes as Hawk. His network already confirmed she was involved in Eridani, but he needed assessment from his trusted aides.

  “How do you feel about Ranger Hawk?” The young Werner shifted to his aide.

  Colonel Walsh shifted her eyes, and pondered the question. This was no surprise for her, considering the STR’s involvement in the Eridani conflict. And considering the upcoming call, she wondered if he’ll exploit them or just establish an honest alliance.

  And considering he was asking her about an individual Ranger, particularly a famed one, she wondered if he was looking for an asset.

  “While I don’t know her very closely…” Colonel Walsh started off, but was interrupted. “None of us here do, Colonel.” He spoke affably. “I’m asking if she could be a potential asset in ending the Dominion.”

  Walsh took a small breath, then spoke up. “In that case, I would say she can be. But there are factors that depend on whether she’s willing to work with us.”

  Werner rubbed his chin, then gestured his aide to continue. “It’s safe to say that STR knows our involvement in the Eridani conflict. And from what we can tell about Ranger Hawk, she’s dedicated, cares for her fellow teammates, and single-minded in her mission, willing to say it through.”

  “But?” Werner sensed a sliver of doubt from his aide.

  “But she has ethical and moral parameters. If a mission involves killing civilians, she won’t accept no matter the circumstances. It doesn’t mean she isn’t willing to do whatever it takes to destroy the Dominion. She just prefers to not let” Walsh clarified.

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  Werner glanced to his window. In the next few minutes of silence, he pondered about those parameters. He wasn’t stupid to not know that some of the Rangers alongside Hawk who were in Eridani had a guilty conscience for nuking the capitol and decimating the colony’s ecosystem.

  Werner glanced back to his aide, face neutral. “What we’re going to ask of her to do is minuscule compared to what she had already done.”

  “What about D94, sir?” Walsh asked about the Directive.

  “I think it’s more preferable for her and her peers to learn about that than telling her about it.” Werner answered.

  “As you wish.” Walsh nodded.

  Then an alarm buzz came from Werner’s computer. It was almost time.

  He bowed to his aide, and she saluted him, then left his office. In the years since they worked together, both knew when it was appropriate to talk and when it was appropriate to leave.

  He moved back to his office desk, and logged in to his computer. He then wrote down a script, and entered it. A writing on the middle said

  “Encrypted Security v5.0 online”

  Werner opened up the communication app, and logged in. His anticipation grew

  The communication screen flickered, and in its clarity showed the faces of Brigadier General Maxwell Adams and Colonel Adriana Erckens. Their expressions were neutral, though that could change at any moment.

  “Evan Werner.” General Adams greeted him.

  “Brigadier General Maxwell Adams. Or should I saw, Big Bird?” Werner greeted back, his words betraying his sincere voice.

  “Adams is fine.” Adams said, stern in voice.

  “Very well.” Werner looked to Colonel Erckens. “And…”

  “Erckens.” The Colonel’s harsh tone gave him a double-take.

  Werner stayed silent for a moment. It was clear they didn’t trust him. He had to play it right, and not give them any excuses to make him their enemy.

  “Let’s get one thing clear, Mr. Werner. We don’t begrudge you for smuggling the ORUS warhead to Eridani.” Adams clarified, and Werner felt at ease.

  “And as much as we hate to admit it, using the warhead was the best choice when any other alternative would’ve meant certain defeat for us.” Erckens gave her input.

  Werner was still silent, still calculating the right words to approach this.

  “You may be our guest, Mr. Werner.” General Adams brought his face forward. “But we’re not here to declare you as an enemy.”

  Colonel Erckens nodded, and continued. “We in the brass believe that we will make a great advantage by working together.”

  Werner felt his mouth grinning, then pushed it back. “That is most excellent, Colonel.”

  “Just one question, Mr. Werner.” Adams interrupted. “Why you haven’t made the effort to contact us?”

  Werner pondered for a moment, and he knew the answer. He could’ve said that he was afraid they were going to put a bounty on his head, but he knew better.

  “The Network I use is piggybacked from the Dominion’s communications network. When contacting with individuals outside the Dominion’s jurisdiction, I add encrypted security to our communications to ensure no one is listening.”

  Werner’s answer brought a smile to General Adams and Colonel Erckens.

  “Makes sense.” Adams agreed. “Now, in order for an alliance to work, we need to understand you. Understand your agenda.”

  Werner furrowed his brows. Both officers must have believed that he wanted to reform the Dominion.

  “I know you might not like this, Evan.” Erckens explained. “But we have to cover all angles before committing to establishing an alliance with you.”

  Werner nodded, given their skepticism was understandable. “I guess you want to know whether I have plans to reform the UHD.”

  Both Adams and Erckens nodded, and he figured that was the case.

  He rubbed his hand over his face, took a breath, and started. “I presume that I have a chronic disability, yes?”

  Both STR officers nodded, which satisfied him.

  “Like any child of a dynasty, I was supposed to inherit the riches of my father’s work like my two older brothers, and so did my three younger sisters.”

  General Adams and Colonel Erckens raised their eyebrows. Their dossier on Richard Werner mentioned two sons, two daughters. Still, they pushed that aside and focused on the current conversation.

  “Unfortunately, being born with a right stump and chronically disabled made negative impressions from father’s inner circle. It was an embarrassment for my family. And I was treated as a pariah by him.”

  Colonel Erckens couldn’t help but feel pity for the young Werner. To be treated lesser over something he couldn’t control had to be traumatic.

  “When I turned 18, my father informed me that I’m off his inheritance and that I can no longer rely on his money. Fine, I said.” Both hosts saw the anger bubbled within Werner.

  “But I had the money to afford the surgery to install a prosthetic leg, and the medicine to treat my chronic illness. I had the resources to find a willing hospital. And I had the connections to ensure that no insurance company tries to fuck with me.”

  Silence stood for a few moments, until Werner continued.

  “But understand this, General Adams and Colonel Erckens. That surgery and new prosthetic? I was an exception, not the rule. Many disabled people, often who are poor, cannot afford what I got. And the ones who could, were often exploited by insurance companies whom they profit on their suffering. I was lucky, surely you understand that?”

  Both officers nodded. “We do, Mr. Werner.” Adams commented.

  “Around every corner of UHD space, there’s colonies that are built to run like a business and earn more and more profits, no matter the consequences. And if the profits they’ve made inflicted suffering on those colonists, then it was worth it.” Werner’s voice grew louder.

  “Law enforcement officers focus more on harassing random civilians going on their day over problems in their neighborhood. And more often than not, they brutalize civilians. And shoot a civilian dead with the excuse that said civilian was reaching for their gun.”

  “Their intelligence community? Their doctrine is to spy on the citizens they’re supposed to protect. Worse, arrest or eliminate a civilian because they spoke something that was wrong think in their eyes.” His voice grew even more louder

  “And did I mention their Armed Forces? Their combat doctrine is scorched earth. Soldiers or civilians, doesn’t matter. All are guilty with the sentence of death. Decimating infrastructure, homes, and recreation areas? That’s good. Arresting folks who want to help destitute civilians in their territories? Fucking justified in their eyes.” His voice grew even more louder.

  “You were wondering if I wanted to reform the Dominion” Werner’s venomous tone seeped in his words.

  “Here’s my answer; The United Human Dominion is an irredeemable sickness. The systems they were built upon is working as intended. The growing destitution of the common folk is justified so corporations and the rich can keep growing their profits. As long as that sickness keeps going, it will take humanity with it. And the only cure to that sickness is to decimate it, destroy it, dissolve it. Make the leadership, their lackeys, their sponsors face justice. And if they refuse, they must die. Humanity’s future depends on the Dominion’s dissolution!”

  Werner’s rant brought a cold chill to both spines of the STR officers. To say that General Adams and Colonel Erckens was surprised was an understatement. Evan Werner was not like his father in anyway. His mission to destroy the UHD seeped in fanaticism, though it was the righteous kind. The kind that demanded the cruel to pay for their crimes.

  Werner sighed and rubbed his face. “General Adams, you have the floor.” He said with a tone of a broken man. And he was broken.

  “Well, Evan… you’ve convinced us.” Adams spoke. “You showed strong resolve in your hatred of the Dominion.”

  Erckens nodded. “Yes. In the struggle against a cruel and relentless superpower, mercy is not an option. They must be broken and dissolved, then start over. It is the only way.”

  Werner grimly chuckled, and felt good. He wished to see the UHD destroyed. “So…”

  “In the next few days, we’ll meet in our HQ and start our deliberations towards our alliance.” Adams commented, which gave a wide smile from Werner.

  “Indeed.” Erckens chimed in and continued. “What we are facing in the next few days is a war that could decide the fate of our Frontier. And the fate of the Tortsinan Imperium. A War of Freedom”

  They stood still for a moment, until the young man had the words to speak.

  “Let’s call it a War of Liberation.” Werner spoke enthusiastically, and the grins from General Adams and Colonel Erckens grew wider.

  Freedom shall cry out and entrench itself to the fabric of reality.

  To be Continued….