A Terrible Peace
And where to find me at GenCon
This Week’s post is from another Intergalactic institution.
[A former Konkord Star Major, name since redacted, in response to an audience question at the Windfall Orbital State of the Dragon Conference. Recording provided by FXT Free Bulletin.]
Well, I’ve never been asked such a brave question by such a scholar of the stars.
[there is a pause, the panel host beginning to speak, before being cut off by the Star Major in a mocking voice]
“They’re just mercenaries and arms dealers with a vested interest in stoking war under the flag of peace. I see through their machinations.”
[scattered laughter from the audience, the Star Major stands]
Get this into your hollow head.
Konkord does not get to have machinations. We are in the business of stopping machinations.
Business, yes.
We fight for those who can afford us. We sell weapons to warmongers. We get paid to legitimise atrocities. Your currency is minted from starlight, ours from blood and ash.
[there is movement off stage, the Star Major casting a hard look before turning back to the audience, speaking with more urgency]
And it is a righteous war chest. If that is the cost of Konkord, it is the price of peace, a debt we can never truly repay.
We hold the guns so you can hold your techtile and read about some skirmish between nobles in the Falcon system. So you can lament how awfully brutal security has gotten at Arsewash Orbital since Konkord took over from those brave local militia.
We keep those wars in your bulletin so they aren’t in your home. We keep those yokels in Konkord uniforms so they don’t get riled up into a crusade by some bloody-mouthed politician.
So yes, you saw through the name. You saw through the dream.
We don’t make peace.
We can’t make peace.
But we make war better for everyone.
The Bastionland Readings
If you prefer to listen to blogposts, rather than reading them off a screen, I’ve released the first six Bastionland Readings, reciting six posts from throughout my archive.
Expect more in the future!
Away for GenCon
That’s all from me for a couple of weeks, as I’m headed off to GenCon next week. If you want to come and say hi I’ll be on the PlusOneExp stand (449, at the back of Indie Press Revolution) at 1pm Thursday and 11am Sunday.
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