Jacobson took a deliberate breath and shook his head, then offered another smile. “Perhaps I already seem like I am beating around the bush. Allow me to be quite blunt with you, then, Master Jackson. Ultimately, what I am getting at... is that I believe public support for your war would be much easier to achieve if the Vanguard took on a more visible role in the eyes of the people.”
“Visible,” Jackson echoed flatly.
“Yes,” the senator went on. “And believe me, sir. I know how my words must sound, especially to one so old as yourself. The prattling of a pampered ignoramus. Or the badgering of an attention-seeking opportunist, perhaps. I know these labels and views of me well. But, sir, the only thing I want is to help bring this continental war to a swift conclusion before it grows any worse.”
How noble. “There have been times in the past when we have taken on such a role as you are suggesting,” said Jackson.
“Oh, I am aware, sir. The history of your legendary group has been of great interest to me since I was a child.”
“Then perhaps you are also aware of the reasons why we no longer do so.”
“I am aware of various arguments, yes. As I am also aware of counters to those arguments. Which I would like to provide, if you would be so kind as to hear me out.”
Oh, boy. Here we go. He had to hold back a sigh. “I feel as though I might be able to save us both quite a bit of time here by simply telling you ‘no.’”
“Saving time, sure. Saving lives, though? That is the more pressing matter, surely.”
“With respect, Senator, if you think it is that simple of a dichotomy, then you are even more ignorant than I feared.”
“Hah. Not simple, no. Not at all. But important, nonetheless. I understand your trepidation completely, sir. You do not wish to become an appendage of some bloated empire again, to have your reputation strangled and tarnished by some bureaucratic contract.”
“Well, in the past, it was more of an autocratic contract that gave us trouble, but yes, that is one of the major issues.”
“Ah, indeed, indeed. But I am not here to try and ‘bring you into the fold,’ as it were. No, I think the Vanguard is just fine where it is. Independent of any government. Beholden to none but itself. What I am offering, sir, is simply attention. Eyes. On this war of yours.”
A dark serial novel. Set in a modern fantasy world called Eleg. Mature language. Updates every day at noon PST by ~400 words.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Page 3460
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” said the senator, offering a handshake. “I know how busy you folk are.”
Jackson didn’t forget his manners and shook it.
You ‘folk,’ was it? These days, all of the politicians were well-acquainted with the Vanguard, but Jackson was not in the habit of meeting with any of them personally. He typically left that sort of thing to his men.
Most of those men were currently quite busy fighting a war or being held prisoner, though.
“It’s a bit strange for you to be dropping by unannounced like this, no?” said Jackson.
The man gave an airy laugh. “Strange is one word for it, I suppose. Persistent would be another. I’ve been trying to arrange a meeting with you for months. These last two weeks, I’ve resorted to coming here almost every single day in hopes of bumping into you.”
That was news to Jackson. “Is that so? My secretary never mentioned that.”
“Really? I’m sure she must have seen me. And taken my team’s calls.”
“Mm,” hummed Jackson. “Perhaps I should have a talk with her after this.” And maybe give her a raise.
“Ah, no--don’t be too harsh on her on my account,” said Jacobson. “I’m sure it just slipped her mind.”
Jackson gave a laugh of his own. “Gracious of you.” He welcomed the man over to his desk so that they could both sit down.
What an old and familiar feeling. This stilted politeness. Appearances, appearances. Worry, worry, ever weary.
Politicians. He supposed he counted as one, himself.
Maybe he wasn’t as rusty as he thought.
“She said you wanted to talk foreign policy,” said Jackson.
“Ah--straight to the point, then. I appreciate that. Yes, sir, I did indeed wish to discuss the matter of this so-called Second Continental War going on, among other things.”
“Sounds like a long conversation.”
“Might be, might be. Although--well, ah, actually--how familiar are you with Intar’s official position regarding the war?”
He had to think a moment. It seemed rather obvious, so he was wondering if there was something he was missing. “Officially, you are neutral, yes?”
“Yes, but... everyone also knows that we are not truly so, since we are still providing considerable aid to one side. And the pressure has been mounting to make some sort of... formal announcement regarding our stance, one way or another.”
“Okay.”
At that, Jacobson hesitated.
But Jackson just waited. He did not see how any of this was relevant to him, nor did he wish to try and read into the other man’s intentions, just yet.
Jackson didn’t forget his manners and shook it.
You ‘folk,’ was it? These days, all of the politicians were well-acquainted with the Vanguard, but Jackson was not in the habit of meeting with any of them personally. He typically left that sort of thing to his men.
Most of those men were currently quite busy fighting a war or being held prisoner, though.
“It’s a bit strange for you to be dropping by unannounced like this, no?” said Jackson.
The man gave an airy laugh. “Strange is one word for it, I suppose. Persistent would be another. I’ve been trying to arrange a meeting with you for months. These last two weeks, I’ve resorted to coming here almost every single day in hopes of bumping into you.”
That was news to Jackson. “Is that so? My secretary never mentioned that.”
“Really? I’m sure she must have seen me. And taken my team’s calls.”
“Mm,” hummed Jackson. “Perhaps I should have a talk with her after this.” And maybe give her a raise.
“Ah, no--don’t be too harsh on her on my account,” said Jacobson. “I’m sure it just slipped her mind.”
Jackson gave a laugh of his own. “Gracious of you.” He welcomed the man over to his desk so that they could both sit down.
What an old and familiar feeling. This stilted politeness. Appearances, appearances. Worry, worry, ever weary.
Politicians. He supposed he counted as one, himself.
Maybe he wasn’t as rusty as he thought.
“She said you wanted to talk foreign policy,” said Jackson.
“Ah--straight to the point, then. I appreciate that. Yes, sir, I did indeed wish to discuss the matter of this so-called Second Continental War going on, among other things.”
“Sounds like a long conversation.”
“Might be, might be. Although--well, ah, actually--how familiar are you with Intar’s official position regarding the war?”
He had to think a moment. It seemed rather obvious, so he was wondering if there was something he was missing. “Officially, you are neutral, yes?”
“Yes, but... everyone also knows that we are not truly so, since we are still providing considerable aid to one side. And the pressure has been mounting to make some sort of... formal announcement regarding our stance, one way or another.”
“Okay.”
At that, Jacobson hesitated.
But Jackson just waited. He did not see how any of this was relevant to him, nor did he wish to try and read into the other man’s intentions, just yet.
Monday, December 4, 2023
Page 3459
The Sandlords had such a long and turbulent history. The idea that they might have been snuffed out as a result of his own inability to keep them safe...
Ugh.
He was being irrational again. Thinking the weight of the world rested squarely upon his shoulders. How silly. When it was obviously much more complicated than that.
And yet, also not. Because really, if he was so curious about their whereabouts, he could simply begin asking the right questions.
What?
Yes. The right questions. Of the world.
No.
Of Avar.
He growled.
His stubbornness wasn’t doing anyone any favors, least of all the innocent civilians that he so wished to protect. If he was true to his convictions, then--
A knock at the metal door arrived, pulling him out of his own head.
“What is it?” he said loudly, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Sir, ah--Senator Jacobson is here to see you.”
He blinked. Jacobson? Out of the blue? Well, there was no point in thinking about it. While he might’ve been past the stage where he was afraid of accidentally harming those around him, he was still in no state to be hosting civilian guests. “Tell him I’m sorry but that I’m not taking visitors at this time.”
“Ah--he’s, er--very insistent, sir...”
He rubbed his forehead. Well, maybe it would be okay. “What does he want?”
“...‘To discuss foreign policy,’ he says.”
Oh boy.
This was hardly the first time that a political leader had come knocking at his door, and there’d been various points in his life where he’d grown quite comfortable in the presence of such people.
It had been a while, though. Even disregarding his questionable mental state, he still felt a bit rusty.
But that name. Jacobson, huh? It was hard to keep track of all these Intarian senators, especially when so many of them didn’t keep their positions for more than a few years, so the fact that he actually recognized this one was saying something.
He took a deep breath. “Alright, show him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Maybe he was being an idiot. Or maybe this would be exactly the kind of distraction he needed, right now. He honestly couldn’t tell.
When the door opened, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit walked through while smiling graciously at Delilah, Jackson’s secretary, who closed the door behind him.
Ugh.
He was being irrational again. Thinking the weight of the world rested squarely upon his shoulders. How silly. When it was obviously much more complicated than that.
And yet, also not. Because really, if he was so curious about their whereabouts, he could simply begin asking the right questions.
What?
Yes. The right questions. Of the world.
No.
Of Avar.
He growled.
His stubbornness wasn’t doing anyone any favors, least of all the innocent civilians that he so wished to protect. If he was true to his convictions, then--
A knock at the metal door arrived, pulling him out of his own head.
“What is it?” he said loudly, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Sir, ah--Senator Jacobson is here to see you.”
He blinked. Jacobson? Out of the blue? Well, there was no point in thinking about it. While he might’ve been past the stage where he was afraid of accidentally harming those around him, he was still in no state to be hosting civilian guests. “Tell him I’m sorry but that I’m not taking visitors at this time.”
“Ah--he’s, er--very insistent, sir...”
He rubbed his forehead. Well, maybe it would be okay. “What does he want?”
“...‘To discuss foreign policy,’ he says.”
Oh boy.
This was hardly the first time that a political leader had come knocking at his door, and there’d been various points in his life where he’d grown quite comfortable in the presence of such people.
It had been a while, though. Even disregarding his questionable mental state, he still felt a bit rusty.
But that name. Jacobson, huh? It was hard to keep track of all these Intarian senators, especially when so many of them didn’t keep their positions for more than a few years, so the fact that he actually recognized this one was saying something.
He took a deep breath. “Alright, show him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Maybe he was being an idiot. Or maybe this would be exactly the kind of distraction he needed, right now. He honestly couldn’t tell.
When the door opened, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit walked through while smiling graciously at Delilah, Jackson’s secretary, who closed the door behind him.
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