ASO Chpt 20

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==Chapter 20 - Political Games - Aurigan Sentinels (BattleTech CYOA)==
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===Neo-feudalism vs long dead Democracy===
Tuamata Estate, Coromodir
Aurigan Reach, Aurigan Coalition
28th April, 3021
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Kamea and Victoria took a ride back to Cordia City in the morning, leaving just me, Moana and the staff at my new mansion home. We would have joined the others, but I wanted to check out my new estate a bit more before going away for who knows how long and my sister decided to stay with me.
 
In truth, I'm taking a day to relax before I throw myself into the inescapable politics of the capital. Not only will I have to deal with local concerns, but also those from the wider Coalition or even foreign visitors from beyond the Reach. So yeah, I'm taking a day off to destress and enjoy myself because who knows when I'll get that chance in the future.
 
And that is why Moana and I are currently in bikinis, laying back on some inflatable floats in the ocean, along the beach of my mansion. I was going to wear something more concealing, but younger me was quite the party girl in uni and I haven't exactly gotten around to updating my swimwear yet. Kamea purchased me a few wardrobes of attire befitting my new noble status, but none of that was beachwear. Or at least nothing I recognized as beachwear which is why I am wearing a bright pink bikini because, by whatever deities are out there, why did past me think that was a good idea?
 
"You're still thinking, aren't you?" says Moana as she looks over at me from where she is wearing her much more tasteful bikini, "Do you realize this is your day off?"
 
"I know, but there is so much that needs to be done," I reply, "And I'm going to have so little time to do it in the near future. Not until all of these foreign delegates leave and Blake's Blood, what are they expecting me to do? I do military and industry, not politics of all things. Stupid neo-feudalism, making it so I have to be a noble or my bosses look bad."
 
"Neo-feudalism is why we grew up in a life of luxury." points out Moana.
 
"Democracy at least holds its elected official answerable to the people voting them in, "I reply, "Neo-feudalism has no accountability baked into it. And I only grew up on the fringe of that life of luxury if you recall."
 
"That's fair." concedes Moana before she, rather blatantly in my opinion, changes the subject away from the differences in our respective upbringings, "Since when have you been so opinionated on politics? I can't recall this sort of talk from you before."
 
"Since-" I start to answer, but I pause as I think about my answer and just who I am talking to.
 
The truth is that it is a side effect of inheriting a lifetime of memories from the twenty-first century, but I can't exactly go around telling people that. My more acceptable alternative is to blame it on Jirus and my stepmother gunning for my head, but then Moana knows the truth. Sort of. I haven't told the whole truth, just that I had a vision, which is technically true, I suppose. Or at least partially true.
 
"Liz?" inquires Moana as I hesitate in continuing my answer.
 
"Sorry, I was just thinking about the most accurate answer," I reply as I stare up at the sky, "I suppose it started when I realized just why Jirus hated me and how far he was willing to go on that hatred. Then what I saw in my vision at the start of last year just solidified my existing opinions, which is that neo-feudalism sucks and is beholden to the whims of fate more than anything that has to be earnt. To use an old quote, democracy is the worst type of government except for all alternatives that have been tried.
 
"No offense to you as a noble, but one of the reasons that I am proud to be an Aurigan citizen is that the Founding Council includes elected officials rather than just limiting itself to the aristocracy."
 
"So you're a secret democrat?" replies Moana as she gives me a look that's, well, I think it is an appraising look, "I would never figured you for the type."
 
"It isn't exactly a secret, it just never comes up in conversation." I retort and I look away to stare out in the ocean.
 
I have experienced both positive and negative encounters with the neo-feudalism that dominates the thirty-first century and I find myself preferring the democracy that I also experienced in the twenty-first century. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but having leaders who are accountable to the voters and all that comes with that is preferable. I never had to worry about a member of parliament or a local Councillor having one of the general public disappear, something which the nobility of the current century can do. The Aurigan Coalition isn't as bad, but even a baron could potentially have someone who annoyed them dealt-Moana!
 
Whilst I was getting introspective, my sister had snuck up on me. I was able to spot her at the end, but I was too late to keep my little sister pushing into the ocean. Thanks to plenty of swimming lessons, I'm able to get my bearings pretty easily as I float in the water, glaring at my laughing sister.
 
"That was your own fault," says Moana as she tampers down on her giggles, "You should have been relaxing instead of getting all serious."
 
"You were the one who brought up politics!" I snap back.
 
"No, I wasn't," retorts Moana as she smirks at me, "You brought up the topic of neo-feudalism when I was trying to get you to relax. Unlike you, I haven't forgotten that today is your day off."
 
"You want me to relax, do you?" I reply, a plan forming in my mind as I move closer to the inflatable.
 
"Well, duh." says Moana moments before disaster as I put my impromptu plan for payback into action.
 
Instead of climbing back onto the float, I instead flip it, sending my sister tumbling into the water with a surprised yelp. We brought some items with us, but nothing that would be ruined by the water. After all, you don't go out into the ocean with belongings that would be damaged by exposure to the water. Unless you are on a boat. Or one of the other exceptions, of which there are probably many.
 
"Elizabeth!" shouts Moana as I take my turn to laugh at her, "I'll get you for that!"
 
"You can try," I taunt her as Moana swims at me.
 
As soon as she is within range, Moana lunges at me and we engage in a playful fight in the middle of the ocean. We've done this before, but never on our own and never since either of us had come of age. Objectively speaking, it is probably reckless to do this with only the mansion staff nearby, but it is fun. The sort of childhood fun that you can enjoy into adulthood or at least early adulthood. I suspect this kind of activity won't be so fun once we are old enough for our hair to start greying.
 
I bet that's why Moana did it. Or it might have just been impulsive on her part. Who knows?
 
In the end, Moana emerges triumphant in our impromptu wrestling match, successfully subduing me against the inflatable because she has always been the better one when it comes to water fights. I would have totally taken her on land through. Maybe we can do a rematch on the beach?
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===Price of Victory===
A couple of hours later, we haul our exhausted bodies back inside where the staff have helpfully left some fresh towels and full sets of clothing for when we have finished our showers. Speaking of which, Moana takes one look at the clothing and she gets a look on her face, one that I recognize quite well from growing up with her.
 
"Whatever you are thinking, Mo, no." I warn her.
 
"Hey, I won the fight, I think I'm owed some kind of prize from you for my earlier victory," replies Moana with a grin on her face, "Come on, it won't be anything too much, just making you wear some of my clothing for the rest of the day. I promise it won't be anything I wouldn't wear out in public, Liz."
 
"That isn't particularly reassuring," I point out, "I've seen the sort of stuff you go out in."
 
"Tube top and miniskirt," says Moana, "It will do a good job of showing off your figure."
 
"I don't want to show off my figure," I protest.
 
"You used to do it all the time," points out Moana, "Or do I need to break out the pics from your uni days."
 
"That was the old me," I say, "I haven't worn anything like that since, well, in over a year."
 
"There isn't anyone around to see you in it," says Moana, "The staff here won't be going around posting pictures of you. They're better than that."
 
"Fine, but just for today," I concede and Moana's grin grows even wider.
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Moana's fashion choices for me turn out to be acceptable. They certainly show more skin than I would like to these days, but the flower-patterned miniskirt and the light blue boob tube do look rather good on me. Blake knows that I've worn worse during my university days. That said, I certainly wouldn't go out looking like this, but thankfully, Moana is content to settle for just tormenting me by making me wear it at all.
 
"Since you have done a sufficient amount of relaxation today and we have a degree of privacy right now, are there any secret plans I should know about?" inquires Moana as the two of us are sprawled out across the furniture in my oversized bedroom, "Because you don't need to do all of that vision stuff on your own."
 
"You believe me then?" I inquire back.
 
"I was sceptical at first, but the results speak for themselves," admits Moana, "But after the Argo turned out to be salvageable and it also had that map hidden away, it is hard to deny your claims."
 
"The most important thing is Helm," I answer, "But we can cover that later. The biggest threat to the Inner Sphere is the Clans, but they aren't much of a threat to us due to being on the other side of it. The biggest threat to us is the ComStar because it is evil at its core and secretly the sixth Successor State. Both of those can also be discussed in the future. The more immediate things I have in mind are Regis Roost, Outpost Castle Nautilus and the Blackjack."
 
"I haven't heard of Regis Roost before, but Castle Nautilus wouldn't happen to be a Castle Brian by any chance, would it," replies Moana.
 
"Yes, but just an outpost castle, not a full blown one," I confirm, "It was found during the Arano Restoration, but got destroyed during the fight over it. Hopefully, we will be able to claim its full bounty."
 
"So I assume that it is within the Reach or nearby then?" inquires Moana.
 
"On Artru and I've already bought the land it is on," I answer, "Everyone thinks I've got it for mining, but I suspect that High Lord Arano and Lord Espinosa will figure it out once they have reviewed the map. Honestly, I'm surprised it hasn't come up already."
 
"Perhaps they intend to discuss it in-person?" suggests Moana, but I can tell that my sister looks worried.
 
"Maybe," I say, "Are you okay?"
 
"I'm just realizing that you really are as bad at politics as Kamea claims," says Moana as she shakes her head, "But we can fix that tomorrow. Right now, I want to know what you mean that one of your immediate secret plans is the Blackjack? I assume you are talking about the 'Mech, right?"
 
"Yeah, the 'Mech though what I am up to isn't really a secret," I confirm, "The secret part is why I am doing it. Anyway, the Blackjack certainly isn't the greatest of 'Mechs, but its bad reputation is overblown. The Blackjack is nothing special and makes for a solid fire support 'Mech. General Motors' okayest product if you will."
 
"Was that a quote?" asks Moana, frowning as she fails to place my reference.
 
"Yeah, from my vision," I explain, "Anyway, I figure that I could leverage its poor reputation into getting a good deal from General Motors on getting a local Blackjack factory under production. So I only have this year before the Blackjack loses its bad reputation. Within the Suns at least. I don't remember the details, but there is a militia action against some Combine general using a light 'Mech swarm and the Blackjack shines in the engagement, disproving its bad reputation. I've actually gotten started on it with Kamea or Angela sorting out the negotiations with the representatives from General Motors. If all goes well, the deal with General Motors will be sealed by the end of the year even if the beginning of construction won't be taking place until next year."
 
"Which leaves Regis Roost, whatever that is," says Moana.
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==Author's Chapter Commentary==
; A Word from the Author: And here is a chapter of downtime with Moana and Elizabeth doing sisterly things together so the story is all seriousness. I hope I have portrayed the sibling antics well enough because what the Nora sisters have as it is a far different dynamic to what I had with my own siblings.
 
 Anyway, Moana has some idea about Elizabeth's future knowledge and I wanted to bring up that plot point again. So I did so and used the opportunity to showcase some of what Elizabeth is doing with her meta-knowledge. 
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