In a very real sense, that single meeting was the beginning of the most devastating, prolonged conflict in the system’s history.
TX109B was introduced to the Shadostrian Navy personnel in 2 days of the Senate approved funding. The approval was based on a necessary “anti-viral” that had been developed to protect against the effects of a new bio-weapon in production by the Toldegan Defense Ministry. Within a week, each field commander was receiving regular doses of 109B. Chain of command had never been smoother.
Since realistic administrators know that there are no real secrets in large organizations, it was decided that steps should be taken immediately to head off any repercussions among the rank and file. The three Fleet Commanders, Rear Admirals Nemke Wakeside, Eric Stone, Mason Gorigg, as well as other key commanders throughout the Fleet, were summoned to an intelligence briefing, which was, in reality, a quarantined investigation. Each commander was interviewed regarding his attitude toward a possible policy of administering mind-altering substances to Navy personnel without their knowledge. To their dismay- but not to their surprise- the Directors found that almost 100% of field commanders, from Admirals to Ensigns, rejected the policy as a violation of personal rights.
The worst-case scenario- literally no support among field leadership- had come about. This development put the war effort in serious jeopardy. Shurilo warned Grove that it was probably not in his best interests to say, “I told you so,” so he restrained himself. He directed his efforts toward preserving the lives of the leadership. Unfortunately, saving their lives meant participating in and administering 109B Policy. Grove’s aides avoided direct contact with him for the following weeks and months, preferring to deal with him in writing rather than in person.
Inevitably, someone leaked information about 109B to a media outlet, which put the Senate on alert. The media found out that the 109B was not a preventive measure against the Toldegans new biological weapon. Director Markus was forced to work many sleepless nights to create a scenario that could spin for the story in his favor. By the end of the news cycle his complexion was grayish, his eyes were sunken and hollow, and his hands shook whenever he held his coffee. He also forgot about hygiene as he hadn’t bathed in many days, leading Shurilo to expel him from a Directorate Council meeting to deal with it.
In spite of his exhaustion, Markus did a reasonably good job of separating the news story from Senate approval of TX109B. In his version, the steroid was named Shadow Host. Supporting intel files were manufactured and pharmaceutical trial reports were edited, and within a week, a report on a conspiracy against the Navy was submitted to the Senate and distributed to the media.
Shurilo kept himself out of the process to maintain plausible deniability. When the Senate special counsel questioned him regarding Shadow Host, he said with all the sincerity in the System that he had never heard of it before, only learning about it through media outlets. Although Shadostro on the whole was disappointed in Shurilo’s apparent lack of vigilant personnel supervision, they were, as always, indulgent to their heroes.
As details of the project were released to the public day by day, a general consensus was reached: Maxillian Lenart, a renowned and decorated Shadostrian biological engineer, had become unhinged and, on his own initiative, had developed a mind altering drug. On his orders, financial resources were redirected toward his personal shadow project, and only conscientious civil servants and a free press had prevented a dangerous mind-altering substance from being administered to the armed forces in the nick of time.
In closed session with the Senate Armed Forces Committee, Shurilo explained that the commanders who had administered the drug were not punished because they did not know what they had administered to their crews. He besought the politicians gathered to see the importance of extending mercy and to affirm these men who, through no fault of their own, had been reduced to “pushers.” The fault lay with Lenart- who, unfortunately, committed suicide once his plan was put into effect- and his supervisor, Attalox Cosgrove, who disappeared after issuing the orders to administer Shadow Host.
The politicians saw potential in retaining the Field Commanders in their positions. Why make martyrs of men who have protected the System? Shadostro could not sacrifice such leadership in times of war. Upper and middle leadership could not be sacrificed due to what amounted to a clerical error. There were, without question, accountability problems at Lujenic. These inequities had been corrected to prevent any such occurrences in the future.
Another intelligence conference was convened. Admiral Wakeside and of his 2 senior officers were present: Matt Scaven and Mek Cieno. Wakeside sat on at the large table with Admirals Roland, Grove, and Norton. Scaven and Cieno sat in the back of the room.
Stayvos presented a video of the closed session with Shurilo and the Senate Committee. Field commanders watched the expressions on Senators’ faces as the blame was passed on to Lenart and Cosgrove. They saw relief as Senators realized that they were going to be able to give Shurilo a pass. They watched them vote to recommend that disciplinary letters be placed in each commander’s permanent personnel file.
The video screen went dark, and no one spoke. A good metaphor, that the scheme was shrouded. The council had covered itself. No one would be doing any talking.
Conference participants sat silently, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Now,” Stayvos explained, “I want to assure you that the Senate recommendation will be followed. None of you will be demoted or transferred due to this unfortunate incident. You may return to your commands, only slightly worse for wear, and administer the new anti-viral as ordered. As you can see, this new drug has nothing to do with the Shadow Host scandal.“
“What nonsense,” Lieutenant Commander Mek Cieno muttered. ”They’re turning us all into co-conspirators.“
“Quiet,“ Commander Scaven hissed at him.
Rear Admiral Wakeside stood. “Director, I’m sure you have heard the concerns voiced by many Shadostrian medical personnel that the anti-viral trials were abbreviated and largely unviewed. Perhaps the Shadow Host scandal has made us oversensitive to the introduction of any new medications to our personnel at this time.“
The Director gave him a smile that didn’t make it all the way to his eyes- they were cold and hard as a ship’s hull. “Is there a question in there anywhere, Rear Admiral?” He looked around the room and found no support- only angry and suspicious faces.
Wakeside stood stiffly. “Yes sir. What if we refuse to administer the anti-viral?“
Stayvos shrugged. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the Council’s report to the Senate wasn’t complete. We are still investigating the possibility that Lenart and Cosgrove may have had co-conspirators in the upper echelons of the Fleet.“
Wakeside’s eyes narrowed at Stayvos. After a moment, he gave the Director his own thin smile, murmured “Thank you, Sir.” The older commander bowed and headed out of the room. The meeting was unofficially finished now.
Commander Scaven stood, surveying the audience to see if anyone else was as angry as he was. He wasn’t disappointed. Red faces, thin lips, and darting eyes were everywhere in evidence.
He turned his glare on Stayvos as he exited, and then hurried to catch up with Wakeside.
Stayvos was troubled as he watched the commander leave. For a man receiving steady doses of 109B, Scaven didn’t act like he was under anyone’s influence but his own.
***
For twelve years the Toldegan Wars held center stage in System affairs. Little else occurred in the galaxy besides battle, negotiation, advance, retreat, assault, retaliation, evacuation and occupation. Science was directed exclusively toward increasing food and water supplies, development of and defenses against bio-weapons, and streamlined arms manufacturing processes.
The war at home to keep the hearts and minds of the citizens of the Shadostrian Union was the most critical battle at all. Literature focused on developing and justifying Shadostrian military doctrine. Art primarily served to depict triumph in the battles the Shadostrian Navy won and the immorality of their opponents in the battles they lost. Artists lacking in patriotic fervor soon found themselves lacking patronage.
Several key planets came under Shadostrian control. The utilization of first strike capability- due to a massive fleet and ground troops with reputations for abject ruthlessness- left the targeted planets with little choice. Few planets possessed the military strength capable of resisting Shadostrian invasion. Those planets sporting armed forces big enough to give them a fighting chance tended to lean toward negotiated terms rather than military resistance. They had too much to lose. No one would come to the aid of those marked for conquest.
As the conflicts continued and multiplied, Shadostrian Navy commanders inevitably began to question their orders- due to growing disillusionment with their mission of conquest and occupation. Graduate students at the System War College presented academic papers in stark opposition to the Toldegan campaigns with no apparent fear of admonishment.
Fearing the loss of command structure- as well as a full-scale revolt in academia, Markus manufactured another bio-weapon crisis. An airborne virus developed in a secret lab at Lujenic, was released into a small moon base, using canisters taken from a seized Toldegan freighter. All base personnel, including a Navy unit led by a Shadostrian loyalist (killing a member of the opposition would have looked suspicious), died in the “attack.” After investigation, the moon was destroyed, eliminating all traces of the virus.
In response, upon recommendation from the Directorate Council, the Senate ordered Lujenic to develop a new antiviral to guard against any future attacks of such a nature. The senate authorized funding for TX109C, designed to combat the new “virus.” The funding bill authorized the Navy to administer TX109C to any unit deemed vulnerable after a thorough threat assessment.
Not surprisingly, the units found to be at greatest risk were those under the command of opponents to the Toldegan conflict. What was a surprise was the complete inefficacy of the drug. In fact, it backfired, fulfilling Lenart’s fears. Not only did the commanders not become compliant- it seemed to increase their resolve against the wars and their contempt for Command. The council had no clear information about what was going on because monitors assigned to keep an eye on the stubborn commanders after 109C was administered were arrested and tossed into the brigs of various battle cruisers.
Commander Matthias Scaven and several more high-ranking officers began operating at their own discretion.
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