The Utopia Project: Dawn of the Phantoms

Chapter 43: Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin



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===[Chapter 43: Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin]===

>>> Loading File...

>>> Subject Located...

>>> Continuing playback from previous save

>>> Acknowledged

==[Begin Memory Playback]==

Kovic carried a sheet of papers as he walked through the facility. Hallways leading to offices, rooms and more hallways. An almost labyrinthine complex that he swiftly navigated through. A left here, a right here, up a flight a stairs, another left another right.

His office had grown large inside of the control center of the Nexus. Soldiers saluted as he entered inside of his office, but he dismissed them with a salute back and a wave of the hand. Promptly they left, leaving him to his business. When he opened the door, he was greeted with the familiar sight of his office. A large and wide window let him see the progress that the fortress was making. It filled him with a sort of pride to oversee the growth of the facility, though he couldn’t be too happy about it. This wasn’t what he envisioned. This wasn’t what he wanted.

He took a seat promptly at his desk in front of a large array of monitors. His eyes glanced over at a intercom on his desk, holding a stare for a few minutes until it buzzed. He hit a button, and the monitors came to life.

>>> 'Welcome to the ACRA Multi-Dimensional Communications Node!'

>>>‘…establishing secure connection…’

>>>‘…initializing…’

>>>‘…onscreen…’

The image of another man appeared, looking back to him. He was dressed in a uniform, a green coat, white shirt, and black tie. On the coat was decorations and insignias of a Coalition High Commander. Authoritative. He looked down at Kovic, as the line was established.

“Major Kovic, it’s about time we’ve had this meeting.”

Kovic calmed his leg that seemed hellbent on nervously jostling, his head nodded along in complete agreement, “Of course. You’ll have to excuse me on my part. We should’ve had this sooner but I’ve had… difficulties establishing an appropriate base of rule-“

“The reports I'm getting is that you're trying to turn The Nexus into your own little personal kingdom."

"I've taken the measures necessary to ensure that Overwatch has appropriate control and that your goals are fulfilled," Kovic said with a polite smile, "It's all completely under control, I can assure you and the rest of High Command."

"It had better be," The General grunted, "We're giving you a lot of freedom here. A lot of it."

"Of course, the aid is always appreciated."

"What you do with the Nexus is ultimately up for you to decide, Major. But I've gotten your recent request for yet another shipment of Phantoms... and there's been concerns."

"I thought that the supply of prisoners wouldn't be an issue, sir?"

The High Commander shrugged as he leaned back into his chair, "Yes, normally it wouldn't. But there's been a bit of a... how do you call it? Let's just say a spot of bother, here on Earth. And by that, it's bad news. Resources are strained at the moment, even more so than they already are. There's been some negotiation between myself and the rest of High Command," The General put on his glasses as he took a cursory glance from a report somewhere just beyond the camera's field of view, "Our priorities have shifted. The Utopia Project is no longer our top priority."

Kovic had to bite his tongue from the words he dreaded most. Didn't they know that the fate of the human species was at stake here? What could possibly be more important than this? The wave of anger and confusion came at once, but Kovic's rationale kicked in and it faded before it could materialize.

"If I may ask, sir, what exactly would be the cause of this? If there's anything I can do to fix it, I assure you, I am as loyal as they come to The Coalition's goals."

"I'm afraid it is beyond you, or either of us for that matter. The Resource Wars are flaring up again, and they're getting worse. It's some shitshow going down in the South China Sea... again. The POA has our hands tied, and some people back home are throwing around words like 'direct confrontation'. I'm not just talking about some sensationalist piece of public gossip either, High Command itself thinks that this might be it... we may have crossed a line. The big one."

"World War Three?" Kovic gawked.

"Not yet. But we're close. As you may have guessed, we can't exactly keep sending waves of prisoners out to build up the Nexus, when we need all the manpower we can get here on Earth. Recruitment levels back home are as low as they've ever been, and the Americans are thinking about starting up another general draft. It'll be like Korea all over again, except this time - the nukes wont stop with Seoul," The General said with a thin sigh, "You know, Jeremiah, it's funny. A part of me envies you for being out there on Narva where it's all isolated from this shitshow. Truly."

Kovic was caught off guard by the seemingly innocuous comment, it seemed oddly personal from one of the high commanders. They almost always hid behind a veneer of professionality whenever they spoke to him. Ensuring to never insert their own personal persuasions or emotions into conversations. It made the situation at hand all the more alarming. Was this really... it?

"Sir... I can assure you that The Nexus will be available for you to relocate any assets off-world necessary in the event of a global thermonuclear war, I assure you. But, we can't work while our hands are tied! We're in the middle of a major offensive operation, the invasion of Helena is ongoing as we speak and you're telling me that you don't have enough troops to reinforce us? We're already in a state of crisis-"

"I know, Kovic," Said The General with a hint of annoyance in his voice, "Which is why I'm telling you to fix it. End the war with the locals and for the love of God, stop killing your own prisoners. There aren't any replacements! Hell, we hardly have enough ammunition and MRE's to send to Narva to keep your troops supplied. Our resources are not unlimited. Nobody is coming to reinforce you anymore, not until High Command is assured that we wont be vaporized out of existence and the fears of direct warfare with the POA are averted. These are your top orders more than anything else. Anything else is needless and must be put aside. Immediately."

Kovic's jaw clenched as he listened. Slowly he nodded, but inside he could feel a part of him bristling with a simmering fury. Again he would have to oblige the whims of non-believers and put Utopia to the side. Why couldn't they see that what he was doing, he was doing for the fate of all of humanity? Were they really that blind to the mission? How was it possible for them to say that humanity was on the verge of being wiped out, and in the same breath tell him to put their only chance of salvation on hold?

Kovic forced a polite smile, and nodded his head, "Yes, of course sir. I understand."

Thinly veiled anger tainted each and every single one of his words. Whether The High Commander speaking before him could detect the lingering wrath through the video feed was uncertain. It didn't matter either way, Kovic would have no choice but to oblige. His near unlimited access to Earthbound resources was the one primary advantage that he had in his control over The Nexus. Any losses that he sustained, be they from the regulars or the penal-unit, could easily be replaced by Overwatch Command. But now... he was on his own. This wasn't even the same kind of an issue when The Corporate Board came begging Kovic to change course for fear of losing profits. He could always brush them aside and ignore their concerns should they conflict with what Utopia was necessary, or at the very least negotiate to find some sort of compromise. But Overwatch's word was gospel.

He would have no other choice but to divert supplies from the attack on Helena back to The Nexus. That would mean, no more reinforcements, no more support, nothing. The troops would be stuck on their own, and if they couldn't take the city with what they had... that was it. There would be nothing else they could do but withdraw...

And what about the Phantoms? All of this was happening so soon after Kovic put his plans in motion to enforce their collaboration with Overwatch. If they started to starve... or realize just how fragile the situation was... there would be a riot. And with The Nexus' already strained resources now becoming even more limited, if a revolt from the Phantoms happened now, there might not be enough resources to put it down.

The timing could not have been worse. This was The Nexus at its most vulnerable moment, just as it seemed Kovic was on the cusp of solidifying his control, just as Helena was within their grasp... the rug was pulled out from underneath his feet. Leaving him stranded...

If there was ever a time to feel like a man adrift in the ocean, drowning, it was now. He could practically see the sharks circling around him. And god help him if the sharks smelled blood.

"I understand completely," Kovic said, his smile somehow feeling faker than it ever had. He could feel the dread weighing him down on this inside, as he watched the general close his binder full of documents.

"Good. Look, I know these are bizarre circumstances. But the reason we've given you so much autonomy is precisely for situations like these. The Nexus needs to be at least somewhat autonomous. That is the point of The Utopia Project, if Earth gets wiped out tomorrow and The Nexus isn't ready to lose support - what do you think is gonna happen?" The General made a mistake saying that, though he did not realize it. The exhaustion of World War Three's specter was clearly taking a toll on The High Commander. But Kovic had caught on to every single word.

Of course. If Kovic got what he wanted, Utopia would not need The Coalition. Utopia would be rid of the foolhardy generals and commanders who had plunged the world into conflict in the first place. And here those foolhardy generals were, telling him exactly what he needed to hear.

"Of course sir, that will be my top priority," Kovic said before bidding the General farewell.

Utopia wouldn't need them at all. In fact...

As soon as he was alone in his office, his hands went to the phone on his desk. He pulled out a slip of numbers, above which the name "Katsuro" had been written in his own handwriting. Dialing each number into the landline, he waited. Fingers rapping on the wooden surface of his desk...

He heard a familiar voice greet him on the other side, "Overseer! What a pleasant surprise, I wasn't expecting a call from you at this hour."

"Thank you Mister Katsuro, and I wasn't expecting to give you a call either. But, things change."

"How right you are. What can I do for you, Overseer?"

Kovic smiled, "I'd like to call in a favor."

Over and over a single thought kept repeating in Kovic's mind. One so tantalizingly irresistible that he could hardly wipe the smile from off of his face, but he needed to be cautious. Over and over again, the image would never leave his thoughts...

It was of parasites. Cast into the fire.

>>>[Verifying...]

>>>[Loading Sitrep A-z4...]

>>>[Going through File Directory]

>>>[Standby...]

==[Loading Complete!]==

==[CRISIS WATCH]==

Crisis is a constant. It is something that must always be expected, but can truthfully never be predicted. Crisis can make or break empires, civilizations, societies. Resources falling into a black hole of deficit, powers crumbling, all because of error and mishap, the origin of which may be out of the hands of the ones who suffer most. Crisis destroys...

But Crisis may also create.

If navigating the hazards of the resource wars have taught Coalition leaders anything, it's that crises represents opportunity. Radical power shifts and structural changes can be forced underneath the veil of safeguarding populations from a crisis. That is just as true on Planet Earth as it is here, on this hell realm called Planet Narva. Kovic is no different, and in fact, he stands uniquely positioned to take full advantage of any and all crises that may befall his administration. Profit can be found even in the midst of chaos.

Yet, it is a delicate balance. One wrong move, and he's as good as dead. The Nexus cannot completely separate itself from the proverbial umbilical cord of the Portal, which ensures that The Nexus remains tethered to Earth's affairs. Yet, while Kovic's overseers are preoccupied with the escalation of The Resource Wars and a potential nuclear exchange, the chance to truly shape The Nexus in his vision remains clear. Of course, this cannot happen while The Nexus burns down. Kovic must first extinguish the fires of crisis, and then rebuild from the devastation. Utopia is reborn, embers from ashes, steel from an inferno, rising to start something new...

==[DIRECT IMAGE LINKS FOR CLEARER RESOLUTION]==

>>>[CRISIS WATCH]

>>>[THE STATE OF OUR UTOPIA]

==[END TRANSMISSION]==


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