IverChekt — 43869297
Original forum post: #43869297 by IverChekt, 2026-08-20 04:55 (forum time). The text below is the author's post, copied verbatim.
Provolone Curtiss sat in a chair before IverIrosian parliament. The massive sprawling room was full of the large crowd of people necessary to adequately represent all 4 billion chunes of IverIros. Provolone tried her best to project confidence and purpose with her cleaned and pressed uniform. She had spent her entire career in an engineering role in the space force and has never once saw combat, but she did know how to play politics, as anyone who hopes to succeed in the air force would need to.
She placed a briefcase on the table in front of her and organized her stack of papers
“Major Provolone Curtiss…” Prime Minister Margarita Curtiss spoke into the microphone. Her voice boomed over the parliament as if amplified by the voice of the gods. “Explain to us why you have been brought here.”
“My entire department has been cut by the air force. It wasn’t just a simple matter of losing funding, but the entire force just dissolved by the short sighted orders of a general. We seek the support of lawmakers.”
“You do realize it is extremely abnormal for parliament to intervene in the affairs of the military so directly, don’t you?” The Prime Minister said.
“Yes, but I believe now should be one of the few exceptions. Space travel has so many important benefits that the people should know. We are developing faster jets, stronger lightweight materials, pushing the limits of computing technology-”
One of the parliament members laughed. “Perhaps the advancement of computing pyrotechnics.” She said
Provolone decided she would take the insult on the chin and keep going. “we broke IverIros’ speed and altitude records not seen since we left the Republic of Motornin a hundred years ago. We can’t allow ourselves to fall behind the AUSR.”
There was some murmuring from among the members of parliament.
“Our mythology shows us,” Provolone continued “that the communists cannot simply be defeated through direct force or by negotiation. The Republic of Motornin overcame the People’s Republic of Talerus in both cold wars through a persistent pursuit of knowledge and science. Furthermore, the pursuit of science is an integral part of our nature as a species. The gods saw it fit to give each of their creations a means of survival. When they created bears, they were created with their mighty claws. When they created wolves, they were created with their close knit packs and fearsome teeth. When they created us, we were created with the ability to understand the world that they created and use it to our advantage. We should not deny ourselves the gods so graciously gave us.”
Margarita Curtiss seemed unimpressed, she leaned on her hands. She was no stranger to someone waxing poetic about the pursuit of speed, she knew exactly the playbook Provolone would use. They were both Curtiss Clan, and that was their one singular trick.
“Perhaps we shall hear a counterargument from the Airforce high command.” Margarita Curtiss said.
General Cheddar Bonnaire entered parliament. The whole crowd watched as he descended the stairs and sat at a desk near Provolone. He opened up a briefcase and spread some paper out across the desk.
“We reached into our internal archives and retrieved financial data. The total cost of development of the Takish class shuttle is 45 billion Irosian Mekos, and all for a space ship that didn’t even escape the stratosphere. For that same cost, we could have built 40 nuclear bombers, or three cruisers. Despite my colleagues claims of pushing the limits of the technology, the shuttle seems to use entirely existing air force technology, simultaneously proving that her claimed benefits do not exist, and that their failure is that much more of an embarrassment. Furthermore, the space force claims that they have two other spacecraft currently under development. Surely we cannot be expected to burden ourselves with this cost when we have a nation to protect right now.”
“The general is not telling the truth. We had to modify the engines to work in extreme altitudes and to work with liquid oxygen, we developed hulls that can withstand direct 50 caliber bullet hits without depressurizing, we-”
“Enough, Major.” interrupted Margarita Curtiss. “It seems the votes have already been cast. By an overwhelming majority, we have agreed to uphold the air force’s decision to cut the space force. You may leave.”
Provolone knew better than to continue to argue, trying to delay would only make parliament even more angry. Without any further word, she packed up her briefcase and exited the building.
She did not know what was in store for her now, now that her entire department no longer exists but she is still on air force payroll. She tried to think about that, rather than the disappointment as she took a streetcar back to her hotel in Ironridge.
Almost immediately after the hearing, Prime Minister Margarita Curtiss walked through the regal upper floors of a luxury apartment. She was one of the few people free to walk past the security, the door was open to her as she stepped into a room lit by lava lamps and a liquid wheel projector. A hazy smoke from nag champa fills the room and the OMeko looks up from her position leaned far back in the conversation pit couch.
“Far out, Margarita, come take a load off your feet.” The OMeko says. The OMeko wore her favorite Red Nine shirt and a long skirt printed with bright psychedelic patterns and looks over the Prime Minister over her red tinted circular sunglasses.
“I see you’ve done a lot to uh… personalize the place. Now, this is about business, so I need you focused today.”
“I’m totally straight, Margarita, I haven’t touched any grass or booze.”
The Prime Minister doubted these claims, but she continued. “It is done, the hearing with the space force is over. How about I go ahead and write you a check.”
“Groovy.” The OMeko said as she held up a peace sign with her fingers. She finally sat up straight as she watched the Prime Minister fill out a check.
“Tell me, did you decide to build an office in New Martinsburg?”
“Tacust. They already have all their rocket ship launchers down there.”
“I don’t mean to sound like I am questioning your sobriety, OMeko, but I do want to ensure you remember the terms of the deal.”
“I buy all the space force assets, they belong to me, and I hire exclusively from Curtiss clan for engineers, and build a factory in Ironridge. I told you I’m sober.”
The Prime Minster pulled the check from her checkbook and passes it to the OMeko. She looks it over, 50 billion IverIrosian Mekos, it will be about the same in Arach Dollars.”
“Groovy.” The OMeko said.
“If I may ask, OMeko, what is your interest in the space force? It has been nothing but a dead wait, a drain on resources, and you think IverChekt’s economy can support such a thing?”
“I have ways of turning negotiation skills into cold hard cash. It isn’t about IverChekt, this is about all my clan’s holdings. It isn’t a matter of if I can.”
“It is a matter of why, and I would love to know why.”
“I don’t get to talk about this much, but I really do have a special place in my heart for science. I didn’t buy that biolab in OSetho for no reason.”
“You have a biolab?”
“Privately owned but clan funded. Soon Enkon’s biological and space discoveries will have Tackett written all over it.”
“You’re into science? I never would have guessed.”
The Prime Minister’s surprise was genuine, but the OMeko thought it might have been sarcasm. That didn’t prevent her from inviting her to relax for a moment and enjoy some wine before she leaves her office for the next phase of their plan.
Provolone sat on her hotel bed, she hadn’t changed out of her uniform yet. She stared at the suitcase trying to hold back her emotions. It was all in one moment her entire life’s work had unraveled. She couldn’t hold back the tears for long, she buried her face into her pillow and cried.
Her cry was interrupted by a knock on the door. She wiped her tears. Who could it have been? Not many people even know she is there.
“What’s happening, chick?”
As Provolone opened the door, she might have missed the OMeko for her strange counterculture clothing, but the one thing that made it unmistakable was her broach with the Tackett Clan long suffering eye.
“O… OMeko!?” Provolone didn’t know what to do, she gave a stiff salute and hoped the OMeko could find a way to break the awkward silence.
“The one and only. Look, I’m taking you and some of your friends to Tacust. You work for me now.”
She placed a briefcase on the table in front of her and organized her stack of papers
“Major Provolone Curtiss…” Prime Minister Margarita Curtiss spoke into the microphone. Her voice boomed over the parliament as if amplified by the voice of the gods. “Explain to us why you have been brought here.”
“My entire department has been cut by the air force. It wasn’t just a simple matter of losing funding, but the entire force just dissolved by the short sighted orders of a general. We seek the support of lawmakers.”
“You do realize it is extremely abnormal for parliament to intervene in the affairs of the military so directly, don’t you?” The Prime Minister said.
“Yes, but I believe now should be one of the few exceptions. Space travel has so many important benefits that the people should know. We are developing faster jets, stronger lightweight materials, pushing the limits of computing technology-”
One of the parliament members laughed. “Perhaps the advancement of computing pyrotechnics.” She said
Provolone decided she would take the insult on the chin and keep going. “we broke IverIros’ speed and altitude records not seen since we left the Republic of Motornin a hundred years ago. We can’t allow ourselves to fall behind the AUSR.”
There was some murmuring from among the members of parliament.
“Our mythology shows us,” Provolone continued “that the communists cannot simply be defeated through direct force or by negotiation. The Republic of Motornin overcame the People’s Republic of Talerus in both cold wars through a persistent pursuit of knowledge and science. Furthermore, the pursuit of science is an integral part of our nature as a species. The gods saw it fit to give each of their creations a means of survival. When they created bears, they were created with their mighty claws. When they created wolves, they were created with their close knit packs and fearsome teeth. When they created us, we were created with the ability to understand the world that they created and use it to our advantage. We should not deny ourselves the gods so graciously gave us.”
Margarita Curtiss seemed unimpressed, she leaned on her hands. She was no stranger to someone waxing poetic about the pursuit of speed, she knew exactly the playbook Provolone would use. They were both Curtiss Clan, and that was their one singular trick.
“Perhaps we shall hear a counterargument from the Airforce high command.” Margarita Curtiss said.
General Cheddar Bonnaire entered parliament. The whole crowd watched as he descended the stairs and sat at a desk near Provolone. He opened up a briefcase and spread some paper out across the desk.
“We reached into our internal archives and retrieved financial data. The total cost of development of the Takish class shuttle is 45 billion Irosian Mekos, and all for a space ship that didn’t even escape the stratosphere. For that same cost, we could have built 40 nuclear bombers, or three cruisers. Despite my colleagues claims of pushing the limits of the technology, the shuttle seems to use entirely existing air force technology, simultaneously proving that her claimed benefits do not exist, and that their failure is that much more of an embarrassment. Furthermore, the space force claims that they have two other spacecraft currently under development. Surely we cannot be expected to burden ourselves with this cost when we have a nation to protect right now.”
“The general is not telling the truth. We had to modify the engines to work in extreme altitudes and to work with liquid oxygen, we developed hulls that can withstand direct 50 caliber bullet hits without depressurizing, we-”
“Enough, Major.” interrupted Margarita Curtiss. “It seems the votes have already been cast. By an overwhelming majority, we have agreed to uphold the air force’s decision to cut the space force. You may leave.”
Provolone knew better than to continue to argue, trying to delay would only make parliament even more angry. Without any further word, she packed up her briefcase and exited the building.
She did not know what was in store for her now, now that her entire department no longer exists but she is still on air force payroll. She tried to think about that, rather than the disappointment as she took a streetcar back to her hotel in Ironridge.
Almost immediately after the hearing, Prime Minister Margarita Curtiss walked through the regal upper floors of a luxury apartment. She was one of the few people free to walk past the security, the door was open to her as she stepped into a room lit by lava lamps and a liquid wheel projector. A hazy smoke from nag champa fills the room and the OMeko looks up from her position leaned far back in the conversation pit couch.
“Far out, Margarita, come take a load off your feet.” The OMeko says. The OMeko wore her favorite Red Nine shirt and a long skirt printed with bright psychedelic patterns and looks over the Prime Minister over her red tinted circular sunglasses.
“I see you’ve done a lot to uh… personalize the place. Now, this is about business, so I need you focused today.”
“I’m totally straight, Margarita, I haven’t touched any grass or booze.”
The Prime Minister doubted these claims, but she continued. “It is done, the hearing with the space force is over. How about I go ahead and write you a check.”
“Groovy.” The OMeko said as she held up a peace sign with her fingers. She finally sat up straight as she watched the Prime Minister fill out a check.
“Tell me, did you decide to build an office in New Martinsburg?”
“Tacust. They already have all their rocket ship launchers down there.”
“I don’t mean to sound like I am questioning your sobriety, OMeko, but I do want to ensure you remember the terms of the deal.”
“I buy all the space force assets, they belong to me, and I hire exclusively from Curtiss clan for engineers, and build a factory in Ironridge. I told you I’m sober.”
The Prime Minster pulled the check from her checkbook and passes it to the OMeko. She looks it over, 50 billion IverIrosian Mekos, it will be about the same in Arach Dollars.”
“Groovy.” The OMeko said.
“If I may ask, OMeko, what is your interest in the space force? It has been nothing but a dead wait, a drain on resources, and you think IverChekt’s economy can support such a thing?”
“I have ways of turning negotiation skills into cold hard cash. It isn’t about IverChekt, this is about all my clan’s holdings. It isn’t a matter of if I can.”
“It is a matter of why, and I would love to know why.”
“I don’t get to talk about this much, but I really do have a special place in my heart for science. I didn’t buy that biolab in OSetho for no reason.”
“You have a biolab?”
“Privately owned but clan funded. Soon Enkon’s biological and space discoveries will have Tackett written all over it.”
“You’re into science? I never would have guessed.”
The Prime Minister’s surprise was genuine, but the OMeko thought it might have been sarcasm. That didn’t prevent her from inviting her to relax for a moment and enjoy some wine before she leaves her office for the next phase of their plan.
Provolone sat on her hotel bed, she hadn’t changed out of her uniform yet. She stared at the suitcase trying to hold back her emotions. It was all in one moment her entire life’s work had unraveled. She couldn’t hold back the tears for long, she buried her face into her pillow and cried.
Her cry was interrupted by a knock on the door. She wiped her tears. Who could it have been? Not many people even know she is there.
“What’s happening, chick?”
As Provolone opened the door, she might have missed the OMeko for her strange counterculture clothing, but the one thing that made it unmistakable was her broach with the Tackett Clan long suffering eye.
“O… OMeko!?” Provolone didn’t know what to do, she gave a stiff salute and hoped the OMeko could find a way to break the awkward silence.
“The one and only. Look, I’m taking you and some of your friends to Tacust. You work for me now.”