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Post by mythic77 on Jan 29, 2009 15:53:57 GMT -8
Essak waited after he summoned Sub Visser 33. It was shortly after the "incident" at the medical facilities and he had several things he need to talk about. He waited inside of the small room he used for meetings with others, just outside of his labs.
Sub Visser 33 walked in and Essak did not get up from behind the desk he used "Please have a seat Salheer."
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Post by Subvisser 33 (Salheer 671) on Jan 29, 2009 16:00:18 GMT -8
Salheer nodded, bowed slightly, and sat down. "It is always an honor to be summoned by someone such as yourself, Essak Three-Two-Nine," he said in his usual slightly-nasal monotone. "Rest assured that I will serve you in whatever small way I can. Subvisser Thirty-Three is at your disposal."
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Post by mythic77 on Jan 29, 2009 16:12:06 GMT -8
"Really" Essak said, arching his eyebrow "then would you tell me why you wanted me to see this?" He indicated a screen which showed Salheer's earlier conversation with Visser 24. "Him, i could see as forgetting my earlier statements, however everything I have heard about you tells me that you should not be forgetting when I said I had control over all the security systems."
"Why do i get the feeling it is less what you can do to serve me, but rather what I can do to serve you?"
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Post by Subvisser 33 (Salheer 671) on Jan 29, 2009 16:17:08 GMT -8
"You have the ability to be far more than a simple Visser," Salheer said in a rare moment of honesty. "Your reasons for refusing promotions are wise. There are very few intelligent commanders on Earth; you are one of them. But Irwit One-Six-Five-Five is a fool, and he will attempt to destroy you. Visser Two will as well, once he realizes that you are dangerous in spite of your considerably lower rank. The Empire cannot afford to have one of our most intelligent leaders killed by such infighting. The first step in eliminating your enemies is to know who they are. So I am drawing your enemies out into the open."
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Post by mythic77 on Jan 29, 2009 16:46:26 GMT -8
"Far more than a simple Visser?" Essak said "Don't know if being a Visser could ever be called simple..." He looked at Salheer, believing him, which instantly set off an alarm bell in Essaks head "But you are here for a far more important reason than helping an old Visser against his enemies. You want something for yourself, and I would like to know why.
Essak continued speaking, knowing that whatever Salheer told him would not be the truth, or at least not the whole truth. "The entire reason i refused so many promotions was to avoid this sort of conflict with someone like Visser 2." Essak sighed, "and yet is still happens."
Even as Essak talked his mind whirled. He thought of who the likely replacements for him were, as they would have to be watched, and he thought of who the likely replacements for Visser 24 would be. Most of them were no better, and that made eliminating him pointless unless if Essak could get someone better in a good position to replace him.
"So what is it you want from me?" Essak said, deciding to listen and see if he could glean some truth out of the answer
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Post by Subvisser 33 (Salheer 671) on Jan 29, 2009 16:59:58 GMT -8
"It is as you say. No matter how many promotions you turn down, you will still come into conflict with the other Vissers. And certainly some high-ranking Subvissers covet your position. Refusing to take what power you could gain will not help you any longer. I think the time has come for you to seize greater power.
"As for my part," Salheer said, laughing inside, "I would think the benefits for me would be obvious. You are known to reward good assistance well, Essak Three-Two-Nine. Those who help you find themselves in high station. I believe that if I aid you in rising to even greater power, you will fine some way to compensate me for my services."
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Post by mythic77 on Jan 29, 2009 17:25:21 GMT -8
"Maybe I should work my way up." Essak said, unhappy but seeing the fact that he would not be able to stay back. He did not want the power, but it looked like he would have to take it "I just wanted to keep working on my experiments..."
"You are right about me rewarding those who help me. You may even wind up in being my replacement. Or even jumping above me. That might even be better, as you have the energy for the job and actually think, a rare occurrence in Visser's"
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Post by Subvisser 33 (Salheer 671) on Jan 29, 2009 17:38:44 GMT -8
Salheer smiled, amused at Visser 42's comment that Salheer might end up outranking him. If he had any idea... "I thank you for the praise, Essak Three-Two-Nine. " Salheer straightened his tie. "In order to overcome Irwit One-Six-Five-Five and Visser Two, you will need powerful allies of your own. I beleive I can convince Esplin Nine-Four-Six-Six to stand with you. Certainly he would rather not have the ambitious Visser Two lurking so near. And if there is a warrior in the Empire who can stop Visser Two in battle, surely it is Guraff Four-Two-Seven. With their aid, the others stand little chance."
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Post by mythic77 on Jan 29, 2009 17:51:43 GMT -8
"Perhaps" said Essak, thinking "but never underestimate your enemy. It is far better to overestimate them and have no problem than underestimate them and pay the price." Essak started thinking, and wondered just how the odds were stacked. Visser 1 did have access to the most men and material, making him the most powerful yeerk around, and Guraff, despite his age, was still an excellent fighter.
"If you can convince Visser 1 it would be a great boost." Essak said "and as he proved earlier, Guraff is still a better fighter than Visser 2. That combination of allies would indeed prove advantageous. The key will be how close Visser 2 and 24 become. I do not think two headstrong yeerks such as them can get along well, but i have seen less likely things happen. Visser 2 is by far the stronger, so he will be the bigger threat." Essak thoughts were perfectly normal, but his brain far outpaced his mouth, making him seem to be bouncing all over the place
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Post by Subvisser 33 (Salheer 671) on Jan 29, 2009 18:11:10 GMT -8
"I am confident that we can turn Esplin Nine-Four-Six-Six to your cause. As for the alliance between the other two Vissers...that is why I have inserted myself into that situation. I will see to it that their alliance weakens both and strengthens neither. An easy task, considering who I need to fool."
How easy this is all proving, Salheer said to himself. The Vissers are all so willing to fight each other; even those who do not enjoy it. But the Counsel is no different, really. By the time I was Emperor, it was down to the Counsel of Seven. Salheer chuckled at the memory. Staffing was always a problem in the Empire. "Visser One will side with you," he said. "He cold never consider you, an avid scientist, a threat to his position; he knows that you do not want it. I will do what I can to arrange a meeting between the two of you."
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Post by mythic77 on Jan 29, 2009 18:35:45 GMT -8
"Thank you" Essak said "I will await your notification." Essak stood up, wondering about what the future held. this would probably be one of the biggest power struggles in the recent history.
"I have things I must attend to." Essak said, dismissing Salheer.
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