Colonel Christian: Have Jessica Edwards brought here.

Jessica Edwards: That won’t be necessary. I’m right here. We’re holding a peaceful public rally. Why have you come barging in, waving your guns?

Christian: We’re here to restore order.

Edwards: “Order”? Aren’t you from the National Salvation Military Council, the people who disturbed our “order” with a violent coup? Just what kind of “order” do you have in mind?

Christian: We will decide what order is. We restored order to the degenerating Alliance and eliminated mob rule. Anything necessary to achieve that is order.

Edwards: What arrogant conceit!

Christian: Line up ten people here.

Edwards: What do you think you’re doing?

Christian: I’m going to make sure these people, who say they advocate pacifism, are serious. You citizens all claim to have lofty ideals. You claim that peaceful discussion is better than violence, correct? Are you sure?

Civilian: That’s right. [Christian pistol whips him]

Edwards: What are you doing?

Christian: You there. Do you believe that too?

Civilian: Forgive me. I have a family. Please don’t kill me.

Christian: Hahahah! [pistol whips him] Brave words for people afraid to die. I dare you to contradict me. Peace can only be maintained by military might. There is no peace without weapons. Try and say otherwise! Well, talk!

Edwards: Stop it!

Christian: What?

Edwards: Do you think it’s all right to commit any atrocity as long as you’re prepared to die? Do you think it’s all right to commit horrible, stupid acts as long as you have conviction? How can you justify coercing people to your own personal view of righteousness through violence? That’s how Rudolf built the Galactic Empire. Just as you would like to, Colonel! There’s no difference between you and Rudolf! You’re not fit to give orders! Get the hell out of our stadium!

Christian: Shut up! [he pistol whips her] You bitch… [he stomps her]

* * *

I have to say, this was one of my most favorite scenes of the series. Jessica Edwards is so badass. She challenges military authority right off the bat by presenting herself, a nice and subtle feat of agency. Edwards easily sees through the discursive farce of “order” as established by martial law – the same martial law which reeks horrendously of “mob rule”. The best part is when she call his Rudolf, or at least in a Rudolfian vein of thought. She’s subverting his masculinity by positioning all masculinity within despotism thus marginalizing it within the very political ideology the FPA seeks to unravel. So yeah, the fact that she’s a women is just icing on the cake, but it’s terrifically effective. And of course the brief revolt is awesome.

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