Reinhard: Our paths have crossed before. Do you remember the Battle of Astarte, three years ago?

Yang: I received your Excellency’s message. You wished me well, until the day we met again on the field of battle. Thanks to that, I’ve made it through some bad times.

R: You didn’t respond to my message.

Y: That was rude of me. Pardon me.

R: That is not what I want from you. How about it? Won’t you come and serve me? We understand that you’ve been appointed fleet admiral. I, too, wish to raise you up to be an Imperial Fleet Admiral. Surely that title would have more weight if you came over to our side?

Y: This is a great honor, but I must refuse.

R: Why?

Y: I don’t believe that I can be of much assistance to you, your Excellency.

R: Is that true? Or did you really want to say that I am not a charismatic enough master?

Y: No, that’s not it! If I had been born in the Empire, I would have volunteered to serve your Excellency, even if you hadn’t asked. But I didn’t grow up drinking the same waster as the people of the Empire. I hear that drinking water one’s not used to is not good for one’s health.

R: I don’t believe that your water necessarily suits you. Do you not feel that, with all your valiant accomplishments, you’ve been subject to persecution more than you’ve been rewarded?

Y: I feel that I’ve been amply rewarded. Besides, I like the taste of that water.

R: Do you want to say that your loyalty is reserved for democracy?

Y: Yeah, well…

R: Is democracy such a great thing? Didn’t the Galactic Republic give birth to Rudolf and his Galactic Empire? Wasn’t the one who delivered your beloved nation into my hands your own ruler, chosen by the free will of the people of the Alliance? Democratic rule is the body chosen by its citizens in free will which subsumes the power and spirit of self.

Y: If you could pardon my rudeness, your Excellency, your words are as if they value of fire should be denied, simply because arson exists.

R: Hmm… That may be true, but wouldn’t you say that the same applies to dictatorship? You cannot deny the efficiency of government by a strong leadership simply because tyrants to exist.

Y: I can.

R: How?

Y: The rights to violate the rights of the people belongs to the people. In other words, when the people gave power to Rudolf von Goldenbaum, or an incomparably smaller man like Job Truniht, the responsibility belongs to the people. It belongs to no one else. That’s the important point. The sin of dictatorship is that the people can push off the failures of government onto one man. Compared to that cardinal sin the accomplishments of a hundred wise rulers seem small. In addition, your Excellency, a ruler as great as you is exceedingly rare. It’s only natural that your accomplishments and your failures also stand out.

R: I feel that your ideology is bold and novel, but a little extreme. I can only agree in principle. Do you mean to turn me to your point of view?

Y: No, not at all. I can only offer a counterpoint to your ideology. I believe that an ideology, seem from another side, must give rise to a counter-ideology. I merely point out that such a counterpoint must exist. That was what I wanted to say.

R: So no ideology is supreme, and no ideology stands alone? Is that your conviction?

Y: No, that’s just what I was thinking. I wouldn’t call it a conviction. Perhaps, in this universe, there exists a solitary, absolute truth. Perhaps it clarifies every question. But that’s beyond the reach of these short hands.

R: Then my hands are even shorter than yours. I don’t believe that the absolute truth is necessary. I only need the power to freely accomplish my dreams. One could say that it’s the power to not have to take orders from those one despises. Have you ever thought that way? Aren’t there people you dislike?

Y: I despise those who hide in safety while they glorifying war and patriotism and send other people to the battlefields while they relax behind the lines.

R: It is a difficult thing to live with those people under the same flag.

Y: You are different from them. You’re on the front lines. Please pardon my words. It’s admirable.

R: I understand. It was the only thing you approve of in me, after all. I’m honored. I had a dear friend, once. Long ago, when we swore to seize the universe together, we also made another oath; that we would never emulate those despicable noblemen and would stand at the fore and fight, and seize our victory. I was ready to sacrifice myself for that friend, no matter when, no matter where. But, in the end, the one who was sacrificed was him. I always relied so much upon him, but he gaze up even his life for me. If that dear friend were still alive, the one before me now right now would not be you, but your corpse. The admirals who occupied your capital have received a message. The Fleet Commander-in-Chief, your superior officer, perhaps, has asked that he be allowed to assume sole responsibility, and that I not visit my wrath on any other.

Y: That sounds lot like Admiral Bucock. But I beg your Excellency to refuse his request. Please, sir, it would be unworthy of us to let him bear the whole burden.

R: Admiral Yang, I am not a vengeful man. True, I did bear a grudge against the nobility of the Empire. But I merely think that you are a worthy opponent. Placing the one most responsible, the high commander, under arrest, was unavoidable. However, as the fires of war die down, the meaningless spillage of more blood is unnecessary, from my point of view. If I give you your freedom, what will you do now?

Y: I’ll retire.

R: Democratic rule is a body chosen by its citizens in free will which subsumes the power and spirit of self.