[b][i]Windsor and his Crew - Present Day[/i][/b]

As the week ended, his ships' extra supplies ran out, and Windsor had to be pulled along by Captain Aisha Ibrahim back to her vessel now that there was no excuse for them to linger in Ponin.

"Come on, we're overstaying our welcome!" the latter said as she guided Windsor, who was lost in his thoughts back to her 'freighter, their brown hands accidentally entwining in the second before she led him through the hatch. As she activated the decontamination sprays near the entryway, the Captain waited a few seconds to see that Windsor's face was indeed sad.

"What?" the lady said as she rubbed decontamination foam into her clothes, "You didn't find the insight you're looking for?"

The response from the dark-skinned blond was, "I didn't - I found another." He sighed, "Captain Aisha Ibrahim, I still find it hard to grasp that love for a trusted superior can lead to... Atrocities and the scars which follow afterward. The un-rebuilt slums, the undereducated and hungry children, the injured who have to beg for alms because they gained their injuries in a rebellion - I can't believe that the massacres and the unforgiving attitude behind them were because people genuinely loved someone who sincerely earned their trust."

"You forget that they were rebels or related to rebels," Captain Aisha said, "Look at it this way, due to what happened, Ponin will be one of the few places where Kherol's name is greeted with anything less than admiration or adoration even when Proxima [i]isn't[/i] factored in. At least until the re-education initiatives take hold and human forgetfulness asserts itself -"

Windsor's eyes glinted like flint, such was the anger which overtook him, "[i]Never[/i]. Not as long as I draw breath." 

"Uh-huh," was Captain Aisha's reply, "So you've made up your mind to fight the Ascendancy to prevent them from repeating this tragedy? You do realize they still have one of the best commanders in history, right?"

The response from Windsor was for him to clear his throat and say, "I cannot defeat the Ascendancy, if it has Kherol in it, in direct battle, nor can I earn the love of my folk like he does right away, but I will make myself a thorn in his side if he, under the Ascendancy banner, tries to repeat what happened in Ponin anywhere else. Now," he said as he finished rubbing the decontamination foam on his own shirt, "Let's get back to orbit before the authorities make the decision to impound us - We need to plan our next move."

Captain Aisha glanced at him and said as the airlock opened up to the corridors of the ship, "We, Mr. Windsor? Don't tell me you've decided to promote me just because I've kept you grounded while you're in your flights of fancy."

Windsor [i]dared[/i] to sound cheeky as he waited for the Captain to lead the way, "Well, you're promoted, but only to the position of my Personal Pilot - Anything more might ruin what allowed you to help me, which is your down-to-earth nature and ability to see things the way people 'on the ground' do."

"Gee, thanks," Captain Aisha began walking to the cockpit before muttering, "If not for the inevitable pay raise, I'd see being with you as a punishment, not a reward. Anyway, considering the fact that you're a mere crewman as long as you are on this ship, go to the comms room and listen for any messages from your mother - She must be worried."

"All right, you're the boss," Windsor smiled as he began walking off to the comm rooms, where sure enough, his mother was calling him just as the ship was slowly taking off.

"Well, Son," Elizabeth Windsor had dyed her hair red, even as she wore a dress of white lace and a plaid shawl, "I must say, I never expected a crewman's clothes to fit you. How was the 'mercy mission'?"

Windsor's face turned firm, "I have to make myself a viable threat to Kherol. I am not sure I want to be as loved as he is, but I need my folk to love me enough to go up against him, despite his reputation and the prospect of certain defeat and death -"

"You also need to remember your plans," Elizabeth Windsor said. "Remember our talk about a transition to democracy, where you and I decided to model our plans after successful transitions which had occurred? Our plan to allow those people whose collaboration we need to save face, our plan to get popular consensus and legitimacy, for referendums and constitutional conventions, and a federal system that will satisfy the grievances of the Frontier Worlds without seriously disenfranchising the Core. And of course, to make sure that coexistence with other Sapient species does not dilute the Human Identity - To remind people that they can learn from others without [i]becoming[/i] those others."

"We need legitimacy," Windsor said, "With it, we win even if we lose the military struggle. Without it, we lose even if Kherol and Emmanuel, and Laguna all spontaneously explode. And legitimacy does come from winning over hearts and minds like I tried to do in Ponin."

Elizabeth nodded, "I'm proud that you realize that, my son. But now, we have to change the subject - The [i]Wolf Cub of Wall Street[/i] has returned and Wall Street on Earth is in flux never before seen since the lead-up to the Rau've War when people began speculating on the revenues from planets they don't own yet. RealAscendancyStockBets is also experiencing a surge in activity, further adding proof that it is indeed the Wolf Cub making waves, even before he contacted me saying he's back in business for good - And that several of the Ascendancy's hedge funds are going to [i]pay[/i] for their foolishness..."