Jihua studied the concept, remarking, "Very impressive. I've often found science fiction fascinating, and imagining starships as stellar submersibles seem only logical, especially in the aether. Do you think Mundus will reach that point someday? Extending humanity to across the cosmos, colonizing and discovering?"
Heinz carefully watched Jihua translate what Saeed said, and after Saeed talked to Mei, mentioned, "Pardon my intrusion, but I personally find Rokkenjima to be less than weak. They exercise a large navy, perhaps, but have no spine. Their monarch tosses the lives of her people around like they a child blasting ants with a magnifying glass and that sort of behavior is, at least in terms of the Imperial Republic, the exact way to start a massive civil war. To add on to that, their alliances and indecisive support of nations is so incredibly unpredictable and volatile that they never last long, like the enormous amount of failed organizations and alliances that they have created. I honestly," -He pulled out a well-polished pine case from his bag- "find that they possess a talent for being incredibly condescending. As you said, they aren't used to sacrifice."
Opening the case, Heinz removed an old black-and-white photo. On it was a group of seven Imperial soldiers, all but one with their faces crossed out in red ink, each except the untouched face listing date and name.
"This was my great-great-great grandfather's. These are his brother, sister and four friends beside him. He was the only one who made it home alive to have kids. He fought just so that we dragonaii of this century could live untarnished by communist blood."
He pointed to one of the crossed-out figures, the rifle's butt resting on the ground, standing firm at attention in full autumn gear, despite the rest of soldiers making humorous poses.
"She fought an entire tank regiment with her automatic rifles squad and when they realized they were losing, they strapped demolition charges to sticks and performed a suicide charge to at least delay the advance. Won her a posthumous Jade Sun for bravery and dedication. Rokkenjimans? Pah. Look at their wars, their silly playful 'civil war', then come back and tell us dragonaii what it means to sacrifice oneself."
Setting the photo back in its case, he apologized, saying, "Pardon me for ranting. I simply think very highly of the Imperials during the war."
