The question on everyone's lips: who murdered Harold Duval?
Some people say it's Zemina Torval, but think; what does she have to gain from it? Harold was a prince, sure, but he was removed from the line of succession. Assassinating him does nothing for her.
In fact, in direct terms, his assassination does nothing for anyone. He was a drunken sideshow with little real importance. All his assassination does is annoy everyone, and turn popular opinion against the NMLA. Even more specifically, it turns Aisling against the NMLA, and potentially against the cause they represent.
Which is...interesting, isn't it?
The NMLA supposedly want an elected Emperor, rather than a hereditary role for the title. Aisling isn't directly in line for succession with hereditary rules, but is enormously popular with the common people of the Empire; if a more democratic system were inacted, she'd be high on the list to be future Empress, and would probably be the most likely to support democratic ideals, based on her liberal beliefs she's displayed in the past.
Why would they make a move so seemingly at odds with their main purpose? Who benefits from such a thing?
It could be a plot by the Federation. By creating this internal strife they could potentially weaken the Empire, and they're one of the few parties that could supply the terrorists with the Thargoid-derived weapons needed to carry out the attack. But that's based on a huge assumption; that they won't get caught. But how could they ever assume that AND use thargoid weapons, which will immediately lead back to them?
It could just be a bad plan. That's certainly what some will think, especially after failed unilateral action by Federation Admirals in the past, like the Onionhead incident.
Or.
Imagine, for a moment, that there is a faction in the current Empire, with traditional values and a desire for a popular war against the Federation. However, they know that such a war would never be popular, especially not with resistance from the more subtle Torval or the liberal Aisling. A party who is also being threatened by the liberal values of Aisling paired with her enormous popularity. A party who is willing to do anything to preserve their power.
This party plotted the entire thing, posing as the Federation, with the full intent that the eventual 'Federation' involvement will be revealed in due time.
Even worse, a Federation involvement with the Marlinists! Calling the entire movement into question! Are they sincere believers in their ideology? Or are they simply another plot by the Federation to weaken the Empire from within? Nobody will ever be able to know! But popular sentiment will flood behind retaliation against the Feds, and everyone knows what will happen then, especially with the disbanding of the arms restriction treaties prior to the Second Thargoid War!
In a single move this party have achieved their primary goal - a popular war with the Federation - as well as weaken the rumblings of democracy, and turned what was a strong enemy of the traditionalists into a potential ally! With Aisling's relationship with the Marlinists poisoned, at worst she'll be chilled towards their movement, and at best she'll be actively radicalized into a more traditional politician.
That's why the true murderer, the true plotter of the deaths of tens of thousands of loyal Imperial Citizens, the true monster that's been before us all along...
Is no less than the Empress Herself, Arissa Lavigny-Duval.
Some people say it's Zemina Torval, but think; what does she have to gain from it? Harold was a prince, sure, but he was removed from the line of succession. Assassinating him does nothing for her.
In fact, in direct terms, his assassination does nothing for anyone. He was a drunken sideshow with little real importance. All his assassination does is annoy everyone, and turn popular opinion against the NMLA. Even more specifically, it turns Aisling against the NMLA, and potentially against the cause they represent.
Which is...interesting, isn't it?
The NMLA supposedly want an elected Emperor, rather than a hereditary role for the title. Aisling isn't directly in line for succession with hereditary rules, but is enormously popular with the common people of the Empire; if a more democratic system were inacted, she'd be high on the list to be future Empress, and would probably be the most likely to support democratic ideals, based on her liberal beliefs she's displayed in the past.
Why would they make a move so seemingly at odds with their main purpose? Who benefits from such a thing?
It could be a plot by the Federation. By creating this internal strife they could potentially weaken the Empire, and they're one of the few parties that could supply the terrorists with the Thargoid-derived weapons needed to carry out the attack. But that's based on a huge assumption; that they won't get caught. But how could they ever assume that AND use thargoid weapons, which will immediately lead back to them?
It could just be a bad plan. That's certainly what some will think, especially after failed unilateral action by Federation Admirals in the past, like the Onionhead incident.
Or.
Imagine, for a moment, that there is a faction in the current Empire, with traditional values and a desire for a popular war against the Federation. However, they know that such a war would never be popular, especially not with resistance from the more subtle Torval or the liberal Aisling. A party who is also being threatened by the liberal values of Aisling paired with her enormous popularity. A party who is willing to do anything to preserve their power.
This party plotted the entire thing, posing as the Federation, with the full intent that the eventual 'Federation' involvement will be revealed in due time.
Even worse, a Federation involvement with the Marlinists! Calling the entire movement into question! Are they sincere believers in their ideology? Or are they simply another plot by the Federation to weaken the Empire from within? Nobody will ever be able to know! But popular sentiment will flood behind retaliation against the Feds, and everyone knows what will happen then, especially with the disbanding of the arms restriction treaties prior to the Second Thargoid War!
In a single move this party have achieved their primary goal - a popular war with the Federation - as well as weaken the rumblings of democracy, and turned what was a strong enemy of the traditionalists into a potential ally! With Aisling's relationship with the Marlinists poisoned, at worst she'll be chilled towards their movement, and at best she'll be actively radicalized into a more traditional politician.
That's why the true murderer, the true plotter of the deaths of tens of thousands of loyal Imperial Citizens, the true monster that's been before us all along...
Is no less than the Empress Herself, Arissa Lavigny-Duval.