Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

Chapter ???:@$#%^!%^7

"DEJA VU! I've just been in this place before!" The lyrics are blasted by an audio set on the back of a small tracked motorcycle, a Kettenkrad for short. "Higher on the street. Now I know it's my time to go!"

Then the Kettenkrad ignites its rocket boosters in its rear, pushing it forward to the point of making a wheelie on its rear tracks. Controlling the speedy and unsafe creation of a certain Shoggoth is none other than Slime-san. Said slime is maneuvering the juiced-up half-track bike like a champ while wearing a shade over its 'face' like any other biker on a Harley. Zooming all over the Yggdra's dimension, Slime-san impresses the spectator when they and the Kettenkrad jump off a cliff face and fly over a lake. It's a familiar lake, one that Slime-san has visited before meeting Yggdra for the first time. Now, they have flown past the lake and performed a perfect touch-down on the other shore. Slime-san then drifts the Kettenkrad to a halt right before the spectators, who are none other than Nicolae, Yggdra, and Yuki.

The trio clap when Slime-san slithers off the Kettenkrad, bowing their gelatin body. Then, the three spectators raise their scoring boards, showing 10, 9, and 69 respectively. High praises, coming from them all, if only because of the scene of a slime doing marvelous things. Ultimately, the scene is swiftly changed, with the Kettenkrad being levitated somewhere out of sight by Nicolae. It's a chill day for Yuki, and too much noise and excitement aren't conducive to her relaxation, bar a few special occasions.

Slime-san moves a bit closer to them before magically pulling out a magical tetrahedron from who knows where. After that, Slime-san activates it, making it cast a holographic projection for the trio to see. Yuki, being fondled by Yggdra as one would to a cat, raises her eyebrow. "Another Q&A session from you? Wow, it has been a while since we last got into one."

Yggdra nods, eyes filled with curiosity and intrigue. "Indeed it has been a while. Now I wonder what questions Slima-san will ask of us this time?"

Nicolae perks up. "Oh! Another Q&A, count me in!" She raises a hand while another is used to bring a cosmic cookie into her mouth.

Yuki smirks. "Alrighty then, hit us with your best shots, Slime-san."

Slime-san salutes before tapping the magical tetrahedron, thus changing the projection to show the first question.

• If there's a car that you would want to make for your enjoyment, what will it be?

Nicolae giggles. "Well, that's an interesting and abrupt question. However, it's quite fitting if you think about it. All three of us here are speed devils, one way or another."

Yuki rolls her eyes, and yes she has removed her eyepatch since this is a family setting. "You and your addiction to putting rockets all over a vehicle, Nicolae. First, you came for my Leopard, then you turned a museum piece from who knows where into a speedster... What's next, rocket-assisted Bismarck?"

Though Yuki was only jesting, Nicolae seemed to contemplate the proposal very seriously. Yuki deadpans. "Please, stay the fuck away from my daughters."

"Tehe~!" Nicolae bonked herself while putting her tongue out.

"Don't you dare 'Tehe' me!" Yuki quipped with a twitching eyebrow.

Their banter brings Yggdra to a chuckle. "Wow, this is like a battle between contemporary and radical speed devils. Very interesting indeed."

Slime-san bobs up and down in agreement. Jokes aside, Yuki answers the prior question.

"Well, if there's a vehicle that I want to bring to life... Then it's probably the Plymouth Superbird from the Previous Era. It's a muscle car like many before it, but it’s instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic provenance and huge rear wing." Yuki said before snapping her fingers, prompting the emergence of a classic Plymouth Superbird in light blue.

"She used to be the Queen of her decade." Yuki commented wistfully.

Yggdra smiles, patting Yuki's head. "Ain't nothing stopping us from getting you one now, dearie. My Nissan serves me well on our trips to the other worlds, but a Superbird will trump over that anytime."

Encouraged by Yggdra's words, Yuki grins. "Then let's plan for me to get my own! Slime-san, you don't mind if we explore this avenue a bit further? before going on to the other questions?"

Slime-san gives a 'thumb up', clearly interest in what they will create.

Yuki grins.

"Screw the weak 426 horsepower Hemi on the old Superbird, with how technology has progressed on our side, we can go even grander!" The image of the Superbird is changed, showing the old 7.0-liter engine being ripped out, and replaced by a newer, modern engine. "Off the top of my head, I can build many engine designs running on either liquid mana or mana battery. Yet, I think a feasible choice will be a 9.0-liter racing engine. If a 9.0-liter isn't enough, I will also be adding two 94mm turbochargers, making the engine block output more than 1700HP as a quick estimate!"

Slime-san freezes. Now that's a heart of a beast just for a car.

Smiling at Yuki's cute fervor, Yggdra adds. "Engine alone isn't quite enough to revive the Superbird. A superior exterior will no doubt help the endeavor. An all-carbon fiber body at the very least will help it out." The Superbird's projection sheds away its blue paint job, in its place is the tell-tale sign of all carbon fiber construction. "Well, maybe not so much lines of from the carbon. Let's make an artistic choice, the carbon fiber will be shown in the front before fading it fades to gloss black."

The Superbird projection immediately reflects the request. "Much better indeed." Yuki nodded at Yggdra's choices of design.

The Mother Goddess then adds details like ten-spoke wheels, heavy-duty racing brakes, and brushed aluminum components all over the car: The mana-filler cap, the door handles, and the hood pins. Even the exhausts are merged into one centerline exhaust. Slime-san must admit that the restomod Superbird is looking damn nice.

Yggdra suddenly asks. "Do we need the rear wing?"

"Eh?" Yuki replied, not sure why Yggdra asked that question.

Nicolae chimes in. "It's an important question though. With how Yggdra made the car exterior all nice and shiny, I don't think that gigantic rear spoiler meshed up all that nicely. We can substitute it using runes, no? All we need to do is engrave and code the runes properly."

Yuki ponders as the Superbird model reflects the new changes. "Yeah... Yeah, that can work. You may as well go all in the Magitech restomod path, right? It looks damn speedy as well."

"Indeed it is." Nicolae comments with an appraising glint. "Now, my turn for the interior! Though it will be something quite normal, maybe?"

Nicolae swiftly goes to work as the Superbird's projection moves to show its interior cabin. Carbon fiber, Alcantara, brushed aluminum, and leather... All blend seamlessly with the one-off pistol grip shifter and one-off gauges. The seats, well, with Yggdra's involvement, will be the best damn seats, a racer's wet dream. The overall interior's color also fits well with the exterior of the Superbird, consisting of gray, dark gray, and black.

Overall, it's a complete overhaul of the Superbird, a wonderful restomod for a ten-minute design. Too fast for you? Blame them all for having supercomputers for brains at the very least. This is not even ten percent of their power!

Still, Slime-san has to ask by tapping their magical tetrahedron.

-While it may look like a Superbird, its heart has changed so much that warrants a new designation. So, who will christen it with a new name?

At the very valid question, Nicolae and Yggdra look at Yuki. "It's your idea, after all. You should be the one to grant it a new name, Yuki."

Yuki smiles. "Thanks, you two. Since the color tone kinda set everything up... Yeah, I think Nighthawk will fit."

"Simple, but effective. The name encompasses the car's overall theme and it is a restoration of the Superbird." Yggdra commented. "I like it. Now we just need to find an opportunity to build one."

Nicolae and Slime-san likewise show their agreement. Nevertheless, enough about cars, let's move back to the Q&A.

Slime-san pokes the tetrahedron once more, showing a new question to them.

• Now that the entire world is a literal powder keg, will we be able to witness everything boiled over in its entirety? Or Belka would watch the world collapse with popcorn in hand.

Nicolae giggles. "That sounded quite tempting, not gonna lie."

Yuki rolls her eyes. "Shush it, Nicolae. Belka is more than capable of not just winning its own wars but also influencing many others. Of course, we will witness and intervene to steer the odds in our favor! Slime-san needs only be powerful enough to see everything!"

Yggdra adds with a grin. "It may not be as impressive of a curb-stomping, but conflicts between other nations will have a... Let's say different flavor compared to the Reich being the showrunner in Central Europe."

Slime-san gives an 'Ok' sign at the answers before moving on to present another question.

• Is there a flying turtle in space?

Everyone, including Slime-san, freezes at the nonsensical question.

"What the heck?" Yuki asked the question that was on all of their minds. "I mean, we did send Takodachis but a turtle, a flying turtle, in space?"

Yggdra smirks. "Well, the possibility is endless..."

Yuki facepalms. "Oh, my Mother... You did not just go and spawn a flock of flying turtles, somewhere, in space!"

Nicolae laughs. "Now that will be a sight to behold. I just need to tell my Takodachis to keep their eyes peeled for them!"

"This is getting out of hand..." Yuki mumbled into her hand. "Now there're two of them. Next question please!"

Slime-san obliges before Yuki can lose anymore brain cells.

• Can you get laid?

Yuki pulls out a USP and shoots at the Slime in front of her to no avail. Slime-san's body has cartoonish properties so her bullets are useless., much to Yuki's chagrin and the others' glee. Nevertheless, she has proven her point and Slime-san picks another question for them.

• Any plan for Hard Light technology?
•  

Yuki hums at that, her pistol now holstered. "Hard Light has potential for defensive and supportive functions, what's with it being coherent, solid light. Imagine a barrier made out of light, or a piece of armor being reinforced by solid light bonding over its molecules... There are some prospects out there to explore. Technically, some forms of magic barriers and offensive spells are basic Hard Light manipulation, mainly those that hail from the Light manipulation branch of magic. It's possible to propagate Hard Light using Magitech, but its major weakness is that it requires a constant source of energy generation. This makes it near impossible to make projectile-based Hard Light weapon, at least not with our current technological level."

Nicolae chimes in. "There's also the fact that Hard Light is just not as destructive as other future technologies that we have in mind. Thus making its development into a weapon not a priority even in the future. It only shows promises on defensive and supportive utilization, after all."

Slime-san bobs up and down, showcasing their understanding of the topic. Soon after, the next question appears on the projection.

• After the eventual annexation of Ustio by the Reformists-Belkan coalition, will Ustio be ruled like Vichy France of the Previous Era with Princess Bonaparte being its Queen? If so, what will the map of Ustian territories be like?

Yuki answers promptly.

"When Ustio is reunited once more, Rosa will become its Queen. However, due to the clause in the treaty we signed, Ustio and its colonies will be subservient to Belka, even if we're technically in an alliance. As for Ustio's territories... The lowland territories don't exist anymore. Ustio, before its division, conquered the lowland territories and some others, leaving but a Principality of Darscen standing, which is basically this world's version of Belgium. Long story short and to put it in an easy-to-understand manner, if Rosa comes to power, her European territories will stretch from Monaco, encompassing Switzerland, Belgium, and Amsterdam."

Slime-san makes a 'fist-bump' at the to-long-didn't-read explanation made by Yuki. They then send up the next set of questions.

• Since VTOl is large and expensive to operate, will Belka work out a helicopter design? What will happen when a Belkan S-12G or God-forbids S-8G shotgun slug hits a human? Also, how the heck did a mass driver go under the radar of other nations?

Nicolae takes to the stage on this one, answering.

"Helicopter will come around at some point as a low-cost alternative for the Ospreys. Though they won't be replacing the VTOL anytime soon. The Ravens already used an 8-gauge shotgun in combat, quite nasty that was as even Crusaders fell to incendiary shells, much less a slug. There's a no-fly zone around the mass driver, and it's also built inland. ONI has information control around the site, utilizing supernatural and mundane means to wall off the area. There's also the fact that even if anyone sees the mass driver, they won't even know what it is due to technological disparity. There are also many ways you can explain the light coming from the SSTO boosters."

Yggdra comments. "Well, that was a loaded answer. I am surprised you manage to keep a straight face, Nicolae."

Nicolae grins. "Even I can be prim and proper sometimes, it's just not as fun as being me."

Yuki adds. "The 'me' here means a hyperactive Shoggoth."

"Yup." Nicolae popped the 'p' with a smirk.

"That said..." Yuki follows up on Nicolae's answer. "There's something to be said about setting up our clandestine activity in the North and South Poles. Quite possibly the most secure sights from any prying eyes due to the taxing environment. Food for thoughts."

Slime-san ponders before shrugging, they better leave the planning to the experienced Marshal. At the end of the day, they're just a Slime. Moving on!

• Yet, what is a nation? Is the Reich's form of government capitalism, socialism, or communism?

Yggdra's eyes lit up at the very, very interesting question.

"A cookie to whoever made that query. Allow me to organize an easy-to-understand answer for this question."

Yggdra smiles.

"For the contemporary world, Belka's way of governing is esoteric. The Reich is the first, and probably the most successful trailblazer of the term 'hybrid regime'. The Reich is a Monarchy with a touch of a Theocracy, just because I am ultimately their Mother Goddess, the one with the highest authority in the nation. However, it doesn't mean that the Pantheon under me is allowed to influence the decision-making of the Twin Empresses of Belka. Prior to Yuki's rise to power, there was a Council that acted as a check and balance to the Monarchy's power, something that is redundant with me around, but I digress.

When Yuki was assassinated, the Twin Empresses took the chance to clean house, eliminating the majority of the Council infested by the anti-regime Wood Elves, and reducing the Council's overall power by a lot. Now, the Council is only acting in an advisory role to the people in charge of the Reich, namely the Empresses and the Marshal. Bar the most extreme cases, the Council has no ruling power at all. To get into the reborn Council, one not only needs to get enough votes but also must showcase loyalty, honesty, bravery, and talent. Voting is inspired by Democracy, but since voting is not enough, a certain degree of Meritocracy must be emphasized. Beneath the top players of Belka, the Reich's societies run on a system that balances the benefits of Bureaucracy, Democracy, Communism, and Meritocracy. To ensure the smooth operation of the system, a supervising unit is put in place, one may know of them as an extension of ONI.

Yet, there exists a person who acts as an outlier to pretty much everything, Yuki the Reich Marshal. Her position as the highest military authority means she is a key showrunner. However, Yuki's status as a Marshal may rival that of the Monarchy in times of war. Yuki's Marshal status has a vaguely defined boundary of power, when coupled with her ambition, charisma, and plans such as V2, make her into an Authoritatiran or even a Totalitarian figure.

The Marshal's V2 plan, when explained in its entirety, is just another form of Imperialism. When put into practice, plan V2 will expand the Reich's sovereignty all over the world through either soft or hard power. The Reich will rule over the world, transforming it into its own, grand vision. When everything is said and done, the Belkan Reich is basically what one would call a utopia. Bold words, but it's one our dear Yuki here is dead set on accomplishing.

Right, and to make the matter even more confusing. Aristocracy is technically a thing in the Reich. However, a noble status is nothing more than a mere decoration accompanied by a small gift nowadays. There's no political power to the noble status, aside from them being a nice brand name. The status is now only awarded to people who made heroic contributions to the state, and one may even lose it if they break the laws.

Now, after hearing everything, if the Reich is not a hybrid regime in your opinion, then I don't know what is. Trying to call our system of governing anything other than a hybrid regime is nearly impossible. To this day, all of us are trying to come up with a proper name for it. Though we don't mind if there's a good suggestion out there."

Yuki smiles at Slime-san. "It's quite a long explanation. Hopefully, you manage to get all of that?"

Slime-san massages their bubbly body, clearly expressing.

• My 'head' hurts.

All of them chuckle at Slime-san's expense. "You'll get used to it, Slime-san."

Nicolae then says. "Now that Slime-san is basically indisposed, should we call it a day?"

Yuki nods, with Yggdra saying. "Yes, I think we should. It's not a good thing to spend the rest of the night not resting."

Yuki interjects. "Before we all tuck in, don't forget to rate and comment on Slime-san's fiction! If possible, you should go check out his Patreon, or Ko-fi, and tune into the album about us! Links are just right below!"

https://photos.app.goo.gl/waZgkRa3UQhqKQBi9

"Now then, adios~!" Yuki smiled while waving good night at the screen.