“The Kekonese people were forced to confront reality this week—a reality that military commanders have been pointing out for years.” Ronu stood stiffly as he spoke, hands at his sides. “We are a small country caught between two tigers. For all of Chancellor Guim’s outward confidence that we can resist foreign aggression, the truth is that our modest defense forces would be swiftly and easily overrun. Espenia and Ygutan escalate their military spending every year, but we continue to treat our own armed services as a low priority. Yesterday, I stood in front of the Royal Council and urged them to pass an emergency funding bill that would provide much-needed equipment, training, and personnel to rapidly improve our military readiness.”
“We can’t outspend countries that are so much larger than ours,” pointed out Sangun Yen, the elderly but sharp-minded Pillar of the Jo Sun clan. “Our national security has always depended on a general citizenry populated with trained jade warriors who are ready to fight. The Green Bone clans see to that.”
“Nearly a century ago, that ancient wisdom failed against the might of overwhelming force, resulting in decades of Shotarian occupation,” Ronu pointed out.
“We had a meek and cowardly king at that time, and too many small, uncoordinated clans,” Sangun countered. “It was a dark period in our history, yet nevertheless, we overthrew the invaders. Despite all their sword rattling, would any country today, even a large and powerful one like Ygutan, be so foolhardy as to risk an invasion of Kekon? They had difficulty enough in Oortoko, a place with only weak people. We shouldn’t let this fuss over the spy plane turn into alarmism.”
Sangun’s son, the Weather Man of their clan, nodded in agreement, as did several other Green Bones. Shae had read the opinions of numerous political and military analysts, nearly all of them agreeing that while Kekon was vital to Espenian interests in the Amaric, and thus a logical target for Ygutanian aggression, the cost of invading and holding the historically impregnable island was simply too high to be worth it.
General Ronu said, “The clans may have grown larger and stronger, but we’re facing a far different world than our grandparents did. We’re no longer the only nation with jade warriors. The Republic of Espenia equips its own elite soldiers with jade that we sell to them under the auspices of the KJA. Jade on the black market reaches Ygutan and its vassal states. An improved formulation of SN1 that carries less severe health risks has been in development for some time. The Espenians are calling it SN2, and it will no doubt find its way into the wider world as well.”
Shae noticed that on the other side of the table, the man from the Koben family was nodding vigorously and looked as if he wanted to jump out of his seat to agree.
Ronu’s jade aura sharpened, thickening at the edges as he spoke with urgent conviction. “Oortoko was only the first of the proxy conflicts between the Espenosphere and the Ygut coalition. Kekon cannot escape being caught up in the Slow War. Unlike any other time in history, we have to prepare for the possibility of facing foreign soldiers who can use jade as well as we do.”
The general’s grim pronouncements elicited vexed murmurs from around the table. Despite accepting the revenue from KJA-controlled jade exports without much complaint, at heart, the Kekonese disdain the idea of other races using jade. They console themselves with the knowledge that they remain better at it than anyone else, and that foreigners who wear jade must use addictive drugs and risk an early death.
Ronu could see that he’d struck a nerve. He raised a hand and plowed onward. “The Royal Council can commit to an increase in money and equipment, but only the Green Bone clans can provide jade and warriors. I ask you, as the shareholders of the KJA and the Pillars of your clans, to make a bold show of support for the Kekonese military. We currently receive less than four percent of annual jade production. Announce a special allocation to increase that to six and a half percent, effective this year. And lift the longstanding barriers to recruitment by allowing graduates of martial schools to enlist in the military immediately after graduation.”
A wave of muted muttering accompanied the prickly swelling of dozens of jade auras. It was a bold request, thus far unheard of. Granting it would elevate Kekon’s tiny military to a status approaching that of the Green Bone clans. “Six and a half percent of the nation’s jade is more than most clans at this table receive, and more than the allocation given to major institutions in healthcare and education,” protested the Pillar of the Stone Cup clan. “Who do you propose we take from to give to the army?”