This is Rolinda Hernandez, TNS News. I'm here today with Captain Robert Maxwell of the Interstellar Operative Navy. He's credited with bringing an end to what we're now calling the Koraxian War. How does it feel, Captain?
This is like what you ask a sports team after they win the big game, right? Only, this was the biggest game, I guess.
(laughs) I suppose you're right, Captain. But you have to admit, it must be thrilling to know you were instrumental in that victory.
No argument here. I'm supposed to get a medal pinned on me soon.
You received the Strategic Operations Medal for helping end the Cranion War, as well, didn't you?
Yeah, I guess ending wars is kind of my thing.
What do you say to critics who claim there wouldn't be any need for someone like you to intervene if our political leaders were astute enough to keep us out of wars in the first place?
Sorry, that was too many big words. Can you dumb that down for me a little?
President Cuerva, for example, has faced criticism that the Diplomatic Corps didn't do enough to engage the Koraxians in dialogue prior to their incursion. Do you believe she could have done more?
What the hell do I know? I'm not a politician.
But you must have some opinion on our leaders.
Whatever opinion that is, I'm not telling it to a journalist. No offense.
Then it's your position that the military should remain steadfastly neutral?
That's one way to put it. Look, guys like me don't decide whether there are wars, we just have to fight the ones that flare up. So, how about we get back to talking about how great I am?
(laughs) You have a reputation as something of a jokester.
That's probably the least bad rumor about me.
Can you tell us how you ended the war? It doesn't seem to have been through conventional weapons.
I'm afraid those details are classified. Very classified.
Too classified to share with a good-looking reporter?
Unfortunately! I'd love to brag, believe me. But President Cuerva already threatened to cut my balls off if I caused her any more "incidents." Uh, you probably shouldn't leave that last part in. I just have a big mouth.
Am I to understand that you and the President aren't on good terms?
Oh, nothing like that. We go way back. She loves me, rascal that I am. But I'm not exactly the easiest person to order around. I'm not the best at following my orders precisely. Let's say I like to exercise my own interpretations.
And this causes friction between you and President Cuerva?
I'm sure she appreciates my creativity.
What about the rumors that you're retiring?
I didn't want to put that out just yet, but yeah. The award ceremony is the last function I plan to attend while on active duty. I've already tendered my resignation.
You're a relatively young officer, aren't you? Thirty-eight years old. What's stopping you from climbing the ranks into the admiralty?
Do I look like someone who enjoys flying a desk? I'm not a bureaucrat, and like I said, I'm also not a politician. If I'm not "out there" causing trouble and making noise on behalf of Earth, I'm not living up to my potential.
That raises the question: what's next for Captain Maxwell?
Maybe let me enjoy being retired for a little bit before putting expectations on me?
I find it hard to believe you're going to relax on a beach somewhere.
Nah, that's definitely not my style. If you must know, I bought a little ship. Just a decommissioned clipper. Needs some fixing up, but it'll be fine to live on and fly around in. I don't plan to sit still.
Flying off to parts unknown, then?
Not that unknown. But I figure I'll disappear into the proverbial sunset for a while. See what's out there without the burden of command on my neck. A little civilian ship can slip into places a gunship can't, after all.
Does that mean we shouldn't expect to hear from you again?
President Cuerva would probably love to hear that! I do plan to keep a low profile, to be clear. My days of living in the limelight are over. I had my fun as a war hero--twice!--and now it's time to pass the torch. Let some other up-and-coming troublemaker have a turn.
I notice you talk about your profession almost like your job is to cause turmoil and conflict. Isn't your role to protect humanity and represent Earth's interests among the stars?
On paper, sure. But out there, when it's just your ship and crew against whatever insanity the universe is throwing at you, it doesn't matter what the rulebooks say or what the chain of command will think. You have to decide right there, on the spot. Are you going to live or die? Is someone else going to live or die? Will you make it back? Will survival lead to an interstellar incident? We don't have instant communications back to Fleet Command or anything like that. Now, some might argue that ION's purpose is to maintain order and stability, present a positive image for Earth, and all that. If you really want to hear me get political, here you go: multiple alien species have gone out of their way to try to bully us, subjugate us, annihilate us. We've given each one of them a well-deserved bloody nose.
I think there are empires out there convinced that humans are just the Oolians' pets. I'd argue that part of ION's job is to dispel that notion, to project force and acumen. We want our would-be enemies to know: don't fuck with us. You'll regret it.
That's a surprisingly direct approach.
Well, this is why I'm not a politician! I don't have the "polite" part. A military is a weapon. A weapon is useless if you aren't prepared to use it, and sometimes you need to use it. And look, every last one of our wars since we took to the stars has been defensive. We're not an imperial power. We have our star systems, our borders, and we just try to protect that. We're welcoming to anyone who wants to come here and explore our way of life. We never visit unprovoked violence on anyone. I know we humans have a checkered history in that regard. It took the greatest catastrophe we've ever faced to finally snap us out of it. It's just a shame so many people had to die before we learned our lesson.
You're talking about The War, of course?
Yeah, the one and only. The one that took everything from me. So, I know better than anybody what the real cost of war is. I don't want anyone to think for one second that I'm quick to jump to aggression. I know better. I mean, bar fights are one thing...
I'll be honest, Captain, I didn't expect you to be so passionate about this.
They say a good soldier hates war, and I have to agree. I'm willing to celebrate our victory here--we had a very close call, and we pulled out a win. But I also lost my ship and crew. A lot of other people didn't come home. People with spouses, parents, siblings, children, friends. The death toll wasn't crazy as our interstellar wars go, and I'm grateful for that. But even one death on the altar of imperial violence is too many.
Speaking of your ship and crew, it must have been very difficult for you to lose them.
You think?
I wasn't trying to be flippant, Captain. Would you be able to talk about what happened to them, or is that also classified?
I can't talk about how the Protector was destroyed, no. I'd say a few words about my crew but it would hardly do them justice. I could say they're the finest crew in the Navy, but doesn't every Captain say that? Nothing's going to bring them back, and that's the bottom line. And it didn't have to happen. And I'm not blaming Earth's leaders. I'm putting the blame where it belongs: on those bastard Koraxians who thought we'd be easy pickings.
Do you think it's wise to insult the Koraxian Empire right as we've struck a truce with them?
Don't kid yourself. They're just biding their time until they try again. I promise you that. There are things they want that they will stop at nothing to get. They will accept short-term delays, but in the long run they will try again. So, next time you're in the voting booth, maybe don't vote for funding cuts for the military, all right?
Remember when you said you weren't going to share political opinions?
I don't.
Right. If you don't mind, I'd like to dig into your past a little bit.
I'd leave those skeletons to rest if I were you.
I just wanted to ask about your parents and their religion--
I'm definitely not talking about that.
What about your brother, Richard?
I don't talk about him, either, but of course I only wish him well.
And is there anyone special in your life, currently?
Other than me, myself, and I? No. Saving the galaxy doesn't leave much time for a social life.
Can we talk about your cybernetic implants? You were an early prototype in those experiments, weren't you?
Yeah, involuntarily, I might add. Luckily, it's all covered up with convincing synthetic flesh now, so I look just like anyone else unless you look really close. Of course, I do have some enhanced abilities. Better eyesight, greater strength, better memory, things like that. I have to keep it all maintained, though. That part isn't much fun. Normal people get to eat, exercise, and go to the doctor occasionally. For me, it's more like getting a tune-up, and there's no factory manual to look at.
Do your implants malfunction a lot, then?
Not a lot but frequently enough to annoy me. To be fair, I've had some upgrades that have made things more reliable.
Is it true that you were part of a class action on behalf of implants like yourself, over the unethical experimentation you were subjected to?
You know this is all public information, right? Yes, and it was settled. I'm on good terms with Dr. Agon these days, too. I wouldn't recommend just anybody get implants, but if you've lost limbs or mobility, it's huge. The technology has come a long way.
I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me and giving me some latitude in my questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add, Captain?
Yeah, are you free after this? I know a place.