[maxi]

CHESTER KELVIN - CHANCELLOR OF BERLIN

EXCERPT FROM THE OCCUPATIONAL LIBRARY, POST-LIBERATION, 2913 A.D., BERLIN DWEI
"It is most notable to recall that, throughout its Combine life, Berlin was governed by the infamous Chester Kelvin. Contemporary sources are scarce (Johannes, 2030), but rough archives and records found in the ruins of the O.C.I.N. hub suggest that Kelvin was a former American Senator, relocated by force from the American Provincial Congress to preside over the disruptive Berlin. His attempts to restore order to the area were largely met with bitterness, given his non-German nature, and his predisposition to trying to please the Overwatch Command Mainframe by any means necessary, even to the detriment of his native population. Kelvin later died in..."

Throughout Kelvin's life, he had been decorated, he had been loved. His mother, father, children and wife - they all loved him, they all saw him for who he was. That was why the Combine's occupation was such a shock. Kelvin was not apart of the Combine, he was just a human; a human with ambition. The occupational transition programme was rough on Winter in particular, they did certain things, to those that they deemed worthy of transition - they don't do it anymore, but they did.

"Why am I cold, why do I feel metal surrounding me? What's this? Who's talking to me? I hear footsteps outside - is that them? Are they going to vivisect me? Am I going to die? I didn't do anything, I'll do anything. Please. Please. Please. Let me out. I'll do it. Please. Please. Please."

*************

"No, put it over there."
"Fuck sake; OVER THERE!"
"NO, THERE!"

Kelvin kept barking the orders at that stupid fucking desk jockey. Idiot. He should fire he, he only had her as a favour from the City 22 Administration, in exchange for their Nomad troops. The situation was dire, but the placement of the table was more important. Kelvin had a public reputation to preserve, and if anyone caught wind of his side table being misplaced, he'd face a full on rebellion.

The situation was dire, so much so that another aide sought to burst in as the table was placed in the right spot - the perfect spot, but that frightened the pussy Austrian aid, and sent the table two inches askew.

"Battle report, sir."

Brilliant; one of the O.S.I. agents. Kelvin took it, reading the contents. Fucking sparky goon.

BATTLE REPORT 014
CIVILPRO CAS: 13 BSLS IN PAST 24 HOURS
NOMAD CAS: 141 BSLS IN PAST 24 HOURS
CIV CAS: 841 JUDGEMENTS AND/OR ACCIDENTAL DEATHS IN PAST 24 HOURS
OVERWATCH ORDERS: REDEPLOYMENT OF NOMAD TROOPS - MASS RECRUITMENT OF CIVPRO - BOMB REFUGEE TARGETS - DESTROY ZONE 5

Yet again, Overwatch was ordering Kelvin to cull his own population in order to make the Combine look good. Not that he had an issue with listening to Overwatch. The godsend that was the central intelligence kept him in power, kept him fat with power, kept him hungering for it. He'd only taken this assignment because the Reichstag (that's what the Germans called their Senate) had no one else willing to take the role, and, naturally, being the leader of the major party; the Overwatch Vanguard; it fell to him. Not that he'd complain, obviously, the power was nice. The control over his old country's capital - there was a certain uniqueness to it. Perhaps, one day, he'd even control the other German cities too. It was an interesting concept, the Combine - if they were willing - he was getting ahead of himself. He often did.

Kelvin glanced out the window, he could just about make out the infestation zone, next to it, a population center. Overwatch had ordered the bombing of zone five, the infestation zone, next to it, lie refugee targets. Could he be so callous? There were probably even... Fifty metrocops down there; each with a career.

He hit the red button, soon enough, shells were sent flying into that region of Berlin, with TAC-3 on his desk lighting up; metrocops crying out their little codewords, without hindrance, the results immediately came to bear as Overwatch soldiers around him gave off that positive tick, it usually meant that the AI had given them some sort of reward. It meant they probably liked him more, he didn't know how they worked, he longed to.

***

"The situation is dire, Chancellor Kelvin."
"Yesterday, a group of fifty rebels broke off from a workshift - they destroyed an entire munitions plant - the zone is in ruins - the munitions production being sent to the American front is down by five percent, Overwatch is looking at you for this mess."

The very concept startled Kelvin. Overwatch could be displeased with him? Maybe, in all the pursuit of power, he'd failed to realise one thing, that was that, Overwatch did not offer unconditional love, he had to actually ACHIEVE RESULTS.

He summoned one of his aides, put on his fancy military uniform, and strolled into the broadcasting hub.

"PEOPLES OF CITY THIRTY-SIX, MY CITY. THE ACTIONS OF A FEW HAVE RESULTED IN DIRE CONSEQUENCES; RATIONS ARE NOW SUSPENDED. MARTIAL LAW IS IN EFFECT. PREPARE FOR VOLUNTARY CONSCRIPTION."

Chancellor Kelvin had just effectively declared war on his own city. Was it to please Overwatch, or himself?​