Reporters really do love a story when they see it and the media on Solterra isn't any different. A young reporter was assigned to Tokyo looking for a good story and he was out of luck with finding anything good until he passed by a local gym and his eyes widened to the sight of a massive, silver-grey dragoness working out on her muscles in open view. Now it wouldn't be anything special since there are plenty of them all over the world what makes this different is that it is none other than High Councilwoman Ozruna.

She's out of the office for her post-lunch workout without the presence of her national service agents (like the secret service but for mid-level politicians) as being a military-ready woman, does she really need the protection of others? Mustering up the strength to approach the politician, she turns and drops her large weights, in her "friendly" manner, she is willing to answer a few questions as she moves on to the larger weights.

The reporter did had a plethora of questions that tests her knowledge of the system such as dealing with a insurgent crisis in Nepal, disaster relief efforts in Wellington and the little matter about her handling of a scandal within the High Council of Earth where her name came up. That made Aisling shake and nearly lost her grip on the half-ton weight. She turns around an sternly tells the reporter that everything that has happened is the result of her felllow high councilman looking for a scapegoat to hide their own wrongdoings on the basis of her being just "some dumb army dragon". A sentiment of her being the first military woman to be elected in the region, the past had only civilians.

She then told the reporter that she will not bend down to the wills of her fellow council members and her constituents had and known of her great works that it couldn't be curtailed by greed and corruption. In light of this, the second she is done pumping iron and getting a shower, she will deal with them... personally. That statement nearly frightens the reporter considering just on appearance alone, Aisling takes this personally as she frustratingly drops the weight. After wiping off the towel, she asks the reporter to follow her. Aisling talks about how her reasons for wanting to become a High Councilman because of the (often called naive) belief that the opportunity principle can give anyone from any background the chance to be anything. She lived in the region for so many years to be witness to the political devolution of her predecessors.

Too many times they care more about the power and wealth that comes from the title rather than the duties and responsibilities. A virtue hardwired into every one who enters the Solterran military and carried out in daily life. When she ran for office, it was for the hope that she can actually make a difference and not just say she could. In her first years alone, she had restless nights because of the constant threats of the Syndicate that ruled the former areas and had hurt her father. Gladly she was and still is strong enough to make sure nothing of them remained and emboldening the people she represents to take back control in their lives. And believes she has done a good job so far. Aisling also wants to make it clear that she didn't get elected to execute promises she can't keep or hope that in the end of her term, things would be better off.

Aisling makes it clear that she is not and never will be the "help those who help themselves" type, but more of the mutual one. She can't do the job she's been elected to without her constituents helping her face them. So far it has been working off well. Leaving the region she represents better and with the syndicate losing power fast with nothing to draw their power from. At least she can tote that as something to leave as her legacy as she prepares herself for what's coming.

The reporter then asks Aisling of what she is preparing herself for. She looks at him with a smile on her face and tells her that she is getting fit not just physically but politically into the next stage of her career. Aisling tells her, she is running for president of the UCE, essentially to become president of Earth.

That's the biggest, yet sort of anticlimactic announcement she has made, no massive press conference, no warning, no anything! Just a lone reporter wanting to catch a talk with her and has been given a front row seat into history. Not bad for a career boost.

Art (c) Bigdad