Published at 20th of February 2026 6:23 am

Chapter 872: Powder Keg

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Emperor Meiji would have been proud if he could live to see the photographs placed on the desk of Governor Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer, which contained the light machine gun design Bruno had inspired him to commission during his final years as Emperor of Japan.

Alidius currently reigned as the governor of the Dutch East Indies, and in the wake of the Second World War’s end, he now found himself in a precarious position.

Surrounded by officers of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, the governor looked at each individual photograph and saw the initial signs of an armed uprising forming.

One of the officers was quick to point out the details they were looking at.

"Guerilla groups deep in the jungles have been recorded by aerial reconnaissance training with weapons smuggled into the country from Filipino stockpiles, some of which are relatively modern, and others are decades old but still serviceable. Among these caches are weapons from Germany, Thailand, Japan, and the former United States of America."

Alidius frowned when he heard this. The Philippines had been a hotbed of conflict since the end of the Great War. Revolting against the United States of America and then fighting on their behalf against Germany’s invasion of the island with their Thai allies.

The weapons that had found their way to the island were from nearly every maker on Earth. Whether secured through alliances or scavenged off of killed hostile combatants, the Philippines had exported the means of revolution abroad.

Naturally, his mind went straight to hostile intent.

"Has the Philippines expressed support for the revolutionary movements across the East Indies? Can we consider them an enemy of the Netherlands?"

The officer shook his head and shifted a folder into the Governor’s view.

"They did not sell the weapons for any ideological purposes, but with the Americans and Germans gone, and the nation forming under their own banner, it is the opinion of military intelligence that they were in the process of standardization of arms, and in desperate need of money. Anything that doesn’t align with their chosen logistics trajectory is being sold off for gold and silver bullion, crude oil, or raw industrial materials."

The governor frowned as his brow furrowed in silent contemplation. With a heavy sigh, he closed the folder and stared at his officer cadre with a solemn gaze.

"The old European empires have either collapsed beneath the might of the German Reich, or forcefully retreated from abroad because the cost of colonialism was greater than the rewards."

He paused briefly to collect his thoughts before continuing.

"The German Reich in particular has over the course of these last few decades spearheaded the process of de-colonization, and while they used moralistic language in their official statements justifying their reasoning. Any statesman with half a brain can see what they have really accomplished."

The officers lowered their gaze to the ground. It was almost as if they were ashamed that they had been unable to secure the East Indies for the Netherlands. Nevertheless, the governor continued with his speech.

"After the Great War, Germany acquired all of its claims in Mittelafrika besides its existing West and East colonies. But they didn’t integrate these gains within the Reich itself."

Every officer knew exactly where the governor was going with this tirade to the point where he silenced himself and allowed them to reflect on the reality of the world.

Rather than directly investing and administering their new colonies, which would require significant costs upfront in both gold and blood. The Germans began a gradual process of transition to local rule.

Where they now reaped the benefits of debt-trap diplomacy and mercenary forces whose "security" was paid for by the locals to quell internal revolt, and criminal enterprises.

But in reality, these mercenaries did little other than ensure that Germany’s bottom line wasn’t touched by the citizens of their former colonies. And protect the regime in the event that it couldn’t defend itself.

The governor then placed another document on the table. It was a newspaper whose headline was written in broad, bold lettering.

Pirates slain! Malaysia calls for restitution!

The headline was deliberately misleading, which Alidius explained with exhaustion spreading across his face.

"The Kingdom of Siam and the Empire of Japan have recently launched punitive measures against Malaysian pirates and kinetic strikes against their hideouts. Many of which were hidden within civilian populations. The attacks were conducted without care for collateral damage, and now the newly independent Malaysian Republic is calling for restitution from the two nations. To put is simply, whether it’s internal revolt, or our neighbors on the brink of war. The South Pacific has become a powder keg... one that the Netherlands can’t afford to sit upon. Not unless you all can assure me a swift and decisive victory against any rebellion that announces itself in the coming days?"

Nobody spoke among the officers. The room was more silent than a morgue. Governor Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer stood up from his seat and turned his back to the men behind him.

He gazed out the window down upon the city below and Tandjoengpriok port that led out to sea.

"Since we cannot guarantee our control over the East Indies, I will be formally requesting that the Prime Minister strongly consider a formal announcement of decolonization and transition to local governance. All while withdrawing the majority of our forces in the region who are not necessary for law enforcement and security operations. Before I petition Amsterdam, do any of you have any complaints to give? Speak now or forever hold your peace...."

Nobody dared to speak up against the governor’s plan. Because as much as they may wish to maintain control over the East Indies as they had done for centuries. They all knew they did not possess the strength to remain in control.

Within the hour the Governor had called Amsterdam and presented his grievances with the Prime Minister. And upon receiving word that the East Indies were about to enter a full-scale revolt, he would be forced to make a difficult decision.

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