"Hail the alliance! Hail the republic! Down with the empire!"
A forest of arms beyond counting sent berets dancing high up into the air. There was a capriccio of applause and cheers.
In the midst of it, Yang remained silent, resolutely staying seated. His black eyes were fixed coldly on the warrior at the podium. Both of Trunicht's arms were raised high in response to the excitement of the full auditorium, and then his gaze fell down to the front row of spectators.
For an instant, the gleam in his eye became hard, showing disgust, and the corners of his mouth drew tight. He had recognized that one young officer in his field of view who was still sitting. If Yang had been seated in the back, he probably wouldn't have been noticed, but he was in the front row, a shameless rebel sitting right beneath the nose of sublime patriotism incarnate.
A jowly middle-aged officer shouted at Yang, "Officer, why aren't you standing?!" He was wearing commodore's insignia, same as Yang.
Shifting his gaze, Yang quietly answered. "This is a free country. I ought to be free to not stand up when I don't want to. I'm just exercising that freedom."
"Well then, why don't you want to stand up?"
"Exercising my freedom not to answer."
- From the novel of
Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Volume 1
Dawn -
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