High School Soldier
The president went to another world

The republic has enjoyed a golden age dating back decades, spearheaded by a charismatic and respected president the leader of neighboring and allied nations, and backed by power-hungry officials, honor, and money, and his strong and loyal army. All people in the Asian continent recognize the splendor of the country that had previously been slumped. The people of the republic are proud to know that they are part of a glorious era, and proud after their country has risen up and fought the threat of collapse and respected by their neighbors and allies.

But, that view changed after war with otherworldly nations broke out.

As the war and the government are still looking for ways to deal with an enemy that keeps coming out of a fantasy phenomenon called the Gateway, the people become chaotic and uncertainty envelops the future of their country. They rely on state officials and their troops not to stumble in the – crisis but the parliament building turns into a den of thieves in an instant as its residents seek more power and treasure. The officials showed their true nature, and gave up their hunger for wealth, honor, and other worldly pleasures without regard to the people who were fighting with the soldiers of the land.

After the war was over and the armies of the otherworldly nations managed to retreat to their origin, of course the people want to stop the actions of the officials who lack the head and win the war against the armies of other nations fighting the republic.

One such person is Suroso, the youngest president in the history of a republic called Indonesia.

Sitting on his desk chair, Suroso looked extremely exhausted. Evidently several times he let out a long sigh since getting off his service car. He has the average height of Indonesian adult men in general. However, he has a good body – because he often trains martial arts with TNI special forces martial trainers and once a week if he gets a break to go to the gym.

The two special soldiers in charge of guarding the palace gates were astonished to see the person they were guarding looked very different from usual. Their previously carefree chat that they used to do, instead turned into a serious chat with Suroso being the object.

There was only one reason their chat became serious.

“The face of President Suroso looks different than usual,” said one of the palace guard soldiers in a soft voice.

Closing his eyes tightly and trying to find the right answer, the fellow soldier finally said, “Yeah, many countries continue to urge Mr. Suroso to allow them to set foot in another world – of course very disturbing him.”

“Yes, may He be well. I don't want to lose a charismatic president like him.”

Suddenly the two of them were silent in an instant as someone walked out of the palace gate.

Not long after knowing the identity of the person, they immediately stood up straight and saluted. This was indeed a rare sight, as Suroso had never been out of the palace outside of his working hours. Not many of the State Palace staff often saw him walking without the escort of Paspampres or the assistance of his aides.

The two palace gate guard soldiers gulped simultaneously until the jakun both moved up and down, as well as their hearts beating faster than usual. They were worried that their words had just offended Suroso.

“Two of you..”.

Suroso walked up to the two palace gate guard soldiers, and made the two of them even more nervous.

“... Thanks for worrying about my condition.”

Suroso stood in front of the two palace gate guards with a warm smile, then patted them on the shoulder one by one several times. The two of them were the first to be treated like that since being assigned to keep the palace looking happy and proud. They are grateful to the people who chose Suroso as the leader of this country. Because as a state tool, Indonesian soldiers and police are required to maintain neutrality, so they do not have any voting rights.

After that, Suroso left the two soldiers guarding the palace gate and walked towards his service car which was parked in the zone allowed to park vehicles on the roadside in the outer area of the palace. His two soldiers escorted Suroso until he entered the car and started his vehicle. Then, Suroso drove his car towards the parliament building after parting ways with his two soldiers.

**

The parliament building there is a special office for the president who attends meetings for all state officials such as members of the DPR, MPR, DPD, CPC, and cabinet members. He attended a meeting that he thought was not necessary, and that is what caused him to put on a limp face that actually showed his shame to deal with officials who declared themselves as ‘vice of the people’.

Although he had a limp face, no one in the parliament building dared to ask his condition. Some members of the DPR/MPR who saw Suroso walking limply did not dare to offend the young president, including because of his achievements against the country since he was inaugurated as the leader of Indonesia.

After promising to continue the golden age of Indonesia, he decided to improve the tourism sector and industrial fields, including the modern agricultural industry. In fact, since one year ago, the sector that provides the largest income of the country is in the tourism and agriculture sectors. Many travelers amounting to 50 million people per year who visit every famous tourist spot scattered throughout the Indonesian archipelago.

Neighboring countries are reported to have built very many facilities for their people that continue to grow, so that land for agriculture is reduced drastically. However, Indonesia still has a lot of vast agricultural resources, and land without a master is like thousands of fertile empty islands. So, Suroso took advantage of that by increasing agriculture and opening up huge jobs for people who are interested in taking care of agricultural facilities on empty islands that function as additional agricultural land.

In addition, with its blessed tropical climate and fertile soil on thousands of empty islands, its natural resources are still to be sought and found, as well as a large fishing field due to the vast sea area and EEZ, Indonesia is blessed with everything in abundance.

In that way, the country has reduced the number of unemployed people who are seeking work or losing jobs as the war progresses to its lowest point in the past fifty years. In addition, many neighboring countries that lack agricultural land are interested in cooperating in the field of trade in large agricultural products from Indonesia. With the main commodities of staple foods and spices, at least the country's income can be used for post-war rebuilding with other world nations, including continuing the Ir-class aircraft carrier construction project, Soekarno, Indonesia, and ‘mencicil’ debts countries.

After all the rights of the people were fulfilled, efforts to develop military forces continued. In a short period of development, Indonesia again became the country with the strongest defense in the southern hemisphere under India – which was previously weaker than Singapore. Almost all countries were surprised by the rapid development of post-war Indonesia, including major allied countries.

Indonesia is full of history, and has experienced a time when the issue of the dissolution of the country rose again, making other countries not interested in cooperating with the country. Due to the depletion of renewable natural resources and many services of previous leaders who have worked well and as fair as possible, many people doubt that if they leave Indonesia, their lives will be better. It was all thanks to the wise leaders of the past who managed to maintain the integrity of the country until the time of present President Suroso.

The region, which consists of tens of thousands of islands and a diversity that is different from others, does have a split vulnerability that is more than enough to make the name of Indonesia not on the list of sovereign states anymore. However, the loyal people of the country are still much larger than people who want to separate from Indonesia.

“OK, continue the work,” Suroso encourages himself to prepare the material for a joint meeting that will start in a few moments.

He succumbed to his desire to avoid meeting with the ‘vice people’. The reputation of the ‘representatives of the people’ according to the people is indeed bad in the eyes of most people, so he does not want to get a similar reputation. There were over two hundred and ninety million people who entrusted this country to him, but the ‘vice of the people’ only add to the burden of his work that has accumulated and drained his mind – although some of them work by using ‘isi head’ them completely for the welfare and progress of the nation and his people. No wonder, he has had gray hair in some parts of his hair when he was not thirty-three years old, because only a handful of groups in the association ‘ representatives of the people of’ who helped him well and wholeheartedly.

That was why his face had already shown an uncomfortable expression after entering the surroundings of the parliament building, yet he still tried to be patient until his schedule today was completed, and rested at home with his wife and six-year-old son.

Suroso is rarely grumbled about his work, except that the job involves the proportion of salary increase of ‘vice of the people’. When Suroso grumbled about something, a knock was heard from the door of his room.

“... Log in,” Suroso replied briefly.

After his permission was heard by someone knocking on the door of his room, the one who entered was an aide.

“Pak, sorry before. Why did you leave me when you wanted to leave for Meeting Together?”

His adjutant was a 22-year-old man, as well as his secretary who helped him work out his schedule during his tenure. But, given during Suroso's three-year tenure that has made progress for the country, the, people want him to be president again in the next period – although there are some parties who try to deny it.

Obviously the man was younger than Suroso, but the man did not doubt the hard work and professionalism of his secretary named Gusnar Suedarmono who came from Gorontalo Province.

“Yeah. Though I'm not that old, but why am I so forgetful lately, huh?”

Suroso chuckles to reduce his aide's annoyance with a silly face, of course he hopes if Gusnar laughs or at least smiles at his behavior.

Unfortunately, Gusnar's face looks ordinary, like he is watching a comedy show that is not qualified in one of the private TV programs.

“Pak, please prepare yourself and other necessary. Meeting Together starts in ten minutes.”

“Yes, thanks for telling me.”

Gusnar turned his body to get out of the room inhabited by Suroso, but he stopped for a moment and stood facing Suroso again. It seems like he has something to say again.

“But... do you still remember the location of the meeting room, Sir?”

Suroso's face clearly showed annoyance, as Gusnar said so with a grinning smile. Then he replied with a completely annoyed face:

“Of course! Already, quickly tell the ‘vice people’ if I go there immediately.”

**

Suroso sat down with his ministers, on his right and left are his aide and the new Minister of Defense named Andre Setiawan.

Normally, he would rely on his representatives to attend meetings like this, and chose to work in the State Palace and do more important work, but today was different.

“Why are they too concerned about it?” suroso said in his heart.

Suroso was not the only one who was confused by some of the council members, all of his ministers and aides furrowed their eyebrows and looked astonished.

Then, a male councillor from one of the parties who was not a supporter of Suroso at the election asked permission to ask questions, and Suroso evangelized the man to ask questions.

“Pak, It is not better if we avenge all the deeds of the enemy. They attacked us first. That way, the conflict with the country that is at war with us can be finished without a prolonged war.”

Some of the council members were still lulled by the victory gained during the first major battle against the Alliance. In addition to counter-attacking the enemy, they also advise to control some areas belonging to the enemy to get resources there.

A group of council members looked relaxed and the questions they asked were joking after the success of the troops in defeating the enemy a few months ago. It can even be said they become arrogant, but not balanced with their performance that seems unclear. Some board members seem to enjoy the victory and glory of – which is the result of the hard work of their soldiers.

In addition, the higher level of civilization of the enemy makes plans to avenge the enemy intensified. War is partly synonymous with seizing territory or goods, so that's why they want to avenge the enemy's actions by considering the invasion plan.

The sacrifice of Expeditionary Force soldiers according to them is a natural thing, because it is the function of the soldiers according to some council members here, using the excuse ‘protect Indonesia by fighting from other worlds’. However, they did not like the return of the Expeditionary Force which did not bring any results, except for the thousands of body bags of their comrades who died on the otherworldly battlefield. There were even ‘representatives of the people of’ who were angry with the – Expeditionary Force who fought until their weaponry was destroyed and could not be brought back to Indonesia after the war. For example, nearly all of the heavy weapons and helicopters were heavily damaged to the point of being used against the 300,000 Alliance soldiers who stormed them three times a day.

They can relax and enjoy the salary taken from the tax given by the people, at the same time the Expeditionary Force was exhausted and wounded fighting bravely against the Alliance Army, which numbered far more than them, and soldiers who fall into the thousands is the end of the natural thing to be a soldier. However, they appear angry when the weapons belonging to the Expeditionary Force are destroyed and can not be repaired anymore.

According to the group, the country has spent a lot of money – taken from taxes given from the people's money – to arm the Expeditionary Force. The destruction of their weapons is a huge loss for – countries according to the group.

The dismissal of 80 members of the DPR and MPR was carried out live by Suroso, dishonorably, by being broadcast throughout the country. The 80-member council that was sacked was shown to reduce compensation money for the families of soldiers who died on otherworldly battlefields, and they use the excuse that the money from the reduction of the budget will be given to the country again to replace the money spent on destroyed weapons belonging to the Expeditionary Force. After being fired, the eighty ‘vice of the people of’ were handed over to the court, and received prison terms according to their numbers.

The state clearly suffered losses due to the facilities and weapons destroyed by the Alliance's first major assault, but the biggest loss and regret of the country is their overdue to think of sending aid troops to the otherworldly battlefield – which caused thousands of TNI soldiers to fall on otherworldly battlefields. Fortunately, the country did not lose the loyalty of TNI soldiers who became Expeditionary Force personnel.

“Ah... I will answer your question..” said Suroso with a very clear lazy face and tone. In fact, the Minister of Defense and his aides were aware of Suroso who had absolutely no intention of attending this Joint Meeting.

“More You – Father whose name I forgot – reopen history book. If we avenge the actions of enemies who have the level of civilization adrift thousands of years from us, instead of us just do the same thing as the Spanish against the Incas?”

Suroso continued his words when the council member who gave him the question looked unsure of the answer, “Think what this world would tell us if we really did that. ‘Evator who once colonized’, I don't want my soldiers to be branded like that by the world.”

Everyone stared at him with a puzzled expression outside inside. However, Suroso smiled after successfully controlling one of the ‘people's representatives’.

It is no exaggeration to call the other world a gem mine that has not been touched to the fullest, and the opportunity to exploit it may be wide open if it succeeds in mastering large resource-producing areas. In fact, it is possible that if Indonesia succeeds in finding oil or other mining materials in the other world, it could rival Middle Eastern countries and other resource-producing countries.

“One more, counter-attacking the enemy represents recklessness and a very severe waste.”

Later, one of the other council members asked permission to speak, and Suroso again accepted the question.

“If you call waste, don't send new weapons to Peace Forces also include waste. According to the report I saw, the Expeditionary Force left several tanks there. So, why are we sending back tanks there?”

Then, without getting the permission of a council member to speak, “Isn't the defense budget used only to buy new weapons for the Peacekeeping Forces? Why don't we just send out the weapons stored in the armory? At least it still works right?”

A small commotion was created in the meeting room, everyone said something to corner each other. ‘The loyal representatives of the people of’ and working wholeheartedly for Suroso are really small in number, so they are almost cornered by word for word from the class of ‘representatives of the people of’ who are not from the party supporters of Suroso when the election.

Since the war was over, and the government decided to send troops to explore other worlds and search for the masterminds who started the war, disputes between council members were increasingly dangerous. That caused the council members to seem to have split into two groups.

Regarding what caused them to split into two groups is indeed about the differences in views about the conflict with the country that is at war with Indonesia.

However, the group of ‘representatives of the people’ who only need money and work at will without using the contents of the head can be said to have a sneaky way to achieve what they want. They are experts at fomenting political conflict, and fooling the people with their own bird news. The bird news has the aim that the people support the move to avenge the actions of the enemy – under the original guise of mastering the enemy area to exploit its resources.

Of course it was not entertaining at all, and Suroso stared intently at the two councillors who were asking him the question earlier.

“From your words, that's why this country's defense only contains weapons that are older than you and me. Do you think that buying weapons to defend the country and guard the people is not important, are you more concerned with the contents of the stomach but not balanced with the use of the right head contents? After all, the weapons belonging to the TNI and the Peace Forces came from the tax of – money given by the people. People are free to give advice on the use of tax money from them, of course it is after going through some considerations.”

Suroso then stood up while carrying his microphone, but with a stricter face than before.

“I have complied with you to open the armory, and give the Expeditionary Force the weapons that should be issued. Most of the weapons were older than the soldiers. After not being used, the old weapons will not be stored or used as monuments only? Unfortunately, you are even angry after knowing that the old weapons were heavily damaged and destroyed after being used to fight my soldiers!”

“Damn, I no longer know what is on the minds of the ‘folk’ groups like that. I'm sure there are some former Expeditionary Force soldiers who survived harboring anger, sadness, and pain after fighting on another world battlefield, seeing their comrades die at the hands of the enemy, and your impressed behavior does not appreciate their valiant struggle!”

“To be honest, I'm proud after hearing how they fought. But I was also saddened after losing over two thousand of my best soldiers. Let me be clear, those who died after fighting to protect this country by fighting from another world deserve respect and bear the title of hero.”

Some members of the council bowed when they heard Suroso's words, but some looked at the man with a look of admiration. Suroso has no doubts if he will ‘threatened’ after saying things just now, but he still says everything boldly.

**

Suroso was finally freed from the boardroom which almost made him suffer from high blood pressure in his youth. Followed by his aide, Suroso walked to the basement, where he parked his service car there.

“Pak, it looks like you need entertainment.”

“Thank you, after this I will go to the gym.”

“Sorry in advance, but instead you have to attend the party. You've received an invitation from Queen Sigiz right, Sir?”

“Seriously? I'll go to another world?”

Suroso's face completely changed after his aide said so, almost similar to a child who was promised to be bought by a hawker if he complied.

“Ya, you have to leave for Karanganyar after this, the witches are already waiting and open the Gate for your access to attend the party.”

“Finally, after almost rising in blood I get a chance to go to another world.”

Suroso's face really looked very excited, and ran quickly to where his vehicle was. His adjutant only shook his head after seeing the president.