Starlink Turned Off

After SpaceX curbed Starlink use by the Russian troops, Putin called Musk.

"Elon, why did you turn off Starlink for my troops?"

"Zelenskyy asked me."

"Really? Well, now I'm asking you to turn it back on."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"It's the right thing to do. You need to finish this war."

"I can't. My rule and my country will collapse."

"It won't if you do something nice for your people. Like raise their salaries and pensions."

"I can't do that. They'll think I'm a coward who lost the war."

"Then I can't help you." Hangs up.

"What now?" Shocked, trembling.

100 words exactly make it a Drabble.

Author's Note: This Drabble was inspired by my friend's cartoon in the cover image and Paul Schmidt's (Hitler's interpreter) often-cited memoir.

In his book "Hitler's Interpreter" (originally published in German as Statist auf diplomatischer Bühne 1923–1945), Schmidt recalled the scene in the Reich Chancellery on September 3, 1939, after British Ambassador Neville Henderson delivered the declaration of war in response to Hitler's invasion of Poland. Upon hearing the news, Hitler sat completely silent and unmoving for what felt like eternity. He then turned to Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop with a "savage look" and asked, "What now?" Schmidt described the surrounding Nazi leadership as stunned, with Hermann Göring saying, "If we lose this war, then God have mercy on us!"

We often see these evil leaders as strongmen with unshakeable will and determination but inside they are just petty scared imposters who are afraid to be found out and held accountable for their horrible deeds. Power is their shield.