Underwood, who turned 514 less than two weeks before the Imperial-Directorate conflict, says that the young people - like the Commonwealth - "have reached their prime, and it's time for them to ascend to power." Though the Republic has been around for less than 6 months, the Empire before it had existed for over two centuries, and Underwood had remained loyal to the Empire until the civil war.
"The Commonwealth," Underwood said to RNN reporters two days ago, "is the symbol of youth to our people. The Federation has been around for 400 years; the Romulan Empire for millenia, and the Klingon Empire close to that; the Reydovan people have existed 225 years, and the Commonwealth for 185 years. It's time we old people turned over the reins."
It was ironic that Underwood used this choice of words, considering he had planned to retire in April of next year. But then again, this is the chancellor - bending the rules a bit.
