The River Meeting (Finished)

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême tilted his head slightly as looked at the image. Any form of technology that was pre-collapse was extremely valuable. In the Celestial Empire's borders, the Amagorha had been tasked with confiscating, or, as the Emperor called it, protecting vital cultural heritage, every trace of things from the pre-collapse. Even this ship, whilst not a remnent of the great fleets that had directly proceeded the collaspe, but one of the older vessels, but nonetheless it was something. Two battleships was impressive. Valuable. Unexpected.

"Battleships..." The Duke of Angoulême mused. "Now there, you are absolutely correct, Your Majesty." He set down the photo. "Together with such ships, we can extend our protective stance to insure the safety of our peoples. A Deritain Fleet, arms in arms with a Colficoan one, would be for the best for both of us, wouldn't you agree?"

[Colfico]

He nodded, however the batteship was only to get the dukes attention, there was one more thing that he had that he was certain would keep it, and he decided to play the card. He pulled out a folder, on it was , stamped in red, classified, he opened it and pulled out a photograph, careful to not expose the other documents inside. He presented it as well, this time, it was of something far more valuable than a battleship, an aircraft carrier, more specifically, the only one still in service with the navy of Colfico, however, worthy of note were the aircraft on her decks, they were not simple piston engine aircraft, but sleek, swept wing jet turbine powered interceptors, the I-7 Mako interceptor, as well as a few ground attackers, and even more worthy of note, was a handful of the rare, but deadly I-9 fighters, of which few people besides their pilots, the brass, and the King himself knew.

"We also have something of extreme value, a fully operational, and equipped aircraft carrier, sadly not one of the great super carriers of the past, but an indispensable asset nonetheless. I am certain that the navy of the Celestial Empire could find great use in seeing her, for the purpose of building a vessel of your own of the type, or of similar type based off of her."

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême nodded his head in intense agreement. In this new world, where the countries that had survived the great disaster and subsequent collapse greedily hugged the coast and river basins around the sea, and thus the sea had become a series of entangled lines trade on the waves, an aircraft carried, even a single one was instantly the most valuable of vessels in the waters.

“Your Majesty, it seems that Colfico sits on a boon of defense. The Celestial Empire would do well to have one of our own.” The Duke placed his hand on the table. “We would ask for, as you suggested, access to it, in order to construct our own.” The Duke raised an eyebrow. His diplomatic mission had already achieved everything that they had come for. The Celestial Empire had always preferred to aimed fir the heart of matters, and put the most hesitant of feet forward, for isolation had always been the natural inclination.

So the King’s words now felt not like bragging, as he had thought for a moment, but instead like bait. To lead him and his empire further forward. Bait. “What is it that you desire, Your Majesty?”

[Colfico]

Sebastian gave a small smile, the first true show of emotion since the talks had started, and a terrifying smile, like that of a wolf. However what the King wanted, he knew, would likely be surprising to the duke. He thought of his response carefully, before making his reply.

"It is quite simple, the nation of Colfico would like access to any pre-collapse technology that the Celestial empire may have access to, especially in regards to radar and sonar, my air force especially has placed priority on the return of air to air missiles to service with the aircraft we have in service, we already have prototypes, they just need that little push before they would be available, to both the Royal Air Service, and the Celestial Empire."

This was only partially true, while the RCAAS did indeed have working prototypes for an infrared Air to Air missile, it was far closer to entering service than the king had let on, and radar was not part of the equation of its development at all. However nothing on his face, or in his tone gave even the slightest hint to this being the case.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême straightened, a twinge of a smile pulling at his lips beneath his veil. Of course. He resisted looking to the veiled lady. If the King had asked anything else, or even equipment that wasn’t related to defense, there might have been no issue in the slightest. But of course he’d chosen to focus, as the Duke had, on defensive equipment. Likely to not dissimilar reasons.

“The Amagorha have spent decades maintaining our vaults. Even the Celestial Defense Force must bend to their and the Emperor’s will alone when it comes to which equipment leaves those vaults. For those vaults to be opened even for a little bit, for Colficoan viewing and study...”

The Duke scanned the images of the battleship. There were more, he knew. The King had smiled like predator who’d finally caught eyes on his pray.

“A fair exchange of information of our pre-collapse stockpiles, for the betterment of our two countries can be arranged. With a single extra condition.”

[Colfico]

The King listened carefully, noticing with care the straightened stance which the duke had taken, he had clearly struck a somewhat touchy subject. He nodded slightly as the duke spoke of the vaults of technology, something that he would remember for later. His expression returned to its normal state, hiding his emotions and intentions just like it had before he had broken it with his smile.

"What would this extra condition be?"

He had also noticed the Duke look back to the image of the battleship, and knew that the Duke was going to ask of something equally complicated, and began preparing his own response, and his own strategy to appear to comply.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême waved his hand in the air in a fluttery and ungrounded manner. The veiled lady tensed slightly. The Duke was going off script.

“It is simple, really. You’ll barely have to lift a finger. What do you know if the ayana flower?” Before the King could could respond, the Duke explained. “It is a very rare flower, it’s beauty unmatched. It’s leaves can help sooth headaches and it’s fragrance is heavenly. It holds great religious value to our people, and it is a symbol of the Imperial Family. And as it is so rare, and so vital to the unique environments it is found, such in the few places on earth that it grows are protected.”

“It is the duty of the Celestial Empire to protect those places. I am sure that to many it may seem petty, to outsiders, but we would no more see these plants pushed further into extinction than you would see a church desecrated. As for what this all has to do with you, well you see there is a small island resting in the sea between Colfico and Great Hyruke. As of yet, its ownership is unclear, as no seems to have been willing to take it. It was left toxic and uninhabitable during the Collapse.”

“Yet there have been sighting of our ayana flower growing on its rocky shores. Meanwhile the Hyrukians have been itching to take the island and dismantle it for resources. They would dismantle it to the last grain of sand since they could not settle it. We can not let that happen. Our condition would be that Colficoan support against Great Hyruke in the Celestial Empire patrolling the island and turning it into a nature preserve, to be left untouched by those who would desecrated it. And perhaps, in the future century when the island is habitable again, allowing safe passage to Deritains going pilgrimage there.”

The veiled woman watched the Duke from behind her veil, unmoving as he spun the half-truths and half-lies before the Colficoan King, confused by his words. Most of what he said was true, but there grains of lies sprinkled in them. Or at least she assumed they were lies. She wouldn’t have thought the Emperor of Derita willing to seize a island, even if it was to protect a holy site. But then again the sites in the empire were fiercely protected and the unsanctioned cutting of the flowers was punishable by eternal banishment.

[Colfico]

The king nodded, the Deritan duke had underestimated the willingness of the Colficoan king to commit horrible acts if they were necessary to protect his people and his nation, he had no problems burning churches if it was necessary. However he was not fooled, while the flower was the stated reason for these patrols, there must be something far more valuable there if they wanted to go this far out of the way to claim this island, perhaps something that he could steal for his own nations use if the opportunity arose. He thought for a moment, carefully weighing his options, and had a few very good ones that he liked very much, it was something he could work with, and which he planned to get every bit of work out of that he could.

"If that is so, we will assist, however we would like to request the permission to retrieve a sample of these flowers, the plants will not be harmed, and will be transported with extreme care, with no disturbance to any more than two or three examples, and the ones taken will be kept in living condition in captivity, and if possible we can attempt to grow them and send seedlings to the celestial empire to facilitate the recovery of the plant from the brink of extinction. This action of course would require the deployment of a small team to the island.

It can be done in direct coordination, and under the cover of, a voyage by a Colficoan battleships with an escort group to the area, which should keep Hyrukian attention on the warships, rather than on our activities on the island."

He made a mental note to begin planning a new trip, however it would have to wait until these talks were done.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême put his hands together, reclining slightly in his chair.

“While I can arrange for a sample of cut ayana flowers to be delivered to you, I would need the permission of a member of the Imperial Family to sanction the allowance of an attempt to cultivate them in Colfico. Do to their holy nature, they are times given as symbolic gestures, only ever to the Celestial Empire’s closest of allies. The last time such permission to try and cultivate them outside of the empire was when the Emperor’s great-aunt married a foreign emperor a hundred and twelve years ago.”

The Duke shrugged, as if to say his hands were tied on that matter. “If the Imperial Family agrees, then such a team will be welcomed to collect the flowers as long as they treat them with the proper respect.”

“As for coordinating the operation, I believe we are in agreement. Best to distract the Hyrukians while we move to protect the island and its holy flora.”

[Colfico]

The Colficoan King nodded, understanding the apparent complexity, even if he did not believe a word of it. He had no intention of simply sitting back and leaving the island unclaimed, especially in light of how apparently valuable the island was. He thought over the agreement regarding the island, and carefully analyzed the information, seemingly going to a state of deep thought.

"Very well, it will be acceptable, however of course, with the elevated risk of conflict, we will expect that the technology made available is worth our while. Now that the matter is settled, is there anything else which the Celestial Empire would wish to discuss?"

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême opened his mouth, but glanced at the veiled lady and decided against it. He had already taken some liberties with his role a representative on behalf of the Celestial Empire. He shook his head.

“That is all for the time. Though I hope that our governments will continue to have such fruitful discussions as this in the future.”

[Colfico]

The Colficoan King thought for a moment, noticing the duke pause for a moment, and noticed the movement in his veil before he glanced to the lady behind him, which had now caught the kings attention in full, as his eyes now moved to her with a slight narrowing, barely noticeable to someone whom had not been paying attention closely. Clearly there was some form of importance to her, as it seemed that the duke was looking to her for guidance of some sort. However that was something that could wait until a better time, for now he had to focus, but he would definitely be reserving the new, interesting information for a later date.

"Very well, It is good to see that these talks have ended in an amicable agreement. Now that most of the buisness is over, I am sure that you are eager to enjoy the sights and scenery of the river, there is plenty to see and do."

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême nodded his head, rising from his seat. He was pleased with his success thus far in the mission. He had met the Celestial Empire’s markers for success, though he would have to hope that his gambled over Colficoan support over the island would pay off. At least long enough for him to get paid. Now came the part of the job that envoys actually enjoyed, getting to be the ultimate tourist.

“I couldn’t agree more, Your Majesty. After hearing so much praise, I am eager to see more of the river and the valley. Shall we?”

[Colfico]

The King sprung his trap then, having laid the bait, in the attempt to lower the guard of the duke, pouncing like a jaguar on an unsuspecting deer, with fangs bared and aiming for the jugular.

"Oh I do have one question, before i forget, what is it that you are really after on that Island, my ships have inspected it themselves before, there is nothing there but toxic wasteland, and my Intelligence Bureau has the photographs to prove it, photographs less than a week old. I will put it simply, either you can tell me what is really there that has you so interested, or I will inform your Empress of your conduct here, personally."

The look on the Kings face said enough, he had not been fooled, and the duke was not going to get away with lying to him, in front of his soldiers, so easily, and he had no intention of being nice about it either. A mistake or an error could be forgiven, but purposeful deception of what would be a future so called ally could not.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême was shocked by the King’s sudden metaphorical pounce on him. For a moment he was so shocked that he nearly told the truth. But he replayed the King’s threat in his head. He considered a response, then decided against it. He considered another from a different angle, and decided against that one as well. He straighten and put his arms behind his back. The King was being bold. The Duke could be just as bold.

“What precisely do you expect to happen after you speak with Her Imperial Majesty of my, conduct?”

[Colfico]

Sebastian listened, and had his response ready almost instantaneously, as if it were not a challenge at all for the dictator.

"Likely something similar to what I would do to one of my ambassadors, if I learned that they had attempted to deceive and mislead a foreign monarch, especially If that action risked leading to a bloody, costly, and wasteful conflict, although likely milder and more pleasant, I would at the very least remove you from your position if nothing negative came of it. If something did come of it, especially the loss of potentially hundreds of thousands of lives, imprisonment, or potentially even execution if the war were to be lost because of it."

he then stood, his hands meeting behind his back, walking around the table, with his eyes as much on the veiled lady as they were on the duke himself.

"After all, it would be unfortunate if your conduct put an otherwise productive and beneficial agreement in jeopardy, why should I trust a nation if its ambassador is willing to lie to try and accomplish his goals?"

He then reached down to his hip and slowly, and deliberately, in clear view, pulled his handgun from his holster, seemingly to inspect it, carefully looking over the gun before pulling the slide, making sure the duke saw the round chamber home as he let it go with a bone-chilling mechanical click, and then with his thumb pushed the safety down, the white dot that represented safe suddenly becoming red.

"I do not appreciate being stabbed in the back, nor do I forgive it."

The look that the King gave the duke now sent a deadly message, that if the Duke tried to lie to him again, that bullet would have a new home.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême’s heart pounded in his chest as the specter of fear crawled up his spin. His chest rose and fell. He did not wish to die. But he was his father’s son and he would not be intimidated by this boy. His pride would not allow it. He looked away from the King of Colfico with his best attempt at an indignant huff. Instead he looked off into space. The Duke had no spouse or children to push him to break. Only his own life. He was willing to call the King’s bluff. Of course if he was wrong... well. His nephew would certainly be happy to receive a new dukedom.

“My, Your Majesty. Perhaps I should inform the Empress of your conduct.”

[Colfico]

The king saw the attempt to call his bluff, and decided to push even harder, with a snap, the gun moved to where it was pointed just a millimeter to the side of the dukes head, all without showing any emotion or change in expression, and pulled the trigger, almost inhumanely quick. The gun going of with a loud crack, sending the round scratching across the dukes cheek, in a carefully aimed and calculated shot. Intended to cause pain and panic, but not to kill or even maim.

"There will be no need, I have no intention of being deceitful in my description of the events that transcribe here, in fact I will be sure to include every detail, or did you think the recording device was just for show?"

He took a few steps forward, and pointed the weapon at the dukes head, mere inches from the mans forehead, this time, if the King pulled his trigger, there would be no doubt of the results. To send the message of seriousness loud and clear, the King started tightening his grip on the trigger, enough to be visible, but not enough to set it off.

"I am not one of the many nobles and royals that you are used to dealing with in the Celestial Empire, I only point a weapon at someone if I am prepared to kill them with it, and you have the unfortunate status of being someone who has blatantly lied to me in such a manner, would you care to guess how many such people are still alive? You can either start being honest, or your assistant there can take over negotiations after your brain paints this building, and I will send your head back to the Empress with a full audio recording of these events."

He then reached in his pocket, and pulled out a small object, a portable recording device, with a green light active at the top, it had been recording the entire time.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême flinched and swayed as the world went white as the pain of the gun going off next to his head shook him. He staggered and swayed. How he remained standing he didn’t know. His heart raced and he stumbled. But he didn’t fall. He was left reeling, his ears ringing so much he didn’t hear the next part of the King’s threats. The attendants, assistants and pages all jumped and screamed at the turn of events. Only the veiled lady remained calm. She regarded the situation with inhuman movements, her head barely moving as she watched the king and the Duke. She considered her options. And considered the ramafications of the events unfolding before her and what would be the best for the Celestial Empire. The Duke’s survival would be considered a success. And she knew was curious about what it was that he was really after. Finally when the King uttered the last threat she made her decision. She spoke in Deritain to the Duke, her tongue clicking as she spoke softly. It didn’t matter that the Duke couldn’t hear. Then she took a step back. As if not wanting to be splashed with blood. Finally she turned to King Sebastian, her words simple, cold and with the authority of a commander giving a soldier an order.

“Kill him.”

[Colfico]

Sebastian's head moved just enough to look at the Veiled Lady, so he had indeed been correct, she was of importance, and this turn of events had only confirmed his suspicions. However instead of complying, Sebastian, never once turning his attention away from the duke, fully aware that the duke may attempt something in desperation, spoke to the Veiled Lady instead.

"I see, so he is not the one in charge of these delegations, since this is the case might I ask your name then?"

His eyes went back to the duke before him, and turned his gun to the dukes knee, and pulled the trigger again, the gun going off again with another loud bang, sending a small brass casing flying to the floor, with a faint clink of brass hitting concrete.

"This is your last chance to speak, honorable duke, or you will learn just how serious I truly am."

Two of the soldiers were now at full alert, their submachine guns were up and pointed at the duke, in case he were to try and reach for a weapon, the barrels of the two sub machine guns now glinting as they made clear the intentions of the soldiers that wielded them.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Duke of Angoulême hit the ground with a scream as the bullet piece flesh, then blood, and then scattered bone. He rolled on the floor in agony. The veiled lady let out a small huff in disappointment. Perhaps the Duke had been right to keep his bluff up. She regretted her decision now. Clicked her tongue at Sebastian. The failure. It disgusted her. She glanced back to the Duke writhing in pain. Perhaps this would be enough. It would have been better if he were dead. But the Colficoan king had chosen knowledge over action, and now she couldn’t allow the Duke to die. At least not as she could have a moment before.

The veiled lady raise a hand. “I believe the negotiations are over.” She nodded to the attendants. “Get the Duke, we are leaving.” She turned to King Sebastian. “Kill us all if you must.”

[Colfico]

Sebastian's eyes narrowed, he could see an attempt at control when he found one, and this woman was clearly not going to give up her identity so easily, and she would likely be a threat in the future. However he could not risk a war at the moment, so he decided to play a quick card, even if it were a last ditch effort.

His aim shifted up to the Dukes head, and he pulled the trigger, deciding that the Duke had enough of a chance. He would play the game for a moment, just to see where it may lead.

"I don't know who you believe yourself to be, but here I am master, no one gives me a command." He then returned his handgun to its holster, its task completed. His attention was now fully directed towards the veiled lady, with a hand staying near his holster, he did not trust her, not in the slightest.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The attendants screamed, horrified as they witness the assassination of the Duke of Angoulême before their very eyes. They scrambled back away from the Colficoan king and from the veiled woman. The veiled lady looked at the corpse of the Duke and then to the King of Colfico. It’d had taken him a moment but he’d finally gotten there. The sign of a weak man. The veiled lady cross her hands behind her back.

“I believe we shall be leaving now. I fear that when you killed the Duke, you killed any secrets he may have been harboring. And the Empress will want to hear of his conduct as you said.”

[Colfico]

Sebastian listened to her, but then came to a conclusion and decided to try something different, instead deciding to offer something that they would find tempting. He looked back to the image of the battleship on the table, before deciding to speak.

"Actually, they have not all died with him, there is still whatever is on that Island, and now we are the only two people whom know of its existence, I am sure the empress would be even more interested in finding out what had the Dukes attention to such an extent. The RCNS Crown Jewel can be at the location in a matter of hours, and conduct a search, If he was this willing to cause trouble to get to it, then it must be something of extreme value, better it be shared between Colfico and Derita than taken by the greed of a man out for his own gain."

He then thought for a moment, before speaking once again.

"Unless of course you would like the Hyrukian's to find it first"

[Kingdom of Derita]

The veiled lady shrugged, but considered this. He had a point. But it was not a point she was willing to risk anymore than she already had. Her actions would have consequences and it was better for her and the good of the Celestial Empire to prepare to deal with what she’d accomplished rather than drag herself down into whatever mess was likely heading its way.

“I have no interest in a toxic wasteland. I will leave it to you and Great Hyruke to swabble over poisoned islands.”