Cell 1632
Special Isolation Ward
Ikuchairo Deep Space Incarceration Facility
Kayong Jimu had once been a general, though one could sparse tell it now. A Divisional General only four years ago, Jimu had been caught up in a general political scandal involving rival military factions. Normally navigating these things with ease, this time he’d moved too slow, picked the wrong side, and was thus forced to take the fall alongside several other individuals who were guilty to varying degrees. While the military tribunal was somewhat convinced of his relative innocence and simply being caught up in the affair, the members of the tribunal were still factional rivals of Jimu. Thus, they had decided to throw him in prison instead of getting him tried for treason and executed.
Quietly stripped of his rank and all military honors due to him, Jimu essentially disappeared from the military, then thrown into Ikuchairo and left to rot. However, he was granted the decency of being put into a very isolated ward; giving him total privacy from snoops and sneaks, and even had a spacious cell- with some private arrangements such a small bookcase with his favorite materials, a wooden desk with a rather expensive calligraphy set, and even a microtelevision with a couple of his favorite films and some more recent things that he had his confidant guards smuggle in. Life was alright, he presumed someday he might get a chance- though not this soon.
There was a knock on the door, and one of his guards stepped inside. “Excuse me Mr. Jimu, you have a visitor. A Federal, he won’t reveal his name.” the guard said.
“Oh? Send him in.” Jimu replied. The guard made a motion with his hand, and an individual dressed in an all white suit and fedora stepped in. The man took a look around, before deciding to take Jimu’s chair and sit in it, leaning back slightly. The guard hovered around the door, rather unsure of what to do.
“Leave us. I’m sure our visitor means no harm- I’m sure you’ll sort the matter out if something should happen however.” Jimu said, casting a look at his visitor, who shot him a sly smile in response. The guard simply nodded and left, the door shutting silently behind him.
The white-suited man did an approving headnod. “Smart, casting suspicion on me already.”
Jimu scoffed. “You say you’re a Federal, yet you dress like a gangster. I’m not too sure about you, but I digress. What do you want?” he replied, getting mildly impatient. In response, the man raised his hands. “Alright, alright, don’t shoot me, I’m not too keen on seeing Heaven today.” He produced a sealed paper, with an authentic Federal Service stamp on it, handing it over to Jimu.
“My name isn’t really that important, I’m just a discreet messenger, you probably associated with some of my colleagues. Anyways, things changed since you’ve been in prison. That faction that threw you in the clink? The pendulum swung back and heads rolled, so all’s right with the world. Somewhat.” while the man spoke, Jimu opened the letter, reading intently.
“Your friends up in the Military Executive Committee are trying to get the political capital to do a bit of a push into Delta. I don’t know why, presumably we’ve got interests up there, whatever. Anyways, it’s a bit of a clusterfuck and they can’t decide who to tap to send off because if they send off some gloryhound, he’s probably liable to carve out his own petty fiefdom.” The man shrugged.
“Anyways, that’s where you come in. You had a dependable enough track record before the dirty business of military factions did you in. There are some in the MEC who are generally convinced that you might be one of the few men dependable enough to lead an expedition out and not turn traitor. So. You can either sit here reading ... ” he turned his head. “Ah, The Epic of Kijukarashi- a man of the classics, I can appreciate that. Anyways, you can either sit here reading your books, or you can get out this gilded cage and regain your lost honor.”
Jimu finished reading the letter, more or less just a more official retelling of the same story, verified by one of the men in the MEC, personally stamped with his signature as well. He looked up. “What makes you think I won’t turn traitor?”
“Just a hunch. Figured the chance to get back at the bastards who imprisoned you here by going off to seek glory and perhaps be a Civil Governor for a little bit might interest you. That and your personnel records painted you as a man of reputable honor, truly committed to the nation, not out for personal fame like...more than a few generals these days.”
Jimu sat silent for a long while, closing his eyes and rubbing his head. It was all so much to take in, but rarely did destiny offer it’s hand like this, and he’d be an absolute fool to not grasp it and hang on with all his might. Looking up, he simply nodded and offered his hand. The white-suited man flashed a smile, returning with a firm handshake, before standing up.
“Gods, that chair is stiff after awhile. I’m sure you’ll be happy to have decent arrangements again. I’ll go tell my benefactors you’re interested; you’ll hear again from me in a couple of days.” He said, starting to head towards the door. “Welcome back, General.” He said with a smirk, before stretching his neck and rapping on the door, it sliding back and the white-suited man walking out.
Jimu swore to himself he caught just the barest glimpse of a yakuza tattoo on him as he was stretching, before he left. He wondered just what exactly was going on in his beloved military.
Azanagangi Mountainside Fortress
Near Teigamou, Yazhanhar Mountain Range, Kastia
Early on, the League Government had decided to declare Teigamou the new capital. It was an old mountain city that had served as an Imperial Residency, and thus had enough facilities already existing that the transition wasn’t too severe. Picking the new capital based on it’s highly defensible position alongside the fact it’d hadn’t been the political center of the Empire for the past six hundred years, the move inevitably became a highly contentious matter. The Ministry of War for instance, welcomed the move, having decided it was going to establish a complex within one of the many mountains in the Yazhanhar Range, and without much asking, simply appropriated the funds to do so, eventually getting enough support in the League Diet that they passed a bill to finally give the project an air of legitimacy.
Thus, with the League’s formal blessing, Azanagangi Fortress was born. Named after the Kisian’s god of war, the fortress was a labyrinthe complex built into the side of a mountain, which served as the primary command nexus for the Federal Banner, alongside coordination with the various State Militaries of the League. Jimu was on a VTOL helicopter headed towards a landing pad, which had taken off from Teigamou and headed towards Azangando over the course of half-an-hour. Eventually the craft landed and Jimu stepped out, greeted by several soldiers in all black greatcoats and ushankas with a golden star on them.
They rapidly snapped to attention. “Welcome general.” The central one said, offering a salute which Jimu returned. “This one would be honored to escort you to your destination. Jimu returned the salute and with a simple nod, the soldiers escorted him to one of the fortresses many meeting rooms, where the League constantly strategized and planned.
He was given what felt like a much too rapid summation of what threats were looming against the League at present as he was escorted to the meeting chamber. A malign entity merely called ‘the Welded’ appeared to be attacking Kisia’s western systems, with the help of traitors in the Manufactory. A biological plague called Karax had been discovered, and while it had not surfaced in Kisia proper, stringent checks were in place. This, alongside the usual issues of separatists and terrorists that had bothered them.
“If this is so, then why are we conducting these campaigns now?” Jimu wondered to himself. “Would it not be best to war against our enemies when we’re not faced with what sounds like a most fearsome enemy at home?”
He was not given much time to ponder, as they eventually reached their destination. The guard rapped on the door twice, before opening it and allowing Jimu inside. Before a large hexagonal table sat officers of all nationalities, the air hazy with acrid smoke as several officers partook in smoking cigars, idle chit-chat in the room dying as they all turned to look at Jimu. He gave a small bow.
“Greetings, fellow officers. This one is Kayong Jimu. I look forward to working with you all.”
As he said this, another officer- an Asankirian, rose and gave a deep bow to him.
“Well met, General. This one is Senior Executor Kaida Hinjo, and is honored to be at your service. We may proceed with the meeting whenever you’re ready.”
As the meeting went on, Jimu’s understanding of the situation became progressively more clear. A small expeditionary force had since been assembled some months ago to be sent off into Delta to help aid the HSE against the Welded. Unstable was the nature of these things, and so the plan eventually was deadlocked. The unit was then earmarked to be sent off as a Vipran Brigade unit elsewhere, but again, the plan was deadlocked. There was an increasing need to do something with the forces they had assembled, before there was an inevitable loss of face regarding the entire matter.
Thus, the solution was simple. If they were originally assigned to go off to Delta, then to Delta they shall go- but for the benefit of the League, not the Huerdaens. With most of the major powers dealing with the Welded Problem, there should be little pushback. With a place in Delta secured, it could then be used as a general strategic foothold for both future domestic and military expansion. The Welded forces in the west could be dealt with by forces already there presumably.
The systems in question were uncolonized and unclaimed by any local or regional power- not that they’d recognize such claims in the first place. Thus, until colonization efforts could begin in earnest, Jimu would be allowed to rule the area as a personal governorate of sorts, mostly to act as a ward against any pushback- presumably the HSE, who would likely consider such a movement to be a quasi-hostile act. If all went well, he’d probably be rotated in as the regions official governor. It was expected to be a quick and relatively decisive action.
Several Days Later
Expeditionary General Jimu’s Quarters
FSC Kizanthae
Kastian Orbit
Jimu stood in front of a mirror, adjusting his dark blue uniform and arranging some tactly chosen medals before donning his cap. As the overall officer in charge of the operation- having been promoted to Expeditionary General for the duration of the campaign; he was also in command of the expeditionary fleet assembled. However, he’d chosen to delegate that somewhat to the commander of the Kizanthae, an Aizotho-class Flying Citadel. It a heavily armed command ship, one of the newer so called ‘flying castles’ introduced into League service, under the command of Senior Castellan Kijanda Hazetho. Hazetho had a good service record within the Void Banner, and as such Jimu was confident in giving him some of the duties related to commanding the fleet.
Attaching his sword to his belt, he gave the uniform one more tug and began the long walk to the bridge. Soldiers and officers all gave him deference as he walked by, either politely bowing or saluting, either was appropriate. As he approached the last set of heavily armored doors before his destination, he placed his hand on a scanner that slid out from a hidden panel on the wall. A few seconds later, they moved aside, and Jimu stepped onto the bridge.
“Attention!” a junior officer yelled. Immediately, everyone snapped to attention, rendering a proper salute. Hazetho briskly walked over, clad in a black and grey tunic over and stood at attention.“General, all final checks are complete and we’re ready to depart upon your order.”
Jimu nodded. “Very good. I wish to address the fleet beforehand, however.” he replied, before sitting upon the raised dais. A nod from another officer confirmed he was live.
“Soldiers of the League! We go forth to spread our light in this galaxy of darkness. A foothold we shall obtain in the Deltan quadrant, to act as both new land for our brave and intrepid frontiersmen, and as a bulwark against our hated imperialist enemy, the Huerdaen! We will achieve great glory and honor for the republican cause, and you will all be richly rewarded with land and loot! Onwards, New Kisia awaits its founding, and we shall be it’s humble establishment!”
Thus, the Delta Expedition had begun.
