OOC
Map Room, Imperial Palace
As the Magustyr sent to Kalmarnavia was awaiting an audience with King Jaeharys, Emperor Titus was coordinating a naval invasion at Ushund, a naval base off the coast of Southern Durikad. With him was High Admiral Nonus Hosidius Zoile, High General Numeri Antistium Septimi, and Dyke Skamdar Drakefinger, Dyke of Carburg Isle, the island North of Ushund. The three leaders all surrounded a map, enhanced with magic to allow them to see real-time movements. Dyke Skamdar placed a finger on a Union fleet docked at Ushund.
"If we can destroy these ships, it'll cripple th' Union bastards oan th' Orientis Maur, an' allaw us tae move a fleit tae relieve th' Nrali."
Numeri shook his head, however and pointed to the Southern Durikadi coast.
"That won't work. See all these bases? More than likely one of these has an airship equipped with choppers, and possibly even this 'mechanical dragon' we've been hearing about. I say we launch a full on invasion of the city, allowing us to have a foothold in the South."
Emperor Titus nodded and made a move on the map. Suddenly, at the Imperial port city of Modnicto, the Third Fleet, a hundred and forty-five ships, along with the First Phaerix Marines Regiment, a force of almost fifty-thousand men. Titus nodded and yawned before speaking to the two men.
"If you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I believe I must rest. Planning into the long hours of the night is tiring."
Numeri bowed while the Dyke just nodded his head as Titus returned to his quarters.
Delkopi, Union Senate House
Premier Salmaan al-Ali raised his hands to quiet the incredibly loud Senate House, which was full of Union senators, lawmakers, and various Federation members. Salmaan spoke in a voice that commanded respect.
"My fellow men and women of the Senate, liubarikuk jalib alfajr."
His fellow Abdulahiqayi returned the greeting, while the Mehmediqayi in the Senate scowled, and everyone else just nodded, not knowing what the Premier had just said. Continuing on, Salmaan gestured to a tall Sayoni standing next to him, elegant in a red kimono, and armed with a sharp, well-honed blade.
"We have the honor to bear witness to Shōgun Ishinomaki Atsuyuki, Shōgun of the Kenshi no Emerarudo Shima for Ten'nō Akidzuki Terumoro, until he comes of age!"
The Senate House filled with polite clapping, as everyone knew that Ishinomaki had no intention of giving up control to Akidzuki when he came of age, just like he had done with the previous Ten'nō. Ishinomaki nodded his head before speaking.
"My allies, we are faced with the grave threat of the Empire! Their decadence, their wastefulness, their lack of regard for life! Their lack of honor! This is why we must destroy them, and destroy them we will! For they are not only savages, but heathens, who worship a strange bird of fire and sacrifice unfortunates to it!"
There were gasps amongst the crowd, but for the most part it was all acting. Human sacrifice had been banned in the Empire for centuries. Continuing, Ishinomaki spoke once more.
"What is worse, is that some of the outside world have sided with the Empire! Therefore, their lives are forfeit! Just here, we have one who sides with the Empire and claims that we are in the wrong!"
Motioning behind him, Ishinomaki stepped aside to allow the crowd to see who was brought before them. Badly bloodied and malnourished, the man hardly looked like the fearsome knight that had accompanied the Prince of Kalmarnavia to the Imperial capital. Ishinomaki laughed and spoke once more.
"This one calls himself a knight! As if such a pathetic creature can have honor! Look upon his face! This is the fate of all the Empire!"
Cheers echoed throughout the Senate House, along with taunting of Ser Gerold, but one man stepped out. After sending a small scroll with the words, "Union has one of your knights. Will attempt to rescue. U," to the King of Kalmarnavia via portal, the man reentered the Senate House to join the taunting.
