At the very top of the International Space Elevator itself was a vast circular space station that had served as the venue for the Lighthouse Peace Conference over two years. It was here where Pilgrim One had set out over a decade prior in a now-defunct mission to intercept an asteroid intent on repeating the tragedies of Ulysses, and here that Vincent Harling had offered his vision for a future of peace and coexistence—now, a small spacecraft, carefully transported and assembled all the way from a Selatapuran facility thousands of kilometers below, slowly began to separate from the superstructure and ignite its engines to increase the periapsis of its elliptical orbit above the New World.
Without the sheer amount of fuel and boosters required to ascend from the surface of the Osean continent or establish a stable orbit to avoid falling back to the ground, this spacecraft was smaller and more compact in appearance without the massive rockets commonly seen amongst its predecessors in the years of the Cold War. Unmanned, its controls came from a combination of preprogrammed directives in its command module and signals broadcasted through the Electrosphere from a facility in Basset Space Centre—on cue, a pair of solar arrays extended to harness the light of the Sun, an antenna unfolding from the main structure as a secondary communications device. With all systems operational, the probe’s engines fired up once more, successfully establishing within a matter of minutes an intercept course with its target: a spherical moon orbiting Elysia, visible to the naked eye as one of two round dots in the night sky.
The journey would take roughly three days before the satellite ignited its engines once more, a series of manoeuvres gradually establishing a stable orbit not far above the surface of the satellite. The round dot was now a large spheroid dotted with craters from numerous asteroid impacts, its rugged surface now visible in more detail than ever before in the history of the New World—on command, the front of the probe would open to reveal a plethora of devices: cameras, spectrum devices, scanners, and various transceivers of electromagnetic and magical signals.
Slowly, the probe began to analyse the surface of the Moon itself…
World Leadership Conference, Cartalpas, Holy Milishial Empire — April 22, 2022
The meeting room President Kumari and her staff had located for the incognito talks between herself and the Gra Valkan diplomats was no less ostentatious than every other room in the Conference’s chambers, although this particular space did seem to have a somewhat more isolated feel to it compared to the sizeable chambers nearby for the countless interactions and negotiations no doubt already taking place amongst the other attendees. The OIA operatives tasked with their superiors’ security had already taken care to clear the room of bugs or potential listening devices, but even Kumari and Clarkson both suspected that some of their Milishial hosts’ more esoteric magic-based tools would have undoubtedly escaped even their most keen-eyed staff. No matter; it wasn’t as if whatever proposals Osea and Gra Valkas came up with in this meeting would remain much of a secret within the next few days—or if any unexpected development on part of the EDI or even the Annorials would potentially throw a spanner in the works…
On the Gra Valkan side of the table were Directors Gesta, Ciela, and Vice Director Dallas, their staff and aides seated behind them with various documents and communiques from Ragna and the GVBI relevant to the most pressing issues at hand between themselves and Oured. Of the three people seated opposite, only Secretary Clarkson was the sole individual remaining from the original trio in that pivotal first diplomatic meeting between the Empire and the Ostf?deration, President Bartlett having long since retired and Ambassador Harling presumably in whatever pleasant afterlife existed out there for honourable people like him—the current Osean ambassador to the Empire (another silver-haired individual, known for being notably acerbic but ultimately benevolent and cooperative when it counted) was seated where Clarkson himself once was positioned, and President Kumari now sat on Bartlett’s spot at the center, a curious yet stern expression towards the diplomats staring back at her with a mixture of tense and curious looks.
Even as a consummate professional dedicated to his work as an envoy of Gra Valkas, Gesta found himself quietly observing the young President—roughly the same age as Prince Cabal, Kumari nevertheless seemed to exude the same amount of gravitas as the Emperor himself in her appearance. It was a somewhat unusual feeling even for the seasoned veteran of Yggdran and Elysian politics, seeing someone of the same gender and age as Ciela in the highest position of power for a superpower on par with Gra Valkas; it was one thing to casually dismiss her candidacy many years ago as just a vague notion, a byproduct of Osea’s more relaxed nature on the role of women in society compared to their western counterparts, yet another thing altogether to see the very personification of that peculiar concept before him with no tangible difference in the Ostf?deration’s image than if President Bartlett or the late Ambassador Harling was in Aadarshini’s position. What exactly did that say about those in the Empire like him who had previously doubted (or even openly laughed at, in countless instances) the possibility of such a seemingly bizarre and exotic concept, straight out of some fanciful, futuristic tall tale of the future?
Perhaps even the very presence of a person like Kumari in the Conference as the ruler of the most powerful civilization in the New World was yet another deliberate symbol of the Ostf?deration’s multifaceted efforts over the past few years of showcasing what the future of Elysia could be like, Gesta realised. With wonders and near-miracles ranging from the imminent technologies of the next century to complex scientific concepts barely even explored by Gra Valkas’s brightest minds, alongside socioeconomic and political ideals that any sane contemporary Yggdran (let alone the countless Elysians of the Central World) in any other circumstance would have dismissed as overly progressive at best and outright outlandish and misguided at worst, Oured was clearly planning ahead not just in terms the immediate future but in the decades to come; the sole hyperpower of the New World not only knew but expected the rest of the known world to soon follow in its footsteps, a semi-cliodynamic perspective that drove its humanist approach towards reshaping Elysia in its image.
Many of those in Ragna and Runepolis alike would happily believe that the Ostf?deration was being na?ve in its actions, obliviously strung along by its peers in a game that had been playing long before its arrival in the New World—what they failed to realise that Osea had already played that very same game long before them, and was now shifting the very pieces that they used towards an endgame it anticipated the rest of the world would soon reach regardless of its own intentions. And, to Gesta’s surprise (and even concern), it was working—Director Ciela, for one, was staring at the President with what could only be described as barely concealed awe, only a layer of professionalism honed by years of experience in her field hiding whatever thoughts were swirling in her mind about a majestic yet still admittedly outpaced superpower like Gra Valkas becoming on par with Osea and its idealistic worldviews. But would such an effort in the process change the Empire into something that it even wanted to be?
Perhaps that was the most pressing question and the very challenge that the Empire now faced, and which people from lowly diplomats like Gesta all the way up to the Emperor himself now sought to answer: how could Gra Valkas emerge from the monumental changes that would soon undoubtedly transform the world as they knew it into something unrecognisable, and still remain the proud nation dedicated towards reaching its destined glory as a leader amongst its peers and champion over all of existence?
From the side, Dallas lightly coughed and handed a note to Ciela, who carefully read its contents before passing it to Gesta, frowning. “I…very well, thank you, Mr. Claymond. Madam President, I believe we should start with our first point of discussion—your government’s recent remarks regarding the ongoing situation between our nation and the Holy Milishial Empire.”
The President’s expression scrunched into one of confusion. “What about them, exactly?”
“Your administration has previously expressed, and I quote from your most recent public statement, ‘concern about the current crisis’ and ‘a desire for a peaceful solution’ to the current situation. The head of your Senate and leader of your government’s opposition, on the other hand, has been calling for Osea to take a more active military role in regards to the ongoing situation in the Second Civilization Area, under the auspices of the IUN’s peacekeeping efforts—the Gra Valkas Empire would like to inquire as to what the intentions of the Osean Federation are, especially considering the rather sensitive situation at hand and the developments that might soon take place in the Conference over the following days.”
Silently cursing Armstrong for his disruptive remarks, Kumari outwardly nodded and leaned back on her seat as she quickly began to clarify Osea’s stance on Gra Valkas’s feud with the Muans and Milishials. “It’s the view of the current administration that any armed conflict between the Gra Valkas Empire and the Elysian Defense Initiative would prove detrimental towards the economic and political stability in the Second Civilization Area—not only would our own immediate trade and humanitarian interests in the region be threatened, but other parties such as the Annorial Empire could potentially take advantage of the instability to cause more chaos or even recover Ravernal artifacts that we haven’t found as of yet. We’re currently seeking a means of mediating a diplomatic agreement between both Gra Valkas and the EDI rather than planning a direct military intervention—but that particular option is still on the table should the situation call for it.”
“We’ve already been approached by the Milishials with feelers for a tentative resolution regarding the situation shortly before our own arrival in Cartalpas,” Clarkson added, “but our analysts feel that their current proposals are overly punitive and will likely only serve to further exacerbate the ongoing crisis—if not outright start the very war we’ve been looking to avoid.”
Gesta frowned, suspecting the worst. “May we have a copy of the proposed terms?”
With a nod from Kumari, the Ambassador to Gra Valkas extended a small piece of paper towards Dallas, who visibly reddened in anger as he carefully read its contents before handing it over to his superiors. Ciela paled, and Gesta felt a wave of overwhelming disgust at what he saw; slowly, he looked back towards the Osean delegation and calmed himself before speaking once again.
“Thank you, Madam President. I must say, however, that ‘punitive’ would be a severe understatement in light of what these measures would achieve. Perhaps it serves to highlight why we’ve asked for this meeting—and I presume your government would be interested in seeking an alternative option towards deescalating the current crisis?”
“Indeed. To clarify, however, I must ask: what is the official stance of Gra Valkas in regards to the attacks in the Mu continent and the ongoing dispute over Free Leifor and the Conshal Islands?”
The Gra Valkans’ faces hardened. “We categorically deny the Empire’s involvement in the barbaric attacks in Himomawari and Otatheit, and we have evidence that we are confident will exonerate our nation during the Conference. Likewise, the Emperor can attest that the annexation of the eastern regions of the Conshal Islands were all done peacefully and within the confines of international law—our military installations and assets in the region are entirely defensive measures against the Annorials in the event of a military incursion on par with that of the Selatapura Incident or of what we suspect were the more recent attacks on the Mu continent.”
“So it would be reasonable to assume that the recent deployment of three Conquest Fleets to the Conshal Islands was a proportional response on the Empire’s part to the similar buildup of EDI naval assets in the region?"
Gesta slowly nodded. “An unfortunate but necessary response to the unwanted escalation by the Milishials, I’m afraid. That is partly why we’re here as well—if a diplomatic resolution cannot be achieved by the end of this Conference where both sides can peacefully withdraw our respective forces to a mutually comfortable level, then I can confirm that the Emperor will be forced to authorise all necessary military actions to protect our interests against Runepolis’s aggressive maneuvers.”
Clarkson’s eyes narrowed. “War.”
“If it comes to it, yes.”
“In the full understanding that any armed conflict would be condemned by Osea and potentially see the EDI back the Holy Milishial Empire in battle?”
Dallas snorted. Gesta briefly glared at his subordinate before turning back to the Oseans.
“Gra Valkas will not submit to any directives from the Holy Milishial Empire, regardless of its supposed role as the arbiter of peace and order in the New World—and if the EDI decides to try and put our people to the sword in retaliation, then they will be in for a harsh surprise—”
“Allow me to explain the current political situation in Ragna, Madam President, if I may,” Ciela hurriedly interjected. “Before the existence of the Ostf?deration became known, our government was of the belief that Gra Valkas could easily win an armed conflict against the majority of the superpowers of the Central World—our experiences with Paganda and Leifor, alongside our own initial assessments of the military capabilities of the existing superpowers within the Mu and Milishient continents, appeared to back that original belief. Even now, even with the increasingly narrow technological gap that now exists between the Empire and the likes of Mu and the EDI and the likelihood of Osean intervention within any major war, there are still voices within our government who believe that such a conflict is still very much viable or even desirable. Voices that carry considerable weight and represent a significant portion of the people of Gra Valkas, and could ultimately force their hand if their viewpoints towards achieving the continued prosperity of the Empire is felt to be ignored altogether.”
Ciela did not mention any specific names in her explanation, but even Gesta and Dallas could easily guess a certain outspoken Senator currently making the rounds back home was on her mind as she spoke.
“Beyond our own government’s motivations, we are also driven by the values of our own nation as citizens of the Empire,” the Director added. “We are a martial people, Madam President; our Empire’s foundations are based upon our strength and resilience in war against those who would undermine us—and for our people, the Milishials are very much seen as foreign aggressors with their unwanted interference in our efforts to stabilise our nation in the past two years. Any moves towards peace must be made from a position of strength, one that recognises the superiority of Gra Valkas and maintains its image even as it acts in the interests of the greater good—otherwise, the backlash could prove to be detrimental to our own attempts at maintaining order in these uncertain times…or justifying our continued relationship with Osea in the long run, even in spite of the mutual benefits that this friendship currently provides.”
Gesta thoughtfully nodded. “Our nation sympathises with the values that your nation espouses, but it’s the overwhelming belief within the Empire that even should negotiations be successful to resolve the ongoing crisis, a war between Gra Valkas and the Holy Milishial Empire, or even the wider Elysian Defense Initiative if it comes to that, may be inevitable—or necessary, to permanently resolve the conflict between our two nations.”
Kumari sighed in frustration. “So even with a successful compromise after this Conference, there is no existing scenario where the ongoing conflict between your nation and the EDI doesn’t escalate to an actual war in the long run?”
“Without appeasing our people or offering them a fitting alternative, I’m afraid such an outcome may prove to be increasingly unlikely, Madam President—of course, unless the Milishials themselves would be willing to compromise on their part. I suspect we all know that would be rather unlikely, given their own attitudes towards their own position within the New World.”
It was common knowledge that Vincent Harling himself was more likely to be resurrected by the gods than the self-proclaimed “shining pearl of the races” willingly backing down from their long-accepted status as the arbiter of Elysian global affairs; not even the overtures of the Oseans had seen much success in shifting internal views within Runepolis about their place in the rapidly-changing New World. And, to be fair, they had thousands of years of cultural dominion over Elysia behind them—what exactly would compel them to think that their continued hegemony wouldn’t continue even with the presence of its eastern and western neighbours alike?
“What would Gra Valkas be willing to offer in exchange for agreeing to a peaceful deescalation, even at the cost of its own ambitions in the short term?”
“The EDI must withdraw their support for the so-called Free Leifor movement and move two of its three Milishial fleets out of the Conshal Islands; the Milishial and Muan governments must also apologise for falsely accusing us of instigating the recent attacks,” Ciela responded as she handed a document to Kumari. “In return, the Gra Valkas Empire will agree to similarly withdraw two of its Conquest Fleets from the Conshal Islands as a goodwill gesture, as well as agree to a five-year non-aggression pact between itself and all signatory members of the EDI, renewable at the end upon agreement by all parties, and join the alliance’s efforts in preparing for the return of the Ravernal Empire or whatever additional incursions their Annorial descendants may attempt prior to such an event.”
“We would also be open to an unofficial agreement to maintain our sphere of influence strictly to our territories and existing trade partners, akin to traditional Elysian diplomatic conventions,” Gesta added. “Our government views these measures as critical to maintaining the safety and economic stability of the Empire, especially in light of our own efforts to recover from our Transference. Of course, if any other nation from the other Civilization Areas still chooses to ally with us, then they would still have our unconditional support.”
Which would allow Gra Valkas to continue expanding under the radar, Kumari mused. Still, there was some substance that Clarkson and his department could work on in the following days pending further negotiations with the other delegations—but even as it was a step forward towards tackling most of the more immediate problems being discussed at the Conference, the deeper issues remained: what about the plight of the Leiforians? What about the existing rivalries between Ragna and Runepolis?
The President found herself at an impasse—continuing to press the point would likely only antagonise the Gra Valkans further, but the outbreak of yet another major global conflict with Osean interests at stake would weaken her administration in light of her comparatively pacifist ideals. Was there perhaps a third option that could be made here to both consider the interests of the Gra Valkans while keeping the peace with the wider EDI (if not the Milishials) and still maintaining her own government’s neutral position? Or was it truly impossible to prevent the bloodshed that always seemed to coincide with the transition of civilizations from romantic antiquity into the brutal world of the modern era?
Hmm. What if—
Kumari blinked. No.
It would still consign innumerable lives to oblivion, and spell doom to countless others—all just to shift the hearts and minds of the New World as a whole towards a certain end. But what else could Osea do—listen to Armstrong’s advice and apply brute military force, antagonising both nations even while forcing a peace that only truly existed on the surface rather than in the hearts and minds of the entire New World? Withdraw from the whole affair altogether and watch Elysia rip itself apart, leaving itself exposed to the Ravernals? Side with the Milishials and give them the false impression of willing submission to their influence?
Damn it. Fine. One sacrifice to save countless more, then.
“Could we arrange the circumstances behind whatever war breaks out between Gra Valkas and the Holy Milishial Empire so that such a conflict would only involve both nations?”
Ciela, Clarkson, and Dallas paused. Director Gesta blinked in surprise.
“You would be willing to condone a war between two of the most powerful superpowers within this part of the planet?”
Clarkson seemed to share his President’s disgruntlement, but appeared to be just as cognizant of the delicate situation at hand. “A hypothetical war between both Ragna and Runepolis would help confirm the pecking order between both nations for a considerable amount of time regardless of whoever emerges as the victor, instead of allowing the existing situation to further sour relations and jeopardise international relations in the long run. It’s not exactly a compromise that we’d be very happy to accept in light of our somewhat pacifistic ideals—especially considering such a war could quickly become a humanitarian nightmare for the Conshal Islands and the countless civilians caught in the crossfire—but if it means we can minimise the bloodshed and maintain at least some of the existing peace and our own economic ties with Mu, then it’s something that we might be able to convince our colleagues to accept. Of course, we’ll likely have some of our own assets in the region to help with civilian aid and relief under IUN supervision, should such a conflict come to pass.”
Considering how both empires were considered near-equals in terms of technological prowess within the Central World, a war with Gra Valkas would likely permanently dispel the Milishials’ already rapidly disintegrating illusions of superiority over its peers, forcing them to rethink their longstanding foreign policies towards Osea and its partners. Likewise, the concept of total warfare was still a burgeoning idea that had yet to be witnessed by the nations of Elysia; even the worst atrocities accumulated over the centuries by the likes of the Parpaldians would pale in comparison to the application of modern industry and efficiency to the horrors of war—and some firsthand experience might potentially even squash the still-prevalent romanticism many patriotic Elysians of the Central World still seemed to have about somehow prevailing and imposing their dominance over the rest of the planet.
If played right, Osea could use the conflict to rally support for Harling’s vision of world peace in the face of the sheer violence and bloodshed that would soon ensue, while Gra Valkas continued to repair its economy without EDI interference and make the necessary preparations for the inevitable conflict with the Ravernals—and perhaps the so-called Celestial Kingdom might even take the hint to start toning down their supremacist rhetoric and actually start living up to their cherished reputations as defenders of Elysia against the Sorcerers and their Annorial offshoots. And the rest of the New World would be able to continue with their own affairs unabated, gradually transforming into modern nations on equal footing with every other superpower within the planet—all for a much smaller body count than if no such arrangements were agreed upon.
Yet it would still be a significant loss of life, regardless, and a cold deal that would undoubtedly only further sour relations with the Milishials should it ever come out—a tragedy that Kumari herself would be willingly signing off on with this arrangement she was proposing with Gra Valkas. Was this a price that she was willing to pay—or even a decision that she even had any right to make in the first place?
Unhappy with the offer she and Clarkson were making but certain that this was the best that they could achieve for the time being, the President ignored her own personal misgivings and leaned forward on her seat. “This proposal would entirely be contingent on a diplomatic framework being established between Osea, Gra Valkas, and Mu in the Conference to mitigate the spread of any conflict to the Muan continent itself—and will only go into effect should all other attempts at a peaceful settlement between Ragna and Runepolis fail during the Conference. Would that be something that the Emperor could accept on behalf of our two nations?”
Gesta carefully pondered the Oseans’ words. “Hmmm…perhaps such an arrangement could be considered favorable for the Empire’s interests. Our trade with Osea is still very much valued and necessary for our own economy’s reconstruction and recovery, and having that link be potentially jeopardised by a war with our mutual neighbour would be deleterious for everyone involved. Of course, we’ll ensure that the international laws our government’s agreed to follow will remain in place should a war with the Milishials in fact break out.”
“We would need commitments and assurances from the Muans that they would not join the Milishials in attacking Gra Valkas,” Ciela pointed out. “Considering that Mu is an active member of the EDI, your government’s proposal would effectively be forcing them to choose to either cut ties with Osea or with the HME—no small decision for them to make, on top of the implied agreement that neither ourselves nor the Muans will make any moves to extend the conflict to our borders while this arrangement remains in order. Not exactly something that can be achieved without great effort, Madam President.”
“And for our people, we are often willing to go to war for even the smallest of perceived slights,” Gesta admitted, distasteful memories of several past Yggdran wars coming to mind as he spoke. “Any avenues for potential conflicts would have to be sealed off—no clashes between our troops, no incursions into contested territories, and no major unannounced military movements without prior communication between our respective governments. A direct line between our respective governments is something that the Emperor himself might insist on as a means of deescalating any unexpected crises, as well.”
Clarkson paused, thoughtfully stroking his moustache with his thumb as he leaned back on his seat. “What about a demilitarized zone along the border with Leifor? All Muan and Gra Valkan forces would be located an equal distance from the line itself, with contact between both groups restricted to specific locations for passing civilian traffic and diplomatic negotiations—we’ve had similar frameworks in the past back in our home world, and Otatheit’s delegates might be able to hash out the finer details with you at a later meeting.”
“And what about the Duke of Leifor’s claim to his country’s homeland? What’s the stance of Gra Valkas on his EDI-backed campaign for your nation’s withdrawal—”
“Non-negotiable!” Dallas spat out his words angrily, his fist slamming on the table to everyone’s surprise. “It is our rightful conquest, and we will not withdraw an inch from our Empire’s own territory even with our vanquished foes relying on Milishial bullies to add bite to their bark!”
Sighing, Gesta briefly gave his subordinate a disapproving glare before turning back to Kumari. “As you can probably infer, Madam President, the overwhelming public and political opinion in Gra Valkas is that Leifor lost its right to independence and self-determination by virtue of declaring war against us and its subsequent defeat—any moves to restore the former Empire would therefore be seen as unacceptable and an insult to the lives lost as a result of the barbaric conduct of both the now-deceased Emperor and his Pagandan puppet king.”
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Ciela added, hoping to explain the situation to the Oseans in terms that they would understand, “It would be like asking your nation to withdraw from Parpaldia and return Empress Remille to Eshirant—I believe it goes without saying that such an action would likely spit in the face of your nation’s rightful response to her actions in Altaras and against Ambassador Harling himself.”
It would, indeed; an undercurrent of anger simmered from within Clarkson at the thought of Osea being forced to return to her Empire the woman who would have killed his mentor without a moment of hesitation, undoubtedly to continue her atrocities elsewhere in Philades. “Then is there any kind of offer that we can give to Mu that they in turn can present to the Free Leifor movement as a step towards achieving their cause sometime in the distant future? We suspect they might need something like that in order to agree to our proposals.”
“If not independence, then perhaps autonomous government, increased representation within the Gra Valkan Senate,” Kumari suggested, “some kind of framework for a future Leifor state in a decade or two, or anything like that? Such a system similar to that of the current Parpaldian state and its eastern territories might be ideal, unless your government has any other suggestions?”
“The withdrawal of Mu’s support for the so-called Free Leifor movement,” Gesta pointedly replied, “is an alternative option that their government can take as a concession on their part. We view the Duke as a terrorist leader, and do not recognise his supposed government in the Conshal Islands—we will not negotiate with them about our rightful possession of the territories of the now-defunct nation they claim to represent, even if Mu and the HME both back them in this Conference!”
Clarkson glanced at Kumari, who signed resignedly. “Then perhaps we should have a discussion with our Muan counterparts before anything else about what they might be willing to offer as an alternative for their support. In any case, we should probably move towards our other points of discussion before the proceedings begin.”
The conversation shifted elsewhere towards less stressful topics, mainly covering other subjects ranging from existing trade agreements to some queries regarding the Topa Canal Project. Several minutes of loose negotiations and agreements passed, before Gesta remembered another major point of contention that the Emperor had explicitly ordered him to bring up with the Oseans.
“The Gra Valkas Empire is currently in the process of establishing its own space program for scientific and military purposes; this decision was made by the Emperor in light of the introduction of your country’s Arkbird into the general public prior to the Conference as well as the present threat of Annorial and Ravernal space-based weapons potentially striking our homeland. We anticipate this development is already known within the Muan government and their Milishial partners, and we believe a basic framework for an international treaty on conduct in outer space will be necessary in order to prevent any potential diplomatic incidents as a result of our nations’ interests beyond the surface of the New World.”
Recent reports of a new Osean satellite being launched into orbit had also previously circulated amongst Gra Valkas’s intelligence circles, bringing once more the space capabilities of both the Ostf?deration and the Empire itself into the forefront of the public consciousness—calls had grown once again for the development of assets capable of providing a strong defense against threats from outer space, but the very art of traversing the final frontier itself was still very much in its infancy within even the mighty Gra Valkan civilization. Which wasn’t to say that no such efforts had been made, however—with the Angriefier rockets having been more or less perfected for striking intercontinental military targets in the likely event of a war with the Annorials and its technology miniaturized to become the basis for the new VLS systems of the Gra Valkan Imperial Navy, the Emperor’s government was now looking to potentially use them for matching the Oseans in terms of reaching outer space. While the prospect of the Empire making a domestically-produced space elevator akin to the Lighthouse remained a fanciful dream unlikely to be achieved within even the young Prince Cabal’s lifetime, the ability to send a brave astronaut or two beyond the atmosphere by themselves in comparison was very much within Gra Valkas’s abilities with its existing rocket technology—but with Osea already operating in that mystical realm (to say nothing about whatever nonsense the Annorials and Ravernals undoubtedly had up there), some basic arrangements were undoubtedly in order for whatever accidents Gra Valkas would certainly make in their own attempts at exploring the final frontier.
Even Gesta himself suspected that the likes of the Milishials would have their own concerns about the whole affair, once word came out regarding Gra Valkas’s burgeoning space industry—hence his nation’s efforts to be somewhat proactive about the whole matter with the Oseans. President Kumari seemed to recognise this potential avenue of conflict herself, and nodded understandably.
“You would like to renegotiate the terms of the original agreement made by your country with the Bartlett administration two years ago?”
“Not just that, Madam President—we would like to ask for your nation’s assistance in co-sponsoring a proposal with us for both the World Leadership Conference and the Assembly of Nations to ratify. This, designed to supersede our original tentative agreement, would include and formalise within international law basic agreements regarding the freedom of navigation in space, the humanitarian rescue of astronauts either stranded in space or on the surface, and restricting the use of WMDs in space unless explicitly authorised by joint approval of an international body such as the IUN under specific circumstances.”
Kumari frowned thoughtfully. “This is something that the Osean Federation will be more than happy to support, and we’ll agree to vote in favour of a motion that forwards said agreements during the Conference and the Assembly. That said, wouldn’t the Milishials and Annorials object to the third point of your proposal, albeit on different grounds?”
Runepolis would undoubtedly insist on international oversight of any military actions in space especially with the Arkbird now officially revealed for the wider Elysian public (either the IUN or the EDI, depending on what their more nationalist Senators were leaning towards at the present), the President considered, while any effort to constrain the Annorials with whatever they were doing with their Ancestors’ weapons would likely face significant resistance from Magicaregia or even be ignored altogether.
“We are aware of their potential objections,” Ciela replied, “and therefore our proposal is strictly applicable solely to those nations who agree to ratify such an agreement within their own respective governments. There is a potential clause that has been included in the documents that we have forwarded to your officials, of course, that lays the grounds for members of such a treaty to apply necessary sanctions and potential military retaliation against non-signatory nations whose actions in space end up jeopardising our own efforts or the national security.”
Which would provide the means for Osea and Gra Valkas to strike back in the event of the Annorials utilising Ravernal orbital weapons to target their units or cities, Kumari and Clarkson noted, their thoughts turning to the DarkStar’s inaugural flight over two years ago and Magicaregia’s attempts at disrupting it with their own spacecraft. Conversely, having the Arkbird operate within Gra Valkan territory without their explicit approval (or some kind of IUN mechanism) would also count as casus belli under the new circumstances—but that would only become relevant if circumstances surrounding Ragna’s current government were to unexpectedly change. Still, even that particular conundrum could no doubt be easily dealt with in due course…
Seeing no compelling reason to immediately object to Ciela and Gesta’s points, the President turned to her Secretary to see if he felt likewise.
“I think we can work with that, can’t we?”
“I believe Gra Valkas will have Osea’s support in establishing an international framework such as that your nation has developed to present to our fellow attendees,” Clarkson agreed. “In spirit, such an agreement will definitely see support in the Conference, and any potential objections could be rectified by both of our governments in future negotiations.”
Kumari nodded in approval. “Will that be satisfactory?”
A mixture of satisfied expressions shot across the Gra Valkans. “Of course, Madam President; our thanks—”
A voice called out from the intercom: “Attention, all delegates! Please proceed to Meeting Chamber One at once!”
“And I believe that’s our cue,” Gesta remarked. “President Kumari, it’s been a pleasure talking to you and Secretary Clarkson, and I hope our future meetings over the next few days prove to be as productive as this.”
The President nodded, shaking the hands of the Gra Valkan diplomats in acknowledgment. “Indeed. Directors, thank you for your time—and give Gabriel a message if you need to arrange for another meeting in the future.”
Slowly, both delegations filtered out of the room, leaving Kumari alone to ponder the countless troubles that lay ahead.
A civilization borne from the fires of conquest and glory, where ideals forged from centuries of conflict were only further fueled by industrialization and mechanised warfare. An empire resting upon the laurels of countless millennia of magical dominion, with their glorious mission to protect the world they knew from the threats beyond. Two opposing cultures using newfound technologies to bolster patriotic causes, each driven by the traditions and beliefs of generations past, all threatening to culminate in the fiery apocalypse of total war—one that would see continents burn and millions slaughtered for an ancient notion of glory amidst the ashes. And the sole thing that seemingly stood in the way of this cycle of death? A nation that had seen and done it all, bearing witness to the consequences of its actions and vowing to never again fall into the hubris of its own ambitions.
Could Osea achieve the impossible, or could it only content itself with either delaying the inevitable, or simply ensuring the rest of Elysia wasn’t dragged along by those who would willingly lead the New World into oblivion?
I guess we’ll just have to find out…
Imperial Palace, Runepolis, Holy Milishial Empire — April 22, 2022
Director Arneus sank deeper into his seat, the transmitted audio from the Oseans’ meeting room falling silent. “Gods help us…they mean to isolate us from the rest of Elysia!”
“Damned Oseans,” Barrault scowled, “I knew they weren’t coming to this Conference in good faith—what exactly do they think of us?! Do they seriously take us for fools?!”
“Or maybe the Oseans actually think Senator Valis and his faction speak on behalf of the Emperor in regards to his foreign policies,” Phiam countered, with a pointed glare at his subordinate’s direction. “Regardless of their intentions, it’s not prudent at this time to make needless assumptions until we can get the President and her administration to explain themselves—or else we make any rash decisions that the Holy Milishial Empire might regret.”
The young official kept his mouth shut, but it was fairly obvious that he took significant offense at his superior’s pointed remarks. Paying no heed to Barrault’s irritation, Phiam turned to his other colleagues.
“As of right now, this supposed deal currently hinges on us failing to persuade the Gra Valkans to withdraw from the Conshal Islands—Ragna clearly does not intend to accept our current terms even with the economic sanctions the EDI will impose as a result of its refusal, and is counting on Osea to either create a compromise or split Mu off from our alliance if all else fails. We therefore have three options: to persuade Osea to join our attempts at pressing Gra Valkas, to persuade Mu of the value of joining the rest of the EDI, or to persuade the Emperor and his Senate to create more lenient terms that will still ensure the safety of the Central World and support our Leiforian allies.”
“There are some issues with each solution, I might add,” Arneus carefully pointed out. “One, our relations with Osea are already strained enough as it is as a result of our Senate’s attempts at exerting pressure on the Federation to join the EDI—our current approach of aggressive negotiations could potentially backfire if we don’t also offer some sort of benefit to joining our side.”
Minister Pao nodded. “Some arguments along the side of supporting the liberation of an entire people akin to their campaign against Parpaldia would potentially appeal to the President’s humanitarian values, then.”
“Indeed. Two, our relations with Mu are similarly strained even in spite of our alliance under the EDI. As we are all aware, the two civilizations have been traditional rivals even before the arrival of Osea and Gra Valkas, and this government deliberately took advantage of their request for aid against Ragna to exact significant economic benefits on behalf of our people—if Osea could provide enough security guarantees to Otatheit against a Gra Valkan invasion, then they might be willing to drop their support for Leifor or even withdraw from our alliance altogether. Politically and economically, Mu is currently subservient to us—a position that they would be all too happy to change if we press them too much.”
Barrault frowned, resting his head on his chin in careful thought. “Can’t we send another fleet to Otatheit on a ‘goodwill visit’? Something along the lines of an EDI security measure against Gra Valkas?”
“Not unless we want to antagonise the Muans even more, or even risk starting a war with them. Their fleets are already fairly strong even despite the existing technology gap, and I imagine our forces aren’t too keen at the moment at finding out exactly how effective their new Marin Sabres and Phantoms are against our ships.”
The officials present scowled at the mention of the new Muan fighters imported from Osea—a sentiment that seemed to be universal throughout the Milishial government and the different branches of their military. Word had it that the famed Captain of Valar Squadron was out for blood, and even her superiors couldn’t blame her—
“Three, any deal that is seen as either a backtrack or a capitulation to Osea and Gra Valkas will face significant opposition within the Milishial Senate, irrespective of the Emperor’s wishes. His power is absolute, but the bureaucracy of the Imperial government will be well entrenched and prepared to obfuscate and delay a deal they find unsuitable, even if it means nothing ultimately happens or the final legislation is either redundant or moot. We need to be very careful with how we present our negotiations and final agreements with Mu, Gra Valkas, and Osea—one loose tongue and a particularly noisy Senator, and we’ll be seeing our eastern and western counterparts potentially united against the Central World before the Conference even finishes its first day.”
Considering the Intelligence Bureau Director’s words, Phiam carefully nodded. “I’ll inform the Emperor of this development and head to Cartalpas to join the Milishial delegation, then. Our main priority right now is either ensuring this proposal between Osea and Gra Valkas falls through, or we get a different deal that makes any such prior arrangements redundant.”
“Sounds good to me, Phiam.”
Turning towards his colleague, the Foreign Affairs Minister quickly began to outline his plan for regaining control of the situation. “Arneus, send a message to Liage ahead of my arrival and tell him to prioritise arranging that meeting between President Kumari and the Duke of Leifor after today’s session of the Conference; make it very clear that the Duke must stringently argue his case to her if his movement has any chance of succeeding in liberating Leifor.”
Barrault nodded and rose to leave. “I’ll take my leave then, Ministers—I’ll get on the next train to Cartalpas as well and meet with the President about swaying her government towards our side of the issue over Leifor and the Conshal Islands.”
Phiam also stood up from his chair and began walking to the office door. “I’m going to have a word with Ambassador Mugei and see if I can get his government to hold off on anything drastic for now—Arneus, I’ll also need you to keep me and everyone else updated about every development that comes up or if Oured makes any new maneuvers from their side of the planet. We’re still going to press hard on the Oseans to back our proposals, but not too hard that they end up being pushed into Gra Valkas’s camp.”
“Got it.”
“Oh, and one more thing—find some way to get Senator Valis and his lackeys to keep their gods-damned mouths shut!”
Cartalpas International Airport, Cartalpas, Holy Milishial Empire — April 22, 2022
“Well, well, well. I’m here, Your Highness; what do you want—”
“Can it, flyboy. Care to explain this?”
Rubiso blinked, his eyes turning towards the nose of the F-86M that Avril Mead was pointing at: painted on the side was a voluptuous female stuffed into what could only be described as a grey straightjacket and dangling mid-air with a set of ropes that wove through her torso and legs. Confusion turned into mild amusement as the Muan pilot saw the cherry on top—or apple, rather, stuffed into the woman’s mouth. Actually, now that he thought about it, that wasn’t just any particular face there…it was—holy gods, that wasn’t—
The Scrap Queen turned to glare at Rubiso as he suddenly burst into laughter. “What, you think that’s funny?”
“What, compared to the last version of it with you naked? I’d consider it an improvement, quite frankly!”
“One, my sleeveless shirt and orange pants does not count as ‘naked’ where I come from, no matter what the King of Mu says. Two, this is your squadron’s idea of a more modest design—bondage?! And not even an actual gag, just an apple?! This passes for decent even after everyone keeps complaining about my choice of outfits?!”
“Well, I’m sorry us Muans don’t exactly share your country’s sense of fashion,” Rubiso snickered, “and knowing our boys, I’m pretty sure that’s just as much of a comment about your mental capabilities as much as it’s about whatever’s going around in their heads whenever they see you pass by—”
“Oh, so I beat up one moron of a pilot for crashing a Sabre and now they’re saying I should be institutionalised?” Avril scoffed, crossing her arms in irritation as she glowered at the Muan flight commander. “Hypocrites, the lot of you…”
“Look, at least we pay you a lot for your troubles, even by your country’s standards. But for what it’s worth, I’ll have a word with whoever made that artwork to turn it into some other person or something generic—and I’ll remind the boys to give you and your planes a bit more respect. Is that okay?”
Sighing, the Scrap Queen slowly nodded. “Fine. But I want that thing gone or changed by tomorrow evening, you hear?”
“Yeah, that shouldn’t be too hard. Unless the boys used that MagePaint brand—still haven’t figured out how to get rid of those even with the military-grade paint thinners we have.”
“Whatever. God, this jacket itches all over—you know what? Crystal Kingdom can go screw themselves; I’m taking this thing off, and I’m not putting it on again until we get back to Otatheit!”
With a grunt, Avril zipped her jacket off and hurled it over her head towards a nearby workbench, sighing contentedly as she ignored the loud crash of several tools in the background and Rubiso’s eyes widening as he realised she had only worn her old sleeveless shirt underneath instead of any of the jersey shirts he had provided to her—her bare arms and shoulders were exposed, causing the prudish Muan’s face to redden at the unexpected sight. Eventually noticing the Captain’s expression, the Scrap Queen simply smirked.
“Please. It’s not like you haven’t seen me like this before, flyboy.”
“You do realise Mugei will very likely give you an earful if he sees you like this? We are in one of the most important diplomatic events in Elysia, after all—”
“Nothing he can say will somehow make any of Mu’s engineers better than me in getting your planes up in the sky, and he knows it,” Avril casually replied, dismissing Andel’s weak protests with a nonchalant wave as she walked across the hangar towards a couch positioned alongside a nearby wall. “He’ll just have to get used to me—and quite frankly, he should have already done so by now. How long have I been working for him, two years?”
“Two years. Why do I even bother?”
“Two years with me in your squadron, and yet you’ve still continuously failed to realise how this particular dynamic between ourselves and our boys works. Your rank gives you official authority over every other person in our group on paper, but my abilities and skills as an actual expert on these planes give me just as much push and shove as any actual military commission—when it comes to getting these planes in the sky and making sure they all make it back in one piece, you and I have joint custody over the collective group of dumbasses we call Otatheit Squadron.”
Rubiso rolled his eyes as he followed Avril. “So, what, does that make us some kind of old married couple?”
“Can’t think of any other fitting comparison, and I don’t really care to think too hard. Get over here, will you?”
The flight commander of the most prestigious Muan fighter squadron in the Royal Muan Air Force somehow found himself sinking into the (surprisingly comfy) couch, the Scrap Queen casually positioned next to him with her back on the armrest and her legs casually sprawled on top of his lap as the stress of the past few days visibly oozed out of Avril’s psyche. Despite himself, Rubiso felt the same feeling of relief rushing over him even as he quietly ignored the fact he was literally being used as a leg cushion, settling into his position as the sun shone in from the outside and the distant rumble of jets and wyverns faded into the background—
—the Osean mechanic was staring at his outfit again.
“What?”
Avril smirked, lightly tugging at her companion’s collar. “Sorry. Seeing you dressed in these always reminds me of my great-grandfather; his generation always used to dress up like this.”
Pausing, Rubiso’s face turned into one of visible concern. “You’re not into this because of something weird, right?”
“What, like your boys? Please; that’s just self-projection there.”
“And yet we’re both here, doing gods knows what instead of talking with the journalists taking photos of the Phantoms or making sure the Milishials don’t get their hands on—”
“What, you want to go out there instead of sticking around here?”
Rubiso thought carefully about Avril’s suggestion. “Not particularly, to be honest.”
“Then shut up and enjoy the moment.”
The two fell silent, silently taking comfort in each other’s company as Andel found himself looking at the Scrap Queen’s face; her sharp eyes and lips were unlike the soft and graceful expressions of many Muan ladies, the young woman never really taking into the fashions of her host country save for the most formal of occasions and allowing her Osean heritage to shine as a sharp contrast to the people around her. Oddly enough, Avril seemed to be staring back at him with an odd look in her eyes—
A loud klaxon from a nearby speaker interrupted Andel and Avril’s trance as the thundering of boots could be heard from the nearby hallway. Several confused shouts and yells echoed as multiple Osean pilots scrambled past, paying no heed to the two as they headed towards their fighters—annoyance from the two quickly shifted to mild concern, and with a quick nod the Scrap Queen and her Captain extricated themselves from the couch and began to pace towards the corridor.
“Hey, you! What’s going on?”
“No clue! We just got a signal from the President herself to scramble, so keep your heads up!”
Avril frowned. “Kumari? What’s she up to?”
“Something’s happening,” Rubiso replied. “Let’s get our boys on alert—something tells me this isn’t a drill…”
World Leadership Conference, Cartalpas, Holy Milishial Empire — April 22, 2022
“Order, I say again, order! The Thirty-Seventh World Leadership Conference is now in session!”
With the different representatives from all the participating member-states now seated and quieting down (all traces of the earlier “technical issue” now safely cleaned and sanitized by magical means), Minister Liage of the Holy Milishial Empire lowered his gavel and began to address his colleagues in a commanding manner.
The joint announcement of the Milishials and Emorians regarding the Sorcerers’ impending return had its intended effect on their audience: cries and shouts of shock and horror echoed across the room, with even the Oseans and Gra Valkans visibly perturbed by the development (no doubt still recalling their experiences with the technology of the much-dreaded ancient superpower in their brush with the Annorials). Liage hid a grin as he continued his opening remarks, he and his Milishial superiors aiming to use the still-widespread fear of the Sorcerers to rally the nations of Elysia under the banner of the EDI at the Oseans’ expense.
But as he outlined the schedule of the Conference, Liage subtly glanced at the Annorial delegation, who had remained silent and unmoved throughout the past few minutes. What he would say shortly would undoubtedly result in some response from the mysterious southerners—yet whatever said response would be was very much a mystery, their very presence in the Conference a wildcard compared to the Oseans and Gra Valkans. Was he about to inadvertently start a war with his own nation’s motion? Or were the Annorials simply here to remind the world of their presence and their feared ancestors?
With a deep breath, the Milishial ambassador steeled himself. He was an envoy of the defender of civilization itself, and he would not succumb to fear and betray his nation in the process! Whatever happened in the next five minutes, he would serve his people with pride and face down any threat to the Empire as any other true servant of Elysia would.
“As founder of the Elysian Defense Initiative and de facto guardian of Elysia against the forces of evil, we propose immediate preparation against the Ancient Sorcerous Empire. All in favor, please raise your hands.”
Only one delegate chose not to respond in kind—Ambassador Krunch remained still, allowing all attention to turn towards himself as the sole dissenting figure. Seeing all eyes upon him, the envoy of the Annorial Empire simply smiled, daring anyone to respond.
Liage decided to take the bait, using his position as the speaker of the proceedings to address the metaphorical elephant in the room. “Representatives of the Annorial Empire, would you care to address your position?”
Slowly, Krunch rose to his feet, his darkened wings extending behind him and illuminated by the lighting of the room. “Thank you, but I do not believe that will be necessary. However, as is the right given to all participants of this Conference, I wish to introduce a new motion, one that I believe is of a far more urgent matter than that of our ancestors.”
The room began to mumble in wonder and confusion, Liage frowning at this unexpected turn of events and attempting to regain control of the situation as Kumari silently activated a concealed device in her hand.
“Ambassador Krunch, if I may—”
“I hereby accuse the Holy Milishial Empire of falsely misrepresenting our Ancestors to the peoples of Elysia as conquerors and savage barbarians, of slandering the Ancient Sorcerous Empire for the purpose of consolidating its hegemony over all of known existence through the so-called Elysian Defense Initiative. My nation condemns this wanton act of aggression, and calls upon the nations of known civilization to recognise these tyrants for what they are and falsely project upon the enlightened saviours that our beloved Ravernal masters once were to this world.”
The room gasped, and Krunch turned his attention towards a much different individual.
“Likewise, I hereby accuse the Osean Federation of unwanted aggression and betraying its self-professed principles of peaceful coexistence and cooperation with its military actions against the peoples of the Annorial Empire and the assassination of our own citizens overseas. I call into doubt your nation’s overtures towards the so-called superpowers and call them for what they are: imperialist expansionism, to continue your world’s legacy of death and fire and impose upon Elysia a regime of enlightened autarchy that its people neither require nor desire.”
All eyes turned to the President, who remained seated and simply looked back at Krunch with a firm expression of firm resolve. “And what exactly do you propose, Ambassador?”
“I propose, President Aadarshini Kumari, a motion that states that if the Osean Federation and Holy Milishial Empire do not immediately comply with our demands, an official state of war will formally exist between the Annorial Empire and all other nations currently represented in this room that choose to side with them.”
“Attention, all Osean and IUN pilots! Saint Ark, Saint Ark!”
IUN Sarius Airbase, Sarius Thearchy — April 22, 2022 (15 minutes prior)
“Radar contact in Neutral Zone Alpha!”
Pausing mid-sip, Commander Muffley slowly placed his mug of coffee down and turned towards the officer from his seat. “What kind of contact are we looking at? Wildlife, or some kind of man-made object?”
“It’s big enough to be either an aircraft or an extremely large dragon—we weren’t having any IUN air missions over the Branchel continent, were we?”
“None that I’ve been notified of,” Muffley noted, frowning as he did so. “Could it be some kind of satellite—one of the Ravernal orbital weapons or the Arkbird on some interception route?”
The lieutenant carefully examined the readings from his console. “Negative, our radars from both the ground and in orbit are detecting the object to be at least 20,000 feet above sea level and climbing. It’s traveling at Mach 2 on a northeasterly route towards the Third Fleet interception will be in roughly less than an hour or two—”
A loud beep interrupted his report, instantly drawing his attention as a series of additional blips appeared on the display. “Additional radar contacts detected! Two Annorial fighters with mixed Su-57 and J-20 configurations, on an intercept course with the original contact! They’ve all breached the Neutral Zone and are now en route to our side of the Ammoran Ocean!”
“Yellow Alert! Notify all available squadrons to get in the air, ASAP!”
“All staff to battle stations! Prepare for possible air-to-air combat!”
The commander swore. “Damn it! I knew they’d try and pull something right as the Conference was about to start—do we have any fighters currently on standby?”
“We have the 444th Fighter Squadron currently doing exercises about a hundred nautical miles north of the incoming object—they’re just a penal unit, though, with minimal combat experience beyond dragons and wyverns—”
“They’ll do until we can get more units up in the air, Lieutenant. Get Colonel McKinsey on the line, and then contact the Third Fleet and Oured immediately! The sooner we get reinforcements here to relieve them, the better!”
If some of the opening remarks of the Conference itself sound familiar, that’s because they come directly from DrDoritosMD’s Summoning America.
Finally, I can start writing about actual air combat once again T_T
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! See you all next month!
