Meanwhile, a group of shadows crowded around a large map displayed on the wall before them. The map had a multitude of names displayed with various icons. However, many icons were a lifeless grey color. The crowd watch suspensefully as one of the few icons still lit up with color flicker rapidly before joining the sull grey of the unlit icons near it. Silence seeped across the room for several long moments. Finally, one of the shadowy figure waved its hand and loudly called out.

“LIGHTS”

The room is bathed in bright light moments after its utterance. Illumination reveals the figure as a tall man with black hair. Draped in a cloak the color of clean snow. His face was defined with high cheekbones and a clean shaven face. Eyes the color of cold stone glared across the assembled crowd taking in every detail without revealing fear before addressing them. Several men and women stared back. Each of them dressed in cloaks of various different colors with many of their faces rigid with fear.

“Our worst fears have unfortunately become reality. The great Commander Sterely has been consumed”

The crowd drew fearfully back as the man gave a voice to the source of their fears. Quiet, furious debate quickly broke out before one of the women stepped forward. The women was dressed in a green cloak the shade of grass. She had short brown hair with eyes the color of the sea.

“Director Zerus, with Commander Sterely consumed, one of the last few remaining levels of the Prison under our control has been lost. Already wisplings have been spotted at the white gate.”

“Have any whispers been spotted yet, Lady Asyla?”

“None so far, but they can’t be far behind.”

“What is the status of the 489,098,678 founding?”

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Lady Asyla pulls a small tablet from the folds of her cloak and rapidly scans the neon green screen. After several long minutes of scanning, her face tenses. Finally, she looks up from the screen with a grim look and said in a voice so quiet that the room had to strain to hear it.

“Barely a fourth of the founding has been assembled and are battle ready”

Panic filled the room before the Director could speak.

Many conversations quickly broke out.

“ONLY A FOURTH IS ASSEMBLED!”

“WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!”

“WHAT HAVE THE FACTORIES BEEN DOING?!”

The director brought down his fist forcefully against a nearby wall startling the room into silence. Once order was restored, the director addressed the crowd.

“We are the descendents of a great empire! WE DO NOT PANIC NOR DO WE GIVE UP! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!”

The chastised crowd could only nod in shame as the director turned back towards Asyla and spoke in a low voice.

“Explain why the founding has not been assembled”

Asyla cringed under his gaze.

“T.. The Emperor thought another founding unnecessary when we received news that the retired hero Commander Sterely had assumed control of the Black Arch. He was the hero of the silver lakes after all. The higher ups had assumed that he would take drive the wispkin back and didn’t want to waste money on another founding.”

Anger colored the directors face before he forced himself to calm down. The director next words were spoken through clenched teeth.

“What commander was selected to lead the force?”

Lady Asyla couldn’t look the director in the eye as she said

“Orlando, son of the Daggen family sir….”

Any semblance of calm the director had before was lost upon the utterance of those words.

“THEY SEND A FUCKING SPOILED PRINCE TO LEAD THE FOUNDING?! DO THEY THINK THIS IS A DAMNED JOKE?! A EASY POST FOR SOME KID TO GAIN RESPECT AND REPUTATION BEFORE JOINING THE EMPEROR’S COURT?!”

The director continued to rant uncontrollably for the new few minutes before slumping down into a nearby chair. Heis head turned towards another robed figure in the crowd. A balding, portly man in a robe of sky blue.

“Summon the retired Commander Bawdlin at once. She shall serve as the advisor of the founding”

Nearly every person in the room gasped in shock. The man stepped nervously forward.

“But sir! She’s known as the hellish taskmaster!”

The director fixed the man with a glare.

“She’ll put Daggen through hell, but if he survives her training than he may yet be able to save us all.”