Fully dressed and freshly showered, Jack took some time to inspect the crew of the HMS Fuck You Roland.
As King, everyone aboard was technically his servant, something Jack still didn’t enjoy as they snapped their salutes.
Jack spent twenty minutes walking around his airship. During that time he observed his troops, made small talk, and made his presence known to those onboard. To the wider Imperium, Jack was still an enigma, a person whose accomplishments and feats were few and whose only claim to fame was his background and position as King.
That wouldn't do.
Most had heard of Frelia, but none really knew the details or the sacrifices he made, only that he was their boss’s boss and that they needed to be on their best behavior.
However, despite this fact he still got flak for being a non-red, usually in the form of whispers behind closed doors and drunken stupors. But, his prowess in the latest battle had spoken for itself, silencing much of the dissenters.
Albeit for now.
Jack smirked, wondering what expression they'd make if they knew their Queen was a demi like him.
He sighed, leaning close to the window that overlooked the FYR’s MECHFrame launch bay, a room usually reserved for the air wing commander and his some twenty staff.
However on Jack's order the room was temporarily cleared, allowing him a private terrace to watch over his soldiers when the ship wasn't engaged in battle.
“Sir?” Jessica asked, breaking Jack's focus on the teen named Tangerine sitting alone beneath his MECHFrame across the launch deck.
“Hm?”
“Templar Commander Lita and her party have landed and are awaiting you within suite three,” Jessica, his now aide-de-camp, said as she held an intellipad close to her blue Selfian uniform.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Ashfield,” Jack said, turning his head back to Tangerine conversing with his machine. “Tell me something lieutenant, you've served beside Tangerine for some time now. Does he always sit alone?”
Jessica blinked, taking a moment before replying.
“Since he lost his entire squadron against the WolfFrame, yes.”
“WolfFrame?”
“The Khloros, your Majesty.”
“Right…” Jack recalled that machine, a sickening twist of metal and flesh. “I would like a report on everything we have on Tangerine’s augments. His training and the Damocles.”
Jessica opened her mouth to reply yet stopped herself, silencing her curiosity with a “Yes, your Majesty. I shall have it prepared for you after your meeting with Templar Commander Lita.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. That will be all, I'll call for you later.”
“Yes… sir,” Jessica said, bowing before taking her leave as Jack took out Leslie's journal to continue reading.
“Do you think Selfia will agree with what you plan on doing?” Sahaqiel asked as Jack took out a device to prevent any unwanted eavesdropping, a little gift from Leona.
“Either she will or she won't, at the end of the day I'm only doing what I think can help my people and protect my family,” Jack said, sitting down on the chair to read another paragraph. “I dislike being so reliant on her while she keeps me in the dark. I'll admit, I'm not the best thinker, but I don't like her methods.”
“So you think having Lita's troops in your debt will help you?” Sahaqiel asked, hugging Jack from behind with her slender finger tracing his jawline.
“Something like that.”
“You aren't thinking of rebelling are you?” Sahaqiel joked, the angel now resting in Jack's lap.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Nothing so grand,” Jack replied, eyes fluttering over to Tangerine sitting alone. “If anything were to happen to me, or Selfia and things fall apart… I need a backup plan.”
“And the Templars are it?” Sahaqiel looked up at Jack inquisitively.
“They are a start. Combining the Nomads and the Templars together is one of my objectives, and saving these people is too, but ultimately the end goal will be for my loved ones and them alone,” Jack sighed, closing the journal.
****
Entering the VIP suite of the airship set aside for special guests, Jack kept a neutral face under the gaze of twelve disgruntled paladins, chief of which was Superbia.
“My apologies for the wait,” Jack said as the entire group stood to bow before Jack, save for Superbia.
“Lumenese, thank you for taking time-” Lita began but was immediately cut off by Superbia.
“We won't be allowing the Empire to take our home,” Superbia said, “We appreciate your aid in our issue, but the Holy City is the last bastion of the Theocracy. Do you understand? It is our city, and we will die fighting-”
Jack strolled past the blue-haired woman, taking a seat on a velvety couch where he crossed his legs and yawned.
“No, go on. I'm listening,” Jack assured, looking on lazily at the woman about to metaphorically explode.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Not at all. I understand the predicament you and your people are in and I seek no quarrel Paladin,” Jack said, tossing his sound-deafening device on the nearby table. “In fact I want to help you guys.”
“Help us?” Superbia raised a brow.
“Yup, so here's the deal,” Jack said, clapping his hands together to release a crisp noise. “You and your people load up into the city and move to imperial territory.”
“What?!” Superbia recoiled, the awakened woman not expecting Jack's proposition.
“Are you offering to make us Imperial citizens?” Lita asked carefully, drawing looks from her entourage of papal officials.
“No. Not at all, I don't plan on abolishing your country’s sovereignty or making you citizens. What I propose is an asylum project. Establishing a refugee in the corner of the Imperium where your people can live freely and practice your-.”
“You want us to abandon our home? Never!” Superbia spat, “This is our-hek?”
The Awakened's outburst was cut short as she suddenly fell to her knees.
Wide-eyed, the group of Templar guards raised their mana, attempting to help their own comrade only to falter as their mana was stripped away.
Hm. It helps they aren't that strong.
Superbia was on all fours, clutching her throat as Jack compelled the wind to do his bidding. Pain, she could turn off, injuries she could heal, but one thing all humans even super powered awakened needed was air.
Something he was getting extremely good at manipulating, even without the system.
“Listen well, this will be the last warning I give,” Jack said, his tone icy as his golden glare settled on the woman being siphoned by Gehenna. “When I'm talking, you don't interrupt me. Not only is it rude, but it's annoying. The next time you interrupt me, I won't stop with just bringing you to your knees.”
“My apologies Lumenese!” Lita exclaimed, taking to one knee. “I beseech thee release-”
Superbia gasped, taking in a breath of air as Jack gazed coldly at the woman glaring at him.
He'd seen her type before, someone who didn't like being talked down to, someone who was used to getting her way and used coercion, influence, and even others to get her way.
In short, she was just another Victoria.
“Here is what's going to happen,” Jack said, standing up. “You will put a call out, evacuating all remaining Theocracy citizens to the Flying City. You will be brought to territory within the Empire where you will be allowed to settle. This is not a negotiation, this is me saving your lives. You can either do this or die, at the end of the day, you are without adequate, food, shelter, and ammo. And sooner than later, the demonspawn will come.”
Lita furrowed her brow, helping Superbia shakily rise to her feet.
“What aren't you telling us?” Lita asked.
Jack took a moment to respond, frowning as he flicked dirt from his nail.
“Our enemy is the High Table,” Jack said, standing at a viewport that showed the Capital of the Theocracy in all its splendor. “Selfia is willing to do anything and everything to secure the future of the Empire and that includes eradicating every single one of you so she can get her hands on that Thing in the distance. No doubt she’s interested in its research and facilities within. However, this way-my way, ensures all parties involved get what they want. Selfia can conduct studies on the flying city, and you lot get to live and enjoy the sovereignty of being a free nation.”
“There's nothing free about being under the boot of the Empire,” Commander Velmont hissed, a sentiment shared by the other paladins in the room.
“You won't be under the boot of the Empire, you'll be under mine,” Jack said, turning to face the entourage of paladins. “Or did you forget I am the King of the Empire? The same one who murdered hundreds of you when you boldly attacked Frelia. The same one who brought down the Green Bishop when none of you could touch him? I'm not asking for your trust, or your loyalty. All I'm asking is for you to survive.”
Suddenly a knock at the door took everyone’s attention with Jessica entering a moment later.
“Your Majesty, please pardon my intrusion, Colonel Python wishes to see you immediately.”
I guess Selfia wants a word.
Jack turned to Lita and the Templars.
“Think it over, the Queen isn't quite so accommodating to people that have tried to kill her before,” Jack said, staring directly at Superbia, "A sentiment, I'm beginning to adopt."
And with that, Jack turned and left, allowing the paladins to stew in their thoughts while he handed other matters.