Tampines Air Base, Selatapura, Osean Federation — December 29, 2019
Attention, pilots of the Lighthouse Division! The circumstances surrounding your premature deployment are regrettable, but our presence is required nonetheless—you have been selected from your respective squadrons and your respective nations as the best and finest pilots that Elysia has to offer. Some of you are here as part of the Osean Air Force prior to the Transference, while others are individuals from the Third Civilisation Area who have been selected for their potential as pilots of the most advanced aircraft in the arsenal of the IUN; regardless of who you may be and where you may come from, you are now here to ensure the safety of the Lighthouse and to help us establish a lasting peace throughout Elysia. Congratulations—you’re in the big leagues now.
Now, for our briefing—as you all know, the Lighthouse Conference is set to begin in less than two days, and delegates from the governments of the entire Third Civilization Area have been coming to Selatapura to attend. With their cooperation, the Osean Federation seeks to draft a permanent treaty that will effectively redraw the balance of power in the former sphere of influence of what was once called Parpaldia—with such a significant and unprecedented event in the entire planet, representatives from beyond the Third Civilization Area have also arrived to observe the Conference and potentially influence the final agreement. Needless to say, it is critical that the safety and security of the Conference itself is not placed at risk in any way—whether it be the machinations of Parpaldia, or any other third party looking to disrupt this pivotal event.
One hour ago, we received a distress signal from a naval fleet belonging to the Gra Valkas Empire, a new industrial nation with highly militaristic tendencies on the other side of Elysia: their transmission was vague, but suggested that their ships were being attacked by sea monsters. We’ve already tasked an Arsenal Bird to provide aerial cover and reconnaissance, but we need eyes in the air to determine what exactly is going on and how we can help—arm your planes for a Grameus-class engagement, and make as much use of our experimental weaponry currently available as you see fit.
We believe that this fleet is escorting Gra Valkas’s diplomats and observers to the Lighthouse Conference—it is imperative that they survive and are safely brought to Selatapura, but you are to exercise as much discretion as possible once you have begun to engage the creatures in question. This will be the official first contact between Osea and Gra Valkas itself, and we don’t need any unnecessary hiccups to what will be their personal introduction to what we have to offer, got it?
Are there any questions?
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The Expanse, 100 km south of Selatapura — December 29, 2019
The skies buzzed with flak and gunfire as the Grade Alastar and its escorts desperately fought for their lives, blasting through sea monsters and krakens alike as swarms of Antares fighters shot and fired where they could. Yet where one creature was slain, another dozen seemed to emerge, each dragging yet another Gra Valkan vessel into a watery grave—with the sheer number of casualties piling up and no sign of any reprieve, Fleet Admiral Caesar Roland reckoned, the entire fleet would be joining them within the hour.
A stream of angry shouts disturbed Caesar’s thoughts as his attention was turned towards the bridge he had just left in order to observe the ongoing battle—the diplomatic delegation had emerged from below deck to inquire about the situation up top. Visibly annoyed at the intrusion yet understanding about their clear concern about their collective continued well-being, the fleet admiral decided to return inside and calm the Foreign Affairs officials down.
“Director Gesta, I would kindly ask you to return to the panic room while we continue to fend off these monsters; the situation is not yet—”
“Oh, forget that, Admiral! What’s going on with our naval forces, and why haven’t they dealt with the remaining creatures?!”
“It’s an entire horde, Director—our guns and fighters are holding off the vast majority of the creatures, but we need more time and firepower if we’re going to be able to make it out of here alive! Director, if I may be so kind as to—”
“Sea creature, emerging between us and the aircraft carrier Valhalla! It’s a hydra, Admiral, and it’s even bigger than all the others!”
Caesar paled. “Release all of our remaining depth charges and open fire on the hydra with our batteries!”
In a matter of seconds, the vast majority of the Grade Alastar’s forward batteries swivelled to face the hydra as its tail rocked the Valhalla and spilt a nearby cruiser in half—with a deafening report, the cannons scored several direct hits on the largest sea monster Gra Valkas had encountered yet. Yet even this significant victory was already beginning to backfire on the Empire’s prized flagship: the sheer scale of the cannons’ attack had scored gaping wounds on the hydra’s chest, causing tons of poisonous internal gases to spill out onto the Grade Alastar directly below.
“Admiral, the forward batteries have been flooded with gas! We’ve lost contact with the firing crews inside!”
“Evacuate the main deck and order all crew to equip all available gas protection at once! Concentrate fire on that beast until it goes down—”
“The hydra—it’s regenerating!”
Looking out from the front windows, Caesar watched in horror as the gaping wound on the hydra’s chest began to rapidly decrease in size even as the toxic gases remained around it like a menacing mist. The creature began to roar angrily as it held its heads back to unleash a devastating burst of dragonfire—
“Projectile sighted directly north of us, sir! Incoming—”
An object, travelling in what clearly appeared to be well beyond the sound barrier, scored a direct strike on the hydra’s head—an orange fireball emerging from the impact rapidly expanded and changed colour into a dramatic blue as the shockwave seemingly accelerated across the fleet, knocking debris and unwitting sailors overboard. The effect was immediate—the direct strike had interrupted the hydra’s attack and dealt significant damage to the back of the creature’s head, causing it to emit a howl of pain and briefly retreat in pain.
“All stations, report! What the hell was that?!”
“That wasn’t from us, Admiral! Something struck that hydra before it launched its fire attack on us—some kind of rocket or guided projectile!”
“Ten sailors just went overboard as a result of that blast, sir! We’re hauling them back up abroad, but the gas is making its way through our mask filters!”
“All guns apart from the frontmost batteries are in working condition and standing by—resuming fire patterns as ordered, sir!”
“Admiral, unidentified object in the air! Ten kilometres off our port, ten o’clock!”
Even amidst the chaos, Caesar paused. “Wait, what?! I need a description on that object, now!”
“It’s some kind of fixed-winged object—it looks like a plane, but it’s even larger than several of our own ships, sir!”
Hauling himself out of the bridge and onto the portside observation desk, the Fleet Admiral grabbed his binoculars—there, as the helmsman pointed out! What the devil was that, floating right above the fleet with nothing beyond a set of gigantic propellers to keep it afloat? On the underside—
As Caesar watched, dozens upon dozens of small objects detached from the underside and whirled round to unfold a pair of smaller wings, each then proceeding to launch downwards towards the fleet—towards the fleet, he realised—
“Possible hostile air units inbound! All AA units and air squadrons, prepare to intercept those unidentified aircraft before they pose a threat to our fleet—”
A nearby operator gasped inside the bridge, whirling towards Caesar in surprise. “Admiral, we need to belay that order! I’m receiving several radio transmissions from the Oseans—those are friendly air units sent to reinforce us!”
Director Gesta’s face turned purple. “Reinforcements?! What kind of reinforcements are those?!”
“Admiral,” another radar operator called out, “we’ve got several air contacts approaching us from the north as well—they’re definitely not ours, either!”
“Visual contact, ten kilometres north of us and closing in from above! We’ve got fifteen fighters and a large aircraft on an intercept course—”
The operator froze. “It’s the Oseans, sir—they’ve arrived!”
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“Gra Valkan fleet, this is the AWACS Long Caster of the Lighthouse Division. We’re here to relieve you of your sea monster problem—can you inform us of your current status?”
“Long Caster, this is Fleet Admiral Caesar of the Gra Valkas Empire, transmitting from the battleship Grade Alastar—we have suffered heavy casualties and are on the brink of losing our carriers and flagship. We require air support to fend off the remaining sea monsters and relieve my vessel and its passengers—are your planes capable of achieving that?”
“Affirmative, Fleet Admiral—the UAVs and the Arsenal Bird to your northwest are under our command and are directly engaging them as we speak. Additional reinforcements have just arrived in the form of manned fighters—we’ll take care of them for you; just hold on a bit longer!”
Switching a dial to address a different frequency, Long Caster spoke, “Lighthouse Division, this is AWACS Long Caster—if you’re part of Strider, Cyclops, and Mage Squadrons, you’ll probably remember me. The situation is as follows—sea monsters are threatening to sink the Gra Valkan carriers and flagship, and they need us to buy them some more time. All air contacts not registered as an Osean UAV or an organic lifeform are considered friendly, so try not to collide with them or accidentally shoot them down—in other words, engage the creatures and protect everything else, got it?”
“Roger, Long Caster,” Wiseman replied. “We’ve got the entire arsenal ready for this engagement, people—let’s use each and every single one of them before anyone else gets brought down!”
From above the altitudinal range of even the most experienced Antares fighters, fifteen F-15s shot down towards the vicious battle below, weaving through Gra Valkan fire and firing a fusillade of cruise missiles, lasers, and railgun shots at the offending creatures. The effect was immediate—sea monsters and krakens alike were thoroughly eviscerated and ruthlessly pulverised in a matter of seconds, with ludicrous gibs and globs of organic matter raining down on the beleaguered Gra Valkan vessels. Aboard the individual ships, sailors and officers alike stared upwards in clear incredulity as the Osean fighters shot cleanly above the fleet and turned around for yet another pass.
Elsewhere, the Arsenal Bird’s drone fleet quietly ploughed on with their own respective tasks—the UAVs each continued to score individual hits on the armour and body parts of the krakens and sea monsters, while the Justice’s laser methodically cooked the internal organs of each monster that attempted to swipe at the hornet-like machines that swarmed around them. It was effectively a death by a thousand pricks for many a monster as the onslaught was gradually whittled down with an eerie accuracy and effectiveness that almost seemed insulting to Caesar—his own men had struggled so hard against such formidable creatures, and yet these foreigners had somehow managed to outmatch them this easily?!
The Gra Valkan delegation had come out onto the observation deck to watch the Osean fighters zip around, their eyes observing with visible astonishment as the planes easily shot past their Antares counterparts and pulled off mind-bending manoeuvres that not even the most skilled aces of Ragna Squadron could even hope to achieve. Director Ciella pointed in wonder at a single fighter that seemed to be punching well above its weight, even considering the formidable abilities that his own wingmen already possessed—three strikes and an orange demon emblazoned on its rear wings as a dozen creatures simultaneously died in its wake. From its underside, a bizarre cannon-like object spat out a straight line of red light, arcing and slicing through monsters and clouds alike or igniting internal organs within a few seconds of direct contact, causing a kraken to screech in audible pain as it burnt from the inside out.
Seeing the tide of battle starting to turn in their favour, the surviving crews of the Gra Valkan fleet started to cheer as the sea creatures around them continued to fall, left and right—even the Antares fighters in the air had began to regroup and reorganise, now that the situation had begun to abate and allow them to gather their bearings. With the Oseans busy with the largest threats to the Grade Alastar and its escorts, the smaller squadrons began to refocus their efforts towards cleaning up what few creatures managed to escape Osea and Gra Valkas’s combined wrath.
“Long Caster, we’ve swept away the vast majority of the threats to the Grade Alastar’s escorts; we’re moving in to finish off the hydra itself! Tell the Gra Valkans to keep their heads down!”
“Affirmative, Cyclops One—Grade Alastar, our fighters are striking the hydra next to you. Danger close, I repeat, danger close—”
“Wait! Tell your Osean fighters to hold their fire—the hydra we’re directly engaging is filled to the brim with toxic digestive gases! If your missiles blow up the creature, you’ll release the entire load and flood the Grade Alastar with the biological hazard—you’ll kill us and our entire diplomatic team onboard!”
“Shit, copy—all fighters, wave off of the creature! We’ve got possible chemical gases within that creature that’ll spill onto that ship! Cease fire, cease fire!”
“What?! How exactly do you expect us to kill that thing, Long Caster?”
“Stand by, Mage Three—we can probably try to lure the creature away with machine gun fire so the Grade Alastar doesn’t get caught by the internal gases, or we can try and use our laser weaponry to microwave the hydra from the inside.”
“That’s going to be a long process, Long Caster—and that’s depending on whether we can even lure it away from that battleship. Don’t we have any other assets available?”
Long Caster’s eyes widened in realisation. “Stand by, Wiseman. We might actually have another asset on standby that we can call for assistance, stand by.”
Twisting a dial to change frequencies, the AWACS operation called on his radio, “Arkbird, this is the AWACS Long Caster, in need of orbital support. Come in, Arkbird, do you read me?”
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OFS Arkbird II, Low Earth Orbit, above the Expanse — December 29, 2019
“Long Caster, this is Captain Kei Nagase of the Arkbird, callsign Edge. Are you in need of assistance?”
“Affirmative, Edge—we have a hydra on the following coordinates in need of an immediate laser strike. Be advised: danger close—there is a battleship within close proximity of the target with multiple VIPs aboard, and we believe that the hydra may contain toxic gases that cannot be allowed to escape the target.”
Peering through a telescope looking down at Selatapura, Nagase quickly identified the creature in question. “Copy, Long Caster—we have a visual on the hydra. It’s too close to the battleship in question for us to attempt a laser strike at full power; can you ask that vessel to move away from the hydra?”
“Negative, Edge; the hydra is directly attempting to target the Grade Alastar itself, and our machine gun fire will either only further aggravate it or risk releasing more gases. Is there anything else you can do?”
“Stand by…” Nagase frowned, running several calculations in her head. “Long Caster, how many heads are on that hydra?”
“Three!”
“Copy. Is the Arsenal Bird in your AO the Justice?”
“Affirmative!”
“Alright, here’s the plan: the Arkbird will fire both of its primary lasers at two heads of that hydra, while the Arsenal Bird fires on the third head—we’re going to need any fighters or vessels with lasers to designate our two targets as well, just so we can avoid directly hitting the friendly battleship.”
“Copy, Edge; I’ll inform our fighters on the ground to use their lasers to mark the heads down for you. Best of luck, out!”
Whirling her head behind her towards the corridor leading to the bridge, Nagase yelled out, “Blaze, did you hear that?! I need you to rotate the Arkbird ninety degrees clockwise! Everyone else, grab onto something!”
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On the observation deck of the Grade Alastar, Director Ciella gasped. “By the gods—”
From somewhere up in the heavens, a pair of sharp lights joined over half a dozen beams from the fighters above the air as it struck two heads of the hydra, slowly microwaving the creature’s brains with each passing second—from the great winged machine amongst the clouds, a third light struck the final head with frightening speed and accuracy. The hydra writhed, swivelled, and twisted in pain, frantically attempting to swat off the countless beams of light burning its head from the inside out—yet the lasers were remorseless and efficient, continuing their deadly dance of death as they matched the creature’s movements and incinerating its internal neurons until all basic concepts of sight, sound, smell, hearing, and touch were all but snuffed out. With a final roar, the creature that would have sunk the Grade Alastar in another time shrivelled and died, its three heads and limp torso sinking back into the ocean with a great splash.
“Arkbird, the hydra is dead! I repeat, the hydra is dead! All callsigns, be advised: the hydra is dead, and all other sea creatures are either incapacitated or retreating—mission complete, the Grade Alastar and its escorts are safe!”
Cheers erupted from the Gra Valkan fleet and their Osean rescuers as the lasers simultaneously died off, the Grade Alastar and its accompanying ships immediately shifting to search and rescue operations for the vessels that didn’t survive; in the air, the Antares fighters began to patrol the skies for any remaining interlopers or return to their respective carriers for refuelling and repairs while their Osean counterparts circled above. The Arsenal Bird itself began to circle back in the general direction of Selatapura as its drones slowly returned to the fold, a convoy of Osean naval vessels and helicopters swiftly pushing towards the scene of the battle below.
“Grade Alastar, this is Commodore Robin Airey of the OFS Puffin, requesting your commanding officer.”
“Puffin, this is Fleet Admiral Caesar Roland, commanding officer of the Grade Alastar; send message.”
“Fleet Admiral, we’ve been tasked with assisting your fleet with retrieving survivors and escorting your diplomats to Selatapura as soon as possible. Will that be alright?”
“Grade Alastar to Puffin, that will be much appreciated. Long Caster, we are in your debt and your men have our gratitude—and whoever else you have out there, give them our thanks!”
Long Casted nodded to himself in satisfaction. “All in a day’s work, Grade Alastar, out. Lighthouse Squadron, RTB!”
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“Fleet Admiral, we have a visual on the—by the Gods…”
“What? What is it—” Caesar froze, his eyes glimpsing for the very first time the needle in the distance that threaded upwards into the skies above. “Directors, y-you’re going to want to see this…”
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Selatapura, Osean Federation — December 29, 2019
Due to the sheer size of the Gra Valkan fleet arriving at Selatapura, a long-winded debate began between the various departments of Osea’s executive branch and the local government within the nation-state itself over where they would be stationed for the duration of their visit. Bukit Purmei and Brani Terminals (themselves already slated for imminent closure and conversion into new coastal developments) were both ruled out due to their sheer proximity to the main thoroughfare to the Lighthouse, while Tuas Harbour was deemed too far to central Selatapura for the convenience of Gra Valkas’s diplomats; the South Pier, while convenient in terms of location, was incapable of hosting a battleship, two aircraft carriers, and its escorts, while Jurong Island was also deemed too much of a security risk due to the secondary access road beneath the Strait to the Lighthouse.
In the end, the surviving vessels were redirected to Pasir Panjang for repairs and dropping off their passengers; in the port, Harling and Clarkson were waiting along with a sizable honour guard as the Grade Alastar docked into the port. As the Gra Valkans set up the ramp to allow their passengers to disembark, Vincent was able to grab a glimpse of the delegation—led by four individuals, one woman and three males, all were garbed in sharp yet flowing military uniforms and neat in appearance (save one noticeably dishevelled individual who appeared to be glancing at the Lighthouse and the Arsenal Bird approaching the harbour with clear incredulity), visibly emphasising the highly aggressive nature of their visitors.
Briefly shooting his colleague an uneasy glance, Vincent turned towards the approaching guests and extended his hand in greeting. “Deputy Director Gesta, I presume? I’m Ambassador Vincent Harling, and this is Ambassador Gabriel William Clarkson—I believe we’ve conversed on the radio before.”
Deputy Director Gesta—a visibly aged man yet still tall and proud in his composure—accepted Harling’s greeting. “Ah, Ambassador Harling—it’s a pleasure to finally greet you in the flesh. My associates and staff: this is Director Ciella and Vice Director Dallas Claymond of the Eastern Relations Department; and the Crown Prince of the Gra Valkas Empire himself, Cabal Eloue Luk Fordem Hallova Elidor von Granderia.”
The various officials of the Gra Valkan delegation shook Harling and Clarksons’ hands in greeting, the vast majority of them glancing at Harling with noticeable curiosity. Whether or not the details behind the Empire’s involvement in Vincent’s rescue from Eshirant had been revealed by their government to them or not, the diplomat couldn’t quite determine—it could have just easily been recognition from the various news broadcasts from the Milishials, he reckoned. “I apologise if our first meeting may not have been under the best of circumstances, but I hope that your visit to the Osean Federation proves to be significantly less eventful.”
“You’ll find that the vast majority of us share that particular sentiment, Ambassador—another dark reminder of the threats that our nations both face in this New World, I suppose,” Gesta handily replied. His face darkened, as if the scale of the attack that he had just survived only just dawned upon him. “Will my people be able to recover the wreckage and bodies of our sailors off the coast?”
“We’ve got Osean ships securing the entire area as we speak,” Harling somberly responded. “We’d be more than happy to lend assistance in finding your fallen men at the bottom of the Expanse, if your government so desires.”
“I believe that would most certainly be in order, Ambassador—many thanks.”
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Bright Hill, Oured, Osean Federation — December 31, 2019
The meeting room within Bright Hill where the Gra Valkan and Osean delegates convened was similarly austere yet quietly commanding compared to the rest of the Presidential Palace; dominated by a single long table, the Gra Valkans sat directly facing their Osean counterparts, their backs to the windows as the negotiations between the two nations began. At the centre of the Osean side was Ambassador Clarkson, flanked by Ambassador Harling and the rest of the Cabinet and their respective staff; on the other end, Director Gesta and Prince Cabal were seated at the centre of the Gra Valkan delegation.
“Now,” Clarkson began, “in order for basic diplomatic relations to be established, the Osean Federation has certain international laws and regulations under the IUN Charter, as a member-state of the International United Nations, that it requires all of its partners to adhere to.”
Gesta frowned. “We are not members of the International United Nations and do not intend to join the organisation as of right now, yet you’re asking us to adhere to the laws of peace and war outlined by the IUN. Would our refusal to adhere to these laws affect our relations with you? We are aware that diplomatic ties did exist between Osea and Parpaldia prior to the recent conflict, and our sources suggest that the former Empire did not exactly adhere to these regulations in spite of this.”
The Osean ambassador’s face hardened at Gesta’s response. “The Osean Federation established ties with the Parpaldia Empire due to its geopolitical importance in the Third Civilization Area—if not for its economic, political, and military presence in Philades and Rodenius, we would have likely isolated Parpaldia from the rest of Elysia for its inhumane practices or outright ignored it altogether. The Gra Valkas Empire, on the other hand, did not appear to have any major ties with the rest of Elysia prior to the recent war beyond a perfunctory diplomatic relationship with the IUN’s members within the Second Civilization Area—if it desires to remain isolationist instead of establishing connections with the Osean Federation, then we will respect your decisions but condone whatever military conduct violates the terms of our Charter.”
“I should quickly add,” Ambassador Harling hurriedly interjected, “that the regulations within the IUN Charter were established prior to the creation of the IUN—the body itself was founded mainly as a body to ensure that the laws were respected, but it has since also expanded to fulfil various humanitarian and geopolitical obligations. Joining the IUN is not strictly required for nations whom we establish ties with, but adherence to basic laws of civility is a practice we have come to appreciate from our neighbours, both here in Elysia and beyond.”
Harling’s response left room for the Gra Valkans to form a compromise of sorts with the Oseans, Gesta noted—no need to delay a long-overdue meeting over a few minor points (that they themselves used to follow prior to the Transference anyway) and risk Elysia turning Osea against Gra Valkas’s interests in a few years time, when a suitable alternative already existed for now. “If we were to agree to follow these rules but refrain from immediately joining the IUN, would this arrangement be suitable for the Osean Federation?”
Clarkson glanced at his superior, who nodded in affirmation. Turning back to face the Gra Valkans, he replied, “We’re happy to work with this arrangement, Director.”
The meeting continued, with the Gra Valkans receiving a series of documents detailing the general rules and regulations laid out by the Charter; apart from a few points of contention that were soon smoothened out, the diplomats saw no reason to refuse the Oseans’ demands. There was one particular area that Gesta noted appeared to be absent from the discussions, however—something Ciella herself was quick to remind her superior.
“What is it, Ciella?”
“Sir, the Oseans do not appear to be discussing their space capabilities or any kinds of international regulations regarding space warfare. We should probably broach the topic to them, in case we might inadvertently leave Gra Valkas at risk of attack.”
Dallas frowned. “Director, we don’t even have the ability to reach outer space. Why should we worry about that just yet?”
“Osea has the capability of creating a space elevator capable of exceeding the distance between themselves and Gra Valkas by multiple factors in a matter of hours. What makes you think they haven't already made weapons in space that can strike the mainland or even Ragna itself if we start a war with them? Where do you think the weapon that helped kill that hydra came from?”
His face paleing in realisation, Gesta quickly nodded. “Good point. Thank you for the reminder, Ciella. Ambassador Clarkson, a question.”
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“Go ahead.”
“Does the Osean Federation or the IUN follow any laws about conduct in outer space? Gra Valkas is aware of the spacefaring capabilities of Osea, and we are concerned about the potential of space technology potentially being used against us.”
Clarkson glanced at Harling, who decided to respond to the question. “Unfortunately, we do not have any active international laws against warfare in outer space—the superpowers of our own world abandoned the vast majority of such regulations over forty years ago prior to the Belkan War, and the Ulysses Disaster forced us to abandon the rest in order to clear our atmosphere of remaining asteroid debris. In any case, it was an unspoken rule prior to the Transference that all international regulations regarding combat in the air also applied to potential combat in outer space—we would be willing to adhere to such regulations here in Elysia, of course.”
Gesta glanced at Ciella and Dallas uneasily. Without any direct instructions from Emperor Gra Lux about the matter (the Emperor himself understandably quite confused by the concept and not fully cognizant of the destructive potential of space-based warfare even with the Lighthouse being confirmed to be real), the diplomat was unfortunately not in a position to contest the Oseans’ viewpoints on the matter. For Gra Valkas, space itself was a still-untouched frontier from science fiction that the Empire had barely begun to explore, let alone conceive—to somehow determine complex concepts such as warlike conduct and behaviour in that unknown realm was something Gesta himself knew he was not fully qualified to decide upon as of now. Deciding to go along for now with Osea’s recommendations, he glanced back at Clarkson.
“The Gra Valkas Empire will agree to adhere to such regulations in both the air and outer space, although it will condemn any space-bound actions that threaten our security and will seek to renegotiate such terms once we ourselves achieve the ability to reach outer space.”
Ciella and Gesta felt their spirits sink as Clarkson nodded in acknowledgment. To think that another nation within their own world not only traversed space with near-impunity but also already experimented with a new field of warfare beyond their current abilities was a sobering fact to absorb—with each passing minute, the sheer technological gap between Gra Valkas and Osea only seemed to be growing larger and larger.
Carefully sorting through the final stack of files that determined the basic diplomatic relations between the two superpowers, Ambassador Clarkson nodded in satisfaction. “That basically sorts out the standard relations between Osea and Gra Valkas. Are there any other agreements that the Empire desires to make?”
The discussion continued on to a variety of topics: an economic deal was hashed out where both nations agreed to export raw materials in return for importing goods and products from each other, alongside a basic exchange rate based on existing financial data, and then segued into other materials—
“The Gra Valkas Empire wishes to inquire about the possibility of acquiring fighter technologies from the Osean Federation.”
Clarkson paused. “There are currently active restrictions on the export of technology including computer products and aircraft technology. Such an arrangement would be in violation of such policies, and would also be a cause of considerable concern within the international community—especially in light of your nation’s current reputation in Elysia.”
Gesta’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Our actions in Leifor and Paganda were legitimate responses to the affront dealt to our ambassadors in our own attempts at establishing the same peaceful coexistence that the Osean Federation now enjoys—offences that your own diplomats also suffered against Parpaldia! We also know that the Kingdom of Mu is in the process of receiving fighters from Osea in return for their assistance in rescuing Ambassador Harling from Eshirant—such technologies easily outpace our own and also place our lands at risk! Surely Gra Valkas also deserves a gesture of thanks for our own part in the confrontation in Parpaldia?”
“The aircraft that we gave Mu are over seventy years old—hardly equivalent to the fighters currently used by the OADF,” Clarkson cooly replied. “Considering our assessments of the current military and technological capabilities of both Mu and Gra Valkas, we estimate that your nation will be able to develop fighters capable of matching or even outright exceeding their planes in less than a decade, either way—”
“Perhaps we might be able to come to a compromise,” Harling interjected, not wishing the current argument to further deteriorate, “if you could all have my attention for a brief moment?”
Slowly, the two parties warily turned to face the ambassador.
“As you are all aware, the presence of Gra Valkan forces in Eshirant during my rescue is, and remains, a tightly-kept secret—using the same justification as used with Mu to exchange technology would require us to reveal the actions of Gra Valkas on that day, which is an outcome that would, quite frankly, produce more questions that neither myself nor the Osean government would be comfortable answering at this time. Therefore, any gesture of appreciation will have to be made in a strictly confidential nature.”
Seeing no reason to object to Harling’s argument, Gesta carefully asked, “And what kind of gesture would the Osean Federation be willing to make?”
“One of the proposals that my government was going to make for this meeting was an information exchange—a friendly transfer of information, culture, and knowledge with the intent of creating closer ties and establishing a mutual understanding about each other as nations. It could, theoretically, also be arranged that a few of the experts we send to Gra Valkas could potentially have a background in fighter technology—”
“Which would allow us to potentially close the new gap between ourselves and the Muans,” Gesta finished, realisation dawning upon him. “Theoretically, of course,” he hurriedly added.
An agreement was quickly hashed out to facilitate an information exchange between Gra Valkas and Osea, with additional details made for “certain” experts to be brought along for a trip to Ragna. The discussion moved onwards to who exactly Osea would send—
Harling briefly pulled Clarkson aside. “What if we sent someone from Gründer Industries as part of the group? They might be more likely to get along with their Gra Valkan counterparts with the similarities in their culture and language, which would also play well into—“
“Are you sure that it would be a good idea to involve Gründer with the Gra Valkans? You of all people should be aware of their reputation, Vincent—“
“I’m sorry,” Gesta interrupted from the other side of the table, “but could you perhaps explain what you’re talking about? If there are any concerns regarding the individuals you aim to bring to Gra Valkas, then perhaps we would appreciate being able to determine for ourselves whether they would be worth the risk.”
Clarkson shot Harling an uneasy stare, who slowly nodded. Turning back to face Gesta with a visibly sour expression, the younger ambassador decided to be frank with his explanation.
“Gründer Industries is our primary weapons manufacturing firm and the source of many of our best fighters within the past thirty years—however, they were formerly part of the military complex of a rival superpower within the Osean continent—”
“The Principality of Belka,” Harling clarified, “the very same nation that decided to wield nuclear weapons on its own people or else face total collapse at the very end of the Belkan War.”
“Their loyalties have never been confirmed ever since they were integrated into our military industry, in spite of our attempts to weed out those still loyal to the old regime—we also have reason to believe that they may have also been involved in manufacturing and inciting conflicts throughout our old world, offering their best technology in return for encouraging warmongers and hardliners amongst their clients to pursue endless campaigns of conquest and subjugation.” Clarkson’s words were bitter and angry, memories of Grey Men and falling stars over Oured coming to mind as he spoke.
“If you so choose to associate yourselves with the likes of Gründer,” Harling warned, “it would be equivalent of making a deal with the Devil himself—you would be capable of outfighting every piece of magic and technology that Elysia has to offer, but you will be potentially risking an entire generation being forced to fight in endless wars to sate the whims of a few madmen from a bygone era. Would your people be willing to take that risk, Director Gesta?”
Gesta glanced at his staff, whose expressions were similarly disturbed by the uneasiness of their Osean counterparts. His own thoughts went towards the warmongers in the Senate, who loudly called for conquest and glory denied to them by the Transference—Gesta himself would have lied if he claimed he did not agree with their belief in the inevitable destiny for Gra Valkas to become the sole conqueror of the world, but there was definitely a sizeable portion within that faction who would genuinely call for war even if the circumstances clearly demonstrated the stupidity of such an action. What would the Empire look like if that anger was nourished by a false prophet and allowed to overtake the hearts and minds of every Gra Valkan citizen, overtaking all sense of logic and reason in a war against every single nation in Elysia? Where would that anger end, if their attempts at world domination failed and the Empire began to look for someone to blame? And how exactly would even the Emperor himself stop that poison in his people’s mind, when the very circumstances that had brought his Empire to this point encouraged and fortified that very same notion that, yes, Gra Valkas was truly superior to everything and everyone else?
Gesta recalled the introductory video that Harling had shown the diplomatic team at the start of the meeting, his mind processing with horror the sight of seven mushroom clouds erupting into the evening sky. Would that be Gra Valkas in a few years time, its own cities and monuments vaporised in the blink of an eye?
Unnerved by that unnatural train of thought, Gesta hurriedly decided to put that aside and deal with other matters. “I believe this would be a matter that other members of my government would be more qualified to discuss. In any case, perhaps we should continue this particular avenue of discussion at a later time, Ambassadors.”
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“One final query, before we conclude this meeting.”
“Very well, what is it you wish to discuss?”
“We are aware that the International United Nations, as you’ve previously mentioned, has expanded beyond being a body for nations to discuss foreign affairs and enforce the Charter; in light of recent events in Parpaldia, we would like to inquire: is the IUN in its current form a military alliance? Should the Gra Valkas Empire threaten the security of a nation currently part of the IUN, would we expect a response from the likes of Mu, the Milishials, and the Osean Federation in the form of military aid?”
Harling raised an eyebrow at Gesta’s query. “Officially, the member states of the IUN are not necessarily obligated by international law to directly participate in peacekeeping operations agreed upon by the Assembly. That said, a considerable majority, if not nearly all of the major nations within Elysia, are already members of the IUN—if a situation involving the Gra Valkas Empire violating the Charter were to take place, your nation would quickly find itself very much isolated within the international community.”
“And if we were to object to such measures, either through diplomatic means or otherwise?”
“If Gra Valkas was to somehow prevail in a conflict against the IUN, it would have to win by conquering the entire planet without starving to death and defeating the Osean Federation in direct combat.” The ambassador smiled, his expression frank as he stared back at Gesta and his colleagues. “And I think we all know by now how that particular conflict would pan out, wouldn’t we?”
And therein lay the problem, Gesta mused—somehow, Osea had managed to achieve in less than a year what Gra Valkas had failed to accomplish throughout its centuries of conquest: to unite nearly the entire world under a single banner. With the promise of peace after millennia of conflict and war and the technology of the distant future to back their own words, the Oseans had won the hearts of the peoples of Elysia, earning a loyalty that no amount of Gra Valkan guns and brutality could ever hope to achieve. What exactly could an Empire driven by conquest and conflict hope to achieve when faced against a foe that could not only beat Gra Valkas in its own game but show the world that the very same game need not be played? Could the Empire persuade its own people to change its old ways, or would Gesta see the nation he loved destroy itself in a futile attempt to force the New World to kneel? Or was there another outcome out there, yet unseen, where the Gra Valkan Standard somehow, through one twist of fate or another, still flew from Ragna to the top of the Lighthouse?
“Should the Gra Valkas Empire join the International United Nations, what would it stand to gain?”
“You would be recognised by the Osean Federation and its partners as a fellow nation, equal in power and footing, regardless of whatever the Milishials or Muans would have you believe and independent of any perception within Elysia of civility or barbarism. And if any other nation would seek ill will regarding your Empire, then the Federation would be willing to lend a hand—the same way your nation did to ours not so long ago.”
An unacceptable outcome, if Gesta and the Emperor still sought to see Gra Valkas achieve its long-awaited destiny as the sole superpower of the world. Yet somehow, Gesta mused, it still seemed to be the only option remaining that wouldn’t see everything they had both fought for burnt to the ground.
In another place and time, perhaps…
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“Your Holiness, the mission to destroy the Grade Alastar and its escorts ended in failure.”
“…explain.”
“The sea monsters we sent to engage the Gra Valkan fleet successfully destroyed several ships and submarines, but the main fleet was able to send out a distress signal to the Oseans—their weapons were successful in incapacitating or outright killing our creatures, and our observers have confirmed that the surviving vessels have now been safely escorted to Selatapura. As a result of our defeat, the Gra Valkas Empire and the Osean Federation are now formally establishing diplomatic ties as we speak.”
“Director Zamuras, I would have thought that Darkshield’s actions in Grameus, in spite of the sheer number of protocols he violated in his impulsive actions, demonstrated that our most prized possessions would be more than capable of outfighting the Oseans’ weapons?”
“Your Holiness, it would appear that the Oseans themselves also adapted to their encounter with the Aji Dhaka—they appeared to have developed new weapons capable of dealing significant damage to our asset, which decimated our forces in a matter of minutes. We also detected signals from the upper layers of the atmosphere, indicating some kind of orbital weapon was also used by Osea to destroy the largest of our sea creatures in a matter of seconds.”
“Disappointing, most disappointing indeed. Remind me again, Director, what led you to believe that this operation was a viable plan?”
“The destruction of the Gra Valkan fleet would have undoubtedly driven a wedge between Osea and its western counterpart, to say nothing to the damage such a significant loss would have done to its reputation. And who else would the world have blamed for the disappearance of two carrier fleets and a flagship in such close proximity to their lands, when no other nation in Elysia even comes close to the technology that they possess?”
“And yet it would appear that we have underestimated even the sheer scale of Osea’s capabilities—why did we not anticipate that reinforcements could be capable of responding this quickly? Why were we not able to eliminate the Gra Valkans just as quickly?”
“We expected that the Gra Valkans’ technological capabilities would have meant that a longer, more protracted engagement with their fleet would have been required in order to successfully destroy them, Your Holiness—what we did not expect was for their flagship to fend off our sea creatures with the sheer precision and frequency we detected from orbit. Our previous point of reference in regards to non-magic-based technology, I must point out, were the Muans—a similar engagement over a decade back with their level of technology suggested that the approach we adopted would have produced the same results. This, combined with the response time of the Oseans, meant that the delays we encountered in our efforts to sink the Gra Valkans ultimately proved to be fatal to our primary objectives.”
“So how would you describe this failure of yours, Director Zamuras? Incompetence, or a mere aberration in your self-purported ability to produce favourable results? Is there anything that we can learn from this disastrous venture of yours that might just prevent your immediate execution on my orders?”
“Y-your Holiness, this operation was indeed a failure in my ability to perceive that the Gra Valkans and Oseans could potentially possess technology that would almost begin to catch up to that of our Ancestors. However, we have been able to gather valuable data regarding the military doctrines of the Gra Valkans and Oseans in response to our standard approach to direct confrontation—if anything, we might be able to devise a strategy to potentially counter their capabilities once we rejoin our Ancestors in their conquests, or even if we so desire to weaken the inferiors in preparation for Their return.”
“Very well—develop these plans and have them brought to me by tomorrow night, or I shall immediately see to it that your successor be found and ordered to execute you personally.”
“U-understood, Your Holiness!”
“Now, about this Conference—I understand that several of the inferior nations’ delegations will be arriving at the Lighthouse, and that even several of their kings and rulers will be present. The loss of so many important figures would surely pose quite a setback to their efforts to stop the ascension of our Ancestors—Director, would a direct attack on the Lighthouse while the Conference is in session serve our purposes of countering the capabilities of the Oseans?
“Unlikely, Your Holiness—even if we were to somehow penetrate the formidable Osean defences around Selatapura and destroy the Lighthouse, such a blatant act of aggression would not only fail to negate any of the other technological capabilities that Osea possesses—to say nothing of their orbital platform hovering above us—but also outright expose us to the rest of Elysia as the heralders of our Ancestors’ return. We would be risking too much for an outcome that could ultimately prove to be all for nothing.”
“In the same way that attempting to destroy the Gra Valkans off the coast of Selatapura proved to be unequal in promise compared to the risks we now face with Ragna and Oured potentially unified against us?”
“…that would be the case, Your Holiness.”
“Very well. Is there any other way that we can undermine the efforts of the IUN to unify Elysia before the return of our Ancestors?”
“Your Excellency, our method of countering Osea would have to be twofold: firstly, we will need to accelerate our efforts to retrieve the revival beacons; secondly, we will need to incite further conflicts throughout Elysia and target key individuals throughout the IUN—with Osea distracted with various proxy wars across the continents and their leaders either incapacitated or out of the picture, their attempts to unify the main superpowers and prepare the Milishials and their allies for our Ancestors should encounter significant delays.”
“Valuable time for us to continue our own efforts, indeed. I suppose that brings us to our next topic; as for the situation in the Mu continent, what is our status on that particular front?”
“Our efforts to retrieve the beacons within these continents are still underway, although the current operations of the Gra Valkans in Nigrat and Hinomawari have forced our spies to operate with a significant degree of caution. It would appear that the Empire as of this time remains unaware of the true nature of our existence, but further contact with the Oseans may alert them of our intentions—assuming that Osea already is aware of our actions in Philades and Grameus.”
“Then continue your efforts, Director: be patient, yet be expedient—the success of our Ancestors depends on us…”
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Osean Broadcasting Corporation, Oured, Osean Federation — December 30, 2019
In a shocking turn of events, a naval fleet escorting a diplomatic mission from the Gra Valkas Empire was attacked by sea monsters less than a hundred kilometres off the coast of Selatapura—the fleet suffered significant casualties and was only saved in the nick of time by a contingent of IUN fighters deployed in response to a general distress call intercepted by Osean naval patrols in the area. The sea monsters in question were quickly pacified or eliminated, and the fleet and its diplomats were escorted to Selatapura without further incident, where they were received by Ambassadors Vincent Harling and Gabriel William Clarkson.
In an official statement, the Gra Vakan diplomats formally thanked the Osean government for their swift response and paid their respects to the sailors and pilots who lost their lives in defence of the fleet, and confirmed that they would be attending the Lighthouse Peace Conference tomorrow morning. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Mu refused to comment on the situation, instead stating that it looked forward to the upcoming peace talks in Selatapura. From Bright Hill, President Bartlett confirmed that the Conference will begin tomorrow as planned—with delegations from all over Elysia set to attend the beginning of peace talks that will determine the future of the Third Civilisation Area, the President reassured the public that the Osean Federation would take steps to ensure that the event will take without any further incidents.
In other news, General Resource has confirmed that plans to purchase nuCOMM will be continuing as planned; both corporations were cut off from their main headquarters in the Usean continent during the Transference, and the merger is planned to help consolidate their operations in the face of a dramatically changed economic environment. In an official statement, the CEO of General Resource, Paul Anderson, stated that combining the two former rivals would allow the corporation to expand its operations within and beyond Osea as competition with the North Osea-based weapons manufacturing firm Gründer Industries continues to rise:
“With its dark legacy as a harbinger and initiator of global conflict, Gründer remains a liability to the safekeeping of Osea’s peace and security—they cannot be the sole source of the Federation’s weapons and hardware! We hope that we can prove to the Osean government and its allies throughout Elysia that General Resource is not only a viable alternative to the superplanes and superweapons of Belka’s heyday but a path to expanding beyond the Zone of Endless and the next generation of Data Swallow: we, too, can deliver the hardware needed to ensure a lasting peace for the next hundred years—”
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Albion Castle, Runepolis, Holy Milishial Empire — December 31, 2019
“The Gra Valkans? The Oseans remain ambivalent to our offers of friendship, and now they’ve opened relations with the Gra Valkans?”
Emperor Milishial’s expression appeared far more serene compared to the visibly agitated Minister Phiam on the mannacom, yet internally he felt just as much concern regarding the unexpected development his beleaguered subordinate had just revealed. The other ministers and officials present in the meeting room held no such inhibitions; murmurs and grumbles of dismay and anger echoed across the table with the news that their colleague in the Osean continent had just revealed.
“Both governments have yet to release any major details regarding the nature of their new diplomatic relationship, but we have reason to infer that any agreement between the two nations will have been similar to ours when we first opened relations with the Oseans—a formal agreement to respect international laws, and a standing invitation to observe procedures within the International United Nations. Considering the highly unusual circumstances surrounding their official first contact, it would be unwise to assume that Gra Valkas does not possess a key interest in potentially furthering their newfound connections—an alliance of two highly-advanced nations with interests that may potentially conflict with our own could easily prove to be disastrous to ourselves and the rest of Elysia!”
Milishial sighed. “Minister Phiam, your concerns are well noted and without doubt have merit, but cooler heads will need to be present if we are to be able to develop an adequate response to this newfound crisis. Why exactly would the Gra Valkans seek to become friends with the Oseans, when their actions towards the rest of Elysia would suggest that their intentions for our world are nothing less than total conquest?”
Director Arneus stood up. “Your Excellency, I may have a possible theory.”
“Very well, speak your thoughts.”
The aged man sighed, resting his hands on the meeting table as he responded. “The entire situation behind the fall of Parpaldia and the destruction of Leifor and Paganda came as the direct result of a false perception of power based on what our civilization has come to rely upon for the past few centuries—the concept that civility could only originate from Mu, Milishient, and Philades. It is an accepted truth that most, if not all other regions beyond these continents are considered the land of mere barbarians—is that not correct, Your Excellency?”
“That is correct, Director.”
“With the arrival of Osea and Gra Valkas, we are now faced with two significant aberrations to that accepted truth: to the west, we have a superpower that pays no mind to our concepts of civility and boasts technology that makes even ourselves seem near-quaint in comparison. To them, we are just as inferior as a farmer in Topa or Paganda may be to us—yet with our own logic, their geographical distance from all previous lands of civilization makes them mere barbarians. Two conflicting beliefs, yet one is clearly false—otherwise, Leifor would have never fallen.
“To the east, however, is something far more different than anything we have ever encountered: the Osean Federation, as it stands, is the only superpower within Elysia that does not subscribe to any known concepts of superiority, civility, and barbarism that we of the civilised world indulge in on a day-to-day basis. A merchant of Qua-Toyne would have just as much say in the affairs of Elysia as a dragonfolk of Emor in the world that Osea calls for—and much as it galls me to admit, that realm of ludicrous fantasy may actually be feasible with the progress that the International United Nations has achieved, regardless of whether or not we agree to cooperate. When all of Gra Valkas’s immediate neighbours were superpowers and nations that looked down upon them as inferior and barbaric—inaccurate as those sentiments turned out to be—why wouldn’t they turn to befriend a powerful nation from the other side of Elysia that views them as equals?”
“But what about their subsequent campaigns of conquest,” Phiam interrupted, “would that not suggest that their intentions of conquest have hardly abated even with the arrival of the Federation?”
“A superpower insults a newcomer and threatens the lives of their diplomats in the mistaken belief that they will emerge just as victorious as every similar situation before. Am I describing Leifor and Paganda, Minister Phiam, or am I describing Parpaldia?”
“Director,” Milishial interjected, “your theory hinges upon three assumptions: firstly, that the invasion of Leifor and Paganda were made under the same reasoning as Osea with their campaign in Parpaldia; secondly, that their potential goals for the conquest of Elysia were developed once diplomacy with the civilised nations such as ourselves failed; and thirdly, that such expansionist goals could potentially be affected or even reversed altogether by a positive relationship with the Osean Federation. Do we have any evidence to suggest that either of these assumptions have any merit to them?”
“We have the words of the Gra Valkans themselves about the war with Leifor and Paganda; assuming we can trust their claims and that the surviving accounts of their first contact with the two nations and their subsequent actions were accurate, we can reasonably suggest that our first point may be true. Whether or not the next two points are also accurate depends on what information we can obtain from the Oseans and Gra Valkans themselves, alongside what actions they may take in the near future.”
Supervisor Liage spoke up, “You also speak as if the Gra Valkas Empire operates under a single mind—the Emperor himself may be the sole individual with the power to determine the future of his Empire, but we know next to nothing about the internal politics within his government. Osea may persuade Gra Valkas’s government to tone down its plans of conquest and subjugation if their relationship grows further, but the people of the Empire may yet decide to pressure their leader to continue the path of destruction that they have already embarked upon. And what if the Emperor dies, or is replaced by a new figurehead who doesn’t share his sympathies?”
“And assuming that Director Arneus’s theories are correct,” Phiam added, “what would such a development mean for the Holy Milishial Empire? Our own concepts of civility and barbarism would be cast aside, our status as the premier superpower vastly diminished as Elysia flocks to both ends of the known world to the benefit of both Gra Valkas and Osea and our detriment—and what would we have left? The Oseans refuse to offer their technologies and weapons, the Gra Valkans look down upon us for our own previous refusal to engage with them as equals—where would that lead us, once the Ancient Sorcerous Empire makes its inevitable return?”
“Consolidating our position both within Elysia and the IUN would serve to maintain what prestige we have left, Your Excellency,” Minister Pao recommended. “And any effort by the Gra Valkans to ally with the Oseans would need to be stopped at the very moment of conception, even if it risks the chance of a war between ourselves and our newcomers to the west.”
“But are we prepared for such a war?” asked Arneus. “Are we prepared to ask our allies in Mu and our own continent to fight a war against an enemy whose firepower threatens to eclipse ours? If we do not tread carefully in the route that you suggest, we stand to risk complete defeat and the Milishials greatly weakened, right before the arrival of the Sorcerers—we would lose so much, just for us to end up exactly where we sought to avoid! Can we take that risk, Your Excellency?”
Slowly, the Emperor sighed. “As much as I would desire to make an immediate decision regarding this newfound development, we rely upon far too many hypotheticals and assumptions at this point. The First Civilization Area needs our wise judgement to survive these unprecedented times, but we simply do not have the information that we need to determine what path to take. That said, certain truths are clear: an alliance between the Gra Valkas Empire and the Osean Federation would be disastrous for us, but an outcome where the Gra Valkan threat diminishes to a degree that we can safely ignore is not something that we can easily overlook.”
Turning to his ministers, Milishial gave out his commands. “Arneus, you are to continue your efforts to gather information about the nature of the Gra Valkans’ expansionist nature and their immediate plans for Elysia. If it emerges that our western neighbours can be talked down from their ambitions, then we may yet be able to end this crisis with minimal loss of life—otherwise, you are to see how we may persuade the Oseans to side with us in a possible war with Gra Valkas. Pao, you are to find ways to ensure that more of the Oseans’ technology can be replicated and produced here in Runepolis for our own internal security. Liage, you are to continue your efforts to ensure the continued support and loyalty of the First Civilization Area to us—and continue developing proposals for how we may prevail against the imminent arrival of our Ancestors.” Lastly, the Emperor turned to face the mannacomm, where Phiam was still waiting for his orders.
“Minister Phiam, your mission in Selatapura remains the same—you are to represent the interests and aims of the Holy Milishial Empire in the Lighthouse Conference, to further explore the technological capabilities of the Oseans, and to ensure that the image of the Empire remains as pristine and intact as it has always been within the past millennia. But you must, and I cannot emphasise this enough, to the full extent of your abilities ensure that under no circumstances does a deal be made that sees Osea and Gra Valkas unite!”
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International Space Elevator, Selatapura, Osean Federation — January 1, 2020
Stepping out of his vehicle and into the lobby of the Lighthouse, Ambassador Mugei looked around in fascination as the cool breeze of the air conditioning from inside drifted around him and his retinue. The receiving area was white and austere compared to the architecture of Muan monuments, yet the sheer size of the reception and the utterly otherworldly methodology adopted by the Oseans behind the angular curves and flat, futuristic surfaces elicited the same feeling of awe and astonishment. By Muan standards, this would have been considered even beyond avant-garde—Mugei’s thoughts went towards Harling’s interview with the Milishials all those months ago; what was the term that the ambassador had used to describe this style? Brutalist? Neo-futurist? Minimalist?
As if summoned by his thoughts, Ambassador Harling himself appeared from within the crowd of diplomats, kings, queens, nobles, ambassadors, and reporters already here—as the eyes of hundreds of people turned to him, Harling walked purposefully towards his Muan counterpart and extended his hand in greeting. “Ambassador Mugei?”
“Vincent, a pleasure to see you again. I take it that you will be leading the Osean delegation in the Conference?”
“Indeed; I’ve also been tasked with hosting the Conference itself, so perhaps you might end up conversing with Ambassador Clarkson more often than not. Still, it should be a pleasure working with Mu again for hammering out the details of the peace treaty itself…”
Finding more familiar footing within the unusual environment with Harling’s conversation—and sensing his superior also emerging from the vehicle behind him—Mugei decided to segue towards more immediate matters. “Prime Minister, I’m sure you remember Ambassador Harling from the official ceremony in Oured?”
“Indeed, I do!” Sinclair deftly swept his top hat from his head in greeting as he similarly extended his hand forward, a firm grip on Harling’s digits and a polite nod even as he looked around his surroundings in clear wonder. “Ambassador, I’m very much aware of the details regarding the Lighthouse itself, but I really do need to confirm this for myself—are we really going to ride this Space Elevator to the venue? I thought it might have been some kind of hyperbole, but these are some rather fascinating times…”
Harling smiled—a particular expression, Mugei noticed, that often came across whenever an opportunity came across to showcase (or show off, to some) what Osea had to offer—and simply gestured to the centre of the reception, where a hallway extended onwards to the capsules that would be transporting the collective governments of over a hundred nations over one hundred thousand kilometres above the surface of the earth. “The ride might be a bit fast for the uninitiated or queasy, but you have my word when I say that it will be a smooth and swift ride to the very top of the Lighthouse. There are measures in place just in case an emergency occurs, of course—I should know, having seen the designs for this place myself when it was first constructed. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, to be honest.”
Sinclair’s face changed into a wide variety of expressions—trepidation, fascination, curiosity, shock, awe—and Mugei himself felt oddly intimidated by the sheer scale of what Harling implied was about to happen. If it really was true about what the Oseans had planned, and if it could actually be feasibly pulled off, then he and the Prime Minister would be the first Muans in the history of Elysia to experience—
“Well, Prime Minister, are you ready to travel up to outer space?”