The crashed ships were preserved pretty well given the circumstances that led to them being shot down. Rhys observed the hole in the hull with mild interest while the rest of his team searched the area.

"The shot was clean. Straight to the core." Sentinel's voice was fascinated.

"How is that even possible?" Rhys put his hand on the burn marks on the hull. "Why has the ship not caught fire?"

"According to Bjorn's reports the Metakan ships are covered in fire-suppression runes that prevent flames from spreading." Sentinel offered the answer. "Hitting the ship's core is hard, certainly, but not impossible. In theory, destroying the ship's core would cause a catastrophic failure across all the integrated magics but the ship should automatically land."

"But this one just has fallen like a stone."

"Affirmative. It's hard to tell what caused that particular failure since we aren't familiar with the Metakan construction principles."

"And why is that?" Rhys asked in a conversational tone.

"It's irrelevant. In the unlikely case they turned hostile to Arcadia, we don't have to be worried about their Navy. Their ships would be wiped out with missiles. No subterfuge is required."

"Fair point." He looked at the dots dispersed over the area. "Ren, Paul, Hakkan, Tom, Jack. Do you have anything?"

While four dots flashed 'negative' one of them flashed with blue light.

"I think I found the place where the hostiles camped. There is some trash here and a bit of magic remnant so we could theoretically follow them." Hakkan reported. "I don't think it's worth it, Sir. We are dealing with professionals."

"I think you are right. But, to be sure, send a Wolf after them, maybe he will catch something interesting." Rhys sighed. "Any traces of magi-cannons they used? I don't believe they would haul them back to wherever they retreated."

"No, sir."

"Keep looking." He said and entered the wreckage.

The interior was badly damaged, and he worried that the wood wouldn't be able to support his weight. He walked forward slowly as the ominous sounds of creaking planks echoed through the structure.

"Something is not right, Sentinel. Where are the guns?" Rhys asked as he entered the lower gun deck.

"What do you want me to say? Oh, they are not here! How come...?" Sentinel replied mockingly.

"I didn't know you developed a sense of humour." Rhys laughed. "But yeah... That was a stupid question on my part."

"I'm slowly learning, you know? I'm currently exploring this thing you call sarcasm. It's fascinating but kinda unproductive..."

"Oh, Gods..." Rhys chuckled. "Felix, what's the status of the second wreckage?"

"It's wiped clean, Sir! No supplies, no weapons, nothing."

"What about the crew?" Rhys looked at the first body he found. An older human looked to have broken his neck as far as Rhys could tell. "It's suspiciously short of bodies here. Even for a skeleton crew that Lord Ragnar reported."

"Hmm... A skeleton crew for a brig is about twenty-five people; so far, I found ten of them." Felix's voice was uncertain. "What if some of them were somewhere on the upper deck? They would have fallen off the ship once it hit the ground."

"Good point." Rhys nodded to himself and clapped his hands. "All right, boys! We have some traces of magic and a few theories so let's give up the site to Metakans and Iceleonians. Sonofa...."

A loud snap and tumbling sound carried through the coms as the rest of the company tried not to laugh. Rhys plummeted into an empty cargo hold through the hole in the deck where it wasn't able to support him. The automatic fall protection system prevented him from painfully hitting the ground.

"All praise Lady Olivia and her free fall gel." Rhys sighed once his feet touched the ground. "I need to open the hull so I can exit. There's no way I can return the way I got in."

•••

"The rulers don't investigate personally."

Theon's voice still rang in Guad's ears as they watched the miniatures' movement on the war table in the Arcadian command centre in the Harbour. Theon dispatched all three destroyers and insisted that the other nations join on board. Whoever was responsible for the first attack had a means of destroying the tall ships. Theon, however, was certain that his warships would be immune to whatever took down the ships of the Metakan Navy.

"The only person who could organise something like this would be Viscount Lucc'ar Marsad." Admiral Dennis Tu'sarr mused. "He was the only noble I told about the visit of Arcadians and Iceleonians."

"I know that all evidence incriminates him but he was one of my most loyal supporters." Guad sighed. I still want to believe that someone is trying to frame him."

"I never managed to contact him despite several attempts." Vettalia slowly nodded but her voice betrayed her nervousness. "I, also, don't want to believe that he could do something like this."

"Look, I don't blame you for what happened because I'm not a wishful-thinking idiot who presumes that you control everyone. That's impossible!" Theon sighed and rubbed his temples. "If you think that I control what everyone in Arcadia thinks or is going to do, I have bad news for you. However, I won't be pretending that I, mainly, got rid of the nobility because of situations like this. I know the history of my world and I could point to many situations where nobility fucked over entire countries because of their ambitions or greed."

"The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of starting over..." Guad crossed his arms.

"Feel free to do so." Theon shrugged. "What's a bit bothersome is the fact they were skilled enough to avoid being detected in larger numbers."

"My Lord!" Rhys' voice sounded through the speakers. "We finished the site evaluation and we have sent wolves to pursue the enemies. However, I would like to interrogate the Metakan Lord in charge of the region."

"That would be Marquis Sel'per..." Guad hummed suddenly alarmed. "But the Noble in charge of the area..."

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"I know, Lord Guad. However, Viscount Lucc'ar Marsad is a less probable culprit."

"But Girgon Sel'par wouldn't even know about your presence!" Vettalia disagreed.

"With all due respect, that's bullshit." Rhys calmly objected, making Theon smile viciously as if he just confirmed something. "Viscount Lucc'ar Marsad would have to report the plans of the joint visit to his Lord. If he sent a report immediately, that would give Marquis about ten hours to send his people and prepare an ambush. It was a tight schedule but, if he wanted to join the Southern nobles' rebellion, it was the greatest opportunity he had."

"That's... Possible, I admit." Vettalia replied with a wooden voice. "But... Why? He surely must realise that he would be doomed as soon as we saw through his plan?"

"Oh? What was your first concern?" Theon asked with a cold smile.

"That you would blame us for the attack..." Vettalia's eyes went wide as she covered her head as the realisation sunk in. "He wanted to start a war!"

"Most likely," Rhys confirmed. "If I'm right, he is expecting the Metakan soldiers to investigate what happened. Once your people show up, they would be attacked by the imposters wearing the Arcadian uniforms."

"That's a bold and very interesting theory but, if you are wrong, that would defame the Marquis." Guad shook his head.

"But if I'm not wrong, he will expose himself and we are going to capture him. Then, we will slowly get all the answers we need."

"All right." Guad sighed. "Proceed, Captain."

"Thank you. Mobile Infantry Company, out."

"I would like to meet that man after this crisis is resolved." Guad looked at Theon. "The way they operate... I had never seen anything like that. If he is right, I want to personally thank him."

"I think we can arrange that." Theon smiled and nodded towards the communication station. "Hail Gladius."

"HMS Gladius at your service, my Lord!" An enthusiastic voice replied a few moments later.

"I need you to follow the Mobile Infantry Company and provide them with any support they ask," Theon replied. "But prepare for a battle."

"Yes, my Lord!"

•••

"In the name of the Emperor of Arcadia, the Mighty Theon Avalon, open the doors!" A booming voice terrified the soldiers. "Why is the Acadian military in Metaka?"

The soldiers panicked as they looked for the source of the voice. They were spotted too early! However, it was still possible to get around this situation.

"We are under the direct orders of the Emperor! Stand-"

"Kid, open these fucking doors or I will blast them away and you better have some convincing papers once I get your sorry ass." The booming voice interrupted him.

"My orders...!" He started, but a cold and sharp edge on his throat silenced him instantly.

The other soldiers were lying on the ground, unconscious and some shadow figures cuffed them.

"Open the gates, you fucker, if you don't want to have a hole in your throat. Slowly!" A cold, almost metallic voice ordered him and he, very carefully, grabbed the brake handle of the drawbridge and released it. "Give us keys to the lower gates!"

He slowly raised his hand to his belt and took out the keys. "Please don't kill me! I just followed my orders!"

"Whose orders?!"

"Emperor Theon-" For a brief moment, the blade disappeared from his throat, and it smashed painfully into the side of his head. Then the blade returned.

"Don't lie to me, fucker. Whose orders?!" The voice asked once again; this time, it was obvious that his patience had run out.

"All my life I’ve served Lady Amari Sel'par. I was told that we had switched allegiance and, from now on, we are Arcadians! I swear that I was told that those were Emperor Theon's orders!" He risked telling the truth and expected to be hit again but the punch never came.

"Very well. Hands up." The voice said and as he raised his hands, they were swiftly cuffed behind his back.

•••

The Moonshadow Company was moving quickly through the fortress. They managed to lock most of the soldiers in various barracks and rooms. Marines from HMS Gladius were securing the outer walls and taking down any resisting soldiers.

"Rhys? Who should we prioritise? Gorgon or Amari?" Ren asked through their coms.

"It's Girgon Sel'par, not Gorgon." Hakkan corrected him with laughter.

"Well, I would like to capture all of them. If it seems impossible, we proceed with Amari... Fuck." The sound of an alarm spread across the fortress and soldiers started pouring out of unsecured buildings to take their positions. "Go, go, go!"

Moonshadows dropped their camouflage and rushed forward as their movements were enhanced by their Living Armours. They were intercepted by some soldiers who tried to stop them but the resistance was minimal. They rushed towards the living quarters of the Marquis' family.

"Stop in the name of the...!" Someone shouted. "Gods! Monsters are attacking the castle!"

Moonshadows ignored the screaming and pushed forward until they breached a set of doors that looked different from others.

"Spread out and check room by room! Hakkan! You and your team are securing our exit." Rhys ordered.

He cautiously walked down the corridor and watched his soldiers ram doors and yell at various servants. He was rather indifferent to their panicked voices and focused on the short reports. Suddenly, a calm voice called out to him.

"Captain of the Mobile Infantry on site, this is HMS Gladius speaking." A young woman's voice pleasantly resonated in his ears.

"I'm listening." He replied, avoiding the official protocol. Despite being just a Captain, he was responding only to the Emperor himself.

"There are some problems on the walls. We would need your assistance-"

"Negative! Our orders have a priority, Gladius. Besides, you are free to engage anyway. The fortress raised the alarm so it's no difference if you engage or not."

"All right, but we are going to lose people."

"We will lose even more people if the suspects manage to flee today. Order Marines to fall back and fire with main guns-"

"Negative, Captain! We are losing the Legionnaires! If we sustain more losses we will have to throw Marines!"

"What the fuck?!" Rhys stopped in shock.

"Scimitar is en route, but they are two hours away. You, on the other hand, have about fifteen minutes before you will be cut off and stuck inside." The woman said in a calm voice.

"Blow up the main entrance and part of the wall..." Rhys started but another voice joined the line.

"Sir! I got her!" Ren came with a woman tossed over his shoulder. She was gagged and cuffed. "But the other rooms are empty. No sign of Marquis and his wife!"

"Wait, Gladius. We may be able to end this battle." Rhys grabbed the woman and removed her gag as he placed her sitting against the wall. "Where is your father?!"

"I don't know!" She replied but Rhys immediately knew that she was lying.

"Don't fucking lie to me!"

"How dare you?! Do you know who I am?" She replied, outraged.

"A dead body in an unmarked shallow grave if you won't answer my questions, Amari Sel'par!" Rhys yelled at her and, with satisfaction, he watched as she paled.

"He... He's in the prison..." She stuttered.

"Fuck... Ren, take a team and breach into the prison. You, Amari, are going to order everyone to stand down and surrender, do you understand?"

"Fuck you, monster!" She spat at his visor. "The Emperor of Arcadia will learn about this!"

"What a fucking coincidence!" Rhys retorted back as Sentinel cleared the visor on its own. "I have him on the line. He is very, very eager to hear your story."

Her eyes went wide in shock as Rhys grabbed her by the collar and pressed her to the window. She quietly yelped upon seeing HMS Gladius hanging just a few hundred metres away from the fortress. Just in time to see its main battery firing at the gates and turning them into shapeless rubble.

"Arcadian Navy!" She managed to say. "You are Arcadians?"

"Yes. We are." He said with a cold voice. "Your decision?"

"Stop fighting! Everyone stand down!"