Cael could see that he couldn’t help but stare at the battlefield. Even after years of experience, he was sure, nobody was immune to blood, gore and death.
He felt shocked by the scene himself, struggling to really take it in. What he was more concerned about was what would come of this. This had to entail a war between not just nations but species. The quadrillions of humans that lived could easily combine forces to combat the quadrillions of the Andromedan boarmen.
The level of destruction and death would be unparalleled and truly terrifying.
With what was left of these warriors, they recuperated within one of the smaller buildings of the institution. One of the windows and walls had been broken down from a boarman running straight through it.
In one room and near the ground in that area was a collection of rubble from the impact, and everybody was getting healed and calmed down.
Some of the students were panicking, which was a given. Many of the soldiers didn’t even look their best either.
With their bodies slowly healing and getting back to normal, the level of panic in the room slowly dropped down. Cael felt troubled by the incidents at hand but steeled through any sense of impediment to his mental control.
After working so hard for months on end, dictated by the philosophies of the great thinkers before him, his mind remained strong and intact.
“I cannot be the slave to my emotions. I can’t be the slave to my emotions.”
Broken out from his focused attempt at remaining somewhat calm, Vannessa sat beside him.
A drone was floating just at her back, mending the injuries still present in that area. She received a pretty nasty wound to her back from a stray energy blast. Adrenaline did a wonderful job at the masking the pain from her, letting her battle.
Now, all that remained was fatigue and pain.
“This is absolutely insane isn’t it. I mean, I knew those pesky aliens would do this at some point in time. Segregation can only go on for so long!” Vannessa voiced her opinions vehemently and animatedly.
Cael could see the anger oozing from her, but couldn’t help but see the beauty in her face even with this anger. Her eyes were a beautiful blue, the colour of the sky. Her hair was no longer tied back to facilitate the use of her exosuit but now flowed to her shoulders, silky and luscious.
“It makes sense. This segregation only demonizes the other alien races in everyone’s perspective. I don’t think just using this sister nation program will be enough.” Cael replied.
It was clear that forming sister nations wouldn’t be adequate. Each nation within a species would have a sister nation with a country of another species. Boarmen and humans were the ‘closest’ and most involved when it came to their sister states.
However, with other alien species in the universe, this association, in reality, was just words on paper rather than true co-operation.
*****
In the court of Oseron, there was total upheaval. The noise of furious officials and nobles was enough to send anyone crazy. Their ungodly mixture of insults and curses made everything they said practically untintelligible.
It was like a battlefield in the courthouse.
“Silence!” Emperor Orson announced, bringing the entire area to silence.
Many of the snobbish nobles had contemptuous grins and groans, looking down on the officials with conflicting opinions to themselves.
“We must go to war, father! I’ve already said this, playing nice gets us played!” Prince Leighton whispered, trying to convince his father of his opinions.
"Silence, son." Orson whispered back, before looking to the 'common' officials that sat before him.
In the elevated seats of the nobles, there were also seats that faced them in a amphitheatrical way. These wooden seats were occupied by the ordinary politicians of the Soburg Empire.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“I am aware of what has happened and this is clearly an act of war!” He announced, much to the pleasure of some of the people listening on.
They cheered on their beloved emperor, some applauding his statement. Then, Orson continued.
“We established a sister-state partnership between us to stop this from happening but it seems that the boarmen haven’t taken that message very seriously!” He furthered, making these same individuals even more energetic and supportive.
“However..." He stated, lifting a finger to bring the courthouse to silence.
"Rushing into war could mean the end of the human species as we know it.” Orson replied.
“I!” One suited official, standing opposite the emperor, vehemently called out.
For one to contest the emperor meant they had strong conviction. Very few dared to debate the emperor’s iron will.
The speaker, that sat beside the nobles, could choose who spoke, but allowed the emperor to do so, in fear. His authority and influence was too great in such heated debates like these. When Orson had his own convictions, the speaker almost felt like a spectator in the face of his dominant personality.
“Please.” Orson replied, waving his hand for him to begin.
The bald man shuffled and ordered the papers at his small wooden table before starting.
“That is what I believe the boarmen are banking on, sir. They are more brutal than us and if we don’t fight fire with fire in this situation, they will steamroll us. Who knows how many other boarish states are on the same page as them? I think taking a passive status on this matter could mean the end of the Soburg Empire as we know it!” He announced.
As he talked, the emotion in Orson’s face intensified. The nation that his ancestors struggled to rise to the top of and establish could be blown up in his face. The empire that he was destined to rule and is now ruling, could cease to exist.
Along with that, it could be destroyed at the hands of those he thought he’d made peace with. He grunted under his breath, tightening his right hand that was under his chin into a fist.
“They’re taking advantage of our kindness! The boarmen haven’t evolved past their primal, warrior instincts and will kill innocents to get what they want. That’s what happened in Zarcona wasn’t it?” Another man added.
Following this, one noble couldn’t help but step in and add some rebuttal.
The emperor waved his hand, also ordering for him to speak.
“I believe this rhetoric is foolish and stupid! I know you all are smart enough to know that the boarmen are brutal, yes, but they are also intelligent. Nobody wants a battle of this calibre. Even if they manage to win, they’d lose more than three quarters of their population in the process. They’ve seen our technology, and they know just how powerful we are!” A noble claimed, clad in a gold-embellished red cloak.
On his wrist was also a scintillating gold watch, with an earring made of the same 24 carat gold in the form of a cross.
There was heated back and forth between opposing groups, with many of the commoners possessing more of a hawkish sentiment on things, whilst the nobles contested them. The commoners wanted to bring glory to their people and species, but the nobles were fearful.
They didn’t want to lose what they had built; for them status and power meant everything. Even Orson could feel this sentiment within himself but Prince Leighton felt no such way. After training in the army, showcasing his talents, he wanted to battle. Many would be willing to fight for their country.
For humanity.
“I believe we should come to a placeholder decision for the time being. It is clear that the floor is too divided to make a solid decision going forward.” Orson stated, before primly placing his hands on the arms of his throne.
“For now, the military budget shall be increased. For defensive purposes, we must increase the number of military soldiers in the colonies and outskirts of the empire. Also, alert all military agencies to prepare them for war. We shall not launch any assaults or enter the Andromeda Galaxy in any capacity. Contact Verboram and see if they are willing to make any negotiations.” Orson ordered.
To his right, a loud slamming noise was made with a wooden hammer.
“Emperor Orson has made the verdict.” The speaker announced.
“This house has been adjourned!”
****
After the brutal battle in Zarcona, the students of Carlo City were swiftly sent on their way home. In the airports, there was literal chaos. As they were leaving in a military spaceship, many military spaceships could be seen in the landing area.
Outside the massive, clear windows of the spaceport, they could see several soldiers in massive groups flocking toward the main building.
They got on one of the earliest flights possible, heading on their way back to Carlo City.
As Cael tried to rest in his bed during this flight, he struggled to take his mind off the situation at hand.
“From the proceedings of the most recent courthouse meeting, the Soburg Empire will not be declaring war on the State of Verboram. The military budget will increase but we are instead vouching for negotiations, instead of reacting with a battle.” The female news reporter annouced.
“More news will be available very shortly.” She ensured.
Instead of doomscrolling through these most recent articles, he decided to open up his merchant account to see what Leon Areno had been up to recently.
“Oh my lord!” Cael thought in his mind, readjusting himself on his white covers.
After this time, it seemed like his assistant was somehow making up for his lack of work with ease.
[Merchant: WarriorMechanic]
[Star System: Cria]
[Followers: 1,072]
[Items Sold: 472]
[Innovation: 4.5/5]
[Price: 4.3/5]
[Quality: 3.5/5]