------Siracuse(Syracuse), Sicily.-------

It was a warm day, a mild breeze sweeping through the streets and docks of the prestigious city. Mostly untouched by the Ottoman Invasion and suffering very minor conflicts during the Civil War, mostly due to the city being a major naval center for the Regia Marina's Malta straight patrol fleet.

It was very peaceful in this area of the world, despite the Civil War still fresh in people's minds, the war raging in Africa, and the conflicts in the former Ottoman Empire.

Yet for Nazario Cardosi, it was a wonderful day to be in Italy. The Kingdom, despite owing great debts to the Spanish, have managed to remain neutral so far in the war torn era. A well deserved peace, he would say to himself as he nodded at a couple off-duty sailors fishing near the docks.

"Any luck with the fish yet? You two have been here for the better half of the day!" He smirked as he walked over next to them. The two men let out a grumbled as they turned to him, but a small smile still held on one of their faces.

"Niente! Not a bite. Here I was hopping that with all the ships docked and not turning up the water, a fish would actually try to swim here! Ma no, bastardi. Not a single one." Said the other man, "Ilardi" is what his uniform said. "Adamo here thinks god has cursed us because I forgot to bring home a few tomatoes last night. How was I supposed to know we were out? I was at my brothers!"

"Taking a siesta at that, I bet." Adamo would chip in, his gregarious nature showing as usual. "Nazario, why are you still walking around the docks today? The women have gone home to cook or handle children, you can't find any here at this hour!"

Nazario would chuckle, "I'm not here for the women, I was here to check on you two one last time. You're back on duty in three hours, no? I wanted to stop by one last time to wish my two favorite cousins a good bye!"

"Bah, we're only your favorites because we cook good food when we stop by to visit." Ilardi would chip in as he set down his fishing pole against the railing, his other hand roughly rubbing the back as his neck as he turned to the other two.

Nazario let out a deep chuckle. "Well, I'm not the lying time so you have me there. Anyway, when do you two believe you'll be back?"

Both cousins tensed up, however it would not be very noticable to someone not used to their body language. Nazario was however, and his eyebrow raised slightly.

"Well..." Ilardi would start to say, before getting cut off by his shorter cousin. "We don't have a solid date this time, Cugino. The Regia Marina has been on elevated alert for a while now, nothing serious though. Just extra time at sea."

"That sounds understandable, maybe there will be fish when you get back!" Nazario let out cheerfully, trying to lift his two cousins' mood a bit. "When you two get back, I'll make sure I'll have a beautiful women next to me and some wonderful food for you to eat instead of me!"

----------Palazzo del Quirinale, Rome.-----------

"Your majesty, your coffee is ready. Are you sure you do not wish for me to send some servants to bring you some?" Came through from the other side of the door, as King Florenstano leaned back in his chair. His hair and face starting to show the signs of age and stress and he set down another sheet of paper.

"No." He said, just loud enough so the people on the other side of the door could hear. "They have other matters to attend to, I shall get it myself."

There was several long moments of silence, and Florenstano sighed as he pushed himself up, letting out several groans. "I need a new back - or a new body all together."

He grabbed his cane that was leaning against his desk, tapping it a few times before walking to the door and opening the large Mahogany doors and nearly walking straight into a man with a very well decorated uniform.

"Ah, Maresciallo d'Italia Carlo. You are early, I see. You were not to arrive for another half hour."

Carlo bowed his head in respect, before smiling. "Is that how you welcome home an old friend? It has been months!" Carlo said joyfully, shaking Florenstano's hand as the King slowly returned the smile.

"You may be my friend, but I am still the King. Still no salute? No bows? My friend, I am offended by your lack of respect for someone of superior stature and rank!" He replied, sarcasm seeping from his voice as he reached and patted Carlo on the back. "I assume you have done as I requested?"

"Yes my King, with Spain engaging in conflicts with Ethiopia, I have begun the starting phases of heightened alert and mobilization of the army. Grand' Ammiraglio Fabro has shortened all shore leaves and increased the basic patrols. Should Spain wish for us to be involved, we are now in a position for both possible answers.

"Good, I pray to God that the Parlamento says [i]no[/i] should that question come. I do not want our people to suffer through another war, even if that means damaging the relations between our ally. We are no military power anymore. The Great War has long passed, and the Ottoman Empire and Ballista showed us how outdated we are. It is best for us to sit and be the neutral part in the conflict."

"Now tell that to the Eagles in the Parlamento. I've seen then, your Majesty. They want nothing more then to throw young boys off into muddy trenches and sand dunes to show the world our 'power.' Madness, I say." Carlo said, his smile turning into a small frown as he walked down the long hallway with his King.

Many thoughts were racing through both of their minds - International tensions are rising faster every second, the Suez Canal is going to be unusable for a very long time due to probable conflicts in the Red Sea and the canal proper. It seems that no matter where Italy gos, it will lose something in the end. There just is no clear path.

Florenstano slowly came to a stop, his cane making a very audible clang as it hit the wall to his right. "Go downstairs and contact the Prime Minister, and have him contact the Grand' Ammiraglio as well as the Maresciallo dell'Aria. I think it is time for a meeting."

Carlo let out what one would assume would be a grunt, but Florenstano knew him. It was the fastest way he could say yes.

Carlo saluted, did an about face and moved quickly to the stairs.

"These wars will drag the world to hell."