[h1][center]1905, Year of the Prophet[/center][/h1]

[i]As the Empire grows in land, so too does it grow in people.  And ultimately it is the people, not the land, that concern the commanders and bureaucrats of Survaek.  For land means nothing without those that till and inhabit it, and land cannot be ruled without loyal subjects.  The renewed Grand Survaek Empire, its rulers and administrators aware of this wisdom, has begun to take proper account of its people, as well as the people it neighbors.  Will they be subjects and allies of the Crown, or enemies?[/i]

[center][img]http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6/f488fd353415c61aa31493d6420a4a9a91d48c98_m.jpg[/img]
[i]Shayaer Khaitis, Sword of Aed and Grand Survaek Emperor. Portrait by Court Painter Kaelei Kjike, 1905.[/i][/center]

Emperor Shayaer Khaitis surveyed the conference table from the dais where he sat on his throne, a polished dark-wood peace with Classical Survaekom calligraphy engraved throughout and lined in gold.  Not as resplendent as the chair in the Throne Room, but good enough for his Grand Council.

“Grand Vizier,” he began, “how far is the bureaucracy on the Imperial Census?”

“The Census is almost complete,” Ayan Sujjid replied with pride.  The  bureaucracy he commanded could be a wonder of efficiency, when managed correctly.

“Have our territorial gains been accounted for?”

“Yes, your Majesty.  South Raethon and Zaba have already been counted; it is the more populous regions and the great cities that still require some finishing work.”

“Excellent.”  The Emperor smiled at the Vizier, a common occurrence at these meetings.  He made no secret of his special trust and high esteem for Sujjid, the first and only Raethonite Grand Vizier in Survaekom history.

Yet, Shayaer was also a calculating monarch with a strong sense of duty.  It was time for him to shift his attention to someone else.

“Press Secretary Idraes, tell me about your progress on the Grand Imperial Atlas.”  

A young Byrnian in a grey uniform nodded.  “Your Majesty, our detailed research must continue for some time.  Messara and the Khaitis-lands have been thoroughly studied by our journalists, in partnership with the Imperial Academies.  Our journalists in Byrnia, New Byrnia, and Zaba are almost finished as well.  But Raethon and our neighbor nations will take quite some time.  There is much to document that past historians and geographers have neglected.”

The Emperor nodded.  “Very well.”  He turned his head slightly, moving his high gaze to meet a black-robed Raethonite below.  This man was a one-time guest of the Council, invited for a very particular purpose.  “What of the tribes, Secretary Klerj?  Have they signed their loyalty pledges, and have you arranged for their deeds to desert land?”

Klerj, a middle-rank officer of the Imperial Bureaucracy, was stiff in the presence of the Grand Survaek Emperor, nodding mechanically before speaking with some difficulty.  “Our Khaitis agents went to the Khaitis nomads, our Raethonites to the Raethonite nomads.  We were careful to divide the plots so they don't interfere with one another, and so they leave the mines for Crown possession.  Every tribe has registered as a new settlement under the Shayaerian Contract and renewed its loyalty pledges.  They are ready to begin moving on your command, your Majesty.”

“Perfect!” Shayaer exclaimed with a single clap of his hands.  “Tell them to begin at once!  And have all the necessary Surv-Akur garrisons and Bureaucracy units on standby, ready to move in as soon as the tribals have all staked their claims.  And [i]be sure[/i] they keep things civil.  If possible I would like my plan to proceed without firing a single shot.  The last thing the Empire needs is another incident like the Golden Guard.”

“Understood, your Majesty.”

“Then what are you waiting for?  Secretary Klerj, I am entrusting you to carry out my orders immediately.  Councilor's robes would be more fitting to your physique than your current ones, and it would be a shame if I had to withhold them from you.”

“Yes your Majesty!”  The Imperial Secretary stood up abruptly, bowed low before his liege, and scurried out of the chamber to do as he had been told.

After a moment of pause, the Emperor moved on.  Once again he turned to his Grand Vizier.

“In a similar vein, I must ask you about the state of the West Khaitis affair.”

The Vizier grinned.  “You will be pleased to know...”