[center][b]Floyn Thal System, Empire of Astrana[/b][/center]

“There he goes.” Lucretia whispered as she felt a slight tremor roll over the ship. She kept her gaze locked through the viewport, hoping to catch one last view of the coffin as it began its journey towards the star. There it was! She caught sight of the coffin for just an instant and then it was gone.

She ignored the hustle and bustle behind her. The sound of soldiers raising their ceremonial rifles. The call of the officer to ‘Present Arms’ and fire. The sound of the blanks discharging. The posh. The ceremony. None of it mattered to her. 

“He goes to rest with our ancestors.” Her twin brother startled her as he placed his hand on her shoulder. She could hear an undercurrent of anger in his voice and couldn’t blame him. When she thought of what the Martians had done to them she couldn’t help but feel outraged as well and she had always been more calm and level headed than her brother.

“At least he can continue to watch over us” Lucretia said, trying to sooth her brother a bit. “And his light shall wash over the throne forever more.” Her brother gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he turned away from her, towards the pomp and ceremony.

“Your highnesses!” Lucretia let out a sigh as a man approached. She kept her gaze locked on the viewport as the man continued. “Allow me to offer you my condolences for the passing of your grandfather. May his light shine on us forever more.”

“Thank you Lord Meyers” Lucretia’s brother answered. Lucretia tuned the remainder of the conversation out, content to let her brother handle the lords and ladies that would soon come swarming. He could act as her shield this one last time.

[center][b]On board the [i]Brilliant[/i], Xakloant System, Great Resurrection Territory[/b][/center]

“That’s quite the setup they have here” Isaac Stuart, fourth prince of the Astranan Empire commented.

“This is the Resurrection’s forward operating base in the region” Commodore Sinnett didn’t sound especially impressed. “Those shipyards” He indicated towards a map on the bridge with the sweep of his arm, “are set up for retrofitting ships. Useful to be sure, but not exactly what I’d want at a navy base this close to the front.”

Isaac raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment further as Sinnett began giving orders that would bring his ship, an Illustrious-class escort carrier, and the four leopard-class frigates escorting it closer to the Resurrectionist facilities. The reason behind the Astranan arrival in the region was well known, to provide aid to the Resurrectionists in their ‘little’ war. Isaac had been assigned to the ship so that Sinnett could act as a teacher of sorts.

“I have a question.” Isaac said once Sinnett was done giving orders.

“Just one? That’s rare.” Sinnett’s response was enough to cause Isaac to scowl. He looked over his shoulder towards the two Imperial guards who stood at the rear of the bridge. The junior of the two guards did his utmost to not look Isaac in the eyes while the senior simply shrugged. 

“Why aren’t we hiding the fact that we’re helping the Resurrectionists?”

“Hiding? Hell your father has made it damned sure the Coalition knows exactly what we are up to.” Sinnett answered.

When no further explanation was forthcoming Isaac pressed further. “Why?”

“Because he doesn’t want to fight a war with the Coalition.” After a moment Sinnett glanced at Isaac and, obviously seeing the prince’s confusion, admitted “I probably should walk you through that Your Highness. Right now we are not at war with the Coalition and they aren’t at war with the Resurrectionists. Chances are they are preparing to send troops to aid the scorpines, if they haven’t done so already. Now even when those troops arrive they still won’t officially be at war with the Resurrectionists. Much like we are, they’ll hide behind the fiction of sending a peacekeeping force.”

“Why would we allow them to do this?”

“For two reasons. First barring a major commitment of Coalition forces, Resurrectionist victory in this war is all but assured. Secondly to fully prevent Coalition intervention we would have to wage war on them and even then we couldn’t prevent them from interfering. Now as long neither of our peacekeeping forces actually attacks the other we can both continue to not be at war with each other.”

“And that’s why we’ve made no attempt to hide our involvement?” Isaac asked.

“As I’ve said before, His Imperial Majesty has made damned sure the Coalition knows exactly what we are doing. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sent the Coalition the exact date we left Astranan space and everything. He’s personally ordered me to set up a direct hotline with any Coalition force in the region once we’ve identified them. That way we can both be sure to dance around each other.”

“That’s insane.” Sinnett grinned at Isaac. “So despite the fact that we are both sending forces to fight in someone else’s war, we are both going to do our best not to shoot at each other?”

“Assuming the Coalition doesn’t want to fight us for real, yes.” Sinnett answered.

“And if they do want to fight us?” The only answer Isaac received was a small shrug.