[center][h1][color=gold]The Unified Imperial State of Tekisasu[/color][/h1] [color=silver][h3]Princess Gemini T. Kartye[/h3][/color] [i][h3]Private Quarters, The Imperial Palace, Dal'Fow[/h3][/i][/center] [hr] ...Ah. How often had she found herself sitting upon this balcony admiring the sunrise, which was budding and cresting over the hot city that she for all her life had called "home"? Or perhaps she was being too poetic about it all, really, though all the same the activity had become a personal habit that seemed to help her relax. A sight that long before the bombs fell remained the same, regardless of the landscape, a consistent factor that would always show its face. Or as it was summed up more succinctly in the ever common local saying: "The sun will always rise again". Whatever the case was, the sound of the door opening and the metal clunk of two suits of power armor rang in her ears as the Caucasian redheaded woman turned her head slightly to the side. "My lady, your father requests your presence in his morning Council." One of Gemini's eyebrows cocked upwards, her tall and amazonian frame turning about from where she'd been leaning on the railing as she properly faced the two palace guards in full. [color=silver]"An odd request...did he specify a reason for this?"[/color] "No, my lady," the other of the two soldiers spoke up, standing at respectful attention, "Well..." The other soldier lightly elbowed him in the side, causing the man to suddenly cut himself off. [color=silver]"Hmm? You have permission to speak your thoughts in this matter, soldier, as I follow you both back to my father."[/color] A moment of pause, then a soft sigh. "My lady, from what we heard as his imperial majesty called us in...there might be troubles brewing in New Orleans. And otherwise. I cannot say for certain, so please disregard these meager theories." Gemini's lips pursed some, her brows furrowing in turn. New Orleans had been in the development process for a few years, but due to the nature of the place it only made sense that such a more recently annexed area would take time to adjust. It was a place of great wealth and opportunity, and already it had begun to pay off the nation's debts in spades starting from the worst of them and moving up from there. Perhaps it was a faster way to ensure repayment, rather than let things get moving on their own in the rest of the Empire, but at the same time she could not truly speak for her grandfather nor his decisions back then. Her father had at least done what he could to smooth things out and organize since, at least, yet the situation was what it was. Securing the land outside of the city had been already moved along far better, but the greatest issues of New Orleans were something she had dug into in her own private hours and time as well. A city of debauchery and wealth, of gangs and violence, of business and bullets. Or at least so the first rumors of it had spoken of when reaching the capital over the eastern telegraph lines. In truth it was a place that seemed to have a long history, and whilst her father and grandfather had left local factions in charge for now the decision was one she personally disagreed with. Whilst maintaining a familiar power structure would hopefully facilitate an easier transition after the city's annexation, and Tekisasu itself was already gaining good ground there to boot, leaving the conquered leaders to mull and stew about in their own hiding holes was asking for disaster. It was asking to allow the seeds of rebellion to be sewn, which even if they had influence in the city and some support could turn on them if such an uprising began to snowball. Incidents and killings already had been reported, even as the reports of the good were pushed to try to cover it up. It was a sad thing, and yet no surprise that it would indeed take a true labor and effort to keep the balance and peace there. There was an entire Yette contingent on standby, even, that most did not know was being kept there to drive towards New Orleans in case of the worst. Other troubles beyond those in New Orleans at the moment, however, were merely icing on the old world cake. Not good, but merely adding to the overall burden of things in their own ways. But for now, rumors aside she desired to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. [color=silver]"Hmm...my thanks. Rumor or hearsay or not, however, I surmise when I arrive that all will become clear. Now then, enough idle chatter. Let us make haste to the Councilary Room. I shall not keep my father waiting."[/color] [hr] [center][h1][color=gold]The Unified Imperial State of Tekisasu[/color][/h1] [color=silver][h3]The Council of New Orleans[/h3][/color] [i][h3]Council Building, "Oldies"/Neutral Territory, New Orleans[/h3][/i][/center] [hr] Around the large, circular table in the center of the somewhat-cleaned but ultimately dilapidated room the representatives sat in what had seemed to be an eternal silence. One could hear a pin drop in there, even as the guards for each one of them silently stood around the walls of the room with their weapons in their hands. It was so unnatural for them to be this quiet, especially for certain ones among the four of them, and yet the very matter that had led to this meeting being called seemed to hang in the air like an ominous presence. And how could it not? [color=9370DB]"...Well, one of us must speak up bluntly I suppose, rather than keep sitting about like a bunch of frightened children,"[/color] George said, accentuating his words with a certain sense of distaste and annoyance, his hands folding as he rested his elbows on the wooden table with a light 'creak', [color=9370DB]"What you propose, Sylvia, is simply suicidal. It is beneath my people to make into such trouble when such is not necessary, and frankly speaking we will have no part. Our own profit margins are still intact, even if cut into some with the money being siphoned out of your distasteful lot, and so far business has been well."[/color] [color=808000]"Says the proud fool himself! How long will you wait for these interlopers to tread upon you, upon all of us, before you see the light? By Bernard's grace, these interlopers will see us and all we hold dear destroyed! I have seen it in a vision, i have seen it on the streets, i have seen it in the way their cocky soldiery march about with impetuousness about us! They seek to change our people, and so how long before these turn the people upon us in turn? How long until none of us remain to sit at this table, when the plans of the infidels have become too deeply rooted? When blinded to ignorance and decadence by those who call themselves kings, the wisdom of the masses is led astray from the truth and the way. To ensure the safety of the city, we [u][b]must[/b][/u] drive out those who have sought to plant such roots!"[/color] [color=7CFC00]"Shut yer trap, ya' druggin' fool ovah' preacher. Yeh' don't know ya' left from yer' right, an' tellin tha' rest of [b]us[/b] what ta' do? More an' that, ya' cain't say ey' are gonna' get rid of us. Struck in them terms we have wit' em' it gives us our land, and as long as we got are' land ahm' content with my kinfolk ta' keep doin' business."[/color] [color=FF4500]"You think it'll be that way forever though? You may have your strength on the home front, Gatortooth, but once they take a greater hold the rest of us will be 'phased out' entirely. They're trying to split us apart as it is to boot. Already the Gass Guzzlers barely come to every other meeting of the Council, simply to get payments and catch up on the last few meetings, and we know how the old man and his son feel about the rest of us. If they break out, who's to say they don't come riding into our turfs and gunning us all down with support from these wannabe occupiers? And as my people have learned from those documents they 'procured', our profit margins are going to be cut into even more as time goes on! If that isn't enough proof of trying to weaken us for the slaughter, then maybe this will convince you."[/color] The silver-tongued woman spoke in a sharp manner, cutting back at her vocal opponents and eliciting a glare from two of them. Even so, she reached back as a personal guard approached her and handed over a sheet of paper. From here she slid it onto the table, where the other merely stared for a moment before George reached over to grab it. [color=9370DB]"...A garrison in Lafayette? Please, Sylvia, restrain your hysterics for long enough to have common sense! Clearly they would be there to help lean out the lingering raiders, and it isn't like any proper use of those goons out is left that would make myself or anyone with a brain feel [i]sympathy[/i] for them at that."[/color] [color=FF4500]"I thought you were supposed to be the smart one, George? Or did that massive stick up your ass finally poke your brain too? No one amasses some forces like that, with a straight shot to here having been made to boot, without a reason for doing so. Amounts of troops like that don't just sit around in one spot to go take out simple raider groups or clear the area of their trash. They are getting ready for something, preparing for something, and so should we. Doesn't matter if their presence gives us some more income at the moment to 'compensate', if we get too complacent we are going to get weeded out after they cut us down to size. Right now we are a threat to them, deal or not deal, because we have any sort of renaming control over the city. Not to mention the Oldies tossing in their lot with them like a lovesick puppy."[/color] [color=808000]"The tide of darkness will be upon us as the woman speaks, and only by Bernard's grace shall we take liberty from the hands of monarchical tyranny!"[/color] [color=9370DB]"So? You think too little of us, Sylvia, they could not hope to get on [i]our[/i] bad side if they want to get anything out of this city. They [b]need[/b] us. Besides, say we do rebel and manage to somehow break free for a moment. What then do you propose? We'd be left weak by the time we purged the 'occupiers' and the Oldies both, or has your mercenary hiring scheme accounted for that as well? Clearly hiring [b][i]Raiders[/i][/b] to run amok worked so well against those from without. Hmm...who was it that proposed that idea again, and nearly brought us into a war with the Gass Guzzlers? Ah, yes, you."[/color] [color=7CFC00]"We ain't gotta fight less' we' pickin' ah' fight, plain an' simple. King territory ah'd be able ta' hold em' off anywho if'n the worse appens', an' they ain't wanna' be pissing off tha' Gatortooth Clan either."[/color] [color=808000]"Are you both so comfortable in your own positions you would let the enemy draw you in? For shame! Do not proper yourselves up so highly, for do you not remember the might showed on that horrible day? You think your areas would be strongholds, enough to fight an entire army?"[/color] [color=FF4500]"I for once have to agree with the nutjob, none of us could hold out individually if the worst hit. But at least think about what is going on before you [b]speak[/b] about my business that you really have no idea about. We have to prepare for the worst now, and if we don't get our asses in gear we will die like the Raving Raiders did a few years ago. Just without all the pomp and circumstance. Even you, George, can't deny crap is starting to snowball. You know the profit cuts are going to get worse, and you know that garrison ins Lafayette is there for a reason beyond just raiders. Besides, the raiders did their job until they slacked off about it on the day of. Assholes."[/color] [color=9370DB]"..."[/color] [color=7CFC00]"...Look, les' jus' cool ah're heels sum', cain't get thin's done right wit'out thinkin' proper. Much as at' whore tosses bout' words, we gatta' think bout' this stuff are'selves firs'. So can weh' jus' adjern fer' now?"[/color] The room seemed to go silent after the hulking man of the swamp spoke, the assembled representatives sitting there in a dead silence once more. Sylvia was glaring daggers at Paul at this point, George was sitting there with some frustrated concern writing itself into his usually composed face, and bluntly speaking from Paul's perspective Nathaniel was already getting jittery like a worked up jet addict who'd been sitting still for too long. Eventually, however, several nods were made in agreement after some more time. Meeting adjourned.