[@Terrans]

[h2][color=WhiteSmoke]Andronika Hasikos[/color][/h2]

"I never asked for the mountain of corpses... or the throne for that matter," Andronika pouted, crossing her arms in imitation of a sulking child, "I never wanted to be responsible!  Or to lead anyone!  That's not fun."  She paused, glancing sideways at Kreznik with a familiar amused expression, "So why shouldn't I take a bit of what I want, along with doing the stuff that other people want me to do?"

She gave a dry laugh at the second question, "A job for the Spymaster right now?  Probably not.  We can scheme against, and backstab, our Imperial allies at some later date... for now though, do you play cards Kreznik?  I've been leaning some gambling games that a lady really shouldn't be playing.  Unfortunately, I don't have any coins to play with, but I'm sure we can figure something out," she said, with a playfully flirtatious smirk that suggested she was thinking of something that would make most people in her court blush...

[hr]

[h2][color=SlateGray]Coralie D'Amboise: The Battle of Katalani, 9:45am[/color][/h2]

Coralie snapped her spyglass shut.  To the West of the line the Cavalry had exchanged fire for a time.  Dragoons on both sides had exchanged volleys before the heavier horse had formed up, culminating a few moments ago by a charge from Zeller into the Red horse, a ripple of pistol fire, then a clash of horse and steel.  Zeller's mercenary cavalry were some of the finest in the East but had a habit of becoming a bit rash, getting drawn out of position or pursuing the enemy for far longer than they ought.  She prayed they could maintain discipline today.

She trotted her horse forward, keeping pace with the lines of Iktani musketeers who formed her personal guard, and whom she had ordered to keep in close proximity to the forces moving forward to occupy the farm, able to support and repel any flanking manouvres the Reds might try to emply.  The roar of the Blacks smaller cannon sounded from behind her, balls tracing lines across the sky towards the advancing mass of Red troops.

Her troops had spent weeks preparing and drilling for the next battle, but there was always danger and she had no idea how well the Reds were trained.  They were, by all account quite fanatical...

There was a ripple of gunfire from the farmyard ahead, thick smoke drifting upwards into the cloudless sky, "Well," she declared, to nobody in particular, "Time to find out how good our drill instructors are."