The Energy Liger decelerated, dropping down from its flight to enter instead into a high speed run, powering through the gates of the city itself. Once inside, however, it remained on a central, broad avenue apparently reserved specifically for military traffic. As it traveled, Zygra looked around at the city he was entering. Compared to the board, open spaces afforded by Gayos with its pyramid-like ecologies, the buildings of Draconis were densely clustered.
Those who had rebuilt Draconis had clearly designed it to impress; the buildings seemed to all be tall and looming, monstrous art-deco structures that thrust into the dark sky overhead. Similarly, open spaces were decorated with massive monuments, built on a grand scale designed to intimidate and awe the viewer. Many of them were war monuments, ones dedicated to the glorious dead of the Empire's many conflicts.
The Zoid ducked off the main road, heading down another board avenue, one that was lined on both sides by such massive edifices. Clearly, this one had been designed as some sort of parade ground, created to emphasise the strength and power of the Empire. He was particularly impressed by one such monument; a Berserk Fury and Energy Liger stood on either side of an upright Iron Kong, holding a flag in one hand while pointing an accusing finger westwards - seemingly at the UZN on the other side of the continent.
The whole effect was rather intimidating and impressive, or at least, it was initially. However on closer inspection, a number of the buildings and monuments looked surprisingly worn and grimy, as if their owners had, after going to all the effort of building them, decided to leave them to decay. Compared to the often stark cleanliness of Gayos, the level of wear here was quite astounding.
He chose not to quiz his pilot about it, however. He felt that it would be best to stay on the good side of his potential allies, not pointing out their own shortcomings. Instead, he remained silent, examining the city around him.
"We're here." The pilot spoke up as the Zoid slowed considerably. Ahead of the Zoid, Zygra could see a massive brick wall with a large iron gate in the middle. Unlike the rest of the city, these fortifications were kept impeccably clean, but still maintained that same air of intimidation. The image was further enhanced by the pair of light-red Iron Kongs standing on the sides of the gates, towering over all around them.
The gates swung open as the liger approached, revealing the massive structure within. One of the largest buildings Zygra had ever seen, this massive gothic edifice dominated the parklands around it, forming a heavy-handed statement of power and authority. It dwarfed the two Iron Kongs standing before its front gate, only adding to the image of power. And while he knew that the structure couldn't be too much more then fifty years old, at the same time it gave an impression of ancient and terrible power.
"Welcome to the Draconis Imperial Palace." O'Bannon stated. "We're here."
oOoOo
Supreme Power
oOoOo
A night in the Red Claw-held city of Gayos hadn't done much to ease Jason's nerves. The three of them had been assigned to a four-man bunkroom- the fact that they were of mixed genders hadn't even entered into it, which suggested to him that they either were short of space or simply didn't care. It was pure luck that they had ended up in a room that, for now, lacked a fourth occupant.
His sleep had been fitful; he had almost expected someone to burst in during the night and drag the three of them away. That he had been able to hear soldiers and Zoids moving around outside hadn't helped things at all. He only hoped that none of them were coming for him.
The three of them had risen early for morning mess, then been given their duties for the day. However, as Zoid pilots who owned their own machines (By whatever method they'd used to acquire them) and already knew how to use them, it appeared that their duties consisted almost entirely of sitting around and wasting time.
Some subtle prodding had revealed that the Claw's pilots were generally expected to be ready for action at any time; as a result, they were kept entirely within the confines of their enclave so they could access their Zoids at a moment's notice. He'd also begun to get the picture that their control of the city was far from complete; while there was no real organised resistance as such, the Claw could only wield direct authority over a few isolated patches of the city proper. As a result, they didn't want to risk one of their biggest assets.
Wandering around the compound had taught Jason a lot more about the situation. The Claw's ranks had indeed drastically expanded; they had several times as many pilots and Zoids as when he had been a member. More interestingly, there were a lot more pilots who directly owned their Zoids, rather then being assigned to scavenged machines that Jenice had acquired through various methods.
The other thing that struck him was that their attitude had changed considerably. When he had been there before, there had been a mixture of caution and greed, the members of the Claw driven less by any ideals or goals and more by the dreams of quick and dirty power and wealth. This had been tempered by the fact that they were still an illegal organisation, and as a result always had the risk of being caught or destroyed.
Now they were bold, confident and triumphant. They had taken on the best that the empire had to offer and vanquished them, driving them out form their own capital. But the change was beyond that; the more he watched, the more it became clear that they actually believed in the Red Claw as a cause, not just as a way to gain wealth and power. To them, Jenice's rhetoric of creating a new, better empire wasn't just giving a veneer of legitimacy to their own greed, but their actual reason for being.
In short, they were suddenly a lot more dangerous.
"So, in short." Jason commented as he sat down with the other two. "They're larger, better organised, more driven and more determined then they've ever been."
"Great." Leanne muttered. "Y'all got any good news?"
"They don't seem to suspect us that much." He replied. "In fact, they don't seem to have noticed us."
"So we got ourselves a little leeway there." Leanne commented. "Good."
"And how about you?" Jason asked, turning to Rayvenne. "Found anything yet?"
"Not as such, no." She replied with a smile. "However, I'm working on things. While I must admit that I'm not getting that much information, Instead I'm doing well on our other goal - getting too the Gungy."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "You're going to use Bart?"
"And why not?" She batted her eyelids. "I see no problem with that. He's big, dumb, a sucker for a pretty face and absolutely vital to their operations. I think I should use him for all he's worth."
He wanted to say that he was worried about her, that he was concerned for her safety and worried that Bart would see through her deception. A part of it was simply because of the fact that what she was doing was rather risky. But the truth was, as much as he would have denied it, he actually found her attractive, and not just in an obviously physical sense.
But he couldn't admit that now. He had a job to do.
"Well, yer a braver woman then I am then." Leanne commented. "'cause sure as heck I couldn't go near that guy... at least, not without wanting to hit him."
"its an art, my dear." She replied, a tone of mock etiquette in her voice. "One must simply learn to ignore the base vulgarities and instead concentrate on the opportunities presented by them. That poor Mister Krark is a sad and lonely man who's right hand is his closest companion only serves as a launching board for my operation."
"Geezs, thanks fer that." She replied, then spat on the ground nearby. "I coulda lived ferever without known' that."
Ravenne merely grinned. "As you can see, I have read him like a book. And now I'm going to use him the way I see fit."
A clanking noise in the background announced the arrival of Bart's Gustav, again rolling into the yard where the Zoids were serviced. She glanced around, then looked back to her colleagues. "Speaking of which, there's my sugar daddy now. Gotta run." She blew mock kisses at the pair of them before heading off.
Jason sighed. "I know what she's doing is vital but... I guess I don't have to like it."
"Well, its what she's good at." Leanne muttered. "Sticking her chest out an' stuff."
"True... she'd be better at it then you." He absentmindedly commented.
"Hey! What's that sposed to mean?" Leanne snapped.
"Uhh..." He tried to finds a reply that didn't amount to an insult at her somewhat boyish figure. "Its just that she's better at playing the part." He hastily blurted out. "As opposed to you who, um, well, you said that you probably would have hit him."
"I guess..." She accepted, glaring at him.
"Right well..." He tried to change the subject. "Let's head off, take another look around this place. I'm Sure we could find some way out of here."
"You really want to be doing that?" She asked. "I mean, the rest of the city is trying to kill us and all that."
"Yeah, but we're going to get more information by doing that then we will just sitting here."
Leanne shugged. "Fair enough, I guess. Lead on then."
The pair of them headed over to a far corner of the enclave, one where the fence, for a point, disappeared behind a row of dilapidated buildings that were serving as storage sheds. Jason figured that if there was a breach or, at the very least, a blind spot, then it would be behind there. He and Leanne ducked behind the sheds, checking the fence itself.
Several minutes of inspection had dashed his hopes, however, the fence there being just as intact and solid as it was elsewhere around the enclosure. Muttering to himself, he turned to his companion. "Any luck?"
"This stuff is good." She commented. "Heck, its better then the stuff we used back home; and that's meant to control stampeding cattle."
"Damn it." He snarled. "What now?"
"I reckon we just move on, try an' find another spot."
He nodded. "Good plan." He finished. "Let's go." Turning around, however, he noticed a pair of men standing at the end of the alley. Both were dressed in battered clothes with jackets, Red Claw insignias stitched onto the sleeves.
"Well..." One began. "What have we got here?"
"Looks like a pair of newbies." Another voice dame from behind them. Turning around, Jason could see a large, muscular and scarred woman standing at the other end, a masked Red Claw soldier next to her.
"Looks like it." The first speaker continued.
"Look guys..." Jason spoke up. "We don't want any trouble, right?"
"Yeah, well..." The masked trooper spoke up. "Thing is, there's an initiation for newcomers like you guys. So you can learn your proper place, y'see?"
"And we're here to put you through it." The large woman finished. "So hows about youse guys just be good an' take it proper." She sneered.
Jason glanced at Leanne, who just nodded. "Right then..." He began, then charged forwards, crashing into the two goons at his end of the alley. Caught off-guard, the pair of them were shoved aside, slamming into the back wall of a shed and the fence.
At the same time, Leanne lunged backwards with her elbow, smashing it into the soldier's face. There was a sickening crunch as the man staggered backwards, blood staining his bandanna. She swung around, her booted foot smashing into the large woman's stomach, doubling her over with a sudden whoosh of expelled breath.
The pair of them darted out either end of the shed, meeting up as they ran. "Y'think they're onto us?" She asked.
"I dunno..." Jason replied. "I think this is just a few guys deciding to rough up the newbies for fun and - hell!"
The pair of them skidded to a halt as a half-dozen assorted pilots and soldiers advanced. Those who's faces weren't hidden were, for the most part, grinning and sneering at the pair of them as they approached.
"Y'all got a plan?" Leanne asked as she backed up.
"Sure. We beat the tar out of them."
"Sounds good to me." She finished, then lunged forwards, crashing bodily into one thug. Before he could respond, she slammed her fists into his face, sending him reeling back. Recovering, he swung at her, his fist narrowly passing by her face as she stepped back, then ducked low to avoid a second swing.
She swung around at him, her foot catching him just below his ankle, kicking his leg out form under him, sending him crashing to the ground with a loud thud. As she turned however, another thug swung at her, catching her in the side. She stumbled, and then was hit by another blow to the back.
Jason turned to her, only to be caught in the side by a boot form another fighter, knocking the wind out of him. He staggered back, taking several blows to the face before he recovered, swinging back at his attacker. There was a loud crunch as his fist slammed into the man's cheek, sending him reeling back. Another blow slammed into his lip, Jason's hand coming away bloodied.
A fighter grabbed Leanne from behind, wrapping his arms around hers and holding her back. A second thing rushed at her, only to receive a sudden knee in the guts from her. Before her captor could respond, Leanne jerked her head back, slamming it into his face with a loud crack. She wormed her way free, again striking her attacker.
Jason collected another couple of blows before he was able to evade one then strike back, sending his opponent back and out of his way. A follow up elbow struck his opponent in the chest, further staggering him. He skipped back, bumping into Leanne as she was also retreating. "Well?" He asked. "Any ideas?"
"None." She admitted. "And you?"
"Sorry about this." He stated as he glanced over the rather angry mob. A large crowd had gathered, egging on the various combatants. It was clear that nobody cared who won or lost, just as long as there was a good fight.
"Is okay." Leanne dismissed. "But it looks like we're gonna-"
"What is going on here?" An angry female voice commanded. The jeering and catcalls abruptly died, the crowd suddenly parting to allow a single woman through. "Can somebody please explain what this is?"
Jason turned slowly to look at her, swallowing loudly as he realised who it was. Levisha Towne, the one person in the Red Claw who could easily identify and expose him. Crap. This is it... I'm caught for sure...
Towne looked over him, not giving any visible reaction. Instead, she looked over the group, catching sight of the muscular woman. Battered and bruised, she was bleeding from a split lip while one eye was swollen shut. "Launer, I should have figured it was you." She stated, a hissing anger in her voice, her red eyes narrowing as she spoke.
The woman, despite being taller then Levisha, looked suddenly cowed. "Yes. commander." She admitted.
"You were trying to brutalise the recruits, exercise what little power you have." Levisha continued, matter of factly. "Do not deny it."
"Yes, commander." She repeated.
"Very well." Towne nodded. "Report to barracks twelve. You're reassigned."
"But..." The woman called out, a desperate tone in her voice. "That's infantry!"
"Very astute." Levisha continued, a smug tone coloring her words. "And I am sure that your talents will be better suited to their roles. Who knows; you may even find a suitable use for your destructive tendencies."
"But my Zoid-"
"Is the property of the Red Claw." She stated. "You never owned it. You merely filled an available position. And, as we now have a far greater supply of Zoid pilots, you are far, far less indispensable then you were. Maybe you can consider that as well."
"Yes, commander." She muttered.
"Dismissed." Towne stated. "As for the rest of you, there will be a briefing at 1700 hours this evening. I expect you all to be there." She finished as she walked off.
Jason watched her as she went, ignoring the crowds of other soldiers passing him. She must have recognised me, he thought. She has to have. And yet, she didn't even mention me... He continued to watch her until she left the enclave. What the hell is going on here?
oOoOo
The trio of Zoids slowly plodded through the desert, moving at a pace that suggested that their pilots had nothing better to do with their time. This would seem odd to the casual observer, given that one of them was a massive Iron Kong, and another was a Blackstar Darkhorn. That the third was a Gustav would seem relatively normal by comparison.
After Jason, Leanne and Ravenne had departed for Gayos in their "borrowed" Zoids, Floyd had hidden their regular machines, as well as the captured Tank, in a supply cache. His argument was simple; if the worst came to the worst, Jason and company would have an emergency fallback. To ease any fears that they may be looted, Floyd commented that he had added a bevy of surveillance and communications devices to the cache, so he would know if anyone tried to interfere with the Zoids.
After securing the cache, he had announced their next move. The three of them would head back to his hideout, the old Hydra bunker that he had bought Althiea to after her first collapse. From there, he had argued, they could plan a broader campaign against the red Claw. To Althiea's surprise, Thoirne hadn't argued with the idea. In fact, she seemed to prefer it over returning to the Blackstar city.
(Floyd had suggested that her motivation was a simple one. Out here she could rampage as she wished, while back in the city, she would have to take account for her actions. Althiea had agreed.)
They had been traveling in silence for a few hours before Thorne suddenly spoke up, opening a channel directly to Althiea's Zoid. "Tell me," She began. "Do you have any family?"
This struck Althiea as being surprisingly forward. Up until then, the Blackstar woman had shown no interest whatsoever in Althiea's background or personal life. But then, at the same time, she wasn't sure what to expect from her. "Well... no." Althiea replied. "My parents both died when I was young, and they had no other children. I was raised by a woman called Sarah who was somewhere between a big sister and a mother to me."
"So there is nobody apart from yourself."
"No."
"I see." The Blackstar trailed off.
"Doing a bit of investigating?" Floyd asked, opening a private channel to her. "Or is it something else?"
"I was merely trying to find out more about her-"
"-in case she might have any relatives with the same genetic quirk." Floyd finished. Thorne chose not to respond to that.
Ignorant of this discussion, Althiea spoke up. "How about you Thorne? Do you have any family?"
"Both my parents have positions in the Blackstar command." She stated. "I have a half-brother by my father's side. I have had three children, with a fourth expected in a month or so."
Althiea seemed rather surprised at this. Thorne's narrow hips didn't suggest that she'd ever given birth, and her flat, toned abdomen suggested that she was anything but very pregnant. "You... don't look like you've had children."
"Before you make a but if a faux pass, Althiea." Floyd butted in. "Unlike us mere mortals, Blackstars do not have children via our messy biological processes. Rather, the child is artificially conceived via genetic material from the two parents, and then incubated in an artificial womb."
"I see." She blushed, rather surprised at this information. All of a sudden, the Blackstars - Thorne especially - seemed a lot more strange and, more to the point, somewhat frightening. The woman looked human but, well, somehow seemed like she was something different, something almost alien. Yet, at the same time, she was just as 'real' as anyone else. "So your husband-"
"I have no 'husband' as such." She cut Althiea off. "The parings of parents are chosen by geneticists to give optimal traits while avoiding any inbreeding or possible defects. I only vaguely know the father of my second child, and I don't even know the father of the third."
"And your children?"
"I have never met them." She replied, a hint of anger in her voice. "And nor do I have any interest in doing such."
"I, uh..." Althiea wasn't sure how to take it. While she could imagine that removing the biological process of birth might create a certain detachment, she was still surprised that Thorne would have no itnerest at all in her own offspring.
"Or is it that you're worried that they've inherited your little defect, right?" Floyd needled her on a private channel. "Even thought they're only, what, one sixteenth human-"
"Glass!" She snarled.
"Just asking." He replied, causally. "No need to rip my throat out."
The Darkhorn simply glared at his Zoid, then turned back to looking ahead.
oOoOo
A trio of cold, inhuman eyes watched the three Zoids as they traveled, monitoring their progress. Unblinking, they continued to survey them, beaming data off as it watched.
oOoOo
"Hold on." Thorne suddenly spoke up as her Zoid stopped in its tracks. "I'm getting something."
"What is it?" Althiea asked, still somewhat off put by the woman's earlier comments.
"I'm not sure." She replied. "I'm getting small bursts, like we're being watched by some sort of radar system..."
The Gustav pulled up next to her Zoid, its radar antenna turning and elevating. "No, I'm getting it too. I don't recongise the type, but its a short-ranged 3D radar system, definitely. Furthermore..." The Gustav's antenna's twitched some more. "I'm getting narrowband high-speed data signals going out form it. I'd say that someone's watching us."
"Hmm..." The Darkhorn glanced around, its radar antennas on its crown twitching as they scanned the area. "I can't see anything immediately. It could be stealthy or, at the very least, well hidden..." The Darkhorn slowly turned.
"Althiea, are you getting anything?" Floyd asked.
The Iron Kong's composite sensor lit up as the massive Zoid swung its head around, scanning the area. "Nothing here. Whatever it is, I can't see it either."
"Hmm..." Thorne muttered as her Zoid turned, now facing in the opposite direction to where it had been heading. "I have a rough idea of where it is, but..."
"Can't get a solid lock on it?" Floyd asked.
"No." She admitted. "So I'm going to try something else."
"What-" Althiea asked, but was cut off as the Darkhorn's Linear Cannon roared to fire, sending a trio of shots arcing up to a nearby ridge. The shells rained down, slamming into the ground with a trio of blasts that sent dust and rock shards flying.
"Thorne!" She called out. "What was that for?"
"The singal has stopped." She simply stated.
"You didn't need to destroy it!"
"It was a potential threat." She continued. "Whatever it was had been covertly monitoring us and transmitting data on our location." The Darkhorn glared at her Zoid and the Gustav. "Given that the Red Claw is hunting for both of you, it seemed a reasonable assessment that, whatever it was, had been targeting us. By eliminating it, I eliminated a potential threat to us."
"I'm afraid that, for once, Thorne makes sense." Floyd commented. "And as much as I dislike her methodology, she acted in accordance with what she felt was a reasonable response to the situation."
"It doesn't mean I have to like it." Altheia commented as her Zoid began a slow walk, heading back towards the ridge where the signal had apparently been coming from. Clambering up the slope, it looked around as it stood on top of the ridge. To her surprise, there was nothing there at all. There was no sign of any sort of attacker, save for a few stray pieces of scrap metal, twisted and mangled beyond all recognition. It was like it had never been there.
"Well?" Floyd asked.
"Nothing." She started. "Just some debris. Its too mangled to be identifiable, and there isn't enough to have made a Zoid... so either it self destructed or it wasn't even a Zoid to begin with."
"It could have been some sort of old remote monitor." Floyd suggested. "We may have accidentally tripped it."
"I guess..." She looked down at the wreckage, concentrating on it. She couldn't feel anything from it, something that she normally would have gotten from even the most mangled of Zoid wreckage. "I suppose so."
"Then my position was justified." Thorne finished. "Regardless, I suggest we keep moving. If it was reporting to someone, it would be good not to let them know our location."
"Right." Althiea muttered, still less then pleased with the Blackstar woman's actions.
oOoOo
"Damn it." Jaeger muttered as the screen dissolved into static. He'd spent hours using their new units to scour the landscape for any sign of Glass and that woman. Finally he'd managed to locate them, only to have his surveillance unit destroyed within a minute of beginning operations.
To make matters worse, he'd found something unexpected; instead of five Zoids, he'd found only three, one of which he hadn't expected. The new machine was a Darkhorn, which meant only one thing. For some unfathomable reason, there was a Blackstar working with them. This complicated matters to an incredible degree. Not only would it mean that, when the time came, they would have another obstacle to deal with, it also meant that there was some alliance that he was not yet aware of.
He sat back to consider matters, looking over the footage that the recon Zoid had sent before its sudden destruction. The Darkhorn was partially hidden behind the Gustav, but something about it didn't seem right to him. He paused the playback, zooming in on the Zoid itself. There was something obscuring the Hibilt Balkan cannon, which seemed odd to him. He zoomed in on it again, looking over the image. It was a second weapon, one that Darkhorns did not normally feature.
"Computer." He began. "Bring up file Zoid reface file NAR-831-06F/NZ."
The screen bought up a series of diagrams of a modified Darkhorn, along with technical data, photographs and a service history. He noted the modifications present on the Zoid - the second horn, the missile launcher on the back and, most importantly, the Hyperbeam Cannon mounted on the left side in place of the standard observation cockpit. Checking it against the surveillance pictures from the recon unit, it appeared to indeed be the same Zoid.
"Most interesting." He commented to himself. A chance to acquire an altered Zoid core for study. Certainly this drawback could be turned to an opportunity. He checked over the details on the file, trying to find out more about the Zoid and its history. These days, modified or altered Zoids were a rarity, the presence of one in amongst the Blackstars even more so. Which means that I should have a good lead on the pilot's identity.
A technician interrupted him as she approached his desk. "Excuse me, sir, but we've just received a report on Zygra's whereabouts."
This caught his attention. "Go on."
"One of our agents confirms that he is indeed in the Drakken Empire." She continued. "Specifically, inside the capital."
He nodded then smiled. This confirms what Fourty-Two reported. Excellent. "Thank you for that." he added, looking up at her. "This is most invaluable."
As she left, he bought up some more information on his display screen. A diagram focused on the Drakken-Zygra border, showing relative troop dispositions and strengths. Smiling to himself, he began to run through the possibilities of a conflict. "Yes, this is most interesting indeed." He commented. He'd have to speak to Fourty-Two again regarding this. Things were moving to an advanced stage now, and, if he figured it correctly, the Red Claw's usefulness was about to come to an end.
He reached for his own personal communicator, figuring that it would be a good time to put wheels in motion.
oOoOo
Following the takeover, Jenice had taken up full time residence in the palace itself. She had converted the bedroom of one of the Paladins to her own use, moving a lot of her personal possessions in there. Most of them, however, had remained unpacked; instead, she had been focusing her time on the artifacts she had recovered form the ancient city.
The three humanoid figures stood inert and unmoving, their blank eyes staring out across the room. Their bodies retained their brilliant shine, seemingly untouched and unmarked by the wear of the ages. They had also been unyielding, resisting any efforts to open them.
Jenice glared at the gold statue, as if she could simply will it to respond. "I know that you can hear me." She stated, angrily. "Show me that. Yield your secrets to me!" However, it didn't respond.
She turned around, angry and frustrated at what was rapidly becoming her greatest failure. The once ornate, pristine room was scattered with various different tools and pieces of equipment that she had used at some point or another to try and pry secrets out of the ancient machines, cluttering up much of the living space. She had spent so many hours in here, yet it had been for no reward.
At least, so far.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Who is it?" She hissed, turning towards the doorway.
"It's Towne." The voice from the other side replied, nonplussed. "I need to see you regarding something."
She walked over to the door, opening it a crack, just enough so she could see her second's face. "What do you want?"
"I need to expand our facilities for the troops." She stated. "We're running short on space, which is causing a considerable amount of tension amongst our soldiers. We're suffering form random fights and beatings, which will be detrimental to our overall morale and performance."
"Very well then." Jenice replied, clearly distracted. "Do whatever it is you need."
"Of course, commander." Levisha nodded. "And thank you."
She turned to leave, but then Jenice called out. "They're still defying me, aren't they?"
"Commander?"
Jenice glared at Levisha. "The rest of the empire. We have attacked the capital, overthrown the government and crushed any attempts at resistance. And yet they still remain loyal to Zygra. They are not coming over to my side."
"Yes commander. What shall I do?" She paused. "Maybe a show of power-"
"Indeed. We need an object lesson, Levisha." She stated. "We need to show these people the errors of their ways while demonstrating our true power. I will leave it up to you and Paladin Trogdor to arrange the details; I have absolute trust in your decisions."
"Thank you commander." Levisha bowed. "If I may?"
"Very well. Go and do your duty; not just for me, but for the future of the empire." She finished as she closed the door, turning back to the mechanical figures that had impassively watched the proceedings.
You are very intelligent and skilled, Levisha, but you just don't understand true power. She thought as she glared at the statues. But I do. And soon, very soon, I will possess power greater then anyone else on this world.
oOoOo
Levisha smiled smugly to herself as she walked away from Jencie's quarters. Sometimes manipulation is too easy, she thought as she headed downstairs. I easily push Jenice's buttons and she does exactly what I want her too. Perfect. She had been aiming to make Jenice want to up the ante. Her orders to turn Trogdor loose were perfect, the next step in the escalation of conflict that she had been aiming to create.
She does a good act of preaching the desire for reform and change, she continued as she headed out of the palace. However, at heart she is just another tyrant, one who wants nothing more then power. She is a useful tool... but it's more then just that. She has certain skills, ones that I - we will need when the time is right. She gave this a moment's thought. Of course, there are other options...
The intelligence she'd received from Jaeger had given her some things to work with. Zygra's heading into the Drakken Empire meant that this small conflict could rapidly grow well out of control, something that would be to their advantage. The fact that the girl she had been trailing had also resurfaced was an added bonus. All she needed was to have a chance to exploit that development.
I should have suspected as such when I saw Simons earlier, she mentally added. That had been a surprise, but again not an unpleasant one; in fact, it had been one that she could definitely use to her advantage.
She stepped into a commandeered staff car, heading across town to the massive industialplex that was the Empire - and now the Red Claw's - source of new Zoids. Entering the factory, she simply barged past the guards without going through any sort of security check. Those in command of the plant knew who she was and, more to the point, knew not to get in her way.
Walking through the factory, she eventually arrived at the office of its chief of operations, Elise Rouget-Simons. Towne had dealt with the woman before, and found her to be a very canny, very shrewd woman. Not bothering to announce herself, she simply stepped inside.
"Towne." She began, glancing up. "Can I ask what this is about? I have a lot of work to get on with."
Very brisk, Levisha thought. "I will be to the point, then." She stated. "I followed up on the request oyu made of us."
She looked Levisha straight in the eye, now ignoring her work. "And?"
Levisha nodded at her. "I have some information as to his whereabouts. Nothing concrete but... good enough to go on. However, there would be some... complications in bringing him to you."
"How do I know I can trust you?" She asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Ms Rouget-Simons." The Red Claw pilot began. "I understand your apprehension, but believe me, we have only your best interests in mind. You are vital to the construction of our new order; the last thing we want to do is upset you."
"Very well then." She continued. "And I suppose you'll want something from me in order to guarantee his safety."
"I would view it as an acceptable trade, yes." Levisha stated.
"Very well than."
Levisha walked closer, putting her hands on Elise's desk. "I want the master factory override codes for all the Zoids you have produced since we took over." She stated.
Elisa nodded. "This is a big request." She stared. The overrides could be used to deactivate a Zoid, should it need a complete overhaul or to be rebuilt. They were usually kept at the factory, who were the only people who would need them. "But I suppose that you have left me with no option."
"I am not going to force you or hold your son hostage." Levisha stated. "Think of it as a goodwill gesture, a sign we can trust each other."
"Do you men 'we' as in the Red Claw, or 'we' as in you specifically?" She asked, eyeing Levisha.
She smiled. "Very astute. Suffice to say, for now I would prefer it if I were the only individual with access to those codes."
"Of course." Elise finished. "I will have them sent to you as soon as possible."
"Thank you for that." Levisha nodded. "I'm glad that you decided to help."
"Ms Towne, I would like to think that we can all just get along." She added. "And that there are certain ways to make everything go smoothly."
oOoOo
Zygra had been very impressed with the treatment he'd gotten since he entered the palace. He had been given a private room and presented with a change of clothes for a fresh Paladin's uniform, bought straight from the Embassy himself. And while he had been expecting that he would be staying at the Embassy, he had been told in no uncertain terms that "only" the palace would be good enough for him.
Having been given a few hours to freshen up and prepare, he was met and escorted through the palace. He wasn't sure if they were taking the most direct route possible, or if he was being lead via a path designed to impress and awe him with the Empire's history and power. Along their way, he passed walls of paintings, tapestries, sculptures and murals; some said to have been recreated from or salvaged from the original palace, while others were rumored to come form Old Earth.
They paused outside one room, Zygra taking time to examine the ornate mural on the floor. It depicted a flock of Cosmozoids fleeing from a Krark, a Zoid that could almost be used a symbol of the empire itself. He had to wonder if this was a new one, or even some subtle stab at the relationship between his nation and theirs.
A moment later, the two ornately carved wooden doors opened, a servant bowing to him. "You may enter, your majesty." he began, then stepped back to allow Zygra past.
The room itself was not quite what he had expected. It was a surprisingly crowded study, its shelves lined with bookcases containing thick, hard-bound volumes. The furnishings in the room were very old-fashioned, designed to give the place an old-world grace and elegance. The sole window was a large, glass one, the Drakken empire's insignia picked out in red strained glass panels at the top.
More important then that, however, were the three people in the room. His eyes immediately fell on one of them, a woman standing over the table. In her mid thirties, she had long, fiery red hair and piercing blue eyes. Tall and muscular, she would be more aptly described as handsome or rugged then beautiful. She was dressed in an ornate, rich red and black uniform, topped with a long cape.
He immediately recongised her, Empress Marissa Fyre, ruler of the Drakken Empire and possibly the most powerful single person on the Shelflands.
"Your majesty." He began, bowing before her. "I thank you for this audience."
Fyre merely nodded, as if to give him the most minimal acknowledgement of his presence. "It is an honour to meet you, the new ruler of the Zygra Empire. Even if it is under such trying circumstances."
"Thank you. I only hope that these circumstances can change." he finished.
"Of course." She smiled. "Please, take a seat."
Finding a large chair around the room's central table, he sat down, eyeing the other two occupants of the room. He immediately recongised O'Bannon, who was now dressed in a dress uniform similar to Fyre's. The third man was larger then either of them and far more muscular, with short-cropped black hair and several scars on his heavyset features. His uniform was an inverse of hers, largely red with a silver trim. "You already know Captain O'Bannon." She spoke up, "This is Colonel Jeroen Nacht, leader of the Imperial Guard."
"It is an honour." He began. Nacht merely nodded.
"It seems that we are destined to meet in these trying circumstances." She continued. "You were too young to recall your Grandfather's funeral, but I was there." She explained. "I also was present at the funeral for your mother, where we were formally introduced."
"He was a good man." He offered, knowing that the Drakken Empire regarded Zygra with a mixture of respect and suspicion. They appreciated what he had done in defeating Hydra and changing the course of the wart, but at the same time, they hated him for his post-war polices and territorial claims.
He and Marissa had talked afterwards, forming something of a relationship. The pair of them had communicated irregularly since then, Zygra seeing it as an opportunity to build up a power base outside of the Empire. It now appeared that his work had paid off.
"If you will permit me, to state my case, your majesty?" He continued, turning to face Fyre again.
"By all means, please go ahead." She replied, sitting back in her chair.
"Thank you." He nodded. "My plea is this. I have lost control of my empire to a terrorist force known as the Red Claw. With the aid of an ancient, powerful Zoid, they have been able to attack my capital, destroying the government and driving me from my home. In the process, thy also killed my father, the former rightful ruler of the empire."
"This much we know." Fyre commented, pressing a few buttons on a hidden control console on the desk. A concealed holoprojector started up, displaying an image of the Gungyarados as it passed over the city. While blurry and grainy, it was still clearly identifiable as the terrifying Zoid that had destroyed his empire. "So the question is, why have you come here." She crossed her hands under her chin, looking directly at him.
"As you can see, the Red Claw possess this terrible weapon the Gungyarados - a machine which, I believe, was one of your Empire's earlier creations." He indicated to the screen. "I will now freely admit that our situation is worse then it may seem. Our forces are scattered and disorganised, and we have no central hub of command any more. The remnants of our forces are at the mercy of this terrible weapon; the truth is, we do not have any Zoids that would be able to defeat this particular menace."
"And that is why you have come to me, isn't it?" She asked. "You want the Drakken Empire to aid you in the elimination of this particular menace. Presumably, your idea was that our soldiers would retake your empire, fighting and dying to help put you back on your throne."
"That is correct, yes." He replied. "I know that it is a considerable request, but I urge you to consider what is at stake. The Red Claw represent a dangerous new force, one that is unstable and unpredictable. They could distabilise my whole nation, which would have severe repercussions, not only for my Empire but for yours or the UZN."
"No, I do understand what you are saying." She stated. "And it is something that I would need to consider. Asking my citizens to die for another country would not be easy, especially considering the state of relationships between our two nations."
"I understand, but I am asking you to think of the bigger picture." He offered.
"I do understand that, but I first have to ask a question of you." She cut him off. "One that, I think, will be a test of your maturity and your commitment to your cause."
"Go on then." He stated.
"You must know how we feel about the Zygra empire here in Draconis." She stated. "How we see your empire as nothing but a pretentious upstart with no real claim to the lands it possesses, that we regard the portions of your nation that used to be a part of ours as occupied territories, and how we see the post war terms imposed on us as a directed effort to disempower us."
"I understand that." Zygra stated.
"So then, I must ask you this." Her eyes narrowed. "Why did you come to me? Why turn to the Drakken Empire, the people that hate you and all you stand for? Why not turn to the UZN, who have always been much more friendly towards your government. After all, they supported Zygra all the way, while we fought every move he made." She glared directly at him.
"Well, we have spoken in past."
"It's not just that, is it?" She continued. "No, there is something else."
Zygra could see that now both Nacht and O'Bannon were looking at him; all three of them were waiting patiently for a response. And why not? he asked himself. Give them the truth. Its what she wanted.
"Because the UZN is an alliance of nations under the aegis of a democratically elected council, while the Drakken empire is, in effect, a totalitarian state ruled through the supreme power of a single individual." He paused. "My nation was a balance of the two, a hereditary ruler who was balanced by an elected senate."
"So then why us?" She asked again.
"Simple." He stated. "Because I know the way that power works. If I were to appeal to the UZN, they would have to consider and debate the matter, decide on force strengths, consider the Claw's position as a possible legitimate alternative government, plan, prepare, budget and so forth. However, you have the power to order your military into action, no questions asked. There is no authority that can stop or deter you. The empire moves to your whim and desire."
She smiled. "It seems that you understand the true nature of power."
"I understand how your nation works." He replied, returning her smile. "And I understand the value of such power. And I would do anything to regain that power."
"Very good." Fyre finished, then stood. "Zygra, there is one thing that I must show you before I make a decision."
Zygra also stood. "Lead on, then. I will regain my empire, whatever it takes."
oOoOo
Despite the beatings they had both received, Jason and Leanne had escaped relatively unscathed. While both were sore and stiff, and sported a number of bruises, neither had suffered anything more severe. Comparatively, several of the things who had attacked them looked like they had gone through far, far worse.
"What happened to you two?" Rayvenne asked as she approached the pair of them. "You look like train wrecks."
"A few of the locals decided to welcome us in." Jason offered as he stretched his arm.
"They sound friendly." Rayvenne quipped.
"Incredibly such." Leanne added. "An' some of them hit pretty damned hard."
"Ouchies." Rayvenne continued, looking over the mess that was the pair of them. "Not to sound mean but... I am glad I wasn't there. Really."
"So how did things go with El Disiugusto?" Jason asked, flapping his arm to get some feeling into it.
"Not bad." She admitted. "In so far as he's completely smitten with me. And while he hasn't let me near the Gungy yet, it seems to be just a matter of time."
"Things going well?"
"Lee, it's an effort not to just kick him in the balls and be done with it." She stated. "But it is going well, yes. I've got him rapped around my finger."
"Mighty thick finger then." Leanne scoffed.
"Har har." She replied. "But its going well. Really."
Jason nodded. "That's good. I don't think-"
"Hey you lot!" Somebody called out as he ran past. "Meeting, now!"
"What?" Jason yelled back.
"One of the bigwigs is down here for some reason, and has got something to say." He continued. "Come on!"
The three of them set off, joining a rapidly growing crowd around a platform. Standing on it was Levisha, seemingly ignoring the assembled mob for the moment. Jason's heart skipped a beat as he tried to figure out what she was up to.
"Hey Jase." Rayvenne hissed. "I've seen that girl before."
"Yeah... ain't she one of their big shots?" Leanne added. "She broke up that fight but good."
"Urk." Was the best that Jason could manage.
Levisha waited a moment before beginning. "I have but a few announcements, ones that I hope will not take up too much of your time." She commenced. "Firstly, I have noticed that there has been a certain degree of hazing and brutality towards new recruits from supposedly more senior members of the organisation. This is to stop immediately. Any caught will be dealt harshly with; already one Zoid pilot has been demoted to infantry duties."
That should put the fear of god into them, Jason thought. The Red Claw's pilots thrived on the power they gained from being able to pilot a Zoid. The thought of loosing that power would be a suitable enough deterrent. Looking over the crowd, he could see that several Red Claw soldiers were already exchanging worried glances.
"Secondly, and somewhat related to the first matter, it has become clear that the rapid expansion of our forces is stretching the limits of our current ability to house them. As a result, we have acquired additional land to use as a second base of operations. A roster of personnel to be reassigned will be posted shortly; I suggest you all study it closely."
This immediately worried Jason. To his mind, anything Levisha did or said had an ulterior motive; he couldn't imagine that she was doing this without some good reason. He'd have to study the lists to see who was and wasn't moving, and try to figure what she was getting out of all this. What are you up to? He wondered as he looked up at her. There's no way she could have failed to identify me earlier. Is this related, or are you planning something else?
"Finally, and most importantly, we are changing our approach to the war with the empire." She stated. "In past, we have taken the stance that the remnants of the Empire will realise their mistakes and turn to us. However, they have proved to be far more obstinate, far more stubborn and unwilling to accept reality then we had expected. As a result, we must take on a new approach."
There was a loud roar, the Gungyarados again swooping down low over the barracks before climbing away, heading up beyond the cloud layer. "From today, we will use force to achieve our goals where diplomacy has failed. We shall hold the Empire to hostage, forcing its leaders to support our goals or risk complete destruction. If they will not understand our cause, then they will certainly know fear."
Jason's heart sank as he realised what she was saying. They would use the Gungyarados to attack the Empire's people, forcing their leaders to capitulate or risk total destruction. And we are the only ones who can stop that, he thought, glaring at both Rayvenne and Leanne. The pair of them nodded back, as if to confirm his thoughts.
"Victory for the Red Claw!" She shouted out, raising a fist into the air. "Victory!"
"Victory!" Came the cry back form the assembled crowd, following her salute. "Victory!"
And I will do everything I can to prevent this from coming to pass. He thought as he went along with the crowd. Everything.
oOoOo
Zygra had expected that Empress Fyre wanted to show him something within the palace or its grounds; a memorial or a particular work of art, maybe. However, instead, they'd been driven out to a Whale King waiting just outside the Palace grounds. The ancient machine, dressed in a distinct red and silver livery that suggested that it was meant to be Fyre's personal transport, had in turn taken to the air, traveling north-east of the city for over an hour before setting down.
The place where they had set down was one of the most desolate and barren that Zygra had ever seen. A wide, flat plain composed of a mixture of bare rock and dry soil, it appeared to be completely lifeless. It made Zygra think he was on another planet or something. The dry, cold wind that whipped across the plane only added to they feeling of stark desolation as it chilled him to the bone, despite the layers of thick clothing he had been provided with.
The two of them alone had ascended a metal platform that divided this plain in half, walking out to its middle. He was initially surprised that Fyre had come out here completely alone; then he realised that this place was probably being monitored, and there were probably a fair deal of security staff nearby, conveniently just out of his sight.
"This is what I wanted to show you." She began. "Look at this, and tell me what you see."
He peered out over the plane, trying to figure what it was that Fyre was speaking of. Initially, it seemed like there was nothing there, which made him pause. Is this some trick? Another test? Some metaphorical thing that I am meant to be searching for? And then he noticed something; small plates scattered across the landscape, seemingly as if at random. The more he looked, the more of them he could see, as if they were stretching off into eternity.
"It's a lifeless, featureless plain." He spoke up. "But that's not all. There is something else here, isn't there? Something more." He could feel it now, something about this place. Something terrible that was lurking just below the surface.
"Correct." She stated. "This is the site of our single largest mass war grave."
"A war grave..."
"Yes." Fyre continued. "Following their initial nuclear assualt on our cities, our forces faced a sudden onslaught of Hydra forces. The men here fought bravely to defend the badly wounded empire, doing their all to ensure that the Empress of the time could escape. Their sacrifice meant that this Empire, the oldest government on this world, could survive." She continued. "They were defeated, and all slaughtered. This battlefield was latter consecrated as a memorial, the plates commemorating the soldiers where they fell."
"I see."
"These men are nameless. We know their units, but not the individuals. Their bodies were never recovered; they were too heavily irradiated to make it possible. We had to leave them here, and make this whole place their memorial." She turned to look at him. "You understand that this is what may happen if we go to war, not just to my people, but to yours as well. Are you prepared to accept that possibility?"
"I am." He nodded.
"Good." She turned to look over the other side, Zygra following her. Unlike the battlefield, this side consisted of a seemingly endless row of flat metal discs, imbedded into the ground in neat, orderly rows. Off to one side, a stark, metal tower provided the only break from the desolate field.
"What is this?" He asked.
"This is the legacy that your empire has left us." She explained. "Under each of these portals lies a sleeping Zoid, one that your post-war treaties forced us to leave disabled and in a situation that would render them difficult to reactivate while, at the same time, easy to monitor so that anyone would know if we tried." She swept her hand over the field. "Over there are the Berserk Furies. On the far side there, the Genosaurers. There's a smattering of others in there, stray obscure antiques like Gungyarados, Gul Tigers and Descats."
"And this field?"
"Deathsaurers." She explained. "Every last one of them, condemned to rest in an eternal, dreamless sleep."
She spoke with a passion that suggested that, to her, they were more then just machines, and that what had been done to them was more then just deactivating them. "So then what do you want from me?"
"We have many reasons to hate your empire." She explained. "You have taken so much form us; our land, our history, the Zoids that were the pride of our armies. If I am to order my people to die for you, I will need something in return. Not just a trade agreement or some pithy piece of paper or the like; something tangible, something solid that I can give to my people. I cannot return these Zoids to life. Now would I imagine that you would ask me to give you your empire back only to then turn around and hand a chunk of it over to us."
"Well..." he sighed. "I had expected that there would be a price, and I think that I have something that would match your demands."
"Go on."
"The Zygra empire has certain treaties of mutual defense and protection as well as diplomatic recognition, ones that could be, say, confidently ignored." He continued. "And, after the Empire's territories have been secured, then I would have no objections to the Drakken empire using our land as a staging ground to help deal with its own internal problems."
Marissa considered matters, and then grinned. "So, in return for my returning you to your throne, you would give us the Auroran republic?"
"I think it is a fair trade, don't you?"
"Most definitely." She finished. "Emperor Zygra, you have my word that I will not rest until you are back on your throne."