Dvorets Shakinov, Shakin, South Ural, 12/6/11243
The Esteemed Lady Akilah Tannoudji of Fallam examined the grandness of the entrance hall to the political headquarters of Earth's second city. Every surface that surrounded her was draped in the rich royal blue and the shining gold of the city's colours; from the quartz-lined basalt bridge that spanned the stream which cut across the centre of the entrance hall, to the enormously high decorative ceiling. The ceiling was adorned with celebrations the great victories that the city had recorded over the millennia, and was emblazoned with more images of Wolverines than Akilah could count.
After traversing the basalt bridge and the masses of pine flooring, Akilah finally completed her journey to the blue and gold reception desk at the far side of the room, from behind which the plump, friendly, ceremonially dressed woman smiled calmly in her direction.
"The Esteemed Lady Akilah Tannoudji of Fallam," the receptionist greeted. "Welcome to Shakin. The Most Esteemed Lady Inka Filippova wishes to send her congratulations on your marriage to the Chief Proncawemendronn of the Nor'oix Clan." The receptionist looked at Akilah with a warm smile. "As do I."
"Thank you," Akilah replied. "And may I thank the Most Esteemed Lady for her shelter and her hospitality during these difficult times."
"I shall pass on your gratitude to the Most Esteemed Lady," the receptionist said. The moment she finished talking, her eyes glanced back to the hologram above her desk. "Please place your hand onto the desk, Esteemed Lady," she requested.
Akilah placed one hand onto the royal blue surface.
"Thank you," the receptionist said, still wearing her warm smile. "You have been granted unconditional access to the meeting room behind this door and to your chambers."
"Thank you," Akilah said, hesitantly holding her hand in front of the blue and gold door beside the desk. The door slid open to reveal a smaller room with an equally high, equally decorated ceiling. Each corner boasted a statue of a different member of House Filippov, each sculpted from a different rare metal, and each one draped with a blue and gold cloak with a golden wolverine majestically emblazoned across the back. It was only here that the orange and beige gazelle of House Tannoudji ever felt insignificant.
A blue and gold, square metal table spread across the centre of the room, large enough to contain around thirty people. Today, however, only one edge was taken up by a small gathering, mostly of Esteemed Lords and Ladies.
"Most Esteemed Lady Filippova," Akilah greeted as she took her seat next to the small, dark-eyed woman with the wolverine on her back.
"Esteemed Lady Tannoudji," Inka replied. "Welcome to Shakin. I trust that my receptionist congratulated you on your marriage."
"She most certainly did," Akilah said.
"A curious choice of husband, if you don't mind my saying," Inka pressed. "I never thought that I would see the day that an Esteemed Lady married an Antarctic Chief. But who am I to question your choices?"
"Indeed, he may seem an unusual choice," Akilah said, with a smirk across her face. "But he is a wonderful husband, and his tribe was quick to embrace me as one of their own."
"I wager they were," Inka responded. "I am certain that many of them had never imagined that they would come so close to somebody of such high stature as yourself." Inka scowled a little, her dark eyes piercing through Akilah's. "Who knows where a person of such a position could lead them?"
Akilah let out a cold smile. "Indeed," she said.
"All rise for his majesty, Emperor Danio the Second of House Bivona," came a cry from a woman draped in green and white stripes, who stood by the door. Akilah joined the room in hastily rising to her feet, and turning to face the door as it slid open.
A golden crown coated in jewels sat upon the short, brown hair of the Emperor. His green and white cloak was longer than any other in the room, even that of the Most Esteemed Lady Inka Filippova, held upright by a servant who matched his every footstep. No sigil was emblazoned upon his breast or his cloak, for the green and white stripes of temporal linearity that his ancestors had fought for were enough to determine that this was royalty entering the hall.
"Please be seated," Danio said, the moment he stood in front of the blue and gold throne usually reserved for the Lady of Shakin. Akilah took her seat hesitantly, everybody in the room perfectly synchronised as they returned to their seats.
"May I open this most important of gatherings with my personal thanks for the Esteemed Lady Inka Filippova for hosting us all today," Danio said. "As the city of Belermo is currently unsafe for royal occupancy, the Most Esteemed Lady's kindness for myself, my entire family and my court has been most valuable."
"It is a privilege to host his majesty at any time," Inka said politely, with a smile upon her face.
'And how many more such meetings need to happen before Shakin is the de facto capital of Earth?' Akilah wondered.
"May we get to the business of why we are here?" Danio continued. "As I am sure you are all aware, a hoard of Clombite ships are headed straight for Belermo as we speak. They are armed, well-protected, and it seems unlikely that our defence forces will able to stop them from landing in the centre of Belermo. I have spoken to them myself, and they have made a list of demands in return for their departure. In exchange for leaving our planet in peace, they want a weapon known as the 'Tablet of Fortitude', five hundred living humans to return to their home planet, and, lastly, the safe return of one of their own people, by the name of 'Chaac'. Head Warden Toscani, it is my belief that Chaac is currently being detained inside Acqua Fredda. I wonder whether you could shed some light on the issue?"
"We know Chaac alrigh'" Toscani mused from the far end of the table, his lack of a cloak distinctly noticeable. "That bastard killed four o' my guards the day 'e escaped! 'Twas a dark day for us all."
"So we can release him?" Danio asked. "Send him back to his people?"
"An' a good riddance it would be too."
"How about the tablet?" Danio continued. "Is the tablet in the vault?"
"You'll 'ave to ask the keeper of the vault," Toscani replied. "Ivo Iannone, 'is name is. Lovely chap. Very committed to 'is job, 'e is. An' intelligent too. Why, he is the cleverest person I ever worked with. So clever I sometimes wonder whether 'e is even human, if y'know what I mean?"
Danio scowled. "What do you mean?" he asked, threateningly.
"Not'ing," Toscani said. "I know he's a human. Twas a figure of speech, sire."
"I see," the Emperor said, unamused. "Get in touch with Ivo Iannone. Recover the tablet."
"Certainly, your 'ighness."
"Excellent," Danio said. "That just leaves the somewhat more complicated matter of their demand for five hundred people."
'The moment is now,' Akilah realised. "Your highness," she piped up. "How far are the ships from landing?"
"We expect them to arrive in approximately one day," Danio confirmed. "Two at the most."
"We must evacuate the city immediately," Akilah insisted. "Anybody and everybody still there when they arrive are in imminent danger."
Inka paused shortly to glance at Akilah before speaking. "Agreed," she said, "but there's no way the evacuation can be perfect. Some will end up remaining at the mercy of the aliens no matter how effective our evacuation is."
"Then perhaps that is our solution," came a voice from the other end of the table.
"Esteemed Lord Beech of Stelraine," Danio said. "Speak freely."
"We could allow the Clombites to capture five hundred people in Belermo, and only afterwards give them back their hostage and their tablet," Esteemed Lord Beech suggested. "That way, we…"
The Esteemed Lord was silenced by Danio's glare. The Emperor rose to his feet, slamming his hand against the table as he snapped at Beech. "I will not allow five hundred people from my own city to be captured by alien beings!" he roared. Inka sat silently, still, her face unmoving as Beech cowered under the Emperor's rage.
"I'm just saying that the best we can do is…"
"Do not make this worse for yourself, Esteemed Lord Beech," Inka said sharply, staring into his eyes from across the table.
"Perhaps this is an opportunity for us," Akilah said.
The Emperor's fierce gaze, Inka's dark stare, and the rest of the table focused on Akilah.
"Explain," Inka ordered.
"The Open Earth Movement," Akilah said, beaming to herself. "I happen to know that there are over a thousand members of that cult in Belermo alone. We could arrange for them to meet these aliens for 'diplomatic talks', and the Clombites can simply take them away from us." Akilah mimicked a wiping away with her hand. "Aliens – gone. Dangerous organisation – depleted. It's all so easy."
Danio pointed a chubby finger at Akilah. "Yes… somebody who can think of a proper solution. Thank you, Esteemed Lady…"
"Tannoudji," Akilah informed him. "I do hope you get used to saying that name."
Inka's mouth twisted. Danio scowled a little at Akilah, his lips curving into a smile. "Once again, Esteemed Lady Akilah, your tactical brilliance never ceases to amaze me."
"Truly, I am most honoured, your highness," Akilah replied, smirking in Inka's general direction.
"But what if it doesn't work?" Inka asked. "I happen to understand that the invaders can shape shift, and disguise themselves as humans. What if some of them stay, and we can't recognise them? What if they try to mix with us, or take over the planet from the inside? Your highness, we must be proactive in making sure that none of their kind are left alive on this planet after the ships are gone."
"And how would we do that, Most Esteemed Lady?" Akilah asked.
"We must be sure to put the city on lockdown the moment the first ship touches down," Inka said. "And then, and I know this is a drastic measure, your highness, but we must wipe the city of all possible forms of life."
A stunned silence filled the room. "You're talking about destroying Belermo," Akilah protested, looking nervously at Danio.
"What value is an evacuated city compared with the long-term security of the human race?" Inka asked. "The people will relocate themselves while Belermo rebuilds. So long as we can get as many innocent people out of the city before those ships land as we possibly can."
"There are over twenty million people in that city and perhaps only one day to get them all out!" Akilah snarled. "Thousands will die! Millions will be displaced! Your highness, surely you can see this is madness?"
"The Most Esteemed Lady raises an important point," Danio said, his bearded mouth twitching. "How do we ensure that every Clombite has left the planet? Do we have the technology to identify these shape shifters?"
"Your highness, I must protest," Beech piped up. "If the capture of five hundred people cannot be justified, then why are the destruction of your city and the deaths of thousands even being considered?"
"You would question the Emperor's decision making abilities?" Inka asked. Beech took one look into Inka's eyes, before falling silent.
"If a way to avoid the destruction of Belermo can be found, then we shall consider it," Danio said. "Otherwise, what choice do we have?"
"But your highness!" Akilah cried. "Think about this. This is Belermo. Your city. Your dynasty could be under threat if this is not executed properly."
Danio bowed his head towards the desktop, the crown almost slumping from his head. "I hope as much as you do that it will not come to that, Esteemed Lady Tannoudji," he said. "But if it does, then Belermo will rebuild. This is not the greatest battle that the city has ever seen."
"Your highness, think this through," Akilah insisted. "Belermo is lost. Your rule will fall into ruin! Earth will never be the same again."
"Do you take his highness for somebody who would put his rule before his people, Esteemed Lady Tannoudji?" Inka asked, dismissively.
Danio glanced upwards at the Esteemed Lady sat furthest from him. "I shall have sacrificed everything to ensure the protection of my people, should such measures be required."
A short silence fell harrowingly across the table. "Meeting adjourned," Danio announced solemnly. "There is much to be done. I have a city to evacuate."
"All rise for his majesty, Emperor Danio the Second of House Bivona," the green and white striped woman by the door announced again, the entire table clambering to their feet in unison. A slight smile crossed Inka's face as she heard those words, her imagination running wild.
Beech rose to his feet, his nostrils flaring as he faced Inka. "You will not undermine me like that before his Highness again!" he roared.
"Thank you, Esteemed Lord Beech," Inka said, calmly waving him away.
"One can only hope that Belermo may be saved from such destructive measures," Akilah said. "Can't one, Most Esteemed Lady?"
Inka turned her head to the side, looking into Akilah's soul with her dark eyes.
"Yes," Inka said. "Such damage to such a great city would be a terrible shame." She paused, her lower lip trembling a little. Akilah waited anticipatively for whatever words were preparing to come out. "Once again, may I wish you and your new husband a long and fruitful marriage. I hope that your union with the Nor'oix will be of great benefit to you both." Inka's thin, pointed eyebrows raised knowingly.
"Thank you, Esteemed Lady Filippova," Akilah said.
"I must be heading off now," Inka said, rising to her feet. "I hope that the accommodation here in Shakin is more than adequate for an Esteemed Lady such as yourself. There would be no need for you to be rushing off now, would there?"
"Thank you for your hospitality," Akilah said, staring at Inka with a stony face as she made her way out of the door; the wolverine upon her blue and gold cloak shining in the golden sunlight that poured in through the gold-lined windows.