The Makings Of A SeeD

By Bhamv

Chapter 12 – The War Council

Author's Note: I'm sorry for not updating sooner! Please don't lynch me!

The chairs in the presidential council chamber in Esthar City were probably the most impressive technological achievements in a room full of technological wonders. The surfaces of the chairs were hard to the touch, yet the material would mould itself to fit the person sitting in the chair, depending on the weight and body shape of the user. The insides of the chair were equipped with sensors that responded to extremes to room temperature, keeping the seated person either cool or warm when necessary. The bottom of the seat was fitted atop a large hemispherical base and shifted in the opposite direction of the user's center of mass, which allowed the user to lean in any direction he desired without tumbling out of his perch. These innovations ensured that participants in meetings would remain comfortable no matter how long they were forced to sit in their chairs.

Vincent Nimcoti had been in his seat for less than ten minutes, and he was having trouble sitting still already. He, along with his Generals Majykia Olo and Keiron Yen, were waiting for the rest of Esthar's top government officials involved in that day's war council. As the various bureaucrats and military officers slowly trickled into the room, either singly or in groups, Keiron entertained Majykia with what was, in Vincent's opinion, a very unfunny anecdote.

"So then she said, 'No you can't have my buttocks, they're home-grown and I like them!'"

Vincent sat stiffly in his chair at the head of the table, determinedly not looking at the two young Generals in the seats to his right. He tried to ignore the hysterical peals of laughter coming from Majykia. He knew, even without looking, that her hand would be clenched into a fist and held against her laughing lips, and that her eyes would be blurring with tears of mirth; they always did when she found something very funny.

"Then I said, right, I said, 'I'll trade you mine for yours then, my buttocks are free-range...'"

Vincent decided this would be a good time to interrupt, as he had no desire to hear about Keiron's buttocks, "Generals, while I'm glad to see you both in good spirits the day before our first major assault, perhaps your story could be finished another time?" He was not quite successful in keeping the irritation out of his voice. Keiron sat up straight, as if doing a seated salute, said a crisp 'Yessir' and immediately fell silent.

Majykia, mildly stunned, started to say, "Vincent, what..." She then fell silent when the Regent threw a cold glance her way. "Yes sir," she finished, her face and voice expressionless and unfathomable. The three then sat in silence, none of them looking at each other, until the conference room filled up.

"With our recent destruction of Trabia Garden, the Trabia and Esthar regions are now both under our control," Vincent began, standing at the front of the council hall and addressing the silent and rapt room. "Our next step is to launch an immediate assault against our enemy, before they have a chance to fully muster their forces. Our attack will begin tomorrow." Vincent's eyes made a slow sweep of the room as he spoke, and he couldn't suppress the surge of pride and power that swelled up in his chest as he noted the attentiveness of his listeners. "Engaging the armies of Galbadia and Garden will be the greatest military challenge facing Esthar in modern memory, the greatest since the Sorceress War two decades ago."

At this point Vincent paused, apparently lost in thought, but actually for dramatic effect. Then he said, "Sorceress... that brings me neatly to my next point. According to our sensors in the old Esthar Caves, SeeDs have already entered our borders, and there is a sorceress among them."

Immediately a dull muttering filled the room as the Estharian officials reacted with surprise and unease. "Are you certain, Regent?" asked one particular high ranked military officer with a quivering voice halfway across the room. He looked rather green in the face, and Vincent was instantly filled with displeasure that such a coward could reach such a rank in the army. Feeling it beneath his station to answer such a question, he gestured to the man seated two seats to his left, a small elderly man who wore a huge collar around his neck, making appear like a ludicrous giant flower.

Doctor Odine, whose genius was matched by his eccentricity, was quite accustomed to ignoring the rude stares and comments his collar invited. He wore his particular outfit for reasons only he knew, and did not care what others thought of it. He rose to his feet, making his collar flutter and oscillate in response, and answered the officer's question with a slow thoughtful tone.

"Zat iz easy. Sorceresses always have easily recognized energy signatures. Ve have had enough experience with sorceresses to know for sure." Odine then continued, speaking faster and more excitedly, "But there is nothing to fear. I, Odine, have invented a way to counter and neutralize zat energy signature. I have a device zat will emit a counter-sorceress field over a wide area. Ve have nothing to fear."

Odine looked like he would have been happy to continue talking for hours, so Vincent took advantage of the scientist pausing for breath to interrupt him, "Thank you, Doctor Odine, for your report." Odine looked mildly affronted and rebellious at being cut off, but sat down silently after only a moment's hesitation. The nervous officer, too, sank back into his seat, looking slightly more reassured.

"The Doctor's counter-sorceress field will neutralize the enemy sorceress, making her a normal human in battle. Our best interests would be served by accomplishing this as soon as possible. Therefore, I intend to dispatch our forces to eliminate the SeeDs currently in Esthar." There was a murmur of assent. "Our Reaper robots will be more than a match for the SeeDs, especially when deployed in large enough numbers. My practical demonstration five days ago showed what Reapers are capable of. Every major plant and crafthall capable of producing Reapers have been working around the clock for the last five days. We now have approximately one hundred units available for immediate service." The murmur of approval grew louder.

Vincent raised his voice over the whispers of the packed room, "The elimination of the SeeDs will be completed within the day, freeing our forces for our first assault tomorrow. Our first advance will be westward, going over the sea and attacking the island of Balamb..."

"Sir," interrupted a voice from Vincent's right. Vincent turned to see Keiron Yen staring at him, his hand raised like a schoolboy waiting for his teacher to call on him. "I believe it would be more strategically sound to attack Fisherman's Horizon first."

Vincent immediately looked troubled. "I don't think it's necessary to attack FH, they're pacifists and pose no threat to us..."

Keiron interrupted Vincent again, "But sir, despite Fisherman's Horizon's pacifism, Galbadia and Garden could still use the town as a base. In addition, should they control the town, they would also control the rail bridge leading to and from Esthar, putting us at a disadvantage when moving troops and supplies."

Vincent's expression darkened, and he looked like he was ready to reprimand Keiron when Majykia suddenly spoke up, "Sir, I second General Yen's view. We should target Fisherman's Horizon first. It would cut off one possible route of retreat for the enemy."

Vincent snarled through gritted teeth, "Neither of you, Generals, are taking the enemy fully into account. They know we must strike at either FH or Balamb next, but they don't know which one yet. Thus, they'll have to split their defenses between the two areas. Because of FH's peaceful policy, they would stand no chance if left to fend for itself; it is not in Garden's nature, and particularly not in Headmster Cid's nature, to let such a massacre occur. In other words, the enemy's forces will certainly be divided into two, each part much weaker than the whole.

"Now, with victory assured no matter which target we attack first, it's clear we should hit Balamb before FH; destroying FH would allow the enemy the chance to regroup at Balamb Garden, while FH has little of the necessary weapons, resources and facilities they'll need should Balamb fall first. Would you rather fight a disoriented and reeling army at FH or a prepared and ordered one at Balamb Garden for our second battle?" Vincent glared around the room, watching several people wither under his gaze. He then turned his eyes towards his two Generals. His irritation at Keiron Yen arose from the impudent man openly challenging his authority and ideas in public; Majykia, on the other hand, had invited his ire for siding with Yen without apparently considering Vincent's point of view first.

The other people attending the conference looked slightly uncomfortable at the confrontation between the top three military officers in the country, but most seemed to agree with their Regent's view. Keiron and Majykia both lowered their eyes in acquiescence with a nodded "Yes sir."

Had either of the two Generals lowered their gazes far enough to see under the table, they might have noticed what appeared to be a shadow flickering beneath the cracks between the white floorboard tiles. Instead, they merely listened to the rest of conference in silence, staring at the tabletop and glancing at one another occasionally, completely unaware of externals such as the spies beneath the soles of their boots.

Ok, short chapter again, I know. Next one will be more fun, I promise. -Bhamv