Original A/N: "Obligatory World Building Entry"

Hongxi reclined back in his chair and faced the wall. The Holonet was broadcasting the news of the Massacre of Liberation Day and the unanimous decision for the Solar Alliance to launch a full scale invasion into Pact. A beep and a hiss as the door behind him opened.

Yayoi: "Captain? You called?"

Hongxi: "Come in. Take a seat."

He turned off the Holonet and stayed silent, listening to the door close and the chief officer made herself comfortable in a seat.

Hongxi: "Tell me, how educated are you in Tianxia's world history?"

Yayoi: "Not, much sir… I didn't exactly pick any for my electives back in the Academy."

Hongxi nodded and let a deep hum. He turned around and stood up, picking up the pointer that laid across his desk.

Hongxi: "Very well, let me give you a brief history lesson. First, tell me Yayoi-san. What is this wall map of?"

Yayoi: "*gasp* He called me by my name!"

Yayoi shook her head of the thoughts and looked at the map spanning the entire far side of the room. It showcased a single massive continent that comprised over 70% of the planet's landmass. The remaining landmass belonged to all the various islands, particularly a string of islands that lay not too far off the coast of the mainland. Of this world, there were three different states, noted by the colored border markings. There were two states on the mainland, one state spanning the majority of the continent and a few coastal islands while the second occupied a large peninsula to the eastern coast. The third and last state made up the island chains.

Yayoi: "It's a map of Tianxia sir. And the three states of Tianchao, Han, and Wa."

Hongxi: "Good, at least you know your geography. Tianchao, Han, and Wa are three very old nations on Tianxia. Throughout history these three states have existed side by side, both in times of peace and prosperity and of war and suffering. They've all been through their version of the warring states period... The feudal ages. Th-"

Yayoi: "The Romance of the Three Ki-"

Hongxi: "No! No, we don't talk about that! Bad Yayoi! Bad, shh.

Anyway, so deep were we locked in conflict that we had lost sight of progress. It wasn't until one fateful summer that the entire sky shook and thundered. As great and mighty our weapons of war were, they were no match for something that descended from space. It was then, an Admiral Perry from the Solar Alliance came upon our shores."

Yayoi: "Admiral… Perry? Oh, you mean that guy from that cartoon called Sayona-"

Hongxi: "No! No! No, we don't talk about that either! Just. Just, listen…
It was clear that we stood no chance against the might of the Solar Alliance, even more so when seeing how divided we were. It was then, and only then did our world form its very first unified government. A representative of our planet was dispatched to represent us in the Solar Alliance and what happened next was a decade of rapid modernization.

However this peace did not last. As each of the three states rushed to form new ties with the many corporations that pumped the lifeblood of space trade, we were bound to run into conflicts sooner than later.
What began as local resource disputes soon erupted into a war of nationalism and patriotism. We began to only look at the differences between our cultures and not its similarities. Wa invaded Han, Tianchao saw this as a challenge to its authority and responded swiftly. The military now equipped with the latest in technology from the Solar Alliance proceeded to wage the bloodiest war in Tianxia's history. Over 6 billion lives were lost over the course of three years. Revolutionaries appeared, idealists spouting their ideals and beliefs. Peasant armies and warrior nobles who had lost their lands and traditional privileges rose up. The world was in chaos.
Our civil unrest drew the attention of the Solar Alliance. Some of its members began to supply and fund the different states, sending military advisors and weapons in the name of protecting Alliance interests. Hmph, merchants of war that's who they were.

And at last, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the guns fell silent and all was quiet on the eastern front. The war to end all wars was over and the only task now was to win the peace. The Council of the Three Elders was formed and an armistice was signed, never again would we raise a hand against one of our own."

Yayoi sat there, taking it all in. She recalled the news broadcast and wondered if this little history lesson had anything to do with that.

Hongxi: "It seems Cera has suffered much due to our interference. High Command is assigning us to occupy the sector seeing how we will be switching to a different ship. They're ordering us to fly Tianchao's colors next to Alliance's, apparently they think it will help ease the tensions."

Yayoi: "Sir, occupy?"

Hongxi: "Apparently these Alliance have grown lax, all they've done in the past centuries was land marines and killer robots. They are referring to our 'expertise' in land warfare. Leave neutral world matters to non-core worlds seems more like it."
Hongxi scoffed and reached under his desk. There was a small beep and a hiss as a secret compartment slid out. Reaching inside, he pulled out a laserdisc and handed it to Yayoi.

Yayoi: "Sir? What is…"

Hongxi: "A laserdisc. It's how we used to store data and information. Inside you will find all you need to know about the IWS Yamato. It will be unlike any Alliance ship you ever served on. That is all, you are relieved."

Silent and slightly confused, Yayoi stood up and dismissed herself. As she left the room, she looked at the disc and wondered how she was going to play it.