April 21, 1977 P.C/2018 J.C.
ORP Pułk. Merian Cooper
Östersjön Strait
The modern destroyer bravely beat the waves as it approached the mouth of the river. This river called Albis in its mouth resembled a small bay. In turn, above this "bay" was a city called Cartalpas also known as the second heart of the most powerful Empire of Arcadia, the Holy Empire of Milishiant.
Cartalpas, located deep in the south of the Empire, had been a trading center for centuries. Thanks to its convenient location at the mouth of the Albis River which stretched all the way to the great Vita Mountains, it was a natural terminus for that maritime highway have was the Albis itself. In this way it obviously provided a window to the world for almost half of Milishiant and all sorts of goods produced upstream were cheaply floated to Cartalpas and from there to the rest of the world.
But this was not just one advantage of the place, the other was that Cartalpas itself was located at the intersection of a multitude of trade routes and the traditional maritime road connecting the Second Zone of Civilization with the Third. In a way, it was located at the very center of this route, hence the city was commonly referred to as Arcadia, the Central Port, in many languages.
In short, the city had such a good position in the world that it naturally became the target of any power wanting riches and profits for this reason there was a long network of forts built and expanded over the centuries around the city as well as the entrance to the bay. Even the revolution in naval operations brought about by the Fourth War of Civilization did not change the importance of the forts surrounding Cartalpas.
Well, and it was also a natural place for any diplomatic meetings at the international level. One of these is the notorious throughout Arcadia, the Conference of Eleven. Every four years, the eleven powers of the entire known world gather in Cartalpas to formally regulate the rules of diplomacy, military action and seek agreement among powers.
In fact, only the last is true, although the fact is that the goal is to keep the peace but not because war is hell or other such nonsense. It's purely about order and determining what area belongs to whom and why it belongs so that we don't have to war over every area in exhausting wars. In short, the world is divided like a cake into individual spheres of influence.
Being invited to participate in the conference despite the rather obvious fact of what goes on there is nevertheless quite an honor. After all, it's a sign of recognition that you are powerful and influential enough to dominate your neighbors and create international order, and other powers want to get along with you instead of trying to take it away from you by force.
This year's Conference was unique, for the first time in many centuries there was a significant reshuffling among the ranks of the Eleven. Out of the honorable group flew the Commonwealth of Leifor, which was annexed, the Empire of Parpaldia, which was shattered and humiliated by one power and subjugated by another in alliance, and the Union of the Magic Academies of Pandora, called until recently the Principality of the Great Magic of Pandora, which regained sovereignty after the Altaran-Parpaldian War, although at the expense of power status because it was forced by the knee of Parpaldia to have two votes in the conference.
Other countries were aware of this, of course, but nevertheless, after fierce battles behind the scenes, it was considered a balancing factor and strengthened the nevertheless backward Empire being widely considered the weakest Superpower.
These three were to be replaced by three new superpowers, the Empire of Gra Valkas which brought one of the existing powers to its knees in an astonishing manner, the Empire of Japan also known as the State of Japan, although the Japanese themselves prefer the word State so abroad they are commonly referred to as an Empire because of the stature of their head of state, and of course the only republic in the bunch, the Polish People's Republic. (Which, of course, is a republic in name only).
For this reason, a delegation had to be sent to represent the invited country with dignity. There were fierce discussions in Japan whether to send a destroyer as a representative or perhaps a coast guard ship. It was a matter of presentation, they did not want to frighten the natives. In the end, the choice fell on the destroyer, especially since Poland decided to send a destroyer. It was decided then that Japan could not be worse than Poland.
Especially since the Poles decided to pretend before the rest of the superpowers about their real naval power. Namely, the ship that went on that long voyage with a diplomatic crew was leased under an agreement signed a year ago between America and Poland.
It was an Arleight Burke-class destroyer named USS McCampell, and along with a batch of the first four destroyers leased from the US Navy, it was incorporated into the ranks of the Polish fleet. In exchange for this ship, Poland, of course, had to send no small amount of supplies to America.
Tons of clothes, shoes, building materials and the like were sent to the area that is being colonized by the Americans on the eastern continent of Sarmatia. Of course, along with Polish workers who helped with the settlement.
The destroyers themselves were given new names for obvious reasons, although rather against the Polish tradition of naming destroyers either after inhabitants of particular regions and places or after weather phenomena. For propaganda reasons as well as to allude to the fact that they were from the US Navy, each ship was given a name associated with Poland and America.
The first two names should rather be obvious to anyone, ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko (ex-USS Lassen) and ORP Generał Kazimierz Pułaski (ex-USS Curtis Wilbur). It would be hard to find more obvious figures associated with both countries. Nonetheless, two more are likely to cause confusion and, among the more communist officialdom in Poland, anger.
Why? Well because two more destroyers were named after American aviators serving in the Polish Air Force during the Polish-Bolshevik War. A war that was demonized and silenced under communism by presenting only the Soviet point of view.
ORP Pułkownik Merian Cooper, named after the creator of King Kong who flew as a contract officer in the Polish Air Force bombing the Bolshevik plots, and ORP Podpułkownik Cedrik Fauntleroy (ex-USS Stethem) in honor of the commander of the 7th Squadron in which the Americans flew and who did the same as Cooper because the Bolsheviks in that war had no air force!
Of course, this obvious anti-communist affront could not go unchallenged in the power camp. While many accused the navy of treason, the navy rejected these accusations, saying that it was first and foremost a POLISH Navy and named after people who had rendered service to POLAND.
Which was the case here, both rendered service to Poland during both the Polish-Bolshevik War and World War II interacting with the Polish American community during peace and war and the Polish authorities. Moreover, both were decorated with Polish military orders for meritorious service.
And the fact that they were both anti-Communists of which Cooper was a fierce anti-Communist. (Hardly surprising, he became a captive of the Bolsheviks but managed to escape and get out of the horrors of the Communist Revolution in Russia to Latvia.) That's another matter. In the end, the one to whom he bowed out of the affair surprisingly was Jaruzelski himself and, even more surprisingly, Wladyslaw Gomulka.
With the latter the case was even more strange because he was an acrimonious communist. Of course, Gomulka can be accused of a lot, for example, his communism, but not that he wasn't patriotic and pro-Polish in his own way. He effectively played on both Khrushchev's and Brezhnev's nerves, making the People's Republic a fairly independent country without being afraid to threaten the Soviets with Mao's China.
It was he who broke the final resistance by saying, "First of all, we should represent Polish thought and then Communist thought. Both comrades came to Poland's aid in a time of hardship, the fact that she was against the Soviets is irrelevant. After all, we also played our best against them. Therefore, I believe that there is no problem at all for these ships to be named in honor of the heroic American comrades."
In this way, another breach was made in the prevailing doctrine, which, of course, very quickly began to have consequences in the form of remembering and referring to the Polish Armed Forces in the West much more broadly and sincerely as well as a revision of thinking about the Second Republic.
Former members of the Home Army, hitherto hiding from public opinion because of the pressure on the Communist People's Army, which attributed untoward merits belonging to both the Home Army and the NSZ, began to come out of the shadows and tell the truth. The same is true of veterans of the Polish-Bolshevik War, soldiers and sailors of the Armed Forces in the West who came to Poland after the war and remained despite the harassment they were subjected to by the communist collaborationist authorities.
In short, the Armed Forces in the East had to give way to the previous hegemony. Only the NSZ still treated as bandits, often wrongly, and because of its resistance to the communist partisans and the people's state after the war had to take constant cover.
Not surprisingly, the "famous" People's Guard the predecessor of the People's Army as well as the AL itself were destroyed by Polish nationalists seeing them as justifiably bandits, stealing from starving compatriots as well as causing the constant shedding of Polish blood as a result of pacification actions undertaken by the occupiers as part of repressions.
If the Nationalists were given a voice, it very quickly became clear how "useful" the Communists were in the guerrilla war. In contrast, there was no consensus in communist society on the truth. But for the NSZ, too, the time will one day come.
Nevertheless, let's leave this song of the future and return to the present.
The Polish destroyer sailed without much effort. The Polish crew, trained by the Americans who then headed for their future home after training, handled the ship of the future without much trouble. The conscripted sailors did well, although they did not show the level of enthusiasm one would expect. The war was over and the behavior of the conscripts had returned to the level of just getting through the draft, nothing else mattered to them.
Of course, not all Americans went to New America, a few of them stayed on as contract officers. That is, with the consent of the American government and admiralty, they were drafted into the Polish Navy as officers under Polish rules. They were given the analogous rank that should follow in the Polish hierarchy, are paid by the Polish budget and enjoy the other benefits of being a Polish officer.
This is not a new thing in the Polish Army, the first such officers were French officers sent immediately after the November armistice to the reborn Poland. Merian Cooper himself was also such an officer. Remaining citizens of a foreign country, they undertook service in the Polish armed forces for the period specified in their contract.
It was somewhat similar to mercenary service with the difference that they did still remain loyal to their homeland. Of course, this had its downside, you could not be promoted as such an officer, you had to disband and sign a new contract for a new higher rank. And, of course, such officers remained under constant surveillance by counterintelligence.
And this one, especially during the communist period, was extremely effective and terrifying. Few foreign agents managed to function under their noses for long. Ryszard Kuklinski is one such exception.
Nevertheless, despite these drawbacks, they were a valuable source of information for an otherwise rebuilding America as well as an important factor in improving Polish-American relations.
One such officer was the commander of ORP Pułk. Merian Cooper, a U.S. Navy Captain and now Polish Navy Commodore John Wayne. He was severely disappointed when it turned out that the Polish Commodore was actually a US Captain. He thought he had been given a higher position. Nevertheless, he did not complain, he was given back command of his own ship.
The Poles decided that a professional, proven and learned in how Cooper works, had better stay out of the way. And now he had the honor of taking the Polish delegation to the Center itself. Which, of course, meant that he had come across a veritable mine of information that his superiors would have loved to hear.
Of course, Polish counterintelligence made sure that the overly curious American couldn't listen to too much, but what he snatched was extremely valuable.
"Kongou, will sail first, Commander." Lieutenant Stefan Michalski spoke up, informing of the arrangements.
"I get it," accepted Wayne. He had a flair for languages so to him learning Polish was going pretty fast. Although the accent he could not hide, and to his new subordinates because of it sounded quite funny. Fortunately, they had a good enough upbringing not to laugh about it behind Wayne's back. In fact, they were rather quite polite and surprised by the maniac's persistence that Wayne displayed in learning Polish and using it in practice.
Of course, when it came to naval terminology, it was once simple and once difficult. Many terms were translated English terms, less often German, sometimes Russian. The most difficult ones were the new ones, borrowed from the Red Fleet. Others, on the other hand, were simple because, for example, they were not translated into Polish what was simply directly borrowed from English after adjusting the spelling to Polish.
Why? One of the sailors simply explained it to him, simply in Polish the term sounded idiotic. In turn, no one came up with how to describe it in other, less idiotic words so borrowing remained.
A veritable mishmash resulting from the legacy of the Polish navy being created from scratch over 100 years ago, well for those Poles it was only 59, next year will be the full 60th anniversary of its creation. Wayne, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to participate in this.
All in all, he was looking forward to it. But for now, he had to deal with the present. He took the opportunity to look around the bay. The Cooper was sailing right behind the Kongou and the Jap was being led by a Milishian destroyer.
And behind the warships sailed a Japanese-flagged passenger ship that carried both Japanese and Polish diplomatic delegations on board. Although the two countries had some reservations and disagreements between them, on the one hand both assured each other of friendship, on the other, with the help of second and unofficial parties, they fought each other in an attempt to gain as much as possible in the ongoing trade war in which the prizes were the markets of the countries of the Third Zone, but they went to such an important Conference together, holding a common front of Earth.
By the way, behind the scenes a simple but practical rule has been established, among themselves they can have disputes but if the matter involves countries from other parts of Arcadia then the two countries will cooperate with each other on a loose alliance basis. The third zone of civilization is the backyard of Poland and Japan, hence for the security of both countries any foreign interference must be stopped. Therefore, in recent months they have worked out the common position they will present.
To also facilitate any further such talks, the Earth Nations Security Council was created on the occasion. Two councilors, one Polish and one Japanese, were henceforth to act as intermediaries between the governments and create a venue for talks. A complementary act was the transformation of the former Imperial Parpaldia Naval base located on an island in the strait between Roderius and the islands of Altaras and Sios into a Polish-Japanese condominium under American trusteeship.
The island itself, hitherto named Sola meaning lonely, was henceforth to be called Terran Island and the two earthly powers established there a joint city and port where military troops were stationed on the island. Under the established principle, the island was to be ceremonially exchanged every six months between the two countries, which was to be represented by the change of garrisons from Polish to Japanese and vice versa. And on behalf of the powers, direct administration was to be exercised by the United States. The Council's headquarters was also located there, and the island itself was to henceforth be a neutral talking ground.
Of course, by the way, the Polish-Japanese dispute arising from the peace treaty ending the Altaran War was resolved. Namely, one point spoke of the division of overseas bases of Parpaldia between Poland and Japan according to the principle of western to Poland and eastern to Japan, the problem with Sola was that this island was perfectly in the middle hence both countries claimed the right to this island as belonging to them. Fortunately, someone came to his senses and proposed the current state of affairs as a solution.
Another less noticeable effect was that the island itself was ideally located on the trade route between the two countries, so it was like Cartalpas an ideal place for trade and conversation. Therefore, very quickly the island itself began to be populated with emigrants from both countries and entire towns and villages were established on it from scratch. For the Americans managing on behalf of Poland and Japan, this was manna from heaven, as all profits from it went to the American budget.
It was at the initiative of the Council that it was proposed to send a delegation of both nations on one ship. For obvious reasons, the ship in question was from Japan.
Wayne looked around the bay, looking for ships belonging to other powers, he had a chart with the flags of these countries at the ready. Very quickly he found the first delegation, it came from Mu their flag was three red triangles forming one larger one on a yellow background. After a while he whistled noticing the size of the Mu delegation.
"It's done, the Muanese have sent a whole flotilla."
In doing so, he drew the attention of the Polish political commissar, Lieutenant Commander Andrzej Michta. "The entire Flotilla? Commander are you sure?"
Wayne was almost offended, he didn't like Michta and his constant questioning. If it weren't for the fact that he was the Commissioner, he would have personally thrown him overboard. "Yes, Commissioner, the whole flotilla, after all, I can count."
"I understand." replied the Commissar slowly, "Ensign Trąbka, take note. Blink!"
A young ensign, freshly recruited from the draft, popped out his notebook and began writing down Wayne's observations. One by one, Wayne gave the predicted class of ship, the number of them and who they belonged to. When he finished, Michta spoke up again, summarizing the observations so far.
"As far as can be seen, each power, even the weakest, sends numerous escorts to protect its own diplomats. By the way, displaying their strength in the form of state-of-the-art naval armaments. Would you agree with me, Commander?"
"Yes," replied Wayne, "Such a conference apparently for the natives is an ideal situation to have a dick measuring contest on occasion."
The crew on the bridge involuntarily giggled at the remark.
"I couldn't have put it better Commander." added the laughing Commissar from himself. Wayne's expressionless face nodded.
The onward journey to port passed without any major adventures, the Polish sailors with solid skill and flair led the Cooper to a suitable channel where it moored just off the Kongou. There they got along with the local harbor staff with some difficulty before finally tying the destroyer to the wharf.
The cruise was completed but this did not mean the end of Wayne's work, on the contrary it was the easiest stage. Now the hardest task, to get as much information as possible on other navies and reveal as little as possible of his own. Fortunately, the Commander had eaten his bread from more than one oven.
The Holy Milishiant Empire
Hotel Grand Imperial
All diplomatic delegations, traditionally, were placed in the exclusive Grand Imperial Hotel belonging to the imperial family. The status of the country did not matter in this case, Milishiant assumed that guests should be hosted as well as possible, even if the country from which they came was barbaric. After all, the way they would treat guests only testified to the host himself, and the most powerful empire of Arcadia could afford exquisite hospitality, right?
The Grand Imperial itself boasted a tradition of functioning dating back beyond the very beginning of Milishiant. Many diplomatic talks took place inside its centuries-old halls. The hotel itself was housed in a former castle, converted into a palace. Although only a fool would claim that it had lost its defensive tasks. On the contrary, these were greatly strengthened to protect guests from any threats. Also because it is an old castle, the hotel itself was located in the center of the city, on a separate island located in the Albis River.
It is here that traditionally, since the Conference of the Eleven was established, its representatives gathered. In the past it was the powers of the Center itself, today it is the whole of Arcadia. Of course, like every tradition, this one too had its exceptions in history before it passed into its present, apparently final form. So it used to be that some sufficiently strong power was able to move a conference to its capital for a few times. Sometimes they would gather in Cartalpas but at a different location, such as the city hall or the rival Grand Imperial.
All ultimately for naught, the Conference always returned to this place. Jan Michalski, a Polish diplomat, felt why. The Grand Imperial was, like the city itself, an extraordinarily fairy-tale place, even the epicenter of that fairy-tale-ness. Fairies, dwarves, elves and other unusual creatures staffed the place, creating the image of an idyllic castle inhabited by intrinsically good beings.
In a sense, he saw it as the home of the Half-Elf Elrond, the famous Rivendell also known as Imladris. Nevertheless, because of his job, he knew well that unlike Elrond's house, this place was not the Last Friendly House East of the Sea. While in Elrond's house he was sure that nothing bad would befall him if he was sincere and friendly, here he could clearly see the falsehood and hostility hidden among the halls.
He doesn't mean the staff, although he had some suspicions about them, this one may have been sincere but certainly cooperating with the local intelligence and diplomatic service. It's more about the very fact that it is precisely with its fabulousness that it tries to cover up what really happened and is happening there. The diplomats, though full of fine words, showering foreign countries with tons of compliments, had mutual contempt in their eyes.
Michalski saw it as everyone just waiting for another power to trip up just to stab him in the back. Even as for the Japanese, he had to beware, a united front, a united front and national interests, national interests. Nonetheless, he had the least to say about them. These at least were still bound by the conventions of Earth, an Earth where two great Powers threatening each other with annihilation had to the heights of diplomatic solutions.
Here there was a veritable anarchy, HME was the most powerful country in the world, but it did not have enough power to, like the United States or the Soviet Union, subjugate part of the world and fully establish rules that are then strictly enforced unless the one who broke them was the one who established them.
"So this is what the Concert of Powers that ruled Europe after the Napoleonic Wars looked like." he muttered quietly looking at politics in its most basic form. Today was a day of getting acquainted, each of the delegations had just arrived. The Polish-Japanese one was one of the last. For this reason, a festive ball was organized for the evening, which Michalski was currently attending.
He had already managed to get to know local nobles like Milishiant Foreign Minister Archduke Peclas. He was an elf of impeccable beauty and etiquette. His poetic greeting stuck in his mind, even if he couldn't repeat it. Nevertheless, if he thought he would fool the Pole this way, he was sorely mistaken.
After this greeting, he met with the Muan representative, Jaim who greeted him with undisguised satisfaction. Next in line were other diplomats. They all unanimously expressed their admiration for the knocking down of Parpaldia, the clever pushing of the Parpaldians into a war in which Poland came as a "hero," and expressed interest in trading with the communist republic.
Michalski sometimes wanted to laugh, they saw this as some clever Polish plan, and in fact it was a coincidence. They simply befriended the first country they met, and when they were threatened with conquest by an old power in the area they helped out, not wanting to lose already established relations and a market. There was nothing devious or planned about it.
It was like transferring to a new school, making friends with the first kid and defending that kid the next day against a known school bully. A simple string of coincidences. The very fact that these diplomats between the lines expressed appreciation toward this plan showed how far they had strayed from ordinary reality into a world of conspiracies, deals, betrayals and planning.
Currently, Michalski was standing off to the side, drinking good wine and looking out over the room. For now, he wanted to rest, just waiting for the signal that it was okay to politely go to bed. He was tired from the trip and had a busy week ahead of him.
Unfortunately, someone apparently didn't get the memo. A two-meter man, with two horns growing out of his forehead, with angry red hair and red eyes approached him. To Michalski, he looked like the devil incarnate.
"Excuse me, Mr. Michalski?" he asked politely and the magical translator translated this into somewhat snarky Polish.
Michalski, stifling a rude reply, replied, "That's right, Comrade Citizen Jan Michalski, representative of the Polish People's Republic."
"I see." said the newcomer "I am Moriaul" Michalski noted that the translator had a problem with his name "I represent the Dragon Kingdom of Eimor. I have news to deliver to your leaders."
"From your ruler?" asked Michalski but to his amazement the dragon man shook his head.
"From our ruler, there is a tidings for the whole world and you will hear it tomorrow, honorable sir. This tidings, is meant exclusively for your ears from your guardian."
Michalski raised his eyebrows, from which sitter? Nevertheless, the interested party wanted to know the content. "Speak then."
Moriaul grunted before saying in an unladylike voice, "My brave, courageous and beloved people. I apologize to you for being disorderly and leaving you in discord. This is the first time I have lent my power and appointed you to this matter. I apologize that I did not ask you for permission earlier, my son and father of us all drove me to my trepidation. You were drawn out for a reason, the evil against which the nihonians have nothing to protect has come and twisted this world to its comfort. You my knights, servants devoted to my will, who are in my son's ordination have again a hard fate and endure as befits Polish toil. Grow rich, make merry, multiply and prepare for war, as befits you for centuries. Help the sons of Shamash to be saved from evil and much good will befall you, oppose and you yourselves will be lost, while the reward that is due to you through the suffering you have suffered will be given to someone else."
Michalski froze in place, every word he heard was engraved not even in his mind but in his heart. He already knew well who the Guardian was. He knew the answer to how Poland came into this world, and he also knew the purpose for what. But why exactly Poland? He had no idea, but nevertheless he did not care.
After all, he is a descendant of Polish knights, who time and again on their own chests repelled attacks from the east. In turn, these do not ask what the enemy is and how many he numbers, but where he is.
The Pole wanted to move immediately and inform his superiors of this news, but Moriaul stopped him.
"Excuse me, if I may. Do you know who this is from? The one who received the vision since then with extremely devout reverence speaks of the Immaculate Mother, Virgin and Queen whose child saved the world. He spoke of you as if you were the greatest knights, those who would turn fate around at the worst moment. Saviors greater than the ancient Hiromarans. That from your country will come forth a spark that will change the world."
The Pole serenely looked at the dragon man and Moriaul could see a strange light in his eyes. For a moment he had the impression that the man in front of him, stood in armor covered in leopard skin and on his back he had two wings going up to curve gently.
From of old thou art the Queen of Poland, Mary!
You speak for us, Mary!
Shake hands with the blind
Cut short the ordeal of the impermanent
Your kingdom be taken in hand, Mary!
He sang Michalski to his amazement, not knowing that he remembered the song. Of course, he sang only the very beginning, not the whole thing. Moriaul, on the other hand, felt the power of the song, it was the same when he heard prayers to Shamash but much, much stronger. It was as if the prayers to Shamash were just an echo, an attempt to imitate that power.
"Sorry, this is just the beginning. The whole song is longer and tells in a nutshell about our devotion through a solemn vow to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland. Ever since our king, Jan II Kazimierz, made it and the current leader of the nation, Primate Stefan Wyszyński, renewed it despite the opposition of the communist authorities, we have been, as one of our poets put it, knights of Mary. There is not a Pole who does not know who sent you this news. Therefore, on behalf of all my people, I thank you."
"I see," replied Moriaul "This is an important person from your religion?" he asked curiously.
"Yes," replied Michalski without hesitation.
"May I know why?"
"Yes," agreed Michalski, after which he began explaining what it was all about to the Dragon Man, vitally interested in who the Queen, who appeared every now and then, was. Michalski, in turn, was amazed at how easily and correctly he went about explaining to Moriaul what Christianity was all about.
After all, he was an atheist, an acrimonious anti-cleric who mocked priests. He didn't believe in God, so I shouldn't talk about him and his principles with such poignancy, right?
After all, he was a communist until now...
April 22, 1662 C.C.Y./1977 P.C/2018 J.C.
The Holy Milishiant Empire
Hotel Grand Imperial
The next day, the Conference of the Eleven finally began. There was an official welcome, the hosts extended warm wishes to all attendees, Archduke Peclas gave a really good speech about peace, the need for agreements and cooperation.
Everyone applauded out of politeness at the end of the speech, although Michalski could clearly see the falsity of these ovations. Then all the delegates were seated at a round table, meant to suggest the equality of those gathered. This was followed by a solemn prayer, each according to their religion in which they were to ask the gods for help in seeking agreement among themselves.
Even Michalski, who so far, as befits an exemplary communist, did not say prayers joined in. In turn, those who are familiar with Christian prayers can guess what prayer he was reciting during this time. Only Kondo Shunsuke did not participate, he was indifferent to it, nevertheless out of politeness he stood and waited for everyone else to finish.
When he did, he sat down and quietly accosted Michalski.
"Comrade Michalski, I didn't know you were religious. I've never seen you with a chaplain on a cruise."
"Because I wasn't, until yesterday, Mr. Shunsuke." surprised Shunsuke with his answer. He wondered when it happened, only remembering how the Pole was tired yesterday to find him having a lively discussion on some topic with an Eimora delegate at the end of the ball.
Eventually he shrugged his shoulders slightly, then looked back at the rest of the delegates.
The first to speak was Moriaul, this dragon-like man with an apparition to be mistaken for the devil in Kondo's opinion, with his bass voice delivered news that immediately caused an outcry in the delegates.
"Are you absolutely sure?" asked one of them, a delegate of the Kingdom of Torquia, Theoderich Hohenzollern.
"Yes." Confirmed Moriaul, "The Warlock Empire, the Ravernal Empire is returning back to the living in the near future. Even more powerful, even more cruel and even more arrogant. They intend to finish what the gods prevented them from doing thousands of years ago."
"We are doomed," cried a representative of the Agartha Kingdom, a certain Vincent van Gogh, in a breaking voice.
Several other delegates followed Vincent in succor. The one who interrupted the murmuring at this news was Shunsuke.
"If I may, can someone explain to me and my esteemed colleague what is going on?" he asked, breaking the panic. Michalski nodded wordlessly to the others that he agreed with the statement.
Of course, Pole had a hunch that the warning about the evil that had arrived had something to do with these Warlocks. Especially the statement that these Ravernals had become more cruel, more powerful and more arrogant.
The request was joined by a third person, a person from the empire that has made quite a stir in the western civilized world. Ciella Oudwin, a delegate from the Gra Valkas Empire.
"I join the request of the representative of the Japanese Empire, Mr. Shunsuke. Can we get an explanation as to why you are acting like headless chickens?" one could sense the disbelief in her voice and amazement at how easily a bunch of unscrupulous diplomats turned into panicking children.
"For there is much to fear, Mrs. Oudwin." spoke up Archduke Peclas "The Warlock Empire bears this name for a reason, and for a reason their name is widely regarded as cursed."
"Then please explain, because so far I see that you were scared of a few fossils. How do you know it's not a malicious joke, this Empire?"
Archduke Peclas sighed, "Because we see its wonders in the form of remnants of its magic and devices every day. Most of the world's progress has taken place by reverse engineering the surviving wonders of their technology. Despite our efforts, we have only been able to acquire a small fraction of their power for our own purposes."
"And these archeocuds, they can even single-handedly disrupt the balance of power completely. Hence, it is not uncommon to fight wars over these remnants, wars that are extraordinarily brutal and ruthless." Jaime interjected, while sticking a pin in Peclas' sage attitude.
The man squirmed, catching the hint. " That's right, representative Jaime is right." After which he looked into Oudwin's eyes. "Do you know where the easiest place to find their works is?"
Valkas women shook her head "No."
"Beneath the water, in the depths of our oceans and seas, there are entire civilizations from the Ancient World, from the time of the Sorcerers." he said, looking at the visitors from Other Worlds
"Unfortunately, unlike the ancients, we can't dive that deep to reach it, nevertheless you're probably wondering where it came from, right?"
"Not very," Michalski spoke up, causing smiles on the faces of the local delegates besides Peclas. Putting this elf's smug nose down, it was always pleasing to the eyes.
"The answer is rather obvious, since entire civilizations have ended up there, deep underwater." continued Polak "This rather means that someone had previously thrown them there, with the help of fearsome weapons. In turn, the only one who could have done this was the Ravernals themselves. Right?"
All the native delegates including Peclas croaked upon hearing the name of the Wizards.
"Yes," replied Peclas, "That's why our world, looks like islands scattered in the water. They are simply remnants of an ancient continent whose name was lost along with the ancient world."
"More like part of the world." spoke up Kondo "Although thank you for the explanation, it explains the anomalies we saw from orbit."
"What do you mean?" spoke up the hitherto silent delegate of the Annorial Empire, Karl Krunch.
"I mean in the world that Poland and Japan came from. We've made it to space."
"And to the moon!" added Michalski from himself "I remember when they played it on TV!"
"It was at your place that they played it on TV?" quipped Shunsuke, many wanted to agree with the Japanese, the moon landing just played on TV? What is this world doing such strange things?
"Yes, we were the only ones in this wonderful mess built by the Soviets* who got to watch this imperialist capitalist event live on TV and radio. I was the lucky one because there was a TV set at my house." replied Michalski
Individual delegates began to burn contacts in the brain, a magnificent mess built by the Soviets? The imperialist event of the capitalists? What the hell is he talking about? Well, and why does he say he's lucky because there was a TV set at his house. After all, it's simple technology! Even in the third zone it is!
"I didn't know," marveled Shunsuke, who happened to understand what Michalski was saying. Though he had some trouble understanding if he was serious or what? "Back to the topic Michalski redirected. We can fly into space, as my colleague mentioned, we even landed on our own moon."
"Are you the ones who flew into space! And you landed on the moon?" spoke up Magicarai's rep, Letya von Styria. Her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yes and no." replied Shunsuke "Japan flies into space, but it was the Americans, our ally, who landed on the moon. At the same time, to warn you, Japan is some forty years ahead of Poland in the future, so for me it is old history, even past history from before I was born. For Michalski, it's an event in his lifetime that he could see for himself."
"I understand," replied a grumbling Styria. "But you can do it yourself!" she inquired lively.
"Yes, if necessary. Though it's not cheap." replied Shunsuke then returned to his thread of thought "So, as I said, we are able to fly into space as well as launch various things into it. For example, artificial satellites that serve various purposes for us." It didn't escape anyone's notice how Krunch as well as Peclas looked at the Japanese.
"To which ones, for example?" Hohenzollern asked.
"Well, it's cartographic activities. Thanks to them, we are able to see the planet as it is with childlike ease." Shunsuke explained.
"Do you have an example?" Peclas was curious.
"Yes," replied Shunsuke after which he signaled the appropriate person from his delegation to come up with the bag. He then searched through the contents after which he pulled out a large A6-size envelope. He then opened it and slid out two large maps.
"First of all, here is a map of the known world." he said, presenting it in front of everyone. He then handed it to his second neighbor seated to his right, a representative of the Nigrad Union, Love Cra'ft. An unusually pale man with finger-like hands.
The man took the map from the Japanese as if in revulsion. He then looked at the contents in amazement, then shuddered and hastily handed it over to the next delegate. Just sitting next to him was Styria.
This one did so with curiosity and appreciation. Then it was taken by Jaime of Mu, who made an ungainly face upon seeing the whole picture. After which he handed it to Peclas, who, after careful study and a few spells, passed it to Moriaul.
The dragon man briefly looked at it and with a short "Fascinating" gave it back to Hohenzollern who sat the longest at it. Then it was taken by Gogh, who looked at the whole thing carefully before giving it to Oudwin.
This one looked horrified at the map, started pointing at something on the map with her finger and mumbling unintelligible words under her breath. Then she looked at Shunsuke and, nodding slowly, said something to herself. She then gave it to Krunch, who looked at the whole map with appreciation and a kind of annoyance? No matter, after a long while he gave the map to Michalski but the latter immediately handed it over, holding the map between two fingers back to its owner.
"Don't you want to know what the world looks like with such details?" puzzled the Pole, Styria.
"What for? I know very well what the world looks like, such a map is something I can buy for 15 zlotys at any gas station at home." replied Michalski "We Poles have our own ways." he added mysteriously. Shunsuke looked at him in exasperation.
But the rest were horrified, a map of such quality is to buy for fifteen units of his currency? And this at a gas station? What the hell are these people? These Terrans are terrifying!
"Later, after today's meeting, we can provide a free copy to any interested party. More specialized maps will have to be ordered from us through our embassy and consulate." Shunsuke added.
"You guys never miss an opportunity to sell yourselves, eh Shunsuke?" ironic Michalski.
"Yes," replied Shusuke without noticing the irony, an irony that everyone else caught.
"Now the next one," he continued unimpressed, "this map, represents this entire planet." after which he repeated the cycle. And everyone's reactions were almost identical, with one addition. Everyone added that they didn't know this world was so big.
Nevertheless, it was evident that not only Arcadia, was the part significantly damaged. Almost the entire planet bore the scars. This was frighteningly disturbing to many, the effects of an ancient war fought in the forgotten millennia still visible!
As soon as this cycle ended, surprisingly Krunch was the first to speak up. "So thanks to your satellites, we will know in advance when the Wizards will reappear?"
"Yes," replied Shunsuke.
"I understand, thank you." Krunch replied mysteriously.
"Finally some good news!" exclaimed Gogh, extremely exultant.
"Indeed," agreed Archduke Peclas. After which he looked around at all those gathered. He thought for a moment before replying, "Ladies and Gentlemen, due to the unforeseen course of events. I consider today to be an extremely fruitful day but one that requires immediate agreement with our governments. I therefore request that the conference adjourn and resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow." After which he raised his hand.
He did not have to wait long for the forest of hands. "So it was voted by acclamation. Recess until 10 a.m., tomorrow. So, thank you all for coming, and may tomorrow's day be less exciting than today's."
Almost everyone agreed with this, all except one person. Ciella Oudwin.
Evening
HMS Ragre Taltastar (also known as Grade Atlastar).
Oudwin tapped nervously with her elegant shoes, known as boots against the deck. The matter got complicated, oh so complicated. It was supposed to be a simple mission, go in, assess the political situation. Find the naive to the alliance, certain opponents and assess the potential on the basis of their behavior.
Not to get it straight in the face that the local ancient evil, which the natives fear more than fire, will return anytime soon. Not to learn of the existence of two terrifying powers from another planet, also uprooted to this world. After all, tomorrow was T-day! The big day when the global campaign of conquest begins!
The door of her cabin opened with a sharp creak.
"My goodness!" exclaimed the entering battleship's captain, Luxtal Flynn "Madam Major, why didn't you inform us of the condition of your cabin door! This condition is unforgivable!"
"I said," spoke up Oudwin, "Many times, each time I was dismissed. Mr. Ensign Framnee said each time that he would already take care of it immediately."
"I'll already talk to him, personally!" growled Flynn after which he focused on the young Major and the diplomat.
"Okay, on what matter did you call me? Because I don't think it was to the door?"
"No," replied Oudwin, "I mean Plan T."
"What's the problem? Should I move it? I have that option if you need time for some alliance agreement that is helpful to the Empire."
"Do not move" shook her head Oudwin "Cancel completely."
Flynn staggered spectacularly. His eyes widened so much that they narrowly missed falling out of his eye sockets, his mouth opened so wide that Oudwin could have shoved her entire fist down his throat without much trouble. This lasted for a long moment before his voice returned.
"You must be crazy, to cancel T-day? After all, we've been preparing for this for three damn years!" he pointed an accusing finger at her "Do you know how much effort our entire nation has put into preparing for this offensive! If we don't move we will completely collapse economically!"
"On what grounds do you want to keep it!" he added after a long moment.
"From this one!" replied Oudwin after which she pulled a certain envelope from her purse and tossed it to him. "Open it and see."
Flynn was surprised but followed the command. To his eyes came a map, an extremely rich and good quality map, of this entire world or at least the known part of it.
"Well a map like a map. What didn't I know about maps?" replied Flynn, seeing nothing strange about it.
Oudwin snapped theatrically, "Look at who did it."
Flynn looked, saw some bizarre name in a foreign language and next to it the name of a country. "Well some cartographic office from Japan..." he paused and looked again. He then looked at Oudwin, then again at the map and then at the woman.
"What the hell?" he eventually commented, "How did they do it? And in such quality?"
"Space, they can fly into space, send such devices called satellites and take pictures of themselves from the orbit of this planet using these satellites."
"They'll see our troops every time they move! They'll know where we're sailing!" realized Flynn with trepidation.
"Exactly!" agreed Oudwin "That's why we have to stop T-day!"
"We can't," remarked Flynn, "First we'd have to show it to our superior officer and that to the command and ultimately the Emperor! We don't have time!" realized the captain, feeling trapped.
Oudwin paused in place "You're right." She looked at Flynn and he looked at her. They both realized one simple thing. The Valkas game has entered a collision course with an iceberg and no one can stop it.
Consulate of the Annorialn Empire in Cartalpas
Karl Krunch was kneeling in a dark room, a black cloak was draped over him with a hood imposed over his face. Underneath it, there was a mask that hid his face and his voice was modulated. In front of him was a holographic projection. It did not depict anything exactly, nevertheless Krunch waited in this position.
After a while, the projection lit up and the image changed to a similarly dressed creature.
"Hello my apprentice Kru'czek, what are you coming with that you asked to speak to me so soon?" the man spoke up in a drawling voice in the true Annorial language.
"I have bad news my Master." replied Krunch or rather what his real name was Kru'czek.
"The children of Shamash have really come to this world and have advanced technology. Capable of thwarting our plans if we don't remedy something."
The Master's hologram hung for a moment before showing a different attitude of his Master who began to wonder, "I see, what technology particularly frightened you?"
"They have the ability to produce and send Eyes on the Sky." replied Kru'czek.
The master became animated "Eyes on the Sky, you say. Really disturbing. They may one day discover the Ravernal Eyes in the Sky." He nodded "Indeed, something must be done about it." he looked up at the student from on high "Anything else my student?"
"Yes," added Kru'czek, "Bitch's minions are here too, this time in greater numbers."
You have to admit, the one who designed this projector knew his stuff. He perfectly reproduced the agitated state of Master Kru'czek. "Who is here!"
"A diplomat from the Kingdom that is the Republic, all their country has come to this world." replied the student.
"Cursed BITCH, THAT NAZAREAN FUCK, LET HIM GO BACK WITH HIS SERVANTS!" cried Annorial in true language.
Kru'czek listened without emotion to the blasphemies against Annorials' great enemy. His master had a really bad history with her and her servants. As soon as the master was out, he listened to his new orders without restraint.
"Well my student. Continue your work for the Empire, the actions of the Spirits, the Mother of One will not hinder the achievement of our goals. Ravernal will return and accomplish his goal and we will serve as a bridge for that goal. The Secret Council of the Thirteen, will deal with this matter."
"As you wish, Master." confirmed Kru'czek after which the hologram went off without a word. Then, already again, Krunch stretched sideways and his bones began to fire.
"Well, nothing, it's time to get back to work. The real rulers won't come back on their own." he muttered to himself.
Well, welcome everyone after a somewhat long break. A little lack of ideas on how to describe the continuation, a few rewrites and discarding ideas and here is the result.
Those who know the orginale know how much the same scene has changed, well, and how much canon has been bent. In fact, I bent it for myself like an old cardboard box.
I hope no one will take too much issue with my very "creative" reworking of the canon to suit my needs. Well rather no one will have, the original is, damn embarrassing in this scene.
Okay, so much in a word of introduction, time for an explanation. Well, maybe one.
*No, it's not a joke. In the entire Eastern Bloc, only in Poland was there a live broadcast of the moon landing. Of course, back then, a TV set was a luxury good for the average Pole, not obtainable by normal means. Either you were extremely lucky, which w is doubtful in central planning, or you had the right connections. The rest had to make do with their imaginations as part of listening to it on the radio.
Now it's time for a joke from the People's Republic. It's even related to TV and has wisdom in it that even today everyone should take to themselves.
A man walks down the street carrying a television set.
- Is it broken? - puzzles a friend.
- No, I'm carrying it to church.
- And why is that?
- He constantly lies and lies, it's time for him to confess.
Until the next one, hi, and have a great time as you read this!