The moments ticked by, the full force of the words which Lieutenant Tathis had said settling in. Ariadné was the first to recover her senses, immediately beginning to give orders.
"Xavier, send a private to get the top military officials together in the conference room at dawn. I need to tell them what has happened, tell them I apologize earliness of the hour, but the subject is of dire importance. Get me the information from that scout you sent to Ker Telegand, make sure that what the Lieutenant said has been confirmed. Send word to all the garrisons on the riverfront, we need to know where they strike next. Send reinforcements to Ker Tol, if it is still standing, we cannot lose that outpost. Send another scout to get find Lieutenant Tathis, I need her in Cairn Corness for debriefing alive. Now!" Justiss scurried out, sending three privates to their various duties.
Ariadné turned to Luke, "Commander, if you would be so kind as to get the Queen, I will have a personal reception with her, so as to inform her of our situation. Also if you could send for Senators Windress and Organa, I will need to see them as well. It would be best if I break it to all three immediately." she said softly, running her hand over her face. "They would choose to attack now, just when the calm was setting in." Luke placed a calming hand on her shoulder, she looked at him instantly.
"I will get the Queen and senators, they will probably take some time. Get what rest you can, you will need it if you are to work all day tomorrow." he told her, she nodded dumbly, with a sad smile on her face.
"You're right. Thank you, Commander." she said, walking out of the Holoroom.
Luke looked at the holo once more, things just got rough – fast. He decided to go to Windress first, Organa would follow.
An hour-and-a-half later, the Queen and senators were in court. Luke slipped down to the antechambers of the royal family knocking softly on Ariadné's door. She did not answer, she must have taken his advice quite readily and was now sleeping. Using the Force, he unlocked her door, peering into the dark room.
She was indeed asleep, fully clothed so as not to make anyone wait when she woke. The Jedi crept to her bed, taking a moment to admire the beauty. Even in slumber she looked as if the world weighted down on her shoulders. He touched her arm, "Captain? Captain?" she did not respond.
He shook her a little more forcefully, at which point she opened her eyes. She sat up, blinking her eyes a few times. "Now?" she asked, he nodded, and she stood momentarily using his arm to steady herself. She stumbled into the well-lit hallway and walked to the court.
"Ariadné, what is the meaning of this? What has happened?" Senator Windress asked first.
"I was told it was of great importance that we meet now, what is wrong my dove?" the Queen inquired softly, touching her daughters face gently.
Ariadné looked at her mother for a moment, unshed tears in her eyes. "Naneth" she paused, "We are at war" her voice cracked as she said it. "The Echtrians attacked our garrison at Ker Telegand last night, they lost. They are probably attacking Ker Tol now, our weakest garrison to say the least." she turned to Senator Windress, "We are going to need the full support of the senate if we are to win this war. They have a new commander, a General Faruq – I've never heard of the man, so that's all I can tell you for now. He is leading this attack, and it has been in the plans for quite some time."
"What do we know of their plans?" Organa asked, Ariadné shook her head.
"All I know is they are planning on attacking Ker Tol. They will no doubt attack all of our riverside battalions, they know we are not prepared for a mass attack. We don't have the resources." Ariadné replied.
"I can assure you, I will call an emergency senate meeting at dawn. They will be outraged, but I will do my best that all of your military powers are returned to you. Dreadnaught will probably not agree-"
"Dreadnaught is a coward." Ariadné spat, "And I don't care if he doesn't support us. We are at war. That puts a whole new spin on everything"
"But without the help of the entire senate we will be handicapped" the Queen told her daughter.
"That never stopped her before" Regis said.
"I will do what I need to do" Ariadné promised.
"Dreadnaught will demand that the Force-Shield comes down" Windress said.
"No!" Ariadné shouted, "He will not get what he wants"
"Calm down my love, I'm sure we can work this out without anger." the Queen calmed, placing her hand on her daughter's arm, the girl noticeably shifted her attitude. "The senate will make its decisions, and as their Queen I will do what is best for my country. If they want a war, we will meet them with equal force"
"We can't" Ariadné stated in defeat, "We have no extra forces"
"Which is why Dreadnaught will make his demands" Windress said.
Ariadné smirked, "As Senator Organa said, that never stopped me before"
"He will be forceful" the Senator warned.
The Captain smiled, "So will I" she said smugly, going to the door.
Windress and Organa then withdrew, respectfully bowing before the Queen and saying goodbye. Ariadné nodded to her mother, and told her to go back to bed with a: 'We will probably be in and out of here frequently tomorrow. Go back to sleep' the Queen nodded and smiled, waving to her daughter and retreating to her chambers.
Ariadné turned to Luke, "We need to plan, and its going to be a long night." she told him, leaving the palace and going to Headquarters.
Conference Room D had never been so loud. The colonels, corporals, lieutenants, sergeants, ensigns and other top military officials asking each other what they had been called here for. Ariadné stood outside with Luke, surveying just who had come.
"Tyrn has changed, Commander. Look at them. They have no idea what is going on, oblivious to the fact that their lives are about to be turned on its head. It will be worse than the Civil Wars, and I wonder if we will be able to stop the tide once it rolls in." Luke turned his blue eyes to observe her.
"I'm sure we will do what we can with what we have. Aren't you glad you got that sleep last night?" he asked with a smile.
She returned the gesture, "Yes, thank you for the suggestion. I needed it, but I insist that when this meeting is over, you get some rest. You won't be any good to me half-alive." she said, standing to her full height and striding into the room and standing at the podium.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen" she greeted in a tone which Luke had coined 'her Captain voice' - calm and authoritative, demanding respect and attention "I'm glad you could come" the room chorused 'good mornings' and she continued. "Last night, I was disturbed from my slumber by Sergeant Xavier – who had received a holo from Lieutenant Tathis at Ker Telegand. She told us of a threat. A threat so great, that it will make the Civil Wars look like child-play. You no doubt have been informed by our spies that there is unrest on the other side of the river. It is true, I confirm that. But now there is unrest on this side of the river." she swallowed, and prepared to make her speech.
"She gave me a warning. Warning? What am I saying? War has touched our soil once more, blood of Tyrnians has been shed. Echtrians have crossed the Eridanus, and are now targeting our battalions on the waterfront." a murmur arose in the group, murmurs of 'What?' and 'Impossible!' spread like wildfire.
"Tis too true my friends. We have lost the garrison at Ker Telegand, and it is from the very Lieutenant Tathis, which I spoke of earlier, that I received the information from. They have already launched an attack on Ker Tol, which – I regret to inform – is also wavering. That is according to Lieutenant Fergus, who is the commanding officer there. Reinforcements have been sent, from Lieutenant Windress' command, but they will not be enough." her voice quieted, but got stronger.
"I have gone over the numbers of our military, and am sorry to say that they are not enough to reinforce all the battalions. Although it is the front line, which me must protect – we have a greater responsibility. We must protect Cairn Corness at all costs, but in doing so, we will lose many of our men and women on our current battlefront. But, we must remember that numbers do not win a battle" she said.
"They sure help" Corliss could be heard saying, Ariadné smirked.
"Indeed, Lieutenant, they do. But we have good news, along with the horrid. Senator Windress will be convincing the senate that it would be in the best interest of all to return emergency powers to the Queen; and all powers militarily to the Colonels – Windress and Organa. Leaving us with very little obstacles in our way from the senate, which you all will confirm is the majority of our problem. The Vogelfrei will most likely be drafted into our military, and your jobs are about to get harder. We will all need to overcome our differences, if we are to win this war. You will all report to me – or Commander Starkiller – for further orders. Wartime is a very bloody business, its not for the faint of heart." she nodded curtly, and dismissed them all.
"Nice speech, I could practically hear your heart bleeding" Luke said, she smiled, and nodded with a 'it was'.
"Come on, Starkiller, we need to return to our offices and get to work" she said, heading down the hallway. Luke followed in silence, they would be speaking a lot within the next few days – they were enjoying the silence now.
When they arrived back at their offices, datapads were found on their desks. Reports from the various garrisons on the waterfront.
"Six" Ariadné counted, "Six battalions have been attacked. How did they get such a force? They are irresponsible, undisciplined, and as a whole a raucous lot. How could they form an army of such strength?" she asked rhetorically.
Luke entered her office, "I don't know. What do we know about this Faruq?" he asked.
"Nothing. We have never had any records of a man with such a name, but he obviously is quite talented in the field of war." Ariadné replied, looking through the reports some more.
"Are there any leaders from this side that would know the weaknesses of each of the garrisons? From what I see each of them were attacked at their weakest point." Luke reasoned.
"Yes, it is possible. But no one under that name has ever been here, even less in the army" she replied.
"Is it possible he changed his name?" Luke suggested.
Ariadné smirked, "Thats a tradition here on Tyrn, don't you know?" she asked, standing up and turning to the window.
A knock resounded on the door, "Come in" Ariadné shouted back.
Justiss poked his head through, "Captain, Commander. Lieutenant Tathis is here, Captain" he said, "We found her right outside the gates. Do you want me to let her in?" he asked.
Ariadné nodded, and approved, sitting back at her desk. Soon a young woman came in, her black hair cropped just below her shoulders, Luke noticed a lightsaber at her belt. Who was this again?
"Lieutenant" Ariadné greeted warmly, "I'm glad to see you safe"
"Thank you Captain" the girl replied with a distinct outer-rim accent, "I'm glad to be alive."
The Captain then introduced her to Luke, and asked her to sit down. "Now, tell me all that happened at the garrison" she said, prompting the girl to launch into her tale.