Meechum sat in his new office, reading through a field report from one of his commanders. He was ostensibly Bowser's second now, and he had begun laying out the groundwork for establishing a new national constitution, utilizing a kingdom-republic framework similar to what had been before the Gora Empire.
Key officials and political operatives already onboard with the rebellion had been sent for, and the top commanders would also be joining him later in the afternoon to establish new maps and structural layouts. Each region would be represented by two senators, regardless of size, and those senators would debate upon and select a king to lead the nation to replace the Empire. Meechum already had his nomination in mind.
There came a knock at his door two hours before the meeting was slated to begin. "Enter," he said. In strode Prince Renoit, who had forsaken his royal title, and now went simply by his other title, Shadowcaster. "Ah, Renoit. Please, take a seat. There's apple juice and coffee over there." Renoit stopped over to a bureau, poured himself coffee, and sat down heavily. "What news?"
"One of my people managed to examine the bodies from Prince Tangerine's slaughter. His findings were completely inconsistent with the official story given by their Royal coronor."
"Please explain."
"The koopas had been dead at least three days longer than Tangerine. The whole thing was staged. Not only that, he also found that the arrows that killed Tangerine had oils from human skin along their shafts. We believe that, after spending time with Douard in the dungeons of the Heavenly Palace, Prince Tangerine had become convinced that the war was unnecessary. King Toadstool didn't want to hear such talk, and like as not had his son killed." Meechum almost sprayed his juice at this.
"Do you really think he would do such a thing?"
"Edward, allow me to share something with you, something that was known until now only to myself and the Emperor." He sipped his coffee, slouching down some in his seat so he could comfortably cross one foot up onto the other knee. "Do you recall, fifteen years ago, when Queen Talia was killed in a botched assassination?"
"I recall reading about it, yes. It sparked a year-long series of border skirmishes. Why?"
"I never ordered an attempt on the Mushroom King," Renoit said flatly. "We said nothing at the time, because we had no part in it. The queen's murderer was her husband, the king." Meechum shook his head, stunned to silence. "The Emperor knew that refuting such an accusation would be a confirmation of the Shadow's existence, and at the time, he did not want our citizenry knowing about us. So he did the best thing at the time, which was to ignore the matter altogether."
Meechum leaned over his papers on his one remaining forearm. "Our new nation will know of the Shadow, Renoit. Are you comfortable with that?"
"Knowing we're there doesn't harm our efficacy," Renoit replied with a dark grin. "But back to our findings and what they mean. Edward, whenever the rebellion is over, whether we win out or lose, whoever's left will likely have to face an onslaught from the Mushroom Kingdom. We've already got reports of massive troop movement to the old border."
"We can't very well afford to send units back east right now," Meechum groused. "Have Wunderweiss send the best mages we can spare toward the border, along with ten of our drill tanks. It isn't much, but every bit helps. Have those mages scrounge up volunteers among the citizenry to act as border guards."
"Of course," said Renoit, getting up to leave. "Before I forget, in case I'm not back in time for the meeting, I'd like to put forth a nominee for the title of king."
"Oh? Who were you thinking, Renoit?"
"Bowser." Meechum took out a brand new notebook, and wrote down Bowser's name with two hashmarks. Renoit may have said it first, but the senators would hear the same name from Edward Meechum.
The paratroopas gathered before Godash were fidgeting and adjusting their garments, all of them grunting and complaining about the way the robes and vestments bunched in uncomfortable places. The Advisor grabbed up his megaphone and cleared his throat meaningfully, garnering their attention.
"I understand that a few of you have reservations about what you've been asked to do," he began, beginning to pace in the Royal Garden. "Some of you think it sacreligious. You would probably be right," he said, which got a few uncomfortable laughs. "Let us not forget why you're doing this, though. The Empire faces the most serious threat ever, a disease which eats it from the inside. This rebellion must be squashed, my friends, and the will of the Emperor known! Our country was on the verge of expansion, of victory over our hated neighbors, the Mushroom Kingdom! Would you stand by and allow these upstart devotees of a disgraced philosopher undermine that glory?"
"NO," the paratroopas all barked in unison.
"Then go forth, and carry out your mission, and may the gods smile upon you all!" The soldiers, dressed all as members of a clergy convention, began filing through the Warp Zone pipes, heading for their final destination- Telucha.
Bowser opened the paper Meechum had sent just before the meeting of senators began, and grunted. He handed the paper to his chief assistant, who then ran off across the factory floor for the foreman. The PA system crackled to life, and the foreman's watery voice filled the air.
"Okay, people, we're going to wrap up this line and one more, then call it. Add one more layer of armor plating to the last line, and equip the remaining ammo boxes on them. We're launching the Rolling Furies tomorrow!" Cheers went up from every assembly worker, and when the applause died down, the final works were set to with haste. The foreman came down from his office, shaking Bowser's hand enthusiastically. "So, these senators are meeting in a short bit, huh?"
"That's my understanding," said Bowser, arms folded over his chest.
"You thinking about tossing your hat in the ring, general? For king?"
"No," said Bowser, watching with quiet joy the mechanical workings taking place before him. "I would be content to remain here, a simple engineer. I think my lady would probably prefer that as well."
"Don't count on it," said Welik, putting one arm around his waist and giving a brief squeeze. "He's too modest for his own good," she stage whispered to the foreman. She planted a quick kiss on Bowser's cheek. "I'm going to go check in with commander Bettis, make sure everyone's ready to haul out."
"Of course, dear. I'll be here," Bowser said, smiling softly after her. When Welik was gone, he faced the foreman and said, "I understand you managed to get some new power concentration boxes out of Sega recently. Mind if I see them?"
"Follow me," said the foreman. The two began jabbering animatedly about the machines, and Bowser found himself at peace, despite the next day's business. In less than twenty-four hours, he would be leading a rush on the capital.
All but one of the paratroopas lay face-down in the grass just outside of the Warp Zone known as North Zone 2, shackles on their wrists and wings, scruffy looking veterans holding them down with spear butts. Jaime had shrugged out of his fake wings as soon as he'd been identified and helped up by his fellow Shadow operative, a chubby koopa named Botto attached to the rebellion's rear guard.
"It was a good thing you caught wind of this," said Botto, rubbing his prodigeous belly. "These are no standard bombs these blokes were carrying."
"How do you mean?"
"They're filled with Power Mushroom and Fire Flower oil," said Botto. "These'd blow up and then keep burning until they was put out with sand or foam. Water'd just spread the oil around."
"By the gods," Jaime said, looking around at the false priests. "Of course, you realize this also means we're going to have to start checking every clergyman at Warp Zones."
"Yeah, that's a bummer," said Botto. "My brother Chiru is a priest. He was going to visit some time."
"Well, send him a letter, tell him to wait until the rebellion becomes the People," said Jaime. Botto nodded, and they proceeded to help load the would-be bombers into transport wagons for nearby lockups.
Meechum thanked the newly appointed senators for their input and for having a constructive first session. They weren't even the permanent or prevailing government yet, and already they had collectively begun political maneuvers. He had expected as much, but at least they all seemed to overwhelmingly agree on one thing-
By a vote of 43 to 7, Bowser Koopa would be named King. The only other nominee had been Edward Meechum, and he was very much a gracious loser.
It had been only three hours since the bombers were captured when word got back to Godash, who immediately called for all Loyal battalions to fall back west and secure a new front line thirty miles from the capital. He'd been tempted to issue orders to raze every inch of farmland east of that front, but he knew this would not stand. Even in the grips of madness when he was younger, the Emperor would never order such a thing done.
He followed this by commanding Eagle Division to come out of its relative hibernation and take the northernmost and southernmost portions of the new border and defend them aggressively. It would take at least four days of steady Warp Zone movement and marching to move the entire Division into place, but it could be done.
By raw numbers of military forces, his side of the conflict held a considerable advantage, numbering almost double the troops of the rebellion. Yet the rebels now had Wunderweiss the mage, Bowser the engineer, and Meechum, a charismatic and efficient leader. Half of the Hammer Brothers had defected, and the Shadow been supporting the rebels probably from the start.
Numbers gave him little comfort when he considered the foes arrayed against him. When quantity was put against quality, the latter almost always won.
Bowser watched the sky begin to lighten, the sun only minutes away from creeping up over the horizon. He checked his dials and gauges, using the comm link he designed prior to the assembly of the new fleet of assault karts to contact his two sergeants of the Rolling Fury unit. "Sergeant Welik, sergeant Mendoza, do you read me?"
"Loud and clear," said Welik.
"Affirmative," said Mendoza, a burly red tribe koopa formerly leading a cavalry unit.
"Remember to use the color flares and back mount screens to guide the other drivers and mounted infantry. Marching forces are already on the move since last night." He toggled on his display map in the upper-right corner of his visor shield. "We're currently on comms channel three. Channel one is connected to general Meechum, and should only be used for occasional updates. Channel two is for commanders Jask and Hetin of the infantry. Channel four is commander Setsok of the cavalry. Channel six is Wunderweiss. Channel seven is an all-contact channel, only for emergencies or battalion-wide information drops. Understood?"
"Aye, sir," said Mendoza.
"Yes, love," said Welik. The sun came up then, its first radiant beams lighting the way before them.
"Then let's ride," said Bowser.