CHAPTER 8

"The state and the queen"

2 months later…

Stories from all around the world were told of the efforts done by the allied forces, but they've also been told of the mission that took place from Orussia to outer space. With photographic and video evidence from the Kremlin, they also proved the existence of another opponent to the Red Neuroi… identifying themselves as the Blue Neuroi.

And the broadcast made from the U.N. Building in New York featured the queen herself, Relius Abernathy.

"It is an honor… for me to stand in front of the leaders of the world, welcoming me even with the feelings of hope and doubt in these harsh times. It is of my greatest honor to be heard even by ears from this world and the opposite. What was shown to everyone was proof of our existence and power that is similar to the Red Neuroi. As you've known… There was always a different culture involved before the terrible coup arrived to take even our brightest ideals away. Decades have passed ever since our planet was destroyed, and now we arrived to try stopping them from ever destroying another. Planet Achaesteres was the first, with our home planet Neuroi as the second. There will not be a third, and in the name of the hearts of those who have died in my name, there shall never be. But in the light of my anger against King Austerys, I seek alliance and coexistence. If not coexistence, at least grant us the opportunity to work side by side with you all. The race of the Blue Neuroi combine with the power of the Lantean technology we recently required would be enough against his forces. We will only hope that he does not gain any more than we can handle.

"So I ask you: Accept us as what we are and we can coordinate a good counter-attack against the enemy. Remember that it's not just your planet that is in danger but also outside it. We have the capability to combat them from outer space as well. But here is the most important since they've landed. They will do whatever it takes to try taking our lands, and our resources at the same time. We may see the horror from them, but my word as queen is to let us both help each other. This is our time to stand up as one against a common foe. Our interests may be different but our goals remain the same… to spare Earth itself. We think not of the future if it is what you refer. But it's what we still long for… your help and ours in return. I'll leave that to all of you. I hope you heed my words for the coming of the worst… and strongly advise you to prepare for it. We are ready to stand by your side, as you may be with us. I moved mountains with my people. Let's move mountains together. Thank you, and I bring peace to you all." Her smile certainly made the loud applause from everyone else in the room…

Director's Office, The Pentagon… Virginia, Liberion… 2132 hours…

Director Bill Clad turned off the TV considering he watched the taping of that same broadcast from New York. He slowly spun his chair towards the queen in her Astral Dress who was standing in front of his desk. He stood up without fear in his heart. "You certainly got a way on convincing people, but this is where I start asking: Did you convince them by the use of blackmail or threatening them?"

Relius was concerned of his doubt and answered. "Then you would have fell for weeks after we were planning. Why did you think about that yourself?"

"Because at this desperate time, you knew you might go behind the scenes to topple us all down while the war is still ongoing. You may have been allowed access to human intelligence while in other countries, but you certainly should not have. You may have gotten jurisdiction from other military installations, but even with your help, who knows?"

"I understand your concern."

"Then you should understand well that this is still a fragile situation. Our condition with Orussia right now is not so sure yet. We're not even convinced we are ready to put all our faith in you. The military is completely different. They believe in you. Two months after what you did in Baltland, it was completely understandable, but even your own methods were unorthodox. You took down an entire Neuroi airbase that could still be salvaged."

"See… that's your problem. You always have the interest of gathering resources that the Neuroi has. Let me remind you: It's what made my former lover corrupt. I don't want the same thing to happen to you or anyone else who becomes aware of its purpose." Relius looked at the chair nearby. "I know you don't feel right that I'm here. You feel threatened that even the Liberion public will accept me and be swayed, putting even your interests in danger since all eyes are on me and the rest of my subjects."

"Alright, alright!" Bill had to shut her up, knowing he had to let it all out from his heart. "Maybe I should ask you now, since everybody thinks you're so convincing then. Why Orussia?"

"Hm?"

"Why Orussia? You've been here to study us the whole time. And you knew about the situation between this country and that one. Why did you decide to go against them first?"

"It's because if I didn't… it would leave them to break that peace treaty with your country. I know what I did made a conspiracy among other parties. But if I choose to help you first, then I would have made both a conspiracy and a complete hate of them to another comparing superpower to your country, and it would end up much worse. Think about it: They helped you against Nazi Karlsland only for the sake of protecting their interests, and that they were also rising in power. Human inevitability brings only the fact that it's what one seeks after being given everything: Land, Life, opportunity. Of course you have your political conflicts with Orussia, but it's them who still needs assurance even what's unknown can be trusted. And of course, at the country who seems somewhat hostile to them, it raises questions, especially to you, Director. And for that, I'm sorry."

Bill glanced away at this and calmly walked towards a window, looking outside at the city lights. "When I was in my teenage years, I always remember to myself that Nazis are bad. Heck… I even discovered the Orussians weren't so trusting as we are that we're considered to be their enemies even with our assistance during the second world war. What did they even think of us? Capitalists. It's what they call us from behind our backs. Why? We have so much political influence, it can sway the Orussian public to believe in freedom much more. Their government believes in its workforce being given equality. There wasn't that much clear freedom from them than here. And that makes a lot of complications in relationships if our influence even reaches them." Then he looked at her again. "And they're way ahead of us now. Thanks to their advancements in rocket sciences, they were able to go first in launching to outer space. It's only a good thing the moon wasn't stepped on. We're planning on that, and it's something you know what we'd do because it should be hard-earned."

"Then that's your answer. You simply don't want what you think is wrong from them to overtake the influence you have on the world you know. But the president of Liberion doesn't want to start a war either. What can you expect from him? A straight truce with the Kremlin? At least you're in competition. Don't make this hard for both your country and theirs. It's not wise and you know it. That's what you can't accept: Your own temperament when the order of things is messed with, and much more with my arrival."

"Damn." He muttered to himself before walking back to his desk. Seeing that she isn't seated… "Maybe you should sit down."

"Maybe if you offered that a while ago, I would have accepted." Relius clenched a fist. "Seeing that you won't and you're still afraid to try means you don't trust me. It's understandable. I expect you can stand your ground, and I admire it.

"Then you know what I feel about it." Bill then adjusted his suit before he sat down behind his desk. "Enough about that. If we're going to discuss terms about our alliance, there will be a lot of things for us to cover. The president can wait, seeing he's got a lot of things tangled on him. It'll take time on our part and I apologize."

"It's worth it. This is something I can still afford while the moment is fruitful. I expect what word you keep, will be kept while the war goes on."

"While the war goes on?"

"I know you don't expect our stay to be long. But some of my subjects won't be convinced and still want to live here."

"I see."

"It's nothing something like my persuasion can fix, but I can't make promises with it. I've given them the freedom to listen to their own hearts as well."

"You won't be responsible for it then. Nicely said." Bill then brought up an envelope and handed it to her. "This contains the documents you need when it comes jurisdiction over Liberion assets and military installations too. You certainly done us a lot of favors with yours, but you shouldn't always trust a grunt to do your job and do things with your hardware. We're square in this. As soon as we find a hole in your so-called alliance, we won't hesitate to bring the cavalry down on you."

"Then we have an understanding." Relius knew how this was going and finally sat down at the seat she was offered by Bill. "It will be the same with your people. We find anything that's going to make things worse between us, then it's only to those people we would deal your wrongdoings. But if it comes from your brass, you will not like how might just do it faster than you do."

He chuckled at her idea of 'bringing the rain' on Liberion. "Haha. I like your style. Well played."

She smirked at him. "There's more to me than what you think, Mr. Director. Shall we continue?"

"We shall… we shall…" With that smile maintained, he continued the rest of her discussion with him.

The rest remains classified.

END REPORT