Hello!

This is my first ever fan fic, now i originally uploaded this to pastebin, but was advised to bring it here because of its size...

I do have autism and dyslexia, so please excuse spellings and grammar, but otherwise, enjoy!

-A Tale of Tea, Brains, Brawn and Burgers...-

-Chapter 1-

A soft whistle slowly echoed through The Tea Room, coming from Darjeeling, she sat at a large oak desk, dimly lit by a large gold candelabra. Across the desk were strewn maps and reports, available food, oil - even casualties dotted the pages.

She sighed and looked at the guard stood to attention by the door, her face barely visible in the candle light. She wore a scarlet red uniform, with a black dress. Her gaze fixed directly ahead, almost as if she was judging the wall directly opposite. The glitter of a polished revolver caught Darjeeling's eye, it was firmly encased within its holster.

She noticed a slow breeze drifting through the hall. It had gotten colder since the generators had failed - those same generators that had prompted her meeting today.

*Thunk*

The noise startled her slightly, "Password" the guard called out, placing her hand on a heavy bolt.

"Satsuma" a timid voice replied.

The voice caught Darjeeling off guard, breaking her thoughts, "Come in" Darjeeling called. With a clunk, the guard slid the bolt of the big oak door of The Tea Room slowly creaked as her timid First Minister of Provisions entered clutching a bundle of papers, flanked by a taller woman with blonde hair and a pressed black suit.

"Ahh, I see our distinguished guest from Saunders has arrived" Darjeeling softly said rising to her feet at the end of the table. "Thank you for bringing her in to me Pekoe"

"Of, course ma'am, no trouble at all" Pekoe replied, placing the papers on the table. "Will that be all? I can ask Miss Rosehip to bring you some tea?"

"Excellent idea" Darjeeling replied, prompting a flurry of movement, as Pekoe dashed out of the room.

"Ah, Crown protector of the Gloriana Commonwealth!", Kay chuckled, "To what do I owe the honour of being beckoned to your aid?" Adding a slow bow.

"I've told you Kay, we're friends and Allies, no need for the formalities in here" Darjeeling said, slowly sitting back down. "Anyway, isn't your title the more ridiculous - Grand President of the Saunders Federation?" Catching Kay off guard, making her go a shade of tomato red...

"Well, yes, but... Anyway, what do you need?" Kay stuttered.

"Since the breakdown in relations with Katyusha's People's Republic of Pravda and Kuromorimines Fourth Empire, we've had to divert resources to protecting our own assets and people. Repeated incursions have damaged Koala and Yogurt, We need oil for our generators and materials to rebuild" Darjeeling was being more frank and humble than what Kay had expected...

"Well, our two regions are allies" Kay mulled slowly... "we've not much spare ourselves..."

"I know it's a big ask, but in return, I offer you access to our intelligence offices, access to our engineering department, and some of my private tea collection..." Darjeeling almost pleaded.

Kay sighed softly, "You know how to cut a deal" she chuckled... "Ok, you've got a deal", pulling out a small black box she pressed a red button. "Do it".

On the other end of the ship, a woman in a smart, pressed, red coat, sat sipping a cup of tea and carefully watching a computer bank in front of her when a slow flash and buzz broke the gentle hum of the machinery.

"Huh?" she muttered placing down her teacup and grabbing a small headset. "SFT-107, you are entering Gloriana Airspace, please state your intentions. Over" she calmly stated into the headset.

After several seconds of uneasy silence, she asked again. "SFT-107, you are entering Gloriana airspace, please state your intentions. Over" but again a uneasy silence came back. "Ma'am, we may have a situation here", beckoning a taller woman from her desk. Rising from her desk Assam walked over taking the headset from her nervous colleague. Still she heard nothing but static from the headset.

"Ok, put the ship on alert. Get all batteries online" she ordered her colleague, whilst running to press a small switch on her desk.

A loud screech of an alarm echoed throughout the ship, as crew and civilians scurried to their positions. Darjeeling looked at Kay, her calm veneer clearly shaken. Kay simply sat there with a smirk.

"Your oddly calm in such a situation", Darjeeling questioned...

"Why wouldn't I be?" she replied. "After all, it's probably my crew"

"And if it isn't?"

"well... that's an issue for future me" Kay chuckled.

Back in the control tower, Assam monitored her computer closely. A small image of the ship glittered with little red lights, each one slowly turning green.

"Ma'am, i think i'm getting something" her colleague exclaimed, "let me play it out loud".

"This is Sierra Foxtrot Tango 107 responding to your call, repeat, this is Sierra Foxtrot Tango 107 Over" A voice exclaimed.

"This is Gloriana control. Receiving. State your intentions now, or we will be forced to engage" Assam calmly returned.

"Sorry Gloriana Control, we lost radio in a storm over the Osaka dead zone. This is Naomi of the Saunders Federation Air Fleet. W` e have been ordered to bring fuel and supplies - requesting permission to land".

Assam breathed a sigh of relief. "SFT 107, hold your current heading and await further instructions. Over and out". Grabbing a microphone next to her she unflicked the switch and softly said "Attention. Attention all batteries are to stand down and return to normal duties. I repeat, all batteries stand down and return to normal duties".

Kay turned to Darjeeling and coughed, "See, I told you not to worry!" Only to be met with a small scowl from her clearly annoyed ally.