Emperor Molt sighed as he watched the landscape go by. It took some time to get some of his ministers together to go and view this weapons demonstration. He didn't like this one bit. Sure, the vision was impressive, and he knew that this EDF had weapons that could destroy his nation. But to get an invitation to watch weapons being used felt like a point was being made. Maybe that was the point, as Rory Mercury said: they didn't have magic. This was likely a way to make sure he would attend the peace table.

This annoyed him. Not only did this make him look weak, but it made the Empire look weak. Cowing to a new threat that they brought to this world. Not for the first time he wondered if opening the Gate was a good idea. The carriage he was in shook as it passed over several bumps in the road. He grunted in annoyance as they moved over the rocks. The Rose-Order knights took the vanguard as the EDF would recognise a friendly face.

Ever since she came back, Molt had been interrogating Pina for information. Size, nations, families, and more. But what he heard; he didn't like one bit. Outside of the aggressor's attack, which he was terrified of, for a start if he made a deal with the EDF they would likely force him to stop the slave trade. If he didn't agree, they would likely force a stop with their specialised units. The weapons alone they had would make it difficult for him to prevent anything.

If the EDF decided to, they could take over the Empire if they liked and he could do nothing about it. This felt like he was a dog being told want to do and it sickened him. If only he could match the EDF as an equal not as a lesser. But not cooperating would make things harder for him, not them. He needed to think about how to play this. What could he offer them that would let him keep his power? What could he use as leverage? What could he use?

As they approached Italica, the sound of a low roar met his ears. He looked up and his mouth dropped as one of the EDF flying machines soared overhead. It was like a giant metal bird with no wings, but it flew with a grace that he rarely saw. It was carrying something under it, a large metal box. How something that big could be carried by something equally as big make his mind hurt. It made its way into Italica and dropped off the metal box before flying off.

Whatever it dropped he would find out soon.

It didn't take too much longer to get into Italica and to the Countess mansion. Molt and the other senators exited to be greeted by the young countess, head maid and the other lesser maids.

"Your majesty," the countess curtsied. "Welcome to Italica,"

Molt bowed. "I accept your welcome," he said but looked around. "However, I wish to see the EDF garrison. I wish to know what I face,"

"Of course," the Countess said. "This way," she said as she walked over to the gate with the Emperor and the other senators in tow.

OOOOO

"Ok bring it down slowly!" a yellow clad engineer yelled as Molt and the other arrived at the EDF district.

While people did watch, they did it from a distance as they didn't want to anger their Emperor and senators. But they watched as the EDF engineers worked to get the metal box down to the ground.

"What are they doing?" a senator asked as he took a step forward.

"Stop!" someone yelled making eyes turn to another yellow clad EDF trooper. "Please do not approach further,"

"You insect," the senator spat. "Do you know who I am?"

"No, and I don't care," the soldier said making the man look at him with anger. "However, for your own safety please to not cross this line," he indicated to the white and red wooden barricade.

Molt just noticed, as did the senators of the barricade in front of them. While he never saw this before, Molt could see their purpose. He looked to the senator who seemed about ready to kill the EDF trooper.

"Senator Talsus," he yelled getting the man's attention. "Do as he says,"

"But… but… your majesty…" the man muttered.

"I don't care if he insulted you or not," Molt said not talking his eyes off the EDF. "It's clear they don't want anyone getting close. So, let's not jeopardise the talks,"

The man fell silent as another metal bird flew overhead. The group watched as it lowered down and placed the box it was carrying on top of one of the other boxes. One it was down; the rope was detected from the box and the EDF got to work.

"Is that armour they are wearing?" one of the general asked.

"Yes," Pina said as she made her way to the front. "It's armour, but not the same armour as you or I know,"

Molt stayed silent as he knew what she was talking about. The armour wasn't 'armour' in the traditional sense. While it did protect the wearer, it also enhanced their stamina, strength and speed. But there were some differences between the different armours, such as the ability to fly and even carry a boulder. But he said nothing of this as he watched as the EDF built their base. The speed that they moved at surprised him and the other senators.

While it did take a couple of hours, they had managed to build two stories building that was clearly meant to be some kind of barracks. But it looked unfinished, as if there was more to come. But still, he was impressed. They managed to build something in a few hours that would have taken them days. The sun was still in the sky and their meeting with the EDF is the next day.

Mot and the other senators decided to head back and talk about what they had just witnessed.

OOOOO the next day.

A party had been set for the Emperor and the senators with various foods from the world beyond the Gate. Pizza, burgers, ramen, curry, chips, rice dishes, and more. The senators and their families enjoyed the feast before them as they had nothing like it before. Molt was also interested in the food presented. Being Emperor, he had his own pick at the latest and finest food available. But this food was unique in a way he didn't think possible.

But one of the things that was clear, was that the food presented wasn't the finest he was used to. This was 'peasant food' but how could peasants afford such fine foods? Pina had answerers, but not many of them. He looked over to his daughter who was talking to one of the EDF nobles. No, not noble, officer, he reminded himself. The fact that the EDF didn't have a system of nobility disgusted him in a way. It made him wonder how a civilisation could survive without a ruling elite.

Pina explained, that while there was an elite, it wasn't as strict as the Imperial monarchy. While money did talk, merit also did and the EDF was focused on the latter than the former. What good was money if you didn't know how to use it? She explained. She also talked about how in the EDF's past that some people with money refused to help them for one reason or another. But that lead to disaster, in fact it led to the fall of several major cities, manpower, civilian life and more.

Those people were tired and convicted of negligence leading to a new ruling that didn't allow for people to withhold anything to the EDF without reasonable cause. From what he heard heard, the EDF sounded like an all-powerful organisation that had few if any restrictions. He wondered how far their power and influence extended. One of the chefs, Matilda Ramsay, practically yelled at one of the other chefs getting everyone's attention. While Molt didn't understand the language she used, it was clear that it was un-lady-like language.

He ignored her as several EDF vehicles made their way to a section closed off to the party area. There was a section of clear glass that separated a munch of seats, that rose up the further back it went, from an area that was referred to as 'the range'. He didn't need an explanation for that. The name said it all.

"Everyone may I have your attention please," an EDF officer yelled as he stood on a chair. "The demonstration will begin soon, if you'll please take a seat on the stand, we'll get this show on the road," he then held up a green headband. "These are ear defenders, the weapons we use make a very big noise that can make you go deaf. So please wear them, like this," he then slid them over his head and over his ears. "And You'll be fine,"

As the man climbed down the senators looked to one another before making their way to the stands with plates of food in their hands Molt also made his way to the stands. A section at the front had been cleared for him and Pina. The two sat in their designated places while the others found their own place to sit. Most of them fitted the ear defenders on, but a few didn't, not believing what the EDF said. One way or another, they'll find out.

Armoured EDF soldiers then lined up next to the clear glass, some of them carrying weapons twice the size then they were. About ten EDF soldiers had lined up before a grizzled man walked out. Pina stood up and bowed at the man, who bowed in response. As the princess sat, Molt took another at the man before realising the eyes he had. Dark, withdrawn, experienced. The tell-tale signs of someone had seen too much war for one lifetime. The way he carried himself, the way he stood and the way he spoke sent chills down the Emperor's spine.

This wasn't a man to be toyed with. He had an aura about him that screamed 'you try to kill me; you won't live long enough to regret it'.

"Welcome everyone, I'm General Takuma," he spoke with a low but authoritative voice. "I appreciate you coming today for our demonstration. Unfortunately, some of the weapons we use cannot be use in a demonstration safely due to their destructive potential," he said as few of the senators just scoffed in amusement. "We shall start with our most basic weapon,"

The crowd watched as and EDF soldier moved up and held up his weapon which was displayed on one of the screens.

"I won't go into details about the specifics," the general dismissed. "But what I can tell you is that this weapon has a range of…" he trailed off as he tried to figure out the distance. "Four or five leagues," that made the guests eyes widen. "It's called and Anteater assault rifle and fires 650 rounds a minute with rounds the size of this," he held up a small metal point. "This is a 7.62 AP round. This round can go though 50 mm of armour," he then pointed to a set of dummies dressed in imperial armour. "That is the target which my man will shoot at. Get those targets moving!"

The dummies started to move side to side and the soldier aimed. "30 round magazine, 30 meters, fire at your own time,"

The soldier nodded and aimed. The loud bang shocked the people on the seats and made a few of them scramble to get their ear defenders on. Molt's eyes widened as he stood and saw what the others had problems at seeing. The rounds were going though the dummies armour.

"What have I done," he muttered quietly to himself.