Empire troops stood along the walls of the Imperial capital as EDF forces moved in. Beasts made of iron, weapons that can kill from several leagues. But the generals before Molt smiled with a darked face, their ego out of control. The former Emperor Molt was on his knees stripped of royal garments and forced into chains. Pina was nowhere to be seen, likely taken to cells. He dreaded to think what would happen to her while he watched the 'Great victory of the Empire'.

"Look at the scum," a general said as he eyes over the green forms of the EDF forces. "Let them feel the might of the Empire!" his raised his hand into the air signalling for catapults to fire.

"NO!" Molt yelled as he watched the rocks fly into the air and land, hitting some of the EDF forces.

The EDF then fired. Guns, mortars, rockets, and railguns fired. the walls became little more than rubble, building where getting destroyed, fires started. Soldiers and civilians screamed out as they ran or burned. Within moments the city was on fire, and in chaos. The EDF advanced firing all their weapons destroying the city, the empire could do nothing. A thunderclap echoed in Molt's ears and the ears of the Generals causing them to look up as a thunderbolt came down and utterly destroying the city.

Molt woke up sweating and panting, his breath laboured from the dream he had. Moonlight still shined though the windows making it clear of the time of day. He sighed as he slid out of bed and looked toward the bottle of wine next to his bed. His hand reached out towards it, but then stopped. Now wasn't the time to drink, a clear head was needed for the next day. After sliding out of bed he walked over to the Balcony and looked over the city of Italica. The light of the EDF garrison attracted his attention, he looked over to see several of the EDF soldiers on patrol.

His mind turned to what the Oracle showed him. What the EDF faced, what she had seen in the museum. That dream made him wonder what they dreamed of.

OOOOO 3 days later.

Emperor Molt, Princess Pina and an few of the senators waited outside of the Jade Palace, the agreed location for the EDF Diplomatic representatives to stay. While this wasn't largely well liked with the Eagle faction, it was accepted in case of the EDF surrender. But that wasn't likely going to happen. An olive branch was always needed anyway for good diplomacy for both sides, regardless of who surrendered.

The group watched as the EDF vehicles drove up to the palace and parked up. As they stopped, the drive from the limo got out and pulled open the rear door. A group of four diplomats exited. One of them wore light brown robes, two of them wore long official like dresses as did the final member. As they approached the Imperial group, Molt leaned in to talk to Pina.

"What's with the robes?" he asked as quietly as possible.

"He's a Jedi," Pina answered. "One of the major religions among the EDF. They are also ones who weald swords,"

Molt nodded as the group soon stood before. "Members of the EDF, I welcome you to the Jade Palace,"

"On behalf of the EDF Diplomatic Corps," the lead diplomat said. "I accept, and invite you all for a party and a feast tomorrow,"

Molt bowed his head, unsure what to say.

OOOOO

The outskirts of Alnus base had become a sort of town in the past weeks as more and more people from both sides of the gate came to set up shop. Military police, mostly formed from the former slaves and demi-humans that the EDF had saved from the auction block. Housed, trained and given pay, they patrolled the village as peacekeepers. They liked the job, and saw the EDF as their savours.

Yao Ro Dushi walked into this village in awe about the EDF tech that was available. The buildings were made out of a combination of stone and steel with glass windows showing items to potential buyers. They didn't sell weapons, but they did sell food, clothing and limited amounts of technology.

"Oh wow," she muttered as she walked into Alnus village. "This place is…" she began before something strong caught her attention. "Ahhhh," she followed the smell over to a stand where she didn't understand the writing.

A man in a white outfit was cooking something in front of a group of customers. He was turning around dough balls over a metal pan. Yao watched in fascination as the man cooked them with ease of long practice. Once they were a nice golden brown, he took them off the pan and into a container of some kind and handed them to a customer. The customer took them and handed some coins to the guy before moving off.

The chef caught Yao as she looked at the food in front of her. "Hungry?" he asked with a smile.

"Huh," she muttered before looking up. "Oh, err yes, what are they?"

"Takoyaki," the man smiled. "It's octopus in a dough ball,"

"Oooooo," she drooled. "How much?"

"Credits or local?" he asked.

"I'm not sure what credits are," she said as she pulled up her punch and opened it to show the man. "This is what I have,"

The man nodded as he looked. "Local, that's…." he trailed of muttering to himself. "…5 silver,"

Yao's eyes widened. "That cheap?" she muttered and the guy nodded.

"Yep," he smiled as he began to cook another batch. "So, what are you here for?"

"I'm here to talk to the men in green," she said as part of her expression turned. "We have a major problem, and we have ways of payment,"

The chef nodded and pointed towards a pub at the other end of the street. "You'll find the men in green in there. They tend to go there for a drink, but they will try to help people in need," as he talked, he kept an eye on the Takoyaki.

"What do you mean by try?" she asked.

"Well, it depends what the problem is and where," he explained as he took the takoyaki and placed it into a container. "If they just march into another nation without permission or explanation, they'll just look like a bunch of invaders,"

Yao nodded as she took the container and handed the man his coin. "So, it may be the case that they just can't help?"

The chef nodded. "More or less," he shrugged. "All I can do is wish good luck,"

"Thanks," Yao said as she walked off eating the octopus balls, a little more disheartened than when she first arrived.

She popped one of the Takoyaki balls into her mouth and began to eat, only stopping at the taste of it. "Mmmmmmm," she moaned as she let the food slide down her with ease.

Stopping, she looked around to find a place to sit to enjoy this before heading into the pub. She sat at a bench and began to eat the rest as someone came up to her.

"Hi miss," he said as he sat. "I couldn't help but overhear that you wanted to meet the men in green," he smiled.

"Yes, but the chief pointed out the pub over there," Yao replied.

"He's lying," the man dismissed. "Follow me and I can show you,"

"Ok," she said as she finished her food.

OOOOO

"Ok, easy…." Dr Strange said as he helped Duran walk on his new prosthetic.

Duran only gave his name, rather than his title to ensure that the EDF didn't hold him as a high value prisoner of war. But his treatment, and the treatment of others, made him think that he should tell them. In truth he was conflicted and wasn't sure what to do. The prosthetic moved as he wanted it to, but it was taking some time to get used to the feel. Phantom pain didn't help either, but he was slowly getting used to the feel of it.

Both his leg and his arm had been replaced with prosthetics, but the doctors were focusing on one at a time. This was mostly due to trying avoid confusion within the brain as it would think that it had more limbs than four. Duran didn't understand, but followed the doctors ordered. An old campaigner like him never dismissed an expert's opinion.

He was offered a new eye, but declined. He had grown so used to having one eye, that it would be strange having a second. The doctor's understood and didn't press the issue. Time doesn't heal all wounds, but does allow you to get used to them.

Duran took another step before collapsing, he tried to get up but the lack of his arm made it difficult. Dr Strange moved up quickly and helped him up.

"Are you ok Duran?" he asked.

"I'm fine," the King said as he was helped back onto his feet.

His balance was off slightly, but this wasn't the fist time he lost his balance. As he stood, he was a little wobbly despite the doctor holding him up.

"It's just taking longer than expected to use this contraption," he continued.

"It took me a long time to get used to it as well," Strange nodded. "Let's start from the beginning," he led Duran back to the beginning of the walking frame before letting go. "In your own time,"

Duran nodded and took in a deep breath before slowly taking steps. One at a time, slowly moving forward. The leg was strange as he moved, it was like having a stick up his leg. When one walks, there is a sense of lightness weight behind it. But with this prosthetic wasn't like skin or flesh, it was hard and cold without any kind of familiar weight behind it. It was a strange feeling, but he would have to get used to it.

He made it about halfway before he collapsed again. He cursed as the doctor came over and helped him up.

"I think that's enough today," he said leading Duran over to a wheel chair. "Come on, let's get something to eat,"

"Are they serving pizza today?" Duran asked.

OOOOO

Yao sat in a cell wondering what just happened. One moment she was in the alleys, next she was in this cell. But even she knew that something was wrong. She had her head in her arms not sure what to do. Her mind raced as one of the men in green walked in and uncuffed her cuffs.

"Your free," he said surprising her to no end. "We just had a word with several witnesses and checked the cameras. We apologise for this inconvenience,"

"Oh errmmm," she tried to say but the man led her out of the cell. "I need to talk to them men in green," she then blurted out.

"What about?" the man asked.

"My village is being attacked by dragons," she said changing the mood of the people around her.

"Follow me," the man said leading her to a separate room. "In here,"

Yao walked into the room and sat on one of the available chairs. Now she was even more confused about what to do, it helped that they could understand her, but That didn't explain what was happening right now. It didn't take long for someone high up to walk in.

"I'm General Hazuma," he said as he sat opposite her. "You said you had a dragon problem,"

"Yes," Yao smiled. "My village is under attack from two dragons, one of them a fire dragon. I thought that if I got here, I could try to ask you to help. Or buy the weapons that you used,"

Hazuma nodded and brought a map up. "Show me where your village is," he said.

Yao nodded and pointed, but as she did Hazuma's face turned grim. "That's in another nation, out of our jurisdiction," he said.

"Wa…what?" Yao asked unsure what to say.

Before Hazuma could answer an old man walked in. "Ahh are you Hazuma?" he asked before he looked to the map. "Is something serious going on?"

"Sir, this is…" Hazuma began to say but Yao spoke up.

"King Duran?" she exclaimed. "We thought you died,"

All eyes then turned to the old man, who gave them an awkward smile.