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Snow melts on the oxidized copper roofs of the Governor's Palace in Xenokuni City, forming icicles that hang from the gutters and reflect the morning sunlight. Shinri Josuiji looks up at the melting snow and feels the warmer winds blow from the distant southern coast, heralding the looming end of winter.
'Ah. La primavera…' Shinri mutters in Xenokunian.
Fond memories of the spring come to his mind: the snowfields giving way to the vast green meadows and the valley flowers in full bloom. Places from the smallest rural settlements to the great, sprawling metropolis that is Xenokuni City would emerge from the winter full of color and life. And at the heart of it all were the processions of the Xenokunian Tri-Spirit Church.
Shinri smiles. He traces a triangle through the air, muttering a short prayer.
He imagines those processions honoring the three Holy Mothers, celebrating the arrival of spring.
In his mind, he sees processions of images of Towa, Kanata and Irys mounted upon horse drawn carriages, adorned with springtime Xenokunian flowers and paraded through the streets of Xenokuni City: traditions that have changed ever so slightly but continued over the centuries. The carriages, priests and devotees would go and pray alongside the icons and march together from the Grand Cathedral to the Governor's Palace to the parade grounds alongside the Baseball Stadium, spreading flowers and goodwill.
Nothing stopped the Tri-Spirit festivals in Xenokunian lands.
Not the schism that tore apart the empire of antiquity that gave rise to Kanataism and Towaism in Elysium and Pavolia. Not the wars that Xenokuni fought against Elysium nor Pavolia nor the many nations that would become the INU. Not even the Elysian occupation of Xenokuni just decades ago. Even Pavolian rule under Moona Hoshinova permitted it to continue.
Tradition would break that year.
On the 1,948th year of the common Tri-Spirit calendar, no such procession would commence. The thought leaves a bitter taste in Shinri's mouth.
He opens his eyes and looks out from the courtyard to the Grand Cathedral across the banks of the Emerald River. A Pavolian flag flies from its poles, the statues of the Holy Mothers at the cathedral grounds are toppled and the belltower does not ring for Xenokuni.
Sorrow grips at his heart.
'At least the Cathedral still stands.' Shinri thinks, clutching his heart over his fluttering poncho, 'We had to surrender the place lest it be destroyed in the fighting. The Pavolian Towaists still acknowledge the Cathedral as a holy site. There are relics of the Holy Mother Towa housed there too, so they wouldn't dare…'
While he speaks, the bells of the Grand Cathedral suddenly ring.
"... huh?" Shinri gasps.
They ring to the tune of the Pavolian National Anthem.
'Pavolia Raya'
Shinri furrows his brow and stills his breath. Displaced Xenokunian residents, Resistance fighters and straggler soldiers of the Elysian Army emerge from within the Governor's Palace.
"Sir Shinri?" asks an Elysian soldier, clutching the, "What's going on?"
"Give me your binoculars." Shinri urges the soldier.
The soldier gives him the binoculars and Shinri looks out to the Cathedral.
He sees Pavolian soldiers gathering at the front yard of the cathedral saluting the Pavolian flag. Dozens of trucks, half-tracks and armored cars roll down the streets along the cathedral all carrying even more troops.
"They're preparing to attack the city again." Shinri reports, speaking in Xenokunian and repeating in Elysian, "Alert the troops at the frontlines and rally the reserves. We'll repel their assaults just like we have this past month. Pavlova wants this city intact so they'll fight street by street, house by house - and we will make them pay!"
The Resistance fighters and the Elysian soldiers cheer, invigorated by Shinri's indomitable spirit.
However, plumes of stubborn snow from the snowfields rise up in the distance. Shinri wields the binoculars again and looks out.
He gulps.
"Tanques… HaKu Quatros y Cincos… HaKu IV's and V's!" Shinri reports, unable to believe his eyes, "Their fucking Empress wants this city intact, doesn't she!? Mierda, what are they doing!?"
Despite his protests, the tanks cross through the outskirts and join the massing troops by the Grand Cathedral.
And then, all of a sudden, powerful explosions rip through the Grand Cathedral.
Shinri's face goes pale. The crowd gathered at the Governor's Palace courtyard gasps. Many of the faithful weep or gnash their teeth in anguish.
"Diosas mias…" He croaks, watching as the heart of the Xenokunian Trinitarian Church crumbles to dust before his eyes, "¡Fue la casa de la Santa Madre Towa tambien! ¡ESTUPIDOS! MOTHER TOWA'S HOUSE ALSO!"
His laments fall on deaf ears. The cathedral belltower groans and tumbles sideways. Then, it smashes down onto the Emerald River, forming a rough bridge towards the opposite bank.
At the same time, Pavolian field guns and heavy artillery begin firing indiscriminately upon Xenokuni City. Not even the walls of the hallowed Governor's Palace, now turned into a large refugee camp, is spared from the bombardment.
Heavy artillery shells smash through the walls of the grand mansion, shattering windows, toppling walls and collapsing roofs. Pandemonium erupts in the besieged building.
"EVERYONE, PREPARE FOR COMBAT!" Shinri roars.
The Resistance fighters and the Elysian soldiers salute him and scramble to their positions. Shinri finds the Elysian soldier from earlier, returns his binoculars to him and pulls him aside.
"If you have any way of contacting Baelz Hakos' forces, do so. Search for Fenix, Kiara Takanashi. She will listen to our plea. Something's changed. Zeta Vestia's out for blood - and we're going to need their help."
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Far to the South-East, the Elysian Exclave at Poseidon's Point echoes with song and cheer as Colonel Ravencroft's CONCOM forces triumphantly enter the city and join with Lt. Col. Hakos. The two highest ranking officers of the Elysian Army on Continental soil shake hands and greet the brave defenders of the liberated, albeit heavily damaged city.
The Province of Poseidon's Point has been liberated, say commentators on Elysian Army radio broadcasts. They assure the listeners that the Manor House and Xenokuni City itself will soon follow.
Colonel Ravencroft, having tasted true victory for the first time, certainly feels so. Her subordinate Lt. Col. Hakos and her adjutant Major Novella, however, are far more muted in their joy.
The two of them know that while they entertain the impressionable Colonel Ravencroft, a much less cheerful and triumphant scene is currently playing out within the walls of the Exclave Prison.
Shrill screaming and thrashing echo in a secluded ward of the Prison as Mumei Nanashi, formerly known as 'Agent Satwa', is dragged to her cell by Elysian military police. Her shackles rattle around her wrists as she struggles to break free, kicking and screaming every step of the way.
Lieutenant Ollie Kureiji and Sergeant Regis Altare accompany the military police but they keep their distance from her. After all, the owl girl tries to swipe at them any chance she gets. The both of them already have some shallow bruises from Mumei's many fierce but futile attempts to escape.
Another figure accompanies the two officers: Kronii Ouro, the prison warden. At least, she was the warden until early that morning.
"What do you mean I'm not the Warden anymore?" Kronii protests.
"You very nearly fed this owl-girl information about a secret tank company, Warden." Ollie answers sharply, "The Military Police will take over this prison's operations."
"That seems a little excessive…" Kronii stammers, still arguing for her position, "Isn't she… isn't she just an Elysian who was coerced into feeding information to the Pavolians?"
"She was an active combatant, Warden Ouro." Altare interjects, shaking his head, "She manned a tank destroyer that destroyed many of 4th Company's tanks and she directly commanded Pavolian forces assaulting the Exclave!"
"And this insane owl tried to kill a high-ranking Pavolian officer who was trying to surrender!" Ollie adds sharply, "8th Company caught her trying to flee from the crime scene back to Pavolian lines. She isn't innocent in the slightest."
Kronii covers her face and grits her teeth. She remembers the sweet, albeit distant and unusual demeanor of Mumei when the two of them met many times for coffee. The accusations that Ollie and Altare are throwing at Mumei now seem absurd to her.
"You still don't believe us?" Altare tests Kronii, "Her wild screaming doesn't shake you?"
"I… I just can't. This seems like an entirely different person." Kronii admits, "I want to believe that you're wrong."
Altare and Ollie turn to each other.
"Alright then. We'll show you just how much of a 'true believer' of Zeta she is." Ollie asserts, "We're just about to interrogate her. Come watch."
Altare breaks rank and then points to Kronii's holster.
"But surrender your sidearm, please. And don't show yourself to her." He urges her.
Kronii heaves a sigh and gives Altare her M1911 pistol. With that, she follows Altare, Ollie and the guards who bring Mumei to her cell. They throw her in and lock her behind the steel bar door.
The ex-warden stays out of sight like she promised but lingers within earshot of the cell, holding onto unreasonable hope. Then, Ollie and Altare call out to Mumei from behind the bars.
…
"You failed in your mission 'Agent Satwa'." Altare berates her, folding his arms and cashing his shadow over her, "Major Ina'nis Ninomae survived your attack and she was able to continue her appeal. The frontline of the Pemaloe Detachment has also collapsed and retreated out of Poseidon's Point."
Ollie stands beside him and adds, "I've just gotten word as well that the Elysian Prime Minister, Fauna Ceres, has spoken with our Empress Reine Pavolia over the telephone. Through the INU embassies, of course. An uncensored conversation, unlike the ones that her compromised Imperial Council gives her."
Even under Ollie's and Altare's shadows, Mumei smirks defiantly and speaks in perfect Elysian.
"You fools talk like that makes a difference in this war." Mumei growls, glaring right back at her captors.
"It will make a difference. The role of Grand Marshal was bestowed upon Zeta by the Empress with an Imperial stamp seal and a signature." Ollie reminds her, "With all this evidence against Zeta, Empress Reine can revoke that title and eject her from the Armed Forces."
"And when that happens, the war will soon come to an end." Altare adds, "Zeta Vestia will answer for her crimes, and loyalists like you will follow her fate."
This time, Mumei laughs.
"Assuming that the Armed Forces will listen to a weak-willed Empress who has been living it up in the Blue Throne while thousands upon thousands of Pavolians give up their lives for our righteous cause."
Ollie and Altare furrow their brows. Kronii, on the other hand, goes pale.
'Righteous cause?' Kronii thinks, 'Zeta's forces have caused so much suffering. The HaKugrenadier prisoners here, the Zeta loyalists, boast about their heinous deeds in broken Elysian. W-why… why does Mumei share their pride?'
Kronii dares to peek over the corner. She sees Mumei's gleeful grin. Mumei suddenly turns towards Kronii and her grin grows wider.
"Ah, Kronii. So you were here too." Mumei speaks to her, delighted as Kronii grows even more pale, "Does this surprise you? The true face of civilizations at war?"
It makes Kronii shudder and squirm. Mumei's eyes then shine with delight.
"You know, I was planning to hold my tongue and watch you fools suffer your inevitable fates. But seeing your adorable reactions has made me change my mind." Mumei turns from Kronii to Altare and then to Ollie, "Lady Vestia has called me and chosen me as her messenger - her prophet. Your attempts to dethrone my Lady as Grand Marshall will be futile. For, if the Pavolian civilization does not embrace the bright future that Lady Vestia brings, then she will burn that civilization down and build anew from its ashes!"
Ollie's face goes red with fury.
"ANJING! What are you trying to say!?" Ollie snaps.
"Lady Vestia is no mere human but a goddess of War that will lead Pavolia, or the civilization that will take its divine mantle, to ultimate victory. If the Empress Reine Pavolia I dares to stand in the way, then the Empress will know the wrath of a goddess - just like Moona Hoshinova before her!"
Ollie winces and grits her teeth. Her stomach feels like it's been twisted into knots.
"Before she became Empress… Reine was a dear friend of mine." Ollie hisses, clutching at her heart. She looms over Mumei behind the bars and demands, "What are you planning to do to her?"
"The Pavolian Army does not want 'peace', but 'victory'! If she dares to defy a goddess and deny my fellow soldiers' desires for victory, then Empress Reine Pavolia will die. And she knows this." Mumei answers confidently, "So, whether or not the Empress makes the right decision, the grand spectacles of merciful flame from Lady Vestia will continue unhindered."
'Grand spectacles.' Kronii shudders, pondering Mumei's words, 'War crimes.'
"Is that why the Pavolian Army suddenly started firebombing Xenokuni City!?" Altare growls, "We heard it over the radio - they demolished the Tri-Spirit Cathedral and sent tanks into the streets!"
"The first of many spectacles." Mumei smirks and shrugs whimsically, "You know what they say - out with the old, and in with the new. The so-called Holy Mothers had their time, but they never answered our prayers. Lady Vestia does. She answers with steel and flame in ways that the false goddesses never could!"
"HALF A MILLION CIVILIANS ARE STILL STUCK IN THAT CITY!" Altare shouts, banging on the bars.
"And so are a significant number of Xenokuni Resistance fighters, remnants of the Elysian Army and traitors loyal to Moona Hoshinova left behind in your pitiful retreat back to Poseidon's Point." Mumei answers coldly, "They had their chance to disperse and flee but have stayed put in that city. Now it will be their grave."
Mumei raises her hands to the ceiling of her cell and speaks with hellfire and brimstone.
"Xenokuni City will be an altar that runs red with half a million people's blood!" Mumei chuckles, "Your 'historians' will write Lady Vestia's glorious deeds in that blood! It will be a procession of carnage that will purge this continent clean once and for all!"
"ENOUGH! I've heard enough." Ollie snaps. She turns to the military police and orders, "Have her under constant watch. Keep her away from the HaKugrenadier prisoners in this joint."
"Yes, ma'am!" The military police salute her.
Mumei, on the other hand, laughs maniacally.
"You can turn me into a martyr, Ollie Kureiji, but that will not stop the inevitable!" Mumei declares, slipping into a laughing fit.
She quickly salutes the military police and then calls, "Sergeant Regis. Warden Ouro. With me."
Together, they walk away from Mumei's cell but her laughter continues to echo behind them. They leave the prison block and march out before the laughter subsides. Ollie walks with quickened steps, blazing ahead of Altare and Kronii.
"Are you convinced now, Warden Ouro?" Ollie asks, glancing over her shoulder.
Kronii lowers her head.
"I understand now, Lieutenant Kureiji. Mumei is… too far gone." Kronii frowns and closes her eyes, "She's even worse than the worst of the HaKugrenadiers I had locked up here. I searched her words and watched her gestures, hoping to see some shred of remorse… but there was none. Kanata almighty… to think that she was actually an Elysian once upon a time."
"Evil transcends nationalities, race, religion and rank. It goes deeper than that." Altare comments, looking back at the prison block behind him, "Feed it the right words, promises and acts, and you'll raise fanatics like her. 'True believers', as the OSS calls them. They will view themselves as heroes and justify their crimes as necessary."
Kronii nods and salutes Ollie and Altare.
"I will leave the operation of the Exclave Prison in the hands of the Military Police. In the meantime, I'll join the local militia or the city garrison and serve there."
Ollie and Altare return her salute.
"Thank you for understanding." Ollie commends her.
"But if I may ask for just one thing before I go." Kronii pauses and takes a deep breath, "I… want to be there when Mumei Nanashi pays for her part in this madness. And if it comes to that… I want to be the one to pull the trigger."
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Approximately twelve hours ago, at the opposite end of the Continent, the INU Embassy to Pavolia at the Blue Throne metropolis was abuzz. Even at the ungodly twilight hours, the few night-shift staffers of the INU embassy muttered and chattered as a peculiar figure stood out and marched through the red carpeted halls.
The Empress Reine Pavolia, dressed in her imperial regalia hidden beneath a trench coat. A bowler cap adorned her head instead of the Imperial Garuda Crown and she wore sunglasses even in the dead of night. Only a small cadre of her bodyguards accompanied her dressed in plainclothes as well.
A haggard, hastily-dressed INU Ambassador Watame Tsunomaki, clad in a blazer thrown over silken pajamas, emerged from her home-office and gussied up as she tried to catch up to the Empress. However, Reine didn't stop to acknowledge the ambassador and marched on through the halls.
"Y-your Excellency!" Ambassador Tsunomaki called out to her. She hobbled together a greeting, "Konbanwa. W-we are honored by your, uh… sudden, presence here. Uh… chotto! Chotto matte kudasai! What is your business with us… with the INU?"
"I'm going to the Long Distance Telephone Room." Reine answered briskly, navigating through the halls without a guide, "That room has a singular purpose, which I believe you are aware of, Ambassador Tsunomaki."
Watame paused and she stammered in disbelief.
"Of course I know what that room is for… but what are you planning to disc-"
"Those are Pavolian state secrets that I do not wish to divulge." Reine snapped at Watame, "The INU volunteered to be messengers - intermediaries - between Pavolia and Elysium. So now, I call upon the INU to fulfill their obligations."
Watame nodded sheepishly.
"Of course, of course, your Excellency!" Watame tried to reassure her, "I will contact our embassy in Metro Elysium immediately. Ambassador Shiranui will accommodate the call, but the time difference will be…"
"I'm willing to wait." Reine declared, "But my visit to this embassy today must not be made public. Nobody but you, Ambassador Shiranui and Prime Minister Ceres and I will know about this conversation."
"Not even your Imperial Council?" Watame tilted her head.
"Especially not my Imperial Council. I came here in person instead of calling or sending a messenger for a reason." Reine swiftly rebuffed, "So, get your story straight. Right now, I'm just a regular Pavolian citizen who urgently needs travel documents and a visa for the INU."
"That's a bit of a fanciful alibi, your Exce…" Watame tried to comment, but Reine cut her off.
"Remember, Ambassador Tsunomaki, that you're on thin ice after the fiasco with the INU Trade Delegation here in the Blue Throne months ago. That pair of Elysian OSS officers who infiltrated the country through the delegation under your watch? The pair that stole strategic intelligence and flew away in a stolen Pavolian warplane?"
"Urk…" Watame went pale and shriveled up.
Reine snorted and continued.
"You're fortunate that I haven't lodged a protest with General Secretary Inugami to replace and expel you from Pavolia. Step out of line and you'll be on the first plane out of the Blue Throne to Pekoland."
Watame recoiled and gulped, but she redoubled her bow, "I understand, your Excellency. As you wish. Your visit will be kept secret - upon my honor and the honor of the INU. Please wait in our consular office in the meantime."
With that, Watame led the disguised Empress into one of their consular offices and let her stay there. Her plainclothes bodyguards stayed with her and kept watch inside and outside of the room, keeping the rest of the INU embassy staffers from getting close.
Just as Watame warned, Reine had to wait for a while. She busied herself looking around the room, reading the books stowed away in the consular office's little library. Even though most of the books are in INU Standard Momosuzunese, Reine read it without trouble.
'I didn't think Pochi-mama's Momosuzunese lessons would come in handy like this.' Reine thought as she flipped through the pages, 'At least I won't die of boredom today.'
When she thought this, she found an old picture of her Pochi-mama, Empress Goya IV of Pavolia, meeting with then General Secretary Botan Shishiro in Pekoland.
Reine's lips twisted into a frown and she rubbed the picture with her finger.
'How I miss you, mother.' She muttered softly, 'If you saw the world as it is today… would you have been able to smile as brightly as you did back then?'
While Reine stood in the consular office with that book cradled in her arms, her mind started to wander.
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…
In the eye of Reine's mind, she felt herself revert back to a young girl clad in the dress uniform of the Pavolian Youth. That younger Reine, holding her puffy blue beret down with her hand over her long locks of white hair as she ran, sprinted towards her mother.
Empress Goya IV had been in the middle of a meeting with her Imperial Council, but that did not matter to the younger Reine at the time. She wanted to be with her mother and tell her about her first day at the Pavolian Youth.
"Mama! Mama!" cried young Reine as she barged into the halls of the Istana Merakyat palace.
"Reine…?" Empress Goya gasped, surprised to see the young girl covered head to toe in regal blue.
Just about all of the ministers of the Imperial Council voiced their displeasure about Reine's interruption, but Empress Goya IV quietly dismissed the Council and sent her ministers home for the afternoon. Then, she sat down, gently put the little Reine on her lap and listened to her exuberant stories about her first day.
From how the teacher praised her singing of Pavolia Raya, to how they made flower crowns for the tankers who showed off the new HaKu II tankettes in a military procession to how she met her first and closest friends.
Moona Hoshinova, a helpful and friendly upperclassman who played the piano for her while she sang the anthem.
Kaela Kovalskia, a quiet but hardworking classmate who knew a lot about tanks even at her young age.
Ollie Kureiji, a lively girl from another class who just never seemed to run out of energy and befriended just about everybody.
And Zeta Vestia, a curious girl who spoke about great dreams that she had for the country.
…
Reine awakened from her fanciful daydream and she returned to the small consular office of the INU Embassy. She immediately noticed the four empty chairs in the room gathered around the table before her.
For a moment, afterimages of her four dear friends sat on those seats and smiled at Reine. But in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
'Moona-simpai was murdered. Kaela was assassinated. And now… the two old friends I have left are about to kill each other on the battlefield.'
Tears formed at the sides of Reine's eyes and she whimpered.
'When will I stop losing people dear to me? When!?'
Before Reine knew it, it was already sunrise in the Pavolian capital. This was when Watame returned to the consular office to fetch the Empress - and this time, Watame was properly dressed.
"Apologies, Your Excellency, the secure line has been established with the Metro Elysium embassy. Prime Minister Fauna Ceres is ready to speak with you."
Reine turned away from Watame, closed the book and wiped her tears.
"I'll be with you in a moment." Reine said with her back turned to the ambassador. She placed the book on the table, in the midst of the empty chairs, "I just need to… collect myself for the conversation ahead."
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…
With that, Watame excused herself and Reine carried on to the Long Distance Telephone Room. She found the hidden staircase down to the INU embassy's basement, unlocked the door within and turned on the lights. A small, spartan brick room with a single armchair, a table and an unmarked red telephone greeted her.
Reine's bodyguards stood guard outside the room and Reine closed the door behind her, locking it. She sat down, picked up the handset and the call started to ring.
Minutes passed.
Reine heard her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Then, someone finally answered on the other end.
"Good evening, your Excellency. This is Fauna Ceres, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Elysium."
"And good morning to you, Madam Prime Minister." Reine answers, "I am Empress Reine Pavolia I, representing my domain of the Empire of Pavolia. I wish that we had met under better circumstances, but… well, our nations are at war."
Fauna gave a sad chuckle at the other end of the line.
"I agree, your Excellency. We are both unfortunate in that regard… and unfortunate that the two of us inherited a war started by our predecessors."
Reine lowered her head. She looked back to the meeting of her mother's Imperial Council that she interrupted. It wasn't something that she knew back then, but Empress Goya IV had been laying down the foundations of Pavolia's preparations for war against Elysium.
She cleared her throat and responded.
"What happened in the past is now behind us. What matters is the future that you and I can choose, Prime Minister Ceres. Your predecessor, Prime Minister Omega Alpha made her choice in 1939. My mother, Empress Goya IV, made her choice too."
Reine paused and leaned forward on her seat.
"Now, we have the chance to choose ours, Miss Ceres."
"Indeed we do. You called for me and you have my attention. By extension, you have the attention of all of Elysium as well."
Reine crossed her legs and recounted.
The two ladies continued their conversation, how the war started - about the claims that both Elysium and Pavolia were trying to press in Xenokuni. They argued a little, of course, challenging each other's views on which nation was more at fault, but they moved on.
They started talking about how the both of them were thrust into power so suddenly but never had the political capital to even think about ending the escalating war. They shared how politicians and aristocrats who dared to speak of peace, the so-called 'doves', were voted out of office or stripped of ranks and titles.
"Thus, you and I had no choice but to continue the fight regardless of how we felt about it. If we didn't put on a strong front, we wouldn't stay in power for very long."
"But, as the years dragged on, that same war that the elites clamored for now threatens to destroy both of our nations from within." Reine lamented, shaking her head. She took a deep breath and gathered her resolve to speak, "I know that our countries are hanging on threads, running on fumes to keep this pointless war going. Therefore, for the sake of humanity, I propose a ceasefire between the Empire of Pavolia and the Commonwealth of Elysium - effective immediately."
A long pause ensued on the other end of the line. Reine held onto the handset with trembling hands.
"I would be happy to accept such a ceasefire and I am able to command my forces on The Continent to stand down within twenty four hours… but if - and only if both parties are able to enforce it."
"That's…" Reine started hesitantly, but Fauna continued to speak.
"Empress Reine. Please answer honestly. Will you be able to get Zeta Vestia and the forces under her command to stand down?"
Reine opened her mouth to speak, but she was at a loss for words. So, Fauna, on the other hand, continued airing her concerns.
"I'm sure you've heard about how Zeta Vestia had the commander of the Xenokuni Garrison, a Moona Hoshinova, killed for attempting to broker peace. A certain Ina'nis Ninomae was also shot while trying to surrender…"
Reine gripped the phone handset firmly.
"I know that, but…" Reine tried to interject.
"And I have also received intelligence that shows that Zeta Vestia is currently firebombing Xenokuni City as we speak. From what I've been told it's an indiscriminate bombardment campaign."
"... what!?" Reine gasped, "Zeta Vestia has orders to take the city intact! This has to be some sort of mistake."
"I wouldn't lie about that at a time like this. Not when half a million civilians who remain stranded there are at risk. You can confirm this with your own trusted sources in Pavolia, I'm sure. Xenokunian Resistance fighters and remnants of Elysian Armed Forces personnel continue to hold their positions there as well. Knowing that, I cannot begin to think of demobilizing my forces. Xenokuni City will become a morbid procession of blood if we do!"
Reine's heart beat hard against her chest. She bit her thumb and her breaths shortened.
"This is news to me, Prime Minister Ceres. T-thank you for sharing that. I will convene with my Imperial Council and my military advisors, then I will contact you once more… once I've dealt with… this."
"I eagerly await your next call, Empress Pavolia."
"Likewise. Thank you for your time. May the Holy Mother Towa guide your way."
"And may the Holy Mother Kanata guide yours."
With that, Fauna puts down the telephone on her end and Reine follows suit. She covers her face and grimaces, whispering beneath her breath.
'I hope that I'll even get the chance to talk with you again.'
Reine takes a deep breath and rises up from her seat. She marches out of the Long Distance Telephone Room and gathers her bodyguards.
"Summon the Imperial Council. Tell them that I will meet with them in the Istana Merakyat palace immediately!"
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TEMPEST
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