[SleepyKrew]
called over a steward, who promptly responded and approached him. "I need you to get my aide," he said to the steward. The man gave him a puzzled look. "Sir, the
Beran
has given express orders that this court is a closed session," the steward said. Sighing heavily in frustration,
[SleepyKrew]
pulled a small pistol from his uniform. "I said, 'bring me my aide.'" The steward nodded and walked back to the double doors, followed by
[SleepyKrew]
, pistol concealed but ready. The steward beckoned out the door to another and asked him to fetch the aide. A few minutes later, he entered, hefting a large, boxy radio set on his back.
"
Herr
?" he asked, giving a brief Imperial salute.
"Get me the flagship,"
[SleepyKrew]
growled. The aide dialed up the frequency and handed him the mouthpiece. "Captain? You have the intelligence report? Good. Where did
[samantha97]
come from to attend this conference? Mos Morrell? Yes, she's a traitor, and her benefactors are traitors as well. Bomb their forces into oblivion. Don't question it!"
[SleepyKrew]
hung up the mouthpiece and beckoned for his aide to leave. He gave the steward a scowl before he rejoined the crowd, narrowing his eyes and shaking his head, putting a finger to his lips.
-----------------------------------------
Anoria
Columns of black-uniformed soldiers, bearing the sigil of House Morrell, marched along the beaten highway towards Mos Anor. Riding a horse and attended by an entourage at its head, Domarch Arvek Morrell studied the reports brought to him by aides, detailing troop movements from Burgundy, Tyrannia, and Ralland. "
Herr
, have you decided yet?" asked an aide.
"There are many claimants, of course. But I hold more stock in this Moran. I believe his forces are moving from Tyrannia. We must ally with any loyalists in Mos Anor and seeks to hold back the oncoming forces from north and east," Morrell replied. A short column of armored motorcars coughed as they rumbled by.
"Can we trust Morvanus?"
Morrell looked up from the report. "I have never doubted Terran's loyalty in the past, but-" Something in the sky caught his eye.
The skyships appeared as if from nowhere, huge grey frames sillouetted black against the evening sky. The phoenix of the Imperium was emblazoned in red upon their sides. Even as dozens began to blot out the setting sun, more dozens began to appear. And more. And more. Morrell's jaw dropped. "That's the
entire
Sky Fleet," he sputtered. "What's Sturmengard playing at?"
"Perhaps they're here to help us?" his aide suggested.
"Sturmengard would never dispatch the entire Fleet from Orogoth. It's too dangerous. No, there's something else going-"
Without warning, the black blobs above became engulfed in orange-red flares of flame. The ground shook before they even heard the deafening thunder of a thousand guns. The column scattered before the barrage - the vast majority of the soldiers of House Morrell were vaporized beneath the unstoppable force of the Sky Fleet.
-----------------------------------------
The Throne Room
The double-doors flew open and a frantic steward rushed across the hall, heavy footsteps reverberating loudly off the walls. Approaching the
Beran
, panting, the steward handed him a slip of paper. Reading it, the
Beran
's expression quickly turned from somber to fury. He stood from the Throne and glared at the crowd. "THIS," he bellowed, crumpling and shaking the slip of paper above his head, "is a wire from Mos Anor. Arvek Morrell's forces were marching south to defend this city." He cleared his throat. "The entire Sky Fleet appeared out of nowhere and annihilated his forces. It is unknown if Morrell himself survived. What I want to know is: WHO AUTHORIZED THIS?!"
The entire hall remained silent.
