|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:25 am
The invasion of Sigor had been successful. Space Commander Winslet ordered an immediate occupation of the moon when the last of the Dragonheart forces were destroyed. Soldiers that weren't killed found themselves being transported to TA prison camps.
In one of the major city centers, there was a square with a large statue of Emperor Cort. Space Commander Winslet stood watching as chains were thrown around the statue's outstretched arms and explosive charges were set at the base near the legs.
Dragonheart civilians were gathered around to watch, blocked off by regular legionaries and Atolian Fleet Marines.
"Citizens of Sigor! Today, Cort's tyranny ends here!" she boomed and then motioned to the statue.
"Consider yourselves free of his oppression!"
With that, the explosives were detonated and broke the base of the statue. The chains were attached to three Roman medium tanks which revved forward, pulling the chains taught.
The stone statue came down and shattered with a thundering crash.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:32 am
The reaction to the Tri-Alliance's occupation was certainly mixed. There was certainly cheering, but iti was overwhelmed by the discontent populace that believed they had it good. The Tri-Alliance's violent occupation of their system had caused unaccountable casualties, the unfortunate result of war.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:43 pm
Lightyears away in a Martian hospital, the Imperator watched the events unfolding in Sigor on a news channel. Kaok was asleep with William beside her. Remus rocked his daughter Phaedra. The news showed Space Commander Winslet making her speech and the statue of the Dragonheart Emperor crashing to the ground. Other clips showed Roman legionaries and Atolian marines dancing victoriously in the streets. Not all of it was positive, however. Some bits of it were dead soldiers from both sides and crumbling buildings.When it became too morbid, the Imperator changed it to a channel featuring a car race.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:50 pm
"They're beautiful, Remus." Emma said quietly, not wanting to wake Kaok or either of the newborns. Her spell on Kaok to speed her recovery was holding fast, as were the protective enchantments around the room.
There had recently been some animosity between the Lady and the Imperator, but it seemed to have melted away with the arrival of William and Phaedra.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:56 pm
"Thank you, Emma. It means a lot." Remus replied, looking down at the child in his arms.
There was a short silence for a moment before Remus spoke again.
"Emma?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:59 pm
"Yes?"
The enchantress herself had Winnie in her arms, and the four-and-a-half-month-old was fascinated by the other tiny beings in the room. She was peering up out of her blankets at Will and Phaedra even as her mother tried to keep her from frightening the newborns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:05 pm
"I'd like to apologize for how I've acted in the last few months. Yes, this war is stressful and has taken a lot out of me. But that's no reason for me to have exploded on you and Hrothbert the way I did. I don't think of you as subjects. It's just...well Earth has always been the problem that has been eating at me. Not the Bainbridge Estate."
Remus paused.
"I just sort of... separate you from the rest of the planet. Whenever I speak ill of it, it's only about Earth. Not you guys."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:10 pm
"Apology accepted." Just returned from the battlefield, Hrothbert had managed to get his own blood out of his hair and clothes before returning to the hospital. There was a gash across his collarbone from a piece of shrapnel, held in stasis by a spell until it could heal.
"Thank you, Remus. It means a great deal. And you have our blessing to set up a garrison in Italy, if that's what you desire."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:17 pm
"Thank you. Though that will have to wait until the war is over. I need my troops elsewhere for now."
Phaedra yawned and blinked for a moment before going back to sleep.
"I'm surprised at how human they look. I had nightmares for weeks that we would get some horrible mass of horns, hooves and circuitry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:21 pm
"Genetics are surprisingly accommodating." Hrothbert said with a warm smile, taking Winnie from Emma when the half-elven started to squirm.
Emma looked down at Phaedra, examining the infant's features. "She looks like you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:30 pm
Remus looked down at the infant in his arms. He hadn't really noticed it before, but Remus' features seemed to dominate her. There a few hints of Kaok, but the eyes were unmistakably from him. Her veins as well...they were uniform, like circuits and nodes, as opposed to the the twisting and turning of an organic creature's.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:35 pm
"And Kaok favors William."
Emma let the silence stretch out for a few minutes, making her way back to Kaok's side and reinforcing the spells on her (and taking a few moments to fawn over little William as well).
"I'm willing to bet that she'll be as great a leader as her father."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:49 pm
"As great a leader as me?"
Remus chuckled.
"No....I fully expect her to be better. I've made too many mistakes as Imperator. I can only hope that my children learn from them."
The Imperator caressed Phaedra's forehead. Tenderness was something Remus rarely, if ever displayed.
"Will and Phaedra will be improvements to Rome."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:53 pm
"The best thing a father can hope for."
"They will be great. Both of them." There was an echo of prophecy in Emma's voice, the faintest hint of something otherworldly backing up her words. "Though I must say, this is the softest I've seen you, Remus."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 2:03 pm
"Don't get used to it. Once Kaok is out of the hospital, it's back to playing war for me. Unfortunately, that means giving stern orders and making sure my subordinates do their jobs the right way."
The Imperator paused.
"But a few deserve some rewards as well. Space Commander Winslet can expect a medal and a pay raise. That woman has a good head on her shoulders."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
