Seero had finished setting up enough dungeon entrances and returned to the central headquarters of the Turannians. She was discussing the training of the allied forces in her and Uscfrea’s weapon systems when an urgent alert appeared in her UI.
One of her drones had gotten a hit.
She and Melion had developed numerous command, control, communication, and intelligence drones equipped with a variety of sensors and long-range mana-based communication artifacts. They could keep watch over the battlefield and relay commands to any forces outside of normal range. Likewise, with their mana core power sources, they could remain in operation indefinitely.
Seero had deployed these drones over the seas between Turannia and Utrad, keeping an eye out for anything on approach. In particular, she and Melion had confirmed that mundane radar was highly effective at detecting Imperial vehicles for the simple fact that none of them had been designed with radar in mind, and countermeasures for mana-based detection did not work on simple radio waves.
“Alert: This unit’s forces have detected a potential target on approach to Turannia.”
The room fell silent at that, and everyone’s expression fell. Everyone turned to one of the walls, where one of Seero’s smaller drones was acting as a projector. A red blip had appeared on a map of the seas and Turannian coastline. Magister Canus took a deep breath.
“Are they starting their approach, Your Majesty Seero?”
“Negative Response: There is only a single signature and it is too small to indicate an Imperial airship. A sensor unit is about to investigate.”
A moment later, the signature came within range of a drone’s visual sensors, which was displayed on the wall as well. Magister Canus blinked.
“That’s…one of the transport shuttles for an airship? What’s it doing out here alone?”
Meanwhile, Governor Aemilia’s eyes widened.
“That’s not just a shuttle. That’s the shuttle from the Imperial Family’s airship!”
“Statement: To this unit’s knowledge, the craft in question was not noticeably armed, and is traveling without escort. No further signatures detected in range. Analysis indicated the probability of a hostile operation is negligible. This unit will investigate and initiate diplomacy with the crew.”
The rest of the Turannians simply nodded, and Seero set out towards the sea.
Seero flew out towards the craft, preparing her mana. Just as the craft came into range she stopped midair, and formed a Prismatic Bombardment magic circle. She activated her loudspeaker, as well as radio and mana-based communications.
“Warning: Attention, unidentified craft. You have just entered Allied Turannian airspace. Please cease movement and declare your identity and intentions.”
The craft in question stopped, and then angled its side towards her. The door on its side opened up. Seero’s visual sensors could zoom in far enough to see it in detail.
Princess Caecila was standing at the entrance. She shouted, her voice enhanced with magic.
“Please wait, Your Majesty NSLICE-00P! We come in peace!”
“Objection: This unit’s designation has been updated. Please refer to this unit as Seero.”
Seero escorted the shuttle to the Turannian coast, where it made a hasty landing. It turned out Princess Caecila had pushed the shuttle hard, and it had never been designed for long journeys in the first place. She now exited the craft, along with Fulcinia and Typheras, her assistant and bodyguard. She, and both her bodyguards, were dressed in simple traveling clothes...over top of armor.
“Query: Why has Princess Caecila come to Turannia?”
Princess Caecila frowned.
“I…am probably not a princess by this point anymore. But…we have come to beg for your mercy, Your Majesty Seero.”
“Requesting Elaboration.”
Princess Caecila shut her eyes.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“...the Southern Court is moving against you. They are claiming you are some kind of demon lord. Emperor Lucius is powerless to stop it…the North’s armies will likely join in. But we know what you are, and that the Aesdes stand behind you. Magister Appius even suspects the South may be influenced by that cult. So…I have come before you on behalf of the Imperial family, and on behalf of the people of the Empire.”
She reached to a bag tied to her back. She unlocked it and held it out to Seero. Seero scanned it, and found it was enchanted…with Spatial magic.
It was a magic box.
Seero took hold of it.
“That contains all we could grab from the Imperial Treasury…every artifact and weapon the Northern Empire holds dear. It…is all we can offer to you right now.”
Princess Caecila then fell to her knees.
“I…have nothing else to offer. They will call me a traitor, so I won’t have any more influence in the Empire. I may not even be considered part of the Imperial family at this point. But please…will you hear my plea, Your Majesty? Please…spare the people your wrath. When you go to war with the Empire’s legions, please have mercy on the innocent people who do not fight against you.”
“Affirmative.”
“I know it’s much to ask of you when…wait what?”
“Affirmative.”
Princess Caecila looked up and blinked.
“Helpful Elaboration: Historical strategic analysis indicates indiscriminate strategic warfare targeting civilian populations has generally proved inefficient and a method that only increases hostility, unless conducted with weapons of mass destruction that this unit does not currently possess. Likewise, if strategic warfare against military industry is required for the upcoming engagement, the accuracy and precision of this unit’s arsenal does not require area bombing to ensure the destruction of priority targets. This unit cannot guarantee an absence of collateral or civilian casualties, and may target civilian infrastructure and industry with military applications as the situation demands, but at present does not consider general civilian populations as an efficient target. This unit finds it acceptable to add ‘limit collateral damage’ as a secondary objective, to be considered so long as the military situation permits.”
Princess Caecila blinked again, but then smiled. She closed her eyes as they moistened.
“Thank you…that is all we can ask.”
Emperor Lucius sat in his private lounge room, leaning back into his incredibly comfortable chair. He took a sip of Celestial Wine, it turned out immortal and isolationist elves with too much time on their hands made excellent drinks, from his enchanted glass that maintained his beverage at the ideal temperature. He channeled just a bit of mana into the enchanted scroll reader set up before him, moving to the next section of the epic he was reading. He leaned back into his chair as he did, tapping the enchanted communication artifact for his attendants to bring him something to snack upon. He let out a contented sigh.
It turned out, when he stopped concerning himself with the steady decline and possibly imminent doom of the Northern Empire as well as his complete lack of authority apart from the backing of the other Courts, that there were many perks to being Emperor.
Just then, he heard stomping down the hall.
“Three…two…one…”
“LUCIUS!”
High-King Xavlaeron kicked the doors of the lounge open, his face twisted into a scowl.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
Emperor Lucius tilted his head.
“Whatever do you mean, High-King Xavlaeron?”
High-King Xavlaeron grit his teeth.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Lucius! I know you arranged this!”
Emperor Lucius took a sip from his glass.
“Does it look like I’m arranging anything right now? I figured since you do not require my approval for anything, that my presence was not necessary and I should avoid getting in your way. I haven’t read a single report since our last conversation, so I can’t say I’m aware of anything that happened in the meantime.”
High-King Xavlaeron’s face contorted in rage.
“Then who exactly stole all the artifacts in the Imperial Treasury?!”
Emperor Lucius put his glass down and his jaw dropped.
“What?!”
High-King Xavlaeron narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t act so surprised, Lucius. I know you commanded it.”
Emperor Lucius obliged and closed his jaw, his face returning to normal.
“Well ok. Still, does it look like I’m stealing artifacts right now?”
High-King Xavlaeron heaved a sigh.
“Your little daughter-in-law did so.”
Emperor Lucius nodded his head.
“Ah, she always was a free-spirit, doing as she pleased. Ruined that engagement I worked very hard to set up. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”
High-King Xavlaeron narrowed his eyes again.
“You shouldn’t. It takes the approval of the Emperor to access the treasury.”
Emperor Lucius tilted his head.
“Does it?”
Suddenly he smacked his forehead.
“Ah, it appears it was my fault after all. I gave the Princess access to the treasury to find a reward for Her Majesty NSLICE-00P, and to show her around a while back. In all the confusion that’s happened since, I must have forgotten to rescind it. I’m truly sorry about this, High-King Xavlaeron.”
High-King Xavlaeron glared at Emperor Lucius…who took another sip of his wine.
“...fine. Play it that way if you wish. Then I’m sure you have no objections if we hunt down the traitor and deal with her...appropriately?”
Emperor Lucius tilted his head.
“I thought you didn’t need my permission for anything?”
A vein bulged on High-King Xavlaeron’s forehead but he simply sighed.
“No. I do not.”
He gathered himself to his full height.
“The former Princess Caecila shall be stripped of all status and title and branded a traitor, and will be hunted down as such. Magister Exploratores Appius will likewise be removed from his position for his repeated failures to maintain security in Corvanus. And since poor Emperor Lucius has apparently been betrayed by his own family, I will leave some troops behind to ensure your safety in the Imperial Palace. I trust you shall be grateful for my protection.”
Emperor Lucius nodded.
“Oh of course. I have no one else to turn to, after all, so it’s quite a relief. Even I would never have expected such a thing from that Caecila, so who is to say what will happen?”
High-King Xavlaeron glared at Emperor Lucius once more, but Emperor Lucius just took another sip of his wine and turned his attention back to his scroll. High-King Xavlaeron grit his teeth, and then stormed out of the room.
Once he left, Emperor Lucius held up his glass to the air.
“And so the die is cast. May the Aesdes protect the Empire and the children of Velus.”
And then he downed the rest of his drink.