13-12-2024, 12:23 AM
Royal Palace, Wiel, Kingdom of Wrnuke, 10 May 5584, 14:17.
As the grand wooden doors were opened by servants the Emperor walked into the library of the palace. This richly decorated room featured rows of bookcases, desks, comfortable chairs and couches and little nooks to tuck away in. The walls were adorned in expensive paintings and there was a large table in the corner with expensive liquors from across the globe. Within his inner circle this was well known to be the favourite room of Emperor Bunjamín, where he would retreat to with a good book and a fine whisky. The last few years the Emperor had become increasingly paranoid, ever since the Empire wide celebrations of his 65th birthday he had not really gone anywhere but his own royal residences. The years were also taking a physical toll on one of the most powerful men of the planet, you could tell he was moving a bit slower and with a slight delay he sat down in one of the comfortable chairs. "Please, sit." He said, indicating for the other two men in the library to join him in this corner of the lavish room. They both sat down in front of the Emperor, a chair each. The man next to him was the General, Krlmékez, the current Prefect of Wrnuke and arguably the second most powerful man in the Empire. Or well, that's probably what Krlmékez thought. The smart ones knew that he was the second most powerful man, Director-General of the RSB Bhtjar Amrun. Or 'my loyal spymaster' as the Emperor called him. The other two of the Emperor's inner circle weren't here today, thank Tanhri. Lackmann was always fawning over the Emperor like some lady of the night. And that Pontesi King, a kind man and not bad to talk to at dinner but no schemer. He had morals and ethics and Amrun despised that.
"These Augustan communists, what is the situation there?" The Emperor asked them. Krlmékez answered. "Your Majesty, the sanctions are in effect, we're actively discouraging countries to trade with them. The numbers are not very clear yet but we do think it will have a substantial effect on their economy.. but not enough to remove them as a threat." The Emperor nodded a few times, pondering his thoughts. "I see, I see.." Krlmékez added a few more of his own thoughts, "..we have also given asylum to a 'Desiderio Sepstono' a former insurance executive, we hope some more of their last anti-state actors will appear shortly. The RSB I believe is helping there?" The two men turned to look at him. "That is correct, General. Your Majesty, if I may, I do have a way to perhaps increase our chances of success." The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "Go on," was all he said. He suppressed the smile that was creeping up on his face and bent down to grab two folders from his briefcase. "My specialists have prepared two plans, one the RSB can enact without help but for the other I am afraid I will have to call on our good General here, as he already did such great work with the sanctions." He noticed Krlmékez shift in his seat. Good, he needed him uncomfortable. The Emperor however looked intrigued so he placed the folders on the table in front of the monarch. "This here is Operation Krzi Heijtri, a detailed mission on how to sabotage Zardugal from the inside. Infiltrate companies, give funds and weapons to anti-state organisations, recruit the Jelbics and Jelbidos to sabotage state installations, give the RSB field teams free reign in covert operations, do everything we can to crash their economy." The Emperor nodded, he seemed to like that. "..the other plan is Operation Támnrtlashjogad. A full invasion of Zardugal with all the member states. Swift and hard, go in, topple their government, install a Zardic claimant. An operation we will prepare with local resistance, more intense sabotage, missile strikes. The analysts say that a well-prepared offensive could occupy their capital in three days." The Emperor grabbed the Támnrtlashjogad folder and started to read intensely. A proper Jelbic, the war plans are always the more interesting.
The meeting went on for another hour as both the Emperor and the Prefect required more details. At first the Prefect had tried to argue against the invasion plan, just an economic destruction would be enough he kept saying. But the Emperor was firm: the enemies of the Jelbic Peoples must be defeated. As such the Emperor gave explicit orders to make both plans happen. On their way out the General stopped him. "This may well lead to a world war, Bhtjar," he said while standing very close to him. He was not intimidated. "No one will dare intervene if we are fast and decisive. If the whole Empire joins this invasion they will hardly be able to get their diplomatic protests published before we conquer these Augustan dogs." He now leaned in closer to Krlmékez. "And that's where you come in. Do your magic in the Great Council. Lackmann will follow suit once she learns the Emperor wants this. The H'án in Jelbe is a traditionalist, he will not refuse a chance at war. Barmenistan will take some convincing and then agree. Beiteynu and Pontesi however, they will refuse. So work your magic and long live the Emperor." With that he stepped back and kept walking, leaving Krlmékez standing alone with a dark look on his brooding face.
As the grand wooden doors were opened by servants the Emperor walked into the library of the palace. This richly decorated room featured rows of bookcases, desks, comfortable chairs and couches and little nooks to tuck away in. The walls were adorned in expensive paintings and there was a large table in the corner with expensive liquors from across the globe. Within his inner circle this was well known to be the favourite room of Emperor Bunjamín, where he would retreat to with a good book and a fine whisky. The last few years the Emperor had become increasingly paranoid, ever since the Empire wide celebrations of his 65th birthday he had not really gone anywhere but his own royal residences. The years were also taking a physical toll on one of the most powerful men of the planet, you could tell he was moving a bit slower and with a slight delay he sat down in one of the comfortable chairs. "Please, sit." He said, indicating for the other two men in the library to join him in this corner of the lavish room. They both sat down in front of the Emperor, a chair each. The man next to him was the General, Krlmékez, the current Prefect of Wrnuke and arguably the second most powerful man in the Empire. Or well, that's probably what Krlmékez thought. The smart ones knew that he was the second most powerful man, Director-General of the RSB Bhtjar Amrun. Or 'my loyal spymaster' as the Emperor called him. The other two of the Emperor's inner circle weren't here today, thank Tanhri. Lackmann was always fawning over the Emperor like some lady of the night. And that Pontesi King, a kind man and not bad to talk to at dinner but no schemer. He had morals and ethics and Amrun despised that.
"These Augustan communists, what is the situation there?" The Emperor asked them. Krlmékez answered. "Your Majesty, the sanctions are in effect, we're actively discouraging countries to trade with them. The numbers are not very clear yet but we do think it will have a substantial effect on their economy.. but not enough to remove them as a threat." The Emperor nodded a few times, pondering his thoughts. "I see, I see.." Krlmékez added a few more of his own thoughts, "..we have also given asylum to a 'Desiderio Sepstono' a former insurance executive, we hope some more of their last anti-state actors will appear shortly. The RSB I believe is helping there?" The two men turned to look at him. "That is correct, General. Your Majesty, if I may, I do have a way to perhaps increase our chances of success." The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "Go on," was all he said. He suppressed the smile that was creeping up on his face and bent down to grab two folders from his briefcase. "My specialists have prepared two plans, one the RSB can enact without help but for the other I am afraid I will have to call on our good General here, as he already did such great work with the sanctions." He noticed Krlmékez shift in his seat. Good, he needed him uncomfortable. The Emperor however looked intrigued so he placed the folders on the table in front of the monarch. "This here is Operation Krzi Heijtri, a detailed mission on how to sabotage Zardugal from the inside. Infiltrate companies, give funds and weapons to anti-state organisations, recruit the Jelbics and Jelbidos to sabotage state installations, give the RSB field teams free reign in covert operations, do everything we can to crash their economy." The Emperor nodded, he seemed to like that. "..the other plan is Operation Támnrtlashjogad. A full invasion of Zardugal with all the member states. Swift and hard, go in, topple their government, install a Zardic claimant. An operation we will prepare with local resistance, more intense sabotage, missile strikes. The analysts say that a well-prepared offensive could occupy their capital in three days." The Emperor grabbed the Támnrtlashjogad folder and started to read intensely. A proper Jelbic, the war plans are always the more interesting.
The meeting went on for another hour as both the Emperor and the Prefect required more details. At first the Prefect had tried to argue against the invasion plan, just an economic destruction would be enough he kept saying. But the Emperor was firm: the enemies of the Jelbic Peoples must be defeated. As such the Emperor gave explicit orders to make both plans happen. On their way out the General stopped him. "This may well lead to a world war, Bhtjar," he said while standing very close to him. He was not intimidated. "No one will dare intervene if we are fast and decisive. If the whole Empire joins this invasion they will hardly be able to get their diplomatic protests published before we conquer these Augustan dogs." He now leaned in closer to Krlmékez. "And that's where you come in. Do your magic in the Great Council. Lackmann will follow suit once she learns the Emperor wants this. The H'án in Jelbe is a traditionalist, he will not refuse a chance at war. Barmenistan will take some convincing and then agree. Beiteynu and Pontesi however, they will refuse. So work your magic and long live the Emperor." With that he stepped back and kept walking, leaving Krlmékez standing alone with a dark look on his brooding face.