Hall of Diplomacy, Imperial Palace, Haig, Tortsin, Imperium Territories

  March 3rd, 2509

  “I appreciate the offer, but my answer still stands.”

  The Ilikeer banker kept a calm face, even when his hand shook slightly from the answer Empress Anna Vollan gave.

  “That is a shame, your highness. This offer would grant you immunity and protection from those who would seek to usurp you from power.” His affable tone betrayed his condescension.

  “And how exactly making myself a hostage to the will of powerful and rich people ensures safety, Boriv?” Vollan’s question gave the Ilikeer a double-take.

  “That’s an exaggeration, your highness. I prefer to see it as making long-standing partnerships, who will help in funding the war effort. And eventually, get rid of

  “Groups like SoT don’t go away through scorched earth tactics. It only galvanizes them. They gain numbers by brainwashing frustrated citizens whom grievances gone unanswered.” Prime Minister Henrik Lang spoke out.

  “I can see your position there, Prime Minister.” An ICA Serpari argued. “But to be honest, it is a naive if not childish notion. You and your human cousins have proclivity to fight against each other over simple disagreements. You have difficulties in agreeing on one thing, without causing a mess. And I’m supposed to believe that the problem with Sons of Tortsin can be solved through answering the grievances of your citizens? Or that the myriad of problems your Imperium is going through is solved by reforming itself? Galvanizing your people for war is much more simpler.”

  “With due respect, Moroi….” Lang attempted to defend his position, but was interrupted. “And with due respect, Lang… I do not give a single care about your childish ideals! You believe

  Empress Vollan felt her anger bubbling, but contained it with a simple sigh and then spoke sternly. “In that case for you, Moroi and Boriv, I don’t see any reason to continue discussing this further. I would like you two to leave immediately.” She looked through their eyes, making her case clear.

  “Very well, your highness. But if the day comes and the Dominion crashes your gate, do not come crying to us for help.” Borvi spoke condescendingly, then left the Hall.

  “And if you do try to ask for help from the Rangers, know that there will be consequences.” Vollan felt the barely-held contempt that Moroi had for STR before he left the Hall.

  Then, she and Lang were all by themselves. “Fucking hell.” He cursed.

  “Arrogant bastards.” She muttered under her breath.

  Vollan looked to Lang and asked. “Has the Home Defense Fleet mobilized?”

  Lang nodded. “Yes, your highness. We’ve set up defensive perimeters around orbit and the moon of Jaruk. But Orsin was too far for them to mobilize a sufficient defense.”

  The Prime Minister was referring to the second moon of Tortsin, far from from the planet’s distance. Without a good defense, the Dominion would be able to set up an operation, to maintain logistics for the rest of their fleet.

  Vollan rubbed her nose, and sighed. “There’s no easy win there, is it?”

  Lang looked down, he felt his hands were shaking. “No, but the Vair Coclave have already pledged their support with a number of battlegroups for this scenario.”

  Vollan looked to the wall of the Hall, and pondered. An invasion of Tortsin’s star system; Orakus, cannot be thwarted before it can happen, that much is clear. Even if they loaned the Rangers for help, they’re not silver bullets either.

  “What about the civil war in their space? Can we use any of the dissidents to our advantage?” Vollan’s question had the Prime Minister ponder, his hand right up his chin.

  “Werner and his Defectors of Corruption can be. But they’re playing the long game and I’m not sure if they’re keen on allying with us.” Lang answered.

  “We might not have any other choice, Lang.” Vollan argued, and Lang nodded in agreement.

  “So, what’s the next course of action?” He asked.

  “Set a meeting with the Parliament on the 6th. We’ll make an agreement on pooling our resources for evacuations in the capitols.”

  “To retreat?” Lang asked in dread, then Vollan shook her head.

  “No. To make our case against the Dominion and the Accord, and defend our homes. The Parliament will agree to ready up our entire armed forces, whether they like it or not.” She answered sternly.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Empress’s Quarters, Haig, Tortsin,

  March 4th, 2509

  Vollan woke up from her slumber, then yawned. She was attempting to leave the bed, but was pulled back to the bed.

  “Michael, please…” She pleaded to her lover who was naked under the sheets

  “Just stay here, at least five more minutes.” He pleaded to her, she couldn’t contain her giggles when he was kissing her cheeks and neck, but she still pushed back. Much as she enjoyed the occasional fornication with her bodyguards, it wasn’t the right time.

  “Micheal, please! I’m not in the mood.” Vollan raised her voice a bit, and Micheal stopped. She sat down and sighed.

  “ICA giving you a hard time, huh?” He asked.

  “You could say that.”

  “But there’s more.” Micheal teased.

  “Hmm…”

  Vollan looked to Michael Garin, his handsome adult face filled with trimmed facial hair and thick curly hair. “I’m scared, Mike.”

  “About the war?” He asked.

  She nodded, and sighed. “Many of our people will face certain death. And some parliament numbers can’t find the proper socks to wear” Vollan shouted in frustration, then put her hands on her face.

  Micheal hugged her from behind, comforting her.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  “It’s a tough situation.” He spoke softly.

  “Some of my advisers suggested to take priority evacuation.”

  “Have you?” He asked.

  “No. And in case you ask, I will not abandon my people in our darkest hour.”

  Garin was worried, of course. “Of course. I won’t stop you, Anna. But you would risk your life with death.” Were it any other person, Vollan would’ve disciplined them. But Garin was her lover.

  “I know. But if I die, I’ll be remembered a martyr. My people wouldn’t see my death as a defeat, but a light that galvanizes them to keep fighting for victory.” Vollan spoke vigorously.

  “What about the Parliament? Some of them won’t listen.” Garin spoke his doubt.

  Vollan sighed, then answered. “I’ll make them listen. If nothing else, I’ll contact Colonel Wallin to back me up.”

  “Commander of the Hell-Takers? Ooof, some of them won’t like this.” Garin felt apprehended, but still supportive.

  “Well, too bad. Because they will listen to her words. After the victory her battalion achieved at Scatar in ‘05, they deserve commendations and more.”

  It was clear that Anna Vollan was fully convinced in her mission and nothing will dissuade her otherwise. Micheal Garin, then locked lips with her for a minute, until they let go.

  “And you’ll have my support.” Garin commented, which gave a smile from Vollan.

  It was enough.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Parliament, Haig, Tortsin

  March 6th, 2509

  Empress Vollan sat in the upper venue, observing the bickering and shouting between members of the Parliament. She felt her eyes so ready to roll away till they fall from their sockets.

  “What we need is ending Sons of Tortsin!” A Parliament member, a human, shouted.

  “Sons of Tortsin isn’t what’s important right now!” Another member shouted, a Vernusen.

  “Maintaining defensive perimeters against an invasion is of utmost importance” Another member shouted, a H’ikene.

  “So, you want to force our Imperium to an eternal war?!” And another member shouted, a Serpari.

  The shouting and bickering continuted, until two bangs from a gavel was heard from a judge. “Order!” He shouted.

  The room went quiet, then the judge spoke. “The Empress will have the floor.” He took off his seat and joined with Prime Minister Lang while Vollan took her seat.

  “People of the Imperium. What we’re discussing here today will determine the fate of our nation. Our enemies have decided to send their fleets to punish us for supporting those they oppressed. And in a matter of weeks, they’ll storm the gates without mercy nor forgiveness.”

  The room was quiet, and all paid attention to her, even when some members looked at her with scorn.

  “And when they reach our homes, they will slaughter our young, our elders, our families. None will be spared, for their wrath cannot be satiated.” Vollan’s grew louder in her speech.

  “On the 10th of March, I will make a speech in Santris Square. The area that was the climax of the war that united us.”

  This was met with murmuring, as the Square was the final front of the War of Unification that founded the Imperium. This gesture meant that the Empress was serious and committed

  “To galvanize our armed forces to defend our homes. To show the Dominion and the Accord, and their masters that we are the masters of our fate, not them!” The speech grew more louder, which met with claps and murmurs of agreement.

  “But if you’re still not convinced, then hear the words of Colonel Astrid Wallin. Commander of the Hell-Takers, and a brave warrior.” She pushed a button from the desk in her seat. A monitor flickered and opened a live footage of the Colonel.

  [Thank you, your highness. It is the greatest honor to be here today. To members of the parliament…]

  All of them paid attention. Some were in shock and surprise, but kept together to listen.

  [When the enemy invades our home, we don’t make excuses. We don’t run from them. We don’t beg. We don’t surrender. When my Battalion fought off the invading Crimson Iron mercs and the monstrous Skull-Makers, we fought to protect

  “You couldn’t have done that without the help of a Ranger. What makes you think you can fight without one?” A Parliament member asked mockingly.

  [We didn’t need the Ranger, Mr. ‘Kolv. Hers and our misson were just aligned the same. She needed intel from Crimson Iron, we needed them gone. Two stones. Would you regard 70 soldiers of my battalion who fell in that battle as weak, ‘Kolv?]

  ‘Kolv looked down, to keep his eyes away from scrutiny. Not wanting further trouble, he then looked up to Colonel Wallin, then shook his head.

  [Good, because I want to make this absolutely clear. I will be with the Empress in her speech, I will rally her troops to the cause. And I will make sure those motherfucking Dominion assholes regret ever setting foot on Tortsin!] Wallin’s speech galvanized and convinced a few more Parliament members who were apprehensive beforehand. The other doubters gave up and were galvanized. This was war, not a time for politics.

  [Prime Minister Leng, you have the floor.] The monitor shut down, ending the live footage.

  “For anyone who is ready to pledge arms for our Imperium, stand up, raise your right hand to your chest, and say the words.”

  One Parliament member stood up and raised his right hand to his chest. “Mein Leben fur Tortsin!”

  “Mein Leben fur Tortsin!”

  “Mein Leben fur Tortsin!”

  “Mein Leben fur Tortsin!”

  One by one, they stood up, until all of them stood in allegiance. Leng looked to Vollan, who was smiling at him.

  He, the Judge, and the Empress stood up, did their gesture, and shouted. “Unser Leben fur Tortsin!”

  The Parliament shouted with them together. All of them, together.

  The shouts of their motto reverberated outside the room, that some of them heard it and shouted the motto. Soon, many workers in the Parliament heard the shout, and followed.

  Their life for Tortsin.