10:45, February 10, 2295

  Room 1888, 188th Floor, Imperial Benevolence Conference Center (皇慈會議中心), No. 101, Section 1, Ren'ai Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan, Imperium territory

  "Golden Serpents, assemble!" Dilinur Altai spoke as she sat in the plush crimson chair.

  The conference room, washed in the amber light of a dozen screens, flickered to life with the arrival of three specters. They shimmered into existence around the obsidian table — their holographic forms sharp enough to cut through the ambient hum of machinery.

  Iron Roach materialized first, the seams of his reality bleeding together until his figure stood solid and menacing. His slicked-back hair lay plastered against his scalp like a helmet of polished jet. The glint of crimson sunglasses obscured his eyes, the black metallic combat suit tailored to accentuate a stature that towered even in its intangible state, every fiber screaming dominance.

  "Let's get this over with," he growled, his voice as coarse as gravel dragged across concrete.

  "Impatient much, Iron Roach?" Kaori Ouyang phased in next, her soprano voice echoing in the space. Her form was wrapped in the silk of traditional Japanese attire. Her sleek bun sat atop her head like a crown, held in place by ornate pins that whispered of secrets and status. The fabric of her kimono hugged her silhouette, suggesting strength within its graceful folds. Her amber eyes, unclouded and piercing, scanned the room, and her full, crimson lips curved into a dangerous smile. Dark golden earrings with deep red jewels adorned her ears.

  "Skarn has escaped, and so did one of our top engineers at ZenFusion Taipei," Dilinur said, her voice a melody of control and command. "As members of the Golden Serpent Circle, we must make haste to right the wrongs."

  "Indeed," Last to coalesce was Shazmeen Varma, an enigma wrapped in colors vibrant enough to stir envy in a peacock's plume. Her long, raven-black hair fell in soft waves down her back. Her attire was a black and crimson ensemble that clung to her hourglass figure, leaving little to the imagination. The embroidered patterns on her blouse and dupatta showcased her high status, while the exposed midriff emphasized her confidence in her femininity, her voice a silken lash."But let us not confuse haste for efficiency."

  Each hologram cast no shadow, yet their presence filled the room with weight — the kind that pressed upon the chest and dared one to breathe too deeply. They were the apex of their respective domains, yet their pact was as fragile as the lines of code that kept them tethered to this virtual conclave.

  Though these were not all of the Golden Serpent Circle’s members — an exclusive assembly of the most trusted and skilled individuals serving the Emperor, they would have to suffice for today. Or so Dilinur thought.

  "I’ve read the reports," Roach's image flickered, a glint of malice in his hollow cybernetic eyes. "One of those eggheads defected and stole the Moondust Crystal’s info, correct?"

  "Astonishing, Roach. You actually read what Dinu writes for once," Kaori chimed in, her tone cool yet potent as her hologram shimmered, the embroidered dragons on her robe seeming to coil and uncoil with subdued energy.

  "Then there's the matter of the Amber Moon Spire," Shazmeen put a hand to her chin. "In a single day, it has been infiltrated by two Alliance agents — brazen, under our very noses. An affront that cannot go unanswered."

  "One of them is that Lorna Weiss, right?" Roach's jaw was set like steel. "It’s high time we taught the little bitch a lesson."

  "I am curious to finally meet this notorious Alliance agent you all seem so afraid of," Kaori added, her eyes narrowing. "I wonder if we should invite Joon-Seok for this task."

  "The Prince is presently occupied on Mars. But I have faith the two of you will suffice," Shazmeen offered, nodding toward the pair. "Lorna Weiss is known for her arrogance, and tends to err when the opposition seems weak at first."

  "Consider her gone, Shaz," Roach said with a nod, his image radiating an aura of inevitability. "Kaori and I have slain hundreds of Alliance bastards before."

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  "About that. The Emperor has just sent word. He prefers that Wu Zhi-Xin be captured alive," Shazmeen tilted her head, the jewelry on her ears chiming softly. "You are free to deal with Lorna Weiss as you see fit."

  "Of course," Kaori chuckled, her crimson lips shining in the light. "Imperials always preserve one another."

  "Meanwhile," Dilinur's voice rose, commanding attention, "the Fenris Horde's Radi-Mon have become emboldened with Skarn’s escape. Our civilians need protection."

  "Isn't that what your Bloodtroopers are for?" Roach smirked, "I never cared much about peasants and weaklings."

  "View them as lowly all you like, Roach, but they are the lifeblood of our Imperium," Dilinur affirmed, her black silk robe undulating like a raven's wing. "An empire cannot survive without its people."

  "Commendable," said Kaori with a respectful incline of her head, her fingers brushed absentmindedly at her red earrings.

  "Fine," Roach declared, his image starting to fade. "Just make sure your men stay out of my way. And Kaori’s."

  "As usual, I will monitor your progress and provide insights when necessary," Shazmeen murmured, her hologram losing its luster. "May victory be bathed in the blood of our adversaries."

  "Until the next convergence," Kaori whispered, her form dissolving into nothingness with the finality of a blade sliding back into its sheath.

  The air crackled with the remnants of holographic farewells when Zu-Shao Qin’s towering form shattered the room's fragile calm, his unannounced presence an affront to protocol. He swept in like a tempest, robes billowing, the amber of his eyes reflecting a predator's glee.

  Zu-Shao Qin emanated an aura of cold, unyielding authority that is as intimidating as it is calculated. His facial features were sharply defined, almost angular. The bald head only added to his menacing appearance.

  Draped over his shoulders was a robe of luxurious fabric, its surface a swirling pattern of deep red and black. The robe was adorned with intricate golden embroidery along the edges, and a fierce dragon emblem, also in gold, coiled menacingly across his chest — an unmistakable symbol of his power and status.

  "Prefect Altai," Zu-Shao Qin intoned, his voice a blade whetted on the stones of countless cold judgments. "Your exploits have reached my ears, and they echo with the hollowness of failure."

  "Governor Qin!" Dinu's throat constricted, each word from Shao a lash upon her pride. She stood tall, though her spirit quivered like a taut string, ready to snap.

  "Yet," he continued, his amber eyes boring into her with the intensity of a star going nova, "the Imperium is not without mercy."

  Dinu's heart raced as she fought to keep her composure. She had no choice but to obey Shao, for he was her superior — the one who held all the power over her. Her superior, protector and oppressor. She couldn't shake the memories of his past abuses, using his position to take advantage of her in unspeakable ways. But still, she straightened her back and met his gaze with determination.

  "My lord, I have already requested aid from all Golden Serpent members on Earth. You will not be disappointed," she said with false confidence, hoping to appease him.

  "I’ve listened in on the meeting. Change your objective," Shao commanded as he held up a finger, his tone brooking no argument. "You and your Bloodtroopers will pursue Subject S — that Radi-Mon named Skarn. You will render him immobile until my Conjurers arrive to take him back into custody."

  The room hummed with the residual tension. Dilinur's fingers traced the ornate hairpin holding together the strands of her resolve.

  "Governor Qin," she murmured, her voice barely carrying across the foreboding expanse between them. "The task is clear, but I must implore you — the civilians of Taiwan need our protection."

  "Your empathy is not a virtue here, Dinu," Shao interjected, waving dismissively, as if swatting away a bothersome insect. "We’ve put too much resources into Skarn's revival and cybernetic augmentations to let him roam freely. One does not consider the blood spilled when removing a tumor."

  "Even when the blood is that of our people’s, my lord?" Dilinur countered, her gaze unflinching, despite the churning maelstrom inside her.

  "Collateral," he spat out the word as if it were a bitter seed. "Remember your place, and remember the fate of those who let sentimentality cloud their judgment."

  The order hung in the air, a yoke she must bear or be crushed beneath. She nodded, her movements mechanical, the puppet strings of duty and desperation pulling taut.

  "Understood, Governor Qin," she replied, her voice a whisper-thin veil barely concealing the tumultuous storm raging in her psyche.

  Shao's lips twitched upward in a semblance of approval, a predator baring teeth in a mockery of a smile. He turned then, his robe swirling around him, a crimson tide retreating. " Once your task is done, report to me at the Governor's Palace."

  The silence that followed was a vacuum, draining the warmth from the room. Dilinur's stare lingered on Shao's retreating form, the dragon emblem on his robe a stark reminder of the power he wielded.

  She turned away, her silhouette casting a long shadow across the floor as she stepped outside, into the corridor. Six Bloodtroopers and two Conjurers awaited her command, instruments of war ready to be played by her deft hands.

  "Protect the innocents," she whispered to herself, a mantra to steady her shaken resolve. "Protect them, even as you walk with devils."