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– –
"I'd like to introduce our newest member. Some of you may be familiar with him: one of the top dogs in the IBC, Marcellon Skaldottir."
Marcellon stepped forward, his polished dress shoes clicking against the floor. He surveyed the room, taking note of the assembled military brass and their guarded expressions. The weight of the moment was not lost on him; the very future of the Gra Valkas Empire hung in the balance.
"General Siegs, gentlemen," Marcellon began, his voice steady and formal, belying the unease that churned beneath his composed exterior. "I am honored to be here, though I must confess, the circumstances that have brought us together are most disconcerting."
He paused, allowing his words to settle in the air. The room was silent, save for the distant ticking of a clock on the wall. Marcellon adjusted his tie, a nervous habit he'd developed over years of delivering broadcasts and managing the intricate workings of the IBC.
"As a loyal servant of the Empire, I have always held fast to the principles of honor and duty. The IBC has been a bastion of these ideals, a guiding light for the people in these trying times. However, recent events have cast a pall over our noble endeavors, and I find myself questioning the very foundation upon which we stand."
Siegs nodded. "Your presence here, Marcellon, speaks to your unwavering commitment to the Empire. We stand united in our pursuit of the truth behind Marix's rule and the restoration of honor to our great nation."
Marcellon felt a flicker of resolve kindle within him. The road ahead would be fraught with peril, a labyrinthine path of secrets and lies that threatened to unravel the very fabric of their society. But he knew, with a certainty that suffused his being, that he could not stand idle in the face of such treachery. If Marix truly usurped power from the Emperor, it would be unforgivable to play along with that narrative.
"Gentlemen, I stand ready to play my part in this most critical of endeavors. Let us begin our work, for the sake of the Empire and all her loyal citizens."
"Marcellon, I trust your journey here was uneventful? Eirik's instructions were clear, I presume?" Siegs asked, his tone a mix of formality and underlying warmth.
Marcellon nodded, recalling the circuitous route he had taken to reach this clandestine gathering. "Yes, General. Eirik was most thorough in his directions. I appreciate the precautions taken to ensure our meeting remains undiscovered."
Siegs acknowledged Marcellon's words with a nod before addressing the group as a whole. "Gentlemen, before we begin, I believe it is important to ensure that we are all on the same page. Marcellon, as our newest member, I invite you to share your thoughts on Chancellor Marix's rule and the current state of the Empire."
Marcellon paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He could feel the eyes of the room upon him, the weight of their expectations pressing down on his shoulders.
"General, gentlemen," Marcellon began, his voice steady and measured. "As the Chief Technical Officer of the Imperial Broadcast Corporation, I have had a unique vantage point from which to observe the workings of our government. In recent months, I have grown increasingly concerned about the direction in which Chancellor Marix is leading our Empire."
He took a breath, the memories of the mysterious agent's words echoing in his mind. "The official narrative surrounding the Emperor's illness and abdication has always struck me as suspect. The sudden disappearance of key figures, the lack of transparency... it all points to something far more sinister at play."
The others nodded, murmurs of agreement rippling through the room. Karlmann, the Chief of Naval Operations, leaned forward, his expression grave.
"Mister Skaldottir, your concerns are well-founded," Karlmann said, his voice low and urgent. "What we are about to share with you will confirm your suspicions and shed light on the true nature of Marix's rule."
Siegs nodded, his gaze sweeping the room. "Gentlemen, let us bring Marcellon fully into the fold. It is time he learned the truth about the coup that brought Marix to power and the disastrous consequences of his leadership."
Karlmann leaned forward, his hands clasped on the table. "Mister Skaldottir, it all began with the incident involving the GVS Revolution. War Hawks seized the vessel, and nearly dragged us into all-out war with the Americans several months ago. The Emperor made a tough decision, and had us open fire on our own men to prevent this war. I… complied. I see now that it was necessary, but it was still a decision that didn't quite sit right with my conscience."
Karlmann sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You have to understand... when Marix first started questioning Gra Lux's leadership, it was easy to get caught up in his rhetoric. He made it seem like the Emperor was weak, that he was holding us back from true greatness. And for some, like myself and Siegs… we didn't have a choice. It was either we play along, or leave the fate of the nation in the hands of the War Hawks."
Siegs nodded, his expression pained. "We were fools. I knew of the planned coup, but I feigned ignorance. I told others – and myself – that I was busy; I buried myself in strategy. My indifference… it may as well have doomed the Imperial Family."
The others among them had similar stories. A handful seemed to have been swayed by Marix's rhetoric, as Karlmann explained, but recently realized the error in their ways after receiving reports from the front lines. They were patriots through and through, but that didn't mean they were stupid enough to ignore the Americans' technological advantages. They were proud, yes, but that didn't mean they were stubborn enough to face an enemy they had no hope of winning against.
Even if they weren't directly involved in the coup, their words and tones suggested guilt – regret from falling victim to the bystander effect. He didn't know what to think of their excuses. It was unforgivable, but at the same time, what could they have even done? What would he have done?
The fact that His Excellency was overthrown in a secret coup was a revelation that he wished he never had to hear. He wanted to believe it was a lie, but the dots were there, and they connected so seamlessly. Marcellon looked Karlmann in the eyes. "The Fourth and Fifth Conquest Fleets have been defeated, haven't they? It's why we've had to resort to reruns of old footage, right?"
Karlmann nodded. He didn't say a word and well, he didn't need to. His eyes told him everything he needed to know.
Marcellon pushed further, "We were also scheduled to receive new footage from the Second Conquest Fleet. I assume they've suffered the same fate?"
Again, Karlmann's sole answer was a simple nod.
Marcellon sighed. This was the true state of the war, it seemed. "So, what do we do now?" he asked, truly wondering if there was even a way out. "How do we stop Marix, expose his lies, and save the Empire from ruin?"
"I'll be frank with you," Siegs said, his tone taking a more hopeless note. "I don't know. Marix has already imprisoned many of the outspoken Doves, and fired anyone directly associated with them or the Imperial Family. Our allies are few, and the legitimacy of the throne is in question. I fear the worst for His Excellency and his family…"
Marcellon raised an eyebrow. The way that Siegs put it made it sound like a pipe dream – an impossible task. Yet, those last few words got him thinking. "Would it make a difference if His Excellency were here?"
Siegs and Karlmann exchanged a glance, a flicker of surprise passing between them. "Of course it would," Karlmann said. "If the Emperor were here, if he could rally the people behind him, expose Marix's treachery... it would change everything."
Siegs agreed, but his expression remained guarded. "But that's just wishful thinking, isn't it? Marix has done everything in his power to make sure the Emperor and his family are out of the picture. Even if they were alive, they'd be under constant guard, hidden away somewhere we could never reach them."
Marcellon hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that what he was about to say could change the course of their entire struggle, but he also knew that it could put them all in even greater danger. If that mysterious man was secretly working for Marix, then they – and all of their families – would be in peril. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the reaction he knew was coming.
"What if..." he began, his voice hesitant, "what if there was a chance that His Excellency was still alive? That he managed to escape Marix's clutches somehow?"
The men stared at each other, their expressions a mix of shock, disbelief, and cautious hope. "What are you saying, Mister Skaldottir?" someone asked.
"How could you possibly know that?" another man questioned.
Siegs and Karlmann stared at him, their expressions a mix of surprise and skepticism. "Marcellon," Siegs said, his voice gentle but firm, "I know we all want to believe that, but we have to face reality. If the Emperor were alive, don't you think we would have heard something by now? Some kind of sign or message?"
Karlmann nodded, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "As much as it pains me to say it, Siegs is right. We've all seen the reports, the broadcasts. If His Excellency had escaped, surely there would be rumors, whispers of his whereabouts. But there's been nothing, just silence."
"I wasn't sure at first," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought it might be a trap, or some kind of cruel joke. But now, after hearing what you've told me about Marix and the state of the Empire... I think it might be real."
Siegs leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about, Marcellon? What might be real?"
Marcellon took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced around the room, as if checking for hidden listeners, before speaking again. "A few days ago, I was approached by someone, a man who claimed to be an agent of His Excellency."
Karlmann's brow furrowed, his expression a mix of disbelief and cautious hope. "An agent of His Excellency? Are you sure, Mister Skaldottir? How can you be certain this man was telling the truth?"
Marcellon shook his head, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just revealed. "I can't be certain, not completely. But the way he spoke, he seemed like he might've been Sicarius. Like he really was working for the Emperor, trying to gather support for his return."
Siegs sat back in his chair, the man's possible affiliation catching his eye. "Sicarius, hm? If what you're saying is true, Marcellon, if there really is a chance that His Excellency is alive... well, that's our light at the end of the tunnel. But… there's quite a chance this is a trap."
Marcellon nodded, his eyes blazing with a newfound conviction. "I know the risks, General. But I also know that we can't just sit back and do nothing. If there's even a chance that His Excellency is out there, that he needs our help... we have to try."
Karlmann leaned forward, his voice low and intense. "Mister Skaldottir, I need you to think carefully. This agent, the one who approached you... did he give you any way to contact him? Any instructions or messages to pass along?"
Marcellon took a deep breath, steeling himself for the reaction he knew was coming. "He did. He told me that if I wanted to help, if I was willing to take the risk... I should meet him again, at a specific time and place. He said he would have more information, more evidence that could help us expose Marix's lies and restore the rightful ruler to the throne."
Siegs leaned back in his chair, his expression pensive. "Marcellon, this agent... did he give you any indication of how he knew about His Excellency's whereabouts? Any proof that he's actually in contact with the Emperor?"
Marcellon shook his head, frustration etched on his face. "No, nothing concrete. He was very cautious, very secretive. But the things he knew, Siegs... the details about the Imperial Family, about the inner workings of the palace... it's not the kind of information that just anyone would have access to."
Karlmann frowned, his fingers drumming on the table. "But that's just it, isn't it? If this agent really is working for His Excellency, why all the secrecy? Why not just come out and tell us directly?"
Marcellon felt a chill run down his spine at the thought, but he forced himself to remain calm. "I've considered that possibility," he said, his voice steady. "But I keep coming back to the same thing: if Marix knew about us, if he had even the slightest suspicion that we were working against him... why not just arrest us all right now? Why go through the trouble of setting up such an elaborate trap?"
Another person spoke up. It was the Director Gesta from Foreign Affairs. "We may not have much time, either." His gaze grew distant; the man had the stare of a soldier who had seen the horrors of war, despite never even touching a gun himself. He turned to General Siegs, then back to the others. "I've seen what the Americans are capable of, and I fear Marix may force their hand."
Whatever he was talking about, Siegs and Karlmann seemed to know. Their expressions mirrored Gesta's; like they saw the end of the world and knew it was at their doorstep.
Marcellon could see the conflicting emotions playing out on the faces of the other officers, the fear and uncertainty warring with the desperate need to act. "I know it's a risk," he said finally, his voice low but firm. "But I truly believe that this agent is our best chance of finding out the truth about His Excellency. If we pass up this opportunity, if we let our fear paralyze us... we may never get another chance."
Siegs was silent for a long moment, his eyes distant. Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with the weight of his decision. "Marcellon is right. We can't let this chance slip away, no matter how dangerous it might be. But we need to be smart about it, to take every precaution to ensure that we're not walking into a trap."
Karlmann nodded, his expression grim. "Agreed. Mister Skaldottir, you'll need to be our eyes and ears on this. Meet with the agent, find out everything you can. I'm sure I don't need to remind you to be careful. We need to keep our cards close to our chest until we know for sure that we can trust this agent."
Gesta didn't hide his urgency at all. "We're counting on you, Mister Skaldottir."
Siegs looked around the room, his gaze settling on each of the officers in turn. "Then it's settled. Marcellon will meet with the agent and report back to us. In the meantime, we'll continue to gather information on our end, to build our case against Marix."