[Turn:-3] was ending, and [Turn:- 4] was starting.
In the heart of the cosmic expanse, where the stars danced their eternal ballet, William found himself ensnared by the enigmatic whispers of the night. From the window of his bedroom on Dawn planet, where the climate remained ever gentle, he gazed out into the velvet darkness, searching for solace amidst the twinkling lights.
But solace eluded him.
Restless, he paced the room, the weight of the unknown pressing upon him like the weight of a thousand suns. His robe, a comforting shield against the chill of uncertainty, hung loosely around his frame, its soft fabric offering little comfort against the turmoil within.
With a frustrated growl, William hurled a glass of water to the ground, its shattering echo a sharp punctuation to the silent symphony of the night
He didn't get why. Wasn't the main character's shrug of these feeling like it was nothing? Why was he bothered by these assailing thoughts that seemed to haunt him forever?
Despite his attempts to dismiss his feelings as inconsequential, William couldn't shake the weight of responsibility that bore down upon him like an unyielding crown.
It was not like he didn't know the burden of the throne and the Crown, he knew very well the curse that it had on its bearer, and he knew that he had to sacrifice and be cold-blooded to make necessary decisions for the betterment of the Empire.
William shook his head as he cringed at the last line of thought he had.
Yet, even with this knowledge, the ghosts of his choices haunted him relentlessly. The stares of the innocent, the cries of the oppressed, and the weight of their expectations pressed upon his conscience, refusing to be ignored or brushed aside...
Sigh...
It was all so frustrating.
As [Turn:- 4] unfurled its banner of preparation, the planet of Dawn echoed with the resounding clang of industry and war. War loomed on the horizon, casting its shadow over the once serene landscape, but amidst the chaos, there was purpose. The production had started for mechs, and the research team was trying to integrate the newly made alloy into the new mechs.
Despite the fervent efforts of Dawn's research team, the integration of the elusive alloy into every mech remained an elusive goal. The complexity of the alloy's composition defied easy replication, with a bunch of chemical and physics bullshit that William didn't understand one bit.
But there was progress, and that was all William wanted.
As the first month of [Turn:- 4] dawned, Dawn planet found itself embroiled once more in the relentless cycle of war economy. With the credits earned from the sale of scraps salvaged from the aftermath of the previous conflict, the gears of production churned to life once more, fueled by the promise of renewal amidst the ruins of destruction.
Yet, even as the steady hum of industry filled the air, the specter of economic instability loomed large on the horizon. The scars of war ran deep, casting a shadow over the once-stable economy of Dawn, threatening to plunge it into chaos once more.
In a bid to bolster their coffers and stave off financial collapse, drastic measures were taken. Merchant companies, once pillars of prosperity, found themselves subject to the relentless grasp of taxation, their funds forcibly acquired to feed the war machine's insatiable appetite for resources.
And beyond the confines of Dawn's borders, William allowed 'anonymous' spaceships to raid the convoys of Secessionts and Krossarr's merchandise.
Romania Planet belonged to the Secessionists, and raiding their merchant envoys by 'anonymous' spaceships was not against the rules.
As the tensions simmered and alliances shifted in the volatile landscape of interplanetary politics, William stood firm against the demands of the Secessionists and Krossar's envoys, his resolve unwavering in the face of adversity. With deft diplomacy and shrewd negotiation, he managed to stave off their advances with minimal effort, much to their chagrin.
However, the political landscape took a sudden turn when the Secessionists learned of the alleged mistreatment of their own merchants at the hands of the Dawn Empire. Seizing upon this perceived injustice, they sought to exploit the situation by reaching out directly to the merchants in the second month, hoping to sow seeds of dissent and fracture the unity of Dawn's economic front.
For Vold, the political mastermind behind the Secessionists, this was an unexpected opportunity to gain leverage over his niece's misstep. Yet, as he attempted to capitalize on the situation, his frustration mounted, reaching a boiling point that threatened to consume him entirely.
It seemed unfathomable that William could wield such influence over the merchants of Dawn.
The whole merchant union in the Dawn Empire found it offensive that Vold would suggest betraying the empire to them. But Vold called it all bullshit.
They were the ones that helped him rebel!
In the intricate dance of politics and power, William, though not a master, possessed a keen understanding of the delicate balance that governed the relationships within the Empire. While the loyalty of the merchant union was far from blind obedience, he recognized the importance of maintaining a harmonious alliance for the greater good of Dawn.
Aware of the potential backlash that could arise from forcefully seizing company funds, William opted for a more subtle approach. With a deft hand, he wielded the carrot and stick method, offering incentives while subtly implying consequences for non-compliance.
Through calculated diplomacy and strategic maneuvering, William sought to ease tensions and foster cooperation among the merchants. He understood that true loyalty could not be coerced but must be earned through mutual respect and benefit.
And so, amidst the swirling currents of politics and intrigue, William navigated with poise and finesse, ensuring that the bonds between Dawn and its merchants remained strong, even in the face of adversity.
Recognizing the opportunity at hand, William deftly wielded the alloy as a bargaining chip, offering the merchants special rights to sell it in exchange for their support and cooperation.
And to his surprise, they willingly poured their coffers into the Empire's coffers, eager to capitalize on the lucrative opportunity presented to them.
When William searched if there was any metal that had the same property, he found them easily. There were many metals that had the same properties of the alloy, but the problem was that they had to be delicately mined.
And trading them would burn money like paper. Which was the exact opposite of the Empire's alloy. Even though the alloy's performance was a little subpar compared to the real metals that could change shape.
Effeicency and money made the alloy priceless for the Dawn Empire.
For a fleeting moment, the horizon seemed bright with promise, the promise of prosperity and stability on the horizon. But as the third month approached, a sense of foreboding descended upon William like a dark cloud, a reminder of the cyclical nature of fortune and fate.
The third month had always been a harbinger of bad luck for William, a time when the winds of change would blow with a ferocity that threatened to upend even the best-laid plans
"We, of the Bright Kingdom are here to seek justice for the Krossarrs and the Secessionists of Dawn!"