King Mwanga sat in his dimly lit war room, the weight of his kingdom's troubles pressing down on him. The large map of Zambesi laid out before him showed no improvement, only more red markers that indicated the growing number of Matalebe raids and rebel strongholds. It had been two days since he sent Minister Juba on a critical mission to Gaborone, a last-ditch effort to secure help from Triesenberg. He had been waiting for any word of Juba's progress, and his patience was wearing thin.
The heavy doors of the war room creaked open, and a young officer rushed in, his face pale. The man's appearance immediately sent a wave of dread through the king. Without saying a word, Mwanga knew it was bad news.
"Your Majesty," the officer stammered, kneeling before him. "There's… been an ambush. Minister Juba's convoy was attacked on the road to Votswana. They were overwhelmed by Matalebe fighters. The majority of the convoy is either dead or unaccounted for."
