The Emperor's Sword

[Saikamercenarys]

Matome's mind wandered, it was surreal. As himself and the higher ranking Admirals filed into the room he thought back to his family's farm once again on Planet Kyushu. Vast expanses of open space, splotched with rice pattys, cherry blossoms, and every sort of beautiful and pretty plant. The air a cool temperature, humidity at times during the wet seasons could get to a person, but in the end it all paid off with the blossoming of the pink flowers. Their petals delicate, falling in unison with one another as the year passed and they faded into memory. He snapped back to his current predicament as he noticed several of the men in the room jump to attention when the entourage entered. He nodded to them and waved to them to sit, they did. The Shogun and Daichi took seats towards the head of the table, the head being now vacant. Eerily silent as the remaining staff filed in. Matome had the taste of humidity linger in his mouth for a moment as the memory of his home finally passed.

"Gentlemen. I take it you know why we are here, I would like to begin this meeting by stating that we are in no worse a position than what we were before. An Empire is not built around one man, but many. Our one Sacred Emperor Jien Kogen's passing must not lower our morale anymore than the passing of the Cherry Blossoms Flowers. He was a great man, do not think to say I would downplay his achievements and his tactical wit, yet his place now is to rest with the ancestors. Bless His soul and theirs."

Ugaki turned to Daichi and gave a firm nod. He wondered if this younger Kogen could arise a passion within those in the room just as the old one did. Would he be charismatic... or would he fall flat. Only time would answer the ultimate question of if he could weather leadership.

---

[Tetsuya Kogen]

Daichi was looking straight into the Shoguns eyes when he nodded. The Heir apparent knew that today would be a turning point in History for these men, and for perhaps the entire galaxy. He nodded back once and looked around the table. Noticing all the eyes on him, looking into each of them in turn to gauge their attitude. Once he had reached the midpoint of eyes he started to address the men in what he can only describe by himself as surprising Confidence...

"Today is a day in which we celebrate the mind of Jein Kogen. Not mourn the death of our Emperor. We are here because we believe in the freedom of our people and our House. You all had your chance to defect back to Kusari along with certain other individuals who have already chosen that path. But you are here because you know the implications of allowing a Republic to continue in Kusari would mean certain death for our House, our Values, our traditions."

[color=#FFCC66]He had finished looking into each of their eyes, he now cast his glances at the Shogun and the Advisors. He placed his palms on the table and pushed himself up onto his feet.

"Today we keep our trust in the empire. Today we make our enemies tremble and our friends proud. Today we make our Ancestors, and My brother proud. We must be united in our cause. Without you, the Empire is nothing."

[color=#FFCC66]He started to look around again, looking into the weary eyes of the Admirality.

"Some of you in here, I can feel. You will do great things in the weeks to come. Today we stop being exiles, and start becoming -Saviors-."

[color=#FFCC66]He slams his hand down as he says the last word, making a few of the remaining 'mourners' jump

"You will all go back to your ships, Not as a mourning sad man. But as a Mighty Admiral or Commander. Today the men will feast gloriously in Jiens Name. Tomorrow we continue to raid their supply lines and destroy their ships. They will fear our name. They will fear the Empire of Kusari. We will contact our former enemies and allies and we will extend the hand of friendship to them. Not as a sign of weakness, but as a sign of unification against these disgusting barbarians.

We cannot allow the Gauls to sink their teeth further into Kusari, for if they do so.... there will be nothing left for us to return to, they will destroy it all. They will glass our planets, they will rape your wives and daughters, Eat your brothers, sons, fathers. For this is the Gaul way. The Republic draws them into this trap willingly. They have no compassion for a Kusari born man, they are Gaijin TRAITORS."
[color=#FFCC66]
he slams his hand again on the desk, angrily out bursting at the last word.

"If any of you would seek to end this war right now, You may attempt to take a vessel back to Kusari. I will not stop you. But they will give no mercy to you as we would them. They will gun you down and use your carcass to appease the Gaul pigs."

[color=#FFCC66]He points to the door and sits down, breathing heavily with a passionately angry face. looking around the room to see if any man stands