Planet Cambridge always looked better in Autumn, Edmund thought looking out across the hinterlands. Dark, foreboding and yet beautiful in it's own right. Strong winds caused dead leaves to spring to life once more and dance across the fields into the woods further beyond, like forest fairies running away from modernity. Dead trees standing like guardian statues, waiting for the spring to arrive many months away. He liked this part of Cambridge, but rarely was he allowed to visit. The Amber Palace, as it was so named, was little more than an extension of the Queens Winter Palace, but he did not know if she came here very often. Not many enjoyed the sight of frozen forests and distant mountains shrouded in clouds, but he did. He felt that it somehow reiterated how Bretonia felt, a house that was now a shadow of it's former self. Still, it was not in the nature of Bretonia to remain broken. Like the trees that lay beyond the fields, Bretonia would awake once more, come the spring.
His brother arrived now, his shuttle settling on the landing pads, it had been too long since they had been together and spoke as one. Victor was alone, as usual, and Edmund watched as his youngest brother trudged through the piles of dead leaves before reaching the front door, not bothering to look up and see his brother staring back at him. The others, he guessed would be along soon. Edmund had put this meeting off for too long, the music of the next age was calling, and try as he might, he knew he had to face it. Some comfort was taken however, in the knowledge that he would not have to face it alone, and he heard his brother coming up the stairs.
The battlecruiser Hampton Roads exited the tradelane above Cambridge, it's escort breaking formation and powering out to form a perimeter. While Gallia had been pushed back to Edinburgh, no one was going to be resting easy, and especially not Admiral Hunter. Fussing with her dress blues, annoyed as anyone could really get, the woman just...didn't like them. Either her fatigues or..anything. She hated how formal it was. Rubbing her forehead briefly, she tucked her fiery locks in a bit, then checked the ponytail. Resigning herself to this, she picked up her cap, pausing to look at her ring. Better be waiting for me at home, Lizzy. she thought briefly. The image of Lizzy waiting there did bring a small smile to her face, but a few sharp raps at her door tore her from the hopeful daydream and back to the cold reality. Conference. Not her ship. Not that taking the Unsung War from the frontline was a good idea - so she had to settle for one of the support vessels that had survived the loss of Gettysburg and her cohort. Tucking her cap on, she keyed the door open to reveal her aide-de-camp.
"Kei." She said warmly, returning the salute that shot up once the door clinked open. "At east."
Kei relaxed. Captain Kei Nagase. One person who had been with Alexis for most of her time in the upper echelons of the Liberty Navy, and a friend she had shared drinks with when off duty. Alexis did owe the woman much, taking a load off her shoulders when needed. At Kei's side was strapped a sidearm - she never went anywhere unarmed. Libertonian through and through.
"The shuttle's ready, Admiral." Kei reported.
"Let's not keep everyone waiting. Leave that to Counts and Queens, right?" She smiled ruefully. Kei chuckled and stepped aside for her, and together they headed down the corridor to the elevator. Luckily, no terrible elevator music. The two were silent as the lights passed them by, before it opened to the meager hangar bay. The Interdictor-Class was not known as a carrier, and so far only a pair of Liberators and a shuttle could even fit in here. Leading the way, Alexis ducked and entered the shuttle, Kei close behind. The two took opposite seats from each other and shot the breeze as the ship seals itself. Soon it dropped, exiting the artificial gravity of the Hampton Roads. Engines flaring, it headed into the Docking Ring. The shuttle lightly shook before it finally was fully in-atmosphere. Banking, Alexis was pressed into the crash seat before the shuttle leveled off.
"...feels like forever since I got my feet on dry ground."
"War does that." Kei said, looking up at the ceiling.
The shuttle would find it's way to the Amber Palace. After an exchange of codes and compliments, the vessel settled onto the landing pad, and the two made their exit. As a few dead leaves blew past, they crunched through theme towards the front door. Kei was keeping watch. Even in friendly territory, the Captain trusted no one but Alexis. As was her nature. A nature Alexis didn't care to comment on. The other shuttle had been here before theirs even crested the horizon, so Alexis searched for a doorbell, pressing one if it was there or just using the knocker if there was not one.
"...Politics." Was all she muttered to herself.
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
Edmund allowed himself a smile as his brother was announced by the ushers and the two shared a happy embrace before the others arrived. The Usher returned downstairs to greet the newest arrivals. One of the others had let them in already Good Morning ladies. The Fleet Admiral and Director are awaiting you upstairs, if you would follow me. The elderly Usher once more took to the stairs and led the younger woman to where the meeting was to be held.
The door was opened for her and the Usher stood as still as a statue while waiting for the Libertonians to make their way inside. The Room was not very well lit, pale glows of light coming from the chandelier above the main rectangular oak table. The large open windows gave a clear view of the somewhat dreary landscape outside and a light rain began to fall as mist started to settle onto the woods beyond. The fireplace crackled once again, it being the source of most of the light in the otherwise poorly lit room. A few drinks sat on a nearby shelf but other than that, the only other notable features were the two men in uniform standing at the end of the room, silently watching the newest arrivals with cold and dark faces.
Alexis bowed her head. "Good morning to you as well." She said.
"K...Hello." Kei said. She defaulted to Kusarian for a lot of her speech, being bilingual....but Bretonia probably didn't like that. Just going with hello, she stuck to Alexis' heels as they followed the Usher. Kei kept looking around, taking in the entire Amber Palace. She frowned. Upstairs? Tactically bad choice. Harder to escape in case of emergency. Especially when multiple high-ranking officers were present. But...alas...she couldn't really say much.
The door opened, the two entered. Kei blinked, her eyes quickly adjusting whilst Alexis squinted for a few moments until her eyes finally became accustom to the dim lighting. Neither was a fan of the window, but they were guests. Alexis slid her cap off and tucked it under her arm, looking at her colleagues from Bretonia.
"Admiral Alexis Hunter of the First Fleet. This is my aide-de-camp, Captain Kei Nagase." Her eyebrows lightly furrowed a bit. Kei kept close as Alexis took a seat, Kei standing at ease just above her right shoulder. Alexis set her cap down in front of her. "...While I am sure we await others, I would like to take a moment to extend...condolences is not the right word. The tragedy that Galla inflicted..." She looked at her hands. "My heart goes out to you all. Not even for victory would I ever see us of the Allies capable of....such depravity." She gritted her teeth briefly. She closed her eyes before taking a breath, relaxing. Bretonia had been hurt. But she doubted they were destroyed.
Alexis looked up. "May I get some water?" She asked, glancing around for an Usher or waitstaff.
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
"Nothing looked as beautiful as the day I set foot on Cambridge and was met with a true breeze of fresh air."
Trevor remembered his first visit to Cambridge over three years ago, before his ascension to the Admiralty, and later the Ministry. It was like arriving on Pecos again, yet instead of a frozen hellscape the land before him was rife with life and history. A strong feeling in his gut told him the meeting between military minds here would go well, a rather small ball of trust in the participants who would be showing up.
It was edging into the late afternoon as he arrived, the shuttle that had brought him setting down outside the Amber Palace and letting him off.
His striped black suit was unmistakable, the sigil of his station on the left lapel of the jacket, dressed to represent Crayter in the best fashion he was capable of. A lot had led to this moment, and even more still was to pass, though the effects of those would be decided by this conference. Countless sacrifices made to ensure that victory was assured, made to ensure that they would have this opportunity to meet today.
The future of Bretonia, and indeed all participating nations, rested on the outcome.
Coming down from orbit, a Liberty shuttle carrying Admiral Prower and his aide, Captain Fox, landed. Both stepped down, Miles still toying with his tie, correcting it in his dress uniform. "I've been wearing this frequently lately and I still can't get the tie perfected." He would mutter, he really needed a new one but his mind was preoccupied. Both would begin to make their way towards the Amber Palace, noting the somewhat calming atmosphere the surroundings had.
As they'd draw closer, they'd know behind the doors lay the politics, the drama and issues associated with it, would have to be addressed. The future of Liberty, Bretonia and the NATO alliance would stand before the trial by fire of politics. Neither liked the fact, but it was inevitable since the beginning, and there was nothing further to delay it. The two approached the palace, intent to direct themselves to the conference room, and prepare for the most challenging part of the war; officially ending it.
The two brothers briefly introduced themselves to the women who entered the room, neither Steiner being in a particularly talkative mood. The sound of footsteps heralded more guests and while the Ushers attended to the Libertonians, Victor and Edmund spoke to one another in hushed whispers, taking care to speak in Rheinlandic.
At long last, the final guest had arrived and the doors were once again closed. A chime from somewhere in the room signaled the time as 9:30 AM. Edmund moved to the center of the room Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for coming. It is time for us to begin. Please, be seated With that, he and his brother sat at the center oak table and waited for the others to do the same. Neither Bretonian was eager to speak, but formalities had to be observed and therefore, Edmund spoke again. For the sake of introductions, I am Fleet Admiral Steiner, known to many of you already, this is the Director of the Secret Intelligence Service Victor Steiner. Our business today is to finally conclude this war and to sort out the borders which we now face, as well as our diplomatic standings and NATO's stance toward Gallia...such as it is. Obviously you will want to speak about issues that concern your own organisations, so I will yield the floor to Admiral Alexis Hunter of the First fleet to introduce Liberty's concerns and wishes, followed by the representative from the Crayter Republic and finally, Admiral Prower of the 5th.
Alexis stood up, inclining her head to Edmund. "Thank you, sir." She started off. Smoothing a bit of her uniform out, she leaned a bit on the table, looking at the others. "As many of you know, Liberty has suffered grave loss in this war. This is not to disparage the grievous losses of others. But we have lost no less than five of our fleets in this war, leaving out security in a very...unstable state. While Alma and Concord return home, our borders are weak. As such, Liberty's chief concern now is strengthening our borders, securing the lines of trade to rebuild our forces, and continue the friendship that brought us to this...victory." She trailed off at that word. Victory. Was it really victory, as such?
Pyrrhic one, maybe.
"As for our stance against Gallia..." She frowned. "Caution. Even if they claim to not be what we know is the Enclave...they still hold the same weaponry that razed Leeds, half of New London. That can be turned against us all. I feel that it is...imperative...that we treat them as possible hostiles. They can say all they like. I, for one, do not wish to see Los Angeles razed. Or Manhattan. As long as they alone hold the keys to the power to raze planets, they cannot be seen as total friends. The simplest way to put it is cautious cordiality." She pushed off of the table. "As for our wishes. An agreement to strengthen trade between us all. Help in rebuilding our forces, and...if needed...contingencies should the new Gallic government not be as amicable as we would like." She finished, then sat down.
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
Trevor gave the air a moment of respite before standing, fixing his suit before speaking.
"While we may not have had as many losses inflicted, Crayter certainly has seen our fair share of devastation thanks to the Royalists. Borneo in particular is still rebuilding from the Royalist occupation, and our people are still reeling from the loss of the Helios thanks to the Outcast incursion. Crayter's defenses, while capable, are holding in a pattern unfit to defend against another large-scale invasion, and while I don't expect the Outcasts to be able to mount another offensive such as they did against the Helios, I do believe that our position in the Taus and Coronado is indeed threatened by them to some degree."
He thought for a moment before continuing. Even the thought of the carrier was enough to impose emotion, yet he stood fast, though it was visible enough to the others.
"For Gallia, that subject is.. touchy.. Crayterian forces worked well with what eventually became the head of the Republique, even after the unfortunate demise of General LaFlamme. While we're openly and actively pursuing forces of the Enclave, the core of Gallia has us in a crossfire should things go downhill. As such, I'd like to second Admiral Hunter's proposal to increase trade and supply for NATO forces, especially against the looming Maltese presence that threatens Yuma and the Enclave in the.. 'Hebrides'.." It was clear he didn't like that word, yet to him there was no other way to refer to the area.
"Caution is preferable for now, though we must be ready for another conflict should it arise. The southern Taus are secured for now, and we'll do our part to make sure it stays that way, but Crayter, as with during the war, is nothing without capable allies. Hopefully it never comes to it, but keeping ready for those weapons of war should be our top priority."
He took his seat again, exhaling a deep breath and trying to clear his mind of the veritable nostalgia bomb he'd brought up during his speech.
Admiral Prower stood up, addressing the room. "As Admiral Hunter had stated a good portion of my points, I'll keep this brief. Naturally trade is in the best interest of our collection nations, but so is our critical economies. One thing that's hampered us more than anything is our losses. Bretonia's infrastructure is decimated, and I find it in all our best interests to assist in rebuilding these losses."
He paused for a moment, addressing the words of the Crayter representative. "The growing Outcast threat is a situation that affects some of us more than the others. Liberty and Crayterian shipping is especially vulnerable to piracy raids. This is a growing concern as we've noted an increase in Outcast activity. These raids will hamper our abilities to maintain effective trade with each other and personally, I find it in our best interests to resolve a plan of action to prevent commerce raiding from hampering trade between the Allies." Miles adjusted his glasses, sitting back down. He had more on his mind, but this would suffice for now.