08-14-2020, 06:37 AM
August 13
Tlālacuetztla
Ximac Fortress, Defense Planning Center
The Ximac Fortress is a sprawling compound at the heart of the Empress Camaxtica Military Headquarters Complex. The first military base built at what would become Xiomera's military headquarters, Ximac is an ancient and forbidding pile of stone. Its aged exterior gave little clue to its advanced interior. The Defense Planning Center was the cornerstone of that interior - and of Xiomera's entire defense network.
Built around what had once been an indoor parade ground, the DPC was a bustling place even in normal times. Under the current circumstances, it was even more hectic than normal. The many giant screens lining the walls provided real-time data from the satellites, surveillance systems and agents that Xiomera used to keep an eye on east Caxcana and beyond. Seated at various workstations in the center of the DPC, officers assigned to the Xiomeran General Staff tracked domestic and foreign activity, ever watching for any threat to the Empire. They were quite busy today.
"Events around the region are a bit concerning," General Zinahue said. Xochiuhue sighed, always bemused by Zinahue's perpetual tendency towards understatement. "Really.....explain, General," the Emperor said, mostly managing to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. Zinahue, as usual, didn't notice.
"We can clearly see Legionite formations mobilizing, as if preparing for deployment," Zinahue said, gesturing to one of the officers to zoom in on the digitized regional map on the center viewscreen. The officer zoomed in on the immediate border area between Xiomera and Legionas. "We have a rough estimate, that at least 40,000 to 50,000 Legionite troops are mobilized for immediate deployment, and that substantially larger reserves are waiting further inland." Zinahue ordered the officer to zoom in on another part of the map, the areas between Eiria and Xiomera. "Eirian air and naval units appear to be mobilizing as well for possible action. And the traitorous First Fleet is moving northeast, accompanied by another Eirian fleet. There has been no mobilization or movement yet of Eirian ground forces, but we believe that is only a matter of time. The conclusion is inescapable, your Majesty. The Legionites and Eirians must be conspiring with the former Crown Prince to launch a military intervention against the Empire. The escape of the Empress has most likely convinced them to act."
Xochiuhue glared at the map, as if he could blast Legionas and Eiria off of the map with his eyes alone. "Place all Imperial military forces on highest alert, and order a general mobilization. Move our anti-ship missile units into defensive positions and ensure they are ready for immediate deployment. All shore defenses are to be prepared for imminent attack. All Air Force units are to prepare for immediate sorties, and the strategic bomber corps and rocket corps prepared for possible strikes. Move Army Corps IX and X to supplement Army Corps VI and VII in the western and southwestern areas where any attack from Legionas or Eiria would be most likely to occur."
"That will greatly reduce the number of forces of our planned attack at Chuaztlapoc," Zinahue warned.
The Emperor turned to look at Zinahue. "Army Corps V will still be assigned to reduce Chuaztlapoc. If you can't take the city with 50,000 men, General...." the Emperor's sentence trailed off unfinished. It didn't need to be finished. Zinahue nodded.
Security Secretary Calhualyana raised her hand. "If we move so many soldiers west, that will make it much harder for me to keep order in the rest of the country. ASI and Imperial Police resources are already stretched thin," she said in a cautionary tone. "Do not waste my time with more of your inability, Calhualyana," Xochiuhue responded irritably. "The Army is not supposed to be your backup. The Army's job is to defend the country. Your job is to maintain order. If the Army can do its job, so can you and your inept security personnel," the Emperor snapped.
Calhualyana silently accepted the sharp rebuke, gritting her teeth as Xochiuhue turned away. "Ah, General Yāotlah'lotl," the Emperor said, nodding to someone who had just walked into the room. The head of Xiomeran Military Intelligence returned the nod with a salute. "I came to present my report on morale and information from our political officers as you requested, your Majesty," Yāotlah'lotl said.
"Excellent. How would you describe the morale of our forces?" the Emperor asked.
"I would say morale is excellent. We have been doing well to maintain support for you and the government despite the efforts of others to counteract that message, and our political officers have reported that there is little dissent within the armed forces," Yāotlah'lotl said.
"I see. I do have one other question, General. Why should I trust this report, coming as it does from a traitor?" the Emperor said coolly.
He knows. Shit. Yāotlah'lotl knew she was in trouble, but she had nothing to lose by bluffing. "Your Majesty, I would never betray the Empire," Yāotlah'lotl said, feigning shock.
"Oh, but that's not true. You see, after Yauhmi escaped, I originally thought it was due to the ineptitude of ASI. There has been rather a lot of that going around," the Emperor said, as Calhualyana gritted her teeth again. "But I had a team begin investigating where the breakdown occurred. They discovered some rather surprising things. Communications from someone within ASI to your office, followed by you accessing the personnel file of a certain Major Huatli. The same Major Huatli who surveillance cameras caught leading the prison raid that helped Yauhmi escape. This was, of course, after you took an unscheduled, unlogged and unreported flight to Ixtenco, to the base camp of the same Major Huatli." Xochiuhue shook his head, chuckling. "I am quite surprised you left so many clues. XMI is apparently even more inept than ASI."
"It was you. You traitorous bitch," Calhualyana growled. "You betrayed my black site. You helped Yauhmi escape."
Yāotlah'lotl looked down at the floor, hiding her facial expression as if she was afraid. She was actually far less afraid than she should have rightly been. But, again, she had nothing left to lose. "Your Majesty, the truth is...." Yāotlah'lotl said softly, hoping to catch everyone off guard. Without warning, she leaped forward towards Xochiuhue, a dagger in her hand. She was quick, but General Zinahue was quicker. He jumped in front of Yāotlah'lotl, shielding the Emperor and grabbing Yāotlah'lotl's wrist. As guards rushed forward to restrain and disarm Yāotlah'lotl, the Emperor patted Zinahue on the shoulder. "Nice try, Yāotlah'lotl. Someone will die here today. But not me." The Emperor took the dagger from one of the guards. "Any last words, traitor?"
"I am no traitor!" Yāotlah'lotl shouted bitterly. "I never lied to you. I said I would never betray the Empire. And I never did. You are not the Empire, Xochiuhue."
"That is where you're wrong," the Emperor replied, before hefting the dagger and taking a single quick strike. As Yāotlah'lotl fell to the ground, Xochiuhue towered over her. "I am the Empire."
As the guards removed Yāotlah'lotl's body, Xochiuhue turned to discuss the Imperial defenses with Zinahue and the other staff officers, already banishing Yāotlah'lotl from his mind. Zinahue found himself preoccupied with something, however.
He had rushed to the Emperor's defense. The Security Secretary, standing next to him, had not.
Tlālacuetztla
Ximac Fortress, Defense Planning Center
The Ximac Fortress is a sprawling compound at the heart of the Empress Camaxtica Military Headquarters Complex. The first military base built at what would become Xiomera's military headquarters, Ximac is an ancient and forbidding pile of stone. Its aged exterior gave little clue to its advanced interior. The Defense Planning Center was the cornerstone of that interior - and of Xiomera's entire defense network.
Built around what had once been an indoor parade ground, the DPC was a bustling place even in normal times. Under the current circumstances, it was even more hectic than normal. The many giant screens lining the walls provided real-time data from the satellites, surveillance systems and agents that Xiomera used to keep an eye on east Caxcana and beyond. Seated at various workstations in the center of the DPC, officers assigned to the Xiomeran General Staff tracked domestic and foreign activity, ever watching for any threat to the Empire. They were quite busy today.
"Events around the region are a bit concerning," General Zinahue said. Xochiuhue sighed, always bemused by Zinahue's perpetual tendency towards understatement. "Really.....explain, General," the Emperor said, mostly managing to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. Zinahue, as usual, didn't notice.
"We can clearly see Legionite formations mobilizing, as if preparing for deployment," Zinahue said, gesturing to one of the officers to zoom in on the digitized regional map on the center viewscreen. The officer zoomed in on the immediate border area between Xiomera and Legionas. "We have a rough estimate, that at least 40,000 to 50,000 Legionite troops are mobilized for immediate deployment, and that substantially larger reserves are waiting further inland." Zinahue ordered the officer to zoom in on another part of the map, the areas between Eiria and Xiomera. "Eirian air and naval units appear to be mobilizing as well for possible action. And the traitorous First Fleet is moving northeast, accompanied by another Eirian fleet. There has been no mobilization or movement yet of Eirian ground forces, but we believe that is only a matter of time. The conclusion is inescapable, your Majesty. The Legionites and Eirians must be conspiring with the former Crown Prince to launch a military intervention against the Empire. The escape of the Empress has most likely convinced them to act."
Xochiuhue glared at the map, as if he could blast Legionas and Eiria off of the map with his eyes alone. "Place all Imperial military forces on highest alert, and order a general mobilization. Move our anti-ship missile units into defensive positions and ensure they are ready for immediate deployment. All shore defenses are to be prepared for imminent attack. All Air Force units are to prepare for immediate sorties, and the strategic bomber corps and rocket corps prepared for possible strikes. Move Army Corps IX and X to supplement Army Corps VI and VII in the western and southwestern areas where any attack from Legionas or Eiria would be most likely to occur."
"That will greatly reduce the number of forces of our planned attack at Chuaztlapoc," Zinahue warned.
The Emperor turned to look at Zinahue. "Army Corps V will still be assigned to reduce Chuaztlapoc. If you can't take the city with 50,000 men, General...." the Emperor's sentence trailed off unfinished. It didn't need to be finished. Zinahue nodded.
Security Secretary Calhualyana raised her hand. "If we move so many soldiers west, that will make it much harder for me to keep order in the rest of the country. ASI and Imperial Police resources are already stretched thin," she said in a cautionary tone. "Do not waste my time with more of your inability, Calhualyana," Xochiuhue responded irritably. "The Army is not supposed to be your backup. The Army's job is to defend the country. Your job is to maintain order. If the Army can do its job, so can you and your inept security personnel," the Emperor snapped.
Calhualyana silently accepted the sharp rebuke, gritting her teeth as Xochiuhue turned away. "Ah, General Yāotlah'lotl," the Emperor said, nodding to someone who had just walked into the room. The head of Xiomeran Military Intelligence returned the nod with a salute. "I came to present my report on morale and information from our political officers as you requested, your Majesty," Yāotlah'lotl said.
"Excellent. How would you describe the morale of our forces?" the Emperor asked.
"I would say morale is excellent. We have been doing well to maintain support for you and the government despite the efforts of others to counteract that message, and our political officers have reported that there is little dissent within the armed forces," Yāotlah'lotl said.
"I see. I do have one other question, General. Why should I trust this report, coming as it does from a traitor?" the Emperor said coolly.
He knows. Shit. Yāotlah'lotl knew she was in trouble, but she had nothing to lose by bluffing. "Your Majesty, I would never betray the Empire," Yāotlah'lotl said, feigning shock.
"Oh, but that's not true. You see, after Yauhmi escaped, I originally thought it was due to the ineptitude of ASI. There has been rather a lot of that going around," the Emperor said, as Calhualyana gritted her teeth again. "But I had a team begin investigating where the breakdown occurred. They discovered some rather surprising things. Communications from someone within ASI to your office, followed by you accessing the personnel file of a certain Major Huatli. The same Major Huatli who surveillance cameras caught leading the prison raid that helped Yauhmi escape. This was, of course, after you took an unscheduled, unlogged and unreported flight to Ixtenco, to the base camp of the same Major Huatli." Xochiuhue shook his head, chuckling. "I am quite surprised you left so many clues. XMI is apparently even more inept than ASI."
"It was you. You traitorous bitch," Calhualyana growled. "You betrayed my black site. You helped Yauhmi escape."
Yāotlah'lotl looked down at the floor, hiding her facial expression as if she was afraid. She was actually far less afraid than she should have rightly been. But, again, she had nothing left to lose. "Your Majesty, the truth is...." Yāotlah'lotl said softly, hoping to catch everyone off guard. Without warning, she leaped forward towards Xochiuhue, a dagger in her hand. She was quick, but General Zinahue was quicker. He jumped in front of Yāotlah'lotl, shielding the Emperor and grabbing Yāotlah'lotl's wrist. As guards rushed forward to restrain and disarm Yāotlah'lotl, the Emperor patted Zinahue on the shoulder. "Nice try, Yāotlah'lotl. Someone will die here today. But not me." The Emperor took the dagger from one of the guards. "Any last words, traitor?"
"I am no traitor!" Yāotlah'lotl shouted bitterly. "I never lied to you. I said I would never betray the Empire. And I never did. You are not the Empire, Xochiuhue."
"That is where you're wrong," the Emperor replied, before hefting the dagger and taking a single quick strike. As Yāotlah'lotl fell to the ground, Xochiuhue towered over her. "I am the Empire."
As the guards removed Yāotlah'lotl's body, Xochiuhue turned to discuss the Imperial defenses with Zinahue and the other staff officers, already banishing Yāotlah'lotl from his mind. Zinahue found himself preoccupied with something, however.
He had rushed to the Emperor's defense. The Security Secretary, standing next to him, had not.
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