At the Chamber of Larkspurs, in the Imperial Palace at the Empire capital of Lacmhacarh, a planar space map was projected before the Throne. The Clybh Monarchy was within the Hania Federation. Clybh was the monarchy that Lamagh herself was once the Queen of. Of course, the so-called “monarchies” of the Empire weren’t really monarchies. They were actually just glorified regional divisions, and the term “monarch” something of an honorary title. The main duty of a monarch was to manage one of the portals that led to Lacmhacarh. As such, they had far less authority than one might expect from the title of “King” or “Queen.” Yet the Clybh Monarchy bore a great deal of significance in the current operation. Within the planar space map, the interior of the Clybh Monarchy was alive with countless dancing blue symbols, each representing sub-fleets, squadrons, and other forces and formations.
The Hania Federation was sandwiched between the Skeer and Bargzedeh Monarchies, which were also buzzing with units, mostly concentrated on the border of the sphere of influence. But Clybh had more.
“I can’t accept this,” said Chancellor Brahsh.
“But why? I think this is the very best battle line up,” said Imperial Admiral Faramunsh, Director of Military Command. “This way, we can give them the double mission of defending the capital while also taking over Hania,” he continued, indicating the troops deployed throughout Clybh, Hania, and Bargzedeh with his command baton. “For argument’s sake, let’s shift them around.”
The symbols representing their forces started moving. Their main forces weren’t in any of these three places; they were in the vicinity of the Central Disc Sector. It was the corps presently named Twin Thorns Fleet 13 which was invading Hania, before circling the edge of the Central Disc and gaining control of all the space up to the PSSU’s sphere of influence. Furthermore, in concert with Fleet 13, the troops stationed in Clybh would infiltrate Hania. The troops in the other two places (Hania and Bargzedeh) would mostly play defense, invading extremely slowly.
“Even if unforeseen circumstances come into play...” A new set of symbols appeared within the Hania Federation’s sphere of influence, color-coded red to signify their hostility. This was a projection of a hypothetical situation whereby Hania became antagonistic. All at once, the red symbols moved for Clybh. But blue blips emanating from Clybh swiftly blocked their advance. It seemed the task of tearing through the bulky battle formation protecting the Clybh Portal was too much for Hania’s military. After Hania hit this wall, Fleet 13 would go on the offensive and annihilate them. “...We could deal with it in this manner.”
“I understand, but Mr. Ambassador wouldn’t approve,” said Brahsh.
“Approve?” Brahsh cocked his head. “Do we need his approval once the troops are on the move?”
“It’s not a matter of whether it’s necessary. But it would lower the chances of the plan coming to fruition.”
“Then you ought to have led with that,” Faramunsh smiled wryly. “But how so?”
“It’d be too much of a shot in the arm.”
“Shot in the arm?” said Faramunsh, bewildered. “Regarding what?”
“Regarding the anti-imperialist faction. What else could I have meant?”
The Hania Federation contained both a faction that regarded the nation’s integration into the Empire as inevitable, and a faction that refused to accept that. It appeared as though the integrationists held the reins of power, but their power base was extremely unstable. Though they’d said they wish to join forces with the Empire, it wasn’t as though that plan had been propounded through public channels in order to amass a popular mandate. It was nothing more than a scheme launched behind closed curtains.
It went without saying that many were opposed to the nation’s absorption into the Empire. In fact, in terms of numbers, anti-imperialists formed the majority, as Ambassador Teen had admitted. The integrationists just happened to have a hold over the organs of government at the moment.
“If we’re too brazen about it,” said Brahsh, “there’s a chance the alliance partisans will gain power.”
“I’m having trouble grasping what you’re getting at, Chancellor. What exactly are you saying is being too brazen?”
“Concentrating all those forces in Clybh. There aren’t that many within the monarchy at present.”
“Yes, because it’s surrounded by a neutral nation.”
“Right. So, if we were to concentrate more troops here, it’s as good as declaring our intention that the Hania Federation should no longer remain a neutral party. They aren’t fools. If we transfer that much force of arms to the border of the sphere of influence, they’ll read the signs.”
“I don’t doubt that,” said Faramunsh. While he believed Hania’s military to be full of defects, he held the nation’s intelligence gathering apparatus in high esteem.
“Then the plan would verge on the brink of crisis.”
The faction that could not abide integration with the Empire could be further subdivided into two — the sub-faction that wished to maintain neutrality, and the sub-faction that wished to follow the Nova Sicilia Accords and join with the Three Nations Alliance. The alliance partisans were in the minority, but if confronted with the reality of the Empire’s invasion, the neutrality advocates might join them, and with their forces united, alliance partisans might seize political power. That was Ambassador Teen’s point of view, and it seemed Brahsh believed him.
“Do we have any other proposals?” asked Brahsh.
“We do, of course,” said Faramunsh, surprised. “My subordinates are hard workers, after all.”
The array of ships on the planar space map changed completely. The numbers of symbols within Hania, Clybh and Bargzedeh decreased, and equal numbers were added to the forces in the Central Disc Sector and the Raseess Monarchy.
“You mean to augment Fleet 13?” asked Lamagh.
“I’m afraid that won’t be nearly enough,” said Faramunsh, lowering his head.
“We will have Twin Thorns Fleet 1 and Byrec Lolyna Borperr (Twin Thorns Fleet 15) advance to the front lines and form a new fleet using reserve forces. They will inherit the battle zones of Fleets 11, 12, 13, and 14, so that we may invest all four of those fleets in the Federation.