as written by barney_fife and Ottoman
Everything had gone on relatively without a hitch despite the Aschen Empire's heightened state of readiness. The Dropship and it's fighter escort was flanked by a wing of Aschen Prowlers, which banked to the left and then split into several directions once they reached the palace landing pad.
Standing in lock step formation were precisely twelve War Adepts from the Hastati Adept chapter. Their powered armor was painted a brilliant red and gold, with the emblem of Hastati Chapter emblazoned on their shoulder pauldrons.
The Adepts shouldered their 20mm Heavy Magnetron rifles in attention, their faces obscured by a black, opaque visor with a spartan helmet design.
With each war Adept came a minister of death praying for war, a physically, and genetically enhanced individual encased in several tons of reinforced Duralthene power armor.
These War adepts formed a cooridor that went from the Imperial Palace's landing pad towards the main entrance, a pair of massive intricately engraved, and gold imbued oaken doors opened up. The symbol of the Aschen Phoenix shimmered in gold as the doors opened, and four individuals in dark blue robes stepped forward.
Crowds had gathered around the fenceline of the Palace property, watching everything unfold, cheering while waving both Imperial Aschen and Hegemony flags.
Standing center in the large doorway was Isambard Prince, a recently elected Emperor, and a man with no family. He stood alone flanked only by his security, two more War Adepts of the Emperor's Guard chapter, their armor was a solid black.
Prince walked, intending to meet the Scatterran party halfway, once he reached them he offered a respectful nod.
"You'll have to forgive the hasty preparations, your arrival was preceded by some... inner turmoil among our people." Prince explained, gesturing for them to walk with him.
"We've been at war, and much of our Empire has been expended in that effort, new friends are a welcome boon in these dark times, I bid you welcome to Caprica City, and my humble Palace." Prince added. "I am Isambard Prince, the new Emperor, and esteemed representative of the will of the people of the United Aschen Empire."
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Neither of the Scatterran royals had expected there to be crowds, though they were certainly not underdressed for their station, given the hasty nature of this invitation and the rather private nature of the meeting. Despite the unexpected attention neither proved perturbed as they closed the distance to Isambard Prince, their own contingent following behind with the clicking of their boots, both offering him a stark and rigid salute in their Imperial fashion, arms and fingers arcing to the sky. The both of them held it for a moment, Elisabeth having had to train herself for some time not to drop it before Josef did since she had wed him, before yielding to the unspoken request that they follow the Aschen monarch.
"I hope that our coming is not a disturbance, your majesty." Offered the Kaiser, tactfully following but a few paces behind Isambard. The other was Emperor here, not him, and though many believed he had divine right to every corner of this galaxy, it wouldn't do to act the fool and alienate allies. "We held the Wyrm back, for fear of causing a scene." If anything were to cause a scene it would've been the Scatterran flagship, the leviathan lingering in an uninhabited star-system just a jump or three away, there should either the lord or lady of House Kampf require it. Quietly the Azrican Empress followed along, holding her tongue until they were out of earshot from most of the civilians about.
"If I may ask, your majesty, at war with whom?" That had not been exactly clear in the talks thus far, and it was something that the Hegemony was keen to discover, were it that they would throw their lot in with the Aschen. Men, material and supplies are of the utmost value to the Scatterran Empire, and they didn't spend it in war lightly. Regardless of whatever the answer to that question would prove, once they were inside, Josef returned the courtesy that Prince had shown them just moments before.
"... forgive me, Lord Isambard, it slipped my mind. My memory is not the sharpest, I thought not to introduce myself." Glancing over to Liese for but a moment, as if in silent conversation. After six centuries, and as a practical God no less, Josef was not accustomed to dealing with those who might not know his name, much less needing to introduce himself. "I am Josef Kampf, Emperor of all Scatterran peoples, and this is my wife, the Empress Elisabeth Redwing." At the mention of her name Liese bowed her head slightly, brows raised gently at the mention of her maiden name, the Duchy she still held.
"Kampf now, of course." She had embraced her position as lady of the Imperial House wholeheartedly.
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"I am honored to have you both here, and your presence here is quite the opposite, a much needed boost of moral among a weary people." Prince explained with a slight bow as they approached the towering Imperial palace. At Kampf's introduction, Prince simply turned, and inclining his head respectfully. "As I said, I am honored to meet you both. Chairman Inviere appraised me of everything concerning your last meeting with her. She held high hopes for our peoples future." Prince said, choosing his words carefully
"I appreciate holding your larger ships back, we've had to tightly regulate our home space after the incident." Prince explained, while they stepped inside the large doors.
"I have some of the best chefs in the Empire preparing our state dinner, I hope you will find everything palatable when the time comes." Prince said, before his face turned towards the darker subject.
"There was an incident involving a neighboring planet, outside the Empire. The Terran National Government as they call themselves. One of our private corporations was operating on the planet, there was some kind of attack. They opted to assist and were eventually arrested, my predecessor feared that the TNG would seize some extremely valuable; and highly classified technology Tech Con had in storage, so he ordered the technology extracted through force."
Prince heaved a slight, regretful sigh. "An attack that cost us three of our Reverence II planetary assault carrier and eight hundred thousand Aschen lives." He said, coming to a stop.
"That is not whom we are at war with, Committing military resources to a primitive and disgusting planet on the fringes of civilized space was a mistake I intend to avoid. However, we are at war with a Machine Demon..." Prince explained, before he offered a nod to a nearby Adjutant.
"A Machine demon that uses ambush and alliances of convenience; a scourge to Aschen peoples across the Galaxy. This Machine demon ambushed one of our defensive Watchtowers in the sector where you and our peoples first met, destroying the structure. The Machine Demon then proceeded to ambush the fleet that was recovering our classified technology." Prince said, offering a smile and stopping in front of a War Adept.
"An Ambush that, were it not for these Adepts, would have cost us dearly on the ground." Prince explained, before he continued to walk.
"Is is this Machine demon whom we are at war with. I will dispense misery upon this Terran National Government in due time, but I will do it in a way that does not jeopardize more Aschen lives."
Prince came to a stop in front of another set of large oaken doors.
"Your Imminence, how would you, and your lovely wife prefer to be addressed? You may call me Lord Prince, or simply Isambard. I'm not much for frivolities, only results." Prince said, gesturing them to enter the grand conference room that opened before them.
"And with that I must ask.. your opinion on a government that claims legitimacy, but takes and executes hostages to compel compliance, and then uses suicide tactics to win space battles. Surely there is still honor in war?"
____
So the information had been passed along from where Brenner had encountered their scouts? No doubt they'd been provided with the basic packages of information and data, everything that was needed to be known to interact and coexist with the Hegemony and its peoples, Josef idly wondering if Hrethgir went along with it. Were it that it had then there would be no need to fret, so long as the Aschen and the Scatterran Empire remained on good terms. "I've no doubt it will prove delectable, lord Prince." Redwing offered, silent soon as the Aschen leader explained the situation to the both of them, the monarchs of the Scatterran realms considering such information - vague as it might be - with a caution and curiosity. Never before had the Hegemony encountered a machine demon persay, whatever a machine demon might construe, as nearly all of the tools and weapons in the arsenal of the Collective were of flesh and bone, biomechanoid creations. There would need to be examination of records and footage, were it that the Aschen would allow such a thing, for the Hegemony to make a definite move to confront or engage this unknown foe.
"Disturbing tidings indeed." Josef murmured in thought, his own mind and another turning over his information, picking away at it in wonder. The immediate question of formalities struck him from his considerations however, causing him pause for a moment as he considered just what would be a proper form to address he and his wife. Isambard was an Emperor in his own right after all, and such factored into the elder Scatterran's answer. "Lord and Lady Kampf are appropriate, though we understand that the given name is more freely used in conversation here." A momentary glance to the Empress preceded what remained of his words. "Though I cannot speak for her, feel free to call me Josef, if you so desire." In truth Elisabeth hardly ever went by her given name unless in the company of her family, known far more often by her moniker, though she made no move to indicate such.
"We are all equal here, I suspect." Liese ventured between her husband and Isambard. "There's no harm in fraternity here." Equals and allies, were it that this visit went well enough. The Kaiser seemed to agree with such sentiment.
"It speaks well of you, Isambard, not to be consumed by your station. If but a hundred of my own nobles shared your wisdom, the galaxy would be in flames." If only those that the Hegemony sought to immolate. Of course, were it that he had ten nobles with the drive, conviction and cunning of his duchess, there wouldn't even be a need for fire. The grandeur of the chamber the soon stood in was lost on Josef, if only momentarily, as he admired his partner and colleague, who proved so very patient in these matters which she had long felt alien to. In her heart, no matter what it was she wore, Elisabeth was a warrior, and as a warrior she was well suited to answer Prince's question, as it came.
"War, like any other facet of society, is nothing without tradition and regulation." It was something she knew quite well, a veteran of four campaigns herself as an infantry officer, her body bearing the marks and the evidence of her service. "But war is waged by men, and this sounds to be the work of beasts, not civilized folk." Oh, they had savages of their own to contend with in their own space - the infamous Kobold raiding trade lanes and sacking borderworlds - but they were petty scavengers, pirates at best. They had no true organization.
The Kaiser offered Isambard a knowing smile. "One cannot treat with beasts, they are beneath reason." More often than not they would snap and bite a hand that tried to feed them. "They can only be put down."
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"To be put down... A fate fitting to those that would use such tactics to defy the Empire." Prince explained, as he approached the head of the large conference table.
"If everyone in this galaxy shared your humility and your wisdom, Josef, we would all be at peace." Prince admitted. "And the galaxy would be united under the banners of our respective empires working together in harmony." He added, before the same adjutant he nodded too prior approached with a stack of holotapes, and files detailing the encounter with Excelion over Valore, and the destruction of the Cryo Watchtower.
"These files are being shared as a gesture of goodwill, after all of we're to ally, it would be a disservice to not tell you who we're fighting." Prince explained. "These file folders contain intelligence on the machine demon, including its capabilities." Prince explained, before the adjutant placed the holotape in the receiver, a large projection began to play, a video of the space engagement with Celions fleet, including the suicide attack the TNG carried out. There was another screen detailing engagements on the ground, and the TNG threat to execute prisoners after the Aschen demanded surrender.
While this was underway, Prince was reflecting on these events. These new people seemed to share many of Princes imperialist ideals, a monarchy much like the Empire.
"Of course no alliance is without something to offer, I understand your Hegemony is vast, and powerful. Yet you fight a biomechanic monstrosity that knows no yield." Prince said, turning his attention to another large holo screen.
"I want to offer you a gift, one that can dispense terrible misery upon the enemies of the hegemony both effectively, and discreetly." Prince said, the test set to begin.
The holo screen showed a verdant forest filled with life, teeming with plant and animal life. Another holo screen showed a pig pen.
In the distance there was a flash of green light, nothing terribly remarkable. However several seconds went by and everything began to turn to an ash like substance. A transition that spanned several seconds. The pigs and the plant life were not spared, and the holo screen showed nothing but ashy statues of what was once life."
"It is our most powerful weapon." Prince said.
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The pair moved separately but as one, as they approached the table, Elisabeth's hands clutched behind her back in a state of parade rest as Josef moved to lightly draw his own over its surface, taking in its texture as he listened to their host. There was little doubt in either of their minds that if the galaxy bothered to think, to embrace logic and efficiency over stubborn selfishness, that there would be no need for democracy, capitalistic greed or politics as a whole. It would not only be a safer, but more efficient place, where poverty and war would have no place. But such fantasy was not the subject of their attention, and rarely, if ever, did they allow it to distract them for very long. The both of them nodded in agreement with Isambard regarding his logic with this machine menace, that were they to be allied, to work together against mutual foes, then it would only be proper to go into such a venture with the facts.
Quietly and with studious expressions they took in the information that was offered to them, Josef turning over the concepts of this Celion in his mind, wondering just what sort of being this Machine Demon was. The Hegemony was no stranger to the demonic, having vanquished thousands of their kind both by the sword and the cloth, but never yet had they encountered one in the form, or in direct control, of a machine. The black uniform did little to show the shift in the Emperor's shoulders as he leaned on the table, pondering if any such devices were in, or had escaped, the Rebellion. Elisabeth turned her eyes and mind more to observing the tactics and movements of Celion, its minions, the TNG and the Aschen themselves, already making choices of which analysts to send this footage to. Allying as they were with the Aschen, she was a cautious one, and strove to prepare contingencies for any turn of events.
Word of an offer drew the eyes of both from the footage, Josef's visage openly curious while his wife's bore a small element of suspicion - given her tenure as the head of Kampf's personal guard, it was little surprise. "We do." The Morningstar recounted, eyes narrowed. It was a war that, though they had eked out a portion of the Collective's territory through their ferocious tenacity, were things to grow to legitimate proportions, would doom all the Hegemony, and indeed the rest of the galaxy, to bondage at the hands of those alien overlords. The Hegemony held the line against the eternal night, but only by a saber's edge, and the implication that these Aschen might have something to help in the most holy of struggles caught, and held, his attention. With a curious, soon inquisitive, eye he watched as the Thalaron device obliterated everything living on the screen, reducing the targets to ashen echoes of their former selves; and as they tipped over one by one to shatter against the ground, a smile crept to his lips, an amber glow in his eyes as he looked back to Isambard.
"And you offer it to me?"
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Prince offered a slow nod of affirmation to his belkan counterpart. "There are caveats of course, we would need to build a bond as nations before trade of this magnitude took place. It would be in poor form to provide a nation we have only just come to know, only to have the weapon used against us." Prince said.
"Don't get me wrong, Josef, I am not calling your integrity into question, simply that it would be a tough pill for our people to swallow initially." Prince explained, before he called his Adjutant over. The Adjutant then began to pass out a large set of document, a trade treaty prepared by the Ministry of Treasury and the Economic Guilds of the United Aschen Empire, along with the Banker's union concerning currency deals, and tariffs.
"However, the Empire is willing to open trade, we'll start with a few things, maybe consumer goods, and perhaps raw materials, establishing a currency exchange. And then I'd like to work into tourism, foreign exchange. I am prepared to propose to the Quorum that we authorize tourists of the Belkan Hegemony entry into the United Aschen Empire, in addition to establishing a Hegemony embassy here in Caprica City." Prince said. "Of course as well as allowing Hegemony ships passage into Imperial space." Prince explained.
Prince kept his words carefully chosen, truth be told the Aschen Empire was desperate for allies, desperate for a beacon in the swirling darkness that threatened to consume the Empire. It showed as an eagerness, despite carefully observed diplomatic overtures.
"These are dark times, Josef, I won't lie." Prince said, turning to the screen, where the feed was still playing. "If this Machine demon strikes again, we fear it will doom this Empire. And though this weapon demonstrated is impressive... it is useless against the enemy we face."
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The light that had graced his iris began to dim, flickering into nothing to return his gaze to its usual dull green, Josef's smile turning from one born of morbid fascination to one more suited to diplomatic understanding. "Of course, Isambard, but such is a worthy price for such a magnificent prize." Trade, interaction, cultural exchange were hardly prices at all - the Hegemony could handle itself, a culture war was something that they might not win in a foreign realm, but one that they could easily resist within their own. Beside that, Kampf believed that it wasn't in Isambard's best interests to alienate them with any such action, for now their exchange would be largely benign. "The minds of commoners are not always privy to the enlightenment which rulers require, my own can be similar, at times." The eyes of both husband and wife curiously looked to the document which Prince had called up, both wondering what might lie upon it, though they would not take it for further inspection without their host's invitation to do so.
"We would be more than willing to show you and your Empire the same respect, lord Prince." Came Elisabeth's voice over her husband's shoulder, bowing her head slightly in regards to Isambard's generosity. It was an almost vulnerable treaty, considering what intelligence they had gathered on the Aschen thus far - to offer access without knowing the Scatterran Empire for some time could be a very dangerous thing should they prove to be less than desirable to the Austran God. "Perhaps negotiations to secure the use of the other's ports, for further exploration and expansion in realms yet unknown to either?" Should Scatterran vessels strike or search from Aschen territory, or vice versa, it could prove quite valuable to have a safe haven in an otherwise unknown region of the galaxy.
The thought of this 'machine demon' didn't particularly perturb Josef, although it did intensely interest him. "If it is a machine, then it can be destroyed." Were it that there was anything that the Scatterrans were wholly proficient at, it was to seek out and discover new life and new civilizations and utterly destroy them. They had overcome dire odds in the past, and the situation before them paled in comparison. "What doesn't kill you, Isambard, only makes you stronger."
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"As long as your vessels observed the local rules and regulations of the respective ports, I don't see why they couldn't use them to further explore this part of the Galaxy. The Empire could benefit from exploration of the part of the Galaxy your Hegemony resides in. It would also aid us in the search of the lair of the Machine Demon." Prince explained.
By this time the food arrived, a sumptuous feast of local cuisine. The wineglasses set in front of the Hegemony delegation were filled with a brilliant emerald green liquid that held the fragrance of anise and licorice. Plates that were set before everyone started off with freshly baked pita bread, some pasta and various local dipping sauces, from a hummus like sauce, to Tzatziki.
The second course was a large roasted pheasant like bird, and a whole roasted lamb was set upon the table. Various local fruits and vegetables were placed before everyone, and a pair of servants, terran in appearance wearing what could be described as electronic slave collars began to serve food to the delegation.
They were quiet and humbled, appearing to have been broken in quite well. They served Prince first of course, and then moved on to Josef, and finally Elizabeth before they moved to pour a separate glass of ice water for those who would prefer not to drink alcohol.
The water itself was simple tap water, but Caprica City boasted some of the best tap water in this part of the Galaxy. Mountain spring water fed through aqueducts and vapor distilled before being infused with minerals and electrolytes and then distributed through the city.
"Perhaps in time we can work together to destroy this machine demon. In exchange for your help. I will provide the Hegemony the schematics for the weapon you witnessed earlier. Perhaps a fair trade, helping us eliminate our enemies in exchange for a weapon to help you eliminate yours." From the reports prince had read from the Intrepid and the Iconoclast, he knew that Hegemony ships were both massive and with massive size comes gargantuan firepower.
"I think we can write in the mutual use of ports into any trade agreements." He said, taking a bite from his meal, followed by a sip of Ambrosia. He ran various scenarios in his head. He was concerned about putting the Empire in such a vulnerable position, concerned that these new allies would take advantage. Prince however resigned himself to dealing with it should the time ever come.
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It was with a sense of awe that both of the Scatterrans observed the banquet that was soon laid out before them - a feast to rival that of many of the noble houses back home - and even the stoic Elisabeth felt her visage soften at the promise of partaking in such delights. Josef was still looking over the meal, taking in the sights and smells as Elisabeth took a glass of the emerald beverage from one of the slaves without a thought to the wretch. A momentary glance was shared between the two Scatterrans as Josef observed the woman as she took a sip of the stuff, blinking a code to her liege that it was of no harm. Whether or not it was to his tastes, that he would have to discover for himself.
Gently following in Liese's footsteps Josef took a glass for himself, sniffing the liquor for a moment to take in its fragrance before testing it for himself. A most curious flavor greeted his palette, and for a moment thought over it consumed his attention before his gaze gradually shifted back to Isambard and the words that the man spoke. "I was under the impression that it was our assistance in that matter that would be the price, at least for such a magnificent weapon as you had demonstrated." A small price, in Josef's mind, for such a devastating weapon against the demonic enemies that they themselves faced. Let the Autarchs of Ealio taste fury of the Morningstar once again. Even though the Austran Emperor stood a good head taller than his Aschen counterpart, he regarded the man with nothing short of respect and equality, the delicacy of the situation not lost on him.
The plots and machinations of the Scatterran race were already in motion in the minds of both of the representatives of the Hegemony, but they made no move - physical or verbal - to betray their thoughts. Their primary concern was the betterment of their own realm at any cost, though they would not argue with a valuable ally, such as the Aschen, should it prove in line with their goals. "Most excellent." Elisabeth finally spoke, her tone accented with a polite smile, lips parting just barely to reveal her teeth. "When shall we formalize our agreements?" It seemed wholly decided, at least to her. Josef didn't disagree, but didn't know how quickly the Aschen wished to proceed with any such binding contract.
____
Prince made a subtle hand gesture, before one of the slaves brought fourth a large piece of paper, the formal document to solidify the binding that Prince had proposed.
The terms were simple, along with trade, open ports, and everything else came assistance against the Machine Demon in exchange for the Thalaron weapon. It was a simple exchange that benefited both nations. Minister Chaska, the Minister of Defense would serve as a witness to the signing of the contract.
The instrument of alliance between the Scatterran Hegemony and the United Aschen Empire was placed before them.
"I've taken the necessary steps to have the Quorum and our Parliament ratify this instrument before I proposed it, so that it would streamline the process." Prince added, pausing one moment.
"Everything seems to be in order." Prince said, reading over the instrument one last time. "Trade, aid against our enemies, and open ports. Simple enough. The economic benefit to our Empire alone will offset the cost of our losses in our last encounter with the Machine Demon."
Prince was optimistic, and so his pen scratched the parchment, and his signature was inked, before the instrument was carried by the Slave over towards Josef and Elizabeth, everything they discussed contained within the treaty. There was no Aschen circle talk, only a straightforward treaty. With Josef's signature, came the official entry into an alliance with the United Aschen Empire, rewarded with the coveted Aschen thalaron weapon.
"A toast to the future!" Prince said, raising his glass. Once the Hegemony delegation signed the instrument, Minister Chaska moved forward to place a wax seal on the instrument. "My Lords, you will be provided a certified copy of this instrument upon your departure." She said, nodding respectfully.
____
When the time came that the parchment was passed to him, Josef spared no ounce of scrutiny, looking it over and rereading it once, just to be sure that he understood just what he was signing. Elisabeth made no particular move to look or question what it was that her husband did, believing him perfectly capable of signing a document that was to benefit their nation and peoples - not harm it. He had not been their Emperor, guide and God for centuries only to begin failing them now. Even with such a token of respect paid to him by the woman, Josef made no move to consider her in the decision, acting entirely on his own, knowing that this agreement only stood to benefit them. At the most they would suffer combat losses against some mechanized demon, a few ships, nothing that they hadn't handled before. With a flicking end to his signature the Emperor cast a smile to his host, glancing up from the document and moving it back to Isambard.
Without an ounce of effort both of the Scatterrans swept up their glasses again, joining the Aschen in their toast. "To a long and prosperous alliance." Josef offered, dipping his head before taking a sip of his Ambrosia, the slight spice of the beverage tickling his imagination. No doubt the nobility and the commoners alike would enjoy such a thing, given it had the time to filter into Imperial markets. "May our peoples be united in fraternity and cooperation." He'd no doubt that the people of his own state wouldn't mind this alliance so much, were it that it were properly explained with scripture and precedent, his mind already tending to such matters.
____
Though the pomp and ceremony had lasted for a good hour or two afterwards, it was not long until both Elisabeth and Josef made their way back to the dropship, flanked still by their angelic escorts. Unceremoniously they shuffled up into its belly, the craft lifting off of the ground with a lurch as it moved to return to their destroyer, Valkyrie fighters rejoining their charge. Drawing sharp contrails up through the atmosphere, the party rejoined the Raubtier class vessel, the strike craft slipping right into its belly just moments before the hangar doors moved to slide shut on the ship. Within moments she sped away at incredible speeds, departing as quickly and as quietly as she had arrived.
Before long she slipped back into sight, now in the shadow of a dead planetoid, the light of a neutron star barely settling upon nightmarish vessel that dwarfed even the battleships that escorted it. Jet-black, save for the many thousands of lights that flashed and glittered on its surface, it remained still and silent, hanging above the dead world as the destroyer made a course to join it. Acting not unlike its own strike-craft but a few minutes earlier, the kilometer-long vessel slipped inside one of the hangars of the Wyrm, the ship swallowing the Raubtier like it was a gnat caught on some titan's breath, drawn into its lungs and lost forever more in its depths.
But the destroyer was hardly lost as it soon returned to the position it occupied in the ship's gullet, sliding easily into her mooring with a helmsman with years of practice, the Imperial party truly secure once again. Thought he was want to, Josef knew better than to take off any element of his uniform until he was safe in his quarters, knowing that it was better to keep up appearances than prove lax for but a few minutes comfort. Half of his position seemed to revolve around appearances and maintaining them, eliciting a sigh from the God Emperor as he recalled an age where he was simply a man, not even a ruler or leader of any sort, and on some level wished he could enjoy such a thing again.
But the Coalition had made sure that was impossible.
With his hands free, he departed both the dropship and the destroyer, one hand grasping his belt as the other swung in rhythm with his the opposite leg's step, a habit ingrained from six hundred years of practice. Without comment or question Elisabeth followed at his flank, their own copies of the agreement in sealed canisters tucked under her arm, her step in sharp tune with his own, some ten years of practice having given that to her - even if she wasn't used to wearing this uniform, or these boots. The entire time she'd felt out of place, out of time, in this revealing uniform, and for most of the time she yearned for the comfort, the security, of her power-armor. Elisabeth hoped that it hadn't been too obvious while they had been there, she had done her best to act as casually as Josef had instructed.
Quickly they descended yet another ramp, bringing the pair into one of the gargantuan hangar bays that the Wyrm boasted, at least two miles across not considering the moorings for the various support ships that she kept inside of her, and face to face with a welcoming committee full of excited and eager faces. Even the bystanders gathered were curious, though they knew better than to repeat anything that they heard, lest they be subjected to the Verhör, or worse. What Landwächter personnel were there soon approached the pair, glad to have their liege and God back safely. It seemed that one of them was about to speak - a Standartenführer by the look of his collar - when he was interrupted, or rather overshadowed, by a woman dressed to match the Kaiser. A black-clad figure, her uniform accented with golden braid as much as her sharp visage was matched with a golden mane - hidden as it was beneath the peaked cap she wore - though her severe look softened upon the sight of him. "... it stills my heart to see you back safe, Josef."
A sly smirk twisted the edge of the Kaiser's lips, the man gesturing gently over his shoulder to Elisabeth and the treaties she still held under her arms. "I'd beg your forgiveness if I send it fluttering once more." With a curt and curious look she glanced down to Elisabeth, no small hint of jealousy present in her gaze, then to the cylinders that the other woman carried. There were three containers, and with narrowed eyes she wondered just how much had transpired while she was absent - on Josef's orders no less. Her safety was something that she took just as seriously as he did, but to leave her here while he put himself in danger? It was maddening.
But it was so very much like Josef.
"I trust that he was kept out of any danger?" The blonde inquired, an unspoken gesture of her open hand demanding the cylinders that she carried. Without skipping a beat Liese handed her the documents as she wished, hands quickly retracting to a state of parade-rest, clasped neatly behind her back. She was sworn to obey the other, even if she despised Elisabeth for some petty reason.
"Out of anything he couldn't handle himself." The Austran's eyes narrowed on the Azrik, brows arching in slight irritation with the lip of the other. With a twist of her own hand the canisters soon found themselves tucked under her own arm.
"Noted. Get out of my uniform." The raven-haired Azrican bowed at that and considered that her dismissal, eager herself to be out of this itchy mockery of formality, eager to return to the habits and the armor of her own order. Sighing with the departure of Elisabeth, the blonde Austran listened to the clicking footfalls of her toe and heel-irons on the deck of the hangar, waiting until that temptress was far away enough that she could speak freely. Looking back to Josef, who'd observed the affair with a quiet, if disapproving eye, she pondered if she should apologize to him or not, her own gaze level with his own. "So, just what is it that might set my heart aflutter in these simple cylinders, Josef?"
The Emperor sighed as well, echoing her as he considered how best to put his thoughts into words. "... let us retire for the day and I'll show you."
