as written by Tiko and Sokka
It had been nearly a month since the Shade Dominion ship had departed Volaria to seek answers in the Andromeda Galaxy. Nearly a month since the SEC refugees had arrived. Nearly a month since the earthquake had struck eastern Shintenchi, poisoning the coastal waters and damaging millions in Taiyou property.
The weeks had been hard ones as the summer weather had brought on record drought levels to add the fear of famine to the rapidly growing ills that had begin to pile up. Though conditions weren't yet critical, Avantia had seen the numbers enough to know that it was heading that way.
The addition of the SEC refugees was an added strain, and news from their encampment spoke of unrest growing within their number. It was for this reason she had arranged a meeting with a SEC representative to discuss the situation out there.
The meeting was well underway already, and she was currently listening to the representative's report.
____
"Matriarch, the conflicts in the camps are continuing but I've enlisted some of the security forces that had arrived to assist in policing the camp. However given the population size of the camp....there just isn't enough man power." Deputy Charon said as she reported to the Matriarch.
"On the supply side of things we have shortages of rations, fuel and other necessities. "
"We also have a reports of illness, so far nothing deadly but I fear that something worse could strike the camp..." She said.
____
Avantia turned to her left, speaking quietly in the Volarian tongue to one of the advisers present. They exchanged only a few words before she nodded and turned back to Charon.
"Would two-hundred men to help with distributing rations, and mediating conflict be sufficient to address the problem?" she inquired.
Her translator stood near at hand, repeating her words into the common tongue for Charon.
"I think that would help improve the situation. Though I'm sure as you know there will always be conflicts but distribution will at least keep things fair." She said.
"Have you heard anything from the expedition Matriarch?" She asked.
Before Avantia could offer a response, a resounding and bone-ratling boom reverberated through the palace. Again and again the distant explosions shook the building from the tremors caused by the nuclear warheads that had been unleashed in lower Volary.
The response was swift, and before Avantia was even half-way to her feet she found herself surrounded by her royal guard. Four of them in total, but from the sound of footsteps, more were on their way.
As another explosion left the crystal chandeliers rattling overhead, the decision was swiftly made to relocate the Matriarch.
She knew not what was going on, but if the city was under attack, there were protocols to be followed and she was ushered away without a word of explanation to Charon. She herself hadn't managed to utter so much as a brief inquiry before she found herself swept from the room.
It was an attendant who approached Charon, speaking urgently.
"Come, this way," he told her. "Quickly."
He turned, ushering Charon towards one of the smaller side doors, opposite where Avantia had been taken.
Charon followed the man wondering what might be going on. However she chose to remain silent for the moment until she was safe.
It was to the east tower that Charon was taken. The rooms here were typically reserved for servants and attendants, or guests of the Matriarch, and it was within one of these vacant rooms that she found herself.
"Stay in here," the attendant instructed.
He didn't wait for a reply before he swept back from the room, closing it with a click behind him before moving off through the palace at a hurried pace.
It had been nearly a month since the Shade Dominion ship had departed Volaria to seek answers in the Andromeda Galaxy. Nearly a month since the SEC refugees had arrived. Nearly a month since the earthquake had struck eastern Shintenchi, poisoning the coastal waters and damaging millions in Taiyou property.
The weeks had been hard ones as the summer weather had brought on record drought levels to add the fear of famine to the rapidly growing ills that had begin to pile up. Though conditions weren't yet critical, Avantia had seen the numbers enough to know that it was heading that way.
The addition of the SEC refugees was an added strain, and news from their encampment spoke of unrest growing within their number. It was for this reason she had arranged a meeting with a SEC representative to discuss the situation out there.
The meeting was well underway already, and she was currently listening to the representative's report.
____
"Matriarch, the conflicts in the camps are continuing but I've enlisted some of the security forces that had arrived to assist in policing the camp. However given the population size of the camp....there just isn't enough man power." Deputy Charon said as she reported to the Matriarch.
"On the supply side of things we have shortages of rations, fuel and other necessities. "
"We also have a reports of illness, so far nothing deadly but I fear that something worse could strike the camp..." She said.
____
Avantia turned to her left, speaking quietly in the Volarian tongue to one of the advisers present. They exchanged only a few words before she nodded and turned back to Charon.
"Would two-hundred men to help with distributing rations, and mediating conflict be sufficient to address the problem?" she inquired.
Her translator stood near at hand, repeating her words into the common tongue for Charon.
"I think that would help improve the situation. Though I'm sure as you know there will always be conflicts but distribution will at least keep things fair." She said.
"Have you heard anything from the expedition Matriarch?" She asked.
Before Avantia could offer a response, a resounding and bone-ratling boom reverberated through the palace. Again and again the distant explosions shook the building from the tremors caused by the nuclear warheads that had been unleashed in lower Volary.
The response was swift, and before Avantia was even half-way to her feet she found herself surrounded by her royal guard. Four of them in total, but from the sound of footsteps, more were on their way.
As another explosion left the crystal chandeliers rattling overhead, the decision was swiftly made to relocate the Matriarch.
She knew not what was going on, but if the city was under attack, there were protocols to be followed and she was ushered away without a word of explanation to Charon. She herself hadn't managed to utter so much as a brief inquiry before she found herself swept from the room.
It was an attendant who approached Charon, speaking urgently.
"Come, this way," he told her. "Quickly."
He turned, ushering Charon towards one of the smaller side doors, opposite where Avantia had been taken.
Charon followed the man wondering what might be going on. However she chose to remain silent for the moment until she was safe.
It was to the east tower that Charon was taken. The rooms here were typically reserved for servants and attendants, or guests of the Matriarch, and it was within one of these vacant rooms that she found herself.
"Stay in here," the attendant instructed.
He didn't wait for a reply before he swept back from the room, closing it with a click behind him before moving off through the palace at a hurried pace.