Arsha was soon healed up and released from Sick Bay. She returned to the bridge of the ship and sat down in her chair. \u201cAny news?\u201d she asked Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust a message from Rokalla,\u201d Shalvey answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat new mission has he got for us?\u201d asked Malak. Shalvey then opened the message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Erm, we\u2019re gonna be taking Elmpam to Largandra,\u201d she reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? Why?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe message asked that I only tell everyone once you saw this first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026All right.\u201d Arsha got up and checked out the message. Her face fell as she read it. \u201c\u2026No.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d asked Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. No! No! No!\u201d Arsha hitched up her skirts and left the bridge in a hurry, repeating \u201cno\u201d all the while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Wh\u2026what\u2019s going on?\u201d asked Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026An All-realm Royal Summit,\u201d answered Shalvey. The bridge crews\u2019 eyes went wide at the thought. The Rulers of the Over, Mid, and Under-realms were going to meet to discuss the future of the Realms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha, will you three please calm down and be professional about this!?\u201d snapped Elmpam as she and Rokalla spoke with Arsha, Lardeth, and Malnar in the conference room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMama, there is NOTHING professional about this!\u201d protested Malnar. \u201cEvery time there\u2019s an All-realm Royal Summit, it leads to war!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know the historical implications are staggering,\u201d interjected Rokalla over the screen, \u201cbut the situation with Dr. Borg\u2019s alliance has now escalated. If she and Oyed are taking bodies from a morgue, it\u2019s a safe assumption that she\u2019s building up a Revenant army out of the followers that died.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd our parents\u2019 decision is to talk about sending people to die at a Revenant\u2019s hands?!\u201d snapped Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLardeth, you know that\u2019s not how your parents work,\u201d reminded Elmpam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe we\u2019re having this conversation!\u201d moaned Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, the people of the Realms want the Realm Trinity Empire to be gone,\u201d replied Elmpam. \u201cand if you kids raise a stink over this, especially in the face of how Golems of Dr. Borg\u2019s design were allowed onto the Endeavor<\/em> to search for wayward merfolk, it\u2019s NOT gonna look good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you think Daddy would want to talk about this?!\u201d protested Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha, it was your father who organized this,\u201d answered Rokalla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026The man who\u2019s trying to find the most peaceful option,\u201d muttered Lardeth, \u201cand HE\u2019S the one organizing this?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha, I trust you\u2019re not raising a stink over this!\u201d hissed Elgrad once the talk in the conference room was over and Arsha returned to her ready room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel like I can\u2019t do anything BUT raise a stink!\u201d answered Arsha. \u201cDaddy, this is what Dr. Borg wants!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf intelligence reports are accurate, this isn\u2019t EXACTLY what Dr. Borg wants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha, our spies in her organization reported that she\u2019s got the firepower, but not the manpower. Now, this leaves her in a financially weak position. If she starts the Final War now, she won\u2019t be able to pay her armies in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd how did our spies get into the Realm Trinity Empire in the first place?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re the Realmfleet Revenants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You mean\u2026Eltan\u2019s group?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey disguised themselves as different Revenants and got the information during one of Dr. Borg\u2019s rallies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd they were okay with being used that way?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEltan insisted that she and her group be used that way.\u201d Arsha shut her eyes and declined her head in frustration. \u201cLook, I know you don\u2019t want to put people into harm\u2019s way, but that\u2019s par for the course for a ruler. Like it or not, as my heir, those kinds of decisions are YOUR birthright. \u2026Just make sure you listen to the people\u2019s opinion as you make that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I\u2019ll be there with Elmpam shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery well. Elgrad out.\u201d The call ended and Arsha ran her hands down her face. What her father said was true, that kind of decision DID come with the Crown. That didn\u2019t change her feelings on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Borg, Oyed, and the Realm Trinity Imperial Council met in their secret chambers. Several members clicked their tongues in disappointment. \u201cTerrible,\u201d remarked Scorpo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbsolutely terrible,\u201d agreed Femfaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy Lord and fellow Council Members,\u201d addressed Dr. Borg, \u201cI\u2019d be a terrible scientist if I denied the facts Tormo presented to us. We\u2019ve spent more on armaments than we should have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo kidding,\u201d muttered Tensam as his hands fiddled with his veil. The report was in front of him on the table. \u201cWe\u2019ve only got 3 million golds for our armies\u2019 food supplies. 3 million!\u201d One of his legs jabbed the report for emphasis. \u201cWe\u2019re practically starving!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is true,\u201d interjected Shefarn, \u201cbut we must remember that the Realms aren\u2019t exactly eager to go to war against us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re TRYING to get them to do!\u201d snapped Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou must admit, there\u2019s no money in peace,\u201d supplied Tormo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need a good impetus to get them to fight us,\u201d muttered Remsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat we need,\u201d suggested Jansha, \u201cis an assassination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m open to suggestions,\u201d offered Yamta. \u201cWho\u2019s got the weakest security that would incense the Realms into fighting us?\u201d Yulduk then snapped his fingers as an idea hit him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve got just the target and she\u2019s here in the Under-realm!\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho?\u201d asked Scorpo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe?\u201d Oyed muttered to himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy,\u201d answered Yulduk, \u201cthe Queen of the Galdredan Lava Kingdom!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAndwayla Narven?\u201d inquired Remsu. \u201cWhat good will getting rid of her do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, her kingdom doesn\u2019t have the best security, right?\u201d asked Yulduk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight,\u201d answered Remsu, still not following. Femfaf\u2019s eyes then went wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd she\u2019s the one who drafted Anti-Splitter Policy, yes?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe did,\u201d replied Remsu, finally getting it, \u201cAnti-Splitter policy that took too much time and money to fully carry out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly!\u201d confirmed Yulduk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a cherry on top for that,\u201d mused Jansha. \u201cAccording to the news, Calandra\u2019s married Elmar and current gossip is that she\u2019ll be accompanying him on the Endeavor<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBarring any tragedy?\u201d asked Remsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the rumor,\u201d confirmed Jansha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd such an act would force her to return to the Galdredan Kingdom, thus keeping her constantly thinking about her beloved Elmar and being too distracted to effectively lead her armies,\u201d chuckled Oyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Galdredan people are known to be the toughest fighters in the Under-realm, second only to Orcs,\u201d supplied Jansha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, looks like we have a reason for people to give money to us,\u201d mused Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll draft up a plan,\u201d declared Yamta. \u201cAndwayla Narven will die very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy followers, this pleases me!\u201d chuckled Oyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the meeting ended, Dr. Borg headed to her laboratory. As she walked, she got a feeling of being followed. She looked around and saw one of Reb\u2019s former pirates, a male Lightning Dragon named Rochak, standing there. \u201c\u2026May I help you?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need to speak to you, somewhere private,\u201d answered Rochak. Dr. Borg arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFollow me,\u201d she directed. She led Rochak back to the conference room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlways wanted to see the inside of this place,\u201d Rochak mused. \u201cEven when Reb was in charge of Plunder Island Stronghold, this was a private conference room, \u2018trusted\u2019 advisors only. A place where you\u2019re free to discuss your secrets and your lies, yes?\u201d Dr. Borg bristled at that comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou said you wanted to speak to me about something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018Someone\u2019 is the more correct term.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd who are we talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, enough with the riddles! Tell me what you know!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know what you told us. Oyed intends to remake the Realms into one united Realm, bringing about an end to what divides us. I also know what you DIDN\u2019T tell us! How he intends to unite us is through our love for combat! He intends to have everyone constantly fight for his sole amusement!\u201d Dr. Borg\u2019s eye went wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRochak, no one else must know Oyed\u2019s real intentions!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOr what? You\u2019ll have me killed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would never kill any of my followers, especially pirates!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t you? Didn\u2019t you try to have Reb and Melgem killed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s different!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s the same! A heavily armed island base, an army of proactive soldiers wanting to bring about change by any means necessary, if it\u2019s not quite the same\u2026it soon will be! Are you aware that Jansha created more robots like her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe showed me the production lines, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid she show you their computer simulations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI got a look at them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid she tell you that all the models predict that prolonged combat would kill everyone in the Realms?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI won\u2019t allow prolonged combat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot even if Oyed told you to allow the Final War to continue until the end of time?!\u201d The silence was deafening. Rochak then shook his head. \u201cPredestined, preordained. Life will die and Oyed will absorb his children\u2019s power to create a darker Realm. The end of our world\u2026inevitable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRochak, I\u2026\u201d As Dr. Borg placed her hand on Rochak\u2019s shoulder, he gasped and whirled around, knocking her hand away. \u201c\u2026I\u2019m worried about you. You\u2019re mixed up. I\u2019m not a mindless destroyer like Oyed. Those things you\u2019re worried about won\u2019t happen. I won\u2019t let them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026For all our sakes, I hope not,\u201d muttered Rochak. \u201cI won\u2019t tell anyone what we\u2019ve just discussed, but it WOULD be nice for everyone to know what we\u2019re actually fighting for.\u201d He left the room, leaving Dr. Borg to her thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026If things go right, you\u2019ll know by the start of next year.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arsha was soon healed up and released from Sick Bay. She returned to the bridge of the ship and sat down in her chair. \u201cAny news?\u201d she asked Shalvey. \u201cJust a message from Rokalla,\u201d Shalvey answered. \u201cWhat new mission has he got for us?\u201d asked Malak. Shalvey then opened the message. \u201c\u2026Erm, we\u2019re gonna be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,236],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-3152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-3-the-first-strike","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3152"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3153,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3152\/revisions\/3153"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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