Planet Nouvelle, Capital City of Hollie.
Trade District, Café De’Leeone Ruins
Police crews had cordoned off the area that had once been a bustling café and shopping area. All told a total for five shops were completely ruined from the flames. The blacked wood and rubble lay strewn in their runs and across the street. Fire crews had battled for well over two hours before finally containing the flames. Now, along with the police, the fire fighters picked through the wreckage and rubble, sifting through the ashes to find both evidence and those that had not made it out. It was a grim task to say the least.
Three police officers stood neck to a wall pillar that still stood. They had marked this area off specifically. A few military guardsmen had stood there as well, taking notes and photographs of the marking that had been left behind. Their uniforms marked them as having come from the palace guards, meaning that whatever they were here for was highly important. One thing was very clear, the Red Hand was back, after all these years of peace and prosperity.
Royal Palace, Capital City of Hollie.
Queen Sabine Addressing the Eternal Union
Queen Sabine sat uneasily in her seat as Archmage Cavenus related to her the uneasy state of affairs for the Eternal Union. These Tyrants, whom were known as the Immortals, were still very much at large. They were powerful magic users, having risen into power and greater strength through their years of dedicated service and practice within their fields of study and practice. The Tyrants, while deposed, had left a vacuum of power in Sabine’s mind. She looked at Archmage Cavenus with concern as he continued.
The Tyrants were in hiding, and while Cavenus said that their supporters were few and far between, Sabine had her doubts on this. She knew all too well that lingering effects of a former leader could have on the people, even ones who had long since died and been buried. She withheld her questions, choosing to hear the full account in detail before making any comments. The Tyrants could not use their stronger powers, as in doing so would reveal them to those that hunted them, something that resonated within Sabine’s mind. Magic, or whatever they wished to call it, could be detected when used. She took note of that detail, knowing it could come of use in the future.
The E.U. was now lead by their sole remaining Immortal, named Aaliyah. She was the only one to disagree with the others whom wished for war with the Terrans. Old age was no longer a threat to her, and perhaps with her in power, a new direction and level of prosperity. Sabine found it very intriguing that the magic of the Eternal Union was dispersed between three unique subsects of their people, and it was the Immortals who could manipulate all three. When one were to become one of the Immortals, such powers that they had are somehow increased, perhaps gifted or amplified by the people whom chose to put them in power. The Immortals were all powerful, and they could be serious threat if they were ever enemies.
Sabine listened intently to Cavenus speak about his people’s history surrounding the Immortals. They came to power through great deeds, some older than others, but the oldest, wisest, and strongest of the four was one named David. Cavenus assumed that it was David whom influenced his two compatriots, who was the mastermind behind the attacks upon the Terrans. The power could have corrupted them perhaps, but she could not be sure. Sabine nodded at Archmage Cavenus when he said that Sabine could ask whichever questions she needed to in order to better understand the E.U. and to make herself feel more comfortable with these new people.
“Archmage Cavenus, I am honored that thus far you have been honest and upfront with me. I will have more questions no doubt, but, I will honor your request, or perhaps your right for privacy is a better way of putting it. If you would be so kind, would you allow for me to schedule a more in depth meeting between the two of us tomorrow? I can allow for a three hour block where we can just speak amongst each other, our two races can more privately interact and schedule more interactions for the future. At least that way we can ask the more sensitive questions, if you are all right with that, Archmage Cavenus.” Sabine smiled at the E.U. leader, bowing her head to him in respect.
“I am glad that I have been able to answer your questions as well. I hope that with this needed break in our negotiations will allow for both time to digest what has been said here, and for perhaps new questions to be readied. I will ensure to have a scribe would be present in order to write down anything worth recording, and it could also allow for a formal agreement to be drafted up. Does eight in the morning work for you? This would allow for you to be done by lunch, and for me to be able to address the others as well.” Sabine had finished speaking, offering a polite nod to the E.U. representative. She waited for Archmage Cavenus’s response before moving on to address the others before her.
Royal Palace, Capital City Hollie
Queen Sabine Addressing the Terrans
“Good, this is very good, then would you do me the honor of attending a musical with me, I believe they have one playing tomorrow night, which could be a nice ending to a day of business. I would like to speak to each one of you privately, in the hopes that if there are things you wish to discuss away from one another, it can be done without the fear of revealing private state affairs. Plus, it might be nice to just speak your mind as though you are with friends, rather than on state business. So, how about twelve to three? Is that time slot sufficient for you, Captain Lovisa?” Sabine seemed truly genuine in her tone and conveyance of speaking to the Terrans. She smiled at Lovisa, adding, “And it would be also nice if you would join me for a walk sometime in the future, if your time permits, Captain.”
Queen Sabine eagerly awaited Captain Lovisa’s response. She liked the Terran woman, and her knowledge of courtly proceedings. She also found the Terrans and her people to be the most similar in appearance and culture wise. She listened to all Captain Lovisa would have to say, before thanking her, and directing her attention to the Valkians.
Royal Palace, Capital City of Hollie
Queen Sabine addressing the Valkians
After finishing her discussion with the Terrans, believing that all was wrapped up for now, she turned her attention to Lord Tinkerer and his party. She smiled at him, bowing her head before speaking to him. “Lord Valkian, please, speak, you do not need to wait for me to address you. We are an open people, come, let me hear what you have to say my friend.” Sabine scooted closer to the edge of her chair, focused on what the Valkian leader had to say. She leaned forward, and placed her right hand upon her chin as she heard what Lord Tinkerer had to say.
Lord Tinkerer bowed his head, always respectful to Sabine, another reason why she enjoyed speaking to both the Valkians and Terrans, they seemed to have a bit more… tact for speaking to the queen as opposed to the Eternal Union, though, it was a small thing that was more of icing on the cake. He spoke of marking the throne room in a mutual gesture of friendship, a way to signify that the Nouvellians and Valkians were friends, and that all who came here from the Valkian home would forever know that the people of Nouvelle were no enemy. Sabine herself thought this to be a wonderful idea, thinking of how to best allow this mark of friendship to be integrated into the throne room.
Sabine paid close attention to the next part of Lord Tinkerer’s request. He wished to also gift Sabine with a tattoo of friendship, a permanent mark upon her body that would show her to be not just a friend of the Valkians, but also a figure head of her people in their relationship with the Valkians. Sabine found this not only highly intriguing, but very flattering as well. It would be a great honor to have such a mark upon her arm. It would no doubt be tasteful, and in a political stand point, solidify Sabine’s name in the history books. She smiled at Lord Tinkerer as he spoke, listening to him speak of his home world, and the cities that the Valkians lived within. He made sure to touch on their beauty, on the exquisite nature of them, even if that lacked color and lights. It was then that the incident occurred.
Lord Tinkerer went suddenly quiet, as though something had caused him to stop mid thought. He seemed to tense up, like some long unknown feeling washed over him that he had never felt before. Sabine stood up, deeply concerned. She looked at the Valkian as his inky black eyes changed drastically, the pitch blackness of them receeding away to be replaced by the white of his eyes, and striking deep purple retinas. It was nothing like she had ever seen before, and in striking contrast to the other Valkians. Sabine was slowly moving towards Lord Tinkerer, gravely concerned, as the Valkian breathed deeply, stunned no doubt by his newly apparent eyesight.
Lord Tinkerer collapsed suddenly, falling back into the table that he was standing at. The crystal like spikes that adorned his body deeply scored the wooden table, before he fell to the ground. He was quickly picked up by his kin, lifting him up and sitting him into his chair. They were deeply concerned with their leader, looking only upon him, the attention set upon his face, and how his eyes were closed, the first time that Sabine had ever seen them closer, and no doubt the first time the Valkians had seen it.
“Is… is he ok… “ Sabine was on the other side of the table, her voice full of concern and care. She looked at the Valkians, and then realized they probably could not understand her language. So, she resorted to kneeling before them, and offering up a gesture of peace, slow and controlled, showing she meant no harm, and was merely concerned for their leader. She slowly stood back up, and back away a bit, to give them their own personal space, and to let them respond in kind. She turned to one of her guards, and spoke to him aloud. “Fetch my personal physician, tell him to come at once… understood?” The guard nodded, and ran off, quickly replaced by another guard from the antechamber. Sabine looked at Lord Tinkerer, hoping that he would be ok…
Royal Palace Parade Grounds, Capital City of Hollie.
Arrival of the Sazkarjhian diplomatic envoy to Hollie
The biplanes circled about in lazy manuvers as the two vessels made their final approach. The pilots chatted to their copilots, while waving at the new vessels. They dwarfed the Nouvellian aircraft, while the only comparable vessel were the two zeppelins that floated over the city, and they looked flimsy and archaic compared to these new vessels. Still, whoever these beings were, they meant no harm. Telegraph messages had eluded to the possible arrival of another group, another nation, so, the Nouvellian air forces were more so there to provide escort or direction if need be.
Police and guard forces worked peacefully to keep the crowds of lookie-loos at bay, have called in numerous units to provide security and cordon off the entire parade ground. It was hard work, but no one complained nor resisted. Truth be told, even the military and police were very interested in to what was going on. But, they had a job to do, and even though they wished they could be looking at the new-fangled sights, they focused on making sure that their citizens were safely behind the barricades. This was an order from the queen after all, she wanted to make sure that the vessels of her guests remained isolated and free to leave at a moment’s notice.
The two ships finally landed, their skids or landing pedestals opened up, extending outwards to support the vessels upon the ground. Their engines and technology alone were envied by the pilots above, and created a brief wind gust on the ground below. The Sazkarjhit ships finally touched down, easing into their resting places, engines spooling down, the wind from their exhausts and landing valves calming down. The Nouvellian forces not assigned to containing the civilian populace quickly set up barricades around the ship, not in an attempt to block them in, but rather, give them a safe space from the people around them.
As the ships rested, they both opened up, a portal on the underside revealing a bay like area where the beings own security personnel came forth from. The Sazkarjhit’s had brought the most personnel with them out of all the queen’s guests, but, to each their own the guards thought. These security personnel for the new arrivals now doubt set up their own perimeter, before a being clad in the purest white strode into view. Their regalia adored with a star upon their chest displaying three vibrant colors. Perhaps a symbol of whomever these beings were. As the security personnel and their white clad figure looked about, an entourage from the palace came striding towards them.
“I am Major Chateon`, of the Royal Nouvellian Palace Guard. I was briefed by my commander and my Queen to welcome you to Nouvelle, and, if you would allow it, escort your diplomat to our palace, in order to meet with the Queen herself. Please, if you would, we must hurry, as the hour draws late, and the sun no longer shines the sky. Queen Sabine was most eager to meet you, having heard of those that made landfall on the frontier of our great kingdom.” Major Chateon` saluted the Sazkarjhit delegate, before moving aside to show them the way to the palace proper, and if need be, allow them respond as well.
Nouvellian Frontier, Cherac Territory. 8:35 P.M.
The Nouvellian airship Château flew loudly overhead, having been dispatched many hours ago to fly to the town of Cherac. Its loud turbo diesel engines roared through the night sky, while its contingent of biplanes flew escort around it. The airship took its time, not wishing to hurry, as their orders were to be there by the morning, and the captain enjoyed the scenery of the countryside greatly. He sat in the command chair, looking at his crew move about, while the countryside pass by slowly. He was drinking his coffee when he saw something rather odd, if not unbelievable. He set his cup down, and ordered into the primitive communication system to turn on the ship’s spot lights.
The lights flared into reality, the brightness in contrast to the engulfing darkness of night in the country. There, as bright as day, sat the strangest looking things the captain had ever seen. It appeared to be a handful of unknown vessels upon the ground, sitting in a clearing, with beings moving out from them. He ordered an all ahead stop, completely perplexed as how best to proceed. He looked amongst his command staff, who were equally as lost as he. Still, whatever were to happen, it would be on his shoulders.
Thinking on the fly, he ordered all pilots to take to the skies, and for the current pilots to return, for rest and refueling. His signal man relayed this to the topside crew, who worked their spot light and flags to signal this to the flying biplanes. At the same time, he ordered the nose gun crews to fire five flares, high into the sky, to better illuminate the area. He moved to the fore of the command deck, straining to see what was going on. Whatever these beings were doing, it was not sanctioned by him, or, at least no one bothered to tell him.
He guessed they were looking for something, and at any rate, it was his duty to protect the frontier, even if it meant helping strangers. He went over to his loudspeaker, equipped to address the outside world, and fired it up. It took several moments before the scratching noise dissipated, and was replaced by his voice. “The is the Airship Château of the Royal Nouvellian Airforce. I do not know who you are, or why you are here, but, I must ask that you be so kind as to initiate contact with us, and explain to us why you have landed out in the middle of the frontier. Do you need assistance? We mean you no harm, and we do no seek any violence. Please, make contact before further proceeding.” The loudspeaker system cut off, and he awaited a response…
