Six Months

Roger looked visibly shaken as he sat down in front of Emily. "Your Majesty, I have grave news."

Emily nodded and said, "Speak."

Roger handed over a folder with reports, "According to Mr. Hudsucker the Zealot has to be completely retrofitted and will be unavailable to us for six months. He said that the next new ship won't be available for at least eight months which means we have no long-range defense and will only be able to move troops by the new fast attack carriages. The rest of the Kingdom won't have the new weapons for at least a few months then we'll need to train them."

Emily nodded and said, "In that case I want you to prioritize training for the Knight Commanders of the Empire on the new ground combat. If any of the old Knights have trouble adapting to the new style of warfare, I want them converted to hand to hand combat instructors. Don't allow their skills to be wasted. If our archers are the most adept at the new style of warfare allow them to rise over the ones who are more comfortable in melee warfare. We'll still have a place for them in our army."

Roger nodded and then asked, "And our allies?"

Emily thought a moment and then said, "We'll do the best we can with what we have. The Empire will remain our priority."

Roger nodded and asked, "About the Knights, the transition to a ranged based army is going to leave these men unproductive as you have predicted. I have been working with the designers at future wars for ways to adapt a knight's style of warfare to the new combat and we have come to a decision, that style of combat has no place in our war. Instead, what we would like to do is have the knights that are unable to transition to ranged warfare transition to personal guards for our VIPs. The Knight Commanders are suited for command roles obviously, but even among those, there are some who only have the capacity to charge straight into enemy lines and create chaos. Our new style of warfare relies on distance and movement. Armies that charge straight forward in lines are going to never get within range of our new troops."

Emily nodded and said, "Very well, I approve. Make sure these knights are treated with all the respect and honor a knight deserves. I do not want a situation where my knights leave to join other kingdoms in order to continue their life's work."

Roger nodded and then said, "That brings me to my next topic. Andrew Windsor's war... A number of maimed knights and soldiers were returned to us from Injia. I have separated them into two groups. Those who will be useful in our Army planning and intelligence units and those who lack the intelligence to continue serving. Of those unable to continue serving, there are quite a few who due to injury are unable to contribute much of anything. Typically speaking, these men are normally cast out as beggars. I would like to see if there is a way we can give them work."

Emily nodded and said, "Those who are willing to work, will have jobs. Retrain them if you need to, we don't throw out our soldiers. Any of them who refuse to work, refuse to be retrained, or simply aren't able to continue service should be given an honorary position at their former rank and pay as long as they show up in uniform to their assigned duty station. If they aren't fit to fight, they are still fit to be around the soldiers that are if they can do that much. "

Roger frowned, "But what will they be able to do?"

Emily looked at him and said, "I want our soldiers to never worry about what will happen to them if they are hurt and not killed. The Empire will not turn our soldiers into beggars."

Roger smiled, "I see, thank you." he then asked, "I have a special case here. Sir Daniel Conners. He returned from war missing a leg. He didn't meet the criteria for our planning and intelligence services. However, he was a Knight Commander. I am not sure what we can offer him as a position."

Emily thought for a moment and said, "Assign him as a personal aide-de-camp to Andrew."

Roger looked confused, "Wouldn't he be in the way with Andrew, how can he help with planning?"

Emily looked at Roger and said, "Danny is Andrew's best friend. When Andrew can't think of a solution he goes to Danny for the answer he would never think of because it's stupid."

Roger made a face, "Why would..."

Emily cut him off, "I know, but trust me on this, those two are better as a team than as individuals."

Roger shook his head and then said, "The final topic I wanted to discuss with you, the forces left in the old Windsor Kingdom belonging to the Nobility. They are currently armed with the old weapons of war. Which under the Empires rules is illegal, how do you want us to go about disarming them?"

Emily nodded and said, "We have been discussing this at our meetings, my initial plan was a buyback program. I would give Sprite for weapons, however it was brought to my attention by one of the families that a few of them have storehouses full of arms taken during battles between the nobility. Also, it would leave vast areas of the Empire unprotected as we haven't enough troops to deal with brigands without them. We also need uniforms and retraining for these men if they are to become a true constabulary. They will also need Tesla Wasps issued to the various areas."

Roger nodded and said, "My plan was to open army training centers around the Kingdom. We would also open a recycling center near these camps that would collect old steel. The men at the Future War were in love with the idea since they could desperately use these resources."

Emily smiled and said, "So you are buying back weapons?"

Roger nodded, "Only we'll pay them by the weight of the weapon rather than it's resale value."

Emily smiled, "We'll go with your plan."

*****

Darius stood up tall and proud in front of his daughter, with his arms crossed angrily as he glared down at her, "Teslaimia, as a daughter of this King, your marriage is meant for the betterment of our people it has nothing to do with love and your wishes."

Teslaimia shook her head and said, "I am not here to argue with you, Father, I am here giving you my answer. I won't marry emperor Asoka as I am already with Empress Connaissance."

Darius slapped her hard across the cheek knocking her out of the chair, "Have I spoiled you this much? You are just my daughter, do you think I don't dare drag you home and march you over to your wedding?"

Teslaimia started to cry, "I told you, I am already together with the Empress. I am to be the Empress consort for the Empire of Connaissance."

Darius roared out, "Two women, marry? I have truly left you alone too long! I need this political marriage, Teslaimia, I already have an alliance with Connaissance. I don't need you married here! And to a woman! Never!"

Darius called out, "Guards! Bring the Princess to my Airship, we leave at once for Fursia. Ambassador, tonight after we have arrived in Fursia send a messenger to Empress Connaissance. Advise her that Princess Teslaimia has returned to Fursia for her marriage to Emperor Asoka."

"Your Majesty, Her Highness came here escorted by a group of Knights from the Empire of Connaissance. They are currently waiting outside the gate." The Ambassador bowed to King Darius.

Darius frowned, "Send them away, explain to them that the Kingdom of Fursia can provide security for its own Royalty."

The Ambassador nodded and then walked out of the front entrance to meet with the head of the escorts. "Excuse me, which of you is in charge of this group?"

An a tall broad-shouldered older Knight walked forward and looked down at the Ambassador, "Sir Charles Killington, what can I do for you?"

The ambassador looked up at the giant knight and said, "His Majesty, King Darius said that your services are no longer necessary, you are excused. The Kingdom of Fursia can handle the security for our own Royalty."

Sir Killington smiled and asked, "Is King Darius a beautiful blonde lady?"

The ambassador shook his head, "No of course not."

Sir Killington nodded and said, "Well you see, the only one I can take orders from is a beautiful blonde lady. That's not you. That's not King Darius either. My orders were to see Empress Consort Teslaimia here, and then escort her back once she finished her meeting." he made shooing motions with his hand and said, "Why don't you go on back in that fancy building and make sure King Darius knows that once the Empress Consort returns to this side of the gate, we'll be escorting her to where she wishes to go."

After the ambassador left Sir Killington turned to one of his men and said, "One of you go gather up some more men, get me at least a hundred. We're five minutes from the wall I want you back here in a fast attack carriage in eight minutes with backup, have the base commander put in a far speak to the Empress's office. Something's fishy here."

King Darius looked at his men and said, "I need you, men, to get to the Airship port, have the ship come pick us up from here. Go quickly."

A group of Darius's men left the embassy and passed by Sir Killington's men and headed to the airship port. Sir Killington watched as they left and said, "Ok, I see what's up now. Jimmy, follow Cooper, Alert the base that the Empress Consort is going to be taken by Civilian Airship. Once our reinforcements arrive we'll lock down the Embassy."

*****

Emily and Roger were looking over a few reports when the Far Speak rang. Emily picked up listened for a moment and then said, "I understand." She looked at Roger and said, "Darius decided to bring Teslaimia home for a political marriage."

Roger frowned and said, "Technically Princess Teslaimia is a Fursian citizen on Fursian soil. We really can't stop them. How do you want to handle this?"

Emily closed her eyes and said, "Have them let her go for now. No one goes in or out of the Fursian Embassy for now. I'm going to write a letter and we'll send a messenger to Fursia and Injia. Roger, meet with Andrew, I want you to prepare for a fullscale war with Injia and Fursia." She opened her eyes again and said, "It seems this Asoka really thinks I am weak."

*****

Darius was pacing around in the Embassy waiting for the airship to arrive as more Connaissance Troops arrived out in front of the Embassy. A few moments later the ambassador ran into the room, "Your Majesty a letter from the Empress of Connaissance!"

Darius opened the letter, 'If my wife isn't sitting across from me with my lunch in the next half an hour, I'll consider that your declaration of war. - Emily Connaissance'. Darius stared at the letter trying to make sense of it over and over. Finally, he spoke out loud, "This crazy woman intends to go to war with me over my daughter?"

One of the guards spoke out, "Your Majesty, the Embassy has been completely surrounded by soldiers from Empire of Connaissance. No one is being allowed to enter or leave the compound."

Darius paced around and then finally spoke out, "Have my daughter return to see me."

Teslaimia soon walked into the room and curtsied to Darius, "Father, you called for me."

Darius angrily walked over and grabbed her by the chin looking at her face, "I gave a bruise, I'm sorry. Read this letter and explain it to me."

Teslaimia smiled and then returned the letter to her father, "My wife says, that she considers your taking my freedom an act of war against the Empire of Connaissance."

Darius frowned and then shouted, "You aren't married, how can two women even marry? You certainly can't have children? What's the point of such a marriage?"

Teslaimia shrugged and said, "Point? I love her and she loves me. Together we are going to see the future. I will support her dreams and she will pave a future that I never dreamed was possible." Teslaimia shrugged and said, "The future you want to send to me to is one where I live or die by the hand of a man who only wants to use me for my current beauty which won't last more than a decade or two and my ties to your power, you tell me, which life would you choose?"

Darius paced around and then stared at his daughter, "This Empress, she would really go to war with me over you?"

Teslaimia nodded, "There are two kinds of people in Emily's life normally. Those who are useful and those who aren't. I exist outside of that circle. Without me in her life, you are certainly not useful and she has no issues killing off those who aren't useful even with her own hand."

Darius paced around in a circle, "The Emperor of Injia has demanded your hand in marriage as reparations for my ill-conceived war. Tell me, what choice do I have? I can die by my ally, or I can die by my enemy?"

Teslaimia sighed and asked, "Have you spoken to Emily about it?"

Darius snorted, "Why would I consult with a woman about how to run my own country?"

She shook her head and said, "Father, come with me to see her, let us talk about it together."

Darius looked into his daughter's eyes and finally sighed and said, "Very well."