POV's: Faces of a Fledgling Empire

[Justosia]

"It's called the Portón District. Fake ass District but dude that's where they're building the new fleet...."

"Would my Base Pay go up?"

"Lemme see that shit....."

They looked upon the schematics for the new frigates.

"Finally. We'll catch up with the rest of fuckin Europe."

They then began eyeing each other up. Requests for transfers to the new Fourth Fleet would soon be upon them.......

 

[Justosia]

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Milenio Imperio Palace
Outer Grounds
Government Quarter
Avalon
10:30 AM Justosian Time

The two black sheep of House de Francisco, also coincidentally the empire's two hottest bachelors, had arrived back, well, not home. Prince Carlos Francisco III had bought a flat in center city shortly after coming out as bisexual & divorcing his ex wife. Prince Julian Francisco-Francois I could no longer tolerate the subtle, lingering anti Catholic bias of one of the biggest beacons of Protestantism in Europe. Tiburan Catholicism was legal across the islands now, but that wasn't the finish line. Not for him. He now resided back at the new Francois Family Estate. Both would make fantastic Emperadors, if only not for pillars of who they are.

They strutted about the grounds of the palace, beautiful, presently caressed by cool northern winds. Julian's date had dropped one of her diamond earrings & was determined to collect it before one of the roaming Peacocks claimed it. She did this drunkenly. Carlos was his wingman tonight. He had been, as politely as possible, informed by his mother that he couldn't bring the dudes wanted to bang back to Milenio. His latest conquest awaited him back at his flat, awkwardly trying to talk to his Imperial Guard detail. This all would have sent a Socialist or Communist into convulsions. It was exactly what the lunatics in Kadikistan, Ostmark, the BPR, & Polesia were trying to eradicate.

"Maria, I'll buy you diamond whatever. This is tedious......"

Julian's date had moved on to raving to her girlfriend about where she was & who she was about to fuck. The Non Disclosure Agreement she'd soon have to sign would deal with that. Carlos walked up to him.

"So how long did the navy give you leave for?"

"A week....."

Julian knew the Navy would give him leave for longer if he requested it. Carlos knew the same about his Air Force leave. They however were trying to skirt that privilege. Appearances & all....

"Julian! Cmon.....I need to lay down."

His date was over. He thought an Avalon University chick would have a higher tolerance.

"Sucks for you brother. My date is sober, because, well, he does whatever I say. I'm getting back there now. Enjoy babysitting her with my mother."

Carlos walked off while Julian motioned Imperial Guards over to carry Maria to her free stay at the best 'hotel' imaginable.

 

[Justosia]

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Portón Naval Shipyards District
Location Classified
04:10 AM Justosian Time

Only those who scored in the highest top 5 percentile on the Graduation Exam for the Captain's Program at the Officer's Academy in Avalon would receive vetting for security clearance to have a chance to command the new generation of Vengador Class multi role Missile Frigates. As Europe plunged again into probable conflict & uncertainty, the empire would finally catch up with them in naval tech & mech. The bragging rights at Desan Base would be huge. Very few saw the finished prototype design CGI even (above).

The faces of hopeful & excited logistics specialists, construction crews, & higher ranking naval personnel began arriving to oversee the laying of the groundwork for this construction & refinement District.

 

[Justosia]

Portón District
Imperial Waters
11:20 PM Justosian Time

When national security was threatened by lesser thans, no nation moved with more efficiency than the Continental Empire. As with the rest of the Cerealian &, South Silk/Implarian, deep sonar ping bouys were deployed along the territorial water border of the shipyards district. Other, higher clearance measures had been been authorized. All either within the protection of their borders, or beyond the altitude reach of potential enemies.

Seeing an armada upon the horizon was imposing, tis true. Something now within the empire's capabilities. What's more deterring? The subtle realization that no matter where you move in these waters, Milenio knows about it. No ships required.

The yards were humming with choruses of construction noises as a masive, 20x20 Imperial Standard fluttered in the beautiful southern night sky. 100 feet into the air. Illuminated by the lights of Portón.

 

[Justosia]

Portón District
Imperial Airspace
21:30 Justosian Time

It was beautiful. The calm, warm, southern Ceralian night sky. Almost no winds. A white Talon Mach II Fighter suddenly cut through the tranquility. Tailed, in formation, by 6 more. Its pilot was none other than HIH Prince Carlos Francisco III. He had a Captain rate in the Imperial Air Force. He led the Screaming Angels Squadron. Since coming out he had been granted more freedom in his movements. Of course he still had his Imperial Guard detail, but not up here. Just his wingnen. Who he trusted more with his life anyway.

His life now second to that of an infant. HIH Crown Prince Carlos IV. Renouncing the Throne of Falcons was the price he had to pay for his freedom. He used to think this ironic & burdensome. No more. In his reduced role, was he expendable on the battlefield now? His mind wandered a second. No. Surely mama wouldn't cast away her first born like that.

He performed a Barrel Roll. This wasn't a defense formation. He just wanted to touch the sky. Be closer to God. Freedom was an understatement up here.

 

[Justosia]

Portón District
Locale Classified
23:10 Imperial Time

Carlos sat on the right wing of his fighter. Last night had been heavenly. Their's was a region currently untouched by the frothing powder keg of Europe & the burgeoning navy would make sure it stayed that way.

So the order for the Second Fleet to engage in purely defensive measures & simple patrol maneuvers was somewhat puzzling. However, he wasn't sitting in that chair. If he order came he'd do his Squadron's name proud before sending the empire's enemies to hell. He said a quick prayer hoping it'd never come to that. He hopped down to the ground & made his way to the closest bar. His guard detail annoyingly in toe.

 

[Justosia]

Ceralian International Waters
Imperial Nautical Territorial Border
Exact Locale Classified
0:20 Imperial Time

"New orders?"

The Captain of the Guided Missile Frigate J.I.S. Barceltia examined the secure communique.

"Engage in anti submarine deep sonar scans. Depth Charges at the ready. Rendezvous with Second Fleet sub fleet very shortly. Flagship ready to mobilize if necessary. Deemed unlikely. Be on the lookout for Trojan Horse civilian ships in disguise."

 

[Justosia]

Imperial Nautical Territorial Border
Exact Locale Classified
01:00 Imperial Time

Suddenly, six feint blips popped up on the Barceltia's radar. She had begun sailing east ever so slightly. The Captain had a hunch something was up. Besides who really needed to come vice versa?

"What the fuck is that.....Ensign?"

"Ships. Six. Make, class, destination unknown. Current stratagems say likely Sylvanian. Second in probability Aurarine. Their course seems to suggest they're avoiding what constitutes an invasion of Imperial Waters Sir."

"We have our orders. Essentially they're not to start a conflict. Slow speed by half. Ready intercept torpedoes and Depth Charges. Allow the rest of the Second Fleet to catch up. Assume defensive measures. Radio the Annabella. Suggest immediate defensive formation along our nautical border. Advise."

 

[Justosia]

Desan Naval Base
Imperial Navy HQ
Grand Joint Command HQ
Avalon
01:30 Imperial Time

All of this had been born of atypical Justosian paranoia. Until those blips had shown up on the Barceltia's radar.

That itself wasn't an Alert Level raise. Everyone knew Sylvania relished Freedom of Navigation Operations. GJC had assumed they'd pass through their way eventually. They could do as they liked so long as they respected territorial boundaries. They wouldn't be goaded. No. There was another player....

All this had been paranoia until Emperador, GJC Head, & navy veteran Carlos Francisco I began suspecting that perhaps the Sylvanians were acting as a decoy......or maybe they themselves were being used. His years in Naval Intelligence continued to serve him well.

He sat there in his leather executive chair. Looking at a map of the immediate region. Cat & mouse was one thing. This game is best played by submarines. There were enough of those deployed to contain that threat now. Submarines could scurry away after assessing whatever they needed to. He hoped they'd be wise enough to do so. No surface ship would be stupid enough to brazenly make a hostile move. They'd be sunk. He laid back in his chair. He was happy to be out of the palace. He wouldn't order the fail safe unless he needed to. In one's backyard, the advantage was always yours.

"Tell Portón Command to deploy submarine and torpedo nets as an extra precaution. Now."