The Emperor's Children

[Touzen]

We learn little from victory, much from defeat.
-Japanese Proverb

Great Kokuryūkō Empire
Near the Border to Tianzhou

Tank after tank was crossing over Highway 1, which had been closed to public traffic since the early morning, officially due to a terror warning, which had caused a significant chaos in the early morning as people normally dependent on one of the major streets in the country found themselves unable to reach their workplaces. The public transport system had difficulties coping with this sudden increase in travelers, and commuters wondered about the significant increase of young men in uniforms taking the train this morning.

Some of the flags on the turrets of the tanks were painted with colors of the Oikawan Empire, while a distinct number of them instead displayed the colors of the Manchu state of Kokuryūkō. Between the armored vehicles, open trucks, their cargo areas bursting with confused soldiers clinging to their rifles, tried to make their way through the hilly landscape after they left the highway as they came close to the Jizhou border. Wherever the strange convoy crossed a village, the locals stood in disbelief at this sudden display of military power on part of the League. All across Southern Kokuryūkō, people complained about difficulties to access the Freenet or even just make a telephone call. State TV apologized for the inconvenience of having to drop the news program today due to a technical error, but promised it would make up for this grave inconvenience by sending extra episodes of Kokuryūkō's most popular daily soap opera, Grandfather and Me.

Kaochang Imperial Base

The ground shook as the afterburners catapulted the planes into the skies in this dark and stormy night. Below them, tanks and trucks were making their ways into Jizhou towards the directions of Yiyuan and Chengyuan, while in the harbor that was administratively integrated into the base, but actually was located a bit outside the immediate area of the installment, the Third Imperial Fleet that was stationed there set for Chengyuan, with smaller coastal patrol boats joining in on efforts that were beginning to materialize in all directly controlled Oikawan areas in Jizhou to prevent ships from entering or leaving the country's harbors. The planes themselves would begin to imitate surgical strikes on Republican supply depots and anti air installations in southern Jizhou.

Fudan Imperial Base

As the planes entered Republican airspace, they entered radio silence. Further communication was unneeded in any case, for all men in the squadron knew their task: decapitating the Republican leadership. Their destination was Yiyuan, and once they had reached the city, they would proceed to unleash their deadly payload on the known private homes of major government figures as well as political centers of the city, like the party headquarters.

Chongbin Co-Operative Military Base

"You are under arrest."

Lieutenant Kawasaki calmly pointed his pistol at the Jizhou man with whom only hours ago he had planned tomorrow's cooperative field games, like it was standard procedure at the military establishments known as "Co-Operative Military Bases" that dotted all of Jizhou, where Imperial and Republican forces were stationed together to promote a sense of cooperation and stress the equality of the men and deemphasize the occupational role of the Oikawan forces.

"I have to ask you to drop your weapon", he said calmly as two recruits, their assault rifles in their hands, entered the small office behind him. The Jizhou man just stared at him, not making a move. His eyes were full of disbelief.

"Wha.."

"I am sorry. This is not my decision. This is an order from above. It is happening all over the country. Please."

His voice was now more insisting and the face of the Oikawan man had turned into an embittered gaze, almost as if he was begging the other man to comply. Another few seconds passed, but inside the room they felt like an eternity. Outside, single gunshots could be heard in the distance.

Then, finally, the Jizhou man slowly dropped his gun to his feet while still staring at his Oikawan counterpart in amazement, who's gaze in return showed a smile of relief.

"Thank you", he whispered to the man as he escorted him outside, giving him a pat on the shoulder after making sure that the two recruits were busy confiscating the documents inside the office. "Thank you."

​

 

[Keida]

Zhongbei War Compound - Yiyuan

"They've done it," the straight-faced man, maybe fifty years old, said as he entered the dark, smoke-filled office, "RADAR lit up like New Year's at every border. We're losing contact with the satellites they control, even access to the goddamned Intranet is limited." He was dressed very nondescript. A button-down shirt with no tie, some slacks, nice shoes.

"So the fuckin teenagers won't be able to check their Hitobitos? The Devils are sick," the Generalissimo answered with a flat joke, he was stone-faced, "What about the co-operative bases?"

"Madness," Zhu Zhifang, chief of the National Security Bureau answered, "Some of the bigger ones, like in Chongbin, the Devils just seized control and threw our commanders in the brig. Smaller ones, like Liaoyuan and Longchuan, the opposite happened and we've got some officers under our thumb. The unluckiest, so far Tianzhou, turned violent. Three dead Han, four dead Yamato, including an officer, six of his guards are wounded."

"Get them under control," Li answered, lighting another cigarette, "Weapons free, but avoid killing if we can."

"You shouldn't have deported all those advisers, sir. They could've been collateral."

"What about the borders?" The Premier ignored the Chief's criticism,

"It's bad. Brigades have crossed the border. We're being invaded."

"No." Li said in disbelief,

"It happened, Premier. They're invading."

"No!" The Premier grew angry, knocking some items off his desk in rage, "No, they were supposed to blockade. Huff and puff! Kihara can't do this!"

"It's not Kihara."

"I know it's not Kihara, you cunt!" Li threw his glasses off, scattering them onto his desk, "Okay. Okay, this isn't going to be pretty, but it has to happen." He began pacing around his desk nervously, dragging on his cigarette, "We're going to show this Yoshikawa fuck why Kihara wouldn't have done this."

"We can't beat them. All our best technology is some of their outdated toys." Zhu was always brutally frank.

"That's where I mean it's not going to be pretty. We're going to lose people. A lot of them. I'm going to call the Central Military Committee, we're going to release the so-called 'horde.' Yoshikawa seems to forget we outnumber him ten to one."

"It doesn't matter, Yuying," Zhu shrugged, "All they need is to drop a bomb in the middle of your so-called 'horde' and it's over."

"The horde is just to buy time, Zhu. Time is all we need. Drag out the conflict. Because you're going to deliver the real killing blow. Take your spooks and angry up some peasants. Time to show the Devils what a Chinese race riot looks like. Burn a couple of Mitsurugi's factories and see how long it takes for the Oik corporations to force a retreat. Yoshikawa needs to be reminded that Oikawa's industrial heartland, its bread basket, and all the prosperity it has ever known, is actually in Jizhou."

 

[Touzen]

Yamamoto Ryokan
Nokanawa

The sound of a woodpecker echoed inside the spacious courtyard of the traditional guest house. One could not quite determine from what direction it came, and it could have come from any of the large trees in the courtyard garden, standing in and around a small lake in the middle of it all. Here and there, stones and small sculptures dotted the sides of the sand pathway that led through the garden, and lanterns hanging from branches illuminated the scenery in the dark.

From here, the noise of Nokanawa could not be heard. The guest house was located a bit outside of the main center of the metropolis, yet was still clearly part of the Nokanawa area. Owing to its location and the architecture of the place, however, Yamamoto Ryokan was an oasis of peace inside one of the most busy cities of the world, and was thus a place for the rich and important people in Oikawa to relax in the ever busy country - for a price. The Yamamoto family had led the establishment for over 300 years, a long time to bring their skills as infallible hosts to perfection. Perfection that, like everything, had it's price that those that knew about the qualities of the guest house were only too willing to pay.

These days however the Ryokan had only a single guest: Jizhou President Zhang Bowen, who was still spending his time in Nokanawa ever since he had tried to get an audience with the political leadership of the country - without success. For security purposes, the entire compound was reserved for him and his associates, which gave the place an even more quiet vibe than it usually had.

A few cicadas began to join into the song of the woodpecker, and even a few grasshoppers seemed to have realized their musical talent. It would otherwise be quiet in the garden - there wasn't even any particularly noisy movement on the surface of the small lake - if it hadn't been for the sound of two boots slowly but steadily progressing forwards on the sand trail. Tap, tap tap.

The boots stopped near the shore of the small lake. On one of the stones that were placed around the body of water, only partly illuminated by one of the lanterns that had been placed onto a nearby tree, a figure was sitting on a stone and was, as far as the boots could judge from their current position, staring at the lake.

"Your Excellency."

Somewhere in the distance a car honked. The boots tapped a few more times to move closer to the figure.

"They wouldn't talk to you. But they are gone. I will talk to you. But will you listen?"

 

[Keida]

The President of the Republic of Jizhou, fat and hog-faced as ever, sat on the stone reading a piece of traditional Chinese literature. He was dressed, as usual, in a traditional changshan, the long robes of a Chinese gentleman. He looked decidedly out of place in this icon of Japanese tradition.

"I have nothing but time. I can do little else but listen," Zhang answered the man. His Japanese was perfectly fluent, he went to school in Oikawa, after all, but even after seventy years, he never lost his distinctive foreign accent, "I guess you're one of the new, so-called 'hardliners' in charge of the archipelago. And indeed, the entire eastern world. Yes?"

The President stood up, leaning heavily on an ivory-tipped cane as he turned around to face his visitor, "My daughters are out shopping, as usual," he rasped as he closed his book. The title was visible; for anyone familiar with Classical Chinese: 'The Rise and Fall of the Emperor of High Purpose,' a famous tale from the old Jizhou Empire. "My eldest, he is dealing with some business back across the sea. My youngest, goofing off in the Makai casinos. And my personal assistant, the darling Miss Ge， Reki you would read her character, she's on the phone to some people back in Yiyuan and I'm not allowed to know what about. So I'm here, all alone with my books. She treats me more like a doddering old man than a President, doesn't she? Like a senile grandfather.

But I know what it's about." He coughed a bit, "You so-called 'hardliners' have done something, haven't you? I read newspapers from both sides of the sea. You're spilling blood, aren't you? I can tell. I can feel it in my spirit. Enough ghosts haunt my waking moments to let me know when something is happening. What have you done, hardliner? And why do you want me to listen to it?"

 

[Caelia]

TOP SECRET

General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Commandry of Kyiv and Novgorod

Central Operations Directorate​

OPERATION LUNA​

​

​

Report by the Central Operations Directorate​

I. We have examined Operation LUNA as instructed by the Supreme High Command, we have made the following assumptions on which to base our analysis:

• The imperial separatist state of Jizhou will succeed in it’s conflict with the armed forces of the Oikawn Empire.
• The Armed Forces of Sarmatia will play no part in conflict.
• The threat of mutually assured destruction will restrain the use of nuclear weapons by either combatant.

OBJECT​

II. The overall objective of the operation is to achieve the liberation of the imperial province of Polatsk.

Well the scope of the objective is limited the empire is unlikely to submit easily. Under normal circumstances we do not believe such an objective would be achievable without resorting to total war. In the wake of an Oikawan defeat in Jizhou we believe a more palatable option is feasible.

III. To ensure the success of the objective Oikawan leadership must come to believe it is no longer possible for the empire armed forces to hold or retake the province. We have concluded the most effective way to achieve this is to mount a decisive large-scale invasion of Polatsk.

INVASION OF POLATSK​

IV. As long as the Oikawan regime remains in power it will not release it’s grip on it’s imperial provinces. Knowing this the only option to effectively free a province from Oikawan control is to forcibly occupy the region and decisively eliminate all Oikawan forces positioned to repel the attack.

• All vital political, military and economic regions of Polatsk must be brought under the control of the armed forces of the Commandry. It must be made so that the Commandry’s control of Polatsk is a de facto reality.
• All Oikawan military region in Polatsk or positioned to conduct imminent operations in Polatsk must be destroyed or neutralized. The Oikawan Empire must possess no realistic conventional means of reversing the Commandry’s military success in Polatsk.

Occupation of the Oikawan Imperial Province of Polatsk

V. Geographically Polatsk is a large but sparsely populated region. As Polatsk has long been the primary theatre of operations for our operational plans in the event of war with the empire we believe our forces are well prepared logistically to operate in the area. Within Polatsk we expect the Commandry will be able to cultivate support from the ethnic Rus population.

VI. Well the Oikawan empire is vast in scope we do not anticipate it will necessary to advance far beyond the borders of the Polatsk province. Once we have reached the far borders of the province if the Empire has not already capitulated and accepted our demands it will be possible to assume a defensive stance on the strategic level and focus on repelling and subsequent counter-attacks.

Decisive Defeat of the Oikawan Armed Forces in Polatsk

VII. The Oikawan Armed Forces (see Appendix A for details on current strength and disposition of the Oikawan Armed Forces) are extremely large, well equipped and competently trained if not to the Commandry’s standards. In the context of a scenario following a major defeat in the ongoing civil war it is probable Oikawa’s forces will have suffered significant material losses on top of the forces lost to the breakaway republic province of Jizhou. We also believe the necessary reorientation of assets to fight in the war will significantly reduce the readiness and combat worthiness of forces on the periphery, including in Polatsk. A defeat in Jizhou will also likely inflict significant moral damage on the armed forces personnel and leadership, though this is difficult to quantify. In contrast our forces available for operation in Jizhou are well prepared and equipped for combat operations in Polatsk and owing to the improved relations with Sarmatia potentially even stronger than before.

IIX. In light of the information stated in paragraph VII we believe a decisive defeat of Oikawan forces in around the Polatsk region is a feasible goal. It will however require a major commitment of forces on a scale which cannot be estimated with precision at this time (see Appendix D for preliminary case studies of the potential forces required for Operation LUNA) to be committed for an extended campaign at significant cost. We assess a high probability that the forces required will be in excess of those currently deployed in the Steppe Military Region potentially necessitating redeployment of forces from other regions.

Conclusions

IX. We conclude that:

• Operation LUNA can be achieved through the invasion and occupation of Polatsk though it will come at high cost.
• The Commandry possess the conventional military might to inflict a decisive defeat on Oikawan forces in and around the Polatsk region.

 

[Shinryeo]

TOP SECRET

THE OPERATIONAL COMMAND, REPUBLIC OF SHINRYEO AIR FORCE​

<Instruction of Order>​

Dear Sirs,

I. We have examined the aerial strike over Oikawan Airbases in Huaqing, Kaochang, as we instructed by the Joint Chief of Staff of the Republic of Shinryeo Armed Forces.

I-2. We have so far reached the conclusion like below; We need a 'critical' attack upon Oikawan armed forces despite the fact that it will cost many things.

OBJECT

II. The overall object of this aerial strike to achieve aerial superiorty over Oikawan Air Forces. However, in this time, we will only able to attack aforementioned air bases, since the declaration of war has not officially came into effect. This time, this attack will be a secretative strike.

STRIKE ON KAOCHANG AND HUAQING AIR BASES

III. As long as the Oikawan Air Forces stationed in aforementioned air bases, our aerial superiority will came to a threat. Therefore, you has been tasked to achieve those goals mentioned below.

• Make sure that vital facilities in Kaochang and Huaqing Air Bases to be destroyed after our strike over those air bases.
  
• If destroying vital facilities in Kaochang and Huaqing Air Bases is impossible, they must be neutralized at least. Our failure on this strike will cause serious counter-attack from Oikawan Air Forces.

[ooc]Finally, here Shinryeo comes[/ooc]

 

[Touzen]

"People are dying, Your Excellency. Our people."

The man paused for a moment, crossing the arms behind his backs.

"The souls of the Han and Yamato are crying. A terrible crime has been commited. A crime that we can only hope to revenge in unison. You know what I am talking about. The upstarts in Yiyuan, young men with spirit, but lacking the farsighted attitude a living legend like yourself possesses. Now that they have spilled the blood of the people of Tenzing, they have also begun to spill the blood of our peoples. My father would be weeping if he knew that 60 years of unity against Western tyranny are threated by one foolish action."

Yoshikawa stepped forward, near the shore of the small lake, passing by the President without a glance. Shoving his boots over the ground, he unearthed a small stone and picked it up, clenching his right hand that was hidden inside a snow-white glove around it.

"Your Excellency, your people need your leadership. The East needs your leadership."

He aimed and threw the stone. It jumped two, three times before sinking into the lake.

"You united the Republic once. You can do it again. Not for Nokanawa but for the people of Jizhou. I know about your feelings, they are no secret. But for better or for worse, our peoples are tied to one another in life and death. One cannot separate one from the other without killing both."

"Your Excellency."

He turned around to finally face the other man.

"Lead a new government and assist us in ending this needless struggle. I promise you the Han people shall receive the respect and position inside the liberated East that previous administrations have so rudely denied it. But this is a new age, Your Excellency. A new dawn is upon is, the second rise of the East. We cannot allow 60 years of freedom from the Western devils be threatened by short-sighted foolery that will mean diaster and chaos for all of Touyou. You cannot allow that, Your Excellency. The fate of our continent is in your hands."

There was a muffled sound as the man fell to his knees. His officer's cap fell in front of him as the Oikawan leader put his hands on the sandy ground before him to bow before the Jizhou President.

 

[Keida]

"Don't be ridiculous," Zhang chastised the Oikawan, tapping him with his cane, "Though I must say, one of you people bowing to me is a new thing. Stand up."

The wizened President waited for his visitor to rise, "You know I can't denounce Li. Not publicly anyway. I hand picked him for the Premiership all those years ago. To declare it a mistake on this scale would destroy my credibility, which I can tell is what you need right now."

He sighed and sat back down, setting his book aside, "And now that I see what he's done, what his bloody campaign accomplished, I wonder if Little Li didn't go right where I went wrong. He paid a price, we all did, but we can't deny that price bought us a lot of peace.

"At least, until you so-called 'hardliners' decided to bring in the bombs. I'm not opposed to working with you. No matter what it looks like, I am still the head of state and the head of government for the Republic. Li will have to listen to me or Jizhou will fracture in actuality as much as in your propaganda. But I need you to explain: why? And I don't need any of your dog fart talking points about communism and westerners. You know as well as I that the Republic has personally carried the brunt of that burden for at least a decade. Tell me exactly why you are bombing my country. Tell me exactly what you want to happen. Tell me as frankly as your Emperor told me sixty years ago.

"But maybe first, you should tell me your name."

 

[Keida]

Mitsurugi Heavy Industries - Steel Mill 7
Fudan, Oikawan-Administered Jizhou

It was lunchtime. The workers' soot-covered faces were gradually being re-stained with noodles and sauces. It was a largely ordinary day. A little noisier with Oikawan jets taking off every couple of minutes from the airbase nearby, but it didn't make such a difference for the workers. They were angry and scared because of the invasion, but at the end of the day, they still had to bring home noodles.

That was the mindset Yang Ming planned to change.

He was from the National Security Bureau, a top agent of the Jizhou Nationalist Party, hand-picked by Zhu Zhifang for this mission. He was dressed like a steel worker, he even made sure to get a hard hat with a Mitsurugi logo on it. It wasn't the workers he had to fool, they would recognize him as not one of theirs, but the last thing a JMD agent needed was to be caught by Oikawan police.

"My name is Blue Sky," Yang introduced himself to a group of senior workers at their lunch table, setting his own lunch box down ,"I'm from the Republic." That didn't provoke the amazed response he was expecting, but he wasn't fazed, "I'm here because the entire Han race needs your help. Right now, your amazing talents are being exploited by the devils to kill our brothers. The fruits of your labor are enslavement and genocide."

"Foreign farts," a gruff worker shrugged off Yang's statements, "Living under the devils ain't so bad. If we wanted rid of them, we'd've done something a long time ago. Go back to Yiyuan and tell Li to surrender. You know the old saying. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Yang leaned in closer, "It's not that simple, my brother. Surrender isn't an option. You know what happened to the Koreans, right? After that war?"

"Yeah, yeah, they all ran away to Shinryeo. You wanna go to Shinryeo? I know somebody with a boat. Couple hundred he'll float to Sinchang."

"They're all dead, my brother. The devils killed millions of them. Only a handful made it to Shinryeo. And now they're going to kill all of us."

"They can't kill all of us," Another one spoke up, "We make everything they use."

"Ah! Now you're thinking," Yang said, his grin widening, "If you stop making things. If you set fire to this building, we have a chance to win the war."

Uproarious laughter followed. This was going to be more difficult than Zhu had billed it.

"I realize this mill is your livelihood, but the Republic is willing to compensate you. You all will be given good jobs, good salaries when the war is over. The rebuilding effort will be huge, and you all have the skills we will need."

"Or we could just turn you in to the police," the elder chuckled, "We keep the good jobs we have now and get a healthy reward for delivering a Republican spy."

"I didn't want to have to do this," Yang said grimly, his face rapidly changing expressions. The workers picked up on his change of mood instantly,

"What?" They asked.

"Your name is Guan Rou, isn't it?" the agent asked the elder, who nodded with concern, "You have a sister in the capital. Guan Mei, do you not?" The worker froze, "And she has a niece. Little Zhang Hua. Well, she had. And you had. These look like them, don't they?" Yang produced some photographs from his lunchbox and scattered them on the table. An older woman and a younger woman, covered in dirt, blood and rubble.

"But," he stuttered, turning white, "How?"

"Looks like they had the misfortune of living in a neighborhood arbitrarily targeted by the devils for terror bombing," The worker buried his face in his hands, trying not to break down in front of his youngers, "This is the face of modern Oikawa, gentlemen," he started scattering more pictures from his metal box throughout the room. Images of women, children, men, lying dead and defiled, "This is the future of the Han race. Unless you take a stand today." For emphasis, Yang himself stood up, "We have all grown too fat, happy and complacent," he could see he was finally getting through to the crowd, although some of them had completely broken down at the sight of their decimated loved ones, "We have all been exploited, willingly, by the devils. They have taken our blood and sweat and used it against us. They have enslaved us. And now we stand up and say no more! Like the First Emperor Jizhou, we will unite the Han race and claim the glory that Heaven Himself has promised us."

Yang produced one last item from his lunchbox. A brick of C4. "Like fireworks on New Year's, this explosion will usher in a new celestial era," he tossed it to the elder who had wiped the tears from his eyes, "Take it, and do Heaven's work."
​

 

[Havenshire]

KAHUNA, PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCY, MID-MORNING

President Ithorangi didn't often meet with his Favourite Minister. He liked to keep himself distant from that...side of things. Besides, he was busy with the "real" world, arguing with the damned Tribal Council, taking offers from Tobacco Corporations, Listening to Judges yell at him about rampant prostitution on the streets of Kahuna, getting the Coast Guard those new Corvettes, arranging Royal Visits, and a hundred other things. But today, today would be different.

Overhead a ceiling fan whirred, cooling the white-washed walls of the neoclassical Office, built in the 1930s for a Mayaland Administrator, now co-opted as the President's Residency. The window had to be closed for security, and as such the portly, middle-aged President needed alot of air conditioning. Especially in this heat. He reached out a chubby, berringed hand for a glass of Lemonade. He enjoyed the cool, sticky juice as it slid down his massive gullet.

He heard a knock at the door. "Mr.President sah, Eet es a Man to see you." came the voice of his secretary. Like him, she was an Islander through and through, and retained the strong Makai accent.

"Let him through. He's on time, as usual, the bastard." said Ithorangi, with a smooth, accentless voice common to those with a recieved pronounciation.

William Taino strode in confidently, a ginger-haired white man in a crisp suit. It always pleased Ithorangi to think that he, a dark-skinned Son of the Archipelagos, should command this man, descendant of the proud Angles, Conquerors of Maya.

"What do you have say, hmm? This business you are conducting with Tianming...."
"Is earning us more than you ever dreamed. But to get more, we need to pay more in. I want the funding to go full-time. Cut us loose from the Ministry of the Interior- like you really need a massive bureaucracy anyway. Make us the Ministry of Secur-"
"Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Ithorangi roared, slamming the desk, causing the lemonade glass to rattle. "Oikawa is a damned Hornet's Nest! I still remember my Father's stories of the Occupation. They are utterly without mercy. I have been tolerant so far, but this..."
"Is something you will allow." said Taino cooly.
"How DARE YOU SPEAK to me in this manner?" he ranted back. "I ought to have you thrown out on your ass. I knew, I always knew that your damned cloak-and-dagger would threaten all I have built..." Ithorangi said, with false sorrow, conveniently forgetting how eager he had been for the glistening droplets of precious information that Taino had wrung out of the world's mightiest and wealthiest.

"I'm afraid this Project is too important for me to allow you to disrupt it." Taino cooly produced a slim, brown envelope from his coat-pocket. "I had hoped not to have to use this, but..." he coughed politely.
Ithorangi's heart stopped. His eyes bulged, and, despite the air conditioning, he could feel sweat beading on his brow. "What..." Without finishing his sentence, he leaned across the desk and grabbed the envelope, greedily opening it. He gave out a strangled sob.
"You...You bastard..."
Dropping the envelope, glossy digital photographs of the fat president in bed with seriously underaged girls spilled across the desk.
"This could...could ruin me, ruin the entire nation..."
"I know. I'm sorry, old friend. But what we could gain from this War is too important. I can't allow your...momentary hesitation to jeopardise it."
Ithorangi felt a weight bearing down on him, like a tsunami wave about to hit. He had created a monster, nourished it with cash and extralegal powers, and now, it imprisoned him. He couldn't believe he had been so blind as to not see it coming.
The Blonde man regarded him with a poker-face.
"I need that money. I need those people. If you want, hire your precious Wiesan Mercenaries to guard your palace against the Storm. But there'll never be a War here. No, we will become great, and it will be Oikawa who will beg us not to open game on them...this War of their own making will be their undoing in more ways than one, oh yes." He smiled.
As Ithorangi sat, transfixed by the photos left, casually like litter, on his desk, still contemplating the ease with which this man could destroy him, Taino, like a generous deity, threw another envelope on his desk.
"Something to cheer you up."

As William left, not bothering to wait to be dismissed, or hear a reply he smiled wolfishly to himself, as he heard the Piggish President behind him tear open the second envelope, and cackle at the pictures within. William knew now he owned that fat man, and could feel his heart beat again. He had taken an incredible risk, and been deadly frightened that the man would realise the photos were fakes. It had been an incredible gamble, taken on an informed guesses. An even grander Gamble awaited him, back at the Casino. Somehow, they were going to try and send new, more professional infiltrators to the Empire, and re-establish personal contacts with their agents already there. It would be the first move in an unfolding game- to expose Oikawa's secrets to Jizhou, and, if they didn't pay up, to Market Forces. It was ironic, he thought. The Imperialists and Capitalists had come to Makai seeking plunder, and now they came to relax, and so left their own greatest treasures exposed for the taking.

 

[Shinryeo]

Jungsan Airbase
Republic of Shinryeo

"Let yourself dead when you lost, Let yourself alive when you won."

Captain Lee Ji-ho spoke himself before he got on his fighter jet. Lee could not believe that he's going to bomb Oikawan airbase in Huaqing. When he was an aviation cadet, professor of the Air Force Military Academy always taught that the Oikawan Empire, specifically their armed forces, are biggest enemy of the Republic of Shinryeo Air Force. Now, he was about to got on the fighter jet and ready to take off.

"Eagle nest, this is Eagle No.1. Ready to take off."
"Got it. Proceed to take off."

As soon as he heard an order from the control tower, he released brake pedal. Then, fighter jet begin to run a runway, as well as his squadron members. When Captain Lee realized he's in air, fighter jet is already out of Shinryeo skies. Now he will going to bomb Huaqing Airbase to have a surprise party with Oikawan Air Force. He heard that another squadron will going to bomb Kaochang Airbase.

Maybe several pilots will going to die, because resistances from Oikawan forces will not be a weak thing. It would not be a big mistake to think about whole squadron going to die at foreign land.

 

[Shinryeo]

10km Outskirt of Huaqing Air Base
Oikawa-occupied Jizhou

Captain Lee wanted to pray about his survival. Fortunately, he could survive from the bunch of gunfires when his squadron cross the sea. Unexpectedly, there was a huge Oikawan fleet on the sea. Nothing has refered on his instruction of order. He had to watch his companion to got shot down by the Oikawan ground-to-air missiles. However, he's alive now.

Since he faced massive attack from Oikawa, the leader of his squadron ordered to go up to 16,000ft. It was the maximum level that newest Shinryeo fighter jet could get.

"Gentleman, welcome to Oikawa. Well, actually it's Jizhou, though. There's only 10km left until the target. We will hit the target clear and briefly. Got it?"

"Roger that."

"It's party time."

10 kilometers weren't so far. Lee and his companions could get there so fast. There he could see control tower of Air Base. He pushed the button without hesitation. As soon as he and his companions pushed the button, Huaqing Air Base slightly became like a hell.

 

[Keida]

Subterranean Citadel – Zhongbei War Compound
Yiyuan, Republic of Jizhou​

“Children of Infinite Happiness, Restore the Emperor Society, Pan-Blue Militia, Men of Han, New Dynasty and the House of Iron Lanterns have all pledged their allegiance to the Nationalist Party, sir.” Zhu Zhifang said proudly, dropping a folder onto Li's well-lit desk. The room was still filled with smoke. The Premier had a cigarette perpetually lit. It was his Eternal Flame.

“And the commies?”

“They come with a price. They weren't as easy to buy as the counter-Oikawans, of course...”


Temple of Light and Sound - Guanghe Province
Earlier

The unmarked car came to a sputtering stop in front of the ancient temple complex. Everything was designed to appear completely nondescript. Zhu emerged from the car, he had been riding in the passenger seat like a normal civilian. He dressed in a hat and traditional Chinese clothes, with Buddhist prayer beads; he wanted to look like an ordinary devotee. Plus the loose-fitting clothing hid his handgun well, and his bodyguard's too.

Zhu and his man passed through the first chamber of the temple into a shrine devoted to the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Always a popular idol, even more popular in these trying times. A woman in her forties was burning incense and bowing to the idol. She had done this before. The chief of the NSB waited for her to finish before addressing her,

“Miss Xiu?”

“Comrade Zhu,” she nodded, turning around. She was the new leader of the Guanghe Tigers, since Zhu and his men had executed her predecessor with a firing squad and great fanfare, “The others have settled in already.”

Zhu and his man followed Xiu into another chamber of the temple. It was originally monks' quarters, but had been rearranged somewhat for this meeting. Four other communist leaders had settled themselves onto prayer cushions organized in a circle. A young intellectual man with spectacles, “The Red Fist of Hua, of the Communist Party of Hua,” he introduced himself. An older woman with unusually elongated earlobes, “Tian Vakhreva, of the East is Red,” she bowed her head slightly. A middle-aged gentleman in a Vangalan-styled military uniform, “Ceng Huxiang, of the Workers' Liberation Army,” he nodded. A man dressed proudly in a mandarin-collared suit, “Lian Xinliang, of the New Society.” Zhu offered a traditional Chinese bow to each of them, fist-in-palm.

“It is a monumental leap forward for the free people of Cathay that you have all agreed to meet me here,” Zhu began, not yet taking his seat, “A sign of trust, of friendship, and of unity for all Chinese people. While there is no doubt that we do not agree ideologically, we are bound as brothers into a unity of purpose, to push back the insidious invaders from the east.” That concluded the speech that had been prepared for him. Zhu sat down, his bodyguard stepped outside.

“We are prepared to make an alliance with the nationalists,” the Red Fist began, “Our ongoing conflict can only benefit the devils.”

“That much I agree,” Vakhreva nodded, “But we will need certain concessions. The East is Red will not tolerate prewar conditions in the postwar world,”

“Well of course much will change,” Zhu offered as he adjusted his position on the meditation cushion, “We've already made significant changes since we threw out the Oikawan advisers. They've been holding us back from reform for the last six decades.”

“So we can count on more political openness?” the mandarin-suited Xinliang asked, “Communist parties in elections?”

“With the President still cut off from us in Oikawa, we can't make such radical changes to the constitution,” the NSB director said apologetically, bringing grumbles of skepticism to the gathered communists, “But rest assured that we will certainly be more politically open. If nothing else, the platform of the JMD will be revised to permit a wider spectrum of political options to the people of Jizhou.”

“You're still committed to the Jizhou name?” the militaristic Ceng asked with a growl.

“Actually, the Premier has considered revising the country's name if constitutional amendment becomes a possibility.”

“What if he's dead,” Vakhreva proposed harshly, “The President, that is. The devils might've just up and killed Zhang.”

“Then the constitution has a series of well-detailed succession clauses and we will deal with that problem if it comes up,” Zhu waved it away, “But we certainly wish ten thousand years of health and life on our great President Zhang.”

“The Communist Party of Hua is prepared to sign a treaty of united front immediately,” the Red Fist reiterated.

“The New Society is not,” Lian argued, turning up his nose, “We demand the right to field candidates in open elections as a legal political party.”

“This is not the time to deal with these matters, my friend,” Zhu shrugged, “We are at war. This is the reality. The only question is who exactly is at war. Is it the Republic of Jizhou Army against the New Society, illegal communist militia? Or is it a united front of Chinese people against devilish eastern invaders? My friend there from Hua and I would both prefer the second.”

Lian gritted his teeth,

“The East is Red will sign on to your united front on the condition,” Vakhreva and her earlobes proposed, “That the new government of whatever this nation is ultimately called makes genuine advances toward normalized relations with the People's Republic of Vangala and reconciliation with the Revolutionary All-China People's Government.”

That idea caught Zhu off guard, he took several seconds to compose himself, “The Republic's foreign ministry has made such attempts in the past...”

“I emphasize, genuine attempts, Comrade Zhu. We demand a special envoy to Kilkila.”

“The New Society will accept those conditions,” Lian nodded,

“And the Workers' Liberation Army,” Ceng and his Vangalan uniform agreed,

“Good, good,” the NSB chief nodded along with the communists, “And the Guanghe Tigers?” He turned to the too-quiet Xiu,

“These terms suit us,” she said softly,

“Then that is where we stand.” Zhu answered with finality, standing...

Subterranean Citadel – Zhongbei War Compound
Yiyuan, Republic of Jizhou​

“And that's their price,” The straight-faced NSB chief said to Li, showing him what it would take.

“I'll need some time to see if this is even possible, Zhu,” the Premier sighed, lighting another cigarette,

“There is no time, sir. And there is no option. We have already agreed to it. I've volunteered your authority,”

“And the President's...”

“...And the President's,” Zhu nodded, “We need the communists on our side and this is a comparatively cheap price.”

“But I don't know if Vangala or Cheng will go for this anyway!”

“It doesn't matter, sir. If we try, we have fulfilled our end of the bargain. I don't care if this all ends in a pogrom against the commies,” Zhu shrugged,

“I've already had one of those anyway,”

“You've already had one anyway. I don't care if they all die when the war is over. When the war is over. For now, they are a significant boost to our manpower, doubly so since they free up the men we have suppressing them-”

“You don't need to lecture me on the military strategy here,” the generalissimo chastised his intelligence man, “You just make sure they keep the guns and money flowing from Vangala or wherever. And make sure they're throwing it all against the devils. When it's all done, I'll do what you've promised for me. Hell, maybe Vangala will decide to get all friendly with us if the devils aren't hanging over our shoulders.”

“Whatever,” Zhu said bluntly.

“Just go set more factories on fire,” Li waved him away, “Oh and one last thing,” he opened up a drawer as Zhu stopped in his tracks,

“What?”

“Good job,” the Premier tossed the chief a medal from his desk. Zhu pocketed it and walked out of the bunker-office.