AoL #10 - Upper Discord

"-and according to them, these [Silktails] are capable of suppressing the radiation. Added to the fact is that they are not emitting EMP."
"Excellent. We are progressing good."
"About that, Majesty... we may have a situation."
"How so?"
"We just received a message. Motherworld's delegation is already on their way."

The old man stopped stroking his beard at once. He continued, in a high pitch, "That is too soon! How could that be!?"
"I am still unsure, Majesty. Someone must have informed them ahead of time. Someone who... might even aware of our operation."
The man in a richly decorated robe only stood in his place, unwavering, back on rubbing his grey beard.

"I will stage a delay for the Earth's contingent as soon-"
"No."
"Majesty?"
"Let them come. Let them come."
"But... Majesty, should they come-"
"Let them come, Admiral, and move Phase Three up the schedule!"

It was now the blue suited officer that stunned. "Your Highness, I beg your pardon, but...  Subject 'V' may not be available for the phase very soon! There will be no telling what might come out as the result! We already having-"
"I am risking myself, my reputation, my throne, to even start this whole damned operation, Admiral, and you intent on making me take back all of that!?" The tone was even higher than before.
"N-no, Majesty, of course not-"

"We will not be deterred by some Motherworld's underlings, not anymore! Should that proud Earth men want to see these things so badly, then so be it! This, Admiral, is our world. The one my great grandfather built from scratch. This is not just another slave colony, unable to stand on its own feet, being merely a cash cow. No! We are different! We will show it to them!"

The Admiral waited until the temper died down first before replying. "Yes, Your Highness. I will arrange Phase Three as soon as possible. The Motherworld's contingent will have our warm welcome."
"Dismissed."

Endless sea of clouds, the only view cast by the windows, the one that attracted the man in robe after the Admiral left. The gazing however, did not last too long as a faint buzz just sounded.

"Enter." Someone came in, but he did not look too pleased with it. "Why are you here? I told you I do not want to be bothered!" he said to the woman bringing a large ornamented cup.
"My apology, milord, I was just worry of your condition. You have been having less meal since-"
"I am an Emperor whose planet is being invaded, and you ask me to just sit and eat?"
"Limorian brew, your favourite, hmmm?" The yellow dressed woman offered gently the cup to him.

The Emperor looked uninterested at first, but perhaps its her charming smile, or perhaps the irresistible delicious smell of the steaming beverage, that finally led his hand to take the decorated cup, but not after a sigh.

"This... alien," she said, slowly clinging to his arm, "are they more dangerous than the Nu Star?"
"Everything is under control, my dear." Already the Emperor took three sips, now seen more calm than before.
"But will it be okay... to use them... as a weapon?"

Stopped drinking at once, he almost choked himself. The Emperor's calm look suddenly died away. "What... What do you know..."
She turned her head to meet his eyes, only to found a deep suspicious stare.
"What do you know of it? Who told you!?" Only then he realized he had unconsciously gripped the woman's arm, tightly and harshly. "I... I'm sorry." He walked away, with worried face. "It must be... it must be Marshall White! He has always agree with me, while in truth-"
"No, milord, no! It was... it was me."
"What?"
"I...," the words seemed hesitate to leave her mouth, "I saw it on your files. My... my apology..."

A loud thud, as the cup met the glass table. "Of all people, why... If only you can just be a good wife... but now, you've risked yourself. So much... so much! So much from the woman who cannot even give me-" He stopped himself. It was a silent speechless moment for the next few minutes.

"Our world has suffered enough from the Nu Star tragedy. Why... why would you agree to stage such thing as this?" Half trembling, she asked.
"That is why you will never understand!"
"Then shed a light on me, like you always did. I beg your enlightenment," again, she slowly touched his arms, which unfortunately rejected.

"That incident could have explained itself! Outer space is not a friendly place, it is not a beautiful starry garden like what we always saw and told as a kid, it is full of danger, lurking everywhere! Once we take our eyes off of it, we are done for. Once any alien lifeform know we are here, they will come to us. It is imperative for us to make preemptive measures, anything available! We will subdue them, study them, tame them, before they can trample on us!"

"But... your people, they are suffering! They even blame your Majesty. I cannot... I cannot afford to see them put the mistake on-"
"I am doing this for them! To protect them from future danger!" He clutched his hands to the air. "I do not need them to like me, all I need is them to obey me! I have risked too much for this. My Empire, my... my dying Empire... and now the Motherworld... all I want... is just to protect this world..."

For the third time the woman tried to lay a calming touch. "Milord, there is still-" It only worked for a brief second.
"Enough of this!" The Emperor headed to the door, then stopped. He looked back to the sad looking woman, then barked to her, "And forget whatever you see, whatever you know! Forget them all!"

Endless sea of clouds. The consort cast a blank stare to them as the Emperor just left the room, unaware of a single tears that just dropped from her eyes.

   

It's now 970+ words, yay!

Blender and GIMP collab as usual, using a bit modified [NA-66] as an Air Force One, with [NA-10] escort. The red strip markings are combination of multi-material and shrinkwrap-ed plane meshes. The stars logo was first made from an image, but the result was a big 'meh' so I just remade it directly in Blender with circle mesh. The BG, if you haven't noticed yet, is using the one in the [Dreadnought], with a slight alteration. Yay for brilliance laziness!

Pardon my slow update, but there's this new daily 8-to-4 routine (starts 7.30 actually, and at Friday ends at 4.30), and added to the fact a multitasking with my novel and some other non-art stuffs. Yay again!

   

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