Fallout and Consequences

"...and that is our report, Your Grace," Sergeant Inen Taira reluctantly reported. They were standing in the main hall of the Murshard Isle Fort in the middle of the island. Surrounding him was a council of officers and sages who represented the leadership of the fort along with a magical scrying connection back to the Empire's capital city where their words were being heard by another group of high-ranking officers.

"I see, and what actions did you take regarding the murder of the Empire's soldiers?" the commanding officer on the image from the capital demanded.

"Our only clues are eyewitnesses reporting that it was one or more of the town guards on a rampage, and clues were left behind at each murder scene that support this! To that end, I had all the guards in town rounded up and brought here for interrogation!" Inen reported. "Even as we speak, they're being held in separate cells with their stories and alibis being checked."

Fool...! the head warden of Murshard almost spat but held his tongue. He wanted the comment to come from the capital council. All the better it comes from higher up; that would make the punishment so much more powerful, he thought.

"Sergeant Taira, do you honestly believe that any mere town guard from a backwater little settlement at the edge of the Kingdom has the skills to dispatch the Empire's trained soldiers and mages; men I remind you that you selected, four at a time, without any resistance and disappear without a trace?" the commanding officer from the capital retorted. "If such a prodigy existed, they would have been drafted into the Empire's special elite corps and shipped to the capital long ago!"

Inen wilted at the implication as all eyes were now on him, with some of the Murshard council now quietly talking amongst themselves. In his mind, he could already see his chances for that promotion fading away with this failure and even possibly facing another demotion, which made him seethe inwardly with fury.

Finally, the Murshard warden issued his orders, "Finish up our investigation with the Shapwick guards, then release them, pending anything unexpected," before turning back to Inen. "As for you, those men are going to be needing an escort back to their homes on your way back to the capital to answer for your actions. I suspect the conversations on that convoy to be anything but pleasant."

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"...and finally, I'd like to offer a toast to our returning officers, soldiers, and leaders who held the line and bought time for all of us to escape those months ago," Jun offered with a chalice. "None of what we've done would have been possible without your example. I would also be remiss if I didn't offer that same toast to those who didn't survive that attack..." he added somberly, as the rest of the crowd grew quiet. "May what we do for the future remember their sacrifice."

The group had managed to make its way into Havlen Barony in the open plains just southwest beyond the forest. Many of the prisoners they had rescued needed medical care, food and rest, so they made their way to the little town of Ryenet, which was a two-day trip to the Barony's main town, where they could make their presence known to Baron Havlen.

As the brief celebration broke up, Sergeant Kenji Takeda came up to Akiko and Keiko and gave them both a warm embrace. "Lady Amberbrooke predicted this day would come," he said warmly. "I'm glad to see the potential we all saw in both of you bore fruit while we were gone. You've both grown into the leaders we knew you would become."

"I'm just glad you're back," Akiko replied. "Now you guys can be back in charge. Because honestly, having to play 'fake-until-you-make-it' was getting tiring and I'm pretty sure the soldiers are already seeing how much I'm bluffing my way through things."

"Actually, from what I've seen and heard around camp, the men are more than happy the way things have turned out," Kenji gently corrected. "They say you've led every battle with conviction, fought with bravery, been open to strategic direction and have planned your attacks against the Empire's resources with skill, not to mention built up your base logistics like a true leader should during times of war. And while I'll certainly be here to advise you in any way I can, honestly, I don't see any reason to step in when you're doing the job just fine. I served under Captain Fujiwara in your past life; it doesn't have to change in this one."

Akiko inwardly groaned but put on a brave expression. "Ah, OK, so what's our next move then?"

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The group arrived at Havlen Barony's main town and presented themselves to Baron Havlen with Sergeant Takeda handling the introductions. Once the initial pleasantries were over, Akiko stepped forward.

"...and that's what the current situation is, My Lord. If Emperor Minamoto's project is allowed to reach completion, it will be extremely difficult to continue any kind of resistance. He'll have the ability to respond to any significant opposition far more swiftly and crush it before it has any chance to take root," Akiko concluded.

Baron Havlen leaned back for a moment to consider his next actions. "So, what are you proposing as our next course of action?"

"Keiko has brought us all up to date on what she was able to find out about Project Aetheria," Akiko continued. "I've spoken to Lady Amberbrooke who's given us an estimate on what kind of timetable we have, based on the mystical energies involved and the number of crystals we were able to seize up to this point. We need to unite the baronies who are willing to stand with us as a single force. It's time to put aside any differences you might have had between your houses and stop that fortress from launching. Once it's in the air, our options become extremely limited."

The Baron sighed before nodding gravely. "Those of us who have struggled under the Empire's growing tyranny are spread far and wide across the borders of the lands. Almost all of the central baronies are held by loyalists. Do you have a way to coordinate our forces for such an effort?"

"We'll have that soon," Lady Hiromi promised. "For now, we just need to know that as many people as possible are ready to go." 

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"Unacceptable!" the castle's head seer warned the captain. "This debacle is only the latest in a long line of setbacks! Not only does the Empire continue to lose supplies, but we're receiving reports of ever-growing rebellion throughout the Kingdom. People are beginning to talk openly about ideas that were once considered inconceivable! We can't arrest them all! We must capture their leader and put a stop to this movement once and for all before it's too late!"

The captain growled... the idea of faith in an ideal offended his practical military sensibilities. "Then perhaps, we should find another form of... persuasion to draw her in."

"What do you mean?" the seer asked.

"If we can't find her, then she'll simply have to come to us," the captain declared. "All we need is the right kind of bait... something... or someone she will do anything to save, even if it means risking her own life."

"They've already liberated Sergeant Takeda and his soldiers," the seer pointed out. "According to our scouts, those have been the only people the Fujiwara girl has been seen with and since we just brought her to this world, I'm not seeing who else we could use."

"Then you're not considering all possibilities," the captain concluded. "Besides, I doubt she feels that way about the sergeant, since they only just met several months ago. No... to get her to act truly rash... willing to throw her own life away... I have someone else in mind..."