Calm Before the Storm
2283 Words
White House Oval Office. Two papers were stacked on the desk as if it was a mountain. Most of it was approval, reports from different ministers or departments, budget allocations approval so on and so forth.
The naval battle they’d finished was something that exhausted the ammunition and supply of the Fifth Fleet, meaning there will be a huge sum of money needed to replenish it.
Although he had the system to replenish most of the exhausted armaments and ordnance, Michael wanted to rely most on his production factories as it would be a huge drawback for him if he were to continue relying on the system.
Checking the files one by one, someone entered the oval office. It was Raphael.
Michael fixed himself as Raphael will report something to him.
“Sir this is the summary of the encounter in the west of Empire of Liberty, there are no casualties on our side but most of their missiles and ammunitions are exhausted. The Fifth Fleet will dock at the Naval Norfolk for replenishment. For the prisoners, we have 2,350 of them captured and 5,000 were dead. Most of them will be cremated on the uninhabited island we found here.”
Raphael handed him the file and continued, “Sir, even though we won this battle, this encounter will spark a great conflict between the Empire of Liberty and the Imperial Carmine Empire.”
“That would be bad.”
Michael expected this to happen. Destroying an entire fleet of another nation will not easily slip away. It will be used as a prelude to war on which they are already in. Although it’s a huge loss for the navy of Carmine, there’s no denying the fact that they’ll strike back in the future.
“Raise battle readiness level 2 effective immediately..” Michael simply said.
“Understood, I will notify the joint chief of staff and the minister of defense right away.”
“Thank you Raphael, and lastly establish a secure line to the minister of foreign affairs, I need her counsel.”
“But sir, I can counsel you anything you might ask, why to bother?”
“Here you go again Raphael, you’re my vice-excellency and you’re doing a great job but this certain type of job requires the right person, which is Anastasia. I’m just utilizing my people that’s all.” Michael explained.
“If that’s the case, then I’ll establish a connection right away. If you have anything to ask you can page me otherwise I’ll see you in the next report.”
“Ohh...I have something meaning to ask you…” Michael stood from his seat and ambled forward.
Their distance between each other is decreasing every time he took his steps and finally. He arrives.
“Why are you getting so close to me, your supreme excellency?”
Michael ignores her question and suddenly lifts up her chin.
“Wha-Wha-Wha-what are you doing??”” Stammering while her face is beet red, it was a cute expression.
“I don’t know, you really look like my girlfriend when I was in college, I don’t know how or is it just a coincidence…”
He came closer. Raphael took a step back. He took another step towards her. Raphael gulped. He could hear her heart thumping as Michael’s hand smoothly pushed the hair from her face behind her ears. He came even closer.
“...Michael...this is not the perfect time to…”
“Shut up.” Michael dismissed her softly, “You’d done a lot of things that displeased me back then, do you really think I can let that go? Not without a punishment.
So this is where it begins? Michael's lips drew closer and closer. Raphael could only close her eyes and prepare her lips to receive his. Suddenly—.
Someone entered the door abruptly, “Sir, you have a call from Anastasia and she wishes to talk to you AS—….”
“...”
Michael and the man who entered stared at each other awkwardly.
“Okay sir, I’ll tell the minister of foreign affairs that you’re in important matters.” He left the room as if nothing happened.
Everything returned to normal, Michael turned to Raphael whose face is completely red.
“...Idiot, making me do that weird face...and...leaving me hanging up...you’re the worst man of all!”
“Sorry, as the man said, Anastasia wanted to talk to me immediately, so call that man back and tell him I’ll cut his pay if he entered this room without knocking.”
“Yes sir!”
Raphael chased the man who was about to enter his workplace. Gently placing her right hand onto his shoulder, the man began to sweat profusely.
“You didn’t see anything right?”
The man slowly turned his head and saw her smiling, but it was not a genuine smile, it was a masked smile.
…
Raphael and the man who’s carrying a laptop returned to the Oval Office.
In the video chat, Michael saw Anastasia's face and began briefing her about the encounter in the western sea of the Empire of Liberty.
“That would be really bad...your supreme excellency.”
“I know, I already placed the country into DEFCON-2 it will be a major war and the minister of defense and the joint chiefs of staff are meeting shortly about the ground offensive.”
“Sir with all due respect, everything can’t be resolved with the use of force. If you were to do that then the Empire of Liberty will be recognized as the invader, please let the Imperial Carmine Empire declare war on us first and then respond with an attack.” Anastasia continued, “Also, I believe that the Imperial Carmine Empire will surely cut all diplomatic approaches which will lead to all-out war.”
“We’ve taken that into consideration, planning a major offensive is just a preparation. Intelligence departments are in the middle of interrogation of the prisoners, it might take some time since they are not speaking the same language as the locals here.”
“I understand your supreme excellency, if I may be of help please feel free to reach out to me.”
“I’ll do that, but first. I want you to report to me what’s happening there. What happened to the throne? Do they agree to tie with us?”
“That would take some time sir, probably in two weeks. They gave two easier ways to recognize our country which are: economy and military. If we were to display our products in the exhibition with 10 countries participating, including the Great Empire of Thames and Kingdom of Euphoria. For the military, the Queen asked if it’s possible to display our army, navy, and air force capabilities in the test site which are currently being planned by the Kingdom of Euphoria minister and the Queen’s sister. Since you granted me the authority, I accepted it.”
“Hmm...that’s good, I’ll let the minister of commerce decide what products we should send there.”
“Thank you, your supreme excellency, and congratulations on your first naval battle.”
“Thank you for your hard work there.”
After that, the transmission was cut off, Michael leaned back to his seat and released a deep sigh, “I want an update about the major ground offensive tomorrow.”
“Yes sir!” Raphael saluted and left the room along with the man.
…
One day later/
In the interrogation site, the location is unknown. Captain Ayrona was still quivering in fear as the scene of his fleet being utterly and one-sidedly destroyed traumatized him.
Looking around, everything is just white, only a table and chair can be seen. He can’t even move his hand since it was cuffed on the table.
Someone entered the door, it was two men wearing a black suit and sunglasses.
It appears to be the negotiator.
“Okay, your accommodation to our country will depend on how reliable you are.” One of the men in black dragged a chair and sat on it.
Another man in black handed him the briefcase, he picked out something, it was a file and the men in black glibly threw the file on the desk.
Opening it in front of him were images of high resolution, something that an Empire of Carmine couldn’t ever attain to. It was similar to the magic reconnaissance orb, it can produce an image like this but the resolution is not as high as this. Though reconnaissance orb could be used in reconnaissance, its high price and rarity prevented their army since only 10 of them were successfully created.
Who are just these people? Showing him an image of their fleet, the men in black started talking.
“If you want to calm yourself...here have some water.” The men in black gave him the bottle of water to calm his nerves.
He gulped it in an instant.
“Okay seems you’re finished, please if you could tell us what’s your goal then we’ll be on our merry way.”
Ayrona calmed himself first before answering, “Our goal is to invade the Kingdom of Euphoria and its neighboring countries. There we will deploy our million of troops there to prepare for war against the Grand Empire of Thames.”
“Hmm...Why?”
“For the top spot.” Ayrona answered without hesitation, “But it was unfortunate that we run on a country like you who has a ship with a similar design to our new fleets.”
“Oh, you mean this?” The men in black showed him another satellite picture that contains the drydocks and the port of the Imperial Carmine.
His eyes widened in shock the moment he saw the clear picture of their port.
The ships there were similar to a dreadnought and destroyers in world war 1.
“Yes, they are the fastest and strongest ship ever produced by our country, and the moment it sailed towards your country, it will be your doom.”
He suddenly blurted out the facts he knows about their new ships to cover his fear.
However, the men in black could only laugh, which baffles Ayrona, “Why are you laughing.”
“Well, that ship of yours is obsolete and will not even scratch our ships. I can assure you that.”
“Wha-what?” Is this guy in front of him bluffing? Ayrona couldn’t tell, but based on his battle against their fleet, they can attack from a great distance without even him seeing their ships.
So could it be true?
“So now we know your goals, how about you a telegram to your country.” The men in black beckoned the other and moments later, a telegraph that was salvage from the flagship was brought into the negotiation room
“Don’t worry, we will not give them a condition similar to yours, we are not that savages.”
Little did he know, the two agents in front of him were angered the moment he read the letter that contains the surrender conditions.
“As a peace-loving country, we will give your homeland another chance via diplomatic approach. Since you can read Naltum I believe that you can translate it in your language right?”
Ayrona gulped and nodded.
“We need you to tell your emperor or king the news of your defeat and our willingness to negotiate.”
“Su-sure! Anything specific.”
The men in black laughed, “I like you, then here you go.”
Ayrona received another file written in Naltum language and reads its content. While on it, he was bitterly dissatisfied but he couldn’t complain. He saw the powers of the Empire of Liberty.
One hour later, the Imperial Carmine Empire Royal Palace. The king receives a message from the flagship of their navy.
“A message for Emperor Carmine.
Your imperial highness, I, Captain Ayrona, your humble servant and the commander of the fleet, has an utmost message of importance to you.
Yesterday, our invasion fleet was defeated. The Empire of Liberty Navy had sunk most of our battleships, they had captured 2,500 sailors including me who survived the battle. The Empire of Liberty suffered neither casualties nor damage. The Empire of Liberty allowed me to use the telegram that was salvaged from the flagship’s communication room to report this to you and extend their offer of negotiations. The Empire of Liberty is willing to use this as a misunderstanding and they wish to stop the current state of war, which I had declared, between our nations and theirs. They are also willing to further discuss this if you deem it necessary. They promise to keep the Imperial Carmine prisoners of war in good condition and release them after the state of war ceases. Your Imperial Highness I have seen the might of the Empire of Liberty and implore you to agree to their request of peace. May our reign never end.”
An extremely unpleasant and enraging look was on Emperor Carmine’s face.
“SUMMON MY ADVISORS NOW!”
- Writer
