Aristocracy in the Empire is an aesthetic, Arascus wishes to knight and to coronate, and sothing like “President”, “Premier” or even “Lord Protector” are titles much too low for Arascus. He needs to be the Emperor of the Empire, fancies himself the title of Emperor of Arda and thus, the entire estate of Aristocracy exists to fulfil him. Every Divine in the Empire has so pet-project, as ntioned before, Irinika wishes to start her “Iri” brand cigars, Baalka wishes for an institute of Biology, Olephia wants to be an artist, Fer wants to lie, stomach up and bathe in the sun true to her bestial nature. These are classical pet-projects. Malam has a far grander ambition, so she gets the SIS, Helenna the IBI and her omniscient state. The Imperial Military is an institution and it is Kassandora’s little pet-project to satisfy her. Standard thinking would warrant that a “pet-project” needs to be contained but of course, this is the Empire. Why should we settle for second-rate ambitions?
And thus, following these rules, the Imperial Aristocracy finally begins to have reasoning behind it. It is a serf-less institution, with little hold over such things as arable land, industrial sectors or urban areas. The positions are ceremonial almost in their entirety. Arascus has no parliant in the first place to convene with and his “Council of Advisors”, if I have to stretch the term, is limited to his daughters and Iliyal Tremali. There is legitimately no inner circle of policy makers in the Empire. Most of the Imperial Bureaucracy is autonomous, Imperial Auditry (NOT Internal Affair’s Departnt of Incorruptability, nor Imperial Military Police) is its own Bureau, one of the few that are detached entirely from the hierarchy and reporting directly to Arascus, exists to make sure that their autonomy is in line to the Empire’s direction. There is no formal need for an aristocracy to serve as extension of the Royal’s will, as was done in the past, nor to serve as a counter-balance to the power of the Crown.
And yet, the Empire still maintains aristocracy. There are benefits to it, colleges of magic, officer schools, and universities are to take from titled ranks first. Estates and lands are provided free of charge, although future expansions need to be self-funded, supposedly, although I have not seen an Imperial ball yet, Imperial Balls have a quota of nobility that need to be filled amongst the guests. To the common man of course, the benefits are huge. To myself, who has seen serfdom and feudalism, it is a totally neutered nobility.
Combined with the restrictions and special laws cast upon them, I do not even see the purpose of becoming a noble. As ntioned before, “Good Imperial Character” is an undefined notion, nevertheless, Imperial Nobility is held to “Exemplary Good Imperial Character”, whatever that ans.
I shall actually have to ask Arascus if he can explain the logic because I do not think I am allowed to write that Imperial Aristocracy exists only to serve as a chanism for the aesthetics of the Emperor needing a nobility to lord over.
- Excerpt from the unpublished first draft of “Imperial Bureaucracy Review, First Edition”, written by Goddess Maisara, of Order.
Kavaa sat in utter stunned silence at the sheer disaster that had just happened over the past few hours. They had legitimately been ready to launch, Kassandora had even started laying out dates and plotting targets. Which cities were to be wiped off the map, where ships should land. It was down to the smallest details, where rivers could be blockaded, where they could be poisoned, where bridges could be brought down and where Imperial forces could establish fortifications. And, most importantly, where to set up ICDT towers and were to place the airfields. There was even talk of sailing the aircraft carriers around Arika to support Kht’s defence from the east.
But then Iliyal Tremali had received a ssage. He had sighed and stood up. “Goddess, we have an issue.” The declaration had been total and grim and every set of eyes, from Admiral Callaghan’s to Aryon’s and Beryon’s to the multitude of human generals, to Kavaa’s and Kassandora’s had landed on the Grand Marshal.
“What’s the issue?” Kassandora had asked. Her phone had buzzed before Iliyal could answer or explain. Iliyal looked to the Goddess’ pocket, then at Kassandora’s face, crimson eyes frad by crimson hair and pursed his lips.
“I think you should check that ssage.”
Kassandora had checked that ssage and she said nothing. An hour had been spent in silence. Kavaa had sat deathly still, it was her fault. She had rang Arascus. Whatever it said in that ssage, Kavaa had brought it on. She shouldn’t have rang. Not when it made Kassandora feel that way. But then, an hour later, Kassandora had clapped her hands. “Gentlen.” She said. “The First Strategic Missile Corps is no longer under my command.” The declaration raised eyes, a few of the n looked stunned. Kavaa knew what it was about though. “The plan shall remain the sa though, but altered.” She pointed to Kht’s eastern desert, past the urban areas. “We shall invade here, west of the Ainai, and we fortify it. The ICDT towers are still going to be brought over. Iliyal, you are in charge of the nuclear arsenal. If we have no missiles, we shall drop bombs instead.”
Kavaa looked at Iliyal in surprise as the elf saluted and started to write the new orders in his notebook. “Atomic bombs?” Callaghan asked.
“Yes Admiral.”
“If…” He trailed off. “Goddess, I do not an to usurp authority here, but if we’ve lost the SMC, then won’t it be…” He looked around the table. “Once… it gets out, then won’t that too be removed?” Kavaa knew what the man was talking about. Kassandora was not dealing with the heart of the matter, she was just sidestepping the restriction.
“That is a good point Admiral.” Kassandora said. “What are our largest class of non-nuclear bombs?”
“We…” Admiral Callaghan trailed off. “I don’t know Goddess.” He looked over the map, looking baffled at the plan.
“It’s the 3000 kilo Fat-Man.” Iliyal said from the other side of the table. “They can be used too.”
“Then start on securing them too and everything else in our strategic arsenal.” Kassandora said. “Napalm too.” Kavaa sat there in silence. This was far worse than the nukes. They could not have pictures of burning civilians erging out of Kht. Surely not. The missiles would be better at this point!
And then, the eting ground to a halt when there was a hasty, panicked knock on the door. The temperature in the room dropped to past the freezing it was already. Every set of eyes turned to the massive, delicately carved barrier to the room, and then every set of eyes turned back to Kassandora. Of War sighed, rolled her eyes, and yelled from her place at the head of the table. “Co in!”
It was a young guard, one of Iliyal’s house guards. The ribbon of red around his collar and sleeves marked that. He was breathing heavily, as if he had just ran here, his fist tightened around the strap that held the rifle over his shoulder until the knuckles were bone-white. “Goddess!” He said with a salute. “Private Elin reports!”
“Report private.” Kassandora, elbows on the table, rely motioned a salute with her fingers.
“Goddesses Fer, Fortia and Maisara are here!” He said, breathing heavily.
“Here as in where?” Kassandora asked.
“In the building.” The commanders who were to oversee a total erasure of Kht turned back to the Goddess of War, each one looking as they were trying to shrink underneath the table. Even Kavaa wanted to be out of here. Arascus had sent Fer! And those two! Why!? Well she knew why, but what were they going to do!
“Oh.” Kassandora said. “I see.” And Kavaa saw a side of Kassandora she had never seen before. Of War leaned back on her seat, tilted her head back and released a sigh. The white shirt underneath her black coat slowly followed her inhale and exhale. “Right gentlen. We’ve been temporarily usurped, this eting will proceed another ti. Orders are to prepare a landing and bombing force. Start loading ICDT towers. We’re going to be using those whatever happens. Dismissed.”
Iliyal Tremali was the only person who stood up and saluted. The only one who didn’t even look surprised at what was happening. Kavaa didn’t even know. What a usurping? “You heard the Goddess.” Iliyal’s voice bood across the room. “Prepare for invasion.” Kassandora nodded, the high-command stood up. Aryon even took a step away from the table. And then they were halted once again; footsteps bood from the corridor. A trio of them. Kavaa recognised each one by sound, one light, almost giddy, another sturdy and steady, the last a military march.
“Ooohhhh Kassie….” Fer’s voice cooed in pure delight through the door.
Kassandora closed her eyes. “Fucking hell.” She whispered to no one in particular.
Kavaa leaned over to Kassandora to whisper as quietly as she could. “Are we in trouble?”
“I’m in trouble.” Kassandora said. Fer appeared through the open door, Private Elin turned, then back away before the Goddess of Beasthood. Her ears ducked to get through the fra although that was for show. Iliyal’s mansion was grand enough that her entire form could fit. Her tail whisked from side to side, the ssy cloak of glorious golden locks fell down to her thighs behind her. A white shirt over her chest, black shorts, even a belt on them. It was the most uniform that Kavaa had even seen on the Goddess.
“Kassie…” Fer cooed once again. “What are we doing?”
Kassandora sighed. “You already know else you wouldn’t be here.” She said dryly without looking at her sister. Iliyal made hand motions to the rest of the room: Give space, back away. His stepping away from the table kicked the rest of the staff away as Fer closed the distance. Behind her, Maisara and Fortia appeared, both of them in black Imperial military gear. Down to the caps with their emblems, the gallows and axe for one, the spear of peace for the other. “Why are they here?”
“I just sort of dragged them along.” Fer said, she stopped at the foot of the table, smiling over the map. For a second, Kavaa saw her eyes flash over the ridiculously complicated diagrams and counters. They changed slightly, tightened, the iris growing narrow. And then they retreated back into that usual deanour Fer always carried. “Hehehe.” Fer voiced the laughter. “Dropping nuclear bombs on Kht, are we?”
“We are.” Kassandora said. Kavaa stared at the map. Had Fer actually read all that in an instant? Seriously? Fer walked around the table as Fortia and Maisara stepped into the room, besides her, both stayed at the far edge. “But seriously, why are they here?”
“There’s one dad, there’s one big sister, and there’s one Kassie about.” Fer said. “And that ans there’s trouble if the dad and the big sister are away.”
“Ah.” Kassandora said, she finally shifted, readjusted her posture slightly, to look down her nose at Fortia and Maisara. “So you’re being trained on this?” Kassandora sat up, talking quickly, as Fer continued her indulgently slow trek around the table. “So Fortia, tell this. We know of the Udeah rift, we know it’s a million demons a week. We know if it opens, then they open the other minor portals in the east soon after because there’s no troops there. Propose to a plan. How exactly are you going to keep it shut? Are we going to waste how many resources on fortifying Ainai? Because that is obviously the second option. And if Ainai falls anyway? What then? Just from the videos, we can say there’s tens of millions demonic legionnaires in Kht right now. A strategic bombing is not the most effective, it is the safest and it is the only effective way be certain that Udeah remains closed. Are you going to risk it?”
“Kassie.” Fer finished. “Are we done?”
“You’re not a military commander.” Kassandora said dryly. “You’re not even officially part of the Imperial Military.”
“I’m better.” Fer said. “Imperial Auxiliary Divine, Family Status.”
Kassandora rolled eyes as Fer pushed her chair and slid the Goddess of War away from the table. She chuckled, crossed her arms and leaned on the table. Kavaa slid herself away without a word as she watched confrontation between sister and sister. This is what they ant by stopping Kassandora? How was she supposed to do that exactly? The table creaked under Fer’s weight, the wood began to squeal, the Goddess of Beasthood did not care. But the wood did, a mont later, the end of the table fell off, snapping under the weight of Fer.
Kavaa wished she could slap her own face at seeing the map, with all it’s counters, following the table down and spill onto the floor. Fortia chuckled, Maisara looked ready to kill Fer for the embarrassnt, the staff officers pretended not to see. But neither Kassandora nor Fer gave a reaction. The Goddess of Beasthood didn’t even fall down, her feet were planted on the floor before the table finished crashing down.
“Whoops.” Fer giggled, she looked to Iliyal. “I hope you had that insured.” The elf shook his head in exasperation and rolled his eyes. “I think you should leave.”
Iliyal took a deep breath, then looked to Kassandora. “Goddess, permission for dismissal.”
Fer took the lead before Kassandora answered. “Rule, chapter two on hierarchy and structure. Point twelve on Imperial Family Iliyal. I know you know it.” Kavaa did not know it. She had rely glanced through the rule book once. “I hereby declare a crisis situation as an Imperial Princess and take command of everyone in the room. You are all to leave the building, then you return back under Kassandora’s command.”
Iliyal took a deep breath, he made one bow to Kassandora and then left. The rest of the officers stood there in pure surprise. “Goddess?” Callaghan asked.
“Goddess-in-Command Admiral Callaghan.” Fer said.
“It’s true.” Kassandora waved her hand up. “Go.” That got the n to leave.
“Forti and Mai stay.” Fer said, Kavaa wouldn’t move from this position though. She had to watch as she watched Fer loom over Kassandora. At first, it had been worry for Kassandora, now, it was sheer awe at the fact that soone over than Arascus had taken control over Kassandora’s audience. Worse than that. It was the fact that the control had been ripped away from Kassandora just like that. Fer stood there, arms crossed as she waited for everyone to leave. “Shut the door Forti.”
Fortia shut the door and Kavaa released the concerned breath she had been holding. That ant she was allowed to stay. She would just sit in silence and watch. “Kassie.” Fer began. “Kht is not getting destroyed, that is the directive.”
“Kht is lost already.” Kassandora said. “We are trading a hundred million for hundreds of millions here. One nation for the world. Is that the responsibility you will carry Fer? Really? All on your back?” Fer just smiled, arms still crossed.
“I’m sure you can think of a way Kassie. You’re not allowed to run an extermination campaign there.” She shrugged. “That’s orders. What can you do?”
“Oh, so I’m just to hold Ainai then?” Kassandora. “Hold a worthless strip of desert any of their armies can march across? That’s what you’re telling ?”
Fer shrugged. “If anyone can think of a way, then you can. If the job is too big, hand it off to Iliyal or Fortia here. I’m sure both will be happy to prove themselves.” She threw her head back to Fortia. “Isn’t that right, Fortia?” Fortia remained silent as Kassandora pushed the chair out from underneath and then stood up.
“And if I don’t?” Kassandora said. “If this is the only way to save the Empire? The only way to win the war?” Fer, still looking at Fortia, burst out in a wide smile.
“Well Fortia? Can you do it? Can you hold Ainai? You can take Maisara with you?”
“Fer.” Fortia said as Kassandora’s fist landed in Fer’s stomach. Kavaa’s eyes bulged, since when was… That was Kassie? Of Beasthood took the blow, released the tension with a breath and continued looking at Fortia.
“I asked a question Fortia, I expect an answer!” This ti, it was more akin to a growl.
“I’ll do it!” Fortia sounded as if she had no intention of going through with the words. As if the very idea of going to the Ainai desert was anathema to her. “FER!” She scread, Kassandora’s black greatsword, Joyeuse, materialized in its Goddesses’ palm and swung into Fer’s torso. Kassandora’s crimson hair was a swirling cloak around her, her black coat a silhouette.
“Oh no you don’t.” Fer hissed as she stepped forward, into the blow, slamming her own stomach against Kassandora’s shoulders and grabbing her blade arm by the wrist. Of War would have fallen backwards if she wasn’t suddenly in the air, held up by one hand.
“I like when you do this little sister.” Fer said. Kavaa sank deeper into her chair. This was as close. “Is Iliyal’s ho insured?”
“What sort of fucking question is that?” Kassandora scread. “You co in here and you ruin my plans and you do it for what? Is his ho insured!? Probably fucking not!!”
Fer sounded as if she was bathing in ecstasy. “I’m just asking because it’s more satisfying if it isn’t.”
“Then I’ll fucking insure it righ-“ Kassandora did not have chance to finish the sentence. She disappeared, dragged along by Fer as Of Beasthood leapt forwards, crashing straight through the wall. Brick, mortar and steel rebar creaked and scread and crashed onto the gardens as the guards patrolling around the outside the building suddenly dived to the ground. Kavaa launched out of her seat and ran to the gaping hole which may as well have been left behind by an artillery shell impacting into the building. The floor had cracked, wooden panels were splintered and pointed in all directions. The remains of a glass window gave way when Fortia and Maisara’s footsteps disturbed them. They shattered into a rose bush.
“What the fuck.” Kavaa didn’t know if she even wanted Fortia and Maisara to comnt. No. She didn’t. They were miserable. But this? What fucking was this? This was Kassandora handling? The three Divines watched Of War and Of Beasthood brawl on the short grass around in the fields. Guards stayed away, giving them distance as Fer and Kassandora made huge trenches in the field.
“So it’s a fight.” Maisara said.
“It’s not.” Fortia said. Kavaa agreed with that. Fer was not on the offensive whatsoever. She parried Kassandora’s blows, she jabbed with a finger here and there, her tail seemingly had a mind of its own. It would move to knock Kassandora over every few monts. “She’s not serious.” Fortia added.
“I don’t need fucking comntary.” Kavaa shut them up, just in ti to stop a comnt of Fer throwing Kassandora a short distance into the air. Of War rematerialized her blade, the sudden addition of weight shifted her trajectory straight down. Fer intercepted the blow with the blur of an arm. Kavaa didn’t even catch what happened, but she saw Joyeuse fly off to the side and a tree fall in the distance. It reappeared in Kassandora’s hand. Of War went for another swing.
And caught again. “Kavaa.” Fortia said.
“What!?” Kavaa hissed as Fer once again caught Kassandora. One hand on the blade edge of Joyeuse, the other once again on Kassandora’s wrist. Joyeuse was torn from War’s hand and stabbed into the dirt, and Fer did not let go. This ti, she hefted Kassandora into the air.
“Is that how she usually handles it?” Fortia asked.
“I don’t know.” Kavaa said. “This is the first ti I see it.”
Fer hoisted Kassandora higher up as of War scread and kicked her feet. Kavaa couldn’t make out what was being out there, put Fer held Kassandora as a doll as she turned and pointed back to the wall from which the three Goddesses that once were White Pantheon stood and watched. Kavaa hoped they weren’t referencing her but they probably were.
Kassandora kicked Fer in the stomach again, then scread, her free hand grabbing at the wrist of Fer’s hand which held in the air. Fer’s tail swirled from side to side, she turned back to Kassandora, expression thoroughly unamused. Another set of words were exchanged. Fer got kicked again. And again. Four more tis. Eventually, Kassandora stopped thrashing about.
Fer tilted her head, those ears bouncing. She gently set Kassandora back on the ground and actually patted so of the dirt and grass off her sister’s coat. Silence.
And then a hug!
A fucking hug! And it was initiated by Kassandora! Of War gripped onto Of Beasthood so tightly that even from here, Kavaa could see it! And then Kass buried her face into Fer’s chest!
Kavaa’s eyes went wide, she almost took a step forward, off the hole in Iliyal’s mansion but Fortia’s fingers on her shoulder stopped her. “There’s an edge.” Of Peace said. Kavaa blinked her stunned awe away and shook her head. She didn’t feel bad for Kassandora, instead, it was just pure rage at the rest of them. Had Arascus, had Fer, had Malam and Irinika and everyone else who knew how to deal with Kassandora actually expected them to pull sothing like that off!?
“What the fuck.”
Maisara, of course, had not improved in intelligence since the White Pantheon. Her own addition of satisfied wisdom was the spark that ignited Kavaa’s rage. “That’s how I would handle it.”
“Shut up Maisara.” Kavaa snapped. “What the fuck! WHAT? DID YOU SEE THAT!? AND I’M SUPPOSED TO BE THE FUCKING WOMAN WHO STOPS HER! DID YOU JUST SEE THAT SHIT!?” Fortia and Maisara both shared a quick glance, then flicked their gazes back to Kavaa. “WHAT THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!? SHE’S STRONGER THAN !”
“I would-“ Fortia’s elbow tapping Maisara’s elbow shut the silver-haired Goddess of Order up.
“It would be better if Fer explained it.” Fortia said slowly.
“Why?” Maisara asked.
Fortia sighed and shook her head. “Just let Fer explain it.”
“Seriously?”
“She’ll do it better than us.”
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