Teshin crushed a lemon on his hand trying to get as much juice into the cup. He then added some sugar and used a spoon to stir. He sipped on the lemonade as he stared at chalkboards covered in equations all around the room from wall to wall and even the ceiling. He looked at the stacked papers on his desk detailing troop movements and deployments,

  Teshin sighed. “No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to make a dent in this damn paperwork.” He took a sip from his lemonade.

  Suddenly a legionnaire walked in. “Sir I have some visitors coming to see you.”

  “I have no ineterest in visitors.” Said Teshin as he waived the legionnaire away.

  “Um actually sir its…” The legionnaire began.

  “That’s okay.” Said a familiar voice. “It’s been a long time Teshin.”

  Teshin saw Director Kilbourne, Cid, and Akela. “Looks like I’ve been visited by three ghosts.” Teshin took a sip from his lemonade. “So how do you fuckwits intend to ruin my life this time, and why did you drag me back here when I was cozy in Legionnaire’s Vigil?”

  In unison all three of them said, “Greetings Private Teshin.”

  “I hate you all. So out with it.” Urged Teshin.

  “I belive Wolfmother’s business takes precedence. Akela if you please.” Said Cid.

  “It’s about Niketas. He’s formed his own little group called ‘The Black Hand of Tobursk’. From what I’ve been able to gather he’s rounded up a few legionnaires loyal to his cause. They plan to secede from the empire.” Explained Akela.

  “Where did he get the support? Do we know of the relationship between these legionnaires?” Asked Teshin as he sat down and sipped some lemonade.

  “None that I’ve been able to deduce which is why I came here. Any of you know about the group?”

  “I know of Tobursk.” Started Kilbourne. “In the early years of the war there were a few legionnaires that went rogue. They planned to secede from the empire and build their own nation. Tobursk was the leader of the insurrection.”

  “They couldn’t have been that successful if they failed.” Said Cid.

  “They got a lot closer than you’d think. They even assassinated one of the emperor’s sons. Eventually we found Tobursk and some of his conspirators, and killed them. Officially the rebellion never happened. Only those of us that were made directors and you three know the truth. I guess they’ve been festering all this time.”

  “Guess I’ll put their little rebellion into my equations then.” Said Teshin. He walked over to one of the chalkboards and started erasing a few numbers and equations and replacing them with new ones. He took a step back to look at the entire wall. “Shit. I’m gonna have to change some more.” Teshin took another sip of his lemonade.

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  “Much more I imagne since we’ve recently acquired the sky sailors and the new weapon from Spyre.” Added Kilbourne.

  Teshin began to seethe. “Some things just never change with you captain. So what’s the big play? Push into the Waiapolo Mountains?”

  “Assuming I get my way.” Kilbourne continued, “Right now I’m assembling legionnaires for a new special task group. The LRSSG, or long range strategic strike group, will engage the Dolsurians in the Waiapolo Mountains past the Zibellian Trench. After that we’ll initiate a two-pronged assault on the Driscoll Shipyards to cripple their navy.”

  “You know it’d be a lot faster to take Kreta at the center of Lake Almarra and strike from there. Liebe would be just spitting distance.” Said Teshin as he wrote more calculations on the chalkboard,

  “They’re building up strength in Liebe. Intel reports that they’re massing at least half a million troops. Although I imagine most of them will be deployed elsewhere. Best guess is that they’ll deploy troops up north to reinforce the Knights of Agrippina, some more in the Zibellian Trench, and the rest will go to Kreta.” Explained Kilbourne.

  “Well Captain it’d be easier to mobilize legionnaire assets that we have in Dol-Sur. Don’t we have any of those Kavahn Legionnaires available. I know some of them survived.” Said Teshin.

  “Barely a handful Teshin.” Remarked Kilbourne. “They’ve been deployed elsewhere. The only assets we have in Dol-Sur are a Blackbird operative and some safehouses.”

  “And now we have jolly ol’ Nik to worry about. If I had to guess his next move…” Teshin took a step back and looked at the equations. “Since he failed to meet with the Dolsurians…” Teshin began to scribble more equations. “My best guess is that he’ll try something at the National Assembly. Has he outed himself as a legionnaire to the others?”

  “Not yet.” Said Akela. “He probably know that’ll do more harm than good. He’s not stupid enough to put every legionnaire at risk.”

  “Well that’s about the only thing that’ll make an impact. As for the target…Would he be stupid enough to kill them all?” Teshin looked over the equations. “Besides the emperor and his son the only likely target could be the Ostellion of Volkarion. Since they have the most legitimacy being tied to Gaeric’s tribe and the Gaericists it would be a serious blow. The Zeynar of Amaruba and the Dhalak of Badeshi Desert wouldn’t be his targets. They’d cripple the empire if they did assassinate them, but he wouldn’t be that desperate. Will you be at the National Assembly Captain? What about you Sergeant Cid?”

  “Yes.” They answered.

  “Yeah I think the Ostellion and you two will be the likeliest targets. Maybe Sovereign Knight Apollyon too, but well it’s a buffet of prime targets. It’s a mathematical nightmare.” Said Teshin as he slumped in his chair and sipped some lemonade.

  “In that case Cid and Wolfmother I want the two of you to be in charge of security. I don’t want any legionnaires at the National Assembly. We’ll have to rely on the imperators for security detail.” Ordered Kilbourne.

  “Uh Captain… I don’t really answer to you anymore. I’m a Prowler Commando remember?”

  “Maybe so lieutenant but I’m still your superior in rank.”

  “Yes sir.” Saluted Akela with a middle finger.

  “What do you want me to do?” Asked Teshin.

  “Stay here private.” Ordered Kilbourne.

  “Yeah I suppose having a reunion with old squad would be a little too odd if they investigated the matter.” Said Teshin.

  “Precisely.” Said Kilbourne.

  “It’s a shame Sera’s dead. Then it’d be like old times.” Remarked Cid.

  “Yeah… Dead.” Muttered Kilbourne.

  Niketas

  Niketas looked over the floor plan of the imperial palace. “Alright then you all know the plan then?”

  The people gathered around the table nodded.

  “Good. Failure here is not an option. What we do here will ensure that legionnaires can have a place to call home. We will no longer answer to an empire that throws our lives away, we will finally have a country to call our own. FOR TOBURSK AND THE THOSE THAT DIED IN KOLARIA!”