Shireroth

Around 17:31 hour (local time), a telegram arrived at the office of the count of Melangia.

FROM: Dutchal Office of Defence
TO : Countal Office of Melangia
SUBJECT: Prepare the catapults

Dear Count,
The DOD has discovered a plot that could lead to an attack by Antican forces at the island of Melangia. We advise you to prepare the island for war.
Remember: your County is one of the proud and beautiful counties of our Dutchy and Empire. They shall not pass!

The ATCs at Sakatra control were a bit bleary-eyed after nearly a week of double shifts. The Count's police had been augmented by Dutchal troops, and one squad of Imperial Guards.

In that time they had detected an Antican in an off-course hot air ballon, a Sormark hanglider, and two locals with radio-controlled craft that were 12 cm too large. Some invasion.

Not exactly the time to try to re-certify the union.

(Sigh.)

The speaker crackled to life:

"L K X-Ray to Sakatra tower, requesting instuctions."

The scuttlebutt didn't lie. It was either a DC3 or a C47, and flying too fast for either.

He sighed again. After being the backwater of Empire for years, the big shots were lining up.

More O.T. They'd better pay for it.

The County of Illumination sends a division of the Shirerithian national guard to assist House Kildare in its defense of Melangia. They're itchin' for a fight!

Elliot Markham wrote:The County of Illumination sends a division of the Shirerithian national guard to assist House Kildare in its defense of Melangia. They're itchin' for a fight!

Thank You, Count Markham. I'm sure that this will not be forgotten by the Melangian people!

As the plane touched down, Jake woke with a start, checked his pocket chronmeter, and hurriedly began brushing biscuit crumbs from his uniform. He'd missed the introduction speech of the Lord from Gralus.

....and somehow the KMV had made dock before his plane landed. What in the pits of PRH had happened there?

And what had become of Montjoy?

Well, Montjoy had turned up in Mar Sara, of all places, drunk as a skunk, dressed in slightly used desert robes, along with what had appeared to have been a harem "girl" at some time in the indeterminate past. Female she was, but "girl" only in the broadest sense some decades ago.

His chopper had gone down in the surf, and they had only been saved by the attentiveness of the rescue service.

That would be a story to hear.

In the meantime, Jake was busy giving orders. As usual.

The Lighting would remain with the Atterockian fleet while the Melangian pilots were trained on the unique characteristics of the DSSI Vulture aircraft and the specialty support planes. Many of those, along with a small NETT unit would be left with the garrison.

As tensions had eased a bit, almost half of the troops from Illumination would be returning on the KMV, to serve yet another new Kaiser, along with their helicopter. An extra chopper was always welcome.

He would leave on his own plane that afternoon. He wanted to stay longer with his Melangian cousins, but since he had taken over the Exterior Ministry, it seemed best to be a diplomat first and a warrior second.

He was sad at the loss of B'Caw, but the new Kaiser seemed serious and strong, and he was looking forward to meeting him.