Snippet #2781841

Some time later, the Taiyou Imperial Palace Press Room...

The clatter of camera shutters filled the room as Princess Aeka nervously stepped forward to the podium. The flag of the Taiyou Empire of Greater Niihama draped behind her, flanked on either side by well manicured bonsai trees.

Before Aeka was a room full of people, cameras pointed at her from news outlets across the Taiyou Empire.

It was up to her. Her brother was incapacitated, her sister was missing, and everything rested on the young, inexperienced princess.

She took a breath, and focused her attention on the cameras. She put on the most serious expression she could muster, and she conjured up all the gravitas she could.

She shuffled some papers in front of her, and then brought her attention back to the cameras, as the clattering of shutters filled her senses.

"Loyal subjects of the Empire." Aeka said, glancing briefly down at her paper. "In the preceding weeks of this statement, we had made first contact with a primitive culture on a planet in the Milky Way Galaxy that the locals refer to as Gaia." She took a brief sip of her water, and then continued with her statement. "Initially our first contact with these people proved challenging, with a distinct language, and cultural barrier between our two peoples."

Aeka took another breath.

"In the interest of cultural, and scientific understanding. Director Seno Miyagi, Prime Minister Kayabuki, Her Imperial Majesty Princess Yukiko, and my brother, Tennoheika Shimizu Takayama traveled to this world to meet with the leaders of these primitive people, so that we may form a lasting friendship, and mutual understanding between two very different cultures."

The cameras focused on Aeka, and the clattering of the press corps continued.

"In the days following, we learned that this culture was one of barbarism, and savagery. The leaders of this primitive culture organized an ambush, in an attempt to steal our technology, and cripple our leadership in the hopes that they may strike fear into the hearts of the loyal subjects of this Empire." Aeka continued. "In a swift, well coordinated ambush, warriors from this culture used perverted magic, to overwhelm the Imperial Guardians, and assassinate our Emperor. In their attack, they managed to take the life of our Prime Minister, critically injure His Imperial Majesty, and from what we could tell, kidnap my sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Yukiko, and our Science Director Seno Miyagi. To what perverted aims we do not yet know."

Aeka quietly shifted her paperwork, glancing down briefly before focusing on the cameras yet again.

"In addition to this attack on our diplomatic envoy, these savages sent terrorist squads to Niihama through a mysterious gateway that connects our two worlds. There, the terrorists managed to carry out a series of attacks that this city has not seen in ten thousand years. The death count reaching into the hundreds, of innocent civilians, police officers, and local security."

Her eyes went briefly to the disfigured man in black, then back to the cameras.

"Therefore, it is upon the advice of the Imperial Diet, the Shogunate Council, the Minister of Defense, As well as the authority of my station as Crown Princess of the Taiyou Empire, and acting Prime Minister."

Aeka paused, and then took a sip of her glass of water.

"It is with reluctance, and trepidation, that I, Crown Princess Aeka Takayama issue the following Imperial Decree."

She shuffled her papers once more, and her expression only deepened in it's gravity, as her lips once again parted to speak.

"WE, by the grace of Heaven, Emperor of Niihama, seated on the throne occupied by the same dynasty from time immemorial, enjoin upon ye, Our loyal and brave subjects:

We hereby declare a state of total War upon the primitive cultures that make up the northern reaches of the planet Gaia. The men and officers of Our Army and Navy shall do their utmost in prosecuting the war. Our public servants of various departments shall perform faithfully and diligently their respective duties; the entire nation with a united will shall mobilize their total strength so that nothing will miscarry in the attainment of Our war aims.

"To ensure the stability of the Taiyou Empire of Greater Niihama and to contribute to intergalactic peace is the far-sighted policy which was formulated by Our Great Illustrious Imperial Grandsire, and Our Great Imperial Sire succeeding Him, and which We lay constantly to heart. To cultivate friendship among nations and to enjoy prosperity in common with all nations, has always been the guiding principle of Our Empire's foreign policy. It has been truly unavoidable and far from Our wishes that Our Empire has been brought to cross swords with the primitive cultures of this world."

Shifting her weight, Aeka brought a hand to push some hair from her brow, wiping some of the sweat that had began to bead on her brow. She took a breath, and continued her speech.

"This trend of affairs, would, if left unchecked, not only nullify Our Empire's efforts of many years for the sake of the stabilization of our two galaxies, but also endanger the very existence of Our nation. The situation being such as it is, Our Empire, for its existence and self-defense has no other recourse but to appeal to arms and to crush every obstacle in its path."

Aeka took a second document from the stack, and began to prepare a wax seal, as she continued to speak into the microphone.

"The hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors guarding Us from above, We rely upon the loyalty and courage of Our subjects in Our confident expectation that the task bequeathed by Our forefathers will be carried forward and that the sources of evil will be speedily eradicated and an enduring peace immutably established in the Gaian system, preserving thereby the glory of Our Empire."

Slowly, Aeka affixed her wax seal of office to the document.

"In witness whereof, we have hereunto set Our hand and caused the Grand Seal of the Empire to be affixed at the Imperial Palace, Niihama City, this seventh day of the fifth month of the first year of Nobuo, corresponding to the 112,602nd year from the accession to the throne of Emperor Taisho."

There was thunderous applause as the people inside the press room applauded their Princess. Aeka passed the document to Defense Minister Kanou, and the press corps began to clamor for questions.