Josef Kampf's Story

The summons, if it could be considered such, caught his ear, the Belkan glancing over to the door in the room as he pondered for a moment before standing up. Gently he tugged at the skirt of his tunic, making sure that his uniform was in order before he saw to the visitor, whoever it was. Perhaps a bold noble or an ensign...

He opened the door, fingers coming to take the pipe just out of his mouth as he lingered on the flavor of the smoke, letting it gently fall out of his nostrils as he eyed the woman there. This was Wing's agent, wasn't it? "Hope... Anona, is it?" Yes, it was.

The Emperor gave his usual smile, keeping the act of charm up. "Please, come in, have a seat. Your business must be pressing." He turned, moving to return to his own seat, now that he knew the visitor was a trustworthy one.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

Hope offered a smile and stepped in. "It is, and no thank you sir." She said quietly. "I've come to ask that some of my restrictions be lifted." She said quietly. "One of my children is having her first child. I would like to be allowed to visit."

She didn't mentioned Walther, just yet. "Someone in processing...fouled up. My husband was sent to Terra on official orders, when, due to my longevity, I had been made to leave him and the girls. I want to...I want full access to him and my children." It was rough.

He had a daughter. Surely he understood a parent's love.

He glanced over to her as he drew on his pipe, the rock in the bowl of his pipe glowing enough to illuminate his face from below. A grandmother, was she? She looked fairly young for it, but he didn't think on it for too long. Such matters really weren't worth his time. The Emperor blew the puff of smoke away and smiled, shrugging as he spoke around the pipe in his mouth.

"Sure. Do you need a document signed for it?" Surely Wing wouldn't mind. She'd still be on file, on hand, if she was required. They probably had one of those chips in her brain that kept her at their beck and call, like all the travelers did. "I could probably sign a napkin and it'd net things for you..." Josef jested, shrugging again.

The Belkan monarch crossed his legs. "You've done your time, I suppose."

Hope was only a few decades younger than Wing, though he would no doubt be surprised to find out! She smiled brightly at him. "Verbal consent is all that's required for the implant to process it. Thank you do much." she had missed her family, and had, she felt, more than done her time, though she didn't like to think of what they thought she needed punishment for. Probably being a pain in the butt.

The other nodded, continuing to smile to Hope as it seemed like what was needed was done. Well, that was beyond easy, he supposed. Surely she hadn't come all of this way to deal with such a small matter. "... is there anything else I can do for you, Anona?"

He wasn't necessarily busy at the moment, as it was. "Nothing's really on my plate right now, as is. The Princess and Empress are speaking in one of the other rooms." A grin crept onto his face. "Girl things, dad doesn't need to be there."

Hope smiled at that. "Princess Viktoria does get along with Empress Wing doesn't she? She enjoys telling Augustus about her." Hope confessed. "Though I'm not sure Augustus quite understands." She admitted and smiled at that.

Augustus didn't need to understand sometimes. He just needed to listen, and he was a good listener.

"You've done me a large favor, Emperor Josef, and for that, I thank you." She offered an Erutin bow. She still thought saluting was a silly thing, when it came down to it. "Thank you very much." But it had been all.

"She is the closest thing she has to a mother now," It seemed that Viktoria almost considered her such, even if she knew her real mother was someone else. "And I couldn't ask for any more." It was a relief, the man knowing that Viktoria had a female role model, and an excellent one at that. He wouldn't do at all in that regard, and rather dreaded what the result might look like.

Still, he didn't dwell on it too much.

"Your Augustus is a welcome relief. She can only speak with but a few, and your Augustus is one of the few that won't fade away." Like so many others would, in time, growing old and gray. Augustus was like his Wing, who, in time, he would see to in his own way.

She would soon follow in his steps to immortality.

"... it's no problem, Hope. I'm happy to help." Or rather just happy to have something to help him think besides his own voice. It got rather old after the second century. "My pleasure."

Hope smiled brightly. "I'm glad." She admitted. Augustus wouldn't face for a very long time, she knew. It was part of what made his disability so hard to bear. "Augustus has so few he even speaks with himself, and Viktoria humors his problems well."

That Hope had been allowed to keep the disabled boy alive, though rendered sterile, was a miracle in and of itself. One she was thankful for.

"If you will excuse me, my Emperor, I would like to go share the good news with Walther."

Josef Kampf had the door opened for him as he stepped into the room, his black uniform sharply contrasted by his pale complexion, green eyes darting about the place to notice two figures in particular. One he was overly familiar with, the Emperor of the Aschen sphere of influence, but the other... this one was new, and a female if her scent didn't lie. Curious.

But altogether not as curious as why these people always chose to wear hoods and robes all the time. Hardly fitting for an imperial regime, especially one that aimed to be popular.

"Good day, Emperor." Kampf offered the fellow monarch, an idle salute of his palm as he provided the formality. It was rather drilled into him to salute others in return, but this served more as a hail than anything.

Starkly announced footfalls signaled his slowing pace, heel irons striking the floor underneath, only to be drowned out by his voice again. "How might I assist?"

The smile he wore played at charm, though his gaze made no such gesture at civility.

Josef Kampf glanced to the lackey, watching him as a falcon does quarry before his eyes returned to the other black-clad man. Oh, this was that Hagan issue, wasn't it? No doubt a sour matter for all involved in... Tech Con, was it? Surely an embarrassment, if nothing else, to have her snagged so easily and whisked away to only God knew where.

The Belkan offered a quiet chuckle at that, nodding in response to the Shadow as he moved to take a seat where it was offered. Shifting lightly in the seat, he soon crossed his legs, the shaft of his jackboot sitting neatly on his knee as a hand was placed on his ankle. "Heretics. Always troublesome." For the both of them, it seemed.

Kampf sighed at the topic, glancing over to the Black Hand for a moment or two as he pondered this second individual. No doubt a ward of some kind, though he'd have to keep a careful eye, in any case. "The Belkan Hegemony is an... obsolete term, Emperor, in the way of states." The Scatterran corrected the Shadow, gently, his other hand raised in an explanatory gesture. "Just the Hegemony, now, or the Empire." Either or worked.

Still, that wasn't the matter at hand, was it?

"... oh, my. That is a bother, isn't it? How could I help with such a thing, Emperor?"

Josef Kampf listened, careful to pay attention to the matter that he was summoned to assist in. The Black Hand did catch his attention, but the matter of rebels was one that was far more interesting. The remnants of Blade's fledgling resistance did tend to be a thorn in his side, and the thought of being rid of the pests almost made him salivate.

"That's a rather bold demand," Josef offered, blinking at the thought of trading a woman for the primary defensive armament of the Aschen Empire. Well, it might have been bold to him, but different men put different values on all things. "But-..." The words trailed off, the finger Josef had extended in thought slowly recoiling as he bit his lip, which soon moved to curve into a smile.

"That, Emperor, is rather insidious." To give them rigged plans. "I like it." Of course he did, it suited him immensely. The rebellion wouldn't likely see another year, much less half of one, at this rate.

But the deployment of the shield was not something that Josef had expected, and eyed the Hand with no slight curiosity. "Impressive, Emperor, but what does this have to do with it?"

Josef Kampf listened, steepling his fingers in his lap as he pondered the thought, of trading technology that he wasn't even sure of for such a thing. No doubt these shields were magnificent, and highly effective, but the matter that troubled his mind was that the technology that the rebels likely used was something a bit more fickle than something simply harnessed.

It wasn't something as simple as a jump drive or a shield, as far as he knew.

"If I know my foe, Emperor, they utilized something that's known as Travelers." An odd and vague term, he knew. "Which we're in the process of stamping out. As you've seen," Kampf gestured his hand towards the Shadow. "They're ideally suited for sedition and treachery." Nevermind insurgent activities. It irked him to no end, and it showed.

"It requires a certain genetic marker, from what the Empress tells me, to even be capable of such a thing, and then the liberal use of implants..." It turned them more into machines than people, but all he knew was that Scatterrans couldn't use it. Some curse had been leveled on the Erutin people, and it surfaced in the form of those things.

"I would say that we have it, Emperor, but it is a hollow thing to posses. A flask that can hold no wine." A useless, if coveted, thing. Such a pity in his eyes too. Kampf purged such thoughts from his mind soon enough however, and eyed the monarch opposite of him.

"... desperate times call for desperate measures. It is only a matter of time before we succeed, but back an animal into a corner, and they will lash out however they can."

Josef Kampf echoed the other's nod, knowing of the Bifrost concoction that the Aschen had designed in the prior years, but he doubted it could rival the Travelers that his Wing had once possessed. Such danger they posed, and such a lucrative resource were it that he could harness the seditious bastards. "The Bifrost is very similar, Emperor, though it operates on a more static principle than the-"

He caught himself mid-sentence, mouth slightly agape at the other's suggestion.

"... no." Was his initial response to such a thought, mind already racing with how disastrously wrong that could go. "I will never put my wife in danger and neither will you." That matter was decidedly final, and the thought was one that he mulled over without a hint of pleasant thought. A virus created to target the Travelers could easily mutate to prey on Erutin as a whole, and knowing the race's already fickle immune system it was a recipe for disaster.

But he didn't dwell on unpleasant matters. "Travelers are a threat to all who stand for peace and stability, Emperor, just the same as the Collective, or the Aboraz." All of them nightmares which existence would be better off without. But, all good things in time, he reminded himself.

The Scatterran emperor reclined in his seat from where he had leaned up at the topic of a virus. "You are far from their primary target, Emperor. If anything they're a rogue insurgent band, no viable opponent for a nation like mine or yours. Simply a nuisance."

Josef Kampf stood, forgiving the other with a slight bow of his head. It was a suggestion, of course, and the Shadow had not meant to threaten Empress Wing or his subjects, but simply aim for the solution that meant the least bloodshed. A proper and admirable thought, and one that Kampf could appreciate.

But then, he could also appreciate the insurgency's efforts at instilling paranoia and fear across his own nation, knowing how well others would look to him and his wife for support, for security. It was a doubled-edged sword, sedition, and an effective one if the user knew how to wield it.

"You assistance, Emperor, is greatly appreciated. You have my word, as Emperor, that my finest will be striving to ensure the lady Hagan's well-being." Kampf snapped to attention, his academy days lingering still in his mind as his ankles came together, the heels of his boots snapping loudly, akin to a firecracker.

"I cannot wait until we might dine together with the china of this rebel king." The Belkan cracked a rather telling smile at that, the pride practically dribbled from his lips at it. Josef shook the other's hand, firmly and without hesitation, as they sealed the deal of their cooperation, the two monarchs having no need for paper and pens.

They were gentlemen. They had each other's word.

"Sieg heil!" Kampf saluted the other, offering the traditional Imperial slogan at such. "My empress waits, your eminence." The Belkan offered a lightly bow of his head to both the Shadow and the Black Hand at such, smiling still as he soon excused himself from the room, rather pleased with how things had transpired.

The rebels' time was waning fast.

Einar tilited his head to one side which resulted in an audible crack. He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. The councilor’s hands went to the bottom edges of his tunic giving the front and back a sharp tug before his hands smoothed out the fabric. He straightened his belt and then finally looked to the prime minister before he motioned with his right hand that he was ready.

Were it not for their imposing size and jet-black uniforms, the arrival of the Imperial Scatterrans would have likely gone unnoticed thanks to their silence, the entourage being simple enough - two guards flanking the imperial personage.

However, this was not the God-Emperor of legend, but rather an imperial figure of equally-imposing, if not more thin, stature. Dressed in regalia equal to that of her father, Viktoria Kampf quietly looked over the other individuals gathered as she tugged lightly on the gabardine cloak thrown over her shoulders, gilt acorns jingling lightly on her uniform's braids.

Hopefully there was someone to take such a thing from her, Viktoria didn't wish to be brushing raindrops from her shoulders all evening.

"... I take it this is the location of negotiation?" The Belkan's eyes settled on the prime minister, figuring that she was the one in charge, thanks to her attire in comparison to those that surrounded her.

Kayabuki nodded to Viktoria. "Yes, This is the location of the negotiations." She said, as two Taiyou servants removed the outer coat to hang it somewhere. "As soon as the representatives from the Coalition arrive, we will enter the throne room and begin the negotiations."

Dubravko and the lone marine NCO had entered quietly, the Coalition personnel walking calmly and silently to their seats as the Chieftain toggled at the briefcase computer he carried. “Appears we’ve all been waiting patiently then … “ He remarked slightly, with his eyes down at the table. Putting the briefcase into a particular position in front of him the Chieftain pulled himself into his seat before he spoke on.

“So, we’re at the table now … who’s dead body are we going to be burying here?”

Once everyone had arrived, Kayabuki pulled open the sliding bamboo door to the Emperor's personal chamber. The entire Takayama family, with Emperor Nobuo seated at the head of the table, flanked to his right with Empress Takayama, and directly seated around the corner to Empress, was Crown Princess Yukiko Takayama, and seated around the corner, to the left of Emperor Takayama, was Crown Prince Shimizu Takayama. All of them quietly seated as the foreign delegations were brought into the room. Around the table were no chairs, but small cushions for everyone to kneel on, and plated before them was various Taiyou cuisines.

As Kayabuki entered, she offered a bow to the Emperor, expecting everyone in the room to also bow.

"Tennoheika, may I present to you, Einar Falls of the Varden Delegation, Viktoria Kampf of the Greater Imperial Hegemony, and Counselor Dubravko, of the Coalition." She said, the Emperor offering a slow nod.

"Be seated." He said, gesturing to the table. "You're dismissed, Prime Minister." He said calmly, and Kayabuki nodded and quickly ducked out, a pair of Imperial Guard entering behind the group, and closing the door behind them.

"I would like to welcome our esteemed allies, The United Coalition of Organized Nations, and the Greater Imperial Hegemony to this delegation, our alliance has prospered through mutual cooperation and agreement." He said, before he brought his gaze to Einar.

"However..." The Emperor said, pausing a moment. "The Circumstances to why we're here, are less than pleasent. And demands an immediate explaination."

Einar's did bow and his was of a similar depth to Kayabuki who had bowed before him. His eyes remained fast to the floor and did not seem to waver to make a glance about the room. "Tennoheika. It is indeed a less than pleasant circumstance that draws me here to this world. I cannot speak for the other delegations present."

"I have come because I was invited, because the Taiyou Empire has saw fit to declare war on the Varden, because the Varden responded to an incident on another sovereign entity’s soil that we have made a commitment to defend. This incident involved the killing of Terran civilians without any concern for their sovereignty or laws by the Taiyou. The response of the Varden, an attempt to detain said Taiyou force resulting in suicide and fratricide of that same force and the nuclear bombardment of that planet." He remained bowed.

Viktoria followed the minister into the room, her two guards following closely as she watched Kayabuki bow with curious eyes. No one bowed in the Hegemony, not to her or her father, though she knew that there were some who bowed to her step-mother. However, in contrast to the minister and the Varden delegate, the princess offered the Taiyou Emperor a stiff Scatterran salute, palm raised calmly in the air as she did so.

"Sieg heil, Tenno Heika!" She looked just below his throne, careful to follow the directions given to her. "My father sends his warmest apologies, but there were matters on Himmelsreich that demanded his immediate attention. I hope that you will not consider my presence a belittlement." Calmly still she waited for the emperor to acknowledge her before dropping her salute, taking a seat as she was bidden.

Her guards, however, remained standing behind her, out of respect for the daughter of their God.

Kampf glanced back to the man who insisted on remaining in that pathetic position, emerald gaze picking apart the obvious inferiority of his species. "Perhaps then, your people should learn not to stick their noses in matters that do not involve them." Isolationism was a prized facet of her father's state.

"Tenno Heika," The princess spoke, glancing back to the table, concentrating on what was laid in front of her. "If I might dare a question? I understand the importance of the Varden delegate, and I belive to understand the situation as it involves your majesty, but how does this concern the Greater Hegemony?"

“I’m sorry but … “ Dubravko raised a hand up from the table for a minute, having bowed quietly while the marine saluted to remain standing. “Before we delve into this topic of sovereignty … “ Drawing his finger around the table for a moment the Chieftain seemed to be choosing his words.

“For sovereignty to be violated there must first be a power in that chamber. Obviously, this situation has been caused by an incompetence in not just one, but both of the methods and protocol of operation here … Emperor, I graciously accept any explanation for the forces under your administration’s control for the actions on Terra. This planet has been wartorn … “ Taking a drink from a glass of water he folded his arms against themselves.

“However, as the orchestrators of our people’s destiny it is paramount we see the forest for the trees. This is an international incident but, … “ The Chieftain idly took his hands from the table after making a gesture towards the Varden.

“If we are going to solve any of the problems plaguing any of our societies now, we will not do so by squandering those who will provide … ‘humanitarian’ assistance to those we had been forced to leave behind.”

Today was the day he'd been promising her for some time, and with a smile he finished with the last of his own garments - the Emperor looked every bit the part of an old Belkan knight from before the unification, clad in garb fitting of his station. Of certain interest was the steel breastplate he wore, more for decoration than anything else, intricate, gilded designed ornamented its surface. If anything he hoped it pleased the Empress, taking a moment to put on an arming cap before donning a sallet, one as equally decorated as the breastplate and gorget he wore.

At his left hip rested a Belkan longsword, and on his right a pistol often found as a standard sidearm for his guard, though neither of these would be what he was to hunt with, were it that he had his way. Oh no, that would be the lance nearby, only the tip proving uninsulated, as it bore quite the electric current.

Something that might be of use with today's quarry.

Still, he would not be hunting anything if his wife didn't come soon - and he hoped that she would, Josef having found a particularly feisty piece of game for the both of them today. Imported from the Milky Way, of all places.

Wing came shortly, dressed considerably less formally, wearing, in truth, a dress and only a dress that she would shed shortly, the 'saddle' that would be on her back waiting for them nearby. "Josef." She greeted him with a kiss on his cheek, clearly all too pleased.

"We have a new quarry! I'm excited. I hope it will be a challenge." She confessed, wanting that all too much. Her Josef did provide, of course, so she was certain it would be all too much fun. It normally was. He did indulge her violence so kindly. "Do I get to know any details, or is it to be a surprise?"

She just wanted to have fun. Their quarry would have come to about an hour ago, having no doubt been sedated then dropped off. She smiled and imagined the thrill of the hunt already.

"And is that a new lance?" Certainly different than his usual one, it seemed. They'd no doubt be dropped off in the preserve soon by the Travelers. It would be fun, and hopefully the chase would be just as much fun.

"Wing, darling." He turned to her at the sound of her voice, gladly accepting her kiss on his cheek and returning one on hers. The Emperor smiled with the bill on his helmet turned up, putting gentle arms around his wife for a moment as he pondered on whether he should tell her just yet. No... perhaps it would be better to wait, all the more reason for her to adore the chase. From what he understood, that was the entire point, too.

"It will be quite a surprise, just for my Empress." The man grinned, letting her go that she might see to getting ready for the hunt herself. "It is, I think it might be of use in... subduing our prey." Considering it would be rather violent - a quality he had looked for, just for her. She did so enjoy a fight.

"Now, shall I get the saddle, darling?"

She smiled and removes her clothing in response shifting to her huge twenty foot long natural form and crouching so he might saddle her, so he could ride without fear of falling. It had a higher back as well, to he might use the lances without being knocked out of his seat.

Cursed uncomfortable though. That much was the truth. Wing allowed it simply because it was him. Ha any other even suggested it, well, they would be hunted next.

Still, a surprise, and a special lance to subdue it. Wing was excited. She hoped there would be a good fight in it all for her. Something to get the adrenaline up before she devoured their prey.

He moved to take the saddle and moved it over his wife's natural form, settling it onto her back before seeing that it was strapped on comfortably, taking time to gentle stroke at her neck and nuzzle what amounted to a cheek in this form, apologizing verbally for putting her through this as well. "... I know it's not very nice, darling. I fear I know no other way to keep up with you." Nothing that didn't require a vehicle of some kind, at least.

A God he might have been, but one in a slow, mortal coil.

Still, soon enough everything was finished, and with one more brief trip to get his lance and lean it against Wing's form, he mounted her back, having to leap to get his first foot into the stirrup. Afterwords though, everything proved a might easier. "... let's see about having some fun, then."

[color=black]Time had always been a difficult thing for Kilja to grasp and measure, even under normal circumstances. There was no measuring just how long she had been weaving in and out of a muddled conscious state. The last thing she could clearly remember was a moment of staggering disbelief as she started to drop to the ground--hitting a state of complete black before she even hit it. As she stirred, rolling to get her elbows under her, she had an uncertain sense that the ground she was on was not the ground she had fallen to, and that there may have been several days between when she fell then and when she woke now.

Crimson pupils constricted sharply as she brought her eyes into focus. She squinted at the faint dappling of sunlight across the ground, bowing her head as she pushed herself to all fours. Her ears laid back, and she stretched open her massive jaws, hearing a soft crack as her maw opened as wide as it could. She licked her lips a few times, aware that her jaws had somehow been bound at length recently. With a shake of her head and a few slow steps forward, she began to feel a little bit more balanced and aware. She straightened up onto her hind legs.

The creature that had been brought to Kampf and Wing for a little murderous rollick stood at a height just short of that of a small one-story house. Her jaws could easily accommodate a newborn infant, and she could--with some manageable difficulty--proceed to swallow it whole, should she desire. The beast was wound in almost solid muscle, then coated in luxuriously white fur--which would, under normal circumstances, be as pristine as the snow she was better suited for, save for that her captors had not bothered to bathe her since subduing her. Old blood stains and traces of urine marred her coat.

She surveyed her surroundings, finding herself in a stand of trees. Beyond, there was a clearing. Her nose tilted to the air as her ears swiveled about curiously. One of her paws absently ran through the len

length of fur running from her head and down through her hackles. It was mostly loose, save for several braids randomly placed into it. Out of frustration, she yanked her claws through the tangles before dropping back to all fours. She had always been more comfortable moving in this way when she was in her war-form--and so, she regained her natural grace as soon as she began moving properly. She turned her attention to the scent and sound of water, hoping that she might at least clean herself up before figuring out just what it was that brought her here...

Kilja was wholly oblivious to the fact that--for once--she was to be game.

She purred for him, o reassure him and stood, careful of the lance. A traveler arrived, and gently transported the two of them to the preserve. It was here that their quarry would be, somewhere in here. And she understood the saddle, for him. One day, she might talk him into the special serum, but it would be some time before she could, she was certain. Then they could easily both keep up with each other.

Wing purred and settled on the ground as the Traveler disappeared, nose down as she searched for the scent of their prey. No doubt that soon she'd pick up on the foreign scent, imported especially for her pleasure. Her darling spoiled her with imported game on occasion.

More often than not, their quarry was some convict, and she'd end up killed him and that night they camped out, cooked his flesh, and ate it together. She tried not to eat too much in the initial fun times. It did happen, on occasion however. Those days she tended to find smaller game for her husband to skin and eat, as she couldn't really shift back to join him.

Josef remained atop of her, lance couched in his arm as he rested, back straight as the territory of the preserve played out before them, the arid terrain of Himmselsreich giving way to some greenery here near the equator. It was amazing what a river or two could do, really. Still, his Scatterran eyes couldn't pick out much, at least in comparison to her eyes - a dust-devil, a breeze in the leaves, and perhaps a bird here or there. It was curious how useless the primary sense of his species became when exposed to such grandeur.

But then there was but a simple flash of white to their right - a color unnatural to the land here - and Josef blinked. Could that have been some bird, native to the rivers here that they did not see in the deep desert, at their capital? His spare hand wrapped behind his back to his satchel, removing the binoculars he carried and brought them up to his eyes, the visor of Josef's sallet still up.

With a brief scan of the terrain, a few moments to reacquire the source of the white, he soon confirmed his initial thoughts.

"I have it, darling. On our right, about seventy degrees, on all fours. Moving..." He paused, watching it. "... south by southwest."