Summoning Our Country - NHS Kai

Chapter 29.6: War Plan Intrépide

NOTE: Sorry that the next chapter/s took this long. It was supposed to be only one chapter, but the story we wanted to tell this time took on far too long for a single chapter, so we will release two.

Discord: https://discord.gg/wEp44XuaT3

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Cent. Calendar 24/12/1639, War Department, Esthirant, Parpaldia, 9:00

Back on the other side of the straits, preparations for a hot conflict in the straits—an event long anticipated and feared by all involved—was underway. Although preparations had already begun long ago, with the Parpaldian military having had a heightened state of readiness for decades following the initial flare-up of tensions with Altaras, there was still a long way to go before they could bring most of the military to the fight. At the War Department, the main building of which is located in the Imperial Palace complex not too far from where the imperial family's residences are, the highest-ranking officers of the Parpaldian military have convened to discuss war plans. Most of them, anyway.

"Where the hell is the Supreme Commander?!"

A burly man in a crimson-red uniform barked out in irritation. The golden sash adorned with medals that wrapped around his body identified him as the Imperial Army's chief of staff. His question was directed toward no one in particular, but the other men seated around the long mahogany table took it as an affront to themselves and hurled back at him his sentiment.

"Like hell we'd know!"

"Shouldn't it be you who's supposed to be keeping tabs on him?!"

"In case your brawn-for-brains hasn't comprehended the obvious: I am not his chauffeur!"

Naked, bare insults and stinging remarks flew across the room, the vulgar, coarse tones they were manifested in echoing all throughout the decadent walls of this one single chamber in the War Department. As unprofessional and uncouth as this may seem, this was actually nothing less than an established mutual understanding between all the big men in the room. As the highest ranking members of Parpaldia's renowned military institution, it goes without saying that the men that occupied this space were some of the most powerful in the entire empire: most present were estate owners; some were grand dukes and princes of incorporated, annexed, and key territories; a select few were members of the imperial family; fewer still were direct allies of Ludius in his faction. Since this highest echelon of military command had in itself both an explicit and implicit rank structure based on a delicate mixture of seniority, ties with the imperial faction in power, and territorial possessions, it was only natural that a cutthroat environment of power plays was in place. However, recently, with the specter of Ludius's unifying influence over much of the imperial machine bearing over even this powerful group of men—some of which were even on friendly terms with him—they had to play nice, tolerate each other's presence, and dance with 'fierce' loyalty to His Highness's imperial ambitions in public appearances since the military was front and center in his foreign policy against rival powers in the area. As such, this one meeting place in the War Department where only they were present was the only such place where they could directly air their disdain for the other guy's existence right in his face.

It was in this moment of unfiltered and unadulterated exchange of death threats that the doors to the meeting chamber were flung open. As each man scrambled to swiftly fix their uniform, correct their posture, and wipe the saliva from their staches, they all watched in passive annoyance as the man of the hour walked into the room. They scrutinized the lackluster grace in his walking posture, his unkempt shoulder pads, the missing button from his right wrist cuff, and the hairline on his scalp that had receded by a few thumb lengths since the last time they saw him. However, all these petty violations in etiquette and dress paled in comparison to what was probably the worst offense...