The world around me drones away to the sound of the I.T.A. soaring through the sky. I tried to take a moment to think over everything, but... Everything seemed to just... ebb away. I wasn't thinking. There wasn't anyone to talk to. For what felt like a brief moment I was all alone, without even my own thoughts to keep me company. I don't know how long it lasted, and I almost wish it would continue for a moment longer. But, it passed. And now I can think.

Ulfric took another infantry transport home. We agreed that he was no longer really a prisoner, so he would return on his own accord. He probably didn't trust me either. Probably thought it was a trap. I don't blame him for that, I'd think the same thing in his position. It's going to take him some time to make the trip, but he promised it would be by the end of the month. We also agreed he wouldn't use Unfamiliar aircraft, for my own obvious fears.

And now we're in limbo. Is he going to use this time to gather his forces and strike? Or is he going to heed my words? I can attempt to set up some outposts to watch over him, maybe even some radar installations, but I know it'll be impossible to watch everything. And I already know that the Unfamiliar know how to maneuver around my bots. I can't preemptively strike either, or the world would turn against me. My only move now it to wait, something I'm not very good at.

The Spartans are chalking this up as a victory. I imagine half of them are already drunk by this point. I was about to send word to them, but decided not to. It would do them some good to have a night of victory. Let them feel a little more invincible. So they're all home now. It'll be good. Keep their morale high. They'll need that. This wasn't a victory. Not even close. We set the terms for the fight to occur, now it's just a waiting game. Ulfric has all the tools he'll need to dance around the issues until it's time for him to strike. I've put myself in a corner and now we have to wait for them to attack. This wasn't a victory. This was a declaration.

Why wait? Why not do what you were raised to do and fight?

That isn't the answer here. I need to think long term if I'm going to see Terradisia rise again. We're too small, too fragile to be so reckless.

Are you not Spartan? Since when do Spartans play diplomacy?

I am a Spartan. But this should not be my call to make. Once we get the final group of people to join I can pass the control and be free of this burden.

You have your sword, you have your army. Your people love and adore you! Any action you take they will follow blindly. You know what to do and you know what to say. Is it not better for the world to come together? Under one banner?

It is, but not like that. It should be a choice-

Choices are dangerous, you know this. There are those that would choose to die rather than listen to reason. You know what to say and you know what to do. All you need is a little push.

"Captain!" I jump in my seat when I hear a bot call for me. I take a look around in slight confusion before looking to the cockpit. I must have fallen asleep at some point. "Our destination is sixty seconds away. I have received several messages from the helot E'Claire for several town complaints that require your attention."

"Of course... yeah let her know we'll talk as soon as we land," I tell the bot, shaking the memory of my dream away. All this stress is starting to get to my head. I need a break of some sort.

The ship lands in the small airport of Mooseden and I step out to see a frazzled E'Claire with a portfolio with her. I hate that little fucking leather book. It's the one clear sign that today will not be an easy day. Well, time to play leader.

"E'Claire, it's good to-"

"There were three arrests the other day when the Crystal Empire traders came the other day," she reads from her portfolio, silencing me immediately. I groan as I set my fists on my hips and let her continue. Not like she'd let me have a word in anyway. "Apparently they aren't happy with current trade relations and demand to speak with you. They needed to speak with you anyways it seems. Something about trade negotiations from the Empire. There were some reports of dangerous creatures lurking around the lumberyard again. The last squad of bots we sent out didn't return, so it's something fun probably. I have a number of requisition forms I need you to sign and lastly... The minotaur couple that recently joined have caused some... noise complaints."

"... I'm sorry, did you just tell me to fix a fucking noise complaint?" She has to be kidding.

"I am not kidding," she tells me flatly. "They've only done two things since they arrived. Eat and fuck. Now, normally I wouldn't mind this, but the others in town don't. They were issued warnings and talked to, but they haven't heeded our warnings. Now, I would arrest them, but I think there's a simpler solution to the problem."

"... and that would be?" I ask, expecting her to continue. She raises an eyebrow and continues to stare at me, making me grumble. "*sigh* Fine, I'll talk to them."

"Good! Now onto more personal issues!"

"What-"

"I caught Shadow trying to break into your workshop with some friends of hers-"

"I told her that was-"

"She informed me that you gave her permission to do so and what you told her to do, and this is where I have an issue. Miles, she is a teenage filly who does not need to be doing... no filly her age should be plotting against other kids! What were you thinking!?" I stare at her for a moment before removing my helmet. I'm not in the mood to be level headed about any of this shit.

"I was thinking that I am her father and I know what is best for her. I was thinking that it was time that she started learning to stand up for herself. I was thinking that, instead of being a doormat, she would get a feeling of what it's like to hit someone back! Now, I get that you don't like the idea of her doing stuff like this, and I appreciate the concern. I really do. But we can't fight her fights for her, E'Claire."

"So that's it? Your grand solution is to leave her alone in your workshop, that is full of weapons I might add, and let her plot to get revenge? What sort of message is that?" she asks, bewildered at my attitude.

"A message from the daughter of the Grand Captain of the Spartan regiment! A message that will speak out against a community that takes us for granted and plots behind our backs! Like it or not, she has an image to uphold and it's time for her to live up to it-"

"She's not a tool for you use Miles!" E'Claire yells back at me, throwing her portfolio down. "I can be your tool, that's my price to pay. Same goes for Butterscotch! Feel free to use these people too, they volunteered to be. But not her. She is not, and never will be, your tool to use. I won't allow it. Kill me if you have to! But I will not stand by and let her throw her life away for something as petty as revenge."

"Pardon me, Mr. Eremita, but I must speak-" Some Crystal Empire mare asks.

"Blow it out your ass dipstick! Can't you see I'm in the middle of a fucking conversation!" I yell at her.

"Dammit Glitz I told you to wait in the god damned hall! Go back there before I rip you a new fucking asshole!" E'Claire adds, glaring daggers at her.

"Well, I never!" the mare protests before turning in a huff. We both watch her leave, the air between us cooling down tremendously.

"By the way, I'm making dinner at your place at six tonight, to welcome everypony back. Make sure to be there by then." E'Claire tells me matter of factly.

"Sounds good, thanks." I tell her before walking off. Most people don't understand the two of us. But E'Claire is one of a few people out there that knows how to speak with me. I don't give a shit for tact. Tell me how it is and get to the point. She's good at doing that. Though, from time to time, it is a pain in the ass. Her and Butterscotch were real gems in the rough to have found.

"Oh, and Starke Herzen is in your workshop, the one you have here that is. He came by earlier today to have a meeting with you," she adds as she continues to walk away.

"Thanks... wait, WHAT!?" I yell, chasing after her. "Why wasn't that first on the fucking list!?"

"It slipped my mind. I was more worried about Shadow to be honest," she tells me nonchalantly. I try to form a respond to yell at her, but I can't seem to settle on one. I need to get to him before he starts going through my shit.

"Next, world leaders first!" I yell at her before taking off. She doesn't respond, or at least I don't hear her response.

I go to the southern edge of town where the workshop is located. It's a public building that lends tools to people for whatever use they need. I just happen to use it more than anyone else, so there's this thought going around that it's mine. Sitting behind the building is a large flying machine with several smoke stacks pointing out the back. The design reminds me of a dragonfly. Standing guard in front of the main entrance are four goblin troopers. Two of them are bearing shields while the other two have rifles resting on their shoulders. When they notice me approaching they make way for me to enter, keeping their stoic faces about them. I enter the building without addressing them.

The workshop is quiet, quieter than usual at least. The massive room of drills and fabricators lay silent as Starke walks around the room, eyeing the machinery curiously. I take a quick look around and notice that there are four more guards in here as well, similarly armed.

"You know, when someone usually wants to make a meeting, they tend to send word beforehand," I tell Starke, getting his attention. He cracks a wry smile and approaches me, holding his hands behind himself.

"If these were usual times, I would be inclined to send a message before arriving here," he tells me. I nod to his logic. These aren't really the forewarning times, now are they. "I have all of the ledgers you asked for, and have turned them in. Your metal golems are looking over them as we speak. As I said, I have nothing to hide."

"Hm," I hum in response, stepping into the room. He said he'd do it, I just didn't expect it to happen this quickly. "How'd you gather all of this information and get it all here in under a month?" He chuckles at that, following after me.

"We may seem primitive to you, but we aren't as incapable as you assume us to be," he tells me in a jovial manner. "But, onto more pressing matters."

"Oh? I am interested to see what is so pressing for you," I say sarcastically, trying thing think my way though the situation. This was too sudden for me. I was guessing that he would appear some time in the following weeks. I guess I was wrong about his capabilities, though I still am doubtful too. This must be payback for catching him off guard. That explains his demeanor at least. We stop in front of a large fabricator to speak directly to one another. Starke turns his attention to the machine, sliding his hands over the surface as he begins to speak.

"You forcibly brought Ulfric to the Isles to enact some form of justice. And, it would seem, you succeeded. At least in the short term. So now you are at a crossroads. Do you follow the Summits example and wait to see if Ulfric does the same, or do you strike again? And since we both know Ulfric is ready to strike, the question really is do you wait for him to attack? I am interested to see what you do."

"Are you now?" I ask condescendingly. I know that's what he doesn't want to talk about, but I still don't know what he's getting at.

"Truth be told, no. I couldn't care less about what the two of you do to each other. What I care about is progress. And that is why I am really here today." He turns to one of his guards and snaps his fingers at him. He bows and moves to the nearest table where he starts to set up a map. I follow Starke over where we watch him set some markers.

"As you are well aware, conflict is inevitable. But what has yet to be decided is what happens after everything. That is my goal today. To carve an understanding between the two of us so we may all progress." I hum back to him, eyeing all of the markers on the page. The outlines of the world are set as they are now. He has several cogs set to specify either settlements or troop placements, it's hard to tell.

"Are you suggesting an alliance? Isn't that contradictory to your own enterprises?" I ask as I study the map some more. He has the griffins marked more heavily than anyone else. I don't get what he's playing at. He's arming the griffins to attack, but doesn't want to side with them? At the same time he wants to secure land, but doesn't want to be attacked.

"The enterprises of the Goblin Kingdom do not sway the will of our people, Mr. Eremita. We are a growing people and need to expand, but there's only one logical area to do so. But, taking such a large land mass would undoubtedly cause a stir in the world. But, with the griffins ripe to expand themselves, a golden opportunity has occurred. Something that could be beneficial for both our parties involved."

He looks up to me and waits for me to respond. But I don't have much to say at the moment. I want to hear his offer, let him put it all out there before speaking. I nod to him, getting him to move several tokens around the map.

"My offer is this; concede the Griffin Kingdoms to Terradisian rule in exchange for partitioning the Southern Badlands into the Goblin Empire. And this includes any territory gained under any armed conflict with any nation. Furthermore, Terradisia will have governing rights over the northern hemisphere, and the Goblin Empire shall rule the southern hemisphere. We will follow the equator and draw the borders accordingly. What say you?"

I set my hands on the edge of the table and lean over to take a better look at the map. He wants to govern all of the zebra lands and most of the Southern Badlands. This deal is clearly in his favor. The bears and minotaurs won't be swayed so easily, and the zebras don't really seem up to the task of fighting off a technologically superior people. Though, the Badlands are a whole mess of their own, I know it's really their objective. And I don't know how I feel about giving them land so close to home. But, there is potential in this deal. Let's see what we can wrestle out of this.

"I already have land in the southern parts of Zebrica, so this deal will not stand. If you are willing to trade the minotaur lands in exchange for there, then that can be settled." He gives a quizzical look to the map before nodding to me, moving some of the tokens around. With that move, I understand the map a bit better.

The silver cogs are mine, the bronze ones are his, and the dark grey ones seem to be the nations that have the capacity to resist being conquered. Equestria is a part of that group. According to his map, I gain Equestria, the Griffin Kingdoms, Zebrica, and have to fight the Soviets and the Apes for the rest. He has to fight to control the Badlands and the Minotaur lands, but the rest seems to be free real-estate. So I'm still in the disadvantage. What else is there? I grab another silver cog and set it on the Isles. Starke gives me a confused look, so I elaborate.

"If I control the northern hemisphere, then I control that as well. Is this not to your liking?" He suggests the move for a moment before nodding to me, clearly not liking the move.

These are the best holdings I can sway from him. I know I'm not going to get anything better than this land wise. He already partitioned part of the Southern Badlands to me, and the equator naturally follows the goblin borders. He doesn't like me noting that I control the Isles, but he already gave them to me. The zebra-minotaur trade was painless, telling me that he doesn't care about those lands too much. His main goal are the Southern Badlands.

"There are two more things I want before I agree to this plan," I tell him as I straighten out. "I want access to your airspace for navigational purposes, and I want intelligence on everything you know about Ulfric. Without those, there's no deal." Starke considers my terms for a moment before chuckling to himself, confusing me. "Something funny?" He waves me off, composing himself.

"I apologize. I was expecting more demands from you. I am amazed that you have agreed to this so easily. I thought you would have thrown me out of your town at the first mention of such an agreement."

"Understand this; I do not trust your movements. If you keep to your end of the agreement, then there will be no conflict between us. But should you break this trust, I will level your lands and turn your people to ash. This is not an alliance. This is a mutual understanding not to attack one another. This trust goes both ways. I am freeing you to invade the Badlands, and you are freeing me to fight the griffins. Do we have an understanding?"

He gives me a wide smile before raising a hand to shake. I've seen those types of smiles. Those crooked, diabolical smiles. The kind a bad man gets when he makes a fool out of you. They're the kind of smiles you get when you get one step closer towards your goal, or push your opposition back another step. I don't want to associate with a person who can makes this kind of smile, but what choice do I have?

I know how large his army is. I've fought against those types of numbers before. I can't deal with him and Ulfric and the Unfamiliar. If he's willing to remove himself from the equation, then that makes the decision much easier. But, I will have to deal with him eventually. I doubt he'll keep to his end of the bargain forever. But I can't deal with it right now. We're too small right now. I would have to resort to drastic measures. Measures that make it impossible to speak evenly with those left alive to remember it. As much as I don't want to admit it, I need this just as much as he needs does.

I reach down and shake his hand, feeling a cool chill run down my spin. I don't know what I've just done. But, there's nothing to do about it now. He has the access to what he wants, and I have access to what I want. I’ve put myself in another corner now. Or, rather, I put another person in front of me to face off with. So the question now is, can I get what I want before it becomes irrelevant? And what do I do if I can't?

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Brony on!