86 C86 Diplomatic Gambit

President Thomas sat in the command bunker deep beneath the Liberty House, surrounded by his top military advisors and staff.

The tension in the room was palpable as continuous reports streamed in of multiple UFOS breaching the country's airspace.

"Mr. President, we've got incoming bogeys, based on our still functioning satellites those are the destroyed fleets life pods, gunships, and drop pods that escaped the unknown fleet, what are you're orders?"

The minister of defense asked his voice uneasy because they weren't sure if whatever those objects contained was a friend or foe.

There were a few options to choose from, they could either follow the Terranum Imperium's example and destroy them or at least try to.

The second one was that If they successfully managed to establish a dialogue and open up diplomatic relations they could gain a valuable ally.

Which could propel their nation to new heights In the economy, technology, and military aspects as long as they could strike a deal.

After all, as the proverb says an enemy of my enemy was my friend.

But this came with certain dangers such as Terranum Imperium's wrath and the possibility that if they chose this route It could end up In a disaster for them.

After all the ones onboard those UFOS could turn out to be even worse than the damned Imperium which Is full of murderous psychopaths.

For a moment President Thomas sat In silence contemplating his options while everyone's eyes fell on him giving him even more pressure than he already was on.

"Have we managed to establish communications yet?"

President Thomas asked.

"No sir, they are either Ignoring our calls or our communications technology Is too backwards compared to theirs, for all we know they might not even communicate with words"

The communications officer wearing a Liberty states service uniform tasked with establishing communications with the unknown force that got their fleet decimated by good old aircraft carrier tactics answered In an almost depressed voice.

Hearing this President Thomas remained silent as he went through every possible scenario In his mind until he came to a decision.

"Let them land, deploy our nearest armed forces to Impact zones to make first contact, Instruct them to not engage unless they get attacked first, and maybe just maybe we can get a powerful ally"

President Thomas made his decision which was Influenced by his unwillingness to provoke an advanced civilization, his hope for joining forces with newcomers to resist the Terranum Imperium, and the current state of Liberty state's armed forces.

Which frankly wasn't so good at all not only did they have to deploy a large part of their armed forces to quell the chaos caused by the EMP, but their most advanced military hardware was out of commission.

Thanks to the EMP that fried most of they're state of the art military equipment, basically the more advanced It was and the more electronic components It had the more susceptible It was to the EMP.

They were now left with their older and almost obsolete military hardware making their combat effectiveness drop a few levels.

"I hope I made the right choice..."

President Thomas muttered under his breath as the underground command bunker became a hive of activity.

...

Fenrir underground command bunker.

"What Is It this time Marcus?"

Morgana asked after noticing Marcus restlessness.

"Im worried about my children..."

Marcus who had heard and seen everything that occurred in the underground command bunker confessed.

Although he knew that a squad of killing machines was about to be deployed to acquire his children he still couldn't help but feel uneasy about It.

After all, he was their father, hearing this Morgana's lips curled Into an evil smile as an Idea formed In her mind.

"Wait here"

Morgana declared as she beelined straight to the stone faced Hans.

"Sir permission to speak"

Morgana asked as she snapped to attention.

"Granted"

Hans said after glancing at Morgana with those cold crimson eyes with a shade of blue of his that sent shivers down Morgana's spine, after all the man was Dracula's personal butcher who kept the Terranum Imperium I'm check from the shadows.

"Sir I think you should let me and my second In command go with the cosmic marine squad tasked with acquiring his children"

Morgana began only to get cut off by Hans.

"And what's the point of It senior Lieutenant Schmitt? Are you suggesting that our cosmic marines aren't capable enough to accomplish their mission? Don't tell me you think you can do better than them?"

Hans who had a distaste for Morgana and Marcus said not hiding It for one bit, causing Morgana's facial muscles to twitch subconsciously.

"No sir I'm not suggesting any of those things, what I'm saying sir that's It's the perfect opportunity to get the content I need to do my job"

Morgana declared standing her ground making Hans fall silent as he thought over Morgana's words In his mind.

"Head to the airfield, the dropships serial number Is 123, It's taking off In exactly one minute, I'll tell them to wait for you"

Hans said after making up his mind as he took out his glass see through holographic phone and with a swipe of his hand sent his clearance and all the Info Morgana needed to her phone.

"Sir!"

Morgana barked as she performed a modern salute and left while Hans did exactly what he said he would.

Hmmm despite the losses caused by the EMP and their outdated technology the Thraens will neutralize the orcs In the end It's just a matter of time and the price they will have to pay to do that.

Hans thought In his mind as he watched Morgana run to her assistant a cameraman turned Militaris officer.

Since our Imperator wants to assimilate the Thraens through mostly peaceful ways It's a perfect opportunity to show the Thraens their leader's Inability to protect them and at the same time depict ourselves In a positive light.

We had already established our authority In the Thraen's eyes courtesy of the workers union so It's about time we showed them the other side of our Imperium.

It's like the Imperator always says first use the stick then the carrot.

Hans thought evilly In his mind to the point that his lips curled Into an evil mastermind's grin only for his smile to freeze.

Though how to convince XO Wolf Is an entirely different matter.

Hans thought as he locked his gaze onto Wolf who was busy Issuing out orders one after another.

...

Nova Romas airfield.

"Move It, you lazy f*cks we have a job to do!"

A sergeant standing In front of the dropship's with opened sides whose gunners were already managing the dropships lazer gattling guns raised ramp roared as his fully geared up and armed cosmic marine squad entered the dropship and sat down on their crash seats.

"Are we clear to take off?!"

The dropship's masterchief asked as he grabbed the back lazer gattling gun ready to extend It and man It.

"Affirm.."

Just as the sergeant opened his mouth new orders came In.

"Delay that"

The sergeant said as he did the masterchief let go of the laser gattling gun.

"What gives?"

The irritated masterchief asked.

"Beats me, were to wait for the personnel from the propagandus department."

The sergeant answered as he shrugged his armored shoulders while dropships with opened sides and backs took off one after another from the airbase's tarmac together with space fighters, bombers and Interceptors.

"Fine I might as well have a smoke then"

The masterchief said as he took off his fully enclosed helmet and after rummaging In his space uniforms thigh pocket took out a cigarette pack and a lighter.

Just as he stuffed a cigarette between his lips and lit It up Morgana and Marcus ran over to them.