Fallen Grace

[Renee Favre]

Best read to with this.

A few hours before the assault on Chant Du Cygne.

The alarms blared in the palace.

Ansel Xavier rubbed his forehead tiredly, rubbing the sweat off. He felt oddly drained and weak, and standing was an effort. However, if the alarms were blaring in the palace itself, it was probably an issue requiring his immediate attention.

"This is...unacceptable..." He muttered, and reached for a shelf.

This was breaking one of the longest rules he'd had. The Oracles had taught him control, and any form of drug apart from liquid cardamine was prohibited in their training. So far, those tenets had held...but now there was no time. He reached for a bottle of pills, took two and swallowed.

The world swung for a few moments...and then his mind cleared, strength returning to his limbs and his body a powerful tool in the hand of his mind once more. He would concede victory this once. Never again.

**

"There's a large council fleet in Languedoc, preparing for an attack" Quétineau said without preamble as Xavier walked into the control room.

Xavier looked around. Quétineau and Bonheur were present, Bonheur pondering a large scale tactical map in the centre of the room. He was more concerned by those who were not here though. There was no sign of Baudin, or Goddard Lafayette. Last he knew, they were in the palace so they should've been present.

"Where are the others?" Xavier asked.

"Mathieu has already launched to join up with home fleet. As the Legion Tricolore head, he probably has more experience with commanding the home fleet than the rest of us..." Bonheur said.

"And Lafayette?"

"On the Chant Du Cygne, holding command in case some remnants of the council run to this system. We couldn't get in contact with Roux."

Xavier nodded shortly. It seemed like a sound enough strategy to him, although he'd have preferred to have commanded the situation himself. Baudin had showed no signs of being unreliable, but the element of doubt irritated him.

"I suppose we'll have to sit here and watch" Quétineau said.

Xavier took a seat besides the tactical map. This could take a while...

During Assault on the Chant Du Cygne.

"What the hell..." Xavier said.

A concentrated attack on the Chant Du Cygne, in Dauphine. Possibly a bid to disable the flagship, open the system up for a brief time until the fleets return...for what? They have no chance of holding a position, or even surviving. Unless.... Xavier thought furiously.

He had not expected this to happen. This is a collosal failure...damage control, NOW.

"Looking at the attacking fleet...There are Colonial ships and some from The Order..." Quétineau said, looking every bit as angry as Xavier felt.

Every time Xavier had heard "The Order" mentioned, it was from his benefactors...and the emotion accompanying it was pure anger.

"Sirian Terrorists. Class as enemy" was all he said aloud though. It was all that was needed in this situation...

"I'll take reserve wings and fly up to assist the flagship...unless anyone here has an objection?" Bonheur said flatly.

"None" Xavier said. Quétineau nodded impatiently, and Bonheur practically ran out of the room. One factor dealt with...

"I'll call Baudin, inform him of the situation...he should bring the fleets around as soon as the Council situation is dealt with. I'll also call headquarters in Anjou and tell them to sortie everything..." Xavier said, half to himself.

"Oui, crush the bastards. I'll help... For Gallia." Quétineau said, looking pleased at the prospect.

"For the King" Xavier said.

It had merely begun.

---

Steward to King Charles IX of Gallia.