Alea Iacta Est

[Darius]

28th of July, 829 AS, Planet New London, Kingdom of Bretonia

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The Bretonian capital's 'landscape' was animated by the still-visible lights from the distant cities, and even moreso by those from the Westminster City Megalopolis. Yet all was not it as it seemed and this was well emphasized by the marching soldiers and fighter craft patrolling the skies -- a change that could only predict an important event, and one that the people had gotten used over the years.

And it rightfully did so. This was a day like no other. One that was to have drastic consequences and even bigger awaited results.

Despite still on-ongoing peace talks with the Coronado-borne Republic, the Kingdom had chosen not to lose valuable time, its diplomats further pressured by the failure to achieve an amendment with the House of Liberty, and acted upon it with caution. The efforts, led by two different personalities: the ever-present and a firm believer in an alliance with Kusari, Admiral Sommerville, and the Prime Minister himself, Sir Ambrister Jones, whom acted with much more caution and did not have as much trust in the Kusarians now present on the capital. But the die was cast. Stopping now would result in a humiliation for Bretonia.

Both sides already largely knew what was to be discussed and were adamant to give no ground in their negotiations, but the Bretonian diplomats understood from the beginning they were in no position to bargain with terms beyond their reach. Instead, they placed their bets on the decades-proven appeasement policy of the Crown, in hopes of gaining a favorable treaty with the Empire to the north.

The meeting to discuss the treaty, held between the Kusari and Bretonian diplomats, was organized at the Richmond Palace, a location chosen with much thought, alike to the Stainton Palace on Carlisle, yet vastly bigger. It held much of the same decorations, but its sheer scale impressed both the common citizenry and foreign visitors, including top officials. The large halls of the palace had many inscriptions, carefully placed to "guide" the guests onto Bretonia's tempestuous past. It was chosen for the very same reason as the castle on Carlisle -- to impress -- a move done as a consequence of the path of the Imperial Delegation that had led them near the graves of thousands and the ruins that had engulfed many more -- all this further amplified by the still-present wrecks of the destroyed Southampton, Stokes and the battered fleets in New London.

But time did not favor either sides, nor were they planning to spend a lot of it at the palace after the negotiations. Visits in Bretonia all had to follow a tight schedule, and it was all the more unfamiliar for the diplomats to fail at achieving their goals when discussing with foreign powers' representatives in person. First to arrive were the Bretonians, escorted by Royal Guards, dressed in their characteristic red suits -- a reminder of Bretonia's past on Earth.

They wasted little time upon arrival and rushed to the meeting hall, one identical to that in the Stainton Castle: large windows on the back end, a hologram screen on the right wall of the room and several tables, all having a myriad of chairs for all the present diplomats and their staff to remain comfortable on during the conference.

Now, they waited for the imminent arrival of the Kusari envoys.