187 Summer Festival (1/2)
UNS Singapore, Captain's Quarters
Blake removed his uniform and draped it over his chair before he poured himself a drink made from fermented carrato, locally farmed. He took a sip and let the harsh burning liquid go down his throat and felt a warm fuzzy feeling in his stomach. ”Want a drink?” He asked the princess who was seated on his chair going through her work with his computer.
She shook her pretty head and said, ”Our food stores are looking good. We had a large surplus of grains and tubers, which can be stored for over a season.”
”And we do not need to slaughter the animal stock for winter as we have plenty of feed stored up for them too,” Sherene focused on her Excel sheet. ”The Muffalo herders have started to sheering the wool for production of winter clothing.”
Blake stood behind Sherene and hugged her. ”How're the preparations going on for Summer Festival?”
Sherene smiled and leaned in Blake's embrace, ”We have quite a few venues allocated for this Summer Festival, one at each Residential District, and the main event will be held at City Hall Plaza.”
”Since it is a two-day holiday event, I have increased the number of buses to the outer farms, mines, and Far Harbour to pick up those that wish to attend the Festival,” Sherene purred happily in Blake's arms. ”I also followed the recommendation given by your staff to double the pay for those working on holidays, so that they will not feel left out for the Festivals.”
”Hmmm,” Blake muttered, ”So everything is in order?”
Sherene nodded, ”Well, my people are still setting up the stages and event site. They should be finishing by today and tomorrow the Festival starts!”
”How about your side?” Sherene looked back and asked, ”Is everything ok?”
”Well, we still have many things to worry about,” Blake sighed and stood up, picking up his drink and drowned it down. ”Goblins to our West, Empire to our North East and a natural disaster to our North.”
”But at least we managed to resolve all our basic needs,” Blake smiled at Sherene. ”Food, water, shelter, security, and manufacturing are all on track.”
”We just need a larger population to support our industrial needs,” Blake said, ”other than that we are doing pretty well, as long there aren't any more invasions.”
Sherene nodded, ”But the Empire... sooner or later they will return right?”
Blake rubbed Sherene's head gently while leaning against his table. ”Intel estimates roughly a month before news gets to the Empire's Capital, and another month before some sort of response to be taken.”
”By then, it is autumn,” Blake said, ”Hopefully late autumn is the best, as no sword and shield army will move in winter without long term preparations. I hope...”
Sherene nodded again, ”My father and brothers used to say fighting in winter is terrible and a huge drain to resources. Men had frozen to death or died to hunger due to supply lines getting cut off by heavy snow storms.”
Blake grinned, ”Not bad, well that's one of the major reasons, not to mention the terrain will be harder for travel. And they have to cross the Uncharted Forest.”
”The newly formed Combat Engineer unit together with that Elementalist girl has already started a line of defensive works at the bottom of the ramp at Sawtooth Mountain,” Blake added, ”The original wall will be upgraded and supported with the still under development 3” guns. Once we have those built, even if the Empire throws a million troops at us, we can easily hold the pass as long as we have ammunition.”
Sherene frowned, ”Will the Empire stop coming? Why can't they leave us in peace?”
”I don't have the answer for that, my princess,” Blake replied gently, patting her soft hair. ”Well, we can only make it so expensive for them to attack us, that they call for peace talks.”
”If not, once our airpower is up and running,” Blake's eyes gleamed dangerously, ”I just bomb them back to the stone age.”
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The Colony, Residental District 4
Kaga sat on a wooden bench watching several City Hall staffs hanging colorful banners and ribbons on to the lamp posts lining the side of the streets. Lately, the whole city was full of excited energy as everyone was looking forward to the Summer Festival.
She nibbled her 'bur-girl' and sighed in bliss. She picked up a textbook, Introduction to Basic English, and started reviewing her notes for her class. Her study partner was Billy, when she returned from her day job at City Hall, both of them were becoming closer and closer in just a few short days.
The next day, Kaga went to her morning class in time and joined a class of over forty students, some she recognized as part of her same group when they escaped from Falledge. The teacher called Kristine taught them the basic alphabet and phonics. The lessons were easily picked up and absorbed by Kaga, as she had always liked to read.
When the school bell rang, Kristine ended the lesson and gave them some homework to do at home. The whole class stood up and thanked the teacher before they all excitedly left the classroom. Kaga was no different as she had an appointment with Billy at the Commerical District.
Having traveled a few times in buses, Kaga confidently boarded a bus that will take her to the Commerical District or C District, as some of the locals called it. As the bus turned into the street of D District, colorful signboards covered up the facade of the stores and buildings lining the street.
She alighted the bus and saw Billy already here and she went up joyfully to her. ”Billy, I'm here!”
”Kaga! Finally!” Billy smiled, ”I'm hungry waiting for you!” Billy reached out and hugged a blushing Kaga while rubbing her soft fluffy ears. ”Hehehe.”
”S-stop!” Kaga quickly brushed off Billy's hands, and covered her ears with her hands, ”...”
”Hehehe,” Billy grinned, ”Your ears and tail are just too soft and fluffy for me to control myself! Hehehehe!”
”...” Kaga turned redder, ”Let's go...”
”Alright! Let's go shopping!” Billy grin went wider as she thought of dressing Kaga up in cute clothes. ”Hehehehe...”
”...”
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Northern Forest, Hydro Dam Power Station
Bartley carried a large bucket of water over to the wolves' shed and refilled the water trough for the wolves. He had spent over two hours showering the wolves and the pups earlier and now the wolves looked much better despite some wounds still visible on their bodies.