491 Greed (1/2)
Fluttering blue flags and banners followed the snaking lines of marching soldiers and cavalry as they crossed the plains towards the only landmark in the area. Their appearance had long been observed by the inhabitants of the city and the defences were manned days before. The Imperial forces halted in a small distance away from the border and started setting up camps while the other stared at them.
Similarly, on the other side of the kingdom, an army in orange trappings moved and set up camp beyond the walls of the southern border cities and forts as the Kingdom of Foral dispatched their troops to the border, their motives unclear.
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United Nations, City of Haven, Fortress Singapore
Intel officer Lieutenant Tavor was having a field day, as intel after intel came flooding into his In tray. Every several minutes, he would call for one of his operatives in and hand over a report to be dispatched out immediately to the indicated department.
Once he sorted out the reports, he left his office and stood before a wall where a massive strategic map of the New World that included the End Zone ring around it. Coloured magnetic tokens were placed all over the map, some representing UN troops, others representing other kingdoms and nations troops positions, types and numbers. Intel staff members constantly updated the tokens and markers on the map
This allowed Tavor and other senior officers to have an understanding of their situation on the New World, enabling them to make plans and counter plans. Now, two new red markers had appeared, one marker over Goblin City, another just at the east of the Isles. He ignored the recently updated movements of the Empire of Bluewood and the Kingdom of Foral along the borders of the New Kingdom of Mecca which was going to be part of the UN.
He gestured to a comms tech and ordered him to connect him a secure line to the Captain. After a moment, the image of Captain Blake appeared at the display. The comms tech made way for Tavor and stepped aside to allow the two officers to have a private talk.
”Sir,” Tavor greeted Blake. ”Have you received the latest intel report?”
Blake's image nodded after a second, ”Yes, I was just about to read it. Is there something important I need to know?”
”Yes, Sir,” Tavor replied. ”We have two unknown contacts appearing, one over the Goblin City, the other just at the edge of the End Zone, east of the Isles.”
A second later, Blake's image replied, ”Do we have any idea who are they?”
”I suspect that they are most likely one nation or another from the Old World,” said Tavor. ”The probe just dumped a couple of days of surveillance data before it went out of range and our data analysts just spotted them.”
Tavor picked up a copy of the report he forwarded over to Blake and said, ”Sir, if you look at page four, we have three estimated course projections for that unknown force. Estimated time of arrival to our borders is between three days to one week.”
Blake's image looked down as he read the indicated document. ”Have Haven and Far Harbor on DEFCON Orange and the rest on Yellow. We shall see what is their course of action before deciding to raise the DEFCON or lower it.”
”Yes, Sir,” Tavor nodded and he gestured to one of his staff as he quickly scribbled down orders. He handed the slip of paper to the staff who read the note and her face paled slightly before professionalism took over and she hurried off to High Command with the orders.
”And the other unknown?” Tavor asked. ”What do we do? Shall I inform my counterpart in the Isles?”
Blake's image seemed to freeze for a moment before Blake spoke in a soft voice, ”No... Do not inform them of anything... yet... Keep tracking the newcomers, inform me when they reached the borders of the Isles.”
Tavor nodded again before he asked, ”What of the movement of troops at the borders of Mecca?”
”Let them be,” Blake replied. ”We have a couple of companies of Army units garrisoning the border cities. They won't dare to make any moves as long as they see our troops unless they wished to be wiped out...”
”Understood, Sir,” replied Tavor. ”Will you be back in time for the first of the super carrier trials?”
”Shit, is it time already?” Blake sighed as he checked the date. ”I will try to make it back in time if possible... But no guarantees...”
”It would be good for the people to see... you again,” Tavor hinted. ”You know, morale and all...”
”I will try,” Blake sighed again. ”Once things in the northeast have settled down I will return immediately.”