Re: SDNW4 Story Thread 1
Posted: 2010-08-21 09:59pm
(OOC: Now that my internet connection is back up, we can continue our little story)
![Image](http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm221/Magister_Militum/800px-Surfaceorbit-1.jpg)
Approaching Nouveau France
IFS Terrible
Fourth French Empire
The superdreadnought Terrible, now the flagship of HIM Louis-Napoleon II, plowed through the dark void to the heart of the Grand Empire, Nouveau France. News having traveled fast within the government and military, the Admiralty had dispatched the entirety of the Third Fleet to reinforce the battlegroup Louis-Napoleon had been personally commanding and provide a proper escort for France’s new emperor. Now, said fleet was joined by elements of the Home Fleet, the guardian of the core sectors, as it coasted through to the capital. For naval buffs, the sight of so many warships of such desperate make and size would have immensely impressive and awe-inspiring, a testament to the shipwrights of the Empire and its Star Navy.
Louis-Napoleon had little time to marvel at such a force. The time spent en route via hyperspace was mostly consumed by work, most of it devoted to the dealings of an emperor. A new cabinet would need to be formed soon, while foreign policy issues, now a top priority due to the return of France from its isolation, would have to be addressed soon. The latter concerned him the most. Louis-Napoleon wasn’t so much worried about Anglia – relations were cordial enough – than he was of the Ascendency and Prussia. The former had a very prickly relationship with the mother country for centuries, and, while relations had normalized, one could never know what could be going through their heads. And then there were the Prussians, who were always a wildcard. Those things could wait, at least for the next few days. Right now, France needed to mourn its departed Emperor and look to its new Emperor for guidance.
The pinnace carrying Louis-Napoleon left the hangar of the Terrible and toward Nouveau France, with a cloud of starfighters and gunboats escorting the spacecraft. Gliding though the atmosphere, the pinnace descended to the Palais de Tuileries, the Imperial palace and seat of power for the executive branch, in the bustling megalopolis that is Paris. Setting down on one of the landing pads, the boarding ramp descended from the spacecraft, with members of the Imperial family, key ministers, and an honor guard waiting for His Imperial Majesty.
“Your Majesty,” said Montesquieu as his holographic form bowed. “It is good that you arrived safely from Rapture. You have my condolences on your loss.”
“Thank you, Montesquieu,” replied Louis-Napoleon.
“I do realize that this may not be the most appropriate time, but have you given any thought to your regal name? The public and the galaxy at large will need to know soon enough.”
“Well, Louis-Napoleon II has a nice ring to it,” said the Emperor with a faint smile.
“Of course. Your mother and Her Majesty the Empress Consort are with your father’s body at the Palace of the Invalids. I’ll arrange for you to visit as soon as you take care of some business that needs your attention.”
“Fine,” said Louis-Napoleon as he came across his brother, Prince Marshal-General Henri Yves Bonaparte-Bourbon, within the Imperial entourage. “Henri, I didn’t expect you to be here.”
“I decided that I should be here when our new Emperor has arrived, Your Majesty. That, and I needed some time away from all the mourning,” said the head of Special Activities. A product of the very organization that he now oversaw, the Marshal-General was an augmented esper, a psychic assassin whose abilities were enhanced through cybernetics and genetic engineering. Louis-Napoleon had no idea as to how many people his brother had killed – Henri didn’t like going into the details – but apparently he was good enough at his job to eventually head Special Activities regardless of his position as second in line to the Lilies Throne.
“Don’t call me Your Majesty, Henri. We’re brothers, and the fact that I’m Emperor has not changed that.”
“Yes, but I’m an officer of the Grande Armée and you’re now the Generalissimus of the Armed Forces. At least when I’m in this uniform, protocol is the order of the day, sir.”
Louis-Napoleon mumbled something as he entered the palace and moved throughout its massive and elegant interiors. “So, what’s going on? Montesquieu said that there was something that our father never acted on and needs my approval.”
Both men entered one of the hyperlifts to the Cabinet Chamber of the Palace. “Diplomatic stuff, from what I’ve heard. From what Montesquieu has said, you need to be brought to speed regarding the changes France is undergoing, though you of all people are well aware of those changes. In particular, there's the issue of some old friends of ours.”
Cabinet Chamber, Palais de Tuileries
Paris, Nouveau France
Fourth French Empire
“...In addition, our recent emergence has had some interesting reactions with our immediate neighbors,” said Comte Greet Boerboom, Minister of Foreign Affairs from his seat in the meeting hall. “The three biggest issues relations with the Ascendency, Prussia, and Anglia. Anglia shouldn’t be an issue; relations between our two nations have been cordial for a very long time and that is not expected to change. The two wild cards, however, are the Ascendency and Prussia.
The Ascendency has always had a... interesting relationship with the Empire, as your ancestors can attest to. The death of Jean-Baptiste IV has produced a number of reactions among the aristocrats in charge, including those ranging from terror at the thought of a resurgent France, smug contempt for their ‘former oppressive masters’, and actual sympathy for our loss and a hope for a continuing of healthy relations. Fortunately, those favoring peace with France are in the majority, but, depending on our actions, that could easily change.”
“It’s not in our interest to backslide on Ascendency relations. They have the potential to be a powerful ally, and that is worth pursuing. Besides, I doubt my father will appreciate me going about and making enemies with every power in our backyard. What about the Prussians? We weren’t exactly on the most favorable terms.”
Boerboom took a drag from his cigarette. “So far, Prussian reaction to our return has been muted, mostly due to their preoccupation with a Neo-Fascist rouge statelet in the New Rhineland sector. Within the coming months, however, that could easily change. Relations have improved, but they’ll always be wary of our intentions, especially given the circumstances that led to our last military skirmish. I believe it would be prudent to keep an arms-length stance and see what happens in the coming months.”
Louis-Napoleon nodded. “Agreed. In the mean time, we should begin sending feelers out to the rest of the galaxy and start opening up diplomatic relations. And what of my father's funeral?”
“That is being taken care of, Your Majesty,” said Montesquieu. “The announcement has been made and invitations have been sent out to all nations. It's scheduled for two weeks from now.”
“Good. I know that many of you plan to retire now that my father is gone, and I am truly grateful for your assistance, but I hope that you can all stay along until a new cabinet is formed. This meeting is adjured. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone I need to visit."
![Image](http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm221/Magister_Militum/800px-Surfaceorbit-1.jpg)
Approaching Nouveau France
IFS Terrible
Fourth French Empire
The superdreadnought Terrible, now the flagship of HIM Louis-Napoleon II, plowed through the dark void to the heart of the Grand Empire, Nouveau France. News having traveled fast within the government and military, the Admiralty had dispatched the entirety of the Third Fleet to reinforce the battlegroup Louis-Napoleon had been personally commanding and provide a proper escort for France’s new emperor. Now, said fleet was joined by elements of the Home Fleet, the guardian of the core sectors, as it coasted through to the capital. For naval buffs, the sight of so many warships of such desperate make and size would have immensely impressive and awe-inspiring, a testament to the shipwrights of the Empire and its Star Navy.
Louis-Napoleon had little time to marvel at such a force. The time spent en route via hyperspace was mostly consumed by work, most of it devoted to the dealings of an emperor. A new cabinet would need to be formed soon, while foreign policy issues, now a top priority due to the return of France from its isolation, would have to be addressed soon. The latter concerned him the most. Louis-Napoleon wasn’t so much worried about Anglia – relations were cordial enough – than he was of the Ascendency and Prussia. The former had a very prickly relationship with the mother country for centuries, and, while relations had normalized, one could never know what could be going through their heads. And then there were the Prussians, who were always a wildcard. Those things could wait, at least for the next few days. Right now, France needed to mourn its departed Emperor and look to its new Emperor for guidance.
The pinnace carrying Louis-Napoleon left the hangar of the Terrible and toward Nouveau France, with a cloud of starfighters and gunboats escorting the spacecraft. Gliding though the atmosphere, the pinnace descended to the Palais de Tuileries, the Imperial palace and seat of power for the executive branch, in the bustling megalopolis that is Paris. Setting down on one of the landing pads, the boarding ramp descended from the spacecraft, with members of the Imperial family, key ministers, and an honor guard waiting for His Imperial Majesty.
“Your Majesty,” said Montesquieu as his holographic form bowed. “It is good that you arrived safely from Rapture. You have my condolences on your loss.”
“Thank you, Montesquieu,” replied Louis-Napoleon.
“I do realize that this may not be the most appropriate time, but have you given any thought to your regal name? The public and the galaxy at large will need to know soon enough.”
“Well, Louis-Napoleon II has a nice ring to it,” said the Emperor with a faint smile.
“Of course. Your mother and Her Majesty the Empress Consort are with your father’s body at the Palace of the Invalids. I’ll arrange for you to visit as soon as you take care of some business that needs your attention.”
“Fine,” said Louis-Napoleon as he came across his brother, Prince Marshal-General Henri Yves Bonaparte-Bourbon, within the Imperial entourage. “Henri, I didn’t expect you to be here.”
“I decided that I should be here when our new Emperor has arrived, Your Majesty. That, and I needed some time away from all the mourning,” said the head of Special Activities. A product of the very organization that he now oversaw, the Marshal-General was an augmented esper, a psychic assassin whose abilities were enhanced through cybernetics and genetic engineering. Louis-Napoleon had no idea as to how many people his brother had killed – Henri didn’t like going into the details – but apparently he was good enough at his job to eventually head Special Activities regardless of his position as second in line to the Lilies Throne.
“Don’t call me Your Majesty, Henri. We’re brothers, and the fact that I’m Emperor has not changed that.”
“Yes, but I’m an officer of the Grande Armée and you’re now the Generalissimus of the Armed Forces. At least when I’m in this uniform, protocol is the order of the day, sir.”
Louis-Napoleon mumbled something as he entered the palace and moved throughout its massive and elegant interiors. “So, what’s going on? Montesquieu said that there was something that our father never acted on and needs my approval.”
Both men entered one of the hyperlifts to the Cabinet Chamber of the Palace. “Diplomatic stuff, from what I’ve heard. From what Montesquieu has said, you need to be brought to speed regarding the changes France is undergoing, though you of all people are well aware of those changes. In particular, there's the issue of some old friends of ours.”
Cabinet Chamber, Palais de Tuileries
Paris, Nouveau France
Fourth French Empire
“...In addition, our recent emergence has had some interesting reactions with our immediate neighbors,” said Comte Greet Boerboom, Minister of Foreign Affairs from his seat in the meeting hall. “The three biggest issues relations with the Ascendency, Prussia, and Anglia. Anglia shouldn’t be an issue; relations between our two nations have been cordial for a very long time and that is not expected to change. The two wild cards, however, are the Ascendency and Prussia.
The Ascendency has always had a... interesting relationship with the Empire, as your ancestors can attest to. The death of Jean-Baptiste IV has produced a number of reactions among the aristocrats in charge, including those ranging from terror at the thought of a resurgent France, smug contempt for their ‘former oppressive masters’, and actual sympathy for our loss and a hope for a continuing of healthy relations. Fortunately, those favoring peace with France are in the majority, but, depending on our actions, that could easily change.”
“It’s not in our interest to backslide on Ascendency relations. They have the potential to be a powerful ally, and that is worth pursuing. Besides, I doubt my father will appreciate me going about and making enemies with every power in our backyard. What about the Prussians? We weren’t exactly on the most favorable terms.”
Boerboom took a drag from his cigarette. “So far, Prussian reaction to our return has been muted, mostly due to their preoccupation with a Neo-Fascist rouge statelet in the New Rhineland sector. Within the coming months, however, that could easily change. Relations have improved, but they’ll always be wary of our intentions, especially given the circumstances that led to our last military skirmish. I believe it would be prudent to keep an arms-length stance and see what happens in the coming months.”
Louis-Napoleon nodded. “Agreed. In the mean time, we should begin sending feelers out to the rest of the galaxy and start opening up diplomatic relations. And what of my father's funeral?”
“That is being taken care of, Your Majesty,” said Montesquieu. “The announcement has been made and invitations have been sent out to all nations. It's scheduled for two weeks from now.”
“Good. I know that many of you plan to retire now that my father is gone, and I am truly grateful for your assistance, but I hope that you can all stay along until a new cabinet is formed. This meeting is adjured. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone I need to visit."