Thus Did The Imperium of Mankind Fight There

Part 18 Talks

Meanwhile in the under-construction Imperial Base

Arik Taranis ordered the apparently abhuman princess to his command tent to meet with her. She arrived appearing much healthier than she'd been before and wearing a simple tunic and pants. 

Bowing to the two Thunder Warriors and the Count, she introduced herself. 

"Greetings Honored Lords, I am Princess Alice, niece of Queen Tyuule, heir to the throne of the warrior bunnies."

The abhuman princess named Alice spoke with a cultured tone that displayed a level of tutoring and social training. 

"Hello Princess Alice, you may rise, I am Arik Taranis, leader of this army, do you know why it is that I have summoned you?"

Alice flinched at the question before shaking her head. 

"I'm afraid I do not My Lord," she replied. 

Giving a hard look at Alice before speaking, he said. 

"I summoned you to ask for your cooperation in exchange for aiding your people."

For a moment, Alice was stunned. Stuttering, she replied to the Primarch. 

"Y-You know of the plight of my people."

Nodding, Arik responded, "I am aware, Count Formal here and the prisoners in our custody have informed me of the fate that has befallen your kind."

At his admission, Alice nearly cried, she'd lost hope for years now of ever regaining her freedom or freeing her people. Her kind had been enslaved by the Empire and she still painfully remembered how her Aunt Tyuule sold herself in exchange for her people's freedom, only for that villain Prince Zorzal to break his word. 

She'd only been thirteen at the time and three years of slavery had done little to dull the pain of losing everything she'd ever held close to heart. Choking back sobs, she asked. 

"Y-You truly wish to help my people?"

Nodding again, Arik explained, "Yes, in exchange for your people's freedom after the defeat of the Saderan Empire, your kind shall swear fealty to the Imperium of Mankind and be granted Imperial citizenship."

"B-But my lord, I have nothing to offer you," Alice felt conflicted, she wanted so desperatedly to acceept his offer but she was just one person with no power. Arik, however, explained.

"As I said, Princess, I only require your assistance, my forces now lack numbers and local contacts for support. In one month, I will be able to obtain reinforcements myself but still do not possess the local support necessary to secure compliance after the Saderan Empire has fallen." 

Explaining further, he said.

"You will act as a beacon of hope for those of your kind who have been downtrodden, your people will be the Imperium's eyes and ears in the Saderan Empire itself. What do you say, Princess?" 

Thinking over the Primarch's offer, Alice found it compelling, however, her people had been lied to before, and she needed to ensure these people were being truthful. 

"I am willing to swear allegiance to your Imperium, my lord, but I have one condition first."

Raising his eyebrows, Arik inquired, "What would that be Princess?"

"That you free my aunt in the Saderan Capital." There was silence in the tent after Alice stated her condition before Arik spoke again. 

"Agreed." 

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After Princess Alice and Count Formal left the meeting, Ghota questioned his gene-father. 

"Sir, how are we to free this, Queen Tyuule?"

Thinking over his next course of action, Arik replied., "Has the Sigillite responded to our most recent report?"

Nodding, Ghota responded, "He has Sir, he is just as perplexed at the presence of another Gate here as we are and advises that we wait for the situation to develop further before acting."

"Send him another communicae requesting a Callidus assassin. Order the construction of the airfield be completed as quickly as possible, and have our droptrooper regiments prepare to strike at the Saderan Empire's slave trade centers. Their false emperor has yet to accept our ultimatum, it is time we strike." 

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Back with Reconnaissance Detachment-3 

Minerva approached the Elf who'd spoken to her first and introduced herself. 

"Hello Sir, I am Second-Lieutenant Minerva Antioch, commander of these soldiers. May I have a word with you? 

Hodor introduced himself as well, smiling gratefully. He now had a highly favorable impression of these strange warriors, especially after they'd so kindly helped his remaining people. 

"Hello to you as well Lady Antioch, I am Hodor Marceau, and thank you for all the compassion you and your companions have shown for my people, we are forever in your debt."

Minerva was a bit overwhelmed at being called a lady but responded with composure.

"Don't mention it. We were just passing by and happened to see the dragon and your village, also, what's with calling me a lady?" 

Now slightly confused himself, Hodor asked, "Are you not of high birth Miss Minerva, surely you must be a noble to lead such fine warriors?"

Flushed at being mistaken for a noble, Minerva replied, "Oh, I'm no highborn Mr. Marceau, just a regular citizen of the Imperium."

Curious, Hodor inquired, "Imperium? Is that the nation you serve? I have never heard of an empire by that name. 

Nodding, Minerva said, "Yup, the Imperium of Mankind to be exact, as for why you've never heard of it. Has your village heard the news of a Gate appearing on an Arnus Hill?" 

Hodor was shocked at the implications of her words and questioned hesitantly. "You people are from the other side of the Gate?" 

Nodding, Minerva continued. 

"That's right, but we'll have to place that conversation on the back burner. Right now, you Elves need to get out of here, this place is a charred wreck and there's no telling if and or when that dragon will come back. I've arranged for two of our vehicles and their respective crews to escort you all back to our base on Arnus Hill."

Hodor was shocked once more before pondering over what the Lieutenant had said. Eventually, he sighed and nodded his head solemnly, agreeing. 

"What you ask is no simple task, my people have dwelled in these trees for generations, but your words hold truth, and my people can no longer stay here. However, I must ask, where will your remaining steel beast and soldiers be heading?"

"To the village right outside this forest," Minerva answered.  

Hodor knew which village the human was referring to, Coda village, as it was called, had limited contact with their own village and so made a request. 

"Then Miss Antioch, I request my daughter and I accompany you."

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