Summoning America

Chapter 188: House of Cards (2)

Author's Note:

Want some more military vs fantasy? Check out Manifest Fantasy, my latest and highest quality work! If you've been waiting for chapters to build up, now's the time! Manifest Fantasy has recently broken the 100k word mark, so there's no shortage of content to enjoy!

Read up to three weeks ahead! Chapters up to 191 are now out for corresponding Patreon tiers!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drdoritosmd

Discord: https://discord.gg/wr2xexGJaD 

– –

"I'd like to introduce our newest member. Some of you may be familiar with him: one of the top dogs in the IBC, Marcellon Skaldottir."

Marcellon stepped forward, his polished dress shoes clicking against the floor. He surveyed the room, taking note of the assembled military brass and their guarded expressions. The weight of the moment was not lost on him; the very future of the Gra Valkas Empire hung in the balance.

"General Siegs, gentlemen," Marcellon began, his voice steady and formal, belying the unease that churned beneath his composed exterior. "I am honored to be here, though I must confess, the circumstances that have brought us together are most disconcerting."

He paused, allowing his words to settle in the air. The room was silent, save for the distant ticking of a clock on the wall. Marcellon adjusted his tie, a nervous habit he'd developed over years of delivering broadcasts and managing the intricate workings of the IBC.

"As a loyal servant of the Empire, I have always held fast to the principles of honor and duty. The IBC has been a bastion of these ideals, a guiding light for the people in these trying times. However, recent events have cast a pall over our noble endeavors, and I find myself questioning the very foundation upon which we stand."

Siegs nodded. "Your presence here, Marcellon, speaks to your unwavering commitment to the Empire. We stand united in our pursuit of the truth behind Marix's rule and the restoration of honor to our great nation."

Marcellon felt a flicker of resolve kindle within him. The road ahead would be fraught with peril, a labyrinthine path of secrets and lies that threatened to unravel the very fabric of their society. But he knew, with a certainty that suffused his being, that he could not stand idle in the face of such treachery. If Marix truly usurped power from the Emperor, it would be unforgivable to play along with that narrative.

"Gentlemen, I stand ready to play my part in this most critical of endeavors. Let us begin our work, for the sake of the Empire and all her loyal citizens."

"Marcellon, I trust your journey here was uneventful? Eirik's instructions were clear, I presume?" Siegs asked, his tone a mix of formality and underlying warmth.

Marcellon nodded, recalling the circuitous route he had taken to reach this clandestine gathering. "Yes, General. Eirik was most thorough in his directions. I appreciate the precautions taken to ensure our meeting remains undiscovered."

Siegs acknowledged Marcellon's words with a nod before addressing the group as a whole. "Gentlemen, before we begin, I believe it is important to ensure that we are all on the same page. Marcellon, as our newest member, I invite you to share your thoughts on Chancellor Marix's rule and the current state of the Empire."

Marcellon paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He could feel the eyes of the room upon him, the weight of their expectations pressing down on his shoulders.

"General, gentlemen," Marcellon began, his voice steady and measured. "As the Chief Technical Officer of the Imperial Broadcast Corporation, I have had a unique vantage point from which to observe the workings of our government. In recent months, I have grown increasingly concerned about the direction in which Chancellor Marix is leading our Empire."