Gate: The New Empire

Chapter 3: The Rising Sun and The Growing Order

Council of the Saderan Empire

Inside the opulent chamber of the Saderan Imperial Palace, Emperor Molt sat upon his elevated throne, flanked by his advisors. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, the councilors whispering among themselves, their expressions a mixture of fear and anger.

"Councilors," Emperor Molt began, his voice firm yet calm, "we have gathered here today to discuss the recent disastrous losses at the gates of Alnus and Velnus. The swift defeat of our forces at both locations is a matter of great concern."

A tall, stern councilor with a greying beard, Lord Grom, stood and addressed the Emperor, "Your Majesty, our legions were utterly routed. The barbarians we faced—those uncivilized invaders—defeated our armies with alarming speed. How could this happen?"

Another councilor, Lady Myra, interjected, "Your Majesty, we must understand the nature of our enemy. The reports indicate that they possess some sort of overwhelming power—perhaps magic—far beyond our comprehension. Their ability to strike so decisively suggests that they were prepared for us."

Emperor Molt frowned. "Magic or not, we cannot afford to underestimate them. Our forces at both gates fell within days. We must take responsibility for our failures and determine how to prevent such losses in the future."

Councilor Falco, visibly agitated, stepped forward. "What of our remaining troops? How can we regroup after such humiliating defeats? We have lost many of our best soldiers. The morale among the remaining legions is at an all-time low."

"The defeat at Alnus was particularly shocking," Grom replied. "We underestimated the enemy's resolve and their ability to coordinate such an overwhelming assault. It was as if they anticipated our every move."

"Indeed," Molt responded, leaning forward. "But what troubles me more is the rapid succession of losses at Velnus. We believed it was the invasion forces we sent, twice as big as the Alnus one, yet they defeated our forces quicker than the enemy at Alnus Hill. And now they have a fortress bigger than our capital city! This raises concerns about the effectiveness of our military strategies."

"Perhaps it is time to consider a new approach," Lady Myra suggested. "We could ask for aid from neighboring kingdoms, pooling our resources to counter these invaders. If we unite, we may stand a chance against their numbers."

"Those kingdoms are weak," Molt countered. "They are nothing more than puppet states, loyal only when it serves their interests. We cannot rely on them. We must fortify our own strength and restore the Empire's honor on our own terms."

"But if we do not act quickly, Your Majesty," Grom cautioned, "the people will lose faith in our leadership. They are already murmuring about our defeats. If we do not strike back soon, we risk losing their support entirely."

Molt's expression hardened. "Panic is not an option. We will show our enemies the strength of the Saderan Empire. We must prepare for a counteroffensive. Let us gather our remaining forces and strategize our next move carefully."

Another councilor, Lord Cedric, spoke up. "And what of the remaining legions we have? We can recruit more if the situation demands it."

"Excellent point," Molt acknowledged. "We will deploy our remaining legions to launch a decisive strike against the Knights in White in Velnus first, then we can attack the Men in Green in Alnus."

"Then it is settled," Lady Myra declared, her voice filled with resolve. "We will not allow these barbarians to dictate the fate of our Empire. We will reclaim our honor!"