Hells Bells

Diplomacy and Madness

"Who can deny your invitation, when half the US navy is off your coast."

Admiral Jamison O'Neil, During Operation Setting Sun. The invasion of Hong Kong during World War 3 in May of 2024.

Originally Written in 2022

August 3, 2025. Taipei, Taiwan. Azeal Dimension.

An imposing fleet lays still in the calm waters of the Taiwan strait, their guns trained on the peaceful scene of Taipei. An Osprey bearing the presidential seal lifts off from one of the fleets carriers, with its escorts, making their way to the city. The mood in Marine 1 is a sour one, with many in the security force urging the president to rethink his decision. All Stokins does is light a cigar and look out to the city of Taipei. The helicopters land just outside the Congressional Building, while the escorts turn back for the fleet with the arrival of Taiwanese jets to pick up aerial security. The entourage exit the helicopter. The president of Taiwan meets them with her entourage, but before she has a chance to shake hands with Stokins. Soldiers from one of the Chinooks that accompanied them, blocked her path. The president hits the commanding officer over the head, apologizing to his counterpart.

STOKINS: After an assassination attempt by would be revolutionaries, they have become annoying to deal with when it comes to my safety.

They shake hands. The delegations from every nation in the Azeal are meeting on this island with a government from another world that brought a rising Japanese Empire to its knees. The auditorium is alive with chatter and rumors. The room is brought to silence by the Taiwanese representatives.

TR: We will begin these negotiations with a summary of events leading to this.

STOKINS: that will not be necessary, as I do not have the time for a prolonged meeting we'll get right into it.

The president stands up with a piece of paper in his hand.

STOKINS: The United States of America, is willing to continue the fruit trade as it originally was. But for this to happen we require 4 things, 2 of these things are up to debate. All trade bought from this world is to be halved in price, Men are to be treated equally and not like second class citizens.

The auditorium is filled with objections and outcry. Those who remain silent are those from North America and Central Europe. The president receives a blow to his back, the delegation looks to their back. The room quiets down at the scene of a threat to a person who should not be trifled.

IRISH REP: And why should we let those hunks of stolen air be treated equally? They don't offer anything but free labor at most.

Soldiers from the security detail unsling their rifles and begin to surround the room. Stokins cuts off the Irish Rep with the snap of his fingers, while waving off the detail back to a passive mode. He turns back to the auditorium.

STOKINS: 3 is the free movement of our military in case one of our conflicts spreads to this realm. Finally 4 is the complete abolition of any military element composed of only power wielders. The 2nd and 4th terms are non negotiable.

Stokins sits back down, staring daggers into the representative from the Japanese Empire, she also gives the same glare.

STOKINS: You may begin counter offers to the 1st and 3rd terms.

The auditorium erupts in major debates, with the hosts trying to calm them down. All Stokins can do is smile, kick back and relight his cigar.

August 6, 2025. Innerworld. American Military Zone. Base Aquila. Yensom Federation.

REPORTER: Japan honors the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on the 80th anniversary of the event.

The tv plays on in the background. Wyte scribbles on a piece of paper, while Rivet pours his coffee. Wyte stays focused until something from the TV catches his attention.

WYTE: Turn it up.

RIvet grabs the remote, turning it up.

REPORTER: Operations in a dimension designated 287 have been confirmed by the White House. The embassy staff in that world were taken captive, with a special operation having to take place to recover them. The casualties remained low, but a destroyer landing in the waters of Hampton Roads on fire, has once again stoked public fervor against any new conflicts. The White House has refused further comment.

Wyte leans back in his chair. Breathing a hefty sigh.

WYTE: That reminds me, I have something to do. Can you please leave Rivet.

Rivet nods her head and leaves the room, placing a do not disturb sign on the doorknob.

WYTE: Come out Goddess of Plague.

One of the books on the bookshelf near his desk lights up, with golden dust traveling in front of the desk. A girl with wings appears in front of him, with the bullet hole still prominent on her forehead.

CHARZIN: You called?

WYTE: There wasn't a labyrinth in dimension 287. So you made me Para jump to my death for no reason.

The god chuckles to herself.

CHARZIN: If only we held the conversation in my book, you would've had more than ten minutes for questions.

WYTE: last time I held a meeting in that realm, you tried to kill me... Twice. But you're right it was my fault for not letting you explain it further.

Wyte takes a sip of coffee.

WYTE: Now let's get to it. Odin has informed me that the investigation on the labyrinths have concluded, as there are no more in any of the dimensions we know of... so that leaves the question, how did you get to 24 with.... no.... labyrinth?

A tense feeling settles on the commander's shoulders. He shuffles a bit in his chair.

CHARZIN: The book is how I was exiled. Litzain upon finding out about my plans to counter hers, sealed me into the book and had father cast me to that realm. Since Litzain is still suffering from plague she couldn't tell you that.

The tense feeling worsens as he narrows his eyes with an uncharacteristic scowl forming on his face.

CHARZIN: Also the fact you left my book in the gods, made the effects of the plague worse to the point it can affect the gods. Demons not falling ill, made my plans fail. Their intense body temperature was unaccounted for.

The book flings out from the shelf, onto the floor. Golden particles surround the god once more. Wyte stands up and draws his colt single action from his desk drawer. Her voice echoed through the room like bells.

CHARZIN: Until we meet again, Litzains dog, Wyte Blechin.

The goddess smirks and disappears. The tense feeling disappears. Rivet and a few MPs stand outside the commander's office, unsure if they should enter now that the feeling has ended. Noises coming from the office cause them to enter. The scene before them is a destroyed office, with the commander in the center sitting on his flipped over desk, death gripping his sidearm. The TV still plays in the background even though it had a chair thrown at it.

REPORTER: We conclude this news report with the Innerworld. Peace has been secured, but information caught by our reporter in the world. Have given light to potential further instability in the Yensom Federation by the neighboring country of Hillion, which may fully invade the country to take advantage of the chaos caused by the treaty. This has been the Interdimensional News Network

The Tv is turned off. The commander tosses the remote in front of him, he turns to the group of concerned subordinates.

WYTE: It seems I have majorly miscalculated how non important these past few months were.

He stands up and walks over to them. Putting his revolver into Rivet's hands, brushing past the rest of the group.

WYTE: Rivet you know where that goes. I'm going to cool off.