The Strength of England

~9~

The sight of soldiers lining the distance between them was unnerving for Arthur. They hadn't moved since they came to Roderich's border. He heard him conversing with Ludwig and Gilbert in German as the others lie in wait over what would happen next.

"Dude it's too quiet. I don't like it." Alfred said standing next to him.

"According to the Russian and Chinese surveillance, they've been sitting there since we moved into place yesterday." Feli added.

Arthur sighed, "There's nothing from the Air?"

"Hercules, Lien, and Abram say the same as the other two. It's quiet." Kiku replied.

"What the bloody hell are they up to?" He peered into the binoculars once more.

Soldiers standing erect as higher ups walked up and down the lines. There wasn't anything out of line with them. Uniform were neat and their faces hidden, their colors stood proud upon their chests with a strange symbol he couldn't yet make out. The wait and worry was truly taking its toll on him. Placing the binoculars back, he pulled the small flask he had hidden away and sipped the tea within. He was surprised Juliet did that as she slipped it in his coat as she kissed him goodbye.

"Arthur!" someone called to him.

Glancing back, Francis waved him over to the communications table as the others gathered around it.

"What the blazes is going on now?" he thought.

Once at the table, he saw the layout of the group and themselves. The thin veil that held the very balance of war on hold. "We have gotten a message from their two leaders, they want to speak with us."

"Speak with us?" they all said.

"Oui. And not over a phone. Personally." Francis said, looking over the plans once more.

"So, you are saying that we have to go over there and speak with the enemy?" Ludwig asked, "Are you insane?"

"Monsieur!" a soldier ran up to Francis with a note in hand.

Arthur, along with the others, waited to see what was sent, "They say they will back down. No need for fire or fights. Just conversation. To know the enemy."

"Oh, well why not. Let's also give them tea, make it even cheerier." Arthur spoke as he tried to keep his mouth shut with his real thoughts.

"As good as your sarcasm is my friend, I don't think we have much options." Alfred pointed out.

Moments passed as they all sat there, weighing the pros and cons of the thought but in all, as Alfred said, there was no backing out without either initiating war or surrendering. Now they stood open upon the field, all eight of them. Roderich and Gilbert ready at their commands to fire if things turned sour. Arthur could feel the sweat drip down his brow as they approached the two figures before them, this was worse than Normandy with nerves.

Finally, they were before the two men. Arthur wasn't sure what to think of the two of them. They seemed so modern, so universal really. Their gray uniforms were a blend of their eight. As if they were trying to make a reason to show them.

"Hello gentlemen, I am Doss." the sharper of the two said, he pointed to the darker skinned man, "And this is Alpha."

"Gotta Omega hiding back there too?" he heard Alfred mutter under his breath.

Arthur gave a sharp jab to his ribs as Doss laughed. "Now, now. We do not want to start war just yet."

"Then what holds you back?" Ivan asked.