Tale of The Broken Sword

Prologue

14 Kilometres approaching Esmerelda, Nation of Aurelia

-12th Skyship Battalion-

The immense light shone upon the silvery walls of Flagship Vauntia’s lower hull, illuminating the tip of the ship's artillery guns in its beam. The skyship had just finished its monthly patrol along the Cordia Line that separated the nation of Aurelia and its long-time enemy, the Ansteig Empire. Immediately after the First War that erupted between these two, leading nations of the Steiffer Region ( The fact that only two nations remain on the island continent ) , the Cordia Line was established to stop any further attacks from their northern counterparts.

Now that the line was heavily reinforced, the Empire couldn’t dare to lay a finger on the soils of Aurelia, for now. Since then, peace had been all over the region, at least in the Aurelian Government’s perspective. Nevertheless, they still kept their eyes and ears towards the Empire’s border, seeking out any movements that might indicate that the other side could’ve sent in their proxies to sabotage the Cordia Line.

In this purpose of guarding the airspace of the Cordia Line as well as an intelligence mission of some sort held out by the Council Officers, Frigate-Class Skyship Vauntia was assigned and this did not please its crew including its own captain, Veneria Wisla. She and her own men had been through yet another round of a three-day patrol along the Cordia Line’s eastern border a week ago and now they had been posted again in the same Line.

“Approaching the city of Esmerelda, ma’am,” One of the ship’s bridge officer spoke as he flipped every switch on the panel, making sure that everything is in its place. The captain nodded and she leaned forward and away from her seat, observing the city as it emerges out of the horizon. A moment later, she grinned and muttered:

“It’s great to be back at home.”

As the skyship reached within a certain distance from the docking bay, one of her subordinates engaged the ship’s systems to lower the docking clamps on each side of the ship. The ship descended onto the docking bay before a loud knock is heard on its side, signalling that the clamps had held on to the enormous dock holders.

“Portside.” Veneria said to the officer, directing him to report the clamps current condition.

“All locked and ready.” He immediately replied.

“Starboard side.”

“Starboard side is functioning well.”

Captain Veneria stood up and walked towards the door, exiting the bridge as the crew began to leave their post. The Council had promised them a two-week’s worth of leave absence, and Veneria was pretty damn sure she would get the rest she’d deserved.

But deep in her mind, she felt a sense of responsibility in protecting her own nation. And she knew the Cordia Line would not hold out as long as the Council think it would be. In fact, there might be saboteurs now, hiding in the depths of her ship or even in the sodden trenches of the Line covered in barbed wires and fortified artillery guns. They’re just waiting for the exact moment to blast it all away and subjugating the necessary ones that could turn the tide of the impending war.

Then, the Empire’s army could just walk right in and wipe out the entire country, starting with Esmerelda as it is the nearest city to the Cordia Line. Veneria feared that, she feared everything that has got to do with the Empire.

As she walked towards the air bridge that leads to the terminal, she couldn’t restrain herself from all those thoughts. Moments later, her lips broke free from her mind and she quietly muttered to herself:

“Pray that our country will not burn under the flag of the Empire.”

“Ma’am?” One of her crew said to her, instantly snapping the captain out of her thoughts. Veneria looked at her and flung an answer to the officer:

“It’s nothing. Go on.”

Veneria kept to herself. Her fears are slowly encroaching into her mind. Calming herself, she slowly walked away from her ship. Thinking that only time would tell when and what.