Recovering

Continued from GS vs Progen Cruiser


Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Recovery
Location: Imerial Palace Tagnus
Timeline: 10043 AF (After Fall)
Tag: FJ7
Content: PG-13

Falconous Jakal lay in his bed at the Imperial Palace, a swarm of doctors studying his charts, mumbling to themselves. He lay with a arm behind his head, staring out the window. Being kept indoors at all times was not what he thought of as fun, ever. The loss of Flin Novem in the attack was a heavy thought on his mind for the last few days now. He had ordered there be no visitors, except for the doctors, but they were more nuisances than visitors. The dull roar created by the doctors began to wear on his patience.

"Gentlemen," All in the room quieted. "I understand that you are only looking out for my best interests and health, but I must ask for you all to take you leave for the remainder of the day."

Though the look of protest were on all of their faces, they all humbly bowed and left Falconous Jakal in peace with his thoughts. He closed his eyes for a moment but did not get much rest before there was a knock at the door.

"I asked not to be disturbed." The door unlatched and slowly swung open to produce Balanna squeezing through the opening. "Now how did you get past my guards?" He inquired.

I am trained in all sorts of coercion techniques. You think a few guards are going to think I am an assassin? Besides, I told them to move, and they did." She came up and sat on a chair next to him, her face turning serious once again. "How are you doing My Lord Falconous?"

"I am doing as good as can be expected." He replied.

"My Lord Falconous, I know the last thing you want to think of right now is matters of state, but the commanders are wanting to talk with you. I will not let them in if you ask, but your guards I think will let them pass as they have me." She inclined her head toward the door. "They are being most insistent."

He gave her a half smile, "They are not going to go away until they talk with me are they?"

Balanna smiled back, "Mitianna and Gudd are in a frenzy they have not seen you since your return, so I would say there is no way either of them are going home by order or by force until they speak with you and see for themselves that you are indeed up to health. And Midori keeps going on and on about getting her ship resupplied with the RIGHT kind of ammunition..... I think she is just as worried as the other two."

Falconous sighed heavily, "Well then please tell them I will grant them an audience."

Balanna stood and left the room, mumblings of the guards could be heard as she pushed past them. By the time she had returned with Midori, Mitianna and Gudd, Falconous had dressed and sat himself at the table.

"Please come in and sit. Balanna, please ask the servant to bring in some refreshments." Balanna turned and tended to what was asked of her.

"My Lord, why are you out of bed, I talked to the doctors only minutes ago and they said you were still bed-ridden." Mitianna said in a hurry.

Gudd added, "You really do need to follow the orders of your doctors and get back to full health for our people, My Lord."

"Doctors are doctors for a reason, they know what is best for your recovery." Midori stated with a smile.

Falconous held up a hand to quiet them. "I am well enough that any longer in that bed was going to drive my insane. I need to move around, not waste away in bed. Now, what is this business you wanted to talk to me about? What is so urgent?"

They all paused and turned toward the door and Balanna and another woman brought in two trays of food and water. "Thank you." Falconous said and the servant bowed and retreated through the door.

Drinks were poured and plates were filled before Gudd started, "My Lord, this unfortunate incidence has shown us just how fragile our Empire is. Were you to have died in that fight, we would have been left with no leader, no structure."

"Bah!" Falconous interrupted, "There is enough structure in place to run the whole empire and then some."

Balanna shook her head. "My Lord Falconous, no amount of structure can replace a great leader, your people need a leader, not a structured government with no head. You are the people's heart and mind, without you, our Empire will waste away."

Falconous looked from one to the other, Gudd had a look of worry etched deep in the lines of his face, Balanna showed only a fraction of what Gudd projected. He looked to Mitianna to see not worry but pain, the pain that comes from someone who has lost something dear to them.

It was Mitianna who voiced the real reason they were there. "My Lord, the three of us strongly urge your to start your search for a wife and give the Empire an heir. This Empire is run off of the seat of the Shogun, and while your father was killed, you were old enough to take the Empire and continue where he left off."

"There is great wisdom in being prepared for the future and looking to the welfare of your people if anything were to happen." Midori said.

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Recovery
Location: Imerial Palace Tagnus
Timeline: 10043 AF (After Fall)
Tag: FJ7
Content: PG-13

Falconous sat back in his chair with a thud, as if the whole of the world was dropped on his shoulders. "You want me to get married, to find a wife from the masses out there? How do you expect this to be done? Date? I have little enough time to run an Empire, much less take a woman to dinner."

"Well, there is no easy way to say this, My Lord Falconous," Balanna answered. "We think that it is best if we go with tradition on this and have the women or their fathers approach you and state their case to you to choose from. We will have 3 days to spread the word, three days to choose, and three days of celebration before the wedding."

"I know that this seems harsh and hard to swallow, My Lord," Gudd continued. "But these are not the best of times as we have just seen, our system will not be a safe place forever, and we need to ensure that our leadership is safe so that your people will fight on with resolve."

Mitianna nodded in agreement, the pain on her face was lightened slightly, but was still present when she spoke. "A lengthy courtship is not feasible now, My Lord. We all feel that you must act now."

They all were silent as they watched him for a response. He weakly rose, shrugging off the offered help and made his way to stand in front of the great window overlooking the gardens of the palace. "Leave me." was all he said.

"Yes, My Lord." They all said in unison, bowed and retreated as one through the door.

Midori held back a moment, and when the others had left, said softly, "You may find the one you are looking for closer than you think."

--------------------------------------------------

One week after the confrontation with his command staff, Falconous reluctantly gave the order to spread the news; Shogun Falconous Jakal 132nd Shogun of the Galactic Shogunate Empire will be taking audience in efforts to find a wife.

Falconous scowled as the last of the messengers left the Imperial Palace great room. His mood had been most foul for the entire day and this seemed to have darkened it greatly.

He looked over to Balanna, "What is the status on Kason's research?"

"My Lord Falconous, he is nearly done with implementing the computer system that will run the space docks." Balanna bowed slightly as she finished.

He then turned his attention to Mitianna. "What news of the tank and exoskeleton schedule?"

"My Lord, we are ahead of schedule by 3 tanks and 1 exoskeleton." She replied

"Admiral Gudd, what of the ships in dock? What is the completion date for them?" He said not looking at his Admiral.

"My Lord, the 4 cruisers were scheduled to be completed by the end of next month, but with the estimates that Kason gave me, they should be completed 3 weeks earlier." Gudd Answered.

"Though it may not seem like it now, but I wish for you all to be here when they start to show up. You have my leave until that time." Falconous stood and dismissed his staff before leaving the hall.

--------------------------------------------------

In the far corner of the Great Hall, the announcement rang out across the floor so everyone could hear. "Presenting his Imperial Highness, 132nd Shogun of the Galactic Shogunate Empire, Falconous Jakal!"

The room erupted in a roar of cheers as Falconous entered through the rear archway and took his place on the raised dais. His polished black and gold armor shone brilliantly in the excellent lighting that was focused on him from multiple point around the room. He sat down in the overly ornamented chair and raised his hand to silence the room.

"I thank you all for coming here today." He began. "This is a joyous occasion that I have called you all here, Today I meet many how aspire to be your Empress and my wife. It is a heavy role to fill and it will not be an easy road to travel by my side. The people of this Empire deserve a strong woman that they can look to for guidance, for empathy and for an heir!"

The Room once again roared in cheers. Falconous held his hand up, once more quieting the room. "Please allow the first prospect to step forward."

And from that moment on for three days, the announcer announced women from all parts of the empire and some from the stations bordering other planets in the system. It was all a blur for Falconous, the next one seemed as shallow as the last one. They were all pretty, but not one had the depth and substance that he thought the empire needed.

Everything was a resounding repetition until the very last was allowed to come forward. An old man in battle armor of the time of his father stood in front of him, helmet under his left arm. Falconous began to rise when the old man raised his hand.

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Recovery
Location: Imerial Palace Tagnus
Timeline: 10043 AF (After Fall)
Tag: FJ7
Content: PG-13

"Please, My Lord, do not rise for this battle weary soldier." Falconous hesitantly sat back down on the edge of his seat. "I do not come to you for myself, for a favor from past deeds, or even for plight that has befallen my family. I come to you for someone who cannot, who's position in your court does not allow her to stand in front of you now in my stead."

"Please speak what you will, Venerable Warrior." Falconous said giving the aged warrior his due respect.

"There is a person among your ranking members of government that has never had any thought or interest for any other man since the age of 15. She has served you faithfully and impartial to her feelings to you. Her service and honor being chosen to her position was worth more to her and her family's honor than her own personal longings. She has loved you from the beginning." The old warrior sighed.

"Please, Venerable Warrior, tell me who this woman is you speak of." Falconous was almost pleading for the man.

The man stood even taller, his head was held high as he answered, "My Lord, the woman I come to you for is my daughter, Mitianna Marks."

Falconous tensed up at hearing the name of his general being brought up in this occasion. Without turning to any of the others gathered, he stood and walked toward the warrior. Falconous placed one hand upon his shoulder and thanked him.

Returning to his seat, Falconous raised his voice for all to hear, "This concludes the first of the Trilogy of Marriage. I thank you all Once again and I will have an answer to all of your requests in three days time." He turned and walked passed those standing behind him, his advisers and commanders.

No one moved for a moment until Mitianna scowled at her father and stormed out the opposite archway, away from all eyes, so she can cry in peace.

-----------------------------------------------------

"Presenting his Imperial Highness, 132nd Shogun of the Galactic Shogunate Empire, Falconous Jakal!" Came the now familiar announcement from the corner of the room.

Falconous walked out to his dais and stayed standing. Before him stood all of the indistinguishable faces that he had seem and talked to for three days. Only one would be his wife, only one would be the new Empress, and only one was not indistinguishable.

Falconous stepped toward the mass, the ladies gasped as he started down the center of the hall. By the time he had reached the other end, the tension in the room had grown eerily thick. He turned suddenly and another gasp escaped many throats.

Falconous, with a sense of purpose thundered up the walkway and bound up the dais, he took Mitianna's hand and nelt to one knee.

"Mitianna Marks, it would be my greatest honor if you were to take my as you husband. What say you?"

Gudd, who was standing next to her, had to place a hand on her back to hold her up as her legs threatened to give out from under her. She looked into Falconous's eyes and saw what she had always wanted to see. He had loved her as well from the beginning. She opened her mouth but at that moment her voice escaped her.

She cleared her throat and replied softly, "It would be my honor, My Lord."

Cheers resounded the room and Falconous stood and placed one hand behind her neck and pulled her into a deep kiss.

The next three days were spent in celebration of the union soon to come. Falconous and Mitianna were lost in each other the entire time. Neither of them knew that they had shared the same feelings but kept them hidden from each other and everyone else around then for the sake of professional appearances and honor. Both found it odd that it took an old soldier to show them the way to their own happiness.

The ceremony came and passed and they were finally husband and wife. They stood in front of each other in their bed chambers. Mitianna's red hair was weaved with braids, her long hair in the back extended to past her mid back. The front of her veil was tossed over the back of her head to reveal a stunning tiara holding the hair out of her face. Her rosy lips pouted ever so slightly as she invited a kiss.

Falconous stood tall, his deep purple cape fell from his shoulders. The polished black armor nearly glowed with the reflection of all the candles lit in the room. His helmet with the falcon emblazoned the front like a beacon of his house. The worn, black hilts of his twin ceremonial katanas stood up over each shoulder. He leaned in to kiss her, pulled her into him with an arm around the waist.

Their moment had finally come. No worries, no stresses of office, no command. For once in their lives it was one man and one woman, sharing in the moment that lovers do. And in that moment, each felt complete, finally, never to be alone again.


Continued with Taking Control