The Mech Touch

only Hexer-aligned state in an ocean of Coalition-aligned states. ” Calabast reminded Gloriana.
”During the centuries of peace, this situation persisted without much friction because the Fridaymen never showed much interest in this little stain on their maps. ”

”The Komodo War changed all of this, I take it. ” Gloriana guessed.

Calabast nodded.
”The Ylvaine Protectorate took on another meaning to the Fridaymen after the war broke out.
Even though it is an inconsequential third-rate state, its inconvenient placement poses a considerable threat against its dominion over the Coalition-aligned states! It is a liability that has to be removed! ”

”If you could figure that out, then why didn ’t you guard against this possible betrayal? ”

”I did! ” Calabast defended herself! ”As I ’ve mentioned before, I built up an extensive information network in the Ylvainan government in order to be on the lookout for any overtures to the Fridaymen.
What I didn ’t take sufficiently into account was the possibility that the government forged ties with them in advance! I fear that most of my clandestine actions have been exposed because the Fridaymen have placed their own spies in the Ylvainan government to work on counterintelligence! ”

In other words, Calabast entered a spider web weaved by the Fridaymen without knowing it! She had been caught in the web while being none the wiser!

Gloriana frowned and rubbed her chin.
”Okay, I understand why the Coalition would target the Protectorate, but why did the Protectorate play along? The will of the Ylvainan people is highly in favor of Ves! The government should never be able to get away with their actions! ”

”The three leading dynasties have a responsibility to protect the Ylvainan people and preserve the Ylvainan Faith. ” The spy explained.
”While the Ylvainans can come across as dogmatic, do you really think the leaders of the Protectorate are ready to doom their entire state, people and fate in order to stand up to their own beliefs? Between total annihilation and selling out their Bright Martyr, the latter sounds a lot more attractive! ”

”What about their people?! A huge proportion of the Ylvainan population would definitely be in up arms against this betrayal! ”

”The leaders know that. ” Calabast shook her head.
”It appears they have implemented two separate measures.
First, they instituted martial law and locked down communications throughout all Protectorate space! While it is impossible to impose a complete and total communications blackout, their attempts are working out quite well so far, meaning that the events on Kesseling VIII are unlikely to spread to the rest of the Protectorate! ”

”What about their soldiers? There is a considerable garrison of Protectors of the Flock in the Kesseling System! Are they really going to stand by while the Bright Martyr himself is in danger? ”

”The Kronon Dynasty are obliged to protect the flock.
Just like their leaders, the soldiers will choose to protect their own friends, family and people! You should also remember that the Kronons have always been trained to obey orders.
They can never bring themselves to break the rules and regulations that have been drilled into their minds since they underwent military training. ”

”Traitors! ”

”It ’s called realpolitik, Gloriana.
The Ylvainan government and military may be based around the Ylvainan Faith, but it is their people they truly care about.
The Friday Coalition forced them to make a very painful choice.
Either they must choose to give up their state, beliefs and way of life, or they must stand aside while the Bright Martyr dies or loses his freedom. ”

If Gloriana was in their position, she would definitely choose to save Ves, but the problem was that she was not in charge!

She looked glum.
”Then..
is the entire Protectorate against us? Will they stop us from leaving? ”

”I wouldn ’t be so sure about that. ” Calabast smirked.
”First, just because their superiors ordered the Kronons to blockade us doesn ’t necessarily mean they will obey these orders to the letter.
Second, not every Ylvainan has betrayed us or decided to stand aside.
The folk who joined the LMC or joined the crew of our expanding fleet are all on our side! ”

”How do you know that?! ”

”Because..
they all belong to a faction called the New Ylvaine Dynasty. ”

”What?! You mean the terrorist cult led by a clone of the Great Prophet?! ”

”I ’ll let the so-called Living Prophet explain the situation to you himself. ”

Calabast snapped her fingers, causing a projection of a young man in a piloting suit to appear in the observation room.

”Miss Wodin, Miss Arnlend, I am pleased to meet you both. ” He bowed.

”Are you supposed to be Ylvaine? ” Gloriana frowned.
”You look younger than I thought. ”

”No matter what form I take, I will always be the Great Prophet that has founded our faith! ” The handsome man fervently claimed before composing himself again.
”You can call me James if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Mr.
Larkinson knows my current incarnation better by this name. ”

Gloriana did not look amused.
She ignored the projection of ’James ’ and turned to Calabast.
”Why did you befriend this clone? ”

”Please don ’t call me a clone. ” The projection insisted and spread his arms while tilting his head in the air.
”I AM YLVAINE REBORN! I AM THE PROPHET WHO ASCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS BUT CHOSE TO DESCEND TO LEAD MY PEOPLE TO THE PROPER PATH! THE STATE THAT MY FLOCK HAS FOUNDED UNDER MY NAME HAS GONE ASTRAY! I SHALL— ”

Calabast pinched her fingers, muting the projection! ”Okay, that was a bad idea.
Regardless of what you may think of James, his True Believers are rife within our organizations! For better or worse, we need to keep the New Ylvaine Dynasty as our allies.
Without their help, the majority of our ships won ’t fly.
Now that I think of it, it seems that the Living Prophet may have anticipated this crisis! ”

Inwardly, she felt ashamed of herself! A crackpot clone managed to predict and prepare for this calamity while she herself had failed to detect any clues!

The suspected Fridaymen counterintelligence agents stationed in the Protectorate may have been able to hinder her attempts at gathering information, but they weren ’t capable of stopping the supposed prophetic powers of a delusional terrorist leader!

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