Part 46: Chapter #8: Bastion's Secret

Empire Chapter #8: Bastion's Secret

Briefing



: Zakov is standing at the castle gate instead of entering the battle with his men. What a coward! In my humble opinion, he disgraces the Empire.
: I could not agree with you more, Franco. He's a disgrace to the Empire AND to himself. I only wish we could let him suffer this humiliating defeat...but the Empire needs to claim this victory. It looks like the best strategy is to attack from the flank. Agreed?
: Agreed!

Interview

: Now, remember, Bastion, don't hit the Imperial ATACs this time! That would be bad!
If they can give me XP, then no man or woman can save them.
: I know my jokes are bad, Bastion, but you could at least PRETEND to laugh at some of them...
Yes, I too know the sting of an uncaring audience who take and take and take...I hate all of them so much...I mean, this thread would not be possible without the support of all of you.
: Untouched by a woman, you are. See your purity, I can. Speak with Cecilia, you should not...
Bah, look upon my brazen defiance of your counsel and weep...
: I had a horrible dream, Bastion! I saw a blinding light surrounded by a consuming darkness!

Mission



: Their remains will be scattered across the battlefield if we do not intercede quickly, Your Highness!



: Attack dhe Kingdom ATACs before dhey come after me!
: Have you forgotten yourself, Zakov?! I do not take orders from you or any other Imperial soldier!
: Princess Sadira! Did I fail to mention how beautiful your ATAC looks today? I can only imagine how lovely YOU look--
: Still your tongue and cease your groveling, Zakov! It's embarrassing the both of us!



Didn't I just play this mission? Okay, this is slightly different, in that you can't kill the Imperials this time. I don't think that you lose the mission if Zakov dies, but he has a ton of HP, and the enemy will generally go after your troops first.



The grunt Imperials are beyond saving, and, even if they weren't, they'd just steal XP anyway. They must die for the greater glory of Bastion's squad. Anyway, Bastion doesn't get a crack at Ganlon this time, but if they attack each other, there's a brief bit of dialogue.

: So now you fight for the Kingdom Army you once planned to betray? You are beneath contempt.
So...Ganlon tries to defect to the Empire, Bastion tries to kill him, Ganlon sticks with the Kingdom, Bastion still wants to kill him. The man can't win.
: But you are not beneath receiving a humiliating defeat at my hands!
: Shut up, boy! You speak of things you do not, ah, understand!
: What is there to understand?! You are a traitor and a coward.
Ganlon also something to say when he flees at half-health.
: (The tide of this battle has turned against me! My ATAC has taken too much damage. I must, ah, retreat!) The Kingdom will yet annihilate the heathens of the Empire!



We're too big, too strong, too fast, and too good for the Kingdom troops. Turbulence makes it so they only get to attack a couple of time each before they die.



And I save Zakov, well, I don't save him so much as I kill the guys attacking him for my own gain. Still, isn't that what being a hero is all about?



And Cecilia cleans up...because she's a maid. Hey, they can't all be gems...or any of them be gems....I'm not on trial here! Mission over!


: We won, no thanks to Zakov! Aren't you going to show us a little gratitude for saving you, old man?
: Old man?! I still possess dhe strength to slap you arount like a ret-heatet stepchilt!
Oh, come on, even Germans who don't speak English wouldn't manage to mangle it that badly.
: And ve vould not haff needed to fight dhis battle at all if not for you! Haff you forgotten dhat?!
: Why do I have the feeling that you're still somewhat bitter?



: Of course, Your Highness. In recent days, Faulkner has been allying himself with Prince Duyere, Sadira's brother..and trying to convince him that we should take over the Continent by force instead of seeking peace.
: That's why Franco and I believe we should set out to establish diplomatic relations with nearby countries.
: Have you ever engaged in diplomacy for the Empire before, Sadira?
: Well, no, but how hard can it be? With Franco's wisdom, and my wit and charm, it should be simple!
So, exactly what does the Emperor do? I mean, we know he's around, because he got killed in the Kingdom Branch, but he doesn't seem to mind the fact that his kids are running around pursuing completely contradictory plans for the Empire's foreign policy.
: I don't understand why, but I find your lack of humility to be very charming at times.
: Uh, thank you, Bastion. I think. At any rate, the more alliances we form with other nations, the harder it is for Faulkner to justify war.
: Where do we start, Princess?
: I thought I would begin at Nordilain. They are already allies, but perhaps we can strengthen the alliance. After that, a challenge. We'll move on to the nation of Hibernia, which has always been wary of the Empire. If we succeed with those countries, other nations will presumably join them in signing treaties with us.
: It sounds like an excellent plan to me, Sadira. When do we depart?

Right Now!



: Greetings. I am Sadira of the Junaris Empire. I have come to speak with your leader.
: I welcome you to Nordilain, Princess Sadira. Duke Logan is waiting.



: Ha, ha, ha! You flatter me with your outrageous lies, Duke Logan!
: Like, hi, Sadira.
: Hello, Claire.
Splendid, the nightmare begins once again.
: What business brings you to my chunk of the Continent, Sadira? The Imperial Princess didn't come here just to allow me to bask in the glow of her smile!
: I think he likes you, Sadira. Perhaps we should leave you too alone?
: Bastion! You're disgusting! Let me explain why I've come to see you, Duke Logan.
One explanation of the benefits of an alliance with the Empire, which Nordilain is already allied to, later...
: That's quite a story you've shared with me. I don't mean to sound rude, Sadira, but should you really have told me so much? I've always believed that diplomacy requires one to tread a fine line between confession and deception!
: You've known me since I was a child, Logan, and you'd know if I was lying to you anyway. Besides, if I may use the tired cliche, honesty is the best policy. I want peace, not deception.
: Ha, ha, ha! I've always admired your indomitable spirit, Sadira! You got it from your damned father! Ha ha! I will gladly sign your peace accord, Sadira. Nordilain will declare itself an official ally of the Empire! However, there is one small condition I place upon you first.
: And what would that be?
: You have to prove yourself worthy of facing me in war before I deem you worthy of joining me in peace!
So, Sadira's effort to promote peace have directly thrown us into a battle. Neat.
: Win the battle and you have won my alliance. Lose the battle, and I won't sign anything. Agreed?
: Duke Logan! Isn't that a rather, uh, confrontational manner of working through this negotiation?
You should see him during collective bargaining...so many dead stevedores...
: To you, lovely Sadira, it might be...but to me, it makes perfect sense! So, do you agree to my condition?
: I don't really have a choice...but, yes, I agree. I'm afraid to ask, but what sort of war are we to engage in?
: With ATACs, of course! But we won't use any attacks that could harm the combatants inside them. Each side will have five ATACs. When the leader of either group is defeated, the battle is over.
: Those are fair enough terms, Logan. Well, then, for my group of ATACs, I will choose...
: Uh, Sadira? There are only five of us.
: I knew that, Bastion! Alright, perhaps I had a slight brain lapse in all the excitement. You don't have to laugh at me!
: If one of us has to be the leader in this battle, I nominate Sadira.
: I don't know...
: How about Bastion? I think he'd do a great job, Princess!
: No. This is Sadira's battle to lead, not mine.
: Actually, Cecilia, I think that's a very good idea. Bastion, you're going to be our leader.
: Are you sure, Sadira? I don't want to usurp your authority.
: I'm absolutely sure. This way, if we lose, it's all going to be all your fault.
: Well, when you put it that way...
: I will fight with myself, my daughter Claire, her advisor Shion, and two ATACs from my private army. I will be the leader of our side, of course. I don't know how to fight any other way! Are we ready to wage a war?
: Remember, Duke Logan! If we win, you keep your promise!

Next Time: The bitter wages of victory