24 Round Table (1/2)

It is in the middle of the Autumn of 1454, the Imperial Army decisively defeated the Royal Army at the 2nd Battle of Sommen Pass, contrast to the Summerwyn victory decades ago in the same place. But this time, the Imperial Army got the battle in its favor.

The Imperial Army, with its superior use of logistics and advanced bombard also with use of support magic, this contributed to the success of the battle for the Imperial Army. Meanwhile, the poorly-trained Royal Army which was technologically backward against the Imperial Army but was lead by the Kingdom's supposedly most ”competent and talented tactician” Sir Fondee of Sienna was defeated due to his greed on taking the Imperial Bombards. Which resulted into his capture that lead to the disorganization and surrender of the Royal Army in the Sommen Pass.

Tens of thousands of Royal Army soldiers who fled from the collapsing frontline in the pass found their way into Fort Rose, until the King issued an order reducing the size of the garrison of the fort and the remnants of the Royal Army from the Sommen Pass was regrouped in Sienna.

The Royal Army had amassed a total of 415,000 troops in Inner Summerwyn, three hundred fifteen thousand in Sienna. While the rest of one hundred thousand was garrisoned in Lincliff.

And, four days after the Battle of Sommen Pass, the Imperial Army assaulted Fort Rose in the middle of the night in an unknown type of warfare. The Royal Army's 5,000 local garrison in the star fort was immediately defeated by the Imperial Army in seconds.

The time when Fort Rose fell and how did it happened remained a mystery to the Royal Army. The King and the Siennese government are now preparing for a soon possible siege on Sienna. Many from the Royal Army's circle are demoralized mostly soldiers from the previous battles against the Imperial Army and thought that the siege will end earlier and if not, in seconds.

However, not all hope is gone. The King had cooperated more with the British Army, the King has been expecting the might of the British Army after he saw the gallant metal birds flying from the skies caught his attention. He had allowed the British to build numerous military bases and installations in the Kingdom.

And, a secret military facility was built in the forests near the mountain ranges of Gardenia and the Sommen Pass in the inner part of Summerwyn. The British planned to make this base as a base of operations to harass Imperial logistics behind and conduct guerrilla warfare.

The Royal Air Force commenced an air raid into Imperial-occupied Fort Rose and released bombs from the superior British air bombers from the above, tens of thousands in the Imperial Army that night struck tragedy. As the bombs hit their roofs while sleeping peacefully after an exhausting victory party. Thousands of fresh imperial recruits and brilliant minds we're put to waste as the Imperial Army was not able to do anything against it.

They also saw the Union Jack in the warplanes from above, suggesting that they must be up against a new country. All in all, the Imperial Army suffered almost seventy to seventy-five thousand casualties in a single night.

Clause had reported the strange attack on the Imperial General Staff and the Emperor, the Holy Emperor was furious at the first news of defeat and ordered the remaining Imperial Army to march and lay siege on Sienna immediately.

The Emperor sent reinforcements to the Imperial Military Administration of Gardenia, and the Imperial Garrison in Vyonne in turn will be sent in advance before the Imperial reinforcements arrive in Vyonne. Ensuring that the Imperial Army besieging Sienna will be replenished in time before winter begins. The Imperial Army will indeed take time to arrive on Sienna. It will march from the the Imperial Military Administration of Gardenia and travel all the way to Inner Summerwyn until reaching Sienna. Arriving about 2 weeks from Vyonne, the Imperial Army will have two to three more weeks left before winter begins in the continent.

-- British Military Base, Sienna --

Meanwhile, in the British Military base in Sienna, a young soldier went to the Commander's main office to send information,

The young soldier saluted and exchanged greetings with the Commander,

”Commander!” one soldier hurriedly called the Commander,

”What is it?” the Commander asked,

”An invitation for the Commander to attend a meeting hosted by Her Majesty, Queen Anne and other rulers of the Continent in Reńe Palace by tomorrow at noon.” the young soldier said to the Commander,

A letter was handed out to the Commander by the young soldier, the Commander opened it and it contained the following;

-- 1st Allied Meeting of Roseby, Conference of Sienna --

”Dear Commander George,

Her Majesty, Queen Anne of the United Kingdom is hereby inviting you to the 1st Allied Meeting in Reńe Palace, Sienna. To attend an important conference that will talk about the Holy Estermage Empire's aggressive unjust expansion into the entirety of the continent and the plan to fully eradicate the corrupt forces of the Holy Estermage Empire.”

The Commander accepted the invitation from the Queen, an invitation directly from Her Majesty might mean that this meeting is of high significance since other rulers of the continent are also invited.

Night had came at the base and the Commander went to bed early. The next morning, a coach is waiting outside the Military Base for the Commander, and he used the coach waiting for him outside to reach Sienna.

The coach headed to the Reńe Palace in Sienna, it was still morning but Sienna is already filled with heavy traffic. As the foreign dignitaries had to enter roads specifically reserved for them. Several coaches from countries all throughout the continent had arrived in the outskirts of the majestic Reńe Palace.

the Commander's coach enters the lovely gardens of Reńe, before stopping in front of the Palace's entrance. The Commander stepped out of the coach and was lead by the servant to the King's Salon.

The Commander finally arrived in the salon, there is the King and Queen of the United Kingdom as well as the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Summerwyn.

The Commander saluted to the presence of his and her majesty's apparently the two highnesses of the Kingdom of Summerwyn didn't have any idea what he's doing.

The Commander bowed to the Monarchs of Summerwyn in order to avoid any insult, Commander George then sat to his designated chair.

Several minutes had passed, and several foreign dignitaries arrived in the room. The Duchess of Leońe,the President of the Republic of Italica,the exiled government of the Grand Ducal Confederacy and the Grand Bishop of the Theocracy of Esterloch.

Everyone gathered in a huge round table in the center, it was an idea proposed by the monarchs of the United Kingdom to represent the legendary Round Table by King Arthur.

”Greetings ladies and gentlemen from all over the continent, i am the Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Anne. Queen of the Kingdoms of England,Scotland and Northern Ireland. Beside me is my husband, the King-Consort of the United Kingdom, King Winston”

”It is my pleasure to meet all of you, i hope that this conference today will result into fruition of a prosperous and peaceful future for the Continent.”

”Since all the foreign attendants had come a long way just to visit this conference, we will finally begin the conference” the Queen added,

There, the Prime Minister Charles prepared his presentation in his laptop and a presentation appeared on a screen in front of the audience.