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((Happy New Year! Time for another "special event" to ring in 2017!))
"And therefore, Italia delenda est," said Donatello.
Everybody laughed again. Theodora noticed Alexios sighing and leading Donatello away. The whole idea of ending every single of his speeches with "Italy must be destroyed" was getting on her nerves.
There were the folks from the Thaddai estate in the corner, debating on the correctness of various words for head of government. Apparently "mesazon" was the most popular. However, not much else was happening. Most senators were just walking around aimlessly, not chatting with each other. She had arranged this gathering to solve the problem of boring senate sessions, but it had itself become as boring.
She couldn't even talk to anybody. None of the other senators wanted to talk with her, while her family members (her brother, husband, and children among them) were on "vacation" in Paphlagonia. She was stuck here, with a bunch of bored guests. It said something about the party that the only "entertainment" came from a raving anti-Italian senator channeling Cato and from senators debating word choices.
Suddenly, a servant rushed into the room and made a beeline straight for her. All conversation in the room stopped as everybody turned towards her.
"There's an uninvited individual at the door," the servant whispered, "She wants to speak with you."
"Tell her she'll have to wait," said Theodora.
"She says it's urgent," said the servant.
"Then inform her that I'll send an Athanatos to help her out," said Theodora.
"She wants to speak to you in person," said the servant, "And she has information on the Cult."
"The Cult?" Theodora said. "They haven't done anything since they showed up during that coup attempt in the capital."
She said that too loud, for some other senators started murmuring.
"Apparently they're up to something," said the servant, "And she can help."
"Send her in," said Theodora.
The servant nodded and rushed out of the room.
"Sorry everybody, there's been a change of plans," she told her guests, "My friend Mara here will oversee the dinner preparations."
She left the room and went to one of her small meeting rooms, where a disheveled young Iranian woman wearing torn days awaited her. Her face was youthful, but her eyes looked like they had seen years upon years of events.
"Who are you?" Theodora asked.
"Call me Kira, Theodora Anna Sophia Doukas," said the woman.
"How do you know my full name?" Theodora demanded. "I never told anybody my name."
"That's not important," said Kira, "What's important is that you trust me. I defected from the Cult, and I can tell you how they work and where their main bases are."
"Suppose you're telling the truth," said Theodora, "What do you want me to do?"
"I need your protection," said Kira, "They'll be looking for me."
"I'll tell the Athanatoi to send a detail," said Theodora.
"There's no time for that," said Kira, "We have to move fast, before they--"
Gunshots rang out from elsewhere in the house, followed by shouts from senators and cultists.
"They're here," said Kira.
"And therefore, Italia delenda est," said Donatello.
Everybody laughed again. Theodora noticed Alexios sighing and leading Donatello away. The whole idea of ending every single of his speeches with "Italy must be destroyed" was getting on her nerves.
There were the folks from the Thaddai estate in the corner, debating on the correctness of various words for head of government. Apparently "mesazon" was the most popular. However, not much else was happening. Most senators were just walking around aimlessly, not chatting with each other. She had arranged this gathering to solve the problem of boring senate sessions, but it had itself become as boring.
She couldn't even talk to anybody. None of the other senators wanted to talk with her, while her family members (her brother, husband, and children among them) were on "vacation" in Paphlagonia. She was stuck here, with a bunch of bored guests. It said something about the party that the only "entertainment" came from a raving anti-Italian senator channeling Cato and from senators debating word choices.
Suddenly, a servant rushed into the room and made a beeline straight for her. All conversation in the room stopped as everybody turned towards her.
"There's an uninvited individual at the door," the servant whispered, "She wants to speak with you."
"Tell her she'll have to wait," said Theodora.
"She says it's urgent," said the servant.
"Then inform her that I'll send an Athanatos to help her out," said Theodora.
"She wants to speak to you in person," said the servant, "And she has information on the Cult."
"The Cult?" Theodora said. "They haven't done anything since they showed up during that coup attempt in the capital."
She said that too loud, for some other senators started murmuring.
"Apparently they're up to something," said the servant, "And she can help."
"Send her in," said Theodora.
The servant nodded and rushed out of the room.
"Sorry everybody, there's been a change of plans," she told her guests, "My friend Mara here will oversee the dinner preparations."
She left the room and went to one of her small meeting rooms, where a disheveled young Iranian woman wearing torn days awaited her. Her face was youthful, but her eyes looked like they had seen years upon years of events.
"Who are you?" Theodora asked.
"Call me Kira, Theodora Anna Sophia Doukas," said the woman.
"How do you know my full name?" Theodora demanded. "I never told anybody my name."
"That's not important," said Kira, "What's important is that you trust me. I defected from the Cult, and I can tell you how they work and where their main bases are."
"Suppose you're telling the truth," said Theodora, "What do you want me to do?"
"I need your protection," said Kira, "They'll be looking for me."
"I'll tell the Athanatoi to send a detail," said Theodora.
"There's no time for that," said Kira, "We have to move fast, before they--"
Gunshots rang out from elsewhere in the house, followed by shouts from senators and cultists.
"They're here," said Kira.
Michael Doukas, Emperor, was attending the party at the Doukas (a cadet branch, but still bearing the same name) estate. He had hoped that showing up informally might give him a chance to interact with the Senators in a different manner, but the party itself seemed boring. The mask he wore indicating his informal status provided a few moments of conversation, but that quickly panned out. Donatello Favero's speech was good for a few laughs, especially the off-topic reference to Italy's future destruction. Of course, that joke would grow old quickly. Well, beyond the fact that it was a reference over two thousand years old. The discussion of words for heads of government was more lively, but he had little to contribute.
When some visitors spoke with Theodora, he overheard her mention the cult shortly before she left the room. He considered following, but decided to trust the minister of security. He was distracted thereafter, as Mara began seating people for the dinner. He couldn't stop remembering the horrors of the sack of Constantinople. The cult wasn't directly responsible, but they had sent events in motion that led to the sack. His dark memories were interrupted suddenly with the sound of a gunshot, screams, and shouts.
When some visitors spoke with Theodora, he overheard her mention the cult shortly before she left the room. He considered following, but decided to trust the minister of security. He was distracted thereafter, as Mara began seating people for the dinner. He couldn't stop remembering the horrors of the sack of Constantinople. The cult wasn't directly responsible, but they had sent events in motion that led to the sack. His dark memories were interrupted suddenly with the sound of a gunshot, screams, and shouts.
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While the other senators were partying, Julius was simply looking at a Map of the Empire, or the Empire before the revolution and after the revolution.
"We'll need to navally invade England, and France will be tough for our mechanised forces.... Though I do suppose we will have to invade Italy first.... It'll shut up Donatello......
While murmuring strategies to himself about how to beat the Secessionist states, he heard a loud gunshot, and some small arms fire.
"Ah, shit!" Said Julius as he grabbed his Modified Imperial Rifle and ran back inside.
"We'll need to navally invade England, and France will be tough for our mechanised forces.... Though I do suppose we will have to invade Italy first.... It'll shut up Donatello......
While murmuring strategies to himself about how to beat the Secessionist states, he heard a loud gunshot, and some small arms fire.
"Ah, shit!" Said Julius as he grabbed his Modified Imperial Rifle and ran back inside.
By the time the sound of gunshots were heard, Donatello Favero had consumed copious amounts of alcohol and was utterly drunk. He wasn't quite as shocked as the other guests, for it took him some time to comprehend what was going on. His mind was still focused on Italy. As his thoughts intermingled, he came to the only logical conclusion the drunk senator could arrive at: the Italians were attacking the party in an attempt to assassinate him.
"You will never take me alive, you blasted Italian separatists!" Donatello yelled, pulling a pistol out of his trousers to the surprise of everyone around him. He ran towards the door, waving his pistol. Quite inebriated, he misjudged where the door was and ran right into the doorjamb. His collision made him accidentally pull the trigger, firing off a shot towards the roof. The bullet went right through the bracing holding up an exquisite chandelier, sending it crashing down towards the floor. It shattered on impact, sending bits of glass and crystal across the room. Fortunately no one had been underneath it, so no one was harmed.
Donatello spun around at the crash behind him, nearly tipping over in the process. He glanced once at the broken chandelier and let out a triumphant yell. "Aha! Their assassination attempt has failed. Italy shall be returned to the Empire!"
Spinning back around with the grace of a drunken man, Donatello sped back towards the door. He misjudged its position again and ran into the doorjamb a second time. This time he hit his head and collapsed to the floor, knocked out cold. Many guests let out a sigh of relief that there would be no more drunken ravings.
"You will never take me alive, you blasted Italian separatists!" Donatello yelled, pulling a pistol out of his trousers to the surprise of everyone around him. He ran towards the door, waving his pistol. Quite inebriated, he misjudged where the door was and ran right into the doorjamb. His collision made him accidentally pull the trigger, firing off a shot towards the roof. The bullet went right through the bracing holding up an exquisite chandelier, sending it crashing down towards the floor. It shattered on impact, sending bits of glass and crystal across the room. Fortunately no one had been underneath it, so no one was harmed.
Donatello spun around at the crash behind him, nearly tipping over in the process. He glanced once at the broken chandelier and let out a triumphant yell. "Aha! Their assassination attempt has failed. Italy shall be returned to the Empire!"
Spinning back around with the grace of a drunken man, Donatello sped back towards the door. He misjudged its position again and ran into the doorjamb a second time. This time he hit his head and collapsed to the floor, knocked out cold. Many guests let out a sigh of relief that there would be no more drunken ravings.
Cultists, identified by their pure black outfits, entered the dining room and surrounded the senators inside. One of them pulled Michael Doukas's mask off and gasped.
"It's the Emperor!" the man exclaimed.
"He will be quite useful for our cause," said the leader of the Cultists.
Julius ran inside and found Cultists holding the senators hostage.
"Don't shoot or we'll kill them!" one of them shouted.
Julius hesitated for a second, but that was all the time they needed. One Cultist snuck up behind him and hit him on the head, knocking him out instantly.
Several Cultists turned to look at what the commotion was all about. They watched as a drunk senator fired wildly in the air, destroying a chandelier, as he repeatedly ran into a door before knocking himself out. They looked at each other.
"Did you just see that?" one Cultist asked.
"Yeah," said another Cultist.
They quickly took away the unconscious senator and threw him into a small closet.
Once the rest of the estate had been secured, most of the Cultists gathered in the dining room, where they had put all of the sober senators.
"Listen up!" shouted their leader. "We know you are hiding in this house something that is rightfully ours. Hand it over to us and nobody gets hurt. Otherwise I will start executing one senator every ten minutes."
"We don't know what you're talking about!" protested a random senator.
The Cultist simply shot him in the head, and he crumpled to the floor.
"We will be asking the questions around here!" shouted the Cultist. "If you don't want to be sacrificed to Chernobog--which is actually a good thing, how many times do we have to tell you--I suggest you speak up and tell us where the defector is."
He gestured to his men, who brought in a bound and gagged Emperor and forced him to kneel before him.
"If you don't, I will kill your Emperor," said the Cultist, pointing his pistol at the back of the Emperor's head.
---
Meanwhile, Theodora and Kira listened to the Cultists' rants from the second floor of the estate.
"Great," Theodora muttered, "Here we go again..."
"They've come for me," said Kira, "This is what I was trying to warn you about."
"Couldn't you have just come earlier then?" said Theodora.
"There was instability in Iran, and it took me a while to get through," said Kira.
"Okay, okay, my house is under attack, they've got the Emperor and most of the Senate, and I can reasonably assume we're the only two who have not been captured by the Cult," said Theodora, "We can't run, or they'll die. I can't fight all of them alone."
"You won't fight all of them alone," said Kira.
Theodora stared at the young woman. "Excuse me, miss? You're really going to help me fight them?"
Kira tied a blindfold over her eyes. "Watch and learn, Senator. Now where's the armory?"
"I stored some weapons down the hall and to the left, but--"
Two Cultists burst into the room at that moment and quickly advanced towards them.
"That will be enough!" Kira launched herself at the Cultists, drawing two small silenced pistols from her pockets.
Before Theodora could even say a word, Kira opened fire, shooting both Cultists square in the head.
"...How?" she managed to stammer.
"It's complicated," said Kira as she walked down the hallway as if she wasn't even blindfolded.
More Cultists rounded the corner, and Kira shot them in the head again.
"Here!" Kira tossed Theodora a pistol. The senator hadn't handled a gun since the attack on Constantinople, and she still preferred swords.
They reached the weapons storage closet, and Theodora took out a rifle and several cartridges. She also strapped some grenades and another pistol to her side.
"Wait, we're still missing something," said Theodora.
"It's back up the hall and to our right," said Kira.
"How did you know where I kept my father's sword?" asked Theodora.
Kira shrugged. "I just do."
They headed off to Theodora's office, where she picked up her trusted sword.
"Now let's go kill some Cult scum," she said.
Julius woke up with a massive bruise on his head and tied up.
"Wha.. What 'appened..." Julius mumbled looking for his rifle. "Ah! Romulus! There you are. Now, how do...." Julius cut himself of when he saw all of the senators were captured and a pistol was to the emperors head.
During this processing, Julius had one thought running through his head
"SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!"
"Wha.. What 'appened..." Julius mumbled looking for his rifle. "Ah! Romulus! There you are. Now, how do...." Julius cut himself of when he saw all of the senators were captured and a pistol was to the emperors head.
During this processing, Julius had one thought running through his head
"SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!"
Franco didn't speak much before things got hectic at the party. At most he introduced himself to those who approached him, talked to a senator about some sports athlete (he thinks at least, Sportaflop doesn't sound very athletic), and drank from a glass filled with grape juice. He barely noticed that some folks from the estate, the Cecil Sisters, Lavigne, and Heraklides, were there with him. They did most of the talking. He did however listen in to a conversation they were having with a few senators over words for heads of government. The one thing that stood out for him was that the senators that suggested "demarch" for the position was quickly shut down for sounding too democratic. He heard "prothypourge" (or was it prothipourge, he wasn't sure), "kephale," "hypate," "huparch," "eisarch" (the previous two sounding incredibly silly to him), and "mesazon" as well. That last one seemed to be the one talked about the most though.
Soon, everything went to hell. Now they were surrounded by cultists in the estate's dining room. The gang was having flashbacks to the sack of Constantinople, the "Red Tragedy," but Heraklides kept them from going completely out, whispering that they had to keep their guard up and their wits about them, especially with the Emperor being a hostage.
Soon, everything went to hell. Now they were surrounded by cultists in the estate's dining room. The gang was having flashbacks to the sack of Constantinople, the "Red Tragedy," but Heraklides kept them from going completely out, whispering that they had to keep their guard up and their wits about them, especially with the Emperor being a hostage.
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Julius was trying very hard not to break free of his rope and start beating the bastards into oblivion.
Of course, he would get shot, but still.
Then, a cultist opened his big mouth.
"Why do you guys make this so hard? We all just want Chernobog to be happy with sacrifices! Then we could all-"
"Listen here you fat furry fuck, our empire is the greatest nation on the face of the earth, where all people have an opportunity to enrich their lives, and secure their children's future." Julius said.
"But-"
"Shut up you stupid bloody child. As an official senator of the Roman Empire, I say go fuck yourself."
"That's not what your wife said last night."
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO SARAH!?"
"Oh nothing. Besides, when I kill the emperor, your next."
Julius started screaming a stream of obscenities, threats and just started ranting in general.
"John, you do realise ya didn't fuck Julius's wife."
"I know. Just wanted to rile him up. His rants and anger is legendary." John smiled.
Meanwhile
"Is he always like this?" Kira asked.
"Well, yes." Theodora replied.
Of course, he would get shot, but still.
Then, a cultist opened his big mouth.
"Why do you guys make this so hard? We all just want Chernobog to be happy with sacrifices! Then we could all-"
"Listen here you fat furry fuck, our empire is the greatest nation on the face of the earth, where all people have an opportunity to enrich their lives, and secure their children's future." Julius said.
"But-"
"Shut up you stupid bloody child. As an official senator of the Roman Empire, I say go fuck yourself."
"That's not what your wife said last night."
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO SARAH!?"
"Oh nothing. Besides, when I kill the emperor, your next."
Julius started screaming a stream of obscenities, threats and just started ranting in general.
"John, you do realise ya didn't fuck Julius's wife."
"I know. Just wanted to rile him up. His rants and anger is legendary." John smiled.
Meanwhile
"Is he always like this?" Kira asked.
"Well, yes." Theodora replied.
Michael was in shock. This was worse than the sack. At least there his guards had gotten him to safety as it began. Now he was captured, gagged, threatened with death. He needed a smoke so badly. He needed air. He was about to pass out. Truly this was the end.
"Shut up, all of you!" shouted a Cultist. "Or I'll kill you all!"
He shot a random ((NPC)) senator in the head, and blood sprayed on everyone.
"Now shut up!"
---
"Okay, why do you need my protection?" Theodora asked. "It appears you can take care of yourself."
"Because there is only so much I can see," said Kira, "And I have my limits."
They walked down the hallway and heard people speaking below them. Apparently Senator Marco was shouting a few curses at the Cultists, as would be expected.
"Is he always like this?" Kira asked.
"Sort of," said Theodora.
They reached a room with a phone in it, and Theodora immediately tried calling for backup. But she realized that the phone lines were all cut when she couldn't get a connection through.
"There goes that," she said.
She turned back to Kira. "I suppose we'll have to do this the hard way."
"That route has a very low chance of success," said Kira, "But it has the highest success rate out of all other choices. I suppose we could try it."
Outside
General Ioannes Dalassenos and his men pulled up in front of the Doukas estate. Neighbors had reported hearing gunfire and shouting coming from inside. When the military realized that most of the senators, cabinet ministers, and prominent nobles were inside (along with Ioannes's wife, but they didn't bring her up), they quickly mobilized his legion and tasked him with freeing the hostages.
He got out of his car and surveyed the mansion. Everything was quiet, a bit too quiet. He ordered his men to surround the mansion and approach it cautiously.
Ioannes went with his troops, drawing his pistol. This was the third time he had to deal with this kind of madness. He cursed his luck. First a vampire, then communists, and now this. He was getting too old for this. Did he always have to save the Emperor and the entire Senate every time somebody decided it was time to overthrow the Empire?
His annoyance was interrupted by the sound of gunfire coming from the house. Some of his soldiers screamed as they were shot. Others stepped on land mines and promptly exploded.
Ioannes ducked behind a pillar. "Take cover and return fire!" he shouted to his troops.
"We can't see them!" shouted a nearby soldier shortly before his head exploded.
"Fall back!" Ioannes shouted. "Fall--"
There was a loud explosion as a mortar came down next to his car, destroying it and all soldiers and vehicles around it.
"Seriously?!" Ioannes shouted. "Who let these guys get a mortar gun!"
They retreated to a safe distance, out of range of the mortar.
"This is not going as planned," said one of his officers, "I recommend we send in some airplanes and armor."
"No," said Ioannes, "We cannot risk the lives of the senators."
"Sir, senators are expendable," said the officer, "Once these terrorists are destroyed the Emperor can appoint new ones."
Ioannes sighed. "Okay, alert Colonel Picardie and tell him to get me a zeppelin in the air," he said, "Tell him to bring as many paratroopers as he can."
"Yes, sir," said the officer.
"Here we go again," he muttered.
((If anyone needs shooting round about now, I think it's the alleged head of security!))
((Good luck executing a distant relative of the Emperor! Plus I'll give an explanation after this is over.))
((Yeah, there are a few Cultists over there. I think they need some purging.))
The Cultist guarding the armory heard a noise coming from down the hall. Walking away to investigate, he didn't notice the shadow creeping up behind him until it was too late.
Theodora silently stabbed him in the back with her sword, and he fell down without another word. Kira then emerged from a corner, and both of them approached the armory. It was locked with a combination lock, but Theodora quickly input the password, and the door swung open.
"Take what you can," she said, gesturing to the bags of explosives on the floor.
"What about the guns?" said Kira.
"Take ammunition only," said Theodora, "More guns will just slow you down and make a lot of noise."
They got the bags of explosives and left the armory, locking the door behind them.
As they walked back towards the main wing of the mansion, Theodora heard the sound of propellers from directly above them.
"What's that noise?" Kira asked.
"It can't be..." Theodora muttered.
She ran to the nearest window and saw a large airship hovering over the building.
"Ioannes!" she said. "That man always goes for overkill."
"They're on our side, right?" said Kira.
"Yes, but they'll just complicate things a lot."
---
"ATTENTION CULTIST TERRORISTS," boomed a loudspeaker on the airship, "THIS IS LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN-LOUKAS PICARDIE OF THE IMPERIAL AIRSHIP CONSTANTINE. SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY AND RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES OR I WILL COMMENCE BOMBARDMENT."
The lead Cultist looked a bit scared for a second, but then he just laughed.
"Finally," he said to his comrades, "More flesh for Chernobog! Execute Plan 5!"
Two Cultists nodded and ran away from the dining hall.
---
John-Loukas looked over the Doukas estate complex, surveying its layout. The Cultists were apparently concentrated in the main wing, around the dining hall area. One bomb should be enough to deal with them, but that would come at the expense of the hostages. He didn't want to risk lives of almost every single senator just yet.
He turned to ask if the paratroopers were ready when suddenly one of his officers said, "Sir, I'm getting something approaching us!"
He looked down again and saw several dozen red balloons rising up towards him, sticks of dynamite attached to each of them.
"Evasive maneuvers!" he ordered.
But it was no use. As soon as the balloons reached the same height as the airship, the Cultists on the ground detonated them.
The air around the airship lit up with explosions, and the vessel rocked. Crewmen screamed as the floor beneath them shifted, throwing them into the walls and floors. More balloons impacted the airship, blasting holes in the cabins and, most importantly, the fuel canopy.
"We've got multiple hull breaches throughout all decks!" said the officer. "We're leaking helium!"
"Get as many crewmen out of the affected areas!" shouted John-Loukas. "And fight back!"
The airship's machine gun batteries opened fire, quickly shooting down any other balloons the Cultists sent up.
"Damage report," said John-Loukas.
"We've taken heavy casualties in the aft sections," said the officer, "About 15 crewmen are dead or injured over there. We're leaking helium at a moderate rate, but some teams are getting the leak under control as we speak."
"Maintain position," said John-Loukas, "Keep the batteries on high alert for any more balloons."
Then suddenly the floor where the balloons were launched from exploded, sending glass and debris flying everywhere.
"Did somebody drop a bomb?" said John-Loukas.
"No, nobody fired anything," said the officer.
"Then it appears we've got somebody down there that's helping us out..." said John-Loukas.
---
Theodora surveyed the destroyed room, stepping over the bodies of the dead Cultists.
"Targets have been eliminated," she said.
"But the others will no doubt come to investigate," said Kira, "Are we ready for that?"
"Oh, yes we are," said Theodora, "Look through all possible outcomes. See what the results are."
"A high chance of our deaths," said Kira, "And the deaths of the senators. And then the Empire will be destabilized--"
"That will be enough," said Theodora, pulling out her guns and shooting the approaching Cultists. "Run!"
They retreated into another room, continuing to pick off more Cultists.
---
"They did WHAT?!" shouted the lead Cultist.
"They've taken out Boris and Peter, sir," said another Cultist.
"Those fools," said the lead Cultist, "But it's only a temporary setback. Move everybody to the roof!"
The Cultists forced the senators to their feet and ordered out of the room, guns pressed against their backs.
((Okay, it seems like a lot of us are missing at the moment, so I'm going to cut this short. There will be a couple more or so of these updates, and then we'll return to the story. There will be no more of these until HOI4, when we can hopefully get more participants.))
Donatello Favero, who had been forgotten after being thrown into a closet, started snoring loudly, having slipped from unconsciousness into a deep drunken slumber.
The gang wasn't really sure what they'd be able to do. Forced off the floor and out of the room, Franco wondered what would happen once they'd reach the roof. The Cecil Sisters stayed close to one another, while Lavigne looked like she wanted to pray to God. Heraklides just looked annoyed, having gotten too old for stuff like this. He glanced at the other senators, as though he was trying to think of a plan. Whether he'd think of one? That's hard to say.
As the Cultists pushed the last of the senators out of the room, one of them heard a loud snore from one of the closets. Surprised by the sound, he opened the closet, finding a senator stowed away inside, apparently having drunk himself to sleep.
He closed the closet and put a lock on it. He wouldn't interfere with them if he stayed where he was.
He turned back to the crowd of senators they were now herding out of the room. The Aoteorean senators were among the most pathetic of the bunch. The sisters were hugging each other, though it wouldn't matter once they were both in Chernobog's dark embrace. Some looked like they wanted to pray to God. God had already abandoned them by allowing the Cult to infiltrate this compound. He noticed one senator making a face at them and slapped him.
"Shut up!" he said. "Get that look off your face and join the rest of the senators!"
After ten minutes, all of the senators were on the roof, and the Cultists lined them up near the edge of the mansion, facing outwards. They drew their guns and pointed them at the back of the senators, but they did not fire yet. They would wait until Ignatieff gave the order or the soldiers outside or in the zeppelin did something stupid.
For a brief second, he felt the entire building shake and heard a ringing noise in the air, but then it was gone. He would have thought that it was his imagination, but apparently a few other senators heard it as well and started talking with each other again in hushed tones.
"Shut up!" he shouted, firing his gun in the air.
The senators shut up agaain.
---
Wilhelm materialized in a small room on the second floor. Pain flared in his head as his grace continued integrating into his body, but it was bearable. He got to his feet and looked around. trying to figure out where he had ended up. Judging from the furniture, he tentatively put it down as the late 1910s or 1920s in Greece. But a few details were off. Usually, a Greek noble would at least have some German books lying around, but he found none. There were no references to the Reich or to Kaiser Karl or Otto. What he did find, though, were references to a Basileia Rhomaion and Basileus Michael. He realized that he had not only traveled in time but also to a parallel universe, probably one of those where the Doukas clan, instead of being overthrown in a coup by the Hohenzollerns, reunified the Reich--or Imperium--under their rule.
He heard the click of a gun behind him. "Put your hands up where I can see them," said the voice of a woman.
Wilhelm did so, as being shot at this time would cause complications with the integration of his grace.
"Turn around," said the woman.
He slowly turned around, seeing a woman wearing a modern and more sensible version of the purple-colored senatorial robes. He deduced that she was a senator. Next to her was who appeared to be a Persian woman wearing simple Persian garb.
"Who are you?" demanded the woman. "And how did you get into my house?"
"With all due respect, Senator," said Wilhelm in flawless but slightly medieval Greek (as he did not know how Greek had developed here), "I have no idea."
"How do you know I'm a senator?" demanded the woman. "I never told you that. You must be working for the Cult."
"The Cult?" said Wilhelm, thinking.
The Cult was a weird organization, existing in quite a few timelines where Slavic paganism had died out. However, this was the first universe in which he saw the Cult in the 20th century, in most other universes dying out in the Renaissance era or lying underground until natural disasters brought down civilization in the late 19th century.
"I'm not with the Cult," said Wilhelm.
"Then who are you?" said the woman.
"I know all about you," said Wilhelm, "You are Theodora Anna Doukas, Senator of the Basileia Rhomaion, Minister of Security. You are married to a Doux Alexios Komnenos, who always insists that you call him Justinian, although you are the one who owns the title of Doux of Greece. Your friends include Colonel Theodoros Laskaris, General Ioannes Dalassenos, and Lieutenant General John-Loukas Picardie, all of whom helped repel the communist takeover of Constantinople a little while ago and all of whom are currently here. You were born on 28 June 1885 as the eldest daughter of Michael Doukas and his wife Sophia. Your brother is named Niketas Doukas and was born on 19 August 1887 but was passed over in the line of succession in favor of you. Your children are named Heraclius and Belisarius and are aged five and three. Heraclius wants to be a doctor while Belisarius is interested in the history of his namesake and wants to join the legions."
"How do you know all that?" said Theodora.
"Because he knows," said the Persian woman. "He's telling the truth."
"Kira, we just met this man!" said Theodora. "He appears right during a Cultist takeover of my house! Are you sure he's not with them?"
"I'm not with them," said Wilhelm, "I am with God."
The room started to shake as Wilhelm's body started radiating white light. His eyes glowed pure white as a loud ringing noise filled the room. As the entire room was lit up with the light, the two women saw the shadow of Wilhelm's wings cast onto the far war, spread like an eagle's wings.
"I am an angel of the Lord," said Wilhelm.
"Uh," said Kira, "I am Zoroastrian?"
"Don't worry," said Wilhelm, "All religions are equally valid, and God and the other gods don't really care."
The ringing and shaking suddenly stopped, and the light disappeared along with the shadows of the wings. Wilhelm clasped his hands together. "Now, you said that the Cult is currently attacking your house?"
"Yeah," said Theodora, "They've taken the entire Senate hostage and have taken them to the roof, probably to kill them."
"Don't worry," said Wilhelm, "I'll take care of them."
((Wilhelm, the German universe-traveling [if we consider 'time travel' traveling between universes] angel? Now this is getting weird!))
Heraklides took the slap like a man, not caring for the feelings of the cultists. However, he and the others had no choice in joining the other senators on the roof, even if none of them, even Franco, were technically senators - they were just the chargés d'affaires as a result of Nestorius' absence.
The gang was lined up to one another, all but Heraklides worried about the guns behind them. The shaking surprised them, even Heraklides, but when trying to talk to one another about it, they were quickly quieted down by the gunfire behind them.
Heraklides took the slap like a man, not caring for the feelings of the cultists. However, he and the others had no choice in joining the other senators on the roof, even if none of them, even Franco, were technically senators - they were just the chargés d'affaires as a result of Nestorius' absence.
The gang was lined up to one another, all but Heraklides worried about the guns behind them. The shaking surprised them, even Heraklides, but when trying to talk to one another about it, they were quickly quieted down by the gunfire behind them.
The Emperor had been dragged to the top of the roof with the other Senators. He was still blindfolded and even more in need of a smoke. The night air helped a little, and he gasped for breath. He felt himself placed near the edge of the roof, and while he wasn't sure what was going to happen, it was unlikely to be good. Prince Konstantinos was nearly of age, so any regency would be short. But if the Senate were removed, then who knew what would happen. And after so much had already been lost. The Empire might only be a remnant. He began praying for a miracle.
Moments later, he felt the building shake. The Senators began muttering, and the cult leader had to fire a shot into the air to restore order. The Emperor was still worried, but he began to fee la glimmer of hope.
Moments later, he felt the building shake. The Senators began muttering, and the cult leader had to fire a shot into the air to restore order. The Emperor was still worried, but he began to fee la glimmer of hope.
The Cultists finally got organized again. Their leader took off a hood, revealing himself to be Ignatieff.
"Senators of the corrupt Empire," he said, "You should be honored that you are about to be sacrificed to the Black God, Chernobog. The crucified god that you so love has abandoned you. Why else would he let your Empire be torn asunder? Why else did he let us capture you all so easily? The answer is because he is a false god. He does not care for you. But Chernobog does. Give up your blood for him, and he will reward you, as he rewarded me and my followers, with untold riches in many forms."
Several senators shouted in defiance, but the Cultists fired their guns into the air again to shut them up.
"You bicker now, but it is no use," said Ignatieff, "Why do you so vehemently refuse this great honor? You should be grateful for being given the opportunity to become part of something greater. You know what? I'm going to stop monologuing. My comrades, prepare the sacrifices for the...sacrifice!"
The Cultists forced the senators to kneel and pulled their heads back by their hair with one hand. With their other hand they drew knives from their cloaks and pressed them to the senators' throats.
Ignatieff began chanting in Russian. "Hear me, oh Chernobog, Black God, the Peacock Angel, the true lord of this world. Please accept my merciful offering to your great form..."
"Hey, assbutt," said a voice behind him.
He turned around and saw a man in a trenchcoat standing right behind him.
"Hear this," said the man, snapping his fingers.
Ignatieff flew across the roof, propelled by an invisible force, and crashed into the railing on the far end of the roof.
"Of all of the universes you could have hidden from Heaven in, you chose this one?" said the man.
"Wilhelm," said Ignatieff, "It's been eons since we last met."
"Ignatieff," said Wilhelm, "It's time you paid for your crimes."
The Cultists let go of the senators and opened fire on Wilhelm, but with another snap of his fingers, all of their bullets stopped in midair. The Cultists dropped their weapons in shock as Wilhelm snapped his fingers again, sending them flying over the edge of the building.
Ignatieff reached for his gun, but he stopped when he found a sword pointed straight at his head.
"Don't," said Theodora, "It's over."
Ignatieff sighed and grinned. "It's never over, Doukai. The Cult may have lost today, but it will never give up. Not until Chernobog is satisfied!"
And in front of everybody's eyes, he disappeared.
"Oh, great," said Wilhelm, "I can't go after him."
"You're kidding me," said Theodora, "You can do all that but you can't find him?"
"He's gone to great lengths to conceal himself," said Wilhelm, "He'll only let himself be found when he wants to. But there is one thing I can do."
"What is that?" said Theodora.
"I have a limited ability to time travel," said Wilhelm, "I can reset time to this morning and give you the information to prevent this attack from beginning. And while I'm at it, I'll give you a list of all Cult strongholds around the world."
"Why would I want to reset time?" said Theodora.
"As Minister of Security, they'll have your head for not preventing this attack, especially at your own home," said Wilhelm, "It's the least I can do. They need you as Minister of Security. They need you in the Senate. The Empire needs you to defend it."
Theodora nodded. "Perhaps you're right...considering the Emperor himself is here."
She had noticed that one of the "senators" was actually the Emperor himself.
"And Kira?" said Theodora. "What about her?"
"She'll be safe once you eliminate the strongholds," said Wilhelm, "You won't have to worry about anything."
Wilhelm started walking away.
"And what about you?" said Theodora. "Can't you help out over here? There's so much you could help us with!"
Wilhelm cracked a sad smile. "I'm sorry, but my powers are quite limited right now, and I would prefer you guys sort your problems out on your own. I can't really do anything."
He continued walking away.
"And what about God?" said Theodora. "If you're here, does that mean he's up there?"
Wilhelm laughed. "You do know you're going to forget all of this when I reset time, right?"
He snapped his fingers.
---
That morning
"And therefore, Italia delenda est," said Donatello.
Everybody laughed again. Theodora noticed Alexios sighing and leading Donatello away. The whole idea of ending every single of his speeches with "Italy must be destroyed" was getting on her nerves.
There were the folks from the Thaddai estate in the corner, debating on the correctness of various words for head of government. Apparently "mesazon" was the most popular. However, not much else was happening. Most senators were just walking around aimlessly, not chatting with each other. She had arranged this gathering to solve the problem of boring senate sessions, but it had itself become as boring.
She couldn't even talk to anybody. None of the other senators wanted to talk with her, while her family members (her brother, husband, and children among them) were on "vacation" in Paphlagonia. She was stuck here, with a bunch of bored guests. It said something about the party that the only "entertainment" came from a raving anti-Italian senator channeling Cato and from senators debating word choices. Besides, she was strangely quite worried about security, having asked General Ioannes Dalassenos to bring some troops over for some reason she remembered as being "potential civil disturbance."
Suddenly, a servant rushed into the room and made a beeline straight for her. All conversation in the room stopped as everybody turned towards her.
"There's an uninvited individual at the door," the servant whispered, "She wants to speak with you."
"Tell her she'll have to wait," said Theodora.
"She says it's urgent," said the servant.
"Then inform her that I'll send an Athanatos to help her out," said Theodora.
"She wants to speak to you in person," said the servant, "And she has information on the Cult."
"The Cult?" Theodora said. "They haven't done anything since they showed up during that coup attempt in the capital."
She said that too loud, for some other senators started murmuring.
"Apparently they're up to something," said the servant, "And she can help."
"Send her in," said Theodora.
The servant nodded and rushed out of the room.
"Sorry everybody, there's been a change of plans," she told her guests, "My friend Mara here will oversee the dinner preparations."
She left the room and went to one of her small meeting rooms, where a disheveled young Iranian woman wearing torn days awaited her. Her face was youthful, but her eyes looked like they had seen years upon years of events.
"Who are you?" Theodora asked.
"Call me Kira, Theodora Anna Sophia Doukas," said the woman.
"How do you know my full name?" Theodora demanded. "I never told anybody my name."
"That's not important," said Kira, "What's important is that you trust me. I defected from the Cult, and I can tell you how they work and where their main bases are."
"Suppose you're telling the truth," said Theodora, "What do you want me to do?"
"I need your protection," said Kira, "They'll be looking for me."
"I'll tell the Athanatoi to send a detail," said Theodora.
"There's no time for that," said Kira, "We have to move fast, before they come here."
She handed Theodora a list.
"What is this?" said Theodora.
"A list of the major Cult strongholds I am aware of," said Kira, "I found it lying next to my bed this morning with no idea how it got here."
Theodora took the list. "Did you say they were coming here?"
"Yes, I did," said Kira, "They'll be coming after me, and the back of the list has a message saying that there is a group of Cultists on its way here."
Another servant burst into the room. "Minister, I've got General Dalassenos on the phone," he said.
"Tell him I'll be right there," said Theodora.
She got up from her chair. "Now, make yourself at home here," she said to Kira, "You can stay here as long as you want. You have my word you'll be safe here."
She left the room and picked up a phone in the next room. "Hello?"
"Theodora?" said Ioannes. "I don't know how you did it, but we found a whole group of Cultists heading straight for your mansion. We've apprehended all of them, but we wouldn't have found them if you didn't ask us to look for them. How did you know?"
"Several years as Minister of Security does that to you," said Theodora, "Good work, Ioannes. Is a man matching Ignatieff's description among them?"
"Uh, no, but he appears to never have been part of the group," said Ioannes.
"Thank you, Ioannes," said Theodora, "Take them to the nearest holding center for transport to Constantinople. I want the Emperor to be present at their interrogation."
"I should be thanking you, Theodora," said Ioannes, "Good bye for now."
The line clicked.
Theodora sighed, feeling like she had just averted a major disaster. Now she really felt like talking to the other senators. She headed back downstairs to the reception room, hoping to make a few new friends in the Senate.
((I apologize for ending this interactive part like this, but I couldn't come up with any other way to end it properly. I hope everybody's okay with it, and I won't do this again to resolve future plots. The Cult also won't appear again for the rest of this AAR, as I feel they've run their course and have been used too many times. Maybe they'll appear again in HOI4, and they'll definitely show up for a final chapter in Stellaris.))
"Senators of the corrupt Empire," he said, "You should be honored that you are about to be sacrificed to the Black God, Chernobog. The crucified god that you so love has abandoned you. Why else would he let your Empire be torn asunder? Why else did he let us capture you all so easily? The answer is because he is a false god. He does not care for you. But Chernobog does. Give up your blood for him, and he will reward you, as he rewarded me and my followers, with untold riches in many forms."
Several senators shouted in defiance, but the Cultists fired their guns into the air again to shut them up.
"You bicker now, but it is no use," said Ignatieff, "Why do you so vehemently refuse this great honor? You should be grateful for being given the opportunity to become part of something greater. You know what? I'm going to stop monologuing. My comrades, prepare the sacrifices for the...sacrifice!"
The Cultists forced the senators to kneel and pulled their heads back by their hair with one hand. With their other hand they drew knives from their cloaks and pressed them to the senators' throats.
Ignatieff began chanting in Russian. "Hear me, oh Chernobog, Black God, the Peacock Angel, the true lord of this world. Please accept my merciful offering to your great form..."
"Hey, assbutt," said a voice behind him.
He turned around and saw a man in a trenchcoat standing right behind him.
"Hear this," said the man, snapping his fingers.
Ignatieff flew across the roof, propelled by an invisible force, and crashed into the railing on the far end of the roof.
"Of all of the universes you could have hidden from Heaven in, you chose this one?" said the man.
"Wilhelm," said Ignatieff, "It's been eons since we last met."
"Ignatieff," said Wilhelm, "It's time you paid for your crimes."
The Cultists let go of the senators and opened fire on Wilhelm, but with another snap of his fingers, all of their bullets stopped in midair. The Cultists dropped their weapons in shock as Wilhelm snapped his fingers again, sending them flying over the edge of the building.
Ignatieff reached for his gun, but he stopped when he found a sword pointed straight at his head.
"Don't," said Theodora, "It's over."
Ignatieff sighed and grinned. "It's never over, Doukai. The Cult may have lost today, but it will never give up. Not until Chernobog is satisfied!"
And in front of everybody's eyes, he disappeared.
"Oh, great," said Wilhelm, "I can't go after him."
"You're kidding me," said Theodora, "You can do all that but you can't find him?"
"He's gone to great lengths to conceal himself," said Wilhelm, "He'll only let himself be found when he wants to. But there is one thing I can do."
"What is that?" said Theodora.
"I have a limited ability to time travel," said Wilhelm, "I can reset time to this morning and give you the information to prevent this attack from beginning. And while I'm at it, I'll give you a list of all Cult strongholds around the world."
"Why would I want to reset time?" said Theodora.
"As Minister of Security, they'll have your head for not preventing this attack, especially at your own home," said Wilhelm, "It's the least I can do. They need you as Minister of Security. They need you in the Senate. The Empire needs you to defend it."
Theodora nodded. "Perhaps you're right...considering the Emperor himself is here."
She had noticed that one of the "senators" was actually the Emperor himself.
"And Kira?" said Theodora. "What about her?"
"She'll be safe once you eliminate the strongholds," said Wilhelm, "You won't have to worry about anything."
Wilhelm started walking away.
"And what about you?" said Theodora. "Can't you help out over here? There's so much you could help us with!"
Wilhelm cracked a sad smile. "I'm sorry, but my powers are quite limited right now, and I would prefer you guys sort your problems out on your own. I can't really do anything."
He continued walking away.
"And what about God?" said Theodora. "If you're here, does that mean he's up there?"
Wilhelm laughed. "You do know you're going to forget all of this when I reset time, right?"
He snapped his fingers.
---
That morning
"And therefore, Italia delenda est," said Donatello.
Everybody laughed again. Theodora noticed Alexios sighing and leading Donatello away. The whole idea of ending every single of his speeches with "Italy must be destroyed" was getting on her nerves.
There were the folks from the Thaddai estate in the corner, debating on the correctness of various words for head of government. Apparently "mesazon" was the most popular. However, not much else was happening. Most senators were just walking around aimlessly, not chatting with each other. She had arranged this gathering to solve the problem of boring senate sessions, but it had itself become as boring.
She couldn't even talk to anybody. None of the other senators wanted to talk with her, while her family members (her brother, husband, and children among them) were on "vacation" in Paphlagonia. She was stuck here, with a bunch of bored guests. It said something about the party that the only "entertainment" came from a raving anti-Italian senator channeling Cato and from senators debating word choices. Besides, she was strangely quite worried about security, having asked General Ioannes Dalassenos to bring some troops over for some reason she remembered as being "potential civil disturbance."
Suddenly, a servant rushed into the room and made a beeline straight for her. All conversation in the room stopped as everybody turned towards her.
"There's an uninvited individual at the door," the servant whispered, "She wants to speak with you."
"Tell her she'll have to wait," said Theodora.
"She says it's urgent," said the servant.
"Then inform her that I'll send an Athanatos to help her out," said Theodora.
"She wants to speak to you in person," said the servant, "And she has information on the Cult."
"The Cult?" Theodora said. "They haven't done anything since they showed up during that coup attempt in the capital."
She said that too loud, for some other senators started murmuring.
"Apparently they're up to something," said the servant, "And she can help."
"Send her in," said Theodora.
The servant nodded and rushed out of the room.
"Sorry everybody, there's been a change of plans," she told her guests, "My friend Mara here will oversee the dinner preparations."
She left the room and went to one of her small meeting rooms, where a disheveled young Iranian woman wearing torn days awaited her. Her face was youthful, but her eyes looked like they had seen years upon years of events.
"Who are you?" Theodora asked.
"Call me Kira, Theodora Anna Sophia Doukas," said the woman.
"How do you know my full name?" Theodora demanded. "I never told anybody my name."
"That's not important," said Kira, "What's important is that you trust me. I defected from the Cult, and I can tell you how they work and where their main bases are."
"Suppose you're telling the truth," said Theodora, "What do you want me to do?"
"I need your protection," said Kira, "They'll be looking for me."
"I'll tell the Athanatoi to send a detail," said Theodora.
"There's no time for that," said Kira, "We have to move fast, before they come here."
She handed Theodora a list.
"What is this?" said Theodora.
"A list of the major Cult strongholds I am aware of," said Kira, "I found it lying next to my bed this morning with no idea how it got here."
Theodora took the list. "Did you say they were coming here?"
"Yes, I did," said Kira, "They'll be coming after me, and the back of the list has a message saying that there is a group of Cultists on its way here."
Another servant burst into the room. "Minister, I've got General Dalassenos on the phone," he said.
"Tell him I'll be right there," said Theodora.
She got up from her chair. "Now, make yourself at home here," she said to Kira, "You can stay here as long as you want. You have my word you'll be safe here."
She left the room and picked up a phone in the next room. "Hello?"
"Theodora?" said Ioannes. "I don't know how you did it, but we found a whole group of Cultists heading straight for your mansion. We've apprehended all of them, but we wouldn't have found them if you didn't ask us to look for them. How did you know?"
"Several years as Minister of Security does that to you," said Theodora, "Good work, Ioannes. Is a man matching Ignatieff's description among them?"
"Uh, no, but he appears to never have been part of the group," said Ioannes.
"Thank you, Ioannes," said Theodora, "Take them to the nearest holding center for transport to Constantinople. I want the Emperor to be present at their interrogation."
"I should be thanking you, Theodora," said Ioannes, "Good bye for now."
The line clicked.
Theodora sighed, feeling like she had just averted a major disaster. Now she really felt like talking to the other senators. She headed back downstairs to the reception room, hoping to make a few new friends in the Senate.
((I apologize for ending this interactive part like this, but I couldn't come up with any other way to end it properly. I hope everybody's okay with it, and I won't do this again to resolve future plots. The Cult also won't appear again for the rest of this AAR, as I feel they've run their course and have been used too many times. Maybe they'll appear again in HOI4, and they'll definitely show up for a final chapter in Stellaris.))