The Mechanical Era



15th of Heinz, 5018.

It was another bright, beautiful morning in the city of Hoverdam. The clear blue sky gave no indication of any snow that will fall upon the city today. Inside a palace, a room was reserved and occupied by a bunch of military officers, all wearing some form of forest-green military uniform.

These men, comprised of high-ranking military officials, were waiting for the Defense Minister to show his face. They were all instructed and informed by the man himself to come to his meeting.  Although they did not what it was for, they were told in the letters that it was very important.

As they waited, they chattered amongst each other, talking about whatever subject sparked their interests. Most of them were mainly discussions about the weapons they were using, any potential strategies for training their soldiers more effectively, and so on. Some talked about their experience with the city, and how they managed to integrate into it. 

The front door suddenly opens, revealing a towering figure standing at the other side. The room falls into silence as they watch Richard Armstrong enter the room. He was a menacing figure, with a muscular body and a tall stature that one could dream of having. He carried with him a black leather briefcase in his left hand while wearing his elegant military uniform on his body. 

He closes the door and makes his way to the front of the room, where he sets the briefcase down on a wooden table. Richard then turns around to face his military officers, which consisted of a dozen Major General and a couple dozen Colonels. 

"Good morning everyone! I hope you have settled well into your new homes?" he asked the men in the room, his enthusiasm high and mighty. The men all nod in agreement followed by a "Yes, sir!". 

"Good! Very good! Now, you may all be wondering why I have brought you here to this meeting," he asked his generals. 

"Yes, sir!" they speak, acting a lot like soldiers. They had a lot of questions as the purpose of the meeting was vaguely defined. 

"Well, the reason is simple! His Majesty King Kant Icurus Maybale has designed some new weapon systems for the military to use in the future!

Although they are currently a top-secret, I have received permission from him to discuss these weapons among you all," he claimed. Armstrong opens up his briefcase to collect the stack of files. The general's eyes sparkled with curiosity and intrigue, wondering what may lay inside them.

"Remember, these files cannot escape this room! We cannot afford to have this information leak to the public, or the other kingdoms. Do you all understand?" Armstrong queried the generals.  They all nodded and acknowledge the defense minister, signaling to Armstong that they fully understand. 

Armstrong passes on files to the generals. They open them up and begin to examine the blueprints that Armstrong had been given. The room was filled with hushed whispers and awe-struck expressions as the high-ranking military officers pored over the top-secret blueprints.

"These are remarkable innovations, Minister Armstrong," one of the Major Generals remarked, his eyes still fixed on the blueprint in front of him.

"I couldn't agree more," another General chimed in.

"These weapons have the potential to revolutionize our military capabilities and ensure the safety and security of our kingdom!" another added.

"When will this be deployed to our arm forces?" one of the generals questioned, eager to know when he can get his hands on them.

"His Highness stated that he would like some of them to be developed and deployed sometime around next year," he answered. 

"How will they be developed and tested without the other kingdoms from noticing?" another asked. 

"Excellent question," Minister Armstrong replied, acknowledging the general's concern.

King Kant is aware of the delicate nature of this endeavor. That's why he has tasked us with the utmost secrecy and confidentiality.

The development and testing of these new weapon systems will take place in a top-secret facility located far from the prying eyes of other kingdoms." Armstrong paused for a moment, ensuring he had the full attention of the room before continuing.

"To maintain secrecy, we will refer to this facility as 'Project Argus.' As of now, only a few select individuals, including His Majesty and a handful of trusted advisors, are aware of the true nature of 'Project Argus.'

The explorers, who are currently out scouting for potential locations, are simply under the impression that they are searching for sites suitable for military training exercises. They have no knowledge of the real purpose behind their mission. Once the explorers find an ideal location, we will move swiftly to establish the facility," Armstrong stated with determination.

"The construction will be carried out by a specialized team made up of our best engineers and construction workers the kingdom has to offer. They will be sworn to secrecy, and the construction site will be heavily guarded at all times.

As such, we will be needing some trustworthy soldiers to guard the construction site against any hostile enemy, whether it be spies, demons, or just regular citizens," he informed the generals.

"I want each of you to submit recommendations for soldiers you believe can handle this task with the utmost dedication and secrecy," Armstrong instructed the generals.

"We'll need a team that can work cohesively, and the soldiers chosen should have a track record of reliability and trustworthiness. You have all the time in the world, at least for now. Do you all understand?"

The generals nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of their role in selecting the right personnel. They were well aware that this project could be a turning point in their kingdom's military prowess, and they were eager to see it succeed.

"Good. Now that is out of the way, let's discuss another thing while we are at it," he said.

"Do you all have any nicknames we can give our weapons?"

...

Meanwhile, out in the palace fields, the white snow floor was littered with shattered wooden targets, shot at a great distance using a rifled gun. 

On the side, a tall and muscular man picked up a ceramic brown plate, awaiting further instructions. Right next to him, there was a tall stack of ceramic plates, about as tall as 5 feet. There were about 3 stacks of them there, all waiting to be used.

"Launch!" he hears someone shout. The man strengthens his grip on the plate and looks to the sky. He then leans his arms back and throws the plate into the sky. The brown ceramic plate flies into the distance, attempting to make its escape from the palace grounds.

Click... Bang! 

The ceramic plate shatters into a million pieces, as a small leaded ball penetrates the plate right in the middle. The pieces freefall into the ground, landing on the cushioning thick snow. 

"Hit!" once announced, screaming off the top of his voice. Kant, who held up a long rifled gun, smiled at the announcement, pleased to find that his aiming skills has not deteriorated. It had been a long time since he had used a rifle. He took pleasure and pride in his accuracy and proficiency in using the firearm. 

After all the things he had done, he felt as if he deserved a good break, some time to enjoy himself while he is at it, before heading back to work. The man started reloading his rifle, hoping to take down another target.

As he reloaded his rifle, his ears pick up the sound of snow being stumped, as someone walked closer and closer to him. He turned his head to glace, only to see the assistant minister, Alan 'Walker' Fleck, coming for him, holding a letter in hand.

"Morning your majesty! I have received a letter from the Aceaton Empire, addressed to you!" he claimed. 

"Who is it from?" Kant asked. He continued reloading his rifle, wanting to take aim and destroy another ceramic plate. 

"It says that it is from the Empress herself, Rose Valline," Alan answered. Kant fully loaded his gun and handed it over to Alan to hold. He then took the envelope and uncovered the letter within.

"Dear King Kant Icurus Maybale,

I, the Empress of the Aceaton Empire, Rose 'Tippo' Valline, am inviting you to an important meeting taking place on the 5th of Initium, next year. The meeting will take place at the Royal Palace in the City of Vallina. Please make sure to dress in formal royal attire for the occasion. 

It is compulsory that you attend this meeting, as it details events that concern the fate of the world and the well-being of the people. The purpose is to have a civil discussion among the kings of the entire Aceaton Continent..."

Kant continues and finishes reading the letter. He then hands it over to Alan, his trusted assistant minister.

"Should I make preparations for your departure, sir?" he asked. 

"Yes, you shall," Kant replied. He took back his rifled musket and went on to fire down every single one of those damn ceramic plates.