William stared on at the crystal screen even long after it stopped streaming, he was shocked. He lost his strongest warrior, he had expected a couple deaths but to lose Kurt is detrimental. He is the commander of the EA, the others will have a hard time without him. He slumps his head down, staring at his own hands "To sacrifice yourself...why...I never thought..."

Arryn tries to comfort him "He's a hero now, he will be remembered for his sacrifice."

He turns to face her "Yes...but at what cost...Our resources are spread thin as they are...I just hope my plan works.."

Arryn grabs hold of his shoulders, smiling "It will... believe in yourself, without you we don't stand many chances."

William grimaces "I wouldn't know about that...I'm just another pawn being moved by higher beings in their game...." he clenches his fists "I'll go rest a bit, could you tell me when all the diplomats have arrived?"

Arryn nods "I will wake you." she continues to give a reassuring smile, giving him no choice but to smile back weakly

William goes to his chambers and ponders on some things for a bit, some guards could be seen going back and fro reporting in while he gave out some orders. He didn't know when and where the next attack will happen, but he had to be ready for anything.

----------------

Once the castle received reports on the last diplomats arriving, Arryn went to wake William up. But he wasn't asleep, he simply sat at a desk head in his palms.

Arryn fully opens the door and speaks "They're here, soon to arrive at the meeting room"

William turns to look at her "Let's not keep them waiting then..." he stands up from his chair and walks out of the room behind Arryn. She grabs on to his arm and unlike before he doesn't react shyly but simply accepts the contact as a gesture of affection, as it is. They walk down the corridors until they arrive at two large double doors, from within constant arguing can be heard. William inhales and straightens up, his expression loses all anxiousness. He summons fort his armour while his eyes gain their distinct auras, he pushes open the doors. The room is the same hall that was used for dining, now containing a large square table instead of the long rectangular one. Sitting on three faces of the square table are representatives from all three alliances from around the globe, High ranking officials. They eye him up suspiciously, no trust what so ever in their eyes. William looks around the table, then moves toward a seat next to Loke. Arryn follows him as he speaks."Dwarves, Demons, Drakelings, High Elves, Wood Elves, Dark Elves, Weremen, Faes, Mers, Giants, Orcs,Aracnids, Aviants." every step constituted a word, he finally arrives at his seat but doesn't sit down. "I thank each and every race for accepting my invitation. As you all have been briefed by my guide" he gestures towards Loke "War is upon us." many shift uncomfortably around the table, some speak out.

"Blasphemy, that is calling war against the gods themselves." The Dark Elf says

"Who would dare attack who?" Asks the Wereman

"Fill our blanks, human. What in the hells could be so important to get me out of my forge?!" says a very annoyed dwarf.

William gestures for Arryn to start the recording crystal and turns back to address the whole table "The void, you may not know this but. My kind has the ability to sense the void, I've sensed a portal at each city I've been at, alas that may only be two but I have my suspicions that all cities are being directly targeted from within." From gaping mouths, to wide spread eyes off to agitated fidgeting. The table had it all, as his words sunk in. Behind William on the wall lay a large crystal screen which Arryn had finished connecting the recording crystal to. "What you are about to witness is an event that started merely hours ago, A rift opened at the old Dark Glade fortress city. Where my mercenary group the Edge Alpha reside, due to its position instead of abandoning and due to the calamity it would produce if it falls. The fort was held successfully, but the result...Well it is best of you see for yourselves." William gestures for Arryn to start the recording and so she does. For the next hour or so 3rd person recording of Dark Glade from above is shown to the diplomats, most of which sat with deathly pale expressions. "The causalities count up to two thousand or more, one of them as you can now see. Is Mercenary Commander Kurt Zerk Ruzk" he eyes each one of them, trying to read their expressions.

"Zerk Ruzk? The Void Titan slayer?!" the wereman, or more specifically werewoman. A half human half tigress stares in shock at the screen.

"That was a rift, he had no other choice..." The Dark elf adds grimly.

"What was the original head count for the mercenary group? I see around six? seven thousand?" The Wood Elf asks William with a glare

William responds"Seven thousand is correct, all parties were called back so they fully numbered their seven thousand."

The diplomats converse with their colleagues, some still seem sceptical. William decides to pull out his next resource "Also, may I add that the strongest voidling the rift let through were those three titan dragons. What will you do alone, when an army of Titan class monsters swarm your cities? Your weapons will not stand a chance without a vanguards to guard them, your armies will not stand a chance without siege to back it up, the void hive mind is not ignorant and also is not wasteful. It knows what each race specialises in, it will send accordingly to counter."

One of the diplomats that had stayed quiet this whole time now speaks up "And what would you suggest we do? Give up hope?" The avian man looks at William, occasionally glancing at the others.

"Hardly, I suggest a simple plan. We merge our resources and divide them equally, the differentiation in arms and weapons will block any counter measures to each race the hive mind has prepared. No matter how much of one unit you may own, you simply cannot win a war without differentiation in your army. Just as a single cannon can wipe out platoons of ground troops, a single cavalry can wipe out a squad of archers by using the right paths"

The diplomats once again converse with each other, until one side rises up "As before, the Magi Alliance stands behind you. Some of us... have bones to pick with you, but this war indeed requires every race." the werewoman announces.

Then another side rises "The Monstra Alliance has some doubts, how can you ensure we will even have the numbers to defend each of our people?" the Orc points out something very significant, which William had already thought of.

"It is true that 80% of each race population is made of non combatants, I urge you all to push your people to arms as we will need all the numbers we can get. But also, I have some insurance...for some more numbers to be added. Anytime now someone else is supposed to join us, please...refrain from cutting his head off. As much as everyone here will wish to, I promise you aren't alone in wanting so." William's anxiousness seems to come back at him, as seconds pass. Then minutes, until he starts questioning his own plan.

"Kekekekekeke...Am I late for the party?" two cloaked figures appear behind each person in the room, as Birse walks in from the front door. Chaos ensues as each diplomat starts to curse and point fingers.

"Calm yourselves! He is not here to fight, I assure you. Or have you declined my offer? BlackHand?" William gets the attention of the panicking diplomats as he turns to speak with Zaexar, currently wearing his illusional disguise.

"You've got some bravery son, I'll give you that much. Yes I have only come here to listen to your deal, as long as your offer still stands." Birse moves to the side and lays back into a chair next to the door.

"What offer? What did you offer this monster?!" The Wood Elf, Yorick slams his hand on the table as his other lay on the hilt of one of his blades.

"Something only I can offer, VIP trade with my kind. I may not be a diplomat back home, but being the first human to discover these lands and under our laws I have the rights to do so. In exchange Birse will join us with his resources."

"Kekeke, I had my own plans but...If the others here wish to co-operate then so shall I." Birse looks around the table with an amused expression.

Many mechanical nods appear from around the table, Yorick is the one to speak up"If it is for the good of my people, I will put up with this maniac. But I swear that if you are to betray us, you will have nowhere and no one to hide behind." he glares at Birse who glares back.

"I will equally spread my men to each region, you may leave the outer village and forts to receive reinforcements by us. Also I ask for the human ambassador's aid in a certain spell of my construction. With the..."aid" of many mages we have created a spell that will shut down all current void portals open by forcefully opening an unstable rift within them using the human's detection powers as co ordinates. You will have to do nothing but focus on a single portal, my mages will do the rest." he turns to glare back at Yorick, slightly amused.

"That will surely be useful but, at what cost?" Yorick seems suspicious

"The mages's own lives. I care not if you do not accept this truth, but many will die. That is fact and sacrificing yourself for your people is as heroic as these scum will ever get." Birse diverges his glare from Yorick to William.

"I will not question your methods, I understand that many more lives will be lost." William sighs

Birse stands up "Then I guess this ends our negotiations for today, I look forward to my wagons reaching your doors someday human."

He disappears along with his lackeys, the room goes quiet.

---

I did decide to take the story a completely different path that still focuses on the Void, this time a more....understandable one? Both parties (Goverment and Underground groups) want the survival of their people, they simply needed a push to join together...or in this case a plotting will :D(Hehehehe.....)