December 19, 1640

Washington, D.C.

A buzz of anticipation surrounded the Situation Room as a conglomeration of President Lee’s closest advisors assembled for a meeting. President Lee surveyed the room, his discerning eyes taking in the scene around him. Names such as Vice President Jacob Coleman, Chairman Brent McCarthy, Secretary of Defense Robert Hill, and Secretary of State Gordon Heiden were present, along with numerous others.

Though they had thus far recovered from the worst of the Transference’s effects, they now had to deal with a slew of rising problems that coincided with dramatically shifting dynamics. Clearing his throat, Lee broke the suspense. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice reverberating through the room. “Today, we dissect the state of our nation in Elysia, particularly the aftermath of the extraction operation.”

A sense of gravity permeated the room. The extraction operation was overwhelmingly successful but carried questionable risks and consequences. And the ensuing declaration from the Gra Valkans - well, it signaled a major shift in the geopolitical landscape. Lee and his cohorts in the EDI finally got what they wanted – American intervention, but at what cost?

“Before we dive into the meat of this meeting, I’d like each one of you to bear in mind one thing,” President Lee continued, his gaze connecting with each participant. “We aren’t just discussing policy or strategy. We’re making decisions that affect lives – the lives of those who trust us to lead. Though the people may not understand the true scope of our mission here, we must do all that we can to satisfy the people and ensure that our administration maintains its priority in preparing for the return of the Ravernal Empire. Let that guide our discussions today.”

His words hung in the air as heads around the table nodded in acknowledgment. Not everyone took the threat of the Ravernal Empire’s return seriously; there still remained many skeptics who have taken to the screens and ridiculed the Eimorians’ revelation for their own political gain. If Lee’s administration couldn’t satisfy the people, an ignorant leader could win power, disregarding the threat of the Ravernals until it was too late. This was the sobering reality of their roles, the responsibility that anchored their ambitions and strategies.

The room fell into silence, save for the hum of the air conditioning and the faint rustling of briefing papers. Eyes turned to President Lee once more, awaiting the deep dive into the matters at hand.

“Let’s proceed,” Lee directed, opening the floor to the first point of discussion on their packed agenda- the recent extraction operation.

His words served as a signal for Hill to take the floor. The room’s attention shifted, expectantly, to Hill. “The extraction was a resounding success,” Hill began, his voice crisp and assertive. “All of our High-Value Targets – Emperor Gra Lux, Crown Prince Gra Cabal, the Imperial Family, Chief of the Military Xand Pastall, Office of the Sovereign Secretary Varden Kurtz, and several other vital personnel – were safely retrieved. Our forces, I’m relieved to report, sustained light injuries, but no fatalities.”

A sigh of relief fluttered through the room, a testament to the weight of the mission’s outcome on everyone present. They had won a significant victory.

However, Hill, ever the realist, quickly tempered the momentary relief. “While this is indeed a victory, it is also the beginning of a complex, potentially volatile geopolitical landscape. We initiated a first strike, akin to Pearl Harbor,” he cautioned. The room fell silent, faces tight with understanding. The ripples of their actions would soon be felt throughout Elysia – and more importantly, back home.

Hill continued, “As a result, we are now at war with the Gra Valkas Empire. Thankfully, they didn’t want to admit that Americans snuck past their patrols and managed to strike at the mainland. However, their response made it clear that they wouldn’t be giving up without a heavy, attrition-laden fight.”

Vice President Coleman picked up on the details of the declaration itself. “The wording of their declaration contains a lot of what, buzz words? They’re talking about US imperialism as if they’re not the damned imperialists! And some of the idiots here are gonna gobble it up!”

“Well, that’s a rather crude way of putting it, but yes. It seems like the Gra Valkans have figured out something about our society. Hopefully, the facts about the Gra Valkans will prevail. Jan,” Lee then turned to his press secretary, “I’m trusting you to spin this as best you can.”

After receiving affirmation from Jan, President Lee nodded toward the Director of the CIA, Ethan Klein.

“In the wake of the Gra Valkan coup, many of our assets were compromised,” Klein admitted, his voice steady. “Fortunately, most were Doves and thus evacuated or went into hiding as soon as Marix’s War Hawks came to power. The cost, however, remains significant. Though our actions have secured the safety of our future… friends in power, our intelligence network in the Gra Valkas Empire took a staggering hit.”

Heiden chimed in, focusing on the diplomatic and political implications of this operation. “Additionally, our actions have further radicalized the Gra Valkan government. Without Doves to hold back the War Hawks, and with their sentiments riled up by our first strike, we may find it harder to secure a Gra Valkan capitulation in the future.” Heiden turned to Hill, his eyes conveying his fears. “It is likely that nothing short of an unconditional surrender can end this conflict.”

McCarthy nodded in agreement. “We’ve got the firepower to bring the Gra Valkans to their knees, but collateral damage can’t be avoided. If the Gra Valkans are anything like the Imperial Japanese, it’ll take some devastating blows to get them to surrender. Severe bombings, boots on the ground, no matter the approach, public support will drop like a rock.”

Lee took a deep breath, pondering their words. “What can we do to avoid this?”

Director of National Intelligence Allen Fitch offered his expertise, “Emperor Gra Lux and his entourage are far more than rescued hostages, or future ‘friends in power’, as Director Klein put it. These individuals have intimate knowledge of the Gra Valkas Empire’s political, military, and even cultural structures.”

“But,” Klein interjected, leaning forward, “We must be careful. It’s essential to strike a balance between obtaining valuable information and not alienating our newfound allies. They are, after all, in a vulnerable position, and treating them like mere assets could backfire.”

Fitch nodded in agreement and glanced at Secretary Heiden, saying, “Absolutely. We need to handle them with diplomacy and respect. A cooperative relationship will yield more valuable and reliable intelligence than forceful interrogation. Undoubtedly, the Emperor wants to save his country from the destruction he fears that we will bring upon it. We’ve already got a foundation to work with, all we need to do now is cultivate their trust.”

“Their presence in the US can also be leveraged diplomatically,” Heiden added. “We could publicly acknowledge their status, extending recognition to Gra Lux’s government in exile. This move would legitimize their claim, give them hope, and place us firmly as allies against the War Hawks. This can also send the important message that we will be there to help them rebuild, rather than paint us as outsiders seeking the complete collapse of the Gra Valkas Empire.”

The room absorbed their words, tension etching itself into the silence as the weight of the situation bore down on them. They had successfully navigated the extraction, but the path forward was far from smooth. There was a moment of silence before Coleman cleared his throat.

“This’ll be a real boon to our relationship with our new puppets, and the military-industrial complex is sure to be happy, but the isolationists and doves are gonna be a real thorn in our side. We oughta consider the political ramifications here. Most of the men and women in Congress are reasonable, but some of the intellectually unfortunate there can sow real division. We’re not the same united front we were post-Transference.” Coleman looked at Lee, his expression earnest. “We’ve had our honeymoon period, and old rivalries are already starting to creep back in. Democrats, Republicans, our party – each with our own agendas, each fighting for a piece of the pie.”

Though Coleman’s personality was a bit unrefined, he was the ‘realest’ person in the group. Speaker of the House Lauren Scheifer leaned forward, her face somber. “Jacob’s right. We’ve done a commendable job managing the crisis, but we can’t ignore the fact that our budget’s straining at the seams. The consequences of our stopgaps – like the stimulus packages – and any lagging effects of the Transference are bound to catch up to us. The prospect of war will only exacerbate this. Those rallying for economic recovery aren’t going to take kindly to military expenses skyrocketing.”

There was a murmur of agreement around the table. Even staunch military supporters like Chariman McCarthy looked troubled. To Lee, this situation was a conflict that held greater stakes than the Gra Valkan war. If his administration and party lost favor, they risked being blindsided by the Ravernals down the road.

“We also can’t overlook the perception of overreach,” Scheifer continued. “The more isolationist factions in Congress might view this as unnecessary foreign intervention; their case becoming more prevalent following our wars in Rodenius and Philades. The fallout could chip away at our party’s unity.

President Lee nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “You raise valid concerns, Lauren, Jacob. We need to tread carefully, mitigate the political fallout as best we can.”

Coleman turned to Scheifer. “Lauren, you think you can work your magic with the coalitions in Congress? If we can spin this as a vital move for national security and democratic values – and most importantly, discuss the economic benefits of supporting this move, we may be able to increase bipartisan support.”

Scheifer nodded, a determined look in her eyes. “I’ll do my best, Jacob. But it won’t be easy. We’ll need to be transparent and make our case convincingly.”

“I have faith in you, Lauren,” President Lee said, his tone firm but appreciative.

As the conversation moved toward strategizing, a new wave of questions arose – how would the public react, and how would they handle it? Whereas most politicians could be swayed by ‘lobbying’ and technically legal incentives, such tactics may not apply to the public. Even if they could sway the most isolationist among them, it won’t matter if their constituents apply pressure or worse, vote for a new representative.

The topic shifted, and Secretary of Commerce Alexander Hubbard took the lead.

“The public is behind us,” he stated, referring to recent polls that showed a high level of support for military action against the Gra Valkans. “But the thought of a war may not sit well for long.” Hubbard gestured to the report in front of him, a smattering of colorful pie charts and graphs. “The economy is in a precarious state. Though war-time economies can see significant boosts, I would caution in applying historical precedence to this unique situation we’re in. War can siphon much-needed capital from recovery, and a slow-down in recovery or – God forbid – a reversal could quickly dampen public support. Plus, it took several years after World War 2 and the Marshall Plan for the next leg up. The election is in two years; we don’t have that kind of time.”

Hill chimed in, his voice steady, “Additionally, let’s not forget our previous encounters were against civilizations with vastly different military capabilities. The Gra Valkans are not the Lourians or the Parpaldians. We won’t be able to blitz through them as easily. If we put boots on the ground, we’ll be guaranteed to suffer casualties.”

The room fell into a pensive silence. It was McCarthy who broke it. “You’re right,” he conceded, rubbing his temple. “We’ve been winning, and winning breeds confidence. There’s no doubt we’ll win, but this could be another Afghanistan or Vietnam. A drawn-out war, rising costs, potential losses… public sentiment could shift quickly.”

President Lee looked around the room, taking in the solemn expressions. He steeled himself, saying, “We must be proactive, then. Manage the expectations, keep the public informed. We have a strong narrative – a deposed emperor, a power-hungry tyrant – and allies to back us up. But we must also focus on the other issues in society – particularly the economy.”

Hill posed a suggestion. “We could increase our sales to Mu and the rest of the EDI. Open up some more advanced systems to them. At the same time, we can train their troops to minimize our ground presence in the region and cut some items from the DoD’s budget.”

McCarthy raised an eyebrow, quick to challenge Hill’s recommendation. “Items like what?”

Hill explained, "Since the Elysians will be doing a lot of the ground fighting for us, we can cut back on vehicle production and other equipment. Since the Gra Valkans aren't even a threat for our older F-16s, we can revise the next orders of high-tech equipment – B-2s and B-21s, F-35s, and so on. Maintain production, but optimize costs where we can."McCarthy reluctantly agreed. “It’ll hamper our preparations against the Annonrials and their Ravernal daddies, but we won’t be able to prepare at all if we lose control of the government. We can make do with what we’ve got, but if the Annonrials decide to join the party, we’ll be stretched very thin.”

The mention of the Annonrial Empire shifted the room’s atmosphere. It was no secret that the Annonrials were plotting to hasten the return of their ancient ancestors, but there was only so much the US could do about them currently. A war against their magically-advanced empire would not only be a strategic blunder but also a political one. Fighting the Gra Valkans and Annonrials at the same time is feasible, but would lead to losses. Plus, without any publicly-acknowledged basis to fight the Annonrials, Lee could very well kiss his and his party’s reputation goodbye.

“They’ve been quiet, for the most part, but we’ve noticed an uptick in military activities. And let’s not forget their technological capabilities,” Fitch warned, drawing a concerned murmur from the room. “World War 2 era battleships are one thing. Pal Chimerae, biological horrors, and magic we still know little about are another.”

McCarthy added his two cents, “We’re monitoring them, but its a balance. If we focus too much on the Gra Valkans, we risk being blindsided by the Annonrials.”

Hill took a deep breath before saying, “We’ll need to work out a strategy that allows us to do both. War on one front is challenging enough, but the prospect of a potential second aggressor or even a third… we need to tread carefully.”

Lee frowned, his ears registering something unfamiliar. “Third…?”

Fitch loaded several satellite images onto the screens nearby. The images depicted ironclad airships that seemed like ancient ancestors of the V-22 Osprey – if this distant comparison could even be called one. “These three vessels departed from a cross-shaped island located far southeast, about a thousand miles southeast of Silkark, about three thousand miles southeast of Florida. Another expedition is headed to an unaffiliated island in the South Pacific, two thousand miles south of Rodenius and a few hundred miles away from the Republic of Varkland. Their intentions are unknown, but possibly exploration or diplomacy.”

“99 problems…” Lee muttered to himself. “Let’s hope Silkark ain’t one of them.”