Moderal Looks to the East.

The soldiers breath was misting in front of her. With the sun not even over the horizon yet. Her unit had been deployed to capture a small town just east of the border. The but of her rifle lay firmly against her shoulder, ready should it be needed. The town lay just over the bluff infront of her, they shouldn't have any idea what was about to happen. She crawled slowly up the hill until she could just see over the top. She raised the rifle slowly, lookning through the scope toward the town. Nothing, no movement. Hopefully everyone and everything was asleep. She quickly took another sweep before sprininging to her feet and begining to run at the town full speed. All along the bluff the rest of the unit followed her. They rain, cold air streaming past them until they had made it to the town. They continued running until they made it to the town center where the mayor resided.

She paused, looking around at the men and women beside her who were ready for battle, before casting her rifle over her shoulder and drawing her sidearm. She signaled for another soldier to come with her before she slammed her shoulder into the door, throwing it open. Inside was a comfortable sitting room, with expensive furnature. She held the pistol out infront of her, quickly checking to make sure no one was hiding and waiting for them. There was no one. She quickly moved forward, moving silently and efficently around the ground floor of the house, checking and double checking for any signs of life. There were none. She finally came to the stair well leading up to the second floor of the house. She slowly and cautiously moved up the stairs.

Upstairs there was a long straight hall with doors on either side. She signaled to her partner to check the right side. She silently moved to the first door of the left before gently swinging it open. Inside was a small child laying in bed asleep. She gently closed the door before moving to the next one and swinging it open. Before she was able to look she heard a shout of suprise behind her as her partner noticed that there was someone standing just behind the door, then a smash as a vase crashed down over her partners helmet sending him stumbling backward. She charged forward, slamming into the woman knocking her to the floor. She screamed and from all the other rooms came the sound of feet against the floor.

She slammed her pistol into the womans head knocking her unconcious before wheeling around to face those coming out of their rooms. She sprang backward as a shot rang out shooting through the wood walls beside her. She moved her pistol, looked down the sight, aimed, and fired catching a large man with the pistol in the chest sending him flying backward. She heard shouts from outside, and then rifles being fired. Things had gone quite badly, this was meant to be a quick and quiet capture. She turned, checking on the other rooms holding her pistol infront of her. There a man, charging at her full speed. Another shot, and he went flying backward. The others seemed hesitant, and rightfully so, she had eight shots left and there were only four of them. She shouted out in her native language.
"which one of you is the chief." 
One of the older ones pointed at the man she had shot first. He lay on the floor bleeding out of a chest wound. She moved cautiously behind him, keeping one eye on the men standing at the end of the corridor and the other on the man on the ground. After reaching behind him, she hauled him to his feet and pressed her pistol to his head. She moved slowly downstairs and outside, walking out the door with the man first. The rest of her unit lay crouching behind cover firing at men in the doorways of their home. She shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear. 
"This is over!"

To: Her Ephemeral Majesty, Empress Catherine von Marcum.

After some discussion with the families in control of the expansion they have decided to accept your observers. I would like to inform you that these people are quite underdeveloped. They managed to break away from Moderal two generations ago when my familys predecesors died out. 

We would greatfully accept the hospital ship, although we don't believe there will be an inumerable amount of injuries it is always best to prepare for the worst. The duke will have access to the ussualy unaccessable military ports, although he will need to fly the families insignia, and the public ports. Unfortunately I can't speak for the shipbuilding ports, or any others. He will also be privy to any military meetings.

I would hope you agree that giving up valuable military information can be a dangerous thing to do. So I would like to suggest that the duke or someone similar become a perminant observer even during times of peace, and Moderal send an obeserver to the Imperium Divinum.

Kind Regards,

Blana Gasca.

The company stopped. They had been marching all day, through cold and icy forests. Their feet and arms were frozen. Their packs hung heavy on their backs. The commander had decided to break here for lunch before pushing on to the rendez-vous point where they were to meet with the other companies for the final push to the capitol. The war had dragged on longer than the were hoping with the other families being focused on the treaty in Morthal they had not had as much support from the navies as they were hoping. They seemed to be conserving ammo "just in case" an irrational fear as the naval treaty was unlikely to limit their supplies. However, everyone seemed to be holding their breath for the result. As the last of the column walked into the clearing where they were breaking for lunch, everyone greatfully let their packs fall roughly to the ground slumping down greatfully beside them. They began digging into them for their limited rations that were designed for efficency rather than taste. There wasn't quite enough food for their liking, they assumed that it was being strictly rationed and they also didn't like what that implied. After some minuets the commander called for the company to form up and they began marching again toward the rendez-vous point once again. 

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A command tent had popped up, white and black breaking up the regular shape against the background. Many other tents had been erected as well, in a neat and orderly fashion of course. The soldiers lazed around, lighting small fires, playing cards, gambling, drinking and eating. This would be the last day here for some. Although the enemy were severely underdeveloped and supremely out matched their is always someone who can get in a lucky shot. Horses whinied as they got unteathered from their artillery pieces. The commanders in their tent reviewed the plan over and over again, making certain that there would be minimal mistakes. They attacked in the morning, this whole campaign would be over before the sun set. Then they were to be picked up by the navy and shipped who knows where. South they assumed, those who were closer to the lordly familys had heard mention of the south, although they weren't sure.

As the moon slowley continued its course across the sky, everyone steadily decided to turn in. All their ability would be needed tommorow.