Sweet blue smoke wafted from incense burners inside the palace as his Most Revered and Honorable Excellency Caliph Saladin of the Raschid quietly observed his closest advisers in council. Men and women of the nobility argued with each other over the end of the military campaign on Istakhr.
"...and I would be remiss if I did not mention the rising stock price of both food and metal from our friends at the League over the last year as military production has escalated..."
"Pah, this is easily within expected projections and none but the most frivolous can afford a little extra in order to put these pathetic pirates and smugglers down!"
"Easy for you to say Hakim, your family has the greatest investment in weapons factories on planet. And it seems under your command troops have been arresting more than simple pirates, including a few of your more vocal opponents."
"What is the matter Isaakios? Upset that the thieves that House Comnenus employed were caught red-handed with the rest of the rabble?"
"You both are arguing over nothing! Now that this campaign is over we can mothball most of the fleet and get back to regular business."
"We shall not be retiring the fleet."
The council fell silent and turned as one to the Caliph.
"But your Majesty, what do you mean? You surely cannot orde-."
"What I can and cannot do is my decision to make, or do you wish to disagree?" Saladin spoke softly.
Jewels and gaudy ornaments jingled as the outspoken minister visibly flinched after hearing a Palace Guard's Khopesh rasp from its sheathe to his left.
"N-no your Grace, I-I wouldn't ever dare."
"I thought not," Saladin replied with a small smile. "My dear friends," he gestured to everyone else assembled, "now is the time to expand. I will be ordering our ground troop commanders to organize with the Fleet Captains and begin preparing for a major off-world invasion...here." With a casual flick of a finger, a holographic display of the world in question appeared before them all. "As one of the Great Noble Houses it is both our duty and privilege to bring stability to worlds long thought lost to the Empire. I shall send out more orders soon. That will be all."
The Caliphs form disappeared from a projector at the head of the table, and the real Saladin sat back and took a sip from a diamond encrusted chalice.
But a few worlds was not all that could be profited with the throne empty and the ministries in disarray. An Empire could be gained.
(Yeah I wanted to get the save out before I fiddled with a blurb, so you beat me from saying I finally got around to the turn mainiac, there should be no more delays from me I hope.)
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Topic: EoFS Revisited - 50027AD (Year 72) - Closing discussion (Read 70163 times)