160 The Bloodied Princess
"Hank… do me a favour and pass the newspaper over.
I don't want to get my dirty hands on the paper during breakfast."
"Of course, Senator." A young security guard officer brought over the newspaper dropped off at the residence bright and early.
Placing it beside the Senator as he ate eggs, toast, and cereal in the morning.
To the surprise of the Senator, when he scanned through the newspaper, the headline caught his attention before anything else.
"*Sigh* Look here Hank, it seems like our government doesn't understand that we aren't needed in every conflict around the globe."
"Some people are just a little eager to make your job harder in the future, Senator Obama."
"Hihihaha… that's possible.
But let's give them the benefit of the doubt shall we, Hank?"
"As you say Senator."
Barrack Obama smiled while sipping on his morning coffee as he watched Hank leave the dining room and head outside to organise the security team for the morning drive to the Capital Building.
'Never expected they would move with such lethality and precision.' Thinking to himself, Barrack found it hard to imagine how the Phantom Security Services were able to rid Africa of its greatest problem.
Unstable leadership.
Nobody could lead their nation without corruption affect every level of authority.
Barrack wasn't overly concerned with the issues affecting Africa as a whole with his mind focused on achieving presidency but seeing the actions and results of the Phantom Security Services, he felt like making a connection with the people behind the company.
'Let's hope they are at least like the Primal Management Group.' Barrack had met with representatives sent by James to assist Barrack with winning the presidency so waste control and recycling could fall into their hands for the entire United States of America.
Large donations were made to the presidency campaign that easily exceeded 50 million US dollars in the hopes Primal Management, Avitus Financial, and Aeternus Curatio Group were given some leeway and freedom pertaining to business operations.
Barrack wanted to create close ties with the three corporations since he realised, they would be instrumental in reshaping the economy.
James made sure to alert the U.S Senator on the market crash which already started to take effect and have some small problems that created bigger waves.
The Spokespersons for the Avitus Financial Group, and Aeternus Curatio Group both warned him that the work would be extensive to save the nation from utter collapse.
Both asked Barrack to help in the future once they introduced their bank to the American citizens.
Right now, Eddie was rejuggling the management of the staff from all the European banks that were bought earlier on.
Northern Rock, a bank based in the United Kingdom, and Bear Stearns, a global investment bank was bought up by Eddie and quickly going through a corporate restructuring.
Barrack was made aware of the movements related to the three corporations, even if he though it was a little abrupt for the public to hear at once.
Most people assumed their money was all gone but Eddie helped assure the clients of both banks and all of the others in his control that there would be no problems.
But the most pressing question on Barrack's mind was finding out who the true power was behind each of the corporations, hopefully before he became the president.
Otherwise, it would become a problem if he relied on national assets and resources for his own investigations so he could fulfil his curiosity.
.
Leaving for his campaign office's, Barrack continued to read his favourite newspaper once a colleague informed him of their neutral stance regarding politics.
Advising news to the public without any biases or agenda, Liber Tellus Global News quickly seized a portion of the market nobody expected to exist because it was impossible to reach out to.
Most of the public didn't believe the major news media groups since the owners were able to influence the direction the journalists reported.
This led to more of a light-hearted and discussion-based news reports instead of informing the public about the true problems and issues affecting the world.
Barrack wasn't spared either when the paper reported his small connection with the NRA, even if he personally wanted to enact stricter gun laws.
'*Sigh* At least the news about me has long passed and instead Liber Tellus seems to be chasing after the elite.' Barrack laughed inwardly after reading one of the reports which implicated a large corporation for conduction business in a fraudulent manner.
While reading through the report column in the newspaper, wondering how Liber Tellus Global News could get the evidence to write up so reports, Esmond found himself in a tough position.
.
After reaching their seaside mansion, outside of the capital city of Somalia, Esmond was notified that the newly established leaders of the African nations had called through a secure line.
Esmond sent Zaro away with the other cousins to tour the mansion and relax while he took care of business.
Unfortunately, the problem wasn't so simple that Esmond could simply let it go for others to manage.
"Dozens of governments around the world are pushing the United Nations to start including us within their organisation after we conducted our first online joint communication meeting as the African Union.
The Astrum Bank we decided to establish across the continent on Sir Eddie's orders has already worried certain external factors overseas.
Certain enquires to buy out the Bank to cooperation have reached us, but so far, we've said no to everything."
Hayaan, the Somalian President and nominated Secretary Leadership of the African Union.
Esmond hadn't set up a specified person to lead the African Union just yet, so Hayaan happily took control with some heavy assistance from Gabriel to administer the nation and continental group.
"Just tell the corporations and governments that we are closed for business until we can stabilise our lands.
They want to get in and take what they can of the land we are developing, now that there is stable leadership in place." Esmond replied back, as he joined Hayaan and the other leaders of African nations.
Most called through and were shown to be present through the holographic display but the few leaders who could visit Esmond directly were present.
"Actually Boss…
That isn't the real problem we called you here for…" Gatimus, the current President leading Kenya said before uploading the data from his personal HUD WristBand to the Holographic Display.
"American, Russian, British, Chinese and Australian Operatives have all recently flooded the continent to figure out what Phantom Security Services is really trying to accomplish.
New Zealand, Germany and France aren't far behind as well."
Amadi said after displaying the footage of passengers arriving by flight or by airdrop, which left Esmond fuming as he never expected Australia to join in with America's wild ideas.
"How does the Secretary General of the United Nations feel about it?" Esmond asked.
"Less than happy that the force he instated is being treated like the enemy, but not willing to put in the effort to help us." Andre, the Cameroon President said with a sour mood.
"Nedric…" Esmond sighed as he called on his friend and Leader of the Shadow Intelligence Agency.
"… I'm aware and I have people following them already.
However, we came across a bigger problem." Nedric, who wasn't present in the meeting but joined through due to Esmond's request brought up some videos and data the operatives had gathered.
It didn't take long for Esmond to recognise the real threat at hand.
"Order of the Hassassins…" Esmond lightly said.
Nedric took this as the right moment to provide an indepth analysis.
"*Sigh* European and American Branches of the Hassassins have started working for governments and organisations with their own interests in mind.
Rashid and the other Hassassin within the Space have started moving but he requested some assistance from the Shadow Agency to help.
Do you approve?"
"Help him out.
If we can take over the ancient Order completely then we can utilise it as our own." Esmond wanted to honestly overrun the entire world already, but he knew there would be too many insurrections against his power and control.
It needed to come about naturally and for that to happen, Esmond needed a public face and one to work in the shadows.
.
The rest of the meeting passed on quickly with only small issues that needed immediate attention like resources and processed materials.
Esmond left with a headache, only to receive some startling news from Carter that made him rethink about touring Africa for now.
"T-This…!!
… How did you come across this ship in deep space?!"
Esmond failed to contain his excitement, confusion, and sheer shock after witnessing the images and video of a ship that exist in this space and time.
"I found the Bloodied Princess Frigate Class Starship through the satellites I've scattered around the Solar System that noticed it heading past the outer reaches of our System.
But have you noticed something particular about the ship?" Carter asked with a slight grin across his face.
The two were in the private study of the mansion so they had the privacy to communicate without others becoming aware of their conversation.
Most of all, their current conversation couldn't be heard by others since it concerned a past life of Esmond's.
The Bloodied Princess Frigate Class Starship was known to them both for its lethality, speed, and precision during warfare.
But that only happened because of the chaotic environment within the Tartarus Zone, where the Bloodied Princess Frigate Class Starship quickly became known as a leading figurehead within the Zone of Unknown and Anomalistic Space.
Back when Esmond became aware of the Bloodied Princess, he was trying his hand a creating some of his own Starships at the DryDock of the planetary body he lived by.
The Bloodied Princess was a mercenary organisation that operated within the Tartarus Zone, a space anomaly that hopped about galactic space and would drag in any person or item willing into its void of space.
Nobody knew if anyone controlled it or if it was a natural occurrence of space, but the Tartarus Zone help a great number of rare metal resources and minerals unable to be found elsewhere.
Each new location the Tartarus Zone would appear saw merchants coming and going from the Zone until they sold the riches they gained within before returning to the Zone as it left again.
.
"… It doesn't have the crest of the Bloodied Princess Merc Corp!!" Esmond noticed the ship was fairly lacking in comparison to its previous glory.
All of the external modifications weren't present on the ship, like the nuclear laser radiation phaser cannon which was despised by the Galactic Society and listed as a forbidden weapon.
But inside the Tartarus Zone, the Galactic Society had no power or control, so they could only depend on mercenaries to do the right thing, but they required money, resources from outside the zone and people at times.
The Bloodied Princess Merc Corp was one of the few organisations who actually did the right thing and ran their territory appropriately which made it the most desired place in all of Zone to live on.
It wasn't always like this, as the territory previously was held by another merc corps, but they preferred chaos and disorder above everything else.
According to what Esmond heard while growing up, the Bloodied Princess herself had slaughtered her way through the planet and the rest of the territory under the old merc corps control.
After that she settled her own organisation to lead the area, she quickly became an important figure within the Tartarus Zone who held enough authority to face off against the other powers inside.
Eventually she led those forces outside the Zone once they arrived nearby her homeland, the Ashtrok Empire.
She was a real princess of the Empire, but one without friends and allies who would willingly support her.
"Please tell me you have some idea on where the Tartarus Zone is?" Esmond looked desperately at Carter.
The importance of the Tartarus Zone could not simply be stated since it was desired by every powerhouse throughout the Milky Way Galaxy.
Just getting themselves inside would greatly help assure their control over the entire Galaxy and further on if necessary.
Carter could expand his influence throughout the Zone until it could be drawn into the Spatial Ark Star World.
Esmond hoped the next A.I upgrade for Carter could help in that area, but the other option would be gaining land on a planet within the Tartarus Zone and using Igdra along with Carter to expand their power over the Zone.
.
"… I did find an anomaly not too far from here, but the problem is, I found an armada in waiting…
I have a feeling its for the Bloodied Princess since the tale goes that she arrived within the Zone battered and bruised." Carter said while tracking her position as it sped across space.
"Let's help then!
Do we have a fleet ready or something to attack with?" Esmond excitedly ask, hoping the Spatial Ark Star World could gain something from this little skirmish in outer space.
"Fuck Yeah!
I was hoping you would ask, we can send the modified USS Enterprise and SSV Normandy that's upgraded into a monster of sorts, so it's up to you."
"Get them both ready, including the Atlaesus Group.
Let's show them what I can truly do outside of Earth!"
