10. DESPAIR

As William was looking at the report of the War, he threw the file towards the air and slammed the table, which hurt his hand more than he thought. 

"Damned Hell!" 

The bad news was coming when he thought that the situation was at least controlled. 

It seemed that Franklin was coming to knock on the door. 

But that was not something that William didn't know about. What was really frustrating about this was that The Krosarr, the Republic of Krosarr was interfering. 

The planet that the Republic controlled was the third planet that was after the planet of the Dawn Secessionists, which was called Krosarr.

The Krosarr had gained independence after the wealthiest of the barons and Viscounts had formed a rebellion because of William's father implementing harsh tax rates and forceful custody of their property. 

William gritted his teeth as he played out in his head what this meant. If the Republic was giving economic help to the Dawn Secessionists, then it was for sure that they were going to join the war. 

The prospect of facing both Franklin's forces and the might of the Republic's mercenaries was daunting, to say the least. The Empire was ill-prepared to handle such a formidable alliance, and the consequences of such a conflict could be catastrophic.

That could not happen. They could literally flood their military Legion with Mercenary with their wealth.

The Empire could not handle that. 

William sat in the war council chamber, his mind a tumultuous sea of emotions. The weight of the recent bloodshed weighed heavily on him, and the news of an economic powerhouse joining the war only added to his turmoil.

Closing his eyes, William sought solace in the silence that enveloped him. In that moment of stillness, he allowed himself to confront the chaos within his mind, grappling with the enormity of the challenges ahead.

For five long minutes, William remained lost in his thoughts, the noise of the war council fading into the background as he wrestled with his inner demons. His breathing slowed, his heartbeat steadied, and a sense of clarity began to emerge from the fog of uncertainty.

Something was burning.

Threateningly burning in his eyes. 

As William raised his hand to silence the chaotic council, a hush fell over the room. His voice, calm and resolute, cut through the tension like a blade.

"Prepare evidence against the Republic for their deliberate assistance to the rebels," William commanded, his words ringing out with authority. The council murmured amongst themselves, confusion and uncertainty evident in their faces.

One officer, James Brodly, dared to speak up, his voice hesitant. "Your Majesty... Do you mean to declare a casus belli?"

William's gaze hardened as he fixed his eyes on James. "I made myself perfectly clear," he replied, his tone unwavering. The council erupted into further chaos, voices rising in dissent and disbelief.

"I'm not calling for a declaration of war," William clarified, his voice cutting through the tumult. "But we must prepare a valid justification for potential action against Krosarr. We cannot allow the Bright Kingdom to interfere as the Republic has done."

With a determined exhale, William rose from his seat, his resolve unwavering. The council followed suit, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily upon them.

The mention of the Bright Kingdom, another independent faction born from the empire's tumultuous history, served as a stark reminder of the complexities of the political landscape they navigated.

As William contemplated the challenges ahead, the geopolitical landscape of the Kawaliya System loomed large in his mind. The Bright Kingdom's control over the three planets in the system posed a significant obstacle to the Dawn Empire's ambitions for expansion.

With resources abundant in the Kawaliya System, it was a coveted prize for neighboring factions. However, their own troubles had prevented them from making a move thus far, leaving the Bright Kingdom in control.

But William knew that allowing the Bright Kingdom to maintain its dominance was not an option. If the Dawn Empire was to thrive and reclaim its former glory, it would need to gain control of the Kawaliya System's planets.

As reports came in detailing the progress of agents working towards establishing a casus belli against the Republic, William felt a sense of urgency.

Time was of the essence, especially with Franklin's impending advance on Dawn territory, and he had received the report that Franklin's army was going to descend on the Dawn on the second month of the [Turn:- 2], which was February.

In a blink, February arrived, and with that, the capital planet was again under the threat of secessionists. The secessionist army consisted of 5 million people and the rest a million mercenaries.

Despite the Secessionist's numerical superiority, the secessionists also held a formidable advantage with Franklin at their helm. It was a precarious situation, with the fate of the capital hanging in the balance.

William and Gwen, along with Victor, worked tirelessly to assemble the army and devise a strategy to counter the impending threat. Hope was scarce, but they clung to it nonetheless, praying for a miracle to turn the tide in their favor once again.

The tension in the air was palpable as they prepared to face the secessionists on the battlefield. With determination in their hearts and steadfast resolve, they stood ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that their survival depended on their courage and unity.

The battle started.

And then it raged. 

As the battle unfolded, Franklin's absence was noted, leaving the secessionist forces in a disadvantage. Meanwhile, the Dawn Empire's army surged forward with newfound confidence, their movements guided by William's uncanny foresight.

With the aid of his talent, William anticipated the enemy's every move, allowing him to orchestrate the battle with precision. Despite initial skepticism from some of the veteran officers and Gwen, they soon found themselves following William's commands without hesitation.

The fire of William's leadership burned brightly on the battlefield, his strategic prowess shining through as he directed the Dawn Empire's forces to decisive victories. Each maneuver was executed flawlessly, turning the tide of battle in their favor.

As the battle raged on, the once-reluctant officers and Gwen looked upon William with newfound reverence, recognizing him as a true master of war. With his guidance, they fought with unmatched ferocity, driving the secessionists back with every strike.

In the chaos of battle, William's talent proved to be their greatest asset, providing them with the foresight and advantage they needed to emerge victorious.

As March arrived, the war continued to rage on, with the Dawn Empire holding the upper hand against the secessionist forces. But amidst the chaos of battle, a new player entered the fray - Franklin, the true mastermind behind the rebellion.

In the simulations, Franklin had proven to be a formidable adversary, capable of inflicting devastating blows upon the Dawn Empire's forces. His tactics were ruthless, his strength unmatched, and his presence instilled fear in all who faced him.

In the first simulation, Franklin had decimated the Iron Legion with ease, employing guerrilla tactics to devastating effect. Despite the best efforts of Victor and Gwen, they were unable to halt his relentless advance.

However, in the second simulation, William had meticulously planned every move, cutting off Franklin's retreat paths and isolating him from his forces. After a grueling month and a half of battle, the Dawn Empire's troops finally succeeded in cornering Franklin, bringing him to face justice for his actions.

Now, as Franklin made his presence known on the battlefield, the Empire braced itself for the inevitable clash. His arrival signaled a turning point in the war, a moment of reckoning that would determine the fate of the Dawn Empire.

But when the clash came to fruition, all of The Empire's forces fell into true despair. Gwen, who was looking at the monitor had dropped something on her hand as she looked at the screen with disbelief. 

Everyone's face paled as they looked at the clash between Franklin and Victor. 

William looked at the screen with a dumbfounded expression, then shook his head. He sighed as he leaned on his chair. 

He was pretty tired right now. 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////