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14:55 - WEDNESDAY, 11TH DECEMBER

The HMS Reaklint glided through the waves, foam brimming at its sides. 70 Sword Chancellery agents, unwelcome but ever present, kept a close eye on the ship, making sure that no dissidence, political or religious, was aboard the vessel. So far, the ship's crew was considered loyal, but the watchful eye of the Sword Chancellery nonetheless followed every slightest operation, from combat to smoke breaks. Any voices of concern or defeatism were to be 'dealt with', should they crop up. Operations were lead by Sword Officer Jesk, a young yet promising recruit who had risen from the slums of Shikarewatis to his position.

Jesk was standing on deck with a cigarette. He was to have a meeting with the Sword Chancellor himself in around five minutes, and it was nervous. Vekten was a terrifying man. Back-talking him was a sure-fire way to disappear in the night. He wielded immense power, and rest assured, being asked for a 'chat' with him was troubling. Throwing his cigarette into the sea, he straightened up, and walked into the ship's interior. He headed to the on-board Sword Chancellery office room, and waited. Vekten arrived at 3PM, on the dot. Not a second earlier, not a second later. The door flung open, and he strode in. He was of a lean build, his face obscured by a bronze mask, flat with slits for eyes and a grille where his mouth was. His short, black hair was neatly trimmed, and he wore a rather resplendent Sword Chancellery uniform. He took a seat, and stared straight at Jesk. There was a period of nervous silence as the two men looked each other in the eye, before Vekten spoke. His voice was grating and deep.

"Sword Officer Jesk." He muttered.

"Sir!" Replied Jesk, dutifully.

Vekten shifted in his seat, before speaking again. "You are, effective immediately, promoted to the rank of Sword Commissar. You are now Sword Commissar Jesk."

Jesk's eyes lit up. "Sir, it is an hon-"

Without warning, a gloved hand smacked Jesk to the ground. "Do not interrupt me, you insolent boy." Growled Vekten.

Slowly reaching for his chair and getting back up, Jesk apologised. "I-I-I'm terribly sorry, Sir!" While not exactly pleased with his treatment, complaining wouldn't exactly put Jesk in a better position.

"I'd expect so." Snapped the Sword Chancellor. He handed Jesk a badge in the shape of a shield, with an emblem depicting a sword pointing upwards. "Apply this to your uniform, Sword Commissar. Your orders come in tomorrow."

"Understood." Replied Jesk sincerely.

"You are dismissed." Vekten then stood up and left without another word. Jesk followed him shortly after.

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Meanwhile, the ship's on-board communications officer typed a message to the Kafairian troops in Jocospor:

𝚁𝙴𝙸𝙽𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚂 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 𝟹𝚁𝙳, 𝟺𝚃𝙷 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝟻𝚃𝙷 𝙵𝙻𝙴𝙴𝚃𝚂. 𝚆𝙸𝙻𝙻 𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝙰𝚃 𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙳𝙷𝙴𝙻𝙼.

Considering the recent developments with Vangmar, it would appear such a change of course would be necessary. He checked with the Captain. "Is this message good enough?"

"Oh, no, no!" Replied the Captain. He took the keyboard from the communications officer and began typing. "You forgot one crucial thing."

𝙷𝙰𝙸𝙻 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝙵𝙴𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽!