The Black Throne

[Greywall]

Pillars of light illuminated dust floating in the air of the old throne room as the sounds of hard hitting soles against the cold stone floor filled the void. The old man walked down the long hall, draped with numerous yellow and black flags all of the same appearance. He wore a long lavish cape, topped with white fur, his chest adorned with medals from various military operations against a grey uniform that was cleaned and pressed to the highest degree. He was flanked by guards in equally nice uniforms armed with rifles that weren't just for show, as he approached the end of the long throne room he stood before it, the Black Throne, a chair made of pitch black oakwood that was rare in Grinvel. Kaiser Vunderstran swayed his cape off handing it to a nearby assistant before sitting in the old chair, the chair of his forebearers the Kaisers of the Grinvel Reich. 

He tapped his gold tipped mahogany cane signaling his advisors to come in, they stood professionally in a line before him side by side. "Speak Mergens" the Kaiser said, a plump black haired man stepped forth, "Our treasury is reporting record profits your grace, our trade within the SU has flushed us with much coin and capital." The Kaiser nodded while slightly waving his hand to affirm he was done listening, "Speak Carlton". A thin greying man stepped forward, "It is perhaps, little surprise to this council. Our foreign relations have not faired well since we joined the Galran and Veraki. But I intend to send more diplomatic teams into Adrium and Triece." The Kaiser waved his hand, now looking at the man most of them feared. "Speak...Muller". The man wearing a long military trench coat stepped forward, his unimpressed expression and those damn ice blue eyes staring into the Kaiser as if he was no one sent a chill down Vunderstran though he postured himself as if it was nothing. 

"Our military buildup is going well, in a couple months we shall have a full division of armored units, ammunition to feed our army three times over and several squadrons of advanced fighters and bombers. I do request we train these damn pilots before we fly them East however." The Kaiser nodded approving the request. "If there is nothing else your grace...I should get going, I am very busy." Muller said coldly, the Kaiser waved him away and Muller left. 

The Kaiser stared at the Field Marshall as he left, feeling jaded by how that man showed almost no respect for the monarchy. "Dismissed" the Kaiser told them, and like that they disappeared down the hall. Kaiser Vunderstrand then had to deal with the small issues of his empire, noble lords complaining about property rights or military governors requesting more resources for the buildup. He was closing his last meeting with a group of merchants complaining about the SU trade preference and how they were uncomfortable dealing with Galra when a messenger ran into the throne room. The runner saluted the Kaiser and handed him a letter, "Urgent your grace." Kaiser Vunderstrand opened the letter, read it and told the merchants to leave and to deal with the Galrans. He crushed the letter in his hand, "My idiot son got arrested again for public drunkenness. Has he no shame? Berthold!" from the shadows a blonde haired man appeared. Wearing a Grinvelian uniform of the Black Palace, "Go get my fool of son out of jail...again. This time have him come home, i'm done with him traveling and doing whatever he thinks he's doing. Berthold bowed, "At once your grace." he left the palace only stopping at his apartment to grab some things including his handgun and some magazines. 

In the busy streets of the Kaiserreich he weaved through large crowds of people going about their lives and crossed the congested traffic filled streets reaching a train station. The Imperial Rail company of Grinvel operated all domestic trains while the Koi operated outgoing lines shipping Grinvel goods at a cost. Berthold showed his military ID and entered a private car, on the outside it looked like another passenger coach but inside it was a private luxury car for the Imperial family and their agents, Berthold was annoyed having to leave the capital on such short notice but did like the idea of getting to use this coach and have it to himself for the two day trip. He sat down reading his files on the location of the Kaiser's son, "Let's see...you call yourself Fiegler now...how unoriginal." He seemed impressed that the drunk spoiled fool had actually done well enough to be an officer in the Imperial Army, using a false name and identity that got through because higher ups knew who he was. Despite the connection, 'Fiegler' was a good soldier and a damn fine officer. But alas, as in his younger days in the palace he seemed utterly attached to alcohol. The train departed West toward the Grinvel desert and Berthold decided to take advantage of the nice quiet coach while he could, taking a hot shower and then laying down in one of the beds to sleep on the way. He would need it to deal with whatever 'Fiegler' had done now.