Protecting the President (Brea/Benjamin/OPEN)

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I smiled.

"I'm not asking for Unda to become the Knights' permanent home, to assuage that fear, though of course we'd be willing to support you." I leaned forward. "And of course I'll listen to your proposal. You understand that we serve higher powers, who will also need to agree to your request, but from all I've heard, Lady Rasen likes you a lot, Milord President, and that's good enough for me."

My sister had nothing but praise for this man who risked everything to bring order back to a country on the brink of disaster, and who promised to rule the people according to their wishes, and with great wisdom. There was no higher praise in my eyes.

[Benjamin Kírix-Unda]

"Eh...?" He blinked, he had no idea what he was talking about. Well, as long as Brea wasn't getting worried Benjamin guessed it was probably okay. He cleared his throat as he got his train of thought back.

"Awhile ago a group called the 'Sumata' was destroyed, along with that, many rulers were killed... along with Unda's queen," he didn't actually know the queen at all, they were distant cousins, however. Something his opponents liked to remind him about, "Despite the bloody civil war we were able to pick a new government faster than most nations, one nation being Vuoto."

He reached into his desk and pulled out some papers, "Our intelligence claims that 3000 are being killed each week, from the brutal civil war to the famine that is claiming their land. That number is expected to rise. Many nations are discussing what to do about it, they have excluded us from the talks, but I say we act boldly."

He got up from his chair, "We've had a great fishing season and harvesting, we have an excess of food. Along with our newly built Navy I say we act quickly and open up a port, flood food and aid in. We make a humanitarian center and focus on caring for the wounded, seeing which side to support for the war will come later."

Along with proving Unda is a responsible nation, it would also prove that their Navy is a 'Blue Water Navy', reclaiming the title of strongest Navy on Allorum. That might be taken has a 'back to Duo days', which is why the humanitarian aid would shadow the fact that their Navy is half way across the world and their Marines are on the beaches of a foreign nation.

His goals were not at all imperialistic, he saw no point in returning to a nation of war, but he was a intelligent man who knew action spoke better than words. This was the action that they needed, and he knew their Congress would approve such plans right away.

"To put it shorty, I'd like the Lunar Knights help in setting up a humanitarian port, if you'd like to help.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I looked up at the sky; feeling my sister's smile, I smiled myself.

"That sounds like something my Brothers and I can do," I said. "Just let me know what you need us to do, and I'll lead the efforts. This, I swear, on the Goddesses of the Moons."

[Brea Cao-Wei]

Brea saw the guilt in Benjamin's face, it worried him not. Unda had to come before the Itan-Sha, that much he understood, it would take time before his order garnered new recruits, but for now it seems he would get his chance to hopefully lead men into battle once again. He hadn't done such a thing since back when the Saints fought Duo, since the incident in Santo-Luce, after which Brea spread rumours it was all a plan created by the Itan-Sha in order to protect the Saints reputation, no leader had really been willing to accept one of the orders followers as either a leader of men or a common soldier. It wasn't an opportunity he would let pass by.

"The centre will need protection." Brea spoke out. "I do not doubt the Lunar Knights capabilities, but all the same, their needs to be a visual aid that this is Unda's doing with the help of the Lunar Knights." Brea took a knee beside Benjamin, the Itan-Sha sign of respect "I request that you allow me to train and lead a small force of say, one hundred marines, to protect the centre. We'll keep our forces on the naval ships not far from the coast, then move in only when needed. I've no doubt one force or the other will try to raid this centre."

[Benjamin Kírix-Unda]

"You wish to go with them...?" Benjamin echoed his request, taking a moment to think through his plan before nodding, "That plan will work fine." He began writing things on a piece of paper, signing it and slipping it into his pocket, "The plan will need to be approved by Congress and our Generals, but this seems exactly what we need and I'm sure they'll jump at the chance."

He held out his hand for Vash to shake while glancing back at Brea, "Well Brea, Vash, are you ready to change the world?" He paraphrased the words spoken by a famous Undian Prince, one of the most well known men in the world, Kain Angelo.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I smiled, the honest, open smile that eeryone said made people trust me. I guess a bit of nostalgia came across my face as well; I'd heard those words before.

Standing, I took his hand, feeling fate click into place around me. "We are all ready, I should hope," I told him, nodding. "Let us hope that we are more successful than the last man to speak those words."

[Brea Cao-Wei]

Brea grunted "The last man to speak those words was successful. The world was indeed changed after what he did..." He shook his head slightly before shrugging "Still, here's hoping that we can make a much larger change with much less bloodshed." He had to admit, he was greatly looking forwards to having men under his command again.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

"No bloodshed at all, hopefully," I said, hands returning to my pockets as I inspected this man. "After all, we're on a mission of peace."

[Brea Cao-Wei]

"And like I said, both sides of the war will probably try and make a raid on the centre... That's why I want marines on site, hopefully they'll deter but I have this knawing feeling that someone will get brave and try something aggressive..." Brea was a warrior at heart and as such he had learned to trust his instincts.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I nodded; I trusted his instincts.

"I'll assist you, then; and I'll see if I can get one of my Brothers to help us, as well. He's a good warrior, a good friend. I'll need a few days to contact him, however..."

[Benjamin Kírix-Unda]

"I always thought Kain succeeded, maybe not in the way he intended but he did win. Duo fell and is simply remembered as a stain on history while Kain and his Saints live on and inspires generations. The Saints became of a symbol," Benjamin was made aware that it was the Saints who were responsible for rising the Tower of Salvation, he agreed that it was best to keep that hidden. No need to tarnish a good legacy with what accorded years ago.

He looked over at Vash and simply stood up, "While we'd all like to avoid bloodshed there will be some, the Navy must open up a port first so we may flood it with food and aid." He stepped over to the door and looked back at the two briefly, "I'll present this plan. Brea and Vash, prepare to move out right away. You both have a long journey ahead."

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I nodded.

"Very well, then, Milord President; I'll send a message to have him meet us at port."

I closed my eyes; the faint glow of my powers seeped from beneath the limiting influence of my coat. I reached out to the calming influence of my sister; I felt Rasen's smile.

I need you to do me a favor and pass a message through Zephyr to Kurai for me, I said to her. I'm sorry for imposing on you like this, Sister.

Not at all, came the soft reply. It's not as if Seth is here to request for you. I can tell that this is a heavy burden for you to take on your own. I shall send your message; Kurai is a good man.

I sighed in relief, a smile on my face as I opened my eyes, and the glow faded.

"The message is sent," I told them. "Kurai will meet us wherever I am as soon as he can. We Lunar Knights have ways of finding each other."

Or, rather, the Lunars they serve have ways of finding me, but I wasn't about to reveal that until absolutely necessary.

[Brea Cao-Wei]

"Milord President" Brea said with a small bow as Benjamin left before turning to Vash. The energy that this man gave off, it made his sword arm tingle, a feeling he didn't dismiss lightly in any case, but if Benjamin trusted him, then so did Brea. He already knew he would not need much gear, he had his jacket which stored most of his kit, and his two swords to help him in combat, there was little else that he would need that would be carried on his person. He nodded at Vash when he told him of his companion before taking a seat, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small whetstone.

"We shall set off shortly, I assume." He said as he unsheathed his red-tinted katana, placing the stone against its edge. "Will you need me to order up any supplies?" He asked, sliding the stone down the side of the blade, it formed a graceful hissing note, one that could be considered almost musical against the normal grinding of a sword, these blades were forged, folded and sharpened to perfection and Brea tried his hardest to keep them both in such a condition.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I shook my head. "Not for myself, though I'm not familiar with the supplies you would need, as a swordsman," I admitted. "I do need to visit the inn where I left my gear, but we can do that on the way to the port. Other than that..."

The bundeled form of my cross materialized under my hands. "...other than that, I have all I need with me; myself, and this cross to focus my powers."

[Brea Cao-Wei]

That was... Unexpected. Brea felt himself instinctively reach for his swords but swiftly brought himself under control, remembering that Vash was a Lunar Knight and had so far proven a man of good integrity, offering to help Unda as well as Benjamin through this whole operation, it would be improper for him to make himself look like a common, jumpy soldier. He instead flexed his fingers with a deep breath before speaking.

"Quite the party trick."