It has been a little while but we're back with a fresh chapter. Reunions are being made. Families are thinking about each other, and somebody is getting what he has coming. So read, review, and enjoy!

As always, I do not own the characters from GATE, M*A*S*H, or any other recognizable property.

With that said, let's go!

Chapter 43: Fate and Consequences

Capital of The Kingdom of the Elbe

"We had all heard you had been killed in battle, father!" Andar said as his father gestured for someone to take his horse. The king nodded as a boy of about ten took the horse and led it to the stable.

Duran clapped his son on the shoulder with his remaining hand, his good eye twinkling as he lifted his prosthetic arm. "Very nearly, my son! Very nearly and all by my own foolishness, I'm afraid. All of this so I could fire one last arrow of defiance."

His son nodded soberly. "Then we began to hear rumors that you had survived. Some said you were a prisoner of the off-worlders and some said that you were a prisoner of the Empire."

"Not entirely accurate." He gestured to Itami and his troops. "These people have no quarrel with our Kingdom and we should have none with them!"

"Then as they have brought you back to us, let us greet them as honored guests!"

"Quite! We have much to discuss, my son. The game has changed now. The Empire has overplayed its hand at long last. Lord Itami!" He called. "If you and your people would be so kind as to follow us? My home awaits!" He turned and offered his good arm to Rory Mercury.

"Since Emroy saw fit to claim my left arm, then the least I can do is to offer your eminence the right!"

Rory smirked at that and took the proffered arm. Certainly, on the day Duran did pass away, he was already marked as one of the honored of the hunt. Of course, for now, the old king still had plenty of life in him. She favored Andar with a polite nod, his behavior marking him also worthy, as they strolled towards Duran's palace.

"Mother will be overjoyed to see you," Andar told his father.

"After she tears a strip from what remains of my hide, you mean!" Duran corrected. "And it's her prerogative. Remember that when you decide to tell that lovely woman you married that you are going off on some damned fool war!"

"About that, father?" Andar noted with a gleam in his eye.

"Yes?"

"I have the most joyous news!" Duran's son reported with pride. "Emeraud gave birth to a healthy son five months ago! We named him after you." Andar told his father.

"May his days pass more peacefully than mine!"

Province of Vineterram

After days of riding, Task Force Taylor finally neared the estate of Lady Agrippina. Agrippina hungrily expecting the coming reunion.

"Lord Octavus!" She exclaimed, gesturing to the fields beyond. "See! The lands of my family! All of this has belonged to us for centuries! It may not be as vast as the lands of House Octavus, but our vineyards produce some of the finest wines in the Empire!" She laughed. "You would not think it from my rather poor first impression, my lord, but with my father spending almost all of his time in Sadera these days, I know quite a fair amount of running the family concerns." Her expression turned dark. "A lesson my father made abundantly clear is that to yield a good crop, one must be diligent in removing pests and vermin. Today is a good day to begin setting my House right."

As they rode closer, she began to recognize the faces of some of the workers. They, in turn, recognized her and their faces displayed the shock of her return from beyond the realm of the dead.

One older man, in particular, began speaking frantically in Popularii that his Lady should not judge or punish them too hard for they had all been told she had been killed by the Barbarians, months ago.

Agrippina laughed in genuine amusement at this as she replied in popularii, which Aurelia thoughtfully translated to Taylor.

"As you can see, I am very much alive! But you who have worked these lands and loyally served my family have certainly done me no ill. No! I have no intention to raise my hand against you. The scoundrel who sits in my home and fancies himself a 'lord', however… I shall be having 'words' with him, shortly."

She raised her voice for all to hear. "I wish my return to be a surprise for my lord within. None shall inform his lordship. I shall tell him all he needs to know."

"Yes, my lady,"

the old man replied.

"Good!" Agrippina turned to Taylor. "My lord, the manor house awaits!"

He gestured for her to lead the way. Knight Ginivieve riding behind the two of them while Kahlua and Merisa each took two of her comrades of the Blue Rose with them on the flanks. Nayu, for her part, was making strides in learning how to master her own mount, despite elves generally not being known for their equestrian skills, as she had no intention of riding in an iron carriage while Aurelia, who had been trained to ride by her father starting at an early age, rode alongside their shared consort to be. It was
not, she told herself firmly, a sign of insecurity but of propriety, Both she and Aurelia had pledged to stand with Taylor and protect him from harm and Nayu could hardly do that from inside a truck!

"Riders inbound!" Kahlua called as she spotted the two approaching cavalry troopers. Taylor tensed slightly. If the riders were from one of the garrison units scattered about, then things would probably be just fine as at Panache's suggestion, Kahlua carried a writ signed and bearing Princess Pina's seal, authorizing her to compel the cooperation of Imperial troops in the conduct of her mission. Again, like the orders Her Highness had left with Panache, the authority of the Third Imperial Princess would be more than sufficient as long as there were no conflicting orders from His Imperial Majesty or one of the Imperial Princes. Technically, Pina's orders could also be countered by written orders from Claudia, the Second Imperial Princess but Taylor understood that the elder Princesses had come out on the short end of one of the Imperial Family's internal power plays and their direct influence in the Empire had been considerably diminished.

Of course, there was the possibility that the riders were part of a mercenary unit or other force of private retainers. Then things could get interesting but as it was, the incoming riders recognized the armor and standard of Imperial Knights and drew up in front of Kahlua. "Who goes there?"

"I am Kahlua! A Knight of Her Imperial Highness's Order of the Rose," she replied in a voice of firm authority. "And who might you be?"

"I am Centurion Graccas Co Linnas!" The officer announced loudly. "What is your business here and," he gestured to the vehicles behind her. "Who are these people?"

"Attached to what unit, centurion?" Kahlua demanded instead. If he thought he was going to intimidate her, he was seriously mistaken.

"Third Cohort, Eighth Legion, under Legate Marius! I insist you answer my questions!" Something pricked at the back of his neck. Perhaps if he had been further forward during the Battle of Ginza, instead of supervising the looting of the shops nearest the Gate, he might have recognized the iron carriages of the 'Green Men', or if he and the other survivors of the Eighth had been held at Alnus, or if Legate Marius had not cited to Senator Godasen that his command was completely unfit for battle, having lost most of its numbers in a 'valiant rearguard action and missed the Second Battle at Alnus, then he might have better understood the situation but as it was, all he knew was a ball of ice forming in his gut.

"You insist?" Kahlua scoffed lightly. "Very well. This is Lord Octavus. He and his retainers have graciously consented to help us escort the Lady Agrippina home to her estate. Here"

Kahlua noted that while the trooper accompanying him now turned to look at Agrippina with a mix of surprise and curiosity, the centurion was rapidly losing the color in his face.

"Impossible!" He proclaimed. "The Legate's wife died months ago!"

"Oh, I assure you, centurion," Agrippina now spoke almost conversationally. "I am quite alive." She showed the trooper her signet ring. "I will be reclaiming my house today. Accompany us." Her tone was not a request.

Listening in from one of the Marine Humvees, Lance Corporal Peterson turned to one of his squadmates.

"Are all the women in this world badasses?"

Sergeant Davis smirked, gesturing towards Kahlua. "And that one wants to take you home to mama. Ain't you a lucky bastard!"

"Pa always said 'A gal that knows her mind is either your best ally or your worst enemy. You just gotta choose which one she's gonna be."

"Amen, that." Davis agreed as the two Imperials fell in behind Agrippina. "And THAT there ain't a woman scorned. She's pissed! I got me a wife with a shopping addiction and I'm payin' too much for a car I ain't never even sat in but I'll take my lot a million times over the poor sap we're about to drop in on."

The rest of the ride in was fairly calm and Lady Agrippina was soon rewarded with the delighted look of recognition on the face of Maxius. The major-domo had loyally served her family since she was in swaddling

"My Lady! You've come home!" Maxius exclaimed, speaking in Saderan High Tongue.

She regarded the old man fondly. "A little late but yes, Maxius! I'm home! How have you fared these long months?"

Maxius made a face. "Forgive an old man the prejudices of his opinions but My Lady's spouse consorts with swine! I realize it is above my station to comment upon the habits of His Lordship but… " He looked at Agrippina helplessly, unwilling to overstep his bounds though clearly wishing to say more.

"Dear Maxius…"Agrippina said, switching to Popularii. "Come! Tell me everything that has transpired in my home. I can trust no one more. And if my … husband… consorts with swine, then it is because he has proven himself a swine as well. I know you have been too loyal to me to speak it but you know it. And now, so do I. You never liked him, did you?"

"The truth my Lady?"

"Always."

"No. His eyes should have been more on you and less on your home."

"Where is he now?"

She asked gently

"He is in the Master suite." The old man answered. "He has started bedding the daughter of a merchant."

"Does she eye my home as well?"

"No. She has eyes only upon his lordship. He regales her with lies of strength and courage."

Agrippina laughed ruefully. "I suppose I can hardly blame her. I was as foolish, myself. Maxius!" She smiled, gesturing to the knights and companions behind her. She resumed speaking in Saderan English. "These people have gracefully escorted me home and now we are going to set my House right. His lordship will not be staying long, I think. Oh! Maxius! I have missed you dearly."

"Shall I announce you, My Lady?"

"Oh! No! I'll announce myself! But please be a dear and get a bottle of the good wine! This is a day for celebration!"

Maxius nodded. "Of course, My Lady. Some of the '47, I think." His Lady had changed while she had been away. More confident, more certain of her own course. Gone was the willful girl who seemed to be looking for an anchor. His Lady was filled with purpose and focus and in his heart, Maxius praised the gods

Agrippina stalked upstairs, with Taylor, Aurelia, Nayu, Kahlua, and Ginivieve trailing behind her. Sergeant Davis, Corporal Peterson, and the Seabees Lieutenant Ramsey brought up the rear, just for good measure. The door to the Master suite was closed but not locked, after all, who would dare to invade the privacy of their lordship without a very good reason? Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, finding the man she once loved with his back to her, astride a pretty, young girl. So engrossed in his pleasures, the Legate had not even registered the door opening.

Stepping to the fireplace, Agrippina seized up a poker and announced her return as Legate Marius screamed.

Even as the Legate's scream cut through the air, Agrippina snatched hold of his hair with her free hand and yanked hard causing him to slide, crashing off the bed, whereupon even as she released her grip, she struck him in the side of the head with the bloodied poker. Even as servants and soldiers hurried into the room to be met with two Imperial knights with hands on their swords, Lady Agrippina passed her judgment on the Legate.

"I name you coward!" She said, kicking him in the face as his eyes went wide in recognition.

"I name you a liar and a thief! You who left me while you ran for your life! I deny you!" He looked up at her in fear. As he started to crawl away, Agrippina stepped on his wrist.

"Such courage…" She walked over to where his sword hung and drew it from its scabbard and leveled it at her once husband. "It was you who declared the bonds between us broken. Now I want you out… of… MY… HOUSE!"

Taylor, Aurelia, and Nayu all watched with satisfaction as Agrippina stood over the bloody, terrified, and sobbing form of the man she had once happily called 'husband'. Though they were there to make sure no one interfered, no one did. While some individuals, like the accompanying Rose Knights, looked on in approval, others, whether allied or opposed to Marius, viewed the carnage with varying degrees of discomfort and possibly nausea.

"Man..." Sergeant Davis winced. "I know what I said 'bout a woman scorned but that..."

"'Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, Nor hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd'," Lieutenant Ramsey quoted.

A satisfied smirk and an appreciative look from Ginivieve and even a pleased nod from Agrippina herself met this quotation.

"Quite. Whoever put such truth to word must have been a philosopher of great wisdom," Agrippina replied before turning her attention back to the other men present, taking their measure with her gaze. Those that had been with the legate on that day in Tokyo watched with fear and even horror while the rest looked on mostly in disgust. Even the girl whom Agrippina's former spouse had been bedding and grooming as her replacement now looked at him in disgust as she clutched the bed sheet around her. Agrippina glanced over at her and the hate in her eyes faded for a moment as she regarded this girl. She looked to one of the servant girls.

"You. What is your name?"

The servant curtsied. "I am Merrin, My Lady."

"Merrin, take this girl from here and get her properly dressed. It is unseeming for one of my Ladies in waiting to be wearing a sheet." She turned to the girl and smiled slightly. "Follow Merrin, my dear. We will talk later about many things. I have learned much in the past several months and I intend to teach this knowledge to you." Agrippina watched with approval as Merin led the girl from the room. then looked at the men, the ones she still considered men at least.

"But my first lesson is not for her," The iron returned to her voice although not the hate. She looked to one young man whose expression of distaste for his Lord was readily apparent. It was clear he was restraining himself from bodily attacking the pathetic man in front of him. This one, from reading his face as she spoke was one of the first to realize just what his Lord had done and the extent of his cowardice. Perhaps he was a little smarter than average?

"You," She said to him in that same voice of steel. "What is your name?"

"I am Decanus Fabius Co Gallus, My Lady," The young man replied promptly and in respectful tones.

"Come here, Fabius Co Gallus," Agrippina said, ignoring the broken meatbag whom she had once fawned upon. As the young man complied and knelt before her. She extended her hand, displaying the signet of her House, her intention clear. The young man obediently kissing it. She smiled in satisfaction.

"At my side and at my will, I can make any man here a Lord," She now returned her glance to her husband, the disgust she felt returned to her face but strangely now devoid of anger. "What I have learned is that I also have the power to unmake you. Through his deeds, this man has declared the ties of marriage no longer binding. So be it. Decanus! As a Lady of the Empire, I command that you remove this filth from MY house. All who would side with him will now leave and not return." She looked down upon her now 'ex'-husband once more.

"I have reclaimed what is mine. I leave you with your life as it... above your honor and every other virtue... is the only thing you cherish. If you think I am unfair, then perhaps we should travel to speak to the Emperor. I am certain everyone will get exactly what they have coming."

Imperial Palace, Sadera

Emperor Molt finished reviewing the latest report on the ongoing talks with Japan and her allies. The talks themselves at least seemed to be getting off to a fair start. The Japanese and American ambassadors had firmly insisted that The Empire would cede a zone, fifty miles in radius from Alnus Hill to the allies. This was considered non-negotiable. Also, non-negotiable was the accounting for and return of every off-worlder the Empire had taken prisoner.

Originally, Molt thought this might be a weakness that could be exploited. But the bombing of the Senate and the subsequent attacks by 'Spartacus' had suggested that Ambassador Russell's warning had been very true. For it HAD to be the Japanese and their allies behind Spartacus. The damage was so precise that it could be nothing else. They would not be forced to back down over any attempt to use the captives as hostages. They made it clear that the only point of negotiations on this issue was on how many Saderans would die before every last captive was accounted for.

There was another danger in this: The longer this went on, the more damage was done to the very trade that had inspired wars and campaigns for generations. As it was, his daughter Pina had granted freedom to her own slaves and then hired them as freedmen and women, becoming part of a growing abolitionist movement. But too much of the Empire's labor depended on the labor of slaves. While Molt appreciated the nobility of Pina's actions, it was one thing for her to free slaves. As an Imperial Princess, she could afford it easily. The Empire could not. Not so easily, and certainly not with the other damage wrought by 'Molt's War' as many now called it.

Especially in light of the reparations that the Japanese demanded. Though their American allies apparently were pushing them not to press for ruinous amounts, there was no question that some reparations would be paid. That meant gold and silver. More gold and silver would be needed to rebuild the army and on top of that, the damage from the earthshakes needed to be repaired and that would cost even more still and that meant every Imperial gold and silver mine had to operate with maximum efficiency twenty-four hours a day, eight days a week. It was dangerous work and slaves were needed to work in those mines.

All this brought a real sense of urgency to the task of finding the off-worlders and to her credit, Pina had already taken great strides in this endeavor but Molt was very anxious to have the slavery matter disappear. In his view, The Empire could neither afford to live without the institution nor could it afford a genuine servile uprising.

Whatever reparations were finally agreed upon, both these and the ceding of Imperial territory, no matter how slight, would be bitter medicine in the Imperial Senate. A more tempting and yet possibly more dangerous poison came in the form of the 'trade pacts' offered by Japan and its allies. An alien culture with open access to the Empire's markets? The possibility of the Empire reduced to economic slavery and cultural seduction was very real.

And it would happen because Molt knew that the Empire was in no position to say 'No'.

Now it was his responsibility to save what he could of his Empire

And some changes would have to be made.

Palace of Zorzal El Caesar

Zorzal sat in his study, indulging in the sweet wine which had fallen out of favor among many of Sadera's elite. Outside his window, the statues destroyed by the barbarian off-worlders still sat. The severed heads had been removed and new castings ordered. The barbarians would pay for that, Zorzal promised himself.

Except, as it stood, they probably wouldn't.

With the huge head of the Flame Dragon now posed outside his father's palace, proclaiming the power of the off-worlders, half of the Senate was ready to fall all over itself to surrender to the savages! Never mind that the stupid beast probably just choked on its dinner! Once proud and noble Saderans were standing around waiting like eunuchs as the barbarians planned to geld the whole of the Empire! No! Worse than that! These men were complicit, holding the Empire down and splayed open for the barbarians' knives!

It was to be expected that barbarians, who, not possessing the intelligence to understand the greatness of the Empire, would seek to harm it. These enemies were natural, even if they lacked all understanding of proper behavior and conduct. Far worse to Zorzal were the traitors within the Empire. Whether beguiled by barbarian lies or simply lacking in spine, they were betraying the Empire! HIS Empire.

Worse, was the thought that his father… and how he had come to despise the weak man he had become… might yet deny him the throne that was rightfully his. That could not be allowed to happen. So far, he had humored Vendetta by holding his peace. She was correct, after all, that work needed to be done to restore the proper spirit to the Empire. She was truly worthy of being his consort.

But she was still a woman, and still thus blind to certain truths that he saw plainly. History was made of moments and great men who seized their moment to shape the world. Not recorded were the lesser men who had been offered their own chances for greatness but had failed to seize their opportunity.

Zorzal was aware that fate had presented him with his own moment to take hold but every window in history was brief and his window was starting to pass. Once the moment was lost, there was no getting it back.

No. He would not let his moment slip beyond his reach. He had waited long enough. The time to act was now.

Zorzal finished his drink and called for Quirus. There was work to be done.