City of Altdorf

(The capital of the Empire and the seat of the ruling Emperor, Karl Franz I )

James followed the... Imperials? He didn't really know what to call them, to some city with a name he couldn't pronounce. It reminded him of that one game he'd played, Fable II. He didn't know why, it just looked like one of those old, medieval cities with some advancements past the stereotype.

"So, any certain rules we have to follow when we speak to your leader?" The Marine asked who appeared to be the leader of the group escorting them. He didn't want to piss off an Emperor.

---

Andrew walked along, gripping his Gatling Laser and looking back and forth, the city wasn't all that great. Better than anything on the East Coast, that was for sure. But then, that wasn't hard to accomplish. He couldn't help but be on edge. He understood that these people were at war and such, but even then... he still would defend himself if attacked.

The black and red suited figure of the Quarian walked with the group listening closely. She knew little of humans and less of this emperor so she would need to, lest she risk getting them all killed. She didn't want to do anything to harm there mission, whatever the mission was here.

"Master, there are a few rules about speaking to a leader you should know of." Saber stayed close to James, looking at the rooftops above with a worried look on her face, looking for any enemies waiting for an ambush of any kind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh, scared of the primitive locales?" Aya still had her M9, keeping it at her side. In contrast with others, such as Andrew, or Saber, she wasn't worried a bit.

"And what are those?" James asked as he scanned as well, as he'd been trained to do when in a combat zone. Of course he wasn't in a combat zone. Of course if he got into a fight, he'd take a lot of these guys with him. But a stab wound still kills...

---

"You haven't lived until some Tribal stabbed you with a poisoned spear and you start to convulse on the ground, choking on your own puke." Andrew replied to Aya in a joking tone, as he continued along. Remembering the Tribals he'd fought in Point Lookout.

They were dumb as a bat, but they were hard to kill.

"Respect him, for one. Bow to him, as well. Do not insult him, or his country. I am also sorry for my previous outburst against you. I thought you were like many other ignorant Masters. This seems to not be the case, and you are geniunly confused about who I am, and why I am here. I should like to update you soon enough, when a moment presents its self. Further orders, my Master?" Saber continued on, listing the very basics of dealing with someone like an Emperor. But in the end, it depended on who the Emperor was, for what would happen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aya looked towards the roof tops, before turning back, smiling at Andrew. He didn't look half bad under that armor, for a post-apocalyptic maniac. She imagined he was a good man also; he reminded her a lot of Kyle, but with more psychopath.

Having multiple questions directed at him, Merrik tried to call back answers to the group as he and his men marched along one of the many cobbled stone roads leading into the "protected zone" (to use a modern term) within the expansive walled capital.

"Possibly the only two are that any weapons you have are to be left in the care of the guards before you meet the Emperor. We do not take chances, especially with the ruling monarch. And the only other condition I can immediatly recall is not to try anything that could threaten either him or one of his fellows - no mercy wil be shown to assasins."

***

Nova almost cringed to herself at the latter remark, but he stayed silent, taking in the scenery as the group continued their walk. From the structure of the city, the clothing of the people and the general activity, the city here did not sem like an overtly opresive society she may have read in a crumbling book - there was no clear definition of class, nor any overt signs of opression of the general populace. Even so, the unfamiliarity of the environment made her feel uneay.

The cloaked mage was walking in the shadows beside the group. He had been following them on their trek to Altdorf. For now he, remained invisible to them, debating whether he should reveal himself.

After a minute or two of pondering the thought, Thom decided to uncloak in the presence of the King, or whatever reigned this place. He stopped to think for a moment, before recasting the invisibility Magick and walking slightly faster to catch up.

Malachi walked closely next to lia, he looked around him the city looked new but old at the same time. The arcitecture seemed to be in a very old design of architecture but they were in great condition. It looked like it was part of the fuedal ages, minus the muskets that the guards owned... but besides that all very primitive.

"Alright, lets just follow them and do what they ask. No need to risk starting a war, sure the Government wouldn't like that very much..." James replied, following along with their escort. "Also, don't worry about it. You can fill me in later."

---

Andrew looked over at Aya as she smiled at him. He smiled back, although she couldn't see it under his helmet. So he instead nodded towards her, cocking his head slightly to the side to seem less formal, and more friendly and flirty. This girl was very good looking, better than anything in the Wasteland. He knew he looked good too, with all the stares he got from women both back on 'Earth' and the Wasteland. He wasn't going to brag about it, though. He decided to keep his mind on Aya's form. She was smart, strong, and had curves. She fit perfectly. The Lone Wanderer wouldn't mind spending a night with her.

But then he delved out of those thoughts, getting back on task watching for any hostiles. Glancing at Aya every once in a while.

The Quarian hated the thought of being disarmed but if she must, she would surrender her weapons. She wasn't defenseless, just not as effective without them. She sighed as she walked and took in the odd looking buildings as they passed. It seemed odd to see that all of them were entirely wooden and none of the guards or soldiers had any form of ranged weapon she could discern.

Eventually, the group arrived at a multi-tiered building - the Imperial Palace. Ascending the stairs to the main entrance, Merrik noted the Reikguard Knights that guarded the entrance. He also noted the ebony cast-iron armoured form of Ludwig Swarlzheim, the Emperor's bodyguard, frowning at him as the group halted in front of the door.

"What is your business with the Emperor?" Ludwig growled as he looked at the battered Nuln soldiers.

Merrik stood at attention. "I need to report an urgent development."

"So I can tell, judging from the strange travellers you have."

Ludwig then directed his attention to the travellers. "I do not know why you have come to the Empire, but both Merrik and now I believe that the Emperor may be interested in your arrival. You WILL leave your weapons at the threshold and should you DARE attack either the Emperor or anyone within, you will be killed on sight. Are we clear?"

Merrik turned to the other, awaiting their response.

Saber looked at her Master, acknowledging that he would most likely order her to comply anyway. She took the sword in a sheath on her waist, the holy sword Joyeuse, and placed it on an Oak table nearby, seeing to it that it wasn't going to fall.

"I would highly suggest you try not to use that sword. Or unsheathe it; it does not like being used by those without the blood of a Noble, or someone with the heart of one."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aya, noting that Andrew would take ten minutes to take his various instruments of death off, simply ejected the magazine in her pistol, as well as the pre-loaded bullet. She turned the safety on the M9, and placed it on the oak table, along with everything else. She didn't carry a knife; she didn't need one. And if things got hairy in this meeting, she could use her powers...if they still worked.

Malachi chuckled, his gultural voice deep and gurgling as the haunting laugh echoed. "This ought to be good. who is this emperor i wonder? some fat polotician or noble lord? Or is he a great warrior worthy of his position? we shall see wont we." He then scoffed at Saber. "Noble blood? that is nothing to be proud of... blood does not define you.. that which you do does. service to the gods and to the good of the species..." He gurgled. He handed the guard his colt .45, if there was trouble he had the necronomicon.

James sighed as he set his M4A1 on the table, then his MEU[SOC]. He followed up by unsnapping his helmet, and removing his vest and setting them on the table as well. Leaving him in nothing but his BDU's and boots. He glanced at Malachi, as the man said something about a god. It annoyed him, the prospect of god.

---

Andrew sighed as he set his Gatling Laser on the table with a loud thud, then reached around and removed his Tesla Cannon off the massive Battery Pack on his back, setting it down alongside the Gatling Laser with another shake.

He didn't stop there, he unstrung his AER14 and set it down, then removed his AEP9, setting it down too. The Lone Wanderer then unsheathed his Trench Knife, stabbing it point first into the oak table. Andrew then set down an array of Plasma, Frag, and Pulse Explosives. A variety of grenades and mines. He then removed the Battery Pack to the Gatling Laser, setting it down also.

Hell, he didn't stop there. He then reached down to his ankle and removed an N99 10mm Pistol and a Combat Knife, setting them on the table too.

The Lone Wanderer then held up his hands, showing that he no longer had anything else. He was still very deadly with his bare hands, though.

Nova unloaded and safetied her rifle and placed it on the table along with the other weapons. She then removed the handle of her psyblade and placed it down as well -hopefully some fool wouldn't pick it up and toy with it.

Still, she could till kill with a glance if she could, but that would not be wise, given the circumstance.

***

While his men would be remaining outside, Merrik placed his sword aide - he'll be heading inside in order to present his report and to act as intermediary between the arrivals and the nobles.

Lia sighed and took the rifle she was carrying, along with the knife that was attached to her her greave and turned them over grudgingly. She was slow to release her grip on the knife and glared at the guard behind her mask as she gave up the weapon. She then stepped away and waited for the others.

Saber turned to her Master, a neutral look on her face. Per the usual Saber class, she awaited her Master to lead the way to this Emperor of men. She disliked the even ideal of this, to put her Master at such risk and disadvantage. But it would be something they had to do, if not for now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aya looked at their escort, a slight annyoed tone in her voice as she spoke to him.

"So, I guess its time we meet your Glourious leader, huh? Well, so long as he doesn't start shouting UNLIMITED POWER! And starts to throw lighting balls at us out of his ass, I'm good with it."

The Emperor' bodyguard glanced over to Merrik in puzzlement at Aya' statement.

Merrik shrugged, "I didn't understand her."

Biting his lower lip for a couple of seconds, the beared retainer rounded on his heel, calling back, "Follow me." At the same time, the great iron doors of the palace creaked open, admitting access to those outside.

Malachi stood next to lia as the doors opened he looked at her and asked, "What do you suppose this oh so glorious emperor is like?" from what the people said he must have been a god of earth it would seem. Though he doubted that he was truely that extrodinary after all he is only a man, isnt he?

Thom hid under one of the oak tables on which the weapons were laid. He took the time to recast his invisibility Magick, before exiting his hiding spot and slipping between two guards only a few feet from each other.

From there, he silently entered through the iron doors, unseen before the others had the chance to come inside the room.

Lia glanced over at Malachi. "I have no idea. It was then that she noticed that Pepsi was gone." She looked around and then back to Malachi, "Have you seen Pepsi?"

James walked in silence as he continued on with their escort towards the Emperor's Throne Room or whatever. He understood the caution these people took, as they were obviously stressed. Hell, they could even be allies... maybe.

The Marine stepped along, completely unaware of their observer.

---

Andrew continued along, laughing a little bit at Aya's joke. He didn't really get the reference, but he understood her point. He kept glancing over his shoulder, due to a nagging feeling in the back of his mind they were being followed. He remembered that one time he caught this Scavenger following him.

'Stop following me. You'll live longer.'

The Scavenger agreed, and scrammed.

The Lone Wanderer could have sworn he saw the outline of something following him, but then it seemed to disappear. He continued on without stopping. Knowing if he was attacked, he could defend himself and probably win.

Unless the asshole was like, some wizard or something.

Malachi groaned, "Oh my gods... well this does not look good for us does it?" He sighed. He looked around to see if the little girl, who for some reason had clung to him an lia, but it wasnt bad. He looked to lia, "We should probably look for her after we speak to this emperor." He sighed. He started towards the throneroom.

The Quarian didn't like that the little girl had disappeared. This didn't feel right. She couldn't do much though, as she had to see the emperor before she would be able to do anything else. Once this was over, Pepsi would be at the top of her list of things to do. She had to find the little girl before something happened to her.