Chapter 134

　　The wedding of Kalen Caledon and Princess Marella is an event that would be broadcast across the Imperial Net, with trillions watching the coverage live. Even with the Succession War overshadowing their daily lives, the people of the Empire wanted something to take their minds off the conflict.

　　Despite being a member of the Royal Family, Princess Marella wasn`t well known to the public. She shied away from reporters and cameras to the point where most of the galaxy did not know what she looked like. The only information most people knew was that it had been her birthday celebrations that had gathered so many people on Terra, a landmark event that had turned into tragedy.

　　The story of how Mare and Kal had barely made it off the surface before the detonations had become something of a fairy tale of love and commitment to the public. The pair had fought against the odds and survived. Mare had thought most people would blame her for the celebrations and the loss of life, but that hadn`t happened. They knew she was a victim.

　　While the public was divided on who was the true culprit, Prince Argyle or Augustus, they generally agreed that Princess Marella was blameless.

　　The week leading up to the ceremony saw stark changes in Caledonian space. Security had been increased to levels unheard of since the Rebellion. Every Starship, Mobile Suit and spacecraft had been deployed. New Space stations orbited the planet, and every vessel entering the system would be thoroughly scanned and verified before being allowed to descend to the surface.

　　Officially, Marella was a part of House Havencroft, and they had offered to provide extra security for the event. But Kal had refused due to his experiences on Terra, trusting his own forces to be adequate. He did agree with them that a strike force` would be on standby, ready to assist if required.

　　His House Guard had extensive fighting experience over the past year during Caledon`s expansion, and he had increased their numbers well beyond what a Barony would typically possess.

　　Spread out across the planet, Kal was taking no chances with the safety of his people. No attackers would be breaching the blockade and striking the surface or hidden bombs to detonate. As the head of his House Guard, Tamara had taken personal control over the situation and was meticulous in her planning.

　　From the planet`s surface, the night sky was filled with glittering specks of light that appeared even more numerous than the stars. They were Mobile Suits and spacecraft of the House Guard, constantly vigilant of any threat against Caledon.

　　Apart from security, the months leading up to the event had sent a ripple of activity across the sector. Space debris in the system that had been present since the Rebellion was being removed and recycled. Remains of satellites, defunct space stations long destroyed and even remnants of Mobile Suits and Starships we being towed to Luna City to be melted down and reused.

　　On the surface, hundreds of thousands of workers were cleaning each nook and cranny of every town and city in preparation for the onslaught of visitors that would be arriving. Miranda Atkinson, overseeing the efforts, declared that she wanted Caledon to be spotless. After weeks of action, it had become a reality.

　　Infrastructure had been repaired or rebuilt, including new hotels, restaurants, bars and shopping districts. Merrick Tan had opened the Baron`s accounts and provided whatever money was required for the reconstruction and restoration. New murals, art installations, statues and gardens were installed.

　　The plan was for the actual ceremony to take place on the Estate while being broadcast across the planet. But there would be parades and festivities all across Caledon, with no town or city neglected. Billions of local Caledonians could feel the excitement in the air, and they all looked forward to the Baron`s wedding.Stolen story; please report.

　　Kal was virtually worshipped on Caledon. His efforts to improve the conditions of his people and the planet they inhabited had been recognized by the population. They could never forget the centuries of neglect his imprisonment had caused, but they appreciated how much his return had changed their lives.

　　It was like they had awakened from a nightmare and found themselves back in paradise.

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　　Samuel, former Imperial Herald and current Minister of Imperial Affairs walked swiftly through the estate halls. Ignoring the staff`s greetings, he burst into Tamara`s office without knocking. The older woman had been reading through a report when she looked up in alarm at the Minister.

　　Wearing a black business suit, it had become untidy in his rush to reach her, his tie and jacket askew.

　　"Where is he?" Samuel asked, not bothering to clarify who he was referring to.

　　"Same place as always at this time." Tamara replied.

　　"Call him." Samuel ordered, and the urgency in his voice made Tamara not even balk at the command. She pulled up her communication link, connecting it immediately.

　　Kal appeared on the screen, his face obscured by a Pilot bodysuit helmet. He was clearly in the cockpit of a Mobile Suit, the gel cushion sunk around him. He had taken to Piloting the Heavy Class Colossus` in his spare time, the House Guard not realizing that the Pilot of the Mech guarding the estate was operated by their Baron quite frequently.

　　As the House Guard used it and it was a critical piece of equipment, very few people could contact Kal once he was inside. As the leader of the House Guard, Tamara was obviously capable of it. Kal`s habit of Piloting the nearby Mech was well known in his close circle. If Samuel wanted to reach him, he would need to go through her.

　　"What is it?" Kal asked, seeing Tamara and Samuel on his HUD. Two Colossus Mechs were guarding the Estate, and he knew that if there were trouble or an assignment for the Mobile Suits, Tamara would have contacted the other Pilot first.

　　He immediately spotted Samuel`s distressed appearance, knowing he was a harbinger of bad news.

　　"Carmichael has declared for Augustus." Samuel stated briefly. Kal was silent for a moment as the words sunk in.

　　Kal recognized the importance. The Princes had an equal number of Ducal Houses on each side. Although their forces were uneven due to the size and strength of the individual Houses, they had an equal number of votes for the throne. More importantly, an equal number of Titans.

　　"What did Augustus offer in return?" Kal asked.

　　"The usual concessions on taxes and territory, and the young daughter, Tabitha, is to be Empress. Word is that Augustus will abdicate the throne after a few centuries to make way for their child. The Carmichaels will have the ear of the Royal Family for centuries, possibly millennia." Samuel explained.

　　"Havencroft will not be pleased. It is quite the turn of fortune for them. Even if Argyle wins, they lost the connection Amara afforded them." Kal observed.

　　"It gets worse." Samuel took a breath before speaking the rest. "My contacts tell me that the Carmichaels wish to end this quickly. They have taken the initiative to send Prometheus to the front." Samuel declared. Kal`s head jerked up at the words.

　　"That`s not possible! Are they insane!" Kal hissed, shocked at the news. He had seen how devasting a single Titan could be against an army. Even the latest Assault Mech Piloted by an elite was powerless against it. With a trained and capable Pilot able to use it to its full potential, there was nothing that could stand in its way.

　　"This would never have happened if the Emperor was still alive." Tamara added, and Samuel nodded.

　　"Can the Guard do anything against them? Surely they have measures against a Titan?" Kal asked.

　　"Nothing. The Emperor had a method to disable a Titan, but that secret died with him. He only mentioned it briefly after Atlas appeared above Terra, and I know that it wasn`t passed on to the Princes." Samuel shook his head.

　　"Then let us hope that Havencroft`s Titan is capable of defending itself from Prometheus." Kal responded.

　　"This is terrible news, Samuel, but I didn`t expect it to rattle you so." Kal observed.

　　"That wasn`t everything. We`ve received a communication from Havencroft. Argyle is on his way to Caledon. He`ll be here within the hour." Samuel finished.

　　"To discuss Carmichael?" Kal asked in confusion.

　　"I believe it`s obvious what he wants. With all the Ducal Houses declaring their support, it leaves him one Titan short. If he were to secure your support, he would be on equal footing with Augustus." Tamara explained.

　　"Better than that, he would have Mare and Ouroboros as well." Kal finished.