Changing of the Guard

[Preston Salabim]

"If you expect him to have loyalty to Cabal I think you will be disappointed. He strikes me as someone who has had a hard life. The type of life where it's a zero-sum game. He is brash and crass, and on first blush, he is a typical thug the same as a thousand others that dot the wasteland. But I think that he has a good heart and that he cares more than he lets on. He has an interest in learning and in bettering himself. I would wager that is why he is apprenticing with a Dragon. Perhaps you should ask him what he'd like and lay your cards on the table? If nothing else you would be showing him the bare level of respect for him not as a potential dragon, but as the current leader of his home."

He'd run his right hand through his hair before leaning forward, letting his left tap on the table as he thought this over.

"Are you sure excommunicating the Dragon's is the best play for Cabal? There might be a better way to deal with them to minimize potential blowback on Cabal and it's affiliated territories."

[Zack Asiv]

Asiv had a similar mind set with how to approach Elias, but the insight on him personally was what he was here for and it seemed the effect would be appreciated at least from the stand point of Elias as the leader of his territory. However, with the subject of the Dragons Asiv raised a brow

"I'm listening."

[Preston Salabim]

"One of them has recently pledged to Zukunft. Since the pledge was accepted a blanket statement of ill intent against the Dragon's could be interpreted as an Act of Aggression against Zukunft. Deserved or not, that can be twisted to force Cabal to give more concessions in appeasement. We both know they wouldn't risk a true military conflict, but she is a skilled player in the dance. I have no doubt she would play up how personally hurt she is by his attitude."

Something he'd consider doing at least.

"Killing them is the simplest solution to the problem, if not the more difficult of solutions. Imprisonment is another option. I will need to read over the manifest once it's provided. But it's possible that with the decades of residual mana in Sudeki's war gear that his essence can be extracted and replicated with magic. One use spells that can give your soldiers the power of a Dragon however fleeting. Long enough to try and bring these threats down and down hard. I would suggest a cover of refugees from the Deadlands. Or from one of the other leading territories to divert eyes from us."

[Zack Asiv]

Asiv made a rumbling noise from his throat as he gave it thought. Take it to a more covert position instead of openly declare them anything. May be easier to even catch David with a scheme like that.

"Killing them would be simpler... Capturing them to face trial would appease our dignitaries. However, capturing The Blood Dragon would be a political mess. It may have to be a case by case basis, but I like the idea."

[Preston Salabim]

"The only thing is until I attempt it I cannot promise results with my spell, or what adverse effects it may have on whoever uses it. But I will do what I can to make it as safe, and effective as possible."

[Zack Asiv]

"I will inspect the manifest myself then."

Asiv would nod before scratching the back of his head and leaning back.

"Another issue we have is as you know, the major weapons deal with territory 1. Ayatlan goes a long way to making it alright, but that coupled on top of having not pushed for much military development puts the 2 million people under Cabals banner in danger being protected by a force of nearly thirty-six thousand with out of date weapons."

[Preston Salabim]

"That is an issue. We can try and ramp up our own production, but that itself will be a far cry from what is needed. Especially if we are going to be switching production lines to mass produce these wing blades for you. Did you have a solution in mind?"

[Zack Asiv]

"Nothing in particular that screams out at me that would be on the same level. Having Ayatlan magic tech and pushing for the God's to begin mass producing God weapons and armor is the only solution I can come up with. Lightning Country has interesting custom modifications for most anything, but to say it's mass produced or capable of mass production is simply false."

[Preston Salabim]

"Are you wishing to deal with them though considering your Dragon problem?"

[Zack Asiv]

"After the sit down with the family heads, Leon was their chairman, but first and foremost they are a... Mafia. Income, status quo, and honor. They also signed a new declaration of intent. So even with their affiliation to the Dragon who banished himself to another dimension, they are loyal."

[Preston Salabim]

He raised an eyebrow at that.

"Another dimension?"

That was news to him.

[Zack Asiv]

"The Lightning Dragon himself had some family issues and followed proper channels to announce and request his leave from Cabal for an unknown amount of time. When questioned he revealed he would be punished by his Clan with a minimum of one thousand years in the land of the dead."

[Preston Salabim]

"I see..."

It sounded harsh. But there was nothing to be done about it now it would seem.

[Zack Asiv]

"Leon will most likely survive the ordeal and pop out one thousand years from now, no worse for ware."

Asiv would shrug.

[Preston Salabim]

"However that eliminates him from the board for all of our purposes."