There was a profound silence that took hold over the room. No one spoke as Laz grabbed a towel from his spatial ring and handed it to the blood covered Empress. This didn't surprise him as he understood her character better than it seemed anyone else did, mostly because he hadn't been around her long enough to get a false idea. Instead, for someone who had risen up to be the empress, this kind of action had to be expected.
After cleaning her face the best she could with the towel, she looked over at the gathered generals and spoke,
"Keep an eye on their people. If anyone shows any signs of rebellion, kill them. We no longer have the luxury of getting people to follow us through merit or conditions. Spread the word as well that the enemy will be here within the next few days so if they don't want to be let outside of the fortress to fend for themselves, then they best do everything in their power to support our efforts."
Hera then turned to her daughters,
