2 days later, Command Office, Central City.
The meeting room of the Command Office was imbued with an oppressive silence, a silence that was broken only by the slight creaking of the wood and the soft murmur of the incense.
The fragrance of sea salt on the captains' clothes contrasted sharply with the clean aroma of the polished wooden table, an evident clash between the untamed ocean and the civilization that strove to dominate it.
At the head of the table, I sat next to the army generals, Michuá and Sagua, and the navy generals, Nygua and Umzye.
In front of us, the expedition captains waited, their gazes weathered by the elements and the sun, reflecting the vast immensity of what they had witnessed.
"That Sogeking, how could he rush off to the east again?" I thought with a deep sense of resignation.
Sogeking had been the only one who hadn't stayed for this meeting. He had been mortified that he hadn't managed to find a way to reach the end of the route through the east, and decided to return to the territories discovered beyond the Eastern Ocean as a form of self-imposed punishment.
"Good morning, everyone, I hope your morning has been pleasant," I expressed with a warm and welcoming tone, and added, looking at the captains: "And I trust that you were able to rest for at least one day before coming here."
"Yes, we rested, Young Chuta. We appreciate your concern," one of them replied, while the rest nodded in agreement.
"Captains, please, recount your journey. We are ready," I said in a serious tone, going directly to the main objective of this meeting.
One of the captains from the Western expedition stepped forward.
"Young Chuta," he began, his voice rough from the salt spray and the cold. "The journey south was a constant challenge, a fight against the will of the ocean. As we moved away from the shores of the Inca Kingdom, the air turned icy, like the frozen breath of the sea god. The waves, from the 40th degree south, were not simple waves, but true walls of raging water that rose to swallow us… At first, we feared that the ships could not withstand the onslaught of the waves, but they were so well built that we had no trouble facing them… It is all thanks to you, Young Chuta."
His voice sounded fearful at first, but then it became proud of the achievement and the great bravery demonstrated by the expedition.
"It is not my merit alone… The brilliant minds of the Kingdom's Academy assisted me, the great artisans collaborated with us, and, above all, the gods accompanied you on your long journey," I commented with a tone full of gratitude.
The main expedition captain, a colonel from the Western Region, took the floor with a vacant look, lost in his memories.
"We saw beings that defied any description. In the open sea, we observed huge, giant fish in the distance, much larger than our Wayamú. They moved with imposing grace, as if they were the true sovereigns of those seas. They were creatures from another world, floating islands that moved in the water. There are no words to describe the awe and fear we felt upon seeing those beings."
"They must have seen whales," I thought, noticing the astonishment on the faces of those present as they listened to the tale.
"Were they aggressive creatures?" General Sagua asked.
"No, sir," the colonel denied.
General Umzye, of the navy, leaned over the table, his face solemn.
"The currents? Are they the same as on the eastern coast? And the depths?" he asked, with a deep voice filled with the curiosity of a marine expert.
"The currents are fierce, and the depths are erratic," another captain replied. "We thought we wouldn't make it. Upon reaching the 50th degree, the swell became too intense. The sails were nearly torn, and the wind beat us with fury. In our retreat, trying to find a respite, we found the strait."
The colonel straightened up and pointed to a spot on the map that the crew's draftsmen had developed. His hand trembled with a noticeable subtlety, as if the immensity of the place still overwhelmed him.
"It was a happy coincidence; at first, we thought it was the mouth of a river, but as we sailed inland to explore, we realized that we were advancing more and more until we reached the Eastern Ocean," the colonel commented, and then detailed the route. "It is a passage filled with rocky islands, fjords, and bays. The winds are unpredictable, and the currents change direction without warning. The navigation is treacherous, but it is way through. It is a true connection."
General Nygua, with his experience of the Eastern Ocean, rose from his seat. His expression was a mixture of admiration and deep concern.
"It is a feat that your vessels withstood it. The waves of the Atlantic are rough, but they do not compare to what you describe. This passage is a treasure... and a latent trap for those who do not know what it is about and what the journey is like."
General Michuá, of the army, joined the conversation, his mind focused on land strategy.
"Could it be defended? Are there places to establish forts? A passage like that is of vital importance, and it would serve us to move ships from one ocean to another."
"Yes, sir, forts can be established… The colonel even thought of something similar when we realized the magnitude of the discovery," a captain replied, giving the appropriate credit to the colonel.
"That's right. We already explored the eastern entrance of the strait, and there are several suitable places to build a fort, in addition to the proximity of some rivers and forests," the colonel commented.
"I see, that's very good news," Michuá commented.
My mind was in a whirlwind.
I listened as the generals debated the implications while the captains added new details. The strait was a miracle, though also a monumental challenge.
The urgency to protect it and to keep its existence a secret from the kingdoms that might emerge in the future became my main priority.
"Map every centimeter of the strait," I ordered with a resolute voice. "Prepare a plan to locate garrisons, small lighthouses, and surveillance posts. From today, this place will be named... The Strait of the Sun and Moon."
The captains stood up, their faces showing profound respect.
Fortune had favored the Suaza Kingdom, and now it was my responsibility to ensure that this fortune was safeguarded and used for the good of my people.
The war against time had begun, and now, I had a new and powerful tool at my disposal.
Five days later, Government House, in Central City.
The meeting room of the Government House felt a different kind of energy.
It no longer felt like a tense silence; instead, the atmosphere was charged with purpose and an evident urgency.
"Good morning, everyone," I greeted as the meeting began.
"As you have been well informed, we have received important data from the expedition, which is added to the information collected by the 'Explorers' division about Guanza Quyca and the merchants who have established ports and towns in the Northern Quyca."
"Our agenda must change. Our annual plan will adapt to this new information, and we will try to plan more efficiently what we will do for the rest of the year," I continued, presenting the objective of the meeting.
General Umzye, of the navy, stood up, his face showing a serious expression.
"We have arranged for regiments for the Strait of the Sun and Moon. It is a dangerous route, but with the vessels designed by Young Chuta, we believe it is feasible to establish a regular and safe navigation route. However, it will be a long-term operation."
Chewa took the floor next, with his usual merchant's enthusiasm.
"The resources from the Northern Quyca peoples are vast. We have already imported precious wood and fur that do not exist in our lands. Additionally, we have initiated cordial relations, so integration will be fluid, and the potential for the kingdom is truly incalculable."
The leader of the Explorers Division stood up with the intention of speaking.
"The first approaches with the Guanza Quyca kingdoms have been entirely friendly. The tribes value our gifts and have requested periodic exchanges of fabrics and food in exchange for spices, jewels, and various metals."
The debate ignited when we reached the point of discussing new settlements.
"We suggest sending a large number of freed slaves to the new territories found," a minister proposed pragmatically. "It is the fastest method to build the new settlements in the north and the east."
Murmurs of approval spread throughout the room.
It was an efficient solution, but I had other plans in mind.
"Allow me to propose a different idea," I intervened, raising a hand to silence the murmurs. "Instead of slaves, why don't we invite volunteer citizens? We could launch a campaign in the Mayan, Aztec, and Tarascan territories, offering land and opportunities to those who wish to migrate to our kingdom. A fleet could be in charge of transporting them to the areas that need it most."
The idea of volunteers caused a considerable wave of surprise.
It was a proposal that went against the traditions of the other kingdoms and the way people's migration was viewed in this era, a somewhat advanced vision on how to increase the population.
The debate became more passionate, with some ministers defending the efficiency of using slaves and others supporting my vision of a more unified kingdom.
Just as the discussion was turning to the precise numbers of volunteers, I gave a subtle signal to a colonel who was present at the meeting.
He remained seated in complete silence in the corner of the room.
The colonel stood up with an expression of complete professionalism. Everyone in the room fell into absolute silence, looking at him.
"Young Chuta," he said, his voice low but audible. "During our approaches with the Guanza Quyca natives, our explorers heard some vital information. The locals talk about… other fair-skinned people having visited their lands before."
The revelation fell upon the room like a massive slab of ice. The air became heavy.
The generals looked at each other, with disbelief painted on their faces, the ministers ceased their debate, and silence once again dominated the command office.
My heart, however, only felt a great sense of relief.
The colonel was, in reality, a member of the 'Shadows,' and I had asked him the day before to expose this information that we had already obtained months ago.
The intention was for the entire kingdom to unite with a single goal in mind. Knowing that other distant kingdoms might have knowledge similar to what the gods gave me would put them on alert and better prepare them for a possible conflict.
The people present watched me very closely. Some were waiting for my comments and proposals, while others looked at me with deep shock.
"They heard me speak before about the possibility that other distant kingdoms like ours existed," I reflected, observing their expressions of surprise.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
First, I'd like to clarify that I did another investigation into the term Zibá in the Muisca language, and it seems to have been incorrect. The true term for territory or region is 'Quyca.' Therefore, I have already changed the term in the previous chapter, and this will be the one used from now on to refer to the continent.
Chuta holds informational meetings with the captains, and then organizes a special meeting with the ministries, the army and navy, and the merchants. At this meeting, Chuta proposes using propaganda for a better life in the Kingdom to encourage free citizens from other kingdoms to migrate to the Kingdom.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: Columbus's last voyage was marked by severe storms that destroyed two of his four vessels. The remaining two ships were unusable and had to be abandoned on the island of Jamaica, where they were stranded for a year.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future (Chapter 70)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis (Chapter 18)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 3)
You can find them on my profile.]