章 222: Chapter 222

January 3rd, 1964 dawned with an urgency that penetrated the tranquil morning air of Manila. Emperor Alfonso sat in his private study, his usually composed demeanor disturbed as he pored over Dr. Rodriguez's report. The document, dated December 15th, 1963, had languished in the holiday bureaucracy for weeks. Now, its implications seemed to scream from every page.

"Get me Dr. Rodriguez immediately," he commanded into his secure communication device, then pressed another button. "And connect me to General Santos in Liberia."

The empire's military base in Liberia sat like an island of Oriental might amid a complex tapestry of European colonial interests. To the west, French West Africa bustled with activity – trains carrying goods and people between Senegal, Guinea, and Mali. To the east, British-controlled territories maintained their own rigid systems of governance, with Kenya and Sudan serving as crucial transportation hubs.