Samuel's troops rushed forward. As Samuel escorted the emperor back towards their waiting helicopters the emperor turned to him and smiled. "Excellent gambit back there!" he complimented. "The others didn't realize whatever it was you had been doing to our equipment had failed. I noticed after the last charge. My watch started working!"
"Then why did you concede?" Samuel asked.
"Because your machine guns would have been just as devastating," the emperor answered, "as those accursed crossbows. And your words were true. Further carnage would have been useless. Wherever they send me in exile if you have the opportunity do visit once and a while."
"Certainly!" Samuel agreed, "Certainly!"
The war was effectively over in Europe. A few pockets would hold out a while longer, but The Empire was gone. It took Samuel a couple of months to finish things there, then he left it to others. Now it was The Coms' turn. He headed east and again the enemy dreaded his coming!

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