[Dr. Beckenstein]

The Emperor's War Game

This is a military exercise, held once a year by the regiments of the Imperial Guard in a training area on Capital (Core). The only regiment that does not take part is, by tradition, the Marine Guard, that has the duty to guard the Palace at this time.
While it is a genuine exercise that should sharpen or at least maintain the skills of the participating soldiers, critical voices state that "The Game", as it is called, has become something off a circus act.
It is not only that the Emperor, his family (all holding the courtesy-rank of a colonel in one or more of the regiments) and the court watch the exercise, many members of the moot and a huge crowd of celebrities, remittance men and other oxygen-wasters discover their patriotism and "show support for our troops" at this time. To please the (very influential) crowd, ambitious staff officers often stage visual impressive manoeuvres with lots of noise and pyrotechnics.
Among the spectators are also diplomats of other nations, be it Zhodani, K'kree or Solomani. If the Emperors War Game impresses them or lulls them in a false sense of security is anybody's guess.