From what I understand, they were preparing for conflict with Olympia. Though the faction in charge has been chased out of the Altar by King Shanrian. Still, there are a lot of people in favor of war... it's pretty worrisome.

[It does seem like the King at least isn't in favor of it though, which is something at least, Riku guesses. He'd rather focus on doing something to help the Natha restore the Worlds than caught up in a war that means so little to him.]