“My dearest, don’t wait up for me. A matter of most importance pgues my mind - bureaucrats.”— Grand General Varick, from personal messages to his wife on July 25th, 2429.

  I open the doors to my quarters on Caedes. A spacious living room spans in front of me, with a couple sofas in the middle, a massive coffee table between them, and a rge, dull gray rug covers the floors beh the sofas and the table. Ospire lily, our national flower, dictates the smell in the air. The st reminds me that of a salty sea breeze on a cool afternoon. It has petals of deep blue tipped in green, Hewshian colors. It grows on half the bushes which line up the right wall of my living room, where bookcases span from floor to ceiling, leaving just a portion of the wall clear of anything for the holos.

  I tur aowards the far wall, stopping briefly to admire the 3D map of our empire. It spans three star systems, with four hospitable ps in total. I pull a bottle of a the et on which the map inates and pour myself two fingers’ worth. It disappears in an instant.

  Hewshia Nexus, our capital world, is one of the smallest on the dispy. Only Guiltkin is slightly smaller, both in size and popution. I allow myself a smile as I recall Hewshia’s cool evening breezes and the bird’s songs. People yelling and pushing in the markets, trying to get to one pce or another. Kids being kids, away from all worries of life, enjoying the perfect weather ditions any human could ever want. I look at the hologram of the p as it slowly turns in tempo with the actual p. Water covers around sixty pert of the surface, and in sight. Snow is present only on the northern ti and southern isles. In sharp trast to Marcoria, red rocks and sands cood third of its surfao snow at all.

  I put the gss down hard and make sure my armor is and presentable, symbolically dusting the shoulders and upper arms to make sure there’s nothing on it. With a sigh, I turn from the et and ast a door leading to my bedroom, and walk to the sed door, which leads to the feren. The room is only about a tenth of the living room, with a holoprojector in the middle, and nothing else. Apart from a shimmering light from the holo, there are no other sources. I stand there for a moment, gathering my thoughts. The cve, overal body, will be unhappy by my dey, but words are about all they’ll be able to throw my way today. Regardless, I want to make sure our versation remains private, as yelling and bickering are what I expect from them. I y eyes and take three deep breaths before accepting the unication.

  “Varick,” Ar Brian Enon appears before me. His fat cheeks remind me of a bulldog, and I wince as I imagine spit nding ohank gods for the holoprojectors. He is not a tall man, about a head lower than I am, but his mass makes up for height. “Do you mind expining why you ceased hostilities?”

  “He ceased,” Ar Azure Yorhal’s silky voiands our attention, “And you, my dear, start.” A light smile on his lips as he lingers on Brian. “I’m sure Grand General got his reasons. Let us not be hasty at dismissing them.” Only his colorful wardrobe of turquoise, green, and gold rivals his velvet voice. Blue hair up to his shoulders, sharp facial features, high cheekbones, and eyes almost the color of a Sapphire. Are they natural? Enhanced? I know not for sure, but they are mesmerizing. Azure is about a decade youhan I am, but his sharp tongue bridges that gap. He eyes me, a full smile.

  “But it is curious.” Azure tinues, his finger drumming on the armrest of his throne. “Perhaps a dilemma pgues your heart, Grand General?”

  “That’s an uatement,” I respond without smiling. A couple of other cve members join in a quick succession.

  “Ah!” Catg my fused gnce, Azure leans in closer and almost whispers, “Don’t be armed, dear friend. This is a rather short notice gathering, and three of the beloved Ars could not make it.”

  I nod as I s the empty thrones. One of three men is missing, and two of the three women. The seventh member, our Elder, sits in the middle. At seve, he looks almost like death itself. Long white hair falls down his shoulders, his stature simir to mine, but he is a good thirty-forty pounds lighter than I.

  “I only imagine one man who would tell you so quickly about the sharp ge in my strategy,” I began, g my hands behind my back. “But more on that ter. Fear of a trap led me to ge my approa this battle. Marcorian glomerate’s fleets are gone. Fraxes broke their promise and failed to join, as did the pirates. More importantly, Marcorians are not responding to our hails, and they fled to the safety of the p, as if daring us to attack them so close to their pary defenses.”

  Brian’s eyes burn a hole in me, but he bites his tongue for now, for which I’m thankful.

  “Did Tarfahtan reach out to you?” I inquire about the Marcorian leader and High Priest. The weight of a thousand suns lifts from my shoulders as I feel my heart slowing down its rhythm. These burdens are no longer my own to carry.

  As expected, Tel-Chaz, our Elder, sits quietly, letting others speak. For now. No smile on his lips. He directs his eyes my way, but looks past me, as if trying to pierce the veil of reality itself.

  “Well,” Azure shifts in his seat for fort, crossing his arms, “this certainly exceeds expectations.” His eyes wander over to the women’s se, idling on Sincir, as though auditing her. She wears all bck, from her dress, to shoes, to jewelry, which is plenty around her ned wrists.

  “Déjà vu,” Azure gifts a pyful wink to Sincir as she meets his eyes. “It seems almost like yesterday we had this versation, but many moons already passed. There were whispers of caution within the walls of this very citadel. Gods… I wish they had a loudspeaker. But let bygones be bygones, am I right, Brian?” Azure turns to his right, gently brushing his hand against Brian’s. “It’s not like the cil of Blood alrevails, and reason discarded. But I digress.” His eyes now linger on me, glimmering, “If we may, more details about the situation, Grand General.”

  “Two cruisers, three destroyers, and two DPPs are all which is challenging us.” I release the hilt and y arms ay chest. A smirk passes over my face as Azure’s words finally catch up to me. Half a year ago, he and I allied in dissuading the cve from attag Marcoria. Today, he is making sure everyone remembers his stance.

  sidering the looks I am receiving from the other members, I only assume they are testihey want to know where I stand. If I too will wash my hands . But do that, and they’ll perceive me as a threat, and will spin my decision not to attack as insubordination or treason all together. Words are my enemy now. More formidable than even Marcorians.

  Brian’s gaze eats me up, watg me with distaste. His pale grey eyes follow my every motion with caution, as if expeg I’ll strike at him. I clear my throat, but it’s too dry, and a cough es out. “Currently, we do not know the whereabouts of the Marcorians. The pn was for Fraxon, pirates, and us to atta tandem and take them by surprise. That is the only way for us to win our freedom. I fear one of two things transpired. Teical difficulties on their part…”

  “Or Marcorians are already striking at Fraxon,” Brian cuts in

  “These specutions are all so terribly terrific,” Azure draws attention baself. His voice sounds as if we are discussing a party, not war. “Any facts? Anything crete at all?”

  Siles at me. I hate silence, hate this ina. There are no facts. Not yet. And I fear facts may emerge too te, but I ’t tell that to them. I’d rather die a thousand times otlefield than talk to these oligarchs. But I am not the only one unfortable. They are all calg, deliberating, and trying to e up with pusible sarios. Azure and Sincir likely are thinking of their ps, which they governed on behalf of the Hewshian Empire. Brian likely is still thinking of ways to get rid of me, and install Horus.

  “The fact is,” Sincir Shena steps in, and I turn to face her. “If the publids out that a whole Marcoria is missing, there will be panic. Riots maybe.” She takes a long, hard look at me, her thin lips pressed tightly together. “This information ot get out past the citadel walls.”

  “What a marvelous idea, my dear,” Azure leans forward as if to get a better look at her. “Say, if the Marcoria shows up here, what do we tell our brave people then?” He falls ba the backrest of his throne, finger resumes its drumming. “We have…” He pauses, letting his words sink in, “serious things to sider.”

  I watch as Sincir shakes her head, annoyed. But refrains from speaking, knowing all too well there’s nuing with him. Alcohol kicked in, and I am already regretting drinking it at all. It eased up my mind, but my eyes are being even heavier. I’m now owenty-ninth hour without sleep. All the thoughts mingling together into one uncohesive dream. I pinch my leg to stay alert.

  “Even if they attack us, Grand General,” Tel-Chaz’s coarse voice sent shivers down my spine, helpio stay focused. “Your fleet is not yet ready to jump to defend, is that correct?”

  “Yes,” I answer.

  “Then our options are few,” Brian tinued calcutedly. “If we ’t defend, then there’s only oher option.”

  “I will not attack!” I spat. “If I do, that puts my fleet in a position for a potential trap.”

  “Calm yourself, Varick,” Brian spoke, belittling me by calling me by my name already twice, rather than rank. “You will do as you are told.”

  “Brian,” Azure puts his hand on the armrest of Brian’s throne, his voice soft, “I appud your bravado. Perhaps you’d like to lead the fleet from the frontline?”

  Sincir clears her throat, and I turn to face her. But she is throwing her gaze towards the men’s se of the cve. “Azure, perhaps you and your theatrics should get a room. Help us, or please, don’t interrupt.” She offers him a hardened gaze, which he meets with a smile.

  “Already have reservations, darling. I’ll up this mess, and then I’m gone, I promise.” He returns to the warmth of his backrest. “We pursue Marcorians back to their p, and their fleets may reemerge… A poor idea indeed.” Azure cludes thoughtfully.

  “Agreed,” Sincir turns to face me. “Perhaps it’s all just a rouse, and they are hiding behind the p, or one of their three moons. If that’s the case, they’ll crush us from both sides and wipe us out in hours, maybe even minutes. Grand General is right to be cautious.”

  Brian shakes his head, ahat even Sincir takes my side.

  Azure lets out a ugh. A chilling ugh that rings in the ears long after he is done. “I love this new side to you, my dear Sincir. First she agrees.” He strokes his blue beard, “then she advises caution. My heart warms at the thought. Perhaps your father’s fate is not your own.”

  I open my mouth to speak, to stop this before it escates.

  Too te, Sincir is already speaking. “Is that a threat?” She challenged Azure.

  “Hardly. An observation,” Azure said. “A caution, really. I don’t take my feeble heart could survive another demise of the Shena family.”

  “Enough,” Tel-Chaz says, and hits his staff against the marble flrand General looks embarrassed to be here. Rightly so. We decide here,” He points his bony fi each Ar, “but our deight spell death for our men there.” His fiurns my way.

  “Thoughts on Fraxon, Grand General?” Sincir takes the floor, lifting her hand to silehers who wao speak.

  “As always, a pleasure to be included.” I smile at her. “Fraxon’s absence is most troubling. It is ohing if they have teical issues; it is another if they threw us to the wolves, hoping to use us as on fodder. But their fleet is smaller, as we know. Without us, they stand no ce against the might of our enemy.” I pause, knowing the words will not be light. “The st possibility is that Fraxon and Marcoria are now in league against us.”

  “Evidence?” Azure raises his brow.

  “Both are missing. Perhaps joining fleets together,” Sincir answers before I get a ce. “But that is not fact, merely a specution.”

  Azure does his best to suppress a ing ugh, “Specution indeed. But we must a what we have, not what we wish we had.” He tilts his head, as if studying something, “The courteous thing to do is tact Poltr directly and see what the Emperor of Fraxon says himself.”

  “That will arm them into thinking we are unto them.” Brian adds, and I nod in agreement.

  “I said it was a courteous thing, not a smart thing.” Azure offers him a sly smile. “Iher case, someone respected and tactful would o tact him. Someohan that, and we might fight against them regardless of their current iions.” His gaze lingers on Brian. “Or,” He turns to Tel-Chaz, “we remain silent and hope for the best.”

  I only imagihat olite jab at our Elder for staying silent on his stance all this time. Azure tries to hide his irritation, but I catch it. It’s fleeting, and he recovers from it fast.

  “How many died already, while they argue?” A voice whispers in my ear.

  Not now, I think, g my jaw. You are the st thing I need. Go away.

  “Ten thousand? Twenty, perhaps? Ships?” It tio ramble on.

  I y eyes. Teeth grinding against each other. Haing into the metal of the holo-projector. “If Fraxonnians attack us, we could always detohe bombs we installed on their ps during their civil war. They won’t do much damage, but they won’t know that we have no more. The public backsh should give them plenty to worry about, and hopefully will buy us some time.”

  I raise my head. Azure catches my gnce, and his eyes sparkle with excitement. “Harsh, Grand General. Harsh,” he waddles his fi me, “but uandable. I’d stay that course of a.”

  A sharp bang against the marble diverts my attention. Azure’s mouth hangs open; he says nothing more. The Elder has hit his staff against the floor. His tired eyes still linger on me, but he doesn’t address me yet.

  “Get me Tarfahtan.” Tel-Chaz broke the silence. And I hear hurried footsteps. “He and I have much to discuss.” His eyes stop on mine. “Do not engage unless fired upon. Tarfahtan is an enemy nardless of what might have happeo our allies. A versation with him may yet yield some results.” And they are gone. Leaving me in silence, and even the voiside my head says nothing. I strike the holoprojector with my fist, denting it slightly. I think I’d have broken my fist if it wasn’t for the armor.

  “Why listen to bureaucrats just to arrive at the same clusion?” I whisper at the ceiling. “Takes a huimes longer, but results the same.” I walk out of the feren and out of my quarters altogether. Not slowing my patil I reach the bridge.

  “How’s Peacock?” Gerard whispers as he approaches.

  My eyes burn into his. “Ar Azure Yorhal is in good health, if that is what you want to know. Show some respect to the members of the cve, Gerard. We don’t know who hears us.”

  He nods, “as you and, Grand General. Any news?”

  But I’m already walking past him. “Grand General Varick to the fleet,” I take to the unicator as precautioo be taken. “Assume defensive posture around Caedes. Do not power down ons,” I added, unvinced about that st part. Having ons powered on for no reaso against everything that is taught. The C.O.R.E., or Critical Operatioine, could take on only so much strain. Having everything powered on… History would be different if some Admirals took that lesson to heart.

  Waiting is a fool’s game. Yet here I am - a fool. Too many thoughts pgue my mind and turn my insides out.

  A fsh catches my eye. In the distanext to the p, I watch as a fleet e and green color scheme ships emerge from behind the p.

  “Umaz!” I turn to face the man.

  “They must have ed jumped.” He feverishly studies the radar. “The radar wouldn’t deteything if they jumped so close to the p.”

  If that is true, Umaz is right. The p would cover any tracks of activity if it happened o it. The p’s mass and pull would scramble any jump dete device. A dangerous maneuver, and I know only one admiral who is foolish enough to attempt it.

  The Marcorian expeditionary fleet of seven cruisers and around twenty destroyers position themselves o the DPP. They already activated their shields and ons. They don’t outnumber us. But with the DPPs on their side…

  “We have activity at our stern.” One of the officers calls out.

  “They are hailing us,” Nesi- my unication officer - announces as well.

  Turning, I sat back down. I exhale and start breathing a little easier. “Patch them through,” I and and fold my arms. Now they want to talk?

  “Grand General Varick,” an older man with shray hair appears on my holo. His attire is e-green as the ships, with a grand scorpion emblem on his torso. His rolled-up sleeves reveal the missing part of his left arm below the elbow. A red glowing cyberic eye fills his left eye socket, and burn marks spread from it. His other hand is behind his back. He stands, a bastion, eyes ing my soul. I shift, battling the urge to look away, avoid those eyes.

  “Admiral Rhu’Kra, I presume,” I utter, and cleared my throat.

  “Expin yourself.” He motions outside. “Where’s my third DPP?”

  “Admiral Rhu’Kra, if it’s still uo you, let me be the first to extend you the courtesy of a formal decration of war.” Getting up, I fold my arms ay chest and walk towards the holo. A PhantomShield activates as I press a button on the holo. “Tel-Chaz and Tarfahtan are now engaged in diplomacy. I suggest we wait on their decision.”

  “That’s riing from you. I ’t believe I ted you among the honorable warriors.” Rhu’Kra spits at the floor, his brow tensing up. He raises his gaze, extending his arms to the side, “Uuka, y gates to the afterlife if these fools are not ash by day’s end!”

  Marcorians and their gods… twelve they have. “To be fair, I offered for them to surrender.”

  “And I will end that courtesy to you,” Rhu’Kra growls back. “You rehat right null by showing up here in force,” he tinues, his jaw tensing up with each word. “Surrender yourself to me alongside your cruisers, and I may yet let some of your meurn home in one piece.” A vein on his temple pulses, “I khat our kind attitude towards you would one day bite us in the ass. We should have treated you like the scum you are, sve! We all know how you act when there’s a freater than yours - you surrender without a fight. So do that. Surrender.”

  Pointless arguing with him. I could tell him that my aors are not I, or that he doesn’t have a greater force here, either. But that would only bring up more insults from him. Most of which would probably hit home. At the end of the day, he is right. Although nobody outside the cve will ever hear me say so. A staring test ensues. I see a thousand ways to end his life - I only assume he sees the same. But it is out of our hands unless I want to be court-martialed. I should fire upon him. That would give me the advantage. My eyes never leave his and his mi is now a battle of wills rather than wits, and I’m not about to lose.

  I felt like a kid; it almost makes me smile, but that wish is fleeting. Uarfahtan agrees to our terms and surrenders, there is no way this could end peacefully. And even if he agreed, that left me with Rhu’Kra. Marcorians didn’t habitually falsely bring their gods into any fray. I pte if I should be worried about being shot in the back if we are to leave this flict.

  “Seems like diplomacy is over.” Rhu’Kra smiles and disects.

  Talks failed. I ’t see another option.

  “Then I’ll attack,” I whisper.