"Captain, I do not seek an ally nor do I wish to call upon your people. I simple want to make you aware of the repercussions of what we do here today. I am ordered to cleanse the world of the killik, including the Chiss joiners. Buy impressing yourself upon this task you have given me the tools I needed to stay my hand and ignore my order. I am an unpopular man among the political hierarchy on Csilla Captain. I have to enforce Ascendancy law outside the colonies and defend  the Ascendancy from any and all threats. The orders given me were in my opinion a direct violation of the Law and As a Chiss Syndic  I was forced to carry out these orders until which time I deemed them unlawful. Your actions here have forced me to deny my orders and serve the Ascendancy lawfully. I am not sure how my government will look upon this, At this moment my battlegroup's political officer is being detained because  we feared he was a threat to your delegation. He will work to relieve me of command and carry out the orders himself captain and If that happens I assure you he will use our laws in his decision to eliminate you and your Killik friends."

Lash pressed a set of commands into his station and the guard walked back in.  

"Captain Vrier, I have enjoyed meeting you but I have other business to see to. An attendant will meet you at the lift back down to your ship. After you have departed  I will jump out of the system and leave its future to you and the Chiss Senate. You will get your chance to talk with House Sabosen after all Captain. I hope you are prepared for what is next."

Lash stood and waited for the reptile to acknowledge him. He knew the creature would find his candor disrespectful but that was something he would have to get use to if he was going to deal with the Chiss Senate and their lackys. His job was done for now. He had to deal with his political officer and answer to the senate which he was ready to. The Ascendancy had a cancer and he would see to it  that the sickness now festering in the senate was cut out.

Drackmarian Destroyer Farstrider, Massoss Sytem
Command Bridge


It is a peculiar sensation indeed, to face squarely the conflicts within one's own worldview. But a Drackmarian does not turn away from necessary conflict, and inner conflict is often the most necessary of all kinds.


Captain Vrier stared intently at the blue-green world below, a planet filled with billions of Chiss Joiners and billions more Killik drones. The fate of them all rested now on a knife's edge, and it was Vrier's duty to see them safe from the cutting blade that was the Chiss Ascendancy.


The Supreme Syndic's warning had not fallen on deaf ears, but he could not allow himself to become concerned with whatever interior troubles the Ascendancy might be facing. It was unfortunate, really, as Vrier suspected Syndic Lash might prove himself a worthy ally if only circumstance permitted the opportunity.


But it did not; that much was immediately clear. No, Vrier's inner conflict was far more nuanced, far more fundamental to his identity as an Heir of Drackmar, than whether or not he should involve himself in the matters of the Chiss. With a flick of his wrist the artificial viewport turned from the image of Massoss to a tactical representation of the planet and its surrounding space, three completely dissimilar vessels displayed prominently.


“Hail the Guardian vessel,” Vrier ordered, holding his frustration and displeasure in check. “I must speak with its operator.”


The communications officer turned to regard the captain directly, all four of the Morseerian's arms folding across her chest and stomach. “It is forbidden!” She said it with such shock and fear that one might think the captain had just ordered an act of treason.


And, in all honesty, he had. Fully autonomous military droids had long been banned from the Drackmarian Empire, and to engage with one on friendly terms was almost as severe a violation as employing one directly. Such violations had largely been ignored in the recent past, when dealing with friendly foreign powers in times of peace. But now Drackmar sat upon the Obsidian Throne once more, and it was an Age of Warlords for the whole of the Empire; it was no longer a time to test the limits of Drackmarian Law.


But there was one more thing to bear in mind, and knowledge of it drove Vrier to answer the protest with a furied and threatening rebuke. “I have been Marked by Drackmar, bound to this task by the highest oath that can be given! It is essential.”


The truth of the matter is that the situation was not nearly so simple, but the appeal to serving Drackmar's will proved enough to get the comm officer back to work. Only a moment later the holographic representation of the Killik's Guardian sprang to life in front of Vrier.


“What do you require, captain?” the Guardian asked bluntly.


“G14826-A: I, Vrier, Commander of the Farstrider Expedition, grant you access to all class Besh Drackmarian files for the express purpose of facilitating communications with the Killik of Unu Nest within this solar system.”


“Acknowledged.”


“Tell me why I should permit Unu unregulated contact with the Massoss Killiks,” Vrier said, trying to match the Guardian's harsh tone.


“You should not,” it answered immediately, catching Vrier by surprise.


“You have a duty to assist the Killik,” Vrier prompted, confused by the Guardian's refusal to do what Unu wished.


“My duty is the protection of sapient life, generally, and the Killik specifically. The course of action you suggest is likely to antagonize the Chiss Ascendancy and portray Unu as a usurping entity intent on seizing Massos and its Chiss Joiner population. Such a misunderstanding might prompt militant conflict with the Chiss Ascendancy and result in horrendous loss of life.”


The condescension of the Coalition droid intelligence infuriated Vrier, who wanted nothing more than to order the Guardian out of the system and await the Chiss Ascendancy alone, but he knew that he could not do that. As frustrated and conflicted as he was, the Drackmarian captain still knew that he had a duty to assist Unu, and that Guardian was far better equipped than him to do so. “Do you have another suggestion?”


“Allow me to direct and supervise the interaction between Unu and the Massoss nests. I will report to you regularly on any developments.”


Vrier had found himself in a position he could never have possibly imagined. This Guardian had been assigned by the Cooperative to protect and assist the Killiks, the insect species as a whole. But Vrier, through the authority of the Cooperative-aligned alliance of insectoid societies known as the Greater Hive, had been tasked with facilitating the goals of the Unu Nest, a particular entity within the collective Killik species.


Vrier's obligation to protect Unu's interests had forced him to Massoss, but Guardian had responded automatically and independently once learning of the situation. It meant that – at least for the time being – overall command of the Coalition forces present fell to Vrier, whose authority derived from the Greater Hive and therefore superseded even the Coalition Killiks present. Guardian could seek intervention from the Greater Hive and ask them to relieve Vrier of his special obligations – which would decouple him completely from the affair and send him back to Drackmarian space for reassignment – but even if it was ultimately successful the effort would take time. Time they didn't have.


No, it was best to settle this here and now, and all Vrier had to do was remember why he was here in the first place. His Emperor had ordered him to see to the flourishing of a true ally of the Obsidian Throne, with all of the concerns and considerations that the Justice and Might of Drackmar's Way demanded. It meant that no matter what Vrier thought of Unu or its effort here, it had been judged and found worthy by Drackmar Himself.


“You may proceed under the following conditions: you will give me direct and continuous instruction on the methods you utilize to communicate with the Killik until such time as I deem myself sufficiently informed on the matter, and you will proceed in full compliance with Drackmarian guidelines for interacting with a disadvantaged and unaffiliated populace.”


“Shall I except the section of those guidelines which require my immediate destruction?” Guardian asked.


Vrier ignored the tasteless jab by the artificial intelligence, instead choosing to drive his point home. “The Killik on Massoss are not your allies. They are not citizens of the Coalition. They are not represented by the Greater Hive. Do not forget that.”













The Gleaming City of Ar'reun, Cioral
Governor's Office


The human female standing before Prefect Csapla'rie'lirano was not at all what she seemed. She seemed to be an officer in the navy of a long-dead nation, and that was true. She seemed to be the leader of a minority species within the borders of the Chiss Ascendancy, and that was true. She seemed to be a desperate politician, ill-equipped personally for the role and deprived formally of the power necessary to meet her obligations, and that was true.


Yet she was not at all what she seemed.


Prefect Ariel rose from her chair, pressing her hands against the top of her desk as she inspected the human and her New Republic uniform. It simply would not do to remain seated with the human standing in dominance over her, yet Ariel quite liked the notion of forcing the other woman to stand by neglecting to offer her a seat of her own. “Commodore Rahn, will the Chalnar be completed on schedule?”


“One of the primary turbolaser power converters failed its quality control test -” the excuse prompted a look of scorn from the Prefect “- but our engineers identified the fault and were able to salvage most of the components. We are still projected to be finished by the deadline.” Ariel's look of scorn had turned to one of mild displeasure, prompting the Commodore to try again: “Yes, on schedule.”


“It is imperative that human engineers and work crews are ready and in position to join Inrokini reconstruction efforts on Copero by the deadline,” Ariel reminded her.


“I understand.”


“Any delays will jeopardize both the secrecy of the project and your standing in the eyes of the Ascendancy.”


“You need not be concerned.”


“You must demonstrate your worth to House Mitth if you intend for our plans to succeed,” she continued.


“I know what is at stake, Prefect,” the Commodore answered, an unpleasant edge in her tone.


“It will not do to display your frustration so easily,” Ariel chided. “You will never gain the acceptance of House Mitth if you cannot hold to even our most basic social conventions.”


“I can handle the disrespect and distrust of the Chiss who don't know what we can do,” Commodore Rahn shot back quickly. “My problem is that we've already proven ourselves to you. We've done more, faster, to make this plan a reality than any equal number of Chiss anywhere in the Ascendancy, yet you continue to disparage our effort, dismiss our contributions, and question our commitment. We've earned your respect, Prefect. We've earned our place in the Ascendancy.”


“This is what you have earned,” Ariel shot back, moving around her desk to face the Commodore squarely. “This is what you are seeking to earn.” She let the slightest tinge of anger color her words, making sure the human understood how unacceptable her behavior had become. “This is what it means to be a citizen of the Chiss Ascendancy.


“It will never stop. Not even when you are created Aristocra of House Rhan and take your seat in the House Palace. Your fellow humans will be steeped in it for the rest of their lives. Your sons and daughters will be raised in it from the moment of their birth. This is the Chiss Ascendancy, human. You do not change it. It changes you. If that is unacceptable,” she paused momentarily, a smile creeping across her face, “I hear your beloved Republic is alive and well in the Corporate Sector.”


Commodore Rhan sneered at the implication that the Commonwealth-turned-Republic shared any quality whatsoever with the nation that had raised and trained her.


“It never ends,” Ariel reiterated. “Not because you are an outsider, but because we are Chiss.”


The Commodore had held Ariel's gaze, unflinching, throughout the admonishment. “Yes we are,” she said firmly, before turning to leave the room.


The human female walking away from Prefect Csapla'rie'lirano was not at all what she seemed.


She was the tool of the Ascendancy's salvation.

Deep Space, Chiss Ascendancy Boarder

The door slide open tot eh small meeting hall Lash had sent and confined Prefect Chaf'keli'antru. The Chaf political officer turned and set his angry eyes on Lash and stood silently as the two guards left the room leaving he and Lash alone. Lash walked to the table and sat without a word watching the Angry prefect. The man shook his head and turned to look away from Lash and spoke.

"Supreme Syndic, I feel you have no respect for me or my position aboard your ship. The senate puts people like me  on these ships to keep things like what just happened from not happening. You had no right detaining me here while you meet with an enemy commander. You have violated senate protocol and defied senate proclamation by not allowing me to council you in your negotiations with the Killik and their Drackmarian cohorts."

Lash grabbed a glass and poured some water from a decanter on the table. he took a drink then sat the glass on the table and pressed a button on his personnel transceiver.

"Captain, Set a course for Capero."

He waited for the captain to confirm them closed the comm channel and began to address Prefect Kelian.

"Prefect, forgive me but you misinterpret my intention in detaining you here. I wish only for your safety and I access to the meeting to all of my senior staff and crew. I was unsure of how this Drackmarian would react and how many security forces he would bring. They are a robust race and could overpower my guards if they had intended upon it. I had an environment applicable to the risk assessment implemented and therefore could not have any others in the small space I had set up for the meeting. I was fortunate the captain came alone and was not hostile.  I knew you would not accept my security constraints and would insist on being present so I instated Corpus omega security measures which is why you were diverted and detained, it was for your safety Prefect. Nothing else. There is no reason for you to see political actions in every thing I do Prefect. I care less for your political games and their never ending lies. The Ascendancy would be better without your type Prefect Kelian, That I know as fact. Now please sit and let me tell you what I have learned."

Kelian turned and took a seat at the far end of the table begrudgingly and places the blaster he had been hiding on the table. HE looked at Lash with anger and hate in his eyes then spoke.

"Tell me Supreme Syndic, What did you learn?"

Capero - Office Of Aristocra Mitth'arka'nirat 

Tharkan shook his head as he read over the intel reports. Lash has carried out the orders  he had received but now the formal report and transmission and reception records were gone. Someone had cleared the Fleet wire for the last forty hours leaving a chaotic scramble of data untranslatable to even the stoutest security program. For all purposes it appeared Lash had taken unwarranted action attacked the Killik. Thrackan has seen the order and knew better but proving that now would be next to impossible. He looked across the desk at Aristocra Fhen'eran'nuruodo .

"We have a problem, get your people ready to leave. I get the feeling Csilla is not a safe place for us at the moment."

Neran nodded and stood and walked out of the office. Tharkan pressed a button on his desk then stood and walked out into the hallway. He looked down the hall from one end to the other then closed the door to his office. The place was dead silent. The turbolift at the end opened and one of his prefect aides stepped out and walked to meet him midway down the hall. The female Chiss handed Thrakan a data pad then nodded and took up position beside him as they walked to the lift.

"Have my transport ready when we get there, We need to get to Capero as fast as we can. The future of the Ascendancy depends on it."
 

Drackmarian Destroyer Farstrider, Massoss Sytem
Flight Deck One


By the time Vrier arrived, the magcon dome was active around the Coalition shuttle and a standard Type I atmosphere had been established. He watched as the diplomatic vessel's ramp extended and its passengers debarked, the Drackmarian captain finally getting a chance to identify his unwelcome guests.


First off was a Cerean he recognized as an ambassador for the Western Province's Unity Party, a woman named Viq-Mar. Close behind her was a Ryn woman he didn't recognize, but she was wearing the new civilian uniform of the Ryn Fleet's senior staff, and judging by her relative youth, that probably meant she held a scientific or logistical office, not diplomatic or command. Following those two was . . .


. . . was a very surprising sight indeed. The Drackmarian Senator, Offal, was a legend in and beyond the Drackmarian Empire. Where Vrier was known and respected in the regions surrounding the Inner Sanctum, Offal was a true war hero to the region, the Chiss especially. So decisive were his tactics during the first Mnggal-Mnggal outbreak inside Ascendancy space, that Chiss children were named after him for centuries to follow. Two hundred years ago, his ambush of a Lugubraa invasion force near the borders of Ascendancy space had ended before it could begin a plot traced back to the Kanzer Exiles to enslave a hundred worlds under Ascendancy protection with Kanzer brainwashing.


He had retired from command duties less than a century ago, joining the Drackmarian Senate as the most senior military officer in its history. He had said that he had grown weary of service in the Empire's expeditionary endeavors, and wished to devote the remainder of his years to ensuring the Sanctum's internal successes.


So why was he here now?


“New orders,” Ambassador Viq-Mar explained as she extended her hand through the magcon field, presenting Captain Vrier with a datapad. “You're to convey us to Csilla with all possible haste.”


“I read just fine,” Vrier retorted, studying the datapad closely. It didn't say much, just what the ambassador had, really . . . and it bore the authorization of the Greater Hive. “You're not being attached to the operation here?”


“No,” Offal said, not bothering to step from behind his companions. “You are simply to escort us to Csilla. We will manage our own matters upon arrival.”


Vrier held the older and senior Drackmarian's gaze, his mind working overtime to try and unravel this mystery. He was being manipulated, he knew, by their secrecy. Surely the senator was aware of the Mark under which Vrier currently served, but without more information, the authorization of the Greater Hive required him to comply with this new order.


Offal produced a datapad of his own, a Drackmarian datapad, and approached to hand it to Vrier as well. “This holds a copy of all Coalition information on the Chiss Ascendancy, both public and classified.” The fact that it was a Drackmarian pad implied that included the secret records of the Drackmarian Empire. “You are to transmit its contents over secure channels to the Guardian on-station, then destroy the pad.”


Vrier took the pad, glancing at its screen to see the random jumble of some Coalition encryption algorithm.


“You have instructed the machine to proceed in accordance with Drackmarian law?” Offal asked, the slightest hint of distaste managing to color the question.


“To the extent that such is possible,” Vrier answered stiffly.


“You are required to proceed with all haste,” Ambassador Viq-Mar reiterated.


“I am awaiting authorization from House Sabosen to approach Csilla,” Vrier said, turning to leave the deck. “It is expected presently, but I will not risk provoking the Chiss Ascendancy further for the sake of your impatience.”


The door to the flight deck closed behind Vrier and he set off at a sprint for the nearest turbolift, pulling out his commlink as he did. “Commander, what is the name, rank, and station of the Ryn member of the Coalition party?”


“Amarata, no Ryn clan affiliation, Captain of the Cornucopia vessel Starforger, a member of the senior engineering staff for the Ryn Restoration Fleet at Glee Anselm.”


“Qualifications?” he asked, skidding to a halt in the turbolift and punching the controls for the bridge.


“Promoted approximately six months ago after a string of improvements to the atmospheric stabilization process, including both modifications to hardware and alterations to the fleet's deployment protocols.”


“Has she been with her new ship the entire time?” Vrier asked directly as he stepped onto the bridge.


His first officer checked his records, body language telling Vrier the answer before he turned to address his captain. “No, sir. She left almost immediately afterward, destination classified. She hasn't reported back to the Restoration Fleet since then.”


Vrier sank into his captain's chair, mind racing despite his stoic exterior. A Coalition ambassador, a Ryn engineering genius, and perhaps the only Drackmarian in the galaxy more respected by the Chiss than the Emperor himself. Vrier could only make guesses at what they were up to.


He didn't like any of them.