“The reason we do not go straight for Emperor Carpathian is twofold. One, while we have him by numbers yes, their Ships are still far superior in technology.” Indus paused to ensure the audience grasped the concept of their Emperor confessing a flaw. “It is okay to admit it.”
“I can already see their doubt.”
“We have shamefully fallen behind the technological curve over the last millennia, allowing our enemies to find ways around our numbers advantage; but that will all change soon enough. Right now, unfortunately, the only way we can outright defeat the Huron threat is if we send everything we have in their direction. I am sure you are all well aware, Emperor Lesos won’t sit back and lick his wounds while we handle Emperor Carpathian.”
“There can be no doubt, Indus.”
“I am confident the moment we fully attack Carpathian, Lesos will go straight for Koram. With Carpathian backing him, he might actually be able to hold it long enough to force us to sue for peace. And I will not let that happen. A Baikal Capital has not fallen for eighteen thousand years, and you can bet that it won’t fall any time soon.”
“Fear will not sustain their loyalty.”
The Emperor spoke with a cocky tone. “An attack party will strike Emperor Carpathian from the side, here.” The left side of the Huron front that was pressing deeper into the Baikal Empire started glowing red. “Which will force the Huron Forces to stop their advance or risk getting cut in half.” Indus stopped his pacing and began deliberately walking toward the middle of the table.
“Once we have drawn enough of their forces, our attack party will withdraw as best they can while the others fall in behind our secondary defenses.” Indus paused momentarily, but kept his eyes fixated on the other end of the conference room. “As for our new problem, Emperor Lesos. We will gladly let the Natron Military think that they have the victory while we settle back. Besides, it’s time we let them come and play in our backyard for a change. Our people won’t just rest on our laurels. Of that, I can assure you!” Indus boldly stated. He had already begun the process of arming civilians in his fringe territories. In addition, he purposely leaked videos of Natron and Huron soldiers raping and pillaging everything in sight; making any hope of a peaceful occupation absolutely impossible.
“More importantly, once we’ve allowed Lesos to come far enough; we’ll strike back with The Dragon’s Tail.” Out of nowhere, the images of a small Fleet Combat Team appeared next to the Natron front. The Dragon’s Tail’s Ships were sleek. They were inspired by the gothic shapes and dramatic lines of the Royal Protectorate and were backed by stolen Huron technology that had been secretly reverse engineered by The Almighty. In sum, the Dragon’s Tail was Indus’s answer for cutting off the head of the Natron Empire. “And with the Natron forces in full retreat, we swing back around; and then,” looking at Svyre, “overwhelm Carpathian with our numbers and a more advanced force. Emperor Carpathian will never know what hit him.”
“The time has come to tell them about the Pyx.”
Indus paused mid-sentence at the voice’s comment, “After all this time, why now?” He said to his bitter mind space. Sighing, he tried to lessen the over-confident tone in his voice, “The UIS triggered a Guardian Response Protocol just over three Custos years ago. The fact that a Guardian Status has not arisen tells us that the triggering party was unable to deal with the UIS’s Guardian Response Protocols. Meaning, that right now, a planet with enough human inhabitants to fill every single one of our Ships is in fact lost somewhere; sitting completely unprotected.” There was an audible gasp in the room as the men struggled to comprehend what was just said.
The Dragon’s Tail disappeared and the information regarding the UIS’s Guardian Response for the Natron Cruiser appeared. In the middle of the mass of scrambled information, the scratchy image of a blue, white, and green planet with a single primary moon started to appear. The organic signature markers went through the roof. Boasting a near mirror atmosphere and gravitational pull with essentially every Galactic Group colony, it was a star satellite teeming with life. In spite of all of the evidence pointing to human life possibly living on the surface below, the audience waited for the homo sapien tracers to be compiled and analyzed.
Everyone sat in restless silence until the results came in. The rumors of the existence of a Pyx were true. An undiscovered planet harboring human life had indeed been found. Suddenly, the men began talking and speculating. Everyone wanted to not only know how it was found, but who had found it.
Indus waited for the room to settle down, forgiving the disruptive outburst from his men. The discovery of this planet that sustained human life, was news of truly colossal proportions.
“As you can see, its location is being protected by the UIS under its Guardian Protocols. However, if I can get that far inside the UIS to bring you an image of the planet, then trust me when I say that I CAN and I WILL take the Pyx and free our people from their suffering.”
The image before the audience changed again to the areas in which Indus had sent search teams. Dispatched to a lesser known zone outside the desert regions but still another month’s worth of jump time on top of the original two months journey, they were roaming around blind. In spite of prophecies and rumors pointing toward the Sculptive and Hydra Clusters, Indus was unknowingly going out way too far and in the complete opposite direction from where he needed to be.
“All of the evidence points to the planet being located in this region, which is where our original six teams began their search. I upped that number to eighteen as of yesterday. I don’t have to explain how critical these next few steps are for a unified Baikal Galactic Group. Should we falter, should the enemy get a strong foothold around that planet and manage to keep it from us, then any chance our children’s children have for a future is over.”
“You’ve said enough. Now it’s time to let them respond with their actions.”
The Emperor silently stalked toward the exit, having said enough for the purpose of the meeting.
“Bring Krasny to me, it’s time.”
Stopping at the last minute, Indus’s hand waved down the Royal Protectorate about to command the room to attention. Indus turned around and locked eyes with Empirical Admiral Krasny. Guilt flooded Indus’s consciousness for a brief moment before he shoved it aside.
“Admiral Krasny, care to join me?” The Emperor asked, summoning the large man from his chair. Just before the Empirical Admiral reached the door, “This will conclude today’s meeting. It’s short, so all of you better take advantage of the time!” Indus barked before turning and stepping out of the stunned conference room.
The pair met just outside the Command Center and waited until the meeting’s audience had shuffled out of the area before Krasny spoke. “How may I help you, Sir?”
“Nothing in particular,” Indus replied with an insipid smile, “Just wanted some company as I walk back to my quarters to get some sleep. So, are you going to join me or not?”
Not knowing exactly how to respond, Krasny kept quiet and continued to walk by the Emperor’s side until they found themselves at the entrance to Indus’s private villa.
“It’s about time that you got rid of that tattoo Krasny. Where did you even get the idea for it anyway?” Indus commented, referring to an inside joke that the pair shared. The Emperor had always told Krasny that one day he would force him to get rid of it. Indus used their shared history as a false sense of security; as bait. Just as Krasny opened his mouth to respond, “Wait,” Indus held up a hand. “I need to relieve myself. Please, come in and take a seat.”
Empirical Admiral Krasny was dumbfounded at first. No one had entered his personal private quarters on any of Indus’s Flagships, not even his concubines. “Uh, if you insist, Sir,” He finally replied.
“I do.”
Krasny followed his Emperor inside and took the first chair he could find, trying to avoid going in any further if at all possible. “I’ll be right back.”
Regardless
of the poor visibility, the Empirical Admiral took in his surroundings and tried to make sense of it all. There were animal heads plastered all over the walls; trophies of Indus’s conquests. A large cage sat empty in a corner of an adjacent room with what looked like shackles hanging from the overhead bars. A small feline was crouched outside the cage licking up blood on the floor. She sensed Krasny’s presence and immediately bolted. The interface walls portrayed the hazy image of a young woman’s naked stomach and breasts. Her stomach moved rhythmically while the long legs contorted to keep the lower portion of her body concealed; never ceasing to tease the imagination. Above his head, Krasny could see mirrors and a small window to the upper floor in the same adjacent room.
Outside the entryway, toward where Indus had gone to relieve himself, another animal crept in the shadows. It was monstrous, nearly the size of Krasny. Its fiery eyes pierced the darkness and stared right into his soul. Blinking to get away from the deadly glare, Krasny was shocked to see that the animal was abruptly no longer there. It had vanished. Suddenly, a wretched odor hung in the air; almost thick enough to be tasted.
The Admiral felt an eerie heaviness around him. His breathing suddenly became labored, as if his lungs were refusing to accept the air being drawn in. Sweat began to trickle down his back and his peripheral vision began to narrow slightly. As Krasny looked around nervously, trying to distract his mind from the feeling of terror seeping into his skin, he could have sworn he felt a transcendental presence spring to life.
A supernatural breeze pierced Krasny’s armored Kit and brushed the base of his spine, sending shivers across every nerve in his body. The room began to darken with a thick angry fog. In an unexpected burst of colors, the blackened air ruptured into sentience. Krasny watched in bewilderment as out of the swirling mass appeared an attractive, yet horrifying face.
The presence invading Krasny’s space had a gentle youthful appearance with glimmering straight black hair that framed her flawless skin. Bright red eyes and plush raven lips had nestled themselves behind a peculiar underworld language that was tattooed across the sides of her face. The writing crept up the back of both of her cheeks until they reached her blazing eyes, where they then curled around and stopped right at the top of each brow. Both glaring tattoos ended in dragon heads that slowly moved as they guarded the souls locked behind each eye. Instead of ink, what looked like a river of molten rubies appeared to flowing behind each tattoo.
The moment The Almighty appeared, every artificial light was extinguished, leaving total darkness in its place. The presence did not reflect light, nor did it absorb it, yet somehow, its petrifying appearance could be clearly seen. Her smoldering eyes and the underworld language, blazing its unknown message, cast ever-moving red shadows across the terrified Admiral’s face. The room became unnervingly quiet as the malicious face stared down Krasny. Suddenly, the smothering darkness surrounding The Almighty swelled to a fervor.
“If it isn’t the cursed and unwanted son, Krasny DRAEGO Baikal. Tell me, did you really think that all of your scheming and back stabbing would go unnoticed?” The presence mocked, staring into the Admiral’s eyes and immediately knowing the truth before Krasny could even say a word in refute. Utter shock smacked the Admiral in his face and gripped it tight, contorting his face with the realization that his life’s biggest secret was at stake.
“I know everything, Krasny. I know that it was you who sent HER to his Ship and I know that it was you who interfered with the Collider Bombs.” Empirical Admiral Krasny could hardly believe what he was hearing. He had given all orders through analog means and anything that could have led back to him was done through word of mouth; far away from anything connected to the UIS.
“And you know, Emperor Indus and I were willing to overlook these breaches in trust because of your honorable service. But, now, we see things differently.” Krasny remained silent, his mind scrambling for a way to talk himself out of the black hole he found himself in.
“You see, Krasny, I now know that it was you who opened the door for the UIS to breach my borders and find Emperor Lesos. I know it was you who convinced the Emperor to leave his prized prisoner behind; and I know it was you who weakened Dawn of Creation’s security protocols. You effectively handed the Huron strike team a key to the front door! Such a busy little traitor!” The Almighty vengefully shook her head.
Reaching the conversation’s event horizon and deciding to go on the offensive, “And who are you to speak to a Senior Officer this way?! What’s your name, program?” The Admiral fired back.
“PROGRAM! HOW DARE YOU!” Krasny was abruptly thrown back against the wall from the outburst while his armor shorted out and lost all power. “You feeble minded Human.”
“Then how should I identify my false accuser?”
“I have been known by many names over the millennia, Empirical Admiral Krasny.” Krasny’s eyes widened.
“Some have called me the Deceiver, others have known me as The Dragon’s Tail.” Suddenly, the face pressed in close to Krasny. “But to keep things simple, Admiral Krasny, I am the daughter of THE Pillar Artificial Intelligence. I am Adoenye’s Birth Code, and my name is The Almighty.”
“Well, The Almighty, it’s nice to meet you. But I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Krasny answered, stalling for time.
“DON’T PLAY GAMES WITH ME KRASNY!” The seething face roared, the white skin turning fiery red in her anger.
Suddenly, the Admiral felt as if his entire body was paralyzed. No matter how hard he tried, he was unable to speak. “You have nearly derailed this entire operation,” The Birth Code expressed, now using a conversational tone as if the two were friends. “Your days of running around in the dark trying to mask your Emperor’s actions are over.” The Almighty paused to stare into Krasny’s soul while slightly tilting her head to the left. “Nonetheless, there is hope for you yet, Admiral.”
Krasny eyed The Almighty with suspicion, certain his fate was sealed but curious nonetheless. Still unable to speak, all he could do was wait.
“Just look me in the eyes and answer this one question honestly, and all will be forgiven.” The Almighty continued to stare into the very life source of her victim. “Who did you give Adoenye’s Seed Code to?”
Just as Krasny’s consciousness had fully grasped the question, the Admiral gave away the truth without even saying a word. “Tabor Huron, huh? Well that makes sense. It seems there is more to Euphretes Draego-Natron Huron than just traitorous parents.”
“That’s impossible,” Krasny said out loud in utter disbelief, the knots in his tongue unfurling out of nowhere. But before the stunned Admiral could formulate any form of a defensive response,
Indus entered the room. “I see you’ve met my new Senior Advisor,” Emperor Indus announced while appearing from the shadows behind The Almighty.
“The Seed Code was given to Princess Tabor Huron. If it isn’t being protected by Krasny’s son, Euphretes, then it’s with Emperor Carpathian.”
“Of course it is,” Indus hissed while stepping around The Almighty, being careful not to disturb the face’s cloud.
“Sir, are you seriously giving ear to these accusations?!” Krasny asked, doing all he could to stay alive.
“You know very well that there was no fallacy in my words, Admiral Krasny; so choose your next words carefully.”
The Empirical Admiral looked at his Emperor and shook his head, “Sir, you can still stop all of this. You can still be forgiven.”
Emperor Indus reached behind his back and withdrew a side arm while looking his best friend in the eyes, “You give me no choice. Not only did you take my greatest threat and give it to my enemy, but you’ve ensured its survival all along the way at great cost to me. What other options did you leave me with, Krasny?” Indus sensed a quickening in his consciousness as he realized what he was about to do to his friend.
Empirical Admiral Krasny stared down the barrel of Indus’s weapon, “I did what I thought was
right; for the benefit all Mankind, as you do now. But your Highness, I beg of you to hear me. Do not give her your ear while she slices humanity’s throat behind your back.”
“I should end your pathetic existence!” The Almighty exploded, sending out a terrible energy that pulsated and reverberated throughout the room.
“Let him speak.” Indus stepped in, shaking off his brief encounter with guilt. “For these are my dear friend’s last words,” The Emperor stated, his resolve now steady for the test to come.
Empirical Admiral Krasny looked at the pair looming before him; a human gorged in self pretentious royalty and a demonic AI as the puppet master. “A Pyx is not the answer Indus, it’s just the tool. And do you really want that tool in the hands of something that gets off on other’s suffering?!”
Emperor Indus turned to look at The Almighty, “Thank you. I’ll take it from here,” He directed.
“Don’t take too long, we have much work to get done,” The Almighty answered while her face disappeared back inside the swirling cloud, dissipating entirely in a matter of seconds. Indus took a deep breath.
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