You have a lot more options than you had in your tier 1 ascension. The Matrix has set an upper limit on an Exchange purchase of a tier 2 frigate using native technology. Native technology cuts the price down significantly. That is if you take the purchase option.

Item Rating Description Master’s Tools 2MMA Pick a tradecraft and receive apparatuses a master would used to execute their trade Gateway Station 3AAA Fixed, gravity-based teleportation fixture, 4m arch Defense Matrix 3AA- Pure technology satellite defense system Master’s Spellcasting Focus 2MMS Any spell you enable with aether is enhanced to a Master’s level of accuracy and intent.

Crap on crackers Tessa, I want like three of those things! Do you have access to amplifying information? Say, does the Gateway Station bypass the need for a receiving orbital ansible, does the spellcasting focus work on spellforms, and does ‘using native technology’ mean it’ll construct said ship for us at the best of our current t-2 ability.

I do, and the Gateway synchs with the Sector Host. The Sector Host is powerful enough, enabled by the Matrix itself, to bypass the need for a receiving ansible as long as the gate or portal configuration is present for receiving. The focus works on all spells, period. Sundering, Warp, and most of your complicated runeshapes are contained in a spellform, aka an engraved spell. Having these enabled to 2MM would be a significant increase in ability and aether savings. But the benefits degrade dramatically as you advance.

The ship is a trickier question. The Matrix does not elaborate on ‘using native technology’. I would presume that the Matrix would use the best that your Empire can offer as the standard, so Beecham’s forging, your aether crafting, and Katie’s systems integration. As Melissa is still an Astorian citizen, her comms, electronics, and sensor expertise would also be considered.

I should finally note that you have a Tertius token available, as gifted by the Administrators, pending agreement?

OH! I forgot about that. Administrators, I agree to the aforementioned conditions of censure. I feel a brief tingling sensation in my . . . essence? And a wooden coin falls into my hand. My Primus token was much different, but as a token from the Matrix is still a big deal, I stuff it into my belly button and cover it with flesh.

Why the hell did I do that? Tessa, why did I instinctively enfold something into my body?

We did that with kilos of crystal. The action must have imprinted in your motor cortex and subconscious processes. Do you think that it is an inappropriate safe storage?

No, not at all. But it would be like you complimenting someone that did something illogical. It’s something Southern Americans do as a snide politeness, bit it’s not instinctual to anyone else. A token, and some tier three options? I might need a third opinion.

I want to choose the Gateway and use the Host’s inherent portal properties to make a link with Earth. I would also like that spellcasting focus to shore up my spellforms and my new elemental manifestation module, but the rapid decay of it’s usefulness feels like a waste long-term. However, I could conceivably use my token for a ship or another Gateway. Or, even more power. When I activated the token last time, the Matrix engaged and asked me what aspect I would like to have the token used with. I should ask Francesca if she had the same experience.

>P] Baby, are you at the Manor? [<

>K] Is everything okay Penny? And no, I’m at Summer Station, packing up my office. [<

>P] Everything’s fine Kay. I’m in the bath, looking at my system messages and advancements. Why don’t you just teleport your old office to your new office? You have Empire Administration access. The Matrix tax should be in the 10-30 AE range. [<

>K] I just wasted an hour. Damnit Penny! Did you need something? [<

>P] I could use some advice? With you being my life partner and your extreme objectivity, and Francesca’s species leader experience, I think I should come to you and talk it over. [<

>K] Are you stable enough to warp? [< I ping her in the affirmative.

I look into my shop and find some ultra-boss faerie onsies and find some that are light blue and heliotrope. Purchase and teleport thank you much. My onsie has baby fairy wings and I love them. I warp into Katie’s work room and jump onto her back.

“Ambush snuggle!”

She reaches behind to grab my head and kiss me in an uncomfortable, yet commanding display of affection. “You have been complimenting me lately, and I am confused at what your angle is.”

“I’m in love with you. The compliments are an expression of wonder at how fortunate I am to have you as a partner. Me wanting your advice is merely icing on the ‘I value your whole person’ cake.”

“Your metaphors are weak, but the sentiment is . . . comforting.” Aww. Look at her getting emotional in work mode. “What do you need advice on?”

“My tier 2 gift, and a compensation token, which is why I want Francesca’s input.” Katie’s face quirks in confusion. She nods, hopefully in acceptance that the explanation is coming.

She lightly peels me off her back and leads me out of her office and toward Francesca’s workshop. She holds my hand the whole way, and periodically smiles at my outfit shenanigans.

“I’ve alerted Franny that we need subjective opinion punch for our pending social period. I sent her a galaxy fruit for your share, and yes, you will ignore the cost.”

“Honey, I’m not going to fight back at the cost of those. I will however let you know that me and the empire get a 20% discount on the fruits because of their new colony grove on Elysium.”

“Penny, love, why have you been making deals without me.” The ice in her voice is transmitted through my hand that she is grasping.

“Katie, the V’tek made that deal through your contract. Have you not been using the Empire administration menus for our purchases?”

“Not for personal stuff. How is that professional?” She sneers at me.

“All matters concerning the Empress’ health is a State matter. Also, having a dinner meeting with a ‘Leader of Humanity’ could be considered a State dinner. Katie, you’re a dignitary. Please begin considering yourself as an Emissary of the Empire.”

She looks at me with wide eyes, and I can’t begin to fathom why she is so amazed when she unzips my onesie and presses my half naked body to her while she kisses me and cups my ass.

“Katie. Baby.” The hand on my but lifts and I instinctually hook my legs around her waist. Shit, this is going to get away from us. When her other hand pinches my nipple I moan and my brain tries to forget what I’m supposed to be toing.

“Katelynn, honey, advice, then you can fuck me until neither of us can breathe.” I put my hands on her arms but I can’t fight her mouth. Her kisses just overwhelm my will. When she breaks from me she’s hyperventilating—a flush and a fury in her cheeks and determination in her eyes.

“We’re going to finish this conversation when our business meeting is finished, little pixie.” She growls into my ear. My whole body flushes and I may have squeaked. Bossy Katie can rule my world, but she either doesn’t know it, or certainly doesn’t show it. Ugh, she’s got me so ‘ON’ right now. Resist Penelope Astoria! Resist!

“Behave yourself Consul. This is . . . Uh, Official. . . heh, business. Damnit Katie.” She plays with my right breast while I’m speaking, toggling a nipple every time I try to say something important.

I have to hop off her and push away to collect myself and zip up my onesie. She growls at me. Possessive much? I gesture from my boobs to my crotch, “This is still yours, Countess, but business before pleasure today. Not only that, but I am recovered.” I trace a fingernail down my neck and I see Katie’s whole body shudder before she moans.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Biiiitch.” She claws her fingers down her face, but enables the shield on he mask so she can’t smell me anymore. She hooks her hand behind be and pushes me in front of her. I laugh the whole way thinking my bae is terribly cute.

Francesca is there, mixing a jug?

“Doctor, that cannot be healthy.”

“Boss bitch, Katie called for a social lubricant and I provided. What’s the advice you need?”

Ugh, capable women and their ability to cope. I get a charcuterie board from the Exchange and get some jugs of aether infused juices.

“Of course you order expensive shit. Fine. I’ve been distilling some local fruits in your infused water. I’m going to give you a flask and I’m going to spike the hell out of these expensive bottles of juice. I’m also keeping one.” I chuckle at that, expecting no less.

We chat about nonsense and Earth garbage as we break in the meats and cheeses. Francesca wants to play drinking games, but Katie and I remind her of brief business concerns.

“Seriously, it’s a short ‘consider this’ for a few weeks. I progressed past tier two today and I wanted to talk about my gifts?” Both of them focus me at that point, silence issues through the farm building. “So my current considerations are a teleportation Gateway for a terrestrial installation and a customized Frigate tailored to our technology level. However, I also almost got murdered by a flawed skill, so the Matrix awarded me a Tertius token for surviving. I just wanted to ask Francesca what she got from her Secundus token to see if a Ship tailored to us was worth the price or should I get a second gateway?”

Francesca chimes in immediately, “I spent my token on knowledge, bit I feel as though you should absolutely spend the token on Power. Knowledge is a benefit for the moment. Personal power persists, but you already know that.”

“Can’t you ask for another portal? It seems within the system’s teleportation schoolhouse?”

“I can Katie, but the ship with a token would be a wonderous monstrosity.”

Francesca scoffs, “if I didn’t already know you were Primus, I would now. That token is worth more than you could ever cash it in for. While you are tempted to ask for these extra things in front of you, you should ask for whatever you asked for last time. Make Adromeda dig deeper into their reserves to support their promises.”

“You may be right, but I don’t know how long it will take for my body and mind to flex to this new level of power, let alone a token-augmented addition.” I make no attempt to hide my status from the Botanist.

“Besides the fact that I am flabbergasted by your receiving another token, why would you spend it on the material?”

Katie looks at me seriously as well. “Ladies. I have basically scammed my way into tier three permissions on the exchange. I expect my advancement will eventually pace my space control and my mega bombs. That being said, a Matrix optimized ship based on our tech cannot be ignored.”

“You think that the token will enable the max tier level of our civilization for that ship?” I can see the differential equations floating in her eyes like visual artifacts of capillary detachment.

“A potentially tier 3 ship would help our civilization immensely. Despite its potential capabilities, future training and leveling opportunities by just learning the systems would be priceless.” Katie snags a cup of fruit infused shine and drains it. “It would take you and I at most a year to decipher that gate? Don’t lean into that. If you do chose power, it will likely disable you for more time, and . . . Penny, honey, I . . .” she gets silent and grimaces in a pretense of sobbing. I hug her for all I’m worth and latch on.

“Okay baby, I won’t choose power. You’re right it is scary and unless ‘Franny’ has something critical to say about her Secundus token, I’ve made up my mind.”

“I chose knowledge. I wanted a boost to feel less inferior. Worked for a while until the system’s princess just kept being better.” She just sounded sad, not angry anymore.

“Franny! Please don’t talk about my fiancée like that.”

I hug and cop a brief feel on Katie before answering. “She’s right hon, the Matrix has a thing for me. The benefits I’m getting are plussed up. It feels too soon to ask for power, but some shenanigans, and the token ship and the benefit Gate might just make my dream for Astoria possible.”

“If you had this all figured out, why call a meeting?”

“Standard idiot check, Francesca. If you're uncertain, bounce your idea off someone to see if you’re being an idiot. This time, it just feels like I’m wasting resources for population stability, and from what you and Katie say, it’s accurate. But I still feel it’s the right move.”

“Penny, I get why you involve your not-yet wife, but why me?” Francesca asks, taking a swig of the fruit juice-shine mix.

“I guess I should invite you to be my minister of agriculture before I offer it to the V’tek? With Katie’s new organization of the Empire, they’ll be in my House of Representatives anyway.”

“Does being the Consul of agriculture and the interior come with a salary?”

“It does.”

“I’m in. I want 100 AE a day.”

Katie scoffs at her demands. “Each Consul will make 10 AE per work day. Seeing as a starting civilization needs attention every day, you will make approximately 3.5k AE per year without bonuses or project subsidies. Representatives will make that rate, but only when their house is in session.”

Francesca fiddles with her flask and ultimately agrees with Katie’s proposal.

“Now that your ‘Business’ is over, it’s good to see you up and about. Almost didn’t recognize you though,” Francesca said, “on account of,” she waives her hand in my direction.

“Taller, thinner, paler?” I respond, knowing those are true.

“Uh, have you not been in front of a mirror in a while? You look, otherworldly. A bit blue as well. The ears are cute though.”

I immediately reach up to touch my ears and find that they are longer and more severely pointed, with hard, faceted deposits on some of the inner ridges. I turn to Katie with wide eyes, fear leaking into them as she meets my eyes.

Her expression softens and reaches for my face. She brushes her thumbs down my cheeks. “You have a haunting beauty now, Penny. I very much like the sinister fey look on you.” She moves closer and I prepare for a kiss, but she brushes her cheek against mine and speaks softly into my ear, “you can prey on me in the dark any time.”

She uses a sub-vocal growl and it seems to vibrate all the way down to my legs.

“Ladies, no need to rub your hormones in my face. Unless you’re both naked, then that would be just fine.”

“Franny, a few more months and this planet will be lousy with horny Russian gangsters. They’ll rub anything you want in your face.”

The Botanist perks up. “Video call or it isn’t real.” Katie scoffs and calls Earth.

Katie screws up her face and darts out of the building. I follow and teleport us to her office. She squeezes my arm in thanks before typing and murmuring to Atropos.

“Penny, you said the range on this was three thousand lightyears?”

“Three thousand for transportation delivery, ten thousand for communications. Ping Kepler, see if . . .”

“It does. Bikini Station is dark.”

“Try Beecham. He should be on Ganymede. I set up a monetary delivery after the Sector Host went online.”

After a minute, we get audio. “Oh shit! Mercer, is that you?”

“It’s both of us Chief. Good to hear your voice. Got a report for us?”

“Shit’s gone to fuck Admiral. I’d just put a crew together in time for the Sector Host message to everyone, and then I couldn’t get a message out even to the Brahe. We jet out to Mars to see if anything was better, but they’d been in the worst sandstorm in a decade, so everything was down anyway. Just got out to Jupiter this week, put down the station got settled in and put the ansible in today. Turns out they got communications coming in, the Exchange is working in any case, but the rest of the rest of the capabilities are shut down outbound. All of the reasons are bad Ma’am.”

“It’d have to be a tier 2 tech User to interfere that completely without impeding the Exchange.” Katie replies.

“Joanie and Barry thought the same thing Lieutenant, but couldn’t prove it.”

“Katie, you’re probably getting close to tier three, and Melissa was well into tier 2, but the only others that could even be close would be Viper’s crew or the Copernicus.” Andrimeda damned Morris is probably behind this, power hungry skivvy stain.

“Soft confirm on the Copernicus, Admiral. Broken comms from Galilei indicate they found something near Proxima Centauri just before comms went black. Joanie did some digging and found that Galilei is in their warp window so they could be back within the Moon’s orbit and we’d have no idea.”

I snarl without meaning to, “I need another moon to blow up.”

“Have mercy on Mercy, honey. We can swing by Hephaestus on the way to Earth if you want to break something.” She scratches the back of my head, and it really is calming. I lean into it shamefully.

“Katie, can you see if the Host logged the comms from Galilei and if we can get an approximate location?”

“You want to rescue the crew?” I nod. “Chances are low he left them to die.”

>P] Because he probably murdered them for experience. Unpublished secret. [<

>K] PENNY. Keeping secrets from me is not acceptable. [<

>P] Okay, then the Matrix administrators cut me a deal for learning how the Matrix protects itself from dissidents and has sworn me to secrecy. Gave me the token for taking the actual info from me. [<

>K] We are talking about this later. [<

Damnit. We were about to be in a great place too. Andromeda forgive me, I’m going to tell Katie everything I can.

Moments pass, Katie still has her hand in my hair while she thinks.

“Hey Chief, how big is the hanger on Ganymede?” An idea forming in my mind needs more data.

“About 70 by 400. No atmo, no shielding.”

“Okay, I’m going to set your Ansible to receive only. You’ll have to enable out every time you want to transmit, but we need to keep attention off of you for the next two months. We’ll be leaving here in a week or so.”

“Come heavy if you can Admiral. The cruisers have some wicked torpedoes now. Nuclear variants on a few. I have some things I should get to, did you need anything else?”

“Not from me Chief, Katie?”

“Make sure to shut down the ansible on your shuttle as well.”

“Copy that. Beecham out.”

Katie takes her hand back and stabs her fingers into the keyboard for another half hour. I tell Tessa that I’ve decided on my two gifts, and ask if I can get a delayed delivery on the gateway.

You can. It will be listed as ‘purchased, pending delivery.’ The ship, however will be delivered in orbit. Would you like me to upload to it and secure it for your arrival?

Tessa, you’re such a sweetheart. Please and thank you. Probably be up tomorrow.

“Honey, can you order us some robes and dinner at the bath house? I have some more work to do, but I can do it from home after a few more minutes.”

I feel my eyes start misting up as she asks me to do domestic stuff that she would normally handle. It’s a little ridiculous to be so emotional about something so simple, but hey, this is new behavior and I’m all about it.

“Will do, Kay. Let me know when you want to port over.” Now for the real test. If I’m not mistaken, Human food should now be in the system. It’s been two months since Earth has been able to receive and deliver. Lets get some barbeque.

I have some Tennessee and South Carolina BBQ brisket, chicken, and pork ribs delivered in a temperature-controlled meal keeper. Mac and cheese, coleslaw, and fried pickles as sides. Sweet tea for Katie and a bottle of scotch and infused fruit juice for me.