Eirik had been dreading this moment since he left his surprise meeting with Sif. He knew he would have to come clean with Freja, and he knew her fury would be legendary. But there was no way around it. He would also have to explain why he was leaving again at the first chance. If this war was to be ended within a year, he would have to start leading from the front. Personally directing some of the more heavy-hitting forces at his disposal. point them to where they could do the most damage. But before he could do that...
He directed his ship to land on the outskirts of his land, in an empty field bordering Krisnu's ever-growing pastures. She had expanded from raising chickens and now had cows, pigs, goats, geese, and more. She had even considered bringing in herd animals that were bred on the Kloxna worlds for the same purpose. Her daughters and single son seemed to respond well to the abundance of food available to them and had grown to sizes almost rivaling Kyr'Tai, the two youngest daughters showing promise of breaking even that size record. They were insatiable at meal times and impossible to rein in during the day, spending their time causing mischief and having their own little adventures. More often than not they managed to rope Eirik's 2 boys into their troubles, the boys' larger size and increased strength and training being offset by the two daughters' agility and speed.
Eirik knew it would be a difficult conversation before he even left the ship. Freja was standing tall outside their house, their sons standing next to her, none of them moving. She never waited to greet him like that. Like you greet a stranger at the gate. As the ship's crew made themselves comfortable in and around the ship, Eirik started on the walk to the house. Terra must have set the diplomatic wheels on motion shortly after his departure, that was the only reason he could think of that would make her greet him with anger. Looking closely over his home, he noticed a second shuttle parked behind the one he used to get to his office. While he couldn't make out any specific details on the few showing parts, he had little doubt that it was a shuttle from her old bounty-hunting ship.
This was new. New and worrying. Had something happened while he had been away? As he got close to the closed gate he saw Freja move her hand from what he thought had been Olaf's back, and put it on his shoulder, and the movement revealed the holster and sidearm that had been hidden behind his eldest son. Why would she be armed?
"There have been a... Development, while you were off escalating the conflict I asked you to end." Freja began in an accusatory tone, and Eirik was quick to snap back,
"I escalated it because you gave me a rather limited timeframe to work with, and the only possible solution is to go all-in. Which involves joining the frontline!" The words had the desired shock effect and Eirik was content that he had found a way to incorporate the less-than-good news in a way that forced Freja to give it a backseat to more pressing matters.
"I... You... AAHH!!" She threw both her hands up in frustration, causing them to start whimpering at this unfamiliar atmosphere amongst his parents, his unease and fear spreading to Olaf who was better at sensing the conflict between Eirik and Freja. He didn't like it either, the happy family usually being a single unit with Eirik and Freja working together and never arguing beyond playful banter.
"What's happening, dad?" He asked anxiously as he reached out to Eirik, who picked him up and fixed his with a serious stare. "Dad needs to leave for a while. Some bad people don't want us to live in peace, so dad is going to fight them. I know you have questions, and I WILL answer them later tonight, but for now, I need to talk to mom, okay little warrior?" He said in a soft tone, hoping it would soothe the boys if he kept calm. He could see Olaf wanted to ask more questions, but Eirik had promised to answer later and he had not broken his promises to his sons as of yet.
"What is the development you mentioned?" Eirik asked Freja with a worried look. She usually didn't involve herself with the governmental side of his life, if she could avoid it, so he knew it was pressing and most likely bad, or very bad.
"The Plyxii have declared war on Libertalia. Our spies in the territory reported a fleet of several hundred ships leaving for our outlying systems. They are being led by a fairly young Plyxii mercenary captain named Gnar, who took control of the Plyxii council after killing their most influential member in a spontaneous fight that left him in control of all the assets of his former opponent. He is calling the Plyxii to war in the name of revenge, Eirik, and more ships join his cause with each passing day." Freja explained.
Pinching the bridge of his nose in thought, Eirik followed with another question, "What is being done, currently?"
"Our military ally has been called upon but is stalling. I have sent word of the immediate evacuation of the outermost system in the path of the Plyxii fleet. Most of our active ground forces have been redirected to dig in deep and prepare to face down an attack on a scale that matches the Terran war with the Plyxii. They are going to hit us like a sledgehammer and try to overrun any defense we mount. The planets are already lost, be it to the enemy or the decades of terraforming needed to restore them, should we manage to hold off the Plyxii, it matters not. The refugees are being distributed all over the empire with a focus on new colony worlds with plenty of land available.
Most of the reserve forces have been called to service to cover the active soldiers redirected elsewhere, and all productions of luxury and consumer goods have been halted in favor of fabricating weapons, munitions, and supplies." Freja answered mechanically.
"Any issues so far?" He pressed. "Not beyond the expected grumbling from transport captains, in the wake of your new security procedures. I have solved it by offering employment contracts to the complaining captains, binding them to work with us and only us for the duration of the contract, in exchange for being exempt from security searches. In addition, their security and cargo handling crews will have to be replaced by our own, until theirs can be properly screened and trained. There is one matter I have left unresolved. The Plyxii Diplomats. I had a feeling you would want to handle that yourself." Freja allowed herself a small smile at the face of malicious glee that crossed Eiriks face at her last words.
"I will handle that tomorrow. Tonight, I wish to be with my family one last time before I have to leave again. I agree, with the Plyxii threat, you and the boys cannot stay here. Even at the heart of the empire, safety will not be a guarantee anymore. But may I suggest you go to my grandfather's instead? He may be an old grumpy military man, set in his ways, but you will find no safer place on Terra. The open fields around his property ensure no one approaches unseen, and with his rank in the navy, you can be certain they have installed automatic defenses around and outside that property.
He uses his office as a private command station, so you will not see him most of the day. And I know he would be ecstatic to spend some time with the boys and take care of their combat training. He has been bugging me for the past year and a half to come to take a vacation. I will call ahead if you agree." The wheels in Eirik's head were turning fast, the Plyxii joining in the war could only mean they had been approached by the Kloxna, and he could think of only one Kloxna ignorant enough of her mind to do such a thing. He sighed deeply, momentarily feeling sorry for the legacy Tai'Tanu had left behind. Her ruling daughter had inherited all of her mother's worst traits, and none of the best.
His thoughts drifted to Las'Tai for a moment, realizing it was the exact opposite with her. She had inherited all the best and none of the worst. An open mind, a natural curiosity towards the new, an acceptance of everyone's right to live as they wanted, provided nobody suffered as a result, a desire to lead for the good of the people beneath her, Returning his mind to the present, he looked at Freja, Breathed deeply, and spoke again.
"Thank you for taking care of things in my absence. It was wrong of me to not inform you, but I was going with the flow. I had no exact plan, just a vague idea. I may have been harsh and demanded too much, both from you and from those around me. And I need to ask for more while I solve this mess I find myself in. But in regards to our family," Eirik made sure to emphasize that he still considered them a family unit, "I will stand behind whatever decision and precaution you deem necessary to keep our children safe. As for you and me..." He drifted off at this, looking to her for a clue or response.
After a few moments, she lowered her gaze. "I don't know, Eirik. I have no wish to sit at home year after year, every day wondering if you are coming home or if I will see a delegation of soldiers carrying a flag and a handful of empty words. I want my husband back, and I can't have that as long as these wars keep pulling you away from me. I stand by my choice of giving you a year. After that, if nothing is changed, I have to set myself free." She looked him in the eyes as she said this, her resolve and strength of will shining at him. He knew she meant it.
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"All I ask, is you do not turn my sons against me, should that be the case," Eirik said in a tired voice. He felt drained. Defeated. All the wind had been taken out of his sails. But deep down, he understood. He was at a point where he would have to focus his mind completely on the conflicts he faced. There would be no time to raise a family. "I will make sure I can spend time with the boys. I still have certain privileges as Emperor." He added with a faint smile.
"Come on inside, we can talk more later," Freja said and reached out for a hug, but Eirik stopped her. "Maybe you should send the boys in. I have...News, that you want to hear alone." He said as he did. Puzzled, Freja sent the boys on their way and turned back to Eirik.
"Well?" She said with a cocked eyebrow and her hands on her hips.
"...You remember Sif, the prisoner?" Eirik started, opting for the least flattering title he could think of to describe his affair partner turned mother to his third, unknown child.
"Yes." Freja's answer was as short as her voice was icy and hostile. This was going to be bad.
"Well, as it turns out... There have been a... Consequence, of my despicable actions." He continued, dreading what was to come next.
Freja said nothing, she just stared him down. He felt her gaze as a physical pressure as she did. This was not the mother of his children looking at him, this was the predatory bounty hunter she had been before they became a family.
"... I have a daughter I did not know about until a few days ago." Eirik blurted out. There, it was out in the open. He mentally prepared for a near-death experience, knowing Freja's temper, but that didn't happen.
To his surprise, she had turned stiff as he said it. For a short moment, Eirik was confused until it hit him. Freja had wanted a daughter throughout their marriage. She loved their boys with all her heart, but she desperately wanted a daughter. And now this woman had not successfully seduced her man, she had also gotten the daughter that Freja wanted.
"...It's not like I had any control over that." Eirik tried meekly which seemed to snap her out of her shock. "No matter! Whatever happens with that woman is none of my concern!" She said harshly and turned around
Eirik heard the harsh tone, but also the hurt underneath, and put a hand on her shoulder. "I can only apologize, but it was out of my control. I had no idea until a few days ago. She blindsided me on Terra after I crashed the military headquarters. I would rather have you hear it from me than find out some convoluted way and think I tried to hide it from you. But I think it's only fair to tell Olaf and Torsten that they have a half-sister.
I know it's not what you feel like doing right now, but should we go inside and spend one last evening together before you leave for Terra? I have missed you and the boys." She leaned into Eirik as he spoke and he wrapped her in a warm hug. "The future is uncertain and there are too many paths to foresee them all, but for tonight, one thing we know for certain is that we are here and have the chance to have a nice evening. Will you help me make this night a good memory?" Eirik mumbled into her hair and she agreed. Together they walked inside and soon the muffled laughter of children and happy voices of Eirik and Freja could be heard through the walls.
______________________-
When Eirik woke up the next morning, he knew the bed was empty before he opened his eyes. The house was silent and the smell of coffee still lingered in the air. He figured she had woken up early and packed the boys up so they could leave before he woke up, which did prevent a long, drawn-out goodbye with crying from the children. Perhaps it was better this way. It was strange, she had seemed eager, almost desperate when they went to bed the night before. It was a glaring contrast to the apparent haste with which she had made her leave. When he got up, he found fresh coffee waiting for him on the table, along with a short list recapping the events she had informed him of yesterday.
Eirik needed no reminder, least of all of what he needed to do first, but he appreciated the thought. She still cared, even if she had to make choices that suggested the opposite He was going to miss her. As much as he was expected to be the rock that sheltered the family from any storm, he relied on her support to keep him propped up over them. And now, he had only his war and his children, who were too young for him to take care of, circumstances being what they were. After a hardy breakfast he took the parked shuttle and headed toward the space station that had started as his entire empire, and now functioned as the governmental and administrative brain of it. Coincidently, it was also where all diplomats from foreign empires had their stay and offices, and Eirik's first order of business was to clean house, seeing as the Plyxii was planning a sneak attack. No doubt the diplomats had been instructed to cause as much havoc as possible when the invasion was to commence, be it through diplomacy or violence. In either case, They would have a good chance at moderate success, but unfortunately for them, Eirik was aware of the shenanigans taking place under his nose.
Trying to contact Jesper, he was pleasantly surprised to hear the man pick up within seconds. "What is your current location?" Eirik asked as soon as he was connected.
"At the station, about to supervise the monthly security briefing. Life is dull while we wait for you, Eirik, even with the hornet's nest you kicked on Terra." Jesper drawled, exaggerating his boredom to emphasize his point.
"Change of plans, grab 4 security teams and meet me outside the diplomatic wing in 30 minutes," Eirik instructed, unable to contain the joy in his voice.
Jesper, now fully attentive, confirmed the order and asked "Did you finally have enough of those boring pencil pushers?"
"Some of them. In any case, make sure you pick experienced teams. The situation is going to be tense." Eirik ended the call and, out of an old habit he thought forgotten, reached into the small compartment over the driver's seat and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He had come so far as to light it and inhale before he realized what he was doing. It had been years since he had smoked casually, not since Freja had gotten back in his life. Was it so easy to fall into old habits? Figuring it would help take the top off of the stress, he didn't put it out until it was finished, and he flew the rest of the trip in silent contemplation.
When he arrived at the space station, he really needed to name the seat of his government someday, His personal guard was standing at attention as he left the shuttle and they fell silently into step behind him as he headed straight for the diplomatic wing. Jesper was waiting in the reception area inside with almost 60 soldiers clad in heavy combat armor and armed with larger-than-normal caliber rifles. They were more than ready to handle a few angry Plyxii diplomats and their honor guards.
"Is this in any way related to the massive change in warfare doctrine issued, first by you, then by Freja with your voice?" Jesper asked as Eirik passed through the door and his private guard greeted Jesper's teams.
"Yes" was the only answer Eirik gave him as he continued through the reception without breaking stride. Foreign dignitaries, assistants, messengers, and Libertalian staff all had to scramble out of the way as the sea of soldiers and bodyguards made their way after Eirik, who didn't stop until he was standing in front of the office leading into the Plyxii diplomats' office. He opened the door and took two steps inside, leaving room for the soldiers to file in behind him and line the walls of the room.
"What is the meaning of this, Emperor?" One of the two plyxii currently located in the room had lept to a standing position as the door opened and the other was scrambling to make her uniform look right again.
"Messing around with the secretary? Really, ambassador. That is the oldest trope in the book. But I should be the one to ask you that!" Eirik said in a flat tone as he threw a datapad on the table of the aging warrior diplomat trying, and failing, to stare him down.
The ambassador cast a single look on the datapad and his eyes grew wide in fear as he snapped his head back to Eirik and let his eyes roam over the soldiers spilling out of his office, filling the hallway outside. He could hear the confused murmuring of the other diplomats leaving their offices to investigate the commotion.
"We can do this in three ways, ambassador. The first one involves you being dragged out of here in chains. The other involves you leaving my empire on your ship within the next 10 minutes, just enough time to gather your staff and leave. All of your effects and property will be sent to you after a thorough screening for any state secrets you might have gotten your grubby hands on before your treachery became known. Or, we could go the third route, and gun you down as you attempt to fight your way out. You would be hailed as a hero and a martyr by your people, you would be given a proper funeral with full military honors and your family would be gifted with a small monthly stipend to balance out the loss of income. So, which is it going to be, ambassador?" As Eirik finished talking, every soldier inside the room pulled back the receiver bolt on their rifles, loaded a round into the chamber, and raised their rifles.
For a few moments, the situation was locked, Eirik was waiting with an almost bored look on his face, the soldiers were waiting for an order to shoot, the ambassador looked like a corned animal, and the secretary was frozen in fear.
Then the ambassador slowly righted himself and straightened out his clothes before answering, "I will head to my ship. Out of curiosity, Emperor, What would have happened if it had succeeded?"
"I suspect you had orders to cause chaos in any way possible once the news hit us, SO if you had not been killed in the rampage you would surely have run through this station, you would have been martyred for your people to view on public broadcast. I would personally have subjected you to torture that would eventually lead to death by blood loss. I would have shown your people a face of Terrans that you never knew existed, a face of violence, malice, cruelty, and sheer. Fucking. Hate!" Eirik's voice was one of steel and ground glass as he spoke and the ambassador wisely chose to quiet himself for the rest of the short walk to the lousiest Plyxii cargo ship Eirik had been able to locate on the station and he was rewarded with a look of dismay and feat on the ambassadors face when he beheld the great vessel that would take him home.
Within the next two minutes, the rest of the Plyxii staff on the station had been herded to the ship and it was escorted out of the system by a small FTL-bomber group.
"Now," Eirik turned to Jesper after watching the Plyxii depart, "Let's take the fight to our enemies!"