Before the Colonel could get comfortable in his chair, he was interrupted by the Captain.

“Well? What happened, Ashwood?” Captain Song asked, no emotions on her face.

In response, Colonel Ashwood flicked his eyes to the large display on his left, turning it on. He gestured to it, “See for yourself, Captain.”

The Captain turned her head, watching the screen as Ashwood transmitted and started Jameson’s recording of the incident.

“The woman is the priestess?” She asked.

The Colonel nodded, “They call her a custodian, but yes, she’s the one they all kept talking about.”

They continued watching in silence, until Captain Song interjected, “Did her eyes just-”

The railgun round impacting interrupted her mid-sentence.

Colonel Ashwood paused the recording at that exact moment, the shimmer of the energy shield still visible.

His embarrassing outburst that had followed the round’s impact had absolutely nothing to do with his timing.

For a few seconds, they both stared at the screen in silence.

“Where did a bunch of stone-age primitives get something like this?” The Captain murmured, before adding, “The woman had some kind of ocular implants too.”

The Colonel thought it over for a moment, before responding, “It must have been something the original colonists brought or made. I cannot think of any other reasonable explanation.”

He could think of a few unreasonable ones though.

The Captain gave him a look, “That’s moronic. There are tens of millions of them and no records of any colony ships ever coming near, I checked.”

“A good point, but can you think of another explanation? Perhaps they got lucky somehow?” Ashwood responded, though he was aware that it was a rather flimsy argument. He wasn’t too keen on any of the alternatives, however.

As Captain Song pointed out, the original colonists must have arrived centuries ago for the colony to grow to such numbers. Developing energy shields with the technology of that time was nearly unthinkable. After all, the Republic had yet to accomplish such a feat today, even with the help of AIs.

“Aliens. Either the original colonists or their descendants found some working alien tech and eventually established a cult around it.” Song said.

The Colonel mulled Song’s words over. The idea had occurred to him, but he had dismissed it as unlikely. The Republic had not found any actual signs of intelligent alien life so far, but perhaps he was being too conservative with his thinking. There had to be a first time for everything.

It fit better. It explained the technological discrepancy between the common people of Eigos and the Custodian, while also making some sense of their strange religion. Attributing things one did not understand to god was a time-honoured human tradition, after all.

However, there was one thing that still bothered him. Namely, the Custodian herself.

Perhaps it was just his pride talking, but he didn’t think that she was just an ordinary human in control of advanced technology.

“A possibility for sure,” the Colonel said. “Have the messenger drone prepared, I’ll write up the report and then we can wait for new orders.” Colonel Ashwood finished.

Captain Song frowned at him. “It’s obvious what they’ll ask us to do. There is no reason not to attack and seize whatever it is now.”

Ashwood smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes, “That would be illegal, Captain. Have you already forgotten that we are dealing with a lost colony?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Song snorted, “As expected of a hab baby. How about a little initiative, Ashwood? There is no reason to wait for the obvious. Rules can be bent.”

The Colonel’s eyes narrowed, noticing the gleam in Song’s eyes. He had heard much worse insults in his life, so he wasn’t truly bothered about it. Those raised on Athena’s habitats were object to both envy and derision.

However, Ashwood did not think that Captain Song was a person who would throw insults around carelessly. Nor did he think that she was desperate for glory, but he also did not know her that well. That only left more nefarious explanations.

“That is Colonel Ashwood to you, Song. Do you wish to be written up for insolence?” He replied, the warning in his voice obvious.

He figured that the Captain was testing his boundaries. A dangerous thing for her to be doing now, though Ashwood wasn’t sure if she realized it.

The relationships of people in their respective positions were never the best, but they were especially delicate after Unvanquishable. The issue was exacerbated by Song’s apparent popularity with her crew.

Should she issue orders contrary to his own, many would obey her.

He could count on the loyalty of his own people, but they had no idea how to operate a starship. Not to mention that fighting onboard ships tended to be messy, to say the least.

This balance was usually irrelevant. However, the magnitude of his discovery changed things greatly. The Captain might not be aware of the brewing schism, but the side she’d choose was obvious and her crew would follow her.

“My apologies, sir, I meant no insult,” Song responded, her tone completely unapologetic.

Apparently having nothing more to say, she stared at the Colonel.

Ashwood fought the urge to massage his temples. He truly hated these sorts of games and the Custodian had already exhausted his daily tolerance. Perhaps that was the reason for Song’s provocations.

“Captain, I may be young for my position, but I’m not inexperienced,” Ashwood said, tapping one of his medals for emphasis. “Poking a sleeping beast is never wise, especially so when we do not know whether it is a dragon or a salamander.”

The Captain didn’t look convinced.

“So your reticence to act has nothing to do with lacking the overgrown toaster’s advice?” She asked, not bothering to hide the disdain in her voice.

The Colonel tapped his desk in annoyance and stared at the Captain without speaking. Song was starting to get on his nerves, but he still could not decide whether she was acting deliberately or if it was just her natural abrasiveness shining through.

If it was the former, then she would likely have to die.

“Only an idiot scorns the advice of her betters,” Ashwood said, putting his murderous thoughts away. For now.

Idiots and those believing themselves special. Athena’s superiority was obvious to all who dared look.

The Captain scowled, but Ashwood didn’t let her respond.

“We are dealing with an unprecedented situation, Captain. The Eigosians might possess only a shield, a relic of a bygone people,” Ashwood nodded to the frozen image. “Or the entire moon might be covered in hidden weaponry. I think it is likely that they at the very least own a sword as well.”

He paused for a few seconds, before finishing, “Are you willing to stake your life on the assumption that they are defenceless?”

The Captain frowned, though this time in thought.

“You truly think that they are hiding more? Their entire civilization thinks of crossbows as advanced,” Song paused. “Colonel.”

“They hid the shield well enough, didn’t they?” Ashwood once again nodded to the still image. “Besides, I’ve yet to even give them the standard lost colony offer.”

Not that he thought that the Custodian would accept. Considering Eigos belonged to Eternity and all that.

“Really? You were planetside for an entire day,” Song spoke, surprise colouring her voice.

The Colonel just looked at her tiredly, “Most of that time was wasted because of their religious practices. You can only talk to “Eternity” at midnight, near a lake, for whatever reason.”

He was not really in the mood to talk about his experience, but at least Song wasn’t being antagonistic anymore.

Perhaps she really was not acting, though the timing of their entire interaction still felt off.

Song gave him a sympathetic look, “I see. I suppose there is some wisdom in waiting then,” She conceded.

Finally. “Then we are in agreement. Have one of the emergency drones prepared and I’ll prepare the message.” Ashwood said.

Captain Song nodded, but she didn’t move, glancing at the Colonel instead.

Unnerved, Ashwood carefully reached for his holstered gun, his movement hidden by the desk, though the Captain spoke before he could grab it.

“You seem like one of the good ones, Colonel. Don’t forget who the Republic is for.” Song said.

Colonel Ashwood stared at her in silence. Song didn’t seem to mind. Having said her piece, she gave him a nod and walked out of his office, leaving the slightly baffled Ashwood alone.

A few seconds later, he chuckled, relaxing his reaching arm. Song trying to convert him wasn’t something he expected, but it was probably a good sign.

Still, it was better to be careful. He’d have to call Jameson later and have him warn the men loyal to the cause. Just in case.

He was almost certain the Captain wouldn’t try anything, but he wasn’t about to disregard the threat completely. She was obviously at least somewhat aware of the brewing storm, though Ashwood was still uncertain about how much she actually knew.

Which left him unsure about how to handle her. In the end, he put it out of his mind.

Athena will know what to do.