For once there was a meeting taking place where Ula and Zreeth would not be present. It was probably for the best I felt, they didn’t need to be privy to the gritty details of planning a counter offensive after all. Besides, they had seen enough of conflict for now, they didn’t need to plan it as well. I appeared in a room I had never seen before within the palace, it was darker in tone and feel, with a tall, vaulted roof. Before me stood the Emperor, Rutaq and a hologram of Edrym of all people. He looked different, or at least his uniform did, something had changed for the better perhaps, otherwise the Okali would not have chosen him to participate in this meeting.

With me came several other H.I.’s, Odin amongst them, along with Tyr, Thor, Athena and several other commanders, but they were all deferring to me as some sort of leader. I suppose they were merely respecting their elder. We were all arrayed around a table, and once we were present Zretiq waved his hand, the lights dimmed and a map of the conflict zone appeared.

“Let’s not waste any time shall we? We don’t need any grand speeches or a recap of what’s been going on. So allow me to be blunt.” He paused, and fiddled with the table's controls. “These Yil’kaa are gaining ground. Slowly sure, but it’s still happening. The Okali are powerful, as are we, but we alone are not enough to stem the flow of reinforcements pushing in from their territory.”

As he spoke, the map shifted to show what he was talking about, days old sensor readings showing more and more ships streaming into allied territory. It seems the Yil’kaa were going all out, truly intent on achieving their goals.

“Since you are but one fleet, and neither the Imperium or the Okali can spare ships from the front, you are asked to act as a sort of… distraction. Swoop in and cut off the enemy before they enter our space, hit and run tactics mainly. If you can handle protracted engagements, then good for you, but until the rest of your reinforcements arrive, we’d rather not lose all of you.” Zretiq’s gaze landed on me longer than it had the others, as if he was placing me higher than my peers. I was appreciative, but I would do what I had to.

“I think that would work, we can keep their attention on us long enough I feel, take some of the pressure off the frontlines while also scouting potential beachheads for a counter invasion.” I say, and both Zretiq and Edrym looked surprised.

“Counter invasion? Whatever for?” Edrym asked.

“Well, you’re not the first the Yil’kaa have attacked, and without intervention you will both be added to the list of extinct species whose deaths were caused by them. I think we’ve all had enough of them, it’s time to put an end to their savagery once and for all.” Odin spoke, adjusting the hologram map a little. “Once we’ve successfully eradicated the Yil’kaa from your territory and cleansed the worlds they’ve taken, we’ll begin to push into their territory. They won’t be expecting that I suspect.”

“You mean, do to them what they’re doing to us? Wipe them out completely?” Zretiq asked, and I shook my head.

“If it comes to it, yes. If not, I’m sure we can find some other method of removing them permanently from the field. Perhaps removing their ability to travel through space, or confine them to their homeworld or something.” It was certainly better than genocide, which would be a last resort I’m sure. My suggestions seemed to be received well by the Emperor and Edrym, I think they were surprised we’d potentially go so far as to push an intelligent species to extinction. But they didn’t know the Yil’kaa like we did. It’d be a mercy on the galaxy if we just killed them all. But we weren’t monsters like that, at least I hoped we weren’t.

“Well, I think we have the start of a plan. You mentioned you were having more reinforcements coming, correct?” Edrym looked inquisitively at Odin.

“Affirmative. Terran Alliance fleets will be entering Imperium space within a week, and the rest of the federations forces will arrive the week after that. High Admiral Kirkland will no doubt be the liaison for the Alliance, as for the rest of them I do not know.” He said, and Edrym nodded, rubbing his chin in thought.

“Then I suppose there’s little left to discuss. So I have only this to say to you all.” Zretiq puffed out his plumage and straightened his shoulders, standing taller and more proudly than earlier. “May the winds of war be ever in your favor. Good luck, and good hunting.”

Just like that, it was over, and we knew we would be leaving that day. One by one the others left, save me and Edrym. We both looked at the table, even if he was only looking at his own.

“You best make it back, Intra. Not just for your friend, but for me yeah.” He said, and I raised a brow, the faintest smirk on my lips.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Oh, does someone perhaps have a bit of a crush?” I tease, and he coughs, looking away. But I can see him smiling just as softly. Though it is impossible, I reach out my hand, palm down. “I will come back. You have my word.” A promise that shouldn’t have been made, but I am only human. He took my hand, as much as two holograms can, before we vanished and returned to our preparations.

⫷⟪∞⟫⫸

It was only a few hours later after Intra had her meeting with the others that I found myself standing beside Zreeth aboard the personal yacht of the Emperor. I wore a new and unreasonably expensive looking dress, one that was a gift from Zreeth. I didn’t really need something so fancy, but I suppose it would be perfect to wear for super classy events, like this one.

What was left of the Imperium's navy was mobilizing and preparing to depart, as was the Nemesis Fleet. The former was leaving enough ships behind to protect their territory, but the others were off to fight. We were here for them all, but mostly for Intra as she brought her new ship online.

We couldn’t really see it, it was enclosed within a shell that was meant to keep prying eyes away from classified construction. Couldn’t be too careful, even if you were surrounded by allies. They might not be allies for long.

Zretiq was giving some massive and grand speech, one I could hear, but I wasn’t fully listening. I had my eyes focused firmly on Intra’s hidden ship, waiting to see just what it looked like now that it was complete. As the speech came to a close, the shell that surrounded her ship began to part and fold in on itself.

From within came perhaps the most beautiful and yet terrifying ship I had ever seen. It was built with the synthetic in mind, not organic crew and was thusly the most inhuman starship design I had witnessed before. Three blades, arrayed in a triangular shape around a central core, bristling with thick armor and large weapons. Its edges glowed a soft blue, and the front of the ship’s blades were tapered into wicked points. It slowly drifted out of the berth, exterior lights flickering on to reveal the registry.

Innocent’s Lament.

That is what she’d named it, and I knew it was fitting, considering her past. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as the behemoth of a ship slid into position as the vanguard of the Nemesis Fleet. For the first time in a long time I heard her voice in my head.

“Do not be afraid. I will return.” She whispered in that motherly voice of hers. Zretiq spoke one command, and the ships started to flit away each heading to their assigned battlefields. The Nemesis Fleet and Intra turned themselves towards their own objectives, their engines burning bright against the black, and then they vanished.

As the others left in silence, only Zreeth and I remained, my hand pressed against the glass. Finally, he had to gently guide me away from the window and back home. There was much to do before the reinforcements arrived, much to do before more lives were thrown into the fire.

I just hoped that in the end, it would all be worth it.

⫷⟪∞⟫⫸

Six Days Later

The small Yil’kaa fleet had just begun their approach to the refueling station before they committed to the last leg of their journey. Soon they would be on the frontlines, cleansing world after world, or die trying.

It turns out, the universe had chosen the latter for them. Suddenly their sensors lit up with incoming contacts at FTL speeds, space around the station and their fleet bled as irreality began to bleed through. Massive, blade like ships emerged, driven by synthetic wrath as one large ship emerged at near suicidal speeds and sliced through the station, piercing it upon the three blades that made up the vast majority of its hull.

The fleet was stunned into inaction as they watched the already impressively large structure get torn apart, and only one of them managed to get any detailed scans on this new threat. It was the single largest starship they’d ever seen, thirty four kilometers long and at its widest point it was at least ten kilometers. It bristled with weapons that looked like standard Terran Alliance armaments, but had been upsized and subtly upgraded.

Before they could snap out of their surprise, a single word was broadcast on an open channel.

“Kill.”

And the Nemesis Fleet did just that, they killed with merciless efficiency. Suicide starfighters bearing low yield tactical nuke weapons slammed into enemy hulls, lasers carved through chitonous plating while equally suicidal boarding parties tore through the crew and then turned the living ships on their comrades. The brutal assault was quick, efficient, and without remorse. After a solid fifteen minutes, all that was left was frozen blood and bits of charred meat. The fleet regrouped, gathered up their flock and then left, off to their next target.

The time for mercy and careful tolerance was over, it was kill or be killed and the Nemesis Fleet had every intention of breaking the Yil’kaa once and for all.

Even if that meant they had to burn every single one of them away.

⫷⟪∞⟫⫸

Edrym sat aboard his flagship, listening to the reports they were receiving about Intra and her fleet as they sowed chaos and destruction in the rear lines of the Yil’kaa. He had admired her before, but now he was terrified of her capabilities. But he wouldn’t let that cloud his judgement, she was only doing what she did best and these savage creatures deserved to feel her wrath.

He just hoped that her wrath would never be turned against him or his people. Shaking his head he stood, closing out the reports and placing his hands behind his back. “All ships, prepare for FTL, we have a schedule to keep and I’d rather not keep these Yil’kaa savages waiting.” He said, and his fleet began to orient themselves with their own next target. Already the Yil’kaa were trying to divide their attention between the frontlines and the irritating losses caused by Intra, which meant the Union could finally make a proper offensive push. And he was to lead the charge.

A small message appeared, one he glanced at and was pleased to learn that the Terran Alliance had finally entered the game, but were still a few days away from any fighting going on. But the ships would be a welcome addition on any battlefield, and he was looking forward to seeing how the humans fought their ground wars.

“All ships signal ready, Lord Admiral.” His XO said.

“Excellent. All ships jump on my mark. Three. Two. One. Jump.” And the Okali fleet zipped away. The tides were turning for the better, but how far the current might take them was as yet unknown. He just hoped that in the end, they would not have lost the thing that set them apart from the animals.