The echo of a high pitched beep resounded throughout the room for a solid minute before an athletically built male sat up on the thin cot, "Accept transmission," The alarm stopped, "High Rivus Neptus Brandt reporting. What's the situation?" The man sitting on the cot was of ordinary hight with wavy chestnut hair, and blue eyes.

At the other end of the transmission, all that could be made out was the sound of faint shaky breaths. "Hey what's going on?" Neptus began putting on the carbon plated chest armor reserved for the military elite. The sound of breathing turned into that of a young girl sobbing heavily. "Kiya what's wrong!? Where are you?" hearing the young Regent cry sent him into a panicked rush as he struggled to get on his boots.

"Neptus. I don't know what happened. Everyone's freaking out, and I don't know what to do." The Regent stammered on her words as she tried to force them through the tears.

"Wait, Kiya what's going on. What exactly is happening?"

She took a minute to gather her words. "My fathers dying."

With those three words, his face had lost all color. Her father the High Kaiser was the only man he had known as a father figure after the death of his own at a young age. He began to feel as if his throat had been closed off, knots had formed in his gut. He had so many questions but only one could leave his lungs. "He wants me to report to him, doesn't he?"

Silence hung in the air for what felt like hours but was only a minute. Kiya had gathered herself. "The head of the High Council and select military officials have already been summoned."

"Is this real? I don't want to hear his request."

"Yes." with that sole word the transmission ended. Neptus was left sitting on his cot in shock. Tears began to gather in his eyes, the more he fought them back the more they came until he jumped up shouting and tossing things around his room. Hitting his knees as the tears rolled down his face as he began to come to terms with the situation.

He left the torn-up room and walked down the narrow ship corridors, as he got closer to the royal wing his steps started to slow. He wiped his face and took a breath. "Don't show them any weakness." Approaching the Kaiser's chamber he was welcomed by a tall man in a white robe with a gold crescent moon on the back. "Councilman Dreyis."

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"The Kaiser is waiting for your arrival." the man had a rather deep voice. He had lead Neptus to the Kaisers chamber door. Before he opened it he looked at Neptus. "I noticed it took you a little longer to get here. I just want you to know this is a burden that rests on all of us."

Neptus scoffed and entered the room, "I'll bet you already have the incinerator heating up." the door shut. The room was three times the size of commoners, aside from the larger windows letting you view space not much was different than the other rooms on the ship. An older man around his 60's was lying on the bed that sat in the middle of the room. Neptus was hesitant to approach him. 

Letting out a nasty cough the man spoke, "I thought I told you to not start pitty quarrels with the council."

Neptis smiled as he walked over and kneeled at the side of his bed. Letting out a laugh he replied, "Yeah, but you know its a possibility with them." 

The Kaiser took Neptus's hand and smiled. "My boy, just like your father. So childish."

"So I'm told. Man Uncle, you look like crap."

The Kaiser let out a long sigh, "So I'm told."

The two of them continued to talk for a while. They reminisced over the past and discussed what would happen when the inevitable curtain of life is closed on the Kaiser. Then the request he wanted so much to avoid had been presented to him. The Kaiser squeezed his hand and smiled at him. "I know we've talked about this jokingly but the reality of it has never been more real."

"Uncle."

Cut off the Kaiser cleared his through and spoke again, "My daughter is not of age just yet and my only son is a member of those jackasses in the council. I need you to help preserve the peace we've worked so hard to create." He coughed into his sleeve, speckles of blood now cover part of the once white gown. He stared over at a picture of a beautiful woman. "Many great people have left us to preserve this peace." he looked back at Neptus, "My wife, your father, countless Rivus and shadow, now me. Please you can remain in your position High Rivus. I only ask you to hold the throne until my daughter is fit to rule."

"I hear your plea, I'll accept your dying request."

"Thank you."

Neptus let go of the Kaiser's hand and stood. "But in doing so I will carry out investigations into the corruption of the council. This will likely result in more than a little quarrel."

"Stalaria help you son! Do you not know the meaning of peace. If this ship is the make it to AC with life on it it's leaders need to learn when to let things go!" His breathing started to become rapid, and he pulled Neptus closer. "I could care less what you do but if you endanger my daughter may the gods have mercy on you when you dye because I won't." He coughed some more then began to grip his chest, barely able to catch his breath he released Neptus.

"Uncle!" the High Rivus now Temporary Kaiser began to panic and ran to the door, "Medic! Where's a medic!"

Three hours later the High Kaiser had passed. His last words were, "Please don't cry." They were said to his daughter the High Regent, Kiya. In the end, High Kaiser Davric only lived to be 62 and spent over half of his life stopping a war that never really ended. Long Live the Kaiser.