To call it a ‘hearing’, what a novel yet powerful term for the confluence of streaming discord to be funneled into unity. It was a term from their stories, their history adapted to conform to the new structure that had solidified itself within their collective. An almost sacred, if the Queen had understood it correctly, process by which disparity was reshaped into consensus and failures excised from the colony like festering growth. Or so the Pod had told her in hushed and rapid whispers as they made their way once more to the observation deck. It had been a last breath’s decision on behalf of their Queens to allow the not-Jhenaafhur into the proceedings, for aid in translation, and Skthveraach had hurried to the examination rooms under guard to retrieve her. Finding the pale shell feeding from one of the amber hued soldiers who now appeared sporadically all across the vessel’s interior. Barely mumbling more than a few explanations once the two had untangled from eachother, all the Queen had learned was of the obvious importance, ceremony, and need to remain as silent as possible for those who sung at the head.

Chairs, seats made for the humanites’ comfort, were now lined throughout the room. The panels over windows had been sealed, depriving her a view of the great beyond, and uncomfortable light bathed the interior. Oskar-Admiral, in his grand wear of hairy shouldergarb and flowing red shell, sat behind emblazoned table. Desk. Elevated so that even when seated those standing before him would need to angle heads upward. An uncomfortable and impractical setup. Kamenev-Admiral was on behind the desk to the Queen’s left, tablet outstretched and shown to Oskar beside her as they discussed, but the Huan-Arbiter had elected to stand before it. Gazing out over assembly of scattered forms. Half the deck had been segmented for the Queen alone, with only the Pod seated aside her. The rest were blue shells, leaders most likely. Of sections, or groups, or areas of the vessel. She recognized some. Not others. And not the Hathan-Commander. He was nowhere to be seen, and even his smell was removed from the room now saturated in the odors of wood and perspiring humanite exude.

<”It is customary to approach the front if called upon, Queen.”> Her tasting of the air ceased as she snapped her focus back to what was, to the Arbiter who had somehow managed to cross the floor in the breath between beats. <”If you are addressed, you will stand instead. And we will all be spared the unpleasantness of you crawling over the other *^&*.”> She was already standing. This was not a place to fold legs and rest upon her core. Skthveraach drew two of her eyes aside to the Pod, expecting her to fulfill role and explain, but she was now as stilled as a leafcutter who had realized itself under the gaze of a preying mantodite. Curious. The Queen signed her confusion herself. <”Stand. As you did when meeting the Admiral.”>

“Upright if my voice is needed. Received. Thank you.” There could be no more than twelve of the blues present, and half as many ambers, but there was a stillness in the air. She sung soft, as the others whispered. “I would not desire causing disruption. To be asked attendance and shown trust by the Queens of the humanites is a warmth on my underside.”

<”She means it’s an *^&*, Supreme Arbiter.”> Now the Pod spoke, only to correct words Skthveraach had spun. Mistake? Offense? No. Huan-Arbiter was nodding, a single sharp incline of sharper brow. The Pod was not even looking at him to see it.

<”*^&**^&* *^&**^&* will be called shortly. That is all.”> He did not wait. He faced about, walked soundlessly back to the cleared space between chair line and desk, and the Queen could see how each of the blue shelled onlookers he passed would silence themselves. Snapped heads forward, and tightened their bodies. None looked back at her.

“Pod. Is this a fear response to the Huan-Arbiter?”

<”*^&**^&*, I went into *^&* so I wouldn’t have to deal with this. I shouldn’t be here.”> It was a far more biting timbre than the pale shell was usually capable of mustering. The flowing red hair usually hidden beneath cap had been let free, and it swayed when the not-Jhenaafhur wiggled from side to side. <”These people are in charge of tens of millions. I’m a *^&*/thinker. I’m not scared, I just don’t want to be here. I don’t even want to know what happens here.”>

“I am charged with the lives of hundred thousand and more. You are not scared of me.”

<”It’s different, Pri.”>

“I do not see how.”

<”At ease and come to order.”> Murmurs were smothered as one as one of the blue shells rose and struck feet together. <”We are in *^&*. Admiral Oskar Dietrich presiding, Supreme Arbiter Huan *^&* overseeing.”> She dug claws into the soft fabrics lining the floor as the translation failed, and dared not rewind the music to set the unfamiliar sounds as name. Stretched thin, the black-clad Arbiter gave bow to the blue, who dropped back into seat without further word. The Pod remained uncomfortably stiff, but had brought out pad as it blipped connection to the Band.

<”Military Hearing, *^&* 4:48:SAF:2M. Captain Jacob Halsey of the Safir is called.”>

Footsteps treading upon the ramp. Three sets, two laden in armor while one stepped unrestrained. There was a faltering in the leader’s gait; not a full stop, but a stuttering when the top of slope was reached. But it was brief, recovered from so quickly that it was all but imperceptible. The steps led, then strode, and passed the Queen by.

<”Attention!”>

The Arbiter cracked head about as a whipping tail as chairs scuffed. Bodies rose. But it was not uniformity. It was not cohesion. The fore half of those blue shelled humanites were out of their seats, raised with hands sharply thrust to their sides. The rear half did not budge as male made his way, flanked by pair of amber soldierly, past Skthveraach. She thought at first perhaps he was ill; his skin was dark, not quite as baked as meat left in the sun but neither the more pallid pink she was used to. Thick black hair was wound, cut precise, over his mouth and fuzzed bare head as he carried his cap under arm. Like Hathan-Commander, the Admirals too she realized, he wore gold insignia along his shoulders and across his core arranged in precise designs of unknown purpose. Concern, or confusion, was quickly snuffed when she was able to catch one of his eyes. Movement uninterrupted, but able to gaze across to the Queen for note’s length. And his nearly black iris was a soft shade compared to the darkness his eyes held. Disgust transcending disgust. Anger above anger. Hate. The Pod had not risen with the others. Skthveraach did not either.

The blues who had marked their respect remained standing until the Captain had reached the emptied space before the great and raised woodwork, and sat only when he made recognition with head to their existence. His voice was pebbles rolling in a second stomach, grinding together as they scraped and melted.

<”Captain Jacob Halsey, reporting as ordered, sir. The Sovereignty holds.”>

<”The Sovereignty holds. At ease, Captain.”> Both ambers had broken from their trailing and now stood apart from the male. But not so far apart, as the Admiral looked down from on high. To the Captain, and then the blues. <”Your officers *^&* you. They credit their rank, and yours.”> It was not sung with the grimacing smiles the humanites made, but the clean voice rung out as the Captain merely nodded. White gloved hand was extended down to the Arbiter, who was yet transfixed on the rows of onlookers. A regard broken as he squared himself to the darker skinned humanite.

<”Captain Halsey. This hearing is convened to answer *^&**^&* of negligence, conduct unbecoming, insubordination, and the betrayal of *^&* to the Imperial Sovereignty of Earth not constituting treason during *^&*. These *^&**^&* have been brought to the Admiralty by Commander Hathan Devries of the Palamedes.”> Information was more blinding here than the white lights piercing down on her. The Pod typed fiercely, and jumbled together came the concepts to which she could relate. Failure. Mistakes, not accidents. Frenzy. And the Commander, who had done his duty and upheld role in bringing such to his Queens. <”Due to the nature of these *^&*, this hearing is to determine truths and determine what, if any, actions are warranted. You have *^&* permission to speak candidly during this hearing, unless otherwise directed. Do you understand everything I have said *^&* far?”>

<”I do, sir.”>

<”Do you have any questions or statements before we commence?”>

<”What is that thing doing on this ship?”> He did not need to point nor turn. She could feel the bite from the front of the room. And realization, knowledge, began to fit as pieces within her. Hate. This was hate. The humanites of the Palamedes did not hate her. The humanites of the Palamedes were not the ones to attack her. This humanite, though; this humanite hated.

<”This is a Queen of species 01.”> The Admiral answered for Huan. <”The Arbiter has requested she be present. Its compliance has been assured.”>

<”If it chooses to attack, sir, it will be able to kill half the people in this room before your *^&* kill it.”>

<”Captain Devries has had it under observation for nearly thirty measures, and half of this time it was permitted limited access to the Palamedes. There have been no recorded cases of violence, accidental or otherwise.”> Incorrect. The Queen swiveled her antennae towards the Pod, thinking there had been mistranslation, but no fix or adjustment was made. She waited for someone to correct the false information. None did. Knotted and twisted as the trunk of a wizened tree, the features of the Captain screwed themselves into grotesquery.

<”Very well. Then I state for the Admiralty that I have been unlawfully removed from command of my vessel, imprisoned in my *^&**^&*, and confined for a period totalling approximately twenty-seven measures. I report that Commander Devries has engaged in insubordination, mutiny, murder, and the seizing of my ship.”>

<”Your statements are heard. The Commander’s hearing is to be held directly following yours.”> The Arbiter. Accusations had caused barely a flicker to cross his face, but Skthveraach’s mandibles were clenched tight enough to tear. The Commander was not frenzied. Who had disobeyed? Which of the two had failed their superior? More and more, the Pod’s discomfort was shared in the Queen’s own rapidly pulsing vents. <”If that is all, Captain, Admirals, I will move to the presentation of information.”>

<”Proceed.”>

<”Audio transcript label 01, date *^&**^&*, eighty-four measures into mission *^&*.”> Was she simply distracted? Huan-Arbiter flicked his grasper, and a pad simply appeared within his grip. There was not iota of energy wasted in his movements. <”Recording conversation between Captain Halsey and Commander Devries aboard the Safir.”> Clicks overhead. Hands raising to ears, eyes settling forward. From around her, the voice of the Commander. And of the male still obstructively stood before desk.

<”I am in the middle of preparing our mobilization, Hathan. This is fourth time you’ve *^&* me from my bridge, and I gotta say, it stopped being amusing the second.”> The Captain was not singing in the present. Not even these creatures boasted knowledge of the future. Like the images on viewscreen, like inhaling the scents on silken strings within the Halls of Remembering, these were songs of the past. Captured. Preserved.

<”There is nothing amusing about this, Captain.”> Pause. Footsteps. <”Thirty measures. That’s all it’ll take my crew to get the gate up. Our heads are submerged beneath water on this, Jacob-“>

<”Captain Halsey, or Captain. You lost familiarity with me when you questioned me in front of the men, Hathan.”>

<”First contact, Jacob. Does that not mean anything to you? We’re out here building *^&**^&* for colonists, neither of us is qualified to make decisions at this level. Thirty measures, and we’ll be in contact with Earth. We can inform them of the situation, get reinforcements if necessary-“>

Something struck ground, wall, surface of some sort with force and precision. The contact silencing the Commander.

<”I thought I was clear enough before, but apparently I didn’t quite get through. I’m going to use smaller words here, try to make it as *^&* as possible for you.”> The footsteps had long since halted, but now heavier tread thudded forward. <”I’ve read your *^&*. A few piles of dirt are not structures, and *^&*-lines are not formations. They are animals, on a world that will need almost no *^&**^&* to make habitable.”>

<”We’ve seen evidence of construction, symmetrical building patterns, who knows what else when we get closer. Even if they are *^&*-level intelligence, it is the first *^&**^&* life we’ve found in the *^&*.”>

<”You are wanting the Safir to sit idle for thirty measures, just for us to wait until High Command instructs us to start clearing the planet. We could wipe an entire continent in that time.”>

<”*^&**^&*, Jacob-“>

<”Captain!”>

<”*^&* you! You’re going to be putting thousands in danger, for what? Because you can’t stomach the idea of waiting a *^&*?! More than half have never even seen combat!”>

<”Every ship is needed on the *^&* front! Every soldier is needed! Every measure we delay here is a measure spent away from where we are needed, and I’m not putting our mission here on hold because you found symmetrical mud piles!”> A heavy silence hung, a panting of breath. <”There will be entire landmasses still filled with the *^&* when the gate is done. You can have your samples, and Earth can build a *^&**^&* preserve if they want. I expect you on my bridge at *^&**^&* when we enter orbit, to oversee the landings, and if there is another outburst or questioning of my orders? I’ll have you brought up on charges, Commander Devries.”>

<”Understood, Captain Halsey. I am invoking Article Twenty, and having these orders and conversation recorded to the *^&**^&*.”>

<”*^&**^&*, you little *^&*. If you want the Admiralty hearing you too yellow to engage a bunch of *^&*, by all means. Now, you are dismissed. Get the *^&* off my ship.”> A door slid open. A body departed. A click sounded. Silence reigned.

<”I have your files from your quarters after you were relieved of command, Captain. You did not file insubordination charges against Commander Devries until after he removed you from your post. Not even after this conversation. Can you explain?”> The sounds of the observation deck were distant. Faded. The Arbiter had once more taken the lead in the composition of truth, was questioning, and the capless, dark humanite was replying. Skthveraach found it difficult to hear. She found it difficult to stop the slow dripping from her mouth, too. Difficult to do much else besides lock all four of her eyes to the Captain’s tender blue shell, shell the Queen knew would do nothing against even a brush of her hairs, and pull his disgusting internal skeleton free of its meaty prison.

He had known. They had known. They had seen from up here in the sky her people, their nests, their towers and their cities set into stone and sand and soil. And he had not cared. Remove tens of millions, purge them, kill them. There were others if they were needed.

<”-pudent bastard, but always followed orders. Always got the job done.”> The dripping had caught the Pod’s attention, made her give press to the Queen’s leg. She did not enjoy the contact. Not with any humanite. Not right now. <”If there is any failing, it’s that I should have relieved him then and there for repeatedly questioning my commands. For general unwillingness to perform his duty.”>

<”Like you, the Commander has a clear military record, Captain. Neither of you have ever been accused of cowardice or failure of duty.”>

<”I was at *^&* and *^&**^&*, sir. When the enemy is present, where he is present, I attack. That’s how I operate, sir.”>

<”Your service to the Sovereignty is not being questioned, Captain Halsey. It is known and respected.”> The female, the boxy and granite Kamenev, interlocked her fingers.

<“And after the losses your vessel suffered at *^&*, time away from the front to train and prepare your replacements was well earned.”> The other Admiral, and each occurrence marked a practiced silence made of the others. Each knew when they were permitted. Each voice in its place. The Captain shifted his weight, but did not reply. <“I find your zeal strange however, Captain. There was no enemy to advance on in this case.”>

<”The *^&* were an obstruction on a world claimed by the Sovereignty, Admiral. An obstruction preventing my boys, soldiers I had trained myself these long *^&*, from getting back to the front. I made the command decision that animals, alien or no, took second place to the lives of soldiers fighting in *^&**^&*.”>

<”As ranking officer, such decisions are yours and yours alone to make when on deep space missions, Captain.”> Fury at the excuses. Adrenals coursing through her, interpreting her signals as combat approaching. The Admiral sung of understanding and forgiveness, and yet… why did it feel as though she were missing something. <”You may continue, Arbiter.”>

<”I have collected sworn statements from your officers, Captain, many of whom were also confined to quarters. All have stated that before the battle, and during, you conducted yourself as *^&* as was possible given the situation.”> Grimacing pleasure began to wind along the Captain’s features. Skthveraach was trying to keep pace, to turn her mind’s eyes to the paths being lain, but lines crossed and crissed. A conflict implied. Losses suffered. Log and address later. <”However I was unable to obtain any testimonies from below the rank of Lieutenant.”>

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<”My bridge crew was composed my most senior staff during the battle. Most *^&* and ensigns were assigned elsewhere.”>

<”I was also unable to draw statements from any of your non-commissioned officers, beyond their affirmations that they followed the orders of their superiors.”> The pleasure was halted. Began to fade. Legs of the blue shells were restless.

<”Many were wounded during the fighting, sir. I am sure they still recover from the injuries sustained fighting the animals.”>

<”Your explanation is noted. Admirals?”> Oskar-Admiral gave shake of his head as arms propped themselves at the joint upon the desk, while Kamenev-Admiral had withdrawn a slender, stubby roll of something. Leant back within her chair with look of one who had been forced to dine on lumbrite for measures ending. <”Then my final relevant submission is audio transcript label 02, date *^&**^&*, six beats into the battle on the class-A planet K-H-013.”> Vents aside her flared, her lungs filling to their capacity. Her claws digging so deep into the soft flooring that she felt it tear and give. To see a conflict from the opponent’s side. It only occurred when a colony was absorbed utterly, when their memories were made one with yours. She could feel the fire once more. Smell the deaths by the hundreds, to the thousands. Be still. Be ready. The Admiral looked to her, and she let the breath out before sucking one fresh. Clicks were heard. Whirrs were made. Focus on the now. Focus on the now. Focus…

<”What the *^&* is Lieutenant *^&* doing down there!?”> Something was shrieking, a mechanical and untrue noise not of any living thing. Shouts cascaded in the background, but the Captain roared above it. <”Get me the first line, now! Hathan, *^&*, get the bombers/fliers back over that hive!”>

<”They dropped their entire payload, I’ve scrambled six more from the Palamedes, ETA seven minutes. Captain, that was an ambush! A tactical probing followed by full out assault!”> Over the madness, the two voices clashed. <”I’m ordering my VTOLs to begin withdrawing troops from all hives.”>

<”First line is non-responsive, Captain.”> A female. Unrecognized.

<”You get those VTOLs loaded and airborne, Hathan, we are not withdrawing anyone. Reinforce the first line with reserves from the FOB. Full screen on hive six, all other battles to secondaries!”> A moment’s pause. A meager breath. Someone made wretching noises, and another gasped.

<”*^&**^&*…”> Hathan’s voice was sick. Strained. <“Lieutenant *^&*, Wyverns four through fourteen are to divert to hive six. Hot drop, and be ready to evacuate casualties. Captain!”>

<”*^&* idiots let them get close. Order the troops to establish firing lines in the impact craters. Once the bombers/fliers are on station, we’ll hit that mass again, then push in. Tell the second line to advance, double-time.”> Orders were repeated, but it was again the Commander’s song that soared true and high.

<”Captain! If they are capable of ambushes, they are sentient! They are aware! They can execute strategies, they can *^&**^&*! We need to pull out, now, and inform Earth before we start a *^&**^&*!”>

<”Wyverns four through nine are overhead.”> A male. Unrecognized.

<”Tell them to concentrate their fire on the largest groupings of the *^&*, scatter their numbers. You will maintain your composure, Commander, and get me my bombers.”>

<”You are ordering me to carpet *^&* without weapons!? You are admitting they are a threat, a valuable *^&*, and are still killing-“>

<”Forces are taking fire from the foliage. Some kind of projectiles.”>

<”None of the other hives had projectiles-, *^&*, keep the VTOLs shooting and have the infantry put fire into that treeline.”> The turmoil was almost enveloping, like the noise could reach from the past to swallow her. <”They have numbers, Commander, that’s all. If needed, we can use the *^&* from orbit.”>

<”My *^&*…”> There was no longer anger within Hathan’s solo. It was hollow. Bitter and cold. <”VTOLs are unable to recover the wounded, they’re taking evasive to avoid the enemy projectiles.”>

<”Sir! Wyvern four, six, eight and nine are down!”>

<”I can see that, Lieutenant!”> More words the Queen could not clutch. More emotions that spun together by the Jacob-Captain. <”I told them to stay away from the *^&* trees! Where’s my second line!?”

<”Bait… they used bait. Drew them into range…*^&**^&*.”>

<”Three minutes, Captain, they’re entering the battleground now.”>

<”I want them dug in and laying *^&* fire on that hive, keep the *^&* away from the drops. Pull whatever is left down there back to the line.”>

<”LIEUTENANT!”> There was the passion once more. Commanding, the Hathan’s music throwing aside competition.

<”I see them!”> The female again, though this time she trembled as words were passed. <”*^&**^&*, be advised, you have bandits at seven *^&* on approach, thirty seconds to contact.”>

<”Where did those enemy aircraft come from, Lieutenant?!”>

<”I don’t know! They weren’t on the screen, and then they were-“>

<”Get them into a covering formation and fall back towards the second line.”>

<”Belay that order, Lieutenant, continue firing on the ground forces with the *^&* and have their crews engage the bandits, I need them protecting the infantry.”> Something crashed, broke into pieces, as the Captain asserted authority. Hathan-Commander’s volume only rose.

<”*^&* is registering over three-thousand enemy signatures down there, Captain, there’s not going to BE any infantry in a few beats! Lieutenant order all other VTOLs to begin extraction, cease all drops on-“>

<”Lieutenant *^&*, I am ordering you to divert all troops from other hives to hive six. Commander Devries you are relieved, you may see yourself off my bridge.”>

<”Wyvern five and seven are down- and eleven.”>

<”*^&**^&*, Jacob, you are not sending my men to their deaths for your own *^&* ego-“>

<”They are *^&*, Devries! Things! Animals! I am not ordering a retreat from *^&* I step on back home! *^&**^&*, I want a danger-close bombing run at C3-744-2—”> The crack that followed was not one of crystal or breaking stone. It was a noise Skthveraach knew well. Had heard in a symphony of light and fire on the battlefield as white lightning was spit across her sky. Songs ceased, fore and background.

<”Devries, you *^&*…”>

<”By Article Thirteen of the Imperial *^&* Charter, I am declaring Captain Halsey unfit for duty. Warrant Officers, place the Captain und-“> A scuffle. Shoving, meat on meat. Two more bursts from the audible lance, and two thumps as weight struck floor. <”*^&**^&*, Officers, NOW!”>

<”Have you lost your mind, Devries!?”>

<”Remove the Captain from the bridge, shoot any who interfere. Lieutenant *^&*, recall all VTOLs and order the second line back to join the third-“>

<”You’ll be *^&* shot for this, Hathan-“>

<”Second line is engaging the enemy… my *^&*, there’s-“>

<”Tell them to fall back, *^&**^&*, power up the *^&* and tell the third line-“>

<”-tinous bastard, I’ll *^&* hang you myself-!”>

<”-rrun, injured from the first are being transported-“>

<”-mbers in range in forty…thirty-nine…”>

The past was gone. The room was silent as the stars and sky behind the hardstone shades. The Captain’s head was more red than brown now, Kamenev was breathing smoke and ash, Oskar-Admiral’s head had lowered to rest on his hands while the Arbiter, arms ever at sides, had already made his pad vanish back whence it came. It was the thin-eyed Arbiter who resumed the lamentations of the now subdued chorus.

<”Lieutenant *^&* and Junior Lieutenant *^&* were both pronounced death when they arrived at the *^&*. No further violence is recorded in either log. This is the end of my collected *^&*.”>

<”Both served with me at *^&*. Commander Devries knowingly murdered two members of my staff, those deaths on him, to prevent me from carrying out my orders and duty.”> Clenching his head covering beneath arm, Skthveraach could hear how it subtly tore. Two colonies. Allied, but not friends. Two soldiers doing duty to their Queen, removed for it. Unfortunate. How many had she lost in such ways? Instinct was a cruel thing to overcome, but she could not comprehend the anger. It paled next to her own. How many of her people had been lost? Two soldiers. Barely footnote.

<”The recording, Captain Halsey.”> His gaze raising from gloves, only the faintest trace of twitch and twist of lip could be seen in the Admiral. <”Do you have anything to say about the recording?”>

<”It speaks for itself, sir.”> Bone ground within that dark skull. <”Captain Devries did knowingly, and illegally, invoke an article meant only for the most extreme cases of irrationality/frenzy to subvert my authority. Resulting in the needless loss of the battle, and the forced withdrawal from the planet.”> It was a silence, but one of discomfort and sidelong looks. Movements humanites made when uncertainty was rife in their minds. Even the ambers were failing to fully still the straying of their eyes as the Admiral unlaced his fingers. Took up the pad that had lain flat before him on the impeccably smooth furnishing.

<”I had one line of questions, Admiral, for the Queen before I conclude.”> Was she dripping again? Her antennae were flattened between her crest and the ceiling as she bolted upright, only noting that the Admiral had not nodded to the Arbiter’s request until she was fully erect with blades crossed before her. Now, all heads turned. Now, all faces were stilled. Some level. Some scrunched. Some seething displeasure. She ignored all but the Arbiter. All but that sure voice providing, promising, stability.

<”If you do not receive my meaning, ask for clarification. Why did you attack the marines of the Safir?”>

“My scouts were attacked by the humanite soldiers chasing the column of Ktcvahnaah-Colony.”

<”Why did you hide your soldiers below the ground during the battle?”>

“To let the enemy draw closer before attacking.”

<”Why did you amass your forces in front of the treeline after the bombing/skyfire?”>

“To bring the flying notrocks-“ Too late for correction. “Close enough for my spitters to kill.”

<”Do you consider yourself an animal, or do you consider yourself capable of intelligent thought?”> Her first note, her first sound, had made the Captain twitch. She had focused only on the Arbiter, but her rightmost eye could not help but detect the movement. That unconscious reaction. That instinctive response. Lack of control. Weakness. Fear? She could hope. The man, the thing, that had killed her people and called them beasts below humanite notice was before her. And he twitched when she spoke. Every section of her body was turned with deliberate speed. When her scythes were extended, just a hair’s length, it was not accidental. A hearing of truth. She delivered truth.

“An animal would react without thought to the outside. An animal would be able to determine biomass it could safely consume. An animal would smell and remember one who had hurt it. An animal would not hesitate to destroy a creature who had slaughtered its children and destroyed its home. I wish, dearly, that I were an animal.” Captain twitched. Admiral tapped finger on his pad. The Pod was about to thrust herself to feet when Skthveraach wrapped claw of central leg around her torso. Forced her back to seat, feeling her pulse and heartbeat triple at the sudden contact. The Queen did not need her music clarified. She had been succinct.

<”Thank you, Queen, that is all.”> The Arbiter did not turn immediately, not until a small noise and protrusion from one of the Pod’s fingers was sent his way, and Skthveraach was acutely and promptly aware of how every amber in the room had lance lowered, aimed for her. She felt her gaster churn as she delicately released her grip on the Pod, who gave a soft wheeze, and the Arbiter made wave which brought end to the searing tips’ focus on her.

<”I had the Arbiter ensure to enclose the casualty list from the battle on K-H-013, Captain Halsey.”> Mercifully did the Admiral continue, drawing attention away from the Queen as she sunk back down to all legs. Signing quick apologies to the Pod, who did not answer or respond. <”And weighed it accordingly against the loss of two lieutenants.”>

<”If I may, sir,”> The interruption was not harmonious. It was not even the same octave. <”The bulk of the losses suffered were following my removal from the bridge, and in the confusion of the mutiny.”>

<”You may be surprised to hear, Captain, that the majority of casualties were, in fact, taken prior to your removal. You may be surprised to know that under your command, during the eleven minutes you were engaged with hive 06, you oversaw the loss of twenty *^&* explosives, sixty-eight armored *^&*/notrocks, thirteen VTOLs, and eighteen long-range *^&*.”> Glove was placed upon the screen, and dragged downward as music was ever deepened, ever drummed. <”You may be surprised to realize that there were 638 casualties, including twenty-four sergeants, eighteen warrant officers, and six lieutenants. Seventy-two *^&*/portion of the 102nd Lancer Battalion is dead or injured, over eighty *^&*/portion of the 55th Light Armored Battalion was wiped out. In actuality, and I was forced to verify this when I received Commander Devries’ report, you may be surprised to realize that you have now overseen the greatest military disaster and defeat suffered by a technologically superior force since 1879. The Imperial Sovereignty of Earth has suffered this defeat.”>

<”My supporting officers were rebellious, and my troops were inexperienced fools who allowed *^&* to reach their lines.”>

<”YOUR MARINES’ ONLY FAILING WAS BEING COMMANDED BY AN OFFICER TOO STUPID TO IDENTIFY A THREAT STARING HIM IN THE FACE!”> Even Skthveraach felt herself driven back a tenthlength as the boom of the Admiral’s voice sent all lurching, his fist striking a dent into the surface of the desk. The Captain only stuttered as his features fell into opened hollowness. <”You lost two of the Emperor’s Battalions to *^&* with claws and teeth! You have disgraced us, Captain! You have humiliated us! Our first contact with alien life will be recorded as the greatest tactical blunder of the modern era, and you will answer for it.”> None dared to even breathe loudly. She had thought to have seen the extent of these creatures’ emotions. The rawness of the Admiral’s fury was a righteous and terrible thing that touched all save the Arbiter and Kamenev, who watched from their vantages as Oskar-Admiral ground back into his seat.

<”We are at war, and do not have the *^&* of removing officers with your combat experience, even if that experience is in failure upon failure. The Safir is to put in at *^&**^&* for resupply, and then report to Battlegroup *^&* to assume support and transport duties.”>

<”And Commander Devries?”> His body as his notes shook, but were forced out all the same. The Admiral’s brow bore more ridges than the valleys of her biomass reserves, and his eyes shone in the artificial light, unblinking.

<”Is no longer your concern.”> Their eyes met, the Captain craning his head backwards to elevate his attention, and the Queen thought perhaps she understood the design now. The purpose in forcing the lesser to stand ever in their place below their greaters. So that when defiance, as it somehow managed still to slither from the Captain’s clenched bones and fingers, was an impotent thing ever below regard.

<”I have served the Sovereignty for forty-two *^&*.”>

<”And that is why you are walking back to your ship, Captain,”> Kamenev once more put forth her voice, and it was not a usurpation of the Oskar’s lines, but a supporting mirroring of his designs. And perhaps a mercy, sparing the humanite below from his further wrath. <”Rather than being put against a wall and shot. May your continued service to the Sovereignty redeem your failure before the Emperor. You are dismissed.”> What madness? What course? Captain seemed almost prepared to speak further, but at noises from the onlookers and the approach of the ambers, rounded and stalked back to ramp. This time, only three rose from their seats. And hesitantly sank back down almost as soon as the male’s back was to them. They would let him live, after all they had heard? After they had admitted his uselessness, his mistakes and errors?! He did not look to her, but her hairs were rigid and body poised as the Queen turned herself full. Air hissing from her lungs as carpet was torn up beneath her. The humanite was not worth life, not worth sound, not even something she would dream of feeding to her colony lest they be infected by his disease of mind. He was furious, he was punished, that much she knew from his posture. But he was alive. He was escaping. She drank of the air, sucking in his smell and committing the taste to memory. A thousand cycles may pass, but Skthveraach would not let his name, his body or his music escape her. The colony would carry the Jacob-Captain until the death of the song, or the death of the man. This she knew. This was her truth.

<”I do not require a *^&*, Admiral. I would proceed to Military Hearing *^&* 4:48:PAL:3M, and call Commander Devries.”>

<”Granted.”> Composure was remarkably fast to return to the Admiral, but just as fast to fill the Queen. The enemy was alive, but removed. The threat to her people was defeated. It was her turn. Her opportunity to repay the Hathan-Commander. Vengeance was put aside. Desire, smothered. She repositioned to the fore of the observation deck, and listened to the footsteps approach once more. Familiar. Unaccompanied.

Welcomed.