The next face was unfamiliar to Aria, but the name was not. Introduced to her as Lady Tara Shi'ala, the older Ailian was a rather plain-looking woman, with fur of an orange color similar to Aria's. Nevertheless, she exuded an aura of power and experience that came from many years of navigating the upper crust of Ailian society. While Aria had never met the woman personally, she knew of her reputation. Lady Shi'ala had been the chief adviser for the previous Empress, the official post held now by Lady Amani, though Lady Shi'ala had not performed the same “extra duties” for her Empress that Li'ren did. During the meal, Lady Shi'ala talked more than either Admiral Kris or Ara'lana, and Aria got the impression that she had not been doing much with her time since leaving the Empress' service. Nothing in any official capacity, anyway.
The third other female was, as might have been expected, Major Misa Tal'in, Aria's commanding officer. According to Ara'lana, she had been the one to bring Aria from where she'd been awaiting trial to where they were now. With decades of experience as a ground soldier in the infantry corps of the Ascendancy Navy, Major Tal'in was a more than capable fighter and very tenacious. The major had begun her career as a foot soldier in the Twelfth Fleet, recruited from her home planet of Mar on the very edges of Ascendancy territory. She had run a tight ship as the base commander at Mat'aar Air Base, and Aria had considered her to be quite a good officer. During the meal, she spoke little, instead just watching the room like a hawk.
When the meal was over, orderlies came into the dining room and cleared away the dishes, bringing tea and leaving the dinner guests to themselves. Admiral Kris, Lady Shi'ala, and Major Tal'in all remained in the dining room with Aria and Ara'lana. While Major Tal'in poured tea for everyone, Aria realized that she was no longer in the mood for any waiting.
-Alright, mother,- Aria said forcefully. -I'm through with the delays. I want some answers, now. I feel I have been patient enough, and I deserve some satisfaction.-
Leaning back in her chair, Ara'lana lifted her cup of tea, taking a sip. -Well, I suppose you have waited long enough, child. Very well. What would you like to know?-
-First of all, where are we?- Aria asked. She waved a hand around the room. -What is this place?-
Major Tal'in sat back down in her chair, a hard expression on her face. -That is none of your...-
Ara'lana cut her off with a raised finger. -Misa, please. I can handle this myself.- Setting her tea down, Ara'lana folded her hands in her lap, curling her tail about her knees in a posture of relaxation. -As far as what planet we are on, I'm afraid that is highly classified. We are still within the boundaries of Ascendancy space, of that you can be assured, but we are not on Lirna as you may have guessed. As for what this place is, that's simple enough. This is my base of operations.-
Although she was highly curious about what her mother meant by that, Aria let it go for now. She had much more important matters on her mind. -Mother, it has been three years since we thought you died,- Aria said. Her voice had taken on a tone of pain. -How are you still alive? Why haven't you tried to contact the family? Father has been in mourning ever since you died...-
-Ah...,- Ara'lana said, glancing down at her lap. -Yes, I suppose he would have been...So devoted to me he was...- She looked back up at Aria. -This goes back to that battle, three years ago, now. My flagship and its escort fleet was attacked by a battlegroup of human destroyers. Oh, it was a glorious battle.- Her eyes began to reflect a sense of nostalgia. -It lasted for hours, and in the end the humans were destroyed, but not before they dealt fatal blows to my flagship. The ship exploded, and all hands were lost. Except for myself and a few other officers. But all official reports recorded my death. They weren't far away from the truth; I was severely injured, very near to death, in fact.- She brushed a hand over her face, and for the first time Aria noticed the faint traces of scarring underneath her fur. -My eyes were gone. The medics grew replacements for me, which have been working out quite well. Several of my organs failed over the next few months, and required replacement as well. The whole recovery process took nearly a year.-
-But why the secrecy?-
-It was necessary for my plans,- Ara'lana said. -You see, for many years I have been working towards a goal. A dream of mine, you might say.- She stood up from her chair, beginning to pace back and forth across the floor. -Of all of ours, actually.- She gestured to Admiral Kris, Lady Shi'ala, and Major Tal'in. -For far too long, our people have labored under the oppressive rule of a government which has little concern for our welfare.-
Aria was beginning to feel that something was very wrong. -I don't understand. Do you mean the Empress?-
-Yes and no,- Ara'lana said. -Empress Solan IV is merely a representative of that oppression. What I really mean is the continued subjugation and relegation to the underclass of
my
people. I am referring, of course, to the peoples of our Outer Colonies. For centuries, our population has far outstripped that of the Inner Colonies and Central Worlds combined, yet we are forced to live in poverty while the fruits of our labors enrich the rest of the Ascendancy.- Ara'lana, her face contorted now in barely restrained rage, took her seat again. -Well, I mean to reverse that situation. As I speak, all of the fleets of the Outer Colonies are initiating combat operations against the Inner Colonies, and will before much longer be ready to move on to the Central Worlds. We will claim what is rightfully ours.-
Aria's fur was standing on end now. -You can't be serious. You mean to overthrow the royal family?-
-I do indeed,- Ara'lana said. She smoothed her fur down, regaining her peaceful expression. -I spent my years in the military dutifully biding my time, working with the appearances of loyalty until I had become the top admiral of the Navy. Then I used my position to steadily amass the vessels to form my own personal, secret fleet. Those vessels you saw in the base earlier today were only a small fraction of them. I planned to wait until I had enough ships and loyal followers to make my move. My 'death' only offered greater opportunity for secrecy, especially with that fool Admiral Te'rou taking my place.- She smiled to Aria. -And the time for action is now. We can take the rest of the Ascendancy and those pitiful humans at the same time, and secure the prosperity of the New Ascendancy for thousands of years to come.-
-That's insane!- Aria blurted out, her eyes as wide as a dinner plate. -It will never work. Mother, you must know that the Pteryd have been massing their forces. If we have a civil war now, they'll take the opportunity to strike. We'll be weak and we won't be able to stop them!-
Lady Shi'ala shook her head. -We have thought of that, of course. It's not something to be concerned about.-
-How can you say that?- Aria protested. She looked at Shi'ala, Admiral Kris, her mother, and Major Tal'in all in turn. -All of you were alive during the last war with the Pteryd. You have personal experience with how dangerous the Pteryd are. You can't possibly be so unconcerned about the threat of war with them.-
-On the contrary, my daughter,- Ara'lana said, a triumphant expression on her face. -I have secured an alliance which should render that possibility meaningless.- She nodded to Major Tal'in, who stood and went to the door leading into the dining room. The major opened the door, stepping aside as though to allow someone in. -Let me introduce you to a friend of mine, one whose importance should be instantaneously clear.-
As Aria watched the being on the other side of the door enter, she felt every single strand on fur on her body stand on end. Her body went cold and her heart began to beat rapidly, as a base-level, instinctual fear began to course through her body. The thing coming into the room was decidedly alien in appearance. Insectoid, the creature had a slender torso which widened down into a powerful lower body. Its carapace was hard and shiny, and its color appeared slightly different depending on how the light hit it, though always a shade of green. The alien being stood on four legs, the back two of which were highly developed for jumping and quick bursts of speed. Two more limbs were attached to its torso, triple-jointed and ending in three clawed digits each. Its head was shaped like and upside-down triangle, with the top corners occupied by bulbous red eyes. Two other, smaller eyes were underneath these, and the bottom of the head terminated in razor-sharp mandibles. Short antennae extended from the top of the head, constantly waving this way and that, probing its surroundings.
-Aria,- Ara'lana said, extending a hand to the newcomer. -Please allow me to introduce Seirin-143, a representative of the Pteryd Combine.-
******
After Sami and Jack were escorted from the conference room, Kri'a resumed her seat and continued the meeting that had been paused. -Admiral Te'rou, I assume we still have no leads as to Lieutenant Me'lia's location?- she said, eying her Chief Admiral. She was still quite irritated at how he had lost his temper before, and the admiral knew it all too well.
-No, Your Majesty,- Admiral Te'rou said. -No further reports have been sent to me. Intelligence and base security are cooperating in the investigation, but no results as of yet.-
-And we still have not heard from Major Tal'in, correct?-
-I'm afraid not,- Te'rou said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. As the Chief Admiral, part of his responsibilities were overseeing all military stations on Lirna. Major Tal'in, therefore, was his direct subordinate as a base commander. -She hasn't responded to any of our inquiries on standard channels. I dispatched an Intelligence team to her quarters on base, as well as to her personal residence in Hayikwiir City. I'm still waiting on final reports of what they uncovered, but so far nothing promising. However, base security reports that her code was the last used on the waiting room that Lieutenant Me'lia was occupying prior to the scheduled start of the trial.-
Kri'a glanced at Li'ren, who looked just as worried as she felt. -I think we can guess some of what happened, then,- the Empress said. -Major Tal'in, either of her own will or under duress, was involved in the abduction of Lieutenant Me'lia.- She took a deep breath, slowly letting it out. -Well, then, what can you tell me about the Outer Colony fleets?-
-Some news on that front, but more bad than not,- Admiral Te'rou said. He called back up the holographic space map. -The Inner Colonies have been attacked on all borders by elements from the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth fleets, as well as some ships verified to be from the seventh and twelfth fleets. In other words, all of the Outer Colony fleets. The Eleventh Inner Colony Fleet successfully repelled the attack in its sector, however inroads have been made by all other invaders. I have already ordered the second and sixth fleets to leave their positions around the Central Worlds to bolster our defenses in the Inner Colonies. They're moving as we speak.-
-Excellent,- the Empress said. -Still no communication from Admiral Kris?-
-No. She left her offices here on Lirna two weeks ago, ostensibly to conduct routine inspections of the Outer Colony fleets. I gave her instructions to reestablish contact with the seventh and twelfth fleets and find out what the hell they were doing making an attack on Earth.- Te'rou gritted his teeth, growling low as his tail swished irritably underneath the table. -She has been ignoring my communications efforts. I know for a fact that those messages were received because the automatic reception signals were sent back. She is deliberately refusing to respond to me.- The admiral took a moment to regain his composure, then continued. -There's something else.- He tapped a button near his spot at the table, calling up several pictures. -Our fleets have sent back images from the skirmishes they've been engaged in. They're reporting unknown ships mixed in with the fleets, all painted in red. None of those ships are broadcasting identification signals of any kind. I have no idea where they might have come from, or under whose authority they may be operating.-
-Red ships?- Kri'a repeated, her eyes widening in confusion. Her ears laid back slightly, and she seemed to be searching through her mind for something. -I wonder...- She was quiet for a moment, but then she shook her head slightly. -Well, never mind that for now. Admiral, keep me apprised of the situation and continue bolstering our defenses. I want total security in the Central Worlds, and I want the fleets still loyal to me working to regain any lost territory in the Inner Colonies.- After a moment's hesitation, she added one more order. -And I also want Intelligence to conduct thorough background checks on all military personnel stationed in the Central Worlds and Inner Colonies who were originally drawn from the Outer Colonies. They are all to be treated with suspicion until they have been thoroughly cleared. And I do mean everyone, Admiral, regardless of rank or status, is that understood?-
Though shocked by the severe order, Admiral Te'rou nodded. -I understand, Empress. It will be done.-
-Very well, then, you are all dismissed.-
Admiral Te'rou and the rest of the officers cleared the room, leaving Kri'a and Li'ren alone, apart from their detachment of Royal Guards. They were quiet for some time. Both of them felt overwhelmed by the situation, which was something that they had been concerned about for a number of years, though they had never thought it would really happen. The last civil war that had enveloped the Ascendancy had been devastating, more so than any war with their old enemy, the Pteryd, had been. They knew that this war had the potential to be even more terrible, with the Ascendancy being so much larger now than it ever had been, and especially considering the much greater size of the Outer Colonies as compared to the rest of the empire.