Chapter 6: Rising Tensions

Zhrog saluted, making Eva feel uneasy. She didn't know if she should do anything back, adding to her uneasiness.

"Winner of the Great Race of Oban." It came out as more of a question from the Crog.

She eyed his body, she had her fair share of Crogs, Toros and Kross were more than enough, but this Crog, with the wounds and mechanical implants, was a different experience altogether.

"I am." She replied.

"I am a Lieutenant of the Crog Imperium; assigned this colony of Emproga, this human colony that is now ours." He said.

"I understand." She said. She was still uncomfortable, she wasn't sure if she should have spoken then or not.

"I would like to speak with you, to form a truce and battle plan." Zhrog told her.

She nodded, "I will form the truce with you on behalf of the Earth, but I cannot form battle plans, I am no military leader."

"I understand." Zhrog said. His good eye became slimmer as he glanced at Salzor; the red flash of the fake eye on his eyepatch looked over as well. "Him, right?"

"Yes." Eva replied, "Please, make plans with him, but the truce, we'll work on that now if you wish."

"I do." He said, "Please, take me to a war room aboard this ship."

Eva nodded and turned to Don, embarrassed, "Where's the war room?"

Salzor stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back, "I shall escort you."

Zhrog nodded, but Salzor put his hand on Eva's shoulder, "Speak with your father for last words of encouragement. Don't screw this up." He walked off with Zhrog; Zhrog's men had stayed behind to guard the passage.

Eva turned to Don, "What did he mean?"

"We stopped at Nourasia." Don said. He put his hand out, "We can speak of it later. But Aikka is here, I'll send for him; get Nourasia in on the truce since they'll be forces here as well."

She nodded, holding back her excitement, "Ok, call him then, hurry!"

He pressed a button, "Send the Nourasian King, Aikka, over."

She jumped at the word "King". "Aikka's a…?"

"Yes." Don replied, "He's King of Nourasia."

She held back her excitement. She would have to really congratulate him later, when the truce was settled.

In moments Aikka came across, dressed in fine armor, a cape attached to it. He wore a crown, an ornamental dagger at his belt, his bow and quiver of arrows slung across his back. He had a majestic look about him, befitting of the King of Nourasia.

Her heart leapt as she saw him, in such a regal, powerful, and handsome form.

She heard the door open with a hiss once more, and he stopped. He evidently hadn't seen her, so he turned around to look at who had entered.

It was a young Nourasian woman, long silver hair, in an elegant white dress. She held his arm, and he turned around, walking back across the bridge with her following behind. The passage wasn't wide enough for them to walk side by side, but the woman didn't seem to be upset about it. She seemed pleased just being with him.

He recognized Eva and moved forward at a faster rate now, the woman still coming behind him.

Eva's heart dropped, "Aikka, nice to see you again." She said, trying to remain friendly and ignore the woman, and her own pain of heart.

"Molly." He said and extended his hand.

"Please, call me Eva." She said, "That is my real name after all."

"Oh, right." He bowed, "Please, forgive me."

"It's no problem. No need to be so formal with me." She said, feeling uncomfortable.

He rose and took her hand, kissing it, "Now come, we must get that treaty formed."

She nodded, but shifted her attention back to the young Nourasian woman. She was a proper noble it seemed, beautiful, apparently well groomed, and silent since she had nothing to contribute, and no reason to intrude.

Aikka then saw Eva's eyes on her, "Oh, where are my manners? Eva, this is my fiancée, Luna."

Eva had to hold herself back from crying out, but settled for a simple outburst, "Fiancée? But, you're both so young!"

Luna spoke up, her voice soft, clear, and as beautiful as she was, "It's proper in the Nourasian court for this to happen at a young age, especially for the King."

"How did you become King?" Eva asked him.

"How else?" Aikka asked, "My father passed. On the trip home actually, I didn't get to see him after Oban."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Eva said.

"It's ok." He replied, "Now, please, we must be going."

"Oh, of course." She felt embarrassed, "Follow me." She started down a corridor.

"Wrong way!" Don called. He ran down, "Um, let me lead the three of you." He looked to Luna, "I'm sorry, but are you going to it?"

"I am." She said.

"But what business do you have there exactly?" Don asked as they walked.

"Just to stand by Lord Aikka's side as his future wife." She replied.

Eva hated the way she said "Lord Aikka" and "future wife". It made her sick.

Don pushed a door open to the war room. It was a large circular room; seats all round and surrounding a circular terminal in the center, used to display data. Zhrog and Salzor were still in it, working on a quick strategy that benefitted both sides in only one way, repelling the invaders, nothing else, in case a truce couldn't be formed.

Zhrog turned to the door, "Leave Salzor." He said.

Salzor looked up in surprise. Then he looked to the door. He was pissed that mere children, and two aliens, took more importance to him to a Crog lieutenant.

"I'll leave you all alone." Salzor said and graciously took his leave.

Zhrog nodded and gestured, "Have a seat." He took a spot of his own.

Eva, Aikka and Luna walked in. Eva sat across the terminal from Zhrog. Aikka and Luna sat in between them at the curve.

Zhrog looked to them in surprise, "I didn't expect a Nourasian."

"I am King Aikka of Nourasia." Aikka said. He didn't want to admit that he would be king only upon his marriage.

Zhrog merely nodded, "Let's get this settled."

On Earth, Nereus received a private message from Salzor. He activated the terminal in his own chamber and sat down. "Yes General?" He took a drink of his beer.

"We have arrived on Emproga." Salzor reported, "We've made contact with the Crogs, their lieutenant, Zhrog, seems interested in making the truce with us to repel these enemy forces."

"I see. Continue." He took another swish of his drink.

"The plan shall proceed, but it seems that we really will see combat here." Salzor reported.

Nereus finished his drink, "Ok, do as you must, then, near the endgame, end things. Remove every obstacle, clear your path, and then, fulfill the mission."

Salzor saluted, "I shall if you do your part."

Nereus smiled, "Oh, don't worry about me." He switched off the screen.

After nearly an hour of discussion, the continual sounds of combat, gunfire, and death echoing in the background, the three sides had made a truce.

Aikka, Eva, and Zhrog stood up, shaking hands.

"Let this truce bind us by our honor." Aikka said, taking a glance out of the corner of his eye at Zhrog, "Any honor we may have."

Zhrog wasn't a fool, he knew it was a shot at him, "We Crogs have honor too young one." He said.

Aikka held his tongue while Luna was in the room. He only nodded, "I'll look forward to seeing it."

Zhrog glared at him, slitting his eye, "Let's go. We have a battle to join."

Eva looked out into space as they walked; ships on both sides were destroyed. Earth ships like the Arrow, sleek ships, small versions of the large ships, gun ships, and some other, unique ships.

One ship caught her attention, a white ship, sleek on the bottom, ridges leading up to a cockpit and blades. It moved up, becoming a bit blocky, but kept its sleek form.

"What's that?" She wondered.

Zhrog, Aikka and Luna stopped and looked out.

"Impressive ship." Zhrog commented.

The ship split in half, the blocky parts being used to make "wings" on the sides and cut down enemy ships with gunfire and bladed wings.

A ship came from behind, and a blade on an anchor launched, destroying it.

"Very impressive." Zhrog said again, "What is that ship and who is the pilot?"

"I don't know. For either one." Eva replied. She was also very impressed.

Salzor walked down and looked, "Ah, the Lancelot."

They looked to him.

"Lancelot?" Eva asked.

"One of our A-Class ships." Salzor replied, "The Lancelot is top line, and has a top line pilot."

"Who?" Eva asked.

"Private Alistair J. Wilde."

Jordan approached the Creators.

"I wish to request that you give me the information on Emproga." He said. He lifted the Knight Stone, "Or I may have to use it."

"We have no information to give." A Creator answered.

"You created Emproga!" Jordan yelled, "It's at the edge of our universe, so it's ours! You made it!"

Energy encircled them all as Jordan's rage grew, his power becoming loose.

"We shall answer." A Creator said.

"What?" Jordan demanded, his power coming under his control.

"We know of it." Another answered.

"Then tell."

"We can not tell you of Emproga, not while the Gate is open." They all answered at once.

"The Gate?" Jordan asked. "What the hell is the Gate?"