Disclaimer: I do not own any of Andromeda's characters or other details. All rights belong to Gene Roddenberry and whomever else has legal rights to Andromeda. Casey , along with minor characters, and story idea however are mine.
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Chapter 20
Casey walked into the conference room that was filled with all the head people of the Atreus Pride, along with the crew of the Andromeda. The meeting was to go over the progress of the past month. Casey walked over to her chair, which was at the head of the table. Lord Reginald was on her right, with the Atreus leaders. Dylan was on her left, with the Andromeda crew. The Atreus leaders bowed their head to Casey as she took her seat. However, Casey noticed some of the leaders did it begrudgingly.
"You are looking well this morning Princess." Lord Reginald said greeting Casey.
"Thank you, so are you Lord Reginald." Casey said politely, then in turned looked to everyone around the table. "Thank all of you for coming. Now let us start, so all of you can get back to doing what is most important, which is bring the Atreus Pride back to it's prime." Casey stated and saw the approving looks of the Atreus leaders. "Lord Reginald, will you please start." Casey said giving him her attention.
"Of course your Highness." Lord Reginald said and started telling everyone about the money that was being collected secretly from all who supported the Atreus Pride.
Then Henry out of Marlin, from Nathan informed the counsel of the weapons being collected. They were at half their goal. Next, Lady Frances, out of Jennel, from Syrus, explained in detail the advances the Drago were taking in assuring that the Atreus Pride stayed under control.
"Dylan?" Casey asked wishing to hear what he had to report on the information Lady Frances just told them.
"I'm afraid, it worse than what we first thought. The Drago Pride has been blocking us at every turn. It's like they expect our moves. Which makes me suspect that the Drago Pride has a spy somewhere in the Atreus ranks. They couldn't guess at our plans so easily and get them right all the time other wise." Dylan frowned upset.
"Are you daring to accuse one of us as a filthy spy for the Drago's?" Henry demanded outraged coming out of his chair, while glaring at Dylan.
"Please calm yourself Henry. Captain Hunt, was only informing us of the possibility of a spy somewhere in our midst. He was not pointing fingers at anyone in particular." Casey said trying to calm the Atreus leaders. It was hard enough to bring a Pride back together. She didn't need a war to break out between the Atreus leaders and Dylan and the others.
"He better not be." Henry growled still glaring at Dylan, but reclaimed his seat.
"However, Captain Hunt does have a very good point. The Drago soldiers have been able to block almost all our attempts to reclaim some territory. Most of the time they are prepared for us. It is very unlikely that they should be so wise to all of our moves, unless they have someone on the inside leaking out information." Casey voiced her agreement with Dylan.
"It is none of us, I am sure. Everyone in this room is very loyal to you My Princess, and loyal to bring the Atreus Pride back to its former glory." Lord Reginald stated intensely.
"Absolutely." Lady Frances stated with a frown over at Dylan.
"I am very pleased and relieved to hear that. And rest assured, I do not suspect any of you. However I will be looking into this matter more deeply. Now let us continue." Casey said then turned to Beka. "Beka, how are the pilots coming along, and the ships?"
"Harper is working almost nonstop in getting the fighters ships up to date. Its slow, there's a lot of ships and only one Harper. He needs at least another couple of months to even be close to being ready. However, I'm afraid the pilots may needed more than a couple of months. They don't want to take orders from me. For one, I'm not Nietzschean, and two, they don't think I know anything because I'm a woman." Beka stated, her voice laced with annoyance.
"I thought we had over come this." Casey sighed frustrated looking upset over at lord Reginald.
"The soldiers, are having a hard time in accepting taking orders from a human." Lord Reginald said putting emphasizes on the human part.
"We'll they had better get use to it. I am tired of having my orders questioned, or worse ignored. Am I understood?" Casey snapped, letting her anger be very evident to everyone in the room.
"Yes, of course your Highness. I will see to it right away." lord Reginald said clearly unhappy at Casey's anger.
"Tell the men, if they wish to get rid of Capt. Valentine, then to prove to me that they are better pilots than she. If every last one of them can do that, then her services will no longer be needed. But until that time, she is their commanding officer, and they will act accordingly." Casey commanded.
"As you wish." Lord Reginald acknowledged with a nod.
"Also see if there is anyone who can assist Mr. Harper with his work." Casey order Lord Reginald.
Lord Reginald didn't comment, but he made a note on his pad.
"Now what about Trance?" Casey asked looking back to Beka. "Is she getting along alright?" Casey asked her tone once again calm and respectful to her close friend.
"Yes, is doing okay. Trance is Trance." Beka smiled.
Casey smiled, then turned her attention to Tyr. Her expression sobered as she met his gaze. "Tyr has informed me that the soldiers need more extensive training. They lack focus, and structure. They are not ready to stand against the Drago Pride. And he is right, I have seen them in action. If the Drago were to come at us with a full scale attack, our soldiers would not stand a chance. That is why I have asked him, if he would to come up with a training program that will get them ready for action. Whether it be against the Drago Pride or any other enemy that tries to oppose us. I would also appreciate it, if he would lead the training himself." Casey said looking up at Try, and watching his reaction. But he gave no reaction to her request. His face stayed neutral the entire time.
"He is not fit to train our men. Look what happened to his own Pride. He is the only remaining Kodiak. Apparently the Kodiak training was insufficient." Lady Frances declared in distasted. Her eyes hard as she stared at Tyr.
"Your men are weak and pitiful. The Atreus Pride deserves to be wiped out if they are your best. All of you are fools. If you had done your jobs right the first time, you wouldn't be here now, having to accept help from humans, or from me." Tyr stated his anger vibrating around the room.
"Enough!" Casey snapped authoritive. Her head ached like a sledge hammer was pounding between her temples. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly hoping to ease her tension headache. Everyone in the room became quiet, while Tyr and Lady Frances continued to glare at each other while everyone else turned to looked at Casey. "Lady Frances, you are declaring Tyr unfit to train the soldiers because his Pride was slaughtered?" Casey asked calmly once again.
"Yes." Lady Frances stated firmly this time turning to meet Casey's face.
"Is that how you all feel?" Casey asked looking at Henry, Lady Frances, Lord Reginald, and the couple of other Nietzschean leaders in the room, that had nothing to report."
"Yes your Highness." They all agreed.
"Your answers truly astounds me." Casey stated with a deep frown as she came to her feet, and met each Atreus's gaze. "Here it is that the Atreus Pride was almost completely wiped out by the Drago Pride. Instead of rallying up, and regrouping to take back what is rightfully yours, you all but give up, expecting to find your long lost princess to come and save you. You don't try to correct your mistakes. You don't search out what your weakness are and strengthen them. You expected me to do it for you. However Tyr Anasazi, the last remaining member of the Kodiak Pride has done nothing but better himself in mind, body, and skill. He has pushed himself beyond anyone I have ever seen, to be the best he can be. He expects no one to fight his battles for him. When he gets knocked down, which has been rare in my time with him, but when it happens, he picks himself back up and searches to find what he could have done different, and he does it. There is no one better in this room to train the men, than Tyr Anasazi." Casey said vehemently, her eyes bright with an inner fire. "I, myself have had the privilege to train under him. I still have a lot to learn from him. So if he is willing to take the job, then the job is his. If any of you still have a problem with that fact, then you have a problem with me." Casey said using her full authority. Casey looked over at Tyr, "I would appreciate if you would consider my offer, and let me know of your decision." Casey said composing herself.
"As you wish." Tyr stated calmly, all the while his intense gaze trained on her. Her words had touched him greatly. More so than anyone has ever before.
"If there are no further matters to discuss at this time, the meeting is adjourned. Dylan, I'd like to speak with you in private, if I may." Casey said retaking in her seat.
"Of course." Dylan said knowing Casey probably wanted to talk with him more about the possibility of their spy.
Everyone left the room quietly, with their own thoughts. Once the last person left and the door was shut, Casey let out a heavy sigh and put her head in her hands.
"Casey, are you okay?" Dylan asked concerned.
"I'm way out of my league here Dylan." Casey said taking a deep breath and sitting back to look at her friend.
"Your kidding, right?" Dylan asked amazed at her. "You handle everything, and everyone like a pro."
"I'm glad it seemed like it, but I sure didn't feel like it. I don't even know what I'm doing here. They are the ones that sought me out to lead them, but they question me at every turn." Casey growled frustrated.
"Just keep doing what you're doing. You can't let them make you question yourself, or let them see that they can rule you. If they see that they can get by with ruling you, then you will have lost before you start." Dylan counseled.
"I know, I know. Any way, I didn't ask you to stay so you could listen to me complain." Casey sighed but gave Dylan a small smile.
"We all need someone to rant and rave at every once in a while." Dylan smiled at her compassionately.
"Yes, but I made my decision, and I have to deal with it."
"That doesn't mean, you have to deal with it by yourself. That is what friends are for. And we are all here for you." Dylan said sincerely and compassionately.
"Thanks Dylan. You don't know how much that means to me." Casey said feeling calmer and more relaxed now at Dylan's words.
"I'm glad. So if you didn't ask me to stay so you could complain, what did you want to talk to me about? I'm guessing it has something to do with the spy?" Dylan said becoming serious again.
"Yes, but let's go for a walk and discuss it. I think I could use some fresh air, what about you?" Casey said giving Dylan a look that said "walls could have ears."
"Fresh air sounds like a great idea." Dylan said coming to his feet.