Chapter 35: Fractures Discovered
1 month after chapter 34
At the moment Tychus Findlay and his team were busy scouting the caverns below the island of Marmo. Their suits were sealed due to the radiation from the nuclear blast that Xapferey had detonated many years ago. Along with his team was a being only known as Cypher-Nine, the armor Cypher wore was pitch black and prevented anyone from knowing the gender or face of the one wearing it.
"We're clear, move up, the radiation seems to stop the moment we enter the caves," Cypher said in the monotone voice their suit produced. Moving up, the team continued onwards down through the caves, until they came to a massive deep cavern. The cavern was obviously deeper than their eyes could see, the reason being the massive amount of gold and treasures filling the bottom.
"Damn, boys. Looks like we hit the motherlode of jackpots." Tychus breathed in awe.
"Remember the deal," Cypher said quietly to Tychus. "2% for you and your men. Let's start loading up, I'll provide overwatch."
"When it comes to this much, 2% of it is still far more than I could ever spend." Tychus agreed. "Ok boys, you heard Cypher. Let's get this all loaded up and outta here. We've got a nice big paycheque to spend and I don't want anybody doing anything risky. I'm sure you'll wanta spend it as much as me."
"Keep your eyes for anything with the symbol you were briefed on, those are to set aside for our… benefactor to look at," Cypher said to the others.
"Yeah, yeah, keep your shirt on, Blacky. We know the drill, we've done it enough."
"Good," Cypher said simply before stepping back to observe.
The group, despite their mixed origins, were clearly efficient; sorting through the material wealth before them, loading it into the enchanted transports that had been created for this purpose and cataloguing everything as they went. All were clearly motivated and willing to work quickly and quietly, especially for a prize like this.
Unfortunately, things couldn't stay completely smooth and simple.
"Boss," One of the men yelled out. "We've got something strange here." Tychus and Cypher wasted no time in heading to the man's location, curious about what could have excited the man's attention.
"What have you got, Corporal?" Tychus barked. The man pointed at a nearby artifact, that looked unlike anything either human had seen before. Tychus's eyes narrowed.
"Cypher, any clue as to what the hell that thing is?"
"A depleted crypt key. Twelve of these will open Kardis' tomb. If we can find the other 11 we can reveal her tomb."
"Right. I'm not sure about you lot, but I'm more than a little uncertain if we actually want to do that. Even I know that some doors are best left closed."
"Indeed so, but my job is to confirm if Kardis' body was removed from Lodoss. If it is still here, we can prevent her rise into her true form and power," Cypher replied.
Tychus looked at Cypher. "I've seen some crazy shit in my time and I've learnt it ain't smart to stir up the hornet's nest. You sure you wanna do this?"
"No, but it needs to be done regardless. I'd rather leave it alone, but we need to know," Cypher insisted.
"Alright." Tychus sighed. "So, what do you suggest?"
"We find the other 11 in this… mess," Cypher suggested.
"Lovely." Tychus called over the rest of the group. "OK, boys. We need to find more things that look like this." He pointed at the crypt key. "If you see one, don't touch it but call us over, got it? We've got no idea what these things can do but we need to find them"
The others all murmured in affirmation, before heading back to their task.
Cypher seemed to glare around the room in annoyance.
"I don't like this, there's so much of Her aura around I cannot sense anything else."
Tychus shot Cypher a glance, but said nothing, realising that there was little he could do to help with that particular issue.
That same time
Korhol
After the battle against Kardis' forces, the majority of the Draconian armada dispersed back to their original patrol routes. However Malkira decided to stay longer and provide some additional protection, namely the capability of five Draconian Phoenix groups.
Currently the half-Dragon was once again meeting with the military leadership of the Dominion.
"With the fall of Earth to Kardis, the UED expedition fleet is at a loose end and that has me a little concerned," Malkira was saying.
Valerian winced. "I understand. All of us had believed we were largely beyond the reach of Earth, since they elected to throw our ancestors aside as garbage." His eyes flashed with anger as he finished. "And we have learned in short order that not only are we not beyond Earth's reach, they are not unaffected by the forces that shape us."
"Which brings me to my next point, thankfully the history of Draconia and the Dominion have remained quite amicable over these past couple months. It may be a bit early, but I am proposing a full military alliance between our realms," Malkira said.
The various generals and admirals looked between each other until finally Duke spoke. "In practical terms, such an alliance has already been primarily forged. Why choose now to make it official?"
"Because a formal alliance offers a greater deterrence to the UED. It also would give greater pause to any Protoss who wish to cleanse Zerg from your worlds regardless of the costs to the planet or the inhabitants," Malkira offered.
"And the Protoss are likely to do that? I would have thought after the events of Aiur, they might just be keeping something of a low profile for a while." Warfield commented.
"Honestly there are more factions of Protoss out there than the Khalai or the Nerazim. The second are the Dark Templar, but I don't think you have properly encountered them yet," Malkira explained. "Or even the possibility of rogue Protoss."
"So, would they be likely to pay any attention to such an alliance. Not that I'm against it, but I need to have a clear picture of what the result of this might be before I commit to such a move." Valerian asked, taking control of the room.
"Well, all of us either have some expertise in law or military matters," Malkira offered with a slight smile. "But the goal is deterrence, and we know deterrence doesn't stop problems, just makes them less likely to occur. Secondly, a more formal alliance means we can offer direct assistance from each other's militaries, I mean how many of you would want at the very least one of our Galaxy class battlecruisers helping to defend your worlds?"
Laughter rang around the room at the idea that any of them might turn such a thing down. All of them remembered the formidable ships from the very brief war with Draconia under Arcturus's rule and the thought of turning down that kind of assistance was unthinkable.
"Secondly, with your permission of course Emperor. I and my fleet will offer their services to help secure Korhol and when we can complete the next construction quota, we will also lend two Star Fortress ODPs for Korhol's protection."
Valerian inclined his head, "That is a very generous offer, Princess."
"Well the Dominion makes for better neighbors than Kardis at least," Malkira offered jokingly. "But seriously, part of the reason I should stay is I offer protection against her. While I cannot see as much as my father does, I can see enough to counter any moves she might make". A moment later Malkira's eyes widened as she looked at the stars in alarm. "I sense Kardis. I'll be back. Sari bekir thirku nomeno kornari, boga wer iski origato ve yoscam," Malkira suddenly transformed into energy and disappeared.
Shortly before Malkira's meeting
Deedlit walked through the settlement the Protoss had set up on their land and stared at all the various buildings. The Elves found the Protoss buildings to have an elegance they admired and included such advanced technology in their designs without compromising the ascetics.
For the High Elf Empress something felt odd in the lands and was coming to investigate while at the same time checking on the progress of their allies. Moving through the various areas, Deedlit walked around the base looking at the different structures the Protoss had built.
It was hard for the Protoss to not have their attention drawn to the stranger in their midst and shortly, the Praetor in command of the area greeted her. "Empress Deedlit, what brings you to our abode?"
"I came to see how you were doing, make sure that you had everything you required," Deedlit said. "That and admiring your architecture."
The Praetor chuckled. "Our warp technology is fortunate in that regard, we can replicate structures very simply and simply position them. If we were forced to build them physically, as do the Terrans, we would likely be forced to sacrifice our speed of construction to preserve the architecture itself."
"Yes, my people use our magic to shape the wood in trees to make our homes. Some Elves are so skilled they can sing buildings from the trees without harming them," Deedlit agreed.
The Praetor was surprised at that. "Truly, that is a remarkable gift."
"Our peoples are alike in many ways, slow to age, slow to change, but we respect the world around us."
"And yet, from what I have heard, both our peoples have had to embrace much change in short order. Your people have only relatively recently obtained space-flight, if I have heard correctly, and yet you have constructed such massive and powerful vessels that it is difficult to comprehend."
"Well, I know that your stasis field technology is similar in ways to ours. But we cannot do it often as ours doesn't freeze time, but speeds it up within the confines of the field."
"A remarkable achievement." The Praetor trailed off.
"Problem?" Deedlit asked.
"I am not certain." The Praetor said softly. "I mentioned that we have both embraced much change recently."
"Oh indeed," Deedlit agreed as the hair on the back of her neck began to stand on end.
"As you said, we as a people are slow to embrace change generally. Whispers of resentment and anger are beginning to spread. I know not what it means, but I fear our troubles and trials are not yet over."
"Indeed not, not until Kardis has been defeated, permanently," Deedlit said firmly.
"I do not doubt it." The Praetor's eyes locked onto Deedlit's. "But I suggest you be careful, Empress. Not everyone here understands, whether through blindness or not, the role that your people have played in the saving of ours. Their pride has been brutally attacked and they may choose the unworthy to unleash their anger on."
"Thank you for the advice, I will be careful," Deedlit assured him.
The Praetor nodded, bowing slightly before departing.
Deedlit nodded to him before turning and heading for the primary Nexus, something was causing the hair on the back of her neck to sand on end. Walking into the Nexus, the High Elf Empress looked around to see who was here.
"Ah Empress, what brings you here?" A Protoss asked her.
"Just coming to see how things were progressing for you," she answered.
"Indeed, many things have changed, especially now."
A hum of a plasma blade came from behind Deedlit At the same time, a burst of energy assaulted Deedlit's senses, alerting her to the nearby presence of Kardis on Forceria.
Deedlit ducked instinctively, the blade passing through where her head was a moment later. As she did so, the other entrances into the Nexus were suddenly swarmed with Protoss warriors, all with ignited blades or raised weapons. As the doors sealed behind them, Deedlit spun swiftly, counting at least forty hostile Protoss arrayed against her.
Deedlit's rapier appeared in her hand, the blade not metal, but plasma as she stared at them.
"What are you doing?" She demanded.
None of them answered, with the zealots simply charging into close range and slashing at her chest and legs, while the others sought higher ground to provide fire support.
Deedlit backflipped away, her rapier began effortlessly swatting away their attacks as she sensed Kardis' power surging nearby. Her eyes narrowed in response before she decided to fight back. The first Protoss was sliced cleanly through, shields and all.
"What do you hope to accomplish? None of you are strong enough to face me," she warned.
Clearly, the mastermind behind this sudden ambush was either not present or keeping their thoughts to themselves and the assassins had enough discipline to do the same, for all Deedlit received in response to her words were swords and occasional rounds of phase disruptor fire.
"Enough!" She barked, summoning all their plasma to her, absorbing the energy while their weapons died. "Last warning!"
Their reply was the mass use of psionics, the sudden change of tactics throwing even Deedlit momentarily off guard, forcing her back behind a console as she built her own power in reply.
Deedlit's response was a tidal wave of plasma energy, leaving nothing but smouldering armor where Protoss once stood. Lifting her head, she flared her power outwards alerting her people that something was wrong.
That same moment
Forceria orbit
IDS Starwanderer
The Starwanderer was a powerful Draconian ship, one of many Phoenix class dreadnoughts hovering over the homeworld of the Draconian Empire. However the moment Kardis' power flared throughout the system, the tactical officer had activated the shields to full power on instinct. An action that saved the ship considerable grief as the Spear of Adun unleashed her weapons into the mighty vessel.
"Hail them! Find out what the hell is going on!" The Captain of the Starwanderer barked.
"No answer!"
"..."
"Sir? Orders"
"Return fire, aim to disable her," he ordered, a moment later both titans were exchanging fire.
The same time
Outer system, Forceria system
Liberator (En route to Forceria after deployment to Fringes)
Nova's head jerked up suddenly, as she picked up Deedlit's warning. Behind her, a blaze of light blazed out, fading to reveal Malkira, as Jason turned wide-eyed towards the pair.
"What's going on?" He barked.
Nova shook her head. "Something's wrong on the planet. Deedlit's lighting up like there's no tomorrow."
"Kardis's aura is all over the place and mother's being attacked," Malkira warned.
Jason might not officially fly the Liberator any more, but he still knew the ship best. Without even looking away from the pair, he slammed the ship's throttle to maximum.
"Jess, bring the fleet to battle-stations. Maximum acceleration profile, I want us over the planet yesterday. Link me into the planetary sensor network, I need to know what's going on, right now." He commanded, not waiting for further information.
"Alert sounded, Commander. We are receiving combat chatter from the planet, it appears the Spear of Adun is actively engaging IDS ships in combat. At least one Phoenix-class is engaging and being engaged."
"Query the records. Tell me who the commanding officer on that ark-ship right now is."
"It's Aldaris," Malkira replied. "I can sense him."
Jason's expression twisted into a hateful mask that neither woman had ever seen. "I knew he was a slimeball. Should have trusted my instincts and spaced him." He took a breath to re-focus. "Jess, get me a firing solution on the Spear. I want it disabled and ready for boarding. That ship is not escaping here."
"Jess, inform the Captain of the Starwanderer, go to Quantum torpedoes, we have to breach their shields, however if it looks like it'll escape… transphasics are authorized, my authority!" Malkira requested.
With a feral roar, transmitted through even the near-vacuum of space, the fleet leapt forward towards the planet, but none faster than the Liberator. Even after the massive modifications made to the fleet since Jason's and Xapferey's meeting, the Liberator still out-flew anything else in the system by at least half. Within seconds, the Liberator's own sensors had picked up the battle in planetary orbit and Jess had her targeting lock established. Transmitting the data, the entire 12th fleet opened fire on the Protoss flagship, multiple blasts smashing into and through the rear shields and expending their anger on her hull, engines and weapons.
At the same time the 12th fleet began firing, the massive phaser turrets of the nearby Star Castle began firing into the Spear. Her forward shields were rippling like a pond as the massive station obliterated the ship's defenses. At the same time, several Sovereigns began bracketing the massive ship while firing their batteries into the Spear.
Despite this punishment, the Spear was not defenceless and was simply too large to shatter and break apart, even under the punishment she was enduring. The ancient ship was built with technology that only a few modern Protoss could comprehend, surpassing even Draconic technology on occasion. Her own massive batteries returned fire, targeting nearby Sovereigns, utilising every and all weapons at her disposal, even systems not designed for that purpose. Using her size to her advantage, her mutinous crew targeted multiple Sovereigns from each end of the ship with energy beams, either pulling them into collisions with other ships or, in one case, out-right tearing it in half. While the Phoenix's were too massive to be similarly affected and the 12th fleet, still half-way across the system, was too far for her weapons to reach effectively, the planetary defence fleet and stations were well within her reach and the Spear did not hesitate to punish the minnows within reach for her injuries with malice and viciousness. One smaller defence platform outright evaporated as she turned her heavy beam on it.
However, even her might was outmatched by the forces arrayed against her. With more of the 12th fleet reaching effective firing range; and the planetary forces and defences waking up to the sudden threat within their range, more and more fire was beginning to be directed against the ark-ship and it was taking its toll on the ancient vessel. Energy signatures mounted on the ship's decks, as more and more Protoss, choosing to follow the mad Judicator and the Dark Goddess, were warped on-board. Every Draconic royal family member felt Kardis's aura transport itself from the planet up to the ship, before she began to turn towards the outer reaches of the system.
Jason may not have sensed that particular delight, but he knew a fleeing ship when he saw one. But both he and Xapferey, far below but still trying to coordinate an effective defence against the unexpected attacker, knew that there was very little that they could do to out-right prevent its escape. Xapferey ordered the launch of transphasic torpedoes, but also knew it wasn't going to be certain of stopping the ship in time, and little would be still usable of it after they struck.
The cloaked mines surrounding the system began blasting into the Spear as it attempted to break through, the warheads blowing apart large unshielded sections of the Spear. As she was about to jump to warp, a large multitude of transphasic torpedoes bypassed the shields and obliterated large sections of the ship before and as it warped away. Yet, the familiar flicker of a successful warp jump was enough to tell the silent defenders that the escape had been at-least partially successful.
Forceria had fought its first space battle and the best that could be said of it was that it had finished as a draw for both sides. For Jason, fuming impotently in the Liberator's cockpit, Deedlit, watching silently with all her senses from the planet below and most of all Xapferey, the bitter taste of defeat was not something they cared for, still less from facing an attacker that was supposed to be an ally. Looking at the resulting toll on the planet and its defenders, one thing was clear.
The hateful equation that came from the mathematics of defeat was not something anyone desired to confront. The price it incurred was always far too high.
40 minutes earlier
Marmo
Cypher continued to pace and wait as the various depleted crypt keys were found among the treasure hoard. The moment all 12 had been found, they spun in a circle before flying into a wall, opening a pair of hidden massive doors. The tomb was large enough to hold a giant person, easily 20 feet tall. On the floor of the tomb was a gorgeous pulsing jewel. The group slowly moved into the tomb, treating the jewel with extreme caution. All of them had heard the earlier discussion between Tychus and Cypher and none of them saw the gem's beauty, but rather saw it as a warning. Leaving one man to guard it, the others spread carefully throughout the chamber, mapping and cataloging its contents. Unfortunately, none of them noticed the slightly brighter pulse from the jewel, and the sudden stiffening of the man guarding it, as his eyes flashed red momentarily as Kardis's influence reached out and took control of him.
Cypher looked around, alerted by the slight change. Tychus, noticing Cypher's sudden attention on the jewel, turned and focused on it as well. Both were just in time to see the guard reach for the jewel.
"NO DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Cypher roared, trying to stop him. Sadly Cypher failed to grab him.
"Thank you!" The man's image rippled into that of Kardis before she teleported away. A single spike lanced through where she had just been; Tychus trying to stop his man from touching the jewel, by any means, just also being fractionally too late. The resulting blaze of energy from Kardis's escape possessed enough power to shatter the tomb and throw the group against the rock wall, rendering all of them unconscious.
Draconia
5 minutes after Spear of Adun's escape.
"I WANT TASSADAR AND THE ENTIRE REMAINING PROTOSS LEADERSHIP HERE! NOW!" The Dragon God roared in his true voice at his guards. "BRING THEM, THEY HAVE ONE HOUR! OR I WILL DO IT MYSELF, AND I WON'T BE GENTLE!"
"There will be no need for such measures." Tassadar's voice rang out, noticeably subdued. Everyone spun, seeing the Executor, followed by Selendis and Zeratul enter the chamber. The remaining members of the Protoss leadership followed them and one thing was immediately obvious. No members of the Conclave or Judicators were among the group.
"Four Sovereign class, 3 Galaxy, 12 Nebula, 23 Defiant and 32 Nova class ships either destroyed or badly damaged. Plus 92 automated defense platforms. Care to explain just WHAT THE FUCK THAT LITTLE DEBACLE WAS ALL ABOUT?!" The Dragon's voice bellowed so powerfully it was even heard on Korhol.
Tassadar's posture showed all 357 years of his life and then doubled its weight in front of everyone's eyes. "I wish I could. I had heard rumours of discontent among certain tribes that previously held favour with the Conclave. But nothing reached me of anything more substantial than that. I was concerned when I heard that your wife was touring Protoss settlements today and requested some of my more trusted warriors to, if they found an opportunity, to warn her of the potential danger. But without anything more, I could not launch an investigation into my own people so soon after forcing them to be up-rooted from their home and forcing them to question the truth around the Dark Templar. Yet, clearly, there was far more truth to these rumours than I believed possible, and so soon after escaping Aiur. I cannot believe it!"
"Indeed not. This is something I haven't considered. But to join with KARDIS!?"
"Here's a better question. How did she manage to manifest any kind of presence, here of all places, without you knowing about it?" Jason's voice drew everyone's attention as he stormed into the room behind the Protoss, Malkira and Nova behind him. While certainly not as impressive as a livid dragon god at the height of his power, Jason's own rage wasn't easily dismissed by anyone.
"Because I was meeting with Phalaris, God of Darkness, I was looking for a way he could strip Kardis of her divinity, he is technically greater than her. He could have theoretically robbed her of the divine authority of being a Goddess of Lodoss. It would have diminished her power greatly, his aura was masking my senses," Xapferey explained. "He doesn't like her, and even during the War of Gods, he asked her to join his side last, near the end of the war."
"And let me guess, he can't do it." Jason deadpanned, ignoring the otherwise fascinating history lesson.
"Oh he can, the question is, what's in it for him? My presence and Kardis being gone tips things in the light gods' favor. Why should he give us this benefit?"
"Other than the fact that it would boost his own power and not really alter the scales all that much? Probably nothing. But that isn't the most interesting thing I've heard today." Jason's eyes narrowed at Xapferey.
"Which is what?" Xapferey asked.
"You see, I got a distress call as I entered atmosphere. From Marmo. From Tychus, of all people. Babbling about some tomb he found with the help of one of your people and seeing something terrifying enough to make him shit his pants. Which given his record, is quite an impressive feat. Some kind of jewel and one of his men touching it and turning into Kardis and vanishing." Jason raised his eyebrows. "Now, I'm very curious as to why some of my men, and the very close friend of a man who is a brother to me, is searching tombs in areas where they aren't supposed to be and apparently have your assistance to do it."
"Fine," Xapferey removed the divine power from his voice. "Jason, what do wars need most of all?"
Jason snorted. "Information. It's the best super-weapon you can ever find."
"What else?"
"Resources and power." Jason sighed.
"Exactly. On Marmo island was a massive treasure horde. At the same time, I wanted Kardis' tomb investigated. In case she was still in it. It was a gamble yes, but one that would have been worth it. We could have ended her period if her body was there. I had to know. Secondly, divine portfolios do not work that way Jason. As the next God who has the greatest potential authority over destruction, if Kardis had been stripped, as God of Technology and Creation, who do you think has the most potential to take that portfolio after Kardis?"
"You. Lovely. So, we can basically close down that avenue completely. But it still doesn't explain why you are using my people to hunt something practically world-ending and not telling me about it. If you know anything about terrans and tombs, it's that they often open doors that are best left shut. We could have least had some chance to prepare if I'd know that was a possibility. Remember the discussion we had on how not all of your plans are good? Add this to your 'My god, that was a spectacularly stupid idea list.' It seems to be growing."
"I sent Cypher with them for a REASON! She's over 6000 years old. I wanted the tomb open in front of ME so I could stop this SORT OF SHIT FROM HAPPENING! But SHE got the bright idea to look for HERSELF!" Xapferey growled.
"Just goes to show, being old doesn't equate to wisdom. The team's fine, by the way, Jim's getting them out of there, apparently the tomb collapsed as Kardis left, knocked them all for six. I'd be glad of that, if I were you, because it's about the only thing that stopped Jim coming with me to kick your arse. He's as protective of his friends as I am."
"Good to hear. You should know I sent him to recover tens of thousands of tons of gold and precious gems. More than enough to pay for the entire war effort and keep my economy afloat if we start to run a deficit during or after the war. I have to pay the soldiers, their families in the event of a soldier's death, Jason."
Jason closed his eyes, trying to ward off a headache. "Right now, I don't want to deal with this. We have enough other screwups to deal with right now. As much as I want to kick your arse halfway around the planet, we're going to have to work out how to keep your people from wanting several tonnes of Protoss flesh and the Protoss from pulling out of this alliance because they're afraid of being held responsible for things they didn't do."
"Ok first of all how is this MY fault? Secondly we place the blame clearly where it belongs. We make a formal announcement and blame the Judicators and Conclave. Finally we shouldn't have to remind the Protoss just how much they owe us. First for saving them on Aiur and because this debacle has left them even weaker than before."
Fury was beginning to return to Jason's eyes, after having previously faded somewhat. "It is at least in part your fault because YOU sent that team and YOUR liaison who you trusted made things far worse. For that, you are ultimately responsible as the commander. If you haven't worked that out yet, then we have some serious problems. Secondly, the fact that there's a formal announcement isn't going to stop people from gossiping and spinning stories. People will think that they're not being told the full story, because that's the nature of who people are, and that fear of the unknown, no matter how undeserved, will cause us problems, on that you may rely. As for the Protoss, they've already had their world turned upside down, they're not going to be thinking clearly either. Tassadar and his team," Jason waved slightly towards the attending Protoss, standing slightly out of earshot, "know the full story and are more than smart enough to understand, but many Protoss are still getting used to trusting him again after the Conclave branded him, and then Artanis, as traitors. On top of that, they're still recovering from the shock of losing their homeworld. This has come too fast on the heels of that for them to be completely rational about this and expecting them to be is just plain nuts."
"Dammit," Xapferey muttered. "Leave my people to me. For them I am literally the voice of God. As for Cypher… Damnation…. I'll have her arrested for treason, disobeying my orders was bad enough, if she had managed to stop that avatar from manifesting… I could have overlooked it. But with her actions causing such a situation I will have to order her execution. As for the Protoss, Deedlit is still there and will handle things considering she's still flaring her aura and the Protoss are running scared. She'll whip them into some form of mental coherency, but I will have to have them confined to their base and send in some troops as observers for now."
Jason sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing. The tightrope we're on just got a hell of a lot higher. I'll catch Jim and Tychus, try and hose them down somewhat." Jason's eyes locked onto Xapferey's. "We might head over to the Protoss settlements as well, try and do some good there."
"Cypher is to hold the majority of the blame for this. As a Draconian officer Jim has the legal right to carry out any sentences I lay down, that should hopefully appease him. As the God of my people, Jason, I felt their deaths. Their loss. I knew their names, their lives. I am tied to my people as they are tied to me. Thankfully they were able to recover all of the treasure I sent them for, a minor balm at least. Do take a look at the treasury on your way out."
Another flicker of rage passed over Jason's face before it smoothed out again. "I'll pass, thanks. I have other places to be." Without another word, Jason walked out, nodding to the Protoss as he left.
Make sure to arrest and execute Cypher please Jason, I have too many fires to put out to do it myself. Xapferey sent mentally before turning to the Protoss. "I shouldn't have to say just how much of a difficult spot I am put in because of these events. Believe me I am not happy and am trying very hard to restrain my natural instincts to start smiting and charbroiling."
Tassadar didn't look any happier. "I understand all too well. Lord Admiral Davis, from what I could hear, has summed up the situation well and we have both our peoples to calm and quickly. His concerns are not easily dismissed. What I do not know is how that can be done."
"Indeed not, my people I can command with a word. But I have to give them answers. I loathe scapegoating people. But I will state that one of my agents defied strict instructions resulting in a manifestation. A fair chunk of your people were swayed by her, but according to my wife some attempted to warn her of the discontent and she saw some evidence of the betrayers clashing violently with people less loyal to the Conclave. The agent will be arrested and executed and the traitors with your help I will sever them from the Khala."
Tassadar nodded slightly as he considered the Dragon God's words. "That may go some way towards assisting with the relations between our people's, but I am unsure if it will be enough. We cannot know how far the poisonous words have sunk into the minds of my people and even with your support, your own people will be greatly aggrieved by today's events and look for someone to blame for it. I doubt that they will confine that blame to those actually responsible."
"I can find out. But my people will want an accounting, I agree they will find it hard to confine that blame. But as I said to Jason, I am the word of God to them. Defying my will isn't done lightly. You have to remember my people have taken the existence of Gods and their abilities as gospel for thousands of years. Think of it like… a youngling Protoss attempting to defy the will of the full Conclave, it is not so easily done, and the punishments of doing so are harsh."
"I hope you are right, my friend. I hope you are right." Tassadar said quietly, concern for the future clear on his face.
"You and me both. At this point, we need to consider all options. Tassadar, I need you to go through Starcraft, make notes, I know it inside and out. But I'm hoping you can see something we may have missed or something of use in what remains of canon."
"As you wish."
2 hours later.
Outskirts of Protoss base.
Deedlit sighed as Jason stepped off the transport and she walked towards him to greet him.
"Jason," she said with a nod.
"Empress." Jason nodded back. "I hear you had a rough day."
"We all have Jason. We all have. This is a debacle for sure."
"That's being generous, to put it mildly. I can't think of a single way we got anything good out of this other than we survived. Our lives just became a hell of a lot harder."
"Well, the fact that we can pay for the war is something minor. But it is better than nothing. It means if we do win this war, we have an easier time winning the peace afterwards and that is even harder than winning the war."
Jason shook his head. "Perhaps but winning the war just became a hell of a lot harder." He glanced around looking at the nearby Protoss. Even without being telepathic, it was easy to see that low morale was running rife among the settlers. "How is everyone holding up?"
"Better than if I were not here, my affinity over nature helped them soothe some hurts as they connect with Forceria itself. Everyone is suffering, even we gods aren't exempt."
"Well, I hope you have some ideas on how to turn this around. In the space of a month, they've lost a large chunk of their population, their homeworld, much of their self-respect and dignity, and now more of their people, their reputation and on top of that, one of their sacred ark-ships. This isn't going to be easy to solve, god or not."
"No. it won't. But I'm open to suggestions. Can I be honest with you Jason? I think you're riding Xapferey a bit too hard for this. He literally has the weight of the universe on his shoulders, he had to order the death of a friend who admittedly screwed the pooch big time. But think of how you would feel if say… Mathew Horner died. He's close to you, you know his life. That's how it felt to Xapferey, thousands of times over. Each death stabbing him like a physical knife to the heart. Every one of those deaths is on his conscience."
Jason closed his eyes, thinking for a second. "I can understand that. It will cut deep into him, I know. I don't blame him for the Protoss or Aldaris, none of us saw that coming, whether we trusted him or not. But his little 'off-the-books' mission? Pulling my people into that? Then, when it all went arse-up, trying to not take responsibility for it? If anything, I'm taking it easy. I learned a long time ago that when you lead, you have to take responsibility for not only your actions, but those of the people you lead. You are responsible for guiding them along the correct path, their training and everything else. You give them the tools they need to get things done and accept part of the credit when they get the job done for you because you do that. But it also means you accept part of the responsibility when things go wrong. You answer for it, because you are the visible face of your people. Your actions reflect on them and their actions reflect on you. Trying to dodge that cost your husband some of my respect today."
"True, we do accept responsibility but I also think you're losing sight of the bigger picture. Xapferey isn't an Admiral, he's an Emperor, and he has to balance relationships between countries and other leaders. His actions on Marmo were primarily risky to his relationship with Marmo and Emperor Beld. Marmo is a major supplier of magically stable and reactive ingredients. Cypher had no direct visible ties to Draconia, and Tychus had few. He was giving himself some plausible deniability with Marmo. We need Marmo for their manpower and magical substances they are trading to us. Losing Marmo would mean a manpower cut of at least 6-10% in the next 4 years. A trade loss of 20%, production loss of 18% and a net job loss leading to a global unemployment rate of at least 32%. I know the facts seem dry but we are talking about people's jobs, livelihoods at risk. He was putting his people first by going after that gold. Secondly Cypher swore an oath to obey his instructions, oaths for us are not just legally binding, but magically binding. Even sometimes to the point breaking the oath will forfeit their lifeforce. This is primarily Cypher's fault. If she had been caught, Xapferey would have to disavow her. Xapferey gave her strict orders, and the tools required for the job. This is all on Cypher. Disobeying means she forfeited her powers, maybe even her life if she isn't executed first."
"But Xapferey designed, planned and ordered the mission executed. He chose Cypher to lead it. I'm not saying she's without fault either, but everyone learns from their mistakes. The fact he isn't acknowledging it as a mistake on his part makes me think he's not learning from it and that concerns me more than anything else."
"Xapferey ordered it, Cypher did all the designing and planning. Believe me he's learning from it. I can feel his emotions Jason and he's going over it in his head again and again, trying to find a way it could have been done better. He's hating himself for letting this slip up so badly and is trying to make it better however he can. Even if the costs are dear to him in one way or another. Having to give the order to execute Cypher would be like you having to give the order to have Jim executed. Believe me he's taking the blame, but he's trying not to look weak at the same time. Politics," Deedlit snorted.
"I don't agree, but frankly, we have better things to be discussing. I didn't come here to pick up this same argument with you. You have your opinion, I have mine and I don't think we're going to change the other's mind." Jason sighed. "So, of more importance, what are we going to do from here?"
"Well, Xapferey is having Tassadar go over Starcraft back to front to see if there's anything we missed, or good ideas from the original canon we can use. As the Magistrate of Mar Sara, I was hoping you could do the same. Give us a second set of eyes. But I think we need to activate and convince the Purifiers to help us. For one, for two, Xapferey or I will need to at least do a personal investigation inside the Khala. That has to be done, our people want answers, and while we can placate them by using Cypher and the Conclave as scapegoats, we will need proper thorough assurances that this won't happen again."
"I can go through it, sure. I'll even get the others to do the same. But I don't think this is going to go away that easily. Not nearly that easily."
