The conference room filled with many members of Zha's command staff, Zha herself notably absent, and a half armored Vaukt with a black sweater on. Dyb herself was present but more as a peacekeeper on Vaukt's side in case of any issues revolving around Saro. Preparations for the meeting were still ongoing as Vaukt lit yet another smoke, his fifth that day. The Shadow Strikers themselves soon boarded the small cruiser, along with the Vortians.
"They're aboard." Sko relayed to Vaukt, sitting at the table next to Kiz. The Invader sporting a single antenna but yet remaining active ever since Vylat.
Within a matter of minutes, the conference room door whisked open. Ship security escorted Vult, Corr, Haxx, and Aero through the threshold. The Commander immediately noted the various states of the High Marshal's command staff. Men and women surviving their weeks-long ordeal at the hands of Internal Affairs. Noticeably absent was Zha herself. Understandably so, he said nothing of it.
"General," the blue-eyed Irken nodded, he and his cadre moving to take their respective seats.
All but one followed suit. Aero, whose normally cheerful, bubbly disposition soured with twisted displeasure and a darkened glare as she stormed around the table quicker than Vult could intervene. Dyb's confused attempt to assuage her saw her unkindly shoved aside with force. Her target of ire none other than the infamous Nightmare himself.
His hands made it about halfway up in vain to signal no malicious intent before Aero's right fist crashed into the side of his jaw with authority. One moment he was standing, the next he was intimate with the deck, spitting broken teeth and blood in a daze.
"THAT'S for stompin' my spooch out on Vort, jerk!" She pointedly spoke, Dyb rushing to intervene only to get the same finger thrust in her face. "What? You want some too?! I'll flip ya like a pancake!"
"Aero." Vult unkindly spoke, intervening. "Sit down. Now."
Unwilling as she was to relent, the Commander's authority was respected. Not before start-stepping towards the purple-eyed Elite liberated by Vaukt to startle her into a flinch much to Haxx's amusement.
Vult, watching as Saro attempted to collect himself after being flattened wholesale, gestured to the two nearest sentries in the room. "Make yourselves useful and escort him to the infirmary."
"I can tell this is already going to be swell…" Vaukt sighed and took a drag of his cigarette.
Saro was helped out of the infirmary by a pair of Troopers who served as security with Dyb as Kiara entered the room after needing to use the head. The armored Vortian served as the Federation's representative, merely observation for this meeting to keep the Admiral apprised of goings on with their allies.
The gathering watched as Saro was aided to his feet and provided a means to stay the bleeding for the duration of the trip to medical. Vult settled back into his seat after their departure with a sigh.
"He deserves far worse but it will suffice." He acknowledged, Aero nodding in agreement as she haughtily folded her arms. "Now that that's over with…it is good to see your return from Vort."
"It's a bit more complicated now…but we can talk about that later." Vaukt began as he took a drink from a mug of Vortian bean water. "I think it's more important now than ever that we need to discuss our future and get on the same page. We're now forced into rebellion and we need to stay striving to the same goal to bring down the Empire and not end up fighting each other."
Vaukt's words furrowed the Commander's brow in confusion.
"I'm…not sure I understand. Why would we end up fighting each other? The common goal is clear as can be. The systematic dismantling of the Empire and removal from power over the Irken people…and respectfully, isn't it a little soon to be counting our smeets before they've hatched?"
"Not entirely." He paused to take a drag, "I think it's entirely necessary, especially over potential ideological differences, that we have this conversation in person and not over a screen. We may not need to make a decision now but we do need to start considering what's going to come after the Empire. We need each other, but with what follows…I must admit I've been mulling it over and I have my own ideas."
"Which is what exactly, General?" Kiara asked.
"A military government run by the veterans. You serve, you get your say in the government, access to greater privileges over civilians. Stability, order, all under a scheme of promotion by merit instead of height so we remove this rot of incompetence that seems to persist among our species."
"So a sort of dictatorship, General?" Corr cut to the heart of the matter with his own question.
"I am something of an autocratic type when it comes to politics so, I suppose so. If anyone else has any ideas I'm listening."
Aero blinked, her expression pursed.
"...how's that different from now? Minus the height stuff? Just replace height with "you kill stuff good" and it's the same thing."
"Not saying we're going to go out and do rampant conquests. Think of how things were under Miyuki. Keeping to ourselves, slow expansions to uncolonized planets, fighting defensively when we have to. That's what I'd prefer to shoot for."
Red Team's Lieutenant appeared all the more perplexed, scratching her head.
"...so you want the military stuff…but don't wanna do military things? I may not be the sharpest bulb in the crayon box, Sir, but that don't make a lick of sense to me."
"Clearly he doesn't know what to do without it." Haxx chimed in.
"Well then, Haxx, what would you do if you had the freedom to choose your own occupation?" Vaukt flatley asked in reply.
Haxx paused before frowning, "...This."
Kiara sipped from a mug given to her from one of the others in the room with hot bean water. A nice taste of home was always favored as she softly smiled. "It seems he may be falling back on what he knows because it's really all you know," she added to the conversation. Then her attention turned to Vult. "Vult, you look like something's on your mind."
Being directly addressed left him with little option but to respond in kind. His attention turned back to Vaukt across the table from them, taking a deep, slow breath to clear his thoughts and settle himself.
"...explain to me what is different from what you seek for our people compared to what Grimm hopes to impose over us, General."
"Do I look like I intend to go off on rampant conquests and senselessly throw lives into the grinder?"
"A militant autocracy without war is useless in concept. You yourself stated you are bred for battle and thrive in conflict. Peace is opposed to the idea. We seek change, not a continuation of the same under new management."
The weary General only sighed before taking another drag of his smoke, black eyes closed.
"I suppose you're correct there. I wouldn't know the first thing to do with peace and nothing to go fight for a change. It sounds…intolerable." His eyes opened once more. "I suppose I'm speaking to my occupation like our Vortian friend pointed out. I don't know anything else."
"Get used to the idea. One day, if we survive this, there will be no more war to fight." Vult countered, leaning back in his seat with a steepling of his fingers before him. "You do have a step in the right direction though. Rewards and station through merit and capability. Rather common norm across the universe but alien to us."
"Well, what'd you have in mind, Sir?" Aero genuinely pursued now that the topic had come up. "I mean, I get that we're all pushing to get rid of the bad…but we're gonna replace it with something better, right?"
"That is the intention, yes." Vult acknowledged, gathering his thoughts. "I'm certain there will be criticism and detraction to the idea, but this entire experience has taught me a great deal. The freedom of choice. The independence of thought. I've heard it referred to as "master of your destiny" by the Vortians. Captain of your own vessel and that vessel is the physical space you occupy in this universe. The same freedoms bestowed upon all of us, I wish to see the Irken in their entirety be given the same."
"Okay…but how do you manage something like that?" Haxx chimed in, equally intrigued now. "Sounds great on paper if not a little idealistic…no offense, Sir."
"It is, but aspirations for greatness are never without challenge." The Commander admitted, returning to his verbal input. "We all share the same fault of being soldiers. Some of us may make the argument that leadership would transfer beyond that of military application. I am not so bold or foolish to make such claims. Our units function on discipline and respect for the chain-of-command. Freedom and independence naturally oppose this. Order and chaos. Equilibrium must be struck between them. My current concept is similar to Vaukt's in the sense we are to cease our imperialistic ways. No more conquest. No more invasion. No more aggressive expansion. Focus on internal matters and build from within. A republic of elected leaders based on merit and competency in their fields of expertise, permitting every Irken a say in matters that would affect their daily lives through a representative on their behalf in a congregation of peers."
"...so…like if Haxx was picked to speak for me and do the things I want for me?" Aero attempted to make sense of Vult's words.
"In a sense, yes. You and whomever else that representative was chosen to represent."
"What if the people don't agree though. How's it work then?"
"It isn't perfect, but others across the universe are able to make it fair and just. All the more reason why I feel this discussion is far too early in its infancy with the looming threat of the Empire over all of us still."
"An important first step at least. Start the brainstorming process, at the very least," Vaukt spoke. "We can think on it when you have free time and Corr's girlfriend seems like a treasure trove of knowledge to help with that when it becomes more pertinent."
"She has. We've discussed much about the history of the Irken Republic, how the Republic decayed, what we can do to prevent that. Not to mention all that knowledge Byte provided to us early on." The Captain proved much the expert in history. "I think we can forge ahead on accomplishing this."
"See, I knew it." Vaukt took a sip from his mug, "As for now, we also do need to discuss our battle plan. I am currently the highest ranking officer of this movement."
"Zha isn't joining us?" Corr blinked, confused.
"No, no, she's just…out of it. She's in absolutely no state to command even a maid staff right now."
"So…what's the score now? Everyone that already hated the Empire's guts, us, and about half of Special Operations with all those guys you busted out of the prison against literal billions of soldiers?" Aero pointed out with an uneasy laugh.
"As of the current, yes." Vult acknowledged, looking to Vaukt. "...and no disrespect meant, Vaukt, but you are quite presumptuous in assuming operational command over this. I want to hear what you have in the ways of stratgem first."
"We'll have to coordinate with the Federation even more now. Hit and fade attacks with our vessels, supply denial in space, use what Invaders we have for infiltration, we'll need our own intelligence network. But if we want to have any choice of hitting the Empire on an even footing, we need a strategic objective, Destructia."
"You and I both know with the exception of Destructia none of those things are going to have a lasting effect. Losses are inconsequential to the Empire as with the exception of the Planet Jackers, I am unaware of any other peer-adversaries that will give them pause now." Vult countered, being the grim realist. "I am not saying we won't benefit from them in the short-term but each haul of supplies, weapons, and equipment we appropriate is one more target on our backs and we will run out of luck or places to hide."
"Wait, wait, wait…Destructia?" Aero interjected. "The place we took the genome to? The new Devastis? How the heck could we even pull something like that off?"
"With the Federation Navy and our military at your back." Kiara began, "You have a decent army, but it's an army of special forces. You're not winning any war without conventional troops."
"That's definitely my thought." Vaukt nodded, "We need the Federation's help to wrest Destructia from the Empire's hands and that will allow us to start churning out our own Republican Elite and Troopers, as it were."
"A different flavor of meat for the same grinder." Vult dejectedly observed.
"Don't have much of a choice otherwise, Sir." Haxx shrugged. "No way we can stand toe-to-toe with the Empire regulars. Sheer numbers alone will overwhelm. Gotta bolster the ranks somehow."
"That doesn't make me like it any more as it is…" He commented with a huff, gathering his thoughts. "...Destructia will be the movement's first decisive blow against the Empire. Its resources will become ours and a new foundation to build off of. A lot of planning, reconnaissance, and preparation will be required to ensure its success."
"Well, the General's got a whole bunch of guys who specialize in that stuff." Aero pointed out with a smile.
"Indeed. Now is a time to plan and prepare. Recruitment to the cause to build alliances. Toppling the Empire may not entice everyone alone on merit but we need all the help we can get."
"So, what, like sending people out to ask for help?" Haxx queried.
"Precisely. Aid the movement however they can, whether it be soldiers, weapons, supplies, ships, anything. So long as the Empire can out-clone whatever casualties we inflict, their victory through attrition is inevitable."
"The Planet Jackers getting on our side would be a good choice right now." Vaukt added, "Considering their newfound animosity to the Empire thanks to you, if we can have them on our side, Impending Doom can't proceed and they'll be forced into an immediate defensive footing, focused on them."
"Yeah, good luck with that after very deliberately poking them in the eye." Aero muttered. "Even if we were pretending to be the Empire, they'll still see Irken as the ones responsible…which is technically correct."
Vaukt's head gestured towards Kiara.
"They don't have anything against us Vortians, he's right. The Federation could try taking the lead on that one. See what they want and what we can offer them to get them on our side. Draft an alliance between them and our resistance movement."
"It sounds like we need to prioritize Destructia. That'll give us troops but what about ships?"
"I imagine as of the moment whatever Krata and other Federation colonies are able to produce. Destructia's capabilities are unknown at this point in time. If it is anything how Devastis is, they will be capable of producing anything from the smallest of shuttles to the largest capital ships." Vult observed. "All the more reason to avoid direct confrontation with the Armada. They can replenish losses easily. We cannot."
"It still takes us three months to crash-build even a destroyer," Kiara added. "Try not to take extensive naval losses, especially of larger capital ships."
Corr pondered briefly before speaking.
"...it's a bit of a long shot but Calla told me the possibility of pre-Empire Irken still being alive in the universe somewhere. A massive, deep-space exploration and research vessel that refused General Krad's Grand Design. What little information I've managed to dig up on it outside of it being an urban legend is there were enough Irken aboard, assuming they lived long enough, to establish a permanent home elsewhere in the universe with a sustainable population. That was, at a minimum, 400 years ago. Long enough for multiple generations of Irken to be reared."
"The longest of shots…but not improbable." Vult commented, looking about the room to gauge. "No one has taken the time or effort to seek them…perhaps there is that remote possibility."
"Yeah, but space is huge!" Aero pointed out, gesturing with sweeping arms. "It could be weeks, or months, or even years before they're found…if at all."
"If they even wanted to be found." Vaukt quietly added. "But it's not impossible. If you have their last known trajectory, plot a course, find all planets along the way that look suitable for us Irken: rich, lush, habitable, oxygen atmosphere."
"Not Irk, got it." Aero flashed a thumbs up.
"Unless there's objections to the idea, put together a small team, prepare a vessel for deep-space exploration, and point them in the general direction. As Vaukt stated, at worst they find more planets to colonize along the way."
"Places to hide and lay low." Haxx read between the lines.
"Precisely. There is no doubt in my mind none of what we conspire will go according to plan. Always have a fallback position…or three."
"We have here, Earth with Kazak, Krata with the Vortians, and we'll have them, if we find them." Vaukt summarized. "That does leave the matter of our ships. I've been having my loyalists scouring all our vessels, tearing out all of the tracking equipment and trashing them while they were en route here. That also leads to your team's own vessel. By now they likely know you're not going to assassinate me, so they're going to consider your entire team insubordinate. It's up to you how you want to address that matter."
"Not to mention, Commander, what's our new primary mission? There's us, Black Team from Mirage, half their Red Team. Between us and them, we have enough troops for operations and seeing to it that we train troops." Corr added to the conversation.
"I had intended to assign several in an advisory and instructor role at Haven for the time being. Willing and able as they may be, they still began life as Drones. Soldiers, they are not. However, I am not keen on cutting our own capabilities drastically and spreading ourselves too thin at the least opportune moment." Vult reasoned in retrospect.
"Well, I trust you on what you need to do, Commander." Vaukt began as he finished his smoke and deposited the remaining nub into an ashtray. "Myself…and I absolutely hate that I'm saying this, but I'm going to take the two stooges to their new prison facility on Earth after I stop at that Vortian station to pick up some psychiatric support staff. Zha needs to recover and…without her, I am effectively Supreme Commander and mostly alone. I need her to command the regulars as soon as possible."
Sko blinked in absolute shock. "Are you actually saying that you're not leading from the front for a change? I never thought I'd see the day."
"Me neither, I thought I'd be dead. This war effort is a high priority but…I have my personal reasons for fighting in this war that I want to enjoy spending time with my woman. That said, given the circumstances, Sko, I'm creating a new rank of Lieutenant General, congratulations, you're promoted."
"Thanks, boss." Sko grinned, "Won't let you down."
"Kiz, Colonel, as I need Sko heading SpecOps with my absence you're now head of the Republican Invaders. Think you can handle it?"
"Without a doubt, General."
Vaukt paused with a sigh, "And I know you guys aren't going to like hearing this, but the man earned his rank ever since two of you set him straight, but I need to make Saro Lieutenant General and heading up the Republican Elite that we do have. Any objections, let's hear it now."
"Whoa, whoa, hold the fuck up, Saro?! You want to make Saro a Lieutenant General?!" Kiara immediately began yelling in an objection. "You must be head over heels for that woman of yours because that's the quickest way to piss off the rest of the Federation! I wasn't even at the front from my post on Vort and even I know of his reputation."
"I'm aware of his pa-"
"He's a fucking war criminal, simple as." Kiara summarized.
Vaukt simply sighed and looked at Vult and Corr. "What about you two?"
"She's not wrong." Vult concurred. "Personal prejudice aside, he garnered a reputation on Vort for a reason. It wasn't just duty or service. He intended to cause as much misery and suffering as he could inflict. You all saw what Aero did to him."
"Lucky that's all I did to him." She grumbled.
Vult gestured to his Lieutenant. "There you have it…you're going to have to really sell the idea to Kiara and her people, General. Quickest way to see them tell us good luck and leave us on our own if you ask me."
"Maybe I should make you a Major General." Vaukt said jokingly on Vult's useful input. "I suppose we can still put him over what Elites we do have."
"That might still give the Federation some real pause, you know." Kiara reminded, "Like he said, the Admiral might not hesitate to pull his support."
"I'm not concerned with rank and posturing at this point in time. Whatever keeps everyone in line and disciplined, so be it. I also do not want any of us to be the "face" of this movement, either." Vult clarified, pointedly speaking to Vaukt. "This is about our people, not the individuals. The Empire seeks glory. We seek truth and retribution."
"That's going to be a problem for my segment of men, all things considered, you know."
"You are responsible for them, so it is your responsibility to see to it that it doesn't become a problem, General." Vult countered, pulling no verbal punches on the matter. "...as for the issue of Saro, keeping him as far away from the Federation and its people as possible is the best course of action. If there is one thing the…man is competent at, it is field command. Ample combat experience and the mentality necessary to wage war from a disadvantage. He had a taste of high strategy and now has all the opportunity in the universe to continue studying it. For now…I think he would benefit most here at Haven, training the first iteration of the Republic Army."
"A good start. We'll have no pressing combat operations for the moment that will need him and…Zha's staff here are just as capable, if someone is around to threaten to put a boot in their ass at times. We only have so few conventional troops as it is, training these drones it is until we have Destructia…very well then."
"Eventually we're going to have to smooth things over involving him if he's that crucial to the movement." Kiara added.
"Indeed, but that's a much later concern."
"From what the General told us, personally gutting Colonel Niz after being liberated from T'daali Correctional Facility is a good start." Vult observed. "She made an effort to ensure captured resistance fighters suffered. Saro put an immediate stop to that."
"Monsters fighting monsters. How poetic." Aero muttered with a scowl.
"What do you think I do for a living?" Vaukt directly asked her. "I enjoy what I do. You don't think I want to be out there cracking some skulls? Of course I do. Every single instinct in me is telling me to do it. It's what I do, what I am…and yet I'm having to force myself to do the opposite."
"Yeah, that's called self-control. We all have it. Saro doesn't…didn't…he's a jerk."
"You'd…be surprised. Considering he earned his position, when that fatass Inz came to take his job, he didn't stomp her guts out."
"Earned is a very strong word, General." Vult spoke. "Were it not for Corr and I, he'd have been the next in line to taste Grimm's saber and be a head shorter."
"He's done pretty well since you and Corr opened his…eye to how to do his job. So I suppose I have you two to thank."
"Yes. Yes you do."
"Maybe now that he can see he'll pull his head out of his c'hurta while he's at it!" Aero scoffed.
"His head, and then the pole that's also up his ass." Haxx joined in.
Vult, furrowing his brow in realization, looked to Vaukt. "Speaking of Inz…did you ever find her? What became of her?"
Kiz pulled a dataslate out of her coat pocket, pulled up Inz's prisoner record, and slid it across the table to Vult.
"Released, Niz found her innocent of any wrongdoing and a faithful Imperial bootlick. She's been reassigned as a commander of an infantry brigade under the First Infantry Division of the Elites."
"Curious…keep a close eye on her. The perfect opportunity to make a statement if required." Vult observed, looking to his second-in-command. "You're being awfully quiet over there. You're planning something. Share."
"Only trying to decide who to take on this mission to go find the long lost colony ship." Corr summarized, "And…perhaps, like the General also said, what we need to do with our ship. Considering the modifications we made it's worth keeping but…we would need to find and disable every single piece of Imperial tracking equipment on it. There's also the matter of our SiR unit…"
"Its a walking, talking liability if you ask me." Haxx shrugged. "Junk it."
"No, not Mrs. Quackers!" Aero protested.
"Aero, it's Empire surveillance technology that moves on its own!"
"Yeah, and?"
"Aero, Haxx." Vult intervened in their bickering, looking back to Corr. "Continue, Captain."
"I had another idea on that point," Corr began. "Let's let Skrem have a go at it. He's clearly a jack of many trades if he was able to…creatively unshackle his own unit's AI and integrate it with his armor in a detachable module as he did. What if he can do the same to ours? One that can go with you or I into combat much like Alurac does with him?"
"...but it already has weapons…and a body." Aero commented, confused.
"We can discuss it in detail later. This is an internal matter amongst the team." Vult reasoned, looking back to Vaukt. "You said you intend to take your leave with Zha and the Tallest for Earth. How long do you expect to be gone, travel time notwithstanding?"
"As long as it takes." Vaukt dejectedly admitted. "That or you'll hear from Kazak about being enraged about having to replace his wooden ceiling because I painted them with my brains if Zha's gone forever. But we need to lay low as it is anyhow. The Empire's sure to be angry with how much SpecOps is currently gutted, the Tallest broken out of prison, and their personal unit now going incommunicado. In the meantime, we pursue this path of our long lost kin, plan for Destructia, train the drones, and strategic thefts when we need the materials. All we can really do, presently."
The Commander sighed, leaning back into his seat with a pursed expression.
"I don't expect this to be easy or decisive. Space is vast and the Empire's influence is broad. Optimistically? Years will see our labors bear fruit. Realistically…I anticipate decades."
"So be it, as long as it takes, we won't make it easy for them. I didn't come this far just to slink away like a coward forever." Vaukt lit another cigarette.
"Boss," Sko began, "that's your sixth one today."
"You're not my supervisor, Sko." The General sighed, "I think that covers everything. You guys have to decide what to do with you and yours." He stood and started walking for the door before pausing. "By the way, you can take this one with you." He gestured to Dyb at her seat near the door, "She's a fine Elite, hear her out. I love her attitude." A smirk crossed his face before he left the room.
The purple-eyed woman looked to Vaukt somewhat disgruntled as he made to take his leave.
"If this is 'bout Almighty Smallest over there gettin' to Saro, I thought we were all on the same side." She thumbed over her shoulder in Aero's direction.
"Hey!" Red Team's Lieutenant chided, rising to Dyb's intentional sarcasm.
"Aero."
"Sorry, Commander."
His attention fell back to the woman before him.
"What's your name, soldier?"
She grinned, giving him a casual salute.
"Dybbuk. Dyb for short. Sergeant, Irken Elite…formerly, anyway. Name it, I've done it."
"Sounds just like another one we had added to my ranks recently." The Commander mused, offering a hand to shake. "If you're half the soldier he is, you'll do just fine."
Haxx grinned. "I like 'er already. Lemme guess, support gunner, armor, artillery, been through all sorts of jobs? Gonna tell us you were also with the Five Two Four Mechanized? C'mon, tell me on the way. I'll introduce ya to the gang."