It had been six months since that first battle. Six months of hard fighting, all through out this system. The first world had fallen hard but quick. It had been just as Asa had guessed; they had been attacked beforehand. The planet was riddle with devastated settlements and the emaciated peoples. Raiders had invaded the planet and repeatedly destroyed its defending ships and planetary cities. It's people had just barely clung onto what remained of their civilization. Its government had co trolled the other worls in its system but they were also the same picture of desperation. It had almost been a mercy for them to be invaded.

A mercy. That's how it was being spun to the military and the settlers. In truth, the peoples of this system were resentful of this invasion ,although they, for now, assented to being conquered as an alternative to annihilation by the raiders. They obviously saw them as a threat, just one that could defend them from a greater enemy.

Asa sat in his ready room and stared disdain fully at the stack of reports on his desk. Most were from attacks both by the remnants of the planets defense force and the raiders left in the planers. Reports stated they were religious terrorists, motivated to fervor by bloodthirsty gods that demanded the deaths of unbelievers.

Asa often thought back to that voice on the intercom and found himself shuddering at that slick, oily sound.

Six months and they had swiftly taken control of this star system at the center of the cluster. It had been a slog, but they had prevailed, even as they encountered more raiders. However none even approached the size or power of that first Vessel. Still, the raiders were a problem that would have to be dealt with in time.

"Admiral, the Evocii representative is here to see you.

Asa sighed. "Send them in."

His room door slid open and Felkas entered, stepping aside to present a pale yellow being. It was thin, and looked rather stunted but its head was raised high, its padded nose pointed high and its eyes strikingly strong though slightly rheumy. there was a small patch of thin brown hair on the top of its head. And from behind it there was another, a white robed man with silver hair. Lus Rakhan.

"I present Chieftess Goreshka of the Last Tribe."

Ah. So it was female. It was hard to tell, although there was a roundness to her. Perhaps that was the female characteristic. Or perhaps there was none at all.

He stood to off his hand, which she shook gently. "Greetings Chieftess. What brings to to my ship?"

She spoke softly and quietly, her voice heavily accented and slightly raspy but strong. "Greetings Admiral. I have come as a representative from my people aboard the starship Starseeker. I have come aboard at the advice of my dear friend, one Lus Rakhan." She gestured to her side and Rakhan approached , shaking Asas hand firmly.

Asa regarded Rakhan for a moment. "His advice, you say."

"Indeed. I have, come to request help in a most grave matter. The survival of my people." She wobbled a bit and Asa offered his arm for her. She took it and he guided her to his chair to sit. "We need a world of our own Admiral. A planet that my people can settle on and call their own. We request a New Evocar, free from the desolation and corruption of the Hutta." She said that last word with as much venom as her body could muster.

Asa folded his arms. "That's a bit of a tall order. We've only just begun colonization efforts and in truth, we still have to consider the native populations. That's something I'm sure you can understand. "

"I can indeed. However, it has come to my attention a habitable world is available and free of natives. The one designated as the J-7 world."

Asa blinked and glanced at Rakhan, whose face remained implacable. That is true," he said slowly. "However, that world is also rather harsh. Its suitable doe farming and herding perhaps, but it experiences harsh winters and rains that flood most of its habitable valleys. I'm not sure if your people can survive,l there, as we cannot promise consistent supplies and defense."

The Chieftess barked a laugh. "My people have suffered much under the Hutta, for over a thousand years we have been beaten,raped, radiated, and poisoned. Most of my people suffer from mental disability and infertility. We are on the edge of extinction. Only the Imperial Mission-", she inclined her head at Rakhan who returned it -"have helped us pull back with their medical help and admittance into this fleet. We owe them and therefore the Empire a great debt. Thus, we propose a deal."

That was when Rakhan spoke up. "Admiral, the Mission would greatly benefit from having its base located on this potential New Evocar. It would provide us with a base of operations and assist the Evocii with heir efforts. It would also be a very useful propaganda tool. Imagine it:Empire saves rave from extinction. The rest of the fleet would look at it as a good sign for the settlement efforts."

"Or they would use it as an excuse to demand their own personal worlds." Asa found himself growing angry at this blatant attempt to manipulate him. Rakhan opened his mouth to speak and Asa raised his hand to cut him off. "But of course, they would find an excuse to do so anyway. The devastation wrought by the raiders was great and the worlds here are all borderline destroyed. The native populations are all but gone. You aren't the first to demand settlement rights, but you'll be the first to gain your own world."

Asa sighed then smiled down at the Chieftess. "I suppose if theres any people who deserve a new homeworld, it's yours." He helped her to her feet and take her hand into his and bowed, pressing his lips on her fingers. "Good luck on your second chance."