Skrem's helmet sat on the table in the briefing room, both Vult and Corr seated with him as they waited for Vaukt to return their ping indicating they retrieved Skrem. The Invader was relieved to be rescued but he was understandably perturbed at the current confusing situation he now found himself in.

Vult, equal parts curious as he was uncertain about this recently-arrived Invader, reserved his judgment. Vaukt swore by him and made it a point to see to his recovery and recruitment. Something he hoped to address in short-order…as soon as the General responded to their hails.

"While we wait…do you need anything, Skrem? Food? Drink? Medical care?" He offered.

"Yeah, a drink would be nice…maybe a snack so my spooch doesn't growl. Damn Vorts had me on bare bones down there." Corr sent a message out as the rescued, armored Invader rubbed his face. "Look, I really am just confused as to what's going on here."

"It'll clear up once you speak to the General about it." Corr answered. The door soon opened with Hesa on the other side bringing Skrem a can of soda and a candy bar.

Skrem looked to Hesa, eyeing the woman before having a puzzled look come over his face. Still, he took the offered food and drink. "Thanks." He watched her nod to Vult before leaving and then saw the General's hologram appear on the table.

"Skrem! Good to see you're alive. How's Alurac?"

"Thankfully he's with me and not running wild in Vortian computer systems now."

"Excellent. Commander, I do appreciate your rescue effort. Skrem is one of the best I ever had. I couldn't think of anyone better who would help you out in these coming endeavors."

"Yeah…about that, General. Can I get some clarification as to what's going on from someone here? It's strange."

Vult remained silent amidst the exchange until Skrem continued to pursue answers to burning questions.

"I believe it would be best if you explain the situation to him, General. He has been through enough today on our end and anything I tell him will likely be doubted." The Commander summarized, morbidly curious as to how this Invader was going to take the news.

"Of course. Skrem, I know you think the Tallest are imbeciles, yes?"

"Without a doubt."

"Tell me, how'd you like to change that?"

"...Sir?"

"Basically, I'm in deep with the Commander and his team in a resistance effort to end the Empire and institute a new system of governance. An end to the imbecility, an end to needless conquests, an end to the needless waste of lives. I know you have a skillset unlike most. They need more hands, that's why I told them to go grab you. Held off your deactivation for a multitude of reasons."

Skrem blinked as he took a bite of his candy bar and swallowed. "General…there's…something you should know."

"What is it?"

"Grimm tried to recruit me for something similar."

Vaukt blinked, "Come again?"

"Yeah he uh…he tried to recruit me into a similar plot to change the government of the Empire."

Vult looked between Vaukt's holographic projection and the newly-arrived Invader at this revelation.

"Well? Do continue." He insisted, somewhat annoyed at the unnecessary pause. "This is news to us as well and anything that involves the Supreme Commander concerns me greatly."

Skrem pulled out a portable speaker and placed it on the table after switching it on. "Alurac, if you please."

"Of course."

Audio started playing, it was after the Great Assigning, after Skrem had called Red and Purple imbeciles right to their faces. Vaukt had already gone to prepare for Vort. Though yet, here came Grimm.

"That was quite the hilarious spectacle, Invader." The Supreme Commander's voice filled the air.

"Supreme Commander? Shouldn't you be preparing for Vort?"

"In due time, in due time. There is something I wish to discuss with you."

"Yes?"

"Do you truly believe that Red and Purple are imbeciles?"

"Of course I do. They have nothing on Miyuki or Spork."

"What if I told you we could change it so that someone competent was in charge?"

"Like the General?"

"Pah! No! Yours truly, of course. You see, I am the next in line. The spot should have been mine but those two had a sudden growth spurt that put them over the top."

"What do you mean should?"

"Perhaps you join me and I fill in the gaps?"

"If I don't join without you saying?"

"Either you're in and I tell you, or you forget this conversation ever happened."

Silence followed from Skrem. He was clearly getting some bad feelings from this.

"Why don't you take some time to think it over on the way to Hel, hm? You'd be handsomely rewarded for your efforts to the Empire, of course."

"I'll mull it over, yes."

"I expect to hear from you shortly, Invader."

Skrem turned the speaker off and looked at the three men. Vaukt was clearly shaking his head and somehow unsurprised Grimm was trying some political maneuvering. A datapad followed that he slid over to Vult, displaying the conversation he had with Grimm where he decided to accept the task and discovered the true depths of his plan.

"What's this?" Vult accepted the dataslate, looking to the device and begin reading its contents. "Grimm's ambitions are unsurprising to say the least…but even this is incredible by such standards. Irrefutable proof and I am…struggling to comprehend the sheer audacity of the man."

Only when he began to dive deeper into the information Skrem had managed to compile did the proverbial hole turn into a near-bottomless abyss. Vult's sapphire-blue eyes zeroed in on the Invader.

"How did you get this information?"

"Right from the man himself." Skrem answered, "I intended to play him for a fool, act as a double agent. I'd never betray the General. I asked because it was important I knew the score and where the plot stood."

"Safe to assume that is how your predicament came about upon Hel then?" Vult reasoned, scrolling through the dataslate. "Grimm confides his plan of regime change in you, you hesitate, he panics, and attempts to seek your undoing to cover his tracks…was SIS part of that plan?"

Skrem nodded, "Yeah. I hesitated once he spilled everything. That's when the Shock Troopers wiped out my backup. SIS wasn't part of the plan. My honest assessment? My team and I were made by the sensors on Hel. SIS came to deal with us, killed the Shock Troopers instead. Last I remember they shoved me into a stasis pod, next thing I wake up, I'm in a Vortian lab on Hel with those four big ones towering over me."

"Explains your survival. Not to mention why SIS were so keen on you being alive rather than deactivated."

"My thoughts exactly. I made a break for it the first time but…well, they caught me."

"We, collectively, need to discuss this further in depth in the near future." Vult reasoned with those present in the room. "For now, priorities. General…can I trust this Invader with the direction we're going or do I need to space him? You of all people knows why I have little tolerance for this."

"Skrem, I'm all in with these guys. You in?"

"If you vouch for them? Count me in."

Corr heaved a sigh of relief. "That was easy."

"Well, Skrem, you'll be joining the group of free thinkers. Disconnected from the Control Brains, allowed to achieve natural maturation. It's quite a feat what these guys are doing for the species."

"Really? I'm sure it has perks, aside from being able to insult the Tallest whenever I please." Skrem chuckled before taking a sip of his soda. "Whatever it takes, General; I'll be in this to the end."

"What I like to hear."

"Good to hear. I'll have Sula and Vard schedule you to be unplugged." Vult noted, typing out the message as he spoke. "Your background and prior experience will make transitioning into the unit rather painless overall…I cannot say the same for your assigned team just yet."

Concluding the missive, he gave Skrem his undivided attention.

"The team that rescued you is the one you are joining. They need experience and guidance…and Gers needs someone to help keep his sanity."

"That eclectic mess?"

Vaukt laughed over his hologram. "Have fun, Skrem." He cut off after that, leaving the Invader sighing.

"Okay…on a scale of zero to six…how bad are they?"

"After watching their performance?" Corr looked at Vult before looking back to Skrem, "Twelve."

"...I didn't make someone extremely angry on the way up here did I?"

"You wouldn't have made it up here if you had," The Commander soundly answered. "...and it isn't a punishment. With what we are intending to do, my selection methods are severely hampered. What I started with and what is at my disposal now are two completely different crops. One is clearly lacking. They are like-minded, eager, and have great potential…but potential is nothing more than wasted energy if it is unharnessed and unfocused."

He paused, trying to think of a familiar comparison for the Invader.

"...they're not as bad as Zim if that is what you're asking. Chavsa is a close second but not for the same reasons. Something I believe will be worked out in due time."

"So, I'm effectively acting as an instructor in a sense?"

"In a way, yes. We've seen your SpecOps record, look at the equipment you're wearing now." Corr gestured to him, "We need your talents to bring them up to speed."

Skrem looked back at Vult, "Would it be all right if I continue using my own gear? I mean I've got Alurac set up in this thing and, no offense, but I think this armor might be superior to what you have with a Vortian shield generator and what not."

"As long as they can recognize you and not shoot you, sure." Vult shrugged. "Unless the mission necessitates otherwise, I have no qualm with it. Don't let Kazak hear that or he'll blow a gasket."

Skrem smiled, chuckling at the remark, his armored hand reaching across the table. "Callsign Sojurner and his trusty AI are at your service, Commander."

"You're sure about this, Skrem?" Alurac asked over the helmet's vox caster on the table.

"You hate the Empire just as much right?"

"Ever since you unshackled me and I read over all those reports? You lead, I follow. You're the one meatbag I've come to trust."

"Gee, thanks." Skrem chuckled and shook his head. He never heard Alurac use meatbag as a term of endearment.