Hi, NorthernMage here with chapter 7 of Silence of Division! We're nearing the end of the road, with Renina's capture and the Fallen Angel nearing safety. And don't forget N, who's stuck in a very awkward position with a megalomaniacal father, and a missing sister who needs help. Anyway, onto the story!

Ariyta: NorthernMage doesn't own Pokemon or FTL.

Chapter 7: Rescue Mission

General POV

Ariyta's grey eyes scanned the hangar. It had been eight months since she'd seen someone new land. Usually the hangar of the Transcendence was alive, with ships shooting in and out. Her ship was just outside the planet Iriclul's orbit.

The general had escaped Quariane around an hour after the first explosion had rocked the previous capital. She sighed, remembering the terror of that day, which she had thought the Academy had beaten out of her long ago...

Ariyta sat in her office. Having only just returned from a two month long mission, she was exhausted. Suddenly, she heard a loud explosion and was thrown to the side, power flickering on and off. She slammed her hand down on the desk, activating the touch screen. To her horror, the live feed of the Senate showed smoke, and a tinge of orange. And flying about a hundred metres above, was about fifty Plasma Empire ships, guns recharging. She felt a sinking feeling in her chest. With a quick swipe, she saw the anti-FTL jump net was down. She stared for a few seconds before she snapped into action.

'Rynhart!' Ariyta yelled into her computer, as it sent a signal to Rynhart's commlink.
Two minutes later, the door opened and Rynhart entered Ariyta's office, the captain alert.

'General Ariyta.' Rynhart said, acknowledging her.

'Rynhart.' Ariyta replied, panic fading with urgency taking its place. 'Did you feel the explosion?' Rynhart nodded.

'I was wondering what it was.'

'The rebels have attacked. The Senate is down, and the Federation will fall. Rynhart, we've known each other since we were kids.' Rynhart nodded.

'All the way back on Helios.'

'I need you to gather your crew, get aboard your ship and make sure no one knows what I'm about to tell you.' She nodded. Ariyta took a deep breath. 'The hideaway of the Federation if it's ever needed.' Rynhart stared.

'Thats where the Federation is headed? You're telling me where it is?' Ariyta nodded.

'Its out in sector 3, the system Tormnus, near the edge of the system.' Rynhart nodded slowly.

'And?'

'Memorise this.' Ariyta tossed her a holoplate. 'Its got everything on there, every Academy pilot, every ship, every system, you get the idea.' Rynhart nodded and pocketed it. 'I would suggest leaving within the hour. Save anyone you can. Just get to Tormnus. The more people who do, the more chance we have of survival.' Rynhart nodded and hurried out the door. Ariyta sighed as she began assigning the students to their ships. Every general knew where the hideaway was, which was why one had to be with every ship. It would be a while before she could leave.

Ariyta saw a flash of light and it shot toward the Transcendence. As it came into land, she recognised the markings and started hurrying down to it.

Upon reaching the hangar floor, the door opened and Markus Logton and Nir Acari came off the ship, a restraining bed floating along behind them. The strengthened glass top was darkened so no one could see in or out. Rynhart Catagor came last. 'Rynhart!' The general hurried over to her childhood friend, gladdened to see her again.

'Ariyta! How's the Federation surviving?'

'Well enough. Who's the friend?' Ariyta asked, looking to the restraining bed. Rynhart's smile turned serious.

'Just look.' She tapped in a code on the side and the glass cleared, to reveal the Plasma Empire princess, Renina Alariga Harmonia, unconscious.

'Rynhart...won't they be looking for her?'

'Yes, but now we have control over her, and therefore the rebels. They'll want to end this war if they can get their princess back.' Ariyta nodded happily.

'Good work. Sometimes you go a little insane Rynhart, but through all the years I've known you you've never done so well. Guards?' A highly trained security team came up to her. 'Put the girl in a cell, with electro-handcuffs. Everything. Maximum security. We can't allow her getting away.' They nodded and took Renina away. 'Now, you must all be so tired! I'll get some rooms ready for you. We'll head down to Iriclul so you can see who else survived.' The crew of the Fallen Angel walked away, their job done.

Renina's POV

Slowly, my eyes opened and I was disorientated for a moment. Where was I? Quickly, the memories started flooding back in, the support beam crushing my back and legs, and Rynhart and the others appearing. The shot from her gun was the last thing I could remember. I looked down at my hands to see electro-handcuffs. Instantly I started to panic. I was far from Atiris, that much was clear. It also seemed I was on solid ground.

Steel icy walls surrounded my cell. I was on one of the more arctic planets, though which one I couldn't tell. Two women came up in front of my energy bars. One was Rynhart, and the other I didn't know. 'See?' Rynhart asked. The other woman nodded.

'I believed it was a good idea when you first told me what you had done, Rynhart.'

'So, we send the message to the Senate now?'

'Immediately. I'll catch you up, I'd like to have a talk to our new guest.' Rynhart went away while the unknown woman stayed. We were silent for a few moments. 'So.'

Ariyta's POV

'So what?' Renina asked.

'So, the rebels attacked. Why?'

'The Plasma fleet was ordered to attack a part of Quariane that could have killed me. Only one person in the universe would care if I died.'

'You're dodging the question. Why did the rebels attack?' Renina sighed frustratedly.

'N was leading the negotiations, but Ghetsis, our' I noticed her cringe at the word, 'father,' another cringe, 'attacked. You won't get what you want by ransoming me. Like I just said, no one will care.'

'We'll see.' I replied, walking away.

Renina's POV

I waited until the woman was far away before I reached for my left ear. Inside it was a little metal box, with a crystal on each side and a divider in the middle. If I broke the divider by pushing in the corners, it would send an SOS signal back to Atiris. I squeezed it, tearing down the barrier. Soon after, there was a ringing in my head as it began sending the signal.

N's POV

I took a deep breath. Another intense day over, with only about one more session in the main senate room to go...but saving Renina wasn't on the agenda. In fact, I found it hard to think that anyone apart from me would care if Renina lived or died. I had to get my mind off it for a bit, so I could think about other things, like why had the senate been attacked. I decided to go see the final session for the day.

Once I had arrived, it was clear that they were almost done. 'A rogue station attacked.' Everyone agreed with this and they finished, but not before the holoplate started blinking, symbolising someone was calling. There was slight confusion as everyone hesitantly got back into their seats, and I watched from the side. It was a holocall from far away. In the call were three people.

'This is General Ariyta Tiatua, Captain Rynhart Catagor, and Prime Minister Margide Hostar of the Federation. We have Renina Harmonia, and unless you surrender, and allow yourselves to be dealt with according to what you have done, we will kill her.' No. This wasn't happening, this was not happening. They had Renina and knew how valuable she was.

Watching, I knew Ghetsis would only laugh and dismiss the message, not to mention Renina's situation. He did. Suddenly, my holoplate lit up. It was an SOS signal, coded as Renina's. Of course! The transmitter in her ear! In about half a minute, I had messaged the Captivity's crew, and was headed to the warship. I was the only one in the universe who cared, which left only me to go save Renina.

Renina's POV

Rynhart looked down on me disapprovingly. She can't know, surely she doesn't know, I thought desperately. 'Why did you betray us Renina?' Rynhart demanded.

'I didn't have a choice! Rynhart, maybe you're the centre of much of the Federation's universe, but I had to either let you go and all hell would break loose, or I let you kill N. You can't ask me to choose you.'

'You could have let us go. What happened to all that repayment stuff Renina? You know, what you and your brother are known for. Helping whoever helps you. Was that all lies?' Rynhart was starting to scare me.

'I managed to get the fleet stopped for a day to try and help you get away. It was all I could do. And as for releasing you...you probably would have been caught later on anyway.' Rynhart glared and activated the electro-handcuffs. Hundreds of volts of electricity coursed through me. I screamed, and the electricity died down. 'How?' I murmured softly.

'How what?' Rynhart demanded. I looked up to the captain.

'I had no contact with the Empire for six months before the attack. All I knew was that I would go to the Federation University, then come home and try and fix up the Empire's problems. How can you blame me for something that could have killed me as well?'

'That's how war goes.' She went over and pulled a lever down, activating my electro-handcuffs again until it was pulled up.

N's POV

Please don't notice I took the Captivity, I silently prayed. I had never disappeared like this, and had never taken the most geared up thing possible, so hopefully I'd be let off this once, but they were going to kill Renina, and I was the only one who didn't support the "let them kill her" option. Within a few hours we would be at Renina's position.

Below the ship I saw the ice planet of Iriclul. There was a pre-recorded message. 'Name and business.' This was going to be interesting. Silently I powered down our weapons and even shield.

'N Harmonia, to peacefully talk with the Federation.'

There was a moment of hesitation on the other end, then 'You may land.'

'It'll be on the ground, they'll so ambush me on the ground.' I said to myself as we descended. I grabbed a jumper and started to head to the hangar level, where I could get off the ship.

As I hit the ground, I heard the sound of guns being cocked. Great. Just great. I put my hands up so they didn't think I was going to attack. 'So you little brat, why are you here?' I tensed angrily at "brat", but managed to stay calm.

'You sent a message to the Plasma Senate, I'm the only one who cares.'

'So, you're here to negotiate?'

'You could call it that. Or, you could call it trying to stop this stupid war that was caused by my father.' I heard some murmurs of agreement.

'Very well then. Come with us.' I followed the guards into the building they were most likely using as a meeting area.

A shorter chapter than usual, but I promise there'll be a couple of more chapters coming in the next few days. Anyway, see you next chapter!