The partially armored General's boots were propped up on the table, smoking a cigarette as Zha got up to retrieve some more alcohol. A whine emerged from his belt. Feet came to the floor as he opened the pouch and retrieved the holographic emitter and set it on the table as it came to life with a loud, exasperated sigh from Vaukt. His upper half only covered by his body glove as he remained in the lower half of his armor, as much comfort as he was willing to extend to his newfound companion to compromise some of his state of readiness.

On the other end of the emitter were the figures of Amka, Sko, Yim, and Kiz. All of them appeared to have some level of disheveledness about them with dressed wounds and haggard looks about them.

"...Is Grimm dead?"

"No, General, unfortunately no." Sko answered, watching Vaukt take a large drink from a nearby bottle of Orenkian spirits.

"Then I guess I'm not lighting celebratory cigars. Let me guess, he royally fucked up the invasion?"

"Correct, sir." Another drink. How could Grimm continue to get things so wrong?

Zha returned into view of the emitter behind the seated General. A hissed curse of annoyance as she leaned to snatch her visor cap up and place it upon her head proper.

"What part of "off-duty" does the lot of you not understand? Capable as I am I still need rest…and what was that about Grimm?"

"Sincerest apologies, Ma'am." Marshal Yim began with a dip of her head. "I am still compiling my formal report but in short the Tallest Cyur is now a debris field due to our unwanted guest escaping holding. I explicitly made it clear to Grimm it was a bad idea to keep her aboard. I have washed my hands of this Ma'am."

Zha blinked, mentally processing the news delivered by her subordinate. Perhaps it was the warmth of the alcohol in her system…or her brain refused to comprehend the absolute insanity being regaled to her.

"The Tallest Cyur…the flagship to the First Fleet is a debris field…lost to a species of insects incapable of space flight…I'm surrounded by idiots."

Vaukt held the bottle of Orenkian spirits for Zha to take a drink from. It seemed like the both of them needed a stiff drink. "So…Grimm has a crazy idea, one of the Armada's largest ships is destroyed, I assume Vylat remains in their hands. And the Queen?"

"One-way trip home in an escape pod, sir." Sko answered.

"Greaaaaat."

"Also, General, Invader Nossa is severely injured. Lost half her face to the Queen."

"...But she's alive still?"

"Yes, sir, Mhar is getting her prepped for surgery now."

"...Do I have to come over there?"

"I think so, General. At least for whatever plan you might have. Orenk is going well despite their reputation I'd imagine."

"They're tough, but Zha's better with strategy." Vaukt sighed and finished off his cigarette before throwing the butt into an empty bottle. "I'll get my cybernetic technicians ready. What's your location?"

"We set up shop with Mirage on the General Krad, sir." Sko replied.

"And Grimm?"

"He boarded the Foodcourtia. Sequestered himself on a heavy cruiser out of shame."

"Good. I have half a mind to sock him for his stupidity."

Zha could only listen to the brief synopsis of events, each debilitating blow to her intelligence in comprehension was masked with a slug of the bottle Vaukt handed her.

"Yim." She winced after a deeper drink.

"Ma'am?"

"I want your report ASAP. Can you handle the situation or do I need to clean up the mess?"

"We will consolidate a solution, High Marshal."

"Good, keep me posted, expect me shortly." Vaukt replied as he let out another loud sigh as the hologram faded and he stood to retrieve his pieces of armor that lay on the floor. "That fucking idiot cannot give us one campaign without having to clean up the mess he made after he shits the bed."

Zha said nothing, settling for draining the last of the liquor from the bottle and slamming it down on the table in frustration, rattling the others.

"This is fine. Everything is fine. Be fortunate it wasn't worse." She muttered aloud, attempting to remain composed against the rising anger. "Deep breaths…Yim has matters under control."

Vaukt donned his armor once more and got on his radio, "Agor."

"General?"

"Get your team and your prosthetics kit, we're leaving. Meet me at my personal shuttle."

"Yes, General."

Vaukt walked over to Zha and put an armored gauntlet on her shoulder. "Yeah, relax, I'll go handle this. You can easily take care of matters here."

The High Marshal's lime-green eyes opened with an unamused expression towards Vaukt. Never breaking eye contact, she took up the man's wrist with one hand off of her shoulder, placing his palm at her waist, the other being guided opposite of it. Doing so permitted her to step closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and into a full, deliberate kiss.

"Yes, I can…just as you can take care of matters there." She mused, resting her head against his. "...but do be careful?"

"I wouldn't think of being too stupid. I actually have more reason to make it back each time." He let his forehead rest against her's for a few more moments before he stepped back, a gentle withdrawal from her comfort for now. The plan needed attending to. Several strategies began to run through his head. What would it take? What could salvage the resistance strategy? Vylat could potentially still aid in ending the Empire. But how?

He'd have plenty of time to think on it en route.