A formal summons to Irk wasn't out of the ordinary. Either by decree of the Almighty Tallest or the highest-ranking military officer in the Empire, the Warmaster, would see officers and their staff for a myriad of reasons. Awards ceremonies, recognition of accomplishments, or discreet strategic planning against their more intelligent and capable foes. Most common, unfortunately, were for disciplinary reasons and today was no different.
What was different about this one were the individuals of interest. The upper echelon of the entire Empire - Supreme Commander Grimm of the Irken Elite, High Marshal Zha of the Imperial Troopers, and General Vaukt of Special Operations, all summoned post-haste to Irk by Warmaster Burgg. The three officers of High Command and their respective branches were quite aware of the nature of the summons. Two of them were responsible for instigating it with their reports and actions at Vylat.
All were permitted passage through the doors by the Honor Guard sentries, closing and locking them behind them. The highest military office of the Empire and the man at its helm. A towering, solidly-built man scarred a plenty with countless campaign ribbons adorning the chest of his opulent uniform. A stack and brass to make even Grimm blush…or be green with envy.
What they weren't expecting was to see High Marshal Xilch of Internal Affairs standing adjacent to Warmaster Burgg's desk upon entering his opulent office overlooking one of the larger urban sprawls of Irk. Her frigid blue gaze appeared none too pleased at this impromptu meeting of Imperial leadership. That didn't stop each of them from coming to attention and snapping crisp salutes.
"At ease," the Warmaster grunted, gesturing before his desk. "Take a seat."
Burgg was what one expected of a military leader. Built tough, his uniform not unlike Grimm's but with platinum trimmed gold rank insignia. A man with a reputation not unlike Vaukt's own, leading one group of Elites from the front during ID1. A gash running from above his right eye and downwards across his face. A snow white piercing gaze against a dark emerald. Truly a sight to behold, if it were under better circumstances.
"General, I see you're in that prototype of yours. Any reason why?"
"Warmaster, I attempted to coerce him into his dress uniform but he claimed to have lost it on Vort, Sir." Zha attempted to explain.
Burgg quickly snapped at Zha, glaring at her. "Are you his keeper now, High Marshal? The man can speak for himself."
"No, Sir. Sorry, Sir."
Vaukt cleared his throat, his head visible with his helmet retracted. "Affairs on Orenk are pressing, sir. There's a stubborn bunch of holdouts under one Chief Turo Koreenk that are dealing some rather high casualties. Prior to your summons I was preparing to go deal with him."
"And I suppose Orenk's surface is your destination after this meeting?"
"Correct, Warmaster."
"Very well, I suppose I can excuse that. But, losing your dress uniform. Is that true?"
"I very well can't find it, Warmaster. I hardly ever wear the thing."
Burgg smirked. "Man after my own heart. You best find it. That uniform is not yours to lose."
"Understood."
Xilch, intensely studying each and every one of them since their arrival, gave a light clearing of her throat, hands clasped behind her back still.
"Warmaster, if I may." She opened, awaiting permission as he lifted a hand for her to proceed. "...everyone in this room is extremely busy managing affairs across the universe. I will keep this brief. It has come to my attention that not one, but two of you disobeyed direct orders originating from Warmaster Burgg as the will of the Almighty Tallest made manifest."
"Countermanded, not disobeyed."
"Excuse me?" The IIA High Marshal glared at her Imperial Trooper counterpart.
"Countermanded, Xilch." Zha sniped back, not about to be intimidated by Internal Affairs. "My report submitted to Warmaster Burgg details in full the chronology of events and why Marshal Yim withheld the Imperial Troopers. I supported her decision. I would have done exactly the same beneath the circumstances."
"To which, both of you share the title of "traitor"," Grimm sneered unkindly.
"Will you shut the fuck up?" Vaukt snapped back at him. "We're not the ones who got damn near four hundred thousand Elites killed in a suicidal conventional attack against swarms of bugs that just cost you your battleship. You fucking moron."
"Vaukt!" Zha hissed lowly.
He simply glared at her, he wasn't going to let Grimm's foolishness stand without rebuttal.
"Enough. All of you." Xilch barked. Equivalent ranks or not, Internal Affairs had a unique responsibility serving as a system of checks and balances to ensure the Imperial Standard was upheld. "...Supreme Commander, you were to speak. Continue."
"The loss of the First Fleet flagship was…unexpected, Warmaster." Grimm attempted civility. He would not buy into Vaukt's goading. Not in front of their superior. "To which I take full responsibility. Appropriate measures were not taken and the Alpha Queen of Vylat escaped containment. I have since passed down revisions of protocol to ensure it never happens again."
Burgg took a deep breath. Vaukt was out of line but the man was right. "Did anyone attempt to warn you that a breach of containment was likely?" He saw what Marshal Yim put in her report with Major Kiz warning him of the Queen's threat to which it seems Grimm dismissed as unimportant and not even worth a bit of investigation or followup. The Major tried to salvage the situation, but he wanted to see what Grimm said about it.
"Invader Kiz notified myself and Marshal Yim moments before the Alpha Queen broke containment. Ship Security was combat ineffective from securing her initially. It was too late once we were made aware of her ulterior motives in…brooding within the wounded."
Zha bit her tongue. Hard. He was conveniently leaving out a great deal of information. To be expected when his own c'hurta was on the line. Xilch and Burgg were not amused in the slightest at the events of Vylat and how they came to pass. This was quite serious.
Burgg slammed a fist down on his desk, rattling everything resting upon it and even causing a porcelain lamp to fall to the floor and shatter. "You sniveling coward." He began, a rage in the Warmaster began boiling to the surface. "You sit here and lie to my face."
Grimm's brow furrowed, his brown gaze hardening with a set jaw.
"...Warmaster, with all due respect, I obeyed orders and followed protocol. I have not lied to you in the slightest."
"An omission of truth is still a lie, Supreme Commander." Zha finally spoke up, not about to see her own subordinate thrown under the space bus for the likes of Grimm.
"There was three quarters of an hour between you being warned by Major Kiz and you didn't even bother investigating the matter!" The Warmaster practically snarled. "You have the gall to call these two a traitor for countermanding this invasion. But if there's anyone who deserves to be called a traitor in this room, it's the one holding the rank of Supreme Commander."
"The captured Queen had been making threats since being brought aboard, Warmaster." Grimm defended, taking every ounce of reservation to not take slight at insinuated cowardice. "She tore through Ship Security before being contained and I was not exactly eager to send what remained in for the same result over strong words, Sir."
"Warmster," Xilch began, alleviating a bit of tension growing with the conversation shifting back to her. "Supreme Commander Grimm is correct in his assertion that he followed the orders issued based on the materials you provided me. This does not excuse his faults and errors, but a traitor, he is not…"
Her piercing gaze drifted to Vaukt and Zha.
"...let's not throw that term around so recklessly, shall we?"
Vaukt shot her a glance as he withdrew a pack of smokes from a pouch on his belt, looking to Burgg for permission. With a nod from the Warmaster, he withdrew a cigarette and lit it, taking a drag from his Vortian war stash.
"All the same," Burgg started as he leaned back in his seat. "You saw what she was capable of, what some newborns could do…and you have the bright idea to commit to an unsupported conventional attack with a near total casualty percentage. You had no intelligence, you had no support, and you sent nearly four hundred thousand Elites to their deaths. We have your radio records. Sergeant Major Spike asked to withdraw, it was denied. He and many officers and soldiers are bug food. It is a repeat of Vort all over again. What possibly went through your head to commit such an act of folly? Is it your pride? Do you just lack the ability to think?"
Grimm, glowering in simmering fury, maintained his composure. Superior or not, each of his insinuations and criticisms before his colleagues whittled away at his resolve. What was the purpose of this? To shame him? Internal Affairs' own admission cleared him of wrongdoing. Mistakes? Certainly, but a traitor he was not.
"I was tasked with taking Vylat at all costs. I intended to fulfill that obligation by your hand, Warmaster. We can speculate until the end of time had I the necessary support from the Imperial Troopers and the intelligence from Special Operations if it would have still been a failure or not. These two stood their forces down when they were required. What I had feared would happen, did, and the Alpha Queen sought to rally Vylat against us. The longer we waited, the more prepared they would have been. I had to act."
"You didn't even cons-" Burgg began before stopping and taking a deep breath. How can someone so high ranking be this dense? "Have you ever held a field command? Have you ever led from the front? Or do you just prefer to be cooped up in a little command bunker nice and safe somewhere? These troops are just numbers on a spreadsheet to you. What's four hundred thousand casualties to someone who gives no care of strategic importance when reinforcements are maybe a few days out from the vats? Nevermind all that experience you cost us with the loss of veteran soldiers. That is a value you cannot simply replace with fresh clones."
The Supreme Commander leaned forward in his seat, meeting Burgg's unyielding gaze with his own.
"...I fought alongside you in our youth. I know exactly what I am committing my forces to and why it must be done. Perhaps I am not the only one in need of some fresh air, Warmaster."
"Supreme Commander." Xilch snapped at him. "That is enough. You are out of line."
"Apologies, High Marshal…I do not take kindly to insinuations of cowardice when I have bled the same for this glorious Empire I intend to uphold and carry the banner further."
Burgg, meanwhile, was having absolutely none of this talk of vainglorious pride from someone who let his ego go to his head and then far beyond it. The man drew his plasma pistol, activating the laser sight, pointing it right to Grimm's head.
"In any other military in the known universe. You'd be court martialed for sabotaging the war effort on not only this occasion, but a dozen others on Vort." The Supreme Commander growled.
Grimm did not physically react as the dot danced across his visored forehead and visage.
"This is not any other military in the known universe. This is the Irken Empire. The greatest of them all, now and forever."
"Warmaster Burgg. Put the weapon away." Xilch interrupted.
"Shut your c'hurta, Xilch." He had a point to make, it was going to be made. "With commanders like you we appear a procession of stupidity who only know how to throw bodies at a problem until it goes away. That is not how a wise commander fights. Clearly you are overestimated for your qualifications."
There was a pause of several tense moments before he deactivated the laser sight and set the plasma pistol down on his desk.
"I'm revoking your command over the Elites."
Xilch, sensing Grimm's temper about to reach a boiling point, intervened once again as her attention turned back to Burgg.
"On what grounds, Warmaster? Supreme Commander Grimm has fulfilled his duties as obligated and stripping him of command contradicts the Imperial Standard. He would be replaced had he been found traitorous."
"Perhaps you are not informed of the art of warfare, but I shall enlighten you."
"Save your enlightenment, Burgg. You may be the highest-ranking military officer of the Empire, but your authority does not supersede mine. I am telling you, by decree, you cannot do this."
"And who watches the watchman?" His glare turned to Xilch. "Perhaps you should not be so rude, you may learn something. Warfare is not just about the end result of the conquest. It is how you get there. Vort? We appeared as fools. The news spread. People laugh at us. Word will likely spread of Vylat through leakers. More of our potential adversaries will not take us seriously. If we wage war competently, strategically, with minimal casualties. We become feared, aliens will surrender to the might of the Empire. We will win battles without firing a shot. That is the art of warfare, High Marshal. Something the Supreme Commander clearly has no concept of in that birck of a brain of his."
Xilch leaned in closer to the seated Warmaster, making eye-contact beneath her polished brim. For a woman of similar stature and build to Zha, she held a much more menacing presence. The combination of her frozen blue eyes piercing past the surface and the authoritative clout she represented made for a potent combination.
"...the Control Brains watch the watchmen. I do not tell you how to run your campaigns, do not tell me how to enforce the Imperial Standard. The same reasons you chastise him, you are dangerously close to. I highly recommend you choose your next words carefully."
She stood back up, jotting several notes down on her dataslate before speaking again.
"...I understand your frustrations and your logic, Warmaster…but internal bickering does not solve exterior problems…Supreme Commander?"
"High Marshal?" Grimm responded in kind.
"How do you intend to rectify this blunder?"
The leader of the Elites gestured to the Warmaster.
"Whatever Warmaster Burgg decides, I will execute accordingly. If that requires recalling from Vylat for the time being, then so be it."
The Warmaster took a deep breath, the only sounds in the room were the ventilation systems at work and Vaukt exhaling smoke.
"Vylat's invasion shall be put off per the recommendations of the High Marshal. We will go back there after we recover fully and create a sound battle plan." With that, the Warmaster stood from his desk, grabbing his pistol and slipping it back into its holster. "General."
"Yes, Warmaster?"
"Balcony, with me. High Marshal, go prepare your ship and prepare to return to Orenk."
Zha, rising to attention, snapped a crisp salute.
"Yes, Warmaster, at once."
Grimm watched her turn about-face, standing at-ease before Burgg.
"What of me, Warmaster?"
"Get out of my sight and go read some books on strategy."
"As you wish, Warmaster." The Supreme Commander did much of the same, casting a glance of contempt to Xilch before taking his leave.
"Official conclusion of this summons, Warmaster?" Xilch queried of Burgg, procuring her stylus for her dataslate with the intent of him to sign the appropriate documentation.
"Operations on Vylat postponed. To be bypassed for the time being." He quickly signed the dataslate, anything to get her out of his office.
"Thank you, Warmaster. Have a pleasant day." Xilch falsely smiled at him, tucking her dataslate away before moving to depart Burgg's office.
Once permitted to leave by the posted Honor Guard and in the halls, her heeled boots quickly clipped while typing out a message on her communicator to be sent. Was not as if he had anywhere to be anytime soon now, after all…
Vaukt withdrew another smoke after tossing his finished butt off the balcony as the Warmaster stepped forward.
"That is impressive."
"It's performing to standards. I firmly believe SpecOps will have quite the edge once I work out the kinks and get this into full production. Power armor for the best designed by one of the best."
"How you remind me of me…" Burgg began as he looked out at the cityscape of Irk, "and that fool in there cost you your rank twice now."
"Twice?"
"Zha put in to have you reinstated. Grimm flatly objected. On top of that he made sure IIA had some very choice words for you."
"Like?"
"Uncooperative. Maverick. Self-centered. The list goes on."
"Grimm's projecting."
"Clearly." Burgg heaved a sigh and shook his head. "Were it not for Internal Affairs I would have made your apparent Keeper in charge of the Elite. Perhaps the top end of the power structure is due a bit of a shake up."
"Really?" Vaukt smirked as he took a drag of his smoke.
"But not now, Xilch is far too wise to us. Perhaps in the future. Keep it under your helmet for now. Go pacify Orenk."
"Consider it done." Vaukt turned and took several steps inside.
"And I was serious about that uniform. If your Keeper reports that she hasn't found it I'm taking the cost of it out of your c'hurta."
"...Understood." Vaukt continued out of the office, taking his weapons back from the Honor Guard posted outside the office before heading to the lift and making his way down.
As Vaukt concluded his informal discussion with Burgg, Xilch returned to her own office abroad within the building. She had her own report to compile for record-keeping and a potential follow-up review with the Control Brains.
She also had a little more cross-examination to do…
Grimm entered the room, surprised to be called into her office. It's true, he had nowhere to go. Other than a library, that wasn't appealing to him in the least. "You asked for me, High Marshal?"
Seated at her desk, making a series of notes, she did not look up at him.
"I did. Lock the door behind you. Have a seat."
Grimm locked the door and took a seat in front of her desk, keeping his visor cap in hand. "May I know what this is about? I thought I was cleared of any wrongdoing."
The High Marshal concluded her notes, saving her work before turning her attention to the seated Supreme Commander.
"You were cleared of any violation of the Imperial Standard…mulching 400,000 Elites with zero net gain is not easily overlooked, but that is Burgg's department. Not mine." She elaborated, folding her white-gloved digits before her. "No, I have other questions of you. Largely due to your interactions with them."
Her hands unraveled, sliding another dataslate before Grimm with the highly-redacted dossiers of the current active members of the Armada Special Operations Group 1 - The Shadow Strikers.
"...you have extensive dealings with this unit, do you not? What can you tell me about them?"
Ah yes…them…
"...Smug, not unlike the current head of Special Operations." His finger went straight for Vult's photo in the lineup. "Much as I despise lavishing praise on those filthy Spekkies, this team is capable of getting the job done. Vort on three different occasions that I was involved with personally. Tallum was breached with their fine work." Grimm paused, thinking back to their appearances.
"Come to think of it…something seemed very…off about them. But I can't put a finger on it. They're different…physically." His finger went to Haxx's photo, "That one looks like a shorter version of the Warmaster." A pause as his gaze came to Xilch. "Why? Do you suspect something?"
"It is my duty and nature to suspect many things, Grimm." Xilch pointedly spoke if not a little less serious. "...but yes. Something is…off about them. Their commanding officer and his second, for certain. The tall one…" She tapped Aero's picture. "Extremely odd. They are hiding something and I intend to find out what that is. Unfortunately, as you see, I would have better luck reading the barcodes off of candy bar wrappers."
Grimm browed through the various dossiers, nothing much out of the ordinary until he got to Hesa's. The man practically froze in place for several seconds as he looked over her service record then slid it back over to Xilch.
"They're all marked KIA in the system but what about one that was marked deactivated by the Control Brains days before she suddenly appeared with these guys?"
"That is the million monie question I am yet to find the answer to." Xilch scowled. "The ones I was able to speak to on Devastis were defensive. Cagey. An elaborate explanation as to why they are listed at KIA doesn't assuage my suspicions in the slightest."
She paused, elbows propped on the desk and hands folded once more in contemplation.
"Biased as you are, would you agree General Vaukt shares similar personality traits?"
"He does, yes. He seems very independent, cagey, and hates being summoned to meetings. I could never get the man in my presence until Tallum on Vort. It was either by hologram or not at all…unfortunately his results back his methods and make him untouchable."
"Textbook definition of paranoia." She mused, studying Grimm's chiseled features closely, reading his own expressions and body language. "Entertain me, Supreme Commander…were you in my position, how would you find a way to touch the untouchable? My methods have been less than productive as of yet."
"Well…his branch is given very special perks, are they not?" He seemed calm, but his eyes glanced about the woman's form. Powerful, attractive…yes…he could use her. She would do well for his own schemes. "You can't touch them, not like the rest of us. It's just built into how they operate and has been for ages. You can only evaluate things after the fact."
Being reminded of her imposed limitations of enforcement brought a soured, pursed expression to her features as she steepled her digits together with a deep sigh.
"According to the Control Brains and their wisdom, it is to maintain balance. The nature of Special Operations would bend, if not outright break the Imperial Standard a thousand fold. Some of which…debatably justified, but a majority of it gives me the impression of a cult of personality taking form beneath General Vaukt. However, as stated…my hands are tied with red tape beyond surface questions. He is well-versed in avoiding the truth by nature."
"So you have no evidence…nothing that can touch him…" Grimm's face then produced a grin. "But what if there was a shake up? You know…a change in the power structure. One that would grant what was previously ungranted? A lance to pierce into the shadows and expose things to the light…yes…I can tell, it is highly tempting. I may know of someone who may be able to aid you, someone who walks in this world of shadows. Her loyalty to the Empire knows no limit. I firmly believe she is exactly the instrument you are looking for."
The Supreme Commander's words garnered Xilch's undivided attention. Equal parts curious as she was suspicious. Recent stumbling aside, the man wasn't known to be a fool. Prideful, certainly, but a strategic genius and a living hero of the Empire. Yet, his insinuations…they toed quite the precarious line. A similar line to the man she spoke of in seeking concrete information on and his subordinates.
"...I would say you know how to command the attention of the room." She mused with a smirk of her own. "Consider my interest piqued. This…" A pause, gesturing with her hand in search of the words. "...proposal of yours, it isn't something I am going to be placing you in restraints for and a one-way trip to Judgementia, is it?"
"Oh, no, not at all, my sweetest of advocates. No, I am proposing giving you an…informant, I believe is the term you like to use, yes?" Grimm leaned forward, grinning, "If she survives surgery. Not the first time she's been fitted for cybernetics, so chances are very good."
The High Marshal, scarily well-informed and sharp as a razor-honed blade, immediately picked up on Grimm's leading. Adjusting her posture in her chair as she leaned back, studious of him…appreciative?
"Invader Nossa." She concluded in realization, mildly surprised. "One of Vaukt's finest operatives and an Invader all should strive to imitate…and you believe her willing to aid me in getting to the bottom of what is going on within Special Operations as a whole?"
"You believe Vaukt is building a cult of personality around himself. Nobody in Special Operations will give you the time of day for such a venture. But I've read her file; her ferocious loyalty to the Empire is as high as yours, my dear. Success and maintaining the Imperial Standard all rolled into one. Vaukt may favor Skrem, that second rate First Loser; the man had the gall to call the Tallest imbeciles right to their faces. Nossa would do no such thing. She serves the Empire above all else. You would very much like her. It's my firm belief that if you approach her with your suspicions, she will aid you, and she will not stop until she reaches the bottom of the pot."
Xilch's sharp brow arched, eyes half-lidded with the smuggest of smirks remaining.
"Now that is certainly tempting…I see no harm in a conversation with her at the least." The High Marshal summarized. "My concerns will be allayed and we can collectively get on with Impending Doom II in earnest. That does, however, leave one loose variable in all of this…how does the illustrious leader of the mighty Irken Elite hope to benefit from manipulating me into cracking down on his rivals?"
She leaned forward in her office chair, hands folding atop the desk.
"A decorated veteran of countless victories across all of space doesn't do things out of the kindness of their heart. You want something. What do you want in return? What is it that you are going to ask of me while you dangle low-hanging fruit to tempt and tease?"
Grimm leaned forward still, inches from her face. "Only you on my side, you wonderful, loyal woman. I firmly believe there is a plot afoot and I want to get to the bottom of it just as much as you do. The Empire will be better off for it thanks to both of us."
Despite his breach of personal space, Xilch did not relinquish or recede. Genuinely, she was amused by the man. Endearingly so…or perhaps that was the extensive training she had in the realm of psychological analysis. Every subtle movement, every breath, a memoir of unspoken notes.
Guiltily, he did have a way with words and it wasn't everyday she was showered in compliments…or ever, really. Most despised her or trembled in terror at the sight of her. Not him. Clearly his boldness extended beyond the battlefield.
"Internal Affairs is always on everyone's side. We are always watching." She cheekily responded. "I am on your side and your greatest ally until I am given a reason not to be…are you going to do something that is going to make me your worst enemy, Grimm?"
"Not at all. I would never think of it. A woman like you should be treasured, rewarded, admired. For such an important post they certainly chose the finest candidate." The Supreme Commander slyly smirked.
Xilch broke, glancing away with a bemused huff before looking back at him.
"My c'hurta must taste like honey for you to kiss it this much…do you talk to all of the IIA officers you interact with this way or only me?"
"Just you, and it's not your c'hurta that's sweet." He closed the gap, giving her a brief kiss on the lips before pulling back to where he was with a grin. Nothing needed to be said, the gesture was enough on what he thought was sweet.
It happened so quickly she didn't have time to react. Only left with the realization in the aftermath as her smirk widened with a tongue-in-cheek and a huff. What could she even say or do? Chastise him for being so daring? He was fraternizing with her…but she also entertained the notion. Was she to be a hypocrite?
"I'm not sure I can associate with the likes of you after recent events. I have a reputation to keep." She made light of his recently-gnawed rear courtesy of Burgg.
"Oh come now, I know a woman like you is well versed in the art of discretion. Why else did you ask me to lock the door, hm? You desire some privacy…and it is in moments like these where we can allow ourselves to indulge in this."
"Confidentiality," Xilch lightly corrected, less than serious. "Not privacy…but I can see why you would be lead to believe as such."
Sitting up slightly, she leaned closer, placing her cheek to his, her voice lowered near his antenna.
"...bring Nossa to me for my way into Special Operations and I will most certainly be on your side. One condition: remove your head from your c'hurta and put victories back on the board."
Upon conclusion, she turned, giving the Supreme Commander a lingering kiss to the side of his jaw before sinking back into her chair properly.
Grimm shot her a grin as he ran his hand over his antennae. "Consider it done. I'll contact her as soon as she's recovered. I'm sure I'll need her services on the next planet of Impending Doom's ongoing operations." With that, he leaned back in his seat, smugly satisfied. A most interesting woman for a most interesting man…this was the first victory as far as he was concerned.
"See to it that you do, Supreme Commander. Now…if you will excuse me, I have reports to file and invalids to authorize deactivation for." She gestured to her terminal. "You know where my office is. I think I can squeeze you into my schedule."
"Of course." Grimm rose, extending a polite, gentlemanly bow to her before turning and leaving the office once it was unlocked. His own delayed plans once more in motion. Vaukt thought he would get the better of him? Not a chance…