The Tallest Miyuki was finally finished. A fine replacement for the Tallest Cyur, the Irken Empire's super battleship with a length to almost challenge the Massive for the largest ship in the Armada. Despite his status on probation, Xilch, being who she was, managed to secure the ship as Grimm's new posting for their departure from Irk. The smell of fresh paint still lingered within. The finest ship in the fleet, complete at last, and it was Grimm's.
It would be suitable until he could have the Massive himself.
"Supreme Commander," a sailor at a console nearby alerted, "I have a priority one message from Invader Nossa to you, sir."
"On screen."
"Aye, sir."
Grimm straightened himself in his seat on the bridge, the screen fizzled before the image of the Invader came through.
"Ah, Invader Nossa, good to hear from you again. How goes your fact finding mission?"
The video projection of Nossa humbly bowed, a closed fist salute across her chest in the same motion.
"Supreme Commander, my persistence has rewarded me at last. Weeks of fruitless dead-ends and continual classified restrictions have been made moot as of moments ago. I dare not speak of my report's contents over transmission, but you will not be left wanting. Only know that I am currently inbound to your position and will be docking in short order with what you have sought. I can only confirm that your suspicions in fact hold water…a bursting dam's worth, I might add."
The Supreme Commander grinned. This was most fortuitous news indeed. Xilch needed to hear this.
"Excellent. I believe I can delay the departure of the Tallest Miyuki until you get here. I'll have some of my personal bodyguards escort you to my quarters once you arrive. I greatly look forward to hearing what you've uncovered, Invader."
"You will not be left wanting, Supreme Commander. This much I assure you. Glory to the Almighty Tallest, glory to the Empire."
"May it be everlasting." With that he had the channel cut and rose from his seat. "Signal High Marshal Xilch that I need her in my quarters immediately."
Minutes passed and Xilch arrived first. Grimm greeted her with an embrace and a kiss on the cheek, the two of them having grown closer the past six months. More minutes passed, and a Sergeant of his bodyguard opened the door, stepping through first. His dress uniform pristine as can be.
"Invader Nossa, Supreme Commander." The Sergeant stepped aside for Nossa to step in, saluted, and left the room.
Grimm sat at his desk, Xilch by his side, gesturing to a seat in front of it for Nossa. "Make yourself comfortable. We're both looking forward to hearing what you have for us."
"Your offer is appreciated, but I prefer to stand, Supreme Commander. My blood boils with fury and disgust at what I have uncovered." She reasoned, stepping forward to place her compiled findings, complete with her hours-old interview with the former member of the Tallests' personal special operations unit. Nossa took a single, long step back, standing at-ease before him in anticipation.
"I standby and await your likely orders to act, Supreme Commander."
"Consider my interest piqued, an Invader disciplined and dedicated to those outside of Special Operations over this matter." The High Marshal added, watching as Grimm took up the dataslate to review.
"I am of the safe assumption that you are going to find yourself quite busy very soon, High Marshal."
"Oh? Why is that?" She arched a shapely brow, turning her attention back to Grimm. "What is it that you have uncovered?"
Grimm ran through the transcript and his jaw practically dropped for a few moments before grinning.
"I believe we may have stumbled onto two crimes. PAK manipulation by the Shadow Strikers for one. The other, apparently a coverup of it involving Vaukt. At least if there's no record of him having ever made an IIA report over this." He held up the dataslate to her. "It seems that more suspicions are to be had than that one Corporal being deactivated. Kilka!"
A female Major, the Supreme Commander's own personal assistant, walked into the room and saluted.
"Be a dear and search the database for IIA reports from General Vaukt while on Vort, will you? Particularly during the Siege of Tallum."
"Right away, Sir."
The Major walked over to a terminal and began her search, finding the very same report Vaukt filed…one that was never brought to their attention.
"There is one, Sir."
"What?!"
She transferred it to a dataslate and brought it over, Grimm snatching it unkindly from her hand and reviewing this.
"Ah, I see." Grimm began, looking at the report date. "It seems this was filed shortly before my transfer back to Irk before being dispatched to Blorch. I would not have had the time to receive this and review it directly." Grimm set it down, looking to Xilch, "You know who would? High Marshal Zha."
"How convenient." Xilch commented with disdain, drawing a deep breath to maintain composure. "Major Kilka?"
"Ma'am?"
"Process a copy of that report and forward it to me. It appears I have my own leg of this investigation to fulfill now. General Vaukt and the whole of Special Operations may be beyond Internal Affairs' jurisdiction, but the High Marshal and her ilk are not. Even so, being outside of my authority does not make one above it. The Tallest must be made aware of what is transpiring beneath their watch."
"Consider it done, Ma'am." Kilka set to work preparing a copy to forward to Xilch as Grimm leaned back in his seat.
"I take it you need me to set an immediate course to intercept the Massive so you can deliver this to them personally, correct?" He glanced towards Xilch.
"That would be preferable, yes." She nodded to the Supreme Commander, looking back to Invader Nossa. "You have been beyond instrumental in ensuring the integrity of the Empire, Invader."
The amalgamated Irken inclined her head ever so slightly.
"You humble me, High Marshal. I am following orders and fulfilling my duty. Nothing more."
"Precisely why you were chosen for this task. Is General Vaukt aware of your assistance of Internal Affairs?"
"At this point in time, no, High Marshal. Officially, I am still recuperating from my wounds incurred at the hands of the Vylatian Alpha Queen. Though I am certain Major Amka is likely to relay my interview with Lieutenant Tuu in short order. He was none too pleased with my unnannoucned arrival and not keen on permitting an audience with one of his men. If he is not already aware, he will be soon enough."
"All the more reason to move quickly and not permit him the opportunity." Xilch concurred.
With time of the essence, Grimm saw that the course of the Tallest Miyuki took them right to the bulk of the Armada guarding the Tallest. Little did they know how right Nossa's hunch was. Amka's contact with Vaukt saw the Major put through a formal report on this unofficial visit along with what Tuu said to him on potentially needing to call IIA on Amka himself. The well-meaning Lieutenant had inadvertently handed Vaukt the ammunition needed to make a preemptive strike.
Right as Grimm, Xilch, and Nossa were being ushered before the Tallest, they were busy reviewing the report from Vaukt provided by Amka. The Major, by now, was incommunicado in recovering that lost frigate, but his report was thorough enough to give the Tallest everything they needed to know. How IIA was breaking the rules and poking around where they shouldn't have.
"My Tallest," a Commander of the Honor Guard sounded off entering the room, "the Supreme Commander, High Marshal of Internal Affairs, and Invader Nossa are here for your audience with them."
Both of the Empire's leaders, huddled over a dataslate clutched by Red, turned to look at the announced party. Neither seemed terribly enthused to much confusion.
"You." Red leered at Xilch, a long, slender digit pointing at the High Marshal before snapping toward the floor. "Before us, now."
Purple leaned past the bewildered group to the Honor Guard Commander. "We'll take it from here. See yourself out and close the door. No visitors."
"As you wish, my Tallest." He bowed with a closed-fist salute across his chest before turning about-face to depart.
Grimm and Nossa stood back as the door whisked shut behind them and then displayed a red hologram indicating a door lock. The Tallest did not look the least bit amused…something went wrong, horribly wrong. Why would they not be pleased to discover a plot?
"My Tallest, my friends," Grimm began, "you seem agitated. Is something the matter?"
"Shut. Up." Red snapped unkindly at the Supreme Commander, his sternly-set glare returning to Xilch.
"Ooooh, you're in troubllllle…" Purple commented much to Red's chagrin. Realizing his interference was unwanted, his antenna drooped sheepishly. "...sorry. Continue."
"Is something wrong, My Tallest?" Xilch returned focus back to her, bearing the brunt of their ire with minimal effort. She was long accustomed to being on the receiving end of anger for doing her job.
"Something wrong? Is there something wrong?" The crimson-clad leader badgered, unkindly throwing the dataslate directly into her chest for her to catch. "You tell me, High Marshal."
"Someone in Special Operations told us you've been snooping around." Purple added as Xilch began scanning the contents of the dataslate thrown at her, snapping his finger to the esteemed Invader. "...and you put her up to doing your dirty work!"
Grimm couldn't keep silent despite being told to. "Will you read the evidence she has? They're plotting against you! Against us! Should they not be treated as enemies of the Empire are?"
"Who, Grimm? Who is plotting?" Red challenged, already agitated. "Vaukt? What evidence do you have that he is plotting? Baseless accusations and violation of long-standing rules? We have had people deactivated for less!"
"Yeah!" Purple added for good measure in concurrence. "Who? Huh? Huh? Who?!"
"General Vaukt and quite possibly Commander Vult of your own unit. Lieutenant Tuu reported the unit to him and he didn't submit the report until shortly before my transfer out. Review it. Your dear Commander has been tampering with his unit's PAKs. A clear violation of the Imperial Standard if there ever was one. There is clearly a plot ongoing right under your gazes. If I'm wrong about it, I will literally boil and eat the leather of my own boots."
"I cannot believe what I am hearing." Red countered. "First you bungle Vort, then you glass Blorch, THEN you pull a ZIM at Vylat and shoot the campaign in both feet before it begins, and NOW you are pointing fingers at other branches for their shortcomings! Unbelievable!"
"My Tallest, with all due respect, Supreme Commander Grimm did not originate these findings." Xilch felt it prudent to step in as they laid into him. "This investigation was of my own doing following the events of Vylat between General Vaukt's evasion and High Marshal Zha's unwillingness to comply. My hand was forced to seek a creative solution-"
"Creative solution?" Red interrupted incredulously, gesturing to Invader Nossa. "Using one of General Vaukt's own men to spy on Special Operations? That is a "creative solution"?"
"Nope, it's forbidden! It's against the rules! You broke the rules!" Purple exclaimed, hands to his hips as he drifted closer like a disappointed parent in their child's behavior. "...I expected better of a decorated veteran Invader and Internal Affairs' highest-ranking official."
"And what if we're right? And I'm certain that we are. What then? What if this plot comes into full swing and you two find yourselves out of a job and probably out of the world of the living over this? Your own unit may even betray you! Who tampers with their PAKs like disabling their hormonal inhibitors besides a bunch of defectives and traitors?"
"If it is any of your business, Grimm, they have been nothing but stalwart defenders of the Empire and responsible for moving Impending Doom II forward accordingly. I find your claims audacious and frankly, concerning." Red pointedly spoke, looking to Xilch with a sneer of contempt. "Oooh…give me ONE good reason why I shouldn't have you deactivated for this!"
"My Tallest." Nossa felt it prudent to speak, drawing attention away from Xilch. "Whatever anger you hold for the High Marshal, direct it at me. I acted willingly of my own accord under the belief that the integrity of the Empire was at stake and felt prudent to be compliant. I equally could have refused and notified General Vaukt. My decision. My responsibility."
"Noble as that is, Invader, the High Marshal knows better to meddle into Special Operations affairs. By nature, their activities toe the line of the Imperial Standard, the very same she violated."
Grimm, seeing where this was going, saw a different direction to take. "Just as you are both currently violating at this very moment by refusing to review credible evidence of a potential coup against you."
"Evidence acquired in violation!" Purple defended. "We didn't do anything wrong, you did!"
"The Supreme Commander holds a valid point, My Tallest." Xilch countered, remaining calm despite the very real threat of her imminent demise. "The Imperial Standard, as you are aware, is a code of ethics and guidelines based entirely on fact and logic. He speaks of a technical fact. Technically speaking, he is correct…and technically correct is the best kind of correct, is it not?"
"So I suppose the question is simple: Are you going to hear us out or remain obstinate in your stance that we broke the rules?"
"Your acquisition of this information and how you did it is the problem, Grimm! Not the information itself!" Red huffed, smoothing his antenna back in an attempt to calm himself in the moment. "...assuming there is some validity to all of this…yes, it is concerning."
"A concern I can allay and put to rest if given permission to do so, My Tallest." Xilch added, attempting to turn their attention away from dressing them down and considering the remote possibility. "The actions taken were not malicious. The Supreme Commander was equally beneath investigation post-Vylat for his actions and behavior. It is only after that investigation concluded did this information arise and worthy of inspection. My attempts to bring closure to these allegations within my boundaries of authority came up empty-handed. What was produced was done so with the willing aid of Invader Nossa. My Tallest, had she not agreed to assist, this would be unknown and unproven…and targets would remain on your backs."
"I didn't do anything wrong though!" Purple exclaimed, taking personal affront to Xilch's implications. "You have any idea how hard it is to run the universe's most powerful empire?! Extremely! Long hours, no breaks, no one's thankful…it's terrible!"
His impassioned statement punctuated with a sip of a strawed beverage in his hand.
"It doesn't matter what you think you did or didn't do, only that some people think you're not doing a very good job and want you removed from power." Grimm added, frustrated. "It's very simple, we dig deeper into this conspiracy, make arrests, interrogate, find out how deep this web goes, and dispose of the traitors. The ends are what matter at the end of the day and what will go down in the annals of the Empire. The means will be forgotten."
The Supreme Commander sighed, walking over and standing next to Xilch, "Which means, we will also need to subject your own personal unit to such a microscope. Particularly when it comes to their poking around with their PAKs and the fact that someone marked deactivated during the Campaign of Vort is on their roster which raises many, many concerns."
The Tallests' pause and contemplative expressions gave the High Marshal the smallest sliver of optimism. The seed of doubt planted, concerning information and evidence to back it, they moved past punishing them and considering the possibilities. A promising start.
"My Tallest, at the very least, this warrants a deeper look into General Vaukt's activities and his immediate subordinates." Xilch petitioned. "Your personal team, by nature, are even further shielded from watchful eyes. I will concede our claims, based on Lieutenant Tuu's statements, are a bit of a reach in speculation…but General Vaukt is clearly planning something. All I want is to determine how deep it goes and how short the arm is armed with the knife aimed at your backs. Nothing more. Preservation of the Empire and upholding the Imperial Standard, as intended and programmed."
Red, studious of the three before him, did not immediately speak. Their pleas were not unfound and did not shirk at the possibility of punishment as their intentions were in line with preservation of the Empire and ensuring its continuance. Could they be faulted for doing arguably the right thing despite bending, if not breaking, rules to ensure the right thing was done?
"I know that look." Purple commented, pointing to his co ruler. "You're thinkin'. Watcha thinkin'?"
"You three. Stay put." He finally spoke, gesturing to Purple. "Follow me."
He shrugged, doing as requested as the pair drifted away and across the room to speak in private among themselves.
Grimm rubbed his chin in thought, turning his attention to Xilch once the three of them were alone. "I believe that we should still pay Zha a visit for her very insolent response before. Fighting Jakriks or not, if IIA calls she has an obligation to answer." His internal scheming moved quickly, seeing an excellent opportunity. "Perhaps we should bring the Tallest with us to see for themselves, and the Warmaster. They will all see the plot that was brewing under the surface and that we, you, were correct to move as you did all along."
"She has been less than cooperative but not in violation." Xilch begrudgingly responded, watching as Red and Purple conversed discreetly. "This is equally demeaning as it is frustrating having evidence of conspiracy against them and they are worried about how I acquired it."
"Respectfully, High Marshal, I understand their point-of-view even aiding you in yours." The Invader commented among themselves. "Those boundaries are there for a reason to ensure Special Operations may function…but even its functionality should have limits. Limits I have personally witnessed having their boundaries continually pushed."
"Indeed…perhaps our fates aren't sealed just yet."
"How so?"
"The Almighty Tallest have not ordered our arrest and detainment for evaluation yet. Their posture and expressions…they find some uncomfortable truth in this and are afraid to find more…but morbid curiosity drives them in fear of their own self-preservation." She analyzed from afar, teal-blue eyes frigid as ever. "Rules and regulations exist for a reason…but so do exceptions and amendments whenever required."
"I suppose all that remains to be seen is if they will aid us in upholding the Imperial Standard or if some more drastic measures are required." Grimm plainly laid out. The half masked man intent on seeing the ends come to pass.
Finally, after a great deal of animated discussion from afar, Red and Purple drifted back to the waiting trio. Red's indignation and fury had subsided, as did Purple's paranoia. Both folded their arms, looking down upon Grimm, Xilch, and Nossa. Red was the first to speak after glancing to Purple, both nodding in affirmation.
"We've talked it over and concluded that there is definitely…something afoot. What that something is, I don't know, but it's something. That being said…the Imperial Standard prohibits Internal Affairs from meddling within Special Operations…however…"
"You're not allowed to snoop around Special Operations, which means General Vaukt and his guys are off-limits to investigation…but we will put your findings forward to the Control Brains with our stamp of approval." Purple added.
"Meaning you will petition your case with our endorsement for an exception to the Imperial Standard…perhaps even an amendment beneath certain circumstances. You are no stranger to this process, High Marshal."
"No, My Tallest, I am not. I humbly issue an apology for my…ambition in preserving your safety and the integrity of the Empire at-large. This was the proper channel I should have pursued first."
"Yes. You should have. Don't let it happen again." Red warned, looking to Nossa. "...and you, Invader. Decorated veteran and esteemed hero of the Empire or not, you would be wise to seek second opinions of superiors outside of your branch of operation. Including Internal Affairs."
"...is that not…questioning orders, My Tallest?"
"Not question orders, Nossa…question intentions. Notify General Vaukt and act accordingly. All three of you are extremely fortunate to find us in a good mood today. Anything less and your butts would be hauled off to Devastis for evaluation. Do not pull this stunt again. Am I made clear?"
"Yes, My Tallest." Xilch's head graciously dipped, as did Nossa's in respect paid.
"While we await the decision of the Control Brains for this petition for an exception, are we clear to proceed with other angles of investigation as currently allowed? I'm certain that High Marshal Zha knows more than she lets on, including with failure to follow up on the General's report."
"Why are you asking me that? That's her job." Red gestured to Xilch. "So long as it doesn't break the rules, I don't care what you do outside of your assigned duties. Do your job and…whatever else you do…far away from us."
"Yeah! Act like a bunch of bickering smeets name-calling each other!" Purple interjected. "There anything else you three want to complain about or are we done here? It's almost time to laugh at Zim."
Grimm's expression deadpanned. He'd have their heads at some point. "Xilch, Nossa, let's take our leave and leave them to laugh at a loser."
The three made their way out with the main door unlocking and opening for them. As Grimm looked back he watched as Red and Purple bickered over a screen full of static. No standby message, nothing. They couldn't reach Zim at all. No signal from Earth. Curious…perhaps Zim was dead. If that were the case he'd need a new plan. He'd need Xilch even more than before. Though to game IIA to his own ends…
A most dangerous game, but the prize was well worth the risk.