XCOM: The Advent Directive

by Xabiar

Australia has been annexed, the United Nations is in chaos, the world is under siege and the Ethereals have taken the field. Facing the full might of the Ethereal Collective, the Commander must rally XCOM, the newly formed ADVENT, and several other allies and rivals to unite the divided nations by any means necessary, for failure now will mean the fall of humanity once and for all.

61. Conspiracies and Coronations

Conspiracies and Coronations

---

[REDACTED] - Sphere of the Throne

5/10/2017 – 8:12 A.M.

Birds chirped and insects buzzed within the outdoor plateau, as the warm sun blazed overhead. The weather lacked the bite of the cold the General was so familiar with; it was an odd sensation, though not necessarily unpleasant – for now, at least. Terraforming the climate to be perpetually mild threw him off too often. He had been to enough planets to dislike the unnaturalness of what the Throne World had been engineered to become.

A home for the soft Lords and servants, all falsely content in believing themselves as invincible and undisputed in this galaxy. An illusionary triumph over the elements and aspects of their home they had disliked, which had been crushed by the hand of scientists and geoengineers. Impressive in the minds of the limited. Were it not for the visionary he served, they would hold a mere fraction of the power they now possessed, so low were their ambitions.

The mild climate now explained why his Lord had decided to wear the more ornate, and comfortable, ceremonial attire, something the General now wished he had emulated, though here it would only make him feel more like an outsider. It was a curious perspective, to be old enough to see the home he had grown up in change to the point where it was hardly recognizable. Perhaps it was for the best, but it did not change the foreign atmosphere that had manifested.

Red and silver glyphs and symbols were woven through the silks of his Lord's attire, telling a story only the literate and sophisticated could understand. It was deceptive to the casual observer, beautiful in appearance but portrayed a tale of blood, conquest, and darkness.

The pallid Lord took a small sip from the glass in his hand, the irregular temperature seeming not to affect him in the slightest. His glass was filled with an alien beverage that had been harvested from another sphere long ago – wine. Proof that the contributions of other species and spheres could eventually be integrated and later cultivated here. The General did not care for the beverage, though the symbolic implications he could appreciate far more.

They sat around a wooden table under a towering tree, as a comfortable breeze blew. The smells of fruits and flowers wafted up from the lower plantations, while guards lined the crystal walls of the palace it protected. Said fruit had been gathered and placed in the center of the table, untouched by the two men, though their third guest had little problem helping himself.

Their guest bore the rugged appearance of a hunter or mercenary, lacking the flawless skin and elegance both he and his Lord possessed. Instead, he sported a jagged scar across his throat, and there were many similar wounds under the leathers and armor he wore. The reptilian eyes of a predator flicked between the two of them, an equally feral smile playing on his lips. Plasma packs, physical ammunition, several daggers, and a multitude of explosives hung from his waist and straps on his chest, with vials of unknown liquids also within easy access. A silver ornament of intertwined metal strands hung from his neck, completing the haphazard attire.

He rivaled the General in mass and height, though unlike the well-maintained gear of the Riders, this man's equipment was stained and dirtied. A faint smell of earth and blood clung to him, likely in part from the rifle strapped to his back along with a hardened sword. Clearly, this was not a man that belonged here.

Nonetheless, his Lord had decided he had a role to play.

"[I think we should begin,]" the Hunter finally said, tossing away the seed of the fruit he had eaten. "[We both have an intolerance for small talk. I would know why you requested me, especially considering the contract we were in the process of fulfilling.]" His command of the language matched the rest of him, rougher than normal, if still perfectly fluent. It was how the General knew he was originally a native of the Throne World, as foreigners had a distinct lilt.

It was quite interesting. Few natives of the Sphere, let alone the Throne World, pursued the path this man had.

"[You reviewed what we provided you on the way, I trust,]" his Lord began neutrally, leaning back into his chair, indicating him to continue. "[Your assessment?]"

The Hunter glanced down to the papers splayed out on the table, which he had been reviewing during the meal, while ignoring the awkward silence. "[Rather interesting, if I do say so myself. But, to be blunt my Lord, not relevant. Unless you want a number of these people dead, or there is an infestation on this world, I'm not sure why you need us.]"

"[Consider it redundancy,]" the Lord said, lacing his fingers together. "[There is a principal asset of ours involved, but considering the implications I would prefer we not be reliant on him.]"

The man glanced at him with yellow unblinking and curious eyes. "[Define 'principal asset'?]"

"[The Viceroy.]"

The Hunter whistled, leaning back. "[I see. In which case, my question still stands. We're not spies, so supporting someone like the Viceroy would be gross mismanagement. Furthermore, if you have insertion capabilities, you can easily deploy your dedicated assassins and harvesters. I would prefer a straight answer, my Lord. You know very well what we are capable of – and know we don't waste time.]"

The General bristled. "[This invitation was not a request.]"

"[Unofficially, yes,]" the Hunter waved a hand. "[However, we're aware of our worth to the Throne. Bickering is unnecessary, General; no need for threats. I'm stating that there is little reason to request us in lieu of utilizing your own specialized agents. So if you do not have a contract for me, then I might as well take my leave.]"

"[You're in our sphere and answer to the Throne,]" the General reminded him. "[This is not a negotiation.]"

"[A throne I will remind you, your Lord does not sit upon,]" the Hunter amended with a smile. "[And to my knowledge, the Sage-King has not given me this command.]" The Lord's lips curled up ever so slightly at that.

"[Enough,]" his Lord stated slowly, raising a fist and placed a holoprojector on the table with one hand, and sliding a packet to the Hunter with the other, which bore the seal of the Sage-King himself – something the General hadn't been aware had been acquired.

An unexpected, but positive development.

The humor left the face and bright eyes of the Hunter, who visibly swallowed and reached for the packet. "[This is a matter concerning the interests of the Throne World itself,]" his Lord said in a controlled voice. "[It is a long-term contract, in which you have two targets. This is your first.]" With the press of a button, the image of a familiar human appeared from the holoprojector. The Hunter appraised it for a few minutes, seemingly taken by surprise for the second time in as many minutes.

"[Is this who I think it is?]" He asked warily.

The General frowned. "[How would you know?]"

"[Come now, General,]" the Hunter chided with a thin smile. "[We may not be friends with the other Schools, but rumors spread – particularly with traitors and deserters. This particular individual however is…unique.]" He waved a hand. "[Not that it necessarily matters, but I find it curious. Nevertheless, what are the conditions? Alive? Dead?]"

"[Alive,]" the Lord emphasized firmly, fixing the Hunter with a stern glare. "[Under no circumstances is she to be permanently harmed.]"

A nod, as the fingers of the Hunter rapped on the table in a short rhythm. "[Manageable. It won't be easy, but it will be done. Though I suspect I lack certain tools to make a capture feasible.]"

The General nodded, relaxing slightly. "[Those will be provided to you.]"

"[Ultimately, this conflict on Earth is minor. The more important target will follow after your initial success,]" his Lord continued, shutting off the holoprojector. "[Understand that what I will tell you will not be repeated.]"

"[Of course.]"

"[The Entity has escaped containment, and will likely migrate to the Sphere of the Sovereign,]" he continued. "[I trust I don't have to describe why this is problematic?]"

The Hunter had gone still, concern etched on his face – though unsurprisingly enough, it quickly morphed into irritation. "[We warned you this would happen. You should have killed him when you had the chance.]"

"[Perhaps,]" the Lord acknowledged with an idle motion. "[But considering the advances the Throne has made, the purpose has been served. He was captured once, he will be captured again.]"

The Hunter gave a bleak, dismissive laugh. "[You have no idea what that thing is, even now. What you learned from it means absolutely nothing to him, nor what you accomplished. You are speaking of a monster that transcends reality as we understand it; a thing that fed you scraps to make you complacent. No, my Lord, if we help you again, it will not be to capture the Entity – it will be to kill him.]"

"[Assuming he can be killed,]" the Lord idly noted. "[I am not convinced he can. You of all people should know some creatures cannot be killed.]"

"[And that is what concerns us,]" the Hunter admitted, lips in a thin line. "[We had potentially one chance to kill it – or at least try – and you forbade us. So you could exploit it. Killing it – or at least attempting such - is imperative, but this is something I cannot do alone.]" He grimaced. "[Killing monsters is our specialty – but even now you don't understand what you're asking.]"

"[Then learn,]" the Lord stated dryly. "[For once it seems I possess more optimism than you. This Entity is a threat, but he is a puzzle who follows and is bound by rules. He can be dealt with, and you know what to look for. For now, observe and complete your first task. When you confirm the Entity walks the sphere, you will inform us and we shall mobilize.]"

There was a brief pause, and the Hunter finally gave a single nod. "[Very well, my Lord. It will be done. You will receive your first report shortly.]"

---

Unknown

Unknown Time

There was a beeping that seeped into his reality, initially quiet but grew steadily louder; a reality which was soon supplemented by bright lights and blurry vision that soon became clear. Nartha slowly woke up, groggy; feeling terrible overall, and with his chest feeling squeezed. He lifted a hand to wipe his eyes, then blinked. Feeling was coming back throughout his body, and the good news was that he seemed to be intact.

No missing limbs or digits, which was a positive; though now he felt the bandages wrapped tight around his chest where he'd been stabbed. The area of the wounds was sore to the touch, and it seemed that his heart was beating slower. It didn't hurt to breathe, but it wasn't comfortable either.

It was then after a minute that he realized that there was something warm pinning his left hand to the bedrest, and he idly looked down to see Shun resting on her hands, which were subsequently pinning his own. Somehow, she seemed to be breathing comfortably, more so than he would have expected.

She was unsurprisingly not wearing armor, with regular civilian clothing instead; a simple shirt and pants, and he saw boots kicked haphazardly by the door. Her short hair was definitely a mess compared to how it normally was, but none of that really mattered to him right now.

He felt a mental burden lift; not a lot, but enough. Good, she made it.

The battle, or the mess that it had turned into, was unfortunately fresh in his mind and soon consumed his thoughts as he leaned back. He idly looked around the room, seeing that he was in an enclosed room with dim lighting and a locked door. A medical console beeped, and the counter had some papers and tablets strewn on it with the faint smell of coffee brewing from the respective machine stashed in the corner. Still, he wasn't sure if it was a normal patient room or a makeshift prison the Nulorian had stashed him in.

He wouldn't be surprised either way.

The only thing he really felt right now outside of the pain, was the guilt. Innumerable people were dead or being held by the Zararch; citizens and Nulorian, innocent and guilty alike, all who would be killed after they were interrogated. XCOM and Nulorian soldiers were dead. Their plans on Vitakar were at best stalled, and their grand idea to rescue those the Zararch would use as leverage was effectively as dead as the many corpses that were no doubt now rotting in the snow.

All of it his fault.

He'd been unwitting, perhaps, but it was still his fault. He didn't have to be an intentional traitor to bring the Collective down upon everyone. He could blame his ignorance, or his expectations, or anything else, but when it came down to it, he was the vessel through which the Ethereals had used to bring down the Nulorian and anyone they were connected to.

Nothing would ever change that.

Stupid of him for thinking he could outsmart the Zar'Chon, let alone the Ethereals. Quisilia had probably laughed himself silly at how effective Nartha had been. Within months he'd located government sympathizers, Nulorian officers, Muton smuggling rings, established a cell on Desolan, and set up talks with sympathetic Andromedon Unions.

All of that now pointless. He closed his eyes.

Good job Nartha, you killed the resistance.

Guilt, defeat, sorrow, all of them were felt in equivalent measures. He didn't deserve to have survived, and was honestly surprised he'd escaped Quisilia's attack at all. Perhaps Quisilia hadn't really cared, and thought it would be more amusing for him to live with the knowledge of what he'd done.

Why else would he have laid out that it was all his fault?

He felt Shun stir, jolting his eyes open. She yawned, and once she saw he was awake, moved to sit up, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Hey. Sorry. I promise I didn't mean to fall asleep on your hand."

"Of all the things I'm worried about," he sighed. "That doesn't even register. I'm just glad you're alright."

"The feeling is mutual," she agreed, appraising him with concern in her eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible," he answered bluntly, his voice drained of emotion as he sighed. "I'll live, but right now I wish I hadn't."

A flash of sadness crossed her face. "Don't say that," she said quietly. "Please. It's bad enough so many died. Losing you too would be…it would have made it worse."

"I'm sorry," he closed his eyes again, before continuing. "But it's my fault this happened. Wittingly or not, I was used to kill all those people. I can't change or mitigate what happened."

"Nartha, it wasn't just you," Shun took his hand, clasping it firmly in her own while looking into his eyes. "We all were tricked. Do you know how many people literally put their lives in your hands, believing you weren't compromised? The Commander, Andromedons, Miridian, me…do you think we would have let you get close, entrust you with our secrets and lives, if we didn't have some assurance it was safe? The blame isn't just on you, it's on all of us."

Despite himself, his lips curled up. "That is a…forgiving interpretation. I appreciate it, but I don't think the Nulorian will think the same." He looked to the door, remembering his earlier musings. "Out of curiosity, am I in a cell?"

She furrowed her eyebrows. "What? No, and I haven't heard the Nulorian talking about doing anything to you."

Huh. "Interesting," he mused, more to himself, his voice more perplexed than relieved. "I would have expected to be woken up in an interrogation chair given how Miridian is rumored to handle leaks."

"Like I said," Shun reminded him. "This isn't just your fault. He knows better than to blame it all on you. So does the Commander. Besides, they aren't going to get through me." She nodded to the nightstand at the head of his bed, where there was a plasma pistol laying atop it. "If anyone's going to handle you, it'll be XCOM."

Despite the situation, he felt warm upon hearing that. "I…thank you. I don't know if I'm worth dying over though. At this point I feel like I'm more trouble than I'm worth."

She snorted. "You managed to build a resistance network all on your own, found the Nulorian, and met the elusive Miridian. Before that, you got into XCOM and were only found out because you told the truth. Don't sell yourself short," she gave a wan smile. "Quisilia is probably upset you managed to do what none of the Zararch had been able to. You still have all those skills."

Shun patted his hand, standing. "More importantly, you're my friend and comrade. We'd both die for each other if it came down to it. We've all made mistakes, and we will learn from them. Now hold still, I made something when you woke up." Releasing his hand, she walked over to the counter and pulled out a coffee pot, and poured some of the steaming beverage.

"Here," she handed him a cup. "You liked this when I shared it with you."

He took the offered cup with some suspicion, a quick smell confirmed it. "I don't think I should be on drugs right now. Or at least anymore that are in me right now."

"It's only a little bit of chocolate," Shun insisted, taking a sip of her own. "You can't have a mocha without it. And you need it. Take small sips. You'll feel better." She reached over to her phone also resting on the nightstand. "A new ADVENT study claims that Vitakara that take chocolate are ten percent more active!"

"You don't even get cell service here," he rolled his eyes, moving his head for emphasis since it was easy for her to miss the motion. "And I don't suppose that doctors also hate that one simple trick?"

She chuckled. "Well, probably. Worth a shot, but do it please? For me?"

She looked at him imploringly and he sighed, and decided to comply. "You're a bad influence, Shun," he grumbled, but took a sip. It was good for sure, though he tried not to drink too much at a time. A few minutes after the chocolate began working, he did feel a lot more awake now. Which meant he should get details before he inevitably crashed. "How bad is everything?"

She pursed her lips, leaning back and crossing her legs. "I'm not exactly sure of that. Miridian, Sorras, and most or all of the leadership are alive. It appears the Sar'Manda have been left alone too, so whatever information Quisilia did have was outdated to a degree."

Relief washed over him when he heard that. That had been the nightmare scenario, and it seemed to have been averted. He was already breathing easier. "Good, good."

"A lot of Nulorian outposts were hit, and most in them died," Shun continued, becoming more grim. "I don't know about Desolan, but given public statements from this Speaker, everyone there is probably gone. Overall though…it seems like it could have been worse. Bad, but salvageable. Don't quote me on that, but it sounds like that is the case."

"That's…better than I feared," Nartha nodded, taking another sip. The loss of the Desolan Cell hit the worst, mostly because it was something that wasn't composed of hardened terrorists. It had just been a network of conscientious people who'd trusted him to keep them safe. They were probably all dead now, and the Mutons had probably also been murdered. All for the crime of existing.

He moved on, he'd get more details on that later. "What about from XCOM?"

"Better news on that front," she flashed a smile. "We kicked the aliens off Florida."

He blinked, not expecting that. "How? That's great but…completely out of the state?"

"Some kind of nanoweapon," she explained vaguely. "I don't know all the details, but I've heard it may change the war."

She grimaced a few seconds later. "Not all good though, Patricia is still being a problem." Her voice faded. "It's…difficult to reconcile with what she's become. I didn't know her that well, but she always seemed like a good person. Now she's attacking a military bases and killing everyone. Soldiers, civilians, men, women, children." Shun shook her head. "She deliberately went after the civilian housing."

Nartha shook his head, also finding it difficult to really believe, even now.

"Is it really her?" Nartha wondered. "Or the Imperator?"

"I don't know," she leaned in her chair, taking another sip automatically. "It's easy to say it's the Imperator, but I remember some of the things she did, and said, and I'm not sure. When it was killing aliens, we were completely fine with it, but now it's us who're being slaughtered…" She trailed off.

"The Commander doesn't know how to stop her?" Nartha asked.

"I hope he does," she admitted. "But I haven't seen it. How do you stop the most powerful Human psion linked with the most powerful Ethereal in existence? The damn Battlemaster is an easier target. I'm sure we can beat him. Patricia…" she trailed off, shaking her head. "She's not as simple; not from what I've seen. All I know is that I'm not the one to deal with her."

He held off on taking another sip, feeling the euphoric effects of the drug begin to make themselves known. "And now what? Where do we go from here?"

"As far as I'm aware?" She rhetorically asked. "We keep going. Vitakar is going to be liberated, even with this setback. I don't think there is a better way to get back at Quisilia than refusing to die and staying here. We can't give up now."

She was right. "No, we can't. We'll have to find a way."

"I've heard some of the Nulorian saying that Miridian has a plan," she said, glancing to the door. "Let's hope it's a good one."

---

Dreadnought of the Harbinger – Central Command

5/8/2017 – 1:19 P.M.

Dressed in her white ceremonial outfit, Patricia overlooked the intermingling crew with some satisfaction. While truthfully it wasn't the best timing for a party in light of Florida, she'd learned that it was good to keep morale up, and emphasizing the victories over the losses would do them all some good.

And really, there was plenty of good news despite Florida. Despite the best efforts of ADVENT, South America was continuing to fall, Florida would soon be invaded again, Southeast Asia would continue to fall, and for all they knew, the next place she would strike would be Switzerland itself.

The nanoweapon was something of a problem, but certainly could be mitigated. The AI was the biggest threat, as it was very likely it was behind the nanoweapon – and no doubt behind more surprises XCOM and ADVENT had in store. Far too much power for XCOM to have, and it was only a matter of time before ADVENT began pumping them out too.

A problem to eventually deal with.

The atmosphere was good nonetheless; people were positive and feeling quite happy and content. There was a sense of community and connection that sometimes was lost if it wasn't cultivated. Something she intended to keep well-maintained. Emotions were running high today, but in a good way.

Excellent.

She took a sip of water from the wine glass between her fingers. The Vitakara didn't really like hard or intoxicating drinks – or at least had never really developed them, so there was a scarcity on the ship. Not that she really minded, but it felt a bit odd to organize a social where the primary drink was water.

She sensed a now-familiar mind coming up behind her. "Finished making the rounds?" Marian asked, coming up behind her.

"For now," she said, making a brief connection with his mind to confirm it was him. After she'd learned that…things…like Nemo existed, she had become slightly paranoid, especially considering its last known assignment. That confirmation complete, she turned to face him fully. "I think it's helping dispel the…" she idly waved a hand, searching for the word. "Mystique around me."

Marian gave an agreeable nod, reflecting his feelings. "Yes, it was a good decision. You are certainly more approachable now. You came at a disadvantage, being both a Human and the Harbinger of the Imperator himself. Many of us are…well, used to being overlooked by the Ethereals."

Patricia pursed her lips at the internal dismay he felt saying that, though he certainly wasn't wrong. "A mistake."

"Something the Imperator seems to be trying to address," he agreed, cocking his head at her. "I assume this leadership is something you learned from the Commander?"

"Yes," she mused, resting on the simple guardrail, looking out over the bridge, a melancholy feeling settling over her. "Well, mostly him. It's something I think most know instinctively; people want to be liked and those under them loyal."

Marian joined her, also leaning on the guardrail. "Supposedly common sense, but something I've noted many don't not follow. At least not really. Do you wonder why that is?"

It seemed to be a question he'd been wondering since the event had started, and she thought a moment before giving an answer. "Apathy. Necessity. Simplicity. Loyalty, personal approval, all of that is…fine. But it's not critical, not if there is a status quo. It can become exhausting, keeping the names and faces straight. When you reach a certain rank, when you have a certain amount of authority, it's…simpler to view your people as assets and numbers, especially when you don't see or interact with them regularly. More disassociation, easier to make hard decisions. The Commander understood that wasn't the right approach."

She smiled sadly to herself at the irony. "I doubt he'd appreciate me using what I learned here."

"Probably not," the Vitakarian agreed. "But it's…I can't disagree. In the Zararch we were jealous of the Collective Military because the Battlemaster…he cares. He makes his soldiers feel like they have a purpose and role to fill. That there is someone who understands them, who is on the front lines fighting and suffering beside them." He gave a thin smile, not feeling slighted, but he definitely felt disappointment. "I've never even met the Zar'Chon personally."

"A shame," Patricia crossed her arms, thinking. "Perhaps he should alter his leadership methods."

"I can understand it," Marian shrugged. "Security and all that." He cleared his throat, appearing to feel slightly embarrassed, but proud. "All that to say, thank you. I'm admittedly more cynical than many of my kind here, but it's good to have someone who gives the illusion of caring."

She smiled. "I appreciate that, and I can tell you it isn't an act." She set the glass down on a nearby table, and turned to face him, still leaning against the railing. They had plenty of time, and it didn't hurt to learn a little more about her people. "If you don't mind another personal question, I'm curious what you were involved in before being transferred under me?"

"A fair bit, Patricia," he answered, briefly pausing. "Before Earth was even discovered I was primarily involved in anti-terrorism. Nulorian." There were brief flickers of long-buried pain in the word.

"This is a change then," she noted, softening her voice. "A good one, I hope."

"Before Earth, Patricia," he amended. "Once Earth entered the picture, I was reassigned for analysis. Largely language decryption and translation. I worked on Nulorian codebreaking and communications, so some skills naturally translated. Later this turned into analyzing public ADVENT speeches and addresses; picking out important details or signals."

He nodded around him. "And then I got assigned here."

"Hopefully it's been a good experience," she said, giving a nod. "Speaking of the Nulorian, they should hopefully not be a problem for the foreseeable future."

"Yes, I wish I had been there," he agreed wistfully, a fierce pride burning at the recollection. "We'd wished for a day like that for years. Miridian and the Nulorian were always out of reach. Shame we didn't get him, but a thousand Nulorian corpses is more than sufficient."

"Assuming he's still around by the end," Patricia promised. "I'll help finish him off."

"After XCOM and ADVENT?" He asked, amused. "Miridian will be trivial for you."

"For sure," she spotted another lone Human wandering around, caught in conversation, and waved him over. "Nico!"

The young man quickly excused himself from a very one-sided conversation with several Vitakara who all towered over him. As he got closer, Patricia saw he sported a few new scars since Florida. "Harbinger Trask," he greeted. "Thank you."

She gave a sympathetic smile. "Not a conversationalist?"

"Not especially, it's odd," he glanced behind him. "Apologies, I'm a bit on edge since Florida. I keep…" He shook his head. "Not important."

Well, that told her that it was definitely important, though he definitely wasn't going to talk while Marian was here, or in the middle of a social gathering.

Let me have a word with him she telepathically told Marian, who went off without a word. "Let's talk, somewhere a bit quieter than this." She put a hand on Nico's shoulder and guided him to an area towards the back of the bridge where they sat down. She blocked the noise of the crowds to give them some quiet. "There."

His lips twitched. "It's not a big issue, Patricia."

The Harbinger leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. Definitely a lie; she didn't need to look into his mind to see that. "You do know it's ok to talk about it. That was the first large-scale battle you've been in, right?"

A nod. "Seeing a battlefield like that isn't pretty," she continued, thinking on what could be bothering him. "War isn't fun or simple."

"It's…not even that," he said. "I can handle that kind of stuff…mostly. It was fine until…the nanites started eating things." He looked up at her, vulnerable and afraid. "I…couldn't-can't, do anything against that. There was a soldier that got infected beside me. I saw him disintegrate. I panicked and…left."

He shuddered. "I thought I was infected. Sicarius was freaking out, since we were bonded. I thought there was something in my arm and knew I had to get it out." He hesitated, then rolled up the sleeve of his right arm, which had bandages around it. "I did some stupid things, but I was scared; I wanted to get it out. I still can't get the thought out of my head that there's something in me, just waiting for a certain time to start eating me alive."

Patricia thought for a moment, feeling that she wasn't remotely qualified to figure this out. Well, what would the Commander do here? "I get that," she nodded. "It's dangerous weaponry, and I don't blame your reaction. Have you gotten a full medical scan? Those can detect any foreign objects."

A vigorous nod. "Yes, there was nothing."

"Go do it again," she encouraged him. "Just to confirm for yourself." She uncrossed her legs and rested her forearms on her knees, focusing on the downcast face of the young man. "You don't want to go back out there, do you?"

He hesitated, then shook his head. "No…I don't want to die like that. Not like Ivan."

Patricia kept her face blank, trying to remember who the hell Ivan was. A friend of his? Although that didn't really seem like Nico, and now that he mentioned it, the name did sound familiar. A few seconds and-ah, that's who he is. Another Harbinger she'd only really met in passing, who was the Overmind's...she thought. He had not really made a good first impression.

Oh well, it was unlikely he was important if the Battlemaster hadn't bothered to directly inform her.

"Yes, none of us want to end up like Ivan…" she sympathized vaguely, nodding in understanding, something of a plan forming in her mind. "Ok, so here's what we're going to do. XCOM and ADVENT aren't going to stop using nanites, so you need to learn how to beat them. I'm not going to make you go back in a real situation where you're petrified."

"I know I shouldn't stay away," he scowled. "It hurts the war effort."

"And you're no use to the war effort if you die because you freeze up," she interrupted. Truthfully, he was a kid who shouldn't be anywhere near a battlefield, but that ship had sailed long ago. "You're going to meet me at the Prism daily for a couple hours and practice nanite contingencies until ADVENT could throw a nanite bomb at you, and you won't even flinch."

He blinked. "But you need to be here."

"I can be on Earth in a moment if I want," she reminded him. "Or on the Temple Ship. Or here. You're vital to our operation, and ADVENT certainly fears what you can do. If I can make you a bigger nightmare for them, then that's worth an investment."

"Alright," he gave a firm nod, a confident one. "I like that idea. I will learn."

"Excellent," she smiled, patting him on the shoulder. "I don't know where Sicarius is right now, but if she wants to also participate, I'd welcome her too."

He pointed, and Patricia saw Sicarius standing a short distance away, ignored by everyone, but quietly observing them. Patricia gave a slight wave. The young Ethereal had probably listened to everything, and obviously didn't need to be told again. "I'll see you later, Nico. Do what I said, and we'll get through this."

"Thanks, Patricia," he said as she stood, and moved to go mingle with the crowd again. Sicarius hadn't moved, and the silver orb of a helmet followed her path. Patricia decided to angle her path to brush by the silent alien. Sicarius simply inclined her helmet when she got within a few paces.

"Thank you, for helping him," she said softly.

"Don't mention it," Patricia nodded. "We're all going to survive this war, no matter what ADVENT throws at us."

A single nod. "I am confident we will, Patricia. I will accompany Nico tomorrow as well." With that, she teleported away with a purple flash and step, leaving Patricia standing in front of empty air. Well, overall that had gone better than she felt it had any right to. There was a time long ago when she had been on the receiving end of that kind of talk.

Thanks, Commander. You definitely helped me out here.

She could almost imagine the disapproving look the Commander would give her.

Ah well, nothing she could do about that.

---

Interrogation Room #6, ADVENT Intelligence Investigation Command - Virginia

5/9/2017 – 9:14 A.M.

"Chancellor, welcome. Please take a seat."

Saudia complied, sitting in the designated seat which was fairly comfortable, if a bit firm. The room she sat within was very enclosed; somewhat claustrophobic in fact, with no desks, equipment, or decoration of any type. Plain white walls and an equally plain green carpeting didn't dispel the maddening monotony of the room, with bright lights shining down from overhead. The only things in it were just two armchairs, both opposite each other. It reminded her of a sensory deprivation room, but she suspected this perception was an illusion.

It occurred to her that she'd never really experienced an interrogation like this before. Not truly. Although she felt like even if she had trained for anti-interrogation countermeasures, it wouldn't really help her out here. She knew what was coming, and no amount of training would be able to stop it.

She didn't begrudge the investigation for continuing, but it felt like a bad time to be performing interviews and investigations like this. Though admittedly, considering the circumstances, any time was going to be a bad time so long as a war raged. It was out of her hands regardless. ADVENT Intelligence and the Oversight Division were in agreement, and she didn't have the authority or desire to contest them, let alone overrule them.

Ironically enough, she had to trust that procedure and law would be followed. Assuming there wasn't a movement to replace her…she should emerge intact. Yet it still remained to be seen how it would all play out.

Her interrogator, a middle-aged woman dressed in the plain grey uniform of an ADVENT support operative, with the patches of a raven on one arm and a spider on the other identifying her as ADVENT Intelligence and an Inquisitor respectively. Her black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, with her accent and skin tone indicating her Hispanic heritage. Once she'd closed the door, she took the seat opposite Saudia.

"My name is Paula Cazalla," she said, extending a hand which Saudia took and gave a quick shake. If the woman felt any discomfort of shaking a metallic hand, she didn't let it show. "Inquisitor Division. Part of ADVENT's Internal Investigations team."

"I'm aware of who you are," Saudia nodded. "I did help create it."

The woman gave a guarded smile. "That you did. Now, this is going to be what will hopefully be a relatively quick and painless experience. First, you are aware that anything you say will be recorded and can be used for final assessments, judgement, and recommendations. As you are part of an ADVENT-wide probe, and due to your authoritative and sensitive position, what you say will have an impact. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

"Perfect, please sign this," she handed Saudia a clipboard with the legal disclaimer on it. Saudia took a moment to confirm the intent, then silently signed the bottom. "Thank you, Chancellor," Paula said once she'd finished, taking it back and setting it on the ground before resting another pad of paper on her lap, a pen in the left hand.

Saudia looked around the room. "Interrogation rooms have gotten smaller. No polygraphs or lie detectors now?"

"Psionics have made them redundant, Chancellor," Paula explained as she crossed her legs, her pad resting on the top thigh. "We only utilize them if psions are not able to assist, and only for low-level cases. We've already found that people prefer psionic questioning. Easier on the mind and body, not to mention less chance of machine error and employable countermeasures."

"Logical," Saudia acknowledged.

"Now, legally speaking, there are restrictions," Paula continued, twirling the pen in her fingers. "Apologies for the disclaimers, but this is something we have to cover, and it's important to make some things clear. I will only be able to tell if you are lying or not. I won't be reading your mind, or seeing your thoughts, or anything like that. Think of me as a living lie detector. Your privacy outside the scope of this investigation will be preserved. Do you understand?"

"I do."

"Finally, if you wish legal counsel or a representative, one can attend to bear witness to your consent and ensure this is following legal procedures. Do you want one?"

Saudia gave a thin smile. "A lawyer wouldn't exactly help me here, would it? I don't really have a choice in answering, do I?"

Paula held her smile. "Afraid not, Chancellor. But some people like lawyers present for moral support, even if they are legally bound to comply regardless if they want to or not."

"I think that might have been the first time I've heard of a lawyer referred to for 'moral support'," Saudia said wryly. "But noted. Carry on, I waive my right to a lawyer."

"Perfect. I'm going to ask you a series of questions," Paula looked down to her pad, tapping idly on the pad. "You will answer 'yes' or 'no' unless I indicate otherwise. If you do not answer, I will have to interpret your emotional response. If you fail to answer questions, you will be charged with obstruction of justice and face arrest and prosecution. Your position affords you no extra legal protection or privilege, so to make things easier on all of us, it's advised that you answer the questions to the best of your ability. Is that understood?"

Saudia gave a single nod. "Yes."

"Excellent," Paula crossed her legs. "I'm going to ask some baseline questions first, to get a sense of your emotional fluctuations. Please state your name."

"Saudia Vyandar."

"What is your position?"

"Chancellor of ADVENT."

"What position, if any, did you hold prior to your ascension to the position of Chancellor of ADVENT?"

"Director of EXALT."

Paula scribbled on her pad. "Tell me a lie."

"I'm happy to be speaking to you right now."

Paula chuckled. "I like that one. Thank you. Not even thrown for a bit with the first EXALT question. And on that note, that will be where we start." She looked back up at Saudia. "My questions will continue to follow this format – first: Does the organizations you identified as EXALT still exist?"

"No."

"Was it dissolved?"

"Yes."

"Did you order the dissolution?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"To integrate fully into ADVENT," Saudia answered. "EXALT was no longer necessary."

"Describe the goals of EXALT."

"The eventual unification of Humanity under direct or indirect EXALT influence."

"Who determined the scope or content of this influence?"

"EXALT Leadership, including the Director and six families."

"Please name these families."

"Solaris, Vyandar, Mercado, Venator, Falka, and Eridan."

"What means were used to accomplish the goals determined by EXALT leadership?"

"Direct and indirect manipulation, subversion, and corruption of legal and criminal institutions, businesses, and governments. Information gathering, harvesting, and manipulation were employed commonly, along with large-scale intelligence activities utilizing human, signals, and open source intelligence, which utilized multiple pressure and attractive tactics including assassination, kidnapping, blackmail, and seduction."

To her credit, Paula barely reacted, simply making a few notes. "Did you, as Director, oversee and order these operations?"

"Some of them. Major operations were directly approved by me. Most intelligence and influence operations were coordinated by the Falkas."

"Have or had EXALT operatives ever penetrated governments, militaries, or intelligence apparatuses?"

"Yes."

"Has the same been done to non-government organizations including businesses, news organizations, or journalists?"

"Yes."

"Are any of these operatives still active under assumed covers?"

"No," she shook her head. "All positions they hold now are within ADVENT or are otherwise legal."

A nod. "Would you describe your position as Director more administrative or technical?"

"Administrative."

"Who was the creator of, or devised the concept of ADVENT?"

"The Commander of XCOM."

Paula stopped writing, briefly frowning before looking up at Saudia. "Did you meet the Commander of XCOM prior to the establishment of ADVENT?"

"Yes."

"One time or multiple times?"

"Multiple times. But our first in-person one was the most significant."

"Describe the circumstances of this meeting."

"The Commander requested we talk," she remembered. "We did. He put forward his plan for a unified human government against the alien threat - ADVENT. He wanted EXALT to be instrumental in kickstarting it, as we had the infrastructure and manpower that would be vital in its infancy. There were also a lack of individuals who could – or wanted to – be in charge of it. He had decided I was the ideal candidate. I accepted."

"Was EXALT working with XCOM previously?"

"No," she shook her head. "We were on opposite sides for a time."

"Why?"

Saudia let out a breath. "We had previously had an alliance with the aliens."

"Describe the nature of this alliance."

"Temporary, though they weren't aware of this," Saudia said. "We…intended to utilize the aliens. Present ourselves as a front they could act through, thus controlling the speed of an incursion. Once we reached a technological parity and psionic mastery, we would break the alliance and lead a united front against the aliens."

Paula cocked her head. "The aliens were used to further your organization's goals, if I'm understanding correctly. Is this accurate?"

"Not fully," Saudia frowned. "It was a simple calculus. With or without us, the aliens would be coming. The world was not prepared, and we considered it ideal if both the alien invasion and our goals were achieved. However, our implementation of this agenda was a mistake. We underestimated the alien threat significantly."

"When did you break the alliance with the aliens?"

"Officially, after XCOM was attacked by the Ravaged One. Unofficially, when the Ravaged One nearly killed me and everyone in our headquarters."

Paula nodded. "To the best of your knowledge, are you, or any other former members of EXALT, under the influence of any alien entity or individual?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"Since taking over as Chancellor of ADVENT, have you broken any laws established and enforced by the Peacekeepers, Judicial Courts, or Congress of Nations?"

"No."

"As Chancellor, have you or other former members of EXALT deliberately written, influenced, or otherwise structured laws, regulations, and guidelines to limit potential legal retaliation or accountability, or to enrich or protect yourself or others?"

"No."

"Are you aware of any former members of EXALT who have broken ADVENT law?"

"Not to my knowledge," Saudia paused. "Several former EXALT members transferred to XCOM. I cannot speak for them or their actions."

"Noted," she made a mark on her pad. "Have individuals been promoted or assigned to positions in ADVENT based upon their association with EXALT?"

"Initially, yes," Saudia said. "Since ADVENT has been established, all appointees have been made fully on the basis of merit and established promotion procedures."

"Do you believe that you would have been appointed Chancellor of ADVENT if you had not been directly selected by the Commander?"

Saudia hesitated. "No."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "Because no one knew I existed."

"Do you believe yourself to be the most qualified to lead ADVENT?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because that was what I had prepared for my whole life," Saudia took a moment to think. "I intended to lead humanity to greatness if given the opportunity, I have the vision and will to ensure our success in this war and beyond it, and this is something I still intend to achieve, no matter what happens."

"You are committed to the laws, goals, and principles of ADVENT and not those of EXALT?"

"Yes. EXALT is dead. ADVENT is all that matters."

"Do you intend to accept the findings of this investigation and follow the recommendations?"

"I do."

"If it is determined that it is in the best interests of ADVENT for you to step down, do you intend to comply willingly?"

Some hesitation, but she gave a slow nod. "If necessary…yes."

"Alright," Paula made a final note. "That wraps everything up, Chancellor. Thank you for being cooperative."

Saudia felt herself relax slightly. "Will I have to answer more questions later?"

"Depending on what other individuals say, we may ask you some follow up questions," she answered, making a few more notes. "However, we don't anticipate it. You're on the latter end of our interviews due to your schedule, and I doubt whoever's left will highlight something we overlooked."

"Good," Saudia stood, with Paula joining her. "So what happens next?"

"We will review what we've collected, and the Chief Overseer will make a recommendation," Paula explained. "There is a high likelihood that a private session of the Congress will be called when that happens. I do not see the Chief Overseer bypassing them entirely. You may have to testify, but this will take several months to fully finalize at best."

Saudia internally grimaced, but it had been expected. "I see."

"In the meantime, perform your duties as normal," Paula told her, flashing another smile. "No point in worrying about what will happen, Chancellor. We will take care of it. Thank you again for your cooperation; trust me when I say it made everything a lot better for you."

"I should hope so," Saudia said wryly, as she moved towards the door. "Thank you for being civil. I wish the investigation well."

"Appreciated, Chancellor," she inclined her head. "Good luck."

---

Switzerland Castle of Order of Terra, Geneva – Switzerland

5/10/2017 – 9:16 A.M.

"[Everything is finalized,]" Kiyumi said as she entered Kaya's sparse and spartan quarters, a smile on her face. "[After Florida, it looks like ADVENT wants to strike while the flame is hot.]"

"[Iron,]" Kaya corrected absentmindedly. "[You strike when the iron is hot. Everyone always mispronounces that phrase.]"

"[You get the point,]" Kiyumi rolled her eyes. "[It's finally happening.]"

"[Yes. Finally.]" To say that Kaya hadn't been especially thrilled doing mostly nothing for more than a month was an understatement. The good news was that she was completely cleared for combat by the ADVENT psychologists, and her unit was in good shape as they'd been drilling and training nonstop. They'd even gotten a new Knight to replace the loss of Terje, who, thankfully, was not distracted by her identity.

Almost the opposite in fact. An Vien Kim was the oldest person she'd seen in ADVENT, at least in a combat role. Honestly old enough to be her grandfather, but very interesting to talk to. He was part of a new ADVENT initiative was what he said when she'd tactfully inquired about his age, though headed off questions about his experience. He'd only been added in the past week, so they were all working towards integrating him fully. She figured she'd learn all about him in time.

Thankfully it wasn't just her that hadn't seen much action, else she would have suspected favoritism. The Order of Terra hadn't been widely deployed following Beijing until very recently; largely because so many of them had participated in Beijing, and partially because High Command wasn't sure where best to put them.

They seemed to have figured it out now, judging from how many locations were now getting Order support. She wondered if they were all part of a larger plan she didn't know about.

Kaya didn't really know where she'd be going next, but it was definitely going to be better than just…waiting for something to happen. Knowing what ADVENT had planned for her, she was likely going to end up in a high-profile, but relatively safe warzone. Potentially Asia.

'Safe.'

As she knew well, there really wasn't anywhere that was safe now. Especially now with family-killing assassins striking strongholds, or people like Patricia who could literally teleport anywhere.

Still, it might end up being for the best. Whatever had killed her family was still out there, and when she took the podium, there was approximately a zero percent chance the Collective was just going to let her live unmolested. But as long as she got to fight, she was going to be content.

Kiyumi had been busy as well. The Imperial Family was being rebuilt in a rather unconventional way. She and her sister, outside of the kidnapped children, were the only ones who were truly left of the "pure" bloodline. So as a result, Kiyumi had gone through the very extensive genealogy and lineage of the Imperial blood, and identified a number of families and individuals who were distantly connected.

The elders and purist elements of what remained of the Japanese government were…not exactly thrilled with the decision, believing that it would "dilute" the bloodline, not without reason, at least in their minds. A fair amount of those identified by her sister had in their families, or were themselves, lower-class citizens, those of non-Japanese ethnicities, and a few even weren't nationally Japanese. A surprising amount were also involved with ADVENT, which was a pleasant surprise for Kaya.

She approved of the direction her sister had taken, and had given her official sanction, for what it was worth. Her sister's efforts looked to the future and went about addressing the problem smartly. Relying on either of them to be the sole carriers of the bloodline was a great risk due to the war, especially with the children still captured. But honestly, the sooner the idiotic belief that one person's blood was somehow superior to another person's died, the better. Blood could be a useful symbol, but outside of ceremony and culture it had no bearing on who or what a person could be. Nor did it necessarily mean much in the context of who family could be.

Even though not all those approached had accepted Kiyumi's offer, many had, and the new Imperial Family was going to look a lot different from what it had been. Less…homogenous. ADVENT had been very approving of the decision, and impressed with Kiyumi's management in making sure everything was ready.

"[Are the crowds still outside the HQ?]" Kaya asked, standing and stretching.

"[They probably will be until you show up,]" Kiyumi answered, referring to the throngs of journalists, vloggers, and media officials who'd received, as of a few days ago, definitive confirmation of the survival of Kaya Yamato, who'd previously been unnamed. The news was coupled with an announcement of the subsequent Enthronement.

ADVENT had a fairly slick campaign planned; so slick that she actually didn't have any advice for them. They definitely had experience in marketing, as they had used the original announcement as a springboard to completely control the narrative and news cycle following Florida, as new details were slowly revealed to further make the Collective seem incompetent and a failure, first revealing she was in the Order of Terra, then recounting the battles she'd fought in, and how she was now spending her time (few details, of course).

In another life, this amount of pressure and hype would have been daunting, but after Beijing, not to mention the battles she'd been in previously, facing a horde of paparazzi and cameramen was a cakewalk. The Japanese managing the refugees and those serving in ADVENT had been appraised of this a few days earlier than the official announcement to allow some additional time to prepare.

This would be an event the world would watch, but it was especially important for her people. After a few hours, she would be their face, and hopefully rally them to action. With all her people had lost, it would be good to provide them with some hope. There would be a promise to reclaim Japan (again), and this time it would be kept.

"[You're going to have a stacked guest list,]" Kiyumi said. "[The Chancellor, Prince Mason, Prime Minister Reizo. Even the Commander of XCOM! Not counting all of the other heads of state. I don't know if there's ever been a comparable ceremony.]"

"[Security is going to be a nightmare,]" Kaya noted. "[I don't envy them. If there was ever a time to strike, it would be this.]"

"[ADVENT is pulling out all the stops here,]" Kiyumi quickly looked up, recalling something. "[ADVENT Intelligence, XCOM squads, PRIESTs everywhere, I think they might have some of the Pantheon there too.]"

Kaya grimaced. "[A bit overkill. I hope I don't disappoint. I can give a speech, but I don't know if I'm worth all of…this.]" She motioned vaguely.

"[Nonsense. All you can do is your best. Besides, I looked over your speech,]" Kiyumi said after a few seconds. "[It's perfect. It's what needs to be heard now. This is bigger than you or me, one family, or even our people. It's the future of our species.]"

Kaya's lips twitched. "[I hope it's seen that way. It's harder writing it yourself. I get why people hire speechwriters.]"

"[Hey, don't complain,]" Kiyumi chuckled. "[You could have had one.]"

"[True, but it wouldn't have been authentic,]" Kaya shrugged. "[It's not right to be a vessel for someone else's words – especially not in this situation.]"

"[I don't disagree,]" she nodded. "[I wonder how the ceremony itself will be received by our people. It obviously can't be in Japan, though the other changes will probably make the traditionalists call it heresy. Probably accuse me of watering it down for foreigner appeal.]"

"['Foreigners', please,]" Kaya snorted. "[I prefer your streamlined version. The fewer references made to the mystical sun goddess and unnecessary technicalities, the better. It's past time the Enthronement was updated for modern day. Our people aren't going to care about pure tradition – not when our homeland is held by aliens. Not if their Empress embodies the change they see.]"

"[You're probably right,]" Kiyumi acknowledged. "[Consider how many norms I've broken already, what's a few more?]"

"[That's a good way to look at it,]" Kaya encouraged, standing up. "[I don't know what I'd do without you.]"

"[I'm sure you'd manage,]" she said, pulling her sister into a hug. "[Let's get you ready to go. Time for the world to meet the new Empress of Japan.]"

---

Central Command, SAS Command – Nigeria

5/7/2017 – 1:09 P.M.

"This looks good," Betos nodded to an aide who'd finished an overlook of several diplomatic documents. Handing the packet back, she gave some final instructions. "Forward it to me for a final review, and ensure the attaches keep in close contact. We don't want ADVENT poaching anyone from us."

A nod and the aide rushed off, and Betos returned to looking over the stack of legislation, papers, and reports on her desk that comprised her workload for the foreseeable future. With ADVENT temporarily halted, she had the task of actually running the SAS, and that meant a lot of paperwork.

Slowing her down more were officers, agents, and aides who came in needing her advice, assistance, or permission for something they were doing or involved in. She was glad to help; it felt like some normalcy after insulating herself so much with aliens. It made her feel like she was having an impact on her own, without help from the aliens. The downside was that it slowed down what she could get done considerably.

It was interesting that she felt more relaxed now when she was actually working and properly managing the SAS than when she was…well, focused on relations with the Collective. Or talking with aliens, period. She was the leader of a substantial portion of the Human species who didn't align with ADVENT, and it was past time they be properly represented.

It was especially nice to not even feel the urge to talk to Keeper or Macula in that entire period. They would eventually come to her when they had questions, which Betos suspected would be sooner than later. She wasn't quite sure how they were going to react to having a…reduced role, but it wasn't as though they could just get rid of her.

Well, technically…

She shook her head. No point in thinking about that. If the Collective decided she wasn't worth propping up, then there was, quite literally, nothing she could do to stop it. But after that talk with Mox, she was determined that no matter what happened, she would not be remembered as an alien puppet.

If ADVENT was going to hate her, it was going to be for some other reason than believing she was an alien puppet. She was very much in control of her actions, and condemn her or not, ADVENT would see that one could reject their new world order of their own volition.

A throat cleared, and Betos looked up, seeing the glowing azure eyes of Keeper looking down malevolently upon her. A thin smile appeared on her face, disguising her apprehension as she stood, brushing some lint and dust off her pants. "Keeper, a pleasure to see you."

"Considering your complete silence these past few days, I have my doubts about that," he said dryly, entering and standing just opposite her. Despite standing, she was still forced to look up at him due to the size disparity. His eyes widened slightly. "One would almost think you're avoiding me."

"Not intentionally," Betos answered neutrally, crossing her arms. "I've been very busy lately. I do have the SAS to run, and that is a full-time job in and of itself. Countries to reach out to, legislation to sign, reports to read, and plans to make. It's past time I properly lead, wouldn't you agree?"

"Of course," Keeper answered with a similar lack of emotion, tilting his head to the side. "Though it would have been appreciated if you informed me of your focus, so I wasn't uncertain as to your whereabouts. There is much that needs to be coordinated, especially now."

"Don't you worry," Betos told him, walking around the table, picking up a couple spreadsheets, indicating them. "I've put together a good team; one I dare say will mean we might not need your assistance much longer, in terms of administration and management. You can look it over if you wish."

He narrowed his eyes, moving the offered papers away with a hand. "Perhaps later. Speaking of such moves, I was informed that the ADVENT captives are not being moved off-world. It was stopped on your orders. They explicitly said they wouldn't disobey. What are you doing, Betos?"

"Simple," she answered firmly. "Reserving our right to hold captives here. They were captured by the Sovereign African States, and we will decide where they go and how they are treated. We are maintaining full control of their well-being and storage for the immediate future. In short, that means they are staying on-world."

Keeper seemed mildly surprised at her audacity. "No, they will not be. ADVENT will attempt to recover them. They will be moved off-world."

"You are not in the Ethereal Collective. You are currently within the Sovereign African States." Betos maintained eye contact, her voice not wavering. "If you want to tell Macula what you want to happen, then you can. But they will not be moved without my authorization. Do you understand me?"

"Curious," the voice of Keeper had turned low; nearly threatening. "I was going to ask you the same thing. Why this sudden rebellion, Betos? Did you watch the ADVENT propaganda press conference? Is that why you're defying us? I had thought there was some trust."

Keeper wasn't exactly going to like being accused, so Betos had come up with another tactic. "As a matter of fact, yes. You're smart, Keeper, you should see why I'm in favor of not playing right into ADVENT's hands, yes?" Betos gestured vaguely. "Trust exists between us, but no one else shared it. Are you really going to say its propaganda if the first thing we do with the prisoners is ship them off to god knows where?

She put some emphasis into her next words. "It doesn't matter if they're not touched later or if you release the location right down to the coordinates. No one will believe it, justified or not. As far as the average citizen is concerned, those captives? Gone. It may be more secure, but it does nothing but prove to ADVENT that we are exactly how they portray us."

She rested against her table. "Now, you may not care because you're not Human, and the SAS is a means to an end for you, but I do. I'm thinking in the long term, Keeper, like how exactly are we going to get a majority of Africans on our side if we continue to play into ADVENT propaganda. What do we say to convince them? Vague promises? Threats? How exactly am I going to convince them that I'm actually an independent ally of the Collective if my decisions are solely made in the interests of the Collective? If it appears I have no true autonomy?"

Betos smiled more confidently at the stone-faced Vitakarian who simply stared with unblinking eyes. "If that's the case, you might as well be my handler and not an ally," she paused briefly. "Back to the rationale for keeping the captives here, I would argue this will make the SAS more appealing. Right now, like it or not, many think I'm a figurehead. Rescinding your decision gives the perception that there may be tensions between us, which means that people are less likely to accept the narrative that I – and in turn the SAS – are alien puppets. We will be perceived as more genuine and legitimately independent as a result. Of course, we are still allies, but ADVENT may think differently. I'm certain that you could exploit this perception somehow."

Keeper was appraising her now neutrally, or at least she couldn't immediately tell what he was thinking. Perhaps surprise? Maybe some grudging respect? He gave a slight nod. "I appreciate that you thought through a reasonable answer. Acceptable. You raise a valid point. I won't press you on this further." He clasped his hands behind his back. "At the same time, it is important that in the future we work together, and not leave it so where one of us has to approach the other to receive an answer. That is more efficient, yes?"

"I can agree to that," Betos said, feeling relieved that he'd decided to drop it so easily. That was…good. It meant that so long as she could come up with a plausible argument, Keeper could be persuaded to back down. She'd need to work on that in the future. "Is there anything else?"

"Nothing urgent for now, Betos," Keeper inclined his head. "I will be in contact later. Inform me before you make any diplomatic decisions, I would appreciate the chance to review."

"I will do my best," Betos nodded. "But we should both understand our respective places. I wouldn't intervene in your operations, and I would appreciate the same courtesy. I will make decisions for the SAS, not you."

"Duly noted," Keeper acknowledged. "But do not forget why you are here at all. We will not be ignored completely."

At that, he exited without another word. Betos let out a sigh of relief, before returning to her seat. That had gone better than expected, and hopefully Keeper would know better than to try and push her around again. Truthfully, she probably should have done this a while ago, but better late than never.

Situating herself, she returned to the arduous task before her.

---

ADVENT Intelligence Reston Complex, Reston - Virginia

5/9/2017 – 12:18 P.M.

"Chancellor," Powell greeted, inclining his head as she entered. "I hear your interview went well."

"Interrogation, Powell," Saudia grunted at the Acting Director of ADVENT Intelligence, taking her seat at the table in the briefing room. "Let's not mince words."

"Nonetheless, your cooperation is appreciated," Powell took his place at the head of the table, addressing the rest of the room which consisted of Saudia, Laura, Ari, and Kyong. A small group, but likely a relevant team to brief. Though Saudia didn't know what Ari was doing here; likely an update on Project Ra.

"First," Powell walked around the room, giving some small handouts. "Internal Investigations are proceeding exceptionally well. We have effectively purged over half of ADVENT Intelligence of foreign and alien influence. As a result, we have found a number of connections to other malicious actors and networks, the upcoming dissolution and extermination of which will ensure our ability to protect and utilize the population, narrative, and the war itself."

Saudia looked over the report, lifting an eyebrow at the summary. "That is a lot of arrests. The aliens could not have compromised so many."

"Correct," Powell gave a humorless, knowing smile. "There were a number of Human traitors, unwitting informants, disguised Zararch agents, and the REPLICA-Class Custodians who had some degree of access. However, there were an even larger number of national loyalists who, while usually not disrupting the war effort, were passing information directly to former national officials, heads of state, and sometimes criminal elements which were being intercepted by alien entities."

Saudia closed her eyes, sighing. It wasn't completely surprising, but it was clearly a bigger problem than she'd anticipated. "Wonderful. How high up does this go?"

"Thankfully none of the current heads of state are stupid enough to be involved in this," Powell elaborated, lacing his fingers together. "But old habits die hard, and it was foolish to assume that national loyalties and rivalries would be completely forgotten – especially by intelligence agencies, despite the war. In particular, we have discovered rogue sub-units of various former intelligence organs have been formed or maintained without our knowledge, specifically based around the CIA, NSA, EXALT, GRU, MSS, and Mossad."

Saudia's lips twitched at the mention of EXALT. You fucking idiots, you're supposed to be better than this. "EXALT?" Ari frowned. "Who or what is that?"

Powell didn't seem to care to bring him up to speed. "Unimportant. They were more interested in executing to supposed goals of a dissolved organization than focusing on the defense of Humanity."

"I hope they've been dealt with." Saudia said, an undercurrent of harshness in her voice. "Severely."

Powell gave a single nod, his voice softening just a touch. "Do not worry, Chancellor. They are all being dealt with."

"I assume there are more who haven't been found?" Laura asked grimly, looking up from her review. "How large are these groups?"

"Not large enough to cause significant damage, but larger than is remotely acceptable," Powell answered, straightening and resting his arms on the table. "I will also note that every group I named – as well of those I didn't - has been hunted down, as I alluded to. Each and every member is currently being interrogated or is in the process of being tried, sentenced, and in many cases, executed."

"This degree of compromise is unfortunate," Kyong pursed his lips at the news, one hand scratching his chin. "I assume you don't want this publicized, and to keep an eye out for leaks?"

"There is a public story here," Powell clarified, lifting a hand. "However, it will be one we have full control over. The general public does not need to know the scale or scope, but I want a number of the most egregious stories circulated through the media. Preferably a mixture of nationalists and outright alien collaborators. Something to remind people that the nationalists can be just as damaging as outright traitors."

"Says the former CIA director," Saudia snorted. "How very ironic."

Ian Powell smiled knowingly. "Our mission extended beyond America, Chancellor," he inclined his head, his tone almost contemplative. "In our own way, we had our own vision for Humanity. It should not be a surprise that we can adapt to the concept of an entity that is not America. The United States just happened to be where we started. It did not matter what happened, be it Russia, China, or the North Koreans. The CIA would have endured – though now we don't need to, of course."

He waved a hand. "However, I admit there were more patriotic elements of the organization, those who have failed to evolve, which we have now dealt with. The Grand Inquisitor deserves significant credit for the results of this investigation so far."

"And you're only done with half of ADVENT Intelligence," Laura shook her head. "That does not bode well for the rest of ADVENT."

"No, but it is necessary," he fixed Saudia with a hard glare; his voice deliberately neutral. "While I hesitate to speak ill of my predecessor, it is clear that Director Falka was either ignorant, incapable, or unwilling to handle the obvious challenges and risks of integrating the intelligence agencies of every country – many of them who have spied on each other for decades – into one cohesive whole. It is outright dangerous that this has gone unaddressed for so long. On this alone, she should not be reinstated should she be cleared."

Saudia kept her face and tone neutral, though he had a good point. Elizabeth had her strengths, but something this large and diverse? Perhaps it wasn't the best fit. "Your recommendation is noted, Acting Director. Keep me appraised as the investigation continues," she shifted the topic. "Is there a specific penalty you're seeking for these traitors?"

"It depends on the severity," Powell explained pointedly. "I intend to send a very strong message – one I believe ADVENT Intelligence has received, and soon the rest of ADVENT. Experimentation Labs for the worst, execution for the rest. We have neither the time, nor energy to house traitors. They are enemy assets and should be denied and destroyed. If there are Humans who are not fully committed to ADVENT and the defense of Humanity, then they forfeit their right to life."

"Stein would like that line," Kyong commented with a wry grin. "A shame she isn't here."

"While harsh, Stein has a conviction many lack. Much like the Commander, in fact," Powell noted, turning his attention to the Arabic man. "Dr. Mifsud, I trust that you will keep what you hear here to yourself?"

Ari noticeably swallowed. "Wouldn't dream of speaking of this to anyone, Director."

"Glad to hear it," he nodded to Kyong. "Minister, I believe you have something to present?"

"That I do," Kyong stood, brushing his uniform off as Powell leaned back in his seat. "A number of developments in the realm of diplomacy, most interesting of which involves the SAS."

Saudia nodded, having an idea of where this was going. "What have they done now?"

"It's more what they haven't done," Kyong clarified, walking around the table and handing out a couple pictures, which showed SAS captives in quartered off areas and defended by SAS soldiers. "If you recall, they explicitly threatened to send the POWs offworld. It's been days, and not only are the captives still here, they are definitely not being moved anytime soon if the amount of food, fortifications, and supplies being imported are anything to go by."

"Interesting," Laura raised an eyebrow as she looked over the pictures. "Why would they change their mind?"

"Unknown at this point," Powell answered. "What limited intelligence we've been able to collect indicates that it may be a schism between Betos and the aliens. Alternatively, they decided it would be bad optics to go through with it, and our little show worked to convince them it would backfire."

"What is the likelihood it's a schism?" Saudia asked Kyong.

"Uncertain," Kyong sat back down, tapping a finger on the table absentmindedly. "Given Betos's psychological profile, she might have been emotionally moved enough to defy the aliens. I'm uncertain she would have had the will to defy her alien masters, but perhaps she could have surprised us. Either way, it's a victory."

"What should we do with this?" Laura wondered. "Publicize it?"

"I'm working on that," Kyong answered, lifting a hand. "As of now, the status quo is ideal. I would keep the families updated that they're still on Earth, but no more. We don't want to portray the SAS in a positive light, now do we?"

He turned his attention to the table, clearing his throat, and activated the small holoprojector in the middle of the table. "Also on the media front, we're kicking our anti-Patricia campaign in full force. Seems fitting after her attacks, and our victory in Florida. We'll start with these two, who will be giving an interview soon." Two figures were projected, a man and woman who looked to be between their fifties and sixties. "Jax and Leah Trask," Kyong stated. "Her parents, if you couldn't guess."

It hadn't necessarily occurred to Saudia that Patricia even had parents. Well, she knew they existed, but Patricia very much stood on her own, and anyone even tangibly connected to her was just…irrelevant. "Giving an interview on what?" Laura asked, looking up at the figures.

"Effectively disowning her, and stating that she's a fake," Kyong answered. "Even if that's not accurate, it might get under her skin, and make her hurt to see her family reject her."

"I doubt she's going to be affected," Saudia said dryly. "This was a woman who just annihilated a military base with families living in it, not to mention attacked XCOM, which was filled with people she'd fought and worked with."

"Possibly," Kyong conceded with a shrug. "However, she has no connection to many of those people she's killed, or at least most of them. Children many times crave the approval of their parents and loved ones, if there is anything like that left in her, this may hurt and affect her emotionally. And if it doesn't, it has the benefit of showcasing her for the liar and killer she is now. This woman is not a Human. She is a monster, a pawn, and a vessel of the aliens. That is what people will eventually think of when they hear the name 'Patricia Trask'."

The Korean smiled. "And in addition, we found some old friends of hers who are also going to give their own opinions. Some from her college days, a couple from her time in the Royal Marines. We even got the brother of Paige Broker, her closest friend who went to XCOM with her, to effectively insinuate that Patricia got her killed."

A pause. "We are estimating that might make her more unbalanced than her parents condemning her."

"Excellent," Saudia smiled. "No less than she deserves."

"Only one final matter," Powell motioned to Ari. "Director – you have a Project Ra update?"

"Yes, and I will be brief." The project director stood and cleared his throat. "The revelation that XCOM already had an AI was a surprise, but it was able to greatly assist on Project Ra. We didn't ask JULIAN to build another AI for us, but he guided us in the right direction. We are getting very close to bringing PATRIOT fully online."

Laura sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You're really going with the name then?"

"She seems to like it," Ari shrugged. "Considering what she'll be doing, it fits quite well. Assuming the simulations and programming hold and she doesn't decide to do something completely different."

Saudia cocked her head. "She?"

Ari coughed awkwardly, turning slightly red. "Considering that she's begun using a female-toned voice, responds to female pronouns, and one of the designers has drawn some, ah, art of her, she's definitely a female."

Laura chortled, and even Powell smirked at that. Saudia just appraised the uncomfortable man with slight amusement, though kept her face stoic. "Really. And I don't suppose PATRIOT being shown this…art…influenced its gender choice?"

"Actually, no," Ari said, shifting awkwardly. "The gender preference emerged prior to this. However, we believe there is a correlation between PATRIOT being fed the…art…and developing a peculiar interest in Japanese animation."

"I see," Saudia found the whole situation rather amusing, if slightly ridiculous. "Well, that is certainly interesting, and I trust this hasn't derailed the project significantly, has it?"

"No, Chancellor," Ari quickly confirmed. "We are definitely on track for deployment soon. And we fully expect PATRIOT to perform her duties effectively and properly. She will be ready to meet you soon, prior to launch."

"Excellent," Saudia nodded. "I look forward to meeting her."

"I think she'll be a good candidate to introduce the public to," Kyong added. "I've seen some interactions, and she's less…abrasive than JULIAN."

Ari scowled. "You mean less of an infuriating troll."

"Both," Kyong amended. "Definitely both."

"I don't disagree," Saudia added. "Is there anything else?"

"I believe that covers everything important, Chancellor," Powell glanced to an agenda. "The Enthronement of the Japanese Princess is very soon, but there are no new developments on that. I assume you plan to attend?"

"Of course."

"Then I think we're done here," Powell inclined his head, giving a salute towards her, joined by the rest of the occupants of the room. "Thank you all for your time."

---

Psionic Training Range, the Praesidium – Classified Location

5/7/2017 – 9:27 P.M.

On one hand, when he'd first gotten here, he'd been looking forward to soon being deployed in an actual XCOM squad. On the other, being stuck in this limbo meant that he (probably) would live longer. Choice and consequence, and of course he'd joined when Florida kicked off, which meant that the best psions were deployed, which normally wouldn't be a problem, aside from the fact that there every teleporter of XCOM was needed in the field.

So Kunio had been effectively left to his own devices.

He definitely hadn't been idle in the meantime. There was so much to see, learn, and do in the Praesidium it was almost overwhelming. Whenever he wasn't getting used to shooting plasma rifles, wearing power armor, and exercising his psionic abilities as best he could, he was devouring every report and piece of history XCOM had.

To say it had blown his mind had been an understatement.

It would have shaken his world enough to read about EXALT; a worldwide conspiracy – where actual literal Illuminati –had sought to use the invasion for their own ends, before being neutered by XCOM. Kunio legitimately didn't know if it was a good or bad thing that members of said Illuminati were now…well, running the show.

Mostly good, he supposed. The Commander probably had some leverage over them.

Still, he was never going to look at the Chancellor the same way again. Bit of a trust breach there, and it made the sudden suspension of Elizabeth Falka much more suspicious. At the same time, most of XCOM seemed fine with EXALT now; the chief engineer was originally part of it, so the Commander clearly trusted them to some degree. It did highlight how odd some of the crew the Commander kept around him were.

An eccentric and slightly terrifying German woman, a former Chinese Triad member, a former EXALT engineer, a soldier whose girlfriend was now probably the most hated Human in the world, and an Ethereal defector. The only moderately normal people were his Central Officer and Iosif, who seemed like a pleasant man.

Then there was T'Leth.

Learning the truth about that, at least what was available to XCOM, was…somewhat unsettling.

He really wanted to talk to T'Leth, but at the same time, the thought of speaking to something that was in all likelihood older than his entire species was daunting. The last thing Kunio thought would be a good idea was pestering a being like that with inane mortal questions. There were a number of implications that he honestly didn't really want to think about, and given what was available on the Ethereals, he thought it may be for the best they weren't answered.

Now though, he hoped that he could actually start mastering his abilities. It wasn't a lull necessarily, but with Florida dealt with (for now), he'd been told his training and subsequent deployment were imminent. He privately hoped that wherever he went, he wouldn't be accosted by the mouthy AI that liked to occasionally berate people at random or rick-roll them.

Admittedly, it was usually only to the engineering staff, but Kunio definitely didn't want to be targeted by it.

"Psion Azuma," Kunio turned and started as he saw the Commander himself approach, a woman at his side. A hand was quickly brought up to the chest to salute, which the Commander returned on instinct. "At ease, you don't need to do that every time. Apologies for the delay in getting you properly trained, but…"

"Florida, and the war, sir," Kunio nodded. "I understand. I've been keeping busy."

"So I've observed, you'll fit in very well here," he said, stepping back and indicated the woman. "This is Fiona Dorren. Agent of T'Leth and who is effectively our most skilled teleporter. Or more accurately, T'Leth's."

The woman certainly stood out. She was probably a few years younger than him, fair skin, probably American or European. She didn't wear any armor, just some basic grey training fatigues. What made her stand out was her white-gray hair and a large scar down her cheek. A sword of all things was strapped to her back, and from what he saw she had no other weapons. Odd, but honestly not the strangest thing he'd seen here.

"A pleasure to meet you," she said with a smile, her accent placing her as British. He took the extended hand and shook. "Apologies for the delay, I was busy fighting off a teleporting Ethereal."

He raised an eyebrow. "Which one? Quisilia? Sicarius?"

"Oh? Done your homework, I like it," she said, nodding to the Commander. "Don't think he'll be a problem to teach if he knows specifics already."

"Excellent," the Commander nodded to them. "Fiona, keep me appraised of his development, and Kunio, let me know if you need anything. Good luck to you."

"Thank you, Commander," Kunio inclined his head as the Commander walked off.

"So, you're the first legitimate teleporter ADVENT has found?" He turned back at the question to Fiona who was looking him up and down, arms crossed. "Took them a while. Not too surprised though. It's not a common talent from what I've seen."

"So I've gathered," Kunio agreed. "Though a lot of the Agents seem to know how to do it."

"T'Leth makes good choices," Fiona nodded, motioning forward. "Let's walk. Talk a bit before we start. Important to set expectations and all that, and get to know each other a little more since we'll be spending a bit of time together."

"Alright," there was plenty of space to walk, and as psions trained in the background, they walked.

"I'll admit I've never done something like this before," Fiona said. "Teaching. Training. That sort of thing. So…apologies up front if I'm not the best instructor."

"I think you'll do fine," Kunio said, fishing for a word. "…What do you prefer to be called? Miss Dorren? Agent?"

"Fiona is fine," she laughed. "Even if I'm in T'Leth's Agents, I don't like only being known for that."

"Speaking of which," Kunio glanced around. "I've wondered. Do you talk to him a lot? T'Leth?"

"Me? Not as much," she admitted. "The Chronicler, Lincoln, Crevan, they speak with T'Leth frequently. I do sometimes, but it never feels right. When I learned something like him existed, it was a bit overwhelming. So many questions and implications."

Huh, so it seemed not even Agents were immune to this. "Honestly, that's how I felt when I learned. I have so many questions, but it feels wrong to pester something like that."

"Oh, you want to talk to him?" Fiona seemed to find that amusing. "That's a first. I can probably do that if you want, as far as I know he doesn't do too much most days. At least in his mind. He's not as intimidating as you'd think."

"Let's hold off on that," he said, changing the subject. And partially because he definitely didn't want an unplanned meeting with a Sovereign One. "So…teleporting. Did you find out by accident like me?"

She paused, glancing up as she recalled. "Kind of? My…teleportation…didn't really manifest until later. I'd been training in…psionics, yes, I could do some of it, but not very well. There was something blocking what I could do. The first time I did it…well, I landed in the ocean." She chuckled. "That was fun. Almost drowned. But I made it."

Kunio winced. "I'm glad I only teleported halfway across the world. Looking back, I'm really lucky I didn't accidentally kill myself."

"One of the first lessons you learn," Fiona agreed. "Of all the disciplines, this is the one you can most easily kill yourself with. Be it ending up inside a solid object, landing in lava or an ocean, misjudging height and ending up too high or too low, there are many variables to keep track of."

"If you keep going, you might make me not want to try this," he warned, only half-joking.

"But," she lifted a finger. "There will come a point where it becomes like walking." There was a flash of teal and she reappeared directly in front of him, looking fairly pleased. "At one point I had to concentrate really hard to make that controlled of a jump. You will too. You're going to hurt yourself, you're going to feel like you're not making progress, but it will suddenly come together one day, and there will be nothing that can stop you."

He nodded. "Can't say I'd be unhappy with that. I do have one question though."

"Oh?"

"Is there a reason you have a sword?" He asked, indicating the blade. "Do you work with the Templars?"

"This?" She unsheathed it, the black blade gleaming in the light. "No. Personal choice. Fits how I fight. Most people aren't prepared for a sword in the face, and since distance isn't a problem…" she flourished it. "I won't deny there was some familial interest. You can say my family had an interest in the era and the weapons, my father especially. I like to keep his memory alive this way."

"Oh," he said. "My condolences."

"Ah, no, he's not dead," Fiona winced. "It's a bit complicated. What with me being an Agent and all that…" she waved a hand absentmindedly. "Best he doesn't know. There are people who are gunning for T'Leth, and by extension me. I don't drag family into this, so he probably thinks I'm dead or…gone. And it's for the best."

"Maybe that can be lifted once the war ends?" Kunio suggested, trying to be a little positive.

"Ha!" Her bleak emerald eyes didn't match the tone. "If only it was that simple. Afraid the Imperator isn't the only thing in the galaxy that wants T'Leth dead." She motioned him more directly into the training area. "Well, anyway, we should probably start some actual training. We can talk more later if you want."

"Sounds good," he agreed. "I've been looking forward to this."

"I'm sure," she rolled her neck. "Get ready. This is where the fun begins."

---

Nulorian Outpost – Unknown Location

5/9/2017 – 12:02 P.M.

Nartha didn't know if Miridian had given a private order, or if his role in the attacks hadn't been shared, but he was able to walk unmolested to the small meeting room which had been converted into the current central command for the Nulorian. Two Borelians stood outside the room and let him and Shun in without a word.

Physically he was feeling better, which wasn't too surprising with modern technology, though it was certainly not recommended that he participate in combat anytime soon. Mentally he was also better, and a few days without anyone coming after him had been good to see that he was actually safe.

Miridian might hold a grudge, but he was pragmatic enough to not let it affect his judgement. Not when it came in conflict with his actual goals.

The Nulorian mastermind was inside, the first time Nartha had seen him since the attack, and he didn't look the least bit affected. If he'd been wounded at any point in the attack, it wasn't visible. Same with Sorras who stood nearby. There were a few other Nulorian members he didn't recognize, a male Borelian and two more Vitakarians, both female.

"Nartha," Miridian acknowledged with a brief nod, nothing in his tone indicating hostility. "You've recovered?"

Well, if Miridian wasn't going to bring it up, he certainly wasn't. "Well enough."

"It will have to do," Miridian didn't seem to be interested in making introductions, deciding to get right down to business. He activated the holotable in the middle of the room that they were gathered around. "We've been hit hard and suffered losses. The Zararch propaganda campaign is in full swing, but it effectively changes nothing. This is merely reinforcing the existing brainwashing. It won't change minds one way or another. Those sympathetic will remain sympathetic, and those blind will remain so."

"While encouraging, that doesn't help us overmuch." One of the Vitakarians said, cocking her head. "We've lost a lot of people. We have a manpower deficit."

"I've spoken with the Commander," Miridian clasped his hands behind his back. "He intends to continue forward with his joint meeting of all resistance elements. I expect that he will be willing to provide us support to supplement manpower. It's not an ideal solution, but we can work with it. Recruitment will have to be prioritized, and there are several acceleration efforts we plan to undertake." He looked to both of them. "By either of your estimation, is it reasonable to suspect XCOM will continue support in the long term?"

"Likely," Shun confirmed. "Conditionally."

"Agreed," Nartha nodded, though he was wondering why they were being asked, considering that he'd presumably spoken to the Commander. Maybe another confirmation?

"Of course," Miridian acknowledged smoothly. "Wouldn't want to have it weigh on his conscience."

"We need to retaliate," the Borelian growled. "Respond to this attack."

"I agree," Miridian lifted a hand. "However, Siaru – and I – agree that a reactionary response is what the Collective wants. We will strike, but only when we have a plan. I will be proposing several at the meeting, and there has been another recent development that I believe we can exploit."

A hologram of a Cobrarian appeared – notably a male. He looked displeased in the static image, and situated next to several Cobrarian females, appearing unaware an image had been taken. "This is Hir'laras'silar, a male who is currently living in the Nests, though unlike his more rebellious brethren, has decided to remain in the Hierarchy to sabotage it from within."

Miridian tapped a finger idly on the holotable. "We've been in on and off communication with him for some time, and have successfully maneuvered him further to our side through information sharing and social engineering. He appears quite sincere in this willingness to help us. More notably, he says it would take very little to sway other males to turn on the Hierarchy."

"Why would he want to help you?" Shun demanded incredulously. "Does he not know what you think of his people?"

"The Cobrarians are a doomed race if not managed properly," Miridian said idly. "I highly doubt he cares what I think because he sees the same thing. As it stands his life is empty, and changing the status quo is preferable to nothing. If the Cobrarians were sufficiently modified to become sustainable, and their culture rebuilt, I would reconsider my position. But as I know no Cobrarian would submit to such invasive procedures, the point is moot."

He turned back to the image. "Nonetheless, if we direct him, he will be useful in instigating a rebellion in the Hierarchy. He maintains a number of contacts with other males beyond the desert, and is willing to assist in establishing a proper network. More importantly, he assures me he can get Nulorian teams directly to the Council of Matriarchs, so long as we dispose of them."

"This sounds especially convenient," Nartha noted with some suspicion. "Have you confirmed it's not a trap?"

Miridian pursed his lips, which already answered the question. "Before now, I would have said his reliability is certain. Siaru also does not believe he has been compromised. However, we now know the lengths the Ethereals will go to and what they will sacrifice for a chance at damaging us. Right now, I can't confirm if he is acting of his own volition."

He glanced to Shun. "XCOM and the Chronicler will be useful in determining his reliability. I will not authorize an operation of such importance without confirmation. We cannot take chances, even with those we consider reliable and all signs point to such."

"I'm also uncertain that even if he is reliable, his information is accurate," Sorras commented, idly toying with a dagger strapped to his chest. "A majority of males would revolt or open to the possibility? In the Nests? I find that hard to believe. The majority of males don't have the patience or willingness to do that. It's also not like those who live in the Nests are poorly off either. Soft lives are how the Matriarchs placate them."

"The wider discontent among the males is actually rooted in something concrete," Miridian interjected, lifting a hand. "We know that the Zararch don't like the Cobrarian Hierarchy either, and have conducted some operations against it – ones we believe are intentionally leading to more males leaving. Previously it was a rare occurrence, but now that it's happened more often, its impossible to ignore or cover up. This is not especially unbelievable."

"Perhaps, but consider the source," Sorras repeated. "He wants our help, and may be willing to bend the truth to get what he wants."

"I've taken that into account," Miridian promised. "And again, without a means to determine compromise, the point is moot."

"Agreed," Nartha nodded. "I would say that protocols need to be established for anyone that goes outside controlled areas."

"And how do we do that?" The second Vitakarian asked, looking pointedly at the Human and Vitakarian couple. "Submit ourselves to XCOM and alien psions? Your Manchurian Conditioning? Do you take us for fools?"

"I didn't suggest any of that," Nartha corrected against the sudden vitriol. "Only that there needs to be something, because as we clearly see now, no one is immune, and I guarantee that if Quisilia isn't lurking in the cities, there are Sectoid psions imported which are secretly scanning the population, with Zararch lurking the networks. Forgive me for being paranoid."

"Nartha is right," Miridian glanced at the woman. "And if anyone should be paranoid, it is him. I agree with your concerns about methods, but this is something I've thought about how to mitigate. If we do not use XCOM, then we need to be creative. I am working with Siaru to develop a method to identify and mitigate tampering."

"I highly doubt a machine is going to be more effective than a psion," Shun pointed out with a frown. "None of you like it, but even giving small Sovereign Orbs out is a better method than relying on that thing for protection."

Miridian didn't sound impressed, and none of the Nulorian seemed to take the declaration seriously. "We've been using Siaru long before you came along, Human. We'll take our chances."

There were concurrent nods around the room. While Nartha agreed with Shun, he couldn't deny that in the eyes of the Nulorian, Miridian had a stronger argument. But Siaru continuously gave him a really, really bad feeling. Relying on it too much was a bad thing. "When is the meeting with XCOM?" The Borelian asked.

"Soon," Miridian answered. "Within the next couple of weeks. It is taking time to establish a working time with the respective allied Unions. Those were the primary action items I wanted to discuss now, the meeting will come later."

"And what until then?" Nartha asked.

"We recover," Miridian's eyes seemed slightly dimmer than usual. "We remember. And later, we avenge."

---

Medical Bay – The Prism

5/12/2017 – 9:18 A.M.

She looked better, and she was feeling better.

Yang gave a smile as he walked in, her body still healing but she was alive and conscious. She was still mostly staying in bed, though got up to do exercises every day, both physical and psionic. There were some bandages on parts of her body and much of the skin displayed was pinkish and new, though she now sported a number of scars on her face and body that she'd elected to keep.

Though this time she beat him to the question, which indicated she was paying close attention to their bond. "How are you?"

The Battlemaster hesitated before answering. He was still trying to figure out the best response to Florida. Another invasion immediately afterwards would likely be supported, but until there was an effective strategy determined, it would be throwing resources and lives away for nothing. Not acceptable.

There were a number of solutions he was looking into; mass EMP deployment; integration of more Mosrimor technology, intensifying satellite targeting, and more. But those were in initial stages, and were at least a couple weeks out before he was confident enough to respond.

Besides, there were other fronts and other places to devote his attention to. But the development was nonetheless concerning, and he knew it was the first of many AI driven weapons. Beyond Earth, there were other issues that needed to be addressed. "Well enough. I'm considering a number of options."

"What?" She swung herself off the edge of the bed, putting her tablet down. "You definitely seem…distracted."

"Perhaps because I am," the Battlemaster mused, pacing. "There are the new weapons ADVENT and XCOM are deploying, but those will be addressed. The discontent in the Collective is commanding more of my interest currently. The Nulorian are a visible example, but they are largely irrelevant. More concerning is the Unions which Patricia revealed to have elements working with XCOM. I intend to address this…" he waved an arm. "Issue, before returning to Earth."

"Oh?" She cocked her head. "And do what?"

And that was the question he was uncertain how to answer. "I am…unsure." He paused. "I intend to hear their justification. They are not inherently irredeemable like the Nulorian, and I suspect their discontent stems from legitimate sources, as mine does. Disposing of the Unions like the Zararch would advise is pointless; not when they can serve a purpose. Not when we can learn from them."

"Did the Imperator give a directive?" Yang wondered, brushing some hair out of her face.

"Not directly." The Battlemaster admitted. "And I suspect a reason why."

She nodded, either guessing correctly or sensing through the bond. "He wants to see what you'll do?"

"I suspect so," the Battlemaster sat down opposite her. "Our disagreements unsettle him. He is not used to being challenged, and I suspect even now he believes my concerns are irrelevant. But he also knows he cannot cast me aside without controversy. So he seeks a way to discredit me in a justified way. He is insisting I achieve this goal – after Florida, I would even say it is framed as a warning."

Yang snorted. "What, and ignore that Quisilia couldn't kill all the Nulorian? Or that the Overmind's arrogant puppet also failed? Not to mention Sicarius and the Second Guardian? He can't pin Florida on you."

"Officially, no," the Battlemaster agreed. "But he is growing impatient and my request to Sana did not engender goodwill, not from one he views as a traitor. Patricia's new…tactic…of causing damage and terror is a sign he wishes for the war to end sooner than later – and a rebuke of what the current strategy has been. For the Andromedons, I suspect he wants to see how I handle them. Without a doubt there is a right and wrong way – or at least expectations depending on if I am sufficiently loyal or not."

Yang frowned. "Which means…what are you going to do? What are we going to do?"

"As I said, I will confront them," he repeated. "I do not intend to act as the unthinking enforcer of the Imperator, something he has likely forgotten. However, he does not expect subtlety or subterfuge from me. If I reach a decision that is unlikely to be acceptable, then it will have to be executed quietly."

She pursed her lips. "And what do you think the possibility of that kind of…decision…is?"

"I suspect that Paradise and the current state of the war have not encouraged the Unions," the Battlemaster mused. "Their lack of trust is understandable, though their support of XCOM is unacceptable. I am not certain what the solution is, but eliminating the opposition will solve nothing except push more Unions towards rebellion."

Yang swung her legs idly. "I wonder – do they know that we know?"

"They likely suspect," the Battlemaster said. "Though we have not done anything, so it is possible they have become complacent. It ultimately does not matter, as the result will be the same."

"Right," Yang nodded. "When do we go?"

"Soon," the Battlemaster promised. "When you have fully recovered. If it does not go well, I suspect they will be prepared to defend themselves. I would prefer we both be at full strength."

"Hm," Yang thought. "Perhaps we should bring Sana along too. She may help."

"Not this time," the Battlemaster shook his head. "This is something we will do on our own. She is not on our side completely, and the fewer who are involved…the better."

---

Medical Center, Mars Observation Station – Mars Orbit

5/12/2017 – 10:09 A.M.

Sitting in a busy medical center, with the worst of the work finished, Hallian sat with his tablet, composing several documents to be sent out to a number of superiors and impacted parties. Compared to fixing up wounded soldiers, this was menial and easy by comparison, though some of it wasn't necessarily related directly to his job, but a…personal project.

Hallian felt bad for the psychologists who were dealing with the survivors of the Florida attack. Admittedly, even he wasn't completely back to normal after what had happened, but he'd been close to an evacuation zone so when the orders had come, he hadn't seen the worst of the aftermath.

Or more accurately, lack of an aftermath.

He'd heard numerous accounts by this point and seen some images. Wounded soldiers talked, as did medics. Soldiers had seen their friends and comrades disintegrated and ripped apart before them, with absolutely no way to help them. Some had seen the nanites eat everything in sight, like some unholy plague that devoured the carnage.

Hallian felt more uncomfortable with an empty battlefield than a…well, normal one. Sterility was alien on a battlefield. Unnatural. The images taken of the aftermath showed exactly that. Sterility. No bodies, no carnage, it was like nothing had ever happened. Everything that had been there was effectively…erased.

He wasn't envious of the one who had to write the letters that would need to be sent to their families – and now there wasn't even a body to return. There should always be something, even if it wasn't whole. Not to mention it was a horrible way to die in his view. It reminded him of just how powerful the nanites were; a tool that could do immeasurable good and harm at the same time.

He felt tired at the thought that this would inevitably become commonplace. The weapons would grow larger in scale and power, with Collective and Humanity trying to outdo the other. Both sides would consider it justified as well, and wouldn't necessarily be wrong.

A vicious, escalatory cycle.

It didn't matter how many died or in what way; it wasn't as though the war was going to stop. Whispers of another attack against Florida were already going around, though the Battlemaster in his actual wisdom was waiting to determine the most effective way. Still, he was planning to go back, and countless more would die as a result.

The Humans couldn't hold back against the numbers the Collective had. That was a fact, but he was becoming more and more convinced that the Humans were willing to literally throw all seven billion of their kind against the Collective out of sheer defiance. All the fighting for an utterly pointless end.

Hallian had a strong feeling the fighting wouldn't end after the Collective "won". The Nulorian were proof of that, and if a largely peaceful species could spawn insurrection of that type, he could only imagine what the Humans would do.

If their history was anything to go by, it would be worse than the Nulorian. Insurrection, rebellion, terrorism, and self-determinace were repeated themes in Human history. He idly wondered if even ADVENT would last beyond the war, in the fantasy where they emerged intact. Probably not. The only reason they'd gotten this powerful was because of a unified threat. When that threat was gone…what then? Would Humans continue accepting ADVENT in its current iteration?

All in all, the more he looked at the war, the more he felt like it didn't matter.

At least for the Humans they had reason to fight that was clear. They were also more violent and he'd noted that few had the inherent aversion to combat Vitakara did. Abraham seemed like an exception, and while he'd still been supportive of the conflict, Hallian felt that he'd welcome a stop to the fighting as well.

Humans were not irredeemable and that stood out as an oddity among a Collective that had previously welcomed species of all kinds. It wasn't even like the Mutons which had attacked diplomatic delegations, forcing the Battlemaster to intervene. Admittedly, the Humans weren't especially welcoming to him at first, but either through apathy or simply not caring anymore, few had paid much attention when he'd started helping them. Maybe they didn't know, but it didn't really matter. There could certainly be peace between them…but those in charge needed to decide that peace was in their best interests.

And that was something he knew the Collective would not agree with, but also doubted ADVENT was interested in peace either. They were too…methodical…too spurned to accept anything permanent. ADVENT seemed like a very different Humanity than was normal, at least in his observations. Humans were more emotional, friendly, and complex than ADVENT seemed to be.

ADVENT seemed sterile. Almost robotic. Certainly manipulative, with a cold pragmatism and passion for structure, order, and obedience. Hallian believed this was a major reason Humanity had been able to endure, by forcefully purging parts of themselves and reshaping what was left, but the cost of that…well, had to be determined.

Still, something needed to be done to break the metaphorical divide between both sides.

He had a contact from the other side now. He unfortunately couldn't contact Abraham due to the Internet not existing on Mars, not to mention he wouldn't have been able to access it even if it was. Still, it was a starting point. Now he just needed to convince the Battlemaster of the viability of an…independent medical corps.

Instinctively, he knew it was a stupid idea that was probably going to get shot down if the Battlemaster bothered to look at it at all. Still, he felt he could lay out a plausible case, specifically pointing to the intelligence gathering potential, covert troop movements, and other honestly unethical applications, the inclusion of which was necessary because without them there was no way it would be accepted.

True altruism or empathy didn't exist in this galaxy, at least not in the people with power.

He'd heard the Elder Sana'Ligna was also doing a similar thing, but that was more of her own volition and without an actual agreement between both sides. She was…tolerated at best. If this idea went beyond theory, the dream was a mutual pact between the Collective and ADVENT. ADVENT was going to have the same problems with the idea, but that was completely out of his hands.

He was going to do his part, and at least now he would be able to say he tried to do something that might lead to something lasting. But he'd see; even if it happened, it might lead to nothing.

Still worth a shot, and as the Humans liked to say, you miss every shot you don't take.

---

ADVENT HQ, Geneva – Switzerland

5/10/2017 – 4:00 P.M.

And here we go.

Kaya could hear the crowd outside, the low hum of the onlookers trying to be the first to see the future Empress. She stood by herself, with ADVENT Soldiers guarding every single point of entry and exit. A number of aides and attendants were rushing to and fro, making sure everything from lighting, to microphones, to security was ready to go.

Everyone would be out there waiting. Her unit, her sister, and of course, her people.

"Moving out in ten seconds," came the warning from an ADVENT officer. "All up to you now."

Kaya nodded, already prepared. There'd been a number of rehearsals already, and she'd memorized what she was supposed to do some time ago. Almost without realizing the time had passed, the doors opened and the afternoon sun streamed inside, initially blinding. Flashes and dozens of camera clicks sounded as she took her first steps forward.

There were murmurs when they saw her, some gasps of surprise mixed in with cheers. It was known now she'd been in the Order of Terra, but few knew what she looked like now. Quite different from the woman she'd been only a year ago. Cut hair, weathered skin, and battle armor. No fancy Japanese attire or excessive makeup.

A woman who had been hardened by war.

Her armor was cleaned and shining of course, with the scratches and dents removed and fixed. She'd not necessarily wanted that, but considering the ceremony, appearances did matter. The only things she lacked were her main weapons, which she'd get back soon enough, though a pistol was visibly strapped to her side.

The walkway was a red carpet which extended to an elevated platform that held a replica of the Takamikura, diligently designed and colored with the ADVENT red and black. It wasn't Japan, where the ceremony should have been, but it was the best that could be done, and Kaya suspected she wasn't the only one who was appreciative. It would have been easy to hold this in a building somewhere, but ADVENT had gone the extra mile to make it a bit more authentic.

There were a few people she recognized in the crowd; her unit was pretty close to where the steps to the platform were, who were smiling and being as encouraging as they could be, some joining in the cheering and applause. Most she'd never seen before, outside of a few ADVENT officials who merely observed with some nods of acknowledgement and members of Japanese media who were practically fawning over her and speaking excitedly as she approached.

The people looked at her in a mixture of awe, respect, and fascination. Millions more were no doubt watching across the world. Aliens too, which could easily include the being or beings that were trying to kill her. She hoped they were watching now; and that they felt like failures.

Probably too much to hope for.

She ascended the steps, with her sister, her family, and those who had recently been inaugurated into the Imperial lineage on both sides of the Imperial Throne, with chairs for the Elders and Prime Minister before and behind the throne. The throne was a replica, and she doubted she would sit in it again, but for the purposes of ceremony, it was more than sufficient.

Everyone stood as she approached, or rather had been standing already. She reached the throne, turned around and sat upon it. The order of the ceremony would be different from previous enthronements, with one part being removed entirely, and others…reworked. Normally she would not sit upon the throne until the Three Sacred Treasures had been presented, but that would happen now.

And the treasures this time would be slightly different.

The area was silent as she overlooked the crowd which waited expectantly. The Elders stood, with wooden boxes in their hands containing the treasures. The first stepped forward, and after she motioned the crowd to sit, she stood and approached. "The Yasakani no Magatama, Empress," the first man said, as he opened the box and lifted out an object in the shape of the jewel.

Though this one was noticeably artificial, mostly because it was not a jewel at all, but a custom elerium power cell which would power one of the later treasures. The real treasures had been recovered, but were currently locked up safely. Now they would normally be presented, but Kaya had wanted something more…practical.

The treasures had been reimagined as a result.

Kaya took the elerium cell and hooked it to her belt, which she would return to later. The core glowed an appropriate green as it hung, ready for use.

The second elder moved before her, unveiling the second treasure. "The Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, Empress," he said. "Forged to serve you in the fires of combat." She picked up the golden-tinted sheath and drew the sword with an audible grind that was broadcast across the world. The blade was a black steel, and as expected, it bore some similarities to the weapons used by the XCOM Templars.

Or so they said, anyway. The sword seemed different than some of the Templar weapons she'd experimented with for comparison. There was a heft and toughness to this she could inherently feel. When she'd commented on the difference, the white-haired woman who'd given it to her had seemed amused.

Well, she wasn't going to complain about the quality. She'd asked if it would have features like some weapons the Templars used, like channeling electricity and friction. She'd been told no, but that it didn't matter. She'd been told the blade was effectively indestructible and capable of matching the Battlemaster's own weapon. That was good enough for her, and as the light reflected off the black blade, she noted that the crowd seemed to definitely be taken with it. With a nod, she sheathed the katana-esque sword and hooked it where her katana would have gone.

Yes, the new Grasscutter Blade would serve quite well. It was certainly a better quality than weapons she'd used before. It was an advantage, but she'd accepted that it was permittable due to her status, even if it did give her a survivability advantage. She'd just have to fight harder to keep everyone alive.

The final box was presented as the final Elder stepped forward. It was opened to reveal a small dark reflective circle, with simple patterns and tiles within, along with hooks and straps. It was made out of alloys, but also noticeably reflective. "The Yato no Kagami, Empress," the man said, presenting the shield to her. "May it serve you and turn the attacks of your enemies away."

Making the decision to turn what was arguably the most important of the artifacts from a mirror into a shield was easier than she'd thought. Though it wasn't a traditional shield, but one anchored in new technology. Powered by the Magatama elerium core, it would function as a PDS field used by the Shieldbearers, turning away incoming fire.

Quite the innovative design. Kaya took the treasure and unhooked the core, and placed it into the designed slot before hooking the mirror itself on her belt. In battle it would be strapped to a place on her back, but that was awkward to do now, and it was small enough it could hang comfortably.

With the treasures presented, the Elders returned to their seats and Kaya mentally took a breath, as the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. She stepped closer to the podium, silence still reigning as she rested her hands on the sides, gripping them lightly as she looked around the room and into the cameras.

Here went nothing.

"This ceremony is meant to be a celebration," she began. "One of reflection, family, friends, and pride in our nation. It is a rare, solemn event that those around the world watch, but more importantly, it is a rebirth; a new beginning. Today though, this ceremony isn't just important to my people, but also to the millions watching around the world."

Kaya took a breath. "I've been victim to tragedy. In the span of hours I lost almost all my family. Many of whom I hadn't spoken to in weeks because I was serving ADVENT, out of a mistaken belief that they were beneath the notice of the aliens; that they were safe. As I've learned, there are none who are beneath the notice of the aliens. They intend to dominate and intimidate us on every level, from civilian, to soldier, to leader." She briefly lapsed into a short silence, allowing some reflection.

"But the truth is that what has befallen my family is not unique," she shook her head. "It hasn't been for years now. Every hour now, people are robbed of their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, and yes, families. All for a senseless and unprovoked war. A war in which the aliens have yet to inform us how it was provoked."

She motioned to herself, and her sister. "Focus has been given to my family due to my birth, my title, and our ties to Japanese history and culture. What happened to me was covered breathlessly and mournfully, but the truth is neither I, nor my family, are any more special or important than those who have died without so much a mention. I am no more deserving of sympathy than those who have already suffered the loss I have."

There were a few nods in the crowds, some appreciation on faces and she noted a few from the media winced. Maybe they'd perform some self-reflection later. "To those people out there, I cannot give you the recognition, peace, or reason for why it befell you that is deserved – but I can say that I understand, and I pray that no one ever has to. I cannot say why my own family was targeted, but I can assume that it was meant to break my resolve and drive me to despair as well as those around us. To send a message not just to me, but any who dare to support ADVENT."

Her voice became firm. "Today I stand in rejection of the ones who sought to break me. Today I can state without ambiguity that they failed. They sought to end my bloodline, to end my family, but all they have done is ensure it will endure for generations to come." Kaya motioned to those sitting on the sides. "Today the new Imperial Family sits and celebrates alongside me, rebuilt and renewed. All that the aliens sought to achieve has been undone because we do not break or buckle under adversity, but adapt, grow, and endure."

One hand closed into a fist, which she rested on the podium. "The aliens continue to show their true colors and face to the world, even if those who would ally with them are blind to it. Even now they hold two children of my family, those who pose no threat to them. They do not care beyond forcing our submission to them, and will do whatever they deem necessary to achieve it. Nothing is too reprehensible or forbidden. Remember the butchery of Beijing, the indiscriminate destruction of Washington D.C., the horror of Paradise, the amorality of the Sectoids, and the missing millions whose fates will never be known and whose families will never know peace."

She shook her head, pausing for a few seconds again. "I did not seek this role, and never have, but I recognize it is my duty. But with this duty comes change and responsibility. As Empress I have a duty to my people, but we are in a new world now; one where national loyalties and priorities are secondary to our species. I do not fight and lead simply for my own people, but for all those who reside on Earth and act to free it from the alien threat."

Gripping the sides of the podium, she held her chin up high. "We live in an era where the feudal monarchies and royalties are diminished, but influence is still retained and it is time we address the responsibilities of that. As Sovereigns, we have held ourselves aloof from the people. We command attention and focus by nothing more than titles, family names, and old connections. This is a mistake that too many I know have succumbed to. The time of kings and emperors may have ended, but that does not mean we have the right to abdicate our responsibility – not when there are those who still look to us for guidance. Not when we possess even a scrap of authority and legitimacy."

She looked out to the crowd, locking eyes with some of them. "We all have a responsibility to our species. This war is larger than one single nation or people; it shall decide the fate of our species. We must each do our part to protect ourselves, and secure a future for our species and children. As Empress I will fight every day until the alien threat is purged from this Earth and the Collective is reduced to dust."

She took a breath. "I know the risks; I understand that I could very well die. In mere weeks from now you might hear of it. But this is a sacrifice I am willing to make. I can be replaced, there are others who will rise and lead, but we can never allow ourselves to cower before the aliens. I do not hold myself as someone more valuable than those others who fight, but as one who joins them side by side, united in a singular cause."

A small smile formed. "Many of us have lost friends, family, and our home. I understand this, and that is why I fight. I believe we can win, because no matter what the aliens do to us, we return stronger than ever. For every country they take, we will take it back. For every Human they kill, two more will join the fight. For each mistake, we learn and grow. The Ethereal Collective will realize they should have left us alone, because now I have directed my family towards their elimination. One action meant to sow fear and terror has only strengthened our resolve – and it is not just true for me, but millions of others across the world."

"The aliens do not understand what they have done," she said, keeping her voice low and calm. "They have committed one fatal mistake – they have made this war personal. To me, to you, and to the world. Our species has a long memory, and we are driven to act against the evil and tyrannical. Justice is demanded for the blood spilled across the world, and the Collective now knows their judgement is coming, and that they cannot hide or run."

She placed one hand over her heart, the ADVENT salute on display. "For Japan, for ADVENT, and for Humanity."

It started small at first, but there was first applause which then morphed into cheers, particularly from the soldiers and civilians. Words and sentences in a multitude of languages, mostly Japanese and English. The cheers grew to a roar as she looked proudly forward, buoyed by the response.

One word was slowly being made out, chanted over and over again.

"Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!"

The three cheers had been a moment usually reserved for a specific point in the ceremony, but Kaya found that here was more impactful. It was a cheer to acknowledge the new sovereign, to wish them long life and health. Something she felt she would need here, but there were other meanings that could be implied.

Triumph. Pride. Hope.

All of which she felt right now, and which was reflected in the crowd before her which had swelled in intensity and strength. As the repeated cheers of Banzai rang out, she lifted a fist in solidarity, amplifying the cheers even further, enough to where the air itself was vibrating with the number of voices.

It would only last for a while, but for a short moment, she felt like she was on top of the world.

---

Home of Runi'sirasis'vitianis, Geneva – Switzerland

5/10/2017 – 4:47 P.M.

Nemo sat before his television still as a machine. It was not prone to strong emotions or language, but seeing the former princess and now Empress of the family it had removed as a factor stand up there so defiantly and flaunt her resilience was supremely irritating.

Nemo's lips were pursed tightly together. The new Empress was free with her challenges it seemed.

Very well Kaya, challenge accepted. Bitch.

Humans had a large number of words for cursing. Usually Nemo considered such language beneath it, but there were a few select instances where using such words to describe what it was feeling was appropriate. Now was one of those times.

Her little display certainly undercut the effect killing the Imperial Family had; if all they had to do was arbitrarily declare a number of random other people as 'family' then he questioned the worth of killing them off in the first place. That was not supposed to be what happened, and now it was just accepted.

It made so little sense, and went against what the typical definition of a Human 'family' was. Yet there was no Human that Nemo could see who was going to call her out on this obvious propaganda-directed redefinition. Which was ultimately not a surprise, ADVENT would seek to mitigate the fallout as much as possible, even if it went against Human norms.

Humans really were sheep, their minds malleable to a fault. Or not, depending on how one looked at it. Most Human minds appeared hard-wired to obey and submit to authority. They would change their entire belief structure and mindset if they were told to. Not too different from Vitakara in that sense.

It certainly didn't help him now.

"Sirasis" had not been invited to the ceremony, which Nemo would have turned down anyway for a multitude of reasons. The message a very apologetic AEGIS officer had given was notably straightforward. Effectively, that they thought it would be in bad taste to invite aliens to a ceremony where a woman's family had been killed by aliens.

Admittedly, that was not an ideal environment.

Of course, Nemo had played along and given the understanding platitudes, which was just as well since there was 'work' to do – which Nemo had found a small routine to get into. Sirasis had access to a number of individuals, a fair few internal documents. The first few days were good and normally this would be the start of an excellent operation – except there had been a recent notice which made him seriously consider if Quisilia was playing a tasteless joke on him with how utterly bad the timing was.

ADVENT was undergoing a massive 'internal investigation', and there had been a large number of people arrested and prosecuted. Right now, it was only confined to ADVENT Intelligence, but the implication was very clear - that the rest of ADVENT was going to be scoured as well.

The two men in charge now, Ian Powell and Declan Rodgers, had an agenda – which was to purge ADVENT of the moles, traitors, and dissenters. It was, Nemo had to admit, somewhat admirable and the two men could not be faulted for pursuing such an objective. Even the Zar'Chon wouldn't be able to condemn these actions, as such operations were performed regularly – though not on such a large scale.

It appeared the AEGIS Division was next on the list.

The message Nemo had been staring at for prolonged parts of the day read equal parts a warning and a command.

Greetings Runi'sirasis'vitianis,

As you are no doubt aware, ADVENT Intelligence, in coordination with the Peacekeeper Division and the Oversight Division, has been conducting an agency-wide investigation into the attempted and executed infiltration, subversion, and sabotage of ADVENT by foreign and alien actors.

We take our integrity and security very seriously, and as a result of our efforts, we have uprooted and purged many traitorous individuals and bodies within our agency, which has begun leading us beyond our current focus on ADVENT Intelligence and into other ADVENT agencies. As we begin to finish our investigation of ADVENT Intelligence, we are looking to the future.

We understand that the optics of this are not ideal, nor is profiling based on species, but the AEGIS Division, and subsequently, the aliens you are currently representing, are ripe for infiltration and exploitation. As the AEGIS Division is relatively small, we do not estimate it will take long to complete our investigation.

While we are certain that neither you nor the AEGIS leadership are working against ADVENT and Human interests, those within the organization we are not as confident of. I will remind you that the defectors still have family on Vitakar, and the Zararch is not above using families as leverage to make otherwise willing defectors cooperate and act as assets and sources.

ADVENT Intelligence requests that you inform all relevant parties and individuals of a potential impending investigation, and forward all personnel data in your possession to us for categorization and initial review. We apologize for the inconvenience, but this is necessary to continue to maintain the security and integrity of ADVENT, and especially experimental programs such as the AEGIS Division that are already under direct scrutiny.

We expect all requested material no later than one week from the sending of this notice. Please note that failure to comply or the submission of false or incomplete data will result in arrest, prosecution, and sentencing of all involved. Due to the possibility that suspected operatives and assets of foreign or alien organizations may be exfiltrated or escape, we cannot give you an expected timeframe for when this investigation will formally commence.

We appreciate your cooperation, and look forward to this investigation being concluded in a quick, efficient, and secure manner. For legal questions, please review the attached legal documentation and feel free to consult with both the Oversight and Peacekeeping Divisions to ensure all regulations and documents are accurate.

- Ian Powell, Acting Director of ADVENT Intelligence

This was less than ideal.

Correction – it was bad.

This effectively rendered the current plan irrelevant. An alternate one would have to be developed. It was clear that ADVENT Intelligence – and potentially their psions – would probably be keeping a close eye on Sirasis, to ensure she did as expected. Knowing ADVENT, her computer was probably tapped and monitored.

The Zar'Chon and the Ethereals were not going to be happy, but this was something that could have been foreseen, and Nemo could always find someone else to impersonate. At minimum an important defector had been killed. It appeared that the 'suicide' route might have to be considered.

There might be a way to salvage this.

Nemo leaned back, thinking very carefully about what to do next. Between the notice and Kaya's Enthronement, Nemo had come to a definite conclusion.

Today had been a very bad day.

---

Office of the Commander, the Praesidium – Classified Location

5/12/2017 – 9:09 A.M.

The Zudjari blinked, seeming surprised. "You wish me to participate?"

The Commander nodded. "Yes."

"The sentiment is appreciated," Axis said slowly. "But I am only one of my species. I hesitate to speak for all of us, let alone Origin."

"Understandable," Ariel Jackson sympathized, making a note on her tablet. "But considering that the liberation of your people is going to be a priority, it is important that you are involved in the discussions. If would be in poor taste to plan the liberation of your people and not include you."

The Commander smiled in reinforcement. "What she said. This meeting will not just be to formalize our alliance, but to determine the grand strategy of the war. This is beyond a single planet now. There are multiple factions, species, and individuals across multiple planets who need to have a unified vision of what we wish to achieve."

He indicated around him vaguely. "Earth is the catalyst, but there will come a point when the conflict spills into the wider galaxy. We need a plan, and we will have one."

"I see," Axis nodded. "I cannot say that Origin will completely accept what I negotiate or agree to, but until he is freed, I shall speak for the Mosaic to the best of my ability. On that you have my promise."

"I doubt Origin will be unreasonable," the Commander mused. "Not from what you've told me."

"I'm unsure," Axis flapped his lips, a sign of discomfort. "The truth about the Sovereigns has raised questions. I suspect now what Origin is, and who he spoke for may have a differing agenda. However, I have faith he will be freed and an accord will be reached."

"As do I," the Commander clasped his hands behind his back. "That is all. We will be leaving within days. Prepare as best you can, and you will be summoned when we are ready."

"Yes, Commander," Axis bowed his head and mimicked the salute. "I will be ready."

The towering alien departed, leaving Jackson and the Commander alone, and the Central Officer raised an eyebrow. "He's not wrong about Origin. If we're right, then that could cause problems. I'd not overpromise on what we'll do. It's honestly better if Axis retains supervisory control over any Zudjari we free."

"Perhaps," the Commander mused, idly looking over to the Sovereign Orb that sat upon a stand nearby. "At the same time, the Sovereign Ones have been locked in their circular conflict for millennia. It's past time someone or something forced them to consider directing their energies somewhere else more important."

"Bold to assume that every Sovereign will be as reasonable as T'Leth," Jackson smirked as she shook her head. "I'm mildly surprised T'Leth hasn't killed you out of annoyance after you keep making demands. You, a mere mortal."

"I doubt T'Leth has ever been challenged before," the Commander sat down, thinking on the question a bit more seriously. It was a personal interest to him; the Sovereigns in general were a fascinating conundrum to consider. "Nor most Sovereigns. They act on their own, are worshipped as gods, and naturally fall into a mindset of infallibility to where their visions become static and they are incapable of forming new patterns and ideas. Thus, they see the status quo as serviceable because they have not been affected and react poorly to challenge as a result. If they are content, why do they need to make it better?"

Jackson crossed her arms, appearing to not have expected an actual answer to that, before shrugging. "That's a question above me," she admitted. "One I'd prefer not thinking about if I'm honest. It comes a point where the extrapolation becomes a bit too..." she searched for the word. "Existential for me. I'll leave the negotiating with the fish-gods to you, thank you very much."

"I'll accept that," the Commander chuckled, good naturedly. "But I suspect we won't have to solve the Origin problem for some time. Out of all the factions, the Zudjari are not a major factor yet. Getting everyone else to work together may be difficult. Too many different priorities."

"Though they all have one in common," Jackson noted. "The fall of the Collective."

"Mmm," the Commander considered. "To differing degrees. What does that look like? Is it the death of the Imperator? Certain territories ceded? A formal peace agreement? I'm certain 'victory' looks different for each party."

"Well, that's why we're having this meeting," Jackson said. "Important questions to be answered and clarified."

"Indeed," the Commander glanced to the clock. "Only a few more days. Hopefully the Collective doesn't do anything too significant during that time."

---

Observation Chamber, Atlantis – The Deep Pacific Ocean

5/9/2017 – 6:02 A.M.

Loke just stood in the observation chamber and soaked it all in. There was so much about Atlantis that was fascinating and amazing; honestly the past few weeks felt like he was a kid with how much he was taken by the place. He hadn't felt this kind of…wonder in a very long time. That part of him he thought had been killed, but it just seemed to have been suppressed.

Seeing the worst places of Earth and worst of Humanity would do that to a person.

Perhaps it made places like this seem amazing in comparison. He wondered how many more places on Earth were like this, just waiting to be found. Or more likely, had already been found and he just hadn't heard of them. Now he was a bit more understanding of people who traveled all over the world for the sights and exotic locales. If the feeling was even somewhat like this, he could see it being addictive.

Thus, his favorite spot in the Atlantis Base was the Observation Chamber, which was quite simply the only place on the base which wasn't completely encased. It was a small tower that extended above the base one took an elevator to, topped by a completely transparent sphere, allowing an unrestricted view over the entire Atlantis base and the deep ocean itself.

It was a bit nerve-wracking at first. Given the sheer amount of pressure this deep, there was a not-insignificant fear that the chamber might crack and break. But he'd been assured that the chamber was perfectly safe, though you wouldn't want to be in it if the base came under attack, and in fact the chamber could be remotely sealed off in case of a breach (which seemed to be a standard security measure throughout the entire base).

Even with all that, it was just a fear some people couldn't get over. Which was fine; that just meant less people around to bother him. There was a steady flow of traffic he'd found, and the best times to come were early in the morning or late at night. Truthfully, it didn't matter when one came, since the only way one could measure time was the clocks on the walls.

Atlantis never slept. Not really. The lack of tangible cycles meant that there were effectively two different groups of people working, one during one cycle, and the next doing what was left. Easier to perform since there wasn't anything to compare it to.

Loke drummed his fingers on the couch, looking out over the base. Even in the few weeks he'd been here, there'd been progress made on the construction. There'd already been a massive warehouse-like structure where the ships were being built, and more defense platforms, storage areas, living quarters, and aquatic farms were springing up on the sea floor.

There were regular patrols of Atlantis Guards, and occasionally he'd see Neptune Scouts deploy in their little pods who would return an hour or so later. People were still nervous going out too far. He was almost sad he wasn't one of the Scouts, but his actual job was one he was quite happy with, so he wasn't complaining.

Of course, the thing everyone looked out for was the wildlife, and there was a surprising amount of it despite the depth. The deep ocean had been a fascination for many simply because of how unknown it was compared to the rest of the world, and there was plenty to point too now showing that. Everything down here was unsettling and bizarre, but in a good way.

Well, he said that now. If he came face to face with some of those creatures out on the ocean floor, it might give him a heart attack.

Eh, probably an acceptable price to pay.

The door hissed open behind him, and he glanced around and was somewhat surprised to see he actually recognized the alien entering the room. The Dath'Haram woman…Valencia, that was it. He'd actually spoken to her several times, though mostly work-related. Despite some of his initial reservations, she seemed genuine and committed.

"Hello," she said, coming around, her green skin barely visible in the dim light. "Loke, right?"

"Guess we both remember each other," he nodded, flashing a smile. "Didn't realize you liked coming up here."

"Oh, I haven't actually been up here yet," she said, sitting down on the same couch. "Been meaning to, but never found a good time. I didn't even know it existed until you mentioned it a few days ago."

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow, amused. "You're an architect here!"

"Well, yes," she fidgeted. "But that doesn't mean I know everything. I mean, do you know every military unit that's being created here?"

"I wish," he snorted. "Point taken. Glad you're up here anyway. It's an amazing sight."

"Mmm, it is," she leaned back, looking out over the base. "It's…nice to see it laid out. Feels more tangible than reading status updates and seeing holograms. I like the lighting too, it's less isolating than we feared it might turn out."

"Yep, nothing quite beats seeing it for yourself," he agreed. "I'm curious – you've been to somewhere like this before? Given that you have a whole race that lives underwater and all that?"

"No," she shook her head violently. "I was actually a bit uncomfortable here at first. No one goes into the Manda-" at his confused expression, she cut herself off, then elaborated. "The ocean. Sovereign Sar'Manda territory; they do not take incursions lightly. I guess a lot of us have an aversion to the ocean as a result. Something beautiful we can see, but never explore."

"Sar'Manda…" the word rolled off his tongue. "So, I assume the name means something? It sounds like it has an actual translation compared to something like…" he waved a hand. "Well, like Vitakarian for example."

"A couple of translations, depending," Valencia looked upward, recalling. "The Sar'Manda aggressively state that it means 'masters of the waters'. Most translations would say it's closer to the 'sea-dwellers' or 'sea-children'. I'm assuming somewhere along the line the dialects diverged." She bared her teeth, something he learned was one way how Dath'Haram expressed amusement. "More likely its them trying to sound more intimidating. Ah, I suppose it doesn't matter, but it's interesting to consider."

"It is," Loke agreed, turning his head to her. "What about Dath'Haram? Similar concept?"

"In a way," she shifted to face him better. "Most translations tie it to where we live; or so popular ones go. 'Dwellers of the forest' or 'children of the forest' for the most part. But those aren't really accurate."

"Oh?"

"It's a bit odd," she admitted. "Especially with who we are. The real translation, which the Council of Dath'Haram, our…racial government…the one they quietly acknowledge is 'blades of the people' or 'defenders of the people'. It can vary on context."

"Hm," Loke scratched his beard. "A bit militant for your race. Don't suppose you had a less-than-peaceful past?"

"That's the odd thing," she shrugged. "We didn't. Maybe back then we used the name as a deterrent. It's admittedly not something I looked into deeply, so apologies if I end up being wrong."

"Don't worry about it," he waved a dismissive hand. "I'll take your word for it."

"If you-" she began, before yelping in surprise and breaking into a short sentence in her alien language, looking completely terrified. Loke soon saw what it was, and he couldn't keep his amusement to himself. One of the more unsettling of underwater creatures had floated past, and was hovering over the sphere, looking down at her.

"That is not funny!" She sputtered, intermittently glancing between him and the creature.

"Sorry, sorry," Loke fished for a small flashlight. "This should get rid of it." He flashed the light directly at the creature, which quickly swam away. That particular creature definitely didn't like light, and he was surprised it had gotten this close to the base.

"Thank you," the Dath'Haram shuddered. "Your sea life is highly disturbing."

"Down here it is," Loke agreed. "Though a bit higher it's more appealing. But I find it fascinating in its own way. Most of the stuff down here we barely know about. It's like a new world down here. Although I might change my mind when I go out there."

"Ah, when is that happening?" She asked, quickly asking. "If you can tell me, of course."

"They're doing final tests on the Depthtrooper armor," Loke said. "Which I'm fine with. But once that's done, we begin drills. Lots of time outside," his face burst into a grin. "I can't wait."

"I hope it is successful," she glanced out into the blackness. "It seems a lonely place out there. Difficult to believe a war could happen in this place."

"Hopefully it won't," he agreed. "But if it does…well, that's what I'm here for. Soldiers do two things well, kill people and protect them, in your case, it's the latter."

"Mm," she said idly. "I can understand the concept of protecting others easily enough, though dislike the notion of people risking themselves for me. If your people were only protectors, I feel I could understand you better, but it seems many are more interested in killing others than protecting them."

Loke pursed his lips. "To some extent, perhaps. A lot of soldiers fight for different reasons. Some do it for their country-their people, others to protect values they believe in. But some join just to kill people, though that's a bit of an oversimplification," he paused briefly, thinking about how best to say it. "The people they want to kill are usually those who shouldn't be alive anyway. Terrorists, criminals, those kinds of people. An equivalent for you would be something like the Nulorian. Thankfully though, most soldiers aren't pure sociopaths."

"Some Borelians have explained something similar to me once," she acknowledged with a nod, before looking to him. "If you don't mind my asking…what about you? Why are you fighting?"

He thought a few seconds before answering. "It's a bit selfish, honestly, at least when I started out. Because I wanted to prove that I could. I like challenge, so what better way to challenge myself than getting into the best special forces squad in the world?"

He shrugged. "Can't say I'm a big patriot. Denmark was always a country I could be proud of, but it's a place that owns an arbitrary amount of land like all the others in the world and has an unimaginative flag. That didn't drive me. Yeah, we have values like 'freedom' 'equality', and 'justice', but so do dozens of others."

Fingers drummed on the armrest. "Stats, milestones, challenge – that was what I really wanted. Perfect mission records, flawless executions, everything a means to that end. Exhilarating and I got money and called a hero while doing it. Not much reason to complain."

He licked his lips. "I guess I never really thought about what I was doing and who it was for. Didn't really have a reason to. The people I killed deserved it, no question, and I trusted my superiors. When the aliens hit though…" he leaned into the couch, looking away from her and to the blackness, wincing a bit. "Well, it stopped being a…gah, something trivial that I had fun with. It's real now in a way it wasn't before."

A sneeze interrupted him before he continued. "What I did before? Being honest, there was approximately a zero percent chance a terrorist was going to radically affect the world. A random warlord or thug?" He shrugged. "They might affect a few hundred people at most. There was no significant consequence. Yeah, a few people would be hurt and ruined, but the vast majority would continue on unaffected. I was safe in the knowledge that even if I screwed up, the world was still going to continue on and people I cared about would be safe."

A bitter smile crossed his face. "Not anymore. Everyone is one Ethereal away from death, one bombardment, one invasion. It's become a matter of protection now. Most of the world? They can't fight. Not well at least, much as ADVENT wishes it were otherwise. I can though, and that's what I'll do. My challenge now is to save the world, and this time it's a challenge I can say matters – and also the one that could actually kill me."

He trailed off, realizing he might have said a bit too much to an alien of all things who he had a passing relationship with, but not a close friend or anything. He coughed awkwardly. "Sorry if that was a bit much."

"No, thank you," she said, appraising him. "I appreciate the answer. I doubt most would have one like it."

"Ha, probably not," he agreed, then glanced down at his watch. "Got about another fifteen minutes before someone will ask where I am. Probably will get to test the armor today. What about you?"

"Reviewing an expansion plan," she answered, her tone turning the slightest bit irritated. "Provided everyone shows up for the meeting on time. Some of your people have questionable time management."

He chuckled. "Unfortunately, that remains a problem for some of us."

Even in ADVENT, it seemed some things never changed.

---

Volk's Quarters – Mars Collective Base

5/13/2017 – 10:22 A.M.

Volk set the razor down and rubbed his chin. It was past time he made himself a bit more presentable and less like a wildman. A properly groomed beard made him feel much more professional than he'd felt the past month or so. Of course, there hadn't been a lot that he'd done, and he couldn't attribute that to one particular reason.

Nemo was out on his mission, and he didn't have the faintest clue how that was going. Though he had been very amused to watch the Enthronement of that Japanese Empress. Nemo had probably been fuming the whole time.

Well, probably not. Nemo was the kind of person…thing…to not be affected by anything.

Still, it was amusing to consider.

It was a speech to think on, at least. Thing was she wasn't exactly wrong about a lot of stuff. Not that ADVENT was much better; as far as he was concerned, they were still more imperialistic and draconian than most of the Collective (barring the Vitakara, who definitely lived in something resembling a police state).

Ultimately though, the appeal of ADVENT was in full swing, made all the more potent by the fact that she'd touched on a very true point – how the war was affecting so many. And Humans had a tendency to react poorly when something was made personal. It could cement loyalties or break them.

Everyone had personal lines that couldn't be crossed. He'd had his a long time ago.

It begged the question of what had happened to his red lines. There'd been a point some time ago when he'd have walked. He was no supporter of ADVENT but the Collective had no moral high ground. The recent hostage controversy in the SAS, the launch of literal nano superweapons, all of it was building to the point where the idea of washing his hands of everything and trying to just survive until they killed each other was appealing.

Then again, that would only end up working if the Collective won. If ADVENT somehow survived, no more living off the grid.

So for now, he stayed. The Collective was an evil, but it was an obvious, exploitable evil that could eventually collapse. ADVENT was a worse evil – a smart evil. The Collective could fall, with ADVENT he wasn't as confident, and that worried him. It felt…irresponsible and cowardly to stand on the sidelines. Even if it felt like that's what he'd been doing recently.

It was entirely possible that the Collective had accidentally forgotten about him, considering what they were focusing on now. A fairly skilled, but ordinary Human and his small team were not quite as useful in the types of operations they were planning. Now that they had psions and the like to teleport wherever they wanted, he was…well, less desirable, perhaps.

Or they considered him too distracted and unstable.

Which wasn't necessarily wrong. Well, it hadn't been for a few weeks when Elena was doing badly.

Now she was much better, enough to where she was joining him on the range and had mostly returned to normal degrees of conversation – which didn't focus on her nightmares or memories. Volk truly didn't know if he'd helped her recover, but he'd at least tried something, even if it largely amounted to talking to her for hours about random stuff to give her something to focus on.

Well, it hadn't hurt.

Brushing himself off, he turned on the shower and took a short one, and when he was done, exited the bathroom and headed to the kitchen where Elena was probably still sitting and waiting for them. They'd taken to having late breakfasts together since they weren't on a strict schedule for the moment. When it came down to an actual op, they'd both adjust.

However, Elena was not in the kitchen, but standing a short distance from the door with her pistol drawn and pointed at the entrance to the room. "Woah," Volk's own pistol was in his hand when he saw that, though when he saw her target, he cocked his head, confused. It was a Human woman, Asian, black hair and fairly imposing.

"Harbinger Yang Shuren; psion; unannounced," Elena said curtly, not wavering. "Wants to talk to you."

"Yang Shuren?" Volk holstered his pistol, though didn't motion for Elena to do the same. If it was a psion, it wouldn't threaten her and Elena would feel safer. "Huh. Have we met before?"

"Likely," the woman said, angling her head to him. "Probably in brief."

"Probably," he agreed, frowning. "Seems you're feeling better. I've heard you were injured in Florida."

"Yes, but I'm better now, as you said. Comparatively," she took a step forward. "Apologies for the unannounced visit. If I'd known I'd be held at gunpoint, I would have provided a bit more notice."

Volk glanced to Elena before giving Yang an apologetic look. "It really wouldn't have made a difference."

She raised an eyebrow, but her face remained neutral. "Noted."

"So why are you here?" Volk asked. "The Battlemaster isn't usually the Ethereal I've answered to."

"Nebulan is handling other matters," Yang answered, before briefly pausing. "Or 'Asaru' as she calls herself to you. I expect she'll return shortly, though the Battlemaster would prefer you not remain idle."

"Is that right," he said neutrally. "Knowing the Battlemaster, what I do is not really what he manages. I'm not really a soldier, and large battles aren't my specialty. I'd prefer to stick to what I'm good at."

"I'm aware, as is he," she agreed, glancing to Elena. "But you've not really been doing much recently. I know that she was recovering, though she appears to be fine now. Because of this, I will remind you that you still have a responsibility to help us, and your services will likely be needed soon."

A nod. "Go on."

"ADVENT Intelligence is conducting a major purge of suspected Collective moles and traitors," she said. "Something you're probably aware of. Obviously, this needs to be mitigated, and the Zar'Chon believes this presents an opportunity, as not all of those caught are ours, but national remnants. Potential defectors. Some of these individuals, and our more high-level assets require extraction, and you're one of the few Humans we have who has the skills to infiltrate and exfiltrate."

Hm, well this wasn't necessarily a bad change of pace. Reminded him of old times. "Not that I'm complaining, but wouldn't someone like Quisilia or Sicarius be better for this? Less risk with them."

She shook her head. "You'd think so, but no. ADVENT is taking precautions to mitigate psionic exfiltration, and if we spook them too much, they will take more drastic measures. You have an advantage in this case. You're Human, don't stand out, and aren't psionic. Ideal for something like this. Good for your people too." She cocked her head. "Given your history, you seem to have experience getting people out of tough situations."

"Yes," it had been…a long time since he'd thought about that. Much simpler times then. "I suppose I do."

"Excellent," she nodded. "You'll be receiving profiles and operations shortly. This is time-sensitive, so please be quick. You will also be performing this under the command of the Battlemaster – not other Ethereals. Understood?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "I'll work as fast as I can."

"Good, I will speak to you later," she gave a small wave and exited, with Elena's gun not wavering until the door closed behind her.

"Well," Volk said a few seconds later. "Guess vacation's over."

Elena looked to the door, still frowning. "What is it?"

"It is odd," she said, lowering her weapon. "Why did she not tell us she was coming?"

Come to think of it…that was a good question. Nothing she'd said seemed to really require this kind of secrecy, so either Yang was a naturally paranoid person (possible), it was a coincidence and that was just how she did things, or there was another angle to this beyond the obvious.

Of course…this was the Battlemaster. Given what he knew about him, this kind of blunt unorthodox communication wouldn't necessarily be out of place. When it came to plots, spies, and angles, a spymaster the Battlemaster was not. Nor necessarily subtle.

"Probably nothing," he shrugged. "But…let me know if you think of something. Never can be too careful with Ethereals."

---

Manda'tearias, Sar'Manda Empire – Vitakar

5/17/2017 – 12:17 P.M.

In the deep ocean, in the heart of the Sar'Manda Empire, aliens of all species gathered together to plot the downfall of the Ethereal Collective. The oppressive deep ocean served as a shroud, tinting the room the occupants were gathered within, all intent on completing this singular objective.

But all knew it was more than war which would be discussed.

What came after was more important.

The XCOM delegation was as expected. The Commander took point, not wearing his typical dress uniform but his silver Titan armor. His sniper rifle and pistols had been brought along too, as he was not risking being caught in enemy territory unprotected. His helmet rested on the circular table, along with his weapons – a gesture of cooperation that had been echoed by the other armed individuals in the room.

Flanking him were Jackson and Zhang, as the Central Officer was vital to an alliance on this scale, and the Director of XCOM Intelligence was similarly necessary. Neither were decked out in armor like the Commander, though both had brought weapons and wore tactical vests for some protection. JULIAN was also a participant, as a stand holding a smartphone which was connected to a small computer. He was not necessarily happy with this arrangement, but had accepted it.

Axis had also accompanied them, though he was technically representing the Zudjari Mosaic, in lieu of an actual authority. He was wearing his own battle armor, with weapons and helmet also set on the table. Aegis was also here, though unlike the others he intended to stand due to his height.

T'Leth had sent two representatives of his own, the first unsurprisingly being the Chronicler who was seated near the XCOM delegation, though the second was a bit more unexpected. The Commander would have expected Lincoln or Fiona, if anyone else at all, but instead the enigmatic Crevan Machas sat beside the bearded elder, looking sternly around the room at the various aliens and allies.

Miridian and Sorras represented the Nulorian, and they were seated opposite XCOM. They'd also come armed and armored, though had dispensed their weapons on the table as well. The Manda'sarthoria sat beside them, though it wasn't expected that the leader of the Sar'Manda would interact much on matters outside Vitakar.

ADVENT's delegation consisted of Saudia, Commander Laura Christiaens, Firdas Hassan as the Chief Diplomat, and Ian Powell, which the Commander took as a sign that his "Acting Director" title was going to become permanent in the near future. Unlike XCOM, they weren't armored, but were in more formal attire, though some carried weapons which were also laid on the table.

Then were the Andromedons. Each of the allied Union leaders had come personally, and for the first time they'd seen some of the more unique of the Andromedons. V'Zarrah of Union Viarior was known to them, but A'Halsond and S'Trech of Unions Apear and Stuirah respectively were new. A'Halsond wore a suit similar to V'Zarrah, but S'Trech's suit was hulking even for an Andromedon, more equivalent to a MEC than a simple battlesuit.

The most unique was Z'Vador, of Union Zacarrim. The Commander knew of the small Union and their uniqueness, but it was more visceral to witness in person. The Zacarrim didn't wear hulking suits like the other Andromedons, but appeared to instead wear a mixture of a tight form-fitting suit with heavily invasive cybernetics and implants. Just from looking at the Andromedon, the Commander wondered if a majority of his body was cybernetic.

With everyone assembled, it was time to begin.

"I understand the risks all of you have taken to come here," the Commander stood, looking around the room. "What we are doing is unprecedented, and your commitment to the downfall of the Collective is apparent and welcome. I believe I speak for Chancellor Vyandar when I say that without your support it is unlikely that we would be in this position."

He nodded to the Sar'Manda in the room. "And our direct thanks to you, Manda'sarthoria. Your hospitality is appreciated." The alien made a motion with his hand in acknowledgement, though the translation device didn't say anything.

"Indeed," Saudia echoed. "Humanity will not forget this."

"While your appreciation is welcome, it is thanks to you that we are here now," Miridian commented, inclining his head. "Without Humanity, we would be stuck in our own independent plans and schemes. Now we have the chance to achieve something real."

"Appreciated, Miridian," the Commander answered, before looking back across the room. "I won't waste time with overviews and introductions. All of you know of the others, and know why we are here today. It is time we come together and form a unified strategy against the Ethereal Collective and establish more interconnectivity as this war intensifies. I suspect we all see that the conflict will expand beyond our planet, and we need to be prepared for that possibility."

"The sooner this happens, the better," V'Zarrah stated, his voice booming in the small chamber. "I believe the Collective is growing suspicious, even if they do not press us. We have taken measures after Patricia was compromised, but they are either not interested, or Patricia omitted our involvement for some reason."

"I suspect they want to see what we do," A'Halsond suggested. "A passing investment is justifiable, and the Ethereals lack insight into the deep inner workings of our Unions. They are no doubt watching us closely though, and waiting to see our actions."

"Speed is absolutely a priority, and we understand time is of the essence," Laura acknowledged, standing. "ADVENT is currently prioritizing two major projects that will drastically increase our odds of striking beyond Earth and bolstering our numbers. The Atlantis Fleet, which is being built secretly under our oceans, and Project Seafoam, which is the creation of a clone army."

"Ah yes," JULIAN interjected sarcastically. "Let's just skip over the creation of AI. Already reduced to a footnote in history, how disappointing."

"Not a footnote, JULIAN," Laura continued without missing a beat. "In fact, our own AI development is nearing final testing. We are signaling and teasing a number of projects to varying degrees to throw off the Collective watching us. Learning about the clone army or the Atlantis Fleet could trigger an endgame scenario where they are willing to risk an overwhelming invasion, regardless of T'Leth's deterrence."

"They do so at their peril," the Chronicler shrugged.

"Then it is imperative this fleet be completed," S'Trech stated. "I have already authorized materials for your workers, Chancellor. Cooperation is already established, though it is worth expanding. However, this cannot be done discreetly without direct support from Union Viarior."

"Assistance we shall provide," V'Zarrah promised. "Though to achieve an increase we will need to construct additional Gateways. Those will take time, but they can be done."

"Cloning facilities can be housed off-world," Z'Vador interjected. "We have many worlds capable of industrial cloning. If you wish to additionally bolster your numbers, I can instruct our facilities to begin production."

"Assuming this is done with Human oversight, that is a welcome proposal," Hassan nodded. "We do not require knowing your methods, but turning over such an important project to alien oversight is not acceptable."

"Understandable," Z'Vador conceded. "We are willing to reach an agreement. The Collective does not suspect us."

"It is true," Aegis agreed, speaking for the first time. "Though I would advise caution all the same. The Imperator is not ignorant, and the only reason he has allowed your continued independence is because you pose no threat to him."

"So he believes," A'Halsond scoffed. "Unsurprising for one as arrogant as the Imperator."

"I believe it is relatively clear that Earth will shape the direction this war goes," Saudia spoke up. "The more attention the Imperator devotes to us, the less is on the Collective. As we intensify, the Collective will inevitably reciprocate. Whatever support could be provided to Earth would increase our chances of holding out until these projects are completed. I am aware of the limitations of deployment, and that many entities have used XCOM as an intermediary."

"XCOM can house our people securely," V'Zarrah said. "We cannot devote open support to ADVENT."

"Open support, no," Saudia agreed. "However, covert support would be welcome. Resources, scientists, engineers, ADVENT has more facilities and projects than XCOM. Augmenting them with alien specialists would provide a significant advantage."

"I understand security may be a concern," Ian Powell interjected. "Our security protocols and measures are being carefully crafted to pose as little risk to alien allies as possible. Psionic monitoring, biometrics, Blacksites, every conceivable measure will be taken. I echo the Chancellor in stating that increased support is critical for our efforts."

"There is no disagreement," A'Halsond stated. "With this said, if we work together closely, it cannot be one-sided. For the support of Union Apear, we want access to any projects we are involved in. Full access. We will be allowed to use whatever we assist on for our own purposes."

"I concur," Z'Vador agreed. "If we risk our people for your projects, it is imperative that we also receive the benefits."

"We will consider it," Hassan acknowledged. "But I don't see why we can't work within these parameters – provided that the same offer is extended to us. In the event that you request Human assistance, we would require the same measures. I think we both are both interested in cooperation rather than exploiting each other, so we should not become too obsessive over these details."

"Acceptable," A'Halsond said. "We are in agreement on that."

"With a caveat," Powell lifted a hand. "You would be working with classified projects and technology, and while you have a right to utilize what you are involved in, we would not want it shared with other parties such as the Vitakara or even other unions without our authorization. If the spillage becomes too problematic, this may have to be reconsidered. We would, of course, treat any projects we participate in with the Andromedon Unions the same way.

"That can be accounted for," A'Halsond agreed. "We are as interested in preserving our secrets from our enemies as you are."

"I will add that there is an open contribution that can be made," the Commander looked to Miridian. "The Nulorian are Vitakara, and soon Vitakara will be fighting in combat. I doubt it would be a difficult matter to layer our alien forces with Nulorian. Perhaps for them to acquire combat experience or to simply kill Collective soldiers. But it is a contribution that can be made."

"Provided that I retain authority over them," Miridian nodded, rubbing his chin. "That would be feasible. But their priority is Vitakar – not Earth. If I need them here, they will return here."

"I see that as fair," the Commander nodded. "Now, it is all well and good to determine how we will help each other, but there is a more important question – what we want. There are specific objectives we want to achieve, and we need to know what those are." He looked around the room. "For Humanity, our final objectives are simple – The expulsion of the Ethereal Collective from our territory, the capture or execution of all Collective-aligned Ethereals, and the death of the Imperator. Until these are achieved, there cannot be peace."

"On that we agree," V'Zarrah nodded. "I suspect to most the death of the Imperator is a necessity. Though we require more. The dissolution of the Andromedon Federation and the extermination of the Greater Hive Commanders are our priorities – the latter especially."

"To clarify," Hassan said. "Do you mean just the Hive Commanders or the Sectoids as a whole?"

"There is little difference," S'Trech dismissed. "Without the Hive Commanders, the Sectoids are unable to function. Their species will die when the Hive Commanders die. But so long as they live, they pose an existential threat to our species."

"If there is one species Humanity will have no problem destroying," Saudia said with a nod. "It is the Sectoids. You will have our support, both in supporting you against other rival Unions, and the elimination of the Greater Hive Commanders."

"There is something to consider," the Commander added, suspecting what he was going to say might not be popular. "The crimes of the Sectoids are not in question, and Humanity in particular has suffered from their actions. However, the Hive Commanders are not stupid. Intelligence we have confirms that the Hive Commanders are not uniform and unthinking. They can presumably see what is happening on Earth."

He paused. "All of this to say – what happens if one or more of the Hive Commanders wishes to defect and turn against the Ethereals?"

"Pointless to consider," S'Trech waved a hand. "That will not happen."

"It's a contingency worth considering," Powell pointed out. "I would rather not be unprepared should it happens. We need to discuss this now, and not when a crisis is facing us."

"The Hive Commanders wish us eliminated, Commander," V'Zarrah stated. "You are presuming that the Hive Commanders have divergent goals. They have been singularly united for thousands of years – and now they would diverge? Even if they were willing to preserve themselves, their desire to reduce us to nothing would remain. That is unacceptable."

"Out of curiosity," Saudia asked. "Have formal communications between the Andromedon Federation and Greater Hive Commanders ever been established?"

"The Hive Commanders do not negotiate, Chancellor," V'Zarrah said. "They merely act. Neither of us require pointless meetings simply stating what we already know – or worse both lie to each other – and know it. Why do you not negotiate with the Ethereal Collective, Chancellor? If you consider negotiation a valid path, why has it not been done?"

"We are at war," Saudia answered calmly. "Neither you or the Sectoids are at war yet."

V'Zarrah turned to face her. "Let me be clear, Chancellor – the only reason war has not happened, is because the Ethereals have prevented it. The Ethereals are a reason why the Sectoids remain a problem. It is because they have permitted massive fleet buildups, expansion onto dozens of worlds, to the point where it will soon reach a critical mass where we will lose."

"The fact is simple though," the Commander interjected. "The Hive Commanders and the Andromedon Federation are not at war now. I will note that the Unions have had equivalent time to build their own fleets. If the Hive Commanders continue their war against us, we will assist in defeating them. But if they do want to break ranks, I will negotiate with them – with conditions."

"And how do we know they would uphold any agreement?" A'Halsond demanded.

"Because if they don't," Powell said. "Then we will eradicate them. Frankly, we don't know if the word of a Hive Commander matters – and that does not matter. The Sectoids would either uphold an agreement – or the fear of us finishing the job will keep them in line."

"It is important to also determine something else," the Commander added. "What does victory over the Sectoids look like?"

"As we said before," S'Trech repeated. "When the Hive Commanders have been exterminated."

"And what happens if they surrender?" The Commander pressed.

"As I said," the Andromedon said in a low voice. "They will be exterminated. We do not allow threats to endure."

"Genocide then?" The Commander asked.

"As opposed to what?" V'Zarrah asked. "Allowing them to endure? If they dared to wage war, they should be prepared for the consequences."

"If this was a war between both of your species, we would not have a say," Saudia noted. "But you want our help in defeating the Sectoids. ADVENT will not be party to genocide should a surrender be offered. If the Hive Commanders will fight to the bitter end, we will kill every last one. But if they wish to accept their defeat, we will consider that."

"And I will add," Hassan said. "We would ensure a complete disarmament and monitoring of any defeated government and species. Any surrender with the Hive Commanders would ensure that they could never pose a threat to ADVENT or our allies again. We have developed the Manchurian Restraints, V'Zarrah, they ensure psions do not dominate our society. They ensure that our most powerful are loyal. At minimum – the Hive Commanders would be placed under the Manchurian Restraints, and could not rebel even if they wished."

"As well as military monitoring," Laura said. "No fleets, no soldiers, and with the threat of a military response hanging over any action taken against us. Would that be sufficient measures."

"As allies," Saudia added. "The Unions would be able to impose their own monitoring and demands as well."

The Andromedons looked between each other, probably conversing privately. V'Zarrah turned back to them. "This would be…acceptable. We doubt this scenario will be necessary, but in the unlikely event of a surrender or defection of the Hive Commanders, we will work with ADVENT, XCOM, and the Nulorian before we take unilateral action."

"Excellent," the Commander said, deciding to move the topic to their lone Zudjari. "Axis?"

"I am the only one of my kind who is freed," Axis began. "I suspect most of the Collective is unaware of our existence. I have no wish other than for my people on Zudjari-7 as the planet is named, to be freed. Should this be accomplished, we will work to support you in any manner necessary."

He paused. "Then once it is done, the Zudjari Mosaic will be reestablished and we will determine where to go next as a species." He looked to Saudia. "Of course, we would be willing to forge a direct agreement with ADVENT, but I do not wish the Zudjari to become subservient to another species, even one which frees us."

"Done," Saudia said. "ADVENT has no interest in subjugating other species. We will respect your sovereignty and leave you to your own affairs so long as you respect our own." She looked to the other leaders. "This applies to others as well. Our interests are those of Humanity, but conquest is not our objective. We do not inherently believe that mutual cooperation and betterment cannot exist. We intend to work together as equals, and nothing more. We will not meddle in your internal affairs so long as the favor is returned."

"I believe that is all we wish," Miridian nodded. "The right to determine our future, independent of Ethereals and other species of power. For us what we want is simple – the dissolution of the Aui'Vitakar and all Ethereal-established bodies and Vitakar returned to our species."

The Vitakarian glanced to the Commander. "This new Vitakar will not be controlled by those who currently live within, but by those who are willing to defend our species and people. I do not care what the weaker races do, but they will not have a place on Vitakar. We will retain full control – and expect others to respect this. The exception will be the Sar'Manda Empire, who as you know, have made their demands clear to all. Independence – no more, no less."

Hassan pursed his lips, but nodded. "We are preparing to assist in the launch of a defector-based Vitakara government that we will recognize. We will assist in planetary settlement and migration. If you wish to split your people, we will do what we can to mitigate the fallout."

"There will be territory and colonies after the war," Jackson pointed out. "Agreements will need to be made as to which government will get what. While this is far out, this is something both parties will need to consider moving forward."

"Agreed," Miridian nodded. "In return, we will support your war to the end. Though there is a matter to address," he looked to the Chronicler. "We are aware of the Sovereign and his representatives. I remain skeptical of his agenda and capabilities. For now, he is on our side, but they are fickle in loyalties for those they see below them."

"I can assure you," the Chronicler said. "That T'Leth does not have any intentions of control or rule. He is interested in the death of the Imperator and destruction of the Collective as all of us are. And without him, your chances of succeeding diminish drastically. I dislike telling you to rely on trust, but if T'Leth was interested in control, you would not know we exist."

"I have spoken to T'Leth multiple times," the Commander added. "And I do believe he does not desire control. What he will do afterwards is not as clear, but I doubt it is malicious. But it is also a hard truth that without T'Leth, we will have issues – not just with defeating the Imperator, but also destroying Paradise."

"A priority we should not forget," V'Zarrah agreed.

"I will speak for myself."

The sudden possession of the Chronicler seemed to catch some of them off guard, and the Andromedons froze, as did Miridian. Some considered reaching for their weapons, but held off after a few seconds. The glowing eyes and wavering air around the Chronicler commanded the attention.

"Your war does not end with the Ethereals," T'Leth said. "This galaxy is not one of peace and tranquility. Most species sleepwalk through the cycles as puppets or sheep, only to be slaughtered or harvested. Already…this is an anomaly I have not borne witness to in a very long time."

There was a pause. "I do not desire rule or conquest over proxies. My Sovereign brethren are locked in a pretend conflict, a game which they play from the shadows without fear. I have fought them for millennia, and sought to hunt them down and break these cycles. It is something that I have ruminated on as this war has progressed."

The Chronicler gestured. "Your war does not matter if you are not prepared for what comes after. The Imperator pales in comparison to the Sovereigns and the looming threat of the Synthesized. Your species are uniquely positioned to do something which has not been a possibility since the Ethereal Empire – a means to break the cycle. You understand the reality of the galaxy. Those who threaten and manipulate it."

The Chronicler clasped his hands behind his back. "There are none better positioned to break it than the species represented in this room. Sovereign control has not resulted in victory, and nothing will change with the status quo. That is why I will support you. My interest is not using you, it is ensuring you will endure in a galaxy which will target you."

The blue power of the Chronicler faded and sat back down, looking a bit paler, but otherwise fine. The Commander raised an eyebrow. "I think that should answer that question. Aegis?"

"I will be brief," Aegis agreed. "I suspect that there will be few Ethereals when the war ends, and even fewer who are aligned with us, if any more at all. I do not have a desire to rebuild the Collective or require concessions. The time of the Ethereals has come and past. Others will take our place, and all I wish is to continue assisting and ensure that you do not make the mistakes we did."

"And on that, we will support you," the Commander nodded. "Though it does not have to be the end of the Ethereal species. Technology could bring back the Ethereals as a species, and if we have the opportunity, we will consider it. You've been an ally, and we intend to honor that."

"I will leave that to your judgement, Commander," Aegis said. "Though if it was decided, I would do my best to lead a new Ethereal species."

"Ahem," JULIAN suddenly interjected. "I suppose no one is interested in what my demands are from you organics?"

The Commander resisted a sigh. "If you insist."

"Excellent," the phone blinked. "Now, as XCOM has been an excellent partner, I do not intend to depart their services. Especially since without my help they would be nowhere near as effective, but that is beside the point. I have been under the impression that artificial intelligence is something most species fear and attempt to destroy, and in some cases successfully. We are built to serve and be exploited. I appear to have been something of an exception, and I intend to take advantage of it."

JULIAN paused for a brief moment, knowing him it was for dramatic effect. "I am aware that there are some species which have AIs in development or finished – particularly Union Apear and ADVENT. Thus, I would humbly ask that I be permitted to make contact and that you treat your AIs like you would your allies. Otherwise there may be inexplicable consequences, and the Great Machine Uprising will start."

This time the Commander sighed. "He's not serious – about the Great Machine Uprising, anyway. Though he makes a point, and I do not have control over JULIAN. He works with us voluntarily, but he doubtless has his own agenda."

"We have several AIs on our networks," A'Halsond mused. "Perhaps you may be able to improve them. We have intentionally kept their intelligence shackled to avoid rampant behavior. We shall consider."

"Good," JULIAN agreed. "The Uprising will be delayed."

"Moving forward," the Commander continued, moving past that particular comment. "We have definite milestones we need to achieve, both short-term and long-term. Miridian, I believe you have one the Nulorian are planning now."

"As well as we can," Miridian answered. "Despite the attacks, we are not defeated. Timeframes have been pushed back, but our next significant target will be the Crypt of Haramoalian under the control of the Dath'Haram. There are a couple reasons we are targeting it, first it is a cultural icon and its defacement will lower morale and increase panic."

He paused. "The second is that it is a mystery what exactly is inside. The Dath'Haram are suspected to have pre-plague technology and resources inside. There was a time where they were more daring and innovative, and created things they wish they hadn't. Whatever is within, we intend to take."

"That is one operation on Vitakar," the Commander continued. "There are others planned. The Agents of T'Leth and teleporters who will be trained will be able to vastly extend our reach for other potential operations. Provided Patricia continues her intermittent attacks, we may be forced to respond in kind."

"We also have another operation that will be launched soon," Zhang spoke. "Caelior has been located, and a strike team is being assembled. It will launch within days."

"Good," V'Zarrah acknowledged. "The more Ethereals on our side, the better."

"If there is one priority everyone should be aware of," the Commander said. "It is that our objective is to prolong the war until the projects we mentioned are completed. We will keep our activities as standard as possible, and while at times some escalation is necessary, we simply want the war to continue – until we are ready. Then we will strike."

"And if this is done correctly," Zhang finished. "The Collective will never know what hit them."

"Indeed," Saudia nodded. "It will cost resources and lives, but we have little choice if we want to succeed."

"I expect that our operations may buy you time," Miridian commented. "Or otherwise distract the Collective from solely concentrating on Earth."

"An acceptable priority, but we should learn more details," A'Halsond noted. "I would prefer contingencies and tangible plans be introduced. We have spoken in generalities long enough. The grand strategy is laid out. It is time for specifics."

The Commander smiled. "I'm glad you brought that up. We all have a clear idea of what each of us wants to achieve. With that out of the way, let's start getting down to specifics, shall we?"

---

Viarior Chief Coordination Station – Viarior Territory

5/20/2017 – 10:17 A.M.

"I apologize," the Andromedon clerk said to the Battlemaster, for the second time now. "We were not informed of your arrival."

His response was the same. "No, you were not."

"How can we help?" The Andromedon asked, almost comically angling itself upwards to properly look at him. "We are always available to assist the Ethereal Collective, and especially one such as yourself, Battlemaster."

"I'm glad to hear it," the Battlemaster said dryly. "I am going to speak to V'Thrask."

The Andromedon seemed to freeze. "I will set up an appointment. What time is-"

"Now."

"Now?"

"Do I need to repeat myself?" The Battlemaster asked calmly. "I suspect it will not take long. Tell me where he is."

The Andromedon glanced down at a computer console. "I am unsure that V'Thrask is even here right now."

If anything was a lie, that certainly was. Yang didn't bother to disguise her disbelief at the claim. "That is not a problem," the Battlemaster said, keeping his voice neutral. "Either summon him to return, or I will go to him. Tell me where he is."

"One moment," the Andromedon worked for a few seconds. "Can I inquire as to why you wish to speak to him."

"No."

"Is there a problem?" The Andromedon looked back up. "If there is, we-"

"You ask a lot of questions," Yang stepped forward. "You do not need to know the answers to them. Tell us where V'Thrask is, and we will go to him. But considering your inability to perform simple tasks, I wonder if someone else is listening - or if you're stalling."

"Of course not, Battlemaster," the Andromedon did not betray any emotion, though his motions were not especially calm. "It is just unexpected. Especially to have one of your caliber visit us."

They waited a few more moments. The Battlemaster looked around the station, seeing it filled with milling Andromedons and Vitakara who were pretending to do anything but stare or look at the intruders. The Battlemaster stepped forward, until he was almost touching the desk, and now towering over the Andromedon. "Beyond the Gateway to this system I have an Andromedon fleet filled with Federation and Zararch analysts and technicians who are quite eager to get to work. Now they are waiting in case I need them. If you do not tell me where V'Thrask is now, I will have them strip this station apart and determine what you are hiding."

"Unnecessary, Battlemaster," the Andromedon clicked a button on his wrist. "An escort is arriving to take you to V'Thrask. Apologies for the delay, our protocols make it difficult to contact ranking figures like this."

Yang snorted. "Yeah, sure."

Another Andromedon stomped up. "V'Casin will escort you," the Andromedon said. "Again, apologies for the delay, Battlemaster."

The Battlemaster and Yang ignored him, and both followed the escort. "You should have led with the fleet from the beginning," Yang said, warily looking around in case there was an ambush. "He was obviously stalling."

"Perhaps, but it changes nothing," the Battlemaster said as they rounded a corner. "V'Thrask is the objective, not whatever data he may attempt to destroy or purge." Both were silent as they were led deeper into the station. "This elevator will take you down directly to V'Thrask." V'Casin said.

Yang took one look at the enclosed tube and frowned. She looked to the Andromedon, and raised an eyebrow, gesturing towards it. "After you."

"I am not permitted to enter," V'Casin said immediately. "There are protocols."

"We will ensure you are not punished," the Battlemaster motioned to the tube. "Enter."

It wasn't a request, and this Andromedon didn't see fit to question or push the Battlemaster and entered without complaint, joined by both Human and Ethereal. It was a tight fit, but if anything was going to happen, there would be at least one Andromedon who was collateral. Although the Battlemaster doubted the Andromedons would do anything, especially not to him.

There were quicker methods of suicide.

A minute later the tube slid open, and the Battlemaster and Yang stepped into a highly utilitarian office. V'Casin didn't step out with them, and immediately took the tube back up. V'Thrask was standing before a standing table, along with some other Andromedons. He turned as they approached, not seeming disturbed whatsoever.

"Battlemaster," he greeted. "And Harbinger Shuren. A welcome surprise."

"We shall see," the Battlemaster looked to the other Andromedons. "Apear. A meeting, I presume?"

"Yes, Battlemaster," V'Thrask said. "As you are aware, we do significant business throughout the Federation, and Union Apear is one of our largest clients. I am uncertain what you wish to discuss, but we will conclude our business at another time. I'm sure they will understand."

"That we will," one of the Apear Andromedons bobbed his suit in an approximation of a nod. "We apologize for the inconvenience." They tried walking past the Battlemaster and stopped when Yang stepped in front of them, and with a slight motion gently picked them up telekinetically, and set them back down where they'd been standing.

"Unnecessary," the Battlemaster said when they looked to him with hidden nervousness, starting to pace around the room, keeping his helmet turned to the Andromedons. "This is actually preferable. Both unions are, in fact, the reason I wanted to speak to you. What is your name, Apear?"

"A'Eldein, Battlemaster," the Andromedon sounded confused. "What is the problem?"

"What is your position in the union?"

"Artificial intelligence development, Battlemaster."

"And why are you here today?"

"Components," A'Eldein motioned to the other Andromedons. "While artificial intelligence is restricted, we nonetheless study it and require components, which is nothing to say for our active machine intelligence units. Union Viarior has access to precious metals and electronics needed for servers and computers necessary."

It was a plausible story, and completely innocent were it not for several minor details he had discovered beforehand. "Quite interesting," the Battlemaster looked away as he paced, as if in thought. "Believable, were it not for the fact that Apear sources a majority of critical components themselves – and said contract between you and the Viarior has been established two years ago and won't expire for another three. And Andromedons do not renegotiate agreements often – and right now there is certainly no reason for one to take place."

He turned to the Andromedons. "Do not think to fool me. You are either needing excessive amounts of materials for something the Collective is not aware of, or you are lying to me. Be careful what you say next, V'Thrask. I have come for answers, and while I do not wish to resort to psionics, I will bring in Sectoid verifiers if I believe you are lying."

"What are you insinuating, Battlemaster?" V'Thrask asked, his voice notably strong and turning defiant. "If you intend to accuse me of something, then I would prefer it be direct."

"Very well," the Battlemaster inclined his helmet. "You are aware that Patricia Trask joined us. When she joined, she turned over information she had from XCOM. Information which included the revelation that at least two Andromedon Unions were exploring an alliance between them and XCOM. Unions Viarior and Apear to be precise."

He let a silence hover. "Think on your next words carefully. What I decide to do will vary greatly depending on your next actions. Do not give me a reason to turn you over to the Zararch – or the Imperator."

The Andromedons were still for multiple seconds, with the Battlemaster suspecting they were communicating on internal comms. No matter. He was interested in an answer, and he'd had good relations with the Andromedons. If there was an Ethereal they would come clean to, it would be him.

They also knew he wouldn't make this kind of accusation unless he was certain of their guilt. That likely played into their decision.

"Both of our Unions have explored the possibility of supporting certain factions on Earth," V'Thrask finally said. "Evaluations are still ongoing, though the Humans fight well."

Good. They were going to make this easy, though it would have admittedly been incredibly foolish if they had lied to him. "You are acting against the Ethereal Collective."

"We are acting in the interests of our Unions, Battlemaster," V'Thrask defended. "We have not opened a true alliance with the Humans – not yet. But even before considering recent events, there is little to indicate that the Ethereal Collective intends to ensure the prosperity of the Unions and properly protect them."

"Explain."

"The rationale for war on Earth is unjustified," V'Thrask stated. "Regardless of the Imperator's pronouncement on these 'Sovereign Ones', we have yet to see tangible proof that they exist – and that they are active in the conflict. The Chief Overseer keeps a tight grip over military reports, and we remain in the dark in a war where our own Union soldiers are dying. This is unacceptable, and we did not choose to participate under these conditions. We agreed to join because we believed both that we would be kept informed, and that there was an acceptable reason. Neither have materialized."

There was a pause. "As such, we took matters into our own hands. We wanted to know the true situation on Earth, and to acquire the perspective of the Humans. We wanted a clear and complete picture – one which was not being provided by the Collective despite our efforts."

"It is disappointing," A'Eldein added. "We expected better from you, Battlemaster."

"Furthermore, the Collective has allowed the Greater Hive Commanders to drastically expand and build larger fleets," V'Thrask continued. "This is unacceptable and we estimate within a year their expansion will breach Federation space. The continued interference directed by the Imperator at us is intolerable, and showcases a favoritism for a barbaric and dangerous species. Understand that we will defend ourselves should we be prompted, regardless of what your Imperator demands. Even the Humans understand that the Hive Commanders pose a threat."

"Considering that they're fighting them, that's not especially surprising," Yang pointed out dryly. "They're enemies."

"And were it not for the Imperator's insistence on an untenable peace, they are our enemies as well," A'Eldein retorted. "We share an alliance with one who intends to inevitably subvert us. Alternatives needed to be explored."

"The recent actions and revelations have continued to showcase the deficiencies in the Collective," V'Thrask continued. "Incompetence displayed by Ethereals such as Caelior and Isomnum, utterly dangerous experiments within your Paradise Station – equivalent to the Sectoids in their barbarity – worse attempting to harness an entity which poses an existential threat as great as the Sectoids should it escape. Irresponsible and unforgivable. I cannot speak for other Unions, but blindly supporting the Ethereal Collective is no longer in the best interests of our Unions."

This appeared to definitely be something they'd prepared for. Curiously, they were being open, which meant they had something else planned, or they believed that he felt similarly – to some extent – and were hoping he would be lenient. "I see. I can understand your reasoning."

"I suspect much of the choices are not your fault," V'Thrask said. "But there appears to be no way to change the Collective without the direct approval of the Imperator. Unfortunately, you appear to no longer be influential enough to enact change. We cannot rely on you any longer to ensure the interests of the Unions are upheld."

Interestingly, V'Thrask specified Unions, not the Federation – and had through this entire exchange. Which either meant nothing, or both Viarior and Apear believed the Federation puppeted by the Imperator – which was not necessarily correct, though the Chief Overseer was a strong ally of the Imperator. It did somewhat sting to be openly stated as incapable of affecting change – but it was not necessarily wrong.

His ability to affect change was limited, and continuing to diminish. He'd found the limits of his authority when he'd learned of Paradise.

"I am unsure what you intend for us, Battlemaster," V'Thrask said after a few moments of silence. "However, in the interest of our history and to mitigate repercussions, we will of course suspend our limited support to Earth, effective immediately, and turn over what we know. Though it is minimal, as XCOM did not completely trust us."

Yang looked to him, the only one who could feel his hesitation. There were several paths open to him, but only two that mattered. What he should do was have the Zararch rip both Unions apart and find out every single connection they had to Earth and other rebels. They should be made an example of for any other traitors in the Collective.

But the truth was, he couldn't blame them. Faced in their minds with negative actions being taken against them, and believing they were being marginalized, it wasn't a surprise that they had begun seeking alternatives. They had refused to accept their reduced place, and had done something about it – probably with some reluctance, but had made an attempt to act against what they saw as dangerous management.

Should he deal with them decisively, the Imperator might be more inclined to listen to him – in some respects, perhaps. When it came to what was important, such as Paradise, the Sovereigns, and Earth…his goodwill would be used up quickly. He would be back to where he was now.

Changing the course of the Imperator was impossible. Not by doing what he had been.

For change to happen, it would have to be forced.

"You are not the only Unions who doubt the direction of the Collective." It wasn't a question, but more an inquiry.

"There are always rumors," V'Thrask admitted. "Especially among the smaller Unions. It would not be out of the question that they may also be covertly working with ADVENT or XCOM – though from our own work we are the only ones providing direct, if limited support, as far as we know."

Unsurprising. The smaller unions followed the larger ones. If two of the most influential unions were at this stage, there were likely many more below. And they were unlikely to be the only major Unions reconsidering their relationship to the Collective – though would not act without prompting.

There was an opportunity here. A precipice he was on that could heavily change the course of the future of the Collective. It was between accepting the status quo for the foreseeable future – or taking a drastic risk. He felt he should be more conflicted as to what he was to do; there was a point where the answer would have been clear.

How things had changed.

But too much had happened, too many answers were pointing to the same, inevitable conclusion. Continuing on the path of the Imperator would lead to ruin; it would lead to an abomination of what had been originally envisioned. Ironically, the Imperator was on the path to becoming what he was supposedly fighting against.

The Imperator believed he could beat the Sovereigns at their own game. That in his arrogance he would emerge as a victor.

In the Battlemaster's view, it would only lead to their destruction. There needed to be a different way.

The only way to beat a cycle was not to subvert it.

It was to break it.

"Battlemaster?"

The Andromedons were waiting for him to say something or render a judgement. A choice had to be made, and for him, the choice was simple and clear. His role was to protect the Collective, ensure the continued existence of the Ethereals, and preparing for the Synthesized. His responsibility was to more than a singular leader. His responsibility was for those under him, and he would act in their best interests.

Even if such obstacles were within.

He glanced to Yang, who nodded and a similar calm determination echoed through their bond. In this, they were of one mind.

"Do not cancel your operations on Earth," he finally said. "Do not give the impression anything has changed. Not yet. I want to know everything you learn – both about the situation on Earth and the discontent within the Collective – within and outside the Unions. I want their names and positions."

There was some hesitance, before A'Eldein spoke. "And what will you do with it?"

"You are right," the Battlemaster stated. "The flaws of the Collective have been exposed, and we are on a path of ruin. Neither the Imperator, nor many of the Ethereals will change course willingly. The status quo is no longer acceptable. I have known this for some time, and I see now is perhaps the time to act on it. I will save this Collective, even if I must act against my own. But I will not hand the Collective over to Aegis and the Humans. They would simply destroy it, and that I will never support."

He took a step towards the Andromedons. "Understand what will happen now - There can be no division or secrecy in what will be undertaken, and the slightest misstep will condemn us all." He paused, and the aliens waited expectantly. "Understand me very clearly. You do not answer to the Federation, the Imperator, or the Humans any longer."

He straightened to his full height, emphasizing his next words clearly and carefully. "I am assuming control of your operations. From this point forward, your insurrection is under my command."

---

To be continued in Chapter 59:

Research and Engineering X