As Bronya gazed upward into the early morning sky, she could barely make out the faint twinkling of stars that formed the constellation known as "The Hammer". The citizens of Belobog had long revered this celestial pattern as a divine symbol, representing the industrious nature of Qlipoth and the high expectations he held for his followers. It was only recently, with the arrival of the Nameless and the IPC from beyond the sky, that Bronya found herself pondering the true nature of those distant stars.
In a moment of curiosity, Bronya had once inquired about this constellation to Topaz during one of their meetings about far more important topics. The question had come to her on a whim, driven by her desire to learn more about the people who might inhabit those distant worlds. She couldn't help but wonder at that moment about the lives and stories that those stars held. Did other civilizations also worship the constellations, or did they hold entirely different beliefs and traditions? The possibilities seemed endless, and Bronya found herself captivated by the vast expanse of the universe that stretched out before her.
Dead stars... Bronya recalled the haunting phrase, the words seeming to echo in the cold around them. Topaz had spoken them with such a harsh, matter-of-fact tone that even now it sent a chill down Bronya's spine.
Stars whose civilizations had been wiped off the galactic map, either consumed by the scorching fires of the Destruction, overrun by the relentless tide of the Propagation, or... cut down without mercy by the loosed arrows of the Hunt.
Bronya shuddered. The fates Topaz had recited were not graphic in detail, or even particularly vivid in their description, but they painted a vivid picture nonetheless. A picture of worlds and societies, entire civilizations and their histories, people like the two of them. Erased. Never to exist again.
Bronya shuddered as a sense of primal horror coursed through her veins, pondering how tiny little Belobog, how any form of life, had endured in a cosmos seemingly bent on exterminating all that lived. She envisioned the monsters she had faced during her lifetime, and her imagination conjured up even darker, more insatiable horrors, vast and ancient entities that traveled the stars solely to stamp out the embers of life.
...Had it not been for Alisa Rand's choice… For the Stellaron…. We would have shared those stars fates. Bronya thought. Even then… We only continued to survive because we were forgotten. A dead star in name. A footnote in the galactic history.
Letting out a deep sigh that did noting to alleviate the weight of a world she felt on her shoulders, Bronya continued to gaze at the vast expanse of the night sky, her eyes searching amongst the countless stars for any sign of guidance, divine or otherwise. Her heart was heavy with trepidation for the impending visit of her esteemed guests from the Lufou. In this moment of solitude and contemplation before what promised to be a chaotic time period for her and her city, Bronya sought solace in the timeless dance of the stars, yearning for some small sign or omen that would guide her through the trials that lay ahead.
"Is... Is there an issue, Lady Bronya?" The supreme guardian heard Pela say, her voice soft and tentative. Turning from the celestial to the terrestrial to look at her, Bronya saw the young officer attempting, rather unsuccessfully, to stifle a yawn behind her hand. Upon being perceived, the girl blushed crimson and quickly lowered her hand, trying in vain to conceal her weariness.
"Please forgive me, Supreme Guardian," she stammered, embarrassed at having been caught in such a lack of decorum. "I assure you, I am quite attentive to your needs and desires. Your coffee will be ready momentarily, as soon as the kettle has finished boiling."
Bronya observed Pela, who was struggling to maintain her focus on the kettle perched atop the portable Geomarrow heater warming the tent they were in. The intelligence officer's weary expression betrayed her half-awake state, the tremors in her slender form hinting at both the chill and her hunger from not yet having a breakfast. It was clear she had been roused from her slumber to attend to Bronya's whims, the unfairness of which Bronya felt in her stomach.
"Ah, Pela..." Bronya began, her heart heavy with remorse as she perceived the weariness etched upon the woman's face, which she was now valiantly attempting to hide. "You should not have troubled yourself to see to my wishes. Surely there-"
"I assure you, there's no need for concern, Lady Bronya," Pela reassured, her voice steady and calm despite the lie. "I'm an early riser by nature." She deftly snatched the whistling kettle from atop the stove, her movements practiced and precise, as if she'd performed this mundane task a thousand times before. A performance to display normalcy and prove her claim.
She swiftly started preparing the coffee by scooping the instant coffee mix evenly into two metal mugs. With practiced motions, she poured the steaming hot water over the powder, filling each cup. Taking her spoon, Pela stirred the coffee thoroughly in each cup, her glasses beginning to fog up from the rising steam. She paused, lifting the mugs to peer through the condensation, ensuring the coffee was smooth and grit-free before presenting it to her superior.
"Besides," Pela stated with a gentle smile as she held out the cup to Bronya, "if our esteemed Supreme guardian has awakened and is prepared to fulfill her duties to Belobog, it is only proper that any and all Silvermane guards be equally ready to perform theirs. To do less would be a grave dereliction of responsibility and an insult to those who rely on us."
I was only awake this early because I simply couldn't get any sleep last night, Bronya mused to herself, a frown creasing her brow. The impending importance of today hung heavily in the air around her, weighing on her shoulders with every step. She almost absentmindedly brought the coffee cup to her lips, grimacing at the acrid bitterness that she expected to invade her mouth.
Bronya's eyebrows shot up in surprise as the first sip of the brew hit her tongue. Rather than the harsh, bitter taste she had come to expect from coffee, a smooth, mellow flavor filled her mouth. As she swirled the liquid around, savoring its unique taste, she picked up on subtle notes of a sweet fruitiness beneath the rich coffee base. It was unlike anything she had ever tasted before, a pleasant departure from the acrid bitterness she was accustomed to.
Intrigued, Bronya took another, longer sip, allowing the warm drink to coat her tongue and the back of her throat. The fruity flavor lingered as she set the cup down on the table, still eyeing it curiously.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice tinged with both wonder and suspicion. "It's not like any of the other brews you made before Pela."
Pela's chest swelled with pride as she raised her own steaming mug to her lips, savoring the rich aroma that wafted up from the hot liquid. She had taken great care in preparing this special beverage, and she was proud to share it with Bronya.
"It is a new coffee blend, Lady Bronya, one that Miss Topaz recently brought to my attention," Pela explained, her smile widening. "While it may not compare to the exquisite taste of coffee freshly ground from beans that Himeko champions, this instant variety is remarkably convenient. Simply add hot water, and in an instant, you'll feel a burst of energy coursing through your veins."
Bronya took another long sip of the coffee, savoring the unfamiliar flavor as it coated her tongue. A sense of apprehension began to gnaw at her stomach due to the source of the coffee, but she pushed it aside, determined to experience this new flavor without bias.
"Interesting... And what is this flavor called?" she inquired, directing her gaze toward Pela's beaming face. "It's unlike anything we have in Belobog."
"The flavor is known as strawberry," Peka informed her. "It's a fruit that is highly appreciated throughout the galaxy. If you find this flavor unsatisfactory, this particular brand has others. I have placed an order for ones with the flavors known as chocolate and hazelnut, but those were among the most popular ones. There are even more exotic options available, if you're inclined to explore them further."
"...You certainly have become enamored with coffee haven't you Pela?" Bronya remarked, her eyes now fixed upon the innocuous beverage with an air of suspicion, directed not at it but rather those behind it.
"Not just me, but many Belobogians have rediscovered coffee," Pela explained with a grin that seemed to unsettle Bronya more than anything. "Many families have unearthed old coffee machines from 700 years ago that fell into disrepair when coffee beans became scarce. Serval, whenever she isn't busy with more pressing matters, has been dedicating a considerable amount of her time to restoring them. The IPC, whose desire for any coffee they can get delivered to them as fast as possible is so intense that they have contributed to this trend as well. In fact, someone has set up a stand directly across from their barracks, selling cheaply bought coffee to the employees. From what I heard, this enterprising individual is doing very well for themselves."
... And the IPC employee selling this imported coffee must be making a significant profit as well. Bronya pondered, feeling increasingly uneasy about the situation unfolding before her. Coffee was not the only luxury that had made a comeback in Belobog, and each one seemed to offer the IPC more opportunities to entrench themselves in Belobog's affairs while providing minimal tangible benefits in return. A handful of enterprising individuals could potentially establish a thriving business, but as more and more of Belobog's disposable wealth flowed towards the IPC, Bronya worried about the long-term consequences, even as it improved the daily lives of her people.
Pela, unaware of the impact of her words on Bronya, smiled warmly at the cup of coffee in her hand. "Coffee has become quite popular these days, even among the guards. Just the other day, some of my fellow officers approached me wanting to put together a proposal to include coffee in our rations. I was considering supporting them, but..."
Pela suddenly realized she was discussing this with Bronya, the very person who controlled the city's budgets. She watched as Bronya's eyes glazed over, deep in thought, likely running complex calculations in her head.
Taking a moment to calculate the exorbitant cost for the massive amount of coffee that would be required to supply every single ration pack, Bronya's brow furrowed as she tried to force the astronomical numbers into a workable budget. "Even if we managed to convince some supplier from the IPC to give us a 50 percent discount, it would still be utterly impossible. As it is, the budget for the Guard is already stretched to its breaking point, and Gepard has already presented a long list of much more pressing concerns such as upgrading our armor and weapons, not to mention his repeated demands to increase funding for support automaton maintenance and refurbishment. The Architects are also pushing hard for a larger slice of the budget pie to address the backlog of civilian infrastructure projects now that Fragmentum attacks have decreased, but everything is subservient to the work on the Engine of Creation, so-"
Pela silenced Bronya's budget-focused musings with panicked wave of her hand, clearly not wanting her friend to spiral into another prolonged finance-focused monologue.
"P-Perhaps we can just make do with the rations we have then!" Pela shouted, trying to drown out Bronya's escalating concern about the budget of the city. The intelligence officer plunged into the bag of rations, beginning to sift through its contents. "How about I whip us up some breakfast?" she suggested with a smile. "We can't have you meeting with Madam Yukong on an empty stomach, now can we? And I'm sure these trusty Belobog rations will provide everything we need!"
Bronya's brow furrowed at the mention of her guest's name, and she immediately forgot all about her concerns over money and provisions. The worries that had plagued her thoughts the night before now resurfaced with a vengeance. Despite her best efforts, Bronya couldn't quite keep the forced smile from wavering. She rose from her seat and made her way toward the entrance flap of the tent.
"No, thank you for the offer though Pela," Bronya replied, keeping her voice level even as her heart raced. "I find myself without much of an appetite at the moment. You are welcome to help yourself to whatever food is available, but I must insist on inspecting the progress made by the guards. We have much to accomplish today, and I want to ensure everything is proceeding as it should."
Startled, Pela's eyes widened as she examined the basic array of ingredients resting in her trembling hands. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, a painful reminder of her empty belly, and she felt a sudden rush of longing for the simple yet nourishing meal she could create with the modest assortment. Reluctantly choosing duty over her own needs, she quickly stuffed the ingredients back into the bag.
"O-One moment, Lady Bronya! Allow me to secure these supplies before I-"
Bronya raised her hand, palm facing forward, to halt her subordinate's progress. The gesture was firm, a subtle reminder of the hierarchy between them that Bronya hated to use.
"Pela, cease your unnecessary worrying and take a breather," Bronya instructed, her voice calm and measured yet the friendly warmth that superiors were frowned upon for displaying to subordinates appearing. "If there's any significant intel, Gepard's intelligence officer will undoubtedly share it with me directly. Trust that things are under control."
As she finished her reassuring words, Bronya opened the tent flap and stepped out into the crisp morning air.
As Jarilo's first light painted the sky in hues of vibrant orange and deep crimson, Bronya saw the sky was completely free of any cloud cover or indications of impending storms. The stillness was palpable, without so much as a whisper of breeze to stir the frigid air. Though the temperature remained decidedly chilly, the absence of wind meant it was nowhere near as bitterly cold as it could have been on a typical day in Belobog. For now, at least, nature seemed to be granting her some reprieve.
Bronya surveyed her surroundings, seeing the Silvermane guardsmen bustling about in the snow-covered hills. Many were positioned on the perimeter, their eyes peeled for any sign of the Fragmentum creatures that might appear in reaction to their presence. While their numbers had dwindled since the sealing of the Stellaron, their threat still lingered in the minds of the vigilant guardsmen who had fought against them daily for the past 700 years.
Meanwhile, the guardsmen tasked with manual labor were diligently clearing away the thick snow drifts, their muscles straining against the biting cold as they unearthed the solid ground beneath. The landing site had to meet the exacting standards set by Madam Yukong, and this particular location, while not the only viable option, was the closest to the city walls. Proximity to the city was deemed a critical secondary concern as Bronya wanted her guests exposed to potential dangers as little as possible during their arrival.
...I can only hope she doesn't mind the poor scenery, Bronya thought, her eyes scanning the bleak landscape before them. The once imposing structures of the pre-Eternal Freeze era now stood as mere hollow shells, their grandeur eroded by time and exposure to the harsh elements. The makeshift landing area was surrounded by these crumbling remnants, their shattered windows and rusted metal a stark reminder of how much was lost to the freeze. Bronya couldn't help but cringe at the thought of her esteemed guest being greeted by such a dismal sight, fearing it might tarnish the impression of their home and all they had accomplished since those dark days.
As Bronya stood 'admiring' the dilapidated ruins, her keen ears picked up the muffled squelch of boots trudging through the deep snow. She turned to see a small troop of five weary soldiers emerge from behind one of the buildings, Gepard at their head. Bronya quickly noted the telltale signs of their recent, arduous trek - the thick layer of snow and ice encrusting their trousers, and the pronounced stoop that spoke volumes of the strain placed upon their bodies during the intense snow march. It was clear to her that they had been patrolling the vast, treacherous terrain for some time.
Having caught sight of the Supreme Guardian, Gepard dismissed his troops to rest before making his way over to her.
"Lady Bronya," he began, his brow furrowed with concern, "is everything alright? Any news about our guests from the Lufou?"
"Do not trouble yourself, Gepard," Bronya replied, her tone even but her eyes betraying a hint of unease.
"I simply felt the need to take a stroll. As for the delegation..." she hesitated, "there has been no word of their arrival as of yet."
Gepard nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on her face. "Very well. I shall ensure that the troops remain prepared for their arrival."
As Bronya spoke with the captain, she couldn't help but notice his eyes frequently drifting down to the half-drunk coffee still steaming gently in her hands. It was clear that he wanted something to drink, a subtle thirst evident in his gaze, though he seemed hesitant to ask for it. He clearly wanted to maintain an air of professionalism and control during their conversation.
"Would you like some coffee, Captain?" Bronya asked, a warm smile playing across her lips as she offered the cup towards the stern-looking man. "Warrant Officer Pela just made it, and it's still quite hot." Her tone was friendly yet respectful, trying to maintain the respectful distance between superior and subordinate.
"...It was just made for you, Supreme Guardian, not me. I couldn't just take it, it wouldn't be proper." Gepard attempted to politely reject the offer, but his eyes lingered momentarily on the steaming cup of brown liquid. Despite his best efforts to hide it, the longing in his gaze was clear as day. The aroma that wafted off the drink made Bronya desire it as well, but the knots in her stomach from the important business at hand kept her from indulging any further than she already had.
It seems the seductive grasp of coffee has even the ever-frugal Captain Landau in its thrall, Bronya mused, smiling despite how it made her feel. "And... How are things on your end, Gepard? Any issues with our preparations?"
Standing up straight and tall to show respect to his superior, Gepard shook his head firmly.
"There's nothing to worry about," he assured. "The Fragmentum hasn't reacted at all to our arrival, and the guards seem to have the landing site under control." Gepard gestured towards the landing area, where soldiers were busily finishing up clearing away snow and debris.
Bronya felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it couldn't erase her lingering concerns entirely. The Fragmentum was notorious for its unpredictable nature - sometimes it remained tranquil for hours, only to suddenly unleash swarms of creatures without warning. She shuddered at the memories of nights where a routine watch had turned into a frenzied fight for survival against beasts that emerged from seemingly nowhere.
"It's still too early to relax," she warned, glancing around at her surroundings warily. "We should be on high alert until our guests from the Lufou are safely within the walls."
Gepard nodded in agreement, his hand resting on his weapon.
"You're right. No sense tempting fate by being careless." He turned to shout orders to the soldiers. "Double check your gear, everyone! Keep your eyes peeled for any sign of trouble!"
The guard responded with crisp salutes and affirmations before returning to their tasks with renewed vigilance. Bronya peered around the bustling guard as they continued to prepare the landing site, her keen eyes looking among them and noticing that one familiar face was conspicuously absent.
"...Gepard... Where is Luka?" Bronya questioned, turning to face her captain with a worried look. "He was with you on patrol, was he not?"
Giving Bronya a slight smile and a reassuring nod, Gepard replied, "He was indeed with us. However, about halfway through our patrol, he seemed to be getting bored and restless with our pace. He said he was going to run ahead to get a 'nice workout' while we continued on."
Placing a hand over her face, Bronya let out a soft sigh of frustration before shaking her head. "Luka... He certainly has a unique way of staying in shape..."
Gepard chuckled at this. "True. He has had a fire inside him since his trip to the Lufou, much to my and Seele's occasional annoyance."
At the mention of Seele's name, Bronya wrinkled her nose. "Indeed... Well we should find Luka before he gets into any trouble. I would hate for our representative of the Wardance to be a sweaty mess when the delegation gets here."
"Agreed," Gepard nodded. "We'll find him. My best bet is-"
Suddenly, the sound of boots rapidly crunching through the snow caught their attention. Looking over, Bronya saw Luka running across the makeshift landing sight with a grin on his face, snow trailing behind him with every stride. Gepard had a small smile as he shook his head.
"Well... speak of the builder and his hammer falls." Gepard stated as he watched Luka approach. "Looking at how he's acting... The first thing out of his mouth will be if I want to spar with him."
Sliding to a stop in front of them, Luka bent over and placed his hands on his knees to catch his breath, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Gepard... Bronya... Sorry I ran off but... Man was that a rush! My muscles are on fire! ... In a good way of course! The cold air just makes ya' wanna push yourself to the limit don't it!" Luka said as he assumed a boxer's stance and started to shadowbox. "I feel like I could take on all of Belobog right now. Perhaps two Belobogs! How about a little spar before the Yukong arrives?"
Gepard looked at the younger man with a smirk. "Always with the sparring. While it might be a good workout, unfortunately I'm on the clock Luka, and my boss..." The captain said as he motioned over at Bronya. "Is very adamant that you don't greet the delegation as a sweaty mess. So why don't you get cleaned up before they arrive?"
Luka frowned a little but ceased his shadowboxing. "Aww... You're no fun Gepard. But I guess I should go clean up. Yukong helped us out alot during the Wardance, and I plan to make it up to her during her time here."
Bronya nodded at this with a slight smile, "Indeed. We owe her and many people from the Lufuo for the opportunity we have been given. So it would be a shame if the potential agreement between us and them were jeopardized because Luka decided to greet them with a full sweat and made us look unprofessional."
Flinching at the thought, Luka looked down at himself and noticed the sweat stains on his clothes, the motion accompanied by the chill of a cold breeze flowing over him. "H-How long until they get here anyways?" Luka asked as he rubbed his arms to try and warm them.
Bronya shook her head and sighed. "We still have no word on their exact arrival time, but we should be prepared for them at any moment. Go to my tent over there and Pela should have a towel at least."
"Thanks Bronya. I appreciate it." Luka said before he gave a friendly wave to both Gepard and Bronya. "I'll be back before you know it!"
As Luka ran off to Bronya's tent, Gepard looked at her with a smile. "It's a bit rude to just subject Warrant Officer Pela to Luka's sweat, isn't it?"
Bronya shrugged as she watched Luka enter the tent. "I believe she and him are on good terms. I heard from Serval that Pela was practically glued to the stream of his final fight of the Wardance. If anything, I'm doing them a favor."
Gepard raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I didn't know the two of them were that close."
Mostly because Pela's more interested in him as a material reference for her drawings... But we'll see where it goes. Bronya thought to herself, but aloud she just said, "Neither did I. But Belobog has a fairly small social scene, so it's not uncommon for people from different social circles to meet each other."
"...That's a fair point." Gepard agreed. "In any case, with Luka getting cleaned up and the site almost ready, all we need now is for the delegation to arrive."
Looking back out towards the snow-covered horizon, Bronya nodded, the tension in her stomach increasing as she thought about the possibility of a partnership between Belobog and the Lufou.
"What do you think will happen, Gepard?" Bronya asked, her tone suddenly serious. "With the delegation I mean. Do you think the agreement will go through, or will it just end up as another dead end?"
Gepard looked out at the horizon as well, his gaze distant as he thought for several moments before turning back to Bronya, a serious but determined expression on his face.
"That... Is outside my area of expertise, Bronya. I'm the captain of the guard, not a diplomat. But I know this: Our people have gone through a lot, and we've worked hard to build a stable foundation here. Even if they reject our proposal, we've begun actually negotiating with factions outside of the IPC, and not had a gun pointed at us while doing it. That in and of itself is a step forward."
Bronya nodded at this, a small smile forming on her face. "Indeed. It may be a small step, but it's still a step forward. We-?!"
"L-Lady Bronya!"
At Pela's urgent shout, both Gepard and Bronya turned to see the young woman running towards them with her phone in hand, Luka trailing behind her with a towel around his neck.
Bronya's brow furrowed with concern. "Pela? What is it? Has something happened to our guests?" She asked, her eyes darting between Pela and the phone.
Pela, breathing heavily from her sprint, held out the phone to Bronya. "It's... It's Miss Topaz. She's been trying to reach you, but hasn't been able to connect. She says it's urgent."
Bronya felt a knot in her stomach as she realized she'd forgotten her own phone back at the mansion in her haste. Of course, I should have known, she thought to herself as she took the offered phone, seeing it was a simple voice call.
"Miss Topaz? It's Bronya. Forgive me for my negligence, I seem to have misplaced my-"
"Oh, it's fine, it's fine!" Topaz's voice interrupted, her tone hurried. "We don't have time for apologies anyway. Tell me, have you had any contact with Helm Master Yukong yet?"
Bronya turned to Pela, silently mouthing 'Yukong', to which Pela shook her head. "Not on our end, no. Has... Has something happened to them?"
There was a pause on Topaz's end that filled Bronya with growing dread. "That... That checks out then. My contact says they aren't able to get through to the Jarilo system, which must mean some sort of communication error between you and the Lufou."
Blinking in confused surprise at this new information, Bronya found herself struggling to formulate a response. "I... I see... Thank you for informing us Miss Topaz, but this doesn't seem like something you would classify as urgent."
"It's not just that, Bronya," Topaz continued, her voice taking on an ominous tone. "... Tell me. How large of a delegation did you and Yukong agree on for this visit?"
Bronya's mind raced, trying to remember the details of her last conversation with Yukong. "We agreed upon around 50 people if memory serves. A little on the low side for a Helm Master going to foreign territory, but she insisted it was to keep things... low-key, I suppose."
Topaz hummed in acknowledgment. "Well then, that would make the sudden departure of the battleship Wavetamer from the Lufou docks quite strange, wouldn't it? Especially since one of the few passengers I can confirm are onboard is none other than Helm Master Yukong herself."
Bronya felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath her. "A... A battleship?" Bronya asked having a difficult imagining such a vessel moving with only 50 people on board. "...Perhaps... Perhaps it is just escorting Yukong to our planet before moving along on another mission?"
There was yet another pause, this one longer than the last. "That... That's not impossible," Topaz said, her tone guarded. "The Divine Foresight is not a man known for heavy-handed tactics when it comes to negotiations. Plus he seems to have taken an interest in the success of this visit, or so my informants tell me."
Bronya breathed a small sigh of relief at that, but it was short-lived. "Then... Then what could-?!" she began, only to be cut off by a string of urgent notifications pinging on Pela's phone, all marked with Bronya's name and originating from the Belobog central communication hub.
"It sounds like things are getting lively on your end," Topaz remarked, her voice tinged with worry as Bronya heard several similar sounding notifications come in from Topaz's own device. "I... I wish I could advise you further Bronya, but I'm afraid I'm busy on my end. I... I actually might be able to get you some help though. One of my seniors, goes by Jade, is nearby. I'd hate to owe her a favor on this... But it is something she'd likely be willing to help with. She should be on her way in case things are as bad as we think they might be."
Bronya's heart sank at the implication behind those words. "H-How bad could things possibly get? Miss Topaz, what aren't you telling me?"
"I'm telling you everything I have confirmed Supreme Guardian, which considering I'm not charging you for this information, is more than most would offer," Topaz said, her tone firm but gentle. "Suffice it to say, I hope I'm wrong. But if I'm not... Well, just remember what I said about Jade. Now I have to go, my conference is starting soon."
"But-!" Bronya began, but the call disconnected before she could finish. She looked at the phone, frustration and dread warring within her, when she saw that another call was being routed to her, this one from Yukong.
"Madam Yukong!" Bronya answered, trying to keep the tremor from her voice so to act professional. "We-We were expecting you soon. Did... Did you perhaps run into trouble on your way here?"
Attempting to make the question as innocent as possible, Bronya's mind raced through the possibilities, each worse than the last.
"Lady Bronya." Yukong's voice finally replied, and it sounded strained. "Yes, there was a bit of trouble. Some sort of stellar flare-up between Jarilo and the Lufou disrupted communications. We were unable to contact you until a few minutes ago when we entered the system. I apologize for any confusion or concern this delay may have caused."
Bronya's grip tightened on the phone as she detected the hesitation and stress in Yukong's voice. Combined with Topaz's earlier intel, it did not bode well. "Is... Is something the matter, Madam Yukong?"
She heard Yukong let out an exasperated sigh on the other end of the line. "It has been... A stressful few hours, Lady Bronya. A few hours I would not wish on anyone." The Foxian said after a moment's pause. "I also regret to inform you that the situation with my visit has changed somewhat. Hopefully not for the worse, but it has still changed, and I beg your forgiveness for any inconvenience."
Bronya gripped the phone tightly, her eyes darting up to the blue sky hiding the stars from view. "W-What do you mean by that, Madam Yukong?" She asked, unable to keep the tremor from her voice. "What has changed? Is everything alright?"
"Ah... My explanations and apologies would be better offered in person, I think," Yukong said, her tone apologetic. "Besides... Our negotiations have evolved in scope now that my superiors are involved."
Bronya's eyes widened at those words. "Your... Your superior? Superiors?!" She said, the mental connect the dots process in her mind finally putting the pieces together. "D-Do you mean to say..."
"Y-Yes..." Yukong said, her voice growing quiet. "Two generals of the Xianzhou are here in Jarillo, and they wish to speak with you."