details for
aid.”
“Thank
you,” Veda said.
* * *
Brian
climbed the stairway of stars for what seemed like an eternity. Looking to both
sides he saw nothing but black.
“Is
there an end to this?” he asked.
His
voice echoed for a long time afterwards. As he continued he noticed something
strange sitting on the steps above him. Clad in blue armor with the motif of
the sea serpent was a Kalaidian man. He had long red hair in a tail with
matching beard and mustache. Underneath one of his blue eyes was a scar. The
man stood as Brian approached and drew a pair of rakna blades. The
stairway faded and shifted to platform of similar appearance. The Kalaidian man
stepped back to allow Brian join him.
“You’re
a tall lad, aren’t you?” the Kalaidian man asked with a smile.
“I
could say the same thing Gaelic,” Brian said.
Gaelic
waved his blades and sighed. “I should’ve made her a little taller.”
“Mira’s
fine as she is,” Brian said.
“How’s
that daughter of mine doing?”
Brian
moved his blade and extended the shield on his left arm. “She’s as beautiful as
ever.”
“I’m
glad,” Gaelic said. “I was worried when she got lost for a while.”
“Why
you are in here?” Brian asked.
“I’m
your guide Brian of Terra Prime,” Gaelic said. “But before that, I’d like to
spar with you. I haven’t had a good fight in ages.”
Brian
smiled as he took a defensive pose with his sword and shield. “Sounds like
fun.”
* * *
Veda,
Reban, Valis, Seles, Kivi, Esra, El Kar, Grigon, Dreka, and Myden all waited in
the command center. After landing his and nine other ships in the empty docking
bay General Yardek made his way to them. He waved for his two guards to wait
outside the room.
“You’ve
got quite a base here,” Yardek said.
“We
strive to be the best,” Grigon said.
“If
that’s the case then I’d say you are,” Yardek said. He looked to Valis. “What
thrills do you have in store for us?”
Valis
smiled. “You’ll see soon enough.”
“I’m
looking forward to it,” Yardek said.
“By
the way, where’s Representative Ulad?” Veda asked.
“She’s
busy leading our effort on the front,” Yardek answered. “So as to not exhaust
ourselves we’ve switched places a few times. Now that you’re here we can end
this war.”
He
placed a data crystal in the console and displayed the last known formation of rebel
and loyalist troops across the Viken territories. He highlighted a number of
planets and colonies to show the damage.
“As
you can see our infrastructure is in shambles,” Yardek said. “Our intention was
to avoid damage like this, but the loyalists have been ruthless. It seems their
only strategy is to crush all opposing elements as mercilessly as possible.”
“Looks
like war crime charges are going to be needed,” Esra commented.
“War
crimes indeed,” Yardek said. “I’ll admit the freedom fighters have killed some
civilians, but it was never intentionally nor on such a scale.”
“What
prompted your rebellion in the first place?” Seles asked.
“For
decades our election system has shown itself more and more rigged in favor of
the wealthiest citizens,” Yardek said. “It used to be the candidate that worked
for the people was the norm, but now all we see are those boosted by the most
money. Representative Ulad and her allies put everything into winning a
majority in parliament last year. They lost in a close vote. But it was
revealed shortly after the election was a fraud. The Prime Minister, Daran,
used the opportunity to declare martial law. When he went to arrest Ulad and
her supports the people rose up and that led to where we are now.” He looked at
everyone. “Never let money into your politics. It’ll only lead to a war like
this.”
“We
won’t,” Seles said.
“The
same for us,” Grigon cawed.
“Let’s
get back to the plan,” Veda said. “How much military strength does the
government have
aid.”
“Thank
you,” Veda said.
* * *
Brian
climbed the stairway of stars for what seemed like an eternity. Looking to both
sides he saw nothing but black.
“Is
there an end to this?” he asked.
His
voice echoed for a long time afterwards. As he continued he noticed something
strange sitting on the steps above him. Clad in blue armor with the motif of
the sea serpent was a Kalaidian man. He had long red hair in a tail with
matching beard and mustache. Underneath one of his blue eyes was a scar. The
man stood as Brian approached and drew a pair of rakna blades. The
stairway faded and shifted to platform of similar appearance. The Kalaidian man
stepped back to allow Brian join him.
“You’re
a tall lad, aren’t you?” the Kalaidian man asked with a smile.
“I
could say the same thing Gaelic,” Brian said.
Gaelic
waved his blades and sighed. “I should’ve made her a little taller.”
“Mira’s
fine as she is,” Brian said.
“How’s
that daughter of mine doing?”
Brian
moved his blade and extended the shield on his left arm. “She’s as beautiful as
ever.”
“I’m
glad,” Gaelic said. “I was worried when she got lost for a while.”
“Why
you are in here?” Brian asked.
“I’m
your guide Brian of Terra Prime,” Gaelic said. “But before that, I’d like to
spar with you. I haven’t had a good fight in ages.”
Brian
smiled as he took a defensive pose with his sword and shield. “Sounds like
fun.”
* * *
Veda,
Reban, Valis, Seles, Kivi, Esra, El Kar, Grigon, Dreka, and Myden all waited in
the command center. After landing his and nine other ships in the empty docking
bay General Yardek made his way to them. He waved for his two guards to wait
outside the room.
“You’ve
got quite a base here,” Yardek said.
“We
strive to be the best,” Grigon said.
“If
that’s the case then I’d say you are,” Yardek said. He looked to Valis. “What
thrills do you have in store for us?”
Valis
smiled. “You’ll see soon enough.”
“I’m
looking forward to it,” Yardek said.
“By
the way, where’s Representative Ulad?” Veda asked.
“She’s
busy leading our effort on the front,” Yardek answered. “So as to not exhaust
ourselves we’ve switched places a few times. Now that you’re here we can end
this war.”
He
placed a data crystal in the console and displayed the last known formation of rebel
and loyalist troops across the Viken territories. He highlighted a number of
planets and colonies to show the damage.
“As
you can see our infrastructure is in shambles,” Yardek said. “Our intention was
to avoid damage like this, but the loyalists have been ruthless. It seems their
only strategy is to crush all opposing elements as mercilessly as possible.”
“Looks
like war crime charges are going to be needed,” Esra commented.
“War
crimes indeed,” Yardek said. “I’ll admit the freedom fighters have killed some
civilians, but it was never intentionally nor on such a scale.”
“What
prompted your rebellion in the first place?” Seles asked.
“For
decades our election system has shown itself more and more rigged in favor of
the wealthiest citizens,” Yardek said. “It used to be the candidate that worked
for the people was the norm, but now all we see are those boosted by the most
money. Representative Ulad and her allies put everything into winning a
majority in parliament last year. They lost in a close vote. But it was
revealed shortly after the election was a fraud. The Prime Minister, Daran,
used the opportunity to declare martial law. When he went to arrest Ulad and
her supports the people rose up and that led to where we are now.” He looked at
everyone. “Never let money into your politics. It’ll only lead to a war like
this.”
“We
won’t,” Seles said.
“The
same for us,” Grigon cawed.
“Let’s
get back to the plan,” Veda said. “How much military strength does the
government have
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