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Havyard took a sip from his tea, his face rather perplexed. Not as good as any tea from the homeland, but delicious nonetheless
Placing his teacup down, he placed his left arm on the table and his right on his leg before assembling a reply to a rather honest question.
"What does the student seek from the teacher?" He allows the question to linger for a moment before responding to his own question with sincerity.
"Knowledge. We seek only to understand your society, to perhaps in turn understand our own. Your suspicions are not unfounded, if you would like us to depart, we will leave without protest. If not, we would very much like to continue these discussions."
"Greetings, Ambassador Iru. I am Supreme Chancellor Jorgen One-Eye of the Unified Oligarchy of Onorus." Jorgen said calmly from his seat, his fingers lacing together on the tabletop before him. "I and the Council of the Onorussian Nation have contacted your government in the hopes of seeking assistance in a matter of foreign policy." The man tapped at a keyboard embedded in the table before, his lone eye glancing between it and the hovering Aqmori form. A map of the galaxy presented itself, highlighting the arm commonly referred to as 'Sithis Breath', though that name was notably absent from this map. "The Holy Arm of Selene has been the subject of much galactic tension for as long as our new Oligarchy has existed, with the Ka'lu'umil maintaining a claim over the entirety of the arm's scope." The man's face was calm as he returned his full attention to Iru. "As occupants of the Holy Arm, and with no apparent effort to relinquish the claims upon sovereign Onorussian space, we must conclude the Ka'lu'umil eventually intend to take our homes by force."
"You can see how this would concern us, considering our... Offensive and defensive limitations." He paused, briefly pondering his choice of words before apparently nodding to himself in satisfaction at the statement. "Not even mentioning the fact that our civilization has only just managed to rebuild itself after our Great War." The man bit his lower lip. "The Oligarchy has therefore also concluded that a diplomatic solution must be sought, preferably by means of a mediator not currently attached to or overtly friendly with either the Accord or the Center Pact. As your Conchordate is affiliated with neither, you were our first choice. We are therefore requesting your assistance in securing the sovereignty of our borders in the eyes of the galaxy and, more specifically, the Ka'lu'umil." The Chancellor looked off to the side at one of his advisers, then to the manila folder containing the findings of the 'Violet Marauder' War Games resting neatly beside the keyboard. "We are relative newcomers to galactic politics, and lack the experience to carry out such a task on our own. Not without further complicating things via missteps I'm certain we would make, at the very least."
Solomon waited for him to finish. By now the effects of the pipe had worn off and he puffed some more.
Elana gives a short chuckle, for most Vermelly the concept of brothers and sisters is an unknown one.
"Sorry for the laugh. The concept of brothers and sisters is new to me. We don't usually have such tight nit families, most males will have multiple females in their lives, although, monogamy is getting more popular."
Terros chuckles as they leave the hotel lobby and make their way to the market. "Polygamy is still going pretty strong with Sakoorans. My twin brother has 3 wives and 2 husbands already. Who knows? I might find another wife myself when I get the opportunity."
~Ductu Station, Senate Tower~
Veronica rather nervously stares at the heavy metallic case sitting on her table. The crest of the Union Military adorned at the center of the case with more than a few ID numbers at the bottom right of the lid. Cautiously she opens the case, as she slowly lifts the life, revealing a shiny suit of armor. Laying it all out on the table, she remarks in mild surprise at the lack of any sort of Union identification markings on the armor, or even a flag painted on. Fully equipped with the armor now she slides on the gloves to complete the set, a comfortable fit. As if on cue there's a polite knock on her door. She holds back a smile curling at the edge of her lips.
"It's safe to come in Primus..."
The doors open moments later-- and the Speaker takes a step inside and whatever he he was going to say simply departs his mind as he looks at her in the armor.
"It's the nonexistant Union flag on the breastplate isn't it? I noticed that too, also there's no Udairi Arms Corp logo on the back, may be an issue later." Giving a mocking twirl along with her sarcastic statement only proves to stammer Galti further.
"I- I'd gone through the lengths of making sure they didn't add anything you'd take offense to." He turns now, unsure how to continue. Veronica folds her arms, pursing her lips in mild disappointment.
"Yeah, no one would ever think I'm a part of the Union military now. They'll just need to ignore the heavily armed special forces guys." Heading towards the doors she stops in the doorway, looking out into the halls at the six Speaker of the Senate Commando's then at Galti.
"We leaving? Or do you intend to stand there for awhile and collect dust?" Galti gives one last look over the apartment before exiting in the hall. The Commando's have already cleared the level, and made a path clear for the Speaker and Veronica. As the group steps onto the turbolift, Veronica leans on the wall of the turbolift, her stomach in a knot.
"Do you think this will work, Primus?" Not looking up at him, her eyes to the floor. Galti looks to his right at the Commando lieutenant who too glances at him, and he turns to Veronica.
"It has too." He looks forwards at the turbolift doors as it comes to a slow stop.
"For the sake of the Union it must."
In Tuak, Y'shool's agents have slipped through the cracks, in totality, using foul blackmail of debauchery, and enticing lures of cleared debts, among other things, some more truthful than others. The unenthusiastic senators of Yamo's upstart, stagnant Federation are thus swayed into impeaching Yamo in a vote of no confidence.
Karzun got his wish, the arctic devils seeped in like an infestation in blood. All warmth seceded, the Jerns knew no humanity in the face of them, yet stood, their blood boiling, refusing to freeze over. Fire rained through Skagen's accompanying mist, to his encompassing fist, in vain. The front line was lost in but minutes. Galti retreated, saving two others with himself, one of them he shoved back, giving him the head start, the other was wounded, and could not retreat. Galti did not abandon him, instead encumbered himself with the man's life. An icy crown began to form in the haze, a crown to brow onimous red eyes: Skagen had arrived, and the cave-bound blizzard there ensnared Galti and the other survivor, for Karzun to witness.
"Well, I'm not sure its the same type you are used to. Our race's fertility was screwed over by a bio-weapon used by a nation once known as the Republic of Sǐwángh around 200 Varel years ago. They resisted the global revolution of the Technocracy, the weapon they used killed billions and made half of our female population extremely genetically infertile. While most women were still able to have kids, ovulation was now extremely rare. This, combined with our race's low birth rates, relative to the Sakoor, nearly destroyed our population. We don't have polygamy because we have a culture around it, I mean we did beforehand but not nearly as large. We have polygamy because we have to. I have 3 mothers, but I'm the only child."
"Ah, I see." They eventually came across the short, but busy market street, where vendors were selling foods, jewelry, and other various commercial items for sale.
“SKAGEN!!”
Karzűn bellows the demon’s cursed name with a piercing and painful scream. The retreat of the Jern troops did not faze him. He knew he shouldn’t rush in recklessly, but that didn’t mean he’d run away like a coward. The cyborg advances with blasters unloading upon Skagen and the horde of ice demons pouring into the cave.
No one, living or dead, expected a mad charge into the unknowable, though at this point Karzun knew it all too well. A recollection of their once human selves swelled in their faces: pure and brisk shock. Karzun disappears into the mist, leaving icy corpses behind him in his melting fury.
Kedor, Burgjano, and Two-Oh-Two
“SKAGEN! LET HIM GO, YOU SCHEMING DEMON!”
Karzűn continues to roar out into the blizzard, unafraid of what may be out there beyond his vision. All that matters is rescuing Galti from Skagen’s grasp, and all who stand in his way will burn before the burning power of his blasters.
He mowed through the hoard of them, as if adrenaline alone preserved him. Shards of ice encroached into his body, and melted from the heat it produced in its nigh industrial labour. Yet, Galti and Skagen were nowhere to be found. And the only way to go was forward, and out, into the brunt of the blizzard.
“Galti!”
Karzűn called out into the blizzard in a vain effort to find his brother-in-arms, continuing to rush headfirst into the unknown.
No response. Once again the wind blitzed his frame cold. Wherever Skagen, it would not have been far. Especially not if he was dragging Galti with him.
Karzűn unloads his blaster wildly into the vast blizzard as he roared loudly. Although the cold wind began battering against his body once more, he refused to stop. He wouldn’t leave Galti to the mercy of Skagen, especially after what he learned on his mission.
The blasts of plasma dispel the blizzard for brief periods in their direction of fire. Allowing Karzun to see glimpses ahead. Wading back onto the icy sea, he sees two humanoid figures. A heavier gush of wind protruding therefrom.
“Galti!”
Karzűn pushes onwards with even greater determination, now having seen his target and his comrade. If only he could better distinguish their bodies through the cold mist, he could possibly shoot Skagen from this distance.
The sudden heavy gush dismounted Karzun from his momentum. An ice shattering roar accompanied, and the Kauv'ok warrior would see, if he were to look up to the sky, the air thrashing wings of three ice dragons, hovering above Skagen, who relayed his great strength to chain the helpless Galti to his knees which cracked the ice below. The great demon bellowed to his lords above.
"Noble masters! I offer you this hominid responsible for the deaths of your brothers. I have taken him from the jaws of his wolves for you. Take him, and grant me mercy. Free me of these shackles!" Skagen bared his ironed forearms to the Ice Dragons, his head high with desperation in his red eyes which plied the masters above for succour, but they were colder than he could ever be. The Ice Dragons reared their heads at him, snarling with hatred. Skagen then realised they had made up their minds long ago. What human nature remained in Skagen compelled him to comprehend honour, even if he himself lacked such a thing, but these creatures had never known such a curse. Skagen took Galti up onto his feet and into his grip, holding him close like a shield of meat as the dragons prepared to spring.
Now with clear line-of-sight, Karzűn takes aim at Skagen. For a moment, he has the chance to finally kill him, the villain who brought chaos to his people. He could finally get the revenge he so longed for. But then...why? What good would it do for him? He realized it now. Especially when the dragons were going to kill Skagen anyways. What mattered more was getting Galti out alive. Wouldn’t look good if he returned to Stig alone, after being the only one who went to rescue Galti. After what they’ve done for him, he couldn’t just leave the Jern to die.
Karzűn lowers his blasters, and instead of shooting to kill, he targets Skagen’s arms and legs in an effort to free Galti from his grip. Then, with incredible speed, he tosses his blasters aside and dashes forward into harm’s way, lunging into the air over Skagen and grabbing Galti with the force of all four of his arms as he tries to distance himself away from the dragons.
Looking back, Karzun witnessed as one dragon snapped Skagen's upper torso into its jaws like the cracking of ice, only for another to lock Skagen in its maw by the legs. Skagen's only free arm glowed red with desperate power, but was silenced by the third dragon, which snapped him by the shoulder. The dragons carried him up into the sky and Karzun was forced then to watch as his dreams of vengeance were ripped apart, piece by piece by beings equally unsympathetic to his suffering. Karzun rescued Galti, the former target of his revenge, at the cost of his revenge.
Galti was cold, but life came back to him. Karzun could see a trance which held him fade as warmth came back to his eyes - his sacrifice's prize - which spoke more admiration and gratitude than words could muster. Skagen's magic dispelled, the king of the ice demons was destroyed at last, but the frost did not cease into oblivion; the dragons remained. Hovering in tribunal above, they were not content on Skagen's guilty judgement alone, turning their attention now to Galti, the once Valgtkriger. After being released from Karzun's saving embrace, Galti drew his sword and reached for his shield, but did not direct his attention upward. Despite the dragons, he instead looked at Akron, whether the Kauv'ok would know it or not, there was no greater honour he could give. When his greatest threat honed seething above, he looked to the brother beside him, with trust now unbreakable.
Karzűn’s gaze shifted between Galti and the ice dragons several times. He didn’t plan on facing these things, but it seemed like they had no choice. His blasters were too far for him to grab, and he was doubtful that his blades were capable of much. Then again, he has slain a 50-meter King Gozima dragon as a mere hunter with far more primitive weaponry, so perhaps there was a chance he could take on three flying beasts, albeit a very slim one. He thought about grabbing Galti and running back as fast as he could, but he quickly realized that the dragons could easily catch up to them. So there really isn’t any choice. He believed the dragons still wanted Galti, and the only thing that stood in their way was a single Kauv’ok cyborg. With few weapons left to fight with, very few options, Karzűn simply stood his ground in front of Galti, and as he stared down the dragons, he rose as tall as he could, stretched out all four of his arms, and let out a fearsome mechanical roar.
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