DIMINISHING RETURNS
Saffore held tight to her restraints as Assael unloaded the entirety of the Gunwinggu’s armaments. He was attempting to destroy the projectiles that were decimating their armada. The debris field from the flareups was growing around them, worsening visibility.
The monitor displayed that they were one of the five remaining transports, three of which were beginning to disengage from the battle. This was not a directive she had given. A flareup nearly clipped them as Assael destroyed it before rising in elevation to put distance between them and the field.
“Regioners. Status report.” She implored. “Do you hear me? Report.”
The three transports continued to their disengagement until they vanished from the monitor. She blinked several times before leaning back in astonishment. The Paprijians were doing something she didn’t believe was possible.
“Saffore. Saffore.”
She turned to him. She could see the anxiousness in his eyes through his helmet.
“We must disengage before it’s too late.”
A swelling developed in her throat. How would she ever be able to show her face in the directorate again after an error of this magnitude? Fonantis was now bordering on defenseless with almost all of their Gunwinggu decimated. First by the otherworldly vakatas and now by the Paprijians.
“Do it.” Saffore stated.
Assael maneuvered the Gunwinggu higher in elevation when the transport’s tocsin increased in volume. She glanced below to see that one of the projectiles was headed straight for them. They were out of time.
“Oh!”
<>
Menphemas’ eyes were glued to the monitors. One by one, the best that Fonantis had to offer was vanishing. After so many intervals, he and his Paprijian etsac were on the verge of doing what was once considered unimaginable. First the Motiecurons, then the Fonantians. Soon, northern Kethyrie would return to its rightful proprietors and cement him as the greatest neyuwun that his etsac had ever known.
“All Fonantian Gunwinggu have been destroyed, neyuwun.” Naalix stated.
A sneer developed on Menphemas’ face. He turned to the confined Fonantian researcher whose head was lowered to avoid observing their victory.
“I told you. Did I not?”
Kabibi raised his eyes to meet his.
“Your etsac have sent their most destructive armada to oppress us and they have failed.” He respired. “Those grotty, decadent Paprijians. So weak, so feeble, not fit to drink from the same source as the anointed Fonantians.”
He looked away as Menphemas’ narrowed his focus. He wasn’t going to get off that easy. Menphemas approached and glided his wadjar beneath his chin. The Fonantian raised his head at an angle. His eyes were cloudy and his breathing was intensifying.
“That’s more like it.” Menphemas sneered. “You see vakata, the age of the invaders is over. This is the dawn of a new cycle. The Paprijians are going to resume their rightful position as stewards of this land. We are awakened now and there’s nothing any of you can do to stop us.”