Celeste sat down on the chair in shock. How had the Zandrax been able to break through a Grekk blockade? It was impossible. Yet, Commander Shail’s transmission revealed the enemy’s power.
“Why is the Imperium Alliance dissolved?” Tara asked.
Celeste shrugged. “I think the Zandrax has other species supporting them. It was something Commander Shail and the Grekk Emperor suspected.”
The unknown ship was clear evidence of it. Some other species had come to the help of the Zandrax. It could be one of many other species across the galaxy. Commander Shail had been correct on his assessment. The Imperium Alliance had been a failure. The dissolution of the Imperium Alliance indicated that a line had been drawn between the supporters of the Zandrax and those of the Grekk. It was also likely that whoever was supporting the Zandrax had revealed themselves. Celeste wouldn’t be surprised to hear if the Grekk Emperor, himself, had initiated the dissolution of the Imperium Alliance.
“I heard that the Imperium Alliance didn’t do much,” Celeste said. “Their delay in acting on many issues in the galaxy led to the current state.”
“That means there is no more governing authority over the galaxy,” Tara countered. “Every species will start protecting their own kind. All those negotiations that the Grekk did, that we were a part of, are meaningless.”
Celeste bit her lip. She hated admitting it, but that was the truth. Many years of hard work would just vanish. The role of Envoys in the Grekk Empire would no longer be necessary. She felt for those Envoys currently being trained back on the Grekk home world. They would be upset that their future had been stolen from them. At the end of the Enigma War, the Grekk had announced the establishment of an academy to train Envoys. Once word had spread of this new training academy, many young Grekk, who had a distaste for war, had enrolled into it. These young individuals didn’t want to fight battles. Instead, they wanted to use their voice to extend the peace across the galaxy and bring species together. It was a noble aspiration, but that was all gone now. The Zandrax and their supporters had taken away the livelihoods of the Grekk Envoys. It was unfair.
Tara must have sensed her concerns. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I knew the job of the Envoy wouldn’t always be there forever. But I didn’t think it would disappear so quickly.”
Celeste knew her Envoy status was officially over. No one would say it directly to her face. But people would think quietly about it behind her back. All those Grekk commanders who had been relegated to non-wartime roles would be more than happy to kick the Envoys off their starships. While Commander Teval never displayed it, she had heard stories of other commanders being jealous of the Envoys. One reason had been the generational divide, as there were many older Commanders, who were accustomed to war, and many younger Envoys, who hated war. It had been difficult for some Commanders to swallow their pride and take advice from a younger Envoy. She wondered how the Grekk citizens would take the news of a new conflict. Many war-related industries would arise from the ashes of their closures during the peace. However, many younger Grekk, who had enjoyed the fruits of peace, would be unhappy with a return to war.
“We are exiting hyperspace,” Tara announced.
Celeste was woken from her thoughts. The ship exited hyperspace and the vortex closed behind it.
“Where is he?” Celeste inquired.
“Another vortex is opening ahead of us,” Tara said. “Cloak is on and the shields are up.”
It was Phog’s ship. Celeste was relieved. She had been nervous that something had happened to him.
“Hail him,” Celeste said.
Phog’s image appeared on the display. He had some bruises on his face. Sephim was slumped in the chair next to him.
“He fought back?” Tara asked.
Phog smiled. “Yes, we had a slight scuffle. He is quite strong.”
“At least, we are all back together,” Tara highlighted.
“Head over to the planet,” Celeste instructed. “Tara will send you the position.”
Tara transmitted the position and accelerated forward. “See you on the surface.”
“Anything on the sensors?” Celeste asked.
“Nothing.”
The planet they had chosen was supposed to be inhabited. It was chosen because it was the nearest to the next red marker, which was amongst another species. Despite that, Celeste didn’t want to take any chances. With the galaxy at war, nothing was certain anymore.
As Tara brought the ship through the atmosphere, they found themselves in the midst of a storm. There was lightning and heavy rain as the ship continued its descent.
“The storm is making the sensor readings go crazy,” Tara reported. “I cannot tell if there is anyone down there.”
“Just land it where we decided.”
The ship began to sway from the left to the right. Celeste grabbed her chair tightly. After a while, the shaking stopped.
“We made it,” Tara highlighted, as she brought the ship to a stop.
“Scan the area.”
“The sensors aren’t picking up anything. Atmospheric readings indicate the air is breathable. We don’t need the suits.”
That was a good start. Celeste went and opened the door and stepped outside the ship. The wind was the only evidence left of the storm they had just gone through.
“Tara was slow,” a voice said from behind her.
Celeste turned. It was Phog. Tara walked outside and stopped in her tracks. “How did you get here before us?”
“My ship is faster,” Phog laughed. “Or, I must be a better pilot. You can pick whichever reason you like.”
Tara folded her arms. “I like neither of those reasons. Didn’t you face the storm?”
Phog looked up. “What storm?”
Tara hit his shoulder. “Okay. You made your point. Your pilot training days are over!”
It was nice to see Phog and Tara joking around. The two of them had become closer than Celeste had expected and she liked it.
“What will happen to the Hitongu?” Phog asked.
“They will survive,” Celeste said. “I don’t think the Zandrax are out to destroy the species. I believe they just want the planet and the space corridor next to it for their own purposes.”
She didn’t want to share the blunt truth. The chances of survival depended on the Hitongu listening to their Leaders Collective and making significant adjustments in their lifestyle. Celeste didn’t know if the Hitongu species had the willpower to achieve that goal. Their days of feasts and socializing were going to have to be postponed for a long time. This was only the early days of the new war. No one knew how long this new conflict would last and what new galactic order would emerge.
“It means the Zandrax won,” Phog said, in defeat.
Celeste shared with him on Commander Shail’s latest transmission. “One battle in a bigger war is just only one battle. The Zandrax achieved a minor victory. But we are only at the start of this new war. Can you bring Sephim into our ship?”
Phog nodded and returned with Sephim on his back. Phog carried him inside their ship with Celeste and Tara in tow. He placed Sephim on the bed in his compartment. They all looked at him carefully.
Tara pulled out her device again. “My sensor readings are off the chart again.”
Celeste tried her one. It displayed the same readings as that of Tara’s device. There was no doubt that Sephim was a human hiding as a Hitongu. It was time to talk to him.
“Wake him up,” Celeste ordered.