The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Chad32]

Claxter smiles at Ossanlin's approval of his training under Enorryma. He didn't expect Ossanlin to fully refuse, but it was good to hear his encouragement.

<Good to meet you, Niko. I am Claxter, and I was speaking of the space Bar. It might be a good idea to check there, along with the other places your people may have met. I am sorry if your Yeerk partner is missing. We will try to do what we can to search for any other survivors, whatever species they may be.>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods to himself after a few minutes have passed before addressing the whole ship.  <Hello, once again I am War-Prince Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel.  Now that everyone may participate, I would like to discuss our situation.  If you could, all please gather in the common at your earliest convenience.  I will attempt to explain what has transpired, and answer any questions you may have.>  He waits patiently for everyone to gather.

[Estelore]

Enorryma silently crowed a small victory in her thoughts. An uninfested human! I can speak with this one and trust he is not some slug's mouthpiece. She also winced a bit at Ossanlin's praise, which wasn't so much an exaggeration as the sort of comment which would have given a younger version of herself a big head about the matter. She didn't think she could bring herself to ever truly disapprove of any choice Ossanlin made, because he never seemed to act without a reason... but she also wished he were less eager to deliver compliments. Andalites certainly didn't need anything to add to their arrogance.

<Niko, I am Enorryma, the TO of this crew. After Prince Ossanlin concludes the meeting in the common, perhaps you can help me plot a map of possible meeting places where your allies may be found. Then we can submit the map to Ossanlin so he can decide if it is wise to alter our course.>

[Terenia]

<<He's alive,>> Aya breathes internally, relieved. <<Thank goodness, I was so worried. Lanath, I--there are so many people missing. This is going to be...>> For the first time she lets her own emotion show through, although externally her expression is still mostly stoic. Inside, though, her grief wells up, easily visible to Lanath.


Dom watches Niko go, following only after Ossanlin's announcement. He finds a spot near the wall, leaning against it and, out of habit, straightening the cuffs of his dirty and rumpled suit jacket. His usual exuberance is nowhere to be found.


"Can you walk okay?" Keslin asks, looking down at Tess' swollen stomach. "Maybe you should rest while I speak with the Andalite." He glances worriedly towards the bridge, then back to Tess. "It's been a stressful time for all of us, but you especially need to relax." He doesn't speak his and Chris' unspoken fear -- that any more duress could force Tess into an early labor, with no human doctor in sight.


Efaen hesitates, not sure if Ossanlin's announcement is meant for her or not. Reluctantly, she inches towards the bridge, giving Terenia and the turelek a wide berth. She hovers in the doorway, gray eyes wide as they take in the scene.

[Ember Nickel]

Esarvit eagerly makes his way to the common, trotting along with more energy than he expected to have after the fight. He must have gotten lucky with the morph; it's reinvigorated him, somehow. Or maybe he's still fueled by adrenaline, focusing on his nervous energy rather than try and wrap his head around what lies ahead.

Once he reaches the common, he takes his place along the side, keeping a respectful distance from his commander.

[KitsuneMarie]

"I'm alright, Keslin," Tess murmurs, putting a hand lightly over Chris's on her stomach. "They're alright too." She sniffs as she looks up at him. "I'm glad you're okay... I've been so worried." Then she gives a small smile, adding, "If I can just have a place to sit, I want to hear everything this Andalite has to say. How am I supposed to support one of our unfailing leaders if I don't even know what's going on?" She leans forward to kiss his cheek softly, then reaches for the hovering stretcher behind herself, beginning to push it in the direction the small crowd is going so she can use it as a seat.


Illim holds Myitt just as tightly, his host's eyes sliding closed. "I think it's the... the double-oh seven problem," he says with a weak smile, opening his eyes to look at her as she pulls back. "I was shaken... and stirred. Just dizzy or something. It'll go away." He keeps a hand on her back, looking up at Ossanlin's announcement. "Let's go, yeah?" he asks, voice quiet.

[Myitt]

"Claxter," says Niko, trying out the alien name, then stammering forward in the language that Yarin had taught him. "Thank you for trying to help us. Unfortunately my Yeerk friend is...is dead. But I have other friends I would dearly like to find."

He looks up at the announcement, as if Ossanlin's voice had come from an overhead speaker instead of projected directly into Niko's own mind. "Yes, I'd be happy to help you, En...Enorryma." He parrots the name as best he can. "I am an engineer by trade, and good with computers, although Illim and Daniel would be more adept at using star charts." He smiles, turning his attention to the gathering crew. "Let's discuss after the meeting."


<<I know,>> Lanath says soothingly. <<Aya, please, I feel your pain as deeply as if it were my own. There will be time to grieve. Now we must focus and try to move forward, and find those who are still alive.>> He gently takes control and brings them into the main cabin for the discussion.


Myitt chokes a laugh, half-sobbing, and nods. "Let's go join them," she says with a hiccup, snagging Daniel's left hand--a gray, living metal prosthetic--and walking with him into the cabin.

[Chad32]

<I will help the others as I have helped you and your people on the ship, Niko.> Claxter said. He left for the common room, and gravitated towards Efaen. He was not very close by Andalite standards, who are not a species of small personal spaces, but along the same wall. He wasn't sure if Ossanlin had any definite plans yet for what they would do, so he wasn't sure what the announcement would be about. Maybe just something along the lines of cooperating with each other.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin scans over the group with his main eyes, noting the presence of everyone.  He takes a few deep breaths before proceeding, calm and stoic like a stone weathered by the elements, but still standing strong and proud.  Despite only being thirty years (UGTS) of age, his eyes look older than his years.  It was once said that a year of the sights of war added ten to the eyes...and Ossanlin has seen many a year of war.

<Thank you, all of you, for gathering.  I realize that all of you are suffering, but life doesn't pause, and I assume most of you crave answers.>  Ossanlin pauses a moment before continuing.

<On 02.05.04197 at 0315 UGT, an Andalite armada twenty-five ships strong struck the primary Yeerk Rebellion installation.  Andalite intelligence regarding the rebels was severely limited.  They...overestimate d the need.  I will claim some responsibility in that...I always remained nebulous in the hopes that the uncertainty would make you a less-attractive target.  Unfortunately it also made you seem like more of a threat.>  He runs his eyes over everyone in the room, continuing.

<Over a hundred rebels were killed.  One of the primary Shredder shots penetrated and...ventilated... the pool portion of your complex...the massive breech was too much for your emergency force-fields to negate.  By the time Andalite scouts reached the room, the pool had long-since boiled dry in the vacuum.  It happened quickly, I doubt the occupants of the pool felt anything.>  He pauses again, allowing a moment for grief.

<I was intentionally kept uninformed of the impending attack upon your base.  Had I the slightest inkling, I would've sent word, but it is well-known amongst the leaders of the Electorate that Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel is a friend of the Yeerk Rebellion.  I intercepted a communication by chance, after the attack had been perpetrated.  It was a full report of the aftermath.  It was then that I put one of my contingency plans into action.>  He continues running his eyes across the crowded room, making sure to make eye contact with every single occupant.

<I had long thought on how to abscond with a Mark III Dreadnought.  It was not easy, nor do I expect my deception to hold up under scrutiny, but for now, all of the Andalites you see around you are considered deceased...myself included.  I would trust each and every one of them with my life.  I made certain that they knew what they were getting into.  Each and every individual I asked joined without hesitation, knowing full well that we would all be committing acts of treachery in order to aid Yeerks.>  He nods in approval.  <I won't say they won't be rough around you, but each of them agreed to give up their Homeworld for this mission.>

<The Electorate have lost their way.  They have grown corrupt and power-hungry.  They no longer serve the People.  They use propaganda and disreputable tactics to control the People.  We, none of us, could tolerate their hypocrisy and corruption any longer.  They ordered genocide upon your people...allies...because of their arrogance and paranoia.  They stripped the Alpha Line to do it and lost our Primary defensive position to the Imperials.  Their actions grow more and more self-serving and short-sighted...the Electorate are the true traitors.>

Ossanlin's tone grows a bit more passionate.  <We...>  He gestures around to include everyone in the room.  <...those of us who've given up our homes...who would be labeled "traitor" by our governments still fight for the People.  All of us fight for the People, whether they're Andalite, Yeerk, Human, Hork-Bajir, or any of the countless other species that have suffered at the ministrations of the Empire.  We fight against tyranny and oppression.  Those who have given their lives for this cause would want nothing less.>

Ossanlin pauses for a long moment, letting things sink in.  His tone returns to normal.  <Our original destination is the Tyrennian.  I have only a fourth of my original crew, but I trust each blade as if they were my own.  From there, we must regroup with your remaining kinspeople.  The reports say that several of you escaped capture or death, and you must've had some missions running at the time.  There are others out there.  I don't know who or how many, but you must all keep hope alive.>

He pauses again, lowering his main eyes for a moment before returning them to sweep the room.  <I have some sad news to share with you.  Some of you know, some of you may not.>  Ossanlin pauses again, having difficulty forming the words.  <Reven and his host James O'Hearn are amongst your most-honored deceased.>  He takes a deep breath.  <Myitt has informed me as much.  One thing is certain, they gave their lives to protect you and all that we hold dear.  Mourn them if you must, but celebrate their lives.  They accomplished so much...more than the rest of us.  Remember their grand deeds and rejoice in the fact that we knew them as we did.  I feel privileged that they counted me amongst their friends, and the rest of you should as well.>

Ossanlin falls silent for another long moment, leaving everyone to their thoughts in privacy before continuing on.  <His loss leaves a hole...one that will be difficult to fill.  I assume that you will choose a new leader once we have reunited with your kin, but for now, I hope you will accept Myitt as your leader pro tempore.  Myitt may disparage some aspects of herself, but I know that she is more than capable.>

<I won't ask for your trust or your loyalty...those things must be earned.  I hope that some day, I will have those things from all of you.  I do not seek to command you or control you...that was never my intention.  It is my fervent desire that we may work closely together.  My ship, my crew, and I...we are no longer bound by the law of Seerow's Kindness.  I believe that we can all accomplish incredible feats together as Seerow first intended...but first we need to be able to work together.>  He pauses again.

<We're far from home, all of us.  We're alone in this Galaxy and in this war.  We have no allies, Rogues drifting on the stellar winds.  But together, we are far greater than we are apart.  All that I ask from all of you, is a chance to prove it.  Let's put aside our differences and find out what Yeerk, Andalite, Human, and Hork-Bajir together are truly capable of.>  Ossanlin nods, his tone strong and resolved.  <We can afford nothing less.>

He remains silent for a while, eyes still sweeping the room before nodding one final time, taking another deep breath.  <We should arrive at the Tyrennian in approximately one hour UGTS.  If you have any public questions of me, now is the appropriate time to ask them.>

[Estelore]

<...Each and every individual I asked joined without hesitation, knowing full well that we would all be committing acts of treachery in order to aid Yeerks....>

Norry's eyes narrowed. He is not lying to pacify them. He means what he is saying. A wave of betrayal and anger surged up through her chest, and she struggled not to let her tail twitch with it. She addressed Ossanlin, her mental voice confused and bitter.

<<No, my Prince. I joined without hesitation to aid humans, former hosts... and to aid you. You are not to blame for my misunderstanding of our purpose here. You never spoke unclearly, but never in my wildest imagining would I have believed you meant your statements earnestly, and not as a cover to...>> her stalk eyes turned away from him, and her main eyes closed. To anybody else in the room, it would look like a moment of solemnity for lives lost.

<<... to keep the humans complacent until they could be freed of the hold their parasites put on their psyches, even uninfested... to keep the slugs cooperative until we got from them some key information you might use later. I never believed you meant it. That was my error.>> Even through the cloud of hate which edged its way into her words, she couldn't bring herself to lay blame on her captain. Her years behind a Shredder and in a ****pit, her countless funerals of wingmen and friends, had left her with a very black-and-white belief system, and those beliefs had no room in them for a leader as wise and strong as Ossanlin to be the source of a moral grey area.

She opened her stalk eyes and carefully backed out of the room, giving a respectful sort of bow as she exited, so that nobody but Ossanlin would know anything was amiss.
<<I am your TO first and all other things last; however, I object to preserving the lives of mind-stealing parasites. My actions in this mission, from this point forward, are with a primary goal of preserving the lives of our human guests and Andalite crew. I shall not sabotage the mission, harm the passengers, contaminate ship morale, or act against your orders, but I will not be remembered as a Yeerk-sympathizer, even now that the Homeworld thinks me dead.>>

She fled back to the control room, feeling sick and lost, needing to watch the familiar twists of Z-space before she could collect and refocus her thoughts. Sky forgive me that I ever got involved in this. Better that he had left me behind, where I would believe him dead, and remember him as free of their influence.

No, she couldn't fault Ossanlin for this... but at the same time, she could still force him to carry the weight of it along with her. It was a commanding officer's job to know his crew inside and out, and she would make very certain he knew where she stood.
<<What I do not understand, Sir, is why you chose me to recruit, when you know how many of them I have killed, and how eagerly I would return to that task if the chance was given to me.>>

She walked to the nearest navigational console and pulled up a map of this arm of the galaxy and waited for Niko to return and help her attempt to plot other Rebel locations. He might still be brainwashed by his long-dead slug, but at least he wasn't infested anymore, and Norry would try to find some solace in that, while she could.

[Terenia]

Keslin remains near Tess, listening in silence to the Andalite as he speaks. One hand finds his partner's, fingers lacing together as he squeezes her hand. His expression is solemn, eyes downcast. When Ossanlin brings up the loss of James and Reven his fingers tighten and he very nearly loses his composure.

<<God, James,>> Chris mourns, his grief for his younger cousin palpable, and just as strong as his guilt for outliving him.

<<We will do his memory proud, my human friend,>> Keslin murmurs, though his own sorrow makes his attempt at comfort fall somewhat flat.

<<What happened to their kid? Where's Makayla?>> Chris asks, the thought that the entire family may have died almost too much for him to bear.

<<I do not know.>> Keslin turns his attention outward. This proves to be a bad move, however, because as soon as he focuses on the expressions of his surviving comrades he nearly loses it, emotion forming a tight ball in his throat and tears springing to his eyes.

"By the Kandrona," he whispers to himself, struggling to keep his composure as Ossanlin continues. He glances over at Myitt when he proclaims her leader, noting that the Andalite seems to have a misconception regarding how the base was run. He decides to let it slide, for now, but resolves to speak to Myitt later. Only an Andalite would be fool enough to think that we would rest the weight of leadership on one person, he thinks, a thought he does not share with his host.


<<Myitt is our leader?>> Aya asks of Lanath, sounding surprised. Despite her misgivings towards Keslin, the idea of following Myitt and solely Myitt does not sit well with her, though the idea of working with Andalites has promise. She does not dwell on it too long, paying careful attention to what is going on around her. She notes Norry's exit, the grief on the faces of her friends, and the inherent power Ossanlin seems to have when it comes to controlling an audience.


Efaen listens in silence. There is no grief on her face, and she clearly feels out of place. She finds herself almost glad when Norry takes her leave, and she backpedals out of the room, trying not to draw attention to herself as she follows. Not that spending extended time with Andalites is any better, she reminds herself as she slinks behind Norry towards the bridge. She isn't trying to hide, not really. Efaen knows there is no way to truly hide from an Andalite. She just attempts to remain as inconspicuous as possible and, when she reaches the bridge, she finds a spot against the back wall where she can lean, folding her arms across her chest and looking at the floor, brooding.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin doesn't allow his eyes to narrow at Norry's thoughts.  <<I was very clear, Enorryma.  You knew that Yeerks would be helped by this mission.  Rebels, not Imperials.  There is a very large difference, Enorryma.  You have lived longer than I, you've been under the thumb of the Electorate and their propaganda longer.  I did not say you gave up the Homeworld for them, I said you gave up the Homeworld for this mission.  It is an important one, Enorryma...I can't think of one any more important.  You must understand, Enorryma...we have a unique opportunity here.  We can lay the groundwork for an era of peace.  Not one of Yeerk dominion or genocide, but true cooperation.  I did not say that our only purpose was to aid the Rebel Yeerks...but I did everything I could to make everyone painfully aware of the fact that we would be helping Yeerk rebels.  I am sorry...if you chose not to hear that.>>

Ossanlin gives no outward signs that he is speaking to Enorryma as he continues, but his tone is expressive.  <<Enorryma, your view is drawn along species lines.  If you stay with me, I will still expect you to kill Yeerks...possibly a great many.  But they will be Imperials, Enorryma.  No species is homogenous in thought.  These few...these rebels...were brave enough to forsake their government and commit treason for their ideals.  You see, Enorryma, these Yeerks could subjugate their hosts just as much as any other, but they choose not to, and that is an incredible distinction.  Their hosts are not mere vessels or tools, they are people to them.  They choose friendship over dominion.  None of them would take a host that was not voluntary.  If one of their hosts suddenly decided that they no longer wished to be infested, any of these Yeerks would leave and never return, even if it meant living out their lives blind in a pool of sludge.  Enorryma, these hosts and Yeerks are allies...comrades.. .partners...friends .>>

<<I included you because you are one of my most-trusted companions.>>  He sighs internally.  <<Perhaps it was selfish of me to do so.  I apologize, Enorryma.  I need you...but...I will not force you to participate in a mission for ideals in which you do not believe.>>  He pauses a moment.  <<If you wish it, Enorryma, I will allow you to take one of the remaining Tail-Fighters from the Tyrennian.  It is not implausible to believe that you would've been deployed to a fighter in a desperate situation.  We can score the hull and make it look as though you had to perpetrate multiple repairs from inside the ****pit.>>  He falls silent a moment.  <<I sincerely hope you do not take this option, but I will not order you to stay...if I do, I am no better than the corrupt politicians we left behind.  If anyone deserves the choice, Enorryma, it's you, and you're the only one to whom it will ever be offered...but there is a very small window of opportunity to retain plausibility.>>

[Chad32]

Claxter remains at the wall after the speech was done. He wasn't surprised Ossanlin wanted Myitt to be in charge, since Myitt was the one rebel he trusted the most. He wasn't sure if he wanted to follow Enorryma back into the ****pit. She would probably want to start charting maps with Niko instead of making idle chat with him. His stalk eye drifted to Aya, and an idea hatched. He wanted to ensure Efaen's safety, but he wasn't sure if he could find enough space on the ship to really have a private conversation.

He walked over to her. <Aya and Lanath, may I ask what your opinions of Terenia and Efaen are? Also if you would be interested in helping me with something?> He said quietly. <Given Efaen's uncomfortability around Andalites, I believe I require help from someone who is not an Andalite.>

[Estelore]

Norry's tone was exasperated when she replied. <<As long as these humans host Yeerks or are surrounded by other infested humans, how can we trust that they tell the truth when they say they are not forced into it? If they speak against their own Controller during a moment of freedom, how do we know they are not punished for it once their Controller is back inside their brain?>> She adjusted the navigation screen so that it zoomed in on four regions of the galaxy where she remembered seeing particularly unusual Z-space formations in the past. Maybe the Space Bar was in one of those places. If it was, then where else might the fabric of the universe be wearing a bit thin?

<<No, Sir, I will not abandon this mission. I will not have it weighing on my conscience for the rest of my life that I left my Prince alone on a vessel full of Yeerks and Andalites of dubious alignment. If there is ever a time when you have needed another quad of eyes protecting your life and interests, this will be it. I may have agreed to this mission out of a stupid misunderstanding, but I shall keep to my post. Anyway, I am terrible at lying, and no doubt the Electorate would have very prying questions which would sabotage your mission. By all accounts, you are safer with me here.>>

She turned her stalk eyes toward the entrance of the bridge and noted Efaen's arrival. She sighed mentally and addressed Ossanlin in a somewhat more subdued tone.

<<I shall make this bargain with you: Presently I will be spending time with Niko, the uninfested human whose Controller died. I can trust, if nothing else, that if I ask about the nature of so-called voluntary hosting, he will answer without the fear of reprisal from his own Controller. If his statements lead me to believe that it is as you say... then I shall reconsider my position and attitude regarding the Yeerks among our passengers. Consider this a... an attempt at good faith.>> The idea still made her skin crawl, but Ossanlin's conviction, combined with her own conviction that Ossanlin could not be completely wrong about something, forced her to approach a compromise with her own views.

<<All I ask in return is that you do not go anywhere alone with any three or more of them while they are armed. They outnumber us even on our own ship, and I do not trust our less combat-ready crew members to be as careful with their own survival. If you fall to a Dracon weapon proving less loyal than you believe, then all our hours are numbered.>>

She turned toward Efaen for a moment and gave a curt nod in greeting. <I do not know you, but I have no objection to you being here, if this is where you need to be to avoid everybody else. The bridge can be a good place for solitude. We can simply stay out of each other's way, which will be easier to do on the Tyrennian.>

She turned back to the navigation panel and left her stalk eyes facing the entrance of the bridge.

[Myitt]

Myitt is silent throughout Ossanlin's speech, observing Tara's thoughts distractedly.

<<I can't believe he's gone,>> Tara whispers, touched by Ossanlin's improvised eulogy, still shaken by grief. <<They're gone, and how many others?>>

<<Not us,>> the Yeerk mutters bitterly.

Myitt herself is drawn back out of her internal dialogue by the sound of her name.

She blinks owlishly around the room, itching slowly at her bare arm. Then she raises a hand.

"Hi," she says in a low, grim voice, feeling very much out of place. "Um. Yes. Thank you, Ossanlin, for your kind words. We're all allies now, and I know that our people, those of us who have survived the attack against the rebellion, we..." She hesitantly looks around at the unfamiliar Andalite faces. "There are no words for how grateful we are. Ah. For those of you who don't...know me, my name is Myitt One-Nine-Five. My human friend here is named Tara LaFauci. And in...in light of my brother's death, and James'..." She swallows, dark eyes searching the room. She finds Daniel and Chris and nods, gaining some strength from them. "Tara and I will lead you as best I can, but our Andalite comrades should know that we do not lead alone, or work alone. We will need to gather the surviving members of the Council, or at the very least initiate a new election."

She frowns as Enorryma backpedals out of the room, noting Ossanlin's pensive silence, but her attention turns back to the others--her friends, her tentative allies.


<<It would appear she is, for the time being,>> Lanath comments to Aya, <<although I do recall you once were on the Council, Aya.>> Solemnly he watches her emotions bubble.

Aya's eyes blink into focus as he realizes Claxter is addressing him.

"Ah," he says with a polite smile. "It has been a very long time since I have been in the company of Andalites. He frowns, puzzled. "How, precisely, do you know Terenia and Efaen, if I might ask?"


Niko sighs, his voice hitching with emotion as Ossanlin pays tribute to his fallen friends and leaders.

Eager to distract himself from his grief, he paces to Daniel's side. "I'm going to speak with the Andalite TO, Enorryma." He watches the other man, expression stoic. "We're going to try and find the most likely contingency trajectories, and I could use your expertise."

He pats Daniel on the shoulder and smiles sadly at Myitt.

"Don't get us shot up while I'm gone," he tells her wryly, though without much humor, before heading in the direction of the control room.