The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Terenia]

Keslin eyes Ossanlin with wary distrust for a brief moment. "There will be time to send out an encrypted communication once we reach the coordinates, but depending on who the survivors we find are...if there are any...some may be quicker to shoot than others," he says bluntly. "It may be less alarming if they were presented with something a bit less intimidating than an Andalite Dome Ship. Especially considering what happened to our base. Is it possible to send a small rendezvous group out to initiate contact?"


He glances at Myitt briefly. "It might be best if we search for the medical rendezvous first. I don't know how much time we have before Tess needs serious medical attention, and other survivors we find may need more help than we can provide on an Andalite ship with no human or Hork-Bajir resources."


He steps up to Aya, briefly placing a trembling hand on her shoulder and squeezing it. He doesn't say anything to her, just gives her a hard stare, communicating silently that he needs her and Lanath to remain alert.



Efaen grips the grass through the shaking of the turbulant Z-space jump. When it finally ceases, she slowly pulls herself back to her feet, watching Claxter warily. She glances at the other rebels who have stayed behind, none of whom she knows or trusts particularly well, and hunches her shoulders, setting to follow Claxter in silence.


"These quarters," Dom says, as close to cheerful as he can be, "tell me they at least come with a bed. Or a mirror?" He flashes Claxter a grin as he walks beside him. He is every bit as bedraggled as the rest of the group, but somehow he seems to wear it well. "Are there hygenic facilities? I think a shower is in high order."


Terenia doesn't even attempt to follow Claxter to the quarters. She doesn't pay Serid any mind either. Instead, she leans against the wall, hugging her arms, her eyes on the ground as she cries. She can't see anyone through the curtain of tangled, dirty blonde hair, and hunched as she is it looks as though she is in physical pain. She isn't crying anymore, but she isn't responding either, leaning against the faux sky created by the Dome's hologram.

[Chad32]

<The quarters do have small shower stalls to bathe in, though there are larger showers outside the rooms. Some force fields can be used as bedding, and can be as soft or firm as you need. Anything like blankets or pillows may need to be retrieved from the med bay if you need extra comfort.> He said to Dom. he couldn't help see Terenia, still broken. His curiosity nagged at him again.

<Terenia, will you pull yourself together? You have spent several years alone and friendless, so I find it hard to believe that after a short time spent with the rebels you have changed so much that you're more broken up about any new allies you have than people who likely have had loved ones considerably longer than you. I'm not saying don't grieve, but at least show some dignity and fortitude. This can't be the worst thing you've gone through in your life.>

[Myitt]

"Don't worry," Myitt murmurs to Illim, worried eyes on Terenia. "We'll make sure she's, um...someplace close by." She watches the revealing of the quarters with mild interest, her mind elsewhere.

With a vacant smile she nods at Ossanlin, accepting his offer of her shared quarters with Illim with quiet thanks.

She is glad to have a task that is more easily completable than being a leader, and she dutifully sets to work organizing the necessary supplies for her friends and comrades, staying out of sight and deep within her own thoughts for some time.

When the ship rocks with a rapid jump, she makes her way unsteadily back to the bridge, clutching at her chest. Wide eyed and white as a sheet, she approaches Keslin and Ossanlin once again.

"Keslin," she breathes, swallowing, keeping her voice low. "Sorry. It's...just nerves, man. I thought we were being attacked." She glances at Ossanlin, addressing the second issue in a quick, hurried rush. "I'm not sure who we'll find at the first rendezvous mark, but it's our closest failsafe. We'll just have to hope that whomever made it there will have started sending out broad range, encrypted signals to our peers our on missions." She sighs, shaky, the color coming back into her face--but making her turn a little green. "I ****ing hope we do get some luck going our way, for once, and Sam or someone equally skilled is with them." Her shoulders sink. "I hope someone is there, at all."

She peers up at Ossanlin, resolve building in her chest. "I'm sorry I was delayed, my friend," she says quietly. "I'm afraid I'm still a bit too shell-shocked to be much of a leader." With a wan smile she throws up her hands, but seriousness furrows her brow again. "Why did we jump? I heard the announcement, but I need to know more about what we're up against. Who is this...Sector 7 I overheard you mention?"


Lanath nods, lowering his voice as he walks along with Chris. "I'll make sure to keep an eye on them, sir," he murmurs cordially. "I've had my own dealings with Andalites before. These seem a bit more war weary than those I once knew, but they are the same lot, deep down. We'll be cautious but courteous, and I'm sure Aya will remember what I forget, in my old age." He smiles, patting Chris on the shoulder.


Niko makes his way to the quarters, exhausted and world weary. He doesn't even notice Dom or any of the others as an Andalite helps him to his assigned single room, with the strange, high-tech suspension bed. He takes a few moments to turn the device on, and for once he smiles, admiring the technology.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods at Myitt, taking a deep breath.  <We seem to be safe for now.>  A stalk eye lands on Enorryma.  <Enorryma, give those coordinates to Edrin, let her manage Z-Space.  Come to my Administration room.  Myitt, if you'll come with me.>  He glances at Keslin as well.  He's noticed that some of the rebels seem to be taking queues from him...he must've been a sort of leader as well.  <And Keslin as well.>  He glances at Joanne and Keshin.  <You two may come if you wish.  I imagine you probably know a little of what I'm about to reveal.>  He runs his eyes over the remaining rebels.  <The rest of you may remain here or retire to the Dome at your leisure.  You are not prisoners, nor are you my subordinates.  I do, however, expect you to respect the regulations set aboard this ship.  They exist for everybody's safety.>

He dials up Serid's personal comm from his console, sending him a quick message.  <Command Warrior Serid, please report to my personal Administration room as soon as the hosts are settled.>  That would keep the numbers in the room even..if Joanne and Keshin decided to join, that is.

He turns from his console and begins to walk around the right side of the bridge to a smallish door leading back and right at an angle.  The door opens into the officers' conference room...an Andalite-waist-high table with holo-emitter screens and control pads runs along the center of the room.  One side of the room is covered by a large holo-projection screen, the other is lined with windows that show the specks of star-studded space.  The Z-Space course would take a minute or two to process and chart.  Ossanlin continues on past the table to a second door on the far side of the room, and enters an office-like space, with what appears to be the Andalite version of a desk facing the interior of the ship.  There's a small computer unit and holo-emitter along with a small work-space.  Ossanlin commands the desk-structure to lower a few inches in order to make the humans a bit more comfortable, though he now has to extend his arms downward somewhat to reach the computer terminal.  He moves to stand behind the desk, the outer wall behind him filled by a single window looking out into the stars.  The wall to his right has a large, rotating holographic replica of the Tyrennian playing on a loop.  The other has a meter-wide titanium and gold sculpture of the War Prince rank insignia fused into the bulkhead.  It has always stricken Ossanlin as a bit too gaudy and declarative, but it's part of the room for a reason.  If a ship's Captain could be said to have an "office," this was it.

The room is still fairly bright, though there are some muted shades of very light brown on the walls here and there.  The color is meant to induce thoughts of the ground.  Supposedly it is to remind those who enter the office that they stand on the Earth whilst their War Prince stands in the Sky (represented by the large window situated behind him).  Ossanlin has often used the colors to remind himself that even though he's a Prince, his hooves still ultimately rest on the Earth for support.  The floor is a muted green pattern, designed once again for grip.

[KitsuneMarie]

Abruptly, and as if in response to her question, Tess's abdomen twists--a severe cramp, one that makes her feel like her enlarged stomach is in a vice. She presses on her abdomen to try to still the pain. It doesn't work, the pain almost a ripple across her body.

"Keslin!" she whimpers, but to no avail. There is no one on the room, and she couldn't get out of her suspension bed even if she tried. "Kes..."


Serid's attention is pulled from the ship's newcomers to his communication device as it alerts him to Ossanlin's message. <If you will excuse me, Claxter,> he murmurs, looking up to him. <The War Prince has summoned me.>

He allows the rest of the humans to pass and then turns back towards the bridge, entering it even as he watches Ossanlin disappear out of sight into the Administration room just beyond. He makes his way after him, stepping into the room and greeting Ossanlin with a respectful nod. <I am here, sir,> he says simply.


Illim rubs Myitt's back gently. "I'll get our room settled," he murmurs to her. "You lemme know if you need me, alright?" And with that, he turns, passing Serid and makes his way back to the Dome, now mostly empty. Except for Terenia. Spotting her sitting by the wall, he makes his way over swiftly. He stands over her a long moment and then slowly sits down beside her, his eyes on her behind his skewed glasses.

[Terenia]

Terenia doesn't respond to Claxter, waiting until he leaves. His words penetrate her grief only slightly, curling her hands into fists as each comment hits her like a physical blow. She doesn't lash out, though, she takes it and slides to the ground and allows him to go about his business, lacking the energy to do anything else.

When she senses someone new next to her she glances up. "Illim," she says, her voice a hoarse crack. Her lips tremble a little, and she doesn't say anything more, afraid she will start crying again.


"That would be fantastic, thank you," Dom says, giving Claxter a mocking little salute as he is dropped off at his quarters. "I expect I will return to your, erh, Dome once I have made myself presentable. I do not particularly wish to remain alone in a room until further notice. I believe I have had more than enough of that, thank you."

He slips into the room, but only after making note of the quarters that are delegated to Niko. Once inside, he immediately begins investigating the alien shower system.


Efaen follows Claxter, head down. As soon as she is shown a room she disappears inside it, eager to separate herself from the Andalites and the rebels, neither of which seem to understand her. Neither of which seem eager to accept her. She sits down on the force-field created bed and stares at her bare, human toes, her brow furrowed in frustrated thoughts.


Keslin nods and pulls away from Aya and Lanath. He quickly slips his hands into his pockets to hide their tremors and follows Ossanlin back into the Administration room. "We need to convene a Council meeting as soon as we can," he murmurs quietly to Myitt as they walk, frowning at the ground. "I appreciate what Ossanlin is trying to do, attempting to integrate us, but we need to be able to speak plainly with our own people. Without prying ears."

[Chad32]

<We won't lock you in.> Claxter said to Dom. <You're free to wander around the dome.>

He lingered by Efaen's room, standing out of sight. Every conversation he had with her had ended in an argument, and he didn't know what to say to make her feel at ease around him. He took a look into Tess' room to see how she was doing, and saw she wasn't doing too well. He rushed to where he saw Illim.

<Illim, I believe Tess is having further problems. I think she's running very short on time. We don't have a doctor, and we may need to settle on anyone who has the least bit of information on Human pregnancy.>

[Estelore]

Enorryma set them on course and turned over the navigation to Edrin, then followed Ossanlin into his office. The flurry of activity on the bridge left her musing to herself about how she would need to eventually learn the other humans' names, just so she could tell them apart. To some extent, most of them looked basically the same to her, except the ones with different coloured head-fur and skin, and Tess, whose pregnancy made her stand out clearly.

<<You requested me, Sir.>>

[Myitt]

Myitt smiles at Illim. "Thanks," she murmurs, before following Ossanlin off towards the Andalite office room.

"We need to rebuild the Council," Myitt tells Keslin as they walk, keeping her voice low. "I don't know if you've realized, Kes, but I...I can't do this on my own." She gives him a weak smile, shrugging and looking away.

When they reach the office room she slides around one side of the desk, looking around for lack of a chair, and finally settles on standing rather awkwardly where she is.


Lanath makes his rounds of the bridge, watching the proceedings with a terse expression on Aya's face.

<<Make note of these Andalites' positions,>> he says calmly. <<We may need to know who to go to, and quickly, in the event of an emergency.>>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods to Serid and Enorryma as they enter.  After Myitt and Keslin enter, he waits a few more moments to see if Keshin would join them.  He shrugs internally and commands the door to shut.  He leaves it unlocked in case the Yeerk changes his mind.

He spreads his main eyes over everyone in the room before speaking.  <Firstly, thank you for joining me in here.  The information I'm about to share with all of you cannot leave this room unless absolutely necessary.  We need determination and calm, and I fear that this information could endanger that.>

He pauses a moment before continuing.  <You may have noticed that we performed a double-blind-Z-Jump.  The reason is simple...if any of you are Z-Space physicists, you know what I'm talking about.  The swift exit and immediate re-entry into Z-Space at the same coordinates creates a temporary space-time anomaly which we call a Z-Strain Vortex.  It's a weakening in the fabric of space-time which allows massive amounts of Z-Strain radiation to flood into True-Space.  It distorts reality.>

He takes a deep breath and continues.  <I took this action because we were being pursued.  The ship was Andalite in origin, but matched no specifications on file.  I may have jumped to a conclusion here, but I don't believe I'm wrong.  The ship and its readings scream Sector Seven.>  He glances at Enorryma and Serid.  <I know you think you know Sector Seven's purpose, maybe you even suspect the truth...they are much more than an intelligence analysis entity.>

He turns his head to regard the War Prince insignia on the wall for a moment before returning his eyes to the group.  <Sector Seven exists above and beyond the government.  They have nearly complete autonomy.  They do as they please "in the name of the People," but somehow, their actions always seem to end up with them holding a bit more power than they used to.>  He pauses again, letting that sink in.  <Sector Seven seeks to control everyone and everything.  They are the true origin of the Yeerk-hatred propaganda campaign on the Homeworld.  They think and act without fear of consequences.  They are incredibly powerful, and very formidable.>

<To use a somewhat-labored metaphor...if one considers the Andalite People to be the Body, and considers the Andalite Electorate to be the Mind, Sector Seven is the Controller wrapped round that Mind.  Even the Electorate don't suspect that they are dancing on Sector Seven leads...but most of them are.  The most insidious part of it, is that Sector Seven is able to have the Electorate follow their designs whilst making the Electorate believe that those designs are their own.>  He shakes his head.

Ossanlin moves his main eyes to Myitt and Keslin in particular.  <I would stake every bit of my reputation on the belief that Sector Seven engineered and executed the attack on your base through the Electorate.>  He pauses a moment before continuing.  <Sector Seven probably even knew the truth...that you are not affiliated with the Empire in any way.  You...we...posed a threat to Sector Seven's power.  If we could work together, why couldn't others?  The very foundations of their entire propaganda empire were being threatened...and a supposed victory over a Yeerk force would boost the morale of the People...so you see, Sector Seven will do anything, anything, to further itself and its agenda.>

He glances at the rotating hologram of the Tyrennian and gestures at it.  <All of us see the pinnacle of technological advancement in this ship...this marvelous machine.>  He returns his gaze to the group.  <Sector Seven's technology is better...more advanced.  They have nearly infinite resources and some of the most brilliant minds in existence.  They have no conscience or morality.  They show no compunction in using weapons that our own government has banned.  It is my theory that the Hork-Bajir quantum virus was actually developed by Sector Seven.  Alloran was a pawn, though he didn't know it.>  He pauses, shaking his head again.  <I have heard from a reliable source that they have continued the research and development of...of the anti-fusion warhead.>  He expects some reaction from Norry at that, and perhaps from Serid too.  The Andalite government had long-since banned any further weaponizing of anti-fusion technology due to its volatile nature and incredibly huge potential for destruction.  Theoretically, an anti-fusion warhead could actually stop all molecular fusion within a star, thus destroying it and any systems that might be orbiting it.  Even the Electorate had seen that the ability to cause a star to nova was more than any being should possess.

[Estelore]

<Anti-fusion?! They cannot->  Enorryma took a step back reflexively. Bile threatened to pool in her hooves.

She shook her head. <No. They can. When quantum viruses were developed, we call cried, 'you cannot!' Still, there are quantum viruses. We would be fools to think Sector Seven gives any thought to decency, to sanctity of life. This...> She looked up to Ossanlin, with a stalk eye given to the Controllers nearby. 

<This is an affront to the very existence of life. Let us not forget, even an uninhabited system would be a critical threat, if its star's gravity is subtracted. A small rocky planet slingshot out of orbit can collide with neighbouring systems, and gas giants can completely alter a smaller planet's orbit and render it uninhabitable. Entire asteroid belts and comet ranges, losing their Primary... the possibilities are endlessly horrific, and it would only take minutes, marginally slower than light, for the gravity absence to take effect. Whatever malice has existed between our people and the Yeerks, it can be set aside for this. Nobody, even and especially Andalites, should have the ability to destroy systems.>

She turned all her eyes to Ossanlin. <Sir. What do you propose we do?>

<<You have my cooperation. I will not promise to like them, but this threat transcends basic war. A weapon like this in anybody's hands will spell the end of keeping battle out of civilian territory. Sector Seven has no competitors in its arms race, so this will not be a simple standoff like nuclear missile crises in planetary history. They could hold the entire habitable galaxy hostage to their demands.>>

[Shenmue654]

Keshin wanders in during the middle of Ossanlin's conversation warily. He understood that the War-Prince tacitly was inviting him in, but to what end? It was true that, being on the fringes, he might know slightly more about whatever clandestine operation Ossanlin was divulging. At least, from Ossanlin's perspective. The real truth of it was that Keshin stayed very far out of the Andalite edges of the war. He'd seen some strange activity on their part from time to time. Mysterious disappearances, operations in parts of the galaxy one wouldn't expect to see Andalites in. But honestly, that was really about it. Keshin slowly moves to stand in front of Ossanlin's odd desk, stroking the top of it idly. He had to admit the War-Prince had good taste in decoration.

<Nice hologram. Is that the ship we're on?>

<Pretty sure. We saw it from outside.>

Keshin frowns when listening to Ossanlin's strange, Illuminati-like explanation of Sector Seven. It was almost too crazy to be true. The idea that an entire people could not only overlook the intelligence agency but overlook crimes against Andalite law was huge. However, it did match what he knew about human intelligence agencies. And naturally, about the private world of the Vissers of the Yeerk Empire.

"So, this...Sector Seven..." states Keshin, looking at Ossanlin's front eyes but glancing at the table out of nervousness every so often. "...they are responsible for a lot of the Andalite world's more aggregious crimes against Yeerks and otherwise, but indirectly? Interesting. To even get all the information you have on them now..."

Keshin's look shifts to one of genuine interest, nearly mischievous. "...you'd have had to have been working against your own Electorate for a pretty long time. You're very different than the guy I took you for back in the Bar. If they are interested in us, that's..." Keshin squirms with that uncomfortable thought in his mind. His business depends upon the number of clients outweighing the power or number of his enemies. "...that is a big problem."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods to Enorryma, speaking privately.  <<Indeed, it is a blade at the Galaxy's throat.  We have many enemies...>> 

He pauses, darting a nearly imperceptible, but sharp look at Keshin in response to his astute observation...of course he would cut to that question...for such a secret entity, how could Ossanlin have access to all of this information?  Well, he would answer the question...the answer had to come out, but not until the group has had a chance to have a bit of a discussion.  He'd dropped one bomb already, maybe two or three in fact, that particular one could wait a few minutes.

He continues, still speaking privately to Enorryma.  <<I'm glad to have you with me Enorryma.  Your support means a great deal.  I would ask for your continued support after this discussion is complete...I hope that I will have it.>>  He leaves the sentence at that.  She would know the reason for his plea soon.  They all would.

[Ember Nickel]

Esarvit stiffens as he listens to Ossanlin explain Sector Seven. In a way, it's a relief--the People are not choosing this bloodshed of their own will. Surely they would speak with one accord, if only they could, not divided by the disparate factions...well. He doesn't let himself finish the thought. But if they are captive to a dubious elite, they cannot be faulted. Once order is restored, the rule of law will win out.

<Is it worth trying to expose this to the Andalite public? Surely they will not stand for this if they knew what was being done in their name,> Esarvit proposes. But he, too, knows that that is a risk; no matter how skillful their cloaking technology, he wouldn't put it past this Sector Seven to see through it. Combine that with their anti-fusion technology, and...well. No wonder Ossanlin was so hasty to escape. But how on the many stars were they going to overcome such opposition on their own? With the help of teetering biped voluntaries and their useless offspring? He glanced at the computer again. When your best-case scenario was all those rapid-fire Z-Space jumps, things were not promising.

[Estelore]

Enorryma swiveled her stalk eyes toward Esarvit.

<There are two major problems with attempting to expose this to the homeworld. First, we would have to get there in the first place, or within transmissions range, and you can bet beyond doubt that Sector Seven will have taken measures against it. Second, it would just get tied up in bureaucracy. Think how many wars have been engaged without any formal declaration of war, and think of all the weapons we have stockpiled even in peacetime, without the direct vote of the people. During the months it would take just to get a bill put forward for No Confidence, Sector Seven can already have their weapon mobilized, and by then it will be too late. As much as I hate it, there is simply no way the people will be given an opportunity to make this choice for themselves, and any attempt on our part to push that forward will just slow down our efforts to stop it on this end.>