Lieutenant Commander Sir Tar Nako paced in his quarters, his pressed blue cape billowed behind him as he crossed the length of the room and his food was left untouched. His modest living quarters filled with treasures and achievements seemed all but paltry now that he knew what was before him. The grand visions he had for his future were tumbling down a dark hole and out of his grasp, it wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Things were not going to plan at all.

He had captured a Rajavan vessel and claimed it as his prize of acquisition, only for the short-sighted Knight Commander to scream that he did not chase after the pirates who were salvaging it. At the time he felt it was the right decision, a dozen pirate ships scattering in all directions of the void or an entire gene-harvester ship (mostly) intact and ripe for study? The reveal of the alien Creator level species onboard only confirmed his judgement correct, if he had chased after such pirates the creator would have slipped into the unknown, lost as so many other things in the painful dynasty. Nako thought such a precious find would have elevated his status to at least admirable, but it appeared the Councillor had an even lower opinion of him than Knight Commander Kotorn did.

Which shouldn’t have been possible really, unless sir Kotorn was whistling only the least flattering songs into the Councillors ear.

That was a possibility, Nako did prefer to lead by example and those below him were enamoured, while those above saw such fraternising as wasteful. Soldiers didnt need to be happy, they just needed to complete their orders.

Perhaps the Councillors opinion could be changed once Nako could explain his side of the argument. He had the audfiles of Kotorn demanding the selling of the Humans stasis pods and the humans themselves with his own voices of protest. Nako slowed his pacing, glancing over at the ‘Brazillian’ tapestry that hung alongside his others.

The Counsellor had not yet met the humans, wondrous creatures who could weave their emotions like music and who could not live without being surrounded by art.

Jasmine was a fine civilised maiden, while her looks were much to be desired for an insectoid such as himself, she could bring any sapient being into her fold with her mere presence and sincerity of empathy.

The counsellor, as powerful as he may be, probably couldn’t withstand such a charismatic Frequency. Nako chittered to himself, stroking his mandibles in thought.

Bring anyone into her fold, except him of course. While he was happy to stand by her side as an ally, he did not succumb to serve under her as most did.

Great allies they would be, with her burning song and his righteous strength they could bring in a new Dynasty to the Galactic Council. New Dynasties were always sworn in on the discovery of something monumental, his own people were the cause of the shift from Painful to Rejuvenation and now he would be responsible for the next shift.

Nako could feel his Calling beckoning him ever stronger and louder towards his fate.

His name alongside the Praetors and Princes of history, rescuing an alien maiden strong enough to invigorate a new crusade.

Now he was laughing to himself.

If Engine lord Viitoic was proposing was true, they would need all the help they could get.

The Rajava were returning, with all the power the humans have and probably more.

Now he just had to convince the Counsellor of that.

His spiralling visions of grandeur were interrupted by the comms device on his regalias collar, it blinked a pale blue as Tifera’s voice echoed through the translator.

Captain Tifera: Sire, permission to enter?

Nako looked over at his uneaten meal, and rolled his shoulders back, a hand over his collar button.

“Permission granted,” he replied and turned to face the door.

Captain Tifera was a hulking military-grade Zenthi model, a messenger class to be exact, so while she stood shorter than her infantry counterparts, there was no better match in Freq projection or speed. Perfect for serving side by side with a Lieutenant Commander.

She came carrying two large silver suitcases, one under each of her already hulking arms, she could barely fit through the already generously sized door. Tifera had smuggled out some of the many human weapons the engine lord had dismissed as inferior on his command. She placed them down before him and opened them for inspection.

“Are these to your liking, my lord?” Tifera asked stoically.

Nako gazed over the dazzling pieces of machinery, each one completely different to the other in size shape and colour. Their art even extended to weapons of war, a thrilling aspect to be sure, he nodded his head in approval.

“Its not a matter of if theyre to my liking, but if they are to his,” Nako replied, implicating the largest unknown factor of their current situation.

“Are you sure you want to gift a praetor inferior weaponry?” Tifera inquired, her long antennae-like ears upon her head flattening in concern.

“Inferior doesn’t mean less deadly,” Nako responded, picking up a piece of the brass-plated ammunition and weighing it between his fingers, “I’m sure a demonstration of the device in the hands of an experienced warrior could tell us otherwise,” Humans had surprised all of them in the most profound ways, Nako was willing to stake his life that there was more to the projectile weaponry that had simply been overlooked, “besides, it’s not power I’m gifting his Honour, its rarity…”

Nako gave a silent order to close the cases, Tifera bowed her head before acknowledging and fulfilling the request.

“I’m sure the praetor will appreciate your gift, Sire,” she complimented his forethought.

“Yes, my gift…” Nako returned his arm beneath his cape, passing the bullet between his fingers unseen as he returned to pace, “Any word on which Praetor requested my presence?”

“Not officially, no,” Tifera responded, “but I can tell you the closest Royal ship that requested gate access,”

Tifera was good at that, knowing what to look for outside the basic parameters, only an experienced and seasoned soldier was capable of such things, which is why Nako preferred to have those under him loyal.

“Proceed,” Nako replied as he paced.

“The ship’s name is ‘Star-Needle’. Registration number 0127538, the ship belonging to His esteemed Honour Sir Mal Karakt, first Praetor of her Imperial Grace Akkaritia,” Tifera answered solemnly, the gravitas of the name stopped Nako in his tracks.

A first Praetor, the favourite mate of an imperial queen, certainly not the usual ambassadors the imperium sent out to inspect novelties such as himself.

“And you are sure of this information?” Nako’s composure slipped as he asked for clarification.

Tifera bowded her head low as she confirmed her answer,

“Cross checked the logs myself, my lord,”

Praetors, those blessed individuals who sired the next generation of life within the imperium, most never left their queens’ side without express permission. First’s especially so, since they held such close and personal bonds with their queen. To have such a free reigning Praetor have heard his name? To have requested his audience specifically? Such events were, more than astronomical, they were downright mythical.

And the universe once again aligned the stars for him.

“Perhaps he was simply the closest ship in the area?” Nako rationalised out loud, trying to squash any hopes from burgeoning out of the darkness, but Tifera asked the unspoken.

“My lord…” The gruff captains voice was low, a rare moment of vulnerability as she asked, “If the Praetor offers you a chance at presenting yourself to court, would you take it?”

Nako paused, his back to her.

“If it were offered, yes,” he answered truthfully, of a thousand males born there was born but one maiden, Princes of far nobler a birth would throw themselves into gauntlets just to prove worthy of consideration, “but, my time with the rangers is not something I look at with scorn,” he returned to face her on his path “but IF I were to leave, I shall pay the credits necessary to balance your score,” Nako pulled back his cape and saluted his captain, “I would have no other as my attendant,”

Tifera bowed deeply, her cold exterior pulsing with waves of gratitude.

“You are far too generous my lord,”

“I am pragmatic captain, I’d rather be followed than feared,” he shook his head, and laughed “besides, I highly doubt the Praetor would present me at court, he’d have over a dozen sons at least! Far better candidates than I!”

The tension settled between the two, Tifera pushed the crates to one side while Nako took a seat at his terminal. There was one last matter they needed to deal with, although he had hoped the situation did not need his intervention.

A notification sat waiting for him. Nako sighed, never a moments peace or reflection these days, he tapped the screen and waited for the computer to relay the message.

The bubbly voice was a welcome sound.

Namegiver Jasmine: Hello Nako! Just Jasmine checking in, the company really did a number on the guys, it might take longer than I thought to get them on side, but nothing I can't handle, good luck with everything on your end! Live long and prosper!

Longer than she thought hmmm, Nako had planned to visit Jasmine and run her through more etiquette lessons, between the alien weapons and an alien maiden Nako wanted to put forth his best impression tp the Preator of their uniqueness.

“I suppose I shall give her the space she needs,” Nako muttered out loud for Tifera to hear, “What are the standing orders for interaction with the humans?”

“Currently Sire, they are no contact outside the Engine Lord, even you are barred from contact outside direct orders.” Came the reply, as though she had the answer prepared.

“Well then,” Nako relaxed his shoulders, “then I suppose I should abide protocols then,”

Nako pressed the terminal’s screen and recorded his reply.

LC Nako: Namegiver Jasmine, I want to thank you for the status report, while it is unfortunate that your progress is slow I have every confidence that you can undo the ill that has burrowed under their shell. Should you require my presence please do not hesitate to send a request, I shall answer once my duties allow me to do so.

May your calling be clear.