All our times have come

Here but now they're gone

Seasons don't fear the reaper

Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain

We can be like they are

Come on baby, don't fear the reaper

Baby take my hand, don't fear the reaper

We'll be able to fly, don't fear the reaper

Baby I'm your man

Blue Öyster Cult - “Don't Fear the Reaper”

There’s was a moment’s hesitation as Jiyazh looked to Azhum Ganakh. Dauntless was his ship, but a simple gesture decided the question of command. Azhum bowed his head and stepped aside, leaving the way clear, as Jiyazh all but leapt into the command chair and turned to the tactical officer.

“What do we have?” he demanded, as the officer threw the plot onto the main display.

“Readings are indeterminate, Dhyaksh,” he said, “but there appears to be from ten to twenty vessels bearing down on our position. They are jamming our sensors.”

Nassat and Musashi stared at the screen and then turned to one another. “Do you think it could be…” Musashi said in disbelief.

“...it must,” Nassat said, before facing Jiyazh. “It has to be Admiral Fujimoto’s fleet,” he informed him, as a surge of hope filled his chest.

“Perhaps,” Jiyazh replied, as he gazed at the display. “It is also possible this is one of Chugaz Uydan’s tricks.” Without missing a beat he turned back to Tactical. “Ready all weapons, and prepare to fire.”

“What? No!” Nassat shouted as he rushed to Jiyazh’s side. “Let me speak to her,” he begged, “I can convince her to stand down.”

“Can you?” he asked. “If that is Fujimoto, then she will react as the Prime Minister did. More so, in fact...seeing as the very ships she now faces are the same ones that devastated her command. There is a very good chance she will not believe you.”

“I must try,” Nassat pleaded. “My wife is on one of those ships!”

Jiyazh grimaced, and then glanced at the tactical officer. “How long until we are in weapons range?”

“Thirty seconds, at current velocities,” the officer responded.

The Dhyaksh gave a curt nod and mashed down a button on his armrest. “That’s how long you have to convince her,” he said, “or until she opens fire.”

Nassat wasted no time with pleasantries. “Admiral Fujimoto, this is Marshal Nassat. We are aboard one of the Khonhim vessels you are now attacking. Stand down!”

Nothing.

“She thinks it’s a trick,” Musashi said.

“...fifteen seconds,” Jiyazh informed them, watching the countdown. “Unless you can stop her, I’ll have no choice but to fire.”

Nassat wracked his brain, trying to think of something…anything...that would make her listen. All he needed was a minute, but unless she gave that to him…

“...your father!” he shouted in sudden inspiration. “You said he would have liked me, and that his biggest regret was that you did not share his faith. He perished in the attack on Earth, in the city of…of...” He ground to a halt, struggling to recall the name of the human city. He remembered reading the report of the metropolitan centers lost, but that had been weeks ago, and the human names felt strange to his tongue.

“Five seconds,” Jiyazh intoned, as the ship’s officer prepared to launch weapons.

Dear Creator, what was it? It was like another city in name, he could almost see it…

“...Kyoto!” Nassat exclaimed as the human word came to him. “Hélène, please, stand down!”

Jiyazh raised his hand, as he prepared to give the order...when the attacking ships swerved hard to port, avoiding the Khonhim vessels. Nassat held his breath as the Khonhim leader fixed his attention on the screen, watching for any hint of aggressive intent...before lowering his hand. “Tactical, maintain weapon’s lock, but do not fire,” he ordered, as the Saurotaur Marshal breathed a sigh of relief.

“It is only a temporary reprieve,” Jiyazh said. “Unless she states her intentions to be peaceful, I will fire,” he vowed without hesitation.

Moments later, the communications officer looked up. “Dhyaksh...I am receiving a transmission from one of the enemy ships. They wish to speak to Marshal Nassat.”

“On screen,” he ordered.

The image wavered, as the likeness of Admiral Fujimoto replaced the tactical plot, Nassat gasping in shock at her appearance. Her face was heavily bandaged, covering one of her eyes, and her normally pristine uniform was stained and torn...but worst of all was the empty sleeve, pinned up at her shoulder.

“You have ten seconds to prove your claim before I destroy you,” she snarled.

Nassat swallowed, and stepped forward, with Musashi at his side. “Admiral, it is all true. The Khonhim have split into two camps...the loyalists, following the flag of Chugaz Uydan, and the rebels, under Jiyazh Ghuuyaz.” He turned to show Jiyazh sitting in his command chair, eyeing her without expression. “Chugaz Uydan’s forces are headed for Tetrarchy space as we speak.”

“Dissension in the ranks does not make them our allies, Nassat,” she fired back. “Why should I trust him...or you?”

“I could say the same of you, Admiral,” Jiyazh said. “I have not forgotten how you treat your ‘Guests’.”

The two glared at one another, as Nassat stepped in between them. “Admiral, please...let us return to your ship. We can discuss this in greater detail, and show you our recordings.” He paused for a moment, and then asked, “Admiral...may I speak to Raichret? Is she unharmed?”

Hélène’s face was carved from granite. “I will consider your request...on two conditions. First...that all individuals transporting over are unarmed.”

“Agreed,” Nassat said in a rush, nodding his head, drawing sullen looks from those around him.

“And second...that Jiyazh transports over as well,” she demanded.

The Dhyaksh rose to his feet. “And become your hostage once more? I think not,” he all but spit out.

“If you think for one second I’ll allow you to remain in command after what your fleet has done to mine, you are very much mistaken,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Allow?” Jiyazh barked out a harsh laugh. “What makes you believe you are able to ‘Allow’ me anything?” he growled back...as once again Nassat watched the two of them ready to go to battle over a point of honor.

The last time he had witnessed them preparing to go for one another’s throats, he had attempted sweet reason to sway them, and mostly he had been successful. But the young naive sergeant who had played peacemaker between them was long gone...and the Saurotaur who stood before them now was cut from very different cloth.

“ENOUGH!” Nassat thundered, glaring in fury at each of them. Two heads swiveled as one, as Jiyazh and Hélène both stared at him in shock.

“Are both of you so determined, so filled with hate, that you will destroy each other?” he demanded. “Fine. We can arrange that. We can transport you both somewhere, with a stack of weapons high enough to satisfy both your murderous urges and let you slaughter each other!” Nassat scowled at each of them and to his amazement, each of them looked somewhat abashed. He pointed his finger in what he thought was the direction of the Tetrarchy, allowing them to taste his full and righteous wrath.

“There is where the enemy lies,” he glowered, “and the two of you are handing him victory! Have you learned nothing? He wants you divided!” His chest heaved as adrenaline coursed through his veins. “Neither of your fleets can survive against him alone, and I will not lie, even together, our odds of success are slim.” Nassat drew himself up, as he faced each of them. “But we have faced greater odds before, and prevailed, so I refuse to surrender to fear and hate. So make your choice, here, now...will you stand together, or will you battle to the death?”

The silence on Dauntless bridge was deafening, as those in attendance stared at the Saurotaur in stupefaction. Whisper grinned as if he had witnessed the funniest pratfall ever, and even Tango gave him a smug smile of satisfaction. But Nassat refused to budge, standing his ground, as he waited for their response.

“...I will come to your vessel, Admiral,” Jiyazh said at last, breaking the silence. “I will even come unarmed...but I will have four warriors at my side, and they will be armed.” His eyes narrowed, as he enunciated each following word. “I will not remain as your prisoner. I will return here after we finish our discussion, where I will continue to command these ships.”

Hélène’s posture was as still as a steel bulkhead, as she eyed Jiyazh with suspicion. “Very well,” she got out, “...but you and your warriors will be will be under armed escort at all times...and that is not negotiable.”

Jiyazh bared his teeth in a predator’s fierce grin. “I would not have it any other way, Admiral,” he said with reckless élan. “Our shuttle will be within range in an hours time.”

“Looking forward to it,” she shot back, as she flashed her own incisors in return.

As the freak adrenaline surge began to fade, Nassat still had a question burning in his mind. “Admiral, now that we have avoided wholesale slaughter...for the moment, at least...may I please speak to my wife?” he asked in much calmer tones.

The Admiral regarded him for several long moments, before rising to her feet. “Marshal Nassat...I regret to inform you that the Tetrarchy vessel Clara Barton was lost, with all hands.”