Welcome to my nightmare

I think you're gonna like it

I think you're gonna feel you belong

A nocturnal vacation

Unnecessary sedation

You want to feel at home 'cause you belong

Welcome to my nightmare

Welcome to my breakdown

I hope I didn't scare you

That's just the way we are when we come down

We sweat and laugh and scream here

'Cause life is just a dream here

You know inside you feel right at home here

Alice Cooper - “Welcome to My Nightmare”

“...I was wondering when you would call.”

Dhyaksh Jiyazh Ghuuyaz regarded Leandra with hooded eyes that revealed nothing. “Once again we find ourselves with a mutual enemy. The Gods must find it quite the jest...you and I as allies.”

“I’m not laughing, Jiyazh,” she told him. “I take it your people brought you up to speed?”

“Azhum Ganakh has given me a detailed report, yes,” he replied, “though since the invaders forced him to withdraw there were one or two minor details, he was unclear of. For example...why your Task Force began firing on its own ships.”

The Prime Minister drummed her fingers on the desk, as she debated how much she dared tell him. The Dhyaksh just smiled in return.

“So, it is true then...the Ronin have turned against you.” He chuckled as she flushed red with anger. “The only question that remains is did they do so of their own volition, or were they compelled?”

“Since you’ve figured out that much, it seems ridiculous to keep the rest from you,” Leandra sighed. “We don’t know, Jiyazh. But all indications point to this being some contagion.”

The old Khonhim warrior shifted in his seat. “You have troubles of your own, Leandra. I suppose then that joint mission to deal with this new threat is not an option?”

“...no,” she sighed. “Under other circumstances, I would welcome the opportunity to bring our two nations closer together, but I imagine you would only agree if it meant us returning to Gzuj?”

“In fact, I would insist upon it,” he nodded, “though by your answer I suspect you have troubles of your own...and that they are closer to home.”

“Something like that,” she admitted. “And you?”

“Once our forces are gathered, we will return to Gzuj and expel these intruders once and for all.” His thin smile was as cold as space itself. “I will deal with these invaders.”

“...you’re getting a little long in the tooth for that nonsense, aren’t you?” she asked him, only for the Dhyaksh to chuckle in reply.

“You do not know how much I long for the simplicity of battle, Leandra,” he smirked. “Besides...a warrior my age has no business dying in bed. What a tragedy that would make.”

The Prime Minister raised an eyebrow. “And just how long will it take the Khonhim this time to choose a new Dhyaksh?” she demanded. “We can ill afford your people to be without a leader now...or have you forgotten just how much your traditions cost you in our first conflict? Not that I’m complaining about the outcome.”

“Despite what you may think of our traditions, we can learn from experience,” he grunted. “Should I fall, they will choose a new Dhyaksh within a matter of days, and in the interim Azhum Ganakh will stand in my place.”

“Well, try to stay alive a little longer,” she smirked, before growing serious once more. “Let us know what you learn about these new enemies of ours. As you say...I have troubles closer to home.”

“Done,” he agreed. “Likewise, should you discover anything about our new friends…”

“...you'll be the first to know,” she nodded. “Good hunting, Jiyazh.”

“And you, Leandra,” he smiled. “Remember me to Nassat, should your paths cross.”

“I will. Singh, clear.”

The Prime Minister blanked the screen, and then leaned back in her chair, fingering her necklace. It had been many years since she had last spoken to the Saurotaur...though she had a feeling that was about to change.

Trying to keep a secret of this magnitude was impossible. Too many people already knew...so instead the government used what little time it still had to plan and craft their message, before the Prime Minister's seal appeared on TNN for a special announcement.

Her expression was solemn as she gazed into the cameras. “My fellow citizens...it is with great reluctance that I must inform you of a looming threat that endangers this populace. One that puts our society at risk, one that will require extraordinary measures to defeat. One that will demand sacrifice, from every one of us.”

“In the past twenty-six hours, our forces encountered a new force in Khonhim space, one not affiliated with any species or sector we know of. We know nothing of their origins, their culture...but what we know is that they are hostile, having attacked both us and the Khonhim. They forced our fleet to withdraw from Gzuj, and now...we face an even greater danger here at home.”

“As always, our priority is the safety and protection of our citizenry. We have faced great challenges in the past and weathered every storm that has threatened us...which is why I know we will do so again. But this storm, however, is unlike anything we have seen before. The threat before us now is insidious and will require extreme measures for us to survive.”

“What we now face is a plague, an infection, one that targets our most valuable worlds. We will do everything within our power to stop this disease in its tracks, but until we know how it spreads, it forces this government to take drastic action to prevent its spread.”

“Only the Ronin are susceptible to the virus. To prevent it from infecting our worlds, it is with great reluctance that I must now declare Martial Law throughout the Tetrarchy, and place all Ronin worlds under Quarantine. It is my sincerest hope that this will be only a temporary measure and that we will soon be able to put this ugly chapter behind us.”

“Given the number of systems involved, and the demands this will place on our armed forces, I must, therefore, recall all former service members to active duty. Again, I stress this is only temporary until the crisis has passed. It is my most fervent hope that those individuals recalled will soon be home with their families and loved ones once more.”

“In addition...I must also announce that we have reactivated the Draft Boards. Notices will go out in the next few days to those individuals deemed necessary during this Emergency. Those selected will be informed when and where to report for training and given the speed in which this crisis has come to us, I beg your patience and understanding, as we work to prevent this danger from reaching epidemic proportions. I can assure you, no one regrets this decision more than I, but if we are to survive then we must take these actions, to protect everything that we hold dear.”

Leandra gripped the podium as she looked out over the trillions of citizens that comprised the Tetrarchy. “I give you my solemn vow, we will survive this, as we have survived every other challenge that has come our way. The road ahead will not be an easy one...but I know in my heart that we will survive, as we always have. Not only survive but thrive, while facing this adversity.”

For a moment it looked as if she was about to say something further, before she signed off with the phrase, “Long Live the Tetrarchy,”...as the cameras went dark.

Nassat knelt before Raichret’s marker, his head bowed in quiet contemplation. He meditated here often, this cenotaph honoring his wife and mother of his children, gone these many years. It was a solemn duty he performed daily, and there were times he heard her voice within his mind, as she whispered her love for him.

The sound of footsteps echoed behind him, as Tango approached. Her movements were deliberate so as not to startle him, while he sought the peace and serenity of a tranquil mind. Under normal circumstances, the human moved like a wraith...even now, after all this time.

She came to a halt a respectful distance from his preferred spot, waiting for him to finish his meditations. He tried to continue, but the quietude he so searched for would not come. Nassat sighed, opening his eyes and lifting his head.

“Boss...” she began, but as he raised his hand she drifted into silence. He rose to his feet, looking out over the gardens, at the stream that wound its way through this place that he loved.

“I know,” he whispered.

Tango sighed and stepped forward. “No Boss...you don’t.” She held out the tablet in her hands to him, and as he stared at that simple device, he realized that he did not want to know what it contained. He took it from her and read...as tears fell from his face.

“...they both report tomorrow,” she said.