Honored member of the high caste. I, Trasti, a lowly communications officer that had the privilege of working under you at the prison facility where you were kidnapped by the Terran, write to you at this hour to beg you to return to the Kloxna empire. I have been instructed by the matriarch, Tai'Tanu, to seek you out and convince you to return to your people. I shall wait for you to deliver me an answer at the market of Amsilon prime. However, I will have to return to the empire in no less than 3 months. I beg of you, please come to Amsilon prime and go return to the empire. I do not desire the death I was promised, should you not.

The honored matriarch also instructed me to inform you, that should you return to the empire, only the crew and captain of the "Void Wolf" will be killed and the Kloxna will start suing for peace at the first opportunity, once their deaths have been confirmed.

Strength and Obedience.

Trasti, communications officer.

Eirik looked up at Las'Tai as he finished reading the short message. She seemed both happy and sad, feeling he could well sympathize with. She was offered a chance to end a war before it began, at the cost of Terran's she had come to regard as friends in some way. "I wonder.." he thought to himself, "how well has she thought this through?"

He broke the silence.

"Las'Tai. I can see the conflicting emotions inside you, and I want to tell you right away, the choice to end the war is not yours to make, despite what this message indicates." At his words, Las'Tai looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean captain??" She asked, wondering if she had misunderstood a part of the message.

"I mean, that, even though your mom claims it will open the door for peace talks, if my crew and I are killed, that is not true. She promised to wipe my entire bloodline from the face of the universe, and my grandfather will not take those words lightly. In his mind, she has promised to eradicate the only thing with true value in his life. His legacy.

When he gets angry, which I suspect your mother's promise ensured, he will not stop until his victory is total. He will bring my people to your home planet and force your leaders to their knees where they will beg forgiveness and swear fealty, or get executed on the spot, by him personally. He will not stop, he will not rest, and he will not hold back until this war is won."

"Captain... Eirik, your grandfather is but one Terran, just like you-"

"And look how much chaos I have sown in your empire Las'Tai. Now, imagine me, with the power of the combined Terran armed forces behind me, and an incentive to go after the Kloxna people. How much damage do you think could be done then?? Only, we are talking about the man that subjugated the Drumixa, the man that all but obliterated the ENTIRETY of the Plyxii military in a single offensive. The man that calls me grandson.

And your mother issued threats of death, not only against this man's grandson but his entire family bloodline. What do you think he is going to do to your people?" '

While Eirik was talking, Las'Tai felt herself sink slowly into despair. She had never even thought about that. All she could think was that she had a way to end the war before it began. As Eirik finished, she looked beaten down, like she had no fight left in her.

Eirik sighed deeply, got out of the chair he had been sitting in, and kneeled in front of Las'Tai before he put a hand on her shoulder.

"I know it looks hopeless Las'Tai. But you cannot let it get to you. Yes, the war is going to go on. So be it. Now it's time to look at the things we CAN do something about."

"And what would that be" Las'Tai mumbled.

"We can do something our mental state, our resolve, our preparedness, and, most importantly, we can take care of those around us. We can try and be the little good in their daily lives that gives them a reason to smile." Standing up, he put an arm around her shoulder and started walking her down the corridor, "Come, Las'Tai. There is nothing like a good training session to drive away feelings of apathy and worthlessness."

She looked up at him, confused at the wording. "Training sessions?? but I already did my daily workout routine??"

"Oh, I didn't tell you?? Your probation time is over. You are a full crew member with full access to the ship. By the way, you might want to swing by Jesper at some point and say thank you, he was the one that advised me to make the choice. And since you are on internal security, it's time you join their combat training". That was as far as he got before she started running ahead of him. "Hurry up captain, This is going to be fun!" She yelled over her shoulder as she ran.

Eirik chuckled as he continued walking, much to Las'Tai's annoyance.

_________________________

Trasti was nervous. He had sent the message and gone to Amsilon prime as instructed, but having to wait for potentially 3 months was nerve-wracking to him. He was, by nature, a skittish person that frightened easily. Growing up in a martial culture dominated by women had not helped. Despite the females finding his nervous nature *cute* and his outward appearance to be quite pleasing, he had not found anyone that he could feel comfortable around. This, in turn, made other females much more aggressive in courting him, only adding to his nervousness.

He was blessed to have been given male bodyguards. Not only did they stay extra vigilant when they saw female Kloxna, not in armor, but they could also talk as equals about the troubles that living in a matriarchy brought. Thankfully, they carried the mark of Tai'Tanu, marking them as diplomatic envoys in her name. Diplomats always enjoyed a large degree of privacy, even more so when representing one of the most powerful Kloxna family bloodlines.

"Please respond quickly Honored one" he muttered to himself as he settled at the table to eat dinner.

__________________________

"What are you going to do when we arrive at Amsilon prime, Las'Tai??" Eiriks' question caught her completely off guard and she almost fell over as she stumbled in the corridor.

"We are actually going, Captain??" She asked to try and buy herself some time

"Of course. I think I know the Kloxna that sent the message. If he is the one I am thinking of, he worked in the communications room where I called the ship from during my escape. My gut is telling me that he has a part to play in this grand tale of ours."

They continued down the corridor in silence, Las'Tai wondering what Eirik had meant and if it had something to do with the same reasons she was here now.