As Eirik was nearing his room, a voice called out behind him, "CAPTAIN!!" As he turned around, he saw Signe making her way towards him.

"What is it, Signe?" He asked as she got close. "I got something I want you to see Captain." Signe held out her hand and showed Eirik a small electronic device.

"Isn't that a tracking device?? Terran military??" Eirik immediately became hyper-focused. They had not passed by any military installation or had contact with a military ship. The only place they had stopped after his confrontation with his grandfather was the smuggler station. "The old fox must have already sent people there undercover," Eirik thought bitterly.

"Yes it is Captain," Replied Signe, "I disabled it though. Spaced the tracking component a few days ago. I found this little sucker on the underside of the ship during takeoff inspection."

"Granddad works fast" Eirik mumbled. "Good work Signe, keep it up."

"Thanks, Captain. What should I do with this?" Signe held out the disabled tracking device

Eirik took it from her hand, "I will dispose of it in due time. Anything else?"

"No Captain, nothing else." She walked back down the corridor and Eirik entered his room. Sitting down he began typing out a reply to the Kloxna that had messaged Las'Tai.

Communications officer Trasti. This message is a reply on behalf of Las'Tai. As the Captain in charge of the ship where she is currently located, I have taken it upon myself to inform you that she will be at the designated coordinates in no less than 1 standard Terran month from now. You have my solemn word that she will be in good health upon arrival. Las'Tai will speak with you then.

On a personal note, I have a suspicion you and I might have met once before, albeit, under much less friendly circumstances. If I am correct, I wanted to extend my sincerest apologies to you for treating you as a did, but the situation in which we found ourselves did not allow me a friendlier first impression, and I hope no lasting damage was done to you. I never intended to hurt you or your colleagues.

Peace and good growth to you. Eirik.

The message complete, he pressed send and called for Las'Tai over the intercom. She soon arrived and poked her head in the door. "You called for me Captain?"

"I did Las'Tai. I have taken the liberty of replying to Trasti on your behalf. We will be there in 1 Terran month from now. that will leave us enough time for you to get a few weeks of training on the jungle moon. It should be quite an... Illuminating.. Experience for you."

"If you say so, Captain. But why would you reply to me?? The message was directed towards me!" Las'Tai was angry, and rightfully so.

"Because, I needed them to not know you were a part of my crew. If they knew you had joined my crew fully, there is a good chance they might try to kill you at that meeting. This way, I can keep you safer. We are at war Las'Tai. Knowing my grandfather, he will mobilize the fleets, and when the time comes to attack, it will be fast, brutal, and relentless.

Terra marches to war. And when Terra marches to war, nothing shall stand in her way. That is the thing about us Terrans, Las'Tai. We come into this universe kicking, screaming, and covered in someone else's blood, and we have no issue with leaving the universe the same way we entered."

There was a determined finality to Eirik's words that sent a shiver down Las'Tai's spine. She could tell he believed what he was saying with absolute conviction. There was not a single shred of doubt in his entire being. And in that instant, she knew the beast that her mother had awoken.

with a look of resignation, Eirik looked Las'Tai straight in the eyes. "I'm truly sorry for what is going to happen in the future Las'Tai. I never intended war between our species."

"I know Captain. I was there when you made the declaration to do this without the blessing of your government, effectively making you a criminal outlaw." Las'Tai could freely admit to this, having witnessed it with her own 2 eyes.

"But perhaps this is merely a new cycle" Eirik continued. "How far are your studies in the runes, Las'Tai??"

"Not far Captain, there is so much more to those *runes* than I initially thought. Why?"

"I want you to focus on the rune called *Jera* it should provide you with some insight to my statement about this being a new cycle. When you have found out what you can about that rune, come to me again, and we shall see how deep your understanding is"

"I'm not sure I follow Captain, but I shall do as you ask."

"Good, now, I need to get some work done. I believe it is your free time currently. Could be that you might be interested in trying out the steam button I had made in the sauna."

Without a word, Las'Tai shot off in the direction of the sauna, leaving Eirik alone once more. He sat back down and started writing a letter to Ulla, detailing what had happened so far and that he could not reveal his current location on account of his grandfather. Afterward, he made a long video message for his mother. She would want to hear everything from his own mouth, but he was not ready to face that struggle just yet. He needed to be past the point of no return, otherwise, she would hunt him down and force him to make peace with his grandfather. Just before he was forcefully drafted by the same man she would want him to make peace with.

Finally, messages sent out, He could lean over his desk and open the ornate wooden box standing in the corner up against the walls. After rolling up a joint, he lit it up and turned on the song *Paschendale* by Iron maiden. Inhaling greedily from the smoke, he felt the rush to his brain as the weed was absorbed through his lungs and leaned back, letting the music become his world.