A/N

Sorry for the Delay, Been a long while sincle last Chap, been running around at work, again.

A while back I decided that I would need to help show some of the side characters in order to help show the plot expanding as opposed to just having a bunch of dudes (and chicks) on a ship screwing around (Not literally) as they sail around and sow chaos. This chapter is to help show some of these characters, namely the two sides of what is going to be the crux of the main conflict in chapters to come.

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There stands a grand palace coated with gold and platinum leaf, figures of dragons everywhere. Grand archways and tall ceilings of which the tops can barely be seen with the naked eye coupled with the value of the material gave the entire palace a rather imposing air and demeanor, yet despite all of this Is a small chambers off of the main palace. In a much humbler abode, sit’s a Dradarian at a desk with two heavily armored forsworn artifact knight guards standing slightly behind and to either side of the unimposing man. This room unlike all the others had no gold or jewels throughout it, instead it being solely made from wood, steel, and concrete. The unimposing air in the room being somewhat misleading as this was one of the most secure places available to said man, while at the same time it remained completely sound proof.

Thump, Thump, Thump

“Your eminence, Emperor Machiavelli of Dradar your spy mas, I mean the head of your imperial intelligence department has arrived to give you the daily report.” said a man standing outside the door wielding a banner and dressed in outstanding regalia of a pompous noble

“Thank you crier, show him in and then you are dismissed.” said the man behind the desk a tired look gleaming in his eye.

“As you order sire.”

“I will have him fetch you when it is time for your return.”

“Sire, as you say shall be done.” said the crier as he opens the door lets another man in. This man wreathed himself in shadows however as soon as he walked in his cloak of shadows slowly seems to disappear from around him and instead was an unassuming Dradarian, of medium height, build, and an extremely common face that would make it almost impossible for him to stand out in a crowd. The picture of unassuming, he quietly strolled forward and bowed to the man in the chair saying;

“Your majesty, your spy master pays his respects to the throne.”

“Please drop the formalities; you have earned at least that much. And remember what we talked about, it is bad for our publicity if you call yourself such.”

“Very well Your Majesty, Here is the falsified written report to throw off anyone who is watching and now for the verbal, I have good news and Bad news as always.”

“Please Sam enough of that, you know there is know good or bad new, there is merely news.”

“5 destroyers have disappeared, apparently obliterated by a random asteroid while in pursuit of the Theriocephian princess. Another one was found with the entire crew alive and drifting through space with their dark matter reserves completely drained.”

“Gragh,... That is bad news. Damn it all who ordered that chase, we cannot tangle with Therioceph we are in a precarious position and we have no allies, only enemies.”

“Justin”

*Sigh, “Of course, that boy is going to be the death of us, no me your skills in stealth are nigh on unprecedented. Fine so what’s the good news?”

“Hahaha, that was the good news sir. Former Fleet Admiral Rhiannon’s Granddaughter was on that sixth ship as acting captain. When the ship was recovered she was missing, the tracer chip on her seemed to have been cut off from all communication. She is now MIA. Without a tracer.”

“Who, the Rhiannon family has only ever served the ruling emperor, on whose authority did she head out?”

“Your power hungry son, the crown prince pressed her in service, enslaved her with a token, a cheap one at that. In addition, he sent her out. Unfortunately, the former admiral found out. Now the crown prince who keeps conniving for the throne has been forced back as the majority of the royal navy now supports the third prince. Which, could be counted as good news, that will throw him off for a while as your children keep up their attempts to kill each other.”

“Where did I go wrong Sam?”

“In all honesty you are a great emperor, but a shitty father, what did you think was going to happen when you raise an entire family in this cesspool of politics known as Sindar. Well check that you didn’t raise them you focused on the kingdom, and neglected your children. I would advise them for psych-evals as I have said before but none of them would agree, even if you wanted to their current power bases would allow them to ignore such orders as if it was nothing.”

“It annoys me that you are right, it is too late to do anything now, I have very little power left that I can fully utilize. Well what else is there?”

“The Order of Eyeless Dragons, have begun moving in odd ways, even I don’t know what they are planning but so long as they remain silent and don’t show their power of the united underworld on the surface we should be safe-ish for now.”

“Thank you Sam, What are my children’s standings at the moment power wise?”

“Crown Princeling lost a lot of momentum with this latest stunt, but he still has the imperial navy, just not the royal navy. Downside is royal navy is slipping into decline.

Second prince, General Zabi Machiavelli has complete support of the armies, both of them imperial and royal.

The third prince has the support of the Royal Navy, and a small group of the populace.

While finally the fourth princess has the support of the ‘intelligence department’ *Cough, Spy Corp, *Cough. Myself included, the entire interplanetary defense Corps, and the majority of the population.” Says Sam as he holds up a separate finger for each individual.

“Sam, What about my personal guards and the senate?”

“Your majesty, seeing as how your guards are loyal to you, and only to you, I would say about half of them would go to the 4th princess banner if you were to die the rest would disband. As for the senate, don’t make me laugh. The senate is to busy trying to find their balls with both hands to do anything worthwhile outside of putting forth a token effort in support of the crown prince, that primarily comes from fear and intimidation.”

“Who would be the most likely to take control if I were to die?”

“Hahahaha, Therioceph.”

“Has it really gotten to that extent already?”

“Yes, the nation would go into a civil war between the first two princes the third would disappear, possibly during an ‘unfortunate hunting accident,’ while the fourth would go into hiding. As the war draws to a close the princess would emerge, lead an uprising take control and then be either used as a puppet figure, or killed before coronation while Therioceph would step in to ‘Keep the peace’. Who do you think sent that asteroid. My guess is that they wanted to kill their princess, recover the body use a grand funeral to enrage the populace and go to war.”

“Why didn’t they?”

“No body, no parts from the ship, no residue form its drives it just disappeared without a trace. No proof, no politics. No possibility for war, it almost seems like they hitched a ride with someone else.”

“But who Sam, I have so many doubts and questions, I worry for my people.”

“I don’t know much outside of this, it is not only The Order of Eyeless Dragons who has begun moving.”

“You mean…”

“I don’t know but my sources in the shadows say that they haven’t been this active for a long, long time. Something big is coming your majesty. There is nothing we can do save pray to the eternal cosmic, and hope we will be able to weather it out.”

“Thank you Sam” the emperor says seemingly aging 10 years while saying so. “You are dismissed if you have naught else.”

“Yes your majesty, beware the crown prince he may have been set back, but a beast is most dangerous upon feeling cornered. Farewell, I am going on a mission.”

“What, where to?”

“The shadows sire” Sam says as he turns and begins cloaking himself in darkness once more while leaving the room while a tired man and his two guards remain, to manage an empire that is rapidly collapsing in upon itself.”

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~Meanwhile, in the capital of Therioceph~

The golden hall of the beast king.

“Enter and Report now my Spy master,” said a Lion Theriocephian sitting upon a golden throne wearing vestments of Deep and rich purple.

“Yes your majesty,” said a weasel Theriocephian, wearing a large cloak seemingly made from shadows themselves. He quickly strode into the throne room. “I have bad news Sire,” He continued with a fawning grin.

“You may speak freely forked tongue.”

“Your daughter survived.”

“ … … What do you mean she survived?”

“The asteroid missed and the Dradarians failed.”

*Roarrrrr

“She can not be allowed to Live, I need my daughter to die in order to propel this nation, my nation into a righteous furry for war! And NOW YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THE ATTEMPT FAILED AND SHE IS ROAMING AROUND IN SPACE. ALIVE AND WELLLL???? POSSIBLY KNOWING WHO PLANNED IT ALL?????? EXPLAIN YOURSELF BEFORE I SEVER YOU WORMED AND FORKED TONGUE FROM YOUR BODY, WEASEL.”

“There was a shadow your majesty,” he said while bowing low before continuing, “Some sort of shadow slightly threw it off course causing them to be able to dodge.”

“What are you talking about, what shadow could manipulate an asteroid?” The king said after managing to calm himself down and sit back in his throne.

“I don’t know your majesty according to our source in Dradar the only surviving ship was attacked soon there after by men cloaked in shadows, presumably prewar artifacts, and relics were involved. That is all I know, the reason I say shadows is because they were using advanced scanners but the only thing they were able to pick up was some shadows and running lights. From the look of the running lights your majesty, the shadow was huge.”

“Does the rest of the family know about the attempt?”

“no your majesty they still naively believe that she is on wellness and peace keeping missions to Dradar, the Aetherium Geniocracy, and the Magikin meritocracy.”

“Good, I don’t care who you have to take care of and silence make sure this failed attempt is covered up, no one must know outside the 2 of us. The one with the strongest maternal bloodline would take the throne; she must not live to be 18. If she does, and I am dethroned, you will go with me.”

“Sire, I still don’t understand, why can’t you just change the rules of succession?”

“My damnable deceased whore of a wife put into the will which was read that the crown shall stay maternal with the bloodline, and the throne be passed to one of her beloved daughters. AND I CANT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE SAMANTHA IS LOVED BY THE POPULACE, THE NOBLES, AND THE REST OF HER SIBLINGS. So if she were to disappear, I could institute a war, declare marshal law, rest authority from the nobility and change the law so I can retain My Throne, and My Power.”

“Can’t you just kill one of the others???”

“No because she is heir apparent. Wait a moment, I already told you all of this forked tongue, why the questions?”

“I haven’t had my morning egg yet sire and am still waking up forgive me for my mental grogginess.” He said as he bowed 90 degrees from the waist again. “Besides I believed that you would want to hear the news about the failure as soon as I found out.”

“True, you showing yourself was proof you deemed it important, very well if there was nothing else than you are dismissed weasel.”

“Thank you sire, From the Shadows I came and to them I Shall Return.” Said the Spymaster as he bowed once more and turned to leave silently.

“One more thing, remember not a word or you will go down with me.”

“Believe me your majesty I know what the full weight of my actions would entail.” he said over his shoulder as he passes the main door.

Rapidly fading into the shadows along the wall.

“I am going to have to learn that shadow trick from him one of these days. How the hell would I bring him down with me, hrmmm…”

Emerging from the shadows outside of the palace and rapidly jumping in and out of the shadows in the city of Sindar, a Theriocephian man approaches the outskirts of the shielded city. He reaches a back alley and dodges inside, the buildings are so close together in this part of the city that their overhangs completely block out any and all moonlight, hiding the planets 5 moons completely and turning the end of the alley into a dark, and seemingly endless abyss.

“3 doors down and special code to activate portal” The man mutters to himself.

Knock - - - knock

Knock-Knock-Knock

Thump - - - Thump

“Who calls upon the Order?” A disembodied voice comes out of the doorway which slowly opens.

“One, who has wandered the stars without a cause and has found his calling in service to the Order.”

“Enter the portal to learn the truth about the stars.”

The man steps into the doorway to enter an extremely posh and roomy mansion, he shakes his head as if trying to remove the haze of sleep when one awakens from a deep slumber. Only to look up and find the man who was speaking to him. A small and wizened old human using a cane, yet his eyes betrayed his decrepit appearance as they shined with the bright vibrant light of youth.

“Sir you know that these bridges always throw me off, besides what is the need for all of the cliché cloak and dagger things we need to do as to enter.”

“It is the only safe way to get into contact with all of the members, some of them are in sensitive positions, besides the cliché stuff is fun.,” says the man breaking into a grin.

“I know about the safety, I was asking about the cliché. Here is the recording from the throne room. I know that I am on a need to know basis at the moment but my curiosity will force me to ask. I get the feeling that something big is going down, the Orders seems to be fluctuating. What is happening?”

“Our order along with our sibling orders will most likely soon be called upon to become active, we picked up a beacon.”

“So?? Ship and station beacons go off all the time, what’s the big deal?”

“It is time you knew some of the background with what you have done in collecting this recording is proven yourself true. A war is coming and we are going to need everyone’s support. The united underworld of the outer rims is even ready to provide assistance. Follow me to the chart room,” The man said leading the Weasel Theriocephian up a set of stairs and into a large room, which held a hologram of the entire charted galaxy.

“Wow, this is he most detailed star chart I have ever seen, Even the Dark zones are mapped out. How did, No, how old is this??”

“Pre-Collapse, many people are going to be shown this info, but only those that can truly be trusted will be given the full truth. All the Orange lights are beacons, pink conflicts, Green for neutral systems, and red for bases of the other societies throughout the galaxy.”

“There are so many of them, how do you keep in contact, and on such good terms with all of the other societies?”

“The societies were founded by a circle of friends in the case something would happen to the governments of the galaxy there would still be some form of stability. And to help do what we can in order to protect the galaxy itself from outside threats.”

“Wait, what? I have so many questions”

“They will be made clear with time, now see this extremely bright blue beacon, by the Naraku system?”

“Yes, what is so outstanding about it?”

“It is a pre collapse ship, now that alone is not that outstanding there are beings in this society that have lived since times way before the collapse, now what is outstanding is how bright it is. The brighter the beacon the more important the cargo. This one is vibrant.”

“First are you one of those beings, and secondly what is it then?”

“Hahaha, I guess you could say yes to the first one, as for the second it is true immortals. Now before you ask, they are the founders of our societies since only the founders were true immortals.”

“So why hasn’t anyone seen it before.”

“They were sleeping for 7 thousand years but someone awoke the sleeping dragon, so to speak. Something happened during the collapse and they disappeared not even a glimmer from them, but now they are awake and heading towards Naraku.”

“Which means… Something must have happened!”

“Exactly, but we don’t know what, the problem lies in that we have very few connections out there in the outer rim, that is former territory of ours but overtime all but a few members started slowly moving down the spiral arm. I sent a message to the few remainders and they have all started heading to Naraku. We haven’t been able to make contact but hopefully the local Dons’ will be able to do so for us.”

“What does that have to do with what I have brought you this evening? Wait then is that shadow Sam from Dradar told me about?”

“Possibly everything, could be nothing. Nevertheless, the beacon appeared where the others disappeared. In addition, after meeting some of the, how would I say, more eccentric of the founders It always to be better safe than sorry. Then again, those eccentrics, ya know what I will let you find out for yourself when you meet them. And yes ha-ha that odd shadow was more likely than not their ship. It is good that you placed your lieutenant on the princess’s ship to help them ‘magically’ dodge the asteroid while feeding the king falsified information.”

“Thank you, He did well, He may not be the best when it comes to stealth but he is dependable. Besides I do owe the deceased queen, may she rest in peace.”

“Do not blame yourself for her death there was nothing anyone could do, even if you loved her and she didn‘t back. You can’t blame yourself; she was loyal to the king despite what he believes.”

“ha - haha - ha. You know people say my intelligence network is scary, but if that is the case yours is downright terrifying. Enough about the queen that is one burden that I will continue to bear ‘til the day I die the best way I can do it now is by stopping the kingdom from imploding and keeping her children safe.”

“Richard…” the old man says patting the Theriocephian on his shoulder

I have more questions but I must return to the Palace before my absence is noted. I fear that the king maybe becoming suspect, his insanity is deepening by the day. Especially since he failed in his attempt to off the princess. If my position becomes to risky though I will immediately go ‘on a mission’ then disappear if I have to, while maintaining my network from off planet. I will keep you updated master.” said Richard brushing the old mans hand off himself.

“Very well next time you contact me hopefully we will all be able to figure out what is going on. Especially regarding the unnatural coordinate shift it is still bugging me and I worry for all our sakes since it seems to have originated from an outside source.”

“Master?”

“Don’t worry about it; just take it as the unnecessary worrying of an old man.”

“Very well, let me recharge my cloak and I will be off.”

“One more thing.”

“Yes master?”

“Those people you are going to ‘take care of‘, Send them to me at the tertiary physical location, we could use some new members. And if nothing else, we can provide them new identities and safe havens in some of the neutral systems. Oh and Sam will probably be contacting you soon, he is the spymaster of Dradar after all.”

“Understood Sir, Does Sam know everything, and will it be alright for my lieutenant to become an initiate?”

“I believe Sam knows, and if not he will soon. Is your lieutenant trustworthy?”

“I trust him with my life.”

“Would you trust him with the safety of the kingdom? But, before you answer think about it.”

“Yes master.”

“Very well then, be safe, stay cautious, cloak yourself in the shadows well, and when all else fails call upon our Order of wandering immortals for assistance.”

“I hear and obey sir.” He says before bowing and walking down the stairs leaving the old man staring at the chart.

“I wonder if the council of immortals will arise and unify the societies as it did in the days of yore… I wonder…” the Old man said to himself

As Richard walks towards the portal, he murmured to himself;

“Can I trust Capt. Henry that much? Can I? I wonder where the hell he went off to??”