Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 51: One Day War

A scaled humanoid in red and purple robes flicked her hand. Getting the blood off of her knives. She looked around at the numerous Tacole and Sima corpses around her. A moment later Nila stepped out of the shadows. Covered from head to feet in green and gray blood from the Tacole and Sima respectively.

"High Priestess, seems like you managed to relieve some stress." Nila joked as she gave a slight bow. She looked down as she accidently kicked one of the detached heads.

The High Priestess shook her head, "how are the rebellions going?"

"They were easily subdued. The Sima tried to blame it on the Tacole but we just killed their upper echelons. Unfortunately a few mighty and useful Tacole warriors seem to be lost to us. Including Isaiah the Hammer. It appears he was assigned to specifically go after the person who managed to cut off my hand." Nila explained as she stretched.

"Good, was there anything else of note?" The High Priestess asked as she moved toward the conference room. She was currently in her office but the conference room was where they had meetings with all the tribal heads.

"A few things." Nila nodded as she moved over to a device that was sitting in the middle of the table. "That nation of Artificial Intelligent beings made contact and are angry. Apparently the Sima violated the rules the nation set in place for Artificial Intelligence rights."

The High Priestess groaned as she realized what that meant.

"The Vexical Empire easily combated the rebelling Victorium faction and managed to capture many of our ships and weaponry in the process. The process to separate the Sima from the Tacole is going smoothly. I have also been assured by our scientists that the genetic alterations the Sima made to the Tacole are reversible." Nila sat on the edge of the table and kicked her feet back and forth.

"What about the technological research and other things the Sima were entrusted with handling?" The High Priestess asked as she sat in the chair at the head of the table.

"Delayed for the time being but our research suggests that humans should be able to easily fill the role that the Sima will have to vacate." Nila pushed a button on the device on the table pulling up an analysis from their intelligence agency. "But it does seem we need to spend a bit more time on bringing one of them in."

"You mean the human nations? I already decided on bringing in the Vexical Empire or rather whatever comes out of the civil war that he has planned." The High Priestess grinned as she waved her hand. "Honestly it is impressive in a way. The emperor of a single nation managed to plan the collapse of not only his own nation but many others in an effort to fundamentally alter human society. That reminds me, have we found out where the Vexical emperor has placed his new intelligence agency?"

"Nope. They are using some method of travel in their new ships that is circumventing our surveillance. As well as technology to hide themselves. Honestly we might have less difficulty if the Sima had not had this plot." Nila answered with a sigh thinking about the difficulties that are arising with the fact that the Sima have betrayed them.

"Haa…" The High Priestess sighed and seemed to be about to say something when the door opened and some Accer Imperial guards walked in dragging a fat blob that is a Sima. More specifically Char Fondra the Sima that was a part of the council. "Ah, it seems he has arrived."

"High Priestess, what is this chaos? My people are being killed all because of those Tacole's mistakes!" Char spoke as if he was innocent. He had gotten out of many similar situations before during the last ruler's watch.

Unfortunately for him, the current High Priestess was from Clan Whix. They had experienced some of the deception and betrayal from another group. So they knew what needed to be done in order to prevent more betrayal in the future.

"Your pleas and excuses might have worked with the old ruler. But they will not work with me. The Sima race is being downgraded to a managed species like the Ola. While the Tacole will be repaired and brought back to the council once we find a suitable council member." The High Priestess smiled at him showing off her sharp rows of teeth.

Char shook his head and grasped onto his last piece of hope, "but without us the technology investigations will stop. Progress will suffer!"

"You are right and normally I might be worried like my predecessors." The High Priestess continued smiling, "but you forget that we have recently made contact and probed the humans. So I plan on making an offer to them. They have already shown their expertise in matters of technology and creativity."

Char seemed stunned, "wha-" But his head was suddenly flying as Nila swung her sword with her arm.

"You know you are a bit too dramatic sometimes." Nila pointed out as she walked over to a window and pulled open the curtain. Outside she could see the soldiers storming the streets as Tacole and Sima alike were escorted to temporary holding facilities. "Am I allowed to go and track down my lovely man now?"

"No," The High Priestess answered, "the human trade station he is at will no doubt be under heavy lock down. I can't risk you being captured or killed. Wait until it dies down and then you can go."

Nila clicked and then began pouting. "But the danger is part of the fun."

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Dakota strolled right past the nobles and military officials who were arguing only moments before. It seems the emperor was entertaining a bunch of politicians. He was probably bored again. The emperor was dressed in a red and white robe with a black military uniform. Which was only ever used in mourning periods but he had been wearing it for years. The entire room was made to look in a similar fashion with red and white flags with the symbol of the Vexical Empire. A lion's head with a mane made of fire.

"Admiral Dakota! I don't know what you think you are doing-" A duke who he honestly could not remember the name of began yelling at him. But he was silenced as the emperor raised his hand.

Dakota slightly bowed his head as he approached the throne. "May I approach? I have a private message and report." Dakota informed the emperor.

The first prince gritted his teeth, "if you can tell the emperor you can tell me. I know everything because I am the heir." He stated proudly as he stood straighter glancing at one his guards, who Dakota recalled had super hearing.

The emperor seemed to realize the same thing. "What is it regarding?"

Dakota smirked. Good thing these old snakes have planned for all contingencies. "It is regarding Project Spectre." By all accounts it is an unlisted project that is not written down anywhere except one place with only eight people knowledgeable about it. All of which are trusted by the emperor and loyal only to him.

As soon as the emperor heard the project name he flinched and his iron mask faltered for a moment. Showcasing his concern that only those with trained eyes saw. Including the prince's guard. "What happened?"

"Critical injuries but survival and something unrecorded." Dakota answered.

"Was that all?" The emperor asked, internally calming down. His voice steady as he composed himself.

"No, all battlefields where the Victorium have suddenly shown up are falling in our favor. The battle at Oculus Station was particularly beneficial. We captured an entire Victorium ship and the general in charge of the invasion. We have confirmed from one…" Dakota stopped at this and pulled out a datapad. "Isaiah the Hammer, that this was not an action by the Victorium as a whole but rather by a rebelling faction that wanted to show off its superiority within the Victorium. But that is all he would tell us. No other battlefield managed to capture a ship as complete or an enemy commander."

"Mendez outdid himself again." The emperor responded with a grin but Dakota immediately looked away and lightly chuckled nervously. The emperor narrowed his eyes, "I know what that means. I will issue the same order as last time."

"Thank you, your majesty." Dakota responded, but as he stood up the prince decided to interject.

"Hold on, what are you two talking about? What order are you giving?" The prince asked.

"They are talking about a rather talented student of Dakota's that is working under Mendez." For the first time the imperial princess spoke up. "From what I understand, the financial branch of the military is already making a category for him alone. Especially since he has already provided the military with two revolutionary pieces of technology."

"Ha… yeah two-" Once again Dakota looked away. "Not like his lab has technology that makes a military research facility look like a kids store." Dakota responded sarcastically as he began walking out.

"Hey you are supposed to-" One of the nobles began telling Dakota to properly address the emperor.

"Sorry I almost forgot." Dakota looked directly at the emperor. "That was all for my report, Emperor Natius Vexical."