From when they arrived at the point Cal suspected that the Jix would enter the galaxy to the time that the Jix actually arrived, Nyla seemed to stretch on forever. In reality, though, it was closer to seventy hours, according to the ship clock.
Nyla breathed a sigh of relief when Cal's voice called over the comms system so everyone could come to the bridge. She immediately felt guilty for a variety of reasons, but a part of her simply wanted this to be over.
When Nyla stepped onto the bridge and took her seat, she only had to wait for a moment before Daren and Killion were the last ones to take their seats.
Cal nodded to the advisor and his son before turning to address a virtual assembly of advocates and leadership visible on screens around him.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Stand by and witness the reason that the Bearer of Sin exists," Cal said, turning away.
Cal opened his mouth to issue an order, but the room seemed to chill, and a younger woman on screen sighed in annoyance. Cal turned back to her, "Ambassador Ja'Nara, is something to your displeasure?"
Nyla had to school her face into compliance because, unlike the Ambassador, she had caught the sheer annoyance in Cal's voice. The woman, Ja'Nara, spoke with a tone that carried notes of someone used to being listened to.
"I still do not understand why everyone seems to want to fight. All I ever hear from that sister of yours is, 'Let Cal deal with it' or 'Well, we can always send Cal.' It just seems like she intends to let her psychopathic brother kill to his heart's content."
"I see," Cal said with a smile, "and I understand. You and your supporters still want to try to negotiate with Jix. Even though they are led by and worship a Flare entity."
"Yes, that is my purpose, to communicate. While I understand the circumstances of our first meeting and of their interactions with the Shen were, shall we say, less than optimal? I still wish we would have sent a diplomatic mission rather than the sham of a discussion that was had between you, the Jix, and whoever went with you." The Ambassador nearly snarled the words out.
Cal was about to respond when Empress Axshram stood and spoke. "If I may, Cal?"
Cal looked at her and shrugged, stepping aside and introducing her, "Ambassador Ja'Nara, may I present the Empress Axshram of the Jix."
"Empress Axshram, it is an honor to..." Ja'Nara started but was silenced by a dismissive gesture from the Empress.
"You seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding about my people. Yes, at this moment, I am placing a bet on Cal here that he can get rid of our god because that is what he is to us, a God. But at our core, at least now, my people are not kind. generations of making whatever choice we had to to survive under Ix'Grom's rule has made us hard."
"I understand, Empress Axshram, but surely you understand that all options should be explored before we resort to war, despite what Cal and his sister may think," Ja'Nara said, her voice unable to hide the disbelief that it held.
"No, again, you misunderstand. If you and an entourage had arrived after our bout of fighting with the Shen, rather than Cal and the threat posed by Cal, you would be slaves." The blood seemed to fade from Ja'Nara's face as she listened to the Empress.
"My people wholeheartedly believe that we are chosen to rule over all others as complete masters. There is no room for niceties. We only respected the strength that was projected. We realized that in that moment, we could not beat you and enslave you. But if you had showed up with flowered words and tried to show us the error of our ways, we would have killed as many of your warriors as we could, enslaved the rest, and fought tooth and nail to control every single species in this galaxy, or kill them if they would not submit."
"Does that answer your questions, Ambassador?" Cal asked, and the now pale woman nodded in silence. "Good. Now, as I was saying, you must bear witness to the rules and regulations put into place when the Bearer of Sin program was initiated. Do you all accept your duty here?"
A round of confirmations came through, and just then, Artie interjected. "Cal, I am detecting local space disturbances. Prepare for contact."
Cal ignored everyone then, focusing on the visuals that Artie was displaying on a monitor. Nyla watched him, and she felt herself grow fearful at what she was seeing. As he focused more and more on the screen, the shell of Cal fell away to reveal the brutal machine of war that is the Bearer of Sin. Every movement and every look seemed filled with cold, calculated intensity that could and would kill you. The room grew silent as everyone present began to pick up on Cal's subtle shift in attitude.
Finally, a rift appeared and divulged an armada of ships, with one massive one leading the way. Cal immediately tapped a button to hail the lead ship. "Jix forces, you are trespassing in this galaxy. This is your first and final warning. Leave now, renounce your Flare Entity, and you shall be spared. Failure to do so will result in the destruction of your fleet and the forfeiture of your lives."
Moments passed, and looks were traded between Pinetil and her mother. Finally, a video transmission popped up. On the screen, Ix'Grom stood, "Ah, if it isn't the lucky human. Bend the knee, Cal and I will not kill you immediately. I have decreed a holy crusade into this galaxy. My people will spread the one true way and the name of their only god, me, Ix'Grom. So what do you have to say, Cal?"
The look on Ix'Grom's face was one of someone who was completely used to getting everything that they demanded. The smile on Cal's face was of a man who loved to slap that look off of people. Cal locked eyes with Ix'Grom. "Artie, deploy the Swarms and isolate the lead ship. Capture as many as you can, and kill the rest. I will deal with Ix'Grom."
[Ix'Grom]
Ix'Grom dismissed the communications screen, terminating the broadcast, and began issuing his own orders. As much as he boasted and pushed the Jix onward, a part of him screamed in fear. He remembered the smile that Cal held as he made Ix'Grom kneel in fear.
