14.01.2723

Twenty years ago, if someone had approached Vysin about working on a top secret project, he would have said yes. Now, staring at the monitors on the bridge, he wasn't so sure he'd do it again.

"Update me," he said, placing a scaly hand on the controller's headrest.

"Yes sir," the controller replied, quickly pulling up camera feeds and status reports for Vysin to review.

Most of the feeds switched rapidly, following the events unfolding on the planet below. It was difficult to make out what exactly was going on, but altogether, the feeds spelled one thing: disaster.

"Sir?" the controller prodded. "Sir, did you hear me?"

Vysin shook his head and looked down.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I was elsewhere. What do you have to report?"

The controller pointed at individual feeds, magnifying the frames to make them easier to see. One screen showed a dropship under attack as a band of Terrans ambushed a squad on the ramps. Lightning and ice flew across the screen as the Krakoshan troopers attempted to hide inside a grounded skyhopper.

"We've isolated the damage," the controller said. "It appears the earlier reports of an outbreak in sector thirty-four had an effect. Dropships in neighboring zones twenty-one to twenty-three, thirty-three to thirty-five, and forty-five to forty-seven have spontaneously released their cargo. All science centers apart from Commander Senet's airfield are no longer responding. The cryosleep effects for an estimated eighty-five percent have already worn off."

"What?" a high-pitched voice screeched.

Vysin sighed and turned around. Lord Malbar, the royal director of Trial 017, had a tendency to shriek whenever he was under stress. Given the current predicament, it was clear Malbar wasn't taking the situation well.

"That is an entire sector!" Malbar hissed. "That's at least a dozen-"

"At least a hundred Terran subjects on the loose," Vysin corrected. "Malbar, what are you doing here?"

Malbar sniffed and straightened his back. The older Krakoshan was fatter than Vysin, taking up quite a large amount of space on the bridge.

"High Lord Ratan Malbar to you," the lord snapped. "Do not forget your place, peasant. And should you forget, this is my ship. The fleet outside these viewports is my fleet."

"This is my operation," Vysin sneered. "And it's Chief Scientist Leko Vysin to you, lordling. Now, unless you have something important to contribute to this farce, I suggest you vacate my command center."

"You would do well to mind your tone," Malbar reminded him.

Although the lordling tried to project an ominous tone in his words, they both knew it would be an empty threat. Vysin was the one running the show, and he was too vital to the project to simply cut off. If anything, Vysin knew it must irk the lordling to know that he was only there to observe and report. He glared at the fat Krakoshan, silently glaring at the lord and willing him to leave. Finally, as the silence stretched to an awkward level, Malbar averted his gaze.

"In any case, we are being hailed by the King's emissary," he said. "I came onto the bridge to inform you that the emissary is demanding our presence."

Vysin hissed at this, turning and clapping the controller on the shoulder.

"Quickly, inform Commander Vogarin to meet us in the situation room," he said. "Put the emissary through when I get there."

The controller nodded to Vysin's back as the scientist left the bridge with the lord. Making their way down the hall, the two Krakoshans were joined by a stockier Krakoshan outfitted in golden armor. Vogarin was a good soldier, having served in the Krakoshan army for many years. Like Vysin, he bore no noble roots, having steeped his own success throughout the years. The commander remained silent as he walked ahead to hold the door for the others.

"On screen," Malbar commanded, as he entered the room. Then, to Vogarin, "Lock the door behind you. This transmission has been deemed confidential."

The commander nodded and secured the door as Vysin moved to set up the transmission. Formerly the engineering headquarters, the room was now reconfigured to hold three seats around a screen. The three Krakoshans quickly settled in as the emissary came online. The screen flickered to life, revealing a slim form wrapped in a dark robe, face hidden by a deep hood.

"Greetings emissary," Malbar began. "The situation here is well in hand, no need for concern from the King. As we speak-"

The shadows of the room writhed and coalesced into a tendril wrapped around his neck, cutting off his words. The lord's eyes bulged as the shadows wrapped around him, holding him so that he could only struggle in place.

"High Lord Malbar," the emissary hissed, his voice distorted by a voice modulator. "Reports indicate multiple grids have fallen into chaos. The King is indeed concerned. Offer nothing but honesty in your next words."

The shadows lifted from Malbar, disappearing as they came, allowing Malbar to speak again. The Krakoshan gasped and glanced at his compatriots, his eyes glinting with fear. Vysin hardly dared to breathe, staring at the shadows where the tendrils had come from.

"Of...of course," the lord said. "We...we...uh, failed to contain a certain, uh, subject. I believe the containment system was, uh, inadequate."

Vysin took a deep breath, eyeing the lord and the emissary on screen. He had to say something, speak before the emissary turned his wrath on him.

"If I may," Vysin probed. The emissary's shadowed form nodded and he continued.

"My men have determined that the subject was an astral projector, already in a state of meditation. From what we gleaned, his subconscious eventually resurfaced and managed to free his body and one other by interacting in the physical plane. None of our plans indicated such an incident could occur."

"Not to worry," Malbar added. "I already gave Commander Vogarin the order to divert troops from nearby sectors to aid in securing the outbreak. I believe all will soon be well."

The three looked to the screen hopefully, waiting for the emissary to respond. After a moment, the figure on the screen nodded.

"An additional assessment," the emissary said. "Chief Scientist Vysin. Report."

Vysin gulped and looked down, thinking quickly. It was almost as if the emissary could read his mind; that emissary was surprisingly well informed. Any placating gesture he could offer now would potentially mean his demise.

"To be honest," he began, hesitatingly. "I do not think the situation will be easily controlled."

From the corner of his eye, he could see Malbar glaring at him furiously, gripping his seat tightly with rage.

"Previously, during the initial outbreak, Commander Vogarin suggested a full response, to err on the side of caution. It was the High Lord Malbar that disapproved the action. Now, the High Lord has deemed the commander's advice necessary. I fear that this course of action will no longer be sufficient."

The emissary turned to Vogarin and leaned forward.

"Commander Vogarin. Report."

The soldier glanced between Vysin and Malbar, shifting uneasily in his seat.

"Uh, yes, my lord," he said, speaking in a clear tone. "I did previously suggest stronger action, and my proposal was disapproved by High Lord Malbar."

"Hmm," the emissary noted. "Commendations for your honesty, Chief Scientist Vysin."

Malbar glanced at Vysin, eyes wide.

"Emissary-," the lord began.

"High Lord Malbar," the emissary suddenly boomed. "Your incompetence has cost the Kingdom. Your investment in this venture will proceed to the next of kin, and you may now consider yourself relieved of duty."

"N-n-next of k-kin?" Malbar stammered.

The shadows burst forth again, this time forming a singular spike, slamming itself through Malbar's chest and emerging from the other side of the chair. The High Lord gasped, his head snapping back in reflex as the life drained from his body. Moments later, the spike retreated, vanishing back into the shadows of the room.

Vysin gasped, his eyes fixing on Malbar's body with horror as it slid slowly out of the chair. Even Vogarin, who was usually stoic, looked as frightened as Vysin felt.

"Chief Scientist Vysin," the emissary hissed. "You are now in charge of the operation. Have a care in your proceedings, lest you share the fate of your predecessor."

The transmission suddenly winked out, leaving the screen now truly dark. For a moment, the two Krakoshans sat in silence, both avoiding the subject of the dead body. Finally, the commander cleared his throat and stood.

"Sir," he said. "What do we do now?"

Vysin took a deep breath and glanced at the now vacant chair.

"Contact Commander Senet. Time to handle things ourselves."

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