Romeo Es-Hestos's Story

"That would be most unfortunate, ma'am."

The gravelly voice reminded one of water over boulders, rough and wavering, but holding the promise of once being smooth, even dream-like. The man it belonged to was a broad-shouldered, fit older man, with a salt-and-pepper mustache and deep, bottle-green eyes. He smiled at Josai once, before nodding to the two outsiders and waving towards the Kamakina in an offhand motion. The riders remained wary, but visibly relaxed as the man approached the three, his hands folded behind his back.

"I apologize that I haven't been able to meet with you sooner, ma'am, sir." He said, once he was close. "My name is Romeo Es-Hestos, and I'm in charge of this planet's well-being."

"Well. This is remarkably convenient," Austin smiled, attempting to flat-out wretch the disruptor pistol from Nagala's hands with a quick jerk in the direction of her trigger finger where the grip was weakest. He didn't trust her with it. "Go on, Sheila. Shake the nice man's hand so we don't all die." He smiled warmly. "Glad to see some hospital authority. I was beginning to worry that Misrana was ruled by walking animal motorcycles."

He took a step back, nudging Josai's shoulder and hopefully murmuring low enough for only her to hear. "Ohway is the anmay? Is he with the izardlays?"

"He...controls them, Austin," whispered Josai. "He's probably one of the stronger people on this planet. He controls its defenses- didn't you hear him?" Josai went pale. Why was he in Trashtown? This couldn't be good. Something very big had to be happening.

"It wouldn't be wise to even try running. Trust him, though. I don't believe either of you will be killed..."

Sheila Nagala felt Austin try to jerk the weapon from her grasp, so she responded with a quick and sudden jerk away from him, pulling the sleek weapon from his grasp and putting distance between the man and herself before she swiftly holstered the weapon.

"Likewise I do not trust you with my sole means of defense, Terran." She protested, before she turned to the strange man, inclining her head and extending her hand. "Admiral Sheila Nagala, The Fleet of Inner Knowledge of the United Aschen Empire." She said, turning to Josai.

"Now, if we could kindly find a way to communicate with my ship, so that my Executive officer knows I'm safe." She then glared at Austin. "I'm guessing that Hitchhikers will be escaped convicts, Mr. Marshall, but per the Armistice, I am extending the offer to return you to Terra."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Only this once, though."

Romeo watched the two of them interact for a long moment, intelligent eyes watching their interactions quietly. "If I may interrupt, ma'am," he said, cautiously, "I have a pressing matter that I would need the both of you to answer. The convenience of my arrival here is far more than a passing interest."

He glanced to Josai for a second, before addressing the two strange Terrans. "On Misrana, we have a very strict policy regarding outsiders on our rock. It appears that the two of you have circumvented that, and this is a problem that I forsee having unfortunate complications."

He glanced towards Sheila, addressing her face to face. "We will deliver a single, encoded missive, with no communications, informing your fleet that you happened upon our planet through no violent means. We'll drop the both of you in a neutral location, to be picked up at a time and place. If that's agreeable, I'd like to know the specifics as to how you got to this planet."

Austin Marshal cleared his throat. "Perhaps here isn't the best place to be discussing this, Mr. Es-Hestos." He gestured towards the lizard-men. Though relaxed, the rockets mounted on their frames still looked quite menacing. "I'm sure the admiral and myself would be more then happy to answer any of your questions. Perhaps we could just... take it down a few notches?" He rubbed at the back of his neck, smiling bashfully. "Sorry. This is all a bit much. I imagine the admiral here was sleeping soundly in her bed before she was literally dropped into this planet. You can imagine her confusion."

He looked back towards Josai, noting the concern on her face. "Hey. Hey you're coming with, right?" His voice was calm and collected, peppered with a subtle distress. Why was she so pale? This was perhaps the most alarming thing of all. Josai was usually so coy and confident, seeing her caught off her guard was as alarming as having a knife to the throat. "I don't want you go away." He meant that. Josai was the closest thing he had to a friend on this planet... and besides that, he was rather fond of her. He reached out, touching her hand gently.

Josai stepped forward to answer Romeo, but her mouth clopped shut. Instead, she turned to speak to Austin. Just as Mabon and his assistant, Terriga Vel, rolled up within a rather large ATW with plate armor stuck all over its body. Instead of rolling over on two wheels, it had four. Large as a van. Horns lining its back. They climbed out from the cockpit, hopping down.

Mabon greeted Romeo with a nod, and Terriga remained silent. "There is...a disturbance?" the general asked him. He looked toward Nagala with two eyes glowing beneath his hood.

Josai let out a breath of air. Her hand clasped around his wrist. "It...it isn't my place to leave here. It doesn't seem like I've done much, but I'm needed here. As much as I'd like to come, I've got my allegiance to the rebellion."

Sheila Nagala shook her head while being addressed by the strange man. "Believe me when I say I have no desire to be on this pathetic planet." She said, glancing to Austin. "I was asleep in my bed and suddenly I wake up here, not my ideal way of sleeping but it happened." She said, resting her hands on her weapon.

"All you need is send a communication to the Platform where my ship is docked, no need to notify the fleet. My Ship is in orbit above the planet getting repaired. Or were you not made aware of that?" She said, looking to Josai and Marshall. Then She turned back to Es-Hestos.

"A neutral location isn't needed, simply passage back into orbit to the platform where my ship is docked would be sufficient, furthermore I have no reason to justify myself to you, Passage back to my vessel immediately would be nice, after which we'll be pulling out of orbit and departing from your planet. I'll be sure to inform the Divine Shadow to quarantine this star system as well." The Admiral added, clearly upset from the hostilities.

Romeo raised an eyebrow, his arms folding slowly over his broad chest, keeping his gaze locked on the Admiral. "It is most curious," he said, slowly, "that the very same cycle as your fleet shows up, toting around hostile words, you are suddenly beamed onto this 'pathetic' planet without warning. Nevertheless, I would hate to expunge our extremely limited fuel supply when a simple transport is enough."

The leader of the Misrana defenses was stoically avoiding watching Josai, now, as the words about the rebellion passed her lips. He turned to Mabon and Terriga, his arms straightening at his sides, giving the former a rare smile. "I apologize for my abrupt appearance in your neck of the woods, old friend. Could I ask you a favour of transporting Admiral Nagala to the docking port? The gentleman too, if he so wishes. If it is too much a burden, I can call my own men."

He paused. "Though I am aware that their taste in allegiance might make you... uncomfortable."

Josai's eyes closed.

Well, that was that, wasn't it? Good while it lasted, at least. With one final glance at the back of Austin's head, Josai turned, then began to leave.

There was work to do.

Mabon nodded to Romeo with a, "Yes, sir." and turned to call several ships down. All of them Arrowheads. All of them stolen. They were the only vehicle the Rebellion had currently that were small enough to park within Trashtown and could manage trips to space.

"They are on their way, sir. Not five minutes, now. And, yes, well, you're right. Our own forces will do fine. We're much more than we appear, remember."

Sheila Nagala regarded the man for a moment. "Believe me, the Empire had nothing to do with me being here. If that were the case, we wouldn't be so obvious about it." She then turned to Josai, and she thought for a moment. "I'm extending an offer for you to accompany me, and I'll find a way to return you here." She said, heaving a sigh and extending what little humility she had.

She then turned back to the strange man as she called it. "Isolating yourselves like this is the reason we're so hostile, Isolation breeds Xenophobia, granted an Aschen is not exactly someone to teach about Xenophobia, but there's a grand universe out there, and the Empire is open to diplomacy, the Shadow has stated personally that he would like to see your world on the International Stage." Nagala said calmly, sliding her hands in her pockets.

"Now, Regarding the trip to space." She turned to Austin. "You be on your best behavior when you're on my ship." She then turned to Josai, and then Mabon, and then the other man, before she inclined her head. "The Empire is interested in dialogue with your government, ignoring that wish for diplomacy may ultimately culminate into hostility, and further isolation of your world."

Romeo smiled. "My dear Admiral," he began, "we have been in many talks with many different governments over Misrana's long and battle-scarred history. Each have promised us a great many things, and each have failed to understand that our one desire is to simply exist. We have no requirements of the Shadow that he can only fulfill by turning his back upon Misrana and forgetting he ever happened upon it. We have no wish to be on an International, Intergalactic, or Interversal stage, and this shall not change with a simple talk to government."

He waved a hand. "But you and I are indeed not people to discuss such things. The General and his company have work to be doing, and I'm sure you're eagerly waiting to see your own ship."

The stolen Arrowheads descended, and Romeo gestured towards them. "When you return home to your fleet, and when the ship is ready, your governing parties and mine will have an interesting chat, I'm sure."

He smiled at Austin. "I do hope you've enjoyed your brief stay, the both of you."

Austin Marshal rolled his eyes at Nagala. "Yes, mum'. I won't touch the china or play ball in the house, either." His hopes briefly spiked as Nagala offered Josai a position on the ship, but practically quickly quenched his happiness. There was no way Josai would be able to come aboard. She had too many ties here. Duties of her own.

Austin met eyes with Romeo, his gaze stern and cautious. He'd seen this type of man before... the kind of man who's unchallenged power was outweighed only by the secrets he kept. This was not the sort of man that honest people trusted. That said, Austin was far from an honest man. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay on your planet, sir." He nodded, his tone strangely cold and distant. "You do the rest of the Multiverse a disservice keeping it locked away in the shadows."

Sheila Nagala looked to Austin, and then back to the Arrowhead before she started towards the door, she then quickly and promptly secured herself in the seat and waited for Austin to join her. Once he climbed in, she would wait, and during the flight into orbit, the woman would shake her head. "Empire's signed an Armistice with the TNG, Terra's sovereignty is secured by the will of the Divine Shadow. We've defeated the Coalition and allied with the Belkans, a majority of the Galaxy belongs to either the Empire or the Belkans." Nagala explained, bringing the TIB Agent up to speed. "Our military was devastated but we won. We have a new Divine shadow who is a bit more moderate than our old one." She added, looking up as she waited to draw close. However if anyone was listening, the Arrowhead would likely pick up a powerful wide band communication coming from the ship.

"Alert, Alert, This is the Reverence II 'A Psalm Every Day' AHSC AI Castiana transmitting a priority one Shaw Protocol message - Our ship has come under attack by Hostiles and we're requesting immediate assistance, we're compromised so utilize extreme prejudice." The Message repeating.

Romeo's voice immediately came aboard the same frequency, jamming the hostile signal among Misranan defense forces.

"This is Romeo Es-Hestos. All orbitals, prep the feeds and begin documentation. There are no MDF forces attacking 'A Psalm Every Day'. I say again - the distress signal is false. Teams Tango, Kilo, Alpha, prep weapons and remain in intercept orbit. Keep the oven hot, but the cake's still baking. I don't want the Aschen command claiming this one is on our head."

A second message was sent to the Reverence itself, hailing them.

Far up in orbit, on the Titan, Romeo Es-Hestos clasped his hands, his eyes glued to the many battle feeds that were showing on the bridge of the concealed flagship. His weathered fingers began rotating slowly, his head slowly turning to capture all the angles blipping on his radar.

"Tighten up those holes, Kilo. Keep it steady, remain calm. Everyone take deep breaths. We'll get through this."

He tapped his comm, once. "Gentlemen, I don't suppose that you caught a reading on that last frequency?"

"No, Romeo. It wasn't anything that we're familiar with."

"Carry on, then, boys." Romeo turned back to his assembled crew, quietly thinking.

"Kilo, launch Minnows loaded with two waves of Spirits. Wait until within launching range, then fire away. Let's hack the son of a bitch."

As Kilo's affirmations lit green across his board, Romeo leaned a hip against the railing, watching intently.

"Something tells me this isn't just inferior technology working against them," he muttered.