Josef Kampf's Story

He too thought on the matter, remaining still for a moment as he considered things. "... that'd work nicely, actually." Josef shared, knowing that both the Erutin and Scatterran courts would lick their lips at the chance to see or possibly influence this mighty couple. "Travel certainly doesn't." It slipped his mind, being so old, that his navy now possessed the capabilities of the Erutin drives. "... I do thank you for such." He whispered after leaning over to her, smiling as he pulled back.

"... and just where would you want to stay, with our 'allies'?"

She smiled at him, pleased. The woman that things over, before smiling. "Well. The Erutin have always counted Terra as our allies. I'm sure with a little pressure their little democratic government would love to host us." And if not, then they'd certainly grant vistas for a peaceful stay.

She thought things over. "Perhaps we could even pressure another nation we're on speaking terms with, though whom escapes me right now."

The Erutin did have an odd sense of allies, but Kampf let such a thing slide, knowing well that such things were miniscule the plans that he had orchestrated. "Oh, I'm sure they would adore the chance." Certainly they would, he had no doubt. Pressure did tend to levy excellent results, especially in the case of such beleaguered states. ".... another nation? We're on such terms with several, Wing darling."

It could be a great many places, after all. Terra was simply one of the possibilities.

"Darling. They're only allies until I own them." She pointed out, amused. "Then they're my subjects." Allies. As if she had any but the Belkans. The rest were merely future subjects and didn't know it yet. "And hm. I simply ask not those dreadful Aschen. I would have them all burn first."

The Belkan put on a playful face, glancing over at her as she spoke of such things. "... not if they're my subjects first, Wing." The man gently teased her, bumping his shoulder against hers, pausing for a moment to look down to their hands and the ring that she wore. "And consider it done. Not a day with the Aschen. Your word is law, empress." Though, technically, she wasn't just yet.

No, they had that coronation to deal with. "... perhaps the Taiyou?" After all, the man was cultivating an alliance with the proles.

"I have no problems with the Taiyou." She agreed. "I'm certain they'd be honored." More than. She was rather eager for their honeymoon now. "And darling. I've been on this planet longer." She teased. "It'll be mine first. If it doesn't end up simply ours at the same time, though it does beg the question. Would it be under the Erutin, or the Belkan domain."

"A protectorate," He answered, pleased, as he drew her hand up to kiss her knuckles, admiring the things before he returned them to their laps. Excellent, then, negotiations with the Taiyou could proceed as they stood. "Under our combined management." Their world, not one or the other's. Of course, a puppet government would rule it and the surrounding space in their stead; so that Belkan and Erutin interests would be guarded with no risk to any physical assets of their own.

"If you would have it that way."

She thought it over briefly and smiled to him. "I think that sounds perfect." She allowed him to kiss her knuckles, then leaned in to kiss his lips, though briefly, before pulling back. "Do you know the best part of Terra? The citizens have gone through so much, and care so little, that they don't even consider that affection scandalous, and they have no clue who we are."

It meant no tsking nobles nobles, or wretched tabloid reporters.

Perfect, he certainly thought so. Any power that occupied Terra seemed to regret it later, and he felt that letting them rule themselves, partially, was likely the best solution to such a thing. They'd trust a Terran face ages before they looked to a Scatterran or Erutin one for leadership. But his wife's musings did carry a value of their own, and certainly one he hadn't thought of. "... they don't seem to, do they?" No one certainly paid them any more heed than the other, and they could act almost however they wished.

It was rather tempting.

"... we don't even have to retire to kiss, do we?"

Indeed it was, scandalous at the very, very least. To think that these people would be so open with themselves and their relations in public... it was a shocking thing. "That's certainly fine love, I know that I'm doing my part to help them recover from the wars of aggressio-..." Kampf glanced to the bar and the fight that was brewing, hand releasing itself from Wing's to place it around her and pull her close. Wonderful.

This was why democracy and barbarism disgusted him.

"... you have me love, don't worry." Any creature, demon or not, that crossed him would certainly rue the day that they dared such a thing.

"... hourly?" He inquired, the disgust almost palpable in his voice, almost sneering at the coming engagement that raged at the bar, careful that none of the side-effects of it all touched her, almost tempted to leave now were it that this sort of thing was going to continue for the night. "Should we retire love, or do you want to stay?" Were it the case of the latter, the combat would certainly cease, he would make damn sure of it.

No prole, ancient or otherwise, was to disturb him or his Empress.

She wrinkled her nose. "I do enjoy the memories, and I would like to spend time with you a bit longer." she admitted. "And if we leave, some little media twit will take our photos." She pointed out and frowned. It was a harder choice that she liked. Wing considered matters momentarily.

"I suppose I'd rather stay." She said with a sigh. "I'm sure if we avoid their little...mess, it will avoid us." Or else, her voice made that very clear.

"Then we'll stay," He decided, placing his head on her shoulder and pressing his cheek against hers, hoping that she would have him do such a thing. He adored them of course, these Erutin displays of affection, and delighted in sharing them with her. "Oh, I'm sure it will." He mused, quiet, whispering to her as he held her close and away from all the silliness that the bar was soon becoming.

Not all was as it seemed, the primordial being that the Scatterran was looking, astrally, with utter contempt at the skirmish as it was.

Within the realms of their own conscious, away from the awareness and physicality of the world about them, a dreadful command ushered on the wings of a choir of anguish and hatred, plunging their minds into the icy depths that was to see the void; a void that saw one as well, and it hungered.

"Cease this."

Wing eeped at the spiders, and found ehrself in her husband's lap without quite meaning to be. Oh! She hated spiders! Other bugs she could handle, but spiders? She clung to her husband. "Darling, I detest spiders." She whispered in his ear. Oh she knew they had their uses, of course, but that was just horrid. Spiders did not belong everywhere!

The woman was not happy. The Empress was, in fact, very displeased.

Kampf gently cradled the woman there, holding her so to calm her, stroking her hair and holding the Empress tightly against him, away from the horde of arachnids that now seemed to flood the bar's floor, but all seemed to swerve - going out of their way almost - to avoid Kampf's table. "... I know love." And naturally so, what sort of cultured woman liked spiders? Silly creatures. A spare glance to one of the black creatures found it crushed under an unseen force, its innards barely able to escape from its form before it was eradicated.

"They'll be gone before too long, Wing," He nuzzled her cheek, moving to tilt it to face him. "I promise." One that he sealed with a kiss.

However pleasant that this man proved to his wife was certainly not the case in the realms of the minds of those that dared resist him and his will, Deep turning with a distaste to Randin and a snarl to the demon prole who dared defy him. Who did this unruly child believe himself to be, Radegast himself? Few resisted his command and managed to tell the tale - fewer still dared insult him. Were it that he were a simple mortal, he would have simply dismissed it as a matter of the coward's influence - but God was dead, and the universe was his own.

Unseen claws wrapped themselves about the soul and being of the demonic creature, the ancient proving such a fragile piece in its hands as he debated just what to do with the belligerent child. A momentary vision of falling gates, of uncounted hordes pouring into a realm beyond imagination - battle-cries in forgotten and unholy tongues ringing across one's ear at the clash of blade and the bark of cannon - was pressed upon this pitiable minion.

A voice older than Mammon's, that very one that bent Lucifer, Radegast and Barkesh to his will, buried itself in the demon's ears as the being squeezed the demon's soul, threatening to crush it in but a mere moment.

"Honor thy father, child."

The woman watched the spiders veer away with a certain satisfaction and smiled as he sealed his promised with a kiss. He was so kind to her. "It is good to be wed to a God." She whispered in his ear, pleased. Oh yes. Very good. The Empress smiled and leaned against him.

"I do love watching you handle peons darling. You've such a deft hand at it." She complimented, more than a little pleased. It would good to be with a man who knew how to properly be an emperor.

Randin staggered into a nearby corner, his iron-will just barely managing to keep his mind from plunging into absolute insanity. With the blood of the Fallen coursing through his veins, Randin was actually able to see both Alastair's true form and the psychic incarnation of Deep in Josep, his 'spiritual' awareness heightened to fantastic extremes. The sheer malevolent energy resonating off of Josep was... staggering. Thankfully, this man seemed to be fighting WITH Randin, not against him. The same chaotic bindings that had assaulted his mind a moment ago were now being used to bind Alastair. Hopefully this would be the end of it...

"Goddammit. Where's a Super Saiyan when you need one..." Randin mumbled, his psyche beginning to steady itself once more into the real world. He looked quickly over at Casey. "Delan-... Foster! Are you alright?" He seemed to have forgotten that there was broken glace embedded in his face."

"A power greater than what these advanced space fairing apes could ever hope to harness. He has consumed enough to match even you oh great Deep, and even prepares a banquet for Lucifer that will give him the power of even the great Metatron! The Sealed holy angel and scribe of the most high. One you could never match! I laugh because even though you can kill me you are not as powerful as you believe yourself to be. Your fate is in hell with us brother!"

Kampf smiled at her kind words, squeezing her - though all too gently - as she remained on him, her mood improving and, by extension, his own. Having his wife happy meant that he was certainly happy, and such a thing was rather good for everyone involved. "... I confess that I rather like being wed to a Goddess." Perhaps not quite as literally as she was married to a God, but... well. He certainly found her to be divine. "I've just had too much practice, love."

He honestly did.

This child was a feisty one, and every good parent certainly knew what to do with such a child when they dared rebel against them. After all, that was why God had fled, why victory was Deep's and no other's. The visage of whatever child was superficial, a plaything of some lieutenant of his own and the cries of anguish that ushered from him were pitiable at best. Deep remained, unseen, unheard, for he was nothing in truth, in form - few alive today still knew the sight of his true form - he was simple nothing, a rippling curtain of darkness, and there were no cries of anguish or pity from him.

No, from the second son of God there came only silence, the same silence that consumed his mind as he murdered his only brother, that savior of humanity - Scatter.

Let me remind you from whence you came, whelp.

The wretch of a creature was dragged to the expedition from God, that journey into the wildlands that enlightened Deep so, those dark stars where he met Ageless, and how Ageless consumed the brightest of God's Stars. In a mere instant were a hundred million years of warfare, of rape, murder, suffering, genocide, and carnage played across this child's eyes, considering the puke had no chance to ever witness such a grand campaign - that very war where Deep drove that child God from the Universe.

Dare to call me brother again, and I will do to you as I did my own, and I shall still do to my father before me. Lucifer is my slave, child, just as you are - remember your place in the order of things.

The destruction of the Archangel Michael's fleet, the burning of Reh'lay, the sacking of Heaven, Deep drug him there, and forced his nose into the dirt, the dust, the misery, like one scolded a puppy that proved all too rambunctious.

Lucifer should do well to remember himself as Radegast's concubine, as he is my general's spoil, and his rightful property. Metatron is dead by my very hand, just as Scatter, Eliphas and Orellion are, your name will not even grace my memory, minnow.

The darkness simply held him and watched, the shapeless evil of Deep toying with the bastard son of Mammon as a cat does a mouse, the silence drowning out whatever cry of the constructs any would dare muster in those moments. This was none of Radegast's realms, this was Deep's inner sanctum, and at the center of the Construct's - Paradise, his kingdom, known to this pathetic existence as Hell - there was nothing but darkness and the sound of one's own breath.

It would have done you well to remember, child - I rule your 'Hell'.

The Scatterran emperor arrived in typical, modest fashion, dressed only in his uniform with the bare minimum of guards about him. Each of the guardians in his entourage bore the black Kolovrat - the sunwheel - upon their right collar, betraying their position in the Imperial Occultist Corps, though they appeared to be, for the most part, unarmed. Gently Kampf led his new bride, the Empress of the former Erutin Empire, on his hand as the two made their way where they were bidden. Eventually they were ushered into the meeting room, and the guards in front of the Emperor parted that he might greet this other individual as just that.

Kampf stepped forward, the irons of his own jackboots echoing in the cavernous room until he snapped his heels, offering a light Imperial salute to the other.

"It is kind of you to offer a meeting, Shadow." Josef blinked at that. An odd title, but a title none the less. "It seems that you have been expecting us for some time." Something he certainly wouldn't complain about. The table alone was impressive, but its purpose was, for the most part, lost on him. Perhaps it was meant for something more, perhaps a feast.

The Divine Shadow pulled back the hood to the pleated robe, letting it rest on his shoulders. "You may call me, Mollem, if you so desire." He said, smoothing down his robes as he rose from his seat, and approached the Belkan Emperor to shake his hand.

"I'm expecting you because in truth I summoned you, we have similar ideologies, and we all have the long standing goal to bring our Empires into prosperity. The Democracies of UCON and the Terran Government are an affront and an offense to everyone in this room." The Shadow explained.

"I would hope an agreement could be made that would bring Terra under mutual subjugation, and ensure that the Coalition of Organized Nations never threatens our absolute power again."

Wing kept her face blank, her opinion of the Aschen unswayed, even with their conversion to a proper empire. She paid attention to all about them, but allowed Josef to speak for now, not trusting her own tongue. It would be better than to start a war, thanks to old grievances.

Though she was still rather bitter over the destruction of her childhood home, she certainly held a new home now. The woman paid close attention to this…Mollem. “I am certain some sort of agreement may be had.” She agreed. Share?

He wanted to share? Oh yes. Josef would end up doing most of the dealing. Wing was not a fan of mutual anything.

"Mollem" Josef spoke, taking the offered hand in a firm and brief shake, smiling as he did. It was, after all, the least he could do, being a guest in the other's realm. "The Coalition has had a turn of heart, a characteristic lack of vigor," That seemed to fail them in their hour of need - and their hour of opportunity.

"I doubt either of us have forgotten their offenses against our peoples." Indeed, or the ravenous appetite for Terra that both the Coalition and the Aschen powers possessed. Kampf couldn't, of course, care less, but if expansion was possible then it would be foolish not to pursue.

"The age of empire is dawning, Mollem, it pleases me that you're willing to cooperate in its formation." It seemed that this disease that had infected the galaxy, democracy, would soon be dead. "What would you ask, in such an agreement?" An establishment of terms, before anything else, was necessary to gauge the plausibility of whatever treaty the assembled parties might author.


Mollem paused for a moment, before he sipped a glass of water at his side. "Terms..." He then slowly waved his hand and a map of the galaxy flickered to life, various colors highlighting territories belonging to their respective factions. "Perhaps Belkan holdings on the eastern side of the Local region, moving right around Sol. I can't speak for Sol and ultimately Terra because of the terms of the Armistice we have with them... I assured their sovereignty.. but the Local Region on the other side of Sol would make an excellent Belkan buffer between the Aschen State and the Coalition." The Emperor said calmly.

"I want to maintain subtle political pressure on the Terran Government until their brought into the United Aschen Empire, or become Absolute themselves and join our Coalition." He said, highlighting the various regions on the Galaxy. "If we include the Taiyou in this new Tripartite, we would be unstoppable against any democratic entity in the Galaxy."

Wing raised an eyebrow at this suggestion. Was She not already unstoppable? That this pleb, the...commoner who raised himself so high, would insinuate otherwise...she frowned.

Still, she had little agaisnt the Taiyou. They were bearable, in their own way. She thought it over. "And if I request Terra instead? I am found of the planet after all." She had sought refuge there during times of war, and honeymooned there. Yes, she was fond of Terra.

Kampf looked over the galactic display with curious eyes, noting that he Erutin and Belkan domains had yet to be unified. "Sovereignty? You what?" Guaranteed the independence of those insects? That was almost baseless. Kampf sighed at the thought for a moment or two, pondering it for a moment as Mollem extrapolated further.

"Why not force an autocratic party into power, Mollem? Who will save them from such?" No Coalition, not any longer. He certainly had a party in mind, one that was rather pro-Terran, and highly imperialistic.

Josef did move to slide his hand into Wing's at that, gently squeezing as she posed her question. Of course she would ask for it, and were it in his power he'd give it to her. Perhaps later he could talk her down to a summer home, or some such.


The Shadow listened to Kampf's suprise at his guarentee of Terran Sovereignty. "You must understand, Kaiser, that the Aschen are a methodical people, I have orchestrated the inevitable fall of the Terran Government from the start. I want them to have a false sense of security, I want them to demonstrate the incomptence of their government, I want them to show they cannot govern themselves. Civil wars incited by various groups will cripple them."

The Shadow grinned. "I've got several moles within the Terran system already, ready to incite a Civil war that would show the incompetence of the Terran Government, and open the door for the Empire to swoop in and install an Autocratic regime. A new Tripartite Alliance that will rule Terra through an iron fist." He then leaned forward, and the light hit his face just right.

"We have a saying, Kaiser... Pax Per Bellum, Peace through Power."

Peace though power indeed. She remained quiet through his spiel, listening to it. "I see." She murmured at the end. "There is more than one way to deal with Terra of course. I believe all three of us have had some hand in its current state." She stated simply.

"And do you have a timeline for your work to be complete?" She couldn't bring herself to say simply his name. How informal! But she had not been given a proper title to call him, despite knowing it was Divine Shadow. She was hardly going to say that.

It gave an air of legitimacy to the man. Wing was uncertain if she wished to grant that, despite her husband's actions.

"... why not show them the inefficiency of their idiocy as you rain fire from the sky? Tear down their flag and burn their homes?" No doubt it would force the Terran people into submission, and were it that a new, or rather an autocratic continuation of the fomer state, was established then there would be no infringing on any treaty.

Especially if one installed the right puppet.

"Sieg durch Diziplin." Was Kampf's reply to such, finding subversion ill-suited to his current legions. That was for a time now lost. Now was the time for action.

"... but, we can agree. Terra will know imperial rule - one way or another - and we will lock the Coalition out of the Local Region." Kampf glanced to the map, then his wife, then back to Mollem. "... now, what of the Coalition?"


The Emperor shook his head. "We tried that, we tried to rain fire from the skies, and we tried to rain death from our ships. The Terrans fought us every step of the way. They rebelled, they fought, and they eventually won with the help of the Coalition -- No... I want the downfall of Terra to be at their own hands. It would make the victory all the more sweeter." He then turned to Wing, and inclined his head.

"We're a long lived, patient people. It will come when it comes."

He then turned back to Kampf. "I am sure that the Belkan Hegemony has some long unsettled debt with the Coalition that I am sure you would be happy to repay. Scatter will be Belkas, the Aschen have no desire for Beta Hydri." He said calmly.

"However, I have a long unsettled debt with the Terran Government, and their continuous sponsorship of Terrorism. I will handle Terra, and I will leave the Coalition to the Hegemony."

Wing held her tongue, just barely. Instead, she squeezed Josef's hand and allowed him to speak. She would not be able to be civil. A debt! How dare their heathen tongue speak of of debt! As if they did not owe her a great one themselves.

Oh yes. It was best she remain silent right now.

"A fair deal," Kampf mused, Terra for the Aschen and Scatter for himself. It was more than worth it, were it that Terra was so important in the eyes of the Aschen. He was more than willing to trade. As for the falling out that the Aschen had with the Erutin, well... that was a matter to be addressed at a later point. For the moment, it was best to resolve the issue that stood with the forces that strictly opposed them.

"We will leave you to your sphere, if you leave us to ours."

But there was one thing that begged his questioning, as it was quite the large piece of the puzzle. "... what of the Taiyou, Mollem?"


"I'm waiting for certain political events to fall into place on Niihama, so Crown Prince Takayama can take powe, allowing us a new Tripartite Sphere across our three Galaxies." The Emperor explained, looking to Wing. "I want to address something with the Erutins, should we be allowed to survey the remains of their world, following the collapse of the Black hole that Admiral McGregor activated, we will collect as many Genetic codexes as we can, and attempt to rebuild Dev Eru, the least we can do to atone for our... misunderstanding with the Erutin People."

The Emperor brought up a new hologram, showing a massive sphere shaped vessel. "I call it the Genesis Project, the creation of a new planet." He said, nodding slowly. "We devised it in the event that Langara were to suffer destruction at the hands of the Coalition." He said, manipulating the hologram. "We can spare a Genesis ship for Dev Eru at this time." He said, turning to Kampf.

"Trade, a strong economy between our two nations is paramount to a strong alliance. We can upgrade your vessels with our shields, if you provide us the secret to manufacting Nano-diesel."

"It is a black hole. It is in my understanding, though I do not claim to be a scientist, that there will be no remains once it collapses several Million years from now." She pointed out, fury barely contained.

His misunderstanding cost her millions of lives, if not billions or trillions, more than one solar system, and a goodly number of ships in her fleet, and he believed a new planet could solve the problem?

She frowned darkly, any pretense at aloofness gone.

Wing was not a kind of gentle monarch, but she genuinely cared for her people.

Then it would be a matter of time before the Taiyou were brought into this alliance of sorts. Understandable, considering the crown prince's relations with the Aschen and the influence that Mollem might have over the young man. "Then we shall wait and see." It was, at the moment, the most that they could do.

But the issue of the former Erutin homeworld was something that Kampf sat back and stayed out of, knowing it best not to be involved in something so volatile with Wing. "... I can provide nano-diesel, but, Mollem," He glanced to Wing momentarily. "... you are treading on thin ice. Please be careful with your diction."

The Shadow hardly flinched as he reconsidered his words, and brought his attention from Wing, back to the Belkan Emperor. "So then it's settled. We'll start the first bits of trading within the next several weeks. I'll also be making an effort to re-open the Empire's borders to Tourism, so that the pathetic Terran people can see the superiority of the Aschen people in comparison to their pathetic little planet."

The Shadow nodded slowly, and leaned back in his chair.

"Soon this portion of the Galaxy will be mine."

It was wise of him to reconsider his words. Wing had chosen a new capital planet for the Erutin portion of the Greater Imperial Hegemony. Adn there was already a new capital planet in place for their new empire, an arid and beauitful place. Wing did like it.

Still, that this upstart was so determined to have so much! She held her tongue on much of which she said, only offering a piece of advise. "Take care that you do not push them too quickly. The Terrans are proud of their land, and will take a lot of work to convince to join anyone."

"Very proud," It seemed, odd that a peasant could be proud of mud. Pathetic, in its own way, considering what that miserable little world had gone through. "I trust, however, that the Scatterran realms will be left to myself." Without intervention, he desired. Scatter would be beneath his feet again, if he had anything to say about it.

But as for Terra... he could honestly care less. At the least he would provide a division or two to help garrison, but little more. No need losing sweat over someone else's property.

The Shadow inclined his head. "You have my words that he United Aschen Empire will have no plans to set it's sights on Scatter, or launch any offensives thereof, but I want your word that the Aschen territories are to be left to Aschen rule, likewise Belkan Territories will belong to the Hegemony."

He paused for a moment, awaiting Kampf's response.

"Then it's settled, is there anything else the Hegemony wishes to bring up while we're here? Or shall we reconvene at another time to discuss the subtlties of our new Tripartite?" The Shadow asked, bringing a glass of water to his lips, and taking a small drink.

"I forsee this the beginning of a new age for the Galaxy."

"I think reconvening at another time would be excellent, and would give us all time to think on our endevour." Wing liked this idea. All too much. She squeezed her husband's hand encouraging him to agree.

She would prefer it if he did, after all.

"You're not alone in that," Kampf left the matter at that, with a smile, picking up on his wife's gently pressure at the matter. "I'm sure we can hammer our the details and delicate matters at a later date, what with the base established." Of course they could, especially with Wing so. The woman needed time to calm down, it seemed.

"My wife and I are overseeing the... development of a new capital. Busy, busy work. I'm sure you understand." Of course, it was being built from the ground up, as quickly as possible.

"And not to worry, Mollem. Your lands are safe, so long as mine are." It was a simple enough matter.


Mollem nodded in approval. "Then It's settled, I look forward to our future meetings." He said, rising from his seat and extending a hand to take Kampf's in a shake, solidifying their future.

The Belkan Emperor offered his own hand in that, taking Mollem's and legitimizing the agreement, at least through action. No paper was signed yet, but it was, as far as Josef was concerned, done. Now, to try his best and keep his Empress from exploding on him at some later time as to his dealings with these people and how horrid they were for destroying her world.

Fun. What fun.

Wing stood and removed herself from the table to await Jisef several feet away. "Good day, Mollem." She simply said in good bye. She would likely not attend the next meeting in person. Her darling Josef could not convince her it was beneficial.

They were on tour here, showing his Empress the industrial might of his half of the Empire again, on the behest of his daughter. Kampf, for the most part, spared no expense for his wife, though he kept his own quarters on his vessel rather spartan for a noble of any stature. A simple bed, a simple desk, a wall dedicated to displaying an image of the fine world below them, and all the while content to drag lightly on a pipe that he had brought with him from Scatter.

Of course, by comparison, Wing's quarters were rather lavish, the man hoping that the gesture wasn't lost on her, though it was rather evident this far into their marriage just how much the man cared for her. Still, they had yet to decide who would share who's quarters just yet, and he pondered matters a bit more pressing to his mind as he crossed his legs, eyeing the celestial orb on the projection before him.

Hope had appeared outside the quarters, knowing better than to appear inside. Josef Kampf had no love for her, though he put up with her. Wing, at least, considered her an almost-comrade. They had been through quite a bit together, including Talon's insanity.

She waited, patiently, for a response. No doubt she was one of very very few who would interrupt the Emperor in his own quarters. It would be a short list of those so bold.