Change of Pace

[Sarath Crescent]

Nestled between two large mountain ranges in the middle of South Island sat the bulky form of the Monoceros. Hidden from the naked eye to everyone bar those standing on the mountains or in the air the ship was fairly well hidden. Her shield was active casting a large multicoloured dome between the hills. It would be enough to survive most attacks but Sarath was not one to overestimate his abilities. He knew a determined attack would be the end of him now.

He currently sat in a long room set out with a long table and chairs in the middle. He was slumped in his chair, his feet propped up on the table in front of him as he scratched a finger along his temple. Conquest was no longer the primary thought in his mind now; survival and revenge were. While he waited for the ship to be fully repaired Sarath had decided to extract the second element as best he could.

He looked up. Sitting around him at the table were the two highest ranking officers on the ship. Both of them looked a little on edge. Not surprising considering how many previous officers Sarath had personally dealt with since the initial invasion had begun. In addition Lefina, Roxanna, Latooni and Tanya sat at the table as well as Tallulah.

Lefina looked a little glaring and upset, her left hand rubbing the side of her face slightly. The wolfess had stormed onto the bridge a short time before and demanded that Sarath rethink how he was treating his prisoners. The reply had been a short sharp slap across her muzzle and some very heated words. The wolfess had backed down quickly and dared not even make eye contact at this time.

Roxanna on the other hand looked rather smug. She was still recovering from her earlier wounds; her arm still bandaged up in places and a few torn rips still visible in her fur. Even so she seemed 100% in mind; watching Sarath out of the corner of her eye with a loving expression.

Latooni looked angry...but then she always did. She hated just about everything but rarely showed it. Right now the normall timid looking mouse seemed ready to snarl and turn an entire city to ashes. She was currently playing with a small fireball, tossing it from one paw to the next and then back again. She cast glances up at the other occupants of the table but didn't say a word.

Tanya looked visibly bored. She had been sat around waiting for ages and her one track mind was getting very much off track. She had enjoyed her earlier punch ups, she had enjoyed her time giving Sarath a massage, and she had enjoyed her time beating up prisoners for information. Now she was sat around a table waiting for Sarath to explain why he had brought them all together. It wasn't to her taste and she didn't mind showing it, the mink yawning visibly.

At length Sarath finally looked up, his eyes trailing across everyone at the table one at a time. Finally his paw flicked away from his temple and he looked up properly.

"Very well, lets begin," he said slowly, "I trust you all understand our current situation. If you do not allow me to refresh your memories; we are trapped. Even once the main engines have been fully repaired the primary reactors would need to be recharged before any type of atmosphere burn could be achieved. At least in sufficient quantities to break the hold gravity has on us."

He paused for a moment, allowing this information to sink in, "However, there is a possible solution to our problem. Roxanna has informed me that she has completed an analysis of the emerald power source we recovered during our attack." As he spoke he cast a favourable glance at Roxanna, the puma bowing her head in respect. Sarath's gaze then fell into a scowl as he swung across to Lefina. He didn't say anything but it was clear what he was thinking. "Whilst we still do not have any specific details it is clear that they are a potent energy source; one that could even help to re-energise the main reactor. However, before we can actually use this to our advantage we must first find out more about them. I've decided that we need to take a little trip to this effect."

"But but my Lord!" stammered one of the officers at the table, "We can't risk moving the ship, if we are spotted before we've fully repaired we stand little chance of surviving."

"Are you implying that this worlds military is capable of defeating me entirely...or rather that you are incompetent enough to allow it? I trust you remember what happened to your predesessor!"

The officer bit his tongue and went quiet.

"I did not mention this ship in my previous words. I was refering to you," he cast his glance down the table past the officers, "A little expedition party as it were. Part information gathering, part merchant of chaos..."

[Tallulah Sonne]

"A party, you say?"

Once laced fingers unraveled as I leaned forward. My glasses almost tapered off the bridge of my nose as I did, the loose strands of my hair wavering and landing on the table. I took a moment to gently recede my spectacles back to their proper place and took a cool glance around the table. I had not seen many of the faces sitting around me in a couple of weeks, but they seemed to be acting about just as I had expected. My gaze fixed on Lord Sarath.

"The question is then. Where would we begin, my lord? Feel free to counsel me if I might appear incorrect, but we currently reside on an island. If I may presume, it would be more beneficial in our secrecy to consult the natives here. However, I question how fast news may congregate if it is as remote as research has observed. It is my suggestion that we may be 'killing less seconds' do they say? If we were to make leeway into one of the cities."

[Sarath Crescent]

"This island would likely not provide any serious information anyway Miss Sonne," replied Sarath with a small glance in her direction, "The major cities will likely hold much more potential...and will prove to be interesting areas to sow a little terror. No planet or Empire has yet defeated me and as I am still here they have yet to earn that claim as well. Judging from the media coverage of recent events it would seem they need reminding of that."

"What do you propose my lord?" asked Roxanna, the puma leaning forwards slightly in her chair.

"We will divide into two teams. Roxanna my dear, you will go with Tanya and take Tallulah with you," replied Sarath as he looked at each of them for a moment.

"Latooni, you will be the other group with Lefina," he continued, setting his gaze steady on Lefina, "And I shall be accompanying you."

The colour drained slightly from Lefina's face, the wolfess seeming understanding what he meant by this.

[Tallulah Sonne]

I leaned back in my seat as Sarath proposed his plan. It wasn't flawless, but the pair offs seemed most reasonable than any other way I would have suggested. I nodded my head in agreement. Not that I would have disagreed anyway. Encouraging Sarath's wrath, especially as of late, would really be instigating a penalty worse than the highest level of punishment.

"I do believe this would be best. When do you expect us to part?"

[Sarath Crescent]

Sarath swung his feet off the table and sat up properly, glancing down the table at Tallulah. "As soon as preperations are finished. In light of this decision I already have the hanger crew prepping two shuttles for launch. Tallulah, Roxanna and Tanya will head for the city known as Station Square. As far as I've been able to determine its the largest city on the planet at present...or at least the best place to start. I want as much information as you can get, both on the Emeralds and anything else interesting you might find."

"I myself am interested in visiting a location our third fleet visited during the initial invasion...a place called the Mystic Ruins. Seemingly this location has a lot to do with the Emeralds and I'm interested in seeing this Angel Island for myself. I want you all ready in two hours."

[Tallulah Sonne]

"By your lawful word, lord. I will find myself ready within half of that."

I touched my fingers together lightly and tucked my arms inward with closed eyes. I opened them again shortly afterward. I was watching the others, their reactions. Part of me knew what all this would mean if I followed orders correctly and efficiency. While by any means, I had just been a part of the medical staff and might have remained there for much longer, there was a certain change that hung in the air. I fed off it with greed. And who would not? While I had been pleased in the efforts I made bringing me to one short of head practitioner, Frezul being my senior, there were other more recognizable positions. I fancied a glance towards Lefina in particular.

[Sarath Crescent]

The others in the room all nodded their respects to Sarath as the fox stood and walked slowly from the room. All that was except Lefina. She sat with her head down staring at the table top. Under the table her fists were already balled and gripping the material of her clothing. Like Tallulah she also felt a change in the air but it was not one she liked.

Sarath was acting different to normal, it was almost as if he was obsessed or had a personal vendetta against this world. She could only see it ending in two ways; either the death of Sarath himself, or the complete enslavement of this world...yet another world. Lefina closed her eyes for a moment, managing to catch a short sigh that was trying to work its way out. She had to do something.

Roxanna was the first to actually move after Sarath left. One could see her as the most authorative of the four and perhaps she was. "Very well then, we should prepare. Tanya, Tallulah gather your things and meet in the flight bay. Latooni I trust you will restrain your temper in the presense of our Lord during this mission."

"That depends on if the presense of a blue hedgehog appears or not..." growled Latooni, the young mouse not liking the tone in Roxanna's voice. She quickly stood and marched from the room her tail swinging like pedulum behind her.

Roxanna then shifted her attention to Lefina, the puma studying the wolfess for a moment. "And you Lefina...I suggest you remember your place else you want to end up like like the former captain of this ship."

She gave a small snort and turned away, heading for the door. Tanya glanced at Tallulah and grinned, "I don't know what all this fuss is about....oooooh, this should be good. I've been itching for a good workout."

[Tallulah Sonne]

In my time on the ship, I had encountered all sorts of creatures but they all paled in comparison when it came to Tanya's blind enthusiasm. Sometimes I questioned why the lord would even have such a follower that was just so... stupid. I did believe that I had to recognize that her strength was probably unmatched amongst the rest of the crew save Andrue if he had the benefit of the arts as she did. How she even learned it remained a mystery to me, but then that was the case for most. No one really questioned why things were as they were or who was from where or why they were even chosen. That was to breach the trust of Lord Sarath.

I stood finally and tucked that annoying strand of hair behind an ear. Roxanna and Latooni had already made their way and if I wanted to keep my word, I would have to follow suit. I glanced at Tanya a moment and had to resist shaking my head.

"I do believe if I heard correctly, we are out to collect information, not cause a scene. It would be in your best interest to weigh that thought heavily during our flight there. I will see you in an hour."

I walked towards the panels.

[Sarath Crescent]

Tanya watched Tallulah leave and then stuck her tongue out. "He said merchant of chaos too spotless!" Tanya quickly abandonned her annoyed expression in place of the sweet innocent eyes that she usually wore. It was only when Tanya got wound up and excited that her passions really burned through. She glanced over at Lefina, the wolfess still sitting in her seat. "Choi!"

With that Tanya bounded off out of the room frinning from ear to ear. Lefina then slowly rose to her feet and glanced around the empty room. She had always been a hesitant member of Sarath's force; in reality she was a bit of a pacifist. She had originally agreed to join him in the hope that she could disuade him from committing such monsterous acts. Up until now it had worked, he had listened to her...but now.

A firm look crossed Lefina's face. She had to do something. The time for stnding by and watching as Sarath conquered entire worlds was over. If Sarath got the Emerald he would be able to break orbit and rally the rest of his fleet to his aid. With that many ships the planet wouldn't stand a chance against him.

It was her duty to protect life, it is what she had been charged with as a member of the Order of Majestas. She couldn't allow this slaughter to go on any more. If they wouldn't listen to her she would just have to make them! Turning tail quickly she sprinted towards the nearest door. She turned right quickly heading down the corridor as fast as she could go.

[Tallulah Sonne]

What they called an hour on this world seemed like my diacade or their half of the hour as they seemed to call it. In that time spent, I had finished my prep work and spent an amble amount of the rest reading more data on their dialect and culture. Their body language was especially strange in some cases. It didn't seem we would be visiting the places depicted, however. Station Square, assumed to be the now "capitol" as they liked to call it, proceeded to be a less eccentric sight. I sighed and snapped a few controls on the datapad in front of me, its displays vanishing. There was a convenience to technology. I would always realize that and then the backlash would release me from its grasp.

I checked the time again from a "digital clock" someone had seemed to steal at some point and set in the room. For weeks, it had flashed "12:00" repeatedly. At some point, it seemed that someone in the ship with a few more cells in their head had discovered how to work it, most likely those that would take their time and sit down to research just as much as I did when given the chance. It had allowed me to at least do something when I wasn't needed elsewhere and I had frequented the room when all possible.

The clock currently read "10:54". If I remembered correctly, we were supposed to meet around 12:00pm. I stood up and stretched my arms for as far as they could go. Then, I took up the little belongings I had on me and proceeded out of the nearby panel and down towards the hangar.