08-01-2025, 07:10 AM
The team’s conversation was interrupted by the quiet whirr of the balcony door sliding open. General Alukh approached slowly, his rumbling footsteps somehow more gentle than they’d been before. Empaths among the group would recognize a feeling of resignation — or perhaps relief — floating above the mechanical static of his surface thoughts.
He nodded to the crew respectfully, then locked eyes with Velaul.
“Sun will come up soon,” he grumbled. “Time to decide: should I tell President Khushku that you’re ready to meet? She usually hosts guests at the old church, the capitol building, although I may be able to convince her to go to you if you’d prefer that. Every satellite on the planet is pointed at your ship, trying to breach your firewall. If the president of Tanndi were to beam aboard, people would start to wonder if she learned any Federation secrets. Rumors like that are powerful things.”
He stood straight and alert, like a soldier awaiting orders.
He nodded to the crew respectfully, then locked eyes with Velaul.
“Sun will come up soon,” he grumbled. “Time to decide: should I tell President Khushku that you’re ready to meet? She usually hosts guests at the old church, the capitol building, although I may be able to convince her to go to you if you’d prefer that. Every satellite on the planet is pointed at your ship, trying to breach your firewall. If the president of Tanndi were to beam aboard, people would start to wonder if she learned any Federation secrets. Rumors like that are powerful things.”
He stood straight and alert, like a soldier awaiting orders.