Boarding the ships felt awkward, to say the least.
Khan's announcent had turned him into an invading force, depriving him of all the privileges connected to his noble status, political role, and species. The soldiers managing the landing area didn't know how to behave in his presence, but the situation was too ssy, and no one had the authority or power to stop Khan, so they simply let him go.
Returning to the Leviathan didn't improve the awkward atmosphere. The Scalqa were fine, but the human soldiers managing the bridge understood the magnitude of Khan's announcent and felt lost. They were servant of his noble faction, but that had probably turned them into humankind's enemies.
The network was in turmoil, with no clear resolution in sight, so the human soldiers obeyed their current orders and drove the Leviathan ho. Things might change after their arrival, but they were in no position to control their fate. Their superiors would make that decision, and the shadow of a war against the Global Army started to loom over their hearts.
That sentint worsened with each hour spent flying through open space. The human soldiers expected the scanners to spot a blockade of military ships at any minute. After all, the Leviathan was currently in enemy territory, so the Global Army wielded the right and authority to deal with that invader as it wished.
Sure, the Leviathan was gargantuan. It could hold its own against a fleet of military ships, but that would still imply a space battle. The human soldiers were ready for that, but hesitation still crept into their minds. They didn't fear battle. They just didn't want to fire at the Global Army's troops.
Luckily, nothing arrived to hinder the Leviathan's return to Baoway, which did little to ease the tension. That long delay only vouched for the event's magnitude, reflecting how chaotic the current political landscape was.
The tension was so palpable that even the unaware Scalqa ended up being affected. Those alien troops had every right to be in a celebratory mood, but sothing was clearly brewing, quelling their enthusiasm and keeping them battle-ready. The Scalqa didn't understand much but could sniff when a fight was on the horizon, and they didn't want to be caught unprepared.
Needless to say, that general tension had only one source and one potential savior. Almost all of the network, but especially the Leviathan's soldiers, wanted to hear clarifications and orders from Khan, but he remained unreachable.
Khan had isolated himself as soon as he boarded the Leviathan. His phone had shut down for good, but the ship could still update him on various news and enable communications. However, he didn't answer anyone, ordering to be left alone.
The soldiers couldn't help but feel confused at Khan's behavior. Those rough tis required a leader, but he refused to appear or make public announcents. So even believed he had realized the gravity of his mistake, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Khan was the only exception amidst that general tension. He spent his ti isolated inside his quarters and from the network, relaxed and at peace. He felt light and unburdened as if he had finally freed himself of an oppressing mountain weighing on his shoulders.
The situation was far from relaxing and peaceful. Khan had set the network afla with a couple of lines. Every aspect of his life was now at stake, and his return to Baoway would involve countless etings and negotiations.
Everything Khan had built and agreed upon had to be tweaked, and sothing would probably be lost forever, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Khan knew in his heart that he had made the right decision. His feelings vouched for that.
It was truly strange. Severing the connection with humankind had cleared Khan's mind in ways even Monica couldn't. Giving up on that narrow-minded species had freed him ntally, physically, and spiritually. He felt as if shackles had finally left his wrists and ankles, allowing him to move properly for the first ti in his life.
After years of fighting for humankind's acceptance, Khan decided to leave, and the world felt bright once again. He wouldn't have to struggle against political opponents anymore. Khan wouldn't have to abide by and run circles around rules he didn't create. Khan had claid independence, shedding off all the compromises he had forced himself to wear.
'I've done enough,' Khan often thought during his isolation, oddly excited about what the future had in store for him.
That mindset persisted and intensified throughout the tense but uneventful trip. The human soldiers and Scalqa also spotted occasional smiles on Khan's face when the ti to board the smaller ships arrived. His gaze looked lost sowhere in the distance, but his mood was undeniably happy.
Khan's smiles created a stark contrast with the silent and tense boarding process. He calmly approached his appointed ship while the alien troops arranged themselves in the others. The ride's scanners updated him on the complicated situation on Baoway's surface, but he didn't seem to mind.
The landing area in Baoway's main quadrant showed the consequences of Khan's declaration. A crowd had always gathered there to welco him back to the planet, but alien soldiers kept it at bay now, securing the place.
The announcent's nature made human soldiers unreliable and hesitant, so Lieutenant Dyester chose a series of trustworthy and capable Scalqa for the task. The man was behind the line, overseeing the situation, and only one figure stood with him in that isolated area. Monica watched the ships descend toward the landing area. Their arrival lifted a short sandy cloud, but she hurried forward, walking through it to reach a ride she knew contained her target.
The ships landed and opened, releasing the Scalqa battalion. Stern alien soldiers filled the area and arranged themselves into a battle formation after witnessing their companions keeping the crowd in check. However, Monica calmly walked through them, unaffected by the dangerous situation to dive into Khan's ride.
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