"And now," Lilla said after a mont, her gray eyes scanning the table, "that we are all on the sa page, I have a proposition to make." She allowed a slight smile to grace her lips, though her tone remained as asured and composed as ever.
The captains and politicians leaned in slightly with their curiosity piqued.
One of the destroyer captains cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "A proposition, holy maiden? If I may ask, what exactly do you have in mind?"
Lilla gestured to the hologram of the oceanic planet, the shimring blue sphere spinning slowly above the table.
"The oceanic world represents an opportunity. It is strategically valuable, not only for its resources but also for its location. However, its history has made it a target of interest for powerful factions."
"The Tier 3 beast, the mysterious sale to a ghost company, and the massacre of the cruiser all suggest that soone intended to destabilize the region." Discover exclusive tales on empire
One of the politicians frowned. "And yet, after all that, the planet is still unclaid. If soone went to such lengths, why have they abandoned it now?"
"Perhaps they haven't," Lilla replied, her tone steady.
The younger destroyer captain, still bristling slightly from his earlier exchange with the holographic politician, leaned forward. "And what is your suggestion, holy maiden? Do you want us to take the planet by force?"
Lilla shook her head. "Not by force, no. At least, not yet. Instead, we must claim the planet with purpose. We must secure it not just militarily but also economically. Establishing our foothold there will send a clear ssage to the galaxy."
"Humanity is no longer a fragnted race of outcasts. We are organized. We are determined. And we are not afraid to take what we need to survive."
The room buzzed with murmurs of agreent, but one of the holographic politicians raised a hand.
"Forgive , holy maiden," he began, his tone cautious, "but wouldn't claiming the planet outright invite retaliation from whoever orchestrated these events? If they placed the Tier 3 beast there, surely they could launch other... less conventional attacks."
"That is why we must act swiftly and decisively," Lilla replied. "Our allies have already shown their ability to defend our holdings. The Hive Minds have intercepted every pirate, rcenary, and rogue force sent to attack us. Their assistance will ensure that no outside force can disrupt our plans on the oceanic world."
The ntion of the Hive Minds caused a ripple of unease across the room.
Another destroyer captain, older and more gritty, frowned deeply. "With all due respect, holy maiden, relying on the Hive Minds is... risky. They're unpredictable, and their motives are unknown. If we grow too dependent on their protection, it could lead to disaster."
Lilla nodded slightly, acknowledging his concern. "You're right to be cautious. The Hive Minds are not allies in the traditional sense. They are a force of nature, and we must never forget that."
"However, their interests align with ours, and we would be fools not to use this window of opportunity to strengthen ourselves."
The room fell silent again as her words hung in the air.
"So," Lilla said with her voice softening slightly, "I propose that we begin preparations for the full reclamation of the oceanic world. We will establish a permanent human presence there, from military to economic and scientific. And we will do so while remaining vigilant for any further interference from outside forces."
She looked around the room, her gray eyes eting each captain and politician. "What do you say, gentlen?"
The murmurs of discussion began again, but this ti they were more focused. The captains and politicians debated logistics, resources, and strategies, their initial hesitation slowly giving way to determination.
Lilla leaned back slightly, letting the discussion unfold.
The pieces were falling into place, and humanity's next step was becoming clear.
"Well then, ladies and gentlen," Lilla said while clapping her hands gently to regain everyone's attention. The soft sound carried weight, and the conversations in the room quickly died down as all eyes turned back to her. "It's ti to talk about the most important topic at hand."
Her calm, commanding presence filled the room, and even those still harboring doubts fell silent, captivated by her serene composure. "As I ntioned earlier," she continued speaking while her gray eyes scanned the faces of the council mbers.
"I received a ssage. And in that ssage, there was an invitation for to visit the angel."
The mont the words left her lips, the room erupted into chaos.
"I don't think that's prudent, holy maiden!" One of the destroyer captains blurted out, his tone filled with alarm. "What if it's a trap?"
Another council mber, a holographic politician with a sharp, angular face, nodded in agreent. "Exactly! If they take you hostage, the damage to humanity would be imasurable. It's too dangerous!"
"We should stop trusting them this much!" another politician exclaid, his voice rising with panic. "We'll never know when they'll turn their attention on us and attack us outright!"
"And what if they're following the cabbage strategy?" one of the younger captains chid in. When confused looks flickered across the room, he quickly clarified.
"You know, when they let us grow first, carefully watering us, only to harvest us later when we're ripe. This could all be a ploy to fatten us up for the slaughter!"
The council room devolved into a cacophony of voices, the once-structured eting descending into chaos as everyone began arguing, this ti united in their disapproval of Lilla's proposed visit.
The words "trap," "reckless," and "foolish" were thrown around freely, and accusations flew like stray bullets. Though their opinions differed on the details, one thing was clear: no one wanted Lilla to go.
But just as the argunts reached their peak, a thunderous voice bood through the chamber, silencing everyone instantly.
"EVERYONE OF YOU." The sound of soone taking air before speaking again could be heard. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
The room frozen. The air was thick with tension as all heads turned toward the source of the voice, the owner of the voice a hologram of Mada Rose, the eldest and most influential mber of the council.
Even as a hologram, the force of her personality was palpable. Her stern, wrinkled face was frad by a luxurious mane of red hair, and she leaned on her iconic holographic cane, which flickered faintly with a regal golden hue.
Despite her age, her voice carried the authority of a battlefield general and the sharp wit of a seasoned diplomat.
For a mont, there was an awkward silence, as if the entire room held its breath.
"Hold on, Mada Rose!" Lilla exclaid, standing up from her seat in alarm. Her usual composure gave way to genuine concern. "Please don't exert yourself! You have to take care of your health!"
Mada Rose turned her holographic glare toward Lilla, her cane pointing accusingly at the younger woman. "Oh, shut it, you too, girl! I'm healthier than the brains of these bastards, which are clearly full of shit!"
Her cane swung dramatically toward one of the politicians and one of the destroyer captains, who both looked down in sha, unable to et her eyes.
The council chamber was deadly silent now, no one daring to interrupt Mada Rose.
Mada Rose, after all, was more than just an older stateswoman. She was a living legend. As the founder of the Human Council of Ten, she had been instruntal in shaping the fledgling Human Empire after their liberation.
Her personal wealth rivaled that of the galaxy's lesser nobles, and her contributions to the empire's budget accounted for nearly 50% of its total funding.
But even more than her influence and wealth, she carried a secret few in the council knew: she was Lilla's adoptive grandmother, a relationship that granted her imnse sway even over the holy maiden herself.
Though this fact was kept from the general populace, those within the council knew better than to challenge Mada Rose's authority.
Mada Rose huffed loudly, as if daring anyone to object. "Now, where were we?" she said with her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Ah yes, the part where you're all acting like a bunch of spineless fools. Let make this very clear: Lilla will be going to et the angel."
"But, Mada Rose—!" One of the politicians shouted, only to be cut off by the sharp tap of her cane against the holographic floor.
"Don't you 'but' , you MISERABLE IDIOT!" Mada Rose snapped. "You lot seem to forget that humanity didn't claw its way out of slavery by cowering in fear! Yes, it's dangerous. Yes, it could be a trap. But sitting on our asses and doing nothing is far more dangerous. Or do you all intend to keep hiding behind Lilla's skirts forever?"
The captain she had pointed at earlier flinched as if physically struck.
Mada Rose continued with her voice rising with passion. "The angel is awake. And if you all had half a brain between you, you'd realize that ans sothing is about to happen. Sothing big. He's not calling for Lilla out of boredom; there's a reason, and she's going to find out what it is. Do I make myself clear?"
The council chamber was silent, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone like a physical force.
Lilla, still standing, let out a soft sigh and smiled faintly. "Mada Rose, please don't scare them too much," she said gently with her tone affectionate.
"Hmph, if they're scared, they deserve it," Mada Rose muttered, though the corners of her mouth twitched as if suppressing a grin.
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