The station wasn't only completely immune to the sea and Neuria's bad weather. It also used those natural events, transforming them into energy or redirecting them toward other purposes.
The swaying couldn't protect the platform's surface from heavy rain. However, the water that fell on its metal never created puddles. It didn't even leave wet spots. Instead, it moved on its own, sliding across the floor to head for specific runes.
An inspection from above would reveal a net of tiny rivers flowing across the platform, guided by an invisible force toward runes that absorbed them and prevented their accumulation. The Thilku had built a perfectly balanced system there, and the insurrection tried to break it.
The rain suppressed the whooshing noise that resounded on the platform when a circular shape appeared near its edge. An elevator went down, and two figures resurfaced when it climbed back up.
The figures belonged to a Thilku and a human from the political teams, and the two inspected their surroundings only to curse at the absence of allies. They were alone on the surface, and one look at the sky told them that reinforcements had yet to arrive.
The human ship had also departed during the investigation, leaving the two soldiers stranded in the middle of the sea. Nevertheless, their solitude didn't last long.
Another elevator descended on the opposite side of the platform and quickly brought two more people to the surface. The latter were also part of the political team, but both had suffered injuries.
The human fell to his knees when the rain became too much to handle. Blood was coming out of the right side of his waist, and his left shoulder also had a gory hole.
The Thilku at the man's side was no better. His cape had almost disappeared, replaced by charred rags that partially hid his exposed back. Many bullets had hit him, and smoke still tried to come out of those injuries, but his grip on the human's right arm never wavered.
The other team noticed the state of their companions and hurried toward them, forcing them to sit or lay on the floor to check their state. They weren't in critical condition but needed medical attention. Their injuries would worsen otherwise.
Similar scenes followed. Little by little, four more teams reached the surface. Some relied on elevators, while others used staircases only employed during crises. Their state wasn't ideal either, but they could move, and that was enough.
There was no silence in the middle of that heavy rain, but the soldiers couldn't help but feel it. They sensed it even when the noise of the waves submerged their words. The vast platform made them alone, and their worries intensified as time passed.
A whooshing noise eventually managed to pierce the rain, startling the soldiers, who prepared themselves for a fight. Those who could move created a defensive line before their injured companions, ready to protect them against threats.
The noise didn't belong to an elevator at that time. A long line had opened near the platform's center, revealing two halves of a circular passage that quickly opened up. That channel could fit two ships, but far different figures emerged.
The large passage had eight rows of stairs attached to its sides, and workers filled them. That wasn't enough to reassure the soldiers, but everything changed when they spotted two companions among them.
Everyone got busy. The soldiers on the surface moved toward the stairs to help the newcomers out of the passage. Soon, a group of thirty people formed, and one of the workers didn't hesitate to head for a rune on the floor after checking that no one was behind.
"Wait!" Elvis shouted at the worker before clearing his throat and mustering his best accent. "[We missing two soldiers]."
"[The insurgents might use the passage to get here]," The worker stated, searching for the support of the Thilku side of the political team.
The Thilku soldiers hesitated to make decisions without their leader, but the situation evolved before they could think about it. A bright red light suddenly fell on the platform, suppressing the beacon's illumination and lifting many heads.
Cheers inevitably resounded when the people on the platform noticed four circular ships descending through the dark sky and rain. They were big enough to carry multiple companies, making them overkill for the small crowd.
Moreover, a fifth smaller vehicle was above them but avoided getting too close to the station. That ship was the source of the bright illumination, which came from huge rifle-looking weapons stretching out of its sides.
The soldiers were the first to stop cheering at the sight of the descending ships. They were missing men, and some gazes fell on the still-open passage, hoping to spot their companions.
Sadly, the passage remained silent, but the surprises didn't end. Slight tremors suddenly spread through the floor, causing many frowns among the soldiers. They all knew how sturdy that station was, so it didn't make sense for it to tremble.
The situation escalated when large cracks expanded on an empty spot at some distance from the soldiers. The metal bent and screeched while a foreign force enlarged and deepened its fissures. The floor seemed about to crumble in that area, but an explosion happened instead.
Metal shards flew in every direction but mostly upward, sparing the workers and soldiers from evasive maneuvers. Fuming tiles fell everywhere around the new hole, and more smoke came out of it, but the arrival of two figures dispersed it.
Khan jumped out of the hole, gracefully landing at its edge before running his eyes over the platform. The symphony assaulted his senses, making him aware of the situation and bringing his gaze to the sky. He saw the ships, which reassured him enough to turn.
Khan stretched his hand, and six fingers immediately wrapped themselves around it. Khan had to bend backward to put more strength into his pull, but another figure eventually climbed out of the hole, and a laugh accompanied the event.
"[You should have made the hole bigger]," Amox complained among his laughs, but stepping on the platform brought a serious mood. He quickly realized what was happening and even saw the ships when he noticed Khan's finger pointed at the sky.
The four ships were too big for the platform, especially with the open passage, so they approached the edge to stretch their ramps there.
The crowd split in four directions, picking the ship closer to them. It was the same with the soldiers, who helped the injured toward those vehicles. Only Khan and Amox waited behind to oversee the rescue operation, but a message disturbed their task.
Amox pulled up his sleeve when a red glow pierced it. His armguard had lit up, and holograms came out to show a message. Khan politely diverted his gaze, but Amox's hand didn't hesitate to reach for his shoulder.
"[Lord Exr requests your presence]," Amox explained, glancing at the sky. "[He is in that ship]."
Khan also looked toward the smaller ship still hovering in the sky before speaking a single word. "[Sure]."
"[I'll clear a ship for you]," Amox stated, crossing Khan to head for one of the vehicles near the platform, but Khan spoke before he could do anything.
"[There's no need]," Khan called, jumping upward to immerse himself in the rain. "[Tell Lord Exr that I'll be there soon]."
Amox opened his mouth in surprise. He still couldn't get used to Khan's flying but didn't oppose that approach. As for Khan, he waited mid-air for a second to see whether Amox had something to say before shooting upward.
Few noticed Khan's departure, but he disregarded those gazes and escaped their line of sight. He was too fast, and the rain couldn't slow down his straight ascension toward the Lord's ship.
The main beacon acted as a road that Khan followed step by step. He could dive into the dark parts of the sky to stick to a straighter line but decided against it to remain as visible as possible by the ship.
The flight got Khan drenched, but he didn't care and focused on reaching his destination quickly. He needed a minute to arrive before the ship, and a ramp immediately came out of the opening in that circular shape.
Khan kicked the falling drops behind him to leap toward the ramp, landing at its center. The passage into the ship was already open, and a Thilku was even waiting for him, so he didn't dare to waste time.
The Thilku performed a traditional bow as soon as Khan stepped into sheltered areas of the ship, and he responded accordingly before following the alien. The two crossed a staircase, reaching a large circular room that acted as a control desk, and Lord Exr's tall figure stood out in that environment.
"Captain Khan," Lord Exr called, pointing at his right to invite Khan. "I wish this encounter was under better circumstances."
"[Lord Exr]," Khan said, performing a traditional bow before accepting the invitation. He crossed the circular room and reached Lord Exr's side before adding more polite words. "I'm sorry to have bothered you with this operation."
"It's not your fault," Lord Exr reassured, pointing at the control desk before him to show the scanners. "It seems the trail we followed was correct."
"The criminals didn't have big numbers from what I've seen," Khan revealed. "May I suggest an attack once the reports from the other teams arrive?"
"The situation has escalated past our political cooperation," Lord Exr stated. "This insurrection involves our internal arrangements, which I thought you weren't interested in."
"My Lord," Khan called. "We are almost sure these criminals had something to do with the bomb. The Global Army must have representatives during the attack."
"Neuria's safety comes first," Lord Exr declared. "However, I understand your situation, Captain Khan. We can discuss this more after the reports arrive."
Lord Exr's eyes remained glued on the control desk. They never moved to Khan, so he could only give up on the matter for now and scour his mind to search for leverage.
Nevertheless, a small, blinking rune appeared on one of the screens, attracting Lord Exr's attention, who glared at one of the Thilku near other consoles. The latter seemed able to feel the Lord's eyes on him, and an explanation quickly arrived.
"[It's coming from the station, my Lord]," The Thilku said. "[It's safe]"
"[Send it through]," Lord Exr ordered, and the rune on the screen expanded.
"[Am I talking to Lord Exr]?" A hoarse voice suddenly came out of the control desk.
"[You are]," Lord Exr replied. "[Who is speaking]?"
"[I've been appointed to handle the negotiations]," The voice responded, ignoring the question. "[We have three hundred and twenty-two prisoners and ten containers full of goods. We will release them only if you fulfill our demands]."
Khan couldn't help but praise Lord Exr's calm. The Thilku didn't falter nor feel surprised at that request. He almost appeared used to them.
"[Answer my question]," Lord Exr said, his tone growing colder. "[Are any of you related to the delivery RC331]?"
Khan recognized that serial number. It belonged to the shipment that had raised a red flag during the part of the investigation handled by the Thilku. That was one of the main reasons behind the mission on the station.
"[We make the questions here]," The voice replied.
"[I'm Lord Exr]," Lord Exr declared, using an authoritative tone, "[Ruler of this system. You will answer me]."
The circular room experienced the pressure released by Lord Exr, but only Khan could feel it properly, and he had to use the entirety of his self-restraint to hide his reactions. That thick, heavy presence was almost suffocating. It told anyone in its range who was in charge.
Nevertheless, communication channels couldn't convey auras, so Khan didn't expect much from the insurgents. The criminals held the advantage there, but the answer that arrived surprised him.
"[Some of us tampered with that delivery]," The voice revealed. "[Now, for our demands]."
Lord Exr slammed his big hand on the screen before the voice could continue. The call ended, and his eyes went on Khan, carrying the entirety of the pressure shown before.
"Did you understand what they said, Captain Khan?" Lord Exr questioned.
"Every word," Khan said, holding back a gulp. "The trail was indeed correct. I can only praise and thank the Empire's investigation."
"I needed your confirmation," Lord Exr commented before turning toward the center of the room and raising his voice. "[Prepare the moon, and get those ships out of there]."
No one dared to say anything, and everyone got busy. The room only had six Thilku, but they all started tinkering with multiple consoles or making calls that involved codes Khan didn't know.
The symphony carried the only clues Khan could recognize. The area had gotten colder, and not because of Lord Exr. Each Thilku had begun to release a chilling resolve that didn't hint at anything good.
The scene on one screen changed. A barren, grey environment with a huge cannon standing at its center appeared, and Khan recognized it. He had seen those weapons when flying to Neuria. They were on the planet's moons, and understanding what was happening wasn't too hard after that.
"[Where are the ships]?" Lord Exr questioned, preventing Khan from raising any questions.
"[They are leaving the station now, my Lord]," One of the Thilku in the room said.
"[Let's get to a safe distance too]," Lord Exr ordered. "[Start charging the weapon]."
The Thilku complied right away, and Khan followed that development from the screens. He saw the four ships leaving the station and the cameras growing distant. Lord Exr's vehicle was also moving, but it stopped pretty soon.
"My Lord," Khan called in that silent window, but Lord Exr ignored him to move to the next phase.
"[How long]?" Lord Exr asked.
"[We are]," One of the Thilku voiced before going silent for a few seconds and raising his hand. "[We are ready for your orders, my Lord]."
"[Fire]," Lord Exr said without showing any hesitation.
Khan almost couldn't believe what was happening, but his eyes instinctively went to the screens. He missed the cannon firing but turned in time to watch the station's fate.
A beam-like pillar pierced the sky, ending at the exact center of the station. The attack barely covered half of the platform, and nothing happened in the next second. Yet, an enormous explosion unfolded after that, creating a spherical red shockwave that engulfed the structure and expanded through the sea.
The scorching shockwave expanded for a while before transforming into a giant pillar of smoke. Waves as tall as buildings tried to submerge it, but the mark of that destructive weapon couldn't disappear so easily. Even a chunk of the sea glowed with a scarlet color while fumes continued to rise.
Khan couldn't move. The pillar of smoke and the red patch of the sea had taken control of his eyes and body. He felt empty, too shocked to sense or think anything, but the world around him continued to advance.
Lord Exr returned to Khan's side and stared at the screens too. He didn't appear happy about that outcome, but his expression conveyed pure firmness. He didn't hesitate to make that tough decision, and his mind carried no regrets.
"Why?" Khan eventually managed to mutter.
"Criminals have no place in the Empire," Lord Exr explained with the same firm tone from before.
'Three hundred and twenty-two prisoners,' Khan recalled. 'Three hundred and twenty-two innocents.'
"We could have taken the station back," Khan said. "This was unnecessary."
"Captain Khan, on what authority do you make that claim?" Lord Exr wondered.
The firmness in Lord Exr's tone reminded Khan of his situation. He had almost scolded the ruler of the system on matters strictly related to his duties. As much as he hated the recent event, he couldn't let his emotions take over.
"I apologize, my Lord," Khan promptly stated. "I was thinking about the criminals. The Global Army would have loved to interrogate them."
"They admitted their involvement in the illegal shipment," Lord Exr pointed out. "You can testify that."
'So,' Khan realized, 'It's my fault. I gave him that opening.'
The emptiness had disappeared, and only shock and negative emotions existed inside Khan now. He could feel himself growing unstable, but that couldn't happen before Lord Exr. He would scream, break stuff, and think about the event, but his current situation came first.
"Thank you, my Lord," Khan exclaimed as a clicking growl began to echo in the back of his mind. "You've proven yourself to be a true ally."
"Is the Global Army satisfied with this?" Lord Exr asked.
"What do you mean?" Khan questioned.
"You told me isolating the last phase of the criminal organization was enough," Lord Exr reminded. "The Empire isolated it."
Khan couldn't help but glance at his side to inspect Lord Exr, and the latter did the same. The two studied each other for a few seconds, almost feeling able to hear what was going through in their minds. Still, Khan had to make his move sooner or later.
"The Global Army is satisfied," Khan eventually declared, using words that formally ended the mission.
