Lord Exr's stern gaze remained on Khan for a few seconds before a faint smile interrupted it. Khan was replacing Ambassador Abores, so his words carried the same weight. In that situation, he was speaking for the Global Army, so Lord Exr could consider the mission over.
Khan couldn't share that faint happiness. The recent tragedy had given birth to dark emotions that sought control of his body, and more problems joined them.
The Thilku had always wanted that cooperation to be short. Any species would frown at a joint investigation in their territory, especially one as proud as the Thilku. That political task didn't only threaten to reveal classified information about internal affairs. It also showed weakness to the citizens, which Lord Exr couldn't like.
The Global Army was also willing to keep things short if the price matched the insult. It wanted reparations from the Thilku, and, ideally, it hoped that its Ambassadors would gather valuable information or leverage.
That couldn't happen anymore now. Khan had given the okay to end the mission. In theory, Lord Exr could send the humans home that very day. The reparations were still an issue, but the Thilku could deal with them without having foreigners in their territory.
As for Khan, he didn't only become the reason for that early withdrawal of troops. He was also the sole witness to the criminals' admission. The Thilku would provide recordings of the call with the insurgents, but the issue remained, and many were bound to dislike it.
'How many will believe that the call happened?' Khan couldn't help but think. 'How many will believe I was here to listen to it?'
Secret deals were common in politics, especially during missions outside the Global Army's territory. The lack of witnesses and higher-ups created the chance to reap personal benefits, and many could guess Khan had done something similar with Lord Exr to score another victory.
The potential rumors were also just a consequence of the main problem. Only Lord Exr and Ambassador Abores knew about the replacement. Elvis and the others could guess something, but that wasn't enough. Ambassador Abores could easily go back on his deal and use Khan as a scapegoat to justify that outcome.
'[Bloody rivers],' Khan thought in the Nele language to recall words Jenna had spoken in the past. That reminder brought some calm which he needed for his next step.
The Global Army might welcome that conclusion, but Ambassador Abores' stance was unknown. Khan couldn't bring himself to trust him when he held all the power in that political mission. He had to protect himself in some way, and that short notice only allowed him to find one option.
Khan forced himself to wear a polite smile that revitalized Lord Exr's expression. The Thilku let go of his remaining firmness, and one glance at the screens prompted his next statement.
"[Take it from here]," Lord Exr ordered. "[I'll feast in my quarters]."
One of the Thilku in the room abandoned his post to hurry toward Lord Exr, who left his spot while pointing at one of the four doors among the consoles. Khan instinctively followed him, and the invitation that followed validated his action.
"Come, Captain Khan," Lord Exr invited. "Let's entertain each other now that the crisis is over."
"Of course, my Lord," Khan accepted, letting Lord Exr lead him toward one of the rooms. When the metal door opened, a circular staircase appeared, and climbing it revealed an exclusive space almost as large as the control area.
Khan found himself in another circular room that had far different furniture. He saw a few armchairs, a short table surrounded by pillows, carpets, and drawers. The place didn't seem to belong to a ship, and probably only Lord Exr had access to it.
The short table already had plates and bowls full of food, and a few jugs also occupied its surface. That wasn't enough for a feast, but Khan didn't complain. Lord Exr was probably making the best out of an unexpected development, and Khan had to go along for his own good.
"Sit with me," Lord Exr ordered, approaching one edge of the table and occupying a couple of pillows. "I hope the Thilku's methods didn't ruin your appetite."
"I was merely startled," Khan lied, approaching the other side of the table to face Lord Exr. "I didn't expect such harshness."
Khan didn't waste time in pleasantries. He grabbed one of the jugs and filled two cups before handing one to Lord Exr. He even moved a few bowls to his side and began to eat after taking a long sip.
"You are truly odd, Captain Khan," Lord Exr announced. "You carry yourself like an experienced soldier but also mourn the death of aliens you never met."
Khan knew his façade had been perfect, but Lord Exr's had seen through it anyway. That revelation made him stop eating, but Lord Exr didn't let him dwell in that tension.
"Do not worry," Lord Exr exclaimed. "I know you must lie. The Thilku are a tough species to deal with."
"I don't enjoy wasting lives," Khan explained, opting for a more honest approach. "If possible, I'd spare innocents from learning the horrors of war."
"The weak die to the strong," Lord Exr stated, "Planets die to stars. It's the rule of the universe."
"But not everyone is a soldier," Khan pointed out.
"Were you a soldier when you fought your first battle?" Lord Exr asked, and Khan was almost ready to confirm that before a distant memory popped into his brain. He still recalled the Tainted rat from the mines, even if that event seemed to belong to a different life.
"See?" Lord Exr chuckled. "Being weak is a choice, just like allowing criminals to capture you."
Khan wanted to refuse that statement, but a few good points existed. He would have run toward the rifles if he had been in the workers' situation and had their knowledge of the Empire's methods.
"Let me ask you a question," Lord Exr continued. "I earned my position by fighting and leading many battles. I shed blood for the Empire. How should I treat people challenging my rightful rewards?"
"Three hundred twenty-two people weren't," Khan replied.
"Then, let me ask you another question," Lord Exr added. "Is my blood less valuable than theirs?"
That question could sound vague to an outsider, but Khan immediately understood its meaning. After all, he was a soldier. He had experienced undeserved disrespect from people who had never stepped on the battlefield.
Truth be told, Khan didn't have an answer. He had actually worried about the issue more than a few times, especially after Mister Chares' ambush. He had taken many lives for his goal, maybe too many for a single person.
Lord Exr saw the conflict inside Khan and moved to refill his cup. That made Khan snap out of his thoughts and address the matter. "This is why you wanted a soldier here."
"Indeed," Lord Exr chuckled. "I'm glad we can understand each other so quickly."
"I'll be blunt," Khan stated. "I'm uncomfortable with these harsh methods, but Neuria is yours, my Lord. You know better."
"No, no," Lord Exr shook his head. "I welcome your opinions, Captain Khan. Just make them count."
"I understand, my Lord," Khan exclaimed. "On that note, I do have something in mind."
"Note?" Lord Exr said, feeling confused before realizing what that word meant. "Oh, I get it. Please, speak away."
"I wouldn't dare to assume," Khan announced, bringing the cup to his mouth, "But destroying the station must cause delays on the plan to colonize the planet."
"That's something internal to the Empire," Lord Exr responded. "I won't hold the Global Army accountable for my methods."
"Thank you, my Lord," Khan said. "Though, I wanted to speak about something else. I'm not implying that you need it, but I might have connections able to accelerate the process."
"Neuria won't accept human workers," Lord Exr half-scoffed.
"But additional materials can help," Khan pointed out. "I'm guessing you'll rebuild the station. That doesn't necessarily need to weigh on the Empire."
"The Empire has no shortage of materials," Lord Exr directly declared, almost out of habit.
"My Lord," Khan announced. "With my contact, you'd receive help for the station, safe routes, and trading partners. All of that with a single move."
Lord Exr didn't want to hint at any weakness, but Khan had touched on a troublesome topic. The Empire's territory was too big, and the problems connected to that issue were bigger in Neuria due to its position.
A single station was easy to rebuild, but Neuria had also lost workers and goods during that crisis. Those assets were impossible to replace in a short time unless Lord Exr pulled manpower out of other jobs.
Moreover, the loss of goods involved issues with the established trading partners. Neuria and its system could lose a lot of money and time, and Lord Exr might have to ask for his superior's help to fix that.
Instead, Khan's offer created a far better solution. Neuria could get the lost trading routes back in business right away if the new partner were willing to strike a favorable deal.
"Do not take my words as an insult, Captain Khan," Lord Exr eventually voiced, "But why should I trust your contact over anyone connected to Ambassador Abores?"
"I thought you wanted a smoother cooperation," Khan reminded.
"We are talking about my planets," Lord Exr stated. "My amusement doesn't have a place in this matter."
"I can assure you," Khan explained. "My contact is one of the wealthiest forces in the Global Army and has connections Ambassador Abores can't reach. I'm sure the Empire recorded it already, so you can check it yourself."
Lord Exr tried to spot lies in Khan's statement but couldn't find any. Still, his guts told him that something was off, especially since he couldn't see the same loyalty in Ambassador Abores shown in the past.
"That's not the full story, is it?" Lord Exr asked.
"It isn't," Khan admitted, "But my claim remains true."
"What's the full story?" Lord Exr pressed on.
Khan hesitated briefly but eventually opted for honesty. "The Global Army isn't aware of my new role. Striking this deal will secure my position in case Ambassador Abores finds problems with this outcome."
Lord Exr wasn't completely privy to the Global Army's political system. He only wielded a general knowledge of the topic, but understanding Khan's issue was easy. After all, he was part of it.
"I'll have to check the Empire's records," Lord Exr said. "Who is this contact?"
"My girlfriend's family," Khan made sure to mention that. "The Solodrey family."
