After the members of Eclipse were done on Asure, the MK.1 sped through hyperspace and headed for Terra, the capital of the entire Federation and one of the most populated planets in the galaxy!
During the trip, everyone rested in the ship's mess hall. They reflected on how the events of the last couple of days had been immensely difficult, but that couldn't keep the mood from being cheerful.
While everyone else chatted, the Apophis and Lotus slipped into the crew quarters. Apophis, having a good thirty years of life experience, was quite skilled at seducing and making love to a woman!
While the two were busy with each other, Antanria left the mess hall to use the ship's toilet. On her way, she heard the two lovers.
Antanria was both very curious and just approaching adolescence for her species. She knew little about relationships between adults, but only what she had read in books and the shallow education she had received in her old life in the royal family.
That education had done nothing to sate her curiosity, however, as it had focused more on what her duties would be when she one day married than anything else. Her own happiness was not exactly an important factor as far as her family was concerned. She certainly hadn't been taught anything about seduction.
After a few minutes, White, on her own way to the ship's toilet while drunk, caught her eavesdropping and burst out laughing!
This outburst interrupted the two lovers, making them freeze.
Everyone else moved closer and asked White about why she had laughed. So as not to humiliate Antanria, White said, "Sorry, it's all the Red Whisky's fault!"
Well, by the time they arrived, everyone was in a lighthearted mood.
It was a good thing, because the actual arrival on Terra was difficult!
The Federation was close to a state of all-out war with the Orc Empire, so Apophis had to ask special permission from the Federation Army before they could enter the planet's atmosphere. Fortunately, Apophis had all the credentials of his military rank, not to mention Colonel Ralfot.
After some communication, which felt like it took forever, Apophis and the ships which had assisted him on Asure could break through the blockade. Through the MK.1's windows, hundreds of thousands of not-so-lucky ships could be seen waiting to be searched before they could enter.
Once Apophis provided all their information, the operator replied, "Welcome to Terra, Major! The Grand Admiral has been informed of your arrival and has asked you to land on military platform 74."
They entered the atmosphere.
Terra was a planet of the Ecumenopolis type, a planet entirely covered by a single immense city with over a trillion inhabitants. It was, of course, one of the great prides of the United Federation of Planets!
But Terra was, at the same time, an abomination for the Human Supremacists, due to being a cosmopolitan haven! Only 5% of the population was human, while the rest were xeno species from all over the galaxy.
The MK.1 landed on the military platform which had been pointed out. The party was quickly greeted by several officers and soldiers who gave them a fantastic ceremonial welcome with drums and music, truly worthy of an important personality like Major Apophis.
Delighted by such politeness, the crew happily followed the chief officer, who guided them to a flying car.
The luxurious vehicle led them to an enormous palace that rose a kilometer into the sky: the Chancellor's Palace!
Hulk shouted, "Oh! Look over there!"
At the base of the palace, stretching across the cityscape as far as the eye could see, was a vast military parade of several million soldiers, war machines, and mechas! In the sky, battleships, cruisers, and hundreds of thousands of corvettes soared majestically!
It was a genuine show of force, because all the ambassadors of the Galactic Council were present, including the Orc ambassador.
Of course, this was nothing like the players had ever seen, and they were captivated by the incredible sight!
The flying car landed under an overhang attached to the face of the immense palace. A new military officer greeted Apophis and Ralfot, then led them to a huge balcony where Grand Admiral Azerof waited.
Free seats awaited them, so Apophis and Ralfot sat and watched the glorious parade as it ended.
