Dakkon nodded slowly, as if reassuring himself.
"Of course you are right."
He opened his mouth to continue when lithe woman walked in, her long strides echoing a life of concerted military training. Her face was angular with high cheek bones giving her a traditional beauty that was typical in Hapes. The uniform she wore indicated the rank of Colonel and its fit was perfect.
Dakkon smiled to himself as he considered the fact that Hapes was the only government in the galaxy that had tailor made uniforms for all its members. Such was the vanity of the enclosed cluster.
She stopped as she approached the pair, kneeling in fealty to the Queen Mother. The Colonel rose to her feet, eager to speak.
"Your majesties, we have reports. Small nimble gunships of unknown origins struck a military convoy along the 18th eliptical. It was well above the parallel and well beyond the defined lines of Swarm control."
The grim truth of her news had worn down on her features, although it was only now that the Prince noticed. He nodded his head for her to continue. She still looked to the Queen for a reply, but continued nonetheless.
Although the women in the Cluster ruled, all in the military gave Dakkon deferrence. He had earned it.
"Also, a Manticore SPC went missing. It was assigned to the Gallinore area command on piracy runs. Its last recorded position had space debris approximately 16 klics away. We would say a space battle occured, but the only debris was from the SPC. No signs of a struggle.
Its fighter compliment is missing in action, their transponders inactive."
Dakkon spoke now, not caring for his lower station.
"And your opinion dictates what?"
Her glare was barely contained as her focus moved from the Queen to her husband.
"An accident. No Hapan would die without taking their enemy with them. Not at least doing damage to them.
We sorted the entire debris and there was nothing that isn't indigineous."
Dakkons smile disappeared now.
Hapan women are too sure of themselves.
"Wrong. I think we have another warfleet to deal with. One that has come in along a different line.
Most likely along a much more isolated line..."
He turned now, activating his personal holocom. He had ordered its construction so he could strategise at any time, and to validate his claims. Women would never believe him at face value.
A map of the Cluster sprung out in full 3D, spinning between the 3. To one side stood Maires and Vergil in red, indicating their fall to the Swarm. With a few words, the locations of the 2 latest attacks appeared. Moments later, a red line struck out from the pair, intersecting a number of planets.
"Look. The route takes them directly through the Outer regions of the Clusters eastern sector."
He highlighted the 2 planets which the line bisected.
"Terephon and Ut. Both rebel held planets. Both considered weakly defended. Both would have been easy fodder...
Also Reboam and Dreena are equally exposed. Picket craft should be dispatched to check up on our enemies."
Seeing the strategic sitution laid out before her, the Colonel could not deny the Prince was right. Nodding, she saluted.
"Of course your Majesties. I shall Order it now."
She turned on her heels and briskly left.
Dakkon continued to watch the holocom, bored in his inactivity. Suddenly his eyes fell upon Arabanth.
"How would you like to go on holidays?"
