The Right to Vengeance [Chapter 10]
——— Chapter 10: Where We Have Passed ———
Memory Transcription Subject: Tarva, Governor of the Venlil republic
Date: [Standardized Human Time] January 7, 2136
Location: Venlil Prime(Old Skalga) Capital world and homeworld of the Venlil Republic.
"In person why??" I asked at the confusion of everything as I stood up from my desk and grabbed my coat, this better be important, what does the Skalgans want from us now?
The Skalgan League has been rather secretive over what happens behind their closed doors, so far there is no information as to where they are from, or even what they look like, they have only communicated indirectly, and are often using armour whenever they are to interact with us in person, not that anyone is complaining however, as the mostly prey members of the coalition are definitely not itching to see what's beneath the masks of these predators.
But there is a sense of unease to me in how they move the motions on their tails seem familiar, every race with tails in the Federation often have tail languages of their own, these Skalgans are no different but what made me feel unease was how familiar their tail languages were, perhaps there was an overlap to the tail languages of the Venlil but something deep inside me said something more.
I could tell everyone else felt the same, in the republic and specifically only here in the republic the fear of the Skalgans was fully dampened by an even greater fear from how uncanny they were the arm movements and head tilts to the tail gestures it all felt like a distorted mirror of sorts, perhaps it is simply coincidence but maybe there really is more.
The walk to the space port was rather quiet neither Kam or Cheln spoke anything to me at all neither my guards but everyone inside our ship was visibly shaken as we left orbit to our destination, a station on the outer reaches of the system where a ship belonging to the league had been docked.
"Just so you know governor they wish to speak to you face to face, no armour or mask,"
"What?? Why??" Okay now that was a surprise, I mentally braced myself to see the true face behind the new predators of the galaxy, however I have to believe I have seen worse having sat beside an Arxurs chief hunter before whatever they were like I could handle it and I would respect them regardless.
"You'll soon learn governor, we don't how it is possible yet either but you will know why once you see them, the information they bring is concerning," Cheln explained
"Concerning?.. like what?" I asked
It was Kam who answered instead as Cheln simply stood silent "The Skalgan League isn't the one who sent this vessel, they are defectors from the League, but there is a reason we haven't sent them of yet,"
That wasn't something I expected, it raised so much more questions than it did answer, defectors?? What is the Skalgan League hiding ??what are these defectors about to inform us of?? Many thoughts and speculations fill my head as I decided whatever it was I would have to wait and see.
He was silent after that in deep thought, I decided to not press any further questions as we finally docked with the station, the people there looked just as tense as everyone else.
"Governor, this has to be kept top secret for the good of the republic, until we could find out what to do with this situation," Kam said as he ushered me to a glass door a meeting area behind it and and two armoured armoured Skalgan stood inside,
I was concerned over what everyone is talking about as I walked into the room, "H.. Hello I am Tarva Governor of the Venlil Republic I have heard that you've requested me,"
Ah yes governor please let us sit down for a moment one of the armoured predators spoke, his voice was courteous and oddly polite far from what I would consider to be the voice of a predator however at this point I was much accustomed to "predators" speaking in that manner.
As we sat down to talk the Skalgan as they supposedly promised took off his helmet and what met my eyes was something that I would not have expected in a thousand years, the face of another Venlil met my own, the brown furred skalgan stood in front of me and raised his paw to me in greeting and said.
"The name is Morvil Bynek*, it's a pleasure to meet you governor,"
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"I'm sorry but how is... What is this...?" As if on que "Morvil,s" guard?? Adjutant??? Assistant?? Took of their mask as well revealing another Venlil beneath it?!!??
"I'm sorry to run directly to you governor at such short notice but the situation is quite urgent for you at least," I stared at the Venlil who sat opposite form his face was odd and with some scrutiny it seemed that perhaps he wasn't Venlil?? Although similar the odd leg structure and the nose on his face showed definite difference from your typical Venlil.
"But how are... You are Skalgan correct," is it just a coincidence that the Skalgans just look like us is that why they hide their faces is it embarrassment at looking like the Venlil does, could they be predators with side facing eyes like those from the human's shown??"
"Yes... I am a skalgan but also Venlil," ??? "Just as you are Venlil but also Skalgan," he said which. Only added to my confusion, " technically your more Skalgan than any other in the league being actually born on the planet.."
What is going on, Could anyone explain what is happening??? Why does stuff like this keep happening???,
First Nikonus, then Isif then *this WHAT EVEN IS THIS???
"Uhm governor.. hello... Are you oka..y"
"Explain,"
"Wha..,"
"I want you to explain what is happening right now,"
"Okay I knew you were going to ask that, so ugh what do you know about the League,"
"You are a space faring predator species that was exterminated by the Federation, lost the war and was forced to leave your Homeworld on arkships, and I am assuming that is all a lie..."
"Well no some of it is but uhm.. you know how the Federation like cures the races they integrate. Then erases their history??"
I really wondered what my face must have looked like in that moment as every piece of the puzzle just smashed in my head, "Stars above so.. the Venlil used to be predators that's... Ugh I need to lie down,"
"Well no... The predator part was a lie, everything else is true," he cleared up the statement which still didn't make things any less insane
"Okay okay so.. Skalgan is.. another name for the species," I asked
"*No?? Sort of... It's like the name of our Homeworld," he said waving his paws around..
"Our Homeworld??,"
"Naming a planet Insert species name prime was kind of obvious right, did nobody question that name?? When other species had something more culturally meaningful??"
"Okay I think I need a break...,"
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"So how big is the actual Venlil population then??? The republic is 35 billion how much is..."
"92 billion."
"What how??? That's almost three times the Republic??,"
"Lack of Arxurs threat, lots of motivation, but especially cloning tech and a deficit of morals,"
"What do you mean a deficit of morals??"
"Clones made to work in factories and hard labor or the military,"
"I couldn't bother to reply anymore, my jaw still dropped but at this point why am I still surprised,"
"So I'm assuming your army size is??"
"I don't know, probably somewhere around under a million ships* or something like that, that one's vague, probably a bit less?? they League wants to keep things secret even from the citizens,"
This is going to be a long day, I thought as Cheln walked into the room,
"So uhh how has it been," I looked into Cheln's eyes a mix of desperation and frustration,
"What do you think Cheln??" I said with a sharp edge to my words,
———
.
"You believe we shouldn't reveal this to the populace?" Cheln asked.
"No we shouldn't, I agree with Mr... Bynek here the mass hysteria and confusion that would arise would only be efit the league." I said sitting down absolutely dumbfounded at another world flipping paradigm shift.
"It's Morvil, just call me that governor,"
To know that at one point the ancestors of the Venlil reached the stars without the Federation, fractured just as the humans, then fought the Federation and lost was.. a gut punch to say the least.
And to add to that the existence of a surviving branch of that pre Federation Venlil government turned to extreme revanchism posing as predators is even more concerning.
As if the uncertainty of the fate the republic faces couldn't get far far worse the universe just had to send us challenge after challenge.
But as long as I live I will ensure the Venlil shall face these challenges and live to see the dawn after.
"But what of our allies." Kam asked fiddling with a glass of ice water on his paws, "Should the coalition know of this? Revealing it to them poses high security risk but it could help us if and when the league decides to make a move,"
"I say you shouldn't, however that is never my place to say, I thank you folks for having the patience to hear my words and I'm glad whatever Intel I shared managed to help all of you out,"
There was a silence for a bit as everyone kept thinking over what our next move could be.
"Well now we know who's been sabotaging our relations with humanity and the other spies in the republic, we need to rip them out as quick as possible before they cause anymore problems,"
"Yeah no shit.. Kam, but what do we do after??"
"You need to rebuild, it's impossible to catch up to the league but maybe if we subvert their motions we could make it harder for them to take over the republic,"
"Subvert their motions how exactly?"
"That I'm not sure.. but we could begin with sabotaging their operations that is currently happening in your government, you know who to look for know, I suggest you crack down on all suspected pro League activity, get aid from other species, have them guarantee your independence, the League probably will not directly attack unless they are sure they will win and they are out of other options,"
"And what about you.. Morvil?"
"I am here to seek asylum, I'll change my name if I have too and if I may, advise you on the next move to face the challenges ahead, never before have I said this but perhaps your republic is on the right track to lasting peace and prosperity for all Venlil everywhere,"
I pondered his words, he was right, the future of the Venlil now look as bleak and uncertain as ever there is no doubt many fights ahead of us in the [months] maybe [years] to come, but still if not us who, to carry the fire, the actual fire of hope our ancestors had for the future they wished for their children.
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Memory Transcription Subject: Osvek Renvil, leader of the inner party, level 6 citizen
Date: [Standardized Human Time] December 22, 2136
Location: New Skalga capital world of the Skalgan League, Naron Ezo.
"Today, The Skalgan nation, the league faces it's greatest challenge in [centuries], here we stand upon the precipice looking towards the enemies of ages past and ages to come, the path ahead is long and dark,
"But truely I believe that through the strength of our brothers and sisters along with the favor of the gods the Venlil will live unto a golden unrivaled than ever before, and so-"
I muted the recording, it Kessva's inauguration speech it wasn't long until she was voted into office as the next Chancellor all in accordance to plan.
I looked back at the black furred Skalgan sat on the other side of the room.
"So, what do you think dear," She asked.
"Well I think Kess, was a bit... Lackluster,"
"And why do you say that... Hmm,"
"Well where is the fire, the passion in her words??" I gestured to the recording playing on the screen.
"Fire isn't everything dear, the strength of a speech comes from what message you can send to the people, in the most suitable way possible, sometimes it pays to be delicate and subtle, by being articulate you could go a long way," Zam sipped her drink from the glass
I simply huffed with indignation at her words sometimes she annoys me so.
"Language is a blade that is best sharp and elegant not brutelike and rough," she continued before a setting down the empty glass as a single Pervaken officer took it away.
"Yeah sure, I guess you're right," I said tiredly "If everything goes to plan soon we will be able to reorganise the League as we please,"
"Yes but you are forgetting about Morvil,"
"You are still worried about him, I told you he's gone..,"
"You are rather over confident in that, dear maybe I should remind you we have still not found his body,
"Well regardless he's dead, no one can run forever, not from the Pervaken, unless you're saying that your boys are not good enough to-,"
**"That is enough. You are out of line,"
I fell silent at Zam's words maybe I went to far, still I expected some more professionalism from her underlings, if Morvil is still alive then he still poses a threat to us and we can't just ignore that, I expect her to be more punctual... more elegant as she put it.
"If you're right that he isn't dead yet, then it's still you're fault he got away Zam, so count your lucky stars and hope he's gone for good,"
"The only one who needs to count on stars here, is you,"
I walked out onto the balcony, deciding that maybe I needed to cool down for a bit, the feel of the wind on my fur snapped me out of my contemplation, it was a beautiful albeit windy day our banners flew proudly in the air.. I knew for a fact that Zam was just being paranoid, that is honestly to be expected, as the magistrate of intelligence being careful is part of her job but maybe I hope that she won't mess with my plan.
Maybe I need a way to control her, I need to get the military on my side if she ever steps out of line. I already have a replacement for Kessva in mind someone loyal to me and me alone.
But until then our interests align and I will be the head of this all, I will make sure that everything succeeds I will be the saviour of our people, someone feared and respected a leader to be remembered.
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Archive notes
*Morvil escaped along with 16 other Skalgans, he managed to escape via connections with a someone higher up who succeeded in smuggling him out of the League.
*The true amount and scale of the Skalgan League at the beginning of the war is unknown, with the all existing and open numbers impossible to truely believe out of a possibility of propaganda, it is likely that the number of ships are either inflated or including small single pilot fighters.
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Author's notes
Sorry for not posting in a while everyone, I have been extremely busy with life and lots of other things I also lost some motivation on writing for a week, this chapter is a bit short and a little janky and rushed in my opinion. i hope I could get back into the swing of things..
But things are just hard.. sorry.
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