Æthelwulf, the planetary Duke and former High General sat within his council chamber, upon what looked to be a throne. A powerful looking man with a kingly beard, he bore the insignia of the Duke upon his breast. He'd been given the position by System Monarch Angelos of the Fallen Angel legion. Commendation after Æthelwulf victory over the brutal Garruk hordes. Such a man expected only the best from his subordinates, for he ran the planet like he ran his old regiment. A well oiled machine needed well maintained parts, and teamwork to survive. 

His grey eyes gazed at the cabinet of so called authorities of the planet Fornax. Men who paid or bartered for their positions rather than earned them through any hard work or good deed, he noted. The fat Lord Cho-Lan, along with his rivals Bornhold the Red, Eisenhiem the Merchant Prince, and Bryant of the Griffon, the head of the workers Union who did a very small amount of work himself. They sat there, drinking their beverages as they stank of sweat and vice. Pitiful, all of them.  

He sighed, knowing that such a judgement was entirely fair to the rest of the men that sat at his table. The Grand Xenos Biologis was a man he felt he could trust. A gaunt but tall man named Rogefar, if the stories of this menace were true, he was likely the closest thing to an expert Fornax had. His advice would be paramount. Rekkr, the Captain of the Orbital Defense Militia was a red haired, barrel chested warrior of strong values and tough armor, and though he had a drinking problem, his men believed in him with a fervor. 

Varken, the High Gunner was also present. If anyone knew the planetary guns, he was the one. Last, unexpected, but not unwlecome was Astador the Death Bringer. His Dark Cavalier forces that had been visiting the planet for resupply would be invaluable in the supposed battle to come. Clad in black Vulcan armor, with jump packs, plasma and force weaponry, he would provide shock and awe against this Xenos menace.  

"Duke Æthelwulf, with all due respect," Eisenhiem began, chuckling as if this entire meeting was a farce. "Are we completely sure this is not some plea by Cho-Lan to halt the business of his competition?" 

"You know damn well that is not the case." Cho-Lan spat, murder in his eyes. The Lord regretted teaming up with his rivals to gain control of the planet now that his shields were compromised. If the others convinced the Duke this was a nonissue, he would be slaughtered along with the rest of the ones that couldn't hide. It was a sad irony, and he hated being on the other side of a self-serving scheme. "Your facilities have been hit as well." 

"Random raiders," Bornhold scoffed, black goatee smelling of whiskey. "It occurs. Why rile up the entire planet over small incidents? This is the edge of known space, superstition serves no one. Fornax is heavily defended is it not?" 

"Silence." Æthelwulf ordered, grey eyed gaze shutting the merchant's mouths, before they switched to Cho-Lan. "I believe you," he said. "But I cannot in good conscience order a full scale mobilization until I hear the words of your 'witnesses.' Are they present?" The Duke seemed to be running out of patience. 

"Y-Yes, they are just outside." Cho-Lan stammered, calling for Neil and Sayeeda to be invited in. 

[i]Meanwhile[/i] 

Neil's face was pressed to the glass of the foyer window, overlooking the entire infrastructure of the planetary palace. He'd seen a few from afar before, but the pilot had never been inside one. As a guest, anyway. Below him was miles of sweeping structures, far more ridged and functional than most palaces. The towers and halls were squared and made of the stout, Fornax steel and stone that gave the planet its wealth. 

He wondered if he could grab some scrap from the work areas he saw far off when this was all over. He might be able to remake his old mecha.

Behind him, Sayeeda leaned against the marble wall of the vast foyer they waited within. That is, until a message was broadcasted within the room's speakers. 

"The Duke will see you now." It announced, and the door to the council chamber opened. 
[@Penny]