The Biologus rubbed his chin with his long fingers. "Play it back if you would, Captain," he told Sayeeda in a respectful tone. Most likely he considered it prudent to hold no judgements of anyone for their profession, particularly if they gave him something new to learn. When Junebug reversed the footage back, he asked it to be paused when the Xenos were amid the human bodies. The image caused the military men in the room to clench their jaws in anger, whereas the Nobles seemed more sickened by their collective fates, as well as the gruesome images. 

"Interesting..." He mused. The silence as he considered was deafening. Neil dug into his ear with his pinky finger in the background, trying to scratch a particular itch. Rogefar shook his head in the meantime. "I would need one to examine to know for certain, but they're neither arachnids nor of the order hymenoptera, yet almost a hybrid of both. And yet...not..." his eyes widened. "If I had to guess, your Highness, I would say they were a life form based on silicates. That might explain their other-worldly biology, and why they are so incredibly durable as you have claimed, Captain Cyckali. They seem eusocial as well, though this is all highly speculative of course-" 

"And what does any of this mean," The Duke cut in. 

Rogefar blinked, as if snapping back into reality. "Yes, o-of course," he said, stepping back and pulling at his collar. "I get lost in my speculations as you know, your Highness." Æthelwulf waved him to continue, and he presented himself before the Duke. Astador stood beside the Duke, black armored arms crossed. He looked impassive with his helmet on, but he resonated attentiveness all the same. 

"I have never heard of Organisms being used to transport others through the vacuum of space, but if from what little I have seen here is correct, it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility." 

"What is the most effective way of killing them?" Astador asked. 

"Fire worked well." Neil pipped in, causing everyone to swerve and look at him. Neil didn't seem too bothered by that however. Rogefar continued. "Yes. Fire and super heated steam, perhaps. Conventional weaponry would be effective, of course. But perhaps not as much as one would hope. If they are truly eusocial, they'll have a command structure and leader organisms. They would move in a way that would seem odd to conventional tactics. But that's assuming they are intelligent beasts. They wouldn't be without a central hive mind. If they are, however...it would be very difficult to defend the lands between Manu-Cities. The villages and towns, they would need to be evacuated, your Highness." 

"Do you realize the manpower that would take?" Rekkr pipped in. He stepped toward the Magos Biologis, causing the man to shrink back. Rekkr glanced from the Duke to Rogefar. "My men's families are out there. We'll defend every inch of this planet if need be." 

"Rekkr," The Duke replied, drawing the big man's gaze. "If this is all true, defending the factories would be far easier than defending open spaces. We would have free reign to bombard the Xenos that landed there as well." 

"Your Highness!-" 

"Silence." Æthelwulf said, slamming his fist onto the arm of his throne. "I recognize your concern, old friend. But I'll not be questioned on the defense of my world. I need your support." 

"Your Highness," a voice called from the back. 

"What!?" Æthelwulf snarled, causing the disheveled messenger to blanch back in fear. He didn't know what to say for a moment, before sputtering to continue. "A-Anomalies have been spotted three hundred thousand kilometers from orbit, and we have lost communication with Virinax." 

The room fell into a hush once more, though it was short lived. Within seconds, a burst of commotion erupted once the news had sunk in. Lords leaping up, announcing they were returning to their facilities. Rekkr calling to get the High Gunner on the comm, and Neil simply whistling his condolences. It was when the Duke stood up and called for the arrest of the Lords that the room suddenly calmed once more. 

"Arrest?" Byrnhold repeated incredulously, laughing in disbelief. "You forget yourself sir! You don't have the comman-" 

"I have absolute command, my [i]Lord[/i]." The Duke spat. "This is only temporary, until I can find out why there were men studying these beasts at the facilities. Don't think I have not had you and yours investigated, either. We will speak more of this later, but as of now your resources are recommissioned for the greater good of Fornax." The pronouncement turned the Lords from arrogant windbags to red-faced windbags. The Duke ignored them, turning to Astador. "We'll need your Knights to aid in evacuations."

"You have them," Astador replied, his voice reverberating from within his helmet. Æthelwulf gave a curt nod, before his eyes fell on Sayeeda and Neil. "I assume you two want to live?" 

Neil nodded his head, Sayeeda giving a nod akin to the one he just gave Astador. "Good. If you survive this I'll see you suitably rewarded once more, but for now we need to evacuate the townships and villages. Take your ship and do so. You'll be given coordinates. Astador and his Knights will do the same. Take a few of his Knights to aid you." 
[@Penny]