Within her darkened alcove, Ezkshi poured over the yottabytes of diagnostics the [i]Zara vi-Pol[/i] gleaned from the nascent echoes of her fleet’s first salvo. Beyond, her premonition alluded to the [i]Bahá-cizr’s[/i] even grander reprisals. With so little effort, constellation-scale destruction of myriad provenances reverberated with relentless fury on the intransigent invader. Thus was the culmination of eons of gathered might. All Nenegin’s vessels—hers for the while—followed suit and contributed to the battle in the manner in which they were best equipped. Ever so slightly, she inclined her mind in recognition of Deimobos’ newfound and final purpose as a munition in their counter-offensive and, briefly, extended her empathic bond in approval to the orchestrator of that deed.

[i]Note to admiralty log—recommend Zuril Nu-báshíra, commandant of the specialist ship [/i]Nool Al-Pas[i], for title; tentatively, Comminutor of Deimobos, the Apostate Sphere.[/i]

As she watched, massive wounds, more numerous with each moment, ruptured the Cradle of Life’s hide. Vast voids, some grander than main sequence stars, accompanied lacerations light years long struck with such precision they seemed inflicted by cosmic scalpels. Along the smoldering margins, radiation from spent phase rockets sizzled vividly betwixt cinders of burning carapace. Destruction nigh immeasurable riddled the grand, yet grotesque, frame, and the toll for its audacity inexorably mounted. 

As the fog of radiation temporarily dimmed, she encountered more satisfactory news.

[i]>> Kilamara, Chandoo nodes pinging grid.
>> Grid offline.
>> Kilamara, Chandoo nodes pinging grid.
>> Kilamara node reports reacquisition of local nodular cluster.
>> Chandoo node reports reacquisition of local nodular cluster.
>> Grid online.[/i]

The unified forces of energy and entropy brought about the celestial entity’s inevitable disarticulation, but she wasn’t satisfied. She wanted to slay the beast. Immediately, Ezkshi encoded a message into the grid. [i]“To Cizran High Command. This is the [/i]Zara vi-Pol[i], commanded by Ezkshi, admiral pro-tempore of Admiral Nenegin’s away fleet. Priority Θ. Requesting immediate authorization for konul transmundane-ablation.”[/i]

[center]. . .[/center]

Even before Nenegin, with his honor guard, prowled aboard the [i]Vespis Dol[/i] to, in an act well beneath his station, investigate the cause of its superluminal failure, two facts glinted golden against his left iris from the data router embedded within his mask. 

Of very little importance, the first notification informed him that the responsibility transfer protocol finalized, which indicated that Kirri, Lysander, and the tome—as it was, to his most recent recollection, manifested—no longer added their weight to the burden of his authority. The three items of property, along with whatever other chattel associated with the [i]Dira var-sha’s[/i] haloportal confinement chambers, were now warded by Gereza.

However, the second item interested him greatly. War was imminent and his away fleet possessed the assumption of authority to deploy konuls in battle. A momentous occasion, as no threat in recent history rose to an occasion that required anything beyond mere conventional weaponry. He regretted his absence, but at the same time saw it as an opportunity for his protégés and wondered whether they would be bold or demure.

Those items pushed to the back of his mind, he concentrated on his inspection of the freighter. As soon as he expanded his empathic consciousness, a terrible wrongness loomed like a specter in the sankul chamber. A taint seeped from containers, designed to be perfect prisons of the ultramundane, that cloyed with his senses and infected him with disgust.

Appalled, he paused his stride.

Something in him hinted that this vessel must never reach the holy planet; moreso, whatever put it in such a state.

To his honor guard, Nenegin commanded, [i]“Escort the passengers and crew, if any there be, to this anteroom for interrogation.” [/i]

[center]. . .[/center]

On the massive wrap-around screen that dominated the fore of the [i]Zara vi-Pol’s[/i] bridge, and likewise on the bridge screens of the allegiant Cizran military vessels in the sector, a message displayed:

[i]>> KTmA authorization granted: Perallis 3-5, Chandoo 1.
>>  – – The Liars.[/i]

The bold text brought unexpected stillness to what was an already quiet, albeit active, environ. For a moment, Ezkshi broke from her combat data analysis to fully absorb its meaning. Of importance was the designation of the high command department who responded and the role they played in military messaging. Strictly speaking, it meant formal approval of her request was not yet granted; however, given exigent circumstances and a quorum of influential backers, she possessed now the authority to act on the assumption that it was. It also meant she assumed responsibility for any consequences should the political atmosphere change.

Absently, she heard, [i]“Who are the ‘Liars’?”[/i] whispered on her bridge.

The mechanical voice of her executive officer explained, [i]“Predictive military introspective intelligence. During times of war, they make educated guesses as to what central command will ultimately decide.”[/i]

[i]“So we’re at war?”[/i]

[i]“No official declaration has been made,”[/i] Ezkshi interrupted. 

She let insinuation hang in the silence. If KTmA authorization was unofficially given and under formal consideration, that meant the Liars were confident a declaration of war was imminent. Until then, the responsibility for them being wrong belonged solely to her as the ultimate decision maker. Not merely was it her reputation at risk, but that of every Cizran in the chain of command in this present theater; all three, given Nenegin’s absence.

Four konuls named, two of which were on the battleship [i]Zara vi-Pol[/i], another on the specialist ship [i]Nool Al-Pas[/i], and a third on the cruiser [i]Kazra-dei[/i]. Only one KTmA was anticipated, which, given the liberal response from high command, indicated a considerable severity of situation and anxiety in the holy city. Yet, as she perused the combat report, although she still considered that much power overkill, it seemed an increasingly warranted response.