{"id":1303,"date":"2026-04-24T21:45:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T21:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/?page_id=1303"},"modified":"2026-04-24T21:45:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T21:45:33","slug":"a-captains-claim","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/a-captains-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"A Captain`s Claim"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Captain&nbsp;Jo\u2019su&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;crossed&nbsp;his&nbsp;arms,&nbsp;the&nbsp;sight&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;capital&nbsp;planet&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;home&nbsp;system&nbsp;never&nbsp;ceasing&nbsp;to&nbsp;amaze&nbsp;him.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stood&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;wrapping&nbsp;hologram,&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;floating&nbsp;among&nbsp;the&nbsp;countless&nbsp;stars;&nbsp;the&nbsp;twin&nbsp;suns&nbsp;of&nbsp;<mark>Linis<\/mark>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<mark>Xona\u2019pel<\/mark>&nbsp;shimmering&nbsp;behind&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jo\u2019su&nbsp;reached&nbsp;forward,&nbsp;enlarging&nbsp;the&nbsp;image&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;him.&nbsp;He&nbsp;smiled&nbsp;inwardly,&nbsp;watching&nbsp;the&nbsp;emerald&nbsp;and&nbsp;blue&nbsp;orb&nbsp;turn&nbsp;ever&nbsp;so&nbsp;slowly.&nbsp;<em>The&nbsp;Clearing&nbsp;Festival<\/em>&nbsp;had&nbsp;ended&nbsp;a&nbsp;week&nbsp;ago,&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet&nbsp;ripe&nbsp;with&nbsp;vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From&nbsp;the&nbsp;very&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;laid&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;enthralled&nbsp;by&nbsp;its&nbsp;beauty.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;perfect&nbsp;combination&nbsp;of&nbsp;man,&nbsp;machine&nbsp;and&nbsp;nature.&nbsp;Concrete&nbsp;wrapped&nbsp;in&nbsp;vast&nbsp;floral&nbsp;designs,&nbsp;seemingly&nbsp;endless&nbsp;skyscrapers&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;functional&nbsp;pieces&nbsp;of&nbsp;art.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;natural&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;draped&nbsp;in&nbsp;sophistication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;home&nbsp;world&nbsp;was&nbsp;exaggerated.&nbsp;Bigger.&nbsp;Infinitely&nbsp;more&nbsp;impressive.&nbsp;Sprawling&nbsp;cities,&nbsp;bustling&nbsp;streets,&nbsp;swarming&nbsp;skies.&nbsp;A&nbsp;melting&nbsp;pot&nbsp;of&nbsp;cultures&nbsp;and&nbsp;traditions.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;delight&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;eyes,&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;nose,&nbsp;and&nbsp;stimulation&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;mind.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;epicenter&nbsp;of&nbsp;everything&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;system&nbsp;was&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;fabulous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n`s&nbsp;home&nbsp;planet&nbsp;of&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;<mark>wasn<\/mark>`t&nbsp;impressive&nbsp;in&nbsp;its&nbsp;own&nbsp;right.&nbsp;He&nbsp;came&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;world&nbsp;of&nbsp;rich&nbsp;history,&nbsp;wonderful&nbsp;traditions&nbsp;and&nbsp;cutting&nbsp;edge&nbsp;technology.&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;was&nbsp;ripe&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;culture&nbsp;like&nbsp;the&nbsp;other&nbsp;planets&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;system&nbsp;but&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;always&nbsp;stood&nbsp;out&nbsp;above&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest.&nbsp;But&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;was&nbsp;raised&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;poor&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;Xiso,&nbsp;nothing&nbsp;as&nbsp;glamorous&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;sparkling&nbsp;cities&nbsp;that&nbsp;wrapped&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless,&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;that&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;contained&nbsp;it&nbsp;simply&nbsp;<mark>wasn<\/mark>`t&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;The&nbsp;drama,&nbsp;the&nbsp;sheer&nbsp;bigness.&nbsp;The&nbsp;fashions,&nbsp;the&nbsp;trends.&nbsp;The&nbsp;circus&nbsp;that&nbsp;was&nbsp;life.&nbsp;Nothing&nbsp;could&nbsp;compare.&nbsp;Simply&nbsp;put,&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;petitioned&nbsp;for&nbsp;an&nbsp;assignment&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Organization&nbsp;during&nbsp;his&nbsp;first&nbsp;<em>Celebration&nbsp;of&nbsp;Hands<\/em>.&nbsp;He&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;praying&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Adored&nbsp;One&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;be&nbsp;granted&nbsp;the&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;study&nbsp;and&nbsp;work&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;Naturally,&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;was&nbsp;disappointed.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;pacifists,&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on&nbsp;building&nbsp;rather&nbsp;than&nbsp;destroying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaving&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;and&nbsp;friends&nbsp;behind,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;left&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;for&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;and&nbsp;dedicated&nbsp;himself&nbsp;intensely&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;studies&nbsp;and&nbsp;training.&nbsp;He&nbsp;loved&nbsp;living&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;and&nbsp;drank&nbsp;it&nbsp;in&nbsp;every&nbsp;second&nbsp;of&nbsp;every&nbsp;day.&nbsp;When&nbsp;he&nbsp;<mark>wasn<\/mark>`t&nbsp;in&nbsp;class&nbsp;or&nbsp;training,&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;the&nbsp;newest&nbsp;play&nbsp;or&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;works&nbsp;of&nbsp;art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An&nbsp;exceptional&nbsp;student,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;graduated&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;top&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;class&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;assigned&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>.&nbsp;One&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixania`s&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;space&nbsp;crafts,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;charged&nbsp;with&nbsp;deep&nbsp;space&nbsp;exploration&nbsp;and&nbsp;defense.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;the&nbsp;next&nbsp;few&nbsp;years&nbsp;Jo\u2019su&nbsp;witnessed&nbsp;things&nbsp;that&nbsp;defied&nbsp;the&nbsp;imagination.&nbsp;Supernovas,&nbsp;far&nbsp;away&nbsp;planets&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;of&nbsp;forming&nbsp;solar&nbsp;systems.&nbsp;He&nbsp;spent&nbsp;years&nbsp;touring&nbsp;his&nbsp;own&nbsp;system,&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;every&nbsp;planet&nbsp;from&nbsp;<mark>Jai<\/mark>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<mark>Prien<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just&nbsp;as&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;was&nbsp;promoted&nbsp;to&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>&nbsp;and&nbsp;their&nbsp;longtime&nbsp;adversaries,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash,&nbsp;began&nbsp;to&nbsp;spark&nbsp;again.&nbsp;Several&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;had&nbsp;broken&nbsp;out&nbsp;along&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;borders.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;during&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;those&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;proven&nbsp;his&nbsp;worth&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;leader&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;promoted&nbsp;to&nbsp;Captain&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite&nbsp;the&nbsp;indescribable&nbsp;beauties&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;universe,&nbsp;nothing&nbsp;compared&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;magnificence&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;while&nbsp;silently&nbsp;wished&nbsp;that&nbsp;his&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;for&nbsp;pleasure,&nbsp;this&nbsp;return&nbsp;home&nbsp;was&nbsp;all&nbsp;business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;Nalash,&nbsp;an&nbsp;aggressive&nbsp;race&nbsp;originating&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;neighboring&nbsp;galaxy,&nbsp;had&nbsp;led&nbsp;a&nbsp;war&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>&nbsp;for&nbsp;almost&nbsp;two&nbsp;centuries.&nbsp;War&nbsp;<mark>centric<\/mark>&nbsp;and&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;expansion,&nbsp;their&nbsp;Empire&nbsp;had&nbsp;grown&nbsp;stronger&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;annexation&nbsp;of&nbsp;territories.&nbsp;After&nbsp;a&nbsp;particularly&nbsp;brutal&nbsp;defeat,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;were&nbsp;quiet&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;decades&nbsp;but&nbsp;had&nbsp;recently&nbsp;reignited&nbsp;their&nbsp;<mark>aggressions<\/mark>&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By&nbsp;all&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>IDO<\/mark>&nbsp;had&nbsp;gathered,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;had&nbsp;conquered&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;more&nbsp;worlds&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;years&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;amassing&nbsp;a&nbsp;sizable&nbsp;fleet&nbsp;just&nbsp;outside&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;territory.&nbsp;For&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;in&nbsp;decades,&nbsp;many&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>&nbsp;were&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;to&nbsp;doubt&nbsp;their&nbsp;ability&nbsp;to&nbsp;defend&nbsp;the&nbsp;system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking&nbsp;at&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;below&nbsp;him,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;marveled&nbsp;at&nbsp;how&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;life&nbsp;can&nbsp;change.&nbsp;A&nbsp;few&nbsp;hours&nbsp;ago&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;reading&nbsp;the&nbsp;latest&nbsp;status&nbsp;reports&nbsp;as&nbsp;he&nbsp;awaited&nbsp;his&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;with&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en.&nbsp;He&nbsp;sat&nbsp;nervously&nbsp;in&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en\u2019s&nbsp;enormous&nbsp;office&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;110<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;floor&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Department&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Building.&nbsp;The&nbsp;office&nbsp;hung&nbsp;off&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;structure&nbsp;like&nbsp;an&nbsp;icicle.&nbsp;The&nbsp;walls&nbsp;and&nbsp;floor&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;set&nbsp;to&nbsp;transparent,&nbsp;allowing&nbsp;an&nbsp;uninhibited&nbsp;view&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;capital&nbsp;city&nbsp;of&nbsp;Lin`<mark>Pael<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stared&nbsp;absently&nbsp;out&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;as&nbsp;aerial&nbsp;transports&nbsp;swirled&nbsp;around&nbsp;him.&nbsp;His&nbsp;glass&nbsp;of&nbsp;<em><mark>talen<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;had&nbsp;cooled,&nbsp;his&nbsp;focus&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;distracting&nbsp;him.&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;had&nbsp;just&nbsp;finished&nbsp;an&nbsp;extensive&nbsp;retrofit&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;signed&nbsp;off&nbsp;on&nbsp;its&nbsp;inspection&nbsp;this&nbsp;morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cImpressive&nbsp;view,&nbsp;<mark>isn<\/mark>`t&nbsp;it?\u201d&nbsp;said&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;from&nbsp;behind&nbsp;him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stood&nbsp;stiffly,&nbsp;turning&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral.&nbsp;He&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;saluted,&nbsp;walking&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;slim&nbsp;and&nbsp;fit&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;fleet.&nbsp;\u201cAdmiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said,&nbsp;\u201cIt&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Admiral&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;smiled,&nbsp;motioning&nbsp;for&nbsp;him&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;his&nbsp;seat.&nbsp;A&nbsp;veteran&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;war&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;well&nbsp;respected&nbsp;and&nbsp;equally&nbsp;feared.&nbsp;Physically,&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;imposing,&nbsp;her&nbsp;long,&nbsp;black&nbsp;hair&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;back&nbsp;tightly&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;head.&nbsp;Her&nbsp;dark&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;were&nbsp;difficult&nbsp;to&nbsp;read,&nbsp;painted&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;subtle&nbsp;fierceness.&nbsp;She&nbsp;had&nbsp;fought&nbsp;many&nbsp;battles&nbsp;and&nbsp;her&nbsp;prowess&nbsp;for&nbsp;war&nbsp;games&nbsp;was&nbsp;unmatched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour&nbsp;craft&nbsp;has&nbsp;completed&nbsp;its&nbsp;retrofit.,\u201d&nbsp;she&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;staring&nbsp;out&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;beyond&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass.&nbsp;She&nbsp;lifted&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet,&nbsp;reviewing&nbsp;the&nbsp;information&nbsp;displayed&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass.&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;assume&nbsp;I&nbsp;know&nbsp;why&nbsp;you&nbsp;are&nbsp;here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAffirmative,&nbsp;Admiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;answered,&nbsp;placing&nbsp;his&nbsp;untouched&nbsp;beverage&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;side&nbsp;table&nbsp;and&nbsp;approaching&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral`s&nbsp;desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&nbsp;are&nbsp;preoccupied,&nbsp;Captain,\u201d&nbsp;she&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;sitting&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;glass&nbsp;desk.&nbsp;\u201cIt&nbsp;is&nbsp;written&nbsp;all&nbsp;over&nbsp;your&nbsp;essence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded,&nbsp;pushing&nbsp;away&nbsp;a&nbsp;lock&nbsp;of&nbsp;black&nbsp;hair&nbsp;from&nbsp;his&nbsp;olive&nbsp;brown&nbsp;forehead.&nbsp;\u201cMy&nbsp;team.&nbsp;The&nbsp;infiltration&nbsp;mission.&nbsp;We&nbsp;know&nbsp;where&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;being&nbsp;held.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;\u201c<mark>IAnd<\/mark>&nbsp;you&nbsp;want&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;after&nbsp;them,&nbsp;Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded,&nbsp;looking&nbsp;past&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;and&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;sky.&nbsp;He&nbsp;could&nbsp;almost&nbsp;imagine&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;floating&nbsp;above&nbsp;him,&nbsp;set&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;dark&nbsp;vastness&nbsp;of&nbsp;space.&nbsp;\u201cThey\u2019ve&nbsp;been&nbsp;in&nbsp;captivity&nbsp;for&nbsp;weeks.&nbsp;We&nbsp;owe&nbsp;it&nbsp;them&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;them&nbsp;out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&nbsp;understand&nbsp;your&nbsp;sense&nbsp;of&nbsp;urgency,&nbsp;Jo\u2019su,\u201d&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;said,&nbsp;opening&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet&nbsp;and&nbsp;interfacing&nbsp;it&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;holographic&nbsp;projector.&nbsp;Reports&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;pictures&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;crew&nbsp;members&nbsp;floated&nbsp;above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;reports&nbsp;are&nbsp;accurate,\u201d&nbsp;<mark>Haln\u2019en<\/mark>&nbsp;began.&nbsp;\u201cThen&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;still&nbsp;alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;\u201cIts&nbsp;reliable&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;believe&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Give&nbsp;me&nbsp;authorization&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;in&nbsp;and&nbsp;get&nbsp;them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><mark>Haln\u2019en<\/mark>&nbsp;studied&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;warship&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;system&nbsp;where&nbsp;they&nbsp;were&nbsp;being&nbsp;held.&nbsp;\u201cYou&nbsp;are&nbsp;going&nbsp;in&nbsp;to&nbsp;hornets&nbsp;nest,\u201d&nbsp;<mark>Haln\u2019en<\/mark>&nbsp;began.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;and&nbsp;heavily&nbsp;armed&nbsp;ship&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Fleet,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;<mark>interupted<\/mark>.&nbsp;\u201cAnd&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;crew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><mark>Haln\u2019en<\/mark>&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;&nbsp;\u201cAll&nbsp;true&nbsp;but&nbsp;even&nbsp;with&nbsp;all&nbsp;this&nbsp;in&nbsp;your&nbsp;favor&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;still&nbsp;as&nbsp;close&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;mission&nbsp;as&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;get.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;crossed&nbsp;his&nbsp;arms,&nbsp;his&nbsp;face&nbsp;determined.&nbsp;\u201cWe&nbsp;can&nbsp;do&nbsp;it,&nbsp;Admiral.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trust&nbsp;me.&nbsp;&nbsp;Let&nbsp;me&nbsp;get&nbsp;my&nbsp;people&nbsp;back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><mark>Haln\u2019en<\/mark>&nbsp;stood&nbsp;quiet&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;moment&nbsp;before&nbsp;slowly&nbsp;nodding&nbsp;her&nbsp;head.&nbsp;\u201cTop&nbsp;brass&nbsp;is&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;my&nbsp;head&nbsp;for&nbsp;this&nbsp;but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Placing&nbsp;her&nbsp;hand&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;shoulder&nbsp;and&nbsp;smiling,&nbsp;\u201cYou`<mark>ve<\/mark>&nbsp;done&nbsp;me&nbsp;more&nbsp;favors&nbsp;than&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;count,&nbsp;Jo\u2019su.&nbsp;I&nbsp;owe&nbsp;you&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;a&nbsp;few.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She&nbsp;tapped&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet&nbsp;quickly.&nbsp;\u201cMission&nbsp;approved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThank&nbsp;you,&nbsp;Admiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said,&nbsp;saluting&nbsp;and&nbsp;walking&nbsp;stiffly&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;door.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCaptain,\u201d&nbsp;<mark>Haln\u2019en<\/mark>&nbsp;said.&nbsp;\u201cI`m&nbsp;making&nbsp;an&nbsp;addition&nbsp;to&nbsp;your&nbsp;team&nbsp;considering&nbsp;you`re&nbsp;down&nbsp;a&nbsp;First&nbsp;officer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;and&nbsp;turned&nbsp;around,&nbsp;looking&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;profile&nbsp;floating&nbsp;above&nbsp;<mark>Haln\u2019en<\/mark>.&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;am&nbsp;assigning&nbsp;Martin&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;to&nbsp;you&nbsp;as&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer,&nbsp;are&nbsp;you&nbsp;familiar&nbsp;with&nbsp;him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe&nbsp;served&nbsp;aboard&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em><mark>Ges<\/mark>`on&nbsp;Hal<\/em>&nbsp;for&nbsp;many&nbsp;cycles&nbsp;with&nbsp;distinction,\u201d&nbsp;aware&nbsp;of&nbsp;who&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;was.&nbsp;\u201cIf&nbsp;I`m&nbsp;not&nbsp;mistaken&nbsp;he&nbsp;fought&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Battle&nbsp;of&nbsp;<mark>Kyup<\/mark>&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;ground&nbsp;forces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Admiral&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up,&nbsp;nodding.&nbsp;\u201cA&nbsp;very&nbsp;talented&nbsp;officer.&nbsp;Captain&nbsp;<mark>Tris<\/mark>&nbsp;was&nbsp;sad&nbsp;to&nbsp;lose&nbsp;him&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;will&nbsp;serve&nbsp;you&nbsp;well.&nbsp;He&nbsp;is&nbsp;from&nbsp;Xiso,\u201d&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;added,&nbsp;\u201cJust&nbsp;like&nbsp;you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;acknowledged&nbsp;the&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;\u201cHis&nbsp;family&nbsp;has&nbsp;a&nbsp;house&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;farming&nbsp;cluster&nbsp;outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Capital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;asset,\u201d&nbsp;<mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;have&nbsp;no&nbsp;doubt&nbsp;that&nbsp;you&nbsp;will&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;having&nbsp;him&nbsp;as&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer.&nbsp;His&nbsp;transfer&nbsp;is&nbsp;effective&nbsp;immediate;&nbsp;he&nbsp;is&nbsp;in&nbsp;transit&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;speak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&nbsp;would&nbsp;have&nbsp;felt&nbsp;more&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;more&nbsp;time&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;and&nbsp;crew,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;nodded&nbsp;and&nbsp;walked&nbsp;around&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;her&nbsp;desk,&nbsp;crossing&nbsp;her&nbsp;arms.&nbsp;\u201cWar&nbsp;waits&nbsp;for&nbsp;no&nbsp;one,&nbsp;Captain.&nbsp;It&nbsp;knows&nbsp;no&nbsp;time&nbsp;and&nbsp;will&nbsp;not&nbsp;have&nbsp;mercy&nbsp;on&nbsp;those&nbsp;who&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;ready&nbsp;for&nbsp;it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She&nbsp;leaned&nbsp;closer&nbsp;to&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n,&nbsp;her&nbsp;voice&nbsp;like&nbsp;a&nbsp;razor.&nbsp;\u201cIt\u2019s&nbsp;your&nbsp;job&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;sure&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;ready.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Motioning&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;bustling&nbsp;city&nbsp;outside&nbsp;the&nbsp;windows&nbsp;she&nbsp;added,&nbsp;\u201cOur&nbsp;people&nbsp;are&nbsp;depending&nbsp;on&nbsp;it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><mark>Haln<\/mark>`en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up&nbsp;and&nbsp;walked&nbsp;back&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;desk.&nbsp;\u201cBesides,&nbsp;you&nbsp;still&nbsp;have&nbsp;<mark>Evelna<\/mark>.&nbsp;While&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;is&nbsp;new,&nbsp;she&nbsp;certainly&nbsp;is&nbsp;not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;blinked&nbsp;away&nbsp;his&nbsp;thoughts.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;grew&nbsp;small&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;holographic&nbsp;image&nbsp;around&nbsp;him,&nbsp;blending&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>starscape<\/mark>.&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;closed&nbsp;his&nbsp;eyes,&nbsp;imagining&nbsp;Lin`<mark>Pael<\/mark>&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;inhabitants&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;mind`s&nbsp;eye.&nbsp;All&nbsp;its&nbsp;beauty,&nbsp;its&nbsp;culture.&nbsp;Everything&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;loved&nbsp;about&nbsp;his&nbsp;people.&nbsp;All&nbsp;this&nbsp;was&nbsp;now&nbsp;being&nbsp;threatened&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;do&nbsp;anything&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;to&nbsp;keep&nbsp;it&nbsp;safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;cleared&nbsp;his&nbsp;head,&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;task&nbsp;at&nbsp;hand.&nbsp;They&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;away&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;space&nbsp;dock,&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;behind.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;hologram&nbsp;and&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;busy&nbsp;bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;massive&nbsp;craft&nbsp;was&nbsp;circular,&nbsp;surrounded&nbsp;by&nbsp;clear&nbsp;glass&nbsp;walls.&nbsp;Stools&nbsp;were&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass,&nbsp;moving&nbsp;along&nbsp;a&nbsp;track.&nbsp;Stations&nbsp;dotted&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;with&nbsp;varying&nbsp;responsibilities&nbsp;from&nbsp;navigation&nbsp;to&nbsp;tactical.&nbsp;At&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;raised&nbsp;deck&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;Captain`s&nbsp;level&nbsp;where&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;issued&nbsp;the&nbsp;orders&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;staff.&nbsp;Beyond&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass&nbsp;walls&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;staff&nbsp;moved&nbsp;with&nbsp;purpose,&nbsp;preparing&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;ships&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;fleet.&nbsp;Similar&nbsp;in&nbsp;design&nbsp;to&nbsp;other&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;in&nbsp;was&nbsp;cylinder&nbsp;in&nbsp;shape&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;pointed&nbsp;bow.&nbsp;Six&nbsp;engines&nbsp;flared&nbsp;out&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;back&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;craft;&nbsp;its&nbsp;hull&nbsp;lined&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;pitch&nbsp;black&nbsp;metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Larger&nbsp;than&nbsp;most&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>&nbsp;crafts,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;stood&nbsp;out&nbsp;with&nbsp;it&nbsp;two&nbsp;observation&nbsp;bays&nbsp;on&nbsp;both&nbsp;sides&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship.&nbsp;The&nbsp;clear&nbsp;bubbles&nbsp;protruded&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;sides,&nbsp;made&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;revolutionary&nbsp;clear&nbsp;metal&nbsp;that&nbsp;could&nbsp;withstand&nbsp;the&nbsp;stress&nbsp;of&nbsp;space&nbsp;travel.&nbsp;Designed&nbsp;primarily&nbsp;for&nbsp;exploration,&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;housed&nbsp;not&nbsp;only&nbsp;those&nbsp;who&nbsp;served&nbsp;on&nbsp;it&nbsp;but&nbsp;their&nbsp;families&nbsp;as&nbsp;well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More&nbsp;impressive&nbsp;than&nbsp;the&nbsp;craft&nbsp;itself&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;technology&nbsp;that&nbsp;powered&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;were&nbsp;fueled&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;themselves,&nbsp;connected&nbsp;to&nbsp;these&nbsp;awesome&nbsp;energies&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nexus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;apex&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;technology,&nbsp;the&nbsp;control&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;of&nbsp;their&nbsp;society.&nbsp;A&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;allowed&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>&nbsp;to&nbsp;harvest&nbsp;energy&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;and&nbsp;power&nbsp;their&nbsp;cities,&nbsp;space&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;and&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;more.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;the&nbsp;literal&nbsp;heart&nbsp;of&nbsp;every&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His&nbsp;officers&nbsp;moved&nbsp;from&nbsp;one&nbsp;side&nbsp;to&nbsp;another,&nbsp;confirming&nbsp;last&nbsp;minute&nbsp;orders&nbsp;and&nbsp;instructions.&nbsp;Images&nbsp;and&nbsp;data&nbsp;flew&nbsp;up&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;circular&nbsp;walls,&nbsp;information&nbsp;being&nbsp;passed&nbsp;from&nbsp;one&nbsp;person&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSet&nbsp;Alert&nbsp;Level&nbsp;One,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;barked,&nbsp;his&nbsp;strong&nbsp;voice&nbsp;booming&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;commotion&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge.&nbsp;\u201cAll&nbsp;hands&nbsp;to&nbsp;stations.&nbsp;Prepare&nbsp;to&nbsp;Phase.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;lights&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;dimmed&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;pulse&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship\u2019s&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;beat&nbsp;faster,&nbsp;ramping&nbsp;up&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;Phase.&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;circular&nbsp;command&nbsp;table&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge,&nbsp;reviewing&nbsp;the&nbsp;holographic&nbsp;projections&nbsp;that&nbsp;floated&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His&nbsp;new&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;stood&nbsp;next&nbsp;to&nbsp;him,&nbsp;patiently&nbsp;awaiting&nbsp;his&nbsp;orders.&nbsp;A&nbsp;farmer&nbsp;for&nbsp;many&nbsp;cycles,&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;was&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Warrior&nbsp;Caste.&nbsp;Like&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;strikingly&nbsp;dark&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;and&nbsp;olive&nbsp;colored&nbsp;skin.&nbsp;His&nbsp;build&nbsp;was&nbsp;wide,&nbsp;his&nbsp;body&nbsp;firm.&nbsp;And&nbsp;while&nbsp;his&nbsp;features&nbsp;were&nbsp;distinctively&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>,&nbsp;there&nbsp;was&nbsp;one&nbsp;feature&nbsp;that&nbsp;set&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;apart&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long,&nbsp;blond&nbsp;hair&nbsp;was&nbsp;tied&nbsp;up&nbsp;onto&nbsp;the&nbsp;top&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;officer`s&nbsp;head,&nbsp;a&nbsp;sharp&nbsp;contrast&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;dark&nbsp;skin&nbsp;and&nbsp;black&nbsp;eyes.&nbsp;While&nbsp;not&nbsp;unheard&nbsp;of&nbsp;in&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;culture,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;certainly&nbsp;a&nbsp;rarity.&nbsp;Many&nbsp;religious&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;were&nbsp;convinced&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;symbol&nbsp;of&nbsp;someone&nbsp;touched&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;Adored&nbsp;One.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;had&nbsp;served&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;Military&nbsp;for&nbsp;decades.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ge`<mark>lan<\/mark>&nbsp;Cluster,&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;farming&nbsp;town&nbsp;just&nbsp;outside&nbsp;<mark>Xiso\u2019s<\/mark>&nbsp;capitol&nbsp;of&nbsp;<mark>Lai<\/mark>`<mark>sul<\/mark>.&nbsp;Deeply&nbsp;religious,&nbsp;he&nbsp;knew&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;Adored&nbsp;One`s&nbsp;will&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;join&nbsp;the&nbsp;fight&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash.&nbsp;He&nbsp;left&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;behind&nbsp;to&nbsp;defend&nbsp;them&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;unseen&nbsp;threats&nbsp;hidden&nbsp;amongst&nbsp;the&nbsp;stars&nbsp;above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He&nbsp;served&nbsp;on&nbsp;several&nbsp;ground&nbsp;units&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;end&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>Nalash\u2019s<\/mark>&nbsp;previous&nbsp;aggression,&nbsp;fighting&nbsp;in&nbsp;some&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;brutal&nbsp;battles&nbsp;the&nbsp;war&nbsp;had&nbsp;seen.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;celebrated&nbsp;officer,&nbsp;known&nbsp;for&nbsp;his&nbsp;fighting&nbsp;skills&nbsp;and&nbsp;battle&nbsp;planning.&nbsp;He&nbsp;joined&nbsp;the&nbsp;fleet&nbsp;as&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;subsided&nbsp;but&nbsp;was&nbsp;in&nbsp;high&nbsp;demand&nbsp;now&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;had&nbsp;resumed&nbsp;their&nbsp;attacks&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<mark>Ixanians<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCommander&nbsp;Dashiel,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said,&nbsp;addressing&nbsp;his&nbsp;first&nbsp;officer.&nbsp;\u201cAre&nbsp;we&nbsp;ready&nbsp;to&nbsp;Phase?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phasing&nbsp;involved&nbsp;creating&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;tear&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;very&nbsp;fabrics&nbsp;of&nbsp;space&nbsp;and&nbsp;time,&nbsp;slipping&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;themselves.&nbsp;Traveling&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;they&nbsp;could&nbsp;cover&nbsp;millions&nbsp;of&nbsp;<mark>lightyears<\/mark>&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;matter&nbsp;of&nbsp;seconds.&nbsp;The&nbsp;vastness&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;universe&nbsp;was&nbsp;only&nbsp;a&nbsp;phase&nbsp;away&nbsp;for&nbsp;them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Commander&nbsp;Martin&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;looked&nbsp;away&nbsp;from&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;projections&nbsp;and&nbsp;responded,&nbsp;\u201cAll&nbsp;stations&nbsp;report&nbsp;ready.&nbsp;Waiting&nbsp;on&nbsp;your&nbsp;order,&nbsp;Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded,&nbsp;reviewing&nbsp;the&nbsp;coordinates&nbsp;that&nbsp;were&nbsp;locked&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;navigation&nbsp;computer.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;were&nbsp;close,&nbsp;he&nbsp;could&nbsp;feel&nbsp;it&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;essence.&nbsp;Decades&nbsp;of&nbsp;silence&nbsp;were&nbsp;about&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;shattered&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em><mark>Evelna<\/mark><\/em>&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;thick&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;war&nbsp;once&nbsp;again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExcellent,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;replied,&nbsp;hearing&nbsp;the&nbsp;familiar&nbsp;sound&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship`s&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;fully&nbsp;<mark>ramped<\/mark>&nbsp;and&nbsp;standing&nbsp;by.&nbsp;\u201cThe&nbsp;order&nbsp;is&nbsp;given.&nbsp;Phase.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Captain&nbsp;Jo\u2019su&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;crossed&nbsp;his&nbsp;arms,&nbsp;the&nbsp;sight&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;capital&nbsp;planet&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;home&nbsp;system&nbsp;never&nbsp;ceasing&nbsp;to&nbsp;amaze&nbsp;him.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stood&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;wrapping&nbsp;hologram,&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;floating&nbsp;among&nbsp;the&nbsp;countless&nbsp;stars;&nbsp;the&nbsp;twin&nbsp;suns&nbsp;of&nbsp;Linis&nbsp;and&nbsp;Xona\u2019pel&nbsp;shimmering&nbsp;behind&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet. Jo\u2019su&nbsp;reached&nbsp;forward,&nbsp;enlarging&nbsp;the&nbsp;image&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;him.&nbsp;He&nbsp;smiled&nbsp;inwardly,&nbsp;watching&nbsp;the&nbsp;emerald&nbsp;and&nbsp;blue&nbsp;orb&nbsp;turn&nbsp;ever&nbsp;so&nbsp;slowly.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Clearing&nbsp;Festival&nbsp;had&nbsp;ended&nbsp;a&nbsp;week&nbsp;ago,&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet&nbsp;ripe&nbsp;with&nbsp;vegetation. From&nbsp;the&nbsp;very&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;laid&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;enthralled&nbsp;by&nbsp;its&nbsp;beauty.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;perfect&nbsp;combination&nbsp;of&nbsp;man,&nbsp;machine&nbsp;and&nbsp;nature.&nbsp;Concrete&nbsp;wrapped&nbsp;in&nbsp;vast&nbsp;floral&nbsp;designs,&nbsp;seemingly&nbsp;endless&nbsp;skyscrapers&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;functional&nbsp;pieces&nbsp;of&nbsp;art.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;natural&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;draped&nbsp;in&nbsp;sophistication. Everything&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;home&nbsp;world&nbsp;was&nbsp;exaggerated.&nbsp;Bigger.&nbsp;Infinitely&nbsp;more&nbsp;impressive.&nbsp;Sprawling&nbsp;cities,&nbsp;bustling&nbsp;streets,&nbsp;swarming&nbsp;skies.&nbsp;A&nbsp;melting&nbsp;pot&nbsp;of&nbsp;cultures&nbsp;and&nbsp;traditions.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;delight&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;eyes,&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;nose,&nbsp;and&nbsp;stimulation&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;mind.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;epicenter&nbsp;of&nbsp;everything&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;system&nbsp;was&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;fabulous. Not&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n`s&nbsp;home&nbsp;planet&nbsp;of&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;wasn`t&nbsp;impressive&nbsp;in&nbsp;its&nbsp;own&nbsp;right.&nbsp;He&nbsp;came&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;world&nbsp;of&nbsp;rich&nbsp;history,&nbsp;wonderful&nbsp;traditions&nbsp;and&nbsp;cutting&nbsp;edge&nbsp;technology.&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;was&nbsp;ripe&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;culture&nbsp;like&nbsp;the&nbsp;other&nbsp;planets&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;system&nbsp;but&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;always&nbsp;stood&nbsp;out&nbsp;above&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest.&nbsp;But&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;was&nbsp;raised&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;poor&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;Xiso,&nbsp;nothing&nbsp;as&nbsp;glamorous&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;sparkling&nbsp;cities&nbsp;that&nbsp;wrapped&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet. Regardless,&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;that&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;contained&nbsp;it&nbsp;simply&nbsp;wasn`t&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;The&nbsp;drama,&nbsp;the&nbsp;sheer&nbsp;bigness.&nbsp;The&nbsp;fashions,&nbsp;the&nbsp;trends.&nbsp;The&nbsp;circus&nbsp;that&nbsp;was&nbsp;life.&nbsp;Nothing&nbsp;could&nbsp;compare.&nbsp;Simply&nbsp;put,&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;unique. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;petitioned&nbsp;for&nbsp;an&nbsp;assignment&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Organization&nbsp;during&nbsp;his&nbsp;first&nbsp;Celebration&nbsp;of&nbsp;Hands.&nbsp;He&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;praying&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Adored&nbsp;One&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;be&nbsp;granted&nbsp;the&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;study&nbsp;and&nbsp;work&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;Naturally,&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;was&nbsp;disappointed.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;pacifists,&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on&nbsp;building&nbsp;rather&nbsp;than&nbsp;destroying. Leaving&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;and&nbsp;friends&nbsp;behind,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;left&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;for&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;and&nbsp;dedicated&nbsp;himself&nbsp;intensely&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;studies&nbsp;and&nbsp;training.&nbsp;He&nbsp;loved&nbsp;living&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;and&nbsp;drank&nbsp;it&nbsp;in&nbsp;every&nbsp;second&nbsp;of&nbsp;every&nbsp;day.&nbsp;When&nbsp;he&nbsp;wasn`t&nbsp;in&nbsp;class&nbsp;or&nbsp;training,&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;the&nbsp;newest&nbsp;play&nbsp;or&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;works&nbsp;of&nbsp;art. An&nbsp;exceptional&nbsp;student,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;graduated&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;top&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;class&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;assigned&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna.&nbsp;One&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixania`s&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;space&nbsp;crafts,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;charged&nbsp;with&nbsp;deep&nbsp;space&nbsp;exploration&nbsp;and&nbsp;defense.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;the&nbsp;next&nbsp;few&nbsp;years&nbsp;Jo\u2019su&nbsp;witnessed&nbsp;things&nbsp;that&nbsp;defied&nbsp;the&nbsp;imagination.&nbsp;Supernovas,&nbsp;far&nbsp;away&nbsp;planets&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;of&nbsp;forming&nbsp;solar&nbsp;systems.&nbsp;He&nbsp;spent&nbsp;years&nbsp;touring&nbsp;his&nbsp;own&nbsp;system,&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;every&nbsp;planet&nbsp;from&nbsp;Jai&nbsp;to&nbsp;Prien. Just&nbsp;as&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;was&nbsp;promoted&nbsp;to&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;and&nbsp;their&nbsp;longtime&nbsp;adversaries,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash,&nbsp;began&nbsp;to&nbsp;spark&nbsp;again.&nbsp;Several&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;had&nbsp;broken&nbsp;out&nbsp;along&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;borders.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;during&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;those&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;proven&nbsp;his&nbsp;worth&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;leader&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;promoted&nbsp;to&nbsp;Captain&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;cycle. Despite&nbsp;the&nbsp;indescribable&nbsp;beauties&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;universe,&nbsp;nothing&nbsp;compared&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;magnificence&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;while&nbsp;silently&nbsp;wished&nbsp;that&nbsp;his&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;for&nbsp;pleasure,&nbsp;this&nbsp;return&nbsp;home&nbsp;was&nbsp;all&nbsp;business. The&nbsp;Nalash,&nbsp;an&nbsp;aggressive&nbsp;race&nbsp;originating&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;neighboring&nbsp;galaxy,&nbsp;had&nbsp;led&nbsp;a&nbsp;war&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;for&nbsp;almost&nbsp;two&nbsp;centuries.&nbsp;War&nbsp;centric&nbsp;and&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;expansion,&nbsp;their&nbsp;Empire&nbsp;had&nbsp;grown&nbsp;stronger&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;annexation&nbsp;of&nbsp;territories.&nbsp;After&nbsp;a&nbsp;particularly&nbsp;brutal&nbsp;defeat,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;were&nbsp;quiet&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;decades&nbsp;but&nbsp;had&nbsp;recently&nbsp;reignited&nbsp;their&nbsp;aggressions&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians. By&nbsp;all&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;the&nbsp;IDO&nbsp;had&nbsp;gathered,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;had&nbsp;conquered&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;more&nbsp;worlds&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;years&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;amassing&nbsp;a&nbsp;sizable&nbsp;fleet&nbsp;just&nbsp;outside&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;territory.&nbsp;For&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;in&nbsp;decades,&nbsp;many&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;were&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;to&nbsp;doubt&nbsp;their&nbsp;ability&nbsp;to&nbsp;defend&nbsp;the&nbsp;system. Looking&nbsp;at&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;below&nbsp;him,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;marveled&nbsp;at&nbsp;how&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;life&nbsp;can&nbsp;change.&nbsp;A&nbsp;few&nbsp;hours&nbsp;ago&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;reading&nbsp;the&nbsp;latest&nbsp;status&nbsp;reports&nbsp;as&nbsp;he&nbsp;awaited&nbsp;his&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;with&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en.&nbsp;He&nbsp;sat&nbsp;nervously&nbsp;in&nbsp;Haln`en\u2019s&nbsp;enormous&nbsp;office&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;110th&nbsp;floor&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Department&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Building.&nbsp;The&nbsp;office&nbsp;hung&nbsp;off&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;structure&nbsp;like&nbsp;an&nbsp;icicle.&nbsp;The&nbsp;walls&nbsp;and&nbsp;floor&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;set&nbsp;to&nbsp;transparent,&nbsp;allowing&nbsp;an&nbsp;uninhibited&nbsp;view&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;capital&nbsp;city&nbsp;of&nbsp;Lin`Pael. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stared&nbsp;absently&nbsp;out&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;as&nbsp;aerial&nbsp;transports&nbsp;swirled&nbsp;around&nbsp;him.&nbsp;His&nbsp;glass&nbsp;of&nbsp;talen&nbsp;had&nbsp;cooled,&nbsp;his&nbsp;focus&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;distracting&nbsp;him.&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;had&nbsp;just&nbsp;finished&nbsp;an&nbsp;extensive&nbsp;retrofit&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;signed&nbsp;off&nbsp;on&nbsp;its&nbsp;inspection&nbsp;this&nbsp;morning. \u201cImpressive&nbsp;view,&nbsp;isn`t&nbsp;it?\u201d&nbsp;said&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;from&nbsp;behind&nbsp;him. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stood&nbsp;stiffly,&nbsp;turning&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral.&nbsp;He&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;saluted,&nbsp;walking&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;slim&nbsp;and&nbsp;fit&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;fleet.&nbsp;\u201cAdmiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said,&nbsp;\u201cIt&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;you.\u201d Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;smiled,&nbsp;motioning&nbsp;for&nbsp;him&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;his&nbsp;seat.&nbsp;A&nbsp;veteran&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;war&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;well&nbsp;respected&nbsp;and&nbsp;equally&nbsp;feared.&nbsp;Physically,&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;imposing,&nbsp;her&nbsp;long,&nbsp;black&nbsp;hair&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;back&nbsp;tightly&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;head.&nbsp;Her&nbsp;dark&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;were&nbsp;difficult&nbsp;to&nbsp;read,&nbsp;painted&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;subtle&nbsp;fierceness.&nbsp;She&nbsp;had&nbsp;fought&nbsp;many&nbsp;battles&nbsp;and&nbsp;her&nbsp;prowess&nbsp;for&nbsp;war&nbsp;games&nbsp;was&nbsp;unmatched. \u201cYour&nbsp;craft&nbsp;has&nbsp;completed&nbsp;its&nbsp;retrofit.,\u201d&nbsp;she&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;staring&nbsp;out&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;beyond&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass.&nbsp;She&nbsp;lifted&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet,&nbsp;reviewing&nbsp;the&nbsp;information&nbsp;displayed&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass.&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;assume&nbsp;I&nbsp;know&nbsp;why&nbsp;you&nbsp;are&nbsp;here.\u201d \u201cAffirmative,&nbsp;Admiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;answered,&nbsp;placing&nbsp;his&nbsp;untouched&nbsp;beverage&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;side&nbsp;table&nbsp;and&nbsp;approaching&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral`s&nbsp;desk. \u201cYou&nbsp;are&nbsp;preoccupied,&nbsp;Captain,\u201d&nbsp;she&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;sitting&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;glass&nbsp;desk.&nbsp;\u201cIt&nbsp;is&nbsp;written&nbsp;all&nbsp;over&nbsp;your&nbsp;essence.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded,&nbsp;pushing&nbsp;away&nbsp;a&nbsp;lock&nbsp;of&nbsp;black&nbsp;hair&nbsp;from&nbsp;his&nbsp;olive&nbsp;brown&nbsp;forehead.&nbsp;\u201cMy&nbsp;team.&nbsp;The&nbsp;infiltration&nbsp;mission.&nbsp;We&nbsp;know&nbsp;where&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;being&nbsp;held.\u201d Haln`en&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;\u201cIAnd&nbsp;you&nbsp;want&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;after&nbsp;them,&nbsp;Captain.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded,&nbsp;looking&nbsp;past&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;and&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;sky.&nbsp;He&nbsp;could&nbsp;almost&nbsp;imagine&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;floating&nbsp;above&nbsp;him,&nbsp;set&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;dark&nbsp;vastness&nbsp;of&nbsp;space.&nbsp;\u201cThey\u2019ve&nbsp;been&nbsp;in&nbsp;captivity&nbsp;for&nbsp;weeks.&nbsp;We&nbsp;owe&nbsp;it&nbsp;them&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;them&nbsp;out.\u201d \u201cI&nbsp;understand&nbsp;your&nbsp;sense&nbsp;of&nbsp;urgency,&nbsp;Jo\u2019su,\u201d&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;said,&nbsp;opening&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet&nbsp;and&nbsp;interfacing&nbsp;it&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;holographic&nbsp;projector.&nbsp;Reports&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;pictures&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;crew&nbsp;members&nbsp;floated&nbsp;above. \u201cIf&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;reports&nbsp;are&nbsp;accurate,\u201d&nbsp;Haln\u2019en&nbsp;began.&nbsp;\u201cThen&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;still&nbsp;alive.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;\u201cIts&nbsp;reliable&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;believe&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Give&nbsp;me&nbsp;authorization&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;in&nbsp;and&nbsp;get&nbsp;them.\u201d Haln\u2019en&nbsp;studied&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;warship&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;system&nbsp;where&nbsp;they&nbsp;were&nbsp;being&nbsp;held.&nbsp;\u201cYou&nbsp;are&nbsp;going&nbsp;in&nbsp;to&nbsp;hornets&nbsp;nest,\u201d&nbsp;Haln\u2019en&nbsp;began.&nbsp; \u201cWith&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;and&nbsp;heavily&nbsp;armed&nbsp;ship&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Fleet,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;interupted.&nbsp;\u201cAnd&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;crew.\u201d Haln\u2019en&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;&nbsp;\u201cAll&nbsp;true&nbsp;but&nbsp;even&nbsp;with&nbsp;all&nbsp;this&nbsp;in&nbsp;your&nbsp;favor&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;still&nbsp;as&nbsp;close&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;mission&nbsp;as&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;get.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;crossed&nbsp;his&nbsp;arms,&nbsp;his&nbsp;face&nbsp;determined.&nbsp;\u201cWe&nbsp;can&nbsp;do&nbsp;it,&nbsp;Admiral.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trust&nbsp;me.&nbsp;&nbsp;Let&nbsp;me&nbsp;get&nbsp;my&nbsp;people&nbsp;back.\u201d Haln\u2019en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;quiet&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;moment&nbsp;before&nbsp;slowly&nbsp;nodding&nbsp;her&nbsp;head.&nbsp;\u201cTop&nbsp;brass&nbsp;is&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;my&nbsp;head&nbsp;for&nbsp;this&nbsp;but\u2026\u201d Placing&nbsp;her&nbsp;hand&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;shoulder&nbsp;and&nbsp;smiling,&nbsp;\u201cYou`ve&nbsp;done&nbsp;me&nbsp;more&nbsp;favors&nbsp;than&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;count,&nbsp;Jo\u2019su.&nbsp;I&nbsp;owe&nbsp;you&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;a&nbsp;few.\u201d She&nbsp;tapped&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet&nbsp;quickly.&nbsp;\u201cMission&nbsp;approved.\u201d \u201cThank&nbsp;you,&nbsp;Admiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said,&nbsp;saluting&nbsp;and&nbsp;walking&nbsp;stiffly&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;door.&nbsp; \u201cCaptain,\u201d&nbsp;Haln\u2019en&nbsp;said.&nbsp;\u201cI`m&nbsp;making&nbsp;an&nbsp;addition&nbsp;to&nbsp;your&nbsp;team&nbsp;considering&nbsp;you`re&nbsp;down&nbsp;a&nbsp;First&nbsp;officer.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;and&nbsp;turned&nbsp;around,&nbsp;looking&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;profile&nbsp;floating&nbsp;above&nbsp;Haln\u2019en.&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;am&nbsp;assigning&nbsp;Martin&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;to&nbsp;you&nbsp;as&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer,&nbsp;are&nbsp;you&nbsp;familiar&nbsp;with&nbsp;him?\u201d \u201cHe&nbsp;served&nbsp;aboard&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ges`on&nbsp;Hal&nbsp;for&nbsp;many&nbsp;cycles&nbsp;with&nbsp;distinction,\u201d&nbsp;aware&nbsp;of&nbsp;who&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;was.&nbsp;\u201cIf&nbsp;I`m&nbsp;not&nbsp;mistaken&nbsp;he&nbsp;fought&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Battle&nbsp;of&nbsp;Kyup&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;ground&nbsp;forces.\u201d Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up,&nbsp;nodding.&nbsp;\u201cA&nbsp;very&nbsp;talented&nbsp;officer.&nbsp;Captain&nbsp;Tris&nbsp;was&nbsp;sad&nbsp;to&nbsp;lose&nbsp;him&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;will&nbsp;serve&nbsp;you&nbsp;well.&nbsp;He&nbsp;is&nbsp;from&nbsp;Xiso,\u201d&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;added,&nbsp;\u201cJust&nbsp;like&nbsp;you.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;acknowledged&nbsp;the&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;\u201cHis&nbsp;family&nbsp;has&nbsp;a&nbsp;house&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;farming&nbsp;cluster&nbsp;outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Capital.\u201d \u201cHe&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;asset,\u201d&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;have&nbsp;no&nbsp;doubt&nbsp;that&nbsp;you&nbsp;will&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;having&nbsp;him&nbsp;as&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer.&nbsp;His&nbsp;transfer&nbsp;is&nbsp;effective&nbsp;immediate;&nbsp;he&nbsp;is&nbsp;in&nbsp;transit&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;speak.\u201d \u201cI&nbsp;would&nbsp;have&nbsp;felt&nbsp;more&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;more&nbsp;time&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;and&nbsp;crew,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said. Haln`en&nbsp;nodded&nbsp;and&nbsp;walked&nbsp;around&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;her&nbsp;desk,&nbsp;crossing&nbsp;her&nbsp;arms.&nbsp;\u201cWar&nbsp;waits&nbsp;for&nbsp;no&nbsp;one,&nbsp;Captain.&nbsp;It&nbsp;knows&nbsp;no&nbsp;time&nbsp;and&nbsp;will&nbsp;not&nbsp;have&nbsp;mercy&nbsp;on&nbsp;those&nbsp;who&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;ready&nbsp;for&nbsp;it.\u201d She&nbsp;leaned&nbsp;closer&nbsp;to&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n,&nbsp;her&nbsp;voice&nbsp;like&nbsp;a&nbsp;razor.&nbsp;\u201cIt\u2019s&nbsp;your&nbsp;job&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;sure&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;ready.\u201d Motioning&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;bustling&nbsp;city&nbsp;outside&nbsp;the&nbsp;windows&nbsp;she&nbsp;added,&nbsp;\u201cOur&nbsp;people&nbsp;are&nbsp;depending&nbsp;on&nbsp;it.\u201d Haln`en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up&nbsp;and&nbsp;walked&nbsp;back&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;desk.&nbsp;\u201cBesides,&nbsp;you&nbsp;still&nbsp;have&nbsp;Evelna.&nbsp;While&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;is&nbsp;new,&nbsp;she&nbsp;certainly&nbsp;is&nbsp;not.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;blinked&nbsp;away&nbsp;his&nbsp;thoughts.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;grew&nbsp;small&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;holographic&nbsp;image&nbsp;around&nbsp;him,&nbsp;blending&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;starscape.&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;closed&nbsp;his&nbsp;eyes,&nbsp;imagining&nbsp;Lin`Pael&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;inhabitants&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;mind`s&nbsp;eye.&nbsp;All&nbsp;its&nbsp;beauty,&nbsp;its&nbsp;culture.&nbsp;Everything&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;loved&nbsp;about&nbsp;his&nbsp;people.&nbsp;All&nbsp;this&nbsp;was&nbsp;now&nbsp;being&nbsp;threatened&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;do&nbsp;anything&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;to&nbsp;keep&nbsp;it&nbsp;safe. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;cleared&nbsp;his&nbsp;head,&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;task&nbsp;at&nbsp;hand.&nbsp;They&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;away&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;space&nbsp;dock,&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;behind.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;hologram&nbsp;and&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;busy&nbsp;bridge. The&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;massive&nbsp;craft&nbsp;was&nbsp;circular,&nbsp;surrounded&nbsp;by&nbsp;clear&nbsp;glass&nbsp;walls.&nbsp;Stools&nbsp;were&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass,&nbsp;moving&nbsp;along&nbsp;a&nbsp;track.&nbsp;Stations&nbsp;dotted&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;with&nbsp;varying&nbsp;responsibilities&nbsp;from&nbsp;navigation&nbsp;to&nbsp;tactical.&nbsp;At&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;raised&nbsp;deck&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;Captain`s&nbsp;level&nbsp;where&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;issued&nbsp;the&nbsp;orders&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;staff.&nbsp;Beyond&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass&nbsp;walls&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;staff&nbsp;moved&nbsp;with&nbsp;purpose,&nbsp;preparing&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;mission. The&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;ships&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;fleet.&nbsp;Similar&nbsp;in&nbsp;design&nbsp;to&nbsp;other&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;in&nbsp;was&nbsp;cylinder&nbsp;in&nbsp;shape&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;pointed&nbsp;bow.&nbsp;Six&nbsp;engines&nbsp;flared&nbsp;out&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;back&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;craft;&nbsp;its&nbsp;hull&nbsp;lined&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;pitch&nbsp;black&nbsp;metal. Larger&nbsp;than&nbsp;most&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;crafts,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;stood&nbsp;out&nbsp;with&nbsp;it&nbsp;two&nbsp;observation&nbsp;bays&nbsp;on&nbsp;both&nbsp;sides&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship.&nbsp;The&nbsp;clear&nbsp;bubbles&nbsp;protruded&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;sides,&nbsp;made&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;revolutionary&nbsp;clear&nbsp;metal&nbsp;that&nbsp;could&nbsp;withstand&nbsp;the&nbsp;stress&nbsp;of&nbsp;space&nbsp;travel.&nbsp;Designed&nbsp;primarily&nbsp;for&nbsp;exploration,&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;housed&nbsp;not&nbsp;only&nbsp;those&nbsp;who&nbsp;served&nbsp;on&nbsp;it&nbsp;but&nbsp;their&nbsp;families&nbsp;as&nbsp;well. More&nbsp;impressive&nbsp;than&nbsp;the&nbsp;craft&nbsp;itself&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;technology&nbsp;that&nbsp;powered&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;were&nbsp;fueled&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;themselves,&nbsp;connected&nbsp;to&nbsp;these&nbsp;awesome&nbsp;energies&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nexus. The&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;apex&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;technology,&nbsp;the&nbsp;control&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;of&nbsp;their&nbsp;society.&nbsp;A&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;allowed&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;to&nbsp;harvest&nbsp;energy&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;and&nbsp;power&nbsp;their&nbsp;cities,&nbsp;space&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;and&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;more.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;the&nbsp;literal&nbsp;heart&nbsp;of&nbsp;every&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;craft. His&nbsp;officers&nbsp;moved&nbsp;from&nbsp;one&nbsp;side&nbsp;to&nbsp;another,&nbsp;confirming&nbsp;last&nbsp;minute&nbsp;orders&nbsp;and&nbsp;instructions.&nbsp;Images&nbsp;and&nbsp;data&nbsp;flew&nbsp;up&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;circular&nbsp;walls,&nbsp;information&nbsp;being&nbsp;passed&nbsp;from&nbsp;one&nbsp;person&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;next. \u201cSet&nbsp;Alert&nbsp;Level&nbsp;One,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;barked,&nbsp;his&nbsp;strong&nbsp;voice&nbsp;booming&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;commotion&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge.&nbsp;\u201cAll&nbsp;hands&nbsp;to&nbsp;stations.&nbsp;Prepare&nbsp;to&nbsp;Phase.\u201d [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_surecart_dashboard_logo_width":"180px","_surecart_dashboard_show_logo":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_orders":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_invoices":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_subscriptions":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_downloads":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_billing":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_account":true,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1303","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_hostinger_reach_plugin_has_subscription_block":false,"_hostinger_reach_plugin_is_elementor":false,"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"trp-custom-language-flag":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"mattromanlopez@gmail.com","author_link":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/author\/mattromanlopezgmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Captain&nbsp;Jo\u2019su&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;crossed&nbsp;his&nbsp;arms,&nbsp;the&nbsp;sight&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;capital&nbsp;planet&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;home&nbsp;system&nbsp;never&nbsp;ceasing&nbsp;to&nbsp;amaze&nbsp;him.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stood&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;wrapping&nbsp;hologram,&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;floating&nbsp;among&nbsp;the&nbsp;countless&nbsp;stars;&nbsp;the&nbsp;twin&nbsp;suns&nbsp;of&nbsp;Linis&nbsp;and&nbsp;Xona\u2019pel&nbsp;shimmering&nbsp;behind&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet. Jo\u2019su&nbsp;reached&nbsp;forward,&nbsp;enlarging&nbsp;the&nbsp;image&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;him.&nbsp;He&nbsp;smiled&nbsp;inwardly,&nbsp;watching&nbsp;the&nbsp;emerald&nbsp;and&nbsp;blue&nbsp;orb&nbsp;turn&nbsp;ever&nbsp;so&nbsp;slowly.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Clearing&nbsp;Festival&nbsp;had&nbsp;ended&nbsp;a&nbsp;week&nbsp;ago,&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet&nbsp;ripe&nbsp;with&nbsp;vegetation. From&nbsp;the&nbsp;very&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;laid&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;enthralled&nbsp;by&nbsp;its&nbsp;beauty.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;perfect&nbsp;combination&nbsp;of&nbsp;man,&nbsp;machine&nbsp;and&nbsp;nature.&nbsp;Concrete&nbsp;wrapped&nbsp;in&nbsp;vast&nbsp;floral&nbsp;designs,&nbsp;seemingly&nbsp;endless&nbsp;skyscrapers&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;functional&nbsp;pieces&nbsp;of&nbsp;art.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;natural&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;draped&nbsp;in&nbsp;sophistication. Everything&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;home&nbsp;world&nbsp;was&nbsp;exaggerated.&nbsp;Bigger.&nbsp;Infinitely&nbsp;more&nbsp;impressive.&nbsp;Sprawling&nbsp;cities,&nbsp;bustling&nbsp;streets,&nbsp;swarming&nbsp;skies.&nbsp;A&nbsp;melting&nbsp;pot&nbsp;of&nbsp;cultures&nbsp;and&nbsp;traditions.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;delight&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;eyes,&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;nose,&nbsp;and&nbsp;stimulation&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;mind.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;epicenter&nbsp;of&nbsp;everything&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;system&nbsp;was&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;fabulous. Not&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n`s&nbsp;home&nbsp;planet&nbsp;of&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;wasn`t&nbsp;impressive&nbsp;in&nbsp;its&nbsp;own&nbsp;right.&nbsp;He&nbsp;came&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;world&nbsp;of&nbsp;rich&nbsp;history,&nbsp;wonderful&nbsp;traditions&nbsp;and&nbsp;cutting&nbsp;edge&nbsp;technology.&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;was&nbsp;ripe&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;culture&nbsp;like&nbsp;the&nbsp;other&nbsp;planets&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;system&nbsp;but&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;always&nbsp;stood&nbsp;out&nbsp;above&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest.&nbsp;But&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;was&nbsp;raised&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;poor&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;Xiso,&nbsp;nothing&nbsp;as&nbsp;glamorous&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;sparkling&nbsp;cities&nbsp;that&nbsp;wrapped&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;planet. Regardless,&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;that&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;contained&nbsp;it&nbsp;simply&nbsp;wasn`t&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;The&nbsp;drama,&nbsp;the&nbsp;sheer&nbsp;bigness.&nbsp;The&nbsp;fashions,&nbsp;the&nbsp;trends.&nbsp;The&nbsp;circus&nbsp;that&nbsp;was&nbsp;life.&nbsp;Nothing&nbsp;could&nbsp;compare.&nbsp;Simply&nbsp;put,&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;was&nbsp;unique. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;petitioned&nbsp;for&nbsp;an&nbsp;assignment&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Organization&nbsp;during&nbsp;his&nbsp;first&nbsp;Celebration&nbsp;of&nbsp;Hands.&nbsp;He&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;praying&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Adored&nbsp;One&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;be&nbsp;granted&nbsp;the&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;study&nbsp;and&nbsp;work&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;Naturally,&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;was&nbsp;disappointed.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;pacifists,&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on&nbsp;building&nbsp;rather&nbsp;than&nbsp;destroying. Leaving&nbsp;his&nbsp;family&nbsp;and&nbsp;friends&nbsp;behind,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;left&nbsp;Xiso&nbsp;for&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;and&nbsp;dedicated&nbsp;himself&nbsp;intensely&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;studies&nbsp;and&nbsp;training.&nbsp;He&nbsp;loved&nbsp;living&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;and&nbsp;drank&nbsp;it&nbsp;in&nbsp;every&nbsp;second&nbsp;of&nbsp;every&nbsp;day.&nbsp;When&nbsp;he&nbsp;wasn`t&nbsp;in&nbsp;class&nbsp;or&nbsp;training,&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;the&nbsp;newest&nbsp;play&nbsp;or&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;works&nbsp;of&nbsp;art. An&nbsp;exceptional&nbsp;student,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;graduated&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;top&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;class&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;assigned&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna.&nbsp;One&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixania`s&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;space&nbsp;crafts,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;charged&nbsp;with&nbsp;deep&nbsp;space&nbsp;exploration&nbsp;and&nbsp;defense.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;the&nbsp;next&nbsp;few&nbsp;years&nbsp;Jo\u2019su&nbsp;witnessed&nbsp;things&nbsp;that&nbsp;defied&nbsp;the&nbsp;imagination.&nbsp;Supernovas,&nbsp;far&nbsp;away&nbsp;planets&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;of&nbsp;forming&nbsp;solar&nbsp;systems.&nbsp;He&nbsp;spent&nbsp;years&nbsp;touring&nbsp;his&nbsp;own&nbsp;system,&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;every&nbsp;planet&nbsp;from&nbsp;Jai&nbsp;to&nbsp;Prien. Just&nbsp;as&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;was&nbsp;promoted&nbsp;to&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;and&nbsp;their&nbsp;longtime&nbsp;adversaries,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash,&nbsp;began&nbsp;to&nbsp;spark&nbsp;again.&nbsp;Several&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;had&nbsp;broken&nbsp;out&nbsp;along&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;borders.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;during&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;those&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;had&nbsp;proven&nbsp;his&nbsp;worth&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;leader&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;promoted&nbsp;to&nbsp;Captain&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;cycle. Despite&nbsp;the&nbsp;indescribable&nbsp;beauties&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;universe,&nbsp;nothing&nbsp;compared&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;magnificence&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixania.&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;while&nbsp;silently&nbsp;wished&nbsp;that&nbsp;his&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;for&nbsp;pleasure,&nbsp;this&nbsp;return&nbsp;home&nbsp;was&nbsp;all&nbsp;business. The&nbsp;Nalash,&nbsp;an&nbsp;aggressive&nbsp;race&nbsp;originating&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;neighboring&nbsp;galaxy,&nbsp;had&nbsp;led&nbsp;a&nbsp;war&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;for&nbsp;almost&nbsp;two&nbsp;centuries.&nbsp;War&nbsp;centric&nbsp;and&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;expansion,&nbsp;their&nbsp;Empire&nbsp;had&nbsp;grown&nbsp;stronger&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;annexation&nbsp;of&nbsp;territories.&nbsp;After&nbsp;a&nbsp;particularly&nbsp;brutal&nbsp;defeat,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;were&nbsp;quiet&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;decades&nbsp;but&nbsp;had&nbsp;recently&nbsp;reignited&nbsp;their&nbsp;aggressions&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians. By&nbsp;all&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;the&nbsp;IDO&nbsp;had&nbsp;gathered,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;had&nbsp;conquered&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;more&nbsp;worlds&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;years&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;amassing&nbsp;a&nbsp;sizable&nbsp;fleet&nbsp;just&nbsp;outside&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;territory.&nbsp;For&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;in&nbsp;decades,&nbsp;many&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;were&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;to&nbsp;doubt&nbsp;their&nbsp;ability&nbsp;to&nbsp;defend&nbsp;the&nbsp;system. Looking&nbsp;at&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;below&nbsp;him,&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;marveled&nbsp;at&nbsp;how&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;life&nbsp;can&nbsp;change.&nbsp;A&nbsp;few&nbsp;hours&nbsp;ago&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;reading&nbsp;the&nbsp;latest&nbsp;status&nbsp;reports&nbsp;as&nbsp;he&nbsp;awaited&nbsp;his&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;with&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en.&nbsp;He&nbsp;sat&nbsp;nervously&nbsp;in&nbsp;Haln`en\u2019s&nbsp;enormous&nbsp;office&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;110th&nbsp;floor&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Department&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Building.&nbsp;The&nbsp;office&nbsp;hung&nbsp;off&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;structure&nbsp;like&nbsp;an&nbsp;icicle.&nbsp;The&nbsp;walls&nbsp;and&nbsp;floor&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;set&nbsp;to&nbsp;transparent,&nbsp;allowing&nbsp;an&nbsp;uninhibited&nbsp;view&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;capital&nbsp;city&nbsp;of&nbsp;Lin`Pael. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stared&nbsp;absently&nbsp;out&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;as&nbsp;aerial&nbsp;transports&nbsp;swirled&nbsp;around&nbsp;him.&nbsp;His&nbsp;glass&nbsp;of&nbsp;talen&nbsp;had&nbsp;cooled,&nbsp;his&nbsp;focus&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;distracting&nbsp;him.&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;had&nbsp;just&nbsp;finished&nbsp;an&nbsp;extensive&nbsp;retrofit&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;signed&nbsp;off&nbsp;on&nbsp;its&nbsp;inspection&nbsp;this&nbsp;morning. \u201cImpressive&nbsp;view,&nbsp;isn`t&nbsp;it?\u201d&nbsp;said&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;from&nbsp;behind&nbsp;him. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stood&nbsp;stiffly,&nbsp;turning&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral.&nbsp;He&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;saluted,&nbsp;walking&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;slim&nbsp;and&nbsp;fit&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;fleet.&nbsp;\u201cAdmiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said,&nbsp;\u201cIt&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;you.\u201d Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;smiled,&nbsp;motioning&nbsp;for&nbsp;him&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;his&nbsp;seat.&nbsp;A&nbsp;veteran&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;war&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;well&nbsp;respected&nbsp;and&nbsp;equally&nbsp;feared.&nbsp;Physically,&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;imposing,&nbsp;her&nbsp;long,&nbsp;black&nbsp;hair&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;back&nbsp;tightly&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;head.&nbsp;Her&nbsp;dark&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;were&nbsp;difficult&nbsp;to&nbsp;read,&nbsp;painted&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;subtle&nbsp;fierceness.&nbsp;She&nbsp;had&nbsp;fought&nbsp;many&nbsp;battles&nbsp;and&nbsp;her&nbsp;prowess&nbsp;for&nbsp;war&nbsp;games&nbsp;was&nbsp;unmatched. \u201cYour&nbsp;craft&nbsp;has&nbsp;completed&nbsp;its&nbsp;retrofit.,\u201d&nbsp;she&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;staring&nbsp;out&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;beyond&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass.&nbsp;She&nbsp;lifted&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet,&nbsp;reviewing&nbsp;the&nbsp;information&nbsp;displayed&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass.&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;assume&nbsp;I&nbsp;know&nbsp;why&nbsp;you&nbsp;are&nbsp;here.\u201d \u201cAffirmative,&nbsp;Admiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;answered,&nbsp;placing&nbsp;his&nbsp;untouched&nbsp;beverage&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;side&nbsp;table&nbsp;and&nbsp;approaching&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral`s&nbsp;desk. \u201cYou&nbsp;are&nbsp;preoccupied,&nbsp;Captain,\u201d&nbsp;she&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;sitting&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;glass&nbsp;desk.&nbsp;\u201cIt&nbsp;is&nbsp;written&nbsp;all&nbsp;over&nbsp;your&nbsp;essence.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded,&nbsp;pushing&nbsp;away&nbsp;a&nbsp;lock&nbsp;of&nbsp;black&nbsp;hair&nbsp;from&nbsp;his&nbsp;olive&nbsp;brown&nbsp;forehead.&nbsp;\u201cMy&nbsp;team.&nbsp;The&nbsp;infiltration&nbsp;mission.&nbsp;We&nbsp;know&nbsp;where&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;being&nbsp;held.\u201d Haln`en&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;\u201cIAnd&nbsp;you&nbsp;want&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;after&nbsp;them,&nbsp;Captain.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded,&nbsp;looking&nbsp;past&nbsp;the&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;and&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;sky.&nbsp;He&nbsp;could&nbsp;almost&nbsp;imagine&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;floating&nbsp;above&nbsp;him,&nbsp;set&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;dark&nbsp;vastness&nbsp;of&nbsp;space.&nbsp;\u201cThey\u2019ve&nbsp;been&nbsp;in&nbsp;captivity&nbsp;for&nbsp;weeks.&nbsp;We&nbsp;owe&nbsp;it&nbsp;them&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;them&nbsp;out.\u201d \u201cI&nbsp;understand&nbsp;your&nbsp;sense&nbsp;of&nbsp;urgency,&nbsp;Jo\u2019su,\u201d&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;said,&nbsp;opening&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet&nbsp;and&nbsp;interfacing&nbsp;it&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;holographic&nbsp;projector.&nbsp;Reports&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;pictures&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;crew&nbsp;members&nbsp;floated&nbsp;above. \u201cIf&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;reports&nbsp;are&nbsp;accurate,\u201d&nbsp;Haln\u2019en&nbsp;began.&nbsp;\u201cThen&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;still&nbsp;alive.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;\u201cIts&nbsp;reliable&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;believe&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Give&nbsp;me&nbsp;authorization&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;in&nbsp;and&nbsp;get&nbsp;them.\u201d Haln\u2019en&nbsp;studied&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nalash&nbsp;warship&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;system&nbsp;where&nbsp;they&nbsp;were&nbsp;being&nbsp;held.&nbsp;\u201cYou&nbsp;are&nbsp;going&nbsp;in&nbsp;to&nbsp;hornets&nbsp;nest,\u201d&nbsp;Haln\u2019en&nbsp;began.&nbsp; \u201cWith&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;and&nbsp;heavily&nbsp;armed&nbsp;ship&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Fleet,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;interupted.&nbsp;\u201cAnd&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;crew.\u201d Haln\u2019en&nbsp;nodded.&nbsp;&nbsp;\u201cAll&nbsp;true&nbsp;but&nbsp;even&nbsp;with&nbsp;all&nbsp;this&nbsp;in&nbsp;your&nbsp;favor&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;still&nbsp;as&nbsp;close&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;mission&nbsp;as&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;get.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;crossed&nbsp;his&nbsp;arms,&nbsp;his&nbsp;face&nbsp;determined.&nbsp;\u201cWe&nbsp;can&nbsp;do&nbsp;it,&nbsp;Admiral.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trust&nbsp;me.&nbsp;&nbsp;Let&nbsp;me&nbsp;get&nbsp;my&nbsp;people&nbsp;back.\u201d Haln\u2019en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;quiet&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;moment&nbsp;before&nbsp;slowly&nbsp;nodding&nbsp;her&nbsp;head.&nbsp;\u201cTop&nbsp;brass&nbsp;is&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;my&nbsp;head&nbsp;for&nbsp;this&nbsp;but\u2026\u201d Placing&nbsp;her&nbsp;hand&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;shoulder&nbsp;and&nbsp;smiling,&nbsp;\u201cYou`ve&nbsp;done&nbsp;me&nbsp;more&nbsp;favors&nbsp;than&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;count,&nbsp;Jo\u2019su.&nbsp;I&nbsp;owe&nbsp;you&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;a&nbsp;few.\u201d She&nbsp;tapped&nbsp;her&nbsp;tablet&nbsp;quickly.&nbsp;\u201cMission&nbsp;approved.\u201d \u201cThank&nbsp;you,&nbsp;Admiral,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said,&nbsp;saluting&nbsp;and&nbsp;walking&nbsp;stiffly&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;door.&nbsp; \u201cCaptain,\u201d&nbsp;Haln\u2019en&nbsp;said.&nbsp;\u201cI`m&nbsp;making&nbsp;an&nbsp;addition&nbsp;to&nbsp;your&nbsp;team&nbsp;considering&nbsp;you`re&nbsp;down&nbsp;a&nbsp;First&nbsp;officer.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;and&nbsp;turned&nbsp;around,&nbsp;looking&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;profile&nbsp;floating&nbsp;above&nbsp;Haln\u2019en.&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;am&nbsp;assigning&nbsp;Martin&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;to&nbsp;you&nbsp;as&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer,&nbsp;are&nbsp;you&nbsp;familiar&nbsp;with&nbsp;him?\u201d \u201cHe&nbsp;served&nbsp;aboard&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ges`on&nbsp;Hal&nbsp;for&nbsp;many&nbsp;cycles&nbsp;with&nbsp;distinction,\u201d&nbsp;aware&nbsp;of&nbsp;who&nbsp;Dashiel&nbsp;was.&nbsp;\u201cIf&nbsp;I`m&nbsp;not&nbsp;mistaken&nbsp;he&nbsp;fought&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Battle&nbsp;of&nbsp;Kyup&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;ground&nbsp;forces.\u201d Admiral&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up,&nbsp;nodding.&nbsp;\u201cA&nbsp;very&nbsp;talented&nbsp;officer.&nbsp;Captain&nbsp;Tris&nbsp;was&nbsp;sad&nbsp;to&nbsp;lose&nbsp;him&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;will&nbsp;serve&nbsp;you&nbsp;well.&nbsp;He&nbsp;is&nbsp;from&nbsp;Xiso,\u201d&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;added,&nbsp;\u201cJust&nbsp;like&nbsp;you.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;acknowledged&nbsp;the&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;\u201cHis&nbsp;family&nbsp;has&nbsp;a&nbsp;house&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;farming&nbsp;cluster&nbsp;outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Capital.\u201d \u201cHe&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;asset,\u201d&nbsp;Haln`en&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;have&nbsp;no&nbsp;doubt&nbsp;that&nbsp;you&nbsp;will&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;having&nbsp;him&nbsp;as&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer.&nbsp;His&nbsp;transfer&nbsp;is&nbsp;effective&nbsp;immediate;&nbsp;he&nbsp;is&nbsp;in&nbsp;transit&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;speak.\u201d \u201cI&nbsp;would&nbsp;have&nbsp;felt&nbsp;more&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;more&nbsp;time&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;and&nbsp;crew,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;said. Haln`en&nbsp;nodded&nbsp;and&nbsp;walked&nbsp;around&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;her&nbsp;desk,&nbsp;crossing&nbsp;her&nbsp;arms.&nbsp;\u201cWar&nbsp;waits&nbsp;for&nbsp;no&nbsp;one,&nbsp;Captain.&nbsp;It&nbsp;knows&nbsp;no&nbsp;time&nbsp;and&nbsp;will&nbsp;not&nbsp;have&nbsp;mercy&nbsp;on&nbsp;those&nbsp;who&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;ready&nbsp;for&nbsp;it.\u201d She&nbsp;leaned&nbsp;closer&nbsp;to&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n,&nbsp;her&nbsp;voice&nbsp;like&nbsp;a&nbsp;razor.&nbsp;\u201cIt\u2019s&nbsp;your&nbsp;job&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;sure&nbsp;they&nbsp;are&nbsp;ready.\u201d Motioning&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;bustling&nbsp;city&nbsp;outside&nbsp;the&nbsp;windows&nbsp;she&nbsp;added,&nbsp;\u201cOur&nbsp;people&nbsp;are&nbsp;depending&nbsp;on&nbsp;it.\u201d Haln`en&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up&nbsp;and&nbsp;walked&nbsp;back&nbsp;behind&nbsp;her&nbsp;desk.&nbsp;\u201cBesides,&nbsp;you&nbsp;still&nbsp;have&nbsp;Evelna.&nbsp;While&nbsp;your&nbsp;First&nbsp;Officer&nbsp;is&nbsp;new,&nbsp;she&nbsp;certainly&nbsp;is&nbsp;not.\u201d Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;blinked&nbsp;away&nbsp;his&nbsp;thoughts.&nbsp;Ixania&nbsp;grew&nbsp;small&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;holographic&nbsp;image&nbsp;around&nbsp;him,&nbsp;blending&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;starscape.&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;closed&nbsp;his&nbsp;eyes,&nbsp;imagining&nbsp;Lin`Pael&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;inhabitants&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;mind`s&nbsp;eye.&nbsp;All&nbsp;its&nbsp;beauty,&nbsp;its&nbsp;culture.&nbsp;Everything&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;loved&nbsp;about&nbsp;his&nbsp;people.&nbsp;All&nbsp;this&nbsp;was&nbsp;now&nbsp;being&nbsp;threatened&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;do&nbsp;anything&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;to&nbsp;keep&nbsp;it&nbsp;safe. Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;cleared&nbsp;his&nbsp;head,&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;task&nbsp;at&nbsp;hand.&nbsp;They&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;away&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;space&nbsp;dock,&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;behind.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;hologram&nbsp;and&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;his&nbsp;busy&nbsp;bridge. The&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;massive&nbsp;craft&nbsp;was&nbsp;circular,&nbsp;surrounded&nbsp;by&nbsp;clear&nbsp;glass&nbsp;walls.&nbsp;Stools&nbsp;were&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass,&nbsp;moving&nbsp;along&nbsp;a&nbsp;track.&nbsp;Stations&nbsp;dotted&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;with&nbsp;varying&nbsp;responsibilities&nbsp;from&nbsp;navigation&nbsp;to&nbsp;tactical.&nbsp;At&nbsp;the&nbsp;center&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;raised&nbsp;deck&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;Captain`s&nbsp;level&nbsp;where&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;issued&nbsp;the&nbsp;orders&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;staff.&nbsp;Beyond&nbsp;the&nbsp;glass&nbsp;walls&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;staff&nbsp;moved&nbsp;with&nbsp;purpose,&nbsp;preparing&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;mission. The&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;ships&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;fleet.&nbsp;Similar&nbsp;in&nbsp;design&nbsp;to&nbsp;other&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;in&nbsp;was&nbsp;cylinder&nbsp;in&nbsp;shape&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;pointed&nbsp;bow.&nbsp;Six&nbsp;engines&nbsp;flared&nbsp;out&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;back&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;craft;&nbsp;its&nbsp;hull&nbsp;lined&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;pitch&nbsp;black&nbsp;metal. Larger&nbsp;than&nbsp;most&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;crafts,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;stood&nbsp;out&nbsp;with&nbsp;it&nbsp;two&nbsp;observation&nbsp;bays&nbsp;on&nbsp;both&nbsp;sides&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ship.&nbsp;The&nbsp;clear&nbsp;bubbles&nbsp;protruded&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;sides,&nbsp;made&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;revolutionary&nbsp;clear&nbsp;metal&nbsp;that&nbsp;could&nbsp;withstand&nbsp;the&nbsp;stress&nbsp;of&nbsp;space&nbsp;travel.&nbsp;Designed&nbsp;primarily&nbsp;for&nbsp;exploration,&nbsp;Evelna&nbsp;housed&nbsp;not&nbsp;only&nbsp;those&nbsp;who&nbsp;served&nbsp;on&nbsp;it&nbsp;but&nbsp;their&nbsp;families&nbsp;as&nbsp;well. More&nbsp;impressive&nbsp;than&nbsp;the&nbsp;craft&nbsp;itself&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;technology&nbsp;that&nbsp;powered&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;were&nbsp;fueled&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;themselves,&nbsp;connected&nbsp;to&nbsp;these&nbsp;awesome&nbsp;energies&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nexus. The&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;apex&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;technology,&nbsp;the&nbsp;control&nbsp;center&nbsp;of&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;of&nbsp;their&nbsp;society.&nbsp;A&nbsp;Nexus&nbsp;allowed&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ixanians&nbsp;to&nbsp;harvest&nbsp;energy&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Infinite&nbsp;Plains&nbsp;and&nbsp;power&nbsp;their&nbsp;cities,&nbsp;space&nbsp;crafts&nbsp;and&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;more.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;the&nbsp;literal&nbsp;heart&nbsp;of&nbsp;every&nbsp;Ixanian&nbsp;craft. His&nbsp;officers&nbsp;moved&nbsp;from&nbsp;one&nbsp;side&nbsp;to&nbsp;another,&nbsp;confirming&nbsp;last&nbsp;minute&nbsp;orders&nbsp;and&nbsp;instructions.&nbsp;Images&nbsp;and&nbsp;data&nbsp;flew&nbsp;up&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;circular&nbsp;walls,&nbsp;information&nbsp;being&nbsp;passed&nbsp;from&nbsp;one&nbsp;person&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;next. \u201cSet&nbsp;Alert&nbsp;Level&nbsp;One,\u201d&nbsp;Ori\u00f3n&nbsp;barked,&nbsp;his&nbsp;strong&nbsp;voice&nbsp;booming&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;commotion&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge.&nbsp;\u201cAll&nbsp;hands&nbsp;to&nbsp;stations.&nbsp;Prepare&nbsp;to&nbsp;Phase.\u201d&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1303"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1304,"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1303\/revisions\/1304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mattromanlopez.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}