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A Realm Divided, Act1/Episode 3

"Political Shitstorm"

[Milky Way Galaxy, Outer Colonies, Sepress Prime, Restoration Project (Hidden VALOR Research Bunker), Year 3,588 A.D, July 24th, 5:16PM]

Two fully dressed VALOR marines in their token power armour and armed with the signature M65 assault rifles walked down the highly uncontaminated hallway. The two blue and white colour marines stopped immediately when a somewhat large black scaled creature did its best to stop itself in a hurry he had a hard time trying to slow his body down against the newly cleaned floors.

"Having a busy day Talon?" The left most marine asked with a smile under his helmet as with one hand he kept the black scaled alien from skidding any further.

"You can say that." He answered before he stood up onto his hoofs, " I have to meet up with my mom before my dad finally arrives."

The marine on the right crossed his arms and turned to his squad mate, "Damn Mike, why didn't you tell me the god damn Justicar was going to be here today? I owe that guy like fifty drinks for what he pulled during the war."

"That's for damn sure." the other marine answered in agreement.

Talon smiled at the two guards before he started to push past them, "I'll be sure to tell him that when he arrives." With one last nod to the two human marines he moved behind them before dropping to his front claws so he could better travel down the highly polished hallway.

Several staff workers that included research scientists in their traditional white lab coats, marine security guards, along with janitorial employees who did all of their duties as Talon continued down the one of the many corridors in the underground research lab. His long tail scraped against the floor to alert the mostly human workers so they could quickly avoid the menacing looking scaled creature that proceeded to stand completely upright when he came to a door where a single VALOR marine stood at with his weapon in his hands.

"Talon." The marine answered in the same emotionless filtered tone all soldiers of VALOR did.

"Is my mom done yet?" Talon asked as he looked at the sealed door to the facility therapist's office.

"Should be any time now honestly." The marine responded.

The door to the office quickly opened that startled Talon while the marine simply cocked his head to the side to see what was behind him; in the door way was another member of Talon's near extinct species. Much like Talon the older creature had no visible eyes on her head, her hooves were worn and scarred over the many years that took their toll on her aged body, and her once pristine black scales where now faded to a dark grey.

"Now Liken, make sure you get your medication refilled." The therapist spoke as she exited the room.

"I will, don't worry." Liken answered exhausted.

Talon watched his mother walk towards him on her hind legs as she was much more used to walking upright. "How are your nightmares?" Talon asked concerned.

"You know I don't like talking about that." She said coldly.

"Sorry." Talon apologized.

Liken sighed and gave a weak smile to her son before she patted him on the head. She dropped to her claws and nodded for her child to follow her.

[Milky Way Galaxy, Inner Colonies, VALOR Territory, Artificial World Sierra, VALOR High Command, Year 3,588 A.D, July 24th, 5:32PM]

"A political shit storm that is we are in for!" High General Bismarck shouted as he paced back in forth inside the president's office.

Charles Wareman stopped the general from moving any further when he put out his hand, "The Black Stars have clearly found something the Draconian Kingdom was solely looking for and willing to kill over."

Bismarck shook his head as that did no better to reassure him, "Once the Draconians find out that is was VALOR that wiped out their colony our treaty with them will become void and we can fully expect them to launch a full scale war we already tread a very thin line with them."

"I doubt the treaty is going to stay up forever." Charles answered as he looked directly into the general's aged face, "The Draconians have been incredibly zealous in making sure we cannot see what goes on in their boarders, but I have made an arrangement that will allow us to extend the treaty lifespan long enough to find out what the Queen Matriarch is planning."

The president of VALOR who listened to the two men that argued back and forth in the argument raised an eyebrow at Charles's comment, "Why wasn't I informed of this?"

The black dressed officer turned himself to face the president, "Mr. President, I have taken the liberty of informing the Followers of Elder on the artifact we have recovered and they have helped us cover up the destruction of the colony so it would look like another Draconian clan had attacked them instead. Their researchers are already in the process of trying to figure out the artifact's ability and to see if the Draconians plan to use this as a weapon against us."

Bismarck took a heavy sigh, "VALOR is perfectly able to analyze the relic's abilities without the help of the demons, and besides the Followers have always voiced their neutrality in this conflict. Why break it now?"

"The Seer believes that more of these relics exist and that they wield immense power. The Draconians are more than likely consolidating their forces along with collecting these artifacts so they wipe us out in a single sweep that would explain why they have kept their boarders incredibly tight." Charles answered.

The president stood up from up of his chair that caused both of his finest officers to turn to him, "What I am hearing is paranoid delusions! The artifacts may be powerful but it is well known that the draconians simply document their magical discoveries for research purposes. Not once since the treaty signed has been signed have the draconians did us any harm, they may hate us but that's why they have their borders locked, they don't bother us and we don't bother them. I did not get elected to get my people thrown into a war they do not want."

Both Charles and Bismarck bowed to the President who went back to his endless paperwork before they took their leave together out of his office. The two marine guards at the only way in or out of the president's office gave the two high ranking officials a simultaneous salute when they exited. The far more older Bismarck turned to Charles who was a couple feet taller than him thanks to the modified power armour he wore under his dark trench coat, "The President may be too soft to see it Charles but the lizards are clearly hiding something that they do not want us to see, get the Stars organized as they are going to be our best defence against the Separatists and the Draconian Kingdom."

[Milky Way Galaxy, Inner Colonies, VALOR Territory, Artificial World Sierra, Residential District, Year 3,588 A.D, July 24th, 5:45PM]

Draco Flat-tail sat alone in his apartment on his couch with his television on with the volume turned all the way down, his lap top rested on his legs so he could easily communicate with his parents on the other end via video call. The out of uniform marine rubbed his eyes extensively as they were all red and puffy from his own heavy tears, "T-Thanks for calling you two." Draco stuttered.

"We heard about what happened to Sarah and Rak'tar, were so sorry." His mother answered who was equally upset.

"Draco you have been through enough as it is, please come home." His father added while he held his wife in his arms.

The Black Star shook his head, "I'm sorry but I-I can't. Just not right now at least." Draco looked up at the television to see the latest headline showed a bomb went off on of one of the Inner Colony worlds that killed eight and wounded many more with the headline telling it was the work of the C.S.A., "There is still something I have to do."

"Draco there is nothing that can't wait, we have already sent you a ticket back to our home on Centari and we expect you to be on the next flight." His father demanded of him.

"I'm staying, I don't like the idea of it as well but I have to do it." Draco answered before he quickly turned off his computer so his parents wouldn't have a chance to convince him otherwise.

Draco fell onto his backside on the couch with his head resting on the armrest; he turned his head so he could better watch the news coverage that now had a police officer who was of the same race as Draco that was giving his statement. The Black Star rubbed his eye with an enclosed fist to wipe away the last tear as he felt his body was completely drained and empty, he felt incredibly alone as he toyed with his dog tags with his other webbed hand. "What were we thinking...?" Draco whispered to himself as he looked at the loaded sidearm on the table that separated the television from the couch. The marine stared at the firearm and complemented the idea of ending it all as that would simply get rid of all the pain and loss he was feeling but he owed it to his love and best friend too see the end of their killer before he himself would join them.

Draco Flat-tail's concentration broke when he heard a powerful voice outside his apartment's door, "Warrior-kin I ask for permission into your home." Garok Earthblood announced that must have been heard by all the neighbours on the entire level.

"One second..." Draco said softly not sure if his squad mate heard it at all.

The ornithor slowly slid back onto his feet where he rubbed his bill with both hands to get himself somewhat decent looking. He looked at the empty beer cans that were all scattered across his living room that had quickly started to pile up after joining the Black Star team; Draco reached for the one lock to his apartment door after kicking a can to the side that quickly rolled into the opened closet door.

Draco opened the door after wiping his eyes one last time to see Garok's full attention was directed to him, "Hey, what are you doing here?" Draco asked.

"It is custom in my people's culture to get to know the warriors we fight alongside in a hunt, and considering we will be spending most of our day and night light I thought I should start with you."

Draco moved to the side to allow Garok entry into his dirty apartment. The powerful badger like humanoid only wore his traditional ceremonial bone necklace that was laced with many varying sizes of draconian fangs. He examined the state of the marine's apartment and took his place near the table and sat cross legged on the hard wood tiles and looked at the television set.

"Still not used to how we in VALOR work eh?" Draco smiled and chuckled a little trying to mask his sadness.

"I have stopped long ago, I would have been here sooner but what you call 'elevators' but it took too long to open so I decided to walk." Garok answered.

"But I am on the fourteenth floor...."

The shaman laughed himself with a deep chuckle, "When I was a mere child I climbed the highest mountains I could find the trip here was nothing I could not overcome." '

Draco took a seat on his couch and shook several beer cans to see if any of them had something left inside for him to keep is buzz going when he found one that was half empty and finished it off in one gulp. Garok with one hand adjusted his choker before he continued their conversation, "As to why I came here our hunt leader, Highcastle, told me that you lost some one important to you against the Separatist clan."

Draco held the now empty can in his right hand and was hunched over feeling like he was going to be sick on his apartment floor again, "Yea...yeah I did." The ornithor tossed the can to the ground. "I lost the best woman I could only love and my best friend in one fucking day."

"You know it's not your fault Draco, death is a natural part of life." Garok said to reassure his comrade who had both of his hand on his forehead.

"Not when it's because of some god damn criminals!" Draco said as he felt his anger boil with hate, "I normally did think this way but fuck VALOR too, Bismarck might as well have pulled the trigger too! They had no idea how well equipped and no damn clue that we weren't going up against some damn pirates or angry colonists but a trained army!" Draco groaned as he felt his head hurt, "Fuck this war..."

Garok Earthblood shifted himself closer to the distressed ornithor, "I'm sure VALOR did not purposely send its hunters in to die against its prey. Your mate is in a better place now Draco and you should cherish the memories you had together and not dwell on the absence of her."

"I know..." Draco answered, "This whole thing feels like one bad dream."

"You will find peace in yourself soon enough, I lost my mate many moons ago and I wear my trophy necklace as a reminder to all the times we had shared hunting together in the great plains of our ancestors." Garok smiled as he took off his choke with one hand and gave it to Draco to hold who had to use both of his hands to lift the heavy necklace.

"May I ask how...she died?" Draco asked gently as he looked up at Garok after feeling the many different types of fangs with his fingers and saw that the many teeth could have only come from the largest of predators.

"She died from her age of being our oldest caregiver, she lived a long and fruitful life and I am happy for that."

"No kids?" Draco asked as he handed the heavy choker back to the large shaman.

"A daughter yes." he said briefly. "When the draconians attacked I lost her in the first few days and I have not seen her since."

Draco could feel the hate that was under his tone when he spoke about the draconians, "Do you think she's..."

"Dead?...No" Garok answered when he shook his head, "The scaly ones only killed those that fought back, the hunters I grew up and trained with were all murdered just for defending their families. They wanted my people to be their slaves and do their labour and I know my only child is working their mines."

"I'm sure we will get her back Garok." Draco smiled as he reassured him. The ornithor pulled two full beer cans from a case that was located on the side of the couch and tossed the one in his right hand to the shaman who caught it in mid-air, "To our loved ones."

"To our loved ones, may they rest" Garok said as they both opened their drinks.

[Milky Way Galaxy, Outer Colonies, Sepress Prime, Restoration Project (Hidden VALOR Research Bunker), Year 3,588 A.D, July 24th, 7:16PM]

Liken had her arm around her son as they both waited patiently in the primary hanger bay as both the work and security staff knew who was arriving in a few short moments. Marine guards whispered to one another as they stood at their posts with the engineers and technicians that were refuelling all manners of star crafts that sat docile in the hangar bay. The large platform that many drop ships used to enter the underground base started to rise up to meet with the ship that was ready to enter, soon more workers that were in the area started to converge on the hangar bay as the word spread that the legendary Justicar was making an appearance soon.

In moments the platform came down revealing a large shuttle that officers of VALOR used normally to get from planet to planet. The shuttle had its wings retracted into its body so it could fit better in the confined spaces of the descending elevator, and when the shuttle finally reached the bottom the once empty hangar bay now was filled with many VALOR workers and marines all eager to see the famous war hero that thought to be invincible.

The ramp from the shuttle opened up like a tongue coming from the belly of the star craft where all the on lookers stared as they held their breaths. Soon two figures walked from the ship, both of them to be fully armed VALOR marines that took their place at the bottom of the ramp and stood on either side of it with weapons at the ready. Shortly afterwards the hero himself walked down the ramp dressed in a very formal entire with countless medals that covered his chest. The brown skinned human past the marine body guards where they gave him a firm salute before walking back up into the shuttle.

He walked up directly to his family where he placed his arms around his wife's waist as his taller mate placed her claws on the human's shoulders and her chin on top of his head, "I love you Arjun." Liken whispered.

"I love you too." He answered when he brought his wife's head closer to his with one hand and kissed her softly before turning to his son, "Let's go we have some catching up to do."

Talon took a seat at the table located in the very well-furnished home that he and his mother both normally ate at but now his father was at the table with the in the first time in ages. The middle aged human that was his dad smiled before he turned to Liken who hand her large claw on his hand that was disappeared under the size of it.

"How are you holding up?" Arjun ask incredibly concerned of his love, "I'm so sorry I can't be with you more often."

Liken nodded in silence, "I still have the same dream..." she answered before taking a deep breath as her hands trembled in fear, "But the medication that I've been taking as helped me..."

"I'm so sorry that you had to go through what you did." Arjun replied.

"Dad you must have gone through the same things haven't you?" Talon asked.

"Your mother..." Arjun said as he now had his hand on her much larger claw, "...was far more unfortunate that I was, but that's all over with now." he finished speaking and then placed a kiss on her forehead.

Talon looked to the ground nervously before turning back to his father, "I know this is going to be hard but...I want to join VALOR...as a marine."

Both of his parents turned to their son dumbfounded. Liken quivered not able to form a complete thought before her husband looked at her grief stricken face. "Son...it's far too dangerous to join the military. Besides I need you to be safe here."

"But I want to help, every day I see on the news that the separatists had bombed this or raided that!" Talon said quickly.

"Son you are not joining, you are too valuable to both of us." Arjun answered as he had his left hand on top of Liken's right claw, "and to VALOR who were able to use your mother here to help start up the Restoration Project."

"I don't need to be here, VALOR has all the stuff they need to continue the project without me! I want to be like you dad, everyone here is watching me to see if I become as great as you were." Talon argued. "You were the one who defeated the infinite!"

"The marines that are in active service are doing a fine job of keeping the separatist's back. Thanks to Charles' new team I now have the time to spend time with you two." Arjun smiled before he planted a kiss on his wife who returned his sign of affection by nuzzling against her love with her head.

Liken nodded in agreement, "I will not have yourself put in danger Talon, the Black Stars are more than capable of handling defence now that the infinite are dead and gone forever."

Talon excused himself from the table when his father spoke out, "Where are you going?" Arjun asked.

"I'm going down to the gym; I'll be back later tonight." He answered before storming off.

Talon exited his home and stepped back into the hallway that also split off into the different underground homes of all the staff and workers on the Restoration Project. He went onto his front claws to travel down the corridor passing by several marine that were either on patrol or standing guard and each one that he passed whispered to the ones closet to that of him or her. Talon gritted his teeth knowing that they were talking about without having to even hear their words. He was determined that no matter what he was going to be as great like his father and show everyone what he as his son can do.