Mara nodded a little confused, then smiled, "I will Princess Difina."
With that, they all left, boarding Tara and the Jitaku envoy ship. "Now entering trans-warp conduit," Tara advised, then they were gone.
Jimison had monitored their progress 'til they were gone. He then turned back toward a grinning Difina. "I think it's time for more bindings, you shredded the last."
"I believe you are correct, my husband," they said that the room was completely destroyed when they left it.
On the edge of the galaxy, both ships appeared, waiting a few minutes. "Chamber purged, particle generator now spinning up, prepared to enter trans-warp, Prime," Mara said to Tara.
"Engage," Tara said. "Long range com." Tara requested.
"Open," Mara replied.
"We are returning, sire," Tara said as soon as Derrick's Holo-gram appeared.
"Very good, though I am afraid that we will be leaving not long after you return," Derrick said.
"Yes sire, there is still much that we need to do for the Empire," Mara said.
"More than that, we still have two very important marriage ceremonies to get through," Derrick said.
"Yes sire, though one isn't that important, not when compared to duty," Mara answered.
"Captain, do not argue with me on this, your ceremony is as important as Colonel Dempsy's is. It will also go greatly toward raising the moral of the troops and the fleet," Derrick said.
"Yes sire! No argument from me nor Captain Greeson," Tara said.
"That will be all, Captain Norman," Derrick said, then ended communication.
A mere ten minutes later, space not far from the Imperial Planet rolled and seemed to boil. A round portal opened as two ships emerged.
A few minutes later, a fleet wide message went out from Derrick, "all ships, prepare for a special commendation ceremony." Everyone was surprised, wondering what was going on.
Derrick had called Kimon, Greeson, Onai and Mara to the throne room. All of them were more than curious, though the closer they got, the more upset Kimon seemed to get.
When they entered the room, Daniel Norman, Mara's father, was there before the throne. "You know what this is about?" Norman asked Kimon.
"Yes, I've got a good idea. I can't believe he's going to do this to me," Kimon grumbled.
"Attention," Mary said as soon as they were all there.
Derrick nodded then started, "Captain Greeson, Colonel Dempsy, Onai Sakuta," Derrick started, then the image of Isamu Sakuta appeared next to Derrick. "For the service that the three of you did for both two empires," here the image of Emperor Kandra appeared. "You are awarded the highest award the empire has to give, the Imperial cross."
Both Kimon and Greeson were shocked. Onai and her father were beaming with pride. "The three of you have saved the empire. Plus, you have purged a blight on our world, we convey upon you three the bloody claw. The greatest honor on our planet," Kandra said as Derrick put the medals around all three of their necks.
Derrick motioned Onai back and Norman forward. "Now, for the rest of the ceremony. Brigader General Norman, it is my intent to promote you to Major general," Derrick then pinned a second star to his shirt. "Congratulations."
Norman stepped back, with Kimon stepping forward with a slight growl on his lips. "Colonel Dempsy, for meritorious service aiding our ally, you are promoted to Brigader general." Derrick removed the silver oak leaves, pinning a star to his shirt.
Derrick glared at Dempsy as Kimon backed up. Derrick then motioned Greeson forward. "Captain Greeson, for meritorious service you are hereby promoted to Major. I commend the three of you with this honor and pray for your future service to the empire."
"Dismissed!" Mary said as all left the throne room.
"You know I could always put you in charge of almost all the ground troops," Derrick said into Kimon's ear a moment later.
"No sir, I think I have enough to do now," Kimon said, keeping his voice even.
"Good, cause I need you as high as I can get you. Your strategy was highly coveted in the war. Please don't make me regret not promoting you higher. Now we need to talk about you and Onai's joining, it is next on my agenda," Derrick said.
This, of course, had Kimon speechless, he hadn't even considered this to be that important to the Emperor. "I agree that it is important, plus I am afraid that I have made Onai wait far too long. Is it really a priority to you?" Kimon asked.
Derrick's face contorted to anger a moment, then softened as quickly. "Yes, it is very important, I made you and her a promise not long ago. You, yourself, know that I ALWAYS honor my promises. I don't make them often nor do I make them lightly. Now then, as soon as all is ready, we are all going to Jitaku."
OK, Kimon thought, not only was the commander serious, he seemed to be in a hurry. A slight smile came to Kimon's lips, knowing his recent luck? The joining would be delayed because of something stupid.
The simple fact that Onai was who she was, plus his new elevated status, this was going to be very big. So big, in fact, this was going to be on a global scale.
___________________________________________________
On Jitaku, two ships managed to slip through all the defences to land in a very remote region. Both craft had unknown markings, both filled with well over thirty people each.
Upon exiting the ships, they all set up camp, then immediately, started to train. Their style was one that hadn't been seen on Jitaku for a very long time.
The leader of the groups smiled evilly. Now was their time. Yes, the leader thought they would take revenge on the Dempsy clan, then the council and the council leader.
Perhaps the loss of his daughter would be a good start. This should be interesting, to say the least, she was a master, as was her soon-to-be mate. Yes, a high clan leader to boot, things were looking up for sure.
Three huge and one sleek ship exited the trans-warp conduit, not far from the Jitaku planet. More than just a few alarms were going off at the space control station.
They were quickly silenced as a holo-gram of an Oriental appeared on board all the ships. This is Jitaku space control, we have you on final approach. Adjust your orbital glide three degrees, then proceed straight on your projected vector. Welcome the exalted Emperor of the Realm," the holo-gram said.
A moment later, the holographic visage of Isamu Sakuta, the council leader of the planet appeared. "Exalted one," he said as he bowed to the floor. "It is indeed an honor to have you gracing our world."
"It is an honor to be here on your planet. Your people have always shown the greatest honor to the empire. I have been fortunate to have one of the Dempsy clan serve with me in the war. He has recently been promoted to Brigader General. I am confident that he will serve with great honor for you and the Empire," Derrick said.
"With him restoring the Dempsy clan's honor and that of Jitaku, I know that he will do such. Please attend a banquet with the clan leader and the council, that we can all share in the honor," Isamu Sakuta said.
"Leader," Kimon said, "it is indeed an honor to be returning home after such a long time. I am glad that I was finally able to restore such a long dishonor of Jitaku. I am afraid that the son of the ancestor of our shame escaped. Though with no more than a hundred poorly trained students. The exalted one has allowed me and your daughter to hunt these disgrace to the art."
"Ah, this is good, this is indeed a great mission for the empire and the both of you. Now then, your mother arrived a few days ago, daughter?" Isamu said.
"Yes father, I received a communique from her, she is waiting, somewhat impatiently. Please advise her I will be with her as soon as possible," Onai said.
"This is good daughter, I shall see all of you soon then," Isamu said, then clicked off.
Derrick turned to Celeste's holo-gram, "Get me Mara," Derrick said. "I want you to maintain a defensive position here. Jan, I want you to do roving patrols, keep in contact with Prime Mara at all times. Both of you are damn near indestructible, though I know different."
Both ships and Mara all said yes, Sir, then clicked off, patrolling. Derrick then turned toward Kimon. I heard that you are requesting Greeson to go with you. Is there something that you want me to be wary of?"
"That I am going to make sure of. As we have both seen, there are still many enemies out there. I would be remiss in my duty if I didn't protect you, especially now," Kimon said.
"One would think that this would be a very bad idea. If I am not mistaken, the entire planet would go to war to aid you and me," Derrick said.
A small smile crossed Kimon's mouth. "The entire planet. Yes sir, I believe that it would. There is a story about three or four hundred years ago. The Emperor was here. A faction thought to cause a coup in the Empire. It was the first time the entire planet united. The faction was executed. I think the fact that you are here sir? It is a very good thing."
Derrick was nodding his head, he had read of this though it was actually five hundred years ago. "That is a good thing to know, especially as honorable as the Jitaku have always been."
An hour later, Onai, Kimon, Greeson, his student, Derrick and Shelby appeared in a pre-selected place. They were greeted by all the clan leaders, the entire council including Isamu Sakuta.
Derrick stepped up to a raised dais, "It is indeed as honor to be here, as it is an honor to meet all the clans and the council. I have no doubt that all will shine in their duties."
Derrick stepped down to great cheering, he nodded to Kimon and Greeson as they stepped and vanished. Derrick also noticed that Onai vanished as soon as he and Shelby were in their room.
Derrick established contact with Mary on the Imperial Planet. "Keep me abreast of everything that you are keeping an eye on. Have you had any other readings on the outer regions of the empire?"
"None yet, sire. I have started to run several different energy readings on all the planets within the realm. At present, I am getting no readings. I should get some. Sire? May I send a probe to investigate this?" Mary asked.
Derrick thought about it for a few minutes. The last time he ignored something Mary was unsure about, they had the leader of the sect slip through.
"Yes, if you suspect anything at all, notify me. I want you to be filming every moment. That way, nothing is missed. This time, if there is any doubt, I will be there with you," Derrick said.
"Thank you sire, I will be in contact no matter what," Mary said, then cut contact.
Immediately, Mary launched a small probe that spun up it's trans-warp and vanished. Mary followed it as it rapidly approached the edge of the new areas that were added.
It was an hour later when Mary got a notification that the probe was entering a type of dampening field. She rapidly made adjustments that revealed the probe approaching a planet. Mary was shocked to learn that it held one of their main enemies.
It was a few hours later when Derrick received a message from Mary. A message that he wasn't happy about in the least.
Kimon had visited the clan headquarters, hoping that no one had heard of anything strange happening in the last week. Unfortunately, as he thought, there had been several strange sightings and disappearances.
Kimon then contacted several of the other clans, getting almost the same reports. This went far beyond what he had been hoping not to see. Though he thought he and Greeson could handle it, he took several students with him.
They had been on the move for a few hours, Kimon letting the clan leader and Derrick know what he'd found. They finally slowed in a very remote section of the main continent.
Kimon stopped them as they approached a large cleared area. In that clearing Kimon saw three ships that had landed and set up camp. Kimon didn't recognize the ships, though he did the style of their art.
He immediately sent two of the students back to let the clan know. Then he thought about sending another four. This wasn't good, unlike those that they had faced on the Delcron planet, they were well-trained.
Kimon kept watch as suddenly as the first, then the second students were dragged into the camp. Almost an hour later, two more students were dragged back into the camp. The first two had been staked out to begin torture on.
The next two were also stripped naked and staked out on an x shape like the first two. A few moments later, the fifth student was dragged in also staked out.
An older man, Kimon thought he recognized, stepped out in front of them. "So the Dempsy clan has discovered us. It is of no matter, with as pitiful students as this," The older man said.
Kimon aimed puffing three times through a hollow tube. Both the men beside the older man dropped to the ground gagging, then lay still. The older man snatched the third poison dart out of the air close to his face.
"So I am indeed dealing with a master. Why not show yourself?" The man said, then watched as another five of his men dropped dead. Then another five dropped, he was suddenly snatching another five darts out of the air though one scratched him. "Show yourself coward! This is deceitful, unworthy of the art."
"So, this coming from one who snuck in, damming their entire clan," Kimon's voice said, seeming to come from everywhere. "You, who did not make sure before they came to Jitaku. Nor did you notice that the Emperor is here for a traditional Jitaku joining."
