Several days had passed since the defeat of the Confederate battlefleet and things started going back to normal. Or as normal as they could be in the wake of a failed invasion from the Human Confederacy. With everything that had happened, it was a wonder that things were going to a better version of what their normal was!
Many of the prisoners who had been deemed of high value were sequestered from the rest of the rabble. Those ones were going to be worth a pretty penny to the Confederacy, once the word had gotten out about them. The other prisoners had been turned into slaves, being forced into service by repairing the town of Tanith's Gully. Some of them complained at such treatment, but since they were being treated fairly, they had little cause to complain.
A few of the Confederate crew and soldiers who had come with the battlefleet turned on their superiors. Many of them had been enticed into this conflict with the promise that this was a movement of 'liberation'. That they were being sent there to uplift the native Prodosians from the squalor they lived in.
Once they learned the truth about them showing up as conquerors, they quickly switched sided against their former masters. They instead chose to co-operate with the natives of this world in exchange for amnesty and a level of autonomy. While it may have seemed a little high a price to ask, it was granted, provided that no deceptions were apparent. If any were, then they would be sent to rot with the rest of the prisoners.
As such, they had proven their use, pointing out all the plans the Confeds had for Prodosia. They identified the most strategic points of defense, along with the areas where deposits of valuable minerals were located. It wasn't just below the town where such veins of precious metals were located, but in places that had long since been deemed worthless.
This, along with the decryption of the classified files that had been recovered from the Confeds warships, was quickly endearing the turncoats to the locals. This was not only good news for the Confed expats, but it was also helping the Prodosians establish a proper defensive grid.
Using the newly taken carrier as a base of operations, the Prodosians now had a viable way to defend themselves against any active incursions. With each day that passed, they were replacing and upgrading every ship they had that was defending their world. While it would take a while before they had anything as large as the carrier built, having several new attack frigates on hand seriously upped their game! Not to mention the dozens of fighters and corvettes that had been built over the course of the last few days!
With this much firepower on their side, they would be able to meet any potential attacks on their home. Not only that, they were already in the process of using the scraps from the broken ships to craft a brand new orbital trading station! While it was mostly just a skeletal framework at the moment, the fact that they had one that was on the way to being built was a huge step for them!
Not only this, but Doctor Korsa's burn salve had seen a marked improvement with Doctor Walczak's help. Some of the irradiated and radioactive flowers had the necessary properties to bring the salve up to where she had wanted it to be! When tested on several burn victims, the salve not only had proven effective in restoring sensation to the fried nerves, but the scarring itself would fade as though it never was!
Not only were the plants useful in that area, Korsa and Zuzanna had outlined other potential uses for these plants! The properties of these plants showed potential applications in restoring nerve damage, along with some regenerative capabilities! It had to be treated and processed correctly to be effective, but that it was possible was more than enough to generate serious enthusiasm about the days to come!
With all of this news, even the most pessimistic of Prodosians had reason to hope now! Not only did they have the raw materials needed to keep their home safe, but they also had something that was unique in the galaxy and would soon be sought after by the medical industry! The possibility of attracting investors to come and put down roots on their world was a means of not only better living conditions, but a better quality of life!
Now that all of these things were happening, some people were even thinking about going back to the other worlds in the cluster. Many of which had long since been abandoned, because there were so few people willing to stay on these worlds. But, with the resurgence of hope among the populace, many were thinking and hoping that they could go back and restore that which was lost.
With another seven solar systems in the cluster, each one having a somewhat viable world on them now, many were thinking that it was time to reclaim them. While the ecosystems on many of these worlds had been badly decimated, recent scans had shown that they were in various stages of recovery. How this was possible, no one truly knew, but the fact that it was, was more than enough for people to consider going back.
With the news of all these recent successes going around, is when the crew of the
Darkstrider
decided to play their ace in the hole. The entire crew had gathered and suited up in their best military uniforms, including Jaesa and even Delilah.
While the sex/companion bot was still classified as a Sentry, she had distinguished herself in the recent firefights. Plus, with her on the way to becoming fully sentient as Jaesa was, she and Jaesa had also granted a proper rank in the Unified Systems Alliance. Delilah was considered a Corporal, while Jaesa bore the rank of a newly minted Lieutenant.
With their uniforms fully cleaned and pressed, the entire group looked resplendent. Along with a group of spiffed up Sentries, the lot of them headed out of their ship and marched to the gates of Tanith's Gully. The deputies didn't recognize them at first, but upon seeing them near the gates, they immediately opened them up. Denying their new heroes entry when they looked like this wasn't only bad manners, it was flat out rude.
The group marched along the streets of the town, attracting many onlookers and causing people to whisper in speculation. Some people thought they might have been secret members of the Federation all along. But the look and design of the uniforms were different from what Federation officers wore, so that idea was dashed.
Other people thought they might have been a splinter faction of the Confeds, but such idiocy was laughed at. A few thought they might have been sent by the UCW, but no one could be certain as no one stopped them to ask questions. With the Sentries marching purposefully around them, no one wanted to try accosting them. Everyone in Tanith's Gully had seen the machines in action and no one was brave enough to tangle with such tools of war.
The group continued their march unmolested, eventually reaching the Councilor's Hall. It was a modest, but well kept, three story building, with people walking in and out, conducting whatever business they had for the day. Upon the approach of the
Darkstrider
crew, everyone in and around the building couldn't help but gawk at such a resplendent parade.
The crew walked straight into the building, no one daring to impede their progress. They stopped in the main reception hall, which was a bit small, but large enough to accommodate the group as they were. Alex looked around, taking in his surroundings as an aide walked up to them tentatively.
"Good morning, crew of the
Darkstrider
! How may I be of service today?" the young woman asked meekly.
"You could tell us where the council meeting chambers are and promptly escort us there. We have serious business to discuss with the council," Alex told her in a charming voice. The girl blushed, not used to dealing with such a group like this.
"I'm... sorry, but I'm afraid the council is in session right now. One rule here is that the council is not to be disturbed while they are in session," the girl replied.
"I understand that you have rules to follow, or it's your butt in the sling. If you could at least direct us to where the council is in session, then we will wait until they are ready to receive us," Alex explained with a smile. The girl blushed even harder and nodded, understanding what they were asking. Though it went against protocol, she made an exception for the heroes and heroines of Tanith's Gully.
Standing a little straighter, the girl beckoned for the group to follow her, and they walked up the main staircase that led to the top floor. The crew kept pace with the girl, letting her lead them until they came to the top floor. There, another reception area, albeit much smaller, waited, with an arrogant looking young man seated behind a desk.
"Lavella, you know this is against the rules! No one is to come up here while the council is in session!" the young man snapped.
"But, Simon..." Lavella started.
"No buts!! It's the rule that was established here and no one is to violate it! Do I make myself clear?!" he said pompously, while sneering at Lavella. Not used to being chewed out like this, Lavella looked like she was on the verge of crying.
"OK, kid, just who the fuck do you think you are?!?" Alex growled, angered that the poor girl was being chewed out over a triviality.
"Excuse me? And just who are you, big man? Some upjumped idiot in a costume?" the boy scoffed, continuing to sneer at the group.
"Commodore Alexander Matthias Tomisic of the Unified Systems Alliance! As for you, you will stand to and learn to show some damned respect!!" Alex barked, his anger and voice rising with each syllable.
The resounding boom of Alex's voice caught the kid off guard as he literally tumbled out of his seat. Alex marched straight up to him, and the sound of his feet was like the clomping of a juggernaut. The boy scrambled to his feet and tried to make some sort of stand against Alex, but it was a fool's errand. The sheer domineering presence of the man had cowed the boy to where he looked meeker than the girl did.
"If there is one thing I cannot and will not stand, it's bullies. You want to throw your weight around and prove yourself? Do it on the field of battle and not against a girl who is just trying to do her job. Understand??" Alex asked calmly, his voice as deadly as a bared blade.
Simon looked like he was going to say something, but Alex just stared hard at the boy, rooting him to the spot with his gaze. The boy didn't know how, but that stare was like it came from the Grim Reaper, and he gulped in fear. He'd heard of the ferocity of this man and the crew behind him, even if he hadn't seen their faces.
Hearing of their rage and seeing it in person were two very different things. Normally, he would have had some snarky or snide remark for people like Alex. But something told him that saying anything of the sort to this man was not only a bad idea, but a veritable death sentence. He swallowed hard and looked to say something, but was saved by the doors of the council chambers opening.
"What is going out here? We heard shouting and... and..." Jenque started before she was caught off guard by everyone there in their uniforms.
"Inari? Mister Dragic?" the woman almost stuttered, as she took in their immaculate uniforms, blinking like she was just freshly blinded.
"My name isn't Alex Dragic. I am Commodore Alexander Matthias Tomisic, of the Unified Systems Alliance. Apologies for the deception, but it was necessary at the time," Alex stated as he surveyed everyone there. Not only was the council there, but so was Daved, Dagan, two of his lieutenants, Zuzanna, Callista, and even Willem. They stared at the group like they were something that stepped out of the pages of a fairy tale.
"Those... those uniforms... I've... only seen them in... history books," Willem choked out, in utter disbelief at what he was seeing.
"Well? Spit it out, kid! Where are they from?" Daved demanded.
"Those uniforms... haven't been seen... since Old Earth," Willem got out, trying to keep himself from fainting.
"Wait a minute... Alexander Matthias Tomisic? I know that name!" Zuzanna gasped as memories of high school came flooding back to her. Her eyes then widened as she remembered the name, staring at the big man like he was some sort of legend or myth made flesh.
"Who is he?" Jenque almost demanded, just as curious as to who Alex was.
"The second in command of the Prometheus Class dreadnought,
