Chapter 153: Triumph

After getting rid of the interceptor fleet, Apophis's squadron headed towards the Federation mega-cruiser.

Apophis broadcasted his military code, hoping to avoid any interference before getting close to the capital ship, but there was no immediate sign that this would pay off. He had no idea if the code was even still valid!

But the closer he got to the stellar battle, the more dizzying it became.

Warships were destroying each other all over the planet's atmosphere, and there was a frenzied viciousness to it that was almost baffling. Even Apophis, a veteran of almost a decade in the game, had to admit that he'd rarely seen a battle of this magnitude and this intensity.

Suddenly, a huge concussion shook Apophis's ship! A Federation heavy cruiser had just exploded, and its shock wave of gasses and ammunition had consumed the three Imperial ships which had been pursuing it.

This was bad news for Apophis. The Federation fleet seemed to be in more and more trouble. To avoid losing too many ships, they would likely be forced to retreat before long.

Therefore, Apophis had to hurry up if he wanted to land on the flagship. If he waited too long, it would escape into hyperspace, and his mission would be over then and there.

Apophis said over the communications frequency, "Shit! We have to hurry. Deactivate all shields, and put all the power into your reactors. We have to get to the mega-cruiser as soon as possible."

Chocolate replied, "Go ahead, then! I don't want to risk blowing up my ship. I'll be there in ten minutes."

But as the three corvettes which were following Apophis's plan sped towards the mega-cruiser, Apophis's prediction proved to be correct. Several Federation warships began to slip into hyperspace, meaning that soon the slower ships in the fleet would follow. The Federation was organizing a full-scale withdrawal.

Luckily for Eclipse, in this type of military maneuver, the admiral was always one of the last ships to leave. An admiral, of course, had to organize the withdrawal gradually to avoid too many casualties—and their flagships were usually heavy cruisers, the most resistant ships, so they could withstand a lot of damage and remain functional.

Apophis finally arrived within close range of the Federation mega-cruiser and broadcast a message across all the standard Federation military channels.

"This is Colonel Apophis of the Federation, ID code A9567! I'm on a top-priority Federation mission and requesting immediate permission to board!"

No answer.

He tried again. "This is Colonel Apophis of the Federation! Top-priority mission in progress! Requesting to board right this minute! Answer in the name of Varda!"

Finally, a reply came over the radio. "This is Grand Admiral Oskiol, Commander of the Armed Forces of the Federation. Permission granted, Colonel Apophis. You may dock at Port 158."

Apophis breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to dock.

***

Imperial Flagship—other side of the battlefield

Emperor Azerof sat on his golden throne on the command deck, a huge floor which was nearly three hundred square meters in size. He wore royal garb to mark his new position as Emperor, and a large portion of his face was obscured by severe burn scars. He turned this burned face as Admiral Hazh hurriedly approached to speak with him.

The admiral gave a stiff military salute, then spoke. "The Rebel forces are in the process of withdrawing, My Lord."

Emperor Azerof gave a thin smile, though the skin stretched painfully across his scars. "Concentrate your fire on the corvettes. We must inflict maximum casualties before they escape."

Admiral Hazh nodded. "Yes, My Lord."

Just then, a beautiful humanoid woman with red hair and neon green eyes approached the throne.

Emperor Azerof turned towards her. "What do you want, Hecate?"

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Hecate said, "A powerful Ascensionist has just appeared on the battlefield and is heading towards Grand Admiral Oskiol's capital ship."

The Emperor stared at her for a moment. "And?"

Hecate continued, "He happens to be an… acquaintance… of yours."

The Emperor sat back in his golden throne, his eyes burning into hers. "Apophis..."

***

Federation Flagship

Apophis finally boarded, and the rest of his fleet which had followed him landed soon after. When the group disembarked within the ship port, they found a bulky officer awaiting them.

╔══════════════╕

╟─╼NPC CHARACTER

║　╰╼[Name] : Colonel Gezol

║ ╰╼[Biology] : Space Human

║　╰╼[LvL] : 200

║　╰╼[Tier] : A

║　╰╼[Class] : Boxer

╚═══════════════╛

The officer gave Apophis a salute appropriate for a peer of equal rank. "I am Colonel Gezol, bodyguard of Grand Admiral Oskiol. Welcome to the Icarus VK.3, Colonel Apophis."

Apophis returned the salute. "I thank you for receiving us on board, Colonel."

Gezol said, "You will follow me. Your team, on the other hand, must remain here."

Apophis nodded. "That's acceptable." He made a gesture for the rest of his team to remain with the ships, then followed Gezol further into the capital ship.

The officer escorted Apophis through many passages filled with frantic people until they arrived at the command deck. The whole time, the muffled repeating shots of the ship's long-range cannon were audible through the walls.

This particular cannon was an incredible weapon of unrivaled power, capable of destroying corvettes and even some older-generation destroyers in a single shot. It was no surprise that its reverberations were so powerful as to be like a heartbeat for the ship itself.

Apophis was impressed when he finally arrived in front of Grand Admiral Oskiol.

The Grand Admiral was a sixty-year-old man wearing an admiral's uniform with dozens of medals hanging from it. This was, without a doubt, one of the most decorated men of the old Federation. Despite the incredible tension of the situation, there wasn't even a single bead of sweat on his forehead.

Grand Admiral Oskiol nodded to an officer who stood beside him, a man who looked considerably less composed. "I leave the command to you, Vice-Admiral. I must discuss matters with Colonel Apophis."

The three men, including Colonel Gezol, isolated themselves in the Grand Admiral's private office.

Grand Admiral Oskiol placed his hands behind his back, giving Apophis the briefest nod. "Well, talk quickly. I have a fleet to evacuate. What is this mission of yours?"

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Apophis replied, "Thank you, Admiral. As I said, I have a top-priority mission. I must get to the planet's surface before your ships are completely withdrawn, otherwise I won't be able to complete my mission."

Grand Admiral Oskiol seemed irritated that Apophis hadn't actually explained anything. "Your mission? What mission would that be, Colonel?"

Apophis said, "Chancellor Souley and General Ralfot have given me the mission to assassinate Azerof. I'm afraid I can't share the details, but that requires me to get to the planet's surface."

Grand Admiral Oskiol laughed. "You say that as though it's the simplest thing in the world, like it's a matter of common sense! I'm sorry, Colonel, but Chancellor Souley is dead and General Ralfot is gone. I am in charge of the Federation now, and I absolutely cannot risk sacrificing any more ships for a kamikaze mission.

"Besides, the Supremacist plot is far larger than Azerof by now. Even if he dies, another will take his place. If there was a time to assassinate that bastard, it was months ago… years, rather!"

Apophis said, "I understand, of course, but it was my duty to request your assistance, anyway. Thank you anyway, Grand Admiral. My men and I will pursue our mission as best as we can on our own."

He began turning, as though to leave, but smiled inwardly as Grand Admiral Oskiol said sharply, "Wait!"

Apophis turned back around.

Oskiol said, "I'm aware of your combat record, Colonel."

"Sir?" Apophis said in a questioning tone.

Oskiol continued, "You're the hero who killed Regnier and routed an entire Orc army on Cronos I. What a glorious victory that was! Marshal Androf even nominated you for a commendation, though the records from his implant say he died only a few minutes after you returned to the HQ to report your victory."

The Grand Admiral's eyes glinted with cunning. "As it happens, I'm quite puzzled by a certain question. How did it come to pass that a demigod like Colonel Zareil, a man with fifty years of military experience, along with an entire team of Ascensionists, couldn't survive this mission… with one notable exception?"

Apophis shrugged innocently. "People die in war all the time, Grand Admiral, no matter how powerful they are. I will say this: we couldn't have won without Colonel Zareil. He staggered Regnier with his dying breath after Regnier thought he was already dead. That's what let me deal the killing blow. Under other circumstances, it might have been him standing here, not me."

Of course, all these details were either half-truths or outright lies.

Grand Admiral Oskiol thought about this for a moment. "Stranger things have happened. That certainly sounds like the tenacity and cunning I would expect from Colonel Zareil. Yet, what troubles me the most is another record we have.

"Is it true that Admiral Azerof promoted you to lieutenant during the Era Incident? In fact, according to our database, you have been Military Governor of that planet… ever since it was destroyed by the Orc Empire."

The Grand Admiral let a meaningful moment of silence pass before delivering his next line. "I am to believe that Admiral Azerof gave you such a bountiful start to your military career, setting you on the path to glory, but that you now desire to assassinate him?"

Apophis sighed. "Listen, Grand Admiral. I already told you that my mission is of vital importance. Even if it's true that killing Azerof wouldn't shatter the Supremacists—or the 'Imperium of Man' or whatever nonsense they're calling themselves—he's far too dangerous an enemy to be left alive. I don't have time to give you six months of military debriefings and bureaucratic reports."

Grand Admiral Oskiol raised his voice sharply. "Remember your rank, Colonel! I am the new leader of the Federation. I determine your priorities! And right now, I should think, your top priority is to avoid the death penalty for high treason!"

Grand Admiral Oskiol waved to Colonel Gezol, signaling him to take action.

The situation was critical. Even though Apophis was extremely powerful, he was no demigod like Gezol. There was no way a Rank B like Apophis could defeat a Rank A like Gezol!

Moreover, fighting inside a spaceship was extremely dangerous. The ship might be well-protected against external explosions… but there were so many delicate systems inside it that a fight could be overwhelmingly disastrous for everyone inside.

If Apophis fought back now, there was a great chance that he would end up in the void of space. Unlike a Rank A like Gazol, Apophis couldn't survive in those conditions. And though this would result in him respawning on the planetary surface below, Apophis couldn't afford to lose a full level from dying.

Apophis and Gezol stared each other in the eye, each daring the other to move first.

Gezol said slowly, "Don't try it, Apophis. You won't survive, let alone win. It's not pleasant being beaten to death. Many people stronger than you have… told me so. I think. That's how I interpreted all the screaming and crying."

But just as the tension reached its peak, someone knocked on the door of Oskiol's office.

The Grand Admiral's gaze flicked to the door. "Enter."

A short officer opened the door and saluted. "Sorry to disturb you, Grand Admiral, but we've received a communications request from the enemy capital ship."

The tension in the room lowered just a bit as the new threat presented itself.

"Well?" Oskiol barked. "What did it say?"

The officer winced. "He… just wants to talk. He says it's urgent."

Oskiol nodded. "Thank you, Officer. You can go."

Then Oskiol nodded to Gezol. "Leave off this… business… for now, Colonel Oskiol. Perhaps Azerof himself will shed some light on this."

He glared at Apophis. "I know your kind, Colonel Apophis. You Eternals return to life without a scratch after dying. Even if Gezol would have killed you for a time, we would have been the ones to suffer the most for it. The fact that you… refrained… is a mark in your favor, though this does not mean that I trust you.

"We will speak of this matter again in the future… but for now, I permit you to attend this meeting as a Colonel of the Federation of United Planets."

"Thank you, Sir," Apophis said with dignity. "I accept this courtesy with thanks." Inwardly, he felt smug. He was glad that Oskiol saw the obvious truth of who would have lost the most if Apophis had really tried to resist!

The three men joined the command deck, where a giant screen was prepared for secure, two-way communication. It was carefully positioned so that no important instruments and readings from the command deck would be visible to the other participant.

Oskiol gestured to it. "Communications Officer, we are ready… Hold on a moment. Colonel Apophis, stand outside the field of vision until I signal you to show yourself."

Emperor Azerof appeared, sitting on his golden throne.

Oskiol made no gesture of recognition or respect. "What do you want, Azerof?" He addressed him as neither Emperor nor Grand Admiral, signaling that he rejected the validity of even Azerof's former military rank.

Azerof's expression barely changed. "You forget decorum, Grand Admiral. You are addressing a foreign dignitary. By the laws of the Federation Army, you will refer to me as Lord Azerof, Emperor of the Imperium of Man. Now, I understand that you have a special guest aboard the Icarus Vk.3. How is the old whale doing, by the way? Is she holding up alright under this bombardment?"

Oskiol refused to rise to the bait. Despite his formal tone, Azerof was mocking him in the way of a politician: accusing him of not obeying the very military codes which Azerof no longer recognized as valid. Instead, he responded in an equally dry voice. "Guest? I don't know who you're talking about… My Lord." He allowed a heavy shade of sarcasm to come into his voice as he stretched out the last two words."

Azerof's composure wavered. "Don't joke with me, Oskiol! Tell me, where is Apophis?!"

Oskiol made a gesture, and Apophis stepped into the screen's field of view. "Oh, you meant me, Azerof?"

Azerof's burned face twisted into a smile. "Aha, there he is!"

Oskiol looked between them. "So, he is, indeed, your subordinate?"

Azerof laughed. "No. Not yet. But he will be." The Emperor's voice dropped into an evil hiss. "Apophis, I have the little Zetark you failed to protect. Come to my ship if you want her back!"

Apophis had maintained his composure throughout all his dealings with Oskiol, but now something snapped inside him. He intended to give a sarcastic retort, but instead what rushed out of his mouth was pure hatred as he leaped forward to put his face close to the screen!. "You're dead if you touch her, Azerof! You hear me?! Dead! Even if I have to hunt you to the center of the galaxy for a thousand years, you're dead!"

Azerof's laugh was filled with pure, childlike glee as he realized he had truly broken through Apophis's composure. "Aha! Calm down, my old friend! Join me on my ship and we'll discuss what you must do to keep the child safe."

The communication ended.

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