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12
Braxl
As I approached, voices grew louder, echoing down the hall. Among the laughter and condescension, my father’s ever-commanding voice towered above the rest.
A barely noticeable stutter entered my step. Turning around and avoiding an unnecessary confrontation was the wiser choice. I hadn’t laid eyes on my father since that memorable dinner—the surprise in his expression at Jasmine’s knife-throwing skills, followed by his evident disapproval of me, had marked the end of the evening.
Yet, it wasn’t my father’s presence that piqued my interest but rather the palpable anxiety in the voices of his entourage. It stirred the leader within me more than the insecurities of a grown child seeking approval.
As the four Krafina figures turned the corner, their chatter ceased. The three elder commanders, each with their own formidable ships, acknowledged me with smirks and continued on their way.
My father stopped before me, crossing his arms and jutting out his chest. “Have you seen the newest intelligence reports?”
I glanced down the hall, finding it devoid of technicians or soldiers. Not that it mattered; I fully trusted the men and women under my command. Classified information was disseminated to all members of the GloryDaze long before my father chose to bring his own people into the loop. It was these practices that sowed seeds of distrust among his ranks.
In stark contrast, the crew of the GloryDaze demonstrated unwavering loyalty.
I grunted in acknowledgment as my father stood before me, and I mirrored his stance, awaiting his next words.
“We can’t afford a rebellion in the territories.”
I shrugged and settled into the wall, feigning a casual demeanor that belied the unease I truly felt.
“There are intelligence reports like that all the time. Surely, there’s no way there could be a concerted effort against us. Not one that we won’t crush immediately. Our strength is too great.”
“So you give no merit to the reports?” Kressel snorted.
“I’m not saying that.” I rubbed my jaw and thought back through the report of the morning. Had there been something out of the ordinary? Something I had missed that my father was giving more credence to?
“Perhaps we need to rekindle the Subversion Taskforce. Let our most elite soldiers join and crush the insurgencies, planet-by-planet.” My father’s hands turned to fists at his side, and his eyes flashed a maniacal determination. Just the mention of the ST made me sick. I had been a young student when he unleashed those ranks on the Territories under our control. They served as judge, jury, and executioner. Afforded full license to do whatever was necessary, no matter the collateral damage, to quell any rebel forces.
It had been effective, but it had been brutal.
It was one of the memories of the Prexis Empire that I wanted to cleanse and ensure never happened again.
I had to tread lightly.
“I’m not sure we should pull those soldiers away from their dedicated units at this time. We have a strong presence around the planets in question—”
“Not right now, we don’t! This idiotic wedding has pulled us all together! Every day we are here, the memory of our boots on their necks fade. If we aren’t demonstrating our force and numbers, they will take advantage. This wedding makes us weak.”
Blood boiled in my temple, and I took a deep breath before answering, every word strained.
“This was your idea.”
Kressel glared at me, fists still clenched.
“The reports from Earth are the most distressing. What could humans possibly do against us? We should just conscript the rest of the planet and be done with them from the Nova Dominion entirely.”
Genocide, huh, pops? That’s where we are headed now?
“You’re having me marry a human.”
“Because they are fragile, stupid creatures! They offer no threat to us, yet these intelligence reports suggest there’s more to them than meets the eye…” Kressel’s gaze wavered behind me, and I turned to see Jasmine striding toward us. She was outfitted for the gym in a thin fabric that showed off her tight ass and made my skin burn. Her haunting eyes drifted between me and my father as she slowed to a stop.
“Like her. She’s full of surprises, no? Who thought she could throw a knife like that?” Kressel looked at her as he spoke to me, indicating Jasmine was not worth his direct address.
I was taken aback by how much that stung. I had been on the receiving end of such conversations before. I had been the one he discussed in hushed tones, even though I was standing right beside him.
