In his shadow, we stand

[Serpentis]

He sat observing all movements of those under him, unknowing of what he had been told, told by the stars, the nebula's and the cosmic breeze..

The only one that was close in knowing, was Zhane, this outborn, a New Virulian as the Animus call them..

Patriarch Jechaim sighed as he feels his way trough the star map above his mind, he saw how his followers, no.. Not his, the creator's.. And his voice's followers..

He sighed, ever since he had initiated a link directly with the newly awoken first voice he'd seen things, things his children, no.. Not his.. He sighed again, they wouldn't understand.

He had seen the voice's images, he had seen the image of what he had believed was The Creator, he had heard what they had said, but in the twisted way the voice had seen and heard it, everything, so.. Special, would be the best word...

He felt his way to the communications network, and initiated contact with Overlord Zhane..

"My lord!"
Eliza said towards the command seat of the Exodus, where the Corporis Caste leader, Edward Zhane where sitting.
"Yes Eliza?"
Zhane was sitting typing in commands to the four sabre patrols that where to leave the Carrier's hangar any moment now.
She stood up and bowed as she said, in a revering voice
"It is a personal communication from the Patriarch"
Zhane quirked an eyebrow at Eliza, 'What did the old man want now?', Zhane never enjoyed the company of the Patriarch..
"Put it trough in the briefing room"
Eliza gave off a quick salute and pressed in a number of commands into her console.
Zhane walked into the briefing room, head held high and pressed the holo display on the wall.

"My Patriarch.."

Zhane said as he bowed his head towards the holographic image of the patriarch..

"What owes me the honor of this communique?"

The patriarch's face, one that was usually covered in the cloak of static that most of the elders of the Animus covers their faces with, was removed, 'He's in a good mood', Zhane thought to himself, smiled at Zhane.

"Do not attempt to get on my good side Lord Zhane, I wished to speak to you of the recent resource allocations the Corporis has ordered from the Animus. The Creation of yet another warship? Is this a necessity?"


Zhane tried to keep his face calm, not to show any sign of annoyance or anger.. 'Damn yes! Of course it is you..' He thought to himself..

"Yes my Patriarch, it is an necessity.. We believe that soon, the warships will be needed, if a war erupts close to the Migrant fleet, or close to Omega 49.. My lord, do not ask me to explain this, cause it would make little sense to you."

Zhane was hoping this would be enough for the Patriarch.. But he knew he needed to explain everything, in detail. Zhane sighed, waiting for the coming question..

The Patriarch's eyes glowed slightly, he stared at Zhane, eyes not blinking.


"Explain how much of the Enclave's resources has been used, and for exactly what.."


Zhane sighed, an obvious sign of disrespectfulness, but one that the Patriarch was used to and didn't mind, there was a reason he had chosen this outborn to lead the Military caste of the enclave, the Corporis caste.. Because no enclave born understood the outside world, better then one born in it and have lived his life in it.. Zhane was once a Xeno terrorist in Liberty, one of those unknown xeno's, he eventually got sick of fighting an never ending war with Liberty or defending a corrupt society, that he left.. He got hunted by merc's and other people, until Jechaim found him, on a Freeport sitting in a corner ending his life with alcohol.. He had approached the young man, and asked him if he needed money.. That was 20 years ago, and the Patriarch loved the man as his own son.. And Zhane, thought of Jechaim as a father.. An annoying father..

"Very well Patriarch.. It began when we where accepted into the Zoner society, we got a hold of early blueprints of their Carrier class vessel, named: Aqulion. We began, very swiftly to gather resources by dismantling old Outcast designed warships, those that we had built prior to the Exodus. It took only a month, then we had a fully functioning Carrier class vessel."

The Patriarch made a hand sign to Zhane, to stop talking..

"I know this already Zhane.. I was asking about the new Cruiser class vessel constructed.. "

Zhane nodded, but he was secretly considered cutting the link and blame it on the nebula he was in, but he knew that the old man would know what he had done.. He sighed and began again.

"Im uploading the files now my Patriarch.."

Jechaim looked over the files, much information regarding technical data, resources used, and number of hours spent working on these ships of war when it could have been used to construct new Animus caste vessels, transports or diplomatic shuttles, or even survey vessels.. He sighed as he said


"Is this the end of the Corporis caste new ship creation phase? Or will there be more vessels constructed? I see that you have used nearly 60% of the available resources we had left from our mining outpost's prior to their destruction.. This is not something I had agreed upon"

Zhane held a hand up in front of him, effectively stopping the Patriarch's speech.. Something like this would never happen in a council meeting, this was a personal matter of respect..

"Patriarch.. I have observed the communiques coming from our allies and open frequencies, it is in my opinion.. That our allies of the Zoner Alliance, will be waging war, shortly.. We, as the Enclave, need to be prepared for this war.. By any means.. That is why I'm recommending an immediate activation of all EDF vessels currently in hiding around Sirius.."

Jechaim stared at Zhane then he said, slowly, deliberately..

"Is this your final solution? To go to war, after we lost most of our civilization? To go yet again to war?"

Zhane nodded, he looked down and nodded yet a second time..

"Very well.. We will prepare for war.."

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