Fleet Lord Skald,


    Your insubordination will not be tolerated. I can only hope that this message finds you just before the moment of your death but I know that you are too stubborn to die. You have committed a betrayal that will go down in history as the worst of our people. Not only did you take ships and warriors that did not rightfully belong to you, you also doomed your clan stationed on Earth. One hundred years from now when your little pet hands you this message, it is your duty, your honor, to self destruct all vessels of your fleet. I know you will not do that so the warrior in me looks forward to meeting you in battle should our race decide to officially expand into the Andromeda Galaxy. Your impatience and your ambition has brought shame to your clan. Those that you left behind will be executed in whatever manner that I see fit. Your father would be proud, but the rest of your kind will pay for your poor judgement. - Overlord Cygnus


    <hr>


    "Who has seen this waste of data?"


    "Only me Fleet Lord. I pulled it from the main directory along with other...concerning reports." Hand Vigas replied with false bravado on his face. This could be his end but he did not truly believe that the Fleet Lord would kill him in an uncharacteristic loss of control.


    "Very well. Wipe it from existence. Cygnus has no power here. He is bluffing. What other news do you bring?"


    "Yes Fleet Lord. The farm ships report extreme losses among the human population due to malnutrition and the expected hunger of the officers and other personnel that were in cryo. The farmed population has served it''s purpose but we must land on Dottir."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Understood. Bring me a human and prepare to make another broadcast."


    "Yes Sir." Hand Vigas turned to leave the office of the Fleet Lord.


    "Vigas."


    "Yes Fleet Lord?"


    "This broadcast only goes to the ships of the defense force. Do not hijack the planetary feeds."


    "Yes Fleet Lord."


    As the door to his office slid closed, Fleet Lord Skald stared into the mirror in his bathing chamber. His reflection exuded authority. His face was hard, his eyes black and empty. There was no fear, no apprehension, no mercy. He had made the decision to defy orders and strike off on his own and he would see it through. The captains of his fleet did not need to see that message, it was of no consequence to them. They were here with him because he made the right decision, not because he had lied about having the approval of Overlord Cygnus to expand. Some of them would give their lives this day for the conquest of Dottir and any distraction from the course could not be allowed to propagate through his fleet. His armor was immaculate, perfect. The lights in his office reflected off of the black panels as he passed under them. Whomever had taken care of it for the past one hundred years had done an admirable job. He made a mental note to thank them, if they had not died of old age.


    The Sharlah warriors in the corridor brought their fists up in salute as he passed and he returned it. Skald had earned their respect on the battlefields of earth as a young man. His father was the Fleet Lord of that war and it would have been enough just to be his offspring but to actually spill blood among some of these very same officers was the highest form of respect earned. As he passed one of the many armories aboard his vessel, The Fist of Conquerors, the young soldiers inside shot to attention with startled looks on their faces. They were born on this voyage, were educated in classrooms and training hulls, were raised for one purpose - to kill humans and take their world for their race. They recognized their Fleet Lord, soon to be Overlord, and trembled with fear and excitement.


    Skald nodded his approval of their existence and said "Carry on." causing immediate relaxation in their posture but not their faces. "Today you will have your glory. We strike when the broadcast ends."