Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 515: Goodbyes IV

"Shilla, my daughter. Are you sure about this?" Lesana asked as they sat at a table. "Because of our traditions..."

"I know, mother." Shilla smirked. "But this is not something I have to do. But something they need. This new race, the Spectres will need a guide. Their power is unmatched and you already saw their offspring is just as, if not more talented."

Lesana flinched. "Haa... yes. My granddaughter is only a newborn yet is somehow already channeling spirit and causing entire ships to short out. My Aphri Clan is having issues simply because of the offspring from our single encounter with that man."

"I also have a sense that we need to be here. The Aphri- no, the Centuria have to be represented when the information from the Mortella comes back. No one but you can do that." Shilla reminded her mother.

"You really are going to drive this old woman to death with all this work...ha..." Lesana sighed before looking at her daughter sadly. "The other leaders either believe nothing will happen or all participants will die. Unfortunately, I am starting to lean toward the ladder. But please do return alive, my daughter."

Shilla bowed her head before taking a sip of her tea. Tea was not something that had always been around. It was something her mother had adopted after having her. Apparently her father had some aboard his ship. Although she was interested, they let the Victorium and Jace take her father’s ship because they knew they needed to interact more with the outside nations.

"I heard the High Priestess has sent out a few suggestions for keeping galactic peace." Shilla brought up and watched her mother flinch.

"She did indeed." Lesana nodded. "Some of them are proposals for establishing a greater council that will establish a basic set of rules and moral principles that will be enforced throughout the entire galaxy. But it is something I need to tread lightly since something I consider normal is considered an abomination for others."

"I agree. But I think just cooperation to keep the borders and protect the galaxy will be enough for us. I do not think we can be the same as these other countries." Shilla nodded in agreement.

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"Valkyrie. The last Valkyrie." The priest kneeled before her. They were in a church in the colony. Most of the people who were in here were the soldiers who survived and civilians from the empire who were on a pilgrimage outside of the empire and were in the area. "Please. Share with us words of your wisdom."

Valkyrie sighed as she looked out at all the people kneeling in the church. She moved behind the podium that the priest was standing behind before. If there was ever a way to change the Holy Empire’s ways, it was now.

"My fellow people and followers. We can no longer believe that we are the mightiest nation out there. Or even the most true religion. Instead, we can only survive and repent for the failing of our nation and people. Because the only reason God would have sent such an atrocity our way is because of our failings." Valkyrie called out and there was a murmur.

She waited a moment before a soldier near the back stood up. "My lady Valkyrie! What should we do?"

Valkyrie took a deep breath and closed her eyes before releasing her breath and opening her eyes. "A great pilgrimage. The fortunate and those who survived because they were on a pilgrimage in the first place. But now we must have a great one. One that will allow us to understand what we did wrong in the face of God. What we have to do in order to better ourselves and stand proudly among our peers in the face of the external threats coming from beyond our galaxy."

"What about our mission to exterminate the nonhumans?" Another soldier asked.

Valkyrie shook their heads. "It was a mix of people, including nonhumans that saved us. In the face of that knowledge. I believe we have been following the wrong orders. We must believe in the good of all people, not just in humans."

"To that end. You want us to mingle among them and understand what changes gods want us to do so our religion is accepting of all peoples?" The priest asked as he had a look in his eyes that was reminiscent of soldiers she had seen before who were convinced in their righteousness for the Holy Empire. But he seemed more convicted about her words than anything else.

"I do. I am going to do the same after this mission. I suggest you travel either in small groups or alone to achieve this." Valkyrie told them. "No longer think of yourselves as members of the Holy Empire. We are followers of God and his will before we believe in any man or person who believes themselves righteous enough to speak on behalf of our God!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

There were quiet murmurs of agreement.

"We will see what God has in store for us and overcome the challenges he will present!"

"Yeah." The murmurs grew louder.

"We will accept all those who might be willing to accept God, regardless of their race!"

"Yeah!"

—----------------------------

"They still refuse to meet with you." The butler informed Victor.

"Haa... fine. Inform them that I am going to take the Bloodaxes. The clan leaders also need to remember that the Circle of Yuri has fallen. Only the survivors left in the Yuri station and people aboard our station are the bulk of our population. If they cannot get in line then our people will be despised and hated." Victor informed the butler before walking up to a glass case.

They were in a mansion that was hastily put together. The reception room had an array of weapons and displays there were quickly brought or that were already here. The Bloodaxes were something that one of the original clans used. That same clan was the bloodline that Victor fell under. He had trained with similar weapon throughout his life.

"We wish you the best of luck. Duke Victor Al-Ulman. The party of the people stands with you and all your decision." The butler bowed politely.

"Best of luck on receiving the information your end." Victor told him before moving to the exit. The bloodaxes would mesh perfectly with the rest of his gear. But he still had to make a few adjustments just in case.

—----------------------------

"Hahahaha!" Gene laughed as he clashed glasses with another of the soldiers. "That is right. We need to party until dawn!"

Colvert chuckled manically as down a massive mug of beer. "You just want war! I cannot wait to meet the Genius of Kamot. There are not many that I respect. But I most certainly do respect him! What about you old timer?"

"Hmm... let this old man drink in peace." Jamel Kingsley told them as he sipped his drink and looked at the screen to watch the race. He was an avid watcher of the races and even in the colony he had started to call home, there were a number of races he could watch when he had not been watching his grandchildren. He had already set up a message to be sent to his family in the event of his death.

Gene had no family. The only ones he even considered family were his fellow soldiers. He was not looking forward to what was about to happen but he also did not care that much. He often said he was here for a fun time, not a long time.

Colvert on the other hand was a well known madman. He wanted Jace’s opinion on his latest invention. He was not even thinking about the people he might leave behind. Which included a few different women and bastards who he almost never bothered with, or his Artificial Intelligence that he created and left on the colony where he had been living. Truly a man only thinking his toys and nothing else.

"Ha... you two are buzzkills!" Gene Case grunted and then turned to the rest of the soldiers and other people of the bar. "Beers are on me people! Now where are those ladies at!"

"An idiot. That is what he is." Colvert mumbled after Gene walked away. He glanced up at the screen that Jamel was looking at. "The blue one is going to win." He then looked back down at the device he was tinkering with.

Jamel watched the screen for a few more minutes and frowned as the racer with the blue vehicle pulled ahead just in the nick of time. "How did you know?"

"Because of the build of the vehicle. All of its internal parts are visible. Anyone with a decent understanding internal combustion could see an extra engine was powering up and about to trigger." Colvert explained.

"Huh... smart kid." Jamel nodded. He thought at first there was not much he could do. But maybe he could keep these young kids alive. Or at least exchange his life for theirs.