Uncertainties

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Giiick’jeeek’haka’ticccc stood silently in the “open space” observatory of the aft section of the G’Jak battlestar Blood Cull. “Open Space” had always seemed somewhat amusing to him, considering that the room was little more than a lounge with force fields separating the vacuum from the oxygenated atmosphere of the vessel. None the less, he enjoyed his time in the room as it gave him clarity of thought that was difficult to obtain elsewhere aboard the spidery-looking vessels.

 

The subtle vibrations of the wall behind him reconfiguring itself to allow entrance caused him to focus two of six eyes on the approaching figure.

 

“Your highness,” the clicking, sounds coming from the tall, slender Lepratus Scorpiad who approached him equated to. “I trust you do not mind the intrusion?”

 

Giiick’jeeek’haka’ticccc (or as it was normalized for those species lacking mandible, Gy-kjek’Hktic) lifted an arm and motioned his advisor to come more fully into the room. “Of course not,” he clicked out, still keeping his primary focus on the streaming stars. “You have served my family longer than most of them have been alive.”

 

Jahggg-ik’Tahkkkkken`naikkk (Jhag-k’Tahk-nk) made the Scorpiad equivalent of a nod and approached alongside the black-bodied Emri Prince, taking up a position just in the comfortable visible range of his primary visual centers. “I’ve spoken with your hatch-brother,” he said. “The situation has not changed.”

 

That didn’t come as a surprise to the Emri who simply clicked his acknowledgement.

 

“When a situation like this arises,” Jhag-k’Tahk-nk continued, “where none of the survivors of the Emperor are from the crown brood-hatch, succession becomes… muddled. Usually it has been resolved by the Council, but we’ve never had a situation quite like this one…”

 

“You mean our Empire has never stood on the brink of collapse, gasping for breath and lacking a leader?”

 

“I see you inherited your mother’s directness with words,” the elder Scorpiad noted, rather proudly, having tutored both the young Emri and his mother. “But yes. The Council could spend nearly half a cycle sorting out these issues…”

 

“We do not have that sort of time…”

 

“Clearly.”

 

“Then what is to happen? Are we to simply grope with our claws and cauda in the darkness while the Eratians and Al-Ucard openly defy us…”

 

“There is an option?”

 

Gy-kjek’Hktic finally turned all of his eyes upon the male next to him. “Yes?”

 

“It would be a rare precedent,” he said soberly. “But if all from your brood-hatch, the second of the Emperor’s seven, would agree to name one of you as your leader, it would be difficult to dispute this claim.”

 

“I think the sands of Arcahanis will freeze over before that happens…”

 

“Would you have your brood-hatch be the one to end our Empire?”

 

“Our Empire has long been in decline,” Gy-kjek’Hktic said bitterly. “I hardly doubt we will be remembered as the catalyst to its fall…”

 

“Perhaps,” the long lived Lepterus said, thoughtfully. “But never the less you and your brood have an opportunity here to save the Empire from a protracted internal conflict.”

 

“And which of us would rise to the occasion? Hmm?

 

“Cek-ka? Or Tiiiiehka? Myself?”

 

A long pause followed by several non-committal clicks emanated from Jhag-k’Tahk-nk. He considered his next clicks carefully. “Aeiiik’Jghgkkc”

 

Another long pause followed. “What you’re suggesting is…”

 

“I know…”

 

“An Empress?”

 

“She is the eldest of your brood,” his mentor said. “She has been tutored by the finest of our scholars, she has extensive knowledge of our history, a passion for our people…”

 

“The Council will not support this…”

 

“On the contrary, only a few more of your brood-hatch need to consent…”

 

“You know her better than I,” the Emri Prince said resignedly. “Can she lead the Empire through this darkness?”

 

“I would not be advising you to support her if I did not think so…”

 

“Very well then, you may let it know I will support this action, though I am not sure anyone can save us from this darkness.”

 

"We can only hope for the best..."