[Back on Planet Edenia.]
[ A few days after the raid on the three Bastions]
Panic struck the hearts of the Ethisians all over the Planet as word began to spread out. At first, many thought they were nothing but fearmongering rumors designed to "scare strength" into Ethisian soldiers all over Planet Edenia and beyond but that wasn’t the case.
Slowly by slowly, the rumors were confirmed to be the truth. The Granians had overwhelmed and overthrown the three Bastion Planets, the Planets that acted like the Gates to the Ethisian half of Akrina.
Without those Planets, the Ethisians were partially blind to any attacks in the incoming future; a fact that the Granians knew very well for they too possessed Bastion-like Planets of their own. The only difference was they, the Granians, were not foolish enough to leave their Bastion-like Planets poorly guarded and unprotected.
Back in Edenia, hundreds of thousands of soldiers panicked and began hyper fixating on the future of their people and planet. If the Granians were able to quietly take over the Bastions that easily and quickly, how soon would it be before they made it to Edenia and wiped everyone out?
"Please, tell me it’s only a rumor!!" Empress Elenor ran into the Council Chambers where she was welcomed to the sight of her mate pacing back and forth in panic. The Yrrejite, Soxan, and Haisojan rulers did the same with bitter expressions on their faces.
Their enemies, the Granians had stepped foot into the Ethisian half of Akrina, the same half their people resided in.
"Enor," she cried, desperately begging that what she feared wasn’t true, "it’s only a rumor, right? Tell me it’s a rumor."
Emerging from the corners of the Council Chambers was the High Grade Elyssara. The High Grade, upon arriving at the planet not too long ago, made sure to report what she discovered to her superiors.
She did not care about her wounds or the state of her body. All she cared about was informing her people quickly and on time before the Granians got the jump on them.
"It isn’t, Empress Elenor," she spoke and knelt, her body trembling with shockwaves of pain pulsating endlessly, "I and a few soldiers managed to escape from our Bastion. The Granians took over the first, second, and third without us noticing."
"Oh my goodness," Elenor looked at the High Grade, her hand covering her mouth at the sight of the wounded High Grade. "Those wounds...they look fresh. Quickly, someone call medics for her immediately."
"Don’t worry about that..." the High Grade grinned as her wounds slowly began to close. This was one of the things she was to tell as well as show to her superiors. "...I’ll be alright in a few hours."
"Tell us everything you witnessed," Enor commanded while the Council Members silenced themselves to hear the High Grade speak. "Leave out no details."
Ely began to tell her side of the story, beginning from the discovery of rogue Granian ships on her planet to Grim’s fleet appearing. She made sure not to leave out anything, all except for what she had done to Ace.
The High Grade chose not to reveal what her energy did to the Granian’s Blood Mutant for a reason. She couldn’t prove it but she had reason to believe that her information of her new Eneraflux technique would be given to their enemies.
If they learned to do what she did, there was no telling what would happen to her and her people.
"This is unbelievable," Enor marveled, his face wearing a downcast expression as he sighed heavily. All the while, other High Grades and high position-holding Ethisians moved about as they prepared to launch a counterattack upon receiving Enor’s command. "Truly unbelievable. They managed to convince the Cyclitharans to join them? But how?"
"Those people," the Yrrejite ruler muttered, "they’re a peaceful species. Though strong, they prefer to use democratic methods to persuade other species into their rulership. How did they side with the barbaric Granians?"
"I know why," the Soxan ruler spoke up, his voice booming in the chamber walls, "It is because of you, Lord Enor, that they cannot extend their influence into the deeper parts of Akrina. Only you know what they would have done so you stopped them. I figure they joined the Granians as a way to get you and your empire out of the picture."
Enor remained quiet, allowing this news to settle in his raging thoughts. Once he calmed down a bit, he opened his mouth and said, "Those one-eyed fools chose to side with the Granians without even thinking of what would happen to them once this War ends.
"They had no idea what the Granians would do to them....I fear that they have doomed their own species."
"High Ruler," Ely spoke yet again, pleading for an audience with only Ethisians present, "there’s more I wish to tell you. I have news that will surely calm everyone’s nerves but I can only share it with our kind."
"Ethisian," the Soxan ruler slammed their hands on the table it sat and shouted, "withholding crucial information from us, your allies, will not be overlooked."
The High Grade, completely ignoring the Soxan, kept her eyes fixated on Enor, awaiting his answer. As the allies argued and complained, Enor waved his hands and had his guards escort them to their chambers temporarily.
"Enor, withholding crucial information from us isn’t wise," the Soxan complained again, "think about how we can help if we know what she’s about to tell you. Think about our species. We can be useful to you..."
"I’ll share it with you if I deem it fit," he answered, "but for now, allow my High Grades to escort you to your chambers. I’ll speak with you later."
"Enor. Don’t do this. You’re giving us, giving me, reasons to not trust you."
The doors of the chambers shut, leaving Elyssara alone with the High Ruler, his mate, a few Ethisian Council Members, and the highest ranking High Grades, Commander and Elenor.
"Tell us," Enor spoke, "what is so important that you had me dismiss my allies?"