Barbarians

There was nothing inside

The memories left abandoned

There was nowhere to hide

The ashes fell like snow

And the ground caved in

Between where we were standing

And your voice was all I heard

That I get what I deserve

So give me reason

To prove me wrong

To wash this memory clean

Let the floods cross

The distance in your eyes

Across this new divide

Linkin Park - “New Divide”

“And we do not know who sent the message?” Lassoarth asked the other two beings sitting across from her.

“None,” Σ 121 Sub Δ replied. “The message came by courier, on an encrypted data chip. I queried the corporation who used the messenger, and what little information they had was falsified.”

“Is it possible this is some trap laid by the Prime Minister, to further curtail our influence...perhaps even betray us?” Qomzoixaa suggested, voicing the thought at the forefront of all three former minister’s minds.

The years following the first Khonhim War had been bitter ones for the erstwhile representatives of the Triumvirate. Prime Minister Singh had never forgiven them for their role in the millennia-long deception that had drug the humans into the war, nor had she forgotten the years of humiliation mankind had suffered at the hands of the three individuals seated around the table. When the Khonhim attacked, in their desperation they had agreed to her demands, only to discover they had invited a wolf to their table. Somehow...and to this day they were still not sure how it had happened...they found themselves pushed aside as the warlike and primitive humans leveraged themselves into the leadership roles of their society. The Triumvirate had given way to the Tetrarchy, and once the ceasefire was in place Leandra Singh informed they would no longer require their services.

A bitter pill to swallow, indeed.

So it was with a certain degree of schadenfreude that the three former ministers watched as the human worlds came under attack. Their reaction was predictable...after all, not so long ago they had been in the same position. But as the fleet charged off to do battle once more, a curious state of affairs began to arise in the old Triumvirate worlds. Were these attacks retribution for humanity’s involvement in the last war? Was it possible the Khonhim had found a new enemy, one both willing and able to fight back?

And what did this mean for them?

But it was the encrypted chip that had galvanized them into action. A request for a meeting by parties unknown. The details were scanty, but that it specifically directed a request for an audience to the defrocked and disgraced ministers spoke volumes. The location was a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of the capitol, and the discovery of the imaging unit upon their arrival suggested they would not be meeting their anonymous associate today.

“I do not believe the Prime Minister...” and even now it was still difficult to keep the acid from her tongue as Lassoarth named her, “...would feel the need to involve herself in such an obvious attempt of entrapment, if for no other reason than there is no reason for her to do so. Should she choose, she could simply have us arrested.”

“Such an order would require a majority of the minister’s approval,” Qomzoixaa pointed out.

“And do you doubt the sycophants Singh appointed in our stead would refuse such a request?” Σ 121 Sub Δ said. Despite being an artificial life form, the Ronin were just as capable of expressing emotion as the Saurotaur and Ophiptera were.

“No,” Lassoarth snorted, “not for a moment.”

Qomzoixaa considered that response and nodded. “Then we must assume this contact is legitimate, at least until they give us further evidence to weigh.”

Before either of his associates could respond the imager came to life, but where a projection of the individual transmitting would be visible, instead there was only darkness. The three former ministers looked at each other in confusion, as a filtered voice began emanating from the device.

“Greetings Ministers,” the voice said. “I must apologize for keeping my appearance hidden, but these are dangerous times we live in. I crave your indulgence and hope you understand the need for circumspection.”

“You have us at something of a disadvantage,” Σ 121 Sub Δ replied. “After all, you know who we are.”

“I regret the necessity, and in time I hope that it will be safe for me to reveal my identity,” the voice continued. “Until then, I must insist on preserving my anonymity.”

Each of the three wrestled with that requirement until Qomzoixaa spoke. “For now,” he said. “Since it was you who contacted us, perhaps you could explain why?”

“I represent a consortium of individuals who have grown uncomfortable with the direction the Triumvirate has taken in recent years,” the voice explained. “For ten thousand years our society was a stable one, the greatest commonwealth ever known. At least, until the humans arrived.”

The ministers regarded one another before Lassoarth responded for them all. “And so you contacted us. Understandable, given your view, but I do not see what you have to gain by this meeting.”

“It is not just I that seeks to profit from our meeting, but you as well,” the voice said. “Imagine for a moment returning to those halcyon days, and how much improved the average citizen’s life would be, if the humans were no longer around to infect the Triumvirate with their primitive and warlike ways.”

“The humans are not going anywhere,” Σ 121 Sub Δ said in disgust. “They have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, and control not only the government at its highest level but the military as well. Perhaps once we could have sent them packing, but that day is far, far behind us.”

“And perhaps not,” the voice shot back. “The humans have found themselves on the defensive, as the Khonhim destroy their worlds one by one. Soon, they will have none left.”

“You will forgive me if I refuse to accept that until it happens,” Qomzoixaa retorted. “If we have learned nothing in the last ten years, it is that humans are not only tenacious...but difficult to kill.”

“Besides, without the humans, there would be no Triumvirate,” Lassoarth admitted. “No one finds them more distasteful than I do, but even I cannot deny it was only through their efforts we survived the last war.”

“At what cost, Minister?” the voice countered. “The humans may have saved us...but they have also enslaved us. Even now, we dance to their tune. How much longer will we tolerate this abhorrent state of affairs?”

“Have you forgotten that we are at war once again?” Σ 121 Sub Δ asked the hidden figure. “Even if what you suggest were possible, why would we do so now, when the Khonhim threat is once again at our door?”

“Have they attacked a single Triumvirate world?” the voice demanded. “It is obvious they have decided that the humans are the actual threat and not the other races. But even if the Khonhim do have plans for us once they have dealt with the humans, consider this: both they and the humans are almost equally matched. Once each has destroyed the other’s homeworlds, who will remain? Who will be in a perfect position to reassert control when they are gone?”

Qomzoixaa gave his companions an appraising look, before regarding the figure. “Just what is it you propose?”

“For now? Merely the exchange of ideas,” the voice replied. “But as this war progresses, as each side grows desperate, it is possible we will find ourselves in the position of doing something about this situation. You have contact with many individuals and organizations that share your feelings, whereas the organization I represent has access to materials that may prove useful...when the time comes.”

The silence that followed was pregnant with swirling and conflicting emotions, as each of them struggled with how to respond. “We will consider your proposal,” Lassoarth said at last.

“That is all I ask,” the voice answered. “Until we meet again.”

And with that, the connection was severed.

Dhyaksh Chugaz Uydan chortled with delight as Ministers faded from view. They would take the bait; of that he was certain. And when they slid their blade into the back of the Tetrarchy, hoping to reclaim what they had lost…

...they would seal their own fates.