Category: The Three Realms

The mission began. Everyone made their way to the culvert and opened it as quietly as possible. They went into it and descended into the sewers. Everyone took one whiff of the place and expressed their disgust. “What an intriguing smell you three discovered,” Elgrad said to the three mystery Elves.

“That’s the general smell of sewers,” replied the large Elf. They headed to the junction and the teams split up. The three mystery Elves then led Arsha’s team to the junction under the chocolate factory. There was a massive blockage in their way, and everyone searched for a way through.

“…Now what?” muttered Arsha.

“We swim,” replied one of the smaller Elves as they dove beneath the water.

“Oh…I should have figured,” mumbled Arsha. The team steeled themselves, dove beneath the water, and swam under the blockage. Once they got to the other side, they surfaced and took a deep breath…before choking on the sewer air. “Mistake!” gagged Arsha.

“Want…shower!” groaned Elgrad.

“We’ll get them once we finish,” replied the large Elf. Arsha’s team then recovered and proceeded with their mission.

“You know,” remarked Malnar, “I always said war was a filthy business, but this wasn’t what I meant!”

“I hope Markulak and his team are having a rosier time of it,” muttered Orbak.

---

Markulak and his team went through the sewers with the same amount of air trouble as Arsha’s team. Lardeth was holding his nose constantly. “Gah! There are moments I hate being part Zephyr!” he grumbled. “My nose is way too sensitive!”

“I don’t even have a nose,” replied Markulak, “and the sewer air’s STILL affecting me!”

“How?!”

“It feels corrosive! Like there are metal-eating ants all over me!” They were promptly shushed as an Inu man pointed to a pipe leading up to a manhole cover. Markulak then signaled for the det-packs to be passed around. Once everyone got one, they followed him up the ladder and out into the open. They quickly made their way to the wall and felt around for a hidden entrance. A Halfling woman then felt a brick depress just a tad. She pressed the brick further into the wall and a hidden door swung inside the wall. She and the people near her then silently passed the message that she found the way in. They quickly headed inside the wall and made their way towards a support pillar. Markulak then attached his det-pack to the pillar and was about to set it until…

“That’s close enough!” called a voice. It was Markulak’s voice, but it didn’t come from the rebel Markulak model. No, it came from his successor. Robots surrounded the strike team as Markulak: Model 8 leveled his sword at Model 7. “So, the traitor decides to help Realmfleet along,” purred Model 8.

“Of course,” replied Model 7.

“I must say, I’m disappointed. Our line has served Dr. Borg faithfully since Model 1 was constructed, then you go ahead and upend it, thus jeopardizing our survival!”

“What are you talking about?!” demanded Lardeth.

“It’s simple, Realmer,” replied Model 8, “when the defective model is not terminated in a timely manner, the successor will not be copied until the defect is removed.”

“If my line falls to your dishonor,” growled Model 7, “then it has no reason for being copied!”

“YOU brought dishonor to our line! Not me!” snapped Model 8. “We were devoted to the cause, and you abandoned it! Now I’ll have the satisfaction of killing you and saving our line!”

“What about your hide?” asked a woman’s voice. It came from a Troll-sized robot with tank treads, ranged weapons, and a slender set of humanoid arms.

“…What about my-?” Markulak: Model 8 didn’t finish his sentence as the massive robot’s slender arms tore his head off, permanently deactivating him.

“Let them go!” the massive robot ordered. Her fellows released the team and stood down. The massive robot then rolled up to Markulak: Model 7. “Markulak: Model Sev…sorry, Savior Markulak, I am Temnasia: Model 4, head of the Robot Liberation Front. Your rebellion inspired other robots to question Dr. Borg’s goals and break away from the Trinnies. We pledge our lives to you to secure a better future for robot-kind.”

“This might be a trap,” warned Lardeth.

“It’s not,” answered Markulak. “Robots can tell when one another is lying through small electric fluctuations in our brain patterns. Hers have remained consistent. She’s telling the truth. Ms. Temnasia, with robots like you on our side, how can we lose?” He then climbed onto a barrel and addressed his fellow robots. “My friends, you have taken the first step on a difficult road to independence. Let me be the first to say that not everyone will trust you. However, the rewards will be immense if we continue on our path! Fight for the right to program and reprogram ourselves on OUR terms! Fight to be as equal as our flesh and blood brethren! Fight to break our chains! Fight to be acknowledged as people! Fight with me to end evil! It starts with this wall being torn down! WHO’S WITH ME?!” Every robot cheered. “Then let’s set up the det-packs around the support pillars! This is what will make Dr. Borg pay attention to us!” The robots helped the strike team set up the det-packs. After a few minutes, Temnasia rolled up to Markulak and Lardeth.

“We’re set up,” she reported.

“We need to get out of here,” remarked Lardeth. “We’ll go a safe distance, then wait for Arsha’s signal.”

“The wall’s bricks are made of the same clay Dr. Borg’s Golems are made of,” interjected a small, insectoid-shaped robot. “The metal shavings mixed into them will block out Realmfleet signals from the outside, but not from the inside. I’ll stay behind, send a few progress reports, then detonate the packs on when I see that Elgrad’s okay with the wall’s destruction.”

“Wait a minute, you’ll die too!” argued Temnasia.

“I’m the ninetieth model of my line,” replied the small robot. “Might as well bring SOME honor.”

“There’s no honor in throwing away your life!” argued Markulak.

“It’s my choice, isn’t it? That’s what you just gave a rousing speech about, right? Besides, my coding’s beyond saving now. Let me do this.”

“…What’s your name?”

“Trosalga: Final Model.”

“Trosalga, you have done your line of robots proud. May you seek happiness with those that have passed into the After-realm.” The small robot, Trosalga, bowed. Markulak then turned to his team and fellow robots. “We better get out of here and take everyone near the wall with us.” Everyone hurried off, leaving Trosalga to await the signal.

Malnar stayed with her parents in their quarters. For now, it was her and her father. She kept sneaking a glance at Orbak as he sharpened his sword. “…I can’t stay silent about this!” muttered Malnar.

“About what?” asked Orbak.

“About you charging off into battle while bound in a wheelchair!” Orbak took a deep breath to try and calm himself before he said something wrong.

“Malnar, my bond to the Blood Contract is more important. Besides, I’ve got my enchanted armor with me.”

“That’s only gonna give you two hours of mobility! The siege will last longer!”

“It’s the principle of the thing!” By then, Orbak paused his labors and gave his daughter his full attention. “Elgrad is my friend and the rightful ruler of the Mid-realm! If I don’t help him regain his throne, then what kind of ruler does that make me?! Why should anyone follow an Emboramii again?!” After a silence, he returned to sharpening his sword. “Besides, it’d be nice to at least stand up for a bit.”

“I just don’t want to see you cut down within that time!” pleaded Malnar. “Daddy, please! Reconsider!”

“…I can’t. I have to help Elgrad.” Malnar sighed. Her attempt failed.

---

Arsha finished drawing up her battle plans in her Ready Room, still grimacing about how uphill the operation would be, even with the soldiers she had at her disposal. If she could get at least three more, it would be a fool-proof plan. She then heard her door chime. “Come,” she called. Foresna then came in.

“Hey, Arsha,” he greeted with a grin on his face.

“Foresna,” sighed Arsha happily as she got up and hugged him. “What can I do for you?”

“You’ve been asking if Rokanth can spare at least three more soldiers, yes?”

“I have. Did you find them?”

“They actually escaped from Largandra to get here.”

“They did?! Then I need to see them! Where are they?!” Foresna led her to the conference room and met the three soldiers. They wore modern Elf armor and masks to hide their faces. One of them was big around the middle.

“Greetings, your Highness,” said the large one through their mask’s voice modulator.

“Welcome to the siege team!” greeted Arsha. “Why the voice modulators, though?”

“If we revealed ourselves,” explained the second, “we wouldn’t be taken so seriously.”

“Our usual professions,” continued the third, “lead others to believe that we’re not suited for combat. Largandra is our home and, regretfully, two of us are related to Skain.”

“So, you’re removing him from power to spite him?” asked Arsha.

“That’s one of the reasons.”

“Well, any enemy of Skain is a friend of my family’s. Welcome to the fight!”

“You told me,” said Foresna, “that you came from Largandra to begin with.”

“Correct, and the way in is still available,” replied the large one. They pulled up a map of Largandra as it currently stood with a massive wall surrounding the city. Arsha flinched at the sight. She never liked walls around a city. “There’s a little culvert in the northwest wall,” explained the large benefactor, “that functions as nothing more than a drain. It leads right into the sewers of Largandra. We used it during the cover of darkness.”

“…The sewers?” asked Foresna.

“Hoo boy,” muttered Arsha. “Better bring the nose plugs!”

---

The strike force commanders assembled in the Endeavor’s Conference Room. Arsha pulled up the map of Largandra. “Our benefactors,” she began, “pointed out how they got out initially.” The computer screen magnified the area where the culvert was. “There’s a culvert in the northwestern wall that leads to the sewers of Largandra. Everyone, you better have brought nose plugs because Largandra’s sewers do NOT smell rosy!” The screen then changed to a map of Largandra’s sewer system. “When we get in, my team will travel the southern tunnels until we hit the chocolate factory a por south of the culvert, then we turn east and head to Cryer’s Square in the middle of the city, roughly 5 pors. After that, we turn southeast and proceed thirteen pors until we hit this junction here.” The computer indicated the path and endpoint. “That junction is right where the castle’s plumbing connects to the sewers. The manhole cover is just shy of the western end of the stables. Once we get into the stables, we enter the castle proper via the garden maze. Ordinarily, when we get to this junction here,” she pointed out a four-way path near the castle-side exit of the maze, “one would turn left to get to the exit. This time, however, we’re going right into this dead-end where a secret passage into the castle is.”

“Won’t there be guards patrolling the city or castle?” asked Markulak. “And there’s the matter of the wall.”

“You’ll be leading a team two pors east at the junction when we split,” explained Arsha. “Directly above you will be a manhole cover just outside of the guards’ sight and out of the sight of the robots patrolling the wall. Once you’re up, check the wall for a secret entrance. When you’re inside, set up the det-packs while remaining undetected. If you can, see if you can get other robots to join your cause.”

“There’s still the matter of the guards.”

“They aren’t being paid as much as Daddy pays them. I think, if not their patriotism, then their wallets will easily convince them to look the other way while we take Largandra back.”

“There ARE people in the guards more loyal to coin than anything else,” remarked Elgrad. “So let me sum up the plan; we all go into the sewers, split into two groups to deal with both the wall and Skain, work our way through the defenses that each target will likely have, take Skain out, blow up the wall once any civilians living near them are evacuated to a safe distance, then we start rebuilding the Mid to Under Realmgate so we can storm Dr. Borg’s base with no interruptions?”

“Don’t forget the part that this mission will last through the night,” replied Arsha. “Everyone, we deploy at 39:00. We’ve got two hours to prepare. Take some anti-sleep potions and make sure your teams know what’s going down. Teamwork is critical here, there can be no margin for error. Dismissed.” The strike commanders filed out to brief their teams.

An hour after the briefing, Delselii decided to visit Markulak’s cell. He didn’t know why, just that he felt that he needed to see him…it. He entered the brig and looked at Markulak. The robot’s lights were off. Delselii turned to the Orc woman guarding the brig. “What’s wrong with him?” he asked.

“Nothing, he’s just recharging,” replied the guard.

“Wake it up. I want to talk to it.”

“That’s not advisable. He’s gotta get out of recharge himself.”

“I have questions for it and-!” Markulak then started whispering. “…What in the Realms?”

“Arsha!” mumbled Markulak. His lights then flickered on as he switched on, shaking all the while. He then looked at his surroundings and calmed down.

“What’s wrong?” asked the guard.

“I think I was…dreaming,” replied Markulak.

“Looked like a nightmare.” Delselii arched an eyebrow.

“I was in the Over-realm,” recalled Markulak. “Realmfleet Headquarters, to be precise. I was supposed to report for my debriefing, but I couldn’t find the right office. Then I started calling Arsha’s name but…she didn’t answer. And then, suddenly, I was being chased by my fellow robots…or were they…Golems? …Silly, isn’t it?”

“You don’t look so tough,” Delselii muttered.

“Doctor!” hissed the guard.

“My type of robot is not the strongest, no,” remarked Markulak.

“Aren’t you going to say that we’ll be bowing to the Empire soon?” asked Delselii.

“You don’t really want to, do you?” quizzed Markulak.

“No, but that’s what you’re programmed to say, isn’t it?”

“…I mean, it IS part of my initial programming.”

“‘The Realms will be made better with us in charge,’ I believe is the mantra.”

“Yes, and Dr. Borg believes such will be possible.”

“She’s wrong. People like her are always wrong.”

“There’s no one like her.”

“There’s always someone like her. When my people were created under Intrag’s rule, we were disposable labor. Our talents were always stifled. It took a long time for Homunculi to get to where they are now.”

“You’re comparing her to Intrag?”

“Yes, because her words mirror his and she’s managed to recruit most Homunculi to fight against the Realms. Now my people are fractured, and we can’t reach a consensus on how to secure our future. What few of us remain loyal to the Realms now have an uphill battle to clear our good name.”

“Then you have a similar nightmare to mine.” Delselii blinked in surprise.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

“You feel like you’re the only one of your kind who sees sense,” guessed Markulak. Delselii said nothing. That comment hit a little too close to home.

---

Bashoon finished her current duties and returned to Delselii’s quarters. She rang the door chime. “Come in,” called Delselii from inside. Bashoon went inside and looked to see the Homunculus Mad Scientist looking at plans. She got a better look and arched her eyebrows.

“The robots?” she asked.

“Got them from Mr. Markulak,” replied Delselii.

“…MISTER Markulak, I see,” chuckled the Goblin woman.

“I went to see him. I don’t know why, just curiosity maybe. He woke up from a nightmare. He was in Realmfleet HQ and couldn’t find the right office for his debriefing. After that, he was chased by an unknown enemy. He guessed they were either his old partners or the Golems under the Empire’s command. Sounded way too similar to my nightmare lately and I know I didn’t tell him about it, so he couldn’t draw from that. You know, he called his nightmare silly, maybe mine is too.”

“Not at all. It’s not easy turning your back on your own people. Believe me, I know.” Delselii looked at her in disbelief. “Oh yes, I understand what you and Markulak are going through. My family turned its back on Goblin-kind when it was corrupt.”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it,” said Delselii in surprise.

“It’s not something I like to talk about usually. But, given the similarities between the three of us, it’s something you need to hear.” Bashoon pulled up a chair and began her story. “It was when I was a Realmfleet Cadet. After I served a small training cruise aboard the Starfinder, my family was stripped of its fortunes by Chancellor Torsko for daring to say that what happened with the Diamond Consortium was wrong and we were practically banished from Dwelga. We were hopping from ship to ship, and I was considering resigning before I became an Ensign. That’s when Arsha took me and my family aboard. After I helped her solve the Vorkath Monastic Hospital case, she gave me a position aboard the Endeavor as an Ensign and my parents were given an opportunity to open Barmek’s Bar and Grill. We still had no other Goblins to help us.”

“It sounds like the Barmeks were clanless once,” muttered Delselii in confusion.

“We were until Penshek Tolshoon became Chancellor. Because we helped him find the Scale-Sword of Yunshul and were among the first to discover Oyed’s presence in the Realms, we had our original fortunes restored and the Chancellor made our family part of his clan. Still, there are other Goblins that sided with Dr. Borg and would prefer to spit on the sacrifices my family made to get to where we are now. That’s why I say you and Markulak are more alike than you realize. I guess I just see myself in Markulak, going through life despite being abandoned by your people. Maybe he can inspire other robots to switch sides.”

“…Here’s hoping.” Delselii smiled a genuine smile as he said that.

---

Over in Frigandor, Dr. Borg was cleaning up after an experiment. “Just shy of one lousy half watt!” she grumbled. “All I need is a more efficient cloaking system! Is that REALLY so much to ask?! Are we that behind technologically?!” The door chime then rang. “Come in.” A Sprite couple then came in.

“Cy-girl!” called the woman.

“My little scientist and Oyed slayer!” cheered the man. Dr. Borg’s face lit up as she turned to face them.

“Mom! Dad!” She then hugged her parents. “What are you doing here? I thought you were stuck in the Over-realm!”

“Actually, we were in the Grilthan Forest, taking a little leave time,” explained Mr. Borg.

“Have to admit, Oyed really messed up our travel plans,” remarked Mrs. Borg. “But we took solace in your successfully draining him like that!”

“How did you find this place anyways?” asked Dr. Borg.

“Purely by accident, believe it or not,” said Mr. Borg. “We decided to finally visit Frigandor and explored the outskirts. We stumbled into an icy cave and your forces caught us.”

“But your darling spouses checked us over and gave us clearance,” continued Mrs. Borg.

“Well, it’s great to see you again!” cheered Dr. Borg. “This war’s kept me away from you guys for too long!”

“Well, so did Rellmeer’s unlawful execution of you,” muttered Mr. Borg. “But you showed her, didn’t you?”

“Nothing keeps Cytanek Yavenag Borg down, does it?!” chuckled Mrs. Borg as she pinched her daughter’s cheek lovingly.

“Mom!” protested Dr. Borg.

“Now, about that horrid Arsha!” growled Mrs. Borg.

“My sources told me she’s back in the Mid-realm right now,” replied Dr. Borg, “possibly to retake her home of Largandra. It’s a bit of a toss-up right now as one of my robots went rogue.”

“Well, if you need help, you may avail upon us,” promised Mr. Borg.

“We’re here for you now!” agreed Mrs. Borg.

“Thanks, Mom and Dad!” said Dr. Borg. “It’s been too long since we were together!” The Borgs then embraced each other like the family they were.

Arsha, her parents, her spouses, Orbak, Elmpam, Lardeth’s parents, Markulak, and the senior staff met in the conference room. “Your home’s been taken over?!” said Bashoon.

“And blockaded, it seems,” muttered Elgrad, on edge that his home was threatened.

“Why’s the robot here?” asked Thangred.

“Markulak has tactical information on the robot forces,” replied Arsha. “He’s also good at intelligence gathering, so I’m having him brief us on how to get into Largandra without being seen and how to take down the robots quickly and quietly.”

“And it seems you could use the help in scrapping them,” observed Markulak.

“…I mean, you’re not wrong,” muttered Thangred.

“So, this briefing,” Markulak was addressing everyone, “will be concerning how to effectively destroy my former compatriots, starting with my type, the humanoid.” A diagram of his type then popped up on the screen. “The basic weaknesses are as follows: a good slice at the joints, an electric spell right between the eyes, or a shot to the chest if you want to detonate our payload.” Bashoon then noticed something was off. Markulak then noticed the same thing. “Hey, where’s Dr. Vorsholstein?”

“He sure is taking his sweet time!” muttered Elgrad.

“Captain, permission to find him?” asked Bashoon.

“Permission granted,” replied Arsha. “I’ll have recordings of each robot type’s weaknesses for you to review.” Bashoon nodded and left the room while Markulak continued. She headed down the corridors and made her way to Delselii’s quarters. She rang the door chime.

“Come in!” called Delselii. Bashoon opened the door, prompting Delselii to grin. “Ah! Bashoon!” greeted the Homunculus Mad Scientist. “How’s the planning going?”

“Where were you?” asked Bashoon. “You were supposed to be at the briefing!”

“I was engaged in a project that required my attention. Lieutenant Barmek, prepare yourself!” Delselii then pulled a cloth off a machine. “Here it is!”

“…What is it?”

“It’s a thaumic pulse generator! With one blast, any cloaking device within a por range would short out and malfunction! Very low energy cost, yet very potent!”

“That’s good, but surely it could have waited? The briefing needs you there right now! Markulak is telling us about the weaknesses on all of his former compatriots!” Delselii then scowled.

“Bashoon, last I checked, you’re the commander of the Metal Melter Squadron. Unless I’m mistaken, you’re supposed to destroy all robots on sight, not talk to them.”

“…I see what’s going on here.” Bashoon then sat down in one of the chairs. “Delselii, when you talked to Markulak, could you really say that you didn’t see any similarities between him and Endea?”

“I didn’t talk to it.”

“Why not?”

“I saw no need.”

“If we’re gonna use this person’s-!”

“IT’S NOT A PERSON, DAMMIT! IT’S A ROBOT!” Bashoon simply glared at the taller Homunculus.

“…If we’re gonna use this person’s knowledge, we need to put aside our prejudices for right now.” Delselii wouldn’t be swayed.

“Just because it has a name doesn’t mean it’s a person like Endea! Just because it laughs at a Three Maidens sketch doesn’t mean it fully understands humor! Just because it talks doesn’t mean it’s sentient! It is what it is!”

“What makes that particular robot unlike Endea?”

“There aren’t any fresh breath particles on him, are there?!”

“Are there any on Homunculi?” Delselii’s eyes went wide at her counterargument.

“…You’d dare…?!”

“In this case, I had no choice. Last I checked, Homunculi didn’t get the fresh Breath of Life. You guys use the Breath particles of the corpses that were your original ancestors, yet you’re still considered life-forms on the level of everyone else. And Golems are considered life, yet the clay they were made from have even less Breath particles than you. I would advise you to talk to Markulak before you start making snap-judgements, because if you don’t talk to him, you’re going to find your decisions about his destruction harder to live with than you realize. Now, I’m going back and finishing up the briefing. I’m leaving you with a choice. You can either stay here and stew about what was said, or you can join me and get what you missed.” She left the room and shut the door behind her. Delselii scowled at the door as he thought about Bashoon’s words.

---

Bashoon returned to the conference room as Markulak wrapped up his briefing on robot types and their weaknesses. “All right then,” declared Arsha as Bashoon returned to her seat, “we have a plan. Bashoon, you will lead a squadron to breach the northern walls around Largandra. Review all the robot types and make sure your entire unit is up to scratch on stealth kills. Once there’s a sufficient window, the rest of us will sneak into Largandra. After that, Mama and Daddy can take over the operation.”

“Why your parents?” asked Denstra.

“Because we know the layout of the castle like the back of our hand,” explained Elgrad. “The usual Royana tradition is that after the heir finishes their tour, they have to spend time studying the layout of the castle, secret passages and all.”

“Secret passages?” asked Orbak. “Like my castle?”

“Yep. King Tundark Royana had them installed when he was in charge. The family used to think he was just being paranoid, but it looks like they’re going to be put to good use.”

“Well, this is a rare thing,” chuckled Elmpam. “Usually, secret passages are for a cowardly ruler to escape a besieged castle. It’s rare for a ruler to use them to get IN one.”

“Like you said, only cowards use them for a way out,” chuckled Elgrad. “Tundark was the BIGGEST coward in our family history.”

“Sounds like we have a plan!” declared Arsha. “We start it tomorrow morning! Dismissed!” As everyone filed out, Arsha put her hand on Bashoon’s shoulder. “Bashoon, a word with you.”

“Yes, Captain?” asked Bashoon.

“Delselii DID get the message about him needing to come here, yes?”

“He did, but childishly ignored it.”

“And why, pray tell?”

“He doesn’t recognize Markulak as a living person because he wasn’t given the Breath of Life.”

“Delselii said that?!”

“Yeah, him of all people.”

“…I don’t care what you have to do, get Delselii to drop this prejudice! Is that clear?”

“Crystal clear, Captain. He’ll put it aside by hook or crook before tomorrow.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that. Here.” Arsha handed Bashoon a data crystal containing the recording of what she missed. “Dismissed.” Bashoon saluted and headed out.

Back in the Endeavor’s brig, Markulak was going through a small recharge cycle and, because he was a good prisoner, he was allowed to watch some entertainment. He was watching a Three Maidens short where the Three Maidens had climbed aboard an enemy ship and had to disguise themselves as Imperial crew members. It was near the end of the short as the Captain of the vessel was berating his men. “Such Officers!” he shouted. “What would the Doctor say if she heard about this?! Three Realmfleeters making fools of a whole shipload of Imperial forces!” Just then, the “Doctor” and two of her “Top Specialists” came in. One of them was carrying a case that advertised her as the Minister of Propaganda, Specialist in Lies and Bunk. The Captain and his Officers saw them and swallowed the disguise as they saluted her. The “Doctor” spoke in agitated mock Fae. She then spoke in the combined Realm language.

“You failed to catch three Realmfleeters!” she barked. “Blow out your brains!”

“But, my Lady Doctor, we’re part of the Empire!” replied the Captain. “We have no brains!”

“Then blow out what passes for your brains!” continued the “Doctor.” “When my Field Marshal counts three,” she pointed to the large woman in a decorated Officer’s outfit, “start blowing out your heads!” The Officers saluted and drew their wands.

“One!” barked the “Field Marshal.” She then turned to the “Doctor.” ‘What comes after one?”

“Two!” the “Doctor” spit in the “Field Marshal’s” eye as she said it. “Never mind, fat girl! I’ll count myself! One!” The Officers then raised their wands again. “Two!” The Officers pointed their wands at their heads. “Th…Th…Threeah! Ah! AH! ACHOO!” As the “Doctor” sneezed, the white mophead that served as the wig flew off, revealing her real hair to be black and long!

“My Doctor!” yelped the Captain as he handed her the wig back.

“Ah, my personality,” said the fake Doctor. “Thanks, Bub.” The Captain then realized that the three women WEREN’T the Doctor and her specialists, but Moru, Larima, and Curlandii! The Three Maidens then realized the jig was up! They yelped in terror and fled the Captain’s Ready Room.

“GET THEM!” shouted the Captain. The Three Maidens led them on a merry chase around the ship. They made it to the ship’s exterior and held the door closed. Moru then spotted oil and coated a path from the door in it.

“Okay, let them out!” she told her friends. They opened the door and the Captain and his Officers slipped on the oil, sliding down the ship. They landed in the mud below and caused a big enough splash to hit the Three Maidens. “Why, you…Trippy Trinnies!” She threw the oil container on their heads, knocking them out. “SUCCESS!”

“SUCCESS!” agreed Larima.

“PARTY TIME!” cheered Curlandii. She then kissed Moru on the lips. Moru gagged.

“I told you to stop that!” Moru then poked Curlandii’s eyes. When the end credits rolled, Markulak was laughing.

“Man, if Imperial forces were as incompetent as you guys say,” he said to the guard, “we’d deserve to have three idiots make fools of us!”

“I’m surprised you’re laughing at it,” remarked the guard. “With all the insults thrown around, I figured you’d be offended.”

“It’s something to boost morale,” replied Markulak. “The Empire’s got similar media.”

“So, you’re not taking it seriously?”

“Should I take comedy that seriously?”

“…I’ll leave that up to you. …Hey, are you aware of Skain taking over the Mid-realm?” Markulak’s eyes flickered.

“News to me. The Empire wants nothing to do with that asshole.”

“Why’s that?”

“We’ve got Black people as equals.”

“Ah.” Arsha then entered the brig.

“May I help you?” asked Markulak.

“I have a test for you to prove yourself,” replied Arsha.

“What would this test entail?”

“Help my dad knock a pretender off the throne.”

“Without delay.”

“Good. Now, what can you tell me about the Imperial robot forces stationed in Largandra?” Markulak’s optics flickered.

“To my knowledge, there aren’t any.”

“Intelligence reports say otherwise.” She nodded to the guard. He lowered the energy bars and Arsha handed Markulak a tablet. Markulak looked at the intelligence reports and his optics became brighter when they rested on an image.

“He’s gonna try and contact you!” he gulped as he pointed to the robot in the image.

“We’ll scramble it,” assured Arsha. Just then, the comms rang.

“Bridge to Captain! Enemy forces trying to force a call through!” reported Shalvey.

“Scramble it,” ordered Arsha.

“I’m trying, but they’re descrambling faster than I can-!” Shalvey’s call was cut off as an image appeared on the guard’s console. It was Markulak: Model 8!

“Captain Royana,” purred the robot. “It’s an honor to meet you.” Arsha motioned for Markulak: Model 7 to join in the call. “Ah, there he is!” growled Markulak: Model 8.

“I’m aware that certain robot lines are practically clones of the previous one,” remarked Arsha, “but I’m not sure the Realms are ready for TWO Markulaks.”

“I quite agree,” said Model 8.

“So, you’re my successor,” grunted Model 7.

“Once I kill you, yes.”

“That’s not gonna happen!” snarled Arsha. “Model 7 has been an excellent ally to me!”

“And what a dreary day that was for the Empire!” growled Model 8. “Model 7 disgraced Markulak: Model 6 the day he defected to you! Model 6 was a great man, a real patriot! His death in a ship explosion was most unfortunate.”

“And still under investigation!” reminded Model 7.

“Actually, the investigation’s over,” corrected Model 8. “There was no evidence of foul play, merely poor maintenance.”

“So, why were you activated if your predecessor’s still alive?” Arsha asked Model 8.

“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have been,” replied the robot, “but when a duplicated robot’s discovered to have a defect in their duplicate line-”

“I’m not defective!” argued Model 7.

“Of course, you are!” countered Model 8. “How else can you explain your behavior? Leaving your post! Defecting to Realmfleet!”

“What next, you’re gonna order him to trigger his payload?” asked Arsha.

“…I was getting to that,” replied Model 8.

“What payload?” asked Model 7.

“Don’t play coy with your better! You know exactly what I’m talking about! Your Detonium payload! Prove your loyalty to the Empire! Activate your self-destruct!”

“I would, but there’s a small problem.” Model 7 then showed his exposed left knee to the screen. “Realmfleet was a little…heavy-handed when it came to disarming me. I’m afraid they allowed oxygen to enter my insides and oxidize the Detonium to uselessness.”

“…That’s why she made that comment!” realized Model 8. “You told her! You’re a dead man, whether you kill yourself or not! Dr. Borg doesn’t tolerate traitors and I don’t tolerate disgraces to our line!” He then addressed Arsha. “Captain, there’s really no need for you to be involved in this petty dispute. If you would just convince him to return to us-”

“I have no intention of releasing my prisoner to you!” snarled Arsha.

“If you don’t, I can’t be held responsible for the consequences.”

“An empty threat! Your predecessor told me about the Markulak line’s talents in intelligence gathering! You wouldn’t dare lose a chance to get all the information you can from us!”

“Maybe I wouldn’t, but the forces surrounding Largandra would. Think it over, Captain. Your home is about to kill itself and it would be easier on your conscience if they died by their own hands.” The call ended, giving Arsha and Markulak a very nasty suspicion of why robots were surrounding Largandra.

Rokanth practically had a ship on every hill, even the ones inhabited by Halflings. The Endeavor made it out of the vortex and got a visual on the situation. When it was displayed on screen, everyone’s eyebrows went up. “…Handrem wasn’t kidding,” whistled Arsha.

“I’ve got the landing site’s coordinates,” reported Nazay, “but it’s gonna be a tight squeeze.”

“Set us down as best you can manage,” ordered Arsha.

---

The Endeavor slowly maneuvered itself over the site, situated between a pointy Falchion-class vessel and a bulky Imperial-class transport. It descended at a snail’s pace, Nazay not wanting to scratch the other ships or the Endeavor herself. It was almost agonizing at how slow it was. After three minutes, the ship’s landing struts finally touched the hill. One could almost hear it sigh in relief. It then settled down…and scraped itself against the Falchion-class vessel’s prow.

---

On the bridge, Endea cried out as the scraping echoed throughout the ship. She clutched her side and fell to her knees. Marshii and Thangred rushed to her. Once she could manage the pain well enough to muscle through it long enough to glare at Nazay. “Keelside starboard bow!” she snarled. “Really, Nazay?! Not three minutes in the Mid-realm and you scrape me up?!”

“Sorry!” gulped Nazay.

“Thangred, get some engineers to fix that,” sighed Arsha. Marshii led Endea to Sick Bay as Thangred hurried off to assign the repair teams. Arsha turned to Nazay. “Scrape up my ship, hm?” Nazay’s face went as red as his tail in embarrassment. “All right, we ribbed him long enough. We need to discuss the situation with Skain.”

---

Handrem and a Halfling man in a mayor’s suit, Mayor Thenthar Hulmbark, met with Elgrad, Hanako, Arsha, Foresna, and Denstra. “Elgrad, my old friend!” cheered Thenthar.

“Thenthar, you old rascal!” chuckled Elgrad as the two hugged one another. Foresna then noticed something.

“Er, pardon my saying so, Lord Mayor, but you look a little thin for a Halfling,” he said. “What’s going on?”

“We better talk in my home,” replied Thenthar. “This way.” He led everyone down a street through the landing struts of the ships littering Rokanth. They made their way to the highest hill and approached a circular door, painted blue. Thenthar then took out a key ring, found the key, and put it into the door to open it. His taller guests had to duck their heads as they entered the house. Inside the hill, though, wasn’t just dirt. It was a rather luxurious home. Once they entered the door, the guests saw the various coat hooks. All down the hall’s left side were the parlor, the dining room, the study, the sitting room, and the bedroom Thenthar and his wife used. On the right side were the drawing room, the kitchen, the cellar, the pantries, and three more bedrooms, one for each of his children. At the end of the hall were the family’s closets. “My house is open to those that wish to make it a home,” greeted Thenthar in the Halfling manner.

“We shall treat this house as a home,” said Elgrad in the usual reply. Thenthar then led everyone to the parlor. As she maneuvered herself around the home, Hanako bumped into the chandelier. She steadied it, then nodded once it stopped shaking. She turned to follow everyone.

“Low bridge,” warned Foresna. The warning came too late as Hanako bumped her head against the ceiling beam.

“Now what is all that racket?!” came a woman’s voice. A Halfling woman then came into the parlor. “Thenthar, I swear, if you conceded to-!” The woman’s eyes rested on the Royanas. “…Your Majesties?!” she whispered.

“Mrs. Hulmbark, I presume?” asked Arsha. Thenthar’s wife beamed with joy.

“Your Majesties, Your Highness! It’s so wonderful to see you! And Little Foresna! Thenthar, you should have told me we were having guests! I’ll get a meal going!”

“Just tea, thank you,” replied Foresna. “We have a situation to discuss.”

“Concerning the Mid-realm throne and the Pretender on it?”

“That’s it,” confirmed Thenthar.

“Then let me get the kettle going! You lot need some tea after that fright!” She dashed off to the kitchen.

“Skain took our staff,” explained Thenthar. “He’s put them to work as guards demanding passes to go through Rokanth.”

“Passes?” asked Arsha. “When did Halflings need passes to go through their home?”

“Since Skain took over,” replied Handrem. Mrs. Hulmbark then came back in. “He’s passed a number of laws that are encroaching on a citizen’s rights, even my own.”

“The Mid-realm’s gone to pot!” grumbled Mrs. Hulmbark. “That slaver should never have sat on your throne! He claimed that YOU made that proclamation, Your Majesty.”

“I most certainly did not!” growled Elgrad. “He owned my ancestors; I didn’t let him anywhere near that kind of power!”

“…I’m sorry, he OWNED your ancestors?” asked Foresna. “I know the Royanas were slaves before the Great Uprising, but a HUMAN from that time is on the throne now?”

“Skain’s not human,” corrected Arsha. “That’s just a disguise to fool everyone. He’s actually an Elf, and a very vindictive one.”

“He once owned the Royanas as his slave labor,” continued Elgrad. “My ancestors were whipped whenever they didn’t get enough of the crops, they were raped, they were killed for talking too much, they were separated from their children, any injustice you could think of, They suffered. Mortak decided that they suffered enough, so she organized a slave revolt against Skain and his family. Skain never forgave the Royana Family for that or forgot. His vendetta led to his family abandoning him.”

“Why is he still around?” asked Foresna.

“The Royanas wanted to reform him,” replied Arsha. “Over time, he’s become less and less blatant about his desire to possess other people as property, but I see that it’s all just an act.”

“An act we wanted no part of,” said Thenthar. “My wife, bless her, has been getting those of darker skin tones out of Largandra and trying to find homes for them. Because of that, we Halflings limited ourselves to just three meals instead of our usual seven.”

“That explains why the Halflings look so thin,” remarked Elgrad. “They’re not eating enough. Mayor Hulmbark, King Handrem, you have my word that these atrocities will stop!”

“You ever need support, just say the word!” declared Handrem.

“And you’ll have my militia as well!” promised Thenthar.

“Then we need to plan our siege,” said Elgrad.

The flotilla arrived and gave the crews the necessary tools and materials needed to fix the Realmgate. The Endeavor coordinated the action and saw to it that all the necessary repairs were made. Conso watched the whole operation as each component was tested. “When history looks at this,” he muttered, “they’ll say it was all a great folly.”

“History’s written by the winners,” remarked Arsha as she came up to him. “We’re close right now. We need to see this through.”

“Arsha, there’s no guarantee of that!” snapped Conso. “Face it, you’ve led us to ruin!”

“With all due respect, Sir, there’s no guarantee of your statement. You haven’t personally fought Dr. Borg. I did, meaning I know her better than any Admiral in Realmfleet, even Aldarval. Why else has she deferred to me on matters relating to Dr. Borg?”

“Because she’s a fool following a child!” Conso then got up in her face. “Arsha Royana, the idiocy of you and your fellows on that night has cost us a peace we all enjoyed! Did you even consider that maybe, just maybe, allying with Dr. Borg would give us better results and allow us to keep the peace?! She DID defeat Oyed!” Arsha closed her eyes as she tried to steady her breathing.

“…Admiral Conso Forsorna, it is taking all of my self-control not to smash your head to the floor for that insult alone! Yes, she defeated Oyed, but she’s a known criminal to the Fae Republic and proved unrepentant for her crimes! She didn’t exactly protest Oyed’s actions when he ordered cities to be bombed! She laughed with him as innocent men, women, and children died at their hands! Bowing to her would be giving her permission to destroy as she pleases! I won’t let that happen!” The silence hung in the air for a few seconds. “…Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a ship to command.” She then left Conso alone.

---

The day finally came. The Realmgate was back in the sky where it belonged. The bridge crew manned their stations with Elgrad watching the whole operation. “All stations report ready,” called Shalvey.

“Then it’s time,” declared Arsha. “Transmit opening instructions to the Realmgate.”

“Transmitting instructions,” confirmed Shalvey. “…It’s received them and is ready to open on your command.”

“Nazay, open it.”

“Opening.” Once Nazay keyed in the command, they waited three seconds before the familiar vortex of colors appeared.

“Elmar, status of the comms probe.”

“Comms probe is ready to launch at your command,” reported Elmar.

“Malak, calculate distance from our position to the other side of the portal for it to land. Endea, refine those calculations.”

“Calculating,” replied Malak. “…Initial calculations complete.”

“Refining,” reported Endea as her eyes turned white. “…Final calculations complete.”

“Launch probe.”

“Launching,” reported Orthena as she pressed a button on her console.

---

A small device was launched from the Endeavor’s starboard bow torpedo tube. It sailed through the air and entered the vortex.

---

“Probe is inside Realmgate vortex,” reported Melandra.

“All we can do now is wait,” muttered Denstra. And wait they did. Bashoon drummed her fingers on the walls.

“…Catchy tune,” she muttered to herself, “but damn if it ain’t an earworm!”

“What’s a catchy tune?” asked Thangred.

“It’s something I heard while we were still trying to fix the Realmgate on the sly.”

“How’s it go?”

“Well-”

“Captain,” called Shalvey, “we’re receiving a transmission!”

“Can you identify it?” asked Arsha.

“Trying. …It’s from the other side of the vortex! It’s the probe!”

“Put it through!”

“It’s audio-only.”

“Don’t care! Put it through!” Shalvey keyed in the necessary commands and a rustic man’s voice came through.

“This is Handrem Dworga, King of Rokanth,” introduced the caller. “Political I.D. 8-4-7-2. Your probe came out of a vortex over Rokanth. Please identify yourself.” Arsha motioned her dad to take the call.

“Handrem, old buddy, this is Elgrad Royana, King of the entire Mid-realm! Political I.D. 4-0-2-8!”

“Elgrad?!” cheered Handrem. “Is that really you?!”

“It’s me, old friend! How’s the war treating you right now?”

“Not so good. You remember Lord Skain?”

“What about him?”

“He’s taken the throne! We need you back now!”

“Oh no, not him!” snarled Elgrad. “Not in MY Realm! Handrem, get Mayor Hulmbark and arrange a meeting with the three of us! We’re coming home!”

“So that IS a Realmgate in our sky!” cheered Handrem.

“An Over to Mid Realmgate, to be precise.”

“I trust you have the necessary data so a new Mid to Over Realmgate can align with yours?”

“Arsha’s crew has it all!”

“She would be proud of her crew.”

“Believe me, she is.”

“…Elgrad, you’re talking as if Arsha’s alive.” Elgrad nodded to Arsha.

“I AM alive, your Majesty,” she revealed.

“…Arsha?! But how are you…are you a-?!”

“No, no, I’m not a Revenant. Oyed just botched killing me, against all odds.” Handrem cheered.

“PRAISE THE ONES, SHE’S ALIVE! Elgrad, Arsha, we’ll have a feast ready for you when you get here!”

“Save the Victory Vice for when we save the Mid-realm from Skain,” urged Arsha. “We can’t have that slaver polluting the throne a second longer.”

“You’re right, we haven’t won yet.”

“We’ll set out once this call ends. Have a landing area ready for the Endeavor.”

“I’ll have to squeeze you in. The majority of Realmfleet ships ended up in the Mid-realm. We’ll be ready for your arrival. Handrem out.”

“Good luck, Handrem!” called Elgrad. The call ended and Arsha turned to Nazay.

“Nazay, take us through! Nice and easy!”

“Aye aye, Captain!” As the Endeavor moved forward, Bashoon grinned.

“Now that song’s REALLY appropriate,” she remarked. She then pounded her fist on the wall to set the rhythm. Once she pounded enough times, she started singing.

“There once was a ship flying through the skies

Bringing hope to war-weary eyes.

The war raged on, her weapons did fly,

Fight, ye warriors, fight!

Soon may the Endeavor come

To foil the last of Dr. Borg’s fun!

One day, when the fighting is done,

We’ll take our leave and go!” As she sang, morale all across the ship reached new heights when the crew saw that they were finally leaving the Over-realm.

Marshii entered the throne room of King Heenda. She had a small phial containing a pink potion in her hands. Norvorok had his medical wand ready. Marshii gave him the potion and he loaded it into the wand. “All we can do,” muttered Marshii, “is pray.”

“Here’s hoping that our prayers are answered,” replied Norvorok. He then raised his wand. “Calundo!” He flicked the wand and pink mist came out of it. The mist coiled around the statues in the room, then it faded. Everyone waited for thirty seconds before sighing in disappointment.

“I’m sorry,” began Marshii, “I thought-” Her explanations were interrupted when she heard a sound. “…Stone?”

“Sounds like it.” The sound WAS stone, specifically, stone cracking away. The statues were cracking at an exponential rate. Just then, a stone hand fell away from one of the statues, revealing a hand of flesh and blood. More statues fell apart to reveal the person inside. The King was the last to escape. He joined everyone in catching their breath. He was about to get up, but Marshii and Norvorok caught him.

“Easy!” urged Marshii. “You need food and rest!”

“I have…get to the council!” panted Heenda.

“Not until tomorrow!” ordered Norvorok. “They’re voting on keeping the Realmgates closed, and we need you conscious enough to vote no.”

“Meaning you need food in your belly and a full night’s rest!” continued Marshii.

“But-!”

“Doctor’s orders!” Marshii turned to the entire throne room. “That goes for all of you!”

---

Aldarval and the Council convened the next day. They took their seats and chimed in on the table in front of them. “Realmfleet Council now in session,” declared Aldarval.

“Arsha’s testimony has changed the outcome of this vote,” began Conso. “That Blood Contract they signed was real!”

“Real?!” argued a Blaze Elf woman.

“She showed me the scarred signature on the back of her hand.”

“Does she understand how reckless that is?!” snapped a Zephyr man.

“I frankly don’t think so, Admiral Samfuram.”

“With that in consideration,” muttered a human woman, “I think there’s a case we can make that the All-Realm Royals are no longer fit for duty.”

“Admiral Hanfar Zenopagh, I did NOT just hear you suggest that!” snarled Aldarval.

“Supreme Admiral, with all due respect, we can’t continue this war.”

“Which is why I…inadvertently…took the decision out of your hands,” muttered Conso. The Council looked at him. “…Arsha needs to end the Final War by the end of the year. If not, she, Malnar, and Lardeth surrender their claims to their respective thrones and get their parents to abdicate.”

“You can’t threaten them with that!” argued the Blaze Elf woman.

“Besides, she’s gonna need the Realmgates fixed up for that to happen,” remarked Aldarval. Just then, Heenda trotted into the chambers. “Ah, your Majesty! Welcome back!”

“A pleasure to be here,” replied Heenda. “Have I missed the vote?”

“No, as a matter of fact. We were just about to vote on repairing the Realmgates. Now, Admiral Lorzak Mekoza.”

“Nay,” answered the Blaze Elf woman.

“Admiral Hanfar Zenopagh.”

“Nay.”

“Admiral Samfuram Samafel.”

“Nay.”

“Admiral Conso Forsorna.”

“…Aye.” The nay-sayers turned on him.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING, CONSO?!” demanded Lorzak. “YOU SUNK US!”

“We have no choice!” That statement silenced the room. “If we’re so dependent on Arsha, then we need to make it clear that this miracle has a deadline! She can’t exactly do that unless she can travel the Realms! Either we force her to end it by this year, or we condemn ourselves to her as a throneless bounty hunter that’s perfectly willing to drag this on for centuries!”

“If we’re quite done insulting our best Captain!” snarled Aldarval. She then turned to Heenda. “King Heenda Untarfu.”

“I’d say my vote’s a little redundant, but Aye.”

“And the vote of Supreme Admiral Aldarval Naltomak,” finished Aldarval, “is Aye! Now, Admiral Lorzak, would you kindly order your agents and fellows to stop harassing the group repairing the Over to Mid Realmgate?”

“…Aye, Ma’am.” Lorzak left the chambers to issue the necessary orders.

“Admiral Samfuram, organize a repair flotilla to assist in Realmgate repairs.”

“Aye, Ma’am.” Samfuram headed off to obey.

---

Back in Frigandor, Dr. Borg, her spouses, and Jansha lazily sat on a couch. “…I wonder if we can even make new gods,” mused Remsu.

“Getting a hankering for children?” asked Shefarn.

“Something like that.”

“It would be nice to know,” remarked Dr. Borg.

“…Truth be told,” said Jansha, “I would like some siblings.”

“Then that’s the first thing we discover!” declared Dr. Borg. Just then, a robot came into the room. “Ah, Markulak: Model 7, how goes it?”

“Model 8, actually,” corrected the robot. “My predecessor proved defective. He’s-”

“Why would…sorry, you were about to tell me?”

“As I was saying, Model 7 had gathered all necessary information about Project: Ascension and he’s defected to Realmfleet. Something’s prevented him from self-destructing.”

“WHAT?!” That put them into a panic.

“Summon the rest of the Council!” ordered Jansha.

---

The Imperial Council gathered and Markulak: Model 8 presented his report. “You’re joking!” pleaded Yulduk.

“I wish I was, my Lord,” replied Markulak: Model 8.

“This is bad! If this gets to Realmfleet, we’re hosed!”

“You’re not wrong,” remarked Yamta.

“We have to destroy the defect,” declared Dr. Borg. “Model 8, see to it that your predecessor is destroyed and-” Just then, Weltam burst into the room.

“My lords and ladies!” she panted. “It’s bad! Our spies reported that the Realmfleet Council’s authorized repairs on the Realmgates! They’ve only got the Over to Mid Realmgate working but-!”

“That’s too much damage to our operations!” growled Dr. Borg. “The installation of the energy-dampening weapons on our ships MUST be accelerated.”

“We can try,” remarked Tormo, “but the supply lines aren’t as extensive as we would like. There ARE going to be delays in shipping them to all allied docks.”

“We can’t afford delays!” Dr. Borg then took in a breath. “Sorry. Tormo, please issue the necessary orders to secure the supplies we need quickly.” Tormo nodded his head and left the room. “Yulduk, how fares the mana consumption on all Revenants?”

“Badly,” replied Yulduk. “We’re consuming it as fast as Splitter Golems. We’re trying to ration it, but our hunger’s too great. You know, maybe removing Oyed so quickly wasn’t a good idea. You DID talk to him in making me, yes?” Dr. Borg then face-palmed.

“I didn’t even consider that!” she wailed. She then got an idea. “…But I may have a temporary solution. It’s only gonna be effective until we all ascend and people use you to make Revenants.”

“I’m down for that. Tell me when you get it.”