\u201cI still say this is a bad idea,\u201d muttered Troga as he performed the weapons systems checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour concern is noted,\u201d replied Palmanar in her own craft. Her brother, Rokomar, was pilot while Palmanar manned the weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll checks complete,\u201d reported Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSame here,\u201d called Rokomar. A call then came through to the Shellcrafts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is Arsha,\u201d said the caller. \u201cMy craft is approaching your position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe see it,\u201d remarked Marianes. \u201cJoining now.\u201d The Shellcrafts took off and flanked Arsha. The pilots gave Arsha the necessary course adjustments to the Trelfan Trench on the way. Soon, they passed by a glowing red line on the sea floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the border,\u201d gulped Palmanar. \u201cWe\u2019re in Mega-shark territory now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRecommendations?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust fly casual,\u201d suggested Marianes. They continued onwards, feeling eyes about them. Mega-sharks came out of their homes, their humanoid appearance tall and imposing, just to float in place and glare. Still, the journey continued onwards. Soon, they reached a rather dark place, a large, continent-wide chasm that ran deep. This was the capital of the Mega-sharks, the Trelfan Trench. Mega-sharks in armor swam up to the crafts and surrounded them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re being hailed,\u201d called Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOpen a channel, all of you,\u201d directed Palmanar. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to appear aggressive.\u201d The three pilots complied and a Mega-shark\u2019s deep voice rang throughout the crafts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cForeign craft, you have crossed the border!\u201d he boomed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fully aware of that,\u201d assured Arsha. \u201cAllow me to introduce myself. I am Arsha, Captain of the Endeavor<\/em>. I am here to gather an ingredient for a member of my crew. He is ill and needs the mucus of the clownfish that live here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour crewman\u2019s life means nothing,\u201d growled the Mega-shark. \u201cLeave our territory or we will destroy you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have no choice,\u201d replied Marianes. \u201cYour\u2026superior clownfish are needed to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Well, everything we do and have IS better than anything Realmfleet can dredge up,\u201d mused the Mega-shark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd if you allow us to use the mucus of your clownfish,\u201d continued Arsha, about to throw up at even thinking of her next words, \u201cwe would finally be admitting that YOU are the superior race.\u201d There was a murmur as the Mega-sharks considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026We will take you to the anemone our clownfish dwell in,\u201d rumbled the Mega-shark that spoke to them. Surrounded on all sides, the crafts descended. Rokomar then started rubbing his scalp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs something wrong?\u201d asked Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel\u2026sadness,\u201d replied Rokomar, \u201c\u2026despair, helplessness, hopelessness, \u2026VIOLATION! I can feel their pleasure slaves\u2019 unending torture!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRokomar\u2019s got telepathic and empathic abilities,\u201d explained Palmanar. \u201cWhenever he feels stray emotions, he tries to find the source of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d say he found it,\u201d muttered Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, only the surface problem,\u201d countered Rokomar, \u201cthe rest is muddied by\u2026that doesn\u2019t make sense. The other problems are muddied by millennia of pain!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerhaps they\u2019re descendants of the original slaves?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, they\u2019re reading as the original slaves themselves,\u201d replied Rokomar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMillennia old slaves?\u201d mumbled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHalt!\u201d called the Mega-shark. The crafts and their escort stopped. \u201cWe\u2019re here. We will collect the mucus. You will teleport it into one of your crafts once it is done.\u201d Two Mega-sharks descended to the anemone the clownfish live in and got to work. \u201cHow much do you require?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTwo handfuls,\u201d replied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlenty to spare,\u201d growled the Mega-shark. The process took an hour, but enough mucus was collected. Arsha then lit up a pair or her tails and brought the mucus into her craft. \u201cNow, do you remember the way back to our borders?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe do,\u201d assured Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen leave, and don\u2019t dare to come back or we will not be so lenient next time!\u201d threatened the Mega-shark. The crafts turned around and they sped back to their side of the border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, that went better than I expected for Mega-shark mating season,\u201d sighed Troga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot very hospitable, are they?\u201d muttered Arsha. \u201cI\u2019ll be returning to the Endeavor<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd we\u2019ll head back to base,\u201d replied Palmanar. \u201cI hope Laverda gets better soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope so as well,\u201d sighed Arsha. The Shellcrafts returned to base and Arsha made her way back to the Endeavor<\/em>. She was granted clearance to enter the ship\u2019s launch bay and when she got close enough, the crew on the ship took over the flight controls of the fighter craft. It touched down and the water that entered the launch bay was drained away. After the drying spells were cast, Arsha stepped out and ran to Sick bay. Marshii was standing vigil over Laverda. The medical stasis spell had worn off and Laverda had only an hour left to live. He was in a lot of pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGIMME!\u201d shouted Marshii when she saw the bag of mucus. She got to work making the cure and taking enough to fill the syringe. Laverda had only 10 minutes left when she stuck the needle into his arm. She and Arsha waited five minutes before any physical changes occurred. \u201cVirus cell count is going down,\u201d sighed Marshii. \u201cThe larger heart\u2019s taking over. The larger lungs are switching on. Hearts rate\u2019s reaching normal. He\u2019s gonna make it!\u201d Laverda then groaned and tried to get up. \u201cNo, you don\u2019t!\u201d snapped Marshii as she set him back down, albeit with a little difficulty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoctor, I\u2019m already\u2026!\u201d protested Laverda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou keep arguing with me,\u201d threatened Marshii, \u201cyou\u2019ll be laid up for two weeks! If you cooperate, you\u2019ll be out in four days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell,\u201d sighed Arsha, \u201cI think I\u2019ll return to my station.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter all the stress you went through?!\u201d hissed Marshii. She then pointed to one of the beds. \u201cTHAT\u2019S your station!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoctor, I do believe you enjoy the power you have a little too much,\u201d mused Arsha as she laid on the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed, Captain,\u201d chuckled Laverda. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen her so happy when your father was in command of this ship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShut up!\u201d snapped Marshii. Arsha opened her mouth but was promptly shushed. After a few seconds of silence, Marshii grinned. \u201cWell, how about that? I got the last word with a Royana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After two hours rest, Arsha was cleared. She returned to the base to help Palmanar and Marianes report their findings to Realmfleet. A male Orc Admiral, Rokalla, was on the other end of the call, as was Admiral Rooshee. \u201cYou did WHAT?!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t let Laverda die!\u201d replied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you thought it was a good idea to simply waltz into Mega-shark territory and risk your life like that?!\u201d growled Rokalla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAdmiral, she had a good reason!\u201d protested Rooshee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe you\u2019re siding with her!\u201d wailed Rokalla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve long believed that the Mega-sharks would never stoop to slavery,\u201d countered Rooshee, \u201cthat it was merfolk propaganda. Clearly we\u2019ve insulted the merfolk and must do what we can to free the slaves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd the mystery merman?\u201d asked Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we can find him,\u201d mused Rooshee, \u201cmaybe we can get some answers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have two mystery leads,\u201d muttered Arsha. \u201cThat book that was discovered and the merman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA fleet is arriving tomorrow,\u201d answered Rooshee. \u201cThe Endeavor<\/em> will be the flagship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can convince my parents to send a fleet to aid yours,\u201d Marianes chimed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMuch appreciated,\u201d replied Rooshee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe this!\u201d groaned Rokalla. \u201cMillenia of peace, and it all goes away!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re arresting the Mega-sharks\u2019 leader when we win,\u201d replied Rooshee. \u201cBesides, this came from the Realmfleet council.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t mean I like it!\u201d grumbled Rokalla. \u201cExpect the fleet to arrive in the morning. Realmfleet out.\u201d The call ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need to call my parents,\u201d declared Marianes. \u201cIn the meantime\u2026\u201d she didn\u2019t get very far as a merman picked something on sensors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s an object coming directly towards us at a speed of 75 knots!\u201d he reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow far away is it?\u201d asked Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019ll breach our shield perimeter in 2 minutes!\u201d called the merman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToo close for comfort,\u201d declared Palmanar. \u201cRed Alert. Raise shields. Arm all weapons batteries.\u201d A red dome surrounded the base as the turrets came out of the ground, training themselves on the object. The object stopped, causing bubbles to appear when it stopped. The bubbles cleared to reveal the mystery merman, just floating there, ready to strike at a moment\u2019s notice. \u201cStandby,\u201d ordered Palmanar. \u201cDon\u2019t engage unless he makes an aggressive action against us.\u201d As soon as she gave the order, Erga burst in with the book that was dug up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOpen a channel to him!\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d yelped Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I have something that may explain his behavior,\u201d answered Erga. \u201cOpen a channel and he can confirm what I read.\u201d The staff looked to Palmanar for orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Open a channel,\u201d she commanded. The Communications Officer complied and opened a channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis book was written by the Queen of your home,\u201d began Erga. On screen, the merman\u2019s face had surprise written all over it. \u201cIt detailed the disaster that befell your people 50,000 years ago,\u201d continued Erga. \u201cI have a passage here that may explain your hostility towards us.\u201d He opened the book and read the passage. \u201c\u2018It is over. My people are now eternal slaves to the Mega-sharks. We have had spells woven onto us that will never let us die or age as we are violated, body and soul, by our new masters. We\u2019ve fought for so long, but we couldn\u2019t win. I have already surrendered myself to the Mega-shark Rulers to be their family\u2019s personal slave. My brother, Forneth, my greatest treasure, the founder of our beliefs, is trapped in fiend-ice. Even if the ice could be melted, his vocal cords are paralyzed. He can never call for help again. Our children have escaped to the nearby kingdom. They can never be touched. Oh, how I wish the Mega-sharks learned the truth why our kingdom decided to forgo clothes. We only wished to communicate with our ancestors. Alas, only lust controls these creatures. They only see nudity as a means to attract mates. They did not take \u2018no\u2019 for an answer. We are lost. There is no hope for us. Farewell, life. May time rediscover us so our plight will be remembered.\u201d The merman looked like he was sobbing. \u201cForneth,\u201d called Erga. \u201cThat\u2019s your name. While I am blessed to meet the Founder of the Order, I am saddened that your plight was heard 50,00 years later. I have good news though; we have a way to end the torture of your people.\u201d Forneth looked up, his eyes still red and his face still displaying grief. \u201cRealmfleet has sent a fleet of ships to assist us in getting your people free. I can personally promise you; your people\u2019s suffering will end. This, I vow by my ancestors who escaped such torture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Order still exists,\u201d supplied Palmanar. \u201cA few members of the Royal Family are followers. We WILL assist you and we WILL restore your vocal cords. Will you help us end this barbarism?\u201d Forneth was stunned, then cleared it as he nodded vigorously. \u201cPalmanar to Infirmary, send a medical team to escort Forneth into the base. Stand down all weapons. Drop the shields.\u201d As the red dome faded, a medical team swam to Forneth\u2019s position and gave him a sickly-green potion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s gonna taste bad,\u201d remarked one of the medics, \u201cbut the nerves to your vocal cords will reconnect to the proper nerve channels leading to the area that controls vocal communication.\u201d Forneth drank it, nearly gagging, and let himself be escorted to the Infirmary to rest. He passed by Ops to see everyone inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d he whispered before swimming off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell now,\u201d mused Arsha, \u201cwe have an ally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith him here,\u201d chuckled Palmanar, \u201cwe\u2019ll be able to plan a victorious attack.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI still say this is a bad idea,\u201d muttered Troga as he performed the weapons systems checks. \u201cYour concern is noted,\u201d replied Palmanar in her own craft. Her brother, Rokomar, was pilot while Palmanar manned the weapons. \u201cAll checks complete,\u201d reported Marianes. \u201cSame here,\u201d called Rokomar. A call then came through to the Shellcrafts. \u201cThis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,94],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-1981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-1-her-highness-the-captain","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1981"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1982,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1981\/revisions\/1982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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