\u201cI apologize for all this,\u201d said Belnki to Arsha. They were in his office the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose protestors were riled about something in the Monastery,\u201d mused Arsha. \u201cIt\u2019s an annoyance, I will admit. However, from the protests I\u2019ve witnessed during a few of Daddy\u2019s public events, they usually start out of some legitimate concern. I think we need to investigate this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill Realmfleet allow it?\u201d asked Belnki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConsidering that a majority of its medical science comes from the Monastery,\u201d replied Arsha, \u201cI don\u2019t think I need to try very hard to convince Realmfleet to allow us to investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d sighed Belnki. \u201cI\u2019ll try to assure the protestors that I have seen no evidence of any wrongdoing in the monastery and that Realmfleet is doing what it can to investigate these matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ll inform my crew and Realmfleet what\u2019s going on,\u201d supplied Arsha. \u201cSee you later, Uncle Belnki.\u201d She left the office and was escorted to the Vorkath Palace Gates. She then headed over to the Endeavor<\/em> to see Dalengor and Oak at the ramp. They had a look on their face. \u201cSomething I should know about?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Goblin family is requesting passage from us,\u201d reported Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA DESTITUTE Goblin family,\u201d helped Dalengor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDestitute?\u201d asked Arsha. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cApparently, the daughter\u2019s decision to join Realmfleet,\u201d recalled Dalengor, \u201cwasn\u2019t well received with the Goblin Imperium. They liquidated the family\u2019s assets and made them social pariahs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere are they?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDeck 27 Aft,\u201d answered Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEmpty Deck Spot 2,\u201d recalled Arsha. \u201cOn my way.\u201d The reason it was called Empty Deck Spot 2 was because it was one of three areas that never found a use. Right now, its only occupants were a Goblin family consisting of a mother, a father, and a daughter, all in rags. The daughter looked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCadet Bashoon Barmek reporting,\u201d she introduced. \u201cSuch as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA cadet?\u201d quizzed Arsha. \u201cI didn\u2019t know you were that far into your training. Why aren\u2019t you in your uniform?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Imperium took that along with our clothes,\u201d answered the mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s Realmfleet property!\u201d protested Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd there\u2019s another thing too,\u201d continued the father. \u201cThe story of what happened with Borome\u2019s infiltration of the Diamond Consortium, despite your best efforts, spread like wildfire. We know what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026So you were stripped of your assets because you supported Garsheek\u2019s cause?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, we were stripped of our assets because we dared say the Under-king acted correctly in revoking her Chancellorship,\u201d corrected the mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d yelped Arsha. \u201cBut Borome\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHas been hailed as a hero by half the Goblin population!\u201d interrupted the father. \u201cThe half that\u2019s in power. The other half have had enough, so we\u2019ve fallen into infighting. Right now, no one\u2019s gonna take us back. We had to flee the Under-realm!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you need asylum,\u201d guessed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd capital,\u201d answered Bashoon. \u201cBut, I can\u2019t support my family until I become a full Ensign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow far do you have in your training?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToo far, for my tastes,\u201d sighed Bashoon. \u201cI may need to resign my commission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut you would be the first Goblin in Realmfleet!\u201d cried Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFamily comes first,\u201d muttered Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I can, at least, give you passage to our next destination,\u201d declared Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d mumbled the mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo problem at all,\u201d assured Arsha. \u201cExcuse me for a minute. Oak, see to it that they have accommodations here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Captain,\u201d confirmed Oak. As she moved off, Arsha had a bit to think about. True, she had a nasty experience with Goblins during the Varsek murder incident, but she couldn\u2019t turn a blind eye to suffering. These were individuals, not the entire Goblin race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After his speech, Belnki returned to his office. He was making himself busy with his paperwork. There was a bit of a drought going on in one of the fields supplying his people\u2019s food. He had read the necessary arrangements to get water to that field and approved it with his signature when his intercom buzzed. \u201cGo ahead,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour Majesty,\u201d called his secretary, \u201cyour wife is here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBalma! Send her in!\u201d cheered Belnki, his mood changing. Balma came in. She had a slug\u2019s foot for locomotion, a tiger\u2019s tail, crab arms under her human arms, and a pair of wispy antennae on her head. Despite the slowness that a slug is associated with, she moved as fast as a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAm I interrupting?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot at all,\u201d assured Belnki as he rose from his desk, arms out ready to embrace her. They soon hugged each other for a while, then Balma broke off the embrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow\u2019s work going?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot so good, My Queen,\u201d sighed Belnki. \u201cThe protestors are ramping up the pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh dear,\u201d muttered Balma. \u201cNovice Norvorok\u2019s not doing well either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPoor child,\u201d mumbled Belnki. \u201cHe\u2019s always had an uneasy feeling about the Monastery.\u201d He sat back down and fiddled with something on his desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d asked Balma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour father had a keypad installed on his desk for a four digit numeric lock,\u201d explained Belnki. \u201cI\u2019ve been idly typing in random combinations, but only got a buzz so far.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave you tried 1138?\u201d chuckled Balma. Belnki chuckled as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, I didn\u2019t think a reference like that would be the key,\u201d he replied. \u201cBut, who knows? It might.\u201d He typed 1138 into the keypad, then got a ding and a secret drawer opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, I was joking!\u201d yelped Balma. They examined the contents of the drawer to reveal a diary. The entries detailed an investigation into the Monastery\u2019s catacombs. He didn\u2019t get far, according to the last entry, as a Realmfleet officer had a gag order placed on them. An entry\u2019s word surprised them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMutiny?!\u201d gulped Belnki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn Realmfleet?!\u201d quizzed Balma. \u201cThat\u2019s unheard of!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat caused that mutiny?!\u201d asked Belnki. \u201cArsha needs to be informed of this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsha was in her Ready Room when Belnki gave her the diary. As she reviewed the contents, she made a decision. \u201cGet me Admiral Rokalla,\u201d she told Shalvey. \u201cI need to see what the Intelligence Committee had to say on this matter.\u201d Rokalla was called and appeared on Arsha\u2019s screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlanning another battle?\u201d he snarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrying to resolve a case, actually,\u201d corrected Arsha. \u201cSir, what do you know about the Vorkath Monastery Incident 2,000 years ago?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Incident?\u201d Rokalla asked. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy wife\u2019s father,\u201d explained Belnki, \u201cthe King before me, left a diary behind detailing an investigation of a mutiny. The Realmfleet Officer involved was ordered not to speak of this. Now, I want to know what your take on this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA mutiny? 2,000 years ago? And a Realmfleet Officer was ordered to stay silent?\u201d quizzed Rokalla. \u201cRealmfleet hasn\u2019t heard of any mutiny in 5,000 years, much 2,000.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis happened a few days after you took over as head of the Intelligence Committee,\u201d answered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet me see this diary!\u201d ordered Rokalla. Arsha transmitted the contents to Rokalla and he started reading them. \u201cThis was never brought to the Committee\u2019s notice!\u201d yelped Rokalla. \u201cI need to investigate this. I have a distinct feeling someone\u2019s going to call in some favors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere IS another matter, something that may be resolved easily,\u201d interjected Arsha. \u201cCadet Bashoon Barmek and her family have been reduced to destitution and are requiring passage to another destination. Bashoon\u2019s considering resigning her commission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt so young an age?!\u201d called Rokalla. \u201cI can\u2019t let that happen! I know her! She was an excellent student! Arsha, she\u2019s good with noticing minute details. If she helps us out on this case, I can easily grant her the rank of Ensign. Your security team will benefit greatly with her there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about her parents?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs there an empty deck spot on your ship?\u201d quizzed Rokalla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, they\u2019re occupying one right now,\u201d confirmed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re excellent in the restaurant business,\u201d supplied Rokalla. \u201cHave them open one in that spot and your ship will benefit greatly from them. That will help them get their capital back and continue Bashoon\u2019s training if this somehow DOESN\u2019T give her the rank of Ensign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood, sir,\u201d answered Arsha. \u201cGood luck on your end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you,\u201d bid Rokalla. The call ended and Arsha started thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need to return to the castle,\u201d remarked Belnki. \u201cI have a speech to draft on this matter. The people need to be informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou do that,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cIn the meantime, there IS the necessary equipment on board for a restaurant. Dad shut one down when he was in command, but the equipment was never moved off the ship. I think I can convince the Barmeks that they can charge me a storage fee on that and they may use it for their own purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI apologize for all this,\u201d said Belnki to Arsha. They were in his office the next morning. \u201cThose protestors were riled about something in the Monastery,\u201d mused Arsha. \u201cIt\u2019s an annoyance, I will admit. However, from the protests I\u2019ve witnessed during a few of Daddy\u2019s public events, they usually start out of some legitimate concern. 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