The Caldoras explained what had happened to the citizens of the Kurontar Sea. Naturally, many mothers were saddened about their children deciding to revoke their citizenship, but, legally, there was nothing anyone could do. The revocation was legal, even if the means of leaving wasn\u2019t. While the Rulers addressed the people, Samuje swam to the communications console and called Sanfar again. \u201cYou again?!\u201d snapped Sanfar. \u201cLook, I already told you, you\u2019re not having your Captaincy reinstated until your mental state\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActually, I called you to request a Discharge Ceremony,\u201d interrupted Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026What for?\u201d asked Sanfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve found a new purpose in my life,\u201d explained Samuje, \u201cthat involves my people\u2019s city guard instead of Realmfleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026And you\u2019re sure about this?\u201d pressed Sanfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve found one incident of corruption too many within my native waters,\u201d affirmed Samuje. \u201cI can\u2019t gallivant around the Realms like that while there\u2019s something I can do here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026If that\u2019s the case,\u201d mused Sanfar, \u201cI think you are owed an honorable discharge from Realmfleet. We thank you for your service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thank you for allowing me to serve,\u201d returned Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I can arrange for a Discharge Ceremony in two days,\u201d Sanfar offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwo days would be perfect,\u201d answered Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I will see you in two days,\u201d declared Sanfar. The call ended and Samuje rolled her shoulders back, as if a weight were lifted from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Caldoras saw the Endeavor <\/em>crew off. The general mood towards Realmfleet hadn\u2019t improved, but it didn\u2019t get worse either. \u201cYour Majesty, I must apologize for\u2026\u201d began Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSave it,\u201d interrupted Vorko. \u201cNo apologies are needed. Those deserters made their choice, you didn\u2019t influence them in any capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStill, I would have liked to have brought them back,\u201d muttered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s no sense in beating yourself up over this,\u201d advised Marianes. \u201cYou did what you could. \u2026Arsha, I want to apologize for what I said after the fight with Oyed. I was considering joining with the anti-Realmfleet voices, but you successfully helped Samuje find another job that she seems happier with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI simply did what I could for her,\u201d replied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll do what I can to convince the naysayers,\u201d continued Marianes, \u201cthat Realmfleet can still be trusted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not alone in that,\u201d called Samuje. \u201cI\u2019ll help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomeone\u2019s going to say that we\u2019re forcing you to say we can be trusted,\u201d mused Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have a few responses for that,\u201d assured Samuje. \u201cGood luck, Captain Royana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Your Highness,\u201d returned Arsha. She walked up the ramp as it shut itself behind her and made her way to the bridge. As she walked, a female Wood Elf in a purple trimmed duty uniform came up to her. \u201cLieutenant Anfeel, what can I do for you?\u201d asked Arsha. The Elf caught her breath before speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCommander Shalvey just got word from Realmfleet,\u201d explained Anfeel. \u201cThe Sacchrinda Kingdom is going through a gel-pox pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut\u2026but they\u2019re not\u2026!\u201d gulped Arsha as she recalled that the Sacchrinda Kingdom wasn\u2019t the best equipped at handling pandemics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, Realmfleet\u2019s ordered us to get to the new Crossgene Hospital in Vorkath to bring medical personnel and supplies to help them NOW!\u201d urged Anfeel. \u201cDenstra\u2019s ordered Nazay to leave the instant you\u2019re onboard.\u201d Arsha wasted no time in getting to a communications terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBridge, this is the Captain,\u201d she called. \u201cI\u2019m onboard. Get us there now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood, Captain,\u201d replied Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou heard the Captain,\u201d called Denstra to Nazay. \u201cAll available speed to the Sacchrinda Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Ma\u2019am,\u201d replied Nazay as he laid in a course. The engines spun to life and the Endeavor<\/em> rose from the base\u2019s landing pad. It climbed higher and higher until it breached the surface and took to the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt appears we\u2019ve lost any allies,\u201d sighed Dr. Borg once Femfaf gave her report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy apologies, Doctor,\u201d bid Femfaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou did what you could,\u201d assured Dr. Borg. \u201cStill, it would have been nice to have some anti-Realmfleet support on our side. Oh well, they still chose their side.\u201d At that moment, Yulduk entered the office. \u201cWhat can I do for you, Commander Yulduk?\u201d asked Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur operative is stuck in the Sacchrinda Kingdom,\u201d reported Yulduk. \u201cA gel-pox pandemic has struck, and the kingdom is in medical quarantine. No one, aside from medical personnel and their Realmfleet escorts, is allowed in or out of the kingdom.\u201d Dr. Borg sighed in exasperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen he can\u2019t leave so easily,\u201d grumbled Dr. Borg, \u201cand the samples will have long expired.\u201d She got up from her desk to consider her next move. \u201cOyed won\u2019t like this,\u201d she muttered. At that moment, the comms terminal on her desk chimed. She pressed a button. \u201cYes?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave you heard from Ms. Yamta?\u201d asked Oyed\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026No, Master, I can\u2019t say as I have,\u201d remarked Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe discovered the samples we need in her location,\u201d explained Oyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re joking!\u201d gasped Dr. Borg as delight struck her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe has already showed me the samples as proof of her deed,\u201d answered Oyed. \u201cThey\u2019re in storage now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen our project can go on as scheduled!\u201d cheered Dr. Borg. \u201cI\u2019ll get started on it right away!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerhaps you should reward Ms. Yamta before you do,\u201d suggested Oyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will, indeed!\u201d promised Dr. Borg. \u201cBorg out.\u201d The call ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I think we\u2019ve found our last candidate,\u201d mused Femfaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed,\u201d agreed Dr. Borg. \u201cBring Yamta here. I want to reward her personally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt once,\u201d replied Femfaf as she and Yulduk left the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThus,\u201d mused Dr. Borg when she was alone, \u201cthe Imperial Council for the Realm Trinity Empire is complete.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsha was on the bridge as the Endeavor<\/em> made its way to the Realmgate. Endea was a little confused. \u201cCaptain, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve heard of gel-pox. What kind of disease is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen someone has gel-pox,\u201d explained Arsha, \u201cthe germ colonies congregate in green, gelatinous spots on the skin, just looking for a way inside to wreak havoc on the patient\u2019s breathing. It\u2019s transmitted via touch and sneezing. I certainly hope there\u2019s a mask mandate in effect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cApproaching the Realmgate,\u201d reported Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTake us through,\u201d directed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMarshii to Bridge,\u201d called Marshii over the comms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo ahead,\u201d directed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve just gotten word on all mandates the Maropwems have passed,\u201d reported Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease tell me a mask mandate is one of them,\u201d pleaded Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMask AND glove mandate,\u201d answered Marshii. \u201cI recommend that, once we bring the doctors to the kingdom, we cancel ground-leave. The only ones that should be on the ground are medical staff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIsolate the ship until this pandemic\u2019s showing signs of letting up?\u201d quizzed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the idea,\u201d confirmed Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen ground-leave is cancelled until further notice,\u201d declared Arsha. The call then ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, if this is a pandemic,\u201d advised Denstra, \u201cwe can\u2019t risk landing on the base.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d muttered Arsha. \u201cWe need to stay a por away from the kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKnowing the Maropwems,\u201d mused Shalvey, \u201cthey\u2019ll have accounted for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You\u2019re right,\u201d breathed Arsha as she forced herself to calm down. \u201cSorry, I\u2019m just a little paranoid about pandemics. I was only a little girl when Largandra suffered a petrifire-virus pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow long did it last, if you don\u2019t mind me asking?\u201d asked Malak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c15 years,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cThe death toll was staggering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry you went through that,\u201d gulped Malak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt took a while to recover, I want the Sacchrinda Kingdom to recover in a shorter time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, I just got a report from the Maropwems!\u201d called Shalvey. \u201cYour parents were visiting Midiriki! They\u2019re stuck in her house!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre they sick?!\u201d yelped Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe report didn\u2019t say,\u201d replied Shalvey. \u201cYou better try and talk to them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll be in my ready room!\u201d declared Arsha. \u201cDenstra, you have the conn!\u201d Arsha got up and Denstra moved herself to the Captain\u2019s Chair. Arsha then called up her aunt\u2019s home. \u201cHello, Aunt Midiriki!\u201d she yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha?\u201d asked Midiriki. \u201cDid you hear the news?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Endeavor<\/em>\u2019s coming with doctors and medical supplies from Vorkath,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cWhere\u2019s Mom and Dad?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight here!\u201d called Elgrad\u2019s voice. He and Hanako appeared on the screen. \u201cWe ain\u2019t going outside until this is all over,\u201d declared Elgrad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave you two been tested?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve all been tested,\u201d assured Hanako, \u201ceven little Tellimii. None of us have gel-pox. Tellimii\u2019s taking online classes right now.\u201d Arsha released a breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank the Ones,\u201d she sighed. \u201cI\u2019ll visit you guys when it\u2019s safe enough to do so. I need to remain on the Endeavor<\/em>. I\u2019m only allowing medical staff and supplies to leave the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCall us whenever you can,\u201d urged Hanako.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd please, stay safe,\u201d pleaded Elgrad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will, on both counts,\u201d promised Arsha. \u201cWe\u2019ll end this quicker than Largandra\u2019s pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope so,\u201d muttered Elgrad. \u201cWe still haven\u2019t fully recovered from losing that many people.\u201d The call ended and Arsha was left with her thoughts. Her thinking was interrupted by a call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo ahead,\u201d she directed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re approaching Vorkath,\u201d reported Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn my way,\u201d declared Arsha. She then left her ready room.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Caldoras explained what had happened to the citizens of the Kurontar Sea. Naturally, many mothers were saddened about their children deciding to revoke their citizenship, but, legally, there was nothing anyone could do. The revocation was legal, even if the means of leaving wasn\u2019t. While the Rulers addressed the people, Samuje swam to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1374,"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":[97,236],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-3-the-first-strike","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891","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=2891"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2892,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891\/revisions\/2892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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