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Chapter Fourty Eight Eyes
cast downward into the desk, sits a normally proud and preening Xaxan
Tryashoenu. His gleaming white under tunic in disarray and hanging over his pale
blue pants, his face resting in his hands while his elbows keep his head
upright, Xaxan grieves not only for loss of Elassi Mehand, but also his sister,
whom he knows will never be able to return to her home. And he grieves in the
knowledge that he waited too long to tell her of her true parentage. It had always
been his intention to reveal the identity of Xana and Yorel’s mother; when the
time was right. It had simply never seemed like the right time. Between their
schooling and his business dealings as of late, there just was not a proper time
to divulge such dramatic information. And now… The good woman is gone. Their
grandmother. His business in
chaos, his life a shambles, Xaxan Tryashoenu must face the fact that he alone is
the cause for all of this tragedy. His cutthroat business dealing have put him
league with thieves and other sundry low-lifes. His insistence on Commenorian
child-rearing principles has left him alone, while his siblings are scattering
to the winds of the galaxy. Self-made men many times become self-destructed men.
Just as he is
about to spiral down into complete despair, his aide comes rushing into his
office, “Master Tryashoenu! The Chandrillan’s are making a formal
announcement on the transceiver net.” As she reaches the transceiver net
display panel Xaxan stands up from his desk moves in for a closer view of the
display panel. As she keys in
a specific sequence, the picture begins to come in, showing just the seal of the
Chandrillan Provincial Council. It is soon replaced with the image of an older
man in a naval commander’s uniform. “Good
people of Chandrila. Today marks a dark time in the history of our world. Not
since the Great Upheaval has a single event shaped us so. Today, as we
celebrated all that is good on our planet, a dastardly act was perpetrated.
Ruler Elassi Mehand was struck down by an assassin’s blow. Along with her fell
her longtime assistant Shanielle Chartrund and her faithful, youngest child,
Cherié Mehand. At a time when we rejoice in the many gifts bestowed upon us by
our world and our way of life we must now grieve. However, although our grief is
strong, and our tears are many, we must struggle to go on, for Ruler Mehand
would want nothing less of the people she dedicated her life to protecting. "A
short time ago, Ruler Mehand and the Provincial Ruling Council enacted
legislation that would insure a smooth transition of power in the event of a
catastrophic event, such as the one that has now befallen our great land. As
such, and due to the nature of Ruler Mehand untimely death, Martial Law has been
declared on Chandrila. Thus placing control of the planet and the government in
the hands of the military, until such time as the Provincial Ruling Council may
find an acceptable replacement for the Ruler and the people of Chandrila have
sanctioned same by a vote of confidence.” Xaxan, his
shoulders sagging in resignation, “And so it begins…” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “As the
head of the Chandrillan Interstellar Naval Forces, the burden of leadership
falls to me. I shall do all in my power to maintain peace and order throughout
Chandrila proper and the space surrounding our beloved world.” The angular
features of Ruler Vanquar Shesh are somewhat changed by his current and
uncharacteristic facial expression; a smile. A smile that would melt plasteel,
given half the chance, “We shall see, my young commander… We shall see.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “The
investigation into this heinous act has already begun, including the securing of
all trade routes into and out of Chandrila. No ship shall pass without a proper
inspection.” Shaking his
head and looking to the other being in his office, “Traygar, I want all the
ships to stand by for orders… And get me Tryashoenu.” Turning back to the
broadcast, “It’s about time I call in that marker.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “I would
leave you with one final statement… I have known Ruler Mehand since my own
boyhood on Chandrila. I attended school with her children, I fought alongside
her people during the Great Upheaval, and I was proud to have been given command
over the Chandrillan Interstellar Naval Forces. But, although this is a great
personal loss for myself, I know in my heart that Ruler Mehand, the Great
Unifier, would never want for her people to become mired in their grief for her.
And so, I take up the mantle given me by Ruler Mehand herself, to protect the
people she loved so dearly that she sacrificed everything.” “His
speaking ability was one of the things that Corre always admired in Silvas, but
alas, he could only muster that kind of eloquence when someone else was doing
the writing.” Elassi chuckles a bit to herself. “You did
not?” Master Falion questions. “I most
certainly did… You did not think I that would not write my own eulogy, did
you?” The silver haired woman says with a mischievous glint in her eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “I must go
on, to insure that her legacy is never forgotten on our world. And so too should
all of you. In her name, we must carry on, so that her life’s work was not in
vain. Thank you, and safe journey to you all.” Casting
a stray glimpse at the display screen just before turning it off, Meklin Suul
chuckles a bit to himself. “Safe journey to some anyway… We’ll see just
how long your ‘peace and order’ last, my young commander.”
Creator: PtrsonsZOO (Jennifer)
*SPECIAL NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond our control, the rest of the story will be written by PtrsonsZOO (Jennifer)
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