Private It Doesn't Make Sense...

[Onrai]

Kinoss, Spaceport

The alliance between Onrai's group and the Final Dawn had begun progressing swimmingly. The most skilled of her servants were now assisting Marlon Sularen in training up new fleet assets for future campaigns against the enemies of the Maw, while new trade routes had begun to open up, significantly improving the economy of her worlds through easy sales of surpluses.

And the secrets of Otherspace were growing more and more unveiled to the Admiral as well.

The meeting of the Maw's members had come to mind as Onrai's avatar on the world traveled through its regular day. There were two factions developing within the Maw: the tribals, whose blind devotion to destruction would be their undoing, and the logicians, who took a much more tactical approach in how they chose to engage with the enemy instead of throwing more flesh into the charnel fires of war.

But was there a way to defuse the inevitable journey towards conflict?

Zachariel Steelblood

 

[Zachariel Steelblood]

Objective: Meet with Onrai
Equipment: Weapons | Chosen
Tags: Onrai

During the conclave of the warlords, it had become sorely obvious to all that factions were forming within the Maw. Most knew it already, saw the divide between the tribes, the Final Dawn, and others, but that conclave had cemented the fact for all. Conflict was all but inevitable, with some groups never being able to work with the other, except under the command of the Dark Voice. Zachariel knew the Final Dawn would never work with the tribes, except as their superiors, and the tribes would never accept their godless ways.

However, there were some neutral individuals, or those who had recently declared for one side or the other. One such person was Onrai, who had given outspoken support to the Final Dawn. But her support was recent, exploitable. Even better, she had invited him to her world to speak, giving him the perfect chance to see who she was and what she wanted in the Maw. In time, he had accepted her offer, traveling to her world. She had spoken as he'd be alone to see her 'miracles,' but even he wasn't foolish enough to enter the heart of another's territory without bodies to throw at an enemy.

As a result, the warlord went Kinoss in a simple transport ship, but one filled with a hundred veteran marauders of the Bloodsworn. And should it be needed, they had direct line of communication with his fleet, but Zachariel was confident that wouldn't be necessary. Given the current situation within the Maw, few were foolish enough to try and eliminate another, lest all be destroyed. Both 'sides' sought more power before making their move against the other.

Traveling to the surface of the world was a different matter though, as a hundred warriors would be seen poorly, so he simply brought four of his elite Chosen with him. They flew to Kinoss spaceport in a modified drop ship, filled with hidden scanning equipment, but otherwise normal. It flew through Kinoss' air space with little fanfare and landed within the spaceport with ease, quietly scanning all the while. Once it settled, the front ramp lowered revealing the dark interior and five sets of glowing crimson eyes.

As one, the four Chosen marched from the hold, heads swiveling around to take in everything, watching for any threat to their liege and master. Two of their number were clearly CQC specialists, carrying hefty melee weapons that could crush a mortal with a single swing. The other two were ranged specialists, bearing heavy ranged weapons strong enough to tear through tank armor. Once outside the ship, the four of them formed up into an honor guard formation, eyes still roving for threats, even as Zachariel exited the drop ship. The warlord of the Bloodsworn stalked out of the drop ship, giving the area a once over before focusing forward, arms already crossing over his chest as he watched and waited for his counterpart.

 

[Onrai]

"So, you decided to come." A familiar voice piped up as an instantly recognizable feminine form stepped towards him, the impossibly shadowed figure of Onrai's avatar manifesting and standing before her fellow warlord. "I must admit, after our... debate at the conclave, I had my doubts that you would take up my offer of an invitation here. But there are some things to be learned from this journey, certainly." She pointed out. The fact that four of his own elites were present had gotten the darktroopers on the platform noticeably more observant of the situation than they often had been.

"Come." She motioned for him to join her. "There are things you must see and know - but they are for your eyes and yours alone." The implication was quite clear - she wanted his associates to remain where they were.

Zachariel Steelblood

 

[Zachariel Steelblood]

Objective: Meet with Onrai
Equipment: Weapons | Chosen
Tags: Onrai

Looking at Onrai as she spoke, the warlord nodded slowly. Normally he wouldn't have gone, perhaps even now it was foolish to do so, but the chance to spy on another warlords world right under their nose? That was something he wouldn't give up, especially since Onrai was opposed to the tribes.
"I considered not coming, though I must say I'm intrigued."

Of course, Onrai would never know the true reason he was here, merely the reasons why she believed he came. That meant playing along and learning just what she wanted to show him. As the two spoke, the Chosen of Zachariel noticed the darktroopers watching them, prompting them to size their opposites up. For now, they'd play nice, but should push come to shove, it'd be prudent to know their opponents.

Then Onrai spoke once more, prompting Zachariel to chuckle, even as his Chosen shifted. It was evident that they were speaking to one another via their own comms, but their words went unknown. Zachariel himself simply chuckled, shaking his head.
"You must think me a fool to enter your domain alone."

Crossing his arms across his chest, his implications were just as clear. His Chosen would come with him. Zachariel was known for being a bloodthirsty warrior, but he was no fool by any stretch of the imagination. And only a fool would be surrounded by so many potential enemies without backup.

 

[Onrai]

"You're forgetting I am as alone where will be going as you are. But if you wish to risk what little sanity your Chosen may have, then very well. We will get more directly focused towards the reality of the situation." Supposing that it was better to push the issue now, she reached into a seemingly invisible sleeve and withdrew a vaguely familiar stone about the size of her fist, roughly half-amber and half-amethyst in coloration. "I presume your partner told you about what this is, what this does, and how I ended up acquiring it." The stone began to glow and the Darktroopers paid attention to a wrinkle in the fabric of reality within the hangar that soon became a crevice, then a rip, then a tear large enough for someone to walk through. Onrai stepped towards the tear and turned back to Zachariel.

"Come. May your mind survive what you are about to witness."

Zachariel Steelblood