Rieven sat still at the front of the assembled host in the Gathering Hall, or as it was formally known: The Hall of Gathering of Naval Superiors, but no one had the patience to use such a pretentious name, not even amongst the nobility. He was seated in the centre of a small line of seats before every commander, acting commander, and segreant general in the navy. It was a large room, especially for such a clandestine starship, yet it felt small with everyone crammed in. Somehow they had managed to locate seating for so many. It was quiet. No one wanted to drag attention to them. Many were still processing the aftermath of the Judgement of Blood. It was sobering in the extreme.
As Rieven looked out on the assembly, he could see Ono on his right and Jackson on his left in his peripheral. He could also see, thanks to his new eyes, commander Gahst to Ono’s right, with major Hardy and major Jergson acting as book ends on either end of the row. Six people in front of so many. Also unusual because there were so many acting commanders, their superiors having been executed in dishonour. Of note is the fact that not a single imperial marine had been strung up on charges. Not one. The SI hadn’t even had minor charges to bring forward, just the regular stupid the enlisted found to occupy themselves, and Ono had that well in hand; there was nothing like scrubbing every head in the ship with your own toothbrush.
Rieven allowed the silence to deepen, growing denser and slowly becoming a living occupant in the room in its own right. The deeper it settled into the assembly, the more weight his words would have. They were almost where he needed them. Just a few more moments. At his feet rested a dark opaque box, half a metre square and a metre tall. It appeared to be made of nothing, not unlike Void Stalkers looked when they withdrew themselves from the influence of the laws of physics. It looked two dimensional and functioned as a small barrier between him and the rest. There was no podium, no speaking point, so this would serve.
It drew curious looks, but the deepening silence prevented any questions, which was good because Rieven did not desire to answer any, nor did he wish to bring more attention to the box than it already had. If he could he would have left it in his bunkroom, but he was unable to move beyond three metres from the pearl now that it had started to hatch. He thought that he would have much more time, months at least, before the hatching started. That’s what it had told him. Turns out that the draconic addition to his axiomatic pattern, in addition to some ephemeral human quality (such as his ability to thread axiom through his laces) sped the process up dramatically.
The timing could not be worse. He was about to initiate the navy to the dangers of the dragons’ enemy the Wythgoesh, and here he was with one. Who knew how that was going to settle with people? Though the more he thought about it, the more he figured they would take it in stride. ‘He already has a dragon, why not a dream-octopus?’ Seems reasonable. Maybe. Ungh.
The box was not a box, it was eight shield drones in box formation. The shields had been darkened, permitting nothing, not even radiation of any sort to pass through. This protected the pearl, which was resting within the shields. It also provided a vessel for the two hundred forty litres of sea water as well. Their fabricator had done a good job recreating the chemical makeup of the average ocean in Wythgoesh territory, minus the bacteria, which were purloined from one of the dragon’s many ponds aboard their ships. The pearl assured him that it would service just fine, and that all that was required was time in the water.
It estimated that a few weeks would be needed because the egg had to hatch without outside influence and only under the influence of the dream-octopus’ own axiom, which was tiring to it. Time would be needed. It wouldn’t get dire unless three months passed without success. Time would tell, he supposed. In the meantime, this black box would float along with him so that the pearl could continue to receive its nutrients from their axiomatic connection. Inconvienient without cluing the navy in, but perfectly doable.
The silence had begun to threaten to trend towards awkward when Rieven chose to stand. Instantly the attention of every human in the room was on him. Jackson was looking at something at the back of the room, Rieven wasn’t certain what it was because his peripheral vision wasn’t good enough to tell him, and he didn’t favour bringing attention to whatever it was. That would be a distraction. Jackson would let him know if it was important.
Rieven opened his mouth and began, “This meeting is being recorded along the visual, audio, and axiomatic spectrums for the historical archive. There are three purposes for this meeting above an beyond what will be accomplished in the Navy-wide broadcast in three hours. They are as follows:
“One: An introduction to the new naval structure. Two: The promotion of worthy men and women to fill this new structure where there are currently gaps. Three: We’ll get to number three if we have time. I suspect we will not.”
Ono stood and saluted Rieven. Rieven stopped speaking in surprise. This wasn’t a part of the programme, Ono was about to deviate off script. This could be very good or very stressful. “Sir, please allow me to introduce the new naval structure, it would be my honour to preside over the change of the gate.” Rieven nodded and saluted back. There was no other choice if they were to present a united front. He sat as Ono began to speak to the assembly.
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“Boys and girls, the time has come to become men and women. You are needed now more than ever in your career of service to our emperor. You are needed desperately. Not only to get us as a navy back to Homeworld, but for what follows. The data and the information we bring back will fuel the expansion of our empire for centuries to come. By the time we return, almost the entire cluster will be under the emperor’s command. That means he will be looking for the next challenge while the First and Second navies mop up. We will bring that challenge. Not only that, but we will be positioned to be the spearhead to meet this new challenge: to conquer an empire of dragons.”
He paused to allow that to settle. Rieven could see excitement flare in many eyes and hearts. This was something that would not only make them all wealthy, but would ensure their place within the empire for generations. “To conquer an empire of dragons along with every system between them and Homeworld. The scale of what is to come is so large it is difficult to understand at this point. Suffice it to say, we need you. I need you. Your commandant needs you. Your emperor needs you; needs your expertise, both that you now have and which you will soon develop over the next three years. By the time you and your crew arrive back in Homeworld, you will be the most well-trained, efficient, deadly, and brutal force the Operatic Empire has ever see. I swear it. By the blood of my ancestors I swear it. By the rank I hold, I swear it. By my history as a servant of the emperor, I swear it. By everything I have accomplished in my life, I swear it. By my honour, I swear it. I bind myself to this vow. I swear it.”
The silence deepened in the hall. This was a ritual vow in the imperial courts. Nothing could hold more weight in the records than this. By swearing in this way, before so many witnesses, under record, and with such fervour, there was no breaking this vow. He had bound his continued existence to this goal. If he were looking for a way to set the tone for what was to come, thought Rieven, there was no better way. He had their attention now, as well as their respect. Worship was coming, that was sure. Rieven smirked inside. The cult of The Master Sergeant would be begun this night he suspected, capital T, not lowercase. Ono was making himself the singular master sergeant this navy would ever respect. The poor soldier who replaced him would live in a shadow so large they would accomplish nothing.
Ono continued, “Bearing that in mind, I say the following: The Fourth Imperial Navy has been annexed into the Void Spectres. We are no longer the Fourth. We cannot be. We must be better than we were in the Fourth. We must be more. We must be Void Spectres. However, we cannot be the Void Spectres Navy. Imperial Naval Law does not permit that. In a quirk of legalese the Void Spectres can annex an entire navy, but they may not name that navy after themselves. This leaves us with a problem; we cannot be the Fourth Imperial Navy, because we are no longer member of the Fourth Imperial Navy. We must be better than they were. We cannot be the Void Spectre Navy because the Law says we cannot. Yet we are Void Spectres now. It is with pride that I welcome you now into the new Black Drake Navy.”
The doors flew open at these words and the Dragon Guard entered the room in stately march, guarding private Dragontooth who bore a white standard. Rieven froze. This was not his standard. This was new. It was the stylistic outline of a black dragon’s head roaring against a field of white. The standard was attached to a crossbar at the top of the spear Dragontooth carried, making it easy to understand the depiction. Rieven looked and saw gratified appreciation from every marine in the room. The officers thought it was impressive and many of them liked it instantly as well.
The squad marched behind the row of chairs at the front and planted the standard behind Rieven’s seat, the rest of the Guard took positions behind the row of seats that spoke of the honour they saw within their positions. Ono continued, “This mark is familiar to all in this room, with the possible exception of our commandant himself. Every dropship has this sprayed on their undersides, and many of the ships within the navy itself have changed their undercolours to match. That is where the symbol originates: From you. You are needed, and the honour you give makes this navy what it is. The Black Drake Navy will stand as a witness to the stars of the might of the Operatic Empire, of its nobility, of its cunning, and of its quality. You are the Black Drake Navy. You are its living heart and soul. Never forget this.
“The new naval structure is as follows: Commandant Rieven commands. Beneath his command serve myself, commander Gahst, and Adjunct Jackson. A navy can only have one commander and that is not going to be me. I defer to commandant Rieven. The marines within this new navy will answer to me and the officers will answer to commander Gahst.” He turned to her and said loudly, “spoiler, you are being promoted from lieutenant commander to commander.” There were laughs from the assembly and even a few cheers and clapping.
“The Guild of the Imperial Engineer is henceforth disbanded. From this moment on, no guild may lawfully exist, either formally or informally within the Black Drake Navy. The Silent Stalkers and the Inquisition of Mind-readers are the only fleet-wide organisations that now exist. More will come in the future as needs require. The Death’s Silence will be the new flagship for the Black Drake Navy. Central operations will be moved there, with the exception of the few rooms ceremony requires that exist only on the Hidden Dagger. The navy-wide broadcast will be held from the Death’s Silence.” So saying, he bowed to Rieven and then returned to his seat.
Cheers erupted from those gathered. Their excitement could be heard through every corner of the Hidden Dagger. They were not only to be Void Stalkers, but they were to be part of the formation of a new navy! Rieven could see the axiom swirling violently around the room within its occupants. He had never seen anything quite like it before. He could feel the beginning of a crescendo. Not a vocal crescendo, but one of purpose and of momentum. This thing was already beginning to grow larger than he or Ono could control. They best they could do now was to attempt to guide it in its development.
He felt his eyes grow misty under the unanimous approval of the assembly to be a part of a new navy that bore his name and his icon. That they had already adopted his name and icon themselves was the highest compliment he could ever receive. It was also the greatest burden his shoulders had ever bourn. The Black Drake Navy was going to change this galaxy. He could tell. Future historians would point to this moment as the one where destiny changed its course. His navy would return victorious; for they would conquer dragons.
