NOVPUB"This is regrettable, but I think that we'll have to cut our time together shorter than I'd hoped. This matter is going to require my attention." Regina said with a long sigh.
The story being reported was already troubling enough, but behind everything that reached the public, there were always several secrets hidden within events like these.
As Azade's Chancellor, she needed to prepare for a public response and get to the bottom of what was going on. So as much as she did not want to part with Jasmine now that they were finally reconnecting, her position meant that she had to.
"We understand. And I want to apologize for running away nearly eight years ago. I should have tried to talk to you first instead and tried to reach a resolution like we did today. It was inconsiderate of me, and I should have considered how much it would hurt you. I let my fear take control of me." Jasmine said as her mother prepared to leave.
"Thank you for the sentiment, Jasmine, but things probably would not have worked out so well. Back then, I would have refused without even listening to you and probably would have increased security to prevent you from leaving. Without the sting of losing you the first time, I don't think I would have ever made the same decision I did today."
"Still, I do want you to know that you can always come home and take your place here if you want. Also, if at any point you might need my help, just reach out to me and I will do what I can. No matter what, I'll be on your side Jasmine."
With that, Avery, Jasmine, and Kasandra turned to leave to allow Regina to get to her work, but she had one last thing to say to them. Especially Avery.
"Make sure that you take care of my daughter Avery, and don't think you've gotten out of talking about wedding details. After that manly declaration of yours, I'm expecting you to take responsibility."
"And Jasmine, make sure to keep ahold of him. There aren't many guys out there that would so fearlessly stand up against me for any reason. You two have something special. Now go out there and help as many people as you can. That way, neither of us regret the choices we made today."
With those words and a promise to contact them again soon, Regina said her goodbyes to Avery, Jasmine, and Kasandra.
As she had escorted them earlier, Ciphilolia brought the three of them back to the garage where the vehicle that had brought them here was waiting.
A few minutes later and they were standing just outside of the Dauntless. Ready to depart and head back to the Alliance Police base where the rest of their team was waiting.
"Thank you for cheering Chancellor Rhinelander up today. I haven't seen her so happy since you left." Ciphilolia said as the Dauntless' ramp descended.
"I'm glad that I was able to get everything off my chest and at least get her acceptance for what I want to do. I promise we'll be back at least one more time before leaving. I won't fly away unannounced again."
Jasmine then waved goodbye to Ciphilolia and the bodyguards that had once been her protectors long ago.
The four of them looked like they wanted to rush onboard the Dauntless so they could continue doing their job of keeping Jasmine safe, but Avery gave each of them a stern look to keep them in place. They worked for her mother, not Jasmine, and Avery did not need them to come abord and complicate things.
Once he sat back down in the pilot's chair in the Dauntless' cockpit, Avery exhaled loudly in relief.
Meeting with Jasmine's mother had been stressful on multiple levels, but it was over now. He could finally rest easy for a little while.
Or so he thought.
Not long after flying over the same mountain range they had passed on the way to see Jasmine's mother, Avery received a transmission from Ezra.
When he picked it up, he saw the usually calm face of his second in command warped into a grimace.
It was obvious at a glance that something bad had happened, and Avery braced himself for the news.
"I'm guessing that this isn't a pleasure call. So, what's the problem?"
"Well, there's more than one, but the big one has to be that the base we're on was attacked."
Avery's face twisted into an expression of disbelief. He found it utterly absurd that someone had actually tried to overtly attack an Alliance Police base.
This was not some small outpost but a fully equipped military installation on a terrestrial planet. It was hard to believe that anyone out there was stupid enough to do something like this.
Yet, it was clear that this was not just some prank that Ezra was trying to pull off. Though Avery really wished that it was, even if it would be in bad taste.
"Grito and the rest of all of you are fine, I assume?" Avery asked, just wanting to make sure.
While the look on Ezra's face was far from joyous, he did not give off the demeanor of someone that had just lost a comrade. Plus, Avery figured he would have led with such information if something so grave had occurred.
"Yeah, all of us are alive. No one got hurt. I offered to assist with the battle, but Commander Traustur turned me down. Said he didn't want to put guest in danger." Ezra said, shrugging his shoulders. "All any of us managed to see were some flashing lights of the battle. It was all over in less than five minutes without any casualties. Just goes to show what happens when picking a fight with the Alliance Police on their own turf.
Avery nodded his head at this assertion.
Out in space with a surprise attack and a good strategy prepared, his group could probably take on a few Alliance Police vessels depending on their makeup and the competency of their commanders. But even they would have found themselves easily overwhelmed trying a frontal assault on a major base. To do something like that would require overwhelming military power. Something Avery's small band consisting of only four ships was incapable of.
Other than an enemy state, there was really no one with the forces to attempt such a thing. Though, since it was likely that the Odium Syndicate was a proxy organization being backed by the Zatis Consortium, in some way this was like an attack from another galactic power.
Of course, Avery was just assuming that this was another attempt on Grito's life by the Odium Syndicate, and what Ezra told him next all but confirmed it.
"The information is still coming in, but it seems that a large cargo vessel broke off from its designated path and headed directly for Azade. It was flying completely autonomously, and its cargo was over five thousand suicide drones like the ones we fought not too long ago. I guess they finally had some time to put some real numbers together." Ezra explained.
After ignoring all warnings, the craft had eventually been targeted and destroyed, but before falling it released its cargo.
The suicide drones had then taken a direct path towards the Alliance Police base, but most of them were destroyed by orbital defense systems and Azade's Keepers of the Peace.
Less than forty made it through the atmosphere and got anywhere close to the base. And before being able to fire on it, they were taken down by Commander Traustur's troops.
It had been a completely one-sided battle, but it was still being considered a major incident. Attacks on planets like this were far from common.
Azade was one of the most protected places in the Dramid Alliance. Only a few other systems had greater security.
"That's not everything you have to tell me though, right?"
Ezra nodded his head and continued telling Avery about the events that had very recently occurred.
At the same time as the assault on the base, the Dramid Alliance High Court of Justice had been attacked as well.
This was where Grito was due to testify, but the building had received heavy damage from the people and battle bots that had suddenly appeared and started wreaking havoc.
Unlike the attack on the base, this time there were a few casualties, and it was causing no small amount of backlash from the people.
All of the attackers had soon enough been eliminated, but not before causing plenty of damage.
Normally the Alliance Police and Azade's Defenders of the Peace would have immediately responded. Yet, the attack from the suicide drones, along with some other more minor distractions, had slowed their arrival on the scene.
"So, what's going to happen with the trial? Don't tell me its going to be moved to another planet or even cancelled."
"No, nothing that bad. At least I don't think so. Commander Traustur told Grito that matters were still being discussed, but it's likely that the trial will now be held at Azade's Superior Court. Its facilities are most similar to the Alliance court that was damaged, and it's Azade's greatest planetary court, so it's not lacking in prestige."
Obviously, the trial had been delayed by several days already on account of what had happened, but at least it was not being transferred to another world. Avery did not want to be incredibly pressed for time when he needed to leave for the capital system.
However, while things may have seemed to have already resolved themselves, those conspiring with the Odium Syndicate had already initiated a more elaborate plan. One that would see the entire planet of Azade shaken.
