Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 636

Chapter 636

Chapter 636: Good News and Bad News

Half an hour later the Parliamentary session had come to an end . Afterwards a proclamation was released, ordering the evacuation of all metropolitan worlds . Their resources would be reallocated to the war effort, and any troops were told to be on alert . Part of their responsibilities would be to assist moving goods and people closer to the center of Eastern space . Many would also remain to look after government interests against the other Alliances . As for how this enormous amount of people were to be moved, parliament said that would come when all the options had been examined .

Lan Jue knew about the decision right away . He heard it from Lan Qing, when his brother summoned him to An Lun’s leadership headquarters .

“What do you think?” Lan Qing’s stony expression cracked just enough for a smile to sprout .

Lan Jue answered with a dramatic thumbs-up .

“Didn’t expect it, did you?” Lan Qing openly smirked now .

Lan Jue nodded . In fact he’d already chalked it up to a lost cause . A decision that would hurt so many bottom lines must have been caustic for a room full of self-serving politicians . If it hadn’t been Lan Qing to tell him, he’d say they were joking .

Lan Jue had never been a fan of lawmakers, but he was proud to find they at least had a sense of comradery . Only when the home front was stable and happy could they face a foreign foe!

“However, there is also some bad news . ” Lan Qing’s expression fell, as did his voice .

“What is it?” Lan Jue asked .

“The West has sent scouting crews to the last stand of the North’s Seventh Fleet . They claim there are signs an alien planet is nearby, even fought some of the creatures . Leaders continue to deny the veracity of your scouting reports and have turned down any further correspondence . ”

Lan Jue scowled . “Why would they even think like this?”

Lan Qing explained . “It certainly involves you . The West has chosen to make us enemies and resist our progress . A lot of that is fueled by influences from the Austin family, which I imagine is somewhat your doing . Relations have taken a sharp dive since the wedding between Richard and Qianlin was called off . Some of this distrust is a grab for profit, but a lot of it was incited by your actions . ”

Lan Jue dropped his eyes helplessly . “There wasn’t anything I could do . I was polite – at least I let Richard live . After the amount of times he got in my way I’d say that’s fair . I admit I stayed my hand because of guilt, and pity . Qianlin never wanted to marry him, it had all been part of the Clairvoyant’s plan . Now if the West left us alone and focused on their own issues it would benefit everyone . Anyway, that doesn’t mean there’s no way to combat their thinking . ”

Lan Qing chuckled softly . “Yes, there are still ways . Whatever your thinking the brass has already planned out . Some things are inevitable . ”

ζ

Western Alliance, Europa .

Set in the center of Europa’s capital city was a famous landmark, an old hexagonal building that served as the seat of the Austin family’s power . An insignia affixed to the top of the structure caught errant rays of sunlight . An oval with maple leaves, the Austin family crest . It sparkled so brilliantly you could spot it from miles away .

Sylva Austin was this generation’s leader for the Austin family . His office occupied the top floor of the striking family building, glass from wall to wall . He felt like he could see all of Europa from here .

He busied himself with administrative affairs while sitting behind the enormous office desk . He was the President of the Western Alliance and the business of running an interstellar nation often kept his busy past dusk . He was also expected to be social, which left very little time for relaxation . All of it was in service of the Austin family . Politically, there was no more connected family than his .

“Mr . President . ” A melodious voice interrupted him, chiming from a nearby speaker . The only one permitted to disturb the man was his trusted secretary, Judy .

Sylva’s brows furrowed . He knew Judy wouldn’t trouble him unless it was important . “What’s happened?” He asked .

“Urgent news, sir,” she replied . “I was asked to brief you face to face . ”

“Come in . ” He knew she was already waiting just outside of the door .

When the door opened a blond haired woman in a black business suit and black-rimmed glasses was revealed . Her high-heels clacked against the floor as she brusquely entered . “Mr . President,” she said without ceremony, “We’ve received news from the East that they will be holding an international auction . The items on offer are vital crystals . However the West has yet to receive an official invitation . So far only Northern government officials and important families have been told to attend, and the Gobi Entertainment group from our alliance . All other organizations, even government representatives, have received nothing . ”

A cold smirk split Sylva’s face . “Their response to our stance . Pay no mind . When the aliens come we’ll have plenty of vital crystals for ourselves . What’s the sense in paying them for any? Besides, it must have cost them to get so many . None of this is outside of my predictions . ”

“But they’re auctioning more than one hundred pieces . This is more than anyone has gotten ever since we learned about the alien planets . ” Judy’s voice bore a faint note of urgency . She was as professional a secretary as one could find, but the promise of a longer life appealed to everyone .

“What did you say?” Sylva’s voice came in a sharp his, disbelief widening his eyes . “The East brought back more than a hundred vital crystals? How could they kill so many aliens, much less bring them back?” The President’s breathing increased . Obviously the East’s actions were directed at the West . Everyone knew the benefit of the exuvium process, but crystals were needed to perform it . Eastern leadership was too smart to throw away so many crystals out of spite, so that could only mean they had more than they needed for research .

Taking it a step farther, he could infer they must have found a great many aliens to come back with so many crystals . It had to be true, everything they were claiming . The East had found where the aliens were hiding .

That simple fact was like a mortal wound for Sylva Austin . He had been the one most vocally against them . He’d convinced his colleagues the East was lying, and orchestrated their harsh response to the news . This auction was like a smack to the face . He could almost feel it burn .

However, Sylva was an old hand when it came to dirty politics . Surprise overtook him for only a moment, and soon after he was a picture of calm deliberation . “Send a correspondence to the East, asking why we weren’t provided an invitation . These vital crystals are a priceless resource for all of humanity, and are integral for the shared progress of ours species . As such, it is imperative all three alliances participate in uncovering their secrets . There is nowhere else they’ll find more talented geneticists than in the West . We would be very open to participating in this auction . ”

“Yes, sir!” Judy’s eyes lit up as she answered . She was already formulating the communique in her head .

Sylva rose from behind the massive desk and turned toward the window . He was quiet for a moment and let his eyes sweep out over the city’s horizons . He loved to stand here and enjoy the view . It made him feel in control .

“Send another to the North . Ask them for help in applying pressure to the East . If we work together we can get the most and give the least . Then send a note to the generals that we want a scouting mission scrambled and sent into the Shattered Starfields as soon as possible . We have to confirm the alien’s location if we want to explain things to the public . ”

From the outside it looked passive, but President Austin was doing the best he could under the circumstances . He hadn’t suspected the East would use these crystals as a bargaining chip to undermine the West . How could he have known this might happen? Who would have guessed the East would suddenly become flush with vital crystals? Their actions were the sort taken by a group confident in their strength!

Proliferation . That was the goal of any race . This international auction the East was holding was just that – proliferation . It was the purpose of life, and hope for any living thing . The Exuvium process was still a long way off, but proof of concept was already well known . Even powerful Adepts could benefit from it . Further research was needed to see how it would affect normal people .

Most current reports claimed that the process could extend someone’s life by a thousand percent . The average lifespan would catapult from a hundred years to a millenium .

A life ten times as long! It wasn’t a literal fountain of youth, but it sure was an improvement over their own bodies’ limitations . Influence, money, beauty… none of it was more important than life . Without it, what did all the rest mean?

So it was that the moment word of the exuvium process got out, it captured the imagination of every living creature . The only thing that stood between mankind and hundreds of years among the stars, were these vital crystals .