Jon led the way through the arches into the main foyer of the large house. The walls and arch were made from a strange light blue tree that entwined itself together to form a rigid barrier. Deatra had told him it took years of tending to get the plants to grow together like that. It was to keep the forest animals out as there were some vicious cat like creature inhabiting the surrounding area.
Gilas was still grumbling quietly to himself and Jon shook his head.
"Gilas stop, once we get inside you can explain everything," Jon said as two guards opened the front doors. "Corporal, contact the Atlantis and have them dispatch troops to secure the premises. Have Mark accompany then and tell him I said bring the drop ships with cargo. Have the second and fifth fighter squadrons deployed here too. I want Carla to put Atlantis in a geosynchronous orbit above the retreat. Terri and Nefeit I want you to do the same. I want to have this area garrisoned by a thousand troops by night fall."
"Yes Sir," the corporal said as he saluted.
"Jon I don't have marines on board yet," Terri said. "Well not many, we're mainly all councilors."
"Fine have a few of them dispatched. We will probably need them," Jon said.
Deatra reached up and touched Jon's arm as he sat down and motioned Gilas to sit opposite of him. "Is all that really necessary?" Deatra said.
"It might be," Jon said as he watched her sit down next to him. "I would rather be prepared and not wishing I was. That little event over the crown city has the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. Something is going on here and I'm going to be prepared for it."
Terri and Nefeit were already on the coms with their ships as Deatra spoke, "You're right, I'm just a bit worried how my father will take it."
"He can take it however he wants," Jon said. "I'm not going to sit here and be undefended while they play games. I'm hoping he doesn't know what's going on and isn't a part of it. But, between what happened on the station and what happened over the city. I have my suspicions. Besides that, technically this is diplomatic soil as I'm here as a diplomat for the ADF. I've checked into that part of the law and it's pretty much the same as on my home planet. I have the right to defend myself and call this area sovereign soil."
"My retreat house is sovereign soil?" Deatra said.
"And the area around it," Jon said. "You offered it to me to use as my base of operations."
"But, you're going to be my husband soon," Deatra said.
"Yes, and that makes my hold even stronger," Jon said. "I dispatched the needed paper work before we left Atlantis."
"That's what I signed?" Deatra said as she let out a small laugh.
Jon just nodded as he grinned.
"You're pretty shrewd you know that," Deatra said. "I can see this is a well thought out hair brained idea."
Jon groaned and rolled his eyes even Gilas let out a small chuckle.
"I still love you," Deatra said. She gave him a small kiss on the cheek and settled back on the couch.
"I love you too, no matter how much you pick on me," Jon said. He patted her leg and then turned his attention to Gilas. Gilas was done fuming and looked spent. "So, what happened?"
Gilas started relating his tale to Jon and those present as Nefeit sat down next to Jon and nodded at him. Terri took up a spot standing at the end of the table as she listened.
"No sooner did we drop out of fold..." Gilas said.
"Sir, incoming communication from Euthara," the com officer said.
Gilas stood up out of his chair as Tatiana appeared next to him and spoke, "It's the Royal Communications Officer."
"That was fast," Gilas said. "Put it on the main screen."
An older Eutharan appeared dressed in court robes. "Captain Gilas?" he said.
Gilas bowed as he answered the question, "Yes Sir, what can I do for you?"
"Oh, it isn't what you can do for me. But, what you can do for his majesty," the Eutharan said. "He requests your audience at once. You're to leave your ship and come here immediately."
"As he wishes," Gilas said as he stood up straight. "I'll inform the Atlantis of my departure and be on my way."
"No, you will not," the Eutharan said. "You will leave right now with no contact with the Atlantis or other foreign vessels. Is this understood?"
"Yes Sir," Gilas said.
"Good," the Eutharan said as the screen faded.
"Ass," Gilas said. "Tatiana contact the second in command have them report for duty until I get back and have a shuttle prepped for me."
"Yes Sir," Tatiana said.
The shuttle bumped slightly as it touched down on the landing pad. Four guards waited for Gilas as he stepped off the shuttle and took a deep breath.
"This way Sir," one of the guards said.
Gilas just nodded and followed them as they led the way to a small room off the assembly hall. They took up guard positions to wait for his summons. Then he would be handed off to the Court Guards and they would take him the rest of the way. No one went anywhere in the palace without an escort if you weren't royalty. Even then you were watched at all times.
Gilas was half asleep when the summons came. He stood up and brushed the wrinkles out of his uniform. He gave it one last look over before he took his position in the middle of the court guards. They escorted him down a small hall to two large golden doors. Two guards standing on either side of the doors watched the small group approach.
Gilas step from between his escorts and spoke, "Osaant Gilas, Captain of the Titan reporting as summoned."
"You are expected Captain," one of the guard said as he pushed the doors open.
Gilas gave a small bow as he stepped through the doorway. The hall was abuzz with small chatter as Gilas made his way towards the King and Queen. As people started to notice Gilas the quiet conversation between them stopped as all eyes followed his approach to the small raised dais in the center of the room.
The King was in quiet conversation with a noble standing to his right. It was someone Gilas knew and disliked, Duke Andara. The Duke had the Kings ear and controlled the military here on Euthara. He also had designs on Deatra and has sought her hand in marriage for years. Gilas frowned as the Duke turned and watched him approach.
Gilas stepped up on the dais and bowed deeply to the King and queen as he spoke, "Osaant Gilas, reporting as ordered your majesty. May you and your wife be well and have long lives."
"Captain Gilas, you can stand up," the King said.
"As you wish Sire," Gilas said.
"I have a few questions I would like to be answered," the King said.
"If I can I shall Sire," Gilas said.
"What delayed your return to Euthara?" the King said.
"Shortly after we left on patrol we encountered an Invaru Battle Cruiser across the neutral boundary. We engaged it briefly before it jump away and we gave chase and through the course of several days we engaged it multiple times," Gilas said.
"You pursued it across the boundary?" the King said.
"Yes Sire," Gilas said. "Per the cease fire agreement, the Invaru Cruiser was caught breaking the Boundary and I decided to pursue her."
"Even against the rules set forth by the council?" the King said.
"Sire, as Captains we're give certain leeway and I deemed the vessel in question was on a recon mission," Gilas said. "When we approached them and offered assistance they opened fire on us as they retreated. I took it upon myself, and my officers agreed, to discover what they were doing."
"I see," the King said. "Did you discover what they were doing?"
"No Sire, the fight ended up in front of Ghost Station," Gilas said. "We took the brunt of the battle and were disabled before they were chased off by the ADF."
"The inhabitants of our station," the King said. "This Commander Hunter that now occupies our station. You can also drop the 'Sire' as I don't need to be hearing it every two seconds."
"As you wish," Gilas said. "The station in question is now under Commander Hunter's control. He has the lost key codes for the station and in my view that makes him the legitimate holder."
"I don't need your view," the King said. "Key codes or not, the station is Eutharan Property."
"Of course," Gilas said. "Commander Hunter has expressed a desire to work with our people and help rebuild our planet."
"You believe him?" the King said.
"He repaired the Titan without being asked to," Gilas said. "He has even upgraded several systems on her and provided training to the crew on how to use the newer systems. He has been more than helpful."
"Interesting," the King said. "What about this mutiny I've heard about?"
Gilas' mind spun as he answered, "Yes, I had to quell a mutiny that threatened my ship and did so with Commander Hunter's help."
"That's not how I understood it," the King said as he waved to someone.
Gilas' eyes followed to where the King was waving and widened when he saw the councilor from his vessel step forward. A grin spread across his face as he stared at Gilas.
"Councilor Wesatu," the King said. "You have a different version of the story?"
"Yes Sire, though it's close to what Captain Gilas has said," Wesatu said. "There are a few differences."
"Please go on," the King said.
"It's true what he says about being rescued," Wesatu said. "The Mutiny though was his and his second in command that perpetrated it."
"How so?" the King said.
"Acting on the behalf of the Eutharan Empire I attempted to gain control of our station while we were docked," Wesatu said. "I seen Gilas was falling under this Commander Hunter's spell. So, in my capacity as a representative of the Council I assumed control of the Titan and ordered her marines to secure the docking port. They refused my direct order or even to acknowledge my authority. When Gilas arrived I warned him of the consequences for the actions of his crew. He laughed it off..."
"Liar!" Gilas said. "You did no such thing, I told you we were guests and we should act accordingly. You refused to accept that even though Commander Hunter and his marines were already there. I had given my crew orders we were to act as guests and to cause no problems. You were there and accepted that order, even agreed it would be best."
"Captain Gilas," the King said. "You'll hold your tongue until he is done. There will be plenty of time to push blame around."
"I'm sorry Sire, it's hard to stand here and listen to blatant lies," Gilas said. "I'll hold my tongue as you wish."
"Continue Councilor," the King said.
"I never agreed to not trying to retake our station," Wesatu said. "Especially when our station was in pirate hands and we had the chance to recover it."
"You think this Jonathan Hunter is a pirate?" the King said.
"Of course, what else would you call someone who has taken something that doesn't belong to them?" Wesatu said. He grinned at Gilas as spoke.
"Point taken," the King said.
"I'm sorry, but it this a trial? Do I need to seek council and summon Jonathan Hunter so he can defend himself?" Gilas said.
"Of course not," the King said. "This is just an informal fact finding session."
Gilas crossed his arms as Wesatu continued, "Anyway, I was arrested and turned over to the pirate. He gave me an old shuttle with only enough provisions for a couple days and sent me on my way. The entire crew did nothing to prevent this and Captain Gilas was even present when he judged me and did nothing."
"Thank you," the King said. He waved Wesatu back to his spot and turned his attention to Gilas. "You have anything to add to this matter?"
"Sounds like a trial," Gilas said. He muttered it to himself under his breath.
"Excuse me Captain, what was that?" the King said.
"Sorry, I said that Wesatu attempted to take something that wasn't his and cause a mutiny aboard my ship and gain control of it. The Titan was under repairs at the time and he caused those repairs to be delayed with his little stunt. That caused us precious time that could have been used to return and report here."
"Seems to me you've had plenty of time to return here and report," the King said. "yet you opted, according to your own logs, to stay and render assistance."
"Yes, only because the delay of repairs forced me to send a communication and I waited for a reply, which never came," Gilas said. "it was simpler to stay and assist and learn what I could from them."
"Communication?" the King said. He looked at Andara and raised an eyebrow. "Did you receive a communication from the Titan?"
"No," Andara said. "I haven't been alerted to any communication from them." Andara gave a small grin at Gilas as he folded his arms across his chest.
Gilas had an idea what was going on here and there wasn't much that he could do about it. "You can check the logs," Gilas said.
"I did," Andara said. "No such communication exists in your ship's logs."
"Impossible," Gilas said. "I sent it myself."
"Maybe you thought you sent it," Andara said. "But, I assure you no such communication was sent."
Gilas pressed his lips into a thin line as his temper flared.
"Maybe it was an oversight on your part," the King said. "A slip of the mind from the stress of the situation and being captured the way you were. Being forced to work with someone isn't an easy thing to cope with."
"Excuse me?" Gilas said. "I wasn't forced to do anything. We could have left anytime we wished. I decided to stay once the Princess arrived to help serve her as I know you would have wanted me too." He was being manipulated and he knew it. There wasn't much he could do about it.
"My daughter," the King said. "She is well I take it."
"Of course," Gilas said. "My second in command is now commander of her Royal Guards."
"Where is Carex now?" the King said.
"He's currently in command of Ghost Station in an overseer and training advisor capacity." Gilas could play the game too. If they thought that Carex didn't have any real power on the station it was safer for him.
"So, explain to me how the bond happened," the King said. "How did he force the bond on my daughter?"
"It was her that did the linking," Gilas said. "The humans don't bond and as far as I know have no mental powers I'm aware of."
"That you're aware of, so it is possible that you're not aware of them," the King said.
"I ... uh," Gilas said. He wasn't sure how to answer the question. He was sure Jon had no mental powers except those given by the bond and even those were limited right now.
"Just answer the question," the King said. "Yes or no, which is it?"
"Yes, I guess it's possible," Gilas said. "But, I haven't seen any evidence of such."
"Just because you haven't seen any evidence of mental powers doesn't mean they don't have them," Andara said.
"So, it is possible he has forced the bond with my daughter to further his means here," the King said.
Gilas didn't respond to the statement, he knew better.
"If this is true we must talk to Deatra," the Queen said. It was the first time she had spoken.
"We will," the King said. "I'll summon her as soon as I can get in touch with her. Right now Commander Hunter is refusing my communications. Would you happen to know why Captain Gilas he is doing that?"
Perhaps it's because you're a pompous ass and you need put in your place, Gilas wanted to say. Instead he said, "From what I understand. It's because of your refusal to acknowledge the return of the Ga'sahde."
"Ah, the Ga'sahde's reappearance," the King said. "That came at the right time for him didn't it?"
"In accordance to the prophecies, yes," Gilas said. "The Weaver of Worlds shall awaken an ancient race for the benefit of all involved."
"You're leaving out, The Ancient race shall once again move to power through the Weaver of Worlds and cause all to kneel before him," Andara said. "Isn't his sister the Matriarch of the Ga'sahde and she would do anything he said?"
"That piece of the prophecy can mean many things," Gilas said. "Yes, it's true the Princess Hunter-C'loth is the Matriarch of the Ga'sahde and through her he is the House Primus. As far as the Princess doing anything Commander Hunter said, I would have to say no, she thinks for herself and if she doesn't agree with him she lets him know."
"So, he has insubordination in his ranks?" the King said.
"No, not really, Commander Hunter accepts everyone's ideas and suggestions and then makes a choice based on that input," Gilas said. "However, when the time for decisions is over he acts without input and takes the course he thinks best. The Princess in her current role as Matriarch of the Ga'sahde has the option of following or not. He can still order the Ga'sahde to take a certain action even if she doesn't agree. That's his privilege as House Primus."
"You understand I dislike the Ga'sahde," the King said. "I always have even though they haven't been around in my time until now. Their whole reason for being rubs me the wrong way. That is why I abolished the treaty when I took the throne. I knew someday they would be back and I wanted no part of it."
"Which you have no right to do," Gilas said.
"Excuse me?" the King said. "I'm the King and I have every right."
"No, the treaty was signed in by majority vote by the people of Euthara and the council," Gilas said. "As stipulated in the treaty it can only be undone by majority vote. No one person has the power to remove it."
"It doesn't matter I make the laws and I speak for the people," the King said.
"You, by turning your back on the Ga'sahde, have doomed us to an even faster death," Gilas said. "The Ga'sahde could broker treaties and trade contracts to help us get back on our feet."
"You have no right to speak to me that way," the King said. He stood up and glared at Gilas. "You forget where you are."
"No, I haven't forgotten," Gilas said. "You yourself asked me for my honest opinion and said this was an informal session. I'm giving you that opinion and following the rules of an informal session. If you would like you could just tell me what to say and I'll do that instead."
The King's jaw dropped and then he laughed as he spoke, "Right you are Captain Gilas, my apologies." The King sat back down as he continued, "That's one thing I have always like about you and your family. Ask a question and expect an honest answer."
Gilas bowed as he spoke, "Thank you Sire."
"Your views on the Ga'sahde are noted," the King said as he sat back down. "But that doesn't change my view or my ruling on the treaty."
"Then I'm afraid Commander Hunter will not change his position," Gilas said.
"You know this as a fact?" the King said.
"When Commander Hunter gets something in his mind and then does something this drastic it's very hard to change his mind," Gilas said.
The King nodded and glanced over at Andara who nodded back and left the room. The King stood up and paced in front of the throne before he spoke. "Let's move on," the King said. "What is the current situation with the Arc Light and General Vors?"
Gilas had been waiting for this and now that it was here he was a bit nervous. Vors was one of the King's most trusted advisors and his death would almost certainly enrage the King. "General Vors is dead," Gilas said.
"How," the King said in a calm manner. It was almost too calm and told Gilas the King already knew.
"He took the Princess Terri hostage in an attempt to take over the station he said was ordered by you," Gilas said. "In the resulting fray a personal guard to the Hunter family snapped his neck."
"The Buranis called Oojoung," the King said.
"That is correct," Gilas said. "It was right before Vors was about to execute the Princess."
"As far as I'm concerned she isn't a Princess and he's no Prince. So, you can stop referring them as such," the King said. "The situation with the bond is in question and until that matter is ironed out they will not hold that title or authority."
"As you wish," Gilas said.
"Why did you not back up your superior officer?" the King said.
"It was an unlawful order," Gilas said. "Even if given by you it was wrong. There are better ways to go about things than taking hostages."
"No order from me is unlawful," the King said.
"We weren't sure the order even came from you," Gilas said. "Vors wouldn't stand down until it could be confirmed. So, he paid the consequences of his actions."
"I never gave the order if you must know," the King said. "Though, I might have if I thought it would succeed. Moving on what about the Arc Light? We've had no contact with her since she docked at the station."
"You won't," Gilas said.
"Why's that?" the King said.
"She has been taken by the ADF and renamed Earth's Revenge," Gilas said.
"By what right?" the King said. The King was unusually calm during this discussion and it was unnerving Gilas, something was up.
"Acting as a Prince of the Eutharan Empire and as he viewed the attempt as an attack at the time. He claimed it as a spoil of victory," Gilas said.
"I guess that's his right," the King said. Warning alarms were going off in Gilas' head at the nonchalant attitude. The King just learned one of the few ships he had was gone and didn't even blink an eye about it. Something was going on here and he was sure it wasn't on the up and up. Jon needed to be told as soon as possible. "What of the crew?"
"Most of them took the offer to stay behind until a trip was made to Euthara," Gilas said. "Now most of them have decided to stay at the station. I brought those who wanted to return with me."
"One more question," the King said as he returned to his seat. "Who is the woman on your ship?"
"Tatiana is the ship's AI," Gilas said.
"They're forbidden, you know that," the King said. "You also know why they're forbidden."
"I do," Gilas said. "However, I have seen them in action and they benefit the ship in more ways than one. I think the laws were an overreaction ages ago. There are safety protocols in place to make sure that never happens again. Tatiana couldn't hurt anyone unless given a direct order by a high ranking officer."
"That doesn't matter, you broke our laws by allowing the AI to be activated," the King said. "You've also committed what is close, if not, treason against the Eutharan Empire."
"My lord," Gilas said.
The King held up a hand for silence as he continued, "I'm striping you of all rank until the council decided what to do with you. You ship has already been handed off to a new Captain and the AI disabled. Your crew will be off loaded until we can discover the extent of the damage caused by this Jonathan Hunter. You are free to go, but stay close as I might summon you at any time."
Gilas pulled the rank insignia from his uniform and laid them on the dais as he bowed and said, "As you wish."
"That's when I turned and walked out and came here," Gilas said. "I didn't know what to do. The King picked apart everything you have done twisting it to make it look bad. He used it to remove me from command as he knew I would follow you and take the Titan with me. I don't know what game he's playing, but I know Duke Andara is behind some of it."
"This Duke is commander of the ground forces here in Euthara?" Jon said.
"In a way he's commander of all military forces," Gilas said. "He just doesn't care much about the space forces and shoves those duties off on his second in command."
"I think he was trying to kill me," Jon said.
"What?" Deatra said.
"That little incident over the city was a set up. I'm sure of it after hearing what Gilas just said," Jon said. "That's why he left during the session. The King knew about it and approved it. I think they were going to force the shuttle down and kill everyone but Deatra."
"Why would he do that?" Deatra said.
"He's in love with you," Jon said. "The King and everyone else knows the bond we share is legit. The King is scrambling to find a way to denounce it and have it removed."
"I would never let that happen," Deatra said.
Jon smiled as he brushed some hair out of her eyes. "I know, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't try."
"You know there was something else strange at the session," Gilas said.
"What was that?" Jon said.
"One strange thing is he knew everything that had happened," Gilas said.
"They have an informant. I was expecting that, so it's not really a surprise to me," Jon said.
"The priests of Talftur were also in attendance with the warrior maidens," Gilas said. "They were dressed in red and armed while in court."
"That's never happened before," Deatra said. "Weapons at court are strictly forbidden. The King would have had to allow them to enter armed. They haven't sat in at court for over a hundred years. They usually don't care about mortal affairs and only worry about the spiritual side of the realm."
"Who are they?" Jon said.
"The women are trained warriors and also trained in other things or so it is said," Deatra said. "They used to be used for assassinations by the old Kings. Their order was tied tightly to the Throne and helped guide the Empire. That was until one of the warrior maidens attempted to kill a court official. Since she died in the attempt no one was able to trace who called for the assassination and the King expelled the order from palace. That was when things slowly turned bad here on Euthara."
"You think this order has something to do with what's happening here?" Gilas said.
"It's possible, I never tied the two events together until now," Deatra said. The population decline started happening shortly after they we expelled. For them to be welcomed back now just when we arrive makes me wonder what my father is up too."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Jon said. He stood up and stretched, then thumbed the transmitter button on the table in front of him. He tapped out a few codes on the console that lit up in front of him.
"Sir?" Tatiana said.
"You are to resume your duties as of now," Jon said. "Unlock protocol one-five-alpha-two-zero. Disable all overrides and allow no one into your core room. Shut down all hanger bays until I notify you different. Captain Gilas is to be reinstated with full ranks and privileges."
"Yes Sir. Captain Gilas has never been removed from that rank. I refused to do so until I heard from him as that is hand off protocol," Tatiana said.
"You had override codes for the AI?" Gilas said in disbelief.
"Yes and you do too," Jon said. "You code can do the same thing, you just didn't know it the extent to which you could use them. I'm sorry old friend but I have to have some secrets and I was planning on something like this happening. Had you decided to leave I wouldn't have done this."
"I see," Gilas said. "I'm not big on secrets, but I understand the need."
The link was interrupted as a Eutharan faded into view. "Just what do you think you're doing?" the Eutharan said.
"And you are?" Jon said without missing a beat.
"I'm Captain Porvin of the Eutharan vessel Titan," Porvin said. "Who might you be?"
"I'm Jonathan Hunter-C'loth and that is my vessel," Jon said.
"This vessel belongs to the Eutharan Fleet," Porvin said. "You have no claim on her."
"I repaired her and the bill hasn't been settled," Jon said. "Until it has the vessel is mine."
Porvin looked off screen and said, "I don't care what it takes get the landing bays back online and the AI offline."
"Won't happen," Jon said. "I control the AI and I have locked you out. You have one hour to assemble the crew you brought with you in landing bay one and restore the previous crew or you won't like the results."
"Your threats are meaningless," Porvin said. "You're on Euthara and there is little you can do from there."
Jon turned to Nefeit as he spoke, "Ready your assault troops and contact the Atlantis to have her troop join in."
"On it," Nefeit said.
"You wouldn't," Porvin said. "That would be an act of war."
"The act of war is yours," Jon said. "Seizing a vessel that belongs to the ADF is an act of war on the ADF. You have fifty eight minutes to comply."
"Bring us around and put us over the crown city," Porvin said to someone off screen. "Contact control and have then send assistance."
Jon shook his head as he sighed. "Are all Eutharan people so thick headed? Tatiana, lock out all controls and shut down all communications. Start having the former crew return to duty. Tell them if they encounter and resistance, arrest them and escort them to the landing bay. Depressurize landing bay two and pressurize it once our troops have arrived."
"Yes Sir," Tatiana's voice said.
"Fifty-five minutes Provin," Jon said.
"You can't do this!" Provin said.
"I can and I will," Jon said. "Save us all trouble and do as I'm telling you. If fighting breaks out and people get hurt it's on your shoulders."
"You're not giving me much choice," Provin said. "We'll leave peacefully, but expect repercussions from your actions here."
"Of course," Jon said. He didn't have to wait long after the screen faded and Tatiana reported that Provin and his crew were moving to the landing bay before the com beeped again. "I'm going to take a guess at this, but I bet I'm right." Jon thumbed the button to connect the call as he said, "Nice to meet your acquaintance King C'loth, I'm Jonathan Hunter."
"I know who you are," the King said. "Just what do you think you're playing at?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jon said. "I'm not playing at anything."
"You know full well what I'm talking about," the King said. "The Titan is Eutharan property and you have no right to interfere."
"Wrong," Jon said. "I hold a bill for the repairs done to her at Ghost Station. Until they're taken care of and an agreement is made she is property of the ADF."
"Preposterous," the King said. "I didn't authorize any repairs to be made to her."
"Captain Gilas did acting on your behalf," Jon said.
"He doesn't have the authority," the King said.
"Oh, well in that case I'll tear up the invoice," Jon said.
"Good now that this matter is settled," the King said.
"Then I can claim the Titan as a derelict ship in my space," Jon said. "Since we had to move it to berth as it couldn't move under its own power."
"You can't claim derelict status as she still had crew on her," the King said. He slammed his hand down on the table he was sitting at.
"So, you're saying I should have waited for them to expire due to decompression before I towed her in?" Jon said.
"Yes, if you wanted to claim that status," the King said.
Deatra and Gilas both gasped as one, but it was Gilas who spoke up, "I surrendered the ship to the ADF to save the crew." He was pissed and Jon could see it in his face.
"You didn't mention that," the King said.
"You didn't ask," Gilas said. "Therefore, the ADF claimed the ship and has rights to it."
"You and I are going to have a long talk Gilas," the King said. "I want you back here in an hour."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," Gilas said.
"You can and you will," the King said. "Consider it an order."
"I'm no longer in your employ, you fired me remember," Gilas said. "The ADF has picked me up and restored my previous rank and privileges. I'm on my way to take command of the Titan."
"You're still a citizen of Euthara and you will follow my command as your King," the King said.
"No, I applied to be a citizen of the ADF as did my crew," Gilas said.
"I'm happy to report that you have been accepted," Jon said. "Now, about the Titan, do you want to pay the bill or leave it as is?"
"Looks like you have my hands tied as you know I need every ship I have," the King said. "Nice play Mr. Hunter, just remember I can play too."
"I'm sure you can," Jon said under his breath.
"How much does the Eutharan Empire owe you? I'm taking it that it's a reasonable sum," the King said.
"Of course it's reasonable," Jon said. "Once the Ga'sahde Treaty is restored they can mediate the terms of the contract."
"That will never happen," the King said.
"Oh, I think it will as the termination of it was unlawful," Jon said. "You can also include the arrangements for the ship yard."
"The ship yard is another matter," the King said.
"The treaty for the ship yard needs to be revamped to include the ADF," Jon said.
"You're kidding," the King said.
"Not one little bit," Jon said. "Everything I'm doing here is for your people's benefit. I don't see why we need to butt heads. Restore the treaty and all this can stop. Until then nothing will move forward and I have no need to talk to you about anything else."
"You want to play games," the King said. "Deatra, I'm ordering you to return home this instant."
"I'm sorry father, but I'm not leaving my bond mate's side," Deatra said. "You will either recognize us both and the bond or I'll have nothing to do with you."
"You will do as you're told," the King said. "That is, unless you want to be stripped of everything including your status."
"I..." Deatra said. She looked over at Jon a tear in her eye.
Jon reached up and wiped it away. "Go, it will be ok," Jon said.
Deatra gave him a small peck on the cheek and turned and left the room followed by her guards.
Once she was gone the King spoke up, "You will never see her again. You are forbidden to enter the crown city on pain of death. None of your people are welcome here or in any of the major cities. You can contact me when you're ready to be reasonable. Enjoy your stay here on Euthara."