Chapter 96

***This article contains spoilers.***

## Highlights

* Alyssa makes it into the Ashanath command network. Talari and Ularean warn her to stay away from the Astral Plane, where she'll be hunted by ancient beings drawn to powerful psychic presences.
* John knocks up Leena Ghilwen, Valani Naestina, and Nyrelle Aeberos. Kali Loraleth chooses to wait.
* Norwood believes his betrayal is for a just cause, but Melkadian is just tricking him into enslaving billions of Terrans for the Kintark.
* Fleet Admiral Buckingham has a black ops base on Ganymede, where Carl Weber is holding three captured Lenarrans, of which they want to learn how to breed more, and Jehanna Elani, to interrogate about John Blake.

## Notes

### Miscellaneous

* Alyssa talks to Talari and Ularean in the Ashanath Command Web, barely escaping from the monstrosity in the Astral Plane.
	+ Talari is aghast that Alyssa was in the Astral Plane. He warns her not to go there. Every few decades some of their people decide to mount an expedition deep into the Astral to expand their knowledge of the realm. They never return, their spirits lost forever and their bodies withered to lifeless husks.
	+ There are many ancient beings that lurk in the Astral. Most are old beyond reckoning. They are drawn to powerful psychic presences and Alysss is more potent than any amongst them. It is unsurprising they sought her out so quickly.
	+ Alyssa asks them about the nightmarish sub-plane John keeps getting pulled into. Talari said that only a being of massive power is able to create a pocket-plane like she described. John must have drawn the attention of something deep in the Astral plane, where the most ancient and terrible monsters dwell.
	+ Alyssa asks that if she was much stronger than them, how come they were able to create the Ashanath Command Network. Talari explained that the Ashanath Collective only maintain that sub-plane. It was created by Mael'nerak. They are able to create tiny pockets within it, but no more.
	+ She sat back and looked around the room, her perception of the Astral pocket plane expanding as she studied it in fascination. Pushing out with her mind, she examined this sub-pocket, and saw how the Ashanath councillors had formed it from the ether – shaping and moulding it to their will. The room and all of its furnishings were simply mental projections given physical form within this astral reality. Talari and Ularean watched her with their big black eyes, blinking rapidly in shock before glancing at one another, their expressions unreadable.
	+ After telling them about the Trankarans joining their alliance,vTalari smiled and said, **It feels fitting that Mael’nerak’s creations are uniting to fight against the Progenitor who seeks to destroy his legacy.**
	+ Now that Alyssa is familiar with the location of the Ashanath Command Web, she should be able to just will herself into the sub-plane. There will always be scores of Ashanath within the Command Network and none would ever think of trying to bar her entry. She just needs to simply reach out with her mind towards the sub-plane as she did with Ularean and whoever is present will guide her to them.
	+ The trip gives Alyssa an interesting idea to handle the astral creatures. She'll explain later.
* The bulk of the Kintark's formation is drawn from the regular Kintark navy, but the entire reserve fleet of Praetorian Guard is in the centre, easily identifiable by the gold markings on their shimmering green armour.
* John knocks up Leena Ghilwen, Valani Naestina, and Nyrelle Aeberos. Kali Loraleth chooses to wait.a
* The traitor Admiral Norwood and Grand Prelate Melkadian are headed for Terra on the dreadnought Vengeance of Hera. Norwood believes what he's doing is all for the greater good of establishing a new Republic to free Terrans from the tyranny of High Command. Melkadian tricks Nordwood into thinking he wants an alliance, when he's really planning to enslave billions of Terrans.
* John is planning to make Sakura his contingency plan in case Progenitor John wins.
* Jack Fernandez and Mateo Fernandez were not pleased to be recalled to the Core Worlds from the border, with no relied being sent to defend against the Kirrix.
* Commander Madison Wessex has Sergeant David Gibbons assessed for a spot in Sentinel Alpha, in her personal squad.
* Fleet Admiral Buckingham has a black ops base on Ganymede, where he keeps secrets. Secrets that Carl Weber has been protecting for years. At the base is three captured Lenarrans of which they want learn how to breed more. Professor Friedrich suggests cross-breeding with Kirrix. Weber has no objections. Jehanna Elani is also being held at the base to be interrogated about John Blake.

### Minor Characters

* Ularean
* Talari
* Melkadian: Grand Prelate. Tricks Norwood into thinking he's helping them, and not planning to enslave billions of Terrans.
* Leonard Norwood: Former Admiral. Traitor. He believes this is all for the greater good of establishing a new Republic to free Terrans from the tyranny of High Command.
* Leena Ghilwen: light-green eyes
* Nyrelle Aeberos
* Tsarra Perfaren
* Luna: yellow-eyed
* Valani Naestina
* Talpo: Brimorian Wave-Squire of the Swirl of Shallows.
* Siolagon: Brimorian Shoal-Commander of the Swirl of Shallows.
* Jack Fernandez. Captain of the Damocles. Calara Fernandez's father.
* Mateo Fernandez: Lieutenant Commander on the Damocles. Calara Fernandez's brother.
* Campbell: Commodore.
* David Gibbons: Sergeant.
* Madison Wessex: Commander. Leader of the battalion’s Armoured Infantry Companies
* Clint Brannigan: Staff Sergeant.
* Crosby
* Ryan Murphy: Blames himself for the deaths of his wingmen at Regulus.
* Abbott
* Halifax
* Baker
* Lincoln
* Binary: Tells Murphy he's riding his rookies too hard.
* Friedrich: Professor on Tartarus, the Ganymede black ops base.

### Ships

* Vengeance of Hera
* Swirl of Shallows: Flagship of the Brimorian border fleet tasked with protecting from incursions by the treacherous Terran Federation.
* Damocles
* Andresil Enkana

### Locations

* Omicron Ceti
* Alpha Centauri
* Brimor
* Terra
* Sol system