CHAPTER 7 (DREIUS’S BITTER COUNSEL)

CHAPTER 7: DREIUS’S BITTER COUNSEL

Admiral Kaelen paced his sterile, heavily guarded command center, a stark contrast to the opulent bridge of Dreius’s former flagship. Before him, projected onto a tactical table, was a detailed schematic of the Lumina’s galactic partition. Red lines intersected blue, marking their patrol routes and restricted zones.

"They are precise, ruthlessly efficient," Kaelen acknowledged, his voice devoid of emotion. "They have anticipated almost every conventional military maneuver."

"Almost," a voice rasped from a secure comm channel. It was Lord Dreius, speaking from his luxurious but isolated quarters. Even in disgrace, his arrogance was palpable. "You fight their structure, Kaelen. That is your mistake. You must fight their philosophy."

Kaelen scoffed. "And what wisdom do you offer from your gilded cage, Dreius? Your 'philosophy' led to annihilation."

"My philosophy was sound," Dreius retorted, a hint of his old fire returning. "My execution was… interrupted. The Lumina adhere to a strict, predictable order. They believe in their 'balance.' This makes them rigid. They will never consider certain actions, certain alliances, certain… necessities."

Kaelen paused, considering. "And what necessities are those?"

"The necessities of survival, of true power," Dreius sneered. "They seek to contain us, to diminish us. They have alienated Asson, too. The Chancellor, for all his naive ideals, wielded the Catalyst. He knows its power, and he knows the Lumina stole it from him. He harbors resentment, Kaelen. Just as we do."

A dangerous thought began to form in Kaelen’s mind. "You propose… an alliance?" he asked, the word tasting like ash. "With Asson? The very enemy we sought to crush?"

"Enemies make the most effective allies against a common oppressor," Dreius countered, his voice smooth and persuasive. "Think, Kaelen. The Lumina fear the Catalyst. They believe it too dangerous for any one faction. But if two factions, sworn enemies, were to unite with the sole purpose of reclaiming it, what then? It would shatter their carefully constructed illusion of 'balance.' It would expose their hypocrisy."

Kaelen stared at the holographic map, the red and blue lines suddenly seeming less rigid. Dreius was a viper, but he was also a master strategist. The idea was audacious, unthinkable even, a few weeks ago. But the Lumina’s iron grip was forcing unthinkable actions.

"Contact my intelligence network," Kaelen commanded his officers. "Focus on Asson. Not their defenses, but their grievances. And prepare a secure channel. It’s time to send a message… to an old enemy."