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Kralken Four: Part 1

Full of wonder and awe would have been an understatement for how Lieutenant Matthew Thorn felt when he exited the Kroon shuttle that had brought him and the others down to the surface of Kralken Four and to the foot of the building that housed the main council chamber. He had already been impressed by the number of warships that surrounded the planet when they arrived in system (there were at least two dreadnaughts like the three that had escorted the Pressat into orbit and at least thirty other destroyers, heavy cruisers and scout ships plus a dozen well armed defense stations), but that did not compare to what was before him: a huge dome shaped fortress surrounded by four thick and equally tall gun towers made that looked like a squat and modernistic Taj Mahal except that it had to be at least eight times larger. When he looked over the four armored guards that were to escort Jason's party to its entrance he understood why it was so large.

The four members of the Soct race were almost twice the height of Jason and Freerah and stood at a comfortable (for them) distance from the four corners of the shuttle. He had been informed before their arrival in system that they had been the original front line heavy soldiers of the Kroon and were the strongest of all of its races until the second of the three major wars with the Soriss when they had first used mechanized warriors similar to the ones that he had fought back on Dessla. Only the introduction of the Dorzeli had prevented their extinction.

He also remembered Freerah's warning that, after all this time, some of them were still angry at, "Our taking over their former privileged positions; they used to be treated quite well in order to keep them in the fight."

His sister had asked, "They objected?"

Freerah smirked, "Yes and they suffered some additional losses when they took exception to being displaced. That was also when they learned that no member of the Empire of any size was immune to our venom. The positive end result was that their population has been able to recover since that time."

Matt still could not believe that the same venom that had knocked him out could, at the same dosage, kill such massive beings. It would have given him some confidence if it was not for the fact that over eighty-five percent of the Dorzeli had either fled the Kroon Empire for Andromeda Galaxy, including nearly all of the Dorzeli Primes, or had hidden themselves in secret bases in and outside the Kroon territories.

He was brought back to the present when Jason, who had exited first with his mate, glanced at the two armored sauroids stationed at the front of the shuttle then the two to its rear; "It looks like they've resumed their former positions."

Freerah who wore a similar formal uniform as her mate, which highlighted her generous form, returned over their silent communications link; "Only because there weren't enough Dorzeli replacements left after the purges to fill key positions in the Kroon armed forces." The one third taller Dorzeli prime had already passed him when her eyes narrowed and she added, "We're being monitored."

He noted to limit further communication to generic topics and continued to review the information he had on the Socts as the human part of their contingent prepared to disembark behind Feih and himself: like the Dorzeli they were ferocious fighters, primarily omnivorous, but, like his adopted species, often devoured their enemies (Soriss). He also saw that their armor matched their two toned dark blue on light blue coloration of their smooth, but tough, scale-less skin and that their helmet's removable visors hid their well renowned expressive and often pleasant facial features that belied just how vicious they could be if angered..

Comfortable with the situation at hand Freerah and Jason signaled the human portion of their party to fall in line behind Matt and Feih, then for Sarah and Daihas take up positions behind them. The mix of military officials and civilian correspondents become nervous when they saw the size of their Kroon escorts.

Matt couldn't blame them as, even to him, they were both impressive and intimidating with their beam rifles that looked as if they could shoot down a starship and their armor which matched their base coloration. His attention was returned to the front of their position when he heard a familiar sound. It was a very large bus like vehicle that approached them from the buildings main entrance. When it arrived in front of Freerah and Jason it stopped and its driver disembarked and bowed Matt's jaw almost dropped open in recognition.

"Welcome to Kralken Four. I am the Bromad (head officer) of the Kroon Grand Council, Jolle Gelya."

Dressed in a purple and green tight fitting dress uniform the source of the melodious feminine tones was what could only be described as a Komodo Dragon in humanoid form. Her deep green coloration on her long sensuous tail was accented by yellow stripes which he assumed ran up her back to her black fine, almost downy, feathered head. When she came out of her bow he saw that shi had short but sharp black claws on both her five fingered hands and bare, four-toed plantigrade feet. That was when he also noticed another significant feature besides a set of more than generous breasts.

"Chire Freerah Braega and Chire Jason Monroe-Talbot, I have been assigned to escort you and your group to the council's chamber where they are waiting for you." Shi looked to the human part of the contingent and grinned so that some of or her sharp teeth showed; "Please have all of the humans with you follow me into the transport so that we can have you all introduced to the council before they retire for the day."

Matt watched the eight foot tall buxom lizard's round eyes go from the humans to Jason then himself just before Freerah broke in, "If you will indulge us we would rather have them stay with us."

Shi smiled, bowed then said, "I understand your precautions but it is a long walk for we smaller ones so may I suggest that they be allowed to board then I'll drive it behind you."

Freerah looked to Jason who agreed with a nod and a smile. She looked back down to Jolle, "You have our permission."

Shi bowed again with a smile on her snout then turned back to the vehicle.

Matt looked to Jason, saw that his eyes were locked on hir shapely rear and how hir tail swayed as shi walked, then asked, "T-that can't be hir?"

"No" came the answer from Freerah. "The best explanation I can give is that the imagination of your fellow humans sometimes gets it right. And do not worry, all the humans will be safe with hir." He saw a slight grin appear on her snout when the transport passed by her then him and his mate. "Shi's an old friend of mine."

Jason grinned when the large double sized bus like vehicle came to a stop next to the human contingent of their party. "It's still hard to think that someone more than a century ago could have been that accurate."

Freerah smirked, "Just don't get any ideas about trying to live out the fantasies of your youth while we're here; this mission is too important for that."

Matt sensed that the word "yet" may have been left out of Freerah's warning.

Jason winked at his mate, "Why would I do that when I have you?"

Matt smiled at Jason's response as the humans boarded the vehicle.

Hesitation by some caused him to assure them that they would be as safe with their escorts as they would be with him, Freerah or any other Dorzeli from Dessla. Matt glanced back and saw that this had not eased the fears of some of the civilians of their reptilian escort. This caused him to hope that shi did not have some of the habits of hir fictional counterpart that could justify their fears.

"I assure you that they'll be more than safe in hir care, Jolle is one of my oldest friends on this planet, so bring your attention back to the front." Surprised by the communication directed at him from Freerah caused him to comply thqat instant which elicited a slight grin from Feih.

Moments after he complied with Freerah's order Jason gave the signal that told everyone to fall in behind them and for his sister and Daihas to take op the rear behind the transport. Seconds after the last human boarded the vehicle they started the walk toward the capital building. This gave Matt a chance to look at the crowds which were gathered along the entire circumference of the building's perimeter.

He saw almost every possible combination of lizard and/or saurian sentient one could imagine: from those that still looked like a feral version from earth's past to those that almost looked human and very mammalian like Jolle, including some that looked like nagas but with more snake-like upper bodies rather than a human half, but he could see no arms on the few he spied despite his much sharper vision.

Less than a minute later their long strides had them through the large open entrance and into a long corridor that with several side passages. Matt was as impressed with the bright colors and cleanliness of the interior as he was with the outside of the building, but noticed that hints of battle scars from the last war with the Soriss had been left untouched on some of the walls which indicated the buildings true age. He had heard from Feih that their advance had been stopped in the building by the first Dorzeli forces to arrive on the planet during that conflict and that it had been a bloodbath for the enemy.

By the time they arrived at a "T" shaped intersection which faced a last closed armored door that was large enough to admit their escorts with ease he thought he could almost taste what the battle had been like. He licked his lips then caught himself just as Jolle said over the vehicles public address system; "I've announced our arrival." He turned his head toward the vehicle behind him. "They should be opening the doors any...ah, they're ready." He turned toward them when they began to part.

"Remember" signaled Freerah to everyone, "No matter what you see or feel remain calm. Jason and I will handle everything."

Once the doors had parted they walked into a huge amphitheater that contained representatives of every race Matt had seen outside the structure; most noticeable were two snake-like beings near the center three rows back. They, Like the Socts, were also deep blue on blue but with a diamondback pattern. He also saw that instead of arms the Naga-like beings had a pair of long branched tentacle like appendages that ended in three smaller manipulative organs at their "shoulders" and further down their long bodies, all slim enough to be hidden against their sides and that their heads were similar the Dorzeli's but were more python like. They seemed to him to be a mated pair as they were intertwined in a non erotic but obvious affectionate embrace. He also noted the significant absence of Dorzeli and Dorzel members. Even though they like manty of the being present, could easily make a easy meal out of a human sized being he got a strange feeling that they could be trusted. What did trouble him was a lack of representation by either Dorzeli or the Dorzel, the race that made up most of their genetics.

"This may have already been said but let me formerly welcome you all to the Kroon alternate Capitol world of Kralken Four."

Matt looked to his left and was stunned by the appearance from a side chamber of the being behind the second alien but feminine voice he had heard since he stepped onto the planet's surface. If the other members of the Kroon Empire were draconic or reptilian in appearance she was the archetype of a winged western based black dragon. He could tell that she was a female by her modest bosom that was restrained by her suit's green and red vertical striped top which had the Kroon symbol emblazoned upon its shoulders.

Although he had to look down at her quadruped form from his over two story height, her overall length and the fact that her head was level with his chest indicated to him that she was probably as tall as Jason or Freerah if she stood upright and that she could use her forepaws as dexterous hands if the need arose much like the Cherrodons on Mendall.

She walked by him and the others to in front of Freerah and stood up on her hind legs. "Chire Freerah Braega, it is good to see you again." She then greeted her in the traditional Dorzeli manner of rubbing their right cheeks together.

"It is also good to see you too Prime Minister Farada Heilo." They separated and looked to Jason, "I see you brought your new mate along."

She stuck out her ample chest out in pride, "His name is Jason Monroe-Talbot, a human that has met all of the challenges before him and overcame them with surprising ease."

Farada looked at Jason with what to Matt appeared to be greater respect than what she had before. He could also tell that many in the room were either impressed or frightened by this revelation. He suspected that it had something to due with the rumor that he had defeated her former, more experienced and powerful mate in a battle over her soon after his change.

She moved over to him and looked him over. "It seems then that you made a fine choice." She leaned in and greeted him in the same way as with Freerah. When she pulled away her grin was almost ear fan to ear fan, "Yes a very fine choice."

She left him and proceeded to greet each Dorzeli-Ki n a similar manner and they all smiled when she pulled away from them. When she got around to him he realized why; when their right cheeks touched he received a message over his implant, "I and my people are behind yours and your allies to the death if need be."

He too had to smile with the knowledge that both the Dorzeli and humans could expect the support of one of oldest and most powerful member races of the Kroon Empire.

She was not as "touchy feely" with the humans as most seemed reluctant to get close to her, but when a significant number greeted her as she had him she seemed pleased. It was not too much of a surprise to him as most of them were either Jason's handpicked subordinates and, or had had a lot of experience with other Dorzeli.

When she finished with the last brave human she backed away, scanned everyone then locked eyes with Freerah and Jason. "Your early arrival won't leave us enough time to consider your requests and the results of your recent and what some may consider somewhat rash actions in Soriss space as we were about to finish our business for the day so you will all be assigned to appropriate quarters here within the security of the Kroonadem before tomorrow's session but first I will introduce you and your allies to all of the delegates from our various home worlds who are present." She turned toward the representatives in the assembly, stood up on her hind legs and proceeded to do so.

Minutes later she announced, "I declare this session of the Kroonad [governing council] closed for business until 02.15.00 [Kroon time: equivalent to 9:30 am] tomorrow when will take up the matter of our guest's recent actions and discoveries."

Everyone stood up and left their seats after the sound of a three bell tone. She turned back to the others and announced; "For those who wish it you may join us for our evening meal otherwise you may take it in your assigned quarters." She looked to the humans. "I can imagine what you're thinking but not all of us are strict carnivores so you should find something compatible with your nutritional needs on our multi-species menus."

Matt was about to breathe a sigh of relief but held it when he heard over his receiver; "Not while I head this council."

He was certain she could not have read his mind so he assumed that his expression must have revealed his thoughts to her as she walked by him toward the entrance.

Concerned eyes in a darkened room, kilometers beyond the perimeter of the Kroonadem, watched the visiting party depart the main chamber then sharp clawed hands adjusted the controls so that the hidden camera focused upon Jason. This was followed by a series of Kroon symbols that scrolled across the bottom of the display.

"So he's the one who defeated Argent?" asked an uniformed female Dorzeli-Ki that stood next to the seated larger male.

"It would seem so," He growled and made a few more adjustments.

She shook her head in disgust. "I can't believe a transformed human could have had any chance against him." She gasped when she saw the newest numbers below the picture. "That's not possible; not so soon."

He frowned, "And that is his restrained level with no influence from Freerah so it's all his own...almost."

Her eyes widened, "That means..."

"He's already proven that he can be a true Dorzeli Prime by defeating Argent in the traditional way, which means he'll be more formidable than we thought if he's already willing to go that far so soon."

She looked down at his hand near the screen and noticed a color change from medium brown to a shade of red toward violet and warned, "Sir, your levels."

He paused and took a few slow breaths. Within moments the color of his hand reverted to its original color.

"Thank you. I'll have...control my anger while they are on planet." He swung the camera over to Matt.

She gasped again after she saw Matt's power readings: "This can't be!"

He nodded his head. "It seems that this Jason has also unlocked certain secrets about our kind, but it'll be some time before this one can become a danger to us."

She grinned, "Should he be our first target?"

He nodded, "Along with this other female," he looked Sarah over and the characters at the bottom of the screen. "She seems to be a bit behind him so they can all be dealt with as soon as the time is right." He checked Jason's and Freerah's readings again and grinned; "Which may be sooner than I had first thought, even if his power continues to increase."

She frowned when she saw how he looked at the smaller female, then pointed out that; "But according to those readouts it may be several months before you'll have that opportunity."

He grinned, "By then I will be more than ready to deal with all of them." He looked to the last few humans in the room and pointed a claw at one of them. "Look!"

She was also surprised by what she saw. "Our camera's been spotted!"

He grinned again. "It seems that our allies are more competent than I had originally thought." He folded his hands together. "Use your security clearance to make contact with that one tonight, but remember to be discrete. Farada and Jolle still suspect that you're still loyal to me."

She bowed to him. "It will be done."

Before she could turn to leave he added, "Remember: if Freerah detects any change in that individual not of her party's doing there won't be anyway I or anyone in the council can stop her from getting to you."

He would have seen her shiver if he had turned around. "I-I understand."

She turned, opened the sliding door to leave and for that brief moment there was enough light let into the darkened room to reveal the almost violet fur color of her master and his very tooth filled grin that faded the moment Freerah stop walking.

She growled and looked around. Matt and the others felt it too.

Farada turned her head and asked, "What's wrong."

She hissed, "Shriu's here isn't he?"

Their escorts tensed, ready for anything.

She frowned. "He's on planet but he's been banished from the council...for the time being."

Matt became nervous when he saw her hood flaps threaten to open and she growled, "Where is he?"

He was startled when their host turned around, stood up and threatened that, "If you wish things to go well tomorrow I would advise you to hold off on your thirst for revenge." She calmed and glanced at Jason. "Your people have a saying; ‘Patience is a virtue'?"

Jason smiled and nodded.

Matt took that opportunity to glance at Feih and saw that her anger was also on edge.

She caught him looking and said, "He's the one that betrayed my family and the others and got them exiled to Dessla."

He understood her anger when he thought, "Which lead to the death of her parents and first mate at the hands of the Soriss." Which, he concluded, if that had not happened he would have never met her.

"Is that why he's not representing the Dorzeli that stayed behind?" asked Jason.

Farada returned to her quad stance and resumed the walk toward the habitat section "No, he lost that position to Krassa Felhas, who is away on personal business, but she should be back by tomorrow's session." She frowned. "She may or may not be in league with him, but let's not think of that now. A hearty meal awaits us." She smiled and looked at the once again nervous humans in the transport. "One your human allies should find quite appetizing." She licked her lips and returned her head back to view their course to their destination.

Matt hoped that she meant that as a joke and like the others, followed her to what he hoped would not be an eventful even