Chapter 4: The Downfall of BTD

Sasha was staring out at the view in their personal TDZ council room which was a charming and humble quarters. It was not the traditional CVR luxury that she had been accustomed to, but she quite enjoyed its simplicity. Though she had observed that Fab’R had subtly disliked the uncomplicatedness.  Podav and Fab’R were sitting at the table behind her as her mind continued to wander deep into the view.

Podav calmly began to explain, “So, Fish…you can understand our hesitation is simply….”

She viciously turned around and stared down both Podav and Fab’R with the intense glare that deafened the room.  

 “WHAT FUCKING HESITATION!” Sasha had snapped. She was tired of the paper pushing methodology that her officers bored her with. Countless meetings that would result in no actual decision. The culture difference of FLG joining her new branch of CVR to create TDZ was an endless headache. She had complained about it to Malsi countless times and he would simply laugh back at her without really acknowledging her frustrations. She collected herself before she continued. “Listen, I don’t care what hesitation is happening with you guys. When we came from 167, we knew changes were going to be made. We knew that we would have to work together!”

Podav grabbed his glass of water and sipped it cautiously. He cleared his throat and sat straight in his chair.

“Well, I think we should consider that the team might need more time”.

Fab’R pursed his lips. “My little dear Fish. Don’t you see what we have is good enough? I mean you MUST consider the officers and the team and then everything that will come with these decisions you make solely for your own desires? I mean you think you know ALL the world, when really…”

Sasha’s anger could not be repressed any longer. She screamed as she slammed her hands down on the table. She proceeded to violently swat the glass Podav was drinking from across the room with her left hand, in a defiant and unforgiving manner.

“I SAID I NEED A GOD DAMN ARMY AND I NEED ONE IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS!!!” Her breathe was heavy. Her temper had grown worse and worse  

The two officers exchanged bulged eyed glances at one another as Fab’R let out an audible sigh as he crossed his arms. They had seen this look in her eye before. They knew it all too well.

 “WE DON’T HAVE TWO FUCKING WEEKS!!!!” She paused and turned around to stare at that magnificent view. Something about the view of space had always captured Sasha in a unique way that calmed her senses. Sasha slightly recoiled her aggressive demeanor as she began to find her breath. She composed herself and she paced back and forth across the great galactic window. She felt an immense amount of pressure.

“Podav, round up every piece of strength we have. Fab’R, give Podav whatever support he needs. Because in less than 24 hours, WE are going to war.”

Podav slightly nodded his head then slowly stood up in a graceful manner. Fab’R remained seated like a sulking teenager with his arms crossed as he looked at Podav with a look of disgust.

 “I will gather the men Fish”. Podav began to walk away from the table with an undeniable confidence.

“Fab’R?” Sasha looked at him with sweet eyes. “Can you please assist Podav in this mission. We need to stick together…..”

In the most deliberately slow and haughty fashion, Fab’R arose from his seat and looked down at Fish in her eyes. “Whatever you say Boss”.  

Podav began a brisk jog down the station corridors as he dialed in Razbot via his wrist communicator.

“Razbot – we need to send out code D76 to all nearest fleets within our location.”

But Podav, code D76 means that we will be in war? Is TDZ under attack?

“No Razbot. Fish needs us to go to war with BTD in 24 hours. We need all the fleet strength we can possibly gather and we need it to meet at the main trade port between our territories”. Podav did tend to the matter urgently and although he had his obvious hesitations – he did feel that that their army was far superior to the strength in BTD. “…Also can you send Fab’R a message that I need to him to meet me in the main battle station a few hours before the war.”

Yes sir. Right away sir.

Podav started to round the troops. Within only a few short hours – he found that the amount of participants exceeded his expectations. He sent the fleet total to Sasha.

“Sasha, we have a decent size army. I rounded the troops and we are prepared for our attack on BTD. I know you said you are sure about this – but I must ask once more for good measure. Are we sure we want to do this?” Podav was a very cautious man who did not like to take unnecessary risks. He knew the trade deals with BTD had gone poorly in the past and that the relationship with Nogard had caused great strain with Sasha. Now that he thought about it – he had rarely ever seen Nogard as much as the name had been mentioned. The wavering, feeble leader rarely attended the Northern Federation committee meetings and would often retreat to N13 behind Kotori when he felt threatened. Podav had wondered if the encounter would lead to an altercation with N13.

“We got the approval from the key decision makers. We have our green light. It’s go time”.

One by one, TDZ began entering BTD territory with a wave of fleets. TDZ had learned much of its fire power through the old methods of CVR. They made some slight adjustments to their fleet formations – but the overall battle tactics they employed were a spectacle. The trade corporations being worked on by the drones of BTD suddenly started getting shot down. Massive explosions let out a siren in BTD to let them know they were under attack. By the time the siren had been released – much of the corporation had fallen. Podav took note that the defenses were not even armed. It was a ghost town – with empty traps set up like a poor façade. The worker drones began to flee in a panic as they sent a panic signal to their sister alliances. But by the time the signal had been received – it was already too late. TDZ swiftly burned down each station they could until a war detonation warp reactor was set off transporting the TDZ alliance back to their land. BTD was left in a burning wreckage. TDZ regrouped after the massacre in their dining hall to celebrate. Everyone cheered each other with drinks. Sasha smiled as she saw Erfan, Lars and Overlord3 with big smiles drinking beer. She caught Poadvs glance. She walked out of the room and tilted her head signaling him to follow her. In the station hallway – he met her.

“That was one hell of a battle. How did you know they would not be prepared? It was incredibly easy.” Podav inquired.

She hid a sheepish smile on her face, “…well I have my ways..”

“I must warn you Sasha. Many officers of FLG are not used to these methods you employ. Fab’R seemed upset. We must learn to talk about plans and set them before we act. I fear that you will have a great deal of pushback if you fail to heed your officers.”  Podav turned and opened the station window. He knew how much Sasha enjoyed her view. “We have a great deal of new territory. All in all, I would say this was a success”.

“I don’t know what to do about Fab’R. It seems like he is always combatting my authority. I will try to keep you all more informed on the plans ahead. We need to stay sharp. We celebrate today as a victory – but tomorrow we have work to do.” A look in Sasha’s eyes revealed an odd skepticism. It was as if she knew a great change was ahead. She looked to Podav square in the eye and said with the utmost caution she could muster.

“Did you notice the escape pod before the last explosion near the traps?”

“Nogard – I presume” he responded. He too saw that Nogard, the leader of BTD had abandoned the team fleeing in the direction of N13 towards Kotoris main station council hall. “We will need to talk to Malsi to see how we should proceed. Don’t worry too much about Fab’R. He has always been…whimsical”.

She raised her brow to his statement but didn’t respond. She was enamored looking out the station window, gazing at the new land they had just doubled for TDZ. Finally, she felt a little sense of peace for the first moment in 102 as she heard the calls of her men gathering around for a shot and chanting over and over “Speech! SPEECH! SPEECH!”

“Time for your speech Sasha.” Podav slightly nudged her as they both walked back into the festivities.