"Perkin Asland!!!"
"How dare you, how dare you..."
Gorpious's agonized roar rang through the entire bridge. The piercing Insectoid screech could be heard from far away.
"Damn you, you got Greger killed! That was my brother, my brother! Damn you, give me back my brother!!!"
The towering Insectoid leader stamped hard on the bridge floor. Cracks spread across its fragile surface, searing themselves into his heart as well.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Gorpious. We, too, deeply regret Captain Greger's sacrifice. Please accept our condolences."
Perkin Asland's cold voice came through the communicator, followed by a click and a busy tone.
Crunch-bang!
Gorpious curled a tendril around the communicator hanging from his head and hurled it to the floor. Its casing and internal components shattered into countless pieces against the metal deck.
When war broke out, the Federation authorities spent lavishly to recruit private fleets for the offensive, and invited the Community Security Fleet to join as well.
The Community Security Fleet had no desire to participate, but feared provoking the Board of Directors' wrath. Its second-in-command, Greger of the Stone People, therefore led a small detachment to join the campaign against the Nier.
But they had never expected Perkin Asland to deliberately work these private fleets like beasts of burden. They had to lead every charge and absorb the hits in every exchange of fire. All the dangerous work fell to the private fleets!
To be honest, Gorpious had seen it coming. What he had not expected was that, in a battle just moments earlier, the warship carrying Greger would be surrounded by the Nier and destroyed on the spot.
Greger, the loyal brother who had followed him for years, was simply gone!
How could Gorpious accept an ending like that?
Director Perkin Asland's insincere condolences only enraged him further,