Gorpious shifted his massive body toward the edge of the Stellar Base's anchorage platform. A specially built, enormous hatch slid open, revealing an even larger airlock chamber within.
The Insectoid leader moved his heavy body into the airlock chamber, filled it with air, then opened the inner airlock door and entered the destroyer Community.
He lowered his head. Krauk Lee stood solemnly to one side, waiting for him.
"Chief, do you have any new instructions?" Krauk stepped forward to ask.
Krauk, his loyal deputy, was as delightful to an Insectoid as ever today.
"I managed to secure the vanguard position, and I also obtained some ships from the other leaders."
Gorpious shook his entire body and shed his custom-built Insectoid alloy exoskeleton armor, revealing the biological exoskeleton that had grown beneath it. His whole body immediately looked a size slimmer.
The armor enhanced his natural defenses while making him look more imposing and formidable.
He had deliberately worn this exoskeleton mech to the meeting, and it had worked well. His towering body and fearsome armor had thoroughly intimidated the other fleet leaders.
"Dear Krauk, you're looking quite spirited today, too-how did the task I gave you go?"
"Very smoothly, Chief. Our captains are all considering defection. I successfully made them realize that serving M'tok means certain death. I was also very discreet. No one will notice anything amiss," Krauk answered in detail.
Gorpious nodded his insect head in satisfaction. His eight powerful legs moved, carrying him onto the spacious bridge where he often stayed.
"Very good. Dear Greger-"
The name slipped out instinctively, and he immediately fell silent.
"...Greger was killed by M'tok."
Gorpious's presence instantly turned savage. He stabbed a foreleg into the floor, and the sharp chitinous tip supporting him pierced straight through the bridge's metal deck.
The