"Your Majesty..."
"How goes the battle? The outcome should be decided by now."
"Complete annihilation..."
"Complete annihilation? Our fleet is that powerful?"
"No, Your Majesty. Our fleet was completely annihilated..."
"You're joking, aren't you?"
"..."
The Rixi emperor rose from the throne, bounded down the steps, and seized the minister who had brought the news. "Answer me! You must be joking!"
"No, Your Majesty! Our fleet was completely annihilated by the humans!"
The elderly minister was on the verge of weeping. "The humans' fleet wasn't built from alloys, but from some kind of nanostructure! Their ships can not only change shape at will, they can even-assimilate our ships! Our entire fleet was destroyed, while theirs only grew stronger with every battle!"
The emperor let go and staggered back several steps, every feather on his body drooping.
"No, this isn't real..."
"Summon the commander! Have him project himself here so I can question him personally!"
His anger surged, and the emperor roared, "I want to know what in the world happened!"
"Your Majesty..." the minister answered, unable even to cry. "The commander you personally appointed has already died for the empire! That is the truth. Not a single ship remains of the fleet we preserved for countless years!"
"What's more, the commander may well have been assimilated by the humans and become a part of them!"
The emperor finally let his arms fall and stood frozen for a moment.
Then, supported by his ministers, he slowly returned to his seat.
"So we lost? And they didn't lose a single ship-in fact, they have more?"
"As humiliating as it is, yes. Nanotech Ascension has granted them tremendous, unparalleled power."
The emperor opened his mouth but could find no words. Just then, another panicked voice came from outside.
"The human fleet has been