36 Meeting the King (1/2)

Ivan, Mazur, Iris and Valeria returned to the Vulpes homeworld a little over six months after leaving. Because of this, they still had another six months before the orbit of the planet returned to the position above where their subspace community was.

The Poseidon still sat in the same spot of a forest as when they first landed. Because it had been dormant for so long, plant life had already begun growing up the legs of the massive spaceship. Vines weeded their way up and even begun sprouting small yellow flowers. Other plant species which thrive in damp conditions with little light also grew in abundance under the shadow of the ship.

The Vulpes military encampment surrounding the ship had also grown, with many permanent structures being constructed relatively fast. The Folkien Empire appeared to have come to a decision to set up a permanent base in the area, possibly to ease the lives of soldiers stationed here.

The four Symbions still lived in the area around the ship. The empire was responsible for regularly delivering bamboo to them, which they had taken a strong liking to. The family of three had a happy life to themselves, although the space they could move about was limited to the forest alone.

The outcast Symbion though was mostly lifeless, lazily sleeping wherever like a corpse. It had become comfortable around the Vulpes soldiers, but Ivan considered that the loneliness of not having any of its own kind, excluding the family which strongly secluded him.

There was still the hole in the base of the cargo bay of the ship, and the Vulpes had built a scaffolding ramp leading up to it. They also had become curious of the inside of the ship whilst Ivan and the others were gone, even though the structure of the ship was too advanced for them to even let them open it up and examine its makings, let alone understand them.

Outside the ship were a hundred massive shipping containers, each containing a thousand tightly packed stasis pods. These things were mass produced throughout the galaxy, so sourcing and shipping 100,000 of them was very simple.

”How long will it take you to modify them?” Ivan asked Mazur as he inspected the cargo.

Mazur was incredibly efficient at making the modifications and said, ”I've done so many I can do them with my eyes closed now. It is a simple transformation, but unfortunately knowledge can't replace pure labor. I can only alter 100 a day at most.”

Ivan frowned at this. While three years wasn't a long time, Mazur was also needed in subspace and couldn't spend such a long period of time here.

”I guess it's time to meet the king,”

Iris felt like such a meeting might not go as intended and asked Ivan, ”Are you sure that's a good idea?”

”It's the only method forward for us. Whilst we can teach our own people to modify the pods, it will take years due to the short window of returning to the planet. We also need to increase recruits to match the 100,000 new pods afterwards, far greater than the original 1,000 per year as agreed upon.”

”But I don't believe the king will agree with it.”

”His country is in a turbulent period of time. Based on my understanding, the surrounding empires have already been conquered and the royal families executed. Although the population inflow has increased due to the new territories, the people aren't about to forget the discrimination they always held for one another.”

”You are thinking of sourcing the immigrants to fill the numbers?” Iris asked as if enlightened.

Ivan nodded briefly and explained, ”That is one of the options. The other is to instead have the entire Folkien Empire begin immigration into subspace. They will naturally need information on the fourth dimension and all it entails. That would mean the king himself, and his family, would have to accept the transformation and risk involved. Even if I gave him a high position in the company, he would also have to accept not being a king anymore.”

”I don't think he would be able to accept that,” Iris shook her head gently.

*****

”Mr. Ivan and Mr. Mazur, we have received news that you returned. We didn't expect you to appear before us though,” King Margold looked down upon the two from his throne. He completely ignored Valeria, a kivsharr, standing behind the group, but couldn't help but take several intoxicated glances toward Iris, the former most popular celebrity in the empire.

”Husband, I believe they are here for a reason,” Queen Sherrell gently said to the king, but her gaze was piercing cold.

It was normal for a Vulpes king to have several concubines, even in this modern day, but the queen had ensured that King Margold only kept her by her side, breaking this normal tradition.

King Margold cleared his throat, ”What have your two honorable selves visited us for this time.”