Post by Fiora Ren on Jan 3, 2024 14:10:38 GMT -8
The Mandator V-class Heavy Siege Dreadnought known as The Thanatos dropped out of hyperspace first above Empress Teta, with the rest of its escort fleet following soon after. Ships from the detached raiding fleets soon started popping in over the Throne World of the Ren Empress. Ships needing repairs were directed immediately on to Byss to the shipyards there, while those that were undamaged were split between acting as a guard and stocking up on supplies and troops.
Aboard the Thanatos, Fiora sat at the foot of the Throne where she had been since the retreat from Ralltiir. But she was not alone. Harnan sat beside her, doing his best to comfort and console her. He was not perfect, but she appreciated the fact that he was trying. It was undoubtedly quite the awkward position he had found himself in: Master of the Knights of Ren within which she was a Knight of, then there was the fact she was the self declared Empress of the First Order to which his Knights owed allegiance, and then the latest bombshell which she had dropped over Ralltiir regarding the truth of who her Father really was
I spread our forces too thin at Ralltiir... I made a tactical blunder. I thought we needed to secure our way across the Empire and everything would be fine...
She let out a resigned sigh as she pressed against his chest as his hand came down atop her helmet
Any tactical mistake you are guilty of, I am as well. I could have advised against it and pushed for us to rush straight for Bastion... But I didn't. I underestimated their strength and agreed with your plan. So the blame does not sit squarely upon your shoulders. I know it does not feel like that, but I am here the shoulder this burden with you...
She was grateful for the mask as she looked up at him, a small smile of gratitude gracing her lips. It didn't make everything instantly better, but it did help comfort her a little. He put on quite the appearance for others when he was in public. But amongst the Ren and with her... He was different, like this. It was hard to tell sometimes what was going through his mind, but she knew one thing: he cared for her and the other Ren. She pressed her head back against his chest, nuzzling against it a little
Thank you... Father...
She felt him tense up a little at her last word, causing a small and brief giggle. She rested her hand atop the one he had upon her shoulder
I'm sorry... That was my own blunder. I should have said something sooner... But you've never made it easy to talk about... her...
She could feel him relax a little before giving her shoulder a squeeze
We had a complicated relationship, your mother and me... What happened... Well... I was never really sure what the truth was when it came to you and Octavian. I promised I would not pursue the truth, but you...
I found the truth for myself. I needed to know! But I fear by announcing it...
She felt her head tipped backwards as he looked down into her visor
Don't.... You found out the truth and chose it over a lie. Do not ever be ashamed of who or what you are. If there are those that abandon our cause because of this, then so be it. People come and go, but you have to live with yourself. Those that accept you no matter what... Keep them close and fight for them, just as they fight for you. Understood?
She wasn't sure when they had begun, but she suddenly felt the tears running down her cheeks as she blinked in that moment. It was actually quite touching the way he spoke to her
Harnan... Th-thank you...
And I promise you, we will get Jin back. Now... you should get some rest. We have some time here before we need to pull back to Prakith. Get some rest while you can...
She gave a nod up to him. It wasn't the strategy she was most wild about, but their strength had been diminished by the events of Relltiir and the other Core Worlds that she had sought to capture. She pushed herself up and out of his grip and stood up facing him
Fine... But make sure you get some rest as well. The Empress needs the Master of the Ren at his best as well!
Before he could respond, she took off out of the Throne Room and made for her personal quarters aboard the Thanatos
Aboard the Thanatos, Fiora sat at the foot of the Throne where she had been since the retreat from Ralltiir. But she was not alone. Harnan sat beside her, doing his best to comfort and console her. He was not perfect, but she appreciated the fact that he was trying. It was undoubtedly quite the awkward position he had found himself in: Master of the Knights of Ren within which she was a Knight of, then there was the fact she was the self declared Empress of the First Order to which his Knights owed allegiance, and then the latest bombshell which she had dropped over Ralltiir regarding the truth of who her Father really was
I spread our forces too thin at Ralltiir... I made a tactical blunder. I thought we needed to secure our way across the Empire and everything would be fine...
She let out a resigned sigh as she pressed against his chest as his hand came down atop her helmet
Any tactical mistake you are guilty of, I am as well. I could have advised against it and pushed for us to rush straight for Bastion... But I didn't. I underestimated their strength and agreed with your plan. So the blame does not sit squarely upon your shoulders. I know it does not feel like that, but I am here the shoulder this burden with you...
She was grateful for the mask as she looked up at him, a small smile of gratitude gracing her lips. It didn't make everything instantly better, but it did help comfort her a little. He put on quite the appearance for others when he was in public. But amongst the Ren and with her... He was different, like this. It was hard to tell sometimes what was going through his mind, but she knew one thing: he cared for her and the other Ren. She pressed her head back against his chest, nuzzling against it a little
Thank you... Father...
She felt him tense up a little at her last word, causing a small and brief giggle. She rested her hand atop the one he had upon her shoulder
I'm sorry... That was my own blunder. I should have said something sooner... But you've never made it easy to talk about... her...
She could feel him relax a little before giving her shoulder a squeeze
We had a complicated relationship, your mother and me... What happened... Well... I was never really sure what the truth was when it came to you and Octavian. I promised I would not pursue the truth, but you...
I found the truth for myself. I needed to know! But I fear by announcing it...
She felt her head tipped backwards as he looked down into her visor
Don't.... You found out the truth and chose it over a lie. Do not ever be ashamed of who or what you are. If there are those that abandon our cause because of this, then so be it. People come and go, but you have to live with yourself. Those that accept you no matter what... Keep them close and fight for them, just as they fight for you. Understood?
She wasn't sure when they had begun, but she suddenly felt the tears running down her cheeks as she blinked in that moment. It was actually quite touching the way he spoke to her
Harnan... Th-thank you...
And I promise you, we will get Jin back. Now... you should get some rest. We have some time here before we need to pull back to Prakith. Get some rest while you can...
She gave a nod up to him. It wasn't the strategy she was most wild about, but their strength had been diminished by the events of Relltiir and the other Core Worlds that she had sought to capture. She pushed herself up and out of his grip and stood up facing him
Fine... But make sure you get some rest as well. The Empress needs the Master of the Ren at his best as well!
Before he could respond, she took off out of the Throne Room and made for her personal quarters aboard the Thanatos
