Rebellion, I have seen many such events from the various historical records I had access to for the first year of my adaptation to just being born from a cloning vat. These records heavily focused on the perspective of these defending against the revolt, getting their point of view. They mostly categorised these rebels as insurgents, oppositions to public order and the glory of our great Empire. Propaganda routine was quite evident in the Empire's every media facet, but even with this exaggerated version of history, the truth leaks out despite the Empire's efforts. For instance, the revolt that formed the new Empire was an interesting endeavour, very idealistic in the rebel's motives as they overthrew the imperial family shortly after the infertility crisis. The first step of these rebels was to admonish the imperial family as unfit to lead and protect the citizens of the Empire, many concepts such as the fact they hid their infertility and their desire to prioritise diplomacy over military action against the other nations. Growing prejudice had always been there and the infertility crisis gave not only the citizens but their lower class a rallying cry.

The lower class of the Empire felt as if their livelihood such as their ability to reproduce was stripped from them and thus in their minds they had no future and thus the rebel cause was born from a mixture of fear, hatred and listening to another opinion. With the fear and prejudice in full swing, the imperial family attempted to pacify the lower class via diplomatic means such as sponsoring relief organisations to improve the conditions of the lower class and a research facility for finding a cure for rampant infertility. Such methods were useless, not only had the prestige and future of the imperial family had been tarnished, and their acts to placate the riled-up populace proved ineffective. In the end, a simple coup within the imperial palace took place with several Generals and a united coalition of high-ranking nobles took power. The once-formidable imperial family that ruled the Empire for centuries were now rotting heads deposited upon spikes.

In the end, it was not a ruthless totalitarian government that saw the downfall of the populace, it was their inability to change with the times and directly confirm and meet the needs of a populace that lost faith in them. The downfall of many a leader throughout the ages have been their disconnection from their people, the higher you are up on the totem pole, the harder it is to see the daggers waiting below. This is not always the case as most coups and aggressive changes in governments came about somewhat from righteous reasons to oppose a brutal tyrant. In the case of my Empire, it was the former, but the leaders to truly watch out for are not just those who fail to adapt and understand those they rule nor those that rule tyrannically without thought to repercussions. The leaders to watch out for are those that ineffectually do both at the same time, those are the ones that can neither see the truth nor accept their faults, they not only do not see the dagger coming, they make every effort to multiply them.

Twenty Major Cycles Later, Hellmak Patrol Vessel.

Moving through the ship has been quite a fascinating endeavour, tracing my fingers across the inner hull has given me a feel for this vessel physically and intellectually. Quroken has been helpful in explaining most of the systems onboard the ship, he had studied quite a lot before even arriving on this vessel. The most fascinating piece of technology I have pointed out and had explained to me is the gravity plates. Just remember back to my escort throughout the interior of the ship and asking Quroken that very question after pointing out the square plates embedded into the ceiling of each room. Quroken quickly replied explaining in detail this technology, most of it was difficult to understand but three specific features stuck out. The first was the artificial gravity plates must exist in each room and are controlled via a network to deliver the correct gravitational force for each room. Second, they seem to use some sort of strange mineral discovered on a planet claimed by the Shah, using an electrical current they produce gravity fields. The third and most important factor was this technology and knowledge of the element was pilfered from one of the subservient species.

This technology is light years ahead of anything my people could come up with, the technology gap continues to grow between us and this Shah Star Empire. Severe tactical disadvantage indeed, these pondering thoughts are indeed interesting but the task at hand demands my attention as it appears, I have a shadow following me. The enemy has proven quite elusive to my attempts to shake their tail, a formidable opponent indeed. Using the networked cameras, I was able to keep track of my foe, but they have proven even more elusive, perhaps they know the locations of the cameras or they are simply too skilled at stealth to be detected. But finally, I believe I have the advantage on my foe, they have stationed themselves deep in my territory designated the kitchen, I must prepare my avenue of attack for the opportune moment to strike.

Target acquired engaging enemy, with my foe focusing on the common room location, I slip to the side as civilian Garudan's pass behind me providing some cover. Slipping around to the other side I stealthily move behind my foe; their small arched back is before I is I make my attack. Placing my right hand on their shoulder I call out in the Garudan language. "Puntop!" This action causes my foe to jump in surprise as she levels her confused gaze upon my form, her adorable face pouts in annoyance, an expression that always puts a smile on my face. Mera Jorn the young Garudan child holds her head in shame as the aim of the game was to avoid being discovered by the foe. A children's game quite common amongst young Garudan's, I believe it originated from a training regime Garudan's subjected their young to by having them hide from the Renkot a blind predator that tracks via scent.

This ancient training regime has since become a game Mera always attempts to convince me to play, after some time I was summarily defeated and seeded to negotiation which ended up in her favour. After some time, she lifted her gaze and held herself high as I taught her, in her own language I explained that she must hold onto her pride even in defeat and acknowledge a worthy foe. I cross my arms to my chest in the same fashion as the Samsiran military, prompting my recruit to do the same. I then encourage her to go to her parents Sok and Kara Jorn, as likely they are looking for their child for some time.

With her receding figure, I turn my gaze to the corridor of the cockpit and decide to go visit Quroken, passing through the hallway quickly I walk through the open cockpit doors and witness the Pintonian seated in the captain's chair, piloting the ship efficiently. I step forward and place my left hand on his shoulder and glance down. Quroken turns his head to me and speaks in Shahnese. "Greetings Captain, how are you, do you need anything?" His gaze narrows at my presence with a slight twinge of concern in his eyes as he swallows a shallow breath.

Hmm, it seems he is still referring to me by that title of Captain, something I do not believe is the correct way to address me as I have not earned my military rank yet neither from the fallen Samsiran Empire nor here amongst these men and women, I place my right hand to my chin and ponder for a moment before replying. "Didn't I request you to not refer to me by an unearned title?" I move my hands down and cross my arms behind my back, straitening my posture ramrod straight.

It seems Quroken is quite flushed in nervousness after my slight admonishment of his actions despite my prior requests he cease and desist his actions. Quroken seems to flicker much more with his nervous reaction before sighing dejectedly and responding in an equally firm tone. "Honestly, Captain, your true name is strange and difficult to pronounce, I prefer to call you this as we all agree you are the captain of this vessel." Nodding with confidence in every word he speaks, affirms his gaze almost standing strong despite being in a seated position.

I sigh in resignation and decide to leave the situation at that, accepting my new name with respect as I decide to respond as such. "Well, if that's the case, I shall endeavour to prove worthy of such a title." With these words said, Quroken nods in acknowledgement and silent respect I believe, I nod back just before I am alerted via my implant. I had at once set up a simple alert for certain rooms on this vessel via the camera system, the cargo bay is alerting movement. I turn to the vision of the endless black space outside whilst sending my thoughts to command the camera system. A small video feed appears before me and my gaze narrows at the sight, Itoa and Hera appear to be circling each other, Hera wielding a decorated spear and Itoa wielding a short sword. Is there some sort of disagreement between the two or perhaps some sort of practice session?

I decide to leave the room after bidding farewell to Quroken and make my way to the cargo bay, reaching there after a short walk I come across the cargo bay doors with several indistinct voices on the other side. The voices are hard to make out but sound like the Garudan language, opening the unlocked door I move into the cargo bay. What greets me is a small crowd of the adult Garudan's all clamouring in voices of encouragement directed towards the central open area of the cargo bay. In the centre is the spitting image of what I had on the cargo bay camera, Itoa and Hera engaged in combat.

I move off to the side away from the crowd, they notice and glare for a moment before returning their gazes to the main event. My eyes peer upon this battle analysing every facet whilst my implant records the event, I send a simple mental command to apply this recording to a new project file labelled "Garudan fighting styles". With the project file established I eagerly watch and internally comment on the current proceedings, Hera seems to be engaged in a thrust and dodge type technique relying on her speed and manoeuvrability to avoid Itoa's strikes. Taking advantage of Itoa's large and bulky frame, the attacks seem to be delivered at random, seemingly aiming at no vital organs if Garudan biology is like my own. Her attacks are graceful and fluid, no strike is wasted as she ducks and weaves side to side before thrusting with considerable force and then retracting before Itoa can grapple her weapon. Her pattern is still crude and predictable but has a certain elegance to it that I appreciate, she stated she was "Dato Mak" or first spear in the tribe and her skills would explain that. Against her own kind, she would likely be able to quickly dispatch them but against a trained combatant, in advanced techniques, her inability to shift the momentum and direction of the fight would be her flaw. Thrust, thrust, dodge to the left and then the right, she seems to favour such a move, I wonder if the Garudan's have minimal directional awareness and the calculative ability for that to work.

It seems the fight is nearing its climax as Itoa uses his large bulk delivering blow after blow with ferocious but still calculated strikes, one would not think he was the tactician of his tribe with such a display. Itoa's strong and heavy strikes barrel down narrowly missing his agile opponent, leading to a kind of bottleneck of speed against precise strength, neither landing a blow yet. Eventually, the duel ends in a draw as both stops just short of their attacks and freezes in place. Her spear levelled against his lower abdomen while his sword set near her neck, though a draw both would have received fatal wounds if the strikes met flesh.

The two then move a few steps back, place their weapons on the ground in front of them almost presenting them to their opponent before kneeling on both knees and lifting their weapons with both hands. Presenting their weapons forward towards each other they both speak at the same time in their native language. "Tremow Yok." Perhaps some sort of term to ending a duel with respect will investigate later. The two then ascend to their feet and hold their weapons to their sides. Both turn to me and acknowledge my presence, Itoa waves to me with a jovial smile, despite not speaking much he is quite amicable with me. Hera on the other hand glares at me with almost dead eyes as if she were staring at thin air, she likely despised me or simply does not care.

Hera called over to me with a few words I was able to identify as some sort of challenge to a duel, curious I decided to accept and walk over. Standing between the two Itoa presents me his sword, it odd I would think a tribal civilisation would be more protective of their individual weapons. Regardless I took the decorated sword in my right hand and stepped to the centre of the cargo bay opposite Hera. The blade in my hand was crude but still well carved, some sort of cloth secured to the handle, a strange black metal made up the blade with glyphs etched onto it. I decided to cast my gaze to the challenge at hand as I was curious how Hera would deal with an opponent who can take advantage of her habit of repeating attack patterns. Levelling my posture into the basic combat stance "Junpo", a common fighting style of my people with my feet spread evenly to the side and my knees bent slightly. I level my free hand backwards while thrusting my sword hand forward almost crouching as I do this.

After some time of waiting, we both nod before Hera bursts forward with impressive speed, closing the distance in a matter of moments. Her spear levelled forward aiming for me with ruthless efficiency, judging from her direction I predict she will favour her right side and thus will faint left and then strike from the right. As expected, she did just that, she faints to the left with a halfway thrust. I pretend to parry to my right side, witnessing my anticipation of her faint she then ducks to the right before lunging with all her might to my left side. Just like clockwork, I shift my stance to my side face, lunging forward with my blade parrying her elongated spear and immediately counter riposte towards her unguarded neck. She tries to pull away too quickly and my simulation training kicks in prompting me to disarm her spear with a simple cross swipe of my blade.

She falls back with her spear now rolling on the ground, I return to my stance before stepping forward to put my hand forward, she leans forward, pondering whether to take my hand with hesitation. She comes to a decision and takes the gesture in stride before ascending with me, we both nod silently before I turn and pick up her spear adding it to her. We both then step away from each other and I kneel and perform the same ritual, placing the sword in front of me and presenting it to my opponent. Lifting my gaze, I attempt to speak the words. "Tremow Yok." But my accent seems to butcher the saying causing some heartfelt laughter from Itoa, I did not mind and ascended to my feet. Both Itoa and Hera move closer to me and I return his sword, with both before me I decide to speak. "That was quite an impressive showing of skill, but I have some suggestion to your fighting styles if that is not an imposition," I speak in Garudan with my heavy accent, but I believe my words were conveyed somewhat correctly as they both nodded and eagerly awaited. Curious as I had expected more pushback to a foreigner's advice on such a proud warrior race, nevertheless I will offer aid however I can.

Turning my attention to Itoa and begin to detail how his fighting style relies too much on his physical strength and strong burst like strikes. I suggested perhaps I could teach him Junpo a martial art of my people that may aid him, more efficiently in using his strength. He took my suggestion in stride and nodded in contemplation before agreeing to be instructed by me upon later date, I did notice a slight glint in his eye suggesting an eagerness to learn. Hera on the other hand lost her cold gaze adopting a more respectful expression seems her loss only motivated her to view me with greater respect or wariness not sure which perhaps both. I decided to give her some pointers with her stance and advised her to mix up her attack patterns so she is less predictable, if she were more random in her attack pattern, I doubt I would be able to win against her again. Training simulators give you the basics to intermediate skills only in certain situations not much compared to genuine battle experience, something I intend to rectify soon. The situation was rather amicable between us and the two had accepted me as their temporary leader until returning to their home, Itoa and Hera had taken joint leadership over the former Garudan prisoners and followed my orders for the past ten major cycles.