Kozantei, Fourth Quadrant, Andromeda Galaxy.

Zogan

"This ends now!" shouted Zogan, he stalked the council room, blood boiling from the battle they'd just ended. "How dare they, come into our world and kill our people."

Azazel snarled his agreement. The King, Queen, Mara, Ravanna, and Nezerra were all assembled. All dripping with gore from the Zon they'd destroyed. The remainders of the Zon hive had been the ones who'd carried out the attack, to enact revenge for the killing of their hive master Freharh. Mara had caught and tortured the information out of one unfortunate beast before she'd ended its life.

Zogan's gaze was still hazed in red, his hearts pounding, his very bones sang for more violence. How did they get past the shields of his planets? This had to end, too many were suffering; he was ready to take his father's throne but not until peace reigned supreme in the fourth quadrant. He did not want to cause his elderly father any more stress and wanted them to enjoy their retirement. He had to take care of this as the commander.

"We must go with the discussed plan son; it is the only way." His mother's soft voice filled the room.

He pivoted on his heel and clenched the back of the empty chair before him. His mind snapped to Mya who should've been seated in it. Where is she?

"I don't like it but I want this over as well, I am tired of our people being caught in the cross fire, this war has been ongoing for ten anums." the king said as he clasped his mate's hand tightly. Mara and Azazel jerked their heads in agreement.

Ravanna hunched over in his seat rubbed his hands over his eyes, "We don't have all the information I would have liked but... I agree we have no other choice."

"Are the warriors ready?" asked Zogan, he was distracted and trying to scent his mate. She was not close by.

"They are, more than we could've asked, they feel just the same as we do." Mara offered, voice clipped, she, just like her mate had a harder time controlling the killing rage that came with the gift of their people. She visibly struggled now to focus on the conversation at hand. Her body spasmed from the effort of remaining seated.

"Pass on the word to our allies, we will leave at solars end."

He strode from the room, eyes scanning the darkened hallways, the systems rebooting after shifting into the energy conserving mode to outlast the heavy air strikes from the Zon.

His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, he moved swiftly. Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? His thoughts beat at him like a drum filling his head. A shadow slinked up to him and rubbed against his side; Zar.

"Where is Mya?" he asked the Kyeet, but he just huffed and twitched his head in response. His hearts beat faster.

He entered the cool air outside; the suns had set during the onslaught. The ground was strewn with bodies of Zon and Kozan. Mostly Zon and Zogan's lips curled in disgust at them as he maneuvered through their steaming hunks of flesh. There were still Zon about – not enough to be a threat so he'd left them to the warriors eager to prove themselves. They would be hunted and killed very efficiently. The city below - still in complete lock down with most citizens safely tucked away - only glowed under the moons' light, no cheery colorful lights lit up the buildings from within.

He scented gruut gruut mixed with the hint of a very distinct smoky and nutty fragrance and his head snapped around. To his left in the far distance, he could see a small shape shadowed by a towering four-legged beast climbing Zon and cutting them down. He walked closer and peered down at the sight before him.

Under the moonlight she seemed to glow, her brown skin glistening with sweat and blood, her hair whipping about her with her skilled movements. His mate spun and swiped her knife, pushing it into another Zon's bulb head, and jerked it out, looking toward the last two Zon stalking her. Artemisia was at her side and her maw dripped with the innards of the enemy. Zogan, about to go to her paused, he had truly been given a goddess for his mate.

It looked like a ritualistic sacrifice beneath the silver glow from the heavens, the ground behind them was littered with dead Zon. She swung and ducked, moving in perfect rhythm with her kyeet, avoiding the vicious swipes from the Zon. They both pounced on the Zon who roared and lunged forward at the same time.

Mya, using her size to her advantage, slid under the swiping claws of the Zon and spun. She plunged her knife into its back with a savage hacking motion, a scream of rage on her lips. Jumping upwards, hooked her hands around its neck and climbed upwards, placing her feet on its lower back. Using her momentum, she pitched backward causing the Zon to flip over onto its stomach with her lodged onto its back. She slid her blade smoothly over its neck and gore spilled onto the fauna below. Artemisia was chewing leisurely on the other Zon, her eyes glowed a piercing blue in the darkness. Perfectly paired.

She spotted him then, and bared her teeth, mimicking the Kozan's snarl. Her square teeth would not inspire fear but yet she looked like a savage, coated in blood and dirt. Zogan's hearts pulsed. She was his, completely his own, beautiful in her savagery, perfect. He stretched a hand to her as she climbed the short incline and clasped her gloved hand around his larger one. She squeezed. Artemisia rubbed along Zar as she met with him, and they walked back to the palace.

The passing solar was hectic. There was always someone waiting to talk into Zogan's ear about the war and strategies. They had to work out all possibilities, to ensure that the Tyrhung would be planted where its potential would be met perfectly. The device was only as powerful as its position, for complete obliteration of the Ajal's world the Tyrhung's planting had to be precise. There was also the issue of gaining entry to the very closed off Ajal home world, Seethkar. Zogan was handling all of that with Ravanna and then there was also the briefing of all the newly trained warriors who were eager for their first taste of war, both he and the entire council had to present the facts to them, ensuring that their roles for their various sects were thoroughly understood. No mistakes would be afforded. Eagerness was good but sometimes when mixed with ignorance it got you killed.

Mya was among them, he ensured that she was assigned to his section for the mission, he wanted – no – he needed her close. They barely had a moment alone together, with him coming back to their quarters exhausted and ready to rest and her already wrapped up in the covers of their rest pod when he arrived, only shifting to get closer to him and murmur soft I love yous, giving him sleepy kisses before they both drifted off into deep sleep.

He ached for a time when they would be able to enjoy each other and all that their home had to offer at their leisure. This plan had to be successful. Unlike the last journey, the visit to the Zon headquarters, this one was not to be one of secrecy. It was a direct act of war, and one that had been designed to end it all. There would be no hiding. He was ready.