"Captain, incoming encrytped transmission from Mancora," said the Long Range Vox Operator toward the ships command dais. 

 

  Captain Jeanne DeClisson was standing in her command dais on the bridge of the Howling Griffons Strike Cruiser Firefell, reviewing all the incoming reports. She stepped down and walked over to the Long Range Vox Operator, Hudsen, and looked at his screen. 

 

  + + +TRANSMITTED: >>CLASSIFED<< + + +
  + + +RECEIVED: Strike Crusier Firefell  + + +
  + + +DESTINATION:  Ultima Segmentum + + +
  + + +DATE: M42  + + +
  + + +TELEPATHIC DUCT: Astropath >>CLASSIFIED<<  + + +
  + + +REF:  GD/90840958940324323432/OV  + + +
  + + +AUTHOR: >>CLASSIFIED<< + + +
  + + +SUBJECT: >>CLASSFIED<< + + +

  + + +THOUGHT: Let the foe blunt their blades against our resolve. They will be ash and memories soon enough. -Macharian Duologues Chapter 61  + + +

 

>>RESTRICTED ACCESS<<

>>PROVIDE IDENITY<<

>>CLEARANCE LEVEL 6 OR HIGHER<<

 

  Placing her signet ring in the decoder, the message decrypted. 

 

>>CLEARANCE LEVEL 8 ENTERED<<

>>ACCESS APPROVED <<

>>PROCESSING<<
>>ATTACHED SECTOR DATA DOWNLOAD<<
>>PROCESSING<<
>>DOWNLOAD COMPLETE<<

 

  She saw the information and turned to her aide Jensen and said "Inform the Ships War Council and prep the War Room. Riley, put me in contact with the 1st Company Captain."  

 

"Yes ma'am, " they both responded immediately. 

 

  Riley and Jensen began taking care of the task she had assigned to them.  Orders given and immediately followed. Captain Jeanne DeClisson thought of her younger days, leading up to her becoming an Inductee of the Howling Griffons Fleet.

 

  As a young married woman of nobility on Mancora, her husband was captured and beheaded by a rival kingdom. Instead of morning her deceased husband, Jeanne DeClisson went to war, against the rival king that had killed her husband. She raised a small fleet, had a few soldiers, sailors, and mercenaries she employed.  She became a master of naval warfare.  Raiding, pillaging, burning and sinking the rivals ships. The spoils of war going to the men she commanded. Often she would leave few witnesses to tell the story of her vengeance. She was a Lioness among Wolves. The allies to the King that killed her husband feared her reprisal so they soon stopped shipping supplies, food, fuel, anything that the King needed.

 

The Howling Griffons took notice. A Noblewoman seeking revenge for her wrongfully executed husband.  Under orders from the Chapter Master, the Librarius of the Howling Griffons orchestrated a private parlay between just the the King and Jeanne DeClisson. The rules were simple, come alone, unarmed to the Flower Fields and broker a deal to end the war.  Upon arriving to the parlay alone, Jeanne DeClisson soon saw that the King did not come alone but with his full bodyguard. The King pulled a pistol to kill Jeanne DeClisson. Seeing the violation of the rules of parlay, five Howling Griffons Scouts appeared from nowhere, combat blades drawn. With a slight motion from the Scout with the bearded face the Kings bodyguard were immediately executed by  the four other the scouts before the bodyguard could react.

 

"I am a Scout Sgt of the Howling Griffons Chapter. The Chapter requested this parlay. I am the Representative of the Chapter on this parlay. You shall refer to me as My Lord," said the Scout Sgt. 

 

"You have violated the rules of the parlay. As such your title, your land, your wealth, and your life are now forfeit. Because of this and all the other crimes, including the murder and execution of innocent people, your family name, crest and castle will be removed from the history of Mancora," the Scout Sgt said as he pointed at the now former King.

 

The former King began sobbing and begged for his life, dropping his pistol and falling to his knees.

 

The Scout Sgt picked up the King's pistol and said "Silence!" 

 

The Scout Sgt turned to Jeanne DeClisson said, "You are to end your war, immediately, Lady Jeanne DeClisson. This is non negotiable. Do you accept this condition?"

 

"Yes, my lord," she said as she looked towards the ground not making eye contact with Scout Sgt.

 

"Good. Now that is done, you have 2 options for your future. One, remarry and become a wife of nobleman, raise a family, forget everything you have done, and try to live a peaceful life," the Scout Sgt said looking at her. 

 

"Or option two. You take this pistol, complete your oath of revenge by killing him, and then begin serving the Howling Griffons as Crewman on one our Strike Cruisers," the Scout Sgt said as he offered her the King's pistol.

 

  Without hesitation she grabbed the pistol and shot the former King in the head. She went to hand the Scout Sgt back the pistol. 

 

"It is yours, now. Remember how you earned it, as you were Lioness among wolves." he said to her.  

 

"Now you begin your next life evolution, Lady DeClisson. You will serve the Howling Griffons Chapter," a voice said in her head as  figure in blue armor and yellow robe with a large staff walked towards her. 

 

 

"Ma'am, the 1st Company Captain, is on the vox for you," stated Riley.

 

"My Lord De Sescas, we have received new mission orders, from Mancora," she transmitted into her vox.