The base was eerily quiet compared to the chaos they'd left behind. The sterile white walls and flickering fluorescent lights did little to ease the tension still clinging to their clothes, bloodstains on uniforms, weapons lowered but not yet cleaned.

  Kirsi stepped into the briefing room first, her golden eyes scanning for any sign of higher-ups already waiting inside. "So," she said flatly as she turned toward Raliya and Dodeka, "what now?"

  Raliya leaned against a nearby console, rifle finally slung over her shoulder instead of gripped in hand now too while replying coolly:

  "Now we wait."

  Dodeka just crossed her arms silently beside them; gaze drifting toward the window where distant city lights twinkled.

  Then? A new voice spoke up from doorway suddenly:

  "...You're late."

  Everyone tensed instantly, turning sharply toward the source of the sound only to see another figure standing there watching them with sharp expression…it was none other than the leader of the KTB herself, which instantly caught Dodeka and Kirsi's attention.

  The president of the KTB was a woman of few words and even fewer emotions…and she radiated an aura of cold, calculated professionalism even now. Her eyes locked onto Raliya first, a slight frown tugging at the corners of her mouth.

  "Well?" the president asked coolly, "I take it the mission was a success?"

  Raliya nodded curtly in response, her expression remaining stoic: "It was. The Traveler Bros are no longer a concern to us, and we have confiscated the Miracle Eyes from them.”

  Dodeka tensed at the president's question, glancing at Trixie uneasily before responding. "KTB stands for 'Kurora Tactical Bureau'," she explained, her voice carefully neutral. "We're...an underground black operation task force working to protect minority groups and other vulnerable members of civilization."

  The president's eyes narrowed slightly at that, something like suspicion sparking in them as she kept her eyes trained on Trixie. "And how old are you, precisely?”

  The president’s expression remained unreadable for a moment, silver eyes calculating as they flicked over Trixie from head to toe.

  Then, she exhaled sharply through her nose and turned back toward Dodeka instead: "I see she's a Meteor Corp agent. She stays."

  Then the president's gaze shifts to Kirsi: "And what is HER purpose of being in our land?”

  Kirsi didn't flinch under the president’s stare, her golden eyes meeting hers with an equal intensity.

  "I am Kirsi—Empress of Ukiuq," she answered smoothly, voice carrying that effortless authority of a ruler used to being obeyed without question. "And my purpose here is to ensure the Fennec people survive their current unrest without spilling more blood than necessary."

  The president's jaw tightened slightly at that, clearly not pleased about having royalty in her base unannounced…but after a beat? She let out another slow exhale before muttering dryly:

  "...Of course you are."

  Kirsi's lips tugged upward in a small, humorless smile at the president's response.

  "I assure you, I mean no one any harm," she replied, tone still level and composed. "I'm here to...diffuse conflict without the tension boiling over into something gruesome."

  The president raised an eyebrow at that, eyes narrowing slightly as she asked coolly: "diffuse conflict? Your people are the ones responsible for the tension you speak of."

  Kirsi's jaw tightened for a brief moment at the accusation, her eyes flaring with anger. "My 'people' are not the ones starting things," she countered sharply.

  The president's only response was a cool, measured silence at that, before: "We Fennecs are tense and on edge for a reason," she said, her voice a mixture of cold anger and frustration, "You humans of the fair complexion have only caused harm in the Fennec community."

  Kirsi's expression tightened at that, irritation flickering in her eyes, but she kept her voice neutral as she replied evenly: "I'm sure you have your reasons for being on edge. But that doesn't excuse the Fennec's violence against innocent white people. And I can assure you," she continued, tone hardening: "We humans 'of the fair complexion' as you so graciously call us? Are not all responsible for everything wrong in your community."

  The president's expression remained stony at that as she retorted coldly: "That's easy for you to say when you haven't been terrorized by white men for who knows how long."

  Kirsi's jaw set again, eyes flashing with anger. "So just because some white men have terrorized the Fennecs, suddenly we're all guilty?"

  The president's lips twisted in a sneer at that, eyes cold and unrepentant. "When it's been going on for generations, yes."

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  Kirsi's entire body tensed at that. "So the solution is to hunt white people now? Attack us? Murder us?"

  The president let out a sharp exhale, her expression hardening further at the tone of Kirsi's voice.

  "It's how white men handle us," she replied coldly. "I don't know what the white people in Ukiuq do. But the ones here? They have been terrorizing us ever since they came into our land.”

  Kirsi's jaw tightened further at that, anger bubbling beneath her composed demeanor. "'White people' is not a monolith," she snapped, her voice cold and measured.

  The president's eyes remained hard and unapologetic, her voice cool and unrepentant. "Oh, but it is. In this country, it is."

  Kirsi exhaled sharply and retorted: "Then you're no better than those 'white people' you hate so much. If you truly believe that. And for the record, the whites of Ukiuq are peace-loving and open to people of all colors and backgrounds. Actually, if white people are a monolith like you claim we are, then why aren't I being hostile towards you right now?"

  The president's eyes flickered, just for a fraction of a second, at that question.

  Then her lips curled into something bitter, almost mocking. "Because you're royalty," she said flatly. "You don't need to get your hands dirty when you have people like her doing it for you." She jerked her chin toward Trixie, who stiffened at the implication but remained silent.

  Kirsi didn’t flinch though; instead tilting head slightly as if genuinely considering this before responding:

  "...Or maybe because I actually believe in coexistence."

  A beat passed where neither woman blinked.

  Then? The president scoffed again, turning sharply on her heel while muttering under breath just loud enough;

  "...Yeah right. Coexistence with the likes of your kind is impossible. You folk always have to feel superior to everyone else or you just can't function properly like the rest of us."

  The words stung, Kirsi couldn't deny that, but she refused to let this president see how much.

  "And I suppose the Fennecs are the 'perfect example of coexistence'?" she countered coolly. "Attacking white people, hunting them down, murdering innocent families...?"

  The president let out a snort at that, scorn and derision mixed in it as she shot back: "That was AFTER we've suffered nearly a millennium of slavery and abuse under your 'superior race' people. You think we Fennecs would just sit on our asses and take it indefinitely?”

  Kirsi's fists clenched, her face a mask of controlled anger now as well. "And how exactly do you think this 'retribution' will help anything," she asked, voice tight.

  The president's expression hardened further, a dangerous glint in her eyes now as she responded coolly: "It sends a message. It shows that we won't roll over and take it anymore. We've endured so much, and now it's our turn to lash back. Starting with the Euphorian Intergalactic Museum, where ancient artifacts were stolen from us by colonist scum and put in glass boxes for the universe to see. That's our next target.”

  Kirsi's jaw clenched again, the mention of the museum striking a nerve.

  "So your strategy is to continue this endless cycle of violence?" she asked through gritted teeth. "To lash out and cause more bloodshed instead of trying to break the cycle entirely."

  The president's eyes flashed coldly, her voice cool and unrepentant. "Sometimes, violence is the only language people understand. And if it takes a little bit of bloodshed to drive home the lesson that we won't be pushed around anymore? Then so be it."

  The president then pointed at Trixie. "You. You're going to go to that museum and help retrieve those artifacts from those rich cretins.”

  The sudden change in topic took Trixie off guard, her eyes widening briefly as all gazes turned to her.

  "...Wait, me?" She asked, taken aback.

  The president's eyes flicked toward her, almost dismissive. "Yes. You."

  Trixie hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between the president and Kirsi. "...Why me?”

  The president's lips curled into a smirk, almost amused by the question as her fennec ears perked up.

  "Because," she said slowly, as if explaining something to a child, "you're white." Her voice dripped with deliberate emphasis on that fact before continuing: "And if we send you in there first? They'll let their guard down thinking you're harmless. Then, when they least expect it, we strike."

  Trixie stiffened at that; eyes flickering toward Kirsi again like she was silently asking for backup here now too…

  Kirsi stepped forward immediately though, blade half-unsheathed already while snarling:

  "Absolutely not."

  The president's expression hardened at Kirsi's abrupt intervention, eyes narrowing slightly.

  "And why not?" She countered sharply. "It's the perfect plan. We use this white girl's presence to our advantage. They'll be too blinded by their privilege to expect the ambush."

  Kirsi's golden eyes flashed with anger, the tip of her blade glinting dangerously as she retorted: "I refuse to use her as a decoy."

  The president's jaw tightened, eyes narrowing further. "You're letting your emotions dictate your decision."

  Kirsi's grip on her blade tightened, jaw clenching with suppressed fury. "No, I'm refusing to use an innocent person as a pawn. All conflicts should be resolved peacefully; drastic measures are a last resort!"

  A tense silence fell, both women staring each other down with simmering anger now. Finally, the president snorted and broke the silence, muttering dryly:

  "You really are soft.”

  Kirsi's entire body seemed to freeze at that, the word "soft" like a sharp knife to the chest.

  But she refused to let it show, golden eyes hardening even more now as she countered coolly: "Soft? Because I believe in diplomacy and communication instead of resorting to mindless violence?"

  The president's lips curled up into something derisive again, almost mocking. "Spoken like someone who's never had her home, her people, and her way of life threatened.”

  Kirsi's voice dropped dangerously low, her golden eyes burning with fury now.

  "And I suppose your way of handling it is to start killing innocent people?" she hissed, stepping forward until the blade at her hip was nearly brushing against the president’s chest. "You think slaughtering whites in cold blood will solve anything? Or are you just hungry for vengeance?"

  The president didn't flinch though; instead tilting head slightly as if considering this before answering:

  "...Maybe a little bit of both."

  Then, turning back to Trixie: "Now. I gave you a mission. You should be preparing yourself. For your protection, Dodeka will be going with you."

  Trixie nodded. "Yes, Miss...?" she drew out while leaning forward, as if silently asking for her name.

  The president's cold dark eyes flicked toward Trixie, studying the girl with a sharp, calculating gaze.

  "President Nera," she answered finally, voice cool and measured. "And good. Dodeka will ensure your safety, and help make sure you don't decide to desert this operation."

  Trixie nodded curtly, though she still cast a brief glance between Kirsi and the president, seemingly uneasy about being stuck between two incredibly stubborn women.