Free Star Force: Retribution (SF60) by Aer-ki Jyr

as a wind was summoned forth simply by
him reaching out and stroking the air a few times.
    And as he did so a sea of holograms surrounded the
Voku, with him fixating on one in particular that was a galaxy map. It slowly
zoomed in until he recognized their own empire and the ADZ, but it also showed
a great deal more, including the current domain of the lizards, the Skarrons,
and many others that he did not know of, but all were detailed before him, with
images of various races swirling about that he did not recognize.
    “ You have done
well to safeguard Star Force, and it is growing in size and strength rapidly.
Your task there is done, but you are correct in assuming that the ‘lizards’ as
you call them will eventually reach the Voku. Star Force will survive and
prosper, but your enemy cannot be so easily stopped .”
    Various areas of lizard territory were highlighted by
an eerie glow that seemed to defy any technology, leaving Cal-com in awe at the
spectacle but with his mind also working furiously as a tactician to soak up
all the data before him…and its implications.
    “ The enemy is
fighting hard to expand, but as they do they are encountering those who do not
submit easily. You are aware of two such engagements. The Skarrons and the
Nexus. As you can see here, there are others. The enemy has found that it is
not alone and seeks to quickly devour systems so to stay on the offensive to
cover their overreach. They are temporarily weakened, and not for the loss of
one of their shipyards. They are processing through a growth surge that will
make them far more deadly in the future, but for now they must digest their
holdings and develop them .”
    “ They are not so
weak as to allow you to defeat them, but you can deny them significant gains if
you progress wisely and quickly. If you wait until they are on your doorstep,
you will not survive given your present strength…which I am now amplifying.
When completed, you will have no need to fear this enemy at home. Your fight
with them will be abroad. I require a warfleet to
secure this region ,” the dragon said, highlighting a much larger squashed
sphere around present day Voku territory that ran all the way up to the ADZ as
well as bit into a large chunk of Skarron space…not to mention traveling out
below the galactic plane to the scattering of systems that didn’t hold to the
boundaries.
    In fact Cal-com saw several star clusters out there
that would be difficult to reach, but if the Elder commanded it they would find
a way to make it happen. That determination aside, this new mandate was beyond
anything the Voku had expected of them and was indeed a fitting task for the
promised upgrades to their empire.
    “ This task will
put you into direct conflict with the lizards that Star Force now fights. You
cannot destroy them so do not try. The Voku’s task is
to hold and protect the territory assigned to you, much as you have done in the
past with your current territory…do not concern yourself with the Nexus ,”
the Elder said, reading his thoughts. “ They
are fools with delusions of grandeur. Powerful they may be in technology, but
in wisdom they are lacking. Their time is coming to an end, but that end will
not be soon. In the interim allow them to fight the lizards as they will, but
they are a temporary power that will fade, so draw no close bonds with them .”
    “ Look closely,
Renimar ,” the dragon prompted, highlighting a few new sections of the
galaxy map that bordered lizard space on multiple sides. “ These are some of our other servants, all of which have or will come
into conflict with the lizards shortly. Alone they will not survive what is
coming, for they are not as large nor as gifted as the Voku, and we will not
give them that which they have not yet earned. ”
    “ We do not wish
them destroyed in their infancy, so I have a special task for you, Cal-com. You
are no longer a Renimar, but the first Dafchor from the Voku. From this