Khazna stood impassively as the Lord General briefed him on the situation. When Dr. Kur entered and was introduced, he inclined his head toward her in acknowledgment before returning his full attention to the General once more. Who by now had punched in a command on a console changing one of the viewing screens to a feed that Khazna realized was one of the vessels on broad labs. Within was what appeared to be a man wearing a suit he did not recognize of being imperial in design…and though while the video feed was of fine quality, Tablurath bitterly noted it did not allow as much in depth analysis as he would otherwise be capable of at a mere glance had they met face to face. Still he noted that it was of inferior design to anything Angar-Ryllan was capable of. In fact it looked downright primitive. The video feed did also allow Khazna to note something quite peculiar about the man. As with all living beings, he possessed a thread of fate the Cardinal could clearly see, though it was beyond Khazna's abilities to read it or any thread for that matter. He did note that this one was quite different, it shun with radiance unlike anything he had seen before in mere mortals, and was fractured in several places. He had seen that brilliance before however.

Khazna remembered the strands the Fireen had possessed from the last chance meeting between them. He too had possessed strands of fate unique to the norm. Khazna had assumed it was due to his energy manipulating abilities, but this being did not seem to be filled with as much raw power. 

[i]“This man claims to be immortal. He also appeared just as our attack forces encountered the Talisan, and his appearance here coincides with a sudden spatial anomaly off of a series of planets collectively known as the Demon Webs.”[/i]

Khazna visibly straightened. Immortal? Yes...that might explain the other wordily brilliance that seemed to be about the man, despite the lack of energy flowing through him. Or perhaps he was so powerful he could somehow mask his true potential? Could even Khazna's eyes be tricked? That idea seemed ludicrous to the Cardinal. However, it was apparent that this man was more than what he appeared to be. Still without actually laying eyes on him face to face, Khazna could never be sure. The mention of an anomaly also peeked Khazna's interest. 

[i]“This man is currently considered a Class A threat. His appearance is not a coincidence. I am not sure the extent of his powers nor what his purpose here among the Home Fleet is.”[/i]

Khazna nodded his agreement on the canny general’s perception of the being. Though he did feel it was a risk to even have him on board at all. But he wisely kept that to himself. 

The General nodded towards Garal Vash, who stepped forward, his eyes flicked towards Khazna in acknowledgement, “Lord Cardinal, your fleet has been tasked with entering the Demon Web system and searching for the anomaly. We believe that it leads to the Nexus itself.”

At this Khazna raised an eyebrow, though the gesture was mostly hidden behind his mask. A gate, to the Nexus itself? If such was true then that could very well change 'everything.' But he quelled his excitement for now, no point in getting his hopes up yet without boots on the ground to verify. 

Garal Vash took over, his voice low as he locked eyes with the Lord Cardinal, “You are to consider this a black operation. You have tacit authority to do what you have to do, and punish those who oppose you in any manner you see fit. Nevertheless, the anomaly must be located before its signature vanishes.”

Now they came to the meat of why Khazna had been summoned. He saw also why he had been chosen for the task, for few where the mortals that could see the strands that made of the very fabric of existence, even if comprehending or even manipulating it was well beyond Tabluraths own humble abilities. Such a talent would still help however little in the finding of this '[i]anomaly[/i],' because if little else was known of these gates. Their very nature would, or at least should, bend and warp time and space itself. Ultimately finding the cause of this disturbance was not quite unlike finding the threads that had been misplaced and disturbed. How befitting he would be searching a place that was in its simplest form a great web in and of itself. Though of a very different nature. Still such disturbances would not last long, time would be against them. Khazna for his part more than welcomed the challenge. 

It had seemed he had been sitting quashing the upraising now and again for too long, now was a chance to break from the normal routine. A true challenge befitting his skills. So he felt. 

Lord General Klaast leaned forward, “Dr. Kur will be on stand-by, she and her team will be ready to utilize a fast vector transport to be in orbit around the planet in 6 hours.”

Straightening the Lord General faced the Lord Cardinal, “I cannot tell you the importance of this mission. You are have free reign to recover or find this anomaly. Do not fail Lord Cardinal.”

The Lord Cardinal matched the general’s gaze, a subtle light in his brown orbs. 

"I will not fail." Came his only reply.

 In his, admittedly short, but none the less eventful time within the Angar-Ryllan, Lord Cardinal Khazna had never batched an operation and many of his peers, if not a little begrudgingly considered him something of a prodigy. His talents in both command and his natural charisma were matched only by his relentless zeal to see every star and every universe under the iron hand of the Empire. 

As the general turned back to watch the man now alone in the lab Khazna joined him. Something about this one intrigued the Cardinal. 

Lord General narrowed his eyes, “I do not trust this man. Lord Cardinal what does his action tell you? I am always interested in the opinion of my Cardinals, especially those with a certain eye towards fate reading.”

Khazna offered a somewhat tepid smile beneath his black mask before replying. "In that cause Lord," He began, eyes slightly squinted as if studying a book he had read before but still greatly perplexed him. "I must agree with your suspicions. He is far more than what he appears to be. The threads of fate on him are..." He paused for a moment as if searching for the right word. "...shifted, as if it is no longer his own. It oddly shares some similarities with the Fireen. Infinite in some ways but ultimately finite. In sort, he seems to be telling the truth in so far as his immortality is concerned." 

Tablurath then raised his shoulders then dropped then in a symbol of defeat. Explaining the depths of his sight when it came to the threads of fate was akin to trying to describe color to a blind man. Sadly, Tablurath could only see these threads, the fate of those who held them was beyond his ability to comprehend or see. So when the man on screen suddenly launched explosives from his suit and quickly incapacitated the guards in the room, he was as surprised (and a little amused truth be told) as the General might have been. 

The man’s actions were a surprise certainly to the guards he put down. Already he had escaped the lab and was running beyond the videos feed. Other screens showed bits and pieces of his escape attempt as he sprinted down corridors. Khazna could not decide if the man was either an excellent and brilliant spy, or soft in the head. His blind running around seemingly at a loss suggested the latter. If anything he was certainly a brave fool. His ship was detained, there had to be hundreds of crewmen and guards on board, and he had literally nowhere to go. The last feed showed him jumping into what Khazna recognized, by the Ryllan lettering on the door, was a laundry room where crewmen sent dirty cloths and gear to be cleaned and repaired. 

Khazna only sighed and shook his head at the sight. The man would likely be apprehended in due time, there was no hope of escape. Still there was much preparation to do before his fleet set out, and it had been some time since he had operated on the field himself. He hoped, he might find some amusement in facing this threat directly. It would at least save time and resources if nothing else.

“Well my Lord General, It would seem our...quest… is none at all pleased by our hospitality." He said with a smile in his eyes. "Allow me General." He voiced pre-emptively guessing the Generals next words. "The liberty in confronting this man. It might prove a fitting exercise before the 6th fleet must set sail."