326 Beginning of the end

[I would love to say the same, but current circumstances don't really permit me to do so.]

Although Simmons was happy to have Dax and his group back from their break, his voice was nevertheless disgruntled by the fact that Dax's unit was linking up with his fleet in a craft which didn't officially exist, worse yet, the scanners on his flagship which were supposed to be the best of the best couldn't hold a stable lock with it for more than a few seconds at a time.

[My communications officer has linked your craft in with my fleet, this is the first, and preferably last time, I let a craft that is not part of the galactic navy into my strike group.]

"I understand completely, but these are extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are needed."

In the few weeks, Dax had been on break, the blitz offensive against the Emergence had taken a radical turn for the worse, without any notable change in exterior or function, it's crafts become way more effective, they now exhibited behaviour which was like that of the foremost elites in the galactic navy, even surpassing them in some aspects without access to manatech. The immediate effect of such rapid change showed itself in a new wave of rapid and remarkably effective aggression showed itself with heavy losses for the galactic navy, the two factions were now in a comparable situation where they were they both were losing crafts and supplies faster than they could replace them, although the base nature of the Emergence meant that it would be easily able to outlast the galactic navy.

Needless to say, the galactic navy needed some sort of effort to change the current tide of battle and fast.

[On that point, we agree. Just not on the execution, Simmons out.]

Hearing his old friend so angry with him as he cut off communications, Dax breathed a deep sigh, or at least he would have if he was physically able to breathe at the moment.

"Don't worry about Simmons, he'll come around. Current circumstances dictate we do this much."

Speaking to Dax who was currently undergoing fundamental biological and synthetic upgrades to his entire body, while checking up on the procedure, Ra double checked the progress. Among a host of other enhancements, Dax's cybernetic spine was now gone, instead replaced with an N generation biosynthetic cybernetics which now made up the majority of his body, mainly focusing on implanting brand new muscular systems along with other biosynthetic cybernetic enhancements.

[Yeah, I'm just worried about the fallout of all this, these Lazarus assets were meant to be insurance against the galactic empire itself, now that they know about them it could have serious implications for our future.]

(Here we fucking go again…)

"Serious implications? Really!? Don't you fucking see what's going to happen? We're going to help the Empire now, but later they'll just get rid of us when we're no longer needed! This is how the galactic Empire works, for as long as you have helped get rid of their dirty waste you ought to know that! Stop playing the perfect soldier already, you have more important things to worry about now, don't you!?"

Over the years of supporting Dax in his endeavours, Ra had gotten a decent understanding of the Galactic Empire's inner workings, instead of a modern, further proof and grand empire, all Ra saw was a degrading, rotten and corrupt institution which was slowly falling apart, it's decay only stifled by corporate sponsored assassinations and suppression of rebellious elements by black wetwork units like the ones Dax had been a part of over the years. From the way the Galactic Empire operated, Ra was certain that it was preparing to rid itself of the 125th and Lazarus as soon as the current war was over, all in an attempt to stifle its own self inflicted wounds of corruption and bureaucracy.

[Then what do you suggest we do? I am part of the Empire.]

"Yeah, but you don't need to be. Is it lost on you that I've been developing entirely self sufficient ships capable of cross dimensional travel?"

Of course, Dax had noticed the way things were heading, being the one to personally take out the trash on behalf of the Galactic Empire, that trash often being his own superiors, Dax was aware that the time when his own ticket would be punched was coming up and he would even have been okay with that before he had gotten lost in the world of magic. 

[So a bit of self imposed exile after we're done wiping out the Emergence?]

"That's what me and Mu have been thinking, are you up for it?"

[Sure, we could go explore the other dimensions and even find a place to settle, that would be lovely.]

---

While moving in tandem with Admiral Simmons' fleet, it quickly became apparent just how superior the single Lazarus battlecruiser was in comparison to what was supposed to be state of the art galactic navy crafts. Dax's ship would routinely detect dangers well before any of the navy ships, it would also regularly shrug off attacks which would easily cripple even dedicated picket ships, something which quickly created a division between Dax's unit and the rest of the navy, eventually leading admiral Simmons to recall Rin who had up until that point served as a liaison between them.

"They sure ain't happy with us…"

Not really understanding the intricacies of the relationship between the 125h and the rest of the navy, Lilly couldn't help but complain out loud as the CAS-7 transport carrying Rin left the Lazarus battlecruiser.

"Well, you can hardly blame them…"

"Really? How so? From my perspective, it looks like they're just butthurt."

Even as Lux came to the defence of the galactic navy, Lilly still refused to back down, the reason for that was quite obvious, the navy was angry at Dax, that was all they needed to do to incur her wrath.

"From their perspective, they've just been made aware that Lazarus isn't sharing its state of the art technology with them, technology which could undoubtedly could have saved countless lives and crafts. Just looking at the casualty rate in the navy, at least every other sailor has lost someone they care about, and now they suddenly found out that loss could have been prevented, but didn't? That's bound to piss them off."

"So they blame Dax for losing their comrades!? That's even more absurd!"

Seeing the hypocrisy in the navy expecting Dax to just solve all their problems, Lilly only got even angrier.

"Yeah it is, but people are hardly logical, now are they?... Just ignore them for now, the navy can't complain if we win this war for them."

"Nope, I refuse to let this go! They can rot in hell for all I care!"

"Let it go Lilly.���

The situation only started getting under control when Dax joined in, having just finished his newest round of augmentation he was on his way to the training field when he noticed what was going on.

"But!-"

"No buts, I need to talk with everyone about this, Ra has already called for a meeting so let's go there now."

"... Fine…"

Reluctantly giving in when Dax showed her a warm smile, Lilly followed Dax to the bridge together with Lux who had an inkling as to what was going on.

One of the reasons Dax had decided to join up with the Galactic navy in a Lazarus battlecruiser was people in the navy command had started asking questions which immediately raised alarms, like asking Dax to provide a list of expenditure for his entire service time, but the most important reason was a certain lamia who insisted to come along with them.

"So, what did you want to talk about? I figure since you're also including me it has to be something not related to this war you��re fighting."

As expected, Ke had instantly seen through Dax's intentions and as Dax looked around to the other members he quickly saw that she was not alone.

"Well, let me just get to the point then… It seems like the ground is rapidly shrinking beneath my feet within the Galactic Empire. Right now I and Lazarus are useful to the Empire, but that might not be the case after this war is over and I stand a high chance of being removed together with Lazarus."

"Removed? How are they going to do that?"

Being the least knowledgeable of how exactly the Galactic Empire operated, Ke asked that question with a look of confusion on her face while the general mood on the bridge shifted towards the grim side.

"They are probably going to throw me into some bogus legal trial and have me executed while they'll most likely throw some sort of antitrust charges against Lazarus and have the companies assets seized, worst case scenario Ra and Mu will end up in some sort of prison developing technology for the Empire until they are no longer useful."

"... I know you previously mentioned that the Galactic Empire isn't kind, but-"

"I've helped set up people in the same manner before, that's why I know the operational playbook on this one."

Shooting down Ke's optimistic thinking while placing a hand on top of her head, Dax took a short moment to breathe a deep sigh before continuing.

"For these reasons I propose we leave the Empire after this war is over, going into a self imposed exile and finding a place to call home somewhere far away."

What Dax was currently doing was at best desertion, at worst, straight up treason, but he was fully aware of that.

"Sure, why not?"

Luckily Dax had unknowingly inspired loyalty in his subordinates, not towards some far off group of elites, but to himself. With Lux instantly offering her support behind Dax's suggestion, the rest quickly followed, with one notable exception.

"I can't do that, sorry."

With Phillipa being the only one not behind Dax's proposal, all eyes quickly gathered on her as she continued.

"I won't breathe a word about this to anyone, but I won't follow you if you leave the Empire Dax. I've worked too hard for my current position to just give it up."

"I understand. I'm going to miss you when the time comes Phillipa."

"Same."