Chapter 718 Teamwork
?Khan's statement left no room for discussions. He wasn't giving an opinion or an order. He had said what would happen, and his teammates didn't know how to reply. They remained silent, watching him inspect the main deck.
The ship was a bit too big and complicated for Khan's training, but he recognized most commands. Turning on the pilot's menus and skimming through them gave him a basic rundown of its functions. With enough time to prepare, he could quickly adapt, and the loading state would grant that.
As for the Global Army, those worries never crossed Khan's mind. The regulations might go against him, but no one would dare to step up to stop him. Even his teammates couldn't find the strength or will to refuse him.
Of course, Khan knew his behavior was arrogant and uncompromising. He was almost doing everything in his power to sour the potential relationships with his teammates, going against the purpose of having companions in the first place.
Things were also harsher for Randall. He was supposed to be the team leader, but Khan didn't mind his words at all. Khan acted as his superior, building walls around him while spouting ultimatums. In that situation, he was no different from a spoiled descendant.
However, Khan had his reasons. He was also unable to explain them, leading to that misunderstood behavior. He could only do his best to secure his position, and being the only pilot would greatly help in that field.
The different roles compartmentalized most duties, smoothing out the team's functions while also creating unawareness. For example, Kirk wouldn't and didn't need to know Celeste's progress in her job, and the same went for the other teammates.
Randall was the only exception since he was the team leader, but Khan didn't want the additional responsibility and in-fighting. Inspecting things from the outside also granted a clearer view, so he preferred to remain a simple specialist.
Nevertheless, Khan couldn't afford to be completely ignorant about the team's actions, and being the sole pilot could fix that. He would assume a key role necessary for almost every task and gain access to the ship's records, making it impossible to hide information from him.
Randall and the others didn't understand nor imagine Khan's intricate reasons but couldn't object to his demands either. No matter how arrogantly Khan behaved, his fame preceded him. He was a celebrity with all the right social connections and achievements, and things didn't end there.
The mission was happening thanks to Khan. At least, the Global Army was pushing that narrative. The Thilku trusted him, so they granted humankind priority over Baoway. If Khan were to back out for any reason, entire interspecies deals might have to be renegotiated.
Those kinds of missions didn't happen often either, so every specialist in the political envoy wanted it to go forth and succeed. Their careers could benefit too much to let their pride or annoyance get in the way.
Khan ignored the main deck's silence and the eyes that followed him to familiarize himself with the various commands. Yet, that peace ended up being short since Marcus barged into the area with an announcement.
"Madam Pakenwell," Marcus called. "Kirk finished booting the computer. Your software should be online."
"Thank you, Marcus," Celeste replied, "But call me Celeste from now on."
"I should be the one asking that question," Khan commented. Celeste was the xenolinguistic expert, so it was her role to fill in those deployed on the field.
"Teamwork is key to the success of this mission," Celeste explained, her coolness hanging by a thread. "Our expertise overlaps, so sharing opinions might help us both."
Khan couldn't help but take another look at Celeste. Her modest appearance was highlighted by her tied brown hair in that public context. She was slim but out of shape. Celeste probably didn't fight or use spells in years, yet she still stood up to Khan.
Celeste's words were also a clear jab at Khan's behavior. She wasn't insulting him but still wanted him to cooperate with the team. Her request was far from unreasonable, but Khan remained hesitant.
Nevertheless, the public nature of the conversation allowed a third player to step in. Amy's gaze went sharp for a second before retrieving its na?ve vibe and accompanying a few words.
"That's a good idea," Amy exclaimed. "I already shared my opinion with Celeste. Do you want to hear it, too, Major?"
Khan's and Celeste's attention inevitably fell on Amy, and the former nodded to authorize the following explanation.
"The simplistic and seemingly random words hint at a primitive form of language," Amy declared. "The Scalqa probably didn't develop any grammar or streamlined dictionary. They rely on association by sound rather than meaning."
The hypothesis was sound, and history supported it. The Global Army had encountered other primitive species, and its alien allies had shared knowledge in the field. The Scalqa words could be short simply because they referred to sounds.
Still, Khan struggled to jump to conclusions. The mana made everything more complicated. It could transmit fully-fledged emotions through short and meaningless cries, and the Scalqa had it.
"Do you disagree, Major?" Celeste questioned, noticing that Khan had fallen into his thoughts.
"No," Khan said, half-sighing. "Not completely."
The curiosity inside Khan intensified. He liked the topic, and having worthy experts to discuss it with was rare. He could feel words accumulating in his throat, and his best efforts could only try to delay them.
"A poor vocabulary doesn't necessarily mean primitive language," Khan explained. "It's the same with technology. The Scalqa might be behind in those fields simply because they have better options. It wouldn't be the first time I saw that."
The Niqols had access to technology, but their roots came from natural environments. The Nele were surrounded by man-made metal but mostly relied on mana. The Nak imbued their voice with feelings, making proper language superfluous. Alternatives existed, and Khan had witnessed them multiple times.
Celeste appeared pleased by the explanation. A faint smile broadened on her face as if acknowledging Khan as a fellow expert, and Amy couldn't refrain from adding something.
"Wow," Amy gasped. "You are the real deal, Major. No wonder every scout looks up to you."