The Silver Paladin

Kral Zera

~~~~Saoirse~~~~

After the attack on Olkarion, I have been wary and cautious around my brother without giving any time of suspicion that I had towards him.

This man. He had my brother's face, but for some reason, he wasn't like him at all. My brother would think carefully about a plan with so many risks, like the one we've been discussing pertaining to the Kral Zera Lotor wanted to go to.

I didn't trust Lotor, not one bit. He was planning something bigger, and from what he told me while he was imprisoned in the Castle, it has something to do with me. Mostly, my powers as a Teshirian.

I watched Lotor carefully as all of us stood on the Bridge going over what had happened a few days ago, and what we planned for the future.

"I'm telling you, Branko's wanton attack was only the beginning." Lotor said, "Without an Emperor, more and more high-ranking officials are going to start lashing out and consolidating their power at the Kral Zera."

"Uh, just gonna jump in here. What exactly is the Kral Zera? Is there food there? It sounds awful fancy." Hunk asked.

"It's the coronation ceremony for a new Emperor or Empress." Lotor said, "It is held on one of the first planets we, the Galra, conquered. Planet Feyiv, a sacred land."

"What a way to crown a new conqueror of the universe." I said, not holding back any sarcasm and feeling my scar burn.

"Saoirse." Shiro sais sternly. I looked up at him, his eyes holding annoyance and slight anger. I looked away from him, my heart thumping from my nerves. He had never given me that look before.

"Okay, so who all will be at this Kral Zera?" Shiro asked, looking calmly back at Lotor.

"Allow me to show you." Lotor said, giving a glance at Allura for her permission to use the Castle, "May I, Princess?"

"Go ahead." Allura said reluctantly.

Lotor pressed a few keys on the keypad and pulled up profile and surveillance pictures of a tall armored Galra soldier. He was covered in red armor wearing a scowl on his face and a sense of superiority in his mechanical eye. He also had scars on his body, some that looked as if they had come from multiple battles.

"Warlord Ranveig is one of the fiercest Galra in the empire. That's why my father sent him to the fringes of the universe." Lotor explained, "He will already have several factions pledging their allegiance."

"Warlord, huh?" Lance said, "I guess you don't get that title by being nice."

I stared at the picture for a little longer before looking directly into his eyes. Even if it was just a picture, I could see the malice in his eyes. And from a warlord, that was something to be expected.

The screen shifted to a picture of another Galra commander. This time, the picture was of a woman.

"Commander Gnov was one of Zarkon's most trusted advisors. She will be unifying Zarkon's inner circle of commanders. They know what they'll be getting with her. She's not as reckless as Warlord Ranveig, but she's just as cruel."

The screen changed and pulled up a picture of a short, rounded Galran man with half of his head in a metal helmet. His left eye was mechanical, just like Ranveig.

"Quartermaster Janka. He is responsible for overseeing supply routes throughout the Empire. Don't let his stature fool you. His power is bureaucracy, and he should not be underestimated."

"He keeps popping up in my database." Pidge said, slightly impressed, "His supply chain management is incredible. He definitely color codes." I sighed at her easy impressed look.