Chapter 735: Chessboard

Randall gasped, mumbled, and moved his eyes up and down while reading the report. His reactions conveyed his emotional state, and his mana confirmed those details. The man struggled to absorb those words, and Khan calmly waited for him to accept them.

Those reactions didn't go unnoticed. Marcus and Kirk were in the cargo area, but the rest of the political envoy was in the main deck. Randall's shock attracted peeks. Even Celeste couldn't help herself since the matter looked more interesting than the Scalqa sitting before her.

Eventually, Randall lifted his eyes from the device to look at Khan. The latter was sitting behind his console, wearing the same stern expressions he had shown in the Harbor's hangar. He even rested his head on his hand, turning him into a wall Randall knew he would have to clash with.

The report's contents were simply amazing. The envoy had flown to Baoway for a political mission, but the blue bush's presence was bound to alter its priorities. A resource that could aid in the evolution was priceless, and humankind had the chance to seize it before the Thilku Empire.

Randall could instantly understand the pros and cons of the finding, but Khan's stern stance told a different story. Something was amiss there, and Randall knew Khan wouldn't keep it secret much longer.

"Is this accurate?" Randall asked, waving the device in his hands.

"Yes," Khan confirmed. "Although I'm not a scientist."

"How sure are you?" Randall questioned.

"The effects are there," Khan explained. "At this point, it's only a matter of manageable negative consequences."

Randall wasn't a scientist either but knew how that field would take the news. As long as the effects were genuine, the Global Army would try to find a way to exploit them. The experiments might lead nowhere, but that potential outcome wouldn't prevent them from happening.

"I need to report this," Randall exclaimed. "Unless."

"We have authority here," Khan interrupted. "Bringing the ship back in orbit to establish communications with the nearest space station might disrupt our mission. It can wait."

Randall was aware of the issue. The ship was equipped with long-range communication devices capable of reaching distant receivers, but the vehicle itself was necessary for the task.

Baoway's atmosphere would interfere, so the task had to be performed in orbit. Establishing the connection would also take time, and the Empire might even intercept some messages. The Global Army had encryptions, but Randall couldn't ignore the problem.

"Waiting must have a purpose," Randall argued.

"Gathering information and reinforcing our position on the planet is a purpose," Khan responded.

Randall's eyes went cold. It almost sounded like Khan wanted to buy himself time, and the reason was evident. As the only person allowed inside the rectangular tent, he could reap benefits while the other teammates pursued the original goal.

Khan's key involvement in the matter would also turn him into the central aspect of the trip. His overall relevance would skyrocket, making refusing him impossible.

Of course, everything would change if the higher-ups took things into their own hands. However, opening a communication channel would take time, and the same went for rearranging the interspecies treaties. The Global Army wasn't completely free on Baoway, and the Empire would grow suspicious if it tried to establish new agreements.

That was the reason behind such a specialized team. Randall and the others were pros who could complete their job without supervision. They could make decisions for the greater good of humankind without conferring with their superiors. Yet, Khan was an unstable variable, and the entire envoy seemed to have fallen into his palm.

"Did you plan this?" Randall wondered, his tone showing some anger.

"Your accusations are getting annoying," Khan sighed.

"This is a political mission!" Randall shouted. "Your interest can't have the priority!"

A huge figure suddenly stood up, attracting all the eyes in the main deck on him. Zu-Gru sensed the enmity toward Khan, and his muscles bulged as he prepared for a fight.

However, blue light promptly shone on Zu-Gru's face, and a chilling aura filled the area. A terror the alien had already experienced invaded his body, making him look at its source.

"[Talk]," Khan ordered, nodding at Celeste's console while his eyes continued to shine.

Zu-Gru didn't dare to oppose the order or his terror. He returned to the floor, but the atmosphere had changed, and everyone found it hard to focus on their tasks. Even Marcus couldn't help but peek from the cargo area.

Randall wasn't stupid. He understood the situation and his powerlessness. Still, he had his duties, and Khan was necessary to accomplish them.

"Sir," Randall called, clearing his throat. "I'm here to perform a job. I hope you understand my doubts."

"We will complete the mission," Khan reassured, his eyes losing their light, "And we will gather information about this new resource. I'll handle it."

"On that topic," Randall commented. "This plant sounds dangerous. I advise against prolonged exposure."

"Advice noted," Khan uttered. "However, that's the best way to study its effects."

"There is another way," Randall pointed out. "There is more than one."

"I'm against that," Celeste said from behind her console. She had followed the conversation until now, and Randall's intentions were clear in her mind. He wanted to seize the plant and move to a different tribe.

"We have different available targets," Randall argued, "And the Major is more than capable of avoiding bloodshed."

"We still don't know the repercussions of such an act," Celeste explained. "The Bone Tribe might very well perish without that resource."

It was actually scary how much Celeste had understood without reading the report. She could pinpoint the nature and core issue of the discussion from vague lines and develop accurate conclusions.

"We won't touch the Bone Tribe," Khan declared. "I'll fly over the forest and search for similar plants. If I don't find anything, we'll stick to the current approach."

Randall's eyes went cold once again. Only Khan could perform that task since he could fly without drawing unnecessary attention. However, that would give him complete freedom and authority, and the envoy would have to trust his reports no matter what.

Nevertheless, Randall chose to remain silent this time around. Fighting Khan was pointless now. It was already too late for that. Randall could only slightly affect the mission as a whole and its potential success.

"I'll share the information and summon a meeting," Randall announced.

"No need," Khan said. "Tell Kirk to turn one of the shuttles into a communication device. It might take longer, but the Global Army needs to know about Baoway."

Randall couldn't help but be surprised. He had initially believed Khan wanted complete power over the mission, and keeping the plant hidden from their superiors would make his plan easier.

Still, Khan was willing to compromise, opting for a plan that wouldn't hinder the mission while filling some necessary gaps. It was a good idea, and Randall instinctively approved.

Of course, Khan didn't care about keeping the Global Army updated. He only wanted to see if the news would trigger something and fish out eventual enemies. Everything else was secondary.

"I'll handle the forest now," Khan suddenly said, standing up.

"It's nighttime," Randall pointed out.

"I'll be fine," Khan replied. "It's better to gather as much information as possible before moving forward with the plan."

"May I be of some help?" Amy chirped in.

"Help Celeste," Khan ordered, "And review my report. I might have missed something."

"I doubt that," Amy commented.

"I now see how you function," Celeste announced. "I must apologize for my initial doubts."

Khan ignored the comment and headed for the ship's exit, but Zu-Gru instinctively stood up to follow him. A headache tried to rise into Khan's head, but Celeste promptly provided her expertise.

"[Ka-Han alone now]," Celeste said, unleashing the warmest tone she could muster. "[Ka-Han back soon]."

Needless to say, Celeste and Zu-Gru were the only ones who could comprehend those lines. Khan and Amy could only guess what she had said by checking the alien's reaction. The Scalqa seemed to have understood what was happening, and seeing Khan's nod brought him back near Celeste's console.

'Is she an alien?' Khan cursed in his mind, his eyes showing clear interest in Celeste. Yet, the woman simply smiled before returning to her console and resuming her conversation with Zu-Gru.

Celeste's skillful display made Khan reevaluate his companions once again. His paranoia instinctively increased, but lingering on the ship wouldn't get him anywhere. He hurried outside, and his figure soon disappeared above the enormous trees.

A cold breeze blew on Khan's face as he walked in the sky. Baoway's night was enchanting and peaceful, and the natural symphony tried to cheer Khan's senses. However, his mind couldn't enjoy any of that.

The current task obviously was nothing for Khan. He had to search for other blue bushes, which he could do with his eyes closed. Yet, the situation on the ship weighed on his mind. The chessboard's pieces were exactly where he wanted them. Now, he only had to amass power and wait.