Ambassador Ulfír
Scientific Imperial Fleet Observation Task Force
Sector (-17, 18)
The ambassador almost had to crawl out of the shuttle. He felt like he had been riding in a clown car the entire way to the Science ship. But now that he was outside the shuttle, he had the space he needed to stand up.
"Thank you for having me here."
Jarl Aragonn
AFS Jörmungandr
Sector (-16, 14)
Aragonn faced this woman, this woman who would come before him and stand in his presence as if she were an equal. She is a Wintrean female, one who does not deserve such respect. Who was she to brave the journey into enemy territory and come face to face with her greatest adversary? A woman!
"You have nerve coming here, but I assure you that it was in vain. But since you're here, I'll make use of your ship, crew, and anything you have aboard your ship. We are going to launch a strike into the Frozen Realm, and you are going to watch by my side as your people die by Aesir hands. Every bit of pain and destruction you see will be blazed into your mind as you spectate, helpless and hopeless. But not before I take pleasure in your capture.
"Guard, take her to my quarters. And make sure she's secured."
"Yes, sir."
The guard who escorted her to Aragonn grabbed her right upper arm with an iron grip and pulled her along, taking her all the way to the Jarl's living quarters. He didn't care about her nor about what would happen to her, taking no pity despite her struggling and demands for release.
The Jarl left the room for the bridge, making his way swiftly. Speaking into his comm, he contacted the helmsman.
"Take us out of the system and prepare to jump. We attack now."
He could feel the ship moving through the sway it caused with him, but he was undeterred by it. Soon reaching the bridge, he resumed his place on the captain's seat.
"Jump for the eastern border as soon as we clear the system."
"Aye, sir."
The Jarl got up when they were almost to the edge of the system.
"I'll be in my quarters."
He left the bridge in the hands of the captain, navigating the corridors to his living quarters. Upon entering, he saw Lundgren on his bed glaring at him, wrists bound and a bruise on her cheek. A smirk formed on his face as he imagined the things he could do with her to bring himself pleasure.
Aragonn moved to the machine on the wall to have his armor removed but was stopped by his comm going off before he could activate it.
"Captain to Jarl Aragonn."
"I'm busy."
"Kommander Brunnhilde has a fleet blocking our path."
"Tell her to move."
"She's demanding to speak with you, Sir."
"Tell her I'm otherwise occupied and to try again later."
The ship suddenly shuddered as weapons fire hit the void shield.
"Now she's angry and calling you a coward."
Aragonn growled lowly. "I'm on my way to the bridge."
"She says you have five minutes." The comm link was then severed.
Aragonn, continuing to growl, glared at Lundgren. "You've been spared for a bit. Count yourself lucky." He then left for the bridge.
Entering the bridge, he saw Brunnhilde on the view screen. He took his spot on the captain's seat and looked at her. "What do you want?"
Brunnhilde stood from her seat, took off her helmet, and looked him right in the eye, unwavering. "I challenge you to combat for the position of Jarl with your bridge crew and my own as witnesses."
Aragonn was shocked and stood up at this affront. "Do you realize what you're doing?"
"Saving our nation."
"Then we fight aboard my ship," he demanded.
"Make sure you fight alone. No outside interference. No cheating. We fight using our individual skill only."
"Shall this be to the death?"
She took a deep breath before replying with, "Yes."
"Good. Meet me in a half hour." The Jarl ended the transmission and hurriedly rushed off the bridge.
Brunnhilde entered the combat training room soon after Aragonn arrived there.
"It's not too late to surrender and save your life," she told him as she pulled her power double spear off her back.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you."
Aragonn drew his power ulfberht and stood ready. Both their weapons powered on, and a gentle blue glow radiated from the edges of both weapons.
Brunnhilde made the first jab, blocked by Aragonn who in turn swung for her neck. She ducked under it, and the duel escalated from there. Brunnhilde moved about quickly, her spear twirling and jabbing at opportune timing while Aragonn was more rooted in place but moved his sword expertly. The two fought each other for an hour, neither side really gaining the upper hand, until Brunnhilde disarmed Aragonn with a twirl of her spear. He put his hands up, showing that he had lost.
"End it," he demanded.
Brunnhilde thrusted a spearhead clean through Aragonn's chest. He coughed up blood for a couple seconds before falling to the ground, dead. She removed the spear from his chest and put it back on her back then walked to the bridge.
Entering the bridge, she announced, "Aragonn is dead. I am now the Jarl!"
At first, nobody moved, but after a few seconds, the female Odinblessed navigator at the helm stood to face her and saluted, pounding a fist to her chest then thrusting her first into the air. The others refused to salute her.
"Thank you, navigator. Everyone else here is dismissed from active service and have dropped in rank to ensign effective immediately. Get your asses off my bridge!"
The bridge crew all got up and left. The navigator approached Brunnhilde and bowed. The Kommander, now the Jarl, smiled kindly and lifted her back to standing up.
"You need not bow to me, dear."
"Yes, Ma'am." The navigator looked really uncomfortable about something. "Ma'am..."
"What is it, child?"
"Aragonn, he...I could feel he had the intention to rape intermingled with the hatred for Wintreath. I think he..."
"He what?" Brunnhilde was growing more and more worried about what she might say.
"I think he was going to rape the woman from Wintreath. Or maybe he already did. I don't know..."
Brunnhilde sensed something else in her, something traumatic. "He's raped you too, hasn't he?"
The navigator hesitantly nodded, looking down at the floor.
"The Wintreath woman is in his quarters."
"Thank you again," the new Jarl said before running off to get to the late Jarl's quarters. Entering, she saw there was someone tied to the bed but that person wasn't there anymore.
Going further in to investigate, someone smaller than her jumped on her back and put her into a choke hold. It took her a few seconds to realize what was going on before she could react, but she was already on her knees before she yanked the arm from her neck. Gasping for breath, she pulled her assailant off of her back and in front of her. It was Lundgren.
"I'm here to-" Brunnhilde got cut off by Lundgren spitting in her face. "I'm here to set you free. Aragonn is dead."
Lundgren looked surprised at hearing this.
"If Aragonn is dead, then who is now Jarl?"
"I am," she said as she wiped the spit from her face. "Your ship and crew are both untouched, and anything you had on board is still there. Aragonn's anti Wintreath policies died with him. I am more than happy to open diplomatic relations with your people."
"Thank you. And I apologize for attacking you and spitting in your face."
"I understand." Brunnhilde stood back up and helped Lundgren get onto her feet. "Walk with me. We'll talk on the way to your ship."