As I stand in the corner, I simply watch as the two, Anibeli and her grandfather, converse. I was brought, as typical, to guard her. The conversation started well, in my opinion. Good beginning.

  "Anibeli, dear! How was your first real battle?" Said anibeli's grandfather. We were in his office aboard the Keras Traveler, the family's light cruiser.

  "Stressful, grandfather. But you taught me well. I didn't panic, nor vomit a flood of commands. We killed one of our attackers, and delivered our cargo. In fact, I hope to get the kill marked on the destroyers hull."

  "Her name is now the 'Calm Assurance', dear. But yes, getting her marked with her kill will be easy, especially now that she is in dock." He said smiling.

  Anibeli beamed, then asked. "That's truly wonderful... But grandfather... I must ask, where in the name of the emperor did you find that relic? Aren't they used by chaos? Isn't it corrupted?" She asked.

  "A misconception, but an understandable one." He said, and brought up the ship on a holo table. "Obseve the ship as I explain. You see, dear, the Hades Class Heavy cruiser is an old ship. From what I can gather, the class hasn't been produced in the imperium in millenia due to its general age and the advent of the modern battle cruiser." He said.

  He took a sip of recaf, and continued. "Unlike most modern imperial cruisers, she doesn't have the armored prow of, say, a Gothic. However, her armor and weapons are a cut above the typical cruiser. Hell, the term battle cruiser and heavy cruiser in this case is interchangeable. But I digress."

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  "Her weapons include 4 prow torpedo tubes, broadside weapons batteries, and a pair of dorsal lance turrets. She also has a heavy complement of flak batteries. No proper hangers though, so that's a downside, but considering what we have here already... I'll take it happily and with a smile." He said.

  "Now, for corruption, that's what the priests and cogs are for dear. Besides, we know for a fact it wasn't used by heretics or the arch enemy."

  "Where DID you find it? And is it your new flag ship?" Anibeli asked.

  "Well, it was a joint venture by our house and the Jekkop's. An-"

  "Wait, your telling me, the Jekkops, THE JEKKOPS, knew where a Honest to God Heavy cruiser was? And they DIDN'T TAKE IT? Have we been scammed? Are we being blackmailed or something grandfather? Nezekiri here would gladly go off the heads of the Jekkops! Literally in fact!" She said.

  "I would." I said. I would do it happily enough for some compensation.

  "Besides that grandfather, their house has been in decline for half a millenia! Just how did you secure that damned ship? By the emperor, did you-"

  "ENOUGH, ANIBELI." Her grandfather said, voice raised. His face was strained. Not angry, though. Just strained.

  "Ok. I see a more detailed explanation would be appreciated." He muttered. Anibeli twitched and he continued. This was great entertainment...

  "So, first things. They had found the ship, and decided that they couldn't afford the ship's repair, consecration, refit, and so on. Just generally too expensive. So, they waited. Their house declined and declined until they finally contacted me."

  "They proposed a trade. Our help with their decline, and we get a Heavy Cruiser. Ultimately, it is far cheaper to just repair and refit this Hades here, rather then buy a new cruiser outright. She is in good condition after all. But, in addition to assisting their house, they wanted closer ties. So... uhm. How to say this..."

  Anibeli's eyes had been getting narrower and narrower by the second. By the time he had finished, her eyes were slits. They, her eyes widened. "Wait, a marriage alliance?! Who is going to be connected with that sinking ship!" She yelled.

  He winced slightly. I turned my head to look at him. Oh. Oh by the old gods, please dont-

  Anibeli's eyes widened further, and she jumped up. I sped across the room and grabbed her before she could lunge over to kill her grandfather. She was yelling curses and more. He winced harder.

  "You and the Jekkop's heir are set to marry in 5 years. In THAT TIME, YOU WILL CONTINUE HOUSE BUSINESS. WHEN YOU MARRY, YOU WILL GET THE HADES TO COMMAND!" He said, raising his voice as Anibeli was now well and truly enraged.

  He pushes a data pad over to us, and I take it. I nod, and drag her away to her quarters on ship. This was going to be trouble. So, so much trouble.