"To all the worlds of the Confederacy, and all other worlds in our broadcast zone, good morning from Tai-reh'tara. As yesterday, one story dominates our programme - the speech by Darkhawk, urging civilised space to, in her words, 'answer the call' and unify against a common foe, referred to as 'The Pandemonicum'. Over the last day, local measure, seven response have been received, mainly from nations known to be aligned with Dominion, first of all, Mystalorn, followed closely by the Tri-Planetary Alliance and the Rytallin, then the Combined Territories and several of the non-aligned powers, such as the Consolidation of Species and the Narimax Cluster. Most surprising of all, the Zalthrassi have 'answered the call', and are believed to be sending ships to aid in the defence of Mystalorn and Sentinel Station.

"The Confederacy Assembly are due to meet later today at the Omniplex to discuss what response, if any, is needed in the face of these developments. There is growing unease about a possible build-up of alien forces in territory adjacent to Confederacy space, particularly following the decision by Mystalorn to declare independence, and demand the removal of Confederacy ships and personnel from their space, but there is also a growing call for the Confederacy to view Darkhawk's speech with an open mind, and consider a supportive reaction.

"As the situation develops, restrictions on Sentinel Station have been at least partially lifted, and we have now been able to re-establish a presence on the Station. Sylinia's own Tillia Libanas now reports from the Media Centre, on Sentinel's A-Segment..."

Tillia Libanas; Sentinel Station Media Centre...

"I've barely had time to get settled back here on Sentinel, but already, events are picking up pace. I was down at the Skyview, the observation gallery along the outside of A-Segment, when I saw a Mutual Defence Imperative vessel, a ship of Narthani design, arriving. There were no signs of active weapons, and no sign of a change in the Station's alert status, which may mean that this ship is a diplomatic courier, possibly delivering another answer to 'The Call'. We'll be monitoring the situation, and will bring you any developments as they happen.

"In the meantime, I have an exclusive for ConfedNet News. Earlier today, I was granted a brief interview with the Station's new commander, Mane-of-Night..."

"Commander Mane-of-Night, thank you for allowing me to speak to you as what must be a particularly hectic time. Firstly, may I congratulate you on your appointment."

Mane-of-Night; Commander, Sentinel Station...

"Thank you."

"There is clearly an air of disquiet here, on The Edge and throughout the non-aligned powers. Surely now is the time for a military commander, rather than - and I mean no insult - a celebrity?"

"I have more experience than you imagine, Miss Libanas. I was, for example, present and active during the engagement immediately preceding Darkhawk's speech, and that wasn't the first time."

"The previous commander, Ardhel Rusitan, hasn't been seen since he was removed from his position - I believe you were actually present at the time. Do you have anything to say on that matter? Is Commander Rusitan now a prisoner of Mystalorn, or Dominion?"

"The Commander represented a genuine and substantial risk to the Station, through no fault of his own. He was removed for his own safety, and ours."

"I see. Moving on to the speech itself, Mystalorn was very quick to 'answer the call' - was that planned in advance, to add weight to your side of the argument? Could it be that the speech wouldn't have had quite the same impact without Mystalorn's support? Without them, maybe no-one would be 'answering the call'."

"I had nothing to do with preparing the speech, or Mystalorn's response - on those subjects your questions would be better directed to either Darkhawk herself, or the Council of Mystalorn."

"The speech brings up one particularly interesting piece of information, namely the report of the destruction of the entity known as 'The White Beast'. You, as a Child of Mystalorn, are probably best placed to answer the question; wasn't The White Beast supposed to be already dead? According to StarCore records, wasn't he destroyed by, and I quote, 'his natural successor' - who just happens to be one of your people, and a former 'super-hero' at that...?"

"Powers such as Bekalth are notoriously difficult to destroy entirely, particularly when, in his case, a previous 'death' caused him to become a fragmented entity. When Warphawk destroyed him, her adversary represented ninety-nine point nine per cent of the entire being - enough for godly power to be passed on. The shard that remained was 'incubated' into an entire being, but only a mere shadow of the original - hence his need to join The Pandemonicum, and use their techniques to attempt to regain something approaching godhood."

"That does rather paint Darkhawk's words in a different light..."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to have to break from that item, but we're now joined here in the Media Centre by Overlord Glitterthorn. Overlord Glitterthorn, what brings you to Sentinel...?"

Overlord Glitterthorn; Overlords Representative...

"My main concern, at this moment, is this..."

"I... I don't understand..."

"Somebody has clearly been a very naughty girl, placing a monitoring device under Mane-of-Night's desk during her interview. Such a gross invasion of privacy - I'm reluctant to call it spying - surely merits a spanking. Do you think you deserve a spanking, Miss Libanas? I think you do - right here, right now. I'm sure your viewers would agree."

"I... I..."

"That, however, must wait for another time, My presence, at this time, has a different purpose. I come in response to the words of Darkhawk, with words from my brothers and sisters: The Overlords answer the call..."

From the journal of Mane-of-Night...

"Did you have to threaten to spank her?"

Glitterthorn is stretched out along my Commander's desk, a sleek vision in scarlet vinyl, his head resting in his hand. "No, maybe not", he sighs, in response to my exclamation. "Why, you're not jealous, are you?"

I let out a breath of exasperation, and turn my chair away from my Overlord companion, letting my gaze swim in the star-map that dominates the wall behind my desk. "Like I have time for anything like that", I sigh. "Right now, I envy Rusitan - exploding in space seems preferable to this..."

I hear the familiar, alluring sound of vinyl crackling as it separates from a polished surface, as Glitterthorn changes position, eventually resting his chin on the head rest of my chair, near my ear. "This is cruelty, plain and simple", he murmurs. "Why, you're like a kitten in a cage, with no toys - how awful..."

"Anyone else in my position would do a third-rate job, and get fired", I respond weakly, "but I can't do that. My world needs me..."

"Surely your world can spare you for a while", suggests the gleaming Overlord, spinning my chair round and placing feet clad in thigh-high glossy crimson boots on the seat, to either side of me. "You, me, Wyridaen - just for a day or two. You've earned it - especially after that horrible interview. Two questions at once, almost every time - and she planted a spying device!"

"I have to wait, until Darkhawk returns, at the very least", I reply, idly drawing around the circular silver buckle on Glitterthorn's instep with my fingertip. "I'm sure she'd like to exert a little more influence here - how better to do that than give Jiira Surjitaal some 'hands-on' command experience, under Lanoq's command?"

"When you're ready, just let me know", says my demi-godly companion. "I'll be around - the Overlords are thinking about assigning an ambassador to the Station, a full-time presence, and who could be better qualified?"

"Mystery", I suggest playfully. "The Wanderer certainly has friends in the region - Vaarla used to live on Ealvonhai. She was even 'born' there..."

Glitterthorn leans forward, elbows resting on his vinyl-booted knees. "Guess who's also heading for a spanking?", he growls, and the laughter I've been holding in since leaving Tony back on Earth just has to come out...

Journal entry ends.

Lo'akir - a dusty rock in a forgotten corner of MDI "fringe-space". A valueless boulder so far off the space-lanes that it barely merits and entry in the navigation logs - perfect for what should be a momentous meeting...

"Any sign of them?", I ask Myromar.

My friend and pilot hasn't tired of me asking - yet. "The Imperative have given them clearance to pass through their space, and establish orbit, but the permit hasn't been activated yet", she confirms. "Right now, it's just us out here."

"The Traveller certainly did a good job of picking us a spot", I observe, and Myromar quickly picks up on that thread of conversation.

"That girl he came back with", my friend remarks idly, "that was the one you said Bekalth had as his prisoner, right? The girl you made contact with when we were 'shard-hunting' in Consolidation space...?"

"I nod slowly. "She must've escaped from the Nightmare when its master died", I reply. "I know what you're thinking - what if she's part of some elaborate scheme to cheat death?"

"It's not the first time", Myromar reminds me. "Sometimes, I struggle to remember more than one or two people we've known who died, and stayed dead."

"Not me", I respond, solemnly. "I remember the name and face of every soul who has died for Dominion. They're the ones who never come back. So much for a fair and just universe."

I take a breath before I get angry, and possibly sow the seeds of failure for this gathering I'm hosting. "Even with that shard in her head, that girl can hide nothing from me", I assure Myromar. "When he tried to usurp Dominion, Bekalth exposed himself to the LifeStar - to me. There's no way in this or any other reality for him to have escaped - I slammed every door shut in his pointy face, and when I looked into his eyes, that last time, I knew he understood that it was all over..."

There's a short period of silence, then Myromar tentatively picks up where she left off. "So... what do we do about the 'horn'?", she asks. "We both know what it is."

"It appears to be interfering with her mental processes, so I imagine she'd be better off without it", I answer. "We can't just charge in and force her 'under the knife' - she has to make that choice for herself, and she needs to know the truth, first... of... all..."

I feel them several seconds before Dominion One's sensors. Our guests are about to make their appearance...

"Energy signatures detected, approach vector confirmed", reports my companion, once the sensors draw her attention to the imminent arrivals. "Pattern registered in the 'war book' - they're Faenri."

"Signal them", I instruct Myromar. "Standard diplomatic greeting, invite them down to the surface. Personal escort only - no detachments of warriors, or any deal is null and void."

Myromar sends the message, and there's an answer in under a minute. "They will comply, under guarantee they can depart in peace", my friend tells me. "Two Jade, two Scarlet - no other protection."

"Peace" - it sounds crazy to hear the Faenri talk of peace. That is, however, not what I want to hear from them - I would much prefer answers.

...to be continued...