The Emperor had four praetorian guards of his own, which meant there were now nine in total. It was beginning to feel very crowded.

"Welcome to the Imperial Palace, Captain Littlecrow," the Emperor said, his arms wide in greeting.

"I'm not Captain Littlecrow," said Mitzner.

"You're not?" asked the Emperor.

Mitzner was a foot taller than the Captain and had a completely different bone structure, hairstyle, and eye color.

"Trust me, I'd know," said Mitzner "I'm Lieutenant-Commander Mitzner."

"I was expecting the Captain," said the Emperor "But it appears all is not lost! You've brought the lovely Yoshiko with you."

Mitzner inwardly high-fived herself. She knew McAfree would be her ticket in.

The Emperor gestured towards McAfree.

"Yoshiko you are the avatar of Venus herself in that sweatshirt. Why in the galaxy are you so underdressed?"

"This is my best hoodie," said McAfree, shrugging.

"As you say," said the Emperor "Of course it is not the garment but the lady who fills it. And who is this?" asked the Emperor, indicating the third member of their party.

"I am, of course, Dr. Heliodore Kang," said Dr. Kang.

"This must be a great honor for you," said the Emperor, then addressing everyone he added "Let us adjourn to the dining hall at once!"

He led them all to the dining hall, Dr. Kang inwardly fuming at having been paid insufficient attention.

Two of the praetorian guards opened a set of double doors and the group entered the dining hall. It looked like what was once a magnificent banquet hall, with great vaulted ceilings and walls arrayed with paintings of past great Emperors of House Gormenghast, which had become worn and faded from neglect. It felt very empty as there wasn't really enough furniture inside to fill it.

A single long table was set out with a genuinely magnificent feast. There was roasted meat, fresh bread with real butter, vegetables and fruits in incredible variety, and all kinds of exotic and difficult to identify delicacies. All of it looked naturally produced. All of it smelled delicious.

The Emperor took his place at the head of the table.

"Have a seat, honored guests, and avail yourselves of my hospitality."

The three all sat. McAfree made sure to take the chair furthest from the 'Emperor'. He was starting to give her a worrisome Dracula vibe.

"By all means don't wait any longer to eat," said the Emperor.

And none of them did.

"As I mentioned to your Captain when your ship first contacted us, it is an enduring shame that she could not join us this evening, it is very important that none of you tell the outside galaxy about my little refuge."

McAfree's attention was completely absorbed taking a journey through her mashed potatoes and gravy, but both Mitzner and Dr. Kang started paying very close attention.

"As I'm sure you are all already aware and in support of, House Gormenghast will one day rise like lions and reassert our rightful claim as Imperator Galatica! We will burn a path of righteous victory across the stars the likes of which the galaxy has never seen before!"

The Emperor was raving, his face getting red.

"The Imperial Dynasty may sleep for now, but it will never die! I am the Empire! I am the Galaxy!

"By all the stars in all the galaxies have either of you tried these mashed potatoes?" interjected McAfree "Are they drugged? How am I having these feelings about an inanimate object? I want to get married and raise a large family with these mashed potatoes."

"My darling Yoshiko, you have the voice of an angel but why do you use it to interrupt me?" asked the Emperor.

"Were you not done yet?" asked McAfree.

"You are right, of course," said the Emperor "My point had been made. You all understand, of course."

He waited a beat. There was nothing but the sound of silverware on plates.

"Of course," the Emperor repeated.

"Sure," said McAfree, her mouth full of potatoes.

"So you do understand. I'm so grateful. And you will therefore hold no animosity towards me for having to confiscate your ship."

"Gurk," said McAfree, as she almost choked on his food.

"Excuse me?" asked Mitzner.

"Under ordinary circumstances I would allow you to keep it out of hospitality but as my family is currently deposed we need every resource we can get. I can't very well let you just fly off with it."

"Well you can't have it," said Mitzner.

"My dear I am the Emperor," said the Emperor "I can have anything I want. I have already ordered my men to engage our tractor beam. Your ship isn't going anywhere."

All the guns, thought Mitzner, All of them. And they didn't even have a scanner.

McAfree was still eating as fast as she could. She knew her window of opportunity to do so was soon closing.

Dr. Kang rose from his seat.

"I don't think you have any idea who you're dealing with," said Dr. Kang "The Huxley Foundation is the only remaining superpower in the galaxy. What you propose to do is an act of war."

"I'm afraid you're the one who has no idea who you're dealing with, Dr. Chang," said the Emperor, drawing a pistol from beneath his cape "Your Huxley Foundation is engaged in open rebellion!"

He fired it with the distinctive crackle and pop of an ion weapon. The beam pierced Dr. Kang's chest and he slumped over onto the table onto his plate of fish.

Mitzner was on him like a blur. She kicked the gun from the Emperor's hand so hard that when it hit the wall several vital components were damaged. He cried out and began to dance around in pain, clutching at the hand she kicked.

McAfree stifled a scream and ducked under the table to hide.

Mitzner turned around. The golden guards were already charging at her with their halberds, ready to engage into an actual melee. Dr. Kang lay on the table shot, possibly dead. It looked like the evening had been salvaged after all.