Mecca of Mecha: Reborn into a Technocratic Aristocracy

Evander exhaled slowly, his fingers drumming against the arm of his chair before he stood.

"I have to go." he said, his eyes flashing with cold fury.

Cassian narrowed his eyes. "What happened?"

Evander held the letter out for Cassian to take, his hand steady but his eyes blazing. Cassian snatched the letter, his eyes scanning the elegant, precise script. Valeria moved to his side, her sapphire-blue eyes narrowing as she read over his shoulder.

Evander,

I hope this finds you in good health. It has come to my attention that certain disruptions have occurred in your operations. A pity, truly. Such instability can be so damaging to one's reputation, not to mention their prospects.

Should you find yourself in need of assistance, do not hesitate to reach out. I would be more than willing to lend my expertise—or my resources—to help stabilize your affairs. After all, we are family, are we not? And family looks out for one another.

Cassian's jaw tightened as he finished reading. "He's not even trying to hide it." he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Valeria picked it up, scanning the ink with a deepening frown. "The Veyroz raids." She exhaled, eyes narrowing. "We suspected it was the Dominion. With the Zey'rans locked in border skirmishes and the Von Hadres already stretched thin from their ongoing conflicts, It would serve as an opportunity to destabilize the region further. Veyroz, being a crucial nexus of trade and supply, was an obvious target."

"Veyroz wasn't just a trade network to me. it was the foundation of a delicate balance." Evander said, his tone dry with contempt. "The Syndicate depended on its seamless operations to maintain dominance in the sector, while the Malrik cartels relied on it as a secure pipeline for their smuggling and distribution networks. It's not just a loss of assets, but a shift in perception. If I can't protect it, then I'm not worth standing beside." His fingers curled into a fist at his side. 

Cassian locked eyes with him, his expression calculating. "You think he's trying to force you into submission?"

"Oh, he knows I won't submit," Evander scoffed. "He wants me occupied—too busy salvaging my own empire to aid you." He turned, fixing them with a knowing look. "That means he sees you as a real threat."

Valeria crossed her arms. "And what will you do?"

Evander's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "What I always do, my dear—adapt. The Syndicate will not take kindly to interference in their affairs, and neither will the Malrik cartels."

Cassian watched him, his voice measured. "That's a risky game."

"Well, that's the point." Evander replied smoothly. He straightened his coat, his smirk sharpening. His voice lowered, turning cold and lethal. "I will end you, Alaric." The words dripped with certainty, not bravado.

Cassian studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then we'll be ready when the time comes."

Evander inclined his head, his expression unreadable. "Good. Because it will come faster than you think."

"You won't hear from me for a while," he said, his voice casual as he adjusted his coat. "Not directly. I'll use intermediaries—some familiar, some less so."

Without breaking stride, he picked up a pen and scrawled something onto the back of an old receipt, sliding it toward Cassian. The Chancellor frowned as he read it.

We're being recorded

Cassian didn't react, but when he looked back up, his gaze was sharper. Evander kept talking as though nothing had happened. "If a message arrives without the phrase 'midnight tide,' assume it's been compromised."

Meanwhile, within the halls of Alaric's estate, another meeting was taking place.

The chamber was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the cold glow of a holomap spread across the table. The gathered figures sat in rigid silence, their faces cast in flickering light as Alaric studied the shifting data before him. 

Darian, a man whose sharp features and calculating gaze betrayed his opportunistic nature, was the first to break the silence. "Orinthia's position is clear. If we move against Cassian, we risk her wrath. And that's not just a risk—it's a death sentence. Is that a gamble any of you here are willing to take? " His lips curled, voice laced with equal parts caution and intrigue. "So tell me, Alaric, what's in it for us?"

"If we turn the elders, Orinthia's leverage crumbles. And you, Darian? You'll be sitting at the heart of the new order. Exclusive contracts, access to restricted colonies, opportunities Cassian would never grant you. All yours, if you have the foresight to act now."

Lira exhaled sharply, arms crossed. A woman of ambition and ruthless pragmatism, she had carved out her place at Alaric's side not through loyalty, but through results. Her dark eyes flicked between the glowing data streams before settling on Alaric. "And if we fail?" she asked, her voice edged with skepticism. "Cassian isn't just some upstart we can sweep aside. He's the Chancellor. Elder Kael still backs him, as do many of the younger generations. If we make a move and miscalculate, this entire play backfires. And I doubt you'll be the one paying the price."

Alaric's expression darkened, and he took a step closer to her, his presence looming like a storm cloud. "Cassian remembers those who stood against him. If you're not with him, you're against him. Choose wisely" he said, his voice icy. "Is that what you want? To see all our efforts crumble because you are afraid to act?"

Lira didn't flinch, her gaze steady. "I'm not afraid. I'm realistic. Cassian has resources, a reputation that's hard to tarnish, and allies who believe in him, and that makes him dangerous. Don't expect me to stand by and take the fall for your ambition."

Torin, a man of few words, finally spoke. His cybernetic eye glowed faintly as he scanned the room, his expression as calculating as ever. "This isn't just about Cassian," he said, his deep voice resonating with the weight of long experience. "This is about the family as a whole. A divided family benefits no one—not even you." His tone darkened, as he leaned in slightly. 

Darian scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "Spare us the cautionary tales, Torin. We all know why we're here. And if Alaric can deliver on his promises, I'm willing to take the risk. But if he can't…" He let the words hang in the air, his gaze fixed on Alaric.

The room fell silent, the tension thickening like a storm about to break. Alaric's jaw tightened, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he took a moment to consider their words, his sharp mind weighing the risks and rewards. "You think I don't know what's at stake?" he said calmly, though his voice carried an edge. "This is about taking control now, before we're all swallowed by Cassian's ambition."

Lira shook her head, her voice sharp. "You're asking us to risk everything on a plan that's half-formed at best."

Torin nodded, his gaze unwavering. "We're past promises, Alaric. If you want us behind you, you'll need to offer more than vague assurances. Otherwise, this is nothing but a gamble—and I, for one, don't gamble with my future."