“I want you to get ships ready to depart, Jahdiel,” Merikh told her. “The message will reach all of the planets soon, so by the time you reach the first one, they should just let you in their airspace.”
“I'll get the ships ready,” Jahdiel said as she turned to leave the room.
Merikh looked to the Queen. “If they listen, I may let assist in ruling this galaxy. It’ll be more peaceful that way.”
“I’ve helped you all I want,” Adira snorted. “I can't make them stay peaceful forever, but I’ve saved some lives for the time being.”
Donnchadh looked down at his holopad to read all of the current news. He saw Gaea had just been ravaged and taken over, but before he could read the article and look at pictures, new urgent news streamed across his device. This wasn't news from the angry races of Orion, it had been posted by Merikh himself. Donnchadh clicked the news article and saw it was a video. He watched it and immediately got up to see what he rest of the crew was doing. Unfortunately, they’d all seen the video too and weren't happy in the least bit.
“What's this?” One of the races yelled. “We don't want peace! We want revenge! We want to kill!”
“Calm down,” Donnchadh urged. “This doesn't mean that there will be peace.”
“Who would be foolish enough not to take a peace offering from the crodillians?” Another asked. “Look what they’ve done to the planets they’ve already taken over.”
“Yes, but that will be even more reason for the rest not to come peacefully,” Donnchadh told them all. “Do you really think these races will lie down and be taken over peacefully after witnessing the death of close friends and family? I don't think they will. In fact, I know they'll all rebel.”
“Donnchadh is right,” Kellagh said. “I’ve been keeping up with reports of planets and so far every one of them has had some type of rebellion. You'll get your bloodshed, as will I and the crodillians.”
“And look at the Queen in the video,” Donnchadh pointed out. “She looks frail, beaten, and is chained like a slave. This isn’t what she wants, she was forced to say it and every race can tell by one quick glance. Just be patient and you’ll get your bloodshed.”
Once Donnchadh saw his crew calm some and he went back into his bunker. He sat at his desk and stared at the wall blankly. If Merikh really did want peace, this could change things quite a bit. The Queen would most likely stay alive, even if Jahdiel did want her dead, and Donnchadh could just bring back Kirill. He could let the Deimos Brotherhood stay under the radar for a while, claiming they were all gone. There would be larger rebellions eventually, if not right away, and the Deimos Brotherhood would be a good ally to have against the crodillians.
Donnchadh got out of his chair and started to pace the room. He wanted to help aid in a rebellion and being inside with the crodillians would give Orion an advantage. It would be dangerous for him, and if he got caught he would surely be killed, along with anyone he contacted. It’d be worth it though, especially if the crodillian leader thought peace was a possibility. Donnchadh knew what the chances of that would be, but if Orion could fake it, they could strike with the element of surprise.
Chapter 6
Pyrrhus stood with the Prime Minister as he called the Queen's Council to discuss the rebellion plans. They’d all just seen the message from the Queen, and deep down, he believed it was a message with a message with hidden meaning. Obviously she’d been forced to say what she did, but the way she said it and the look in her eyes, told him all he needed to know. Several things she’d spoken could be taken one of two ways and he was going to take it the way he thought best for Orion.
As of right now, things were bleak, but it was only the beginning. With that speech, she’d bought not only him time, but the entire galaxy. He needed to relay to all races to abide by what she’d ordered so that they’d stand a chance. If they could trick the crodillians into thinking they’d lay down their weapons, all the better. For the first time in several weeks, things were starting to look good for the rebels.
Aldrick’s image appeared on the screen displayed in front of all races that’d wanted to listen in. “How’d you know we weren't killed on Hera, Prime Minister Gidon?”
“He didn't. I did,” Pyrrhus said. “I knew that you were on Nesoi and I'm trying to make sure that the leaders gathered here on Ares make the right choices in our upcoming rebellion.”
“Pyrrhus?” Hildereth, the quierleon Council member asked. “We all thought that you were dead. How did you survive? We had multiple reports that all fleets were destroyed and survivors were hunted down.”
“I left my ship before the battle was over,” he hung his head. “It was apparent we were greatly mistaken about their power, as they quickly took ships down with ease. I was able to escape before my ship was destroyed and I came straight to Ares.”
“You were right to leave,” Aldrick said. “You didn't believe that all the ships should have been brought to Hera in the first place. If not for you, we wouldn't even have ships hidden on Ares. We should’ve pressed the Queen harder to heed to your advice.”
“Well, that's why I'm contacting you. I think it’s time we prepare for the inevitable.”
“You want to use those ships already?” Reginold asked. “Even after the Queen just sent out the message for peace?”
“No,” Pyrrhus assured them. “But there are others here on Ares who want to foolishly send out the last hope we have. If I hadn’t made here when I had, every one of those ships would be on their way to Hera.”
“The ships stay on Ares,” Aldrick said sternly. “The Queen put us in charge and that's what all of the Council will want. If any on Ares have questions or concerns, then send them here to speak with us. We’ll give you our location if you really need it.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary, but I want to use those ships soon,” he said. “First, I want to get a rebellion force established throughout Orion, then we can worry about the ships.”
“You want to rebel after the Queen said not to?” Alura asked, coming into the screen for the first time.
“I believe that the Queen is only buying us time. She knows we’ll rebel, and by giving that speech, she’s allowing Orion to recover from recent attacks and band together for one last fight.”
“The only message she sent to us was to be at peace with the crodillians. How hard is that to understand?” Alura asked.
“Adira would never want us to lay down and surrender,” Aldrick looked to Alura. “I believe that Pyrrhus may be right. We know Adira well, and I promise you, she’d rather die than hand over the Throne to monsters.”
“Even if he is right, they said that they haven't shown their true power yet. How are we to stand a chance against them when they have only been toying with us?”
“Anlon is getting information that may help us if we do end up needing it,” Reginold revealed to Pyrrhus.
“Yes, you’re right,” Alura nodded. “But you seem to have forgotten he has the Princess with him. Once the crodillians find out, what are the chances he returns to us?”
“What are you talking about?” Pyrrhus asked. “What did you send them to get?”
Alura let out a breath. “They think that the Elders can help by revealing information about how the crodillians were defeated last time. It’s a long shot, but they were never going to stay here.”
“That was a long time ago,” Pyrrhus said.
“Even if none of the originals are alive, they'll have passed the information down to the other Elders,” Hildereth replied. “They pride themselves in their history, but rarely take part in the present.”
“Why don't you just contact them by comlink?” Pyrrhus asked. “It’d save a trip and you’d get your information much quicker.”
“They like to stay completely secluded from the rest of Orion,” Aldrick said. “Even if we tried, we’d never get through to them. The only way to speak to them is in person. That's why we sent Anlon and his friends, though the Prin
cess was never supposed to go along. She defied out direct orders.”
“Do you believe the Elders will have any valuable information?” Pyrrhus asked all of them. “I can't remember the last time anyone mentioned them contributing to the good of Orion. This is the first time I’ve heard of them since I was a child.”
“We don't have many other options right now,” Alura said. “Maybe with their lives on the line they will help us.”
“If you sent Anlon to get information on how to defeat the crodillians, that means you’ve planned to use the ships on Ares the entire time.”
“Yes. We have been contemplating about it,” Alura nodded. “But that was before the Queen's message. We’ve spoken, and we believe it's best that we follow what the Queen has told us. If Anlon does get information, we’ll have it for later use, if need be.”
“Let me set up rebellions!” Pyrrhus urged. “The crodillians will never stay peaceful for long, no matter what you tell yourselves. Adira bought us time and spared millions of lives! She wants us to rebel, I promise you that. We can't squander our chance because the crodillians claim that they want peace. By the time other realize it was a lie, it’ll be too late to stop them from killing every last one of us.”
“They'll burn our planets if we rebel!” Alura stared with fear in her eyes. “Look at what happened to Gaea because they rebelled! That was only a small group willing to risk their lives and they lost not just theirs, but thousands of others who wanted no part.”
“They were seen,” Pyrrhus said. “If they let us live our lives normally, I can set up hidden bases on the planets. If they don't see they rebellion forming, how are they going to punish us? They don’t know this galaxy like we do.”
“I'm sorry Alura, Pyrrhus is right,” Aldrick said. “Things have changed since we spoke last about what course of action to take. We need to be ready when the crodillians do decide to change their minds.”
“It's foolish,” Alura shook her head. “What’ll happen to all of the innocents if we get caught? Have you that about that?”
“What will happen when the crodillians decide to break their promise and we aren't prepared?” Hildereth asked this time. “Look what happened to us last time we weren't prepared. We barely survived! How are we supposed to sit around while we have a chance to take our homes back and save millions of lives?”
“We won't get caught,” Pyrrhus said. “I know of many hidden military bases where we can gather thousands of rebels without raising any suspicion. Once the rebels are there, they'll never have to leave for anything. There’s only a slim chance we will get caught, but it's what Adira wants us to do. She doesn't want us to wait idly, she wants us to prepare for war.”
“How are you going to do this?” Alura asked. “I mean, setting up rebellion forces? That’ll take months of traveling from planet to planet.”
“If they're really going to let us live out our lives normally, that means that we can travel right?”
Alura shrugged. “I guess so, go on.”
“That means that I can travel to planets as a merchant and find those who want to rebel. I'll gather them up and send them to bases to get ready to strike when the time is right.”
“How are you going to find these races without the crodillians finding out?” Alura asked. “Word will spread you're gathering rebel forces, and don’t be fooled, the crodillians will catch wind of it.”
“Do you really think that it'll be that hard to keep quiet?” Aldrick asked. “Families have been torn apart and homes have been destroyed. There will be more than enough races that want to rebel, and no race would dare speak about this where a crodillian can overhear.”
“He's right,” Pyrrhus said. “I'll be able to find races fairly easily, and from there they can find others. I don't need to find every rebel, or go to every corner of every planet, I just need to find a few and be certain they’re able to lead.”
“So I guess that means there’s no chance you send someone else to do this in your place?” Alura asked.
“That’s correct,” Pyrrhus nodded. “I need to make sure that this is done without mistakes. There’s no margin for error, not now, not ever.”
“You do know you’re the best General we have, and if you die, the only military leader with any experience in fighting the crodillians will be gone. There’ll be no way we stand a chance in winning this war if that happens.”
“If Anlon is able to get information from the Elders, any General should be able to lead an attack, you won't need me. You already have everything you need to win.”
“We would prefer to have you leading the attacks,” Aldrick said. “You'll know what to be prepared for. Information will only go so far.”
“If the crodillians are true to their word, then I'll be fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“You're willing to put your life on the line because they gave their word?” Alura shook her head. “I don't think they're very trustworthy.”
“They're not,” Pyrrhus agreed. “But they may keep their word long enough for me to get done what needs to be done.”
“Fine,” Alura raised up her hands. “Go set up rebellion forces, the rest of the Council will get together and talk about changing our plans now that you’re alive. You seem to have convinced two already, and I'm sure others will agree with you once we speak.”
“Thank you,” Pyrrhus smiled. “I’ll let the other leaders know what I'm doing and what you've ordered. I’ll set up the forces as quickly as I can.”
“Good luck, Pyrrhus,” Aldrick said. “You're going to need it.”
“Tell the rest of the Council to get in here quickly,” Alura ordered. “We need to make sure this is what we want to do before we commit to it. Once we begin, there won’t be any turning back.”
Aldrick nodded and pulled out his comlink. He sent the remaining members a message to arrive as quickly as possible. It didn't take long for them to arrive, considering they were in an underwater Palace with few places to wander off to.
Aldrick looked around to make sure that they were all present before he spoke. “We’ve just received a call from Pyrrhus.”
“He's alive?” Bertrade asked. “I thought that he died back on Hera with the rest of the military.”
“As did we, but we just saw him and spoke with him,” Alura said. “I can assure you that he is very much alive and well.”
“Pyrrhus insisted the Queen doesn't want us to lay down our weapons and surrender to the crodillians. Instead, he believes, as do I now, that the Queen wants us to rebel against this enemy.”
“Then why would she send out a message for peace?” Aida asked. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”
“So we have time and assurance that we won't be killed,” Saidi said aloud.
“So, you believe it to?” Hildereth asked.
“Yes,” Saidi shook her head. “I’ve been listening to the speech over and over, and the more that I listen to it, the more I think she wants us to rebel. The way she said things, voice inflections, gestures, it all leads me to believe she wants us to take back what’s ours.”
“What things makes you think that?” Alura asked. “I heard or saw nothing that encouraged rebelling.”
“She said small rebellions will lead to death, that was her trying to say, create a large, strong, rebellion that stands a chance. I think that, because at the beginning of the speech, she said we don't have a chance right now. If we can establish a strong rebellion on every planet, then we do stand a chance,” Saidi said. “The last thing she said is, if we get caught then they'll be merciless, so we have to keep the rebellion hidden from them. Nowhere in her speech did she tell us to give up all hope, she was telling us discreetly to be smart and not get caught.”
“She bought us time,” Aldrick said. “Pyrrhus believed the same thing and contacted us so that he could personally start forming a rebellion force.”
“That's great,” Saidi said. “The crodillians will never expect it after the message the
Queen sent out, not if all stay calm.”
“What about if we get caught?” Alura asked.
“It's a risk we have to take. It's also a risk that Adira would want us to take,” Saidi said. “She brought almost every ship to Hera to take the crodillians out in one flail swoop, so I know she wouldn't want us to give up hope.”
“There are risks in war,” Hildereth said. “Right now, we don't have a choice but to take big risks. There are no small risks in any decision we make from here on out.”
“But the crodillians have asked for peace,” Alura said.
“They demanded peace or death,” Aldrick said. “They didn’t ask us anything. Adira took the chance to buy us time. There’s no other reason why she’d request we all surrender without a fight.”
“If the crodillians think the peace is real, they'll never see us coming. Especially if they don't know about the few hundred ships on Ares. I promise you, she’d give her life before revealing that.”
“I'm guessing that the rest of you are also sided with Pyrrhus?” Alura asked.
The entire Council shook their heads. Alura let out a deep breath and shook her head. “Then let's make sure this rebellion is done right and succeeds. I’ll contact Anlon and tell him to get to his information quickly.”
“Alura?” Anlon asked. “We haven't gotten the information yet. We're still traveling without sonodrive.”
“Well, initiate sonodrive and get to Ovrea as quickly as you can and find the Elders,” she ordered him.
“What about the crodillians? What if we get out of the jump in the middle of a fleet? Falcone hasn’t received any responses from other ships in the area yet.”
“They've just said they won't kill any more races, you'll be fine. Just get there as quickly as you can.”
“What are you talking about?” Anlon asked. “They want peace?”
“The Queen sent out a message to Orion requesting peace on behalf of the crodillians. They want no more bloodshed, which gives us the chance to set up rebellion forces, but we also need that information from the Elders.”
Rise of the Resistance (War for Orion Trilogy Book Two) Page 6