Chris’s eyes narrowed and he began hearing others join them in their protest at his going into danger. “A good leader takes the risks of those he commands.”
Salud said, “Save that mush for someone who believes it.” Chris looked at her and she shook her head, “You and Lukas are so hard headed. Getting you to see your value is just not possible.”
Lukas said, “Wait a min…”
Salud said, “Shut up. You know I’m right. We almost had to hog tie you to take you to Eden.” Lukas closed his mouth. Looked at her, turned to Chris and shrugged. Salud looked around the table, “Is there anyone here that would respect Chris any more than you do if he went into combat?”
The High Leader said, “I’d actually respect him less.”
Chris’s eyes narrowed, “Why is that?”
“Because you are what unites us. If something happened to you, it would all unravel. Putting yourself in a position where that is even a possibility shows a lack of respect for those serving you.”
Chris took a deep breath to voice his opinion and blew it out when Allison said, “You have to know he’s right.” Chris looked at her and she shook her head, “Salud is right. You have no concept of what you mean to those in this room.”
“What about us?”
Allison looked up, “And the two of you as well, Piper.”
Jinks looked at Chris, “So you go dropping on the Legends’ Planet and leave us without overall leadership to coordinate our forces if the other Legends send a huge retaliatory force from the other galaxies.”
Chris looked at Lukas, “I could use a little help here.”
“Sorry, I happen to agree with them and I must say I’m starting to understand the problems I’ve cause in the past.”
Salud muttered, “About time!”
Chris shook his head with his lips pursed and he said, “Piper, you will not take Pat into combat. You keep him safe until the moment he can safely be taken to the planet.”
“Of course. As the Leader of my forces, I understand that I have to be in a position to see the overall picture of what’s going on.”
Chris looked up and rolled his eyes, “Don’t tell me you will stay out that easily?”
“Ok, I won’t tell you.”
Chris laughed and everyone joined him. Chris sighed and said, “All right, I’ll stay in the barrier and move between our forces where I might be needed.” The entire room exploded with applause. “Sarcasm doesn’t become you.”
Eve said, “Yes it does.”
Chris laughed and looked around the room, “I’ve brought a list of questions on what ifs. I’d like to know how you would respond to them.” Chris looked at Vanger, “What if the Legends send some of their fleets to organize with the Progen?”
“That’s when you’ll have Piper send a corresponding number of his ships to join us.”
Chris nodded, “Very good, Vanger!”
Allison sat in her chair and watched Chris ask his ‘what if’ questions and wondered how she had been so lucky to have ended up with him. She looked at the attendees and saw that the High Leader was right; he was what united them.
Finally, the meeting ended and Chris said, “The Pods and Battleships will leave immediately for M-87 and wait for the Progen to start forming up.”
“What are you going to do?”
Chris looked at the Welken Royal, “Some Silver Ships and I will be leaving for the Green Civilization.”
“Why?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t be getting involved in anything that happens there and I really hope nothing does.” Everyone looked at him and he said, “Hey, everyone, chill out. I’ve got the message.”
Vanger looked at Averel, “What does chill out mean?”
“It means shut up.” Everyone heard the exchange and the entire room burst out laughing. It took ten minutes to restore order. It could have been done quicker but Chris was laughing as much as everyone else.
Finally, the meeting ended and the massive forces going to M-87 began moving. The long awaited confrontation with the Legends had finally arrived.
Allison activated her armor and looked at Chris who already had his at full power. He looked at her and smiled, “The new visors are incredible. The tactical is just like seeing everything around our ship.” Allison nodded. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m frightened, Chris. What if after all we’ve done to get ready, it’s not enough.”
Chris went to her and knelt. He took her hands and smiled, “Then we start over. Winning this is a journey, not a destination. This is just the first step.” Allison smiled and nodded. “We’re not going into normal space or the void. You and I will remain in the barrier and direct traffic.”
“I know. It’s just…”
“We could lose a lot of friends in this fight.”
“So many have died before.”
“They gave everything so we could arrive at this moment. Now it’s up to us to make their sacrifice worth it.”
Allison nodded and turned to her console, “The Silver Ships have arrived.”
Chris turned off the thought blocker and thought, “Are you ready to go?”
“We are Commander.”
“Medley, long time no see.”
“It’s good to be back. How do you want to handle this?”
“I’ll let you know when to drop out of the barrier and take them.”
Allison looked up from her panel, “The scouts say the Legends have ordered their tools to form up.”
“That’s our cue, Medley.”
“Lead the way.”
Chris took the controls and pressed the right pedal. The Barrier Pod skipped away from Eden at a speed that was too fast to measure. The pod arrived above the Green Civilizations Capital and hung in the barrier with the hundred Silver Ships around it. He focused on the Leader and heard, “You have been ordered to move your ships to the edge of the Galaxy. The Progen are waiting on you to join their formations.”
The Leader of the Audons shook his head, looked at his Fleet Admiral and Councilors gathered in the room and said, “I am sorry but I must refuse.”
“YOU WHAT?!”
“I cannot comply with your orders.”
“YOU WILL COMPLY OR YOU WILL DIE!”
The Leader saw the fear of those gathered in the room and he took a deep breath, “I cannot attack the species that allowed my ships to escape.”
A moment later, fifty huge Black Ships appeared above the planet. “YOU WILL START YOUR FORCES MOVING NOW OR YOU AND EVERYONE ON THIS PLANET WILL DIE!”
The Leader knew the being said he should wait until the first planet was destroyed before he followed their orders. He never considered that the planet would be his. He looked at the others and saw they had gathered their nerve and nodded toward him. They were willing to die with him. The Leader said, “Die and rot in the underworld!”
Chris said, “Take them Medley.”
The hundred Silver Ships came out of the barrier directly above the Black Ships and opened fire with their Dark Energy Disruptors. Forty of them exploded and the ten survivors opened fire on their attackers. The Silver Ships dodged their beams at an incredible speed. Two of them were hit and one of them had its force field collapse. The hull absorbed the beam as the two ships moved out of the fire coming from the Black Ships. The other Silver Ships opened fire on the ten survivors and they exploded.
The Leader fell back in his chair. The monitor on the wall showed the destruction of the Black Ships in orbit above the planet and he was stunned at how fast they were destroyed. Chris thought to him, “I had to wait and see if you would stand by your choices.”
The Leader calmed his breathing, “Would it be too much to ask to not cut it so short next time?”