Jeramiah stared at Mallory and saw she was serious. He looked at his children and nodded. They sat down on the floor and put their hands behind their heads. As soon as he sat down he felt someone behind him take his hands and bind them. He looked and didnt see anything. What was going on here?
Mallory spoke into her com, I have the throne room. Initiate the next steps.
The ones sitting on the floor heard, Were on it. The fleet has been brought under control.
Mallory went to the communications board next to the throne and keyed the board, I know that many of you are frightened by whats happening around you. You have watched as my father has brought millions of captured slaves to our world and forced them into hard labor. I have just recently learned that he has been dishonest about who they are. He has been invading innocent civilizations and forcing his heavy handed rule on them. That ends today. Our core principles since the founding of our Province has always been to detest slavery and all its forms. Somewhere along the way, we lost ourselves. It started when we attacked the Stars Realm thousands of years ago. I am the successor to my Father and I command that we return to those values. Youve all heard how he was going to kill you. I give you my oath that I will protect and defend you against all enemies that seek to destroy your peace. I ask that you stay in your homes until this is over. It will not be safe in the streets.
Jeramiah listened to Mallory and said, Do you think you can do what you just said?
Mallory looked at him, I will or die trying. Its time the ruler put the well being of their subjects ahead of his own.
Jeramiah saw she meant it. Maybe things were going to be changed. He looked at his two sons and daughter and said, Wait and see.
James Silvey watched the four hundred thousand slaves milling around in the huge holding compound. He had been made a guard six months earlier and was stunned at the brutal way the other guards had brutalized them. He tried to treat them with kindness when he could and his fellow guards had beaten him twice for not using their tactics. Colonel Grame threatened to make him join them if he didnt toughen up.
He listened to the broadcast of King Jongos command to destroy the planet and was shocked at his total disregard for his subjects. The guards around him were angry and frightened as they stared at the sky waiting for death to come. When Princess Mallory came on the com and said that her father was captured and was going to be tried for treason, there was a huge sigh of relief. Then they heard, All guards currently assigned to the slave compounds will turn off their weapons and gather at the compound entrance. You will have ten minutes to comply.
James turned off his blaster and walked away from the fence and turned toward the entrance. He noticed that no one else was joining him. Most of the guards were talking among themselves wondering what was going on. Several noticed him headed toward the entrance but turned back to their arguments. Colonel Grame went on the com and said, Hold you posts. We need some hostages to make sure no one tries to blame us for any wrong doing.
James continued to walk toward the entrance and Col. Grame stepped away from the fence and moved in front of him, Where do you think youre going?
Im following the orders of my Queen, Sir.
Shes not your Queen yet.
How do you know that?
Because we havent had our say in her selection and until we do, you will keep your post.
Sir, I respectfully decline to disobey my Queen. James stepped around Grame and continued moving toward the entrance.
Grame sneered and raised his blaster, Youve always been too soft.
Grame was hit by a white spark that flew in almost faster than the eye could see. His arms burned off and then the rest of his body was consumed by flames. The guards heard on their coms, You will not be asked again. Move to the entrance or die.
James continued walking toward the entrance. Many of the guards raised their blasters to fire but all were burned. The guards saw the small bright sparks flying in from over head and they began raising their blasters to fire at whatever was hitting them. James continued his walk to the entrance as two thousand sparks flew in and killed the guards lining the fence. He arrived at the entrance and laid his inactive weapon on the ground. He looked around and smelled burning flesh. There was no one else at the entrance but him, so he walked up to the gate where there were thousands of slaves gathered. Some of them started yelling at him but a woman screamed at them, This is the only one that showed us kindness. The slaves grew silent. Hes been giving my daughter and son his meals. Hes never hurt any of us and I know he hates whats been done. She looked at James, Am I right?
James said, Yes, you are. James reached up and punched the code into the gate and opened it. I dont know what you can do on a world away from your homelands, but I will never help anyone harm another being.
A loud voice rang out over a loud speaker, We know you are ready to escape this camp, however, we want you to go where you can be fed and cared for. You are now free and we will help you recover from your imprisonment. Officer, will you please show our friends how to get to the barracks next to the Medical Center.
James looked at the slaves and said, If you will follow me, Ill show you where to go. A young boy and girl ran up and took his hands. Their mother walked forward, picked up the little boy, and put her arm on James elbow. James looked at her and smiled. He unbuttoned his jacket and put it around the young girl and started walking toward his base. He wondered about the division stationed there but he didnt care. The thousands of slaves saw the four walking away and fell in behind them. Carol looked at James and saw his heart. Her husband had been killed four years earlier when their planet had been invaded and she still mourned him. She had watched James for months and saw that he was not like the others. He had saved her little boy by sneaking him meals and antibiotics when he was close to death. She knew he could have lost his life if he had been caught but he took the risk anyway. She had decided that whatever the future brought, she was going to repay him for his kindness.
James continued walking and felt Carol tighten her grip on his arm. He looked at her and saw her smile. Even through the dirt she was beautiful. He said, Im so sorry.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek and said, I know.
As James topped the hill leading into the Military Base he saw thousands of soldiers marching in the opposite direction toward the slave compound. They were being herded by what looked like giant lizards with a human riding them. The soldiers looked scared and some of them were dazed by what was happening. The slaves began to stop and were barely restraining themselves from attacking the troops. They heard a voice in their minds, They will receive justice. Please continue to your destination.
The slaves watched as their tormenters were marched toward their former compound. Something was happening. They topped the hill and found a four armed being standing beside a huge yellow creature waiting on them. They were right. Things were changing.
General Weis listened to the open broadcast from King Jongo and immediately tried to contact him and let him know he was being heard by everyone on New Ulmerton. He immediately stopped his effort when he heard the King order the planet destroyed. What was going on?! He hit his alarm and the twenty thousand soldiers under his command were immediately rushing to their assigned posts. He walked out of his headquarters and headed toward his ship. He needed to get into orbit if the planet was going to be hit. As he approached his ship he saw fifty military skimmers begin lifting from the landing field. All fifty were hit and disintegrated. Then he heard over his com, This is Searcher Ship Greyson of the Bristone Empire; you will assemble in the field next to your base immediately. You will take no weapons with you and any violators will be eliminated. You will comply at once or I will burn your base down to the planets bedrock.