“Simulation is now over.” Iris’s voice rang out through the speakers, and the images on the holo changed. Ships from the Second Fleet appearing in places where they were “destroyed”. Adrian looked around the command center, everyone was still celebrating. He let them, they deserved it, but he was already planning a strategy for the next game. He knew it would be much harder.
Chapter Twenty Two
Nuva – four days later
“How much longer do you think we have?” Lanai Sumia asked. Retsar Isani looked at the image of Nuva projected on the screen in Sumia’s office. After a minute of gazing at the world he was supposed to protect he turned to Sumia. “A few weeks at the most.” He said.
“They might let us be, we are not a threat.” Sumia said weakly.
Isani smiled ironically. “We, the Consortium were never a threat to them. And yet they still attacked. No, they will come, they will want to isolate Nelus, show them that they are truly alone. Getova would have fallen by now, I suspect that they might have already dispatched a force to deal with us. And if they didn’t, they soon will. Getova is a month away, so we have a month at the most.”
“There is no hope for us then?” Sumia asked.
“No. My ships can’t defend Nuva, and the militia we organized can’t fight off Sowir assault force.” Isani said.
“What point is there even in trying? We should have already put everyone we can on what few ships we have left and sent them away. Perhaps some could survive.” Sumia said.
“And where would we send them? Nelus won’t accept them, there are already too many people there, the only ones they accept are those that can help them fight. And most of our population are Farmers and their children. Not exactly a fighting force. Sending them out into the unknown might be worse than dying here protecting their homes.”
“I should have pressed the Humans. Perhaps we could save those too young to fight.”
“We do not know them Lanai. They appear to want to help, but in truth we know nothing about them. How many worlds do they have? How are they governed? What’s their history? They look familiar, so we are quick to trust.” Isani said.
“Do you really believe that they would harm us?” Sumia asked.
“No.” Isani said. “But still…”
“It is our only chance, so that at least some of our people survive. We both know that our race will not survive the Sowir.” Sumia said.
Isani sighed, “You are right. We should ask again.”
“Our race won’t end with us.” Sumia said.
Isani was about to add something, when his personal comm sounded. He accepted the call on his wrist unit and the comm went to his earpiece.
“Tell me.” Isani said. And then after a moment. “I’ll be right there.”
He ended the communication with his wrist unit, and then looked at Sumia.
“Sowir ships have been detected, they will be here in a month.” Isani said.
“I’ll contact the Humans.” Sumia said. Isani nodded and walked out of the office.
Sanctuary
Every seat in the small meeting room at the Olympus city palace was filled. Tomas Klein looked at the people seated there, they were those he trusted implicitly and whose opinions he valued and appreciated.
“We have a choice to make.” Tomas said. “Sowir ships have been detected in Nuva system, they will arrive at the planet in twenty three days.”
“How many?” Laura asked.
“Twenty two ships have been detected. Four battleships, eight heavy cruisers, eight light cruisers and two troop transports.” Tomas said.
“Can Nel fight them off?” Nadia asked.