On Planet Earth, the Galaxy Alliance had called a tactical meeting for the preemptive strike against Doom. The Voltron Force was required to attend, much to the irritation of the princess. She rarely went to Earth for anything. Allura had maintained Arus' membership with the Alliance for the sole purpose of getting Voltron running again. Once Arus has their own trained pilots, she planned to sever her ties with Galaxy Garrison completely and take her chance at being independent.
Allura will never forget how long she tried to get reinforcements during that fateful night of Zarkon's surprise attack of Arus. Lotor risked his life to get the message to Allura that his father was on his way to Arus to take the planet's unsurpassed technology. The young princess tried with all her might to reach out to Earth for help after receiving the message, which resulted in nothing but bureaucratic nonsense. Allura felt that her father would still be alive if the Alliance had heeded her warning of the incoming attack. Lotor was the only reason she will still alive. She refused to leave the castle as it crumbled under the pressure the attack while Doom soldiers had stormed the Castle. Coran had been knocked unconscious and miraculously hidden under the rubble.
Lotor had stormed in with the legion of his father's troops, but only to look for Allura. He broke free from the pack running room to room until he found her weeping by the controls, still trying frantically to get support from Galaxy Garrison. He grabbed the young princess and ran frantically to the nearest hover craft. With all the turmoil going on around them, no one saw the Drule prince wrap the little princess in his military coat and rush her to the safety of the forest. He hated to leave her, but he knew the only safe place for her was a tiny opening in the underbrush of thick flowery vines. Here, she remained as her world was destroyed around her. Allura shook off this memory and forced her mind to the meeting at hand.
As the meeting concluded, Allura had gracefully excused herself. She was anxious to leave the Galaxy Alliance. She was not in the mood to answer any more questions, and she was definitely tired of being followed around by Keith. She had to find a way to get a message to Lotor about what was going to happen to happen on his doorstep, and fast.
The Alliance had unanimously decided to combine a team of Military personnel from each member planet. They were going to war with Zarkon. They were going to war with Planet Doom. They were going to war with Prince Lotor.
Quickening her pace, Allura's temper begins to rise as she recalls the unwanted intrusion. "This meeting was for planetary dignitaries only. What right did Keith have to just barge in and start speaking on behalf of Planet Arus? Arus has had enough with this team already."
Now on a mission, the princess picked up the pace. She had no time to get upset. "Lotor, I have to get a message to Lotor before it's too late!" Allura was in hurry to find a place out of site to stop and get an emergency message to the prince, before he was caught off guard by the Alliance attack.
As the princess was striding towards an exit, she noticed a door slightly open to a supply closet. Quickly, Allura slipped inside and closed the door. As she dropped to the floor, Allura hurried as she flipped open her wrist comlink to access the main computer on Arus.
Trying not to panic, her shaky hand began the comlink code sequence. She needed to reach a program that communicated directly with a tiny, hidden satellite that sat tucked away on Arus. This secret satellite was placed by Lotor for emergencies and can even send an emergency code directly to an encrypted receiver on Lotor's private ship. Only Prince Lotor knew how to access the device on his ship just in case it ever fell into enemy hands.
The princess finally accessed the computer, but as it reached out to the hidden program Allura had to shut it off. There were voices in the hall and they were growing louder. As she sits on the floor in the dark supply room, Allura could feel a sense of Prince Lotor. She had a strong sensation to reach out to him, but couldn't. In her mind she called to him, "Lotor!"
Her thoughts were disrupted when the voices got louder. Whoever they were, they were very close to the princess. An unknown voice finally became audible, "Once this battle is over, how soon will Voltron be delivered to Galaxy Garrison, Commander Kogane?"
Allura's heart melted when she heard Keith's distinct voice, "Delivering the Lions might be more difficult than originally planned. Sven made it clear that he will not come back and complete the mission." With a sigh, he continued, "Lance is also reconsidering his part. Can you supply two capable pilots to replace them?" Keith paused, choosing his words carefully and then continued, "You do know that Princess Allura is not going to just hand over Voltron to Galaxy Garrison."
The other voice cut in sharply, "Arus is a member of the Galaxy Alliance. She must hand over the Lions or you need to take them from her. Take them by whatever means necessary, even if you use Voltron against Arus to do so. Are you prepared to do your duty Commander?"
The footsteps stopped so close to the supply closet where Allura was hiding she could almost feel their presence. Keith's voice was much softer this time as he replied, "Not as easily as when we first arrived. It just doesn't seem right. Arus just wants to be left in peace."
The other voice cuts in abruptly, "Commander Keith Kogane, we are taking control of Voltron in the name of intergalactic peace. This was the primary purpose of sending your team in the first place, and you knew this from day one. If you refuse your duty, Galaxy Garrison will use the power of eminent domain and send five men instead of two to complete this mission as planned. It's your choice. I won't wait long for your answer, commander. As soon as the attack on Doom is finished, I will await word from you on when we can expect the mecha Voltron to arrive here on Earth. From there, we will transfer ownership of it to us."
Keith doesn't respond. There was an uncomfortable silence in the hall. Allura's heart was pounding so loudly she thought for sure they would discover her. How could anyone do this to a battle worn planet who wishes for nothing but peace? After all these years, from the very first day, the entire team has been a farce to take Voltron away from her. She muffled a cry of frustration and anger. So much pain and anger, she has to reach her rock. She has to reach Lotor.
Changing the subject, the mystery voice added, "Have you figured out who the unknown person is who keeps arriving on Arus at odd times? This unknown could be a problem if Princess Allura is forming an alliance with any outside powers. We need a report on this situation at once."
The footsteps start up again. Keith's voice was very clear in response, "No. The unknown is very good at hiding their tracks. But, I have made an attempt to get closer to the Princess to try to pick up something in conversation or her actions. She seems to be distracted, but I will find out what's going on."
Inside the supply closet, Allura's breathing was becoming so weathered that she was surprised the two voices in the hall could not hear it. Her mind was racing, "It's all been a lie. I knew it was good to be true. I should have known that Galaxy Garrison would not have just sent over help without wanting something in return."
Allura was sickened, "Five years. Five years with those men, all of them were pretending to be heroes of Arus. How could anyone with any sense of honor do this?"
She took in a deep breath to calm herself. Allura regained her sense of calm, of balance. She waited. Finally, when the voices were longer audible and Allura opened up the comlink one more time. She had to move, there was no time to try to reach Lotor yet. This time, she punched in a three line distress code and sent it directly to Coran on Arus. "Trust no one. Lock down Arus. Voltron Force a set up."
On Arus, a secret panel had rolled out from underneath the left side of the castle's main control center after the push of a small, flashing red light on Coran's wrist computer. Three lines of distress code were running across the screen. Coran closed his eyes and slowly shook his head, "I knew it was too good to be true when those boys arrived. I just never thought anyone could continue such a deceptive mission after becoming part of the Voltron Force for this long."
There was not time to lament. Coran collected his thoughts and was busy setting off a sequence of events on Arus for lockdown. All landing platforms were retracting into the castle, all officers planet wide sprang into their defensive posts and prepared for global defense. The Castle of Lions shook while its protection walls were emerging and rising up into defense mode. Also at this time, Coran had activated another program. This secret program had accessed a satellite that only two other people alive knew about.
Staring at the message about to be sent, Coran held back for moment. "Once this action is taken, it cannot be reversed." Allura was alone at Galaxy Garrison with absolutely no protection. Arus was at war now with not only Zarkon but apparently with the Alliance as well. There was only for a moment of doubt, as Coran hit the button in one swift motion before shutting down the panel. After it completed shutting down, the little screen had retracted back into its safe, secure position hidden again.
On planet Earth, Allura had shut off her comlink as soon as the message was sent to Coran. Messages were easily traced and decoded and she did not wish to draw any attention to the signal. She had waited until the voices had been gone long enough for a safe escape. She took a deep breath and shoved open the door. As the princess slid through the opening, she made a mad dash down the rest of the long corridor. "Got to get to Blue Lion, must get to Arus!" Allura had changed course through the hallway, now heading directly towards the docking bay.
As the princess ran through the last corridor before the exit, she was so focused on her goal that Allura did not hear the footsteps quickly gaining from behind. "Breath, open the panel and hit the buttons. Get the door open and get to Blue Lion" Allura was calming herself by her focus and steady hand.
As she reached for the buttons on the wall that slides open the exit door, Allura suddenly felt a hard squeeze pulling her arms into her body as she fell to the grown. As her mind was wrapping around the realization that she had been tackled to the floor, she heard Keith's familiar voice pleading in her ears.
"Allura, please, don't fight me!"
