The month passed slowly; in Zakharov's eyes, at least. There was three days left until the meeting with Deirdre, but he felt like he could wait an eternity if it meant putting off the new leader's speech and proposal.
He took Yang's suggestion to a halfway point: Many of his colonies focused on research, but the bases closest to Mandelev College and the ones skirting Deirdre's territory began training soldiers for defense techniques. Zakharov remembered his discussion he'd had with Yang about the change…
"What're you doing, Prokhor? This design only has hand weapons!"
"These are defense units. They simply need to protect the base."
"Well, where's your offensive?"
"I don't need an offensive, Yang…I don't even want a defensive. These units are just a precaution in case Deirdre or Meskha decide to start a war."
"I just hope it doesn't come to that, Zakharov…that would really disrupt the trade commerce between me and you."
"Aren't there more important consequences then that???"
Shila awoke him from his thoughts. "You're tuning me out, Prokhor. What are you pondering about now?"
He turned to her, frowning. "We've got two fronts on our borders, Shila…and one that's entirely capable of whipping us out ultimately and completely. It's not a good situation."
She put her hand on his, something Zakharov had come to appreciate under times of pressure. "What'll we do, Prokhor?"
He closed his eyes. "I don't know…I can't even go to the council about it, my theories aren't valid until I have a reason to distrust the intentions of my enemies."
She nodded solemnly. "Things will be okay, Prokhor."
He looked at her sadly. "I hope so, Shila." He pushed a button on the side of his chair and watched as the room exploded with tiny lights. It was as if he were witnessing the birth of the universe itself. In a matter of seconds, the pair felt as if they were on their own shuttle, soaring through space. This never gets old…ever.
Shila smiled. "What are we going to talk about today, Prokhor? Some random theory?"
He looked at her, an idea forming in his head. "Shila, what do you want to talk about today?"
Shila looked puzzled. "Me?"
He nodded. She seemed to go into deep thought while considering Zakharov's question. Then she looked at him with a spark in her eyes.
"I don't want to talk about anything today."
He looked at the normally-curious girl with confusion. "I thought you wanted to talk?"
"Well…I do, but…" She yawned. "Can I just lie with you a while and watch you look at the stars?"
He smiled. "If you like."
The two leaned back in their seats and stared up at the galaxies and worlds around them. Almost an hour seemed to fly by before he noticed a paper that had printed from his computer. Zakharov looked over at Shila, who was sleeping. He still didn't understand why she slept…but he wasn't about to argue. Zakharov picked up the paper from the computer and began to read it…then he read it again…and again…and again.
He slowly got up from his chair and walked to the monitor in the room, patching himself through to the command center.
"Show me our borders."
The cadet replied and pushed several buttons on his computer, and leaned back as the views were transferred to Zakharov's vision.
At first, everything looked normal…until you distinguished the green grass from the green soldiers. From ocean to ocean, the border that separated Deirdre and Zakharov was stocked with Gaian troops, rovers, and planes. She'd mobilized the army in less then a day.
Shila had woken up and was looking over his shoulder. "…perhaps the council can intervene…"
Zakharov rubbed his temple. "Not with her in charge…I give the University of Planet four remaining days. After all, no one wants to start a war after having been in meetings all day."
~
