Harper was shocked, and couldn't hardly believe what he had just heard.
Seamus buried his face in his hands and began to tremble.
"I killed them." Seamus cried. "I killed them all. My Rommie, My Becca, Rick, Rhade, Andromeda, Dylan,….They're all dead because of me."
Trance wrapped her arms around Seamus, "I'm sorry Seamus ." She said. "I'm so sorry." Trance wished she could do more. She wished she could restore his timeline, but even with his powers, that was impossible.
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Back in the briefing room, the meeting continued.
"Our next item of business to discuss concerns the newly discovered Heritage Class Warship, the Gates of Glory." As Stark spoke, Glory's holographic image appeared in the room.
"Sir." Glory said.
"At ease Glory." Stark said. "There's something that I'm required to inform you and your Avatar Glory. Technically you have served your duty for the Commonwealth and it is up to you to decide whether or not to continue serving or become a free vessel with a crew of your own choosing. Before you decide there's something else you need to know, but what I'm about to say cannot ever leave this room."
"Andromeda." Dylan said.
"I'm already creating a restricted high security file to store the rest of this meeting in."
"Thank you Andromeda." Dylan replied. "After you do so, encrypt it so that nobody, not even I can access it."
"Yes sir."
"I shall do the same." Glory said.
"Perhaps I should leave." Rick said, as he raised up out of his seat. "It sounds like you're going to be discussing things you probably don't want a civilian of my caliber to hear."
"On the contrary Mister Styvers." Stark said. "This involves Glory, as well as you." Rick returned to his seat. "I'm not sure if any of you are aware of this but there were legitimate reasons why the Commonwealth hesitated for so long to help Earth. Their main concern being the threat of an all out war with the Drago Kasov pride. Eventually it was decided that it was worth the risk."
"In other words." Becca said. "They discovered the Dragons were building a super warhead capable of easily destroying nearly any Commonwealth warship with a single hit." Stark nodded. "Typical! The Commonwealth just got involved to save their own ass, not because they were concerned with Earth's freedom!"
"Becca calm down." Dylan ordered. "The Prototype weapons have already been dealt with and the Commonwealth is still here. That may have been the deciding factor for the leaders to agree to get involved, but I'm sure that's not the only reason they're here."
"Thank you Dylan." Stark replied. "You're correct. Nearly all of us serving on Commonwealth ships have for a long time supported the idea of freeing Earth but our leaders would not agree until they saw the threat to our own survival and freedom. This brings me to the part that concerns Rick and Gates of Glory. You see, we currently have several situations in which a single Commonwealth ship could be a great help to people, drifts that are constantly attacked by pirates, small settlements on various planets that frequently get visited by slave ships, and slave camps where people need to be freed. Unfortunately most of these areas are located outside of the Commonwealth's space. If we were to intervene in any way we would risk a war with the alien races that claim those sectors of space. As I mentioned earlier, due to the great amount of time that has passed, Gates of Glory is no longer obligated to serve as a Commonwealth vessel, and according to salvage laws she is legally yours Mister Styvers. Considering your, shall I say, questionable past as a weapons dealer, I don't think anyone would have any difficulty believing that you are in no way working with the Commonwealth. And whether or not you accept this mission I would like you to know that all of your illegal activities against the Commonwealth and their affiliates are officially pardoned. If you choose this mission, however, this pardon will only be on file at High Guard headquarters on Terazed, so as not to blow your cover."