Chapter 7
Ruwon Takes a Risk
Stardate 2366.020
The lack of conversation prior to the meeting's start, spoke to the seriousness with which everyone took the upcoming proceedings. The bonding ritual they had just completed left the participants hopeful but subdued. The discussion that followed would determine their fate.
The leader spoke.
"I cannot stress enough to all of you the importance of the success of this mission. If we fail, our families will be exterminated and our sacred mission to discover the birthplace of our ancestors lost to history forever."
"This is a dangerous game we are playing sister."
"Truer words have never been spoken, but we have been subservient to the political whims of the Empire for far too long. The high council has always disliked that ordinary people respect us. That, and our having no overt political aspirations have kept us safe, but our brother here has let us know that there are elements within the council who want to use us as political leverage to advance their own agendas."
"There is an argument to be made that we should have aspired to a higher profile within the council a long time ago."
The leader stayed calm.
"An argument you have made many times before sister, and who knows, maybe you were correct. That is not relevant to our current dilemma however. There is talk in the council of the "threat" we pose to the stability of the Empire. It is only a matter of time before these elements move against us."
This news was greeted with open surprise and everyone started talking at once.
"What threat!"
"We should lodge a complaint with the more moderate elements of the council!"
"How can you know this Ruwon? It makes no sense! We have never interfered with any of the council's directives. In fact, we have not opposed even their most egregious orders."
The lone man spoke up, commanding everyone's attention.
"As you know, I have surreptitiously worked closely with the council for over a year now, and I can assure you that what our sister says is true. The entire council knows we are not threat to them or anyone else for that matter! That is not relevant. We are a means to an end, nothing more, to be discarded when they gain the power they crave. We need to recognize this talk for what it really is, and do something about it now."
"And luckily," the leader spoke up, "an opportunity has presented itself. It is bold, risky, and frankly, some of us will not survive. If we are successful however, there will be new leadership in the Empire and we will finally be able to complete our sacred mission. Attend sisters. Let me explain what we are going to do."
