Chapter 13

Mizutani slowly approached Homer's station, not wanting to give Homer the latest news that had come from the secondary communications post since Homer had been busy with his research project. Homer looked up at the Commander as he approached. "Well, Homer, the Andromeda reports their mission a failure."

Homer fixed Mizutani with a vacant expression, his body unable to move.

"They never saw the fortress, instead they were ambushed at the estimated interception point. The fleet took heavy losses, and is on its way back now."

"And Yamato?"

"Yamato is not returning. They are not sure where to go yet, but they plan to continue the search."

His mind was too numb, all Homer could do was nod. Derek at least would continue to look. He knew Derek's determination, he would find them.

"One last thing," Commander Mizutani continued, "We completed compiling the list of missing persons. I thought you should be the one to send it to Yamato and the fleet."

"There is something else," Homer said. "I have a new set of coordinates showing the fortress's true warp destination."

"How is that possible? The science of calculating warp destinations is very precise."

"When the fortress warped, our sensors detected an unusual variance in the warp signature. For lack of a better term, the enemy has found a way to turn their ship during a warp. During their space warp, they performed some form of energy shunt, which changed their destination to a new space/time point. My theory is that it was all pre-planned. They knew we would not be able to identify the warp shunt, and had another ship warp to the original destination point, and then warp out again to lead our fleet to the ambush point."

Homer held up a stack of oversized papers, charts and maps. "I have all the calculations right here."

"Send that data to Yamato too. And tell them, that when they find the enemy, that they are to send for the fleet."

In his own way, Pleb had been relentless. "The People need to be kept informed." he had said. "It will boost their morale and confidence in you. The greater their morale, the more they will be willing to go with out in order to support the war effort."

"So you want me to tell them we are winning, and everything will be back to normal in a few days? I will not lie to them, Pleb."

"You should not lie, but you should not paint a purely positive picture of the war for them either." Pleb went on, "You must show that this is a hard but just fight, and that is why they must sacrifice. You must not let them forget the realities of war, lest they come to view individual casualties as a reason to stop fighting."

"We cannot stop the fight now, Pleb. Our enemy will only grow stronger if we ignore it."

"I know this, Leader Deslock," Pleb said, remaining firm, but not once looking Deslock in the eyes. "But already those who were not directly effected by the attack are forgetting that the threat, the insult exists. While we need to keep your people safe, it is important that they not loose all of their fear."

"Very well, Pleb. I will address the population. Call for an assembly," Deslock ordered, then walked in silence for several steps. "Pleb."

"Yes, Leader Deslock?"

"Exactly what sacrifices are being asked of the people?"

Pleb seemed mildly surprised by the question, but was ready with an answer. "Food rations have been significantly cut. Power costs for the population have increased to cover increased military power needs. Also, curfews have been leveled in many providences."

Deslock's eyes shifted to watch Pleb a little closer. Only twice had such sacrifices been made of his people, and not in situations such as this one. "Who ordered those limitations?"

"General Auctor issued the orders."

Deslock waited in his room until the assembly was called, but when it was ready, he wasted no time before leaving his office and making the walk to his throne.

Deslock entered the room to the familiar chanting from everyone in the room. "Deslock, Deslock, Deslock!" They repeated, over and over as he calmly walked down the red carpet, between rows and rows of officers and soldiers. Camera were already set up in the room and were broadcasting everything to the general population.

Reaching his throne, Deslock turned, and raised a hand, which silenced the chanting. "People of Gamilon!"

All eyes were on Deslock, utter silence filled the room as everyone waited for him to speak again.

"Our space, our very planet has been attacked, ruthlessly violated by an unknown enemy! A portion of our civilian population has been abducted for unknown reasons. Our colonies on Uther and other worlds have been attacked and obliterated. Our home fleet has been destroyed, and many of our colony defense fleets have met similar fates."

Deslock's voice was filled with the passion of his youth, and he did not mind that a touch of anger showed in his voice and gestures.

"It is past time we avenged this outrage; this insult. All of our energies will now go towards the total annihilation of this enemy. No matter the cost to ourselves; we will show this new enemy that none may confront Gamilon without facing our retribution!"

The crowd erupted in cheering, which was soon replaced with the repeated chanting of "Deslock, Deslock, Deslock."

Deslock waited a moment, before raising his hand to quiet the crowd again. "Our new fleet is now in place, the enemy will not find us such an easy target now. Together, we will meet the challenge that has been placed upon Gamilon! We will surpass that challenge, and cast a challenge back upon our enemy, that they will not be able to overcome!"

Again the cheering picked up, but this time instead of stopping it, Deslock turned to make his exit. Soon, Talon was at his ear. "Leader Deslock," Talon whispered, "You are needed in the planning room."

Deslock nodded without breaking step. Only his destination had changed.

Deslock and Talon walked into the planning room to find Auctor and a few other generals already there waiting for them. Aside from Auctor, they were very uncomfortable. General Hoven was busy pacing and talking to himself, but not loud enough for anyone to make out what he was saying. Carcer and Koffin were busy hovering over their chairs.

"Well, Gentlemen?" Deslock asked.

General Hoven spoke first, "We have received a communication from the enemy."

"What does it say?"

General Auctor held up a datadisk, "We were not able to trace the signal back to its source, unfortunately." He inserted the disk into his slot on the table.

The video panel mounted in the table changed to reveal a thin humanoid with grey-white skin and almost reddish brown hair. The image seemed to look around the room before speaking.

"Greetings, Leader Deslock," The image said, "I am Malathin, a Lord of the great Nation of the Lupries. Your people speak highly of you. Their safety depends on themselves; and on you.

"You and your race are already dead, you died with your planet so many years ago. Please let us put you out of your misery. Do not fight your destruction." The image was replaced with the default panel images as the message ended."

Turning, Deslock began to walk back out of the room.

"Leader Deslock," Talon asked, "What should we do? Do you want to respond to the message?"

Pausing slightly, Deslock said, "I'm told the proper response to such a message, would be 'Idiots.' Send no reply."

After Deslock's speech had finished, Charon cast a look over at Gladn and the kids who were busy drooling over his candy stock. Every single one of them had been transfixed by Deslock's every word. They had stars in their eyes, already beginning to romanticize the upcoming ship battles and glory. Glory where none was to be had.

"You know what he is doing don't you?" he asked Gladn, loud enough for his audience to hear.

"He's going to get revenge on the people who attacked us." Gladn replied, with many of the kids nodding in agreement. Some of the wishing Gladn had expressed himself in more passionate terms. Well, that was why Charon liked Gladn so much.

"That is what he says, yes. So we will go to war against whoever Deslock says is our enemy. Who knows if he will pick the right one. He just wants to get us into another foreign war we don't belong in."

Gladn and his audience were less than convinced. Ok, time to raise the stakes then. "Do you know what happens in war?" he asked, more looking at the kids than Gladn.

None of them answer, although more through intimidation than a feeling they did not know the answer.

"People die. Your Moms and Dads will go off to war and when they come back it will be in pieces placed tiny little boxes. And when they run out of Moms and Dads, they will send your brothers and sisters, and once they are gone, then they will have to send you, just so the military can have their 'glory' and their 'revenge.' Do you still think this war is such a good idea?"