“With Etov’s forces out of the equation, we can’t afford to divide our troops,” Gar said, before his one-eyed general could speak. “I’m sorry, Princessa, but the only strike we’ll be making is on the Krygeon Pass.”
“The only strikeyou’llbe making.” Arrosa’s pink skin flushed scarlet. “The rest of us aren’t going to stake the safety of our planets on a gods-cursed suicide mission!”
“If we can get into One?—”
“Carik will come for our planets!” Poltrun protested. “The Hannover whelp sold us out, and she saw our faces. Carik knows. If we leave our worlds undefended?—”
“If Carik knew, he would’ve attacked us by now.”
Poltrun barreled on as if he hadn’t heard Nadar. “If we attack Sector One, what’s to stop Carik from dividing his forces and launching a counterattack on our people?”
Gar scowled. “He doesn’t have the resources to attack all of us at once. We have the power to defend our planets should the worst happen.”
“No one really knows how many resources the Federation has, and Britiria will not withstand an invasion if our forces are divided!”
Kalie cleared her throat, and the raised voices fell silent. Arrosa looked at her flimsy gown with an expression of pure pity, and Poltrun wrinkled his nose, as if her interruption was an annoyance. Still, they were listening.
“We came here because we have the same goal—the freedom of our people. You may think your people are free, that it’s just Dali being crushed under Carik’s boot. The truth is, your people are no safer than mine. We’re all just waiting to be crushed by a tyrant’s whim.”
Arrosa pursed her lips.
“Maybe it is dangerous, but we all knew the dangers when we signed up for this. It’s Dali today, but who will it be tomorrow?” Kalie breathed in the station’s sterile, recycled air. “When Carik bombed Pool’s rally, he didn’t just kill Dali’s Senator. He killed Dali’s sovereign. He killed her child, a girl who hadn’t even seen her fifth birthday. He’s killing our innocent civilians. Nothing is stopping him from doing the same to each and every one of you.”
Akron tilted his head, and Senator Poltrun nodded absently.
In the corner, Zane flashed her a thumbs-up.
Kalie wrenched her gaze back to the table. “My planet is in danger, but all of yours are too. If we don’t strike now, we won’t get another chance, and Carik will have another three cycles of tyranny.”
Akron tipped his beret. “Well said, Princessa.”
Some looked skeptical.
“I know I’m not Marcus Pool. I’m not my Aunt Calida. I’m not the Etovian Emperor, and I’m not Governor Roth. But I’m willing to fight to my last breath to save my people and the freedom of ourworlds.” She flattened her palms on the table. “The question is, are you?”
Silence. Kalie’s pulse thundered as seconds dragged by. Her body ached, and she wanted nothing more than to lay down—close her eyes and sleep, let the stress and fear melt away. But for her people, she had to stay standing. For her people, she couldn’t fall.
A slow clap sliced through the silence. Nadar.Clapping.
Kalie’s breath hitched.
Arrosa’s face scrunched up, and she slowly joined in. A few of the other holos did as well, but their feeble applause was half-hearted at best. Poltrun’s eyes narrowed as he glanced between them. Silently, he brought his hands together.
Gar regarded her with an expression of stone.
There was no time for doubt, so she cleared her throat and pressed on. “I can’t force you to fight for Dali. Nor would I want to. You have your own people to think of. So I propose a vote to decide the goal of our strike.”
Gar coughed and pressed a blood-spotted handkerchief to his mouth. When he lowered it, his jaw was tight. “Dali or Sector One.”
“Dali or the original plan,” Kalie said, raising her eyebrows. “We can fight for both, even without my father’s support. I don’t think Carik will fall with a single strike, but?—”
“It’s too early to try seizing the capital. Like Arrosa said, throwing forces at Sector One is a suicide mission.” Nadar stroked his gills with webbed fingers. “We might get through, but Carik will surely escape, and reinforcements will arrive to slaughter us. I propose we liberate Dali. If we can manage that, it’ll prove rebellion is possible, and we’ll bolster our chances of expanding this alliance.”
A smile twitched at Kalie’s lips, but she schooled her face into a neutral expression. “Then we’ll vote. I’ll honor whatever decision you reach. If I have to fight for Dali alone, I will. All in favor of?—”
“There should be a third option,” Poltrun wheezed. His beady eyes darted between them. “For those of us who want to postpone any military action.”
“Oh, for gods’ sakes, Poltrun,” Arrosa huffed. “You heard her, running from this won’t protect us forever. If you’re right, and SeleneHannover told Carik everything, rolling over is hardly going to save us now, is it? Go on, Princessa. Let’s have a vote. It’s how this Federation is meant to operate.”
