THE KEEPERS RISE

Chapter 16 - Out of Sync - Part 2

*Remember to click the play button to listen to the soundtrack as you read!*

The Tarrephaene Council chamber had been rather quiet that day. Councilors Liarey Sekoto and Roh'tsa Arren had just finished leading a discussion with the Atahli sector's minister, who was having trouble handling a large protest on Nerrenti that had turned violent and spread to a few other planets in the system. As the minister left the call, Roh'tsa groaned, "I'd do anything for some real action around here. Aren't these the same planets who protest every few years?"

"Yes, but at least they're consistent," Liarey Sekoto said, standing and stretching her arms above her head. "I'm sure the local government will take care of them faster than we ever could." She stepped down from the Council platform and the other Councilors gradually began to follow her lead. Over her shoulder, she said, "I'll be in my office. Let me know if there's any news about..." She trailed off, suddenly brimming with tears, and Councilor Merro nodded somberly.

Long before Liarey was close enough to the huge chamber doors for them to detect her leaving, they shuddered and began to open. She stopped and stared in surprise as a young messenger stepped tentatively inside. He also froze when he saw the lead Councilor in front of him. "Oh, excuse me, Councilor," he stammered, kneeling to her while still in the doorway.

Liarey said hurriedly, "At ease. What brings you here?" The boy stood and stepped farther into the room, knees shaking as if they were threatening to buckle under him, and Liarey self-consciously straightened her sash. He remained mute when he noticed the other Councilors, who had also been caught off-guard while preparing to leave. "Speak, child," Liarey repeated with an unusual tone of urgency.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something, Councilor?" he worried. His face was speckled with sweat.

"No, not at all," Liarey said, forcing herself to calmly return to her seat. The other Councilors sat and anxiously glanced at each other as Liarey opened her mind to them once more.

The messenger crept forward, apparently self-conscious of his loud footfalls against the glass floor. There was an electricity in the air as he cleared his throat and said, "An armada of Red Wolf ships, including a pair of large dreadnoughts, 24 fighter carriers and over a hundred cruisers, has attacked the Zhulin sector and already overcome the forces on Temmel and Alikit. Admiral Perryn sent a small emergency defensive fleet to intercept them, but for further commands he is looking to the Council." The messenger stopped suddenly, shivering as he looked up at the startled Councilors' faces. "H- He said that this attack is on a scale never before seen in this empire's history," he stuttered.

The Councilors were dumbfounded. When was the last time we were attacked like this? Merro thought in wonder. It's surely been millennia, if not more!

Of course, because nobody would dare question our military superiority, Roh'tsa replied, equally baffled.

"I'm sorry," Liarey said slowly, massaging her temples, "did you say these ships belong to the Red Wolves?"

"Yes, Councilor."

Those ill-fated mercenaries must be gaining power quickly if they've collected the courage to challenge us, Roh'tsa said.

"Who is commanding them?" Liarey asked.

The messenger looked confused. He hadn't expected that he'd have to answer questions. "I assume their Supreme Admiral orchestrated the attack, but I suppose we don't know for sure. Why?" He blushed as he caught his own impudence. "Forgive me, Councilor. I won't question your wisdom."

"Have they communicated with our forces at all?" she asked after a thoughtful glance at the rest of the Council.

"I'd guess they haven't answered any hails so far, otherwise we'd know more."

In a sulking tone, Councilor Tellos said, I don't see why we should expect communication from them at all. The Red Wolves aren't known to compromise.

Liarey's face went blank. She had often pessimistically suspected that this day would come, but not quite so soon. Knowing the terrible choice that lay in front of her made her regret every decision that had led up to it. Why are you hesitating, Councilor Sekoto? Roh'tsa asked in concern. We have to defend the rest of that system as soon as possible!

The rest of the Council agreed. Who knows how far this attack might spread? Councilor Iy'ja added. The scale of this attack is enough to overwhelm many of the nearby systems as well unless we act quickly.

The Council expectantly waited for Liarey's attack order, but she didn't speak, or hardly move. Her head was spinning, and in a fit of repressed thoughts, she left the other Councilors' minds. Nicolai has some serious explaining to do, she thought to herself. I almost can't believe that he'd do something like this. He knows better.

As much as Liarey feared for the empire's future safety, she knew what she had to do. To the obvious relief of the rest of the Council, she commanded, "Mobilize all of the forces stationed on Bodrun's military base and space station, if Perryn hasn't already, and evacuate or lock down all planets within a hundred light years of Temmel. We also need to get into direct contact with the admiral as soon as possible. You are dismissed."

The messenger nodded sharply, knelt again, and bolted out of the room. "Poor soul," Merro mumbled. "He was scared out of his wits."

"Who wouldn't be? Nobody just attacks the Tarrephaene Empire!" Iy'ja cried.

The Council entered an uneasy silence as the reality of the situation began to dawn on them. "What was that, Liarey?" Roh'tsa suddenly snapped. "I can't imagine what you'd prioritize over protecting our empire. What's gotten into you?"

"I don't know," Liarey replied, shaking her head sadly.

Roh'tsa eyed her suspiciously, and Tellos said, "I propose that Councilor Merro take the lead position until Councilor Sekoto can explain herself."

"Seconded," Roh'tsa growled.