Echoed Lullabies (Lunar Chronicles x Reader)

Chapter 27

Kai scooped his hair off his brow, staring at the holograph that floated above the conference table with a mixture of horror and awe. Part of him wanted to laugh. Not at all because it was funny, but because there didn't seem to be any better reaction.

The holograph showed the planet Earth. And all around it were hundreds of small yellow lights, many clumped above Earth's most-populated cities.

Hundreds of tiny spaceships.

They were surrounded.

"And they're all Lunar?" he said. "We're sure?"

"Without a doubt," said European Prime Minister Bromstad, his face grouped with the other Earthen Union leaders on the massive netscreen. "What's most disconcerting is that we were given zero indication of their approach. It's as if they all just ... flickered into existence, ten thousand kilometers over our heads."

"Or," said Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom, "as if they were there all along, but we were unable to detect them. Haven't we been hearing for years about these Lunar ships sneaking into our atmosphere, bypassing all of our security measures?"

"Does it matter how long they've been there, or how they got there in the first place?" asked American Republic President Vargas. "They're obviously there now, and this is obviously a threat."

Kai squeezed his eyes shut. "But why? She's getting exactly what she wants. Why threaten us now? Why show us her hand?"

"Perhaps to ensure the Commonwealth doesn't back out of the marriage alliance at the last minute?" Bromstad suggested.

"But she has absolutely no reason—" Kai huffed and dropped his hand to the back of his chair ... what had once been his father's chair. He was far too restless to sit down as he glanced around at his cabinet members and advisers, his country's highly educated experts, who were looking as baffled as he felt. "What do you all make of this?"

His experts traded looks among themselves, before Chairman Deshal Huy started to drum his fingers against the table. "It does seem to indicate that they're sending us a message of some sort."

"Perhaps this is their way of RSVPing for the wedding," muttered Governor-General Williams from Australia.

"Perhaps we should ask them," said Konn Torin, tapping a finger against his brow. "If Luna is to become a peaceful ally of the Earthen Union, we might as well start opening the lines of communication."

"Naturally," said Africa's Prime Minister Kamin. Kai could all but hear her rolling her eyes. "As they've been so open with us in the past."

"And you have a better idea?"

"I certainly do," said Williams. "This could be our best chance to reciprocate the recent invasion. We should coordinate a full-scale attack—take out as many of these ships as we can. Show Luna that they can't keep threatening us every time Levana throws another fit. If they want a fight, we'll fight."

"War," said Prime Minister Kamin. "You're suggesting we start a war."

"They started the war. I'm suggesting we end it."

Kamin sniffed. "And you think our militaries are prepared to launch an attack against an entire fleet of Lunar ships? We don't have the faintest idea what type of weaponry they have, and I think the recent attacks illustrated that they're not going to fight by any strategies we're familiar with. They're unpredictable, and as much as it pains me to admit, our military expertise has suffered from generations of peace. Our numbers are down, few of our men have been trained for space combat—"

"I agree with Australia," interrupted Queen Camilla. "This could be the only time we ever have the element of surprise on our side."

"Surprise?" barked President Vargas. "They're surrounding us. What if they're hoping that we attack them? What if all this drivel about the marriage alliance has been a ruse, just to keep us distracted while they move into position?"