Waymakers (Champions of the Crystal Book 9)

Chapter 9: First Strike

Four tense days of waiting followed. Sabrina went to Bathir to make a speech on vid and work through the bureaucratic end of mobilizing the militia, making sure to review the palace security arrangements as well. Ford begrudgingly remained at Dansestari doing the tasks Baldaran asked of him and looking after his siblings, save Shariara, who was at Bathir with her new bodyguard, Captain Olia Bareyth. Scotty and his children went to Bathir as well, making it impossible to feel the palace was too quiet. Between work, family, visiting Ranja, and extra meals and naps, Sabrina was busy enough that she didn't have much time to miss Ford, except at night.

She was in the middle of a late morning meeting with the dean of the Academy of Bathir about security measures on campus when Ford interrupted her. Mother's back. Can she bring you here?

Yes! Oh, Scotty too, please. The kids are all with Asdis. "Please excuse me, Dean. The Guardian has returned, and I—"

She vanished mid sentence, finding herself in Praxatillus Control. The first face she saw was Ford's, just for a moment before she was engulfed in his embrace. She held onto him tightly until she heard Scotty say, "Well, I see from your faces things aren't good. How bad is it?"

Sabrina pulled back to see Mara and Tirqwin both looking as grim as she'd ever seen them. Nearby, Baldaran, Rigeon, and Yirdahn looked apprehensive. Scotty, his arm around Aurora, was obviously braced for the worst.

Tirqwin cleared his throat. "The Kyan attacked Homeworld's system with massive force, more than three times as many ships as when they invaded Praxatillus. They have also found new uses for their massive Way weapon. They—"

He broke off, and Mara said, "Marna'amat is destroyed."

Sabrina gasped, and Yirdahn let out a groan. "The embassy?" he whispered.

Mara shook her head. "There were no survivors. I could not...it was too fast. I couldn't maneuver in the disruption. I am sorry, my son."

They were all silent for a minute, and Sabrina blinked rapidly, hoping her tears wouldn't fall as she thought of all the embassy staff she'd known during her time there.

Ford said, "There were five billion people on that planet. From all over the galaxy."

"Indeed," Baldaran said. "Do our allies know?"

"I doubt it," Mara said. "Unless we tell them what we saw, it may take quite a while for word to get out."

Tirqwin said, "Khediva recorded the incident. We have evidence."

Baldaran nodded. "Most of those who came for Aunt Imari's funeral are still here, waiting for word. I will see the recording is distributed. Mother, do you wish to call an emergency Council of the Realm with those here?"

"I believe we must," Mara said. "Some response is called for, even if we cannot hope to relieve the siege of Homeworld."

Baldaran nodded. "Is there any effective move we can make right now? Our forces are ready."

Tirqwin shook his head. "No. Any assault at present would merely be a waste of lives and resources. We must think of another way."

"I agree," Mara said. "Aurora, Seuréa, and I will put in motion the preparations for the Council of the Realm. Baldaran, if you could alert the off-world delegations in the meantime, and see to the distribution of Khediva's evidence?"

"Certainly," he agreed.

There was a general movement toward the doors, except for Tirqwin, Sabrina, and Ford. Sabrina said, "Mara? When you can, I'd like a minute of your time."

Mara paused, glancing over her shoulder and meeting Sabrina's gaze. "My first available moment," she promised before continuing on her way.

Sabrina turned to Tirqwin, laying a hand on his arm. "Tirqwin? Is there anything I can do for you or Khediva?"