Voltron's Mechanic (Keith x OC)

31) Know Your Enemy

"Why don't we bring more people into this base?" Hunk asked.

"We've had to put a halt on our extraction ops as they were proving to be too risky," Sam said.

"But there are good people out there. They could be protected. My family's out there," Hunk said.

"I'm sorry, Hunk," Sam said.

"But if we have an opportunity now-"

"Hey, do Paladins not understand the chain of command?" Griffin interrupted loudly, stepping out of the line he was in with the other pilots. "Your CO said it was too dangerous!"

"Officer Griffin, that's enough," Sam said.

"Griffin," I said calmly, looking up from my hands as everyone in the room turned to me. "I remember you. How you always followed orders. Always the top of the class. But that doesn't always get you somewhere. Sure, you're here now, but so am I. I wasn't the top of my class, that didn't affect the Garrison wanting to send me on the Kerberos mission. They still wanted me. I broke one rule, snuck out after hours, got kidnapped-"

"Yeah, exactly-"

"I'm not finished. I got kidnapped, was enslaved by Sendak, one of the most dangerous and terrifying positions to be in when you didn't know alien life forms actually exist. But then I found the Paladins. I figured out who I was out there. It gave me the family I thought I didn't have. It gave me the family I thought I had lost. So, please, don't underestimate how greatly stepping out of order for even just a little bit can change your life"

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

I sneered a little. "Ew, don't call me ma'am, I'm probably the same age as you considering we practically skipped over three years, but then again there were the two years in the quantum abyss..."

"Getting back on topic," Sam said with a sigh. "Believe me, I understand what you're going through, Hunk. We all have family out there, but we have to weigh our options. We can't lose ten people to save two. I'm sorry"

"Well, then let's find out what we can do," Allura said, standing out of her seat. "You said you've interrelated Altean tech with Earth weaponry?"

They brought us down to the giant hangar where they had all their planes stored. All the Commanders and Admiral Sanda followed.

"The Mecha-Flex-Exo fighters, or MFE's-"

"Nice name," Mum whispered as Sam continued to talk.

"-are extremely agile with advanced weaponry, but are only capable of short range attacks. Sustaining power with Altean infused technology is an issue we're trying to overcome"

"Good thing Aris found me, then," Mum said. "I'm sure I'll be a great help with my combined Altean and Earth technology/machinery knowledge"

"I can help you out with that as well," Coran said. "I do have some leftover faunatonium. It's an Altean fuel additive, but also has some unexpected side effects, so don't get any on you"

We walked out and went towards the giant ship in the centre that took up most of the space in the hangar.

"This is our battleship. It's large enough to house all of the Lions and an entire command unit"

"It's built, but it can't fly. Everyone, there's a subject we can't avoid any longer," Admiral Sanda said. "Sendak attacked Earth because he wanted the Lions, and now they're here. It seems that we need to at least discuss our options"

"Are you suggesting that we willingly hand over the Lions to the Galra?" Shiro asked.

"Our supplies are gone. We spent all our resources on a ship that doesn't fly. The weapons we do have are not enough to mount an attack. All we can do is protect a small pocket of Earth. But for how much longer?"