Page 68 of Rebels Rising

‘There’s a rogue planet on the other side of the asteroid belt that they’ve made their base,’ Katira informed us both. Eloria, lips pursed, nodded her acknowledgment and started the scan. The hologram projected to the space above us, giving us a three-dimensional view of the upcoming scenery. Sure enough, after navigating past the asteroid field, a larger, dead-looking planet appeared floating freely just far enough away from the asteroids to avoid collision but close enough to almost blend in. Almost, because it was far larger than the drifting cloud of oversized rocks we were coming up on.

What was the most concerning, however, was that there were multiple ships detected surrounding the planet with more joining the fray as the scanner gave us a constantly updating image.

‘Intel confirmed, Captain. We’re surrounded.’

‘They’re already mobilising,’ I said breathlessly. ‘The Program must have contacted them to pin us in when they realised where we were heading.’

‘It was a good plan, Captain, but now we need a new one.’

‘There isn’t much else we can do except follow through, Eloria. And prepare to fight our way out.’

‘Captain?’ Julius called for my attention.

‘Yes?’

‘How are we going to fight our way out of that? We’re just one ship and they’re…many.’

‘Bait,’ I said, a plan forming in my head.

‘Captain?’

‘We need to adjust the plan.’

Adara chose that moment to return with Xander in tow, both looking particularly harried.

‘Perfect timing, you two,’ I greeted, relieved to see them both.

‘Kat?’ Addy drew up short in surprise at the unusual guest.

‘Katira here has just informed us of another problem. A big one. And I’m going to needed everyone’s help if we’re going to get through this,’ I informed them, then proceeded to explain my plan.

???

‘I’ll round up the others. Let’s just hope everyone can access the abilities we need,’ Addy said, also heading out with an urgency we were all feeling.

This plan was going to be risky, no doubt about it, but we didn’t have any other choice, but if we were going to pull it off then everyone needed to play their part to perfection. The Program were slippery fuckers, and with the military and government backing they’d accrued it was going to be even more difficult to pull this off, but it was either this or surrender, and surrendering wasnotan option.

When she was no longer in view, I collapsed into the chair I had claimed as my own and let out a shaky breath. Xander came to stand beside me, thoughhe didn’t lower himself into his own chair to be on my level, choosing to remain upright instead.

‘It’s a good plan,’ he said. Was he trying to soothe me?

‘Why did you choose this side of the fight?’ I blurted the question, gazing up at him from below.

My question seemed to shock him enough that he staggered back a step before he caught himself. ‘What?’

‘You’re choosing to fight against an organisation that has no morals, that has latched itself into the very DNA of the Intergalactic Union whether we like it or not, and who can hurt the people you love. Why did you choose to stand against them?’

‘I am no coward, Artemis,’ he said, and this time it was my turn to be taken aback as he used my name.

‘I never claimed you were a coward, Alexander Hironimus. I am merely curious why you chose to put everyone you’ve ever cared about in danger to fight for what will likely be a losing battle.’

‘There are no victors until it’s over, Artemis. I have faith that we will overcome and persevere to see the other side. Yes, we may lose people on the way, people we love and cherish, but that is the burden of war. It wouldn’t matter which side I chose when it comes to their safety, because it is the war itself that puts them in danger, so I will continue to choose to fight for what is right. My morality is not so easily bought or swayed.’

I mulled over his answer, letting his words sink deeper into my bones where they reinforced my convictions and stabilised my decision.

I stood up, still weighed down by the gravity of out situation but feeling reinvigorated by his little speech.

‘Get everyone in place, Xander. I’ll make the announcement.’

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