Page 59 of Honor Bound

It wouldn’t be long now.

Dorane LeGaugh would die.

And if the Ancients were here, Zoak would be more than happy to deal with them, too.

The shadows welcomed him, and Zoak disappeared into them with a deadly grace, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

Rebel Moon Base – Command Center

Josh Manson stood at the central console, his eyes locked on the holographic display projecting the vast expanse of space around Tesla Terra. The red markers on the outer rim of the long-range sensors—Legion ships—were moving fast, too fast. They needed more time—and a plan. His jaw tightened as the reality of the situation settled like a cold weight in his chest.

He exhaled sharply, his hands gripping the edge of the console. Tesla Terra was more than just a base. It was the heart of the rebellion. It was a major stronghold against the Legion’s grip. A beacon of hope for those who still believed in freedom.

If they lost it…

Would there even be anything left to fight for?

His fingers tightened around the console, his jaw clenching. His people, his fighters—they were counting on him. And Josh wasn’t about to let them down.

Not now. Not ever.

A soft chime signaled an incoming message. Hutu’s weathered face reappeared on the screen, his expression grim.

“They’re coming,” Hutu said without preamble. “Battle Cruisers and the space lab will reach Tesla Terra planetary space within a few hours. Roan has identified the incoming vessel as the space lab—the one carrying a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet.”

Josh cursed under his breath. The situation was worse than he thought. His throat tightened and his mind raced, trying to comprehend a weapon powerful enough to destroy a planet.

“Did he give you any idea on how we can destroy it?”

Hutu leaned closer, his voice dropping to a quiet warning. “No. If the weapon can’t be destroyed in time, there won’t be much left to save.”

“I refuse to give up,” Josh said, his voice hardening. “We’ll fight. We’ll begin evacuating who we can, and we’ll find a way to stop that weapon.”

Hutu studied him for a moment before giving a slow nod. “Do what you can. I’ll do my best to buy you time.”

The screen went dark.

Josh straightened, rolling his shoulders as he turned to face the room. Cassa stood near the window, her arms folded tightly around her waist. The glow from the tactical display illuminated the dark shadows beneath her eyes, making her appear both fierce and fragile.

“We need to evacuate the moon base,” Josh said, his voice steady but tense. “Preserve as many lives and as much equipment as possible. We can’t afford to lose everything.”

Cassa turned, her expression calm despite the worry flickering in her eyes. “We’ll do what we can, but…” She hesitated, her eyes dropping for a moment before meeting his again. “There’s no way we can evacuate the people on Tesla Terra.”

Josh’s chest tightened. The helplessness in her eyes was like a knife twisting deep inside him. He had seen that pain in her eyes before—the day the Legion killed her father and brother. He had promised himself he wouldn’t bring that kind of heartache to her again. Yet here they were.

He reached out, running his hands gently along her arms. “We’ll figure it out. I’ve been in worse situations.”

Cassa nodded, lips twitching into a reluctant smile and her hand briefly covering his before she stepped back. “The other generals are waiting for a debriefing.”

Josh nodded. Minutes later, he and Cassa entered the command room. In the center was a large holographic map of the star system showing the advancing Legion fleet. The room, filled with seasoned leaders, quieted when they entered and approached the map. Josh stood silent for a minute, his gaze sweeping the room—accessing the vibes. They were grim but determined. He began cautiously, knowing that not everyone was going to be happy with his plan.

“We have to prepare for the worst,” he said, his voice clear and unwavering as he explained what they were facing. “All personnel must be evacuated from the moon base. Get as much equipment and personnel off-world and scatter them to nearby systems. We need to preserve what we can.”

There was a moment of heavy silence before the generals began protesting. Josh gave them one minute to express their disapproval before he raised his hand. He knew they needed to release their anger and disappointment.

“We should fight,” General Har protested.

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