Euthara by Michael McClain Page A

the people,” the King said.
    “You, by turning your back on the Ga’sahde, have doomed us to an even faster death,” Gilas said. “The Ga’sahde could broker treaties and trade contracts to help us get back on our feet.”
    “You have no right to speak to me that way,” the King said. He stood up and glared at Gilas. “You forget where you are.”
    “No, I haven’t forgotten,” Gilas said. “You, yourself asked me for my honest opinion and said this was an informal session. I’m giving you that opinion and following the rules of an informal session. If you would like you could just tell me what to say, and I’ll do that instead.”
    The King’s jaw dropped and then he laughed as he spoke, “Right you are Captain Gilas, my apologies.” The King sat back down as he continued, “That’s one thing I have always liked about you and your family. Ask a question and expect an honest answer.”
    Gilas bowed as he spoke, “Thank you, Sire.”
    “Your views on the Ga’sahde are noted,” the King said. “But that doesn’t change my view or my ruling on the treaty.”
    “Then I’m afraid Commander Hunter will not change his position,” Gilas said.
    “You know this as a fact?” the King said.
    “When Commander Hunter gets something in his mind and then does something this drastic, it’s very hard to change his mind,” Gilas said.
    The King nodded and glanced over at Andara, who nodded back and left the room. The King stood up and paced in front of the throne before he spoke. “Let’s move on,” the King said. “What is the current situation with the Arc Light and General Vors?”
    Gilas had been waiting for this, and now that it was here he was a bit nervous. Vors was one of the King’s most trusted advisers and his death would almost certainly enrage the King. “General Vors is dead,” Gilas said.
    “How,” the King said in a calm manner. It was almost too calm and told Gilas the King already knew.
    “He took the Princess Terri hostage in an attempt to take over the station that he said was ordered by you,” Gilas said. “In the resulting fray a personal guard to the Hunter family snapped his neck.”
    “The Buranis called Oojoung,” the King said.
    “That is correct,” Gilas said. “It was right before Vors was about to execute the Princess.”
    “As far as I’m concerned she isn’t a Princess, and he’s no Prince. So, you can stop referring to them as such,” the King said. “The situation with the bond is in question and until that matter is ironed out they will not hold that title or authority.”
    “As you wish,” Gilas said.
    “Why did you not back up your superior officer?” the King said.
    “It was an unlawful order,” Gilas said. “Even if given by you it was wrong. There are better ways to go about things than taking hostages.”
    “No order from me is unlawful,” the King said.
    “We weren’t sure the order even came from you,” Gilas said. “Vors wouldn’t stand down until it could be confirmed. So, he paid the consequences of his actions.”
    “I never gave the order if you must know,” the King said. “Though, I might have if I thought it would succeed. Moving on, what about the Arc Light? We’ve had no contact with her since she docked at the station.”
    “You won’t,” Gilas said.
    “Why’s that?” the King said.
    “She has been taken by the ADF and renamed Earth’s Revenge,” Gilas said.
    “By what right?” the King said. The King was unusually calm during this discussion, and it was unnerving Gilas, something was up.
    “Acting as a Prince of the Eutharan Empire and as he viewed the attempt as an attack at the time. He claimed it as a spoil of victory,” Gilas said.
    “I guess that’s his right,” the King said. Warning alarms were going off in Gilas’ head at the nonchalant attitude. The King just learned one of the few ships he had was gone and didn’t even blink an eye about it. Something was going on here, and he was sure it