I was wrong earlier. Without knowing the scope of those coming to M87, we are forced to go there.”
Angela said, “And though it breaks my heart, we are going to have to start an exodus of our populations to the planets we established in other galaxies during the last war. I’ll contact them and let them know what’s going on. We won’t execute that process until an actual enemy vessel arrives in M87.”
Trip nodded, “Going there will allow time to move them.” Angela nodded.
Cole said, “Just how certain are you that M87 will contact you?”
Angela looked at Cole with a twinkle in her eyes and leaned back in her chair, “I’ll tell you what, Cole; I’ll make a small wager with you.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll wager that they’ll contact me within seven days.”
“What’s the wager?”
“If they don’t, I will knight you and make you a member of the Union’s Royalty.”
“And if they do?”
“I will knight you and make you a member of the Union’s Royalty.”
Cole stared at Angela, “I lose both ways, Your Majesty. I have no desire to become Royalty.”
“Then you shouldn’t have been blessed with your outstanding talents and your courage to go out and defend the Union. Please come forward.”
Cole looked at Andi and saw her smiling. He looked at Trip and saw him almost laughing. He stood and walked to the head of the table. “Please bow.” Cole went down to one knee and lowered his head. Angela placed her hand on Cole’s head and said, “Do you solemnly swear that you will defend and protect the Union even if it costs you your life. Do you swear that you will never do anything that would bring harm to the Union or any of its citizens and do you swear that you will teach the meaning of this promise to your descendants?”
Cole sighed and said, “I do solemnly swear to do so, Your Majesty.”
“Please rise, Cole Montgomery and welcome to our Royal Family.” Cole stood and the first one to rush up to him was Trip who wrapped him up in a bear hug as he lifted him off the floor.
Dee was staring at Andi and saw her pride in what had just happened to Cole. Andi suddenly looked at Dee and saw her staring. They made eye contact and after a moment, Andi slowly nodded. Dee smiled.
Moe said, “Your Majesty, the Sovereign had requested to speak to you.”
Angela looked at Cole and smiled, “Tell him I’ll get back to him later.”
“He requested that I share something with you if you refused to speak with him immediately.”
“What is it, Moe?”
The main wall display illuminated and the image of a giant Orange Ship appeared. Angela sat down in her chair and the rest of the attendees stared at the image. Angela sighed, “And so it begins. Everyone return to their seats; Moe, patch him through.”
The Sovereign appeared on the display, “When can you come and assist us with this?”
“Where’s the Sovereign I communicated with two weeks ago?”
“The information you gave the Gedna caused his main breathing organ to fail. He died before the recording ended.”
“I can’t say I’m sorry.”
“I don’t expect you to; he was my Father and I bear the shame of his actions. Are we going to go back and forth on this issue attempting to gain an advantage or are we going to cut straight to the issue?”
Angela smiled, “And just what issue is that?”
“You’re going to send your forces here to fight no matter what we discuss; so we shouldn’t waste time and just make it happen.”
Trip said, “How do you know we’ll come and defend an enemy who planned to attack us?”
“Because you’re not dumb; it’s the only strategy you could use to protect yourselves. Elementary students know that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
“That appeared to be only true when an enemy was around.”
“It took two thousand years for us to change our agreement; I suspect I’d accept that in a minute if I could get it. Don’t think that we won’t appreciate your help and
Angela said, “And though it breaks my heart, we are going to have to start an exodus of our populations to the planets we established in other galaxies during the last war. I’ll contact them and let them know what’s going on. We won’t execute that process until an actual enemy vessel arrives in M87.”
Trip nodded, “Going there will allow time to move them.” Angela nodded.
Cole said, “Just how certain are you that M87 will contact you?”
Angela looked at Cole with a twinkle in her eyes and leaned back in her chair, “I’ll tell you what, Cole; I’ll make a small wager with you.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll wager that they’ll contact me within seven days.”
“What’s the wager?”
“If they don’t, I will knight you and make you a member of the Union’s Royalty.”
“And if they do?”
“I will knight you and make you a member of the Union’s Royalty.”
Cole stared at Angela, “I lose both ways, Your Majesty. I have no desire to become Royalty.”
“Then you shouldn’t have been blessed with your outstanding talents and your courage to go out and defend the Union. Please come forward.”
Cole looked at Andi and saw her smiling. He looked at Trip and saw him almost laughing. He stood and walked to the head of the table. “Please bow.” Cole went down to one knee and lowered his head. Angela placed her hand on Cole’s head and said, “Do you solemnly swear that you will defend and protect the Union even if it costs you your life. Do you swear that you will never do anything that would bring harm to the Union or any of its citizens and do you swear that you will teach the meaning of this promise to your descendants?”
Cole sighed and said, “I do solemnly swear to do so, Your Majesty.”
“Please rise, Cole Montgomery and welcome to our Royal Family.” Cole stood and the first one to rush up to him was Trip who wrapped him up in a bear hug as he lifted him off the floor.
Dee was staring at Andi and saw her pride in what had just happened to Cole. Andi suddenly looked at Dee and saw her staring. They made eye contact and after a moment, Andi slowly nodded. Dee smiled.
Moe said, “Your Majesty, the Sovereign had requested to speak to you.”
Angela looked at Cole and smiled, “Tell him I’ll get back to him later.”
“He requested that I share something with you if you refused to speak with him immediately.”
“What is it, Moe?”
The main wall display illuminated and the image of a giant Orange Ship appeared. Angela sat down in her chair and the rest of the attendees stared at the image. Angela sighed, “And so it begins. Everyone return to their seats; Moe, patch him through.”
The Sovereign appeared on the display, “When can you come and assist us with this?”
“Where’s the Sovereign I communicated with two weeks ago?”
“The information you gave the Gedna caused his main breathing organ to fail. He died before the recording ended.”
“I can’t say I’m sorry.”
“I don’t expect you to; he was my Father and I bear the shame of his actions. Are we going to go back and forth on this issue attempting to gain an advantage or are we going to cut straight to the issue?”
Angela smiled, “And just what issue is that?”
“You’re going to send your forces here to fight no matter what we discuss; so we shouldn’t waste time and just make it happen.”
Trip said, “How do you know we’ll come and defend an enemy who planned to attack us?”
“Because you’re not dumb; it’s the only strategy you could use to protect yourselves. Elementary students know that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
“That appeared to be only true when an enemy was around.”
“It took two thousand years for us to change our agreement; I suspect I’d accept that in a minute if I could get it. Don’t think that we won’t appreciate your help and
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