Static exploded through the open communication channel just before Terran voices screamed. “You have killed our Ambassadors!”
“We did nothing,” Harbin replied.
“We will destroy you!” the Terran commander yelled.
The Terran escort ships opened fire.
“Evasive patterns, now,” Harbin said.
Kian flew away from the bombardment. Ten Terran ships flew up from the underside of the gas giant Sol, weapons blazing.
The Terrans had broken the agreement! They’d brought an entire squadron.
The Rhimodians only had the five of them, no backup squads waiting, because they had trusted the rules of the agreement.
The Rhimodians’ mistake.
Kian clenched the controls.
Naturally, protocol would have to be abandoned.
Had the Ambassadors been killed?
He ran another scan of the ship, but it was too late. The Terrans had their shields up, and he couldn't tell who was alive and who was dead.
But the question was, who had attacked?
Who wanted to destroy the negotiations?
Correction.
Who benefitted if the negotiations failed?
The Terran Empire.
Naturally.
4
Smoke filled the passage. The white walls meshed with the pale gray smoke, blurring everything together, where lights and panels flashed like beacons.
Freya’s chest burned from the fumes, and she could not stop coughing.
The vessel shuddered again from another explosion.
“What’s happening?” cried Eleanor, shaking.
Bianca guided the youngest girl, but she too was visibly upset. "Come on, it's going to be okay."
Freya stepped up to Caoimhe and tried to hold her own fears under control. She did what Bianca did and guided the princess toward, well, wherever Veta led them.
Though it seemed more like Caoimhe was leading Veta.
“It’s okay,” Caoimhe said, her voice choked with reassurance. “It’s a malfunction. We’re going to be fine.”
A panel shorted out near them.
The sparks darted toward Caoimhe, hitting her dress and the embroidery.
