"He can't do that.The senate will take him out.Emperor or not, that is one thing the senators won't allow to stand--genocide of another species," Bianca said."It was something he would rant about occasionally in private, that the senate tied his hands from doing what he felt needed to be done."
"There's a line," Caoimhe said."It depends on the percentage of population.If it dips below a specific level, then it's not genocide."
"Who the fuck came up with that?"Veta said."And how did it wind up getting made into law?"
"Someone had to decide how many deaths were considered acceptable, and how many were considered genocide," Eleanor said, her hand over her stomach."That is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard."
"That's why he's kept the war going so long," Freya said."To get the population down to an acceptable level that he can wipe them out in one blow."
Caoimhe felt their disgust in her soul, it was so bizarre and crazy when she realized what her father's plan must have been--to win no matter what the cost.
And he was working very hard to make it happen."Freya, that data you found?It's for a weapon.He's been working on it for years.A weapon that can destroy a planet."
"Or a gas giant?"Wrathin asked.
Caoimhe nodded."A gas giant and its moons.He's been building it right under our noses, since the Rhimodians won't attack, they only defend, he's been able to work on it near the border planets."
"Is that why all the border planets are having so many issues with supply and resources?"Eleanor asked.
Caoimhe nodded.
Bianca shook her head."How did you figure this out?"
"A great deal of research," Caoimhe said."Reports from Admiral Jeke.Hacking into systems," she glanced at Freya."And knowing him better than anyone else.It started just as me looking into these prisoners of war, because Bahran reached out to me about them.So I started looking, and there was all this extra data that kept coming up, and it took quite a bit of research and sleepless nights to get it all sorted, but I finally did."
"So where is this weapon?"
"I have the coordinates," Caoimhe said."We all do."
Veta blinked."The jewelry."
"The jewelry."
