marks upon your face that the Human provided ample entertainment?”
“He was indeed a worthy opponent. The rumors we’ve heard about their fighting skills are justified, even if they do fight in unorthodox ways. However, during the test, I did reveal to Adam Cain the Kracori plans to strike his homeworld with nuclear devices. I did this to provide psychological torture in addition to the physical contest we were engaged in.”
“I see no harm in that. I take it the Human was sufficiently affected by this news?”
“Yes, my Ludif.”
“But still something is bothering you, Jonnif.”
“There is: I regret to inform you that Adam Cain was not killed in the arena, and that he and the other Human prisoners escaped from my captivity this past evening.”
Daninf was silent for a long moment, his eyes boring directly into those of Jonnif’s from twelve-thousand lights away. All the other Council members had now gathered around the monitor. They were no longer drinking and cavorting.
“Jonnif, tell me he is still on Juir, and that’s just a matter of you locating him.”
“I’m afraid I cannot, my Ludif. He and the others commandeered a starship last night and escaped the planet. We have been unable to locate him as of this time.”
Daninf was silent for another long moment, while several of the other Council members began to shout questions and comments at both Jonnif and the Langril. Finally Daninf raised his hand.
“Silence all of you! Jonnif, does he have the capability of contacting his planet?”
“Not with the vessel he acquired – yet he can contact his fleet.”
Jonnif saw Daninf turn a ghostly white as the blood drained from his head. When Daninf spoke again each word was like a dagger. “Need I remind you, Jonnif, just how damaging this action could be if he does make contact. It was upon your recommendation that the Kracori made the current move upon Juir. If there had been any possibility of the Human fleet arriving in the Alliance Cluster, we would have delayed our assault until we further assessed the Humans’ intentions. This diversion attack on Earth was the deciding factor in favor of the invasion. Without the strong possibility of the Humans breaking off their arrival at Juir, the Council would have never agreed to the invasion.”
“Is there a possibility of moving up the attack on Earth? If we attack now, then what Adam Cain can or can’t do will have no relevance.”
“The strike force is on final approach to Earth and are under communications lockdown. We will attempt, but it is something we cannot rely on.”
Daninf seemed to gather his thoughts, even though Jonnif could see a slight trembling of his head every time he moved. “Jonnif, you realize that to have first taken Juir, and then be forced to retreat, will result in even a greater loss of legend than if we never attempted the invasion in the first place? There is no shame in waiting for the most opportune time to strike a target. Yet you knew the Human fleet was coming, and you still insisted on carrying out this plan, even knowing the risks. If the Kracori are forced to retreat, we may never fully recover from the humiliation, and after only recently revealing ourselves to the Expansion. We have no established legend with them, something that might be able to withstand such devastation. Only eradicating the Humans from the galaxy would ever salvage the Kracori legend – if even then – and we are in no position to attempt such a feat at this time if the attack upon Earth fails.”
“My Ludif, the attack may still be successful. We are assuming that Adam Cain can contact his fleet, and then that the forces on Earth can stop the strike. All that we speak of here may not come to be. We can still prevail.”
Daninf looked from side to side at the other Council members, each nodding in silent agreement. “Jonnif, we will await the final outcome of the attack on Earth; we do not wish to disrupt the command structure within your forces at this time. However, no matter the final outcome of the attack, you will be relieved of your command and recalled to Eilsion. If the attack is a success, you will be allowed to retire to a non-strategic life with no loss of public legend. If it fails, then unfortunately you will be made the face of this failure and your legend will be destroyed as probably none have before it.”