"There is only one way that we are ever going to finish this!" The human slammed their fist down atop the table and stood, "There is only one way we are ever going to finish this, and that is to turn our eyes on the home of our enemy. This will not be stopped until we bring hellfire to their home planet! And show them what it means to attack humanity and the GA!"

There was uproar around the council chamber as representatives took to their feet in open protest or support to such a plan. Yelling grew up around them until no one could be heard over the din.

It was only the gavel – bestowed on the Rundi chairwoman as a gift from one of the human counselors – that was able to silence the crowd.

"Silence!"

The room quieted only slightly as the chairwoman glanced around at the council chamber, "This is not a decision we should rush blindly into, counselor. This is not a time for blind anger, this is not a time for revenge. This is a time to think carefully and strategically. While the majority of this council supports you in the war effort, we do not support blindly charging in after those who oppose us."

"With all due respect chairwoman, that is not what we are suggesting either. I am suggesting the logical course of action. The Burg have attacked our homeworld, earth, and it has attacked the groomm homeworld, and if what the Kree are saying is correct, and they were not involved in this attack, which i still doubt, they have come dangerously close to their homeworld as well. They have proven that they have no regard for the rules of intergalactic combat, and if they are going to disregard the rules, they should be treated in accordance."

"We do not discard the rules just because others will not follow them, counselor."

The human counselor stood, "To the contrary. The Burg were never a part of the GA, and while they were afforded the protections as an ally of the state, they have since discarded those rights. All laws regarding GA warfare are predicated on the idea that others, even enemies will understand the importance of these codes of combat. No nuclear or fission weapons, no planetary destroying weapons, no intervening with the function of another solar system's star, and no direct attacks on civilians or a genesis homeworld."

She stood and looked down at the other delegates, "Well the burg have attacked two of our homeworld without consequence. They have proven the use of weapons capable of destroying entire fleets, and if the technology is developed, entire worlds. Commander Vir had to die for us to gain that knowledge, and I will not have his sacrifice be in vein."

There was a shout of agreement from some of the crowd most enthusiastically from the Celzex and the drev.

"I approve the human message." THe Drev councilor said, standing.

The chairwoman turned to look at the Drev, "I thought your people were not supposed to go to war based on the idea of revenge."

The Drev shook his silver head, "While we considered the commander one of our own, that is not what we are saying. The burg tactics during battle were dishonorable and cowardly. They went behind our backs to use technology as a means to their ends instead of pure skill. They have proven themselves to be cowards. They have attacked our people on their home planets." He looked around at the others, "On our planet, though war is not personal, if someone walks into MY house and slays MY brother, than I WILL declare war, because if he gets away with it once without consequence, he will do it again. The Burg have proven time and time again that they can misbehave on the galactic stage and face no consequences." He turned in a wide circle all four hands out, "And I say that ends here. If they want to attack our homes, let us invade ours. If they want to strike at our morale, let us strike at theirs. If they want us to suffer, than let us show them the meaning of suffering."

A cheer rose up from part of the room given heartily by the Celzex and especially Lord Celex, who sat on his pedestal next to the Drev commander – the two of them having gotten along so well in the past."

Things were hushed for a moment and then one of the Vrul leaders stood, "A stirring speech to be sure, Sentinel, but let us look at this in a more logical manner. Taking a war to them would be both impractical and costly. The resources we would alone are astronomical. yes , it is sad that we lost Commander Vir, and it is also sad that we lost Dr. krill, a member of my own species, but one man and a single ship is not worth a war."

A tesraki from across the room snorted, "You are delusional if you think the burg will think the same. What happens when they decide to invade your planet. Do you wish us to just stand idly by and not waste resources."

The Vrul stood straighter, "Do not take us for fools, we all know that the terasaki simply want war to be able to profit from it."

The Tesraki stood fists clenched, "I would watch what comes out of our mouth, counselor! For I have thought this through where you have not. If we do not strike at the Burg where they are weak, then they will return,and next time it will be my home planet, my children, and my grandchildren.... But of course you wouldn't know about that would you, being from a species that systematically slaughters their own people when they aren't useful anymore!"

The gavel slammed down again filling the room with it's ringing, "That is enough! I will not have. Speciesist sentiments spouted in my counsel chambers. You all should be ashamed." The counsel woman stood from her seat, "I, and the Rundi people tend to agree with humanity and the Drev. The Burg have gone to far, and they must have a punishment equal to their attacks. If nothing we should work to ride to their home planet and threaten them directly. If they do not see the logic in surrendering, than we shall move forward with plans." She turned to look at the Vrul counselor, "Your people are not being asked to join us or even support us. You are simply being asked to accept our decision and not interfere with the war going forward."

There was more muttered agreement around the hall.

The GA had just declared war on the Burg nation.

***

Sunny stood alone on the Tarmac. This part of the military base was old, and no longer much used. It had rained earlier in the day leaving the tarmac wet and filling the air with a fresh cleansing smell that scrubbed out the holes at the base of her neck and her throat.

She looked down at her handiwork.

It wasn't so bad if she did say so herself, though she hardly doubted the GA would let her fly it... not that she planned on asking for permission.

"It was a ship, sort of. One that she had reclaimed from an old junkyard and had dragged out here to fix. Once upon a time someone had declared the thing unusable, but she knew better, and as a talented engineer she had proven them wrong. It wasn't a large ship, mind you. It might hold up to thirty people if given the chance, though she didn't see that being much of a possibility. This was something she found she would probably do alone.

She sighed and turned to look at the fading sky, head tilted back. In one hand she held her long spear, and in the other she hald a short spear.... Made once for someone else.

She sighed and barely heard it as the footsteps approached from behind, pausing at her shoulder.

"IS this what it felt like for you?" She wondered

Cannon shifted where he stood, "Maybe a little."

"I miss him."

"I know."

"Feels like I can't breathe... Its cold."

"I know."

She turned to look at her brother, towering a good three feet over her, "I have to do this."

Cannon didn't look convinced.

"You know I have to."

"That's what mother said."

Sunny went stiff her eyes falling on him.

He sighed, "I just want to make sure you don't turn into her, which.... Is why I am coming with you."

She stopped in surprise, and he smiled, "Don't think I don't know what you are planning, and I want to join.... In fact, there are a few other people who insisted on coming too." He glanced over her shoulder, and she spun on her heels, watching as a group of figures marched up the tarmac.

She recognized a good few of them, Narobi, Ramirez, Maverick, Conn, being those in the first line.

They walked up and Ramirez gave her a sort of half smile, "Mav and I thought you could use some muscle."

Narobi nodded, "and someone to keep this hunk of junk in the air"
Conn ignored the greetings and floated past her, "This thing is trash." he commented looking over her ship.

Sunny frowned but ignored him mostly.

When the group of them stepped aside, she was surprised to find Katie marching abroad with a large suitcase, "You idiots are going to need a doctor if this is going to work." She turned, "Also, I brought someone to pilot this thing."

Sunny's heart immediately fell at the thought. It was true she needed a pilot, but thinking about that reminded her acutely of how Adam was missing.

The young man walked forward, even younger than Adam, no more than a boy, but she recognized him as one of the recruits who had been involved in the last engagement with the burg. He raised a hand in salute face serious, "Lt. McCaster at your service." He paused, "I know I cant fly like the commander did, but I learned a lot from him, so I hope it will be enough."

He stepped past.

There were two more figures left, standing outside on the field. They were both wearing uniforms though something seemed rather off about all of it. Hats covered their eyes.

Sunny looked down in confusion, until one of the figures raised her head to look sunny in the face.

Bright grey eyes and honey blond hair.

"Martha!"

She put a finger to her lips, eyes serious, "I can't stay long." She said quietly, and we had to sneak onto base." She paused to look at Sunny, "I wish I could go with you, but I have to stay here.... I have too many other people to take care of." But I brought someone with me who I couldnt talk out of coming."

Sunny looked over, and watched as the other pulled back his hat.

She barely recognized Thomas with his hair cut so short.

"Keep him safe, I don't want another one of my sons gone." She looked up at Sunny, "You can do that for me, can't you?"

"Sunny nodded seriously."

Martha nodded back

Thomas looked around at everyone, and Sunny found it hard to look at him. He had Adam's nose and eyes, though his face shape was different, "Look, I havent done a whole lot of worthwhile things in my life, but I, well, no one messes with my family, and that's the honest to god truth of it, so I... I'm here to help."

There was a small chorus of approval from the rest of the group.

Sunny was about to turn and address them all when another group of figures marched up the tarmac.

She knew Drev when she saw them, and she was surprised to see A hunched figured at their head.

"Hijan?" She said quietly

Martha turned on the spot as the wizened old Drev walked up, A white cape billowing from her shoulder, a spear in either upper hand. It seemed odd to see her like thta, and with a universal translator in her ear no less, "Do you have room for a few more?"

Sunny nodded a bit dumbstruck, while Martha stepped forward, pushing back her cap a little more.

"Hijan.... You took care of my son on Anin?"

The old Drev warrior looked down at the small human almost four feet shorter than her. "Your son in blood my son in spirit."

Martha smiled, "Than from one mother to another..... Make sure his disappearance was not in vein."

Hijan raised her spear, "To my last breath."

***

I lay on the soft padded floor feeling the gentle rocking and listening to the sound of the pulsing alien engines. What I lay on was some kind of white cotton or, moss sort of substance, but whatever it was it was nice, and helped to soothe my aching back.

The alien creature looked over at me, or at least I think it did.

It was a strange creature, about seven feet tall and mat grey. It had five large legs and a small protrusion on the top of its body. My most accurate comparison would be the Hexapods from that old movie Arrival or the Omnidroid from the first incredibles movie. It was so completely alien that I wasn't even sure how the thing communicated, though it was nice enough to me at least.

They had found me shortly after my run in with the blue raptor thing, and stumbling through the bushes I had looked up only to see a group of these things surrounding me. Obviously I had been freaked out, like pee your pants and scream like a little girl kind of freaked out, but they had been slow and almost gentle, and once I had let them forward they had sealed my wounds.

They even let me keep my things when I was bundled aboard their strange alien ship, nothing more than a hovering silver ball over the sand. I was put into this strange room while one of them watched over me.

It was nice, soft, and comfortable, though I was loath to think of the radio that I had dropped somewhere back on the planet, though I still had the knife and the broken spearhead.

I lay back quietly on the padding eyes mostly closed.

I was weak from blood-loss and the pain, so I only partially noticed as an opening appeared on the opposite wall and another one of the creatures walked in. of a moment I could see across the hall and into a similar room to mine before the wall was sealed.

I watched the two Omnidroids communicate with each other, hearing nothing more than a very deep rumble, which was so powerful it seemed to shake my bones.

No way I was going to understand that.

Somehow, the rumbling was rather soothing, and I closed my eyes just to listen.

I was sure now that wherever that wormhole had taken me, it wasn't anywhere I was familiar with. The GA had no record of the Omnidroids, and if they did I would have been the first to know about it, not because I was important enough for them to tell, but because I was a nerd for new aliens.

Now all that remained was one question.

Where were they taking me, and what were they going to do?