The Second Book of the Alienbutt Saga. The Rise of Mr Fluffy. Part 72.
Kali sat and read the message that had just arrived and looked over to Killashandra, passing her the message. “What fleet can be airborne within the hour?” she asked.
Killashandra quickly looked at the message and shook her head. “We can set off with sixty Fo'c'sle ships and maybe three hundred irregulars and other ships. If we message Grommit her unit can head straight to the station and that's another fifty. We have another couple of hundred ships almost ready that can fly and fight, but I don't rate their chances of coming back.”
“I don't rate any of our chances of coming back. Order Cyborgpirate to withdraw all his forces back to the Bounty Hunter station. No point having a forward position, they'll be swarmed over when the Federation attack. Now let’s order a red alert and start moving.”
“And Prince Ponnfarr and his wife the Queen?”
“The Heeter squadron will come in useful. Outside the Fo'c'sle they're the best fighters we have. The Queen is proving to be a capable commander, when not thinking up ways to torture Ponnfarr and keep him on his toes. Send her a message and request her aid.”
“You think she'll break off her attacks on the Federation based around Heeter?”
“Ponnfarr will convince her to join us. Despite what she says publicly she listens to his council, and if he wasn't so blind he would realise she's quite taken with him.”
Killashandra grinned. “She is putting a lot of effort into training him. I just hope we have the time to see the finished product.”
Kali looked down at the desk. “Ask the Queen if she will use her force to defend the production facilities when we pull our forces out. It gives them a chance of surviving and that's the best I can do.”
Killashandra smiled. “Ponnfarr will know what you are doing.”
“I know but his duty to protect the Queen will override his need to join us. He will know it is a lost cause,” Kali said, meeting Killashandra’s eye. “I always hoped we would win but we did damn well to last this long.”
To be continued.
All images are mine.
Will Ponnfarr do as expected, will the Queen do as expected, I think not, the Queen may be a hot head, as is Ponnfarr, but I bet they follow Killashandra back to the Station. Just my guess.