Chapter 160

　　"So, I was correct then. You are alive, Father. Mother, did you know of his plans for Terra? To allow millions of our people to die?" Argyle asked, and he seemed to age even further before Kal`s eyes. He appeared tired and crushed by the burden of his family`s guilt.

　　"There`s more to it than you know, Argyle. You`re father-" Amelia stepped forward, beseeching her son to listen, but a shout from Argyle stopped her cold.

　　"Enough! I`m tired of the never-ending games and deception from both of you! Who could ever believe anything you say? You will be brought back to Terra for trial. You may spout your lies to an Imperial Tribunal headed by our new Emperor." Argyle finished.

　　Aurelius smiled at the words, instantly understanding that Argyle had stepped back peacefully in order for his brother to take the throne.

　　"You`ve grown, Argyle. Wisdom suits you better than anger. Regardless of your wishes, it`s already too late for all of that. As the saying goes, things have already been set in motion, and the genie is already out of the bottle." Aurelius explained.

　　Argyle was about to ask what his father was talking about when they felt the city rumble around them. A thick layer of dust started to fall from the ceiling, and the desiccated corpses of the Envoys that were still seated tumbled to the ground.

　　They could feel the city moving. The great monstrosity of a Dyson Sphere that had once been home to a mighty race and ferried them across the divide between galaxies was beginning to awaken once more. Stumbling from the motion of the city, Argyle spun toward his brother.

　　"What have you both done?" Argyle shouted. He was met by a mad grin on Alexander`s face. A wild and crazy light filled his eyes as he excitedly replied.

　　"We`re about to accomplish something that no one in the universe has been able to do before. We`re going to drive a dagger into the heart of our enemy, Argyle!" Alexander replied.

　　It had all been so simple once he had been presented all of the facts. Pouring over the information left by the A.I Collective and his father`s research, he learned so much about the Vore. His Grand Reveal on Terra was nothing in comparison to the challenge before him.

　　Alexander`s life, lacking purpose after his failure to defeat his father, had found a renewed determination.

　　"What enemy!?" Argyle righted himself as the shaking settled. The city calmed down after its initial thrust, moving silently and gently through the void of space.

　　"I will explain everything. But know that we are now committed. There will be no escape, no flight from this place until we have accomplished our task." Aurelius explained, and Argyle felt a sense of dread creep up his spine.

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　　 As Aurelius explained the nature of the approaching enemy and the steps they had taken to confront them, those gathered were gripped by fear and gloom. An unstoppable foe capable of devouring entire galaxies was rapidly advancing toward the Milky Way, and they would be expected to stop them?

　　Even though Argyle had gathered a thousand Starships with full complements of troops and Mobile Suits, against the expected numbers of the Vore, how could they hope to face them?Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author`s consent. Report any sightings.

　　"You`ve doomed us all to die! You want us to battle an enemy we know nothing about on unknown terrain and whose numbers we can only assume will be overwhelming? Stop this madness and allow us to retreat. We will prepare ourselves for their arrival on the ground that we are familiar with." Praxis shouted, and Yanis nodded at his words.

　　They were experienced in combat and knew the difficulties better than any of the challenges they would need to overcome here to succeed.

　　"There will be no better time than now to strike! Our data suggest the Vore will be in stasis while they travel the void between galaxies. By the time they are fully awakened, we will have detonated this Sphere`s core, wiping out a good amount of their numbers and gaining valuable time for the Empire to prepare. It is not a suicide mission." Alexander retorted, and Praxis scoffed at the explanation.

　　"And where will you be while we are fighting and dying? Safety ensconced in some hole, cowering while you make your plans? I won`t listen to the words of a traitor." Praxis replied.

　　"I`ll be in a Mech, the same as you, fighting to pull this off!" Alexander shouted.

　　Kal, despite his differences with Praxis, ultimately agreed with the Earl. His faith in the Emperor was irreparably damaged, and he wouldn`t follow any plan of his mindlessly.

　　The proposal was to have the vessel speed toward the Vore, impacting against its surface while the power system of the Dyson Sphere overloaded. It would be up to the forces gathered by Argyle to hold off the Vore long enough for the ship to reach its destination.

　　According to the research Aurelius had discovered, the Vore had almost a supernatural sense for danger. It was likely that they would be assaulted before making an impact, the creatures doing whatever they could to stop the Dyson Sphere from exploding.

　　Even with their slumbering slowing their response, they could expect millions of the Vore to board and attack before Argyle and his forces could retreat to the Starships and flee the impact.

　　"How can we trust that we will even be allowed to Jump?" Yanis asked, his frowning face making it clear that he held no faith in this plan.

　　"The motion of this spacecraft will prevent our Starships from jumping. Once we near the Vore, its speed will reduce enough to enable our Engines to function once more. I guarantee that no one will be trapped here to die." Aurelius explained.

　　"No, only to fight for you and this cause that we knew nothing about. You`ve condemned us to fight a foe without giving us a chance to decide for ourselves. You`re as selfish as always." Argyle retorted, and the other Titan Pilots agreed.

　　Even Patrick Grandster, from the most loyal of Ducal Houses to the Emperor, was dismayed by his actions.

　　"Did you know of this, Amelia?" Kal asked, his voice cutting through the others as he ignored the Emperor and his sons and focused on the one person here whom he looked at as family.

　　Was the Empress involved in the attack on Terra and the lure that brought them all to this dead spacecraft to fight an enemy with little hope of succeeding?

　　"I knew of the threat against humanity, and the plight of the Envoys and A.I Collective. But I was unaware of the risk to Terra." Amelia admitted, and Kal was about to let out a breath of relief when she continued.

　　"But I support his actions. As terrible as the losses on Terra were, and the casualties from this Succession War,` they pale in comparison to what the Vore will do to the Milky Way if they are allowed to reach it." Amelia finished.

　　"Then you are just as guilty as Aurelius." Kal`s voice was quiet, barely a whisper, but it tore through her heart.

　　There was a resignation about the young man, a divide between them that spoke of a separation that could never be bridged, a wound that could never be healed. He had torn the Empress and Emperor away from his life, never to allow them back in.

　　The sentiment was shared by many of those present in the room, something that both sides of the Succession War had in common.

　　"Praxis, lead a group of engineers to review this craft`s systems. Father may claim there is no way of stopping it, but I don`t believe a word he says." Argyle ordered.

　　"Yanis, I want a complete assessment of our combat capabilities, as well as this city. As reluctant as I am to trust Alexander, use what he has learned." Argyle continued. Alexander was about to speak when Yanis stopped him, grabbing his arm roughly and leading him away.

　　"Caledon, I want the remaining Titan Pilots reviewing everything Aurelius has been able to find about the Vore. You`re to provide a briefing as soon as possible. I want everyone to be as familiar with them as we are with each other. If we are going to have to fight, I want to be ready."

　　"Understood." Kal replied, gesturing to the other Titan Pilots to follow him to the small room where Aurelius and Alexander had gathered their records about the enemy. He didn`t look at Amelia or the Emperor on his way out of the room.