Annihilation: The Power of a Queen Read Online Free PDF Page B

died while visiting. A Spejk doctor on our world determined that the noble died of natural causes. Were you aware of that?”
     
    “Yes, so what?”
     
    “Well, your Admiral found out that he had no cause to blame us for that death and he was furious that he could not use his fleet to destroy us. He took his fleet and left our system but on his way out to the jump limit he encountered one of our ships returning home and attacked it. Admiral, what cause did he have for that attack? What did we do to justify it?”
     
    Dorg just sat silent.
     
    “He had all two hundred ships in his fleet fire on that Earth Cruiser. All the Earth ship did was to try to defend itself and escape. Should the Earth Ship have just allowed itself to be destroyed?”
     
    Dorg sat silent.
     
    “Your Grandfather died as a result of your Admiral’s decision to kill the Earth Ship and crew. Just like the person who was shot when you would defend yourself if you were attacked by ten of us.”
     
    “One last question, Admiral; would your Grandfather have died if your Admiral had not ordered his fleet to attack an innocent ship? Like you said earlier, the one who started the shooting is the one responsible for the death.”
     
    Dorg was in obvious turmoil. He tried desperately not to hear her but he knew she was right; try as he might he couldn’t get around her logic. He knew at some level all along that the attack wasn’t justified; it was the fault of the Admiral. His grandfather’s death was the result of the Admirals anger over not being able to use his fleet for personal glory. All his life he had hated and blamed the wrong one. With that realization, he suddenly remembered the Human Colonists he had ordered executed and it hit him like a stunner. He hung his head and remained silent for a long moment, then said in a shaking voice, “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m so sorry. I’ve been wrong about you all along. It was not your fault.”
     
    “One more question Admiral.” Dorg looked up and Danielle said in a voice that he could barely hear, “When have we ever given your race a reason to attack us?”
     
    Dorg hung his head and it was obvious that he was shaken by what Danielle had said to him. Terl looked at his Admiral sitting with his head down and suddenly he understood these humans. They had done nothing but defend themselves. His race had been the aggressor from the beginning and had not even taken the time to look and see if there was any threat to the Empire. This was all a huge mistake. Terl looked at Danielle and said, “I am also sorry. I’m ashamed of how we have treated you and how we have misjudged you over the cycles.” Then he looked at Tag and Kosiev, “Whatever you choose to do, we deserve. You never represented a threat to us; we were the threat to you.”
     
    The room was heavy with silence. Danielle could tell that these two Cainth were sincere. Then she got up and walked over to Admiral Dorg, knelt down beside his chair, and put her hand on his shoulder. Dorg raised his head and looked Danielle in the eyes. Danielle said, “There are moments in our life where we see ourselves clearly for the first time and find that we are not who we think we are. You can see yourself now, perhaps for the first time, as you truly are and the pain and horror of what your decisions have caused. From this day forward it will be your decision each day to choose what your path will be because of your new insight.” Danielle stood and then turned and looked at Tag and Kosiev. Tag nodded at her and she turned to Terl and said, “Clan leader, how many clans make up your leadership council?” Danielle asked.
     
    “There are fifteen of us that represent all the Clans. Why do you ask?”
     
    “Your next decision will determine the future of both our races, Clan Leader,” Danielle said while looking at Tag. “You will call all the Clan Leaders to this ship immediately and you will turn the screens off your fleet until