Read Annihilation: The Power of a Queen for Free Online

our meeting with them is over. You will ask your clan leaders to make us the sixteenth clan with a representative on your Council, then any agreements we make today will be binding on all.”
     
    Everyone in the room was struck dumb by the suggestion. Dorg looked up and said in a soft voice, “The Military and I will totally support this decision if the Clan Leaders so will it.”
     
    Terl looked at Dorg and saw sorrow, determination, and shame in his eyes along with something else that was different; his entire demeanor was different. This was the first hope Terl had felt since the battle and this was a remarkable suggestion. Then he said, “Who can speak for your government? How long will it take them to arrive?”
     
    Admiral Kosiev said, “Clan Leader, these two civilians are the leaders of our entire race. They have been given the authority to speak for all of us. Not only will the Military support their decision but every member of our species will follow them.”
     
    Terl looked around the room and felt excitement; a new Clan, a strong Clan, and one that he felt could be trusted to keep their promises. This was a new clan that had demonstrated to his people how their aggressive traits could lead to their possible extinction. He lifted his com and said, “Notify the fourteen Clan leaders to jump back into the system and join me on the Earth ship waiting for them at the jump limit. Tell them I order it.” Then he said to Danielle, “Would you be kind enough to move your ship to the jump limit, I don’t want to waste time on them having to move in system.”
     
    Dorg raised his com and said, “All war ships will shut down their screens and weapon systems immediately; half of the fleet will then return home and assist in controlling the riots. Tresk, take the other half to the colonies and assist in bringing order. All screens will remain off while in our home system.”
     
    “Admiral,” Danielle said looking at Kosiev.
     
    “Captain Mikado, make it happen.” Mikado left the room and Kosiev turned to Dorg and said, “One other thing, Clan Leader and Admiral Dorg; we have transports waiting to jump in to return the troops and sailors we captured at our Colony world.”
     
    Dorg looked shaken and said, “I should be executed for what happened there. I’m the one who ordered the deaths of your colonists. I will submit to whatever justice you deem appropriate.”
     
    Tag looked at Dorg walked over and took one of his hands shaking it and said, “Fear, anger, and hate makes one do things that would never normally be done. I have a best friend that has proven to me that good people can do terrible things. Those colonists lost their lives but if we can make this work, then their deaths would not be in vain and we’ll never see that happen to each other again. Admiral, we forgive you and perhaps you’ll work hard to make this agreement work so that you have a chance to redeem yourself. Incidentally, one of our prisoners is a General Dorg. Are you related?”
     
    “He’s my brother,” Dorg said with relief in his voice. He knew for certain now that these humans were going to be his clan brothers. He would defend them to the death even if he had to take on the entire fleet of the Alliance. His brother was alive. Thank the creator; his brother was alive. His hatred for the humans was gone and now he was looking forward to what the future held for his race, but his soul felt the weight of the human colonists he had ordered executed. He knew that this was a weight he was going to carry for a long time.
     
    Tag and Danielle looked out the viewport of the Washington at the planet below. They could see smoke plumes rising from some of the cities and knew that order was being restored while the Cainth leaders met with the clans to inform them of the new member. He was stroking her hair as he looked at the planet below. “Now I see why Sung Lea wanted you here. You did things in that meeting that amazed me.