Allison was still in her tight white T-shirt, pink shorts and running shoes when she arrived in C&C.  Hathor was there waiting for her, the sentient rabbit type creature looked somewhat insulted.


    “I have a discovery that will win this war, and you couldn’t even be bothered to be in uniform?”


    Allison pulled the sunglasses off of her head and slid one of the arms into the neck of her t-shirt.


    “Yeah, I was out for a ride on a day of leave that is mandatory after returning to my home base from a mission for which I received hazard pay.  You tell me it is an emergency and time sensitive; I’m not stopping to change first.  Because those words usually mean civilians are in danger.  So, is this an emergency or did you just want to ruin my day?”


    Hathor looked the usually polite and friendly Battlelord up and down and realized she should perhaps start treating her less like a child and more like a military leader.


    “I have the location of the main staging area for the Sal’nash.”


    Allison’s eyes went wide, she spoke to R’sslv.


    “Issue an immediate recall, all leaves are cancelled, I want all emergency defensive alliance ships recalled here immediately.  I need an immediate shipment of ten thousand blank nanites from Synthlin Science Command.  Once you’re done all that tell LSR and SA governments I need an immediate joint session of the councils and board.”


    She focused on Hathor again.


    “Show me.”


    Allison leaned close as Hathor inserted a datastore and the holo-display formed a three dimensional representation of the Andromeda galaxy.  Hathor started to explain their methodology and how her team came to their conclusions.  Allison interrupted.


    “Hathor, that is all very fascinating but how confident are you in your findings?”


    Hathor stood up straight.


    “One hundred percent.  We have gone over the data repeatedly since we first made this discovery.”


    Allison was about to ask for the details of their conclusion and then paused.


    “When did you first discover this location?”


    “Wednesday.  Standard procedure is to verify twice, wait one day, have another team verify.  Then have five teams verify.  Our data has been confirmed and ratified in record time.”


    Allison opened and closed her fists.


    “Please show me the system.  Once you do that then I want to know why you think this is the place.”


    Hathor directed the C&C holo-display to zoom into a system.  Allison recognized it immediately. She had sent a probe there now she was… upset.  Rather than lose it on the Stellar Cartographer she said through clenched teeth.


    “We sent a probe there a week ago a probe that could have alerted the Sal’nash to our knowledge of the system and you waited, five days to tell me you found the system?”


    Hathor nodded.


    “Yes, we couldn’t just go throwing our wild theories around willy nilly.  We had two opposing conclusions.  Conclusion one, the probe found nothing.  Conclusion two, all Sal’nash FTL activity ended in this system save for three which seem to be moving around and going to different systems.”


    Allison nodded.


    “Can you identify specific hives based on their FTL activity?”


    Hathor shook her head.


    “No, we are unable to do so.  Based on various encounters with the Sal’nash we have been able to identify hive or ship classes as the case may be.  We have identified three distinct class signatures, we have used the following designations to align with standard target identification classifications, Super-Hive, Hive, Scout Ship.  We have identified a pattern; The scout ships arrive in a system.  They stay for approximately seven and a half standard hours.  Then they move on, then this signature, here it is a hive but seems to be slightly different than the rest, which is how we can identify it specifically, arrives it stays in the system for between ten minutes and two hours.  In most cases it leaves about an hour before one or more hives jump to FTL from the same system, with no arrival signature.  We theorize these hives are laying dormant underground and are being awoken by this hive which we have designated ‘the Harbinger’”


    Allison had already figured that part out.


    “How many hives are we looking at here?”


    Hathor folded her small hands behind her back and her ears drooped.


    “Battlelord, if our interpretation of the data is correct seven super-hives and forty-nine standard hives, along with their associated attack craft.”


    Allison cursed out loud.


    “I should have ordered more nanites.”


    Allison blew air out of her lips in a long drawn out sigh.  No way her fleets get out of this without significant losses.  A lot of people were going to die.  She bit her lower lip and looked at Hathor.


    “You have a doctorate in astrophysics, right?”


    Hathor nodded.  Allison took a deep breath.


    “What would happen if we were to launch say a device that consisted of hyper compressed material utilizing extra-dimensional space that was designed to infect a star’s core with iron and initiate a supernova, into a black dwarf?”


    Hathor looked at Allison like the girl was talking science fiction.


    “It would be impossible to do such a thing.  The masses required would be… so large you could not possibly even move the device.”


    “Just humor me, please?”


    Hathor hopped back and forth as she pondered the theoretical question.


    “Hypothetically I see two possibilities.  The first being a low energy supernova.  The intense gravity of the black star results in a contained detonation initially.  The introduction of unbound elements of any significant mass in comparison to the existing remnant would result in a rapid consumption of the degenerate electron soup via binding to the newly introduced material.  This would result in a vast decrease in the electron density which would result in the collapse of the outer shell of the dead star, which would reflect off the core and blast stellar material outwards.  Likely due to the low energy nature of this supernova effective range of destruction would be limited.  In this instance using the system you discovered the first dead star in the third and fourth planets would survive with minimal atmospheric loss.  It could impact their orbits.  It is unlikely the event itself would impact the binary companion.  Depending on final mass the dead star could become a neutron star.”


    Allison blinked as the small white furry officer pulled that out of her hat.


    “And the second possibility?”


    “A relatively minor nova resulting in the expulsion of the outer layers of the dead star and degenerate matter.  There is a high likelihood that only craft on the surface which would already be in danger without proper gravity support, would take any damage and anything further away would be able to avoid any ill effects with some manner of shields.  Unshielded targets would likely suffer hull instability and electromagnetic disturbances ship wide.  If the degenerate matter were to make planet fall it could cause a minor ecological disaster, no more than a large meteorite strike.”


    She continued.


    “Given the possibilities and considering the explosive power such a device would have on its own, the most effective strategy would be to either deploy it on the active star in the binary system, if the wish is to keep the system intact the center of the target area you wish to destroy.”


    Hathor looked Allison up and down.


    “As much as I enjoy these theoretical situations, we do not have time for such flights of fancy, what else can I tell you about our discovery and data analysis, battlelord?”


    Allison gave a small half smile.


    “You should know me well enough by now to know that I wouldn’t be asking a question like that unless I already had such a device and was prepared to deploy it.”


    Hathor hopped closer.


    “How do you possess such a thing?  The power to destroy a star system is unthinkable.  Is it a prototype?  Untested?”


    Allison shook her head.


    “I found them, yes, it is, and no, not prototypes, and I’ve already used two when I took out the Dyson sphere last week.  They worked as predicted.  There was a rapid increase in mass that resulted in nova like explosions.  Two of them destroyed all three artificial suns.  I would rather not be near one when it goes off ever again, but I needed to know if it was possible to reliably use them to take out the Sal’nash fleet.  Your answer is no, and I trust your judgment.”


    Hathor’s ears perked up.


    “How do you know they are near the dead star?”


    Allison shrugged.


    “Because of your two opposing conclusions and the fact the fleet was still there.  I had one sensor blind spot in the system I explored, that black dwarf.  When I was outside of the gravity well, I could only see it as a dark gravity object on my sensors, when I was in it, I lost all external comms, my sensors were acting up and I could not see the probe.  The probe spent forty-eight hours in that system.  We know that collectively the Sal’nash aren’t stupid, they also know we are hunting them, or they wouldn’t be taking steps to evade detection.  If the fleet did not move, they either can’t or they didn’t see our probe, more than likely the probe went unnoticed.  The only conclusion I can reach is that they are in the very minor time dilation area of a black dwarf.  Which we can pretty much make the assumption exists in that system since it is a stop for the space manatees.”


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    Hathor rubbed her hands together.


    “You are very skilled at deductive reasoning.”


    R’sslv spoke.


    “Ma’am, the Board, Imperial Council, High Council and Low Council, System’s Alliance command staff and Grand Eminance and his command staff are awaiting your briefing.”


    Allison looked down at her clothes and sighed.  There was no help for it, she’d squandered the time she could have used to change into something more appropriate talking to Hathor.  She shrugged and looked at Hathor.


    “Ready?”


    Hathor’s ears pressed back against her head and her nose started to twitch furiously.


    “Me? What?  What?  No, no, no, I do the science.”


    Allison motioned to the SCIF.


    “You and your team discovered this you deserve to be the one to present it.  Just tell them the main facts, you found the Sal’nash staging area, they are hiding in the gravity well of a black dwarf and that we can now track their entry and exit from FTL.  Short, sweet and concise.  You earned this.  I can make it an order if you’d like.”


    Hathor rubbed her nose furiously with her hands and adjusted her glasses.


    “No, I am ready.”


    Allison opened the SCIF for Hathor and stood in the center of the three-hundred and sixty degree holographic projection.  Each quadrant displayed a separate political or military entity.  Allison spoke first.


    “Thank you for gathering so quickly.  I apologize for my casual dress.  I believed this intelligence and rapidly evolving situation required all due haste on all of our parts.  My head of stellar cartography will be providing the initial details of what she and her team have discovered. I will be following up with a tactical analysis and my plan to end the Sal’nash threat once and for all.  Please hold any questions until we have finished providing our briefing.  Leading Scientist Hathor, please brief everyone on what your team has uncovered.”


    Allison stepped out of the holo-projection, leaving Hathor to look around herself.  The small white alien rubbed her nose and her ears twitched.  She looked at Allison who gave her a nod and a smile of encouragement, along with a thumbs up.  Hathor adjusted her glasses and her uniform.


    “Good morning, everyone, with the data the Battlelord gathered my team has been able to develop a method to track the Sal’nash when they enter and leave FTL.”


    Hathor was forced to stop when the entire low council erupted in a standing ovation.  The only group that didn’t seem to be showing much in the way of positive response was the Imperial Council.  Though Isis and Eyre did have very small smiles of pride on their lips.  Hathor held up her hands and lowered them.


    “With this tracking method we were able to identify the star system that the Sal’nash are using for a staging area.  We have one hundred percent confidence in this finding.  With the information we provided, the Battlelord was able to deduce that the Sal’nash are using a dead star’s gravity well to hide their presence.  Thank you, that is all.”


    Hathor stepped off of the broadcast platform and Allison took her place.  She folded her hands behind her back.


    “Now you see why I wanted to address this intelligence immediately.  With this new information we now have confirmation that the scouts and damaged Hive we have been seeing are waking up hibernating Sal’nash Hives that have been left dormant on many of our worlds.  We are now at a fork in the road.  If we forge ahead down the left path we can, with enough concentrated firepower destroy the Sal’nash at their staging area and if we time it right destroy their scouts and the Hive that has been designated ‘the Harbinger’.  We can bring this war to an end.  Leaving the looming risk that Super-Hives, or Hives could wake up at any time and start this all over again when it inevitably occurs. With this path we maintain our ability to surprise them and gain the initiative in this conflict.”


    She paused briefly.


    “Or we do nothing with this new information, except keep an eye on their build up.  Try to create a model to predict where the scouts will go next and let them wake these dormant Hives when they stop waking then we strike, ending their threat once and for all.  Of course that gives away our initiative.  We are at their mercy.  They could mobilize this fleet at any time and we would be scrambling to defend ourselves.  In the short term we risk more lives for long term, lasting victory.”


    Allison paused long enough for the different military and political groups to start arguing over strategy.  The Grand Eminence’s booming voice cut through the ruckus.


    “Battlelord, everyone present has put our faith in your ability to lead us to victory what is your decision?”


    Everyone was suddenly silent, staring at the screen with bated breath.  Allison stood silently for several moments.  She had learned so much from Bit and she used every trick from her best friend’s playbook on kingmaking here.  Not that she wanted to rule the known universe, she just wanted everyone to support her choice, which she had already made.  Like Bit once said, a little suspense never hurt anyone then she launched into a passionate speech.


    “I have already started assembling our attack fleet.  I will lead our forces to victory.  We will end the Sal’nash threat.  We will avenge every sentient they have ever harmed. I swear to you that within seventy-two standard hours there will be nothing left of them but space debris even if I have to rip those Hives apart with my bare hands.  Then we’ll find them in the holes they are hiding in, and we will slaughter them in their sleep.  The Sal’nash will never threaten us again.”


    The entire low council stood up and started shouting.


    “Battlelord!  Battlelord!”


    The entire Board of Directors, except Maria was standing and clapping, as was the Joint Military Command of the System’s Alliance.  The LSR military command was doing the same.  So was the high council.  The Imperial Council were more reserved but there was something akin to admiration in the eyes of the ancient vampires.


    Once the various groups had settled down one of the vampires on the council who must have been truly ancient because his once dusky skin was almost white, very similar to Isis’s stood up and spoke.  Eyre had made Allison memorize the faces and names of the entire Imperial Council in exchange for education in the ability to speak to animals using her vampiric blood.  So, she knew this was Marduk-nadin-ahhe.  The second oldest vampire next to Isis.  He had a full, long black beard and long hair.


    “Stirring speeches aside, I have known a great many generals in my time, Princess Aurelius.  None willingly spoke to the politicians unless they were going to ask for something.  What are you going to ask for?”


    Allison had also been taught by Eyre that it didn’t matter if the vampire was ten or ten thousand, as the daughter of the Empress and Crown Princess, Allison outranked all of them.  Thus, she did her best not to appear intimidated or subservient to the ancient vampire when she responded to his query.


    “To win this battle I need the full commitment of the League and System’s Alliance.  I want every commissioned ship we have, if it has weapons and a crew I want it.  This is not going to be won by half-measures.  They have a significant fleet, at least seven super-hives, and forty-nine standard hive ships.  My fleet at Gh’tal outnumbered the super-hives which were likely not fully functional six to one.  We still lost two destroyers and took heavy damage to our other ships.  Two super-hives nearly wiped out the fleet we had stationed at Ratoa.  Anything less than the full commitment of our forces and we may as well surrender now.  I’ll still fight but we will lose, and I will be bringing my people into a slaughter.”


    She saw hesitation in the eyes of all the leaders.


    “I am either your Battlelord or I am not, make your choice.  End the Sal’nash threat here or watch as your people get slaughtered planet by planet, system by system. If you give me what I am asking for I will bring you victory.  If you do not, then I cannot help you.”


    No one seemed to want to commit to this attack then a lone representative on the low council, the woman who represented dozens of minor worlds, including Gh’tal stood up and shouted.


    “She is our Battlelord!  Send the fleet!  Send the fleet!”


    Rapidly the low council started slamming their fists and chanting with her.  Primarch Rubina who saw which way the wind was blowing, for good or ill slammed her gavel, she was a victim of her own propaganda campaign extolling the virtues of the young battlelord, it had made it so this could only go one way.  She addressed everyone.


    “You have the full commitment of our forces, Battlelord.  No ship or soldier will be held back.”


    Marduk-nadin-ahhe spoke again.


    “I recognize a lion when I see one, I have no doubt this is the granddaughter of Sextus Aurelius.  I bring a motion to a vote for the Imperial Council: That we demand the System’s Alliance commit all of its forces to this attack and put them under the command of our future Empress.  Look on our future my brothers and sisters in blood and recognize the power and glory of our dear departed progenitor.  In his honor you must vote yes.”


    The first of the Desert Wind stood up.


    “I know little of this technology you demand, Destroys the Darkness but your true name speaks for itself.  My tribe stands with you in all things.  Our only regret is that we will not be at your side for this battle.  I vote yes.  The spirits demand it.”


    Widow was never in doubt.  She voted yes, she was already committed because she was already on the Phoenix.  The last tribe voted yes.  Then one by one the rest of the council voted yes.  Isis nodded when Marduk looked at her.  Finally, Eyre stood up.


    “In my capacity as Empress, I vote yes and ratify this unanimous decision.  I also call the same vote for the Board of Directors.  My vote is an emphatic yes.  You would trust my mother, trust my sister too.”


    Half the board were Aurelius, so they all voted yes.  There were a couple of board members hesitating and Eyre directed her gaze at each.  Each of them quickly folded and voted Aye.  The last one to vote was Maria, she could vote yes or no, and it wouldn’t matter, she could also veto the board’s decision.  Maria stood up and straightened her suit jacket.


    “Allison, you’re asking for a great deal from us.  You will leave us defenseless for the duration of this operation.  What do you expect to suffer in losses from this attack?”


    Allison looked up at her aunt who was now front and center in the SCIF.


    “I will not lie.  I expect at least fifty percent casualties unless I use… special tactics.”


    Maria leaned on the conference table in front of her.


    “You are telling us that half of the ships and people we send with you are not coming back from this?”


    Allison frowned.


    “Yes, Madam President, that is what I am saying.  The alternative is a one hundred percent casualty rate when they attack us, and we are forced to scramble a defense.”


    Maria sighed.


    “I have my concerns, but you are right.  We will commit all of our available forces and reserves to this offensive.”


    The Synthlin high council member spoke.


    “What do you mean by special tactics, Battlelord?”


    Allison looked at him.


    “With all due respect Counciler, you do not want to know the answer to that question.  You’ll sleep better at night. Trust me.”


    The synthlin councilmember looked taken aback by her answer.  He pressed on however.


    “Battlelord, I require a direct answer.”


    Allison knew nobody wanted what she was planning on the public record, which is precisely what this Synthlin was trying to make happen.


    “I have authorization from all governing bodies here to use any and all means necessary to bring the Sal’nash threat to an end, including disregarding the laws and regulations of both the System’s Alliance and League of Sentient races, I also have matching executive orders from both organizations stating that all inherent rights the Sal’nash have as sentient beings have been revoked.  Use your imagination, Counciler. I can assure you I am using mine.  And pursuant to those orders I am not required to answer that question directly, so I choose not to.”


    He didn’t seem to be done.


    “I once again wish to file my opposition to such declarations by the councils.  Are we not civilized people?  Are we not an organization founded on the principles of law, order and common decency?  How can we possibly in good conscience let this megalomaniacal warmonger run roughshod over our beliefs in basic sentient rights?”


    Allison had to wait to respond because literally the entire low council was booing and calling for his resignation.


    “Counciler, when a young child asks you, why did my mommy have to die?  Are you willing to look her in the eye and say: Because we have to do things the right way and to save your mommy, we would have had to do a bad thing?  I am not.”


    He leaned back in his chair.


    “You dance around the question and prove nothing, Battlelord.  For a great warrior you are awful like a politician.”


    Allison looked around.


    “I will make you a deal Counciler, if one other representative of any body here wants me to answer that question, I will happily do so in explicit detail.  Provide you my plans for the upcoming battle tell you exactly what special tactics I may or may not use.  We’ll put it on the official record.  So, all of your constituents can see just what you’re complicit in.”


    Allison spun around.


    “Anyone?  Who else will stand by the Synthlin High Counciler?”


    The Primarch’s speaker banged his gavel and addressed the High Council.


    “Order!  Order!  You have made your point High Counciler your objection has been noted once again.  Sit down. Before I declare you out of order and have you forcibly removed from the chamber!”


    The Primarch spoke.


    “Battlelord I think it would be appropriate for you to address the public when you are about to commence this historic battle.  They deserve to know what they’re tax dollars and loved one’s lives are paying for.”


    Maria spoke next.


    “I agree with the Primarch.”


    Allison shook her head.


    “I do not agree.  This operation requires secrecy.  If the Sal’nash get their hands on one civilian who has seen the footage they may flee or be prepared for us.”


    The Primarch shook her head.


    “You misunderstand Battlelord, when you address your troops before the battle media representatives from both nations will be present to record the proceedings and they will then leave and broadcast as the battle commences.”


    Allison smiled pleasantly.  She could at least give them this, they were literally leaving both of their nations completely undefended on her word.


    “It is the least I can do.”