Emergency sirens filled the base and drowned out the overhead announcements. Tayans who shuffled with purpose managed to decipher the message or already knew of the incoming visitors. Some were confused and received conflicting information. Others continued with business as usual.

Near one of the carrier bays, Princess Paeosfu managed to gather a few of the idle Tayans, but as she attempted to grab the attention of more, a couple would drift away. Eventually she climbed on top a makeshift podium made from discarded carrier parts.

“You are all in grave danger! Fifth Ruler sends soldiers to topple the resistance!” she proclaimed.

“So that’s what the fuss is about?” Ahglen laughed loudly. They looked to their twin. “You’d think the announcer wouldn’t try to yell over the sirens!”

Ahblen shrugged and responded, “It was going to happen eventually.”

“We should be ready, right?”

“Yeah. General Ginyin has us doing drills at almost every waking moment.” Ahblen rolled their shoulder. “I’m surprised I’m not stiff.”

“This is a fight we can avoid!” Paeosfu said. “We may not stop them from coming, but they can arrive at an empty base! If I can ask you to assist me in moving Tayans from here to Third Ruler’s—”

“Didn’t we lose a bunch of Tayans to Third’s droids? Why we tryin’ to go to the enemy that killed us?” asked another Tayan with a prosthetic neck.

“That’s wynye,” said a fourth.

Paeosfu shook her head. “Listen to me. I’m not saying for us to knock on Third Ruler’s doorstep.”

“Really? Because that’s exactly what it sounds like,” Ahblen complained.

“I’m not going to let my friend’s death mean nothing,” said cyborg neck.

“Down with Third Ruler!” yelled a Tayan from the other side of a carrier.

“Burn them all!” joined the fourth.

“We’ll stop Fifth Ruler too!” Ahglen cheered, standing before Paeosfu and raising their fist in the air.

“No!” she shouted over them all. “If you wish to stay here, you mustn’t fight them.” More Tayans were drifting away from her assembled group. Others were antsy for battle. “We should first try to see if they are willing to talk.”

Paeosfu continued more calmly, “I know you’re rarin’ to go, but why not divert that energy to a real threat and not against our own?”

“You’re assuming Tayans are going to be the ones to greet us. Droids do exist,” said a Tayan pushing their way through the small crowd. “Time to disperse everyone! We’re in kinimaprotocol.” They held up three fingers before gesturing for the gathered to leave. “Attend your battle stations.” They stood beside Paeosfu with their megaphone. “Those who bravely fought at the mining transportation site are to report to baysaiten.”

“No!” Paeosfu wrestled their megaphone into her own hands. “If you show signs of aggression, that would only tempt them to fire upon us!”

The Tayan stared at Paeosfu, and a look of disgust contorted their face.

Closing their fingers and opening them up again revealed a large display of the latest news. Her heart dropped. Besides the large announcement detailing the approach of Fifth Ruler’s soldiers was a smaller proclamation stating that Princess Paeosfu was no longer an ally of the rebellion.

“The generals seem to disagree, Princess,” the Tayan said spitefully. The word dripped dangerously from their lips. “You’re pretty new around here, so I’ll make it clear for you.” Without much effort, they reclaimed the megaphone. Announcing to the crowd, the Tayan said, “We don’t take kindly to Rulers and their princesses.”

Paeosfu curled her fingers and reached for the megaphone. More prepared now, the Tayan defended against her attempts.

“I admit that I messed up,” Paeosfu said. “You may see me no differently than you see Third Ruler since I led those Tayans to their deaths. I’m trying to keep the rest of you alive!” she shouted back into the megaphone.

She stopped reaching for it with a huff and looked to the Tayans still gathered. Some had stopped moving to their battle stations.

“You won’t sneak into Third Ruler’s kingdom and allow me to protect you there: FINE. I get it,” Paeosfu said. She took a deep breath before saying, “Third Ruler took what can’t be taken back. I WON’T let you fight Fifth Ruler, and I won’t allow Fifth Ruler to fight you.”

She tried to keep the other Tayan from speaking. “I urge you to stand with me. It’s difficult to stand up against Gods without the bodies to face them.”

“Princess Paeosfu, you are deemed a traitor to the rebellion alliance,” the Tayan said, zooming and enhancing on her profile and thrusting the announcement in her face. “We are under no obligation to listen to you OR your fantasies.”

“They are not fantasies, and I am NOT a traitor.” Paeosfu slapped their hand away. She stepped down from the pedestal. “General Ginyin kicked me out. That’s different. I want you to live. Is that so bad?”

Paeosfu removed the yefa’izgou from Ahblen’s pocket and pointed it at the Tayan with trembling hands. “If you want to be cored so badly, I’ll do it myself.”

“Fine. Shoot me. You won’t be any different from Third or Fifth Ruler,” the Tayan dared. “This’ll be your coronation. Might as well call you Fourth Ruler from now on.”

“That’s enough,” Ahblen said, taking his weapon back. “Both of you. Princess, get out of here. We appreciate your concern, but we’ve played this game before.” They offered a smile. “You focus on your own mission. You need to find Otekai, right? Don’t try to take on all the burden.”

Ahglen threw an arm around his twin and nodded, “Trust in us. We’ll survive with your blessing!”

“Yeah, talk about no confidence,” said the Tayan with the prosthetic neck.

“Pray for us or something,” muttered the Tayan now in her carrier.

“We’re not looking to die until Fifth and Third Rulers are down for the count,” Ahglen beamed.

Paeosfu had mixed feelings. She wasn’t going to convince them to stop. She had to have faith that they would survive. They weren’t going to give her another chance.

That hurt.

“I’m a fool,” she muttered.

“It’s okay. We already know the Gods aren’t perfect,” Ahglen chuckled. “I’d listen to Ahblen though. You don’t want the AMDs to think you’re an enemy, so you should go.”