Free Rise of the Resistance (War for Orion Trilogy Book Two) by Conner Walworth Page A

you’re the best General we
have, and if you die, the only military leader with a ny experience in fighting the crodillians will be gone. There’ll be no
way we stand a chance in winning this war if that happens.”
    “If Anlon is able to get information from
the Elders, any General should be able to lead an attack, you won't
need me. You already have everything you need to win.”
    “We would prefer to have you leading the
attacks,” Aldrick said. “You'll know what to be prepared for.
Information will only go so far.”
    “If the crodillians are true to their word,
then I'll be fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”
    “You're willing to put your life on the line
because they gave their word?” Alura shook her head. “I don't think
they're very trustworthy.”
    “They're not,” Pyrrhus agreed. “But they may
keep their word long enough for me to get done what needs to be
done.”
    “Fine,” Alura raised up her hands. “Go set
up rebellion forces, the rest of the Council will get together and
talk about changing our plans now that you’re alive. You seem to
have convinced two already, and I'm sure others will agree with you
once we speak.”
    “Thank you,” Pyrrhus smiled. “I’ll let the
other leaders know what I'm doing and what you've ordered. I’ll set
up the forces as quickly as I can.”
    “Good luck, Pyrrhus,” Aldrick said. “You're
going to need it.”

    “Tell the rest of the Council to get in here
quickly,” Alura ordered. “We need to make sure this is what we want
to do before we commit to it. Once we begin, there won’t be any
turning back.”
    Aldrick nodded and pulled out his comlink.
He sent the remaining members a message to arrive as quickly as
possible. It didn't take long for them to arrive, considering they
were in an underwater Palace with few places to wander off to.
    Aldrick looked around to make sure that they
were all present before he spoke. “We’ve just received a call from
Pyrrhus.”
    “He's alive?” Bertrade asked. “I thought
that he died back on Hera with the rest of the military.”
    “As did we, but we just saw him and spoke
with him,” Alura said. “I can assure you that he is very much alive
and well.”
    “Pyrrhus insisted the Queen doesn't want us
to lay down our weapons and surrender to the crodillians. Instead,
he believes, as do I now, that the Queen wants us to rebel against
this enemy.”
    “Then why would she send out a message for
peace?” Aida asked. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”
    “So we have time and assurance that we won't
be killed,” Saidi said aloud.
    “So, you believe it to?” Hildereth
asked.
    “Yes,” Saidi shook her head. “I’ve been
listening to the speech over and over, and the more that I listen
to it, the more I think she wants us to rebel. The way she said
things, voice inflections, gestures, it all leads me to believe she
wants us to take back what’s ours.”
    “What things makes you think that?” Alura
asked. “I heard or saw nothing that encouraged rebelling.”
    “She said small rebellions will lead to
death, that was her trying to say, create a large, strong,
rebellion that stands a chance. I think that, because at the
beginning of the speech, she said we don't have a chance right
now . If we can establish a strong rebellion on every planet,
then we do stand a chance,” Saidi said. “The last thing she said
is, if we get caught then they'll be merciless, so we have
to keep the rebellion hidden from them. Nowhere in her speech did
she tell us to give up all hope, she was telling us discreetly to
be smart and not get caught.”
    “She bought us time,” Aldrick said. “Pyrrhus
believed the same thing and contacted us so that he could
personally start forming a rebellion force.”
    “That's great,” Saidi said. “The crodillians
will never expect it after the message the Queen sent out, not if
all stay calm.”
    “What about if we get caught?” Alura
asked.
    “It's a risk we have to