CHAPTER 16: HONOR AND STRENGTH
Rebel Base 2 on Terrest ?
Adrian stood upon the platform fifty-feet above the hangar floor and looked out to the rag-tag group of rebels he had led for fifteen years. Behind him and beyond a gigantic pane of glass were the large number of computer terminals, radar tracking systems, and rebel military personnel that would monitor the battle that was about to take place.
Adrian took a deep breath and wiped away the tear that rolled down his cheek. He looked over the men and women he would lead and felt sorrow. He knew that he was about to lead them on a suicide mission. He turned around and looked into the window. He met his wife's eyes. She gave him a warm, loving smile and nodded, giving him the encouragement he needed. Standing next to Anyta was Peter Sanchez. Together, Petey and Anyta were going to coordinate and lead the attack.
Adrian glanced at Petey. Petey gave him that smile he always liked and a thumbs-up. Adrian returned his smile and nodded. He slowly turned around and again looked out onto the fearful faces of his troops. He licked his lips and opened his mouth. "All of you are here today of your own freewill and accord ?" He paused as he scanned the hangar. Some of his troops were nodding, some looked eager to fight, but the majority looked like scared children, knowing full well they were about to walk to their deaths.
He took another breath and continued. "That is why we are all here. We are fighting for our free agency. Many of you know the horror of not being able to control your own mind. Many of you have told me your personal story of being enslaved in a Gnol slave camp. You have told me your stories of what it feels like when your mind is under the control of a Gnol. You have said that it is as if you are watching yourself from afar. Doing things you never would have imagined yourself doing ?"
Adrian paused again. He saw many former slaves nodding their heads in agreement. Most of his troops had been former slaves and they knew all too well the horrors of being under the mind control of a Gnol.
He made eye contact with his son, who was standing below. Jake smiled and nodded. Adrian continued. "For these reasons, you are here to fight; to defend yourselves from the further enslavement and oppression of Koroan Chast. Koroan Chast believes that humans are here to serve him and his people. He believes that we are animals and cannot think for ourselves. That is one mistake he will regret ?"
Adrian stopped as he heard clapping and small cheers break out amongst his troops. Feeling the confidence grow within him, he continued. "Yes, he has made a grave mistake; for he has underestimated us. He does not believe that humans are capable of fresh and new ideas, developing new inventions, and - most of all - making our own decisions. Well, this is the mistake he has made. For we can think for ourselves, we can create new and wonderful inventions, and we can develop new ideas!"
Applause and cheers arose from the mass of troops standing on the hangar floor. The cheers and applause grew louder as he spoke.
"Yes, Koroan has underestimated us. After fifteen years of war, he still has not succeeded in enslaving the entire human race upon Terrest. Each time he has nearly succeeded in crushing us, we have found strength from within and held on a little longer. And where do we get that strength, you may ask?"
Adrian stopped and scanned the hangar. The countenances of his troops were beginning to change from a look of fear and dread to a look of sheer determination and confidence. He smiled and took another deep breath.
"That strength comes from our desire to be free. Five hundred years ago, your ancestors united Terrest into the most successful civilization I have ever seen. Your leaders were good and righteous men who didn't care about wealth or power. They cared about you. They cared more that you were free to choose what you were going to do with your lives than they did about controlling you. Your ancestors and leaders truly understood what it meant to be free."
Again, applause and cheers exploded from Adrian's troops. Adrian felt a surge of electricity rise up his spine. His sorrow and dread was beginning to turn into faith and hope even though he knew the odds of a successful battle. He made eye contact with Jake and Celeste and continued.
"Almost two hundred sixty-six years ago on my home world, Earth, my forefathers did the same thing. They declared their independence and free agency from an enemy that oppressed them. No one at that time expected this rebellion force to win the war. They were severely outnumbered, and they were extremely inexperienced compared to their enemy. Despite those odds, they succeeded in winning the war, giving them their independence and freewill to choose.
"Today, the Gnols have chosen a new world to enslave. A world populated by your brothers and sisters ?" Adrian paused and felt his emotions rise to the surface as he thought about his brother back on Earth. "At this time, Earth has no idea that they are about to be attacked. We are the last line of defense.
"Each of you in this hangar today has been offered the choice of joining this small and over-matched military or living in the base with your families and working as civilians for the cause. Most of you have chosen to fight - to free your brothers and sisters that are still enslaved by the Gnols.
"Knowing this, each one of you has a choice to make today. We are about to go into a battle in which we are severely outnumbered. The odds of us winning this battle are astronomical. And even though we may not win the battle today, our fortitude and willingness to fight for the freedom of our brothers and sisters on Earth and for our brothers and sisters still enslaved here on Terrest will win us this war!"
An eruption of cheers and applause resonated throughout the hangar. Adrian had a strange feeling of confidence overwhelm him. He knew the odds and yet, he truly believed that somehow by fighting today, they could win this war.
Adrian glanced to his left and saw Scott Hauler, his dear friend for all of these years and now one of his most trusted generals, thrust his fist into the air. "Now, I ask you, my brothers and sisters, who will join me in this battle? Who will be willing to sacrifice their life for the lives of their brothers and sisters on Earth and Terrest? Who will be willing to sacrifice their life so that our brothers and sisters may be free?"
Adrian stopped and looked around the hangar. One by one, hands shot into the air. Adrian didn't notice one person within his range of vision that didn't have his or her hand raised. Even the young men and women barely over the age of sixteen had their hands raised.
After he scanned the entire hangar, he smiled and said, "May God be with us!"