Chapter Two, Call to Arms

"Alright, settle down everyone."

Commander Haelvan had decided to call a council. All of his Lieutenants, as well as the Town leaders; the wealthier merchants, the mayor, and the reeve; had assembled in a small ampitheatre within the monastary.
"Most of you heard the Ga-Vok earlier, or if you haven't I'm sure you've heard others talking about it. Does anyone need a recap?"
The general consensus was that they did not, although the scribe requested it for the records. He was told that a copy would be made available later.

"Well then, what do we do?"
"You tell us Commander. Isn't that your job?"
"This is not yet explicitly a military matter. For now the choice of simply leaving remains on the table."
"Nonsense, they have no right to evict us."
"We discovered Gasca, if anyone has the right to evict its inhabitants it's us."
"We should kick their sorry tails off this planet just for the impudence of thinking themselves our masters."

Haelvan held up a hand to silence the crowd.
"Then we can agree that we have no intent to leave Gasca?"
"It would seem so sir."
"Then let us consider our other options. We could attempt to appeal to the Ga-Vok and convince them to allow us to stay."

Alicea spoke up. "Not likely commander. I've heard of Tasand before, he was responsible for the invasion of Mrococo. I'm afraid his better nature is likely all we can thank for the three months we've been given. They call him 'steelcleaver', because of his ferocity and strength when he fights the Nielda."
"I had heard that. Perhaps an appeal to a higher authority?"
"Worse still, only Ga-Vok are allowed on Decidua now. Even if we could convince a Ga-Vok to speak for us any attempt to persuade the Alpha into changing his plans is considered an affront and questioning his judgement. Both are capitol offenses. I'm afraid reason will not work here."

Everyone had known what it would come down to when the council was called. They had just hoped they might be able to try a different course first.
"My men are incsufficent to fight the General's army. I will send word to my superiors in the hopes that we can receive reinforcements. But we must be prepared to fight our own battles if we must."
"A draft of all able bodied citizens then?"
"A draft is the last resort; if people will not defend their homes willingly than they are not worth defending. No, I propose that we send word to the other Nielda of Gasca, and send forth a call to arms. Let those who are willing and able fight, those who are not leave, and those who can not prepare."

~we should volunteer.~
Alicea tried to ignore the feral spirit. It had been easier within the civilized confines of the monastary. Still, she was restless. It had been several years since her journey, and after so many years as a hunter simply siting around and reading and studying and this cursed waste of time they called 'watching Television' she needed to get out.
"Commander, Allow me to carry the call."

He clearly would have prefered for his daughter, as distant as she may have been, to stay here in safety. But Nieldic traditions, and several by-laws, forbid preventing anyone from willingly enlisting.
"Very well, I'll have you commissoned as a Lieutenant at once. You can leave on Monday."
"Thank you sir."