Kapitel 3: Chapter 3: A Call to Withdrawal
"Gather everyone around, Brandon," Abaddon commanded, his voice sharp and firm.
The imperial soldiers shuffled toward the central deck, their curiosity piqued and their whispers filling the air. Each of them speculated on the purpose of the summons, their doubts and fears bubbling just beneath the surface.
"I think he's going to order a full withdrawal," whispered one soldier. "I've heard rumors about how fickle the commander can be."
"Hey, new guy," the soldier continued, nudging Boyka, a recent recruit to the imperial fleet. "What do you think? Is the commander really about to call for an untimely retreat?"
Boyka looked at him with a raised brow. "I'm not in the habit of reading the commander's mind," he said flatly. "If you're so curious, why don't you ask him yourself? Maybe then you'll quit these ridiculous, backstabbing rants."
The soldier, whose name was Stephen, bristled at Boyka's response. "You must be out of your mind," he retorted. "Do you really not care about what's going to happen? Or are you pretending not to be concerned? Whatever decision the commander makes, we could still end up committing grievous atrocities. Doesn't that bother you?"
Boyka shrugged, his tone growing more relaxed. "Ah, now you're making some sense," he said. "You could've started with that instead of your petty gossip. By the way, I'm Boyka. I'm new here."
Stephen eyed him for a moment before his shoulders softened. "I'm Stephen. I've been around a little longer. It's good to meet you, though I wish it weren't under these circumstances."
Boyka offered a half-smile. "It doesn't matter how we met, Stephen. What matters is that we've put aside our differences. Honestly, if you hadn't made the effort, I'd probably still be standing my ground while you talked."
Stephen chuckled, shaking his head. "You're a stubborn one, Boyka, but I'm glad we've found common ground. Friends?"
"Friends," Boyka agreed with a smirk.
---
As the two shared a rare moment of camaraderie, Commander Abaddon observed them from a distance. His face was impassive, but his sharp eyes caught every detail. With measured steps, he approached the group of soldiers, his imposing presence silencing the crowd.
"Silence, everyone!" someone shouted as Abaddon reached the center. "The commander is here."
Abaddon cleared his throat and addressed the gathering. "Good day, soldiers. I'm sure you're all wondering why I've called you here. Let me get straight to the point: I am issuing an order for a full withdrawal of the ship."
The murmurs began almost immediately, a wave of confusion and dissent spreading among the soldiers.
Abaddon raised a hand to quiet them. "Listen to me," he continued. "This is not an act of surrender, nor are we abandoning the war. However, I see no reason to proceed with delivering the Emperor's message to the people of Earth. We were attacked by them, unprovoked. There is no use attempting diplomacy with those who show such hostility. Instead, we will report to the Emperor that we carried out his orders and that Earth's response was one of defiance."
The murmuring grew louder, the soldiers exchanging uneasy glances. Finally, Boyka stepped forward, his voice steady but firm. "Commander, with all due respect, that's an obvious lie."
Abaddon's gaze snapped to Boyka, his expression darkening. "What did you say?"
"We haven't even reached Earth yet," Boyka said, his voice unwavering. "How can you claim to know the minds of its people? They might not be what we assume. They might not all agree with their leaders. Shouldn't we at least try to deliver the message before making such decisions?"
"Shut the hell up!" Abaddon roared, his voice reverberating across the deck. The soldiers fell silent, their faces pale with tension. Abaddon's piercing glare bore down on Boyka. "You are out of line, soldier. This is not a debate. You will follow my orders, or you will face the consequences. Do I make myself clear?"
Boyka clenched his jaw but gave a stiff nod. "Yes, sir."
Abaddon turned his gaze back to the rest of the soldiers. "You will all cooperate with me on this. We will return to the Emperor and report exactly as I've instructed. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Commander!" the soldiers replied in unison, though the tension in the air was palpable.
As the group dispersed, Boyka exchanged a brief glance with Stephen, who gave him a subtle shake of the head as if to say, Pick your battles wisely. Boyka sighed, his fists clenched, and silently followed the others back to their stations.
For now, the mission would continue on Abaddon's terms, but the seeds of doubt had been sown.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein