Chapter Sixteen

The Declaration of War

If something hasn't happened in the past, it doesn't mean that it will never happen in the future

Elisium.

The Fifth Loop, Year 491, 9th January (5L/491/1/9)

"Here I present the farms of wonder." Christopher, the HighCommander of the Tenebra base announced, showing the Star-Rock fields to a group of delegates.

The chief scientist took a small rock in his hand and had a close look at it. "These rocks are small in size. We still have a large enough stock of Star-Rocks inside the Ruins, so I don't think we will need to use rocks from this site in the foreseeable future."

Christopher feigned a sigh of relief. "And I am very glad to hear that. Now let us go back to the headquarters and have some snacks.

Two men, hiding behind thick bushes, took note of this conversation. Christopher's face was very familiar to them. They saw it every other day and in more than one place. Once the delegates departed, one of the two men rushed back to report this development to his senior.

***

George was humming a tune when he entered the headquarters of David's army. "Friends, I have some good news. The looters have enough Star-Rocks inside the Ruins and are not interested in our Star-Rock farms. So there won't be any added security on our field."

Jacob slapped his thigh. "That is indeed some good news. I thought they might put some extra security after Arthur's assassination."

"What are these Star-Rock farms?" Moses asked.

"Well you know, during the Rain of Fire, the large boulders that fell on the Royal Mounds exploded and these small pieces of Star-Rocks were scattered across the farms north of the Ruins. The looters only concentrate on large rocks as they are easy to transport to Aden and we steal these smaller ones."

"We don't need machines to lift these small pieces," George added. "They are perfect to make ammunition whereas the bigger ones, the size of melons, are used for generating electricity."

"Aden never shared any technical knowledge with this world. Then tell me how the Refuge has electricity?"

I never knew you were a fan of history

I am just trying to understand this world.

Tell me, how's the history of electricity in Elisium going to help you in war?

"They never did. The credit for electrifying this world goes to Andrews and Matthews. They developed a working model of a generator that could utilize the power of Star-Rocks. Matthews's descendants turned out to be equally gifted in the fields of science—even today his great-grandson James, who is just twenty-five, heads our arms factory. They kept enhancing his technology to build a model that powers the whole Refuge."

"But if these Star-Rock farms are north of the Ruins, how do you cross their fortified walls?"

George and Jacob both gave that I-know-but-won't-tell-you-smile. "That is a secret. You must see it rather than hear about it. We will take you there someday."

"Don't believe Jennifer's father." A girl barged into the room with a tray filled with cups of coffee. "He is not good with promises. He made the same promise to Jennifer a hundred times."

"Girl, I have always told you that I will take you there when the time is appropriate."

"And when will that be?" the girl asked.

"When we take over the Ruins," George said with a smile and quickly turned to Moses before his daughter could protest. "She is Jennifer, my daughter, your distant cousin, and your birth twin. She was born on the same day as you."

Moses looked at Jennifer—a radiant face, flawless skin, long curly hair, a near-perfect physique, and an infectious smile. She had a heavenly charm and an aristocratic grace that looked very out of place in the shambolic environment of the Ruins.

"Why can't Jennifer come with you when you take him?" Jennifer asked gesturing towards Moses. "I am as old as he is."

"That is a dangerous place, my girl. Can't risk taking you there."

Jennifer pressed her lips together. "Luckily for you, Jennifer missed becoming the Transitioner because I was born in the wrong world."

"And with the wrong gender," Jacob countered her. "I have already told you before that there have been no women Transitioners."

"If something hasn't happened in the past, it doesn't mean that it will never happen in the future. Uncle Jacob, don't be too sure about destiny's tricks because she is always hiding an ace up her sleeves."

Jacob smiled at her. "George, your girl never gives up."

"She has her mother's genes—the famous fury of Solomon." George turned to his daughter. "Now my dear girl, if you will please leave us alone, there is an urgent matter we need to discuss."

"Hypocrisy of men never ends. Jennifer hopes someday this world will be ruled by a queen who tells all men to get lost." Jennifer quipped and stomped out of the room.

"Wow! She's got some attitude. Now, what do you want to discuss?" Moses asked.

"Josh, our super sniper, did skillfully assassinate the spy, but there was a little problem," George said scratching his beard. "Josh was unable to track Arthur down on his way and had to take him out right at the gateway. This means our enemies now know that we have some decent weapons to use against them."

Nathan, the chief trainer of David's Army, was also present there. "They are a little rattled by this assassination. The looters are now raiding the villages near that post, plundering their stores, and driving these people away from their lands."

"Well then we must stop them from further harassing our people," Jacob said in a firm tone.

"And how you suggest we do that?" George asked.

"We ambush their raiding party and send them a message that they're not welcome into our villages anymore," Moses blurted, without a thought.

Time for some action. Time to put all the lectures that you've endured to some good use.

Do you think I'm ready to fight? I haven't even tried using my powers yet.

Hopefully, the Transitioners in you will awaken when you get into the act.

"Son, we are not yet prepared for a full-fledged war. We need more time, more weapons, and even you still don't know how to utilize the amulet's full potential."

Jacob audibly cleared his throat to interrupt his friend. "You know, there won't be any full-fledged war. If attack them now they will assume we are ready to take them on and that is when they will start to panic."

"What if they come at us with their full might?" George asked.

Nathan knew more about how Aden's army worked than anyone else in this room. "I know one thing for sure, their masters in Aden never encourage their troops to engage in an open field battle. Once they know we have an army and weapons they will prefer to hide behind their solid defense structures."

"Friend, if that is true, tell me why are they sending out these raiding parties? They already know we have weapons."

"They are just testing the waters," Nathan replied. "They want to see whether Arthur's killing was a rogue attack or if there is some organized army behind that."

"And once we attack them we will endorse their doubts of an organized rebellion and give away our element of surprise."

Jacob leaned back in his chair and took a sip from his tea. "You know, this might be a good time to show them our strength. The Days of Adversity are already over and now they cannot call any additional troops, they are stuck here with whatever they have. Let's scare the hell out of them. Make them spend the remaining days of this cycle shivering in their pants, fearing an enemy ready to pounce."

"Are you sure they won't go on a rampage after an attack?" George asked.

"Well, a coward's phony bravery only lasts till the enemy looks him in the eyes—then he hides his tail between his legs and runs away. Despite all their superficial strength, these looters are terrified from within, because they know that this whole world is against them."

How can a meeting end without a Jacob-Heavy-Words-and-Theories-Bombardment?

We better get going before he hurls more at us.

When you go to war send him to frontlines and he'll kill a few with his words alone.

"I think we must strike them with our full strength and show them our power," Nathan agreed with Jacob's plan. "If we pull this off, they will not risk fighting us in unknown territory and will surely retreat in their shell."

George took a deep breath and got up from his chair. "Okay then. Friends, it is time to show the looters their place. It is time to officially declare war on Aden."