The silence in the ceremonial chamber stretched until Lucas finally broke it, his voice carrying a cold edge that none of his friends had ever heard before.
"So let me get this straight," he said, his words echoing off the crystalline statues. "You pulled me away from a war where people are dying every day, where I'm actually making a difference, to hide behind planetary defenses because of some family drama from thousands of years ago?"
Damien's casual posture stiffened slightly, but his voice remained warm. "Lucas, you don't understand the scope of what we're dealing with—"
"I understand perfectly," Lucas interrupted, his voice rising. "Our ancestors were murderers who betrayed their friend, and now we're supposed to pay for it. But instead of facing the consequences, instead of trying to make things right, we're just going to hide?"
"It's not hiding," Vivian said, her maternal instincts kicking in. "It's strategic positioning. We need to gather our strength—"
