were able to strike directly for the Capitol?
They might draw off the ships meant to attack Peepi and throw them into
the assault on Hades.
8 If we can draw them in, get them close enough, the destruction of
Hades may be well worth the price if we can destroy enough of the
enemy's vessels to make it worth it."
9 One of The Hashon Warlocks rose. "I do not question your wisdom,
great Lord," he said, "but to destroy our Eternal Spirit to save the
body, I cannot see the reasoning."
10 "Hades," continued The Turner Against, "is an old world. It was the
birthplace of your Faith, but that Faith has now spread to many other
worlds. It had little resources to begin with, and those resources are
now about spent. The population it now supports can only be maintained
by the importation of large amounts of materials and food.
11 Like an old father willing to give his life to save the lives of his
children, Hades is willing to give ITS life for the children that IT
has born. The heart of The Republic has long beat in other places, and
Hades is now only the shadow of its glory."
12 The Hashon sat down and there was great silence for some time.
"Hades, alone," put in The General Of The Fleet, "would not have to be
destroyed, but the primary worlds of the systems that would fall, as
the enemy advanced."
13 "And the enemy's capitol at the same time," added The Turner
Against. "We must destroy as many of their new vessels as we can in one
sweep. The counter attacks must be simultaneous driving the enemy into
defensive positions around the target worlds so as many
as possible are destroyed."
14 "But the PEOPLE on those target worlds," argued one Councilman,
rising, "the women, the children! What of