Revenge

Forgetmenot (Part Two)

A week later, Daisy and Anna were cruising high above the Khajiit countryside in Forgetmenot with the wind in their faces. They were making an effort to keep their eyes forward. If they looked over the edge of the gondola, they could see too many ruined villages and blackened fields.

To their rear, came the majestic airship, Segelen, the largest remaining vessel under Khajiit command. Freshly coated in sky-blue paint, its gondola was three times the size of Forgetmenot, large enough to carry a crew of six and their cargo.

Ahead, the dark blue waters of the Grootsee glistened in the sunlight. And beyond the Grootsee, lay Bretton.

"I simply don't understand why the Brettons haven't surrendered," Daisy muttered, not for the first time. "How many more people have to die?"

Anna shrugged. "Would we surrender, though? If the situations were reversed?"

"But that's different!" protested Daisy. "They started this damn war. They should finish it."

"Well, somebody has to end it, that's for certain. I'm just not sure this is the right way."

Daisy fell silent. She had doubts of her own, but she was a soldier, her loyalty sworn to Khajiit. She had protested loudly enough when she was given her orders that day at the War office—Forgetmenot was too small for such a task, her left arm was unreliable—but they'd told her there was no-one else.

She had no choice.

Both women turned their faces back into the wind.

Above the planet, the aliens continued to watch. This world had not yet invented radio so they were unable to monitor verbal communications, however, they were confident in what their long range scanners were able to show them. The images of a debilitating war were self evident.

Their expressions tightened, first in dismay and then in resignation as they followed the progress of the beings below. This didn't bode well.

"I think we've seen enough," said one in grim tones. "We've got enough data now to make our decision. The Council will support us in the face of all this evidence."

"Let's wait a little longer," pleaded the other. "We might as well stay till the end. I don't think it will be long."

"I suppose so," agreed the first one reluctantly. "After all, we want to be as thorough as possible. Our decision will affect this world for thousands of years."