My first considered action after my headache eases off is to tell Akari, “Please, call Jenny and Anne. Tell them that we have an emergency, so I need to speak to them.”

“Alright.”

I don’t even get to finish my second cup of coffee before they arrive. I played the video for them, and they agreed that I should ask Congress for a declaration of war. I assumed they would, but it’s nice to know that my first inclination wasn’t off the mark.

Then they take off to take care of a few things before they return to go with me to address Congress.

Akari comes into my office when they leave, and I tell her, “Please, call Kevin Jaques and tell him that I will be addressing Congress in 90 minutes, and I expect all members to be there. No exceptions unless they are dead or in the hospital.”

Kevin is the most senior member of Congress, so he acts as their liaison for me.

“Okay… May I ask a question?”

“Of course. You can always ask me anything, you don’t even need to ask if you can.”

She nods while looking at me pensively. “Are we going to war with them,” she asks me with an apprehensive expression.

“More than likely.” I sigh because I never wanted this. I’d have loved for us to have met a friendly species instead. “I’m sure that Congress will agree with me and issue the declaration. Regardless of what Congress does, those… people have already declared war on humanity… Alright, I need to clean up and get dressed, then eat. I’ll see you later.”

“Sure.”

She follows me out of my office and stops at her desk. I pause and tell her, “Akari, try not to worry. I have complete faith in our ability to defend ourselves should they come here. However, I plan to take the war to them and not fight defensive battles in the Sol system.”

She nods, even though she still continues to look concerned. I continue upstairs. Walking into my room, I find that Chinatsu and Ryu are up. Hanging up my robe, I undress and walk into the bathroom to find them already soaking in the bath.

“Morning,” I tell them.

Ryu smiles at me, and Chinatsu asks, “What’s going on that you had to get up so early?”

I explain the situation to them. When I finish, Chinatsu looks frightened, and Ryu looks angry. I quickly shower and then slip in between them in the bath. I can’t soak for long, but I want to spend a little time with my spouses before I’m taken away for who knows how long.

　◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

Admiral Calvin Jessup is performing PT with his command staff when his wrist comm chimes and vibrates in a pattern indicating it’s a priority call. Stepping off to the side and stopping, he accepts the call.

“Jessup speaking.”

“Morning, Cal, it’s Jason.”

“Morning, Jason, what can I do for you?”

“You’re to report to me at CMCC immediately. You’re being sent on an emergency deployment in command of the 2nd Supercarrier battle group, along with the 1st and 7th fast-action strike groups. I’ll tell you more when you get here.”

“Aye, Aye, Sir. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“See you soon, Cal.”

Without waiting, Jason ends the call, leaving Cal to wonder what the hell is going on. Shrugging, he tells himself, ‘Well, I’ll find out soon enough, so I need to get moving.’ He takes off running to catch up with his command staff to tell them to get ready.

　◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

Less than 90 minutes later, he’s sitting in front of Jason, absolutely livid. Although you'd be hard pressed to know it considering his placid demeanor. Finally, suppressing his wild, angry thoughts, he calmly asks, “How long do I have to prepare the task force?”

“72 hours, and then you jump for Tau Ceti,” Jason replies. “You’ll be commanding from the supercarrier, HMS Archangel, she just got out of trials after her refit. Your ships are already assembling. All crew members have been recalled and should be back on board within 24 hours. I’ve ordered the ship captains to assemble their ships at L1 departure. Cal,” Jason says as he looks at him intently, “Sora wants these butchers taught a lesson they’ll never forget, and I believe you’re just the man to do it. Now, change into your whites. Sora is going to make a systemwide announcement soon, and we have to be there for it.”

　◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

Yui and I are talking as I’m in my room getting ready for my broadcast.

“The press is having a field day speculating about why there’s ‘So many armed and armored troops running around in orbit.’ Oh, and lest we forget, the fleet is shuffling around in unprecedented numbers, and oh wow, the numbers of them that are heading for or are already at L1. Everyone knows that it’s used for jump departures and they want to know where they’re jumping to. They’re even more pissed off that you’ve refused to hold a press conference to tell them what is going on, so they’re literally raising hell on the news shows and blogs.”

“They’ll know soon enough. I’m doing a systemwide emergency broadcast, remember? I don’t like saying the same thing over and over. Anyway, they’re just angry that they aren’t the first to know,” I reply from the bathroom where Janet is doing my hair and makeup.

“I know, Sora. It doesn’t stop them from bugging the hell out of my press office staff. You really should have told them first, you know?”

“Yui, I don’t really care what they want or how much they bitch, whine and moan. They can kiss my cute royal posterior.”

She sighs loudly in exasperation. “You know damn well that snubbing the press can make your life harder.”

I poke my head out of the bathroom. “I mean it, Yui, there are too many things going on for me to coddle their fragile egos. If it’s so important, you can deal with them later.”

Stepping back into the bathroom, I sit down at the vanity again so that Janet can finish my makeup and hair.

“Okay, but if this comes back to bite you in that cute little ass of yours, don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”

Laughing for a few moments, I smile at my image in the mirror. “How many times have I told you, they need me far more than I need them? Hmm?”

I can almost hear her shrug. “I dunno, 200? 300? Something like that.”

Janet finishes. “Thank you, Janet. I appreciate it,” I tell her, then head to my closet. “Yui, you worry too much,” I tell her as I walk past. “If they irk me enough, all it would take is a word to their boss. Who do you think they’re going to choose? Me, or someone that pissed me off enough to complain about them? They don’t want to get on my bad side, and you know it.”

“Yet, you say you support a free press,” she mutters loudly enough for me to hear her.

“I do support a free press and free speech. I don’t tell them what to write about, or who can or can’t do the damn writing, now do I? BUT, actions have consequences. You have the right to tell your boss that you aren’t coming in, but he has the right to fire you for it. You already know that’s how things work. So, can we drop this, please? I’m already stressed out enough today. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t add more.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” She murmurs contritely.

Sighing loudly, I say, “Listen Yui, I’m not angry. I get that you’re merely doing your job, so you have nothing to apologize for.”

Finally deciding on a linen, taupe-colored, sleeveless mini dress. I slip it on and button it up. I come out of my closet carrying some ultra-sheer nude stockings, and silver, open-toe, strappy sandals. Business-like without seeming too formal.

She looks me over and says, “You know, I don’t think you’ve changed even one tiny bit since I first met you. You look exactly the same,” she says while smiling at me.

I shrug as I slip on the stockings. Then, I walk over to my desk to put on my wedding rings, the rest of my jewelry, and then finally, my circlet. “I am taller, and my boobs are a tiny bit bigger, but other than that? No, not really. For that matter, neither have you. Nor will either of us change very much for several hundred more years. Biologically, I’m only 15, even if I am 32 chronologically.”

“I know, you’ve explained how it works more than once. It simply defies everything I know about humans, that’s all.”

Someone knocks, and I call out, “Come.” I look at Yui again, “You’ll eventually get used to it. You don’t have much choice,” I tell her with a smile.

Jenny walks in and looks around for a second. “Hey, where’s my little princess?”

“Ai’s with Chinatsu at the moment. She’s taking them for a walk around the grounds to give me a break. I swear that girl is almost always attached to one of my nipples. Not that Minori is much different when it comes to Chinatsu’s nipples. Ryu took the other 4 to the amusement park today.”

Minori is Chinatsu’s and mine as well. Minori and Ai are twins, although we each carried one of them. They’re both blue-eyed, redheaded obstreperous little angels. Chinatsu had her two days after I gave birth to Ai. Unlike Ai, who couldn’t seem to wait to meet the world, she didn’t seem to want to come out, so her birth was rather hard for Chinatsu.

After checking myself over in the full-length mirror on the bedroom wall, I turn back to them. “Alright, let’s do this,” I tell Yui and Jenny.

By the way, Jenny is my Minister of Defense, and Anne is my Minister of the Treasury, just in case you don’t remember. We head downstairs to my office to find Jason, Cal, Anne, and Kevin waiting for me in the outer office as I asked.

“Good, you’re here already. Thank you for coming.”

Jason and Cal stand to salute. They don’t bow or curtsy since they are military, “It’s our pleasure, Your Majesty,” Jason says.

“Come on in, and let’s do this.” This is not a speech I ever wanted to give. I take my seat behind my desk with Jenny, Anne, Kevin, Jason, and Cal standing behind me.

I clear my throat, then nod to Yui. She begins to count down, “Five… four… three… two… one…” Then points her finger at me.

Solemnly, I look at the camera and begin, “Citizens of Sol system,

“Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, please stop now. I need everyone to give me their undivided attention since what I have to say is extremely important for everyone to hear.”

I wait a few seconds, then continue, “It’s my duty to report that this morning at 03:51 UTC, the HMS Odyssey arrived at Tau Ceti. Soon after arriving, they detected signs of an intelligent spacefaring civilization. Humanity has long hoped to find another intelligent species that we might be able to call friends.

“Regrettably, less than an hour after they arrived in the system, they were attacked by five warships. The Odyssey never stood a chance for she is not a ship of war but one of exploration. They never took an offensive posture that could have precipitated such an attack. We know nothing beyond those facts. Although I, and my advisors, fear the worst has happened.

“As a result, in my capacity as the defender of our system and her 2.1 billion citizens, I have directed General Chambers to take any and all measures needed to defend us. All members of the military have been recalled and directed to report to their assigned stations. All ships and defense installations have been manned, and are ready to respond should they choose to come here.

“I have also directed General Chambers to deploy a rescue fleet under the command of Admiral Jessup to retrieve our ship and her crew members. They will bring back the Odyssey, or destroy her in-situ if need be, but they will bring our men home in whatever state they may be found. We owe nothing less to these brave men and women who volunteered to risk their lives to explore the unknown reaches of space for us.

“I will neither forget, nor forgive, the unprovoked attack these aliens unleashed upon our people. I have complete faith in our military forces to not only retrieve our men but also defend us from these aliens.

“I believe that every man, woman, and child will echo my feelings when I vow that we will not only defend ourselves, but will make certain that they regret their treacherous attack upon us. It will not go unanswered.

“We did not ask for this, but as of this moment, hostilities exist between our species. There is no denying the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grievous danger from this openly hostile species.

“I have every confidence in our armed forces. I’m equally confident that each and every one of you will join me in declaring our outrage over this incident.

“I’ve already spoken to Congress regarding the attack on Odyssey, and I asked that they recognize that a state of war exists between humanity and this belligerent species. Congress has unanimously issued a Declaration of War, which Admiral Jessup will transmit to them when he arrives at Tau Ceti.

“May God preserve us all.”

A few moments later, Yui declares, “We’re clear.”

I sigh and lay my head on my arms. “Dear God, I pray that I’ve done the right thing,” I murmur.

Within an hour of the broadcast, a literal flood of men and women volunteering for military service overwhelms the Crown’s military recruiting stations across Earth and Mars.

　◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

At L1 departure station, a fleet of ships is quickly assembling, which has more than enough firepower to devastate a planet. 2 supercarriers, 9 carriers, 2 dreadnoughts, 4 battleships, 20 assault carriers, 30 battlecruisers, 50 cruisers, 130 destroyers, and 300 frigates.

In addition to the officers and crew of those ships, there are 219,000 armored infantry, 2400 F-50 Archer fighters, 3840 F-32 Mako fighter/bombers, 7300 V-23a Peregrine dropships, and 200 B-28 Executor heavy bombers.

While this task force represents a significant projection of the Sol system’s power, it only represents 5% of her total fleet and far less of its total ground forces.