Relias: Uprising by M.J Kreyzer

force to be feared.”
     “But they don’t fear you.”
     Alighieri gave Luke an annoyed expression, ignoring the previous statement. “But we need these three cities.” He went on. “Styne has all the equipment we could ever ask for and Praemon has all the natural resources we could ever want. There is nowhere else, Luke. Praemon is safe. We have the borders under motion sensors and we have entire battlecruiser armadas patrolling the skies around the city. We aren’t going anywhere here. Now we have to secure and fortify Styne as well as the supply route between here and there. And from these two cities we’re in the perfect place to launch an all out assault on Pyre.”
     Luke shook his head. “Don’t spread yourself too thin, Sam. Keep the cruisers here.” 
     “I know what I’m doing.”
     Luke got to his feet and cracked his neck. “Then let’s talk strategy. Tell me, why would you think the Legionnaire fear the Darks?”
     Alighieri shrugged. “Because they know now that we are more than capable of killing them.”
     Luke took a deep breath and replied. “The point that I’m trying to make here is that they aren’t afraid of you. Not in the least. Wanna know why?”
     Alighieri folded his arms and shrugged with an expression of frustration. “Why is that?”
     “The consequences.” Luke said. “The consequences of crossing the Darks isn’t great enough. Until they know how sick and twisted their fate might otherwise be, they will continue to hunt and kill Darks without mercy. Give me the Ditrinity, Sam. I’ll give them a reason to fear us.”
     “Luke!” Alighieri exclaimed. “What part are you missing! Dropping you in like that into the middle of tens of thousands of Legionnaire warriors would be suicide.”
     “Suicide?” Luke asked with surprise. “You’ve seen what we can do. You used to be one of us.”
     “Those days ended a long time ago.” Alighieri said with his tone becoming more aggressive. “I’m a commander now. A post which you assigned me to, I might add. And as a commander I have to decide what is best for us, not what falls in place with your wants and desires.”
     Luke didn’t respond. He just looked Alighieri in the eyes and walked away. Alighieri wasn’t done yet.
     “I made it a top priority to come and get you, Luke. I made sure that we had our best guys and one of our best pilots drop into what was one of the most dangerous portions of the city to pick you up. You have no idea how badly we need warriors right now. Especially ones with backgrounds like yours.”
     At the door, Luke thought. He turned. “Your men won’t follow me, Sam.”
     “Then I’ll put you into a position where you don’t have men. Where you fight alongside everybody else like a normal soldier. That way it wouldn’t even matter if-“
     “I’d break off by myself anyway, Sam. You know that. So what difference would it make if I just took the Ditrinity, the people who’ve been fighting at my side since before the formation of the Union, and go and make tearing apart soldiers our mission?”
     “You would be taking away some of our best soldiers.” Alighieri replied. “You’re not taking them. That’s how that works.”
     Luke gave a defiant grin. “Let’s see what they say when I ask them what they’d rather do.”
     Alighieri’s lip twitched and he went after Luke fuming. The door was open and Luke was about to step through when Alighieri slammed it shut.
     “This isn’t your war anymore! This isn’t some charade we’re trying to put on so we don’t go out like a gang of pussies we’re actually trying to win a war! Get over yourself! You’re not the only person here who’s had problems, Luke, and we’re all fighting just as hard and just as ragged as you to try and dethrone Lynch and destroy the Commune!”
     “No you aren’t!” Luke yelled back as he got into Alighieri’s face. “These people know nothing about fighting for the right