Xane's focus was impeccable as he launched the next missile at the rebels. He'd made purchase with his target. Dust and fire exploded into the air encircling the enemy pod that had come too close to his station.

A sense of satisfaction hummed in his chest, but it was too soon stamped out in the knowing that the enemy was one of his own. 

Aturian!

"Commander, that seems to be all of the rebel pods that we have on radar." One of Xane's men said through their com.

And wouldn't that be something if that were all of them— but he knew all too well that it wouldn't be that easy.

The rebels were cunning, and they wouldn't have played all of their cards in one round.

They'd be back.

He rubbed his forehead and allowed his tired eyes to close for a brief moment before his words broke the silence.  "We need to make a pass through the Royal compound and search for any other survivors."

Moments later his entire fleet found formation and headed in the direction of what had been a grand estate only hours before. 

Dark clouds smoldered into a grey sky.  Ugliness that embodied hate.  Hate for the humans by this rebel group. 

They had banded together nearly a decade ago now.  It all started when the first humans were brought to Aturi.  Many had expected their presence to be mere servitude, but our Queen had had a far different view.  She'd wanted them to be treated as equals, requesting that the unmated males in her regent take the females as mates. 

As the regent neared the wreckage, the absolute destruction was nearly impossible to grasp. 

Moments later, the males had exited their pods weapons on hand. 

The brightness of day made it easier to assess the situation. 

"High alert," Xane said leading the small group over the side of the rubble.  His eyes keened in on the sight before him. 

Amidst the rubble lay broken tableware and furniture that had been blasted into mere shards. 

There simply wasn't much left beyond bits of debris. 

He was pleased that the 2nd fleet and medics had gathered the injured and dead.   Because he knew there would have been plenty of both. 

Splatter of a deep crimson and an inky silver covered portions of the debris as if the rebels had entered on foot and taken care of those that had sought refuge within the walls.  If only we'd known sooner. 

It was clear that the original threat that we'd been called away on had been merely a decoy. 

This attack had been carried out seamlessly. 

Xane swore at how they had been played.  Perhaps had he not been so preoccupied, he might have prevented this. 

He couldn't think on that now though.

"Over here," a voice called out. 

Xane's head snapped in the direction. 

"Survivors." Another of the men called out. 

Xane took off in a near jog as he avoided the rubble and made his way to a piece of  wall that had collapsed, leaving a slanted entrance at its base.

Xane knelt before it.  There in the back, crouched, was a small girl.  Her blue eyes were rimmed in bright red, and her powdery grey hair was a mess of once tidy braids. 

She was one of the few children that had been born from the human-autrian matings. 

She was no more than four and she clung tightly to the limp form of a human female.  Wavy red hair covered her face, but on her upper arm we're unmistakable markings of the bonding with an Aturian  male.  At closer inspection, an Aturian regent officer. 

"Damn," Xane cursed and closed his eyes knowing that this was about to shatter one of his men. 

Xane didn't have to look too hard to know that the female was deceased. 

"Move the wall," Xane said lowly. 

He knelt down again reaching for the child.  "Come my dear, you are safe now.  We are friends of your father."

The little girl shook her head, but moved towards him. 

"My father was lost during the attack on the city." She said seemingly unaffected by the revelation. 

Xane picked up the small child and sat her atop his knee.  "And what's your name?"

"Kenna," she whispered. 

"Well, Kenna.  That is a very pretty name."

He stood with the child and walked to his pod, holding her close. 

"It's all clear, Commander." The voice on the other end assured him, and there was only one place he knew he needed to be in this moment.