The round wooden table was polished to a fine sheen, but the wood held depth and character. Jejliard sat waiting for the arrival of the committee from the Security Division. This table always brought back memories, some good, others painful. It warmed the private conference room in his office and was obviously much older than the surrounding steel and glass. It was in fact a table passed down in the Castonea family for generations known as the King's Table. It had served to bring together many factions over the years.

Jejliard was descended from a long line of warrior kings. His ancestors had ruled a large portion of the civilized world until their empire crumbled over time. It was a miracle the table had survived the last great battle. As fate would have it, he had taken the King's Table with him on his voyage to explore the Sora Seas. Their final battle against the Theopians had marked the fall of his family's rule. Jejliard was only twenty years old when he had returned from the Sora Islands to join the fight, only to find his beloved home city of Sera Luca already burned to the ground. He had joined the combat and rallied their allies in an attempt to defeat their common enemy, but it was too late.

Sensing the decline of his old way of life, Jejliard had already married an island chieftain's daughter and began a new legacy for his family name. When Sera Luca was destroyed, his first instinct was revenge, but he left the past behind for the sake of his young son, Tajlon. With a heavy heart, Jejliard cut all ties with the mainland and never looked back. Science promised a better future for his family and friends than endless war. He never imagined he would suffer the loss of his young bride to a devastating tsunami when Tajlon was only two.

Jejliard fought off depression, stayed strong for Tajlon, and worked hard to carve out a peaceful existence. Now he was thirty-five years old and had built a world-renowned scientific center including. NORC, the first for oceanic reasearch on Beldora, He couldn't have done it without the encouragement of Mara, Hal, Greyla and Captain De'Marc. Even Tajlon's pet leopard, Nova, and De'Marc's crafty bird, Koutou, had been there to encourage him every step of the way. Jejliard was amazed at the rapid progression of technological advancements. There appeared to be no limit.

"Your guests have arrived," Tajlon announced from the doorway. He ushered in a handful of serious men in dark uniforms, rather formal attire for the island.

"Welcome gentlemen." Jejliard said in greeting. "Please find a seat."

"Jejliard! A pleasure to see your again old friend," General Robert Colberton of Trabest extended a brawny hand.

"The pleasure is mutual, Robert. I must regret the circumstances this time," Jejliard said. He had fought with Colberton in the past war against the Theopians. He had also kept Novaland independent from the Trabest Alliance with Serra Luma, the two major powers on Beldora.

Novaland was an independent island nation ruled by tribal law. Mara was a shaman and medicine woman from a neighboring tribe who had married into the ruling family. She held a special status in the tribe and gave her council to the chief. The male lineage from Gistuwbe died in the same tsunami event which killed Jejliad's wife and father-in-law. As the deceased chief's son-in-law, Jejliard was the sitting chief until Tajlon reached the age of twenty-five. Tajlon would be eighteen soon and Jejliard never doubted his son would mature into a wise leader of his people.

"Yes. Well, this is a serious matter." Colberton went around the room with introductions but wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter.

"Now I must tell you we have very little to go on..." Colberton paused and cast a sideways glance at Tajlon who had brought in a tray of refreshments and was serving coffee.

"You remember my son, Tajlon?" jejliard asked.

"Tajlon? No. This can't be the same little fellow I met in Agartoon a few years ago."

Tajlon smiled. "Nice to see you again, General." He had grown a foot taller since last meeting the general, his body strong and lean.

"You may speak freely," Jejliard said encouraging Colberton to continue. "Tajlon is my partner in the Nuclear Propulsion Lab and co-manages the Aeronautics Test Program with Halston Medantos."

"And general flunky everywhere else," Tajlon said handing Colberton a steaming cup.

"Indeed. Where is Halston by the way?"

Jejliard gave Tajlon a cautionary glance. "He regrets he couldn't make it on such short notice, but he'll be at the conference later."

"Too bad. Where was I?" Colberton continued. "Ah yes, our sources have discovered covert nuclear developments in a remote area outside the jurisdiction of our regulatory body in Theopia.."

"The letter I received implied the technical plans were stolen or leaked from within our facility?" Jejliard asked. "Is it not possible they launched their own research after hearing about Novaland's?"

"I know your security is tight and would tend to agree except for one thing," Colberton took a sip from his cup and nodded in approval. "I've forgotten how much he enjoyed the coffee grown in this area. I must tell you our reconnaissance has discovered detailed plans dating back well over ten years."

"What? That's when we were only in the early investigative stage. A few formulas on paper," Jejliard said, clearly taken aback by the news.

"Yes," Colberton confirmed and continued. "We made no public statements at the assembly until last year. Certain ideas were being tossed around, but nothing to motivate the magnitude of investment needed to launch such a project."

"Forgive me, but I don't see it as a security problem, General," Tajlon said. "Nuclear power is the future. We'll eventually want everyone on board with it."

Colberton favored Tajlon with a kindly glance "Oh to be young and idealistic again. Yes, Tajlon. We would and we do. There are those who would want to profit from it of course, hold exclusive rights and that sort of thing. But this operation is more than the domestic application of nuclear technology."

"They're weaponizing it aren't they?" Jejliard stated the obvious.

"Yes. And in that respect, they are far enough advanced we may not be able to catch up in time," Colberton looked at Tajlon again and sighed. "I fear your generation will see a war to end all wars my boy. The question is not if, but how soon."

"A nuclear war?" Tajlon digested the information. His processor chip quickly ran the numbers and scenarios. "That would be insane and not much left for the victors."

"I wish we could convince the Theopians of your assessment." Colberton replied. " I must say I am impressed by how quickly you grasped the situation."

"We could provide them with the data analysis. It would be obvious what a mistake they're making. It would destroy the planet." Tajlon offered.

"Some people would rather have all that's left of a very small piece of pie than their fair share of the whole," Colberton said.

"Or destroy what they can never have for the satisfaction of taking it from another," Jejliard said. He remembered the charred remains of Sera Luca. Senseless, but effective.

"We might not be able to catch up with them right away, but why do they have to know the truth?" Tajlon countered. "Let them think we've been on the same track and building weapons in secret. Let it slip that Novaland is really a front for a military offensive. It's a bluff of course, but it might buy us the time we need to actually produce a counter weapons program."

"I like the way you think, boy. I couldn't have come up with a better plan," Colberton said and chuckled. "I'm glad he's on our side, Jejliard."

"So am I, " Jejliard replied. "I can't say I'm happy my son would direct his abilities so expeditiously toward military gain." He looked at Tajlon with a raised brow.

"I disagree. You should be very proud," Colberton smiled at Tajlon. "It's in his blood, man. He's doing what he was born to do. I never knew a Castonea to back down from a fight."

"My hope is to avoid this one, General," Tajlon replied.

"Mine too, Tajlon," Colberton said with genuine concern in his voice. "We so rarely have a choice."