They sat around in a circle in one of the chambers lit by lanterns that night, with Jael, Samantha, and some of the other village council members in order to make plans for scaring Lotor and Haggar away from Merion for good. Jessamyn, who had evidently taken to Lance, refused to go even with her mother and lay curled up asleep in his lap.
"Lance and I can sneak into Lotor’s command cruiser and set off some bombs," began Pidge. "That ought to let Lotor and Haggar know that we mean business."
Keith shook his head after a moment’s thought. "There’s just a slight problem with that – an explosion might melt the ice surrounding the rock face near the ships and set off the fire rock anyway. That could bring the mountain on top of all these people," he said. "We have to take this battle to space, away from all this rock."
Jael nodded in agreement. "Keith is right. But before we chase them out, we also have to retrieve the rock that they’ve been able to mine so far, not only for Voltron’s safety but to ensure they are not able to analyze it in some laboratory and create it synthetically."
"So how do we lure Lotor out into space?" Allura asked with a troubled frown. She sat on the floor, right beside Keith. "Even if one of the Lions were to challenge him, he wouldn’t send all command ships to battle."
"He wouldn’t under ordinary circumstances," Pidge agreed, his eyes beginning to light up. "But if the prize were worth it…"
"Like a certain princess," Lance said with a chuckle. His shaking movements caused the baby to stir, and he hurriedly patted her bottom to settle her down again. "Dangle the Blue Lion in front of Lotor like a piece of bait… you know, that just might work."
"I can do that! I can fly above the ships while you guys -- " Allura began, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"You, Highness, are not going to pilot the Blue Lion tomorrow morning," Keith stated firmly before Allura could complete her thought. Allura gasped indignantly, but Keith’s face was set in stone. "It’s far too dangerous, and it would cost us too much if Lotor succeeds."
Allura looked up at Keith’s impassive expression, realized he was in his ‘Captain’ mode and groaned. "But, Keith, I…"
He shook his head to cut her off. "I’ve already decided, Princess. Someone else will fly the Blue Lion tomorrow, and that’s final," Keith said tersely. "During the battle, you’ll ride with me."
Allura glared at him, seething because the presence of other people in the cavern prevented her from arguing her point, but she also understood his point as well.
"Who’ll fly the Blue Lion then?" Lance asked looking from the Princess frustrated expression to their Captain’s determined one with wicked amusement. "We’ll be one Lion short if one of us flies the Blue Lion and there isn’t anybody else…"
"I can fly it," Sam said quietly from where she sat beside Jael.
All the people within the cavern turned to her in surprise. Lance glared at her. "Look, Sam, it’s going to be dangerous up there, and you haven’t even touched the controls of that baby," he said, glowering fiercely, Jessamyn on his lap the only thing that was preventing him from shouting at her. "Just to get above the rocks will take a lot of fancy flying."
"And that’s why I should be the one to fly – I’m the only one among you who can maneuver the rocks even in a white-out skillfully enough to get away from Lotor during a chase," Sam argued, giving Lance a challenging glance. "I watched Allura work the controls for five hours this morning, and aside from a few unfamiliar levers, the Lion is a lot like the ships we flew back at the Academy." At Lance’s derisive snort she straightened and gave him a cool glare. "I’m sure none of you had to be given lessons before you went behind the controls of your lions. And unless you’ve forgotten, I happened to graduate with honors in space craft maneuvers – with a higher standing in that class than you, Lance."
Lance fought down his own frustration and turned to Keith, continuing to frown fiercely, gesturing with his head towards Samantha. "You aren’t seriously considering…"
Keith nodded his head at Lance, and Lance groaned audibly, already knowing from the look in Keith’s eyes what he was planning to say.
"Actually, Sam, I was hoping you would say that," Keith said with a small smile, turning to Sam. "I saw you fly the Falcon, and you’re still one of the best pilots I’ve ever seen. You also have the advantage of knowing the terrain and enough flight experience to fly even a new aircraft well. I think it’s a sound idea."
"I’m glad you think so," Sam said, giving Lance another glare. "Even if some people don’t," she added under her breath. "I accept the task, Keith."
Allura drew a sharp breath upon hearing Keith’s decision, tears of indignation filling her eyes, but other than this, she kept her silence. She slowly stood up, walked to the other side of the circle where Samantha sat and handed her the key to the Blue Lion. Allura tried to hide her tears from Sam, but the other girl caught a glimpse of her eyes and started in surprise.
Sam’s hand reflexively closed over the key, but her other hand reached for Allura’s other hand. "If you feel that strongly about my flying the Blue Lion…" she began softly.
Allura quickly shook her head, blinking away her tears and pasting a bright smile on her face. "No, no – I know you’ll take care of Blue Lion," she said, shooing away Sam’s attempt to return her key. "Keith doesn’t give glowing recommendations just for anyone, and I’ve also seen you fly. It’s all right, really." But at the last word, Allura’s voice trembled, and she hastily made her way back to where she had been sitting beside Keith, anxious to draw away the attention from herself.
Samantha jumped into the awkward silence that erupted. "I suppose that the team sent to raid the command ships will be deployed as soon as possible," she said, placing the key into her pocket and addressing the entire group.
Keith nodded. "There are four command ships and six of us…" he began, then turned to Samantha with a warm, admiring grin. "I’m sure you still remember espionage techniques, after graduating with high honors in that subject."
Samantha grinned back, rubbing her hands together. "I’m a little bit out of shape, but I think I can handle it," she said, her eyes twinkling. "We can have four teams of two if Jael and his brother Airic come with us." Airic, another huge brawny man like Hunk with Jael’s red hair and gray eyes, nodded his agreement eagerly.
"Pidge, you pair up with Airic; Hunk with Jael," Keith began. Pidge and Hunk nodded. Keith looked around the fire and his gaze lingered on Lance’s still fiercely frowning face and then moved to Sam, who was idly fiddling with her cloak. "Lance, you pair up with Samantha, Princess, you’re with me. Any questions or complaints?"
Pidge looked at Sam and was just about to open his mouth to say something when a long, hard look from Lance made him think better of it. "No questions over here, Chief," he said instead.
"I assume that you have been observing the command ships since they got here. Jael, have they been posting sentries outside the ships?" Keith asked.
"Yes, Keith, all of them have two sentries guarding the ships during each shift."
"What time do they change shifts?"
Jael looked at an hourglass sitting upon the
cavern wall. The sands had just begun trickling to the other side. "The
glass has just been turned for the tenth time tonight. They change guards
during the fifth turn of the next morning, that begins after the fourteenth
turn."
Keith looked at the hourglass, then at his own
watch. "We have a few hours to rest, then. We move one hour before the
guards are scheduled to change."
Jael nodded. "Our meeting is adjourned for tonight
then," he said. "Let’s leave our guests to rest. If any of you would like
a tour of the settlement…"
A Second Chance -- Between Friends