Darling glanced at Nyk, then Hauk and Fain. “As much as I hate to admit it, Madai’s right. We need to plan a strategic response to cripple them and make sure they don’t hit us again without a strong sphincter clench.”

Bastien stepped forward. “You’ll need a war commander between your allied nations and the four main branches of the Tavali. Someone who can organize the logistics and make command-level decisions without running everything past your emperors, and waiting for their responses.”

Nykyrian nodded. “Someone who was Gyron Force would make a damn good one.”

Bastien shook his head. “I wasn’t a commander, Commander. And I have something to take care of, first. Besides, I don’t play well with others.”

Caillen laughed. “I think that statement applies to everyone in this room.”

Jayne snorted before she spoke. “You know who would be the best choice for this… Galene Batur.”

“Who’s he?” Madai asked.

“She,” Jayne stressed the pronoun, “is the current prime commander of the Andarion armada.”

Nykyrian considered it. “She’s damn good. A little abrasive —”

Fain burst into laughter. “And hell is a just a hot tub. Have you actually met her?”

“Ignore him,” Hauk said to Nykyrian. “He’s still seething over the little prank she played on him in school.”

“It wasn’t a little prank and she’s a nasty piece of work. Besides, the Phrixians won’t follow a female war commander, and with the exception of Darling, the Caronese won’t like it either.”

“Her record is flawless,” Jayne reminded him. “She’s fierce and doesn’t play games with anyone. She rose through the ranks the old fashioned way… she earned them.”

“You’re not seriously considering this?” Fain asked Nykyrian.

Nyk shrugged. “The Qillaq will have a hard time following a male into battle. And we can set her up with a male liaison who can relay her orders to the nations that don’t want to follow a female.”

Madai narrowed his gaze. “And who are you proposing for that?”

Hauk laughed evilly. “I vote Fain. He’s Tavali and has formal military training. Pretty much everyone loves him… Except Galene.”

Fain glared at him.

Hauk grinned at his seething brother. Galene was hell on earth, but he’d always liked her. She’d been extremely kind to him in school.

“I second it,” Darling said with a laugh.

Jayne nodded. “Thirded.”

Nyk inclined his head to them. “Then I’ll talk to her about it.”

“I hate all of you,” Fain snarled. “Bastards.”

A knock sounded on the door.

“Open,” Hauk said.

It slid up to show Syn in the hallway. “Hate to interrupt, but I need to talk to Hauk for a minute, in private.”

He left the others to join Syn outside. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to run something past you before I pitched it to your better half.”

Hauk frowned. “Yeah?”