"No." Aun'Va shook his head. "If I fled, what would those left in the city think?"
"So I must stay. I must remain with my people and fight to the very last moment."
Shadowsun fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
"I understand. Then who should lead the evacuation fleet?"
"You," Aun'Va said without hesitation. "You are the T'au Empire's finest commander. If anyone can lead the survivors and keep them alive in this hostile galaxy, it is you."
Shadowsun froze.
"But... I am a warrior of the Fire Caste. My duty is to fight, not flee."
"This is not flight. It is a strategic withdrawal." Aun'Va walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes, living takes more courage than dying."
"I need you to survive, not for yourself, but for those who follow you, and for the future of the T'au."
Shadowsun's eyes grew moist.
She wanted to argue, to refuse, but she knew Aun'Va was right.
"When do we evacuate?" she finally asked.
"When the fighting is at its fiercest," Aun'Va said. "When the humans launch their full assault on this city, their attention will be drawn to the ground battle. That is when you will lead the fleet out of the underground docks and break through the orbital blockade amid the chaos."
"I will have every Ethereal release their pheromones at full strength, creating as much confusion as possible to buy you time."
Shadowsun took a deep breath, then bowed deeply to Aun'Va.
"I will fulfill my mission, Supreme Ethereal. The T'au will not perish. The flame of the Greater Good will burn on."
"I believe in you," Aun'Va said.
Just then, an alarm suddenly sounded.
"**Alert! The human fleet has been detected adjusting its orbit! Large numbers of warships are targeting