Chapter 87: A Careless Wish?

In the vast expanse of space, a celestial art piece painted with the radiant hues of distant stars, the Royal Force, the only force consisting solely of children, convened in orbit above an unknown planet. In response to crucial intelligence, Basil orchestrated the gathering to focus on the concentration of rebel forces on the planet below.

The Royal Force, directly under Lord Turles himself, had received information that the rebel forces were harboring a significant presence on this unsuspecting planet that was an agricultural planet made for cultivating senzu beans. This revelation held the promise of a decisive blow against the rebellion, an opportunity to cripple their structure and, in doing so, elevate the stature of the Royal Force within the Planet Trade Organization.

Basil wasn't sure everyone understood how important it was that their ambush succeeded. Taking a look around at all their faces, he believed only three people really did. Cargo, Sia, and Sei. Bon looked more interested in the fact that they were about to take over a planet like back when they were younger. Kress and Stella were seemingly no different, arguing over who would beat up more rebels. Sei kept silent, but Basil could tell from the infrequent twitch of his fingers that he was also excited to go wild. 

The success of their mission could deal a severe blow to the rebel forces, potentially shattering their morale and diminishing their capacity to challenge the empire's dominion. Moreover, the achievement would echo across the four galaxies, marking the Royal Force as a force worthy of being called on to exterminate rebel scum. Basil cleared his throat, ceasing the chatter and side conversations of the others as they focused on him.

"We won't be converging on a single planet," Basil clarified, dispelling any misconceptions his siblings and companions might have harbored. "Numerous requests have flooded in, reporting a staggering number of rebels scattered across the four galaxies in recent days. Given their substantial presence, even I must personally engage in quelling these uprisings."

"Why the heck are people rebelling in the first place?" Kress asked, excitedly waving his tail from side to side, no doubt thinking about how much fun it was going to be beating up these rebels.

"Not everyone wants to enjoy the benefits of being allied with us or taken care of by the PTO. Some people want to be left alone without interacting with others." Basil shared.

Kress, ever curious, pressed further, "Why can't we just leave them alone?"

"We do for those that are incapable of space travel. However, those with space-traveling capabilities are determined to cause trouble for us by interfering in matters that shouldn't involve them." Basil explained.

Stella joined in with her own inquiries, her mischievous smile reflecting a lack of genuine curiosity. "What are they doing?"

Basil, the ever-patient one, knew that his youngest sister intentionally tried to annoy him by asking these questions, yet he still answered them. Kress was genuinely curious and still didn't know much about how their empire functioned. He was the most spoiled out of those from the direct lineage. "They challenge the Planet Trade Organization's claim to the universe, attempt to bypass or ignore laws set by the Law Force for all beings, and collaborate with others like them, forming military forces that threaten our rule."

"A bunch of criminals that need a good beating." Bon simplified it for herself or the rest. Basil wasn't exactly sure…

"For now, that's a good enough simplification." Basil's father taught him better to know that people didn't rebel for no reason.

However, he couldn't split himself across the universe to talk and utilize diplomacy with these rebels. There were simply too many of them popping up for some reason. Basil has even received multiple reports of the dead returning to life. He wasn't sure how true this information was, but if it was, he needed to interrogate and find out how these rebels were returning to life. It was impossible that they learned Instant Transmission, but the universe was a big place. There could be hundreds of other ways of returning from the dead. Basil's main goal was to find out how these rebels were coming back to life if that information was true and put an end to it. 

Clicking on his scouter, Basil transmitted information to the Royal Force. "Use the data I've sent to quell the planets known to be taken over by rebels. Attack Balls are waiting for you in the docking bay," he directed, rising from his seat.

Bon, eager for action, sought clarification, "And we can handle these rebels any way we see fit, right?"

"In this state of emergency, you may kill or arrest any rebels. I'd prefer you arrest as many as possible, but I won't expect the unreasonable. The crucial thing is not to harm our own people, and if possible, refrain from destroying PTO-owned planets," Basil instructed, knowing the importance of clear guidance for his siblings.

"I'm going to arrest the most rebels!" Kress raced out of the meeting room.

"In your dreams, shorty!" Stella leaped over his head while giggling.

"I'll do my best, Prince Basil!" Cargo bowed as he did a mix of speed walking to seem both professional and not eager to race alongside the two youngest, unable to achieve it.

"I believe in you, Cargo." Basil gave a faint smile. The Namekians weren't as bloodthirsty as Saiyans.

The twins nodded at him, and he nodded back as they left. The meeting room was empty except for him and Bon. "How is Daddy doing?" Bon asked with some concern in her voice. "He's still in the same state," Basil responded. "Is he okay…?" Bon hated looking weak in front of anyone, but Basil was one of the very few exceptions. "Father is doing fine. When he comes back, he'll be better than ever." Basil smiled and reassured his sister with a pat on her shoulder.

Bon couldn't help but turn her head and smile despite being slightly bothered and relieved that her dorky brother was trying to cheer her up. "I'm leaving!" She began walking away. "Good luck," Basil said to her departing figure. "I'm not weak enough to need to rely on something like luck." She confidently declared.

As Bon left, Basil found himself alone with his thoughts, the echo of her departing footsteps fading in the quiet corridors. The weight of his responsibilities bore down on him like an anchor. The uncertainty surrounding the rebels' motives and the perplexing resurgence of the dead added intricate layers of complexity to an already challenging situation, especially since his father was 'busy' at the moment.

Heading to the control room, Basil's mind churned with the gravity of the situation. The reports of rebellion had surged across the four galaxies, creating a turbulent undercurrent that threatened the stability of the Planet Trade Organization. The Royal Force stood as a specialized force against this tide of insurrection. However, the reality was stark—they lacked the sheer numbers to swiftly quell the uprisings. They could only target the most critical of situations.

Basil activated a holographic display in the control room that bathed the room in ethereal light. The planets marked for intervention flickered on the screen, each one with a different sign indicating how much of an emergency it was. The colors ranged from green to yellow to red to black. Green represents an uncertain presence of rebels, yellow is a clear presence of rebels, red is for when the rebels are actively attacking military forces, and black is for the loss of that planet to the rebels. With meticulous attention, he delved into the intricate details of each rebellion, strategizing the best approach to suppress the unrest. The holographic images danced before him, a manifestation of his calculated thoughts. But amidst the strategic musings, a flicker of concern for his siblings emerged. Bon, Kress, and Stella—each possessed formidable strength, but their impulsiveness and tendency to disregard consequences gnawed at Basil's composure.

The Royal Force couldn't afford mistakes, not in this critical state of emergency. Basil's gaze lingered on the holographic display. The fate of their group rested on his shoulders, and the success of their mission would determine not only the immediate outcome but also the perception of the Royal Force within the empire.

However, Basil had no choice but to rely on them despite his reservations. The urgency of the situation demanded swift action, and the Royal Force was the strongest available force for intervention. If they succeeded, Basil contemplated releasing carefully edited footage of their victories to boost the empire's morale. He would have to navigate a delicate balance if they faltered, ensuring that the citizens remained oblivious to any setbacks. His father taught him that PR was everything. Manipulating it wisely was one of his most important qualities as a ruler.

With a determined resolve, Basil made his way to his Attack Ball. The Transportation Force's reach had not yet extended uniformly across the four galaxies, and Basil knew he had to rely on the conventional means of travel for now. As he embarked on the journey to the most densely populated planet harboring rebels, Basil braced himself for the challenges that lay ahead, aware that the decisions made in the coming days would shape the destiny of the Planet Trade Organization and the Royal Force. He sent coordinates for the most heavily contested planets to the others, leaving the weakest planets for the Defense Force to deal with.