[Participant in the Royal Road Writathon Challenge] Sylaron, the young Hokkonian captain, must learn what it takes to be a leader when a parasitic alien invasion threatens to destabilize the Hokku Sovereignty, the kingdom built on his home world. Sylaron will be left with a choice. To honor his pledge of service to his beloved Sovereignty or to listen to the desperate pleas for mercy from the innocent.  Will Sylaron make the right choice?