abstract
| - When the Council met about the impending Machine attack on Zion, Commander Lock urged the Council to be aware that it was the most serious threat faced by Zion to that date. Councillor Dillard was the first to reply, saying that the Council was aware of the seriousness of the attack, and gave him the Council's leave to prepare a defence using any and all means necessary, but asked if there had been any word from the Nebuchadnezzar (which was on a mission to contact the Oracle). Lock replied that there had been no word, and Councillor West asked that a ship be dispatched to discover Neo's fate. Lock, reluctant to lose a ship that could be used in Zion's defense, said that it could take days for a ship to find the Nebuchadnezzar; Councillor Dillard simply replied "then send two". Frustrated, he wanted to know how they could ask him to order two of his captains to do this, which Councillor Dillard interrupted by saying that there was no need to order the captains, as they were already present. She then called for two volunteers to aid the Nebuchadnezzar. Captain Soren of the Vigilant answered the call, and she asked him directly if he understood the situation, to which he replied he did, so, thanking him, she asked if there was another. After a long pause (during which time Bane tried unsuccessfully to convince captain Ballard to volunteer), she asked "is there no other?", and Commander Lock replied "it would be hard for any man to risk his life, especially if he does not understand the reason"; upon which captain Niobe, the Commander's partner, answered the call, and was thanked by Councillor Dillard and adjourned the Council, telling Lock that he had his orders.
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