I smiled, though the weight of the situation was hard to hide behind the gesture. "I really am not trying to exclude anyone. Believe me, I wish I could have all of you there. But let's face it—there's no telling if the First Born might wake up tomorrow and decide to wreak havoc again, forcing us to shift plans."
The Red Sun, never one to mince words, leaned forward, his eyes hard as molten embers. "Regardless," he began, his voice edged with stern practicality, "two Suns and a pseudo-Sun stage, plus you—that's not enough firepower to venture into a world where this thing's mother exists. It's reckless."
