The Wages of War

by Saxon Andrew

  Grady’s eyes narrowed and Taffy placed a hand on his arm. He looked at her and muted the communicator. “Grady, there’s something in Andromeda that has them petrified with fear. That’s the only reason they would even discuss this. You need to listen with an open mind.”

  Grady glared at her for a moment before turning back to the monitor and un-muting the communicator, “We are extremely reluctant to allow an aggressive civilization to move into our galaxy. We’ve seen that you’ve conquered all the civilizations in this galaxy, and you represent a clear danger if we allow you into our galaxy.”

  The alien shrugged, “I do admit that in the past we were quite the conquerors. We primarily went out to stop all the constant fighting and dangers that civilizations represented to us and each other. However, the need for conquest has been removed over time and we no longer wish to conquer anyone.”

  “How can you say that; you were going to come to our galaxy and attack two civilizations close to the central black hole?”

  The old alien smiled, “Have you taken a good look at those civilizations?”

  Grady tried to keep a stern expression but didn’t pull it off, “They are somewhat crazy.”

  “We would be doing you a favor to remove them.”

  “That doesn’t prove you are now a peaceful civilization.”

  The alien shrugged, “The toll of maintaining the peace in this galaxy is overbearing and most of us wish we had never conquered any of the civilizations here and had just left them alone to attack each other. Having to constantly settle their squabbles and disputes gets incredibly tiresome. Conquest isn’t nearly all it’s cracked up to be. Trust me that we have no desire to go out and conquer anyone. In the future, we’ll only use our forces to defend ourselves against attack.”

  Grady stared at the old alien and shook his head, “I’m just not certain about this.”

  “Don’t you have the authority to make the decision? You certainly can decide whether we live or die; don’t you have the authority to decide if we live?” the alien asked.

  Grady wished RJ was present and he knew any decision he made might be challenged by the Colonies. But they were out in the outer edge of the Milky Way and Britannia was close to the core. He heard Taffy say, “If you come to our galaxy, we won’t allow you to bring your warships.”

  “But those two civilizations will attack us if we send in colony ships without a defense.”

  “We’ll handle those two civilizations and they won’t pose a threat to the planets you colonize. How many planets do you need?”

  “Will you defend my citizens if they’re endangered by other civilizations?”

  Grady saw Taffy turn to him and he said, “We will.”

  “We chose to colonize planets close to the core of your galaxy because there are thousands of planets that are habitable. It appears a civilization once lived on them but is now extinct. We need a little more than two-thousand planets to settle. If leaving our warships behind is required, we will do so.”

  “What in Andromeda has you so frightened?”

  The old alien’s eyes widened, “You don’t know about the Farmers?”

  Grady glanced at Taffy and she shrugged. “No, I don’t believe I do.”

  “They control huge areas of Andromeda and we believe they will be coming here. We are not willing to give up our freedom and there’s no way to stop them if they come.” Grady stared at the alien and worried about Cami and Robert. He struggled with the decision and the alien said, “It will be good not to have to worry about the safety of my species.”

  Grady decided, “I’ll agree for you to move your populations to the planets close to the core of my galaxy. You will leave your military forces here to maintain the peace here in your galaxy. If I allowed you to leave, a galactic war would break out among the planets you’ve conquered; I will not be responsible for that. If that civilization from Andromeda shows up, then you will be allowed to move your warships to the planets you’ve settled in my galaxy.”

  “It really doesn’t matter if you allowed us to move them now; you could destroy them anyway.”

  “I know. But I will not stand by and have trillions in this galaxy die in the aftermath of your exodus. The real issue is whether or not you will be a good neighbor if I allow you to move. I think I understand your position now and I’ll allow it.”

  “My warships are no match for yours but if you need our assistance in defending you, we will gladly do it.”

  The corner of Grady’s mouth went up, “When do you plan to start moving?”

  “It will take us six months to start moving our colony vessels.”

  Grady nodded, “I’ll have some of my ships escort your colony ships and make sure they aren’t harmed.”

  “Thank you. We’ll be a very good neighbor.”

  • • •

  Grady ended the contact and pulled up Justin on his monitor, “I want you to leave a hundred warships behind to start the process of them moving to the Milky Way. We will send ships out to relieve them every three weeks.”

  “Yes Sir.”

  “The rest of your fleet will head back to Britannia.”

  “I thought we would go and resolve the issue with the Grang.”

  “I’m not going to do that until I hear from our scout in Andromeda. Then we’ll deal with those two civilizations.”

  “Yes Sir.” Justin turned to Kelli, “Admiral Kim, issue launch orders to the fleet.”

  Kelli smiled. She had been promoted by fleet during the scouting mission in Triangulum and had been permanently assigned as Justin’s Second-in-Command, “Yes Sir. It will be good to get home.”

  Justin shrugged, “My home is on this ship.”

  “Perhaps you’ll come and visit my home when we get back. A home cooked meal is waiting for you if you do.”

  Justin looked at Kellie staring intently at him and he smiled, “I think I’d like that.”

  Kelli’s smile reappeared and she began issuing orders for the fleet to return to Britannia.

  • • •

  Grady turned to Taffy and smiled, “Thank you for getting me to listen to them. I was determined not to allow them to migrate to the Milky Way.”

  Taffy nodded, “The fact they were willing to negotiate said more than anything else about them. This threat in Andromeda is real; they’ve seen it.”

  Grady nodded, “They fear it more than us.”

  “I pray Cami is ok.”

  “We have to hope for the best. Captain Pitrazzi has left for Andromeda with orders to return with an update as quickly as possible.”

  “Are you going to tell the Colonies about the migration?”

  “This decision is ours to make. The Prime Minister has stopped all communications and we’re pretty much operating solo from now on. They appear to have developed a stealth scanner and more powerful blasters, so they believe they no longer require our assistance against an enemy.”

  “But if Linda’s opinion that they can’t detect our ships using dark matter is accurate, that removed the advantage of their stealth scanner.”

  “But we still can’t detect their ships, Taffy.”

  “Perhaps Cami and Robert might have an answer for that problem.”

  Grady shrugged, “I wish they would get back.”

  “So do I, my love.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Heartbreaker finally arrived at the outer edge of the globe and Robert turned the ship and began flying at high speed around the outer edge. The next three days were spent searching for an inhabited planet just outside the globe that would move inside it as the globe continued to expand. On the fourth day, Cami was piloting the ship and suddenly heard a distant roar of thoughts ahead of her. She increased speed and moved into a star system where the globe had moved well inside the outer planets. An inhabited planet was just outside the advancing globe and she sent a thought to Robert, “Get up here! I’ve found a planet!”

  Robert rushed on the bridge buttoning his sh
irt and took the pilot’s chair as Cami went to the weapons console. Robert brought the ship to a stop a thousand miles from the planet and Cami turned to him, “If we remain here, that globe will move past us as it moves by the planet. Should we back away and stay outside it?”

  “No. We must see if anything happens here. We know we weren’t detected by the Giant Warship at the last planet and we need to take the risk.”

  “And what happens if the Farmers do detect our ship?”

  Robert shrugged, “If one of their ships comes this way, we’ll see if it’s headed for the planet or us. If it’s on a course for our ship, we’ll run; I think we’ve determined our ship is faster. We’ll shutdown all scanners and only use the optical scanner to watch what’s happening. What can you tell me about that planet?”

  “Not much.”

  “Why not?”

  “There appears to be some kind of energy field around it that is blocking the view of the planet’s surface.”

  “Can you hear anything?”

  “No. I’ve tried to focus on an individual on the planet and I’ve come up empty. I can hear the telepathic roar but that’s all.”

  Robert’s eyes narrowed and he focused on the planet but came up empty, “That’s odd.”

  “I know,” Cami replied. “Perhaps that field blocks us from getting through.” Robert nodded and wondered what was going on. The globe continued to expand and soon passed them and the planet. Cami took a breath and blew it out, “If anything is going to happen, now would be the time.”

  The Computer announced, “I have a rapidly approaching object on the optical scanner.”

  Robert and Cami looked up at the optical monitor and immediately recognized the small object as a rapidly approaching Farmer warship. Robert looked up, “Computer, record any conversation that takes place.”

  “It may take a few moments for the universal translator to get enough information to start operating.” Robert nodded and watched the giant warship growing larger on the monitor.

  “It’s on a direct course to the planet. It appears it doesn’t detect us.” Cami turned to Robert, “Be ready to run if it starts moving toward us.” Robert nodded and turned the ship away from the incoming behemoth. He put his hand on the thruster controls and kept it there.

  • • •

  The giant warship came to a stop above the planet; Cami and Robert flinched as a powerful thought came from the planet’s surface. Cami instantly grabbed her combat helmet and put it on. She went to Robert’s chair and put his helmet on so he could keep his hands on the thruster controls. “We need to make sure our thoughts are blocked.” Robert nodded.

  • • •

  “Since I’m reasonably certain you don’t know our language, if it meets your approval, we can communicate telepathically,” the thought from the planet stated.

  There was a moment of silence and the giant ship responded, “That would be satisfactory.”

  “What is your purpose in coming here?”

  “Your planet is now inside our territory and we’ve come to welcome you into our domain.”

  “Thank you for the welcome. You are now free to leave.”

  The giant ship was silent for a moment and then said, “There are some requirements that you must follow having entered our domain.”

  “Actually, we didn’t enter your domain; you entered ours. However, we have no requirements that you’ll need to follow.”

  Cami and Robert both saw the Consciousness on the giant warship was surprised by the comment. “Uhm…following our requirements is not optional. Every inhabited planet in our domain is required to follow our rules.”

  “And if we did have rules for anyone entering our domain to follow, would you do it?”

  After a long pause, “Probably not.”

  “So you’ve come here not to welcome us but to force us to do your bidding. Is one of your requirements forcing us to grow the plants for you?”

  “No. Only civilizations that enter our domain with warships are required to do that. You’ve existed outside our domain and have never violated our space. You will not be required to grow crops for us.”

  “Then what do you require?”

  “You will not be allowed to have warships.”

  “But we use our warships to defend our planet.”

  “You will no longer need to do that. We will defend your planet against all aggressors.”

  “And what do you expect us to do with our warships?”

  “Either move them outside our domain or destroy them.”

  “This is the only planet my species lives on and we have nowhere to send our warships.”

  “Then the prudent thing to do would be to destroy them.”

  “So, you’ve come here to order us to destroy our warships and leave our planet’s defense to you?”

  “That is correct.”

  “And what happens if you aren’t capable of doing that?”

  “I assure you that no planet inside our domain has ever been successfully attacked; you will be safe.”

  “By your statement, you indicate that some of the planets inside your domain have been attacked in the past.”

  “Not for more than ten-thousand years.”

  “Let’s consider what you are telling us to do. What happens if a more advanced civilization than yours attacks and destroys your warships? Who will defend us if that happens?”

  “The probability of that happening is so low as to be meaningless.”

  “But it could happen?”

  “The odds against it are enormous.”

  “But it could happen?”

  The Consciousness hesitated and then replied, “Nothing in a universe this large is impossible, so I can’t say it absolutely can’t happen. However, we are comfortable saying it won’t. We’re giving you a gift in defending you against all attacks. You should accept it and be thankful. The chances of another civilization capable of threatening us are non-existent.”

  “That’s not true; we know of two civilizations that could destroy you down to your last warship.” The speaker paused and added, “Tell you what. We’ll offer you a gift.”

  The Consciousness was stunned by the statement and could only reply, “What is that?”

  “If your civilization is ever attacked, we will come to your defense.”

  “This gift you’re offering has no value.”

  “It does if our warships are more powerful than yours.” The Consciousness was silent and the speaker on the planet added, “We are safer defending ourselves than depending on you to do it.”

  “Are you suggesting your warships are superior to ours?”

  “I am.”

  “Then you represent a clear danger to our domain if that is true.”

  The speaker laughed, “Now you’ve stopped thinking rationally and are giving in to your fear.”

  “If it’s true you are a danger…”

  “Have we ever violated your domain?” The speaker interrupted forcefully. The Consciousness was silent, and the speaker continued, “My species has lived on this planet longer than your species has been intelligent. We’ve watched you over the millennia and saw when the first Queen Mother was born with a genetic mutation that linked all of you into one consciousness. We observed you start using tools and eventually develop space flight and a stardrive. We’ve watched you start taking control of all the planets around you and at no time did we do anything to threaten you. We could have eliminated you when that Queen Mother was hatched but we didn’t. In all your long history, we have respected your territory and represented no threat to your civilization. We knew that one day you would be coming to force us to follow your dictates, but we still didn’t take any action against you.”

  “How long have you been watching us?”

  “We were here more than three million years before you became conscious.” The speaker paused and then continued, “We are very much alike in many ways. We do not believe in needless killing and only use our warsh
ips to defend ourselves. We are no threat to you.”

  There was a very long period of silence as both parties in the conversation waited. After thirty minutes, the Consciousness said, “You mentioned there are two civilizations capable of destroying us?”

  “We won’t allow that to happen.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you have brought peace to the part of our galaxy you control; we respect that.”

  There was another long moment of silence and then the Consciousness stated, “All of this is meaningless if your warships aren’t superior to ours.”

  “Will you just accept our word on it?”

  “No, we can’t do that.”

  “I see that you’re bringing nine more warships here.”

  “Yes. You can see that from this distance?”

  “I can.”

  “You’re going to have to demonstrate the power of your ships before we consider your offer.”

  “Ok,” The speaker replied. “I’m sending one of my warships from the planet’s surface and it will move where it can be safely attacked.”

  “What do you mean by ‘safely’?”

  “We don’t want any stray blasters to accidentally hit the planet. I’m sure you feel the same about that.”

  • • •

  Robert looked up, “Computer, are you recording this?”

  “I am.” Robert turned back to the optical monitor.

  • • •

  A bronze-colored warship lifted from the planet and moved away from the giant warship. It moved beyond the giant ship’s position and stopped. The ship was miniscule compared to the giant Farmer warship, but it was slightly larger than the ships of the first advanced civilization they scouted. Robert blew out a breath, “This should prove interesting.”

  • • •

  Nine giant Farmer warships roared in and moved into formation around the first ship. The Consciousness said, “You understand that this demonstration does not constitute an attack on your civilization. It’s being done as a demonstration.”

  “We do.”