by Saxon Andrew
• • •
Commander Alexander had his scouts scattered across the front of the Fagan fleets at the edge of the spiral arm. The alien fleet had moved inside scanning range and it was larger than anything he had ever witnessed. He watched it move in at high-speed and was surprised that it wasn’t spreading out to attack the Fagan fleets. The Fagan must have expected the aliens to fan out as well and held their positions. The massive alien fleet continued at maximum speed and the Fagan discovered too late that it wasn’t spreading out. It slammed into their lines and the explosions filled Alexander’s scanning monitor. The Fagan fleets located away from the attack turned to rush in, but the alien fleet rushed through the gap in their lines and punched into the central stars in Fagan territory. They spread out and moved toward targets they were assigned.
A giant formation of alien ships and planet killers rushed toward the star where the Fagan’s government planet was located. Ten Fagan fleets went to maximum speed to cut the aliens off, but they were too far behind.
• • •
The High Leader heard the sirens wailing outside the building as a Fleet Manager pulled him by the arm, “YOU MUST LEAVE NOW, HIGH LEADER!” The High Leader was in shock and he allowed the officer to pull him into an elevator and move to the top of the government building, where a high-speed shuttle was waiting; he was rushed into it. He glanced at the sky and saw brilliant explosions taking place far out in the nighttime sky. The shuttle lifted and turned toward the sun. It flew away and activated it stardrive; a moment later, it was moving past the sun and the High Leader looked up at the wall monitor. A view of the planet he just left was on it and the monitor was constantly going white by the giant explosions taking place out from the planet. It would reset and then go white again. Seeing what was happening was impossible. The shuttle moved out of the star system where it moved into a giant fleet moving toward the government planet. A thousand warships moved out of formation and led the shuttle away from the battle.
• • •
The defenses around the government planet had been built up and the fortresses and advanced warships were more than a match for the giant alien formation moving toward them…but…they were heavily outnumbered. The Fortresses opened fire on the alien planet killers destroying everyone they hit. But the thousand fortresses were outnumbered three-to-one. The alien planet killers opened fire and in less than an hour, the fortresses were destroyed. The Fagan advanced warships tried to take out the planet killers but were vaporized by their giant beams. The surviving alien warships turned to meet the Fagan fleets rushing toward the planet and managed to delay them long enough for the surviving planet killers to move into orbit above the planet. Fifty planet killers opened fire and the surface of the planet exploded into flame. They raked the planet until the cities on the planet and ocean exploded in super-heated flames. They continued to fire until the Fagan fleets arrived and the fortresses moving in with them blasted the planet killers into rubble. The planet killers fell out of orbit and added to the destruction of the planet.
• • •
The Coated Super Rabbit recorded the destruction of the planet and remained in place. The Fagan could detect its gravity drive and aliens could detect its communications. It continued to record hours after the Fagan fleet left to support other planets being attacked.
• • •
The battle raged in Fagan territory for a week before the last alien warship and planet killer’s at the other planets being attacked were destroyed. The High Leader was taken to a major planet and was welcomed by the thankful leaders whose planet had not been attacked. The High Leader demanded a place to communicate and knew that the only reason this planet hadn’t been attacked was due to it being too far from where the aliens entered their space. He contacted his Senior Fleet Manager, “Report!”
“The last of the attackers have been destroyed, High Leader.” The High Leader glared at him in silence and the Fleet Manager continued, “Fifty planets were attacked with half of them being rendered uninhabitable; the others are heavily damaged. More than six-thousand fortresses have been damaged or destroyed. Fifteen-thousand warships were destroyed; most of them were lost when attacking the aliens’ giant vessels.”
“How were they able to know the location of our most important planets?”
The Fleet manager knew his life was over for this huge failure, but he did his duty, “It appears they used our communications to track their locations, High Leader. The highest number of communications came from the Government planet and the other fifty also had numerous communications. That is why the largest formation of attackers was sent to your planet, High Leader.”
The High Leader was furious, almost to the point of rage, as he shouted, “WHY DIDN’T YOU HAVE MORE FORTRESSES AT MY PLANET?!”
The Fleet Manager flinched and replied, “High Leader, I asked you about sending more to defend your planet four months ago and you told me I was being foolish. I also asked if we should send out our fleets to meet any attacking force and you ordered that we maintain our lines at the edge of the spiral arm.”
“WHY DIDN’T YOU CHALLENGE ME ON THIS?!”
“I did, High Leader and you told me if I wanted to keep my job to shut up and be silent.”
The High Leader’s rage evaporated instantly as he remembered the conversation. This Fleet Manager had followed his orders to the letter. Replacing him with someone that had his knowledge was not going to be easy. His replacement might not do as he was ordered either. “How has our production been affected by this attack?”
“We’ve been hurt, High Leader. However, we can replace the destroyed fortresses and warships in less than six months.”
“You will issue orders that any future attack will be met outside from our territory!”
The Senior Fleet Manager was surprised by the order; he didn’t expect to live long enough to issue any orders, “Yes, High Leader.”
“I want production increased a hundred percent.”
“That will put a strain on our economy.”
“I don’t care. The attackers must pay for doing this!” The High Leader fell back in his chair and felt his rage grow. They would pay for this!
Chapter Two
Admiral Mulvaney walked into the Prime Minister’s office and waited for a moment for the Prime Minister to complete a call. The call ended and Mulvaney said to the Prime Minister, “Sir, the Carriers have left the Coma Spiral Arm and are returning to Melbourne.”
“What’s going on, Admiral?”
“The Britannia Aliens have launched a massive fleet toward the Fagan spiral arm. War Admiral Connor says they’ve completed their mission and are heading back.”
“Was she given orders to do that?”
“No, she was not. However, I do understand why she’s leaving.” Abby leaned back in her chair and frowned. “Sir, the old model Super Rabbits are no longer a match for the advanced alien and Fagan warships. We’ve lost twenty thousand over the last year and the losses are starting to pile up. We need to see the outcome of the alien’s attack on the Fagan before we determine our next course of action.”
“Admiral, we must take part in the attack on the Fagan! The Rabbits should have been ordered to attack the alien fleet as well as the front Fagan lines before moving out.”
“Sir, that wasn’t possible to set up in time before the aliens arrived in Fagan space.”
“WHY NOT, ADMIRAL?!”
“Sir, the aliens can detect our communications. They’ve developed a means of tracking our communications and there is a real possibility they have broken our encryptions. They would have immediately learned that the Rabbits are not being directed by the Fagan. It would also give them a line on the carriers.”
Abby blew out a hard breath, “When did this happen?”
“Our scouts in alien territory were immediately attacked when they transmitted their data back to the carriers, Sir. There was no safe way to set up an attack without the aliens hearing the orders or
without them learning the Rabbits aren’t part of the Fagan Fleets. Admiral Connor did the right thing in getting the carriers out to avoid them being detected.”
“How are you going to handle this, Admiral?”
“The scientists must develop a new communication system and it’s going to take time to install it in all of our warships. For the moment, we are not in a position to launch any attacks on the aliens.”
Abby saw Rory enter her office and turned to Admiral Mulvaney, “Get moving on getting a new system developed, Admiral. Keep me informed of its progress.”
Admiral Mulvaney nodded, turned, and left the office. Abby turned to Rory, “I guess you’ve heard?”
Rory nodded, “We knew it was only a matter of time until either of our enemies discovered the frequency we were using. It just happened at a bad time.”
“Rory, if our Rabbits aren’t involved in the alien attack on the Fagan, both of them are going to question why they’re absent. That will lead to them asking questions that aren’t good.”
Rory sat down in a chair in front of Abby’s desk, “It couldn’t be helped, Abby. The carriers couldn’t land the Rabbits to provision them for a battle without using their communications. By the time the carriers moved far enough out to land them, the battle was taking place. The aliens were also moving so fast that getting enough Rabbits between them and the Fagan to go after both sides wasn’t possible, even if we could have used our communications. Sometimes things just don’t go our way.”
“I wish I had never accepted this job!”
“Abby, when the Prime Minister resigned, you were famous for all you had done fighting the aliens and Fagan. You received more than seventy-percent of the vote. Besides, you know we would have remained separated if you didn’t accept the position.”
“You’re just as famous as I am, Rory.”
“Yes, but you outranked me. That’s what made you the chosen one.”
“Grady should have been elected!”
Rory shrugged, “The Prime Minister recommended him, but the Parliament rejected him because he’s not a Melbourne citizen, and he refused to change his citizenship from Britannia.”
“He didn’t want the job!” Abby replied in an angry voice. “He could have done it!”
“He really didn’t have a choice, Abby. You know how he feels about Britannia; he’s never made that a secret. And you are the best one for the job.”
“I just hate this responsibility!!”
“You are still the one I’d want making the hard decisions.” Rory paused and said, “We need to call a meeting to decide what to do next.”
Abby sighed, “I’ll set it up for two days after the fleet arrives from the Coma Arm.” Rory nodded and went around the desk to hug Abby.
• • •
Noel Jansky watched the smelter and shook his head. The metal inside the mold didn’t solidify before the mold melted. What is the problem?! This didn’t make sense, it should have solidified before the mold around it was damaged. Something was going on. After two weeks, he contacted his mentor. Joshua Goldman listened to him for a while and then interrupted him, “Noel, the only explanation for the metal’s failure to solidify must be due to something contaminating it. Run an analysis and see if anything turns up.” Joshua hesitated and then suggested, “Do you have a sample of the metal you can send me?”
“I can send you plenty. Once the mold around it melts, the metal falls apart into large flakes. I’ll send one on the next flight out.”
“Thanks, Noel. Let me know if you discover anything.” Noel disappeared from Josh’s monitor and he sat back. Why would the metal used to make the hulls on New Britannia warships not solidify normally? This was odd. He’d check out the sample Noel was sending him.
• • •
Grady adjusted the umbrella over his beach chair and darkened his sunglasses; it was a beautiful day, but the usual clouds weren’t out. He closed his eyes and thought about all that had happened over the last few years. He smiled as he remembered Taffy screaming at him in the delivery room when their daughter was born, “THIS IS YOUR FAULT!! I’M DYING HERE AND YOU’RE STANDING THERE WITH A STUPID EXPRESSION ON YOUR FACE!”
Grady chuckled as he remembered taking her hand and asking, “What do you want me to do?”
“TELL THE DOCTOR I NEED PAIN MEDS, NOW!”
“Taffy, it was your decision to do this naturally.”
Taffy had almost stood up out of the stirrups, “I MAKE STUPID DECISIONS!”
Grady turned to the Doctor, “I think you should do what she wants, Doctor.”
The doctor shrugged and injected a liquid into her IV. A moment later, Taffy fell back and sighed. She closed her eyes and the Doctor shook her head, “I told her she didn’t have to endure this, but she insisted.” Grady nodded and forty minutes later, he was holding their new baby girl.
• • •
Taffy had decided to name her Candice Grace Henricks and nicknamed her Candy. Grady thought the name was perfect, now he had two sweets in his life; Taffy and Candy. Grady opened his eyes and saw Taffy holding Candy up by her arms as the waves rolled in over their feet. Candy was laughing and giggling uncontrollably as each wave went over her legs.
He leaned back and closed his eyes again; life had changed a lot since the mission to save America. The Prime Minister had ordered that new colonies would be established in the other arm of the galaxy and the process had begun immediately. Five planets were initially targeted, and the robots were sent out to build the infrastructure needed to house and support a new colony. A hundred-thousand robots were initially sent to each planet, but it was decided that double that number was needed. The speed of preparing the planets for the arrival of the colonists was beyond amazing. In a little over a year, volunteers were called for to move out to the new colonies. Grady smiled, Taffy was right. The refugees from America immediately asked to go and they were sent to four of the new colonies. The fifth colony was inhabited by the survivors from Britannia and they named their new world New Britannia. Grady and Taffy joined them in the exodus from Melbourne and made it clear to the Prime Minister that the cost of New Britannia’s development would be shouldered by their companies and that New Britannia would be independent and not under Melbourne’s rule. That caused a huge fight in Melbourne’s parliament until the Prime Minister pointed out that there was nothing they could do to prevent it. Grady assured Parliament that Britannia would always be an ally of Melbourne and defend it against all enemies. Eventually, the High Court decided that New Britannia had the right to leave and colonize a planet, most of the survivors had never renounced their citizenship from Britannia. It wasn’t long afterwards that the refugees from America began moving away from the colonies to New Britannia.
• • •
Parliament tried to force Grady’s hand to accept Melbourne citizenship by threatening that New Britannia would not be given any of the warships being built by Melbourne to defend it. Taffy laughed at the threat and proceeded to build another four-hundred-thousand robots to develop the colony. New Britannia’s development accelerated at an amazing pace.
Melbourne also didn’t like that many scientists and engineers also chose to immigrate to New Britannia. But in a free society, they could do nothing to prevent it. Spring Hill Foods had paid for the construction of a thousand of the new Stealth Garrions. Parliament was so ticked off by the survivors from Britannia and America leaving that they changed the name of their new warship to Garrions instead of Rabbits. The anger led to the Prime Minister being challenged by his political opponents and he resigned before a new election could be called; Abby was elected the new Prime Minister. New Britannia was now ready to start building its own fleet and Grady was excited by the prospect.
His communicator vibrated, and he saw Joshua on the small display, “Joshua, it’s good to hear from you!”
“Grady, an issue has come up.”
Grady sat up straight in his beach chair, “What’s wrong, Josh?”
“One of the metallurgists on New Britannia contacted me a few weeks back about an issue with building the hull material for your warships. The hull metal won’t solidify.” Grady stared at Joshua not knowing how to ask why that was an issue. Joshua continued, “The molds used to form it melts before the hull metal will solidify.”
“You need to explain what that means, Josh.”
“It takes an extremely hard metal to make the forms the hull metal is poured into, Grady. That metal melts before the hull metal can harden.” Grady stared at him and Joshua raised his hands, “I’ve had a sample of the hull material sent to me and after close examination, it appears a trace element in Britannia’s atmosphere is preventing the process from happening naturally.”
“What trace element?”
“Grady, when New Britannia was discovered the element was detected in the planet’s atmosphere, but it was determined that it was harmless. It doesn’t have any adverse effect on humans. But it does affect the hull metal.”
“Can’t we just build the ships in a sterile environment, Joshua?”
“That’s just it, Grady. All the metals on New Britannia have this element in them. I’ve attempted to remove it from the sample Dr. Jansky sent me, but we don’t have anything hot enough to remove it.”
Grady shook his head, “Joshua, we can’t afford to buy warships from Melbourne…”
“That is especially true since the Parliament on Melbourne has voted not to sell you anymore,” Joshua interrupted. Grady started shaking his head and Joshua exhaled before adding, “Grady, the hull metal being made on New Britannia is completely different from the metal you used on the Rex Rabbit.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“When I examined the metal Noel sent me, it broke apart in large flakes of metal, but it retained its heat resistance. I need to come to New Britannia to look at what’s going on.”
“But the construction facilities are supposed to come on line this week.”
“Shut it down, Grady. You can’t build warships without a hull.”