by Saxon Andrew
Chris activated his wrist unit and it immediately began alarming. He scrolled through the messages until he saw Lukas’s code numerous times; he pressed the button. Lukas appeared and before he could speak Chris said, “I’m going to see Michael. I’ll come to Fleet Operations in two days, if you’re ok with waiting until then?”
Lukas saw Chris’s expression and leaned back in his chair, “I’ll see you at ten in the morning.” Chris nodded and ended the call.
Lukas immediately called Salud and told her Chris was on his way to pick up Michael.
“Is he alright?”
“I don’t think he’s ready to discuss what happened so don’t pressure him.” Salud nodded and Lukas contacted Eve, “Chris is ok.”
“WHERE IS HE?!”
“Eve, he’s going to see Michael and he’s meeting with me in two days. Give him some space.”
“What happened to him?”
“I don’t know but I am not going to risk pushing him over an edge. Do not try to see him until after we talk.”
Eve’s expression showed her reluctance but then she nodded. Lukas contacted Jinks, “He’s coming in the day after tomorrow.”
“How did he sound?”
“Different.”
Jinks shook his head, “Let me know what happens.”
“I will.” Lukas leaned back in his chair and read the Fleet Reports on the attack. More than fifty thousand planets had been destroyed and nine thousand more heavily damaged. Lukas shook his head and blew out a breath. The cold hard reality of conquest was hard to bear. He began to understand what Chris might be going through.
• • •
Chris entered Fleet Operations at 9:55 and everyone who saw him grew silent. He took the lift to the top floor and walked down the hall to Lukas’s office. He pressed the button outside the door and the door slid up into the wall. He walked in and the door came back down. He saw Lukas and Salud sitting behind his desk and she jumped up and ran around the desk. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him, “Are you alright?”
“All things considered, I guess I am.”
Lukas smiled and said, “Please, sit down.” Chris walked to the chair in front of his desk and sat down. “What’s going on?”
Chris looked at them and said, “We were wrong.”
“About what?”
Chris looked at them and exhaled. “We decided that we would not continue to have all of our mothers live in constant fear of their children being killed by aliens. We decided to use that as a justification to go out and conquer them.”
Salud’s eyes narrowed and she said, “What do you mean we were wrong?!”
Chris looked at Salud and slowly shook his head, “If mothers weren’t afraid of Aliens invading, they would be afraid their children might be injured in an accident. They might fear their child will get sick and possibly die from a freak disease. The number of fears that mothers have for their children have no end. I’m a parent now and I constantly worry about Michael. Will he grow up and be a good person. Will he find love? Is he going to be a warrior like his father? There are so many things that make me worry about him and his future. Worrying about aliens attacking us is just one of the many things we have fears about. It is not a good enough reason to go out and kill any civilization that represents a threat to us. I suspect, matter of fact, I know I killed more children in a day than live on both Earth and Eden.”
Salud’s expression began to grow angry, “That civilization killed your wife!”
Chris looked at her and nodded, “That’s what I thought as well, but that wasn’t true either.” Salud’s mouth fell open and Chris said, “The first thing I learned when I confronted that civilization’s Leaders was that their Highest Leader was begged by the others not to send that ship.”
“They were lying.”
Chris smiled slightly, “Salud, I’m telepathic. I saw them trying in their thoughts. He was arrogant and would not listen to them. He killed Audrey, not the billions of children that burned on the worlds I destroyed.”
Lukas said, “What are you saying, Chris?”
“Our intentions are all wrong. I went out with the intention to eradicate every last person in that civilization. There was no other intention, only extinction. I didn’t even look for anything that might change my mind.”
“They are an enemy of ours, Chris.”
“I won’t argue that point. But the intention shouldn’t be to just go out and exterminate them. The intention should be to find a way to avoid it if at all possible.”
The chime rung and Lukas looked at the small monitor on his desk. He saw Allison standing outside his door with a strange being. He looked at Salud and saw her confusion. Chris looked at them wondering what was going on as Lukas raised the door.
Allison walked in with the alien and said, “I apologize for this interruption but this is a Leader of the Civilization we just attacked. She contacted me and asked to speak to Chris. I feel her request should be granted.”
Chris turned around and tilted his head. Allison nodded at the alien and she thought where all could hear. “When you pointed your blaster at me and my baby, I could see your thoughts. I knew for certain that we were both going to die. How you managed to not fire on us is beyond my understanding…but you didn’t. Now after it’s all over, I can’t find peace until I found you and thanked you.”
Chris recognized her and Lukas saw the anguish on his face.
“I understand you lost your mate to the ship our Highest Leader sent. I am so sorry for your loss. My mate was killed on a warship attempting to defend us from your forces. I miss him more than I can tell you and all I have left is my child. I feel your pain. I know what you’re going through. I’m living it. But I must say thank you for allowing us to live. I will remember him each day in his child’s smile.”
The female lowered her head and Allison said, “Thank you for granting her wish to speak.” Allison took the alien’s hand to lead her out of the room.
Chris said, “Before you go!” Allison and the Alien female turned around. “I thank you for coming here and sharing your thoughts with me. I know what it took to do it. I have some thoughts I want you to share with your other leaders. Tell them that if your worlds are attacked, I will come and defend them.”
The alien began shedding tears and the four humans in the room learned there was another species that cried like them. She nodded and said, “From what I’ve seen, you can do a better job of that than we could. My people thank you.” Allison looked at Chris and shook her head. She turned and led the Alien out of the conference room.
Lukas and Salud felt the alien’s sorrow and they saw what happened in her thoughts. Salud stared at the door she walked out of and Chris said, “I had my blaster out and was going to burn all of them. Then, I saw her trying to hide her child from me. She saw me look at them and I could feel her panic and fear. She curled up around her baby and closed her eyes expecting to die.” Chris looked at Salud, “No mother of any species should ever have to experience that if it can be avoided. It was her fear that showed me I had become a monster.”
Salud couldn’t get the image of Chris pointing a blaster at the alien mother with a mask of rage on his face. She lowered her head and Lukas said, “He’s right.” Salud nodded through her tears. Lukas looked at Chris, “So what does this mean?”
“If you’re looking for a conqueror to go out and exterminate all of our enemies, then I’m not your man.”
“This only proves to me you are. You’re right. We were selfish and got it wrong. So how does this change things? I’m also wondering how you’re going to send our fleets to M-84 to defend them?”
“We have to go out with the right intentions. Don’t get me wrong on this. I know that these are not the last planets that I’ll order to be destroyed. But in the future, any destruction will be done to prevent more carnage. You don’t have to worry about sending our fleets to defend them just yet.”
“Chris, I’m sure M-87 had pr
obes in that galaxy and know that they can walk in and take control of that galaxy.”
“I’m sure they do know but they won’t invade.”
Lukas and Salud looked at each other and Salud said, “Why not?”
“Because they had probes watching our attack.” Lukas and Salud looked confused and Chris said, “Put yourselves in their place. An enemy of yours has just attacked and mauled a civilization in another galaxy. Would you send forces there to take possession of that galaxy?”
Lukas started nodding, “You’re right. Before I go anywhere, I’d do everything to remove the ones that attacked and barring that, I’d build up my defenses. I wouldn’t weaken them by sending my forces elsewhere.”
“That’s how I see it. They think that if they invade M-84, we’ll fall on them and start wholesale destruction of their planets. They’ll stay home until they can remove us as a threat.” Chris looked out the picture window and said, “I want one fleet of Pods sent to M-84 to keep the peace. We’ll relieve them after sixty days with another fleet.” Chris looked at Lukas, “Does that meet with your approval?”
Lukas nodded. Salud said, “What are you going to do now?”
“We need to collect some information before we do anything rash.”
“Such as?”
“I need to determine whether M-86 is a threat to us or not. Then I need to find out just how powerful those Black Ships around the Legends’ Planet are. Once we’ve made that determination, I can start planning our next move.”
“Chris, Eve is furious you allowed Allison to call off the attack on their government planet.”
“She didn’t call it off. I did before I left.” Chris looked up, “Willow, have you been listening in?”
“Of course.”
Lukas smiled, “You are one nosey space ship.”
“Hey, I need something to occupy my time. Why do you ask, Chris?”
“I want you to share the thoughts of the alien that came and spoke to us with Eve.”
“Sure, I’ll do that now.”
Chris looked at Lukas and Salud and shook his head, “She’ll still be angry and the alien’s thoughts won’t really have an impact on her right now. But later she’ll remember and they will.”
Lukas’s eyes narrowed, “Just when will that happen?”
Chris smiled softly as Salud said, “When she has a child of her own.”
He nodded and smiled, “Eve is one of our most dangerous weapons. We’re lucky to have her.”
“The enthusiasm of youth is hard to restrain.”
“Exactly right, Lukas. I’m giving the fleets a break while I go out and take a look around.”
“You probably aren’t going to like this but you will not be allowed to go out alone for a while.” Chris’s eyes narrowed. “Your loss is still too close and you’ve demonstrated that your judgment might be impaired.”
“So who is going with me?”
“The only one that can possibly restrain you, Admiral Simmons.”
“Have you told her about this?”
“We have and she’s not at all happy about it.”
Chris snorted, “It appears no one ever likes going out with me.”
“You married the last one that did. However, I really think Admiral Simmons is immune to your charms and will be what you need to make sure you don’t take any foolish chances.”
Chris stared at them and then shook his head, “You’re doing this because I grabbed her neck?”
“Among other things, yes.”
“I guess I should be happy you’re allowing me to go out at all. Would it help if I told you I’m ok and have found peace with what happened?”
Both of them chuckled and Salud said, “No. We’d know it’s not true.”
Chris shrugged and Lukas said, “You are still our First Commander but on any scouting mission, Admiral Simmons can veto any decision you make.”
“Guy’s, I’m not going to rush into danger to lose my life!”
“Good, then you shouldn’t have a problem with this.”
Chris waved a hand and said, “Have it your way.”
“We’re building a special Pod for you.”
“Oh?”
“It’s larger so both of you will have your own quarters and all three of the computers in your ships are being installed on board.”
“Barbie will be the lead computer.” Chris stared at them and then said, “When you promote her over me then she can have her computers in charge. Until that happens, my computer will be the lead.”
Lukas looked at Salud and shrugged. She lifted her eyebrows and Lukas said, “We’ll make it happen.”
“Good.” Chris stood up and shook hands with Lukas and hugged Salud, “Tell Eve to come see me after she sees the recording Willow has made.” They nodded and Chris walked out of their office.
Salud looked at Lukas, “Allison is not going to like this. We promised her the lead computer would be hers.”
“Then she’s going to have to deal with it. If she refuses, I’ll order her to go or turn in her resignation.”
“She might call you on it.”
“If she does, then so be it. Chris is needed more than any other leader we have outside of Jinks and Stoney. She’ll just have to accept it.” Salud nodded and wondered if they were going to lose a good commander over this.
• • •
Allison was hot! She left Lukas’s office and went directly to the beach where she found Chris and Michael. She stormed up and forced herself to gain control of her emotions. Chris saw her walking over the dune toward him still wearing her uniform. He then saw her expression and looked at Michael, “Why don’t you go and play with your toys in the sand?”
Michael looked over his shoulder and saw Allison walking toward them. “Adult stuff?”
“I think you could appreciate it but I don’t think she’d appreciate you listening.”
Michael shrugged and walked over to his sand fort building buckets and shovels. Allison saw Michael walk away and she picked up her pace. “You are going to do something about this!!”
Chris looked up at her from his chair, raised his sunglasses, and said, “Do you no longer salute a superior officer when you are in uniform?”
Allison almost lost it but quickly realized that Chris could have her tossed out of the service just as quickly as Lucas. She took a breath and came to attention and saluted. Chris returned her salute and said, “Sit down, Admiral. What’s got you cooking?”
“I was made promises and then they were broken. When I complained, I was offered the door to my commission.”
“They promised you one of your computers would be the lead.”
“They did!!”
Chris lowered his sunglasses and said, “After you kept your cool when I grabbed your neck, it surprises me that you’ve lost it now. You’re not really thinking this through.” Allison was ready to grab his neck. His cool, calm demeanor only infuriated her more. Chris took a small breath and blew it out, “Sit there and listen quietly, Admiral! Nod if you understand.” Allison’s face turned bright red with her anger but she forced herself to nod. “Whichever computer is chosen to be the lead computer, it should be the one that would offer us the best chance of survival. Nod if you agree.” Allison hesitated but then nodded. “The main two reasons of your having two computers on your ship is to first, collect data, process it, and then provide you with information to make good decisions.” Allison stared at him without nodding and Chris said, “I know. You also use them to fight your ship to free you up to keep a view of the big picture. Am I right?” Allison nodded.
“Is either of your computers telepathic?” Allison’s eyes narrowed and her head tilted. “Are they?”
Allison said, “No.”
“Barbie is telepathic and has saved me numerous times when she heard the thoughts of the crews on enemy ships. She has reacted fast enough to save us from ambushes and she has also been able to home in on the thoughts of our enemies. If one of your comp
uters were the lead computer, she would have to tell it when to run and give detailed instructions on how to steer toward the thoughts of another ship. Does either of your computers possess a skill that would trump her telepathic ability?”
Allison stared at him and then took a deep breath, “No, they don’t. You’re right, your computer should be the lead.”
“The real problem with your accepting this is one of control.”
Allison’s eyes narrowed as she tilted her head, “What?”
“You’ve always had control of your ship from the moment you became a pilot. Even when you were leading my bodyguard, you made all the decisions about when to defend, when to attack, you controlled their actions. Sure, you followed my orders but you determined how to make them happen. By not having one of your computers in the lead position, you would not be in control and that is something that frightens you. You trust your own judgment more than anyone else. You can’t accept the role of being a passenger on our ship.”
Allison had regained her composure and thought about what Chris said. Chris looked at her and smiled, “You are still missing the obvious.”
Allison looked up, “What is that?”
“Whose ship is it?”
“What?”
“Whose ship are we going out on? Do you think it’s your ship?”
“My two computers are being installed on it.”
“So?” Allison’s eyes widened and Chris nodded, “You see it now. Once Lukas determines that I don’t need someone with me, I will not be the one leaving. Of course, if you’re promoted over me, then you will keep the vessel.”
“I don’t see that happening.”
“It very well could, Admiral. You’ve demonstrated superior command talents and you’ve risen quickly in this navy.”
“I wouldn’t accept the position.”
“Pray tell why not?”
Allison blew out a quick breath and shook her head, “I could not make the decision on who lives and who dies. Someone else will have to do that. Give me a target, and I’ll remove it. Beyond that, I don’t want it.”
“No one does, Allison. It’s forced on you and you do the best you can with the information you’re given. I think you would do much better than you think. However, I pulled rank and forced Lukas to make Barbie the lead, not because of her telepathic ability, although that is reason enough to do it, but for the same reason you wanted it: control.”