by Saxon Andrew
“But…”
“There’s nothing we can do. He left on that filament that is now fading.”
Gem stared at Leo and said, “I will wait for him here.”
Leo nodded and said, “All ships are free to return to their home.”
“Sir, are you going with us?” a ship commander asked over the open frequency.
“No, I will wait here.”
“If it’s all the same to you, I will wait as well.” All five thousand Bellingham Ships left the filament and waited above it. Kel and the Insectoid Commander moved above the filament with their fleets and joined the thousands waiting for Delilah’s Sword to return. Ten hours later, sixteen black probes were detected approaching the filament. Gem said, “What have we here?”
Billy looked up from his panel, “Those probes have been damaged and have lost the use of their engines. They probably had a collision with another probe.”
“Well it’s a good thing we stayed. Drop into the filament and take them out,” Gem ordered.
Over the next twelve hours, more than three-hundred damaged probes were destroyed. Gem contacted Leonidas and sighed, “I’m beginning to understand why the Tronan launched so many probes; they’re little more than a piece of crap. These that have been showing up will take ten years to travel out of our known space but I guess we should go ahead and make sure all of them are removed.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Some of us have to start traveling back on the path these probes were launched.”
It was finally decided that the Dragon and Insectoid Ships would move back on the path taken by the probes and make sure none survived. The two fleets moved away and the warriors from Bellingham remained above the filament waiting for a very important ship to return.
• • •
Delilah’s Sword was traveling at a speed that Sam knew was impossible. The ship had never flown at the speed it was moving and he saw that Rangel’s booster handle was nowhere near the stop. He looked at Elena, who still had her eyes closed and heard her say, “Is it possible to go faster?”
Sam looked at Rangel and he shook his head, “Sir, we are very close to outrunning our scanners.”
“What?”
“Sir, our current speed is so fast that any item we detect at the edge of our scanning range is on us almost too fast to avoid. If any ships are on this filament, I don’t know I’ll have time to avoid them.”
Angel smiled, “There are no ships on this filament. It didn’t exist until a short time ago.”
Sam sighed, “Push forward, Lieutenant. Slow down if you see an intersection ahead of us.”
Rangel shook his head and pushed the booster handles fully against the stops. Sam looked at Elena and saw her smile. The only way he could account for the Sword’s faster speed was the burning out of the impurities in the hull coating. It must have made the hull’s surface more…slippery in the filament and allowed a much higher speed. Something would have to be done about the scanners. Doing this on a traveled filament could be suicide. Sam thought about the dangers in flying this fast and said, “Computer.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“We’re moving faster than we can scan ahead of us. Do you have any suggestions?”
“You should turn the piloting of the ship over to me.”
Rangel’s eyes narrowed when he heard the computers remark. Sam asked, “Why?”
“I am going to take one of the long-range scanners and increase the voltage going into it. I’ve experimented with the amperage for the last few minutes and I think I can extend the range about fifty percent. We would still be bumping up against the edge of our ability to see what’s ahead of us, but I believe I can move the ship faster to avoid anything in our path than our pilot.” There was a pause and the computer said, “I intend no disrespect to our pilot, he is excellent at his tasks but his reflexes, though they are faster than a human’s, are not as fast as a machine’s.”
Rangel’s eyes closed and he exhaled as he lowered his head. “Do it!” Sam ordered.
Sam looked up at the long-range scanner monitor and suddenly saw the boundary extend further ahead of the Sword. The computer said, “I’ve been estimating our speed and direction and matching the filaments around us to the Cartian Database. In another four hours, we will be crossing a rather large filament.”
“Do you have any information on it?” Lydia asked.
“I do. It is marked as one of the major filaments in this area of Known Space.”
Elena said with her eyes closed, “There is another filament two hours beyond it. Turn left when you arrive at it.”
Sam looked at Lydia, “Put the Cartian Map on the Directional Monitor.” The map of the area appeared and Sam said, “Reduce the size of the area around the ship.” The map enlarged and Sam saw the two filaments being discussed in more detail. He shook his head and said, “If we turn left, we’ll be moving in the opposite direction that Tronan Ship is moving.”
Elena’s brow furrowed and Angel said, “Have faith, Sam.” Sam looked at her and took a breath. How could he have faith in something he had no idea or understanding about what was happening. He looked at the monitor and said, “Computer, turn left at the second filament.”
“Order received. I will have to reduce speed to cross the first filament.”
“Do what you deem is necessary. Keep the ship safe,” Sam said.
“Yes, Commander.” Sam sat back in his chair and tried to keep his emotions in check. That Tronan Ship was out in the filaments and there was no possible way to search the millions he saw ahead on the Cartian Map.
• • •
“Brace for deceleration!”
Sam’s eyes snapped open and he buckled himself into his chair without thinking. He was woken from a deep sleep by the announcement and wondered why the computer would be decelerating at a high rate. He looked up at the long-range monitor and saw the giant filament rushing toward the ship at an incredible speed. THERE WAS NO WAY TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE THEY HIT IT AND HE SAW HUNDREDS OF SHIPS MOVING ON IT AHEAD OF THEM! He tried to scream but his mouth was frozen. His eyes flew wide open as the computer suddenly pushed the Sword out of the top of the filament they were traveling on; the ship immediately went to hard deceleration as it arched over the top of the huge filament ahead of them. Sam felt his belts tighten around him as Delilah’s Sword skipped over the top of the three-hundred-mile-wide filament and then dipped back into the filament they had been traveling on the other side and began accelerating back to full speed.
Sam felt his heart beating wildly and he forced his face to a neutral expression as he tried his hardest to breathe slowly. He waited a few moments and then said in a deliberate neutral tone, “That was a rather novel way to pass a filament, Computer.” He looked at Rangel, “You might want to put that in your toolbox for later use, Lieutenant.”
Rangel’s face was almost white as he nodded, “I will, Sir.”
Both of them knew the computer had scared the ever-living crap out of them but they continued to keep a neutral expression. Finally, Lydia said, “Well, if no one else is going to own up to it, that infernal machine just took five years off my life. Hey, Computer, how about a little warning next time!!”
“I told you to brace for deceleration, Captain.”
“A tad more information is called for! Tell us what you’re planning in advance!”
“I’ll try to comply with your request.”
Sam fought to keep his expression neutral and looked at Rangel doing the same. He kept thinking to himself, “Do not look at Lydia…do not look at Lydia…” He heard Lydia say, “I thought I was going to have to change my uniform!”
Sam burst out laughing and Rangel had to hold his ribs. The rest of the bridge crew were laughing as well and Lydia looked at them with a scowl, “IT’S NOT FUNNY!!”
Sam laughed even harder and Elena had to fight to keep her eyes closed and not lose her focus. Angel looked at Lydia with her head slightly tilted and said wi
th complete calm, “I feel I must say I agree with you, Captain.”
Lydia’s eyes were slits as she said, “At least one other person on this bridge has some sense!” Lydia stood up and looked at her chair-seat, “The rest of you need to check your chairs!”
The crew laughed harder and finally, Lydia joined them when a recording of her outburst was shown on the wall monitor. She finally admitted that she was sleeping and was shocked awake by the event. Sam knew exactly how she felt. Delilah’s Sword flew away at an ever increasing speed and Lydia’s maneuver, as it became known in the fleet, later became a tactic in every pilot’s manual.
• • •
Sam saw the filament ahead of them and the computer announced, “Brace for deceleration, the ship will be entering the filament at maximum safe speed.”
Lydia mumbled softly, “That’s what I’m talking about.”
The computer said, “You’re welcome, Captain.” Everyone looked at her but Lydia kept her eyes on her panel.
Sam stared at the rapidly approaching filament and felt the forward thrusters ignite and the ship decelerate at a rapid pace. The computer took the ship out of the filament to the left of where it intersected the approaching filament. The ship’s speed decreased even more as the ship left the filament and then entered the approaching filament at a thirty-degree angle. It began accelerating and Elena opened her eyes, “Stop at the next filament that crosses the one we’re on.”
Sam looked at the Cartian Map and saw a filament crossing directly ahead of them less than thirty minutes away. The filament appeared on the long-range monitor and Sam looked up, “Computer, move the ship above the intersection were those two filaments intersect upon arrival.”
“Order received, Commander.”
Jek and Kel walked on the bridge and Sam smiled, “Did you get a good nap?”
Jek smiled, “Yes, we did and we sorely needed it, Commander.”
“Good, we’re changing course momentarily. You’ll need to buckle in.”
Jek and Kel went to their chairs and buckled in as they stared at the monitor. Jek said, “We were tossed around a little while ago. Did we missed anything?”
Lydia looked up from her panel, “Captain, you’d have to be here to understand that our new computer is a freaking Wildman.”
“Captain, I’m hurt. No one was in danger,” the Computer responded.
“No one is in danger in a haunted house but you can still have the crap scared out of you!” Lydia replied.
Jek looked at Sam and he shrugged, “She’s right; you had to be here to understand.” Kel started laughing and then Jek furrowed his brow as he looked at her and started laughing as well.
Lydia’s face turned red and she said, “IT’S NOT FUNNY!”
Jek and Kel stopped laughing but after a few moments, Kel almost sprayed the room with saliva as she burst out laughing again.
• • •
Delilah’s Sword arrived at the intersection of the two filaments moved out of the filament directly above where the two filaments crossed. Sam looked at the monitors, saw nothing, and turned to Elena. She smiled at him and said, “Look again, Daddy.” Sam looked up at the long-range monitor again and saw a large blip suddenly appear on the edge. Elena smiled and pointed, “That is the one you want to find.”
Sam looked at her as Angel hugged Elena and said, “She is much more proficient in using her talents than me.”
Sam reached over and put his hand on Elena’s cheek and said softly, “Thank you.” Elena’s smile was huge and Sam looked up, “How long before that ship arrives.”
“Two hours, Commander.”
“Move the ship into normal space.” Delilah’s Sword left under space and emerged into the outer spiral arm of a giant galaxy. The stars surrouning them numbered in the millions and Elena’s face showed her wonder at what she was seeing. Sam lifted his communicator, “All hands to battle stations. This is not a drill. We will be engaging an enemy vessel in two hours. Move to your stations and standby for instructions.”
Sam leaned back in his command chair and felt his eyes narrow. He forced them open and tried to keep his emotions under control. He wanted to destroy this ship with all his being.
• • •
“Director, we will be changing to another filament shortly.”
“Why?”
“There is a major filament far off the port side of the ship that we should move toward. The filament ahead of us is moving in that direction.”
The Ship Director nodded and wondered if leaving the original course was a good idea. But the evidence was clear there was something happening and his ship had enough fuel and provisions to extend the voyage. There was no sense in taking unavoidable risks. He looked at the monitor and saw the filament they were traveling crossing another filament. He sat back and closed his eyes.
A little over an hour later, he was awakened by his Scanning Warrior saying loudly, “Director, I’m detecting a ship in normal space above the intersection ahead of us!”
The Director snapped out of his sleep and jerked his head to the wall monitor. The blip was smaller than his vessel but it wasn’t a great deal smaller. Move us out of the filament into normal space and scan that ship!” The huge Tronan Warship’s stardrive went off and the huge vessel emerged into normal space. The scanners readjusted their focus and suddenly, the vessel appeared on the huge wall monitor.
The Scanning Warrior said in a neutral voice, “That vessel is one of the ships that attacked the Squadron.”
“ARE YOU SURE?” The Director yelled.
The Scanning Warrior nodded, “If it’s not one of them, it is a twin of the three large warships involved in the battle.”
The Tronan Crew stared at the gleaming warship ahead of them and heard over their ship’s communication system, “I’m going to assume you left the filament due to your detecting my vessel. I have a few questions before I destroy you.”
The Ship’s Director’s eyes showed his shock and the Steering Warrior asked, “How do they know our language?”
“Be silent.” The Director looked at his Scanning Warrior, “Is that ship capable of harming us?”
The Scanning Warrior stared at the monitor and then said, “I really don’t know. I have no data showing just one of them attacking just one of our warships.”
“That one who just spoke to us believes he can defeat us,” the Director replied.
“Belief is not actually doing, Director.”
The Director lifted his communicator, “I see no reason to answer any of your questions.”
“One of my children is here with me and she wonders why you attack and kill innocent intelligent species. I have to confess that I also find it confusing. Are you nothing but stupid carnivores?”
The Director’s eyes went to slits and he looked around the bridge, “That being is trying to provoke me.”
The Scanning Warrior looked at the Director, “I’ve often wondered the same thing, Director. Why do we attack intelligent civilizations? Animals could provide what we need.”
The Director glared at the Warrior, “You should have asked your instructors!”
The Warrior shrugged by raising his arm, “I did and they ignored my question. Do you know why?”
The Director stared at the Warrior and shrugged as well.
• • •
“Sam.”
“Yes, Jek.”
“The crew on that ship are little more than children.”
“WHAT?”
“It appears that they are trained to fly a warship and put on them at a very young age. Those creatures are little more mature than a fourteen-year old human.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“There’s more. The Commander of the Fleet that attacked Heaven was the father of the one commanding that ship. I think I now understand why that ship was chosen to leave.” Sam’s eyes narrowed and his rage was clear. Jek quickly said, “They are arguing among themselves at the moment because none of
them know the answer to your question. Some of them wonder the same thing. I can see that the young Commander was allowed to choose the members of his crew and he chose all of his close friends to be on that ship with him. None of them have ever been in a battle and this voyage was their first mission.”
Sam sneered, “A young Nagsta is just as dangerous as an adult. It should be killed before it becomes a real danger.” Angel put her hand on Sam’s arm and looked into his eyes with a troubled expression. Sam shook his head, “WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO!?! He shouted. He saw Angel flinch and he sighed as he forced himself to take a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry. I just can’t allow them to go back to their civilization.”
Suddenly, he heard over the wall speaker, “I really had no intention of answering your questions but I don’t have an answer to give you. It is the opinion of my crew that we attack other civilizations to feed ourselves, provide fuel for our ships, and other necessary items for the smooth functioning of my civilization.”
“Could you not use animals or plants to sustain you?” Jek said over his communicator.”
“I don’t think so. Maybe in the distant past we could have survived on plants but our bodies have adapted to our food and will no longer accept any food but what our processors provide. We’re not sure about using animals but we all believe that if that were possible it would have been done by our leaders.”
Angel said to Sam, “The young always have to justify their actions and defend their elders. He doesn’t want to communicate with you but can’t help himself. Any Adult would have just attacked and remained silent.”
Sam looked at Jek and he nodded, “Angel is exactly right. That Commander is proud that he was able to tell you a thing or two.”
Sam slammed his fist on his chair arm, “I cannot allow that vessel to leave!” He looked around and said sarcastically, “Or do any of you have any brilliant suggestions on what to do?”
“Actually, there is one avenue that might work.” Everyone looked up at the wall speaker and the computer continued talking.
• • •