by Saxon Andrew
Becky saved the book and pulled her face plate down linking her to the computer. She examined the most recent scans and said, “Close it up, Dom. Something’s going on.”
Dom said, “Darn it. I was just getting to the good part.” He pulled his face plate down, “D, activate the force fields and weapons.”
“All systems are active.”
Dom sent the signal to go to condition red to the ten thousand ships assigned to his fleet and watched as they linked in to D’s tactical. He noted which planets were assigned to his fleet and pressed the general frequency, “If some of you are able to finish your initial assignment, don’t delay going to the other assignments to assist your comrades. Stay at condition Red until that fleet declares its intentions.”
Becky continued to watch the giant fleet and saw jump fields starting to appear, “They’re moving.”
Dom said, “Do not leave formation until they enter our galaxy. Maintain your position until released to go to your assigned planet.”
• • •
Ian watched the Invasion Fleet start moving and said, “Start the attack on the Orange Capital.”
Kregen received the order and said, “The attack has been authorized. We’re jumping to initiate our attack profile. We are now at Condition Red.” Marissa charged her weapons and smiled at the coming mission.
• • •
“What are you doing here? I thought you were with the invasion fleet.”
“We have a faulty feed to the number six reactor. We had to drop out and come see if it can be repaired.”
“I’m glad it’s you invading that galaxy and not us.”
“As if I have a choice; when the former Emperor was overthrown, I was one of the ships he chose to take with him.”
“Better you than me. At least we didn’t have a civil war to settle the issue.”
“There is that. Still, giving him ten percent of our ships and sending him on his way was not a good thing for those of us sent with him.”
“Sorry, but in the long run, I think the best thing happened.”
“You’re probably right. Permission to approach the Service Facility.”
“Permission granted.”
The Advanced Scanner recorded the conversation and sent it.
• • •
Kregen had the ship at a thousand times Light Speed and the star system of the Orange Capital was growing larger on the scanners. “Kregen, I have an answer to your question.”
Marissa shouted, “We don’t have time for this, Moe. We’re on our approach path.”
Kregen said, “What did you find out?”
“The Invasion Leader was overthrown in a bloodless coup. He was given ten percent of the Orange Ships to go and start a new Empire. It prevented a civil war in the Orange Empire.”
Kregen reached forward and pulled the controls toward him and the ship moved off its trajectory and began moving above the Galaxy. Marissa saw the move and yelled, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!”
“I’m not going to attack without our leadership authorizing it in light of this new information. Moe, get this to Ian, now.”
Marissa turned and said, “You are violating our orders. Turn the ship back on course.”
Kregen looked at her and continued to move away from the attack profile, “Not until we get authorization.”
Marissa stood and pointed her hand toward Kregen. A blaster appeared in it and she said, “You will turn this ship back on course or I’m going to shoot you for treason.”
Kregen stared at her and said, “Do what you have to do.”
Marissa’s finger tightened on the trigger.
• • •
“Ian.”
“Yes Moe.”
“We’ve discovered that the Invasion Leader was overthrown and forced out of power by the Orange Civilization. He was given ten percent of their ships to leave without starting a civil war.”
“What about the other ships?”
“They are still at the Orange Civilization. They are not participating in the invasion.”
Ian focused on the information and many unrelated facts fell into place, “Abort the mission!”
• • •
Marissa’s eyes narrowed and she aimed the blaster at Kregen’s head just as she heard, “Abort the attack; Abort the attack. Ian Montgomery has ordered the attack canceled.”
Marissa was shocked at the announcement and shouted, “WHY!”
Kregen looked at Marissa and said, “Because the Orange Civilization is not taking part in the invasion.” Marissa dropped her hand and the blaster disappeared. She fell back in her chair and Kregen said, “Have you done an analysis, Moe?”
“Yes; if we destroyed their capital, all of the former Emperor’s opposition would have been killed and he would have come back and assumed power. He would have then ordered the eight million ships to join the invasion.”
Marissa stared at the speaker on the wall and Kregen continued moving the ship away from M87. “Thanks, Moe.” He looked at Marissa, “That explains why he made all of the jump tracks to that planet. I suspect he is not actually jumping to invade but is moving the fleet in hopes that we would attack the capital. If we had destroyed the capital we would have killed forty billion innocent inhabitants and caused eight million more ships to join the invasion. The loss of life in the Union due to those ships taking part could be massive.”
Marissa felt the impact of what would have happened if Moe had not interrupted her and felt the shock overwhelm her. Her head fell into her hands and she started weeping. Kregen had entered the coordinates to jump back to the Union and saw her collapse on her console. He stood and rushed over and knelt in front of her chair and lifted her chin, “It didn’t happen, Rissa. We didn’t do it.”
Marissa wailed, “Not because I didn’t try. I was going to kill you.”
Kregen looked into her eyes, “We are a team. Whatever happens, we do it together. We didn’t do this. I need you on this ship. There is no one else I would rather have commanding our weapons. You are the best. You have to let this go. It didn’t happen.”
Marissa raised her face and Kregen saw her tears. She realized that Kregen had seen all the clues that she had ignored. She should have been listening to him and had fought him for an opportunity to fight. She realized that she was a weapon and Kregen was a commander. She wiped her tears away with her sleeve and nodded. Kregen smiled and said, “We’re going back to fight that fleet. I need you ready to take them on.”
Marissa took a breath, “Yes Sir. I’ll be ready.”
Kregen went to his chair and pushed the jump drive. He heard K through his link, “Something has changed.”
Kregen thought, “What do you mean?”
“Lissa just told me that something has changed in Marissa.”
Kregen paused, “Is that a good or bad thing?”
“I don’t know; but she’s never called you Sir before.”
Kregen thought for a moment and realized K was right.
• • •
Violet looked at Ian, “Are you going to tell him that we’re not doing his dirty work for him?”
Ian shook his head, “I don’t think so. If we tell him we’re not attacking the Capital, it may cause him to speed up the invasion. However, I need a Prime Order sent out to the fleets that any orange colored ship in the invasion fleet is a priority target.”
Violet smiled, “The Invasion Leader could come out of the conflict without ships to impose his will. That’s providing the Union survived the invasion.”
Chapter Nineteen
The Invasion Leader jumped his fleet and once they emerged into normal space he looked at his Communications Officer and nodded. The Officer contacted the ship that was sent back for repairs, “How is the repair proceeding?”
“We are slated for tomorrow.”
“Contact me directly if anything happens to delay your departure.”
“We will do so.”
The officer nodded to the Le
ader. He knew the repair would take several days and after three days he had the ship contacted again. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He knew the repair facility was away from the planet and if the planet was attacked, they would report it. Apparently, the Aliens were not going to attack.
He leaned back in his chair. He knew that the Aliens should have attacked when he moved the fleet closer to their galaxy to impress on him the danger of going through with the invasion. But they didn’t. His confusion was beginning to worry him. He forced himself to slow his thoughts and focus on the issue. He closed his three eyes and slowed his breathing. He allowed the information to enter his secondary mind and watched as it analyzed all the possibilities. He was far from stupid. He was a superior product of a highly advanced civilization. He watched the process in his conscious mind and saw two possibilities emerge. One; the aliens weren’t being honest about their ability to actually destroy a planet. If that was the case, they weren’t as powerful as they tried to imply to the Green and Grey Civilizations. Or…they had somehow learned the current political situation in his former civilization. Which was the right answer? He thought about it and contacted one of the planets on the edge of the Orange Civilization. He was directed to the scientist responsible for scanning and asked, “Has anything unusual happened recently?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m just trying to make sure the galaxy we’re invading has not sent any ships to our territory.”
“We’ve not detected any ships.”
The Leader heard something in the scientist’s voice, “But?”
“We’re trying to figure out something that was unusual.”
“What was that?”
“Several planets detected a wave moving through our space at light speed. However, it appeared to be moving much faster than a wave should.”
“How much faster?”
“That’s just it. If our instruments were accurate it had to be moving at thousands of times the speed of light. We know that’s not possible so we’re trying to see if there is a malfunction in our system.”
“Let me know what you find out.”
“I’ll send you the information when we complete the investigation.”
The Leader ended the contact and thought a moment. He activated his secondary mind and watched it analyze the new data. After twenty minutes he was certain that the aliens had launched an attack but had not completed it. They must know something. He thought about it and sent a question to his mind, “If the aliens know about the political situation in my civilization, what ramifications would that have on the coming invasion?”
The analysis took several hours and he wasn’t able to keep up with all the dynamics being used to make a determination. When the analysis ended, the result shocked him. If the aliens knew that he was the one pushing the invasion, he would be the prime target of their response. Further, if they knew he had a limited number of ships, they would also be prime targets of their response. The aliens would know if they destroyed his ships, his power would be effectively eliminated. He looked at the concepts and realized they had to be accurate. Only half of his ships were here to participate in the invasion, but if he lost them, his leadership would be challenged and he would have no way to exert pressure in directing the division of territories afterward.
• • •
“Ian, all of the Orange Ships are being pulled out of the ranks and are assembling into thousand ship groupings.”
Ian pulled up the scan on his display and wondered what was going on. He looked up, “Moe, do an analysis of this and tell me what you determine.”
Violet looked at Ian, “You think he’s planning something?”
“I do; I just don’t know what.”
Two hours later Moe said, “Either he can hear your communications or he has determined that you’re aware of the situation in his galaxy.”
“Tell me what you mean?”
“You did order all Orange Ships were to be a prime target. If he knows that our attack was called off, then he will suspect we know his current situation and he only possesses a limited number of ships. He’ll know we’re going to target his ships.”
“So why is he moving them into groups?”
“The highest probability is that he’s not going to send them in with the rest of the fleet.”
Ian looked at Violet and then said, “What will he do?”
“Jump them somewhere else until the invasion sorts itself out.”
“That means four hundred main planets won’t be attacked.”
“When attacking fifty thousand planets, four hundred won’t be noticed.”
“His Allies may not take too kindly to that.”
“If the invasion is successful, he’ll just jump them into their targets afterward and no one will be the wiser. None of his allies will be present to report it. He can also call in reinforcements if he needs them.”
Ian focused on the problem and after a moment said, “Where are his other ships?”
Violet tilted her head back, “What other ships?”
Ian brow furrowed, “According to what we learned, he received ten percent of the Orange Civilization’s ships. We’ve determined they have eight million ships remaining. That means he was given eight hundred thousand ships. Only half of them are here; where are the others?”
Moe was silent and Ian couldn’t come up with a good answer. Violet suddenly said, “What is his intent in coming here?”
Ian shrugged, “I guess to start a new empire.”
“He can do that somewhere else.”
“Where?”
“Andromeda.”
Moe said, “That has to be it.”
Ian shook his head, “This being is a real evil cookie. By moving all the ships here, he can consolidate his forces in Andromeda and have the prime real estate there with no one to prevent his takeover.”
Violet shrugged, “Ian, this is just a guess.”
“It makes sense, Violet. I suspect he will jump those ships to Andromeda and watch what happens here. Either way, he can’t lose. If we defeat his fleet, then the next Leader selected will still be focused on us. It will allow him time to consolidate his position without interruption. I suspect that those ships that still support him in his old civilization will leave to join him while the invasion takes place. If they win here, he’ll have two empires.”
Violet nodded, “Is there anything we can do about it?”
“That’s the clincher; we can’t afford to send any ships to stop him. We are so outnumbered that we have to fight them here. If I didn’t dislike him so much I would have to admire his planning skills.”
Moe said, “There’s one other thing.”
Ian said, “What’s that?”
“All of the warships in Andromeda were destroyed but they had more than a year before that happened to move in populations and engineers to the planets they selected. I suspect they are building ships in Andromeda at this very moment.”
Ian shook his head, “And he is in charge of all those planets.”
“Our last scans showed more than a hundred thousand planets had been settled and thousands of ships had arrived to start developing those planets.”
Violet looked at Ian, “We can’t allow him to get away with this.”
Ian sighed, “First things first. We have a bigger problem to solve here.”
Moe said, “Everything is not all black. If he doesn’t send his ships in, that gives us eighty thousand more ships to use against the invasion.”
“But we don’t know which planets he’s assigned to attack. There’s no way we can plan to use them in time.”
“Oh but you underestimate me, grasshopper.”
“Grasshopper?”
“Forget that; it comes from Earth’s ancient history. However, we are not attacking them with our ships immediately. We’re going to wait until the orbital platforms do their thing. While that is happening, the Hub and I will see which planets are not being attacked an
d we can send those ships to the planets where the platforms are not as successful as the others.”
“Can you do it in time?”
“Come on, Ian.”
Ian laughed out loud and said, “Moe, you surprise me more and more.”
Violet smiled and said, “Let’s kick their bumps.”
Moe interjected, “Wherever their bumps are located. Their anatomy must be different from ours.”
Ian laughed again.
• • •
Doc said, “Welcome back.”
Kregen said, “It’s good to be here, Sir.”
“I’ve assigned you a two hundred ship group to defend one of the main planets. Get them organized.”
Kregen looked at his display and said, “We’re on it. Marissa, determine the best path to use for our ships.”
“You just get us in. We’ll handle it from there, Sir.”
• • •
“Have you delivered the orders?”
“I have, Sire. They were sent encrypted and all ships have acknowledged receipt.”
The Invasion Leader smiled and said, “Have the last ships arrived and received a target?”
“They have.”
The Leader pressed his communicator and said, “You will go to your targets in two minutes. The countdown will begin…now.” The Leader leaned forward and watched his display. No matter what happened, he was going to win.
• • •
Doc punched his panel, “Ian, all their ships have activated their jump fields. They’re coming.”
Ian activated the general frequency, “War Alert, War Alert; hold your formations until we confirm they are attacking all the Kilper main planets. Once that’s determined you will be released to go to your assignments; keep this channel open.”
Doc looked at Dee and she shook her head, “I don’t see anything.”
“Then let’s go handle our planet.”
“I’m with you.”
“You need to organize the other two hundred ships.”
“Nise and I will get on it as soon as we see how the platforms perform.”
Doc nodded and linked with Drey, “Are you ready?”
“I was created ready.”
Doc watched and waited to see if the giant fleet was going to stay together or split up. It wouldn’t be long before he knew.